Acupuncture on Yintang point decreases preoperative anxiety

Effectiveness of WeChat-assisted preoperative education to reduce perioperative anxiety in breast cancer patients: a prospective randomized controlled study protocol

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, and surgical procedures continue to be the primary treatment. However, over 50% of patients experience preoperative anxiety due to the unknown and fear associated with surgery. Although drug therapy is commonly used to address this anxiety, its side effects have led to a heated debate regarding its effectiveness. Consequently, non-pharmacological therapies, such as preoperative education, have emerged as an alternative approach to alleviate anxiety. WeChat, a widely popular social media platform, offers a public platform that can potentially be utilized for effective preoperative education. This study aims to evaluate the use of WeChat public platform as a tool for preoperative education in patients undergoing breast surgery.

METHODS

This is a prospective, randomized, and controlled trial will involve 392 adult women scheduled for breast cancer resection. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the WeChat education group or the regular group. In addition to regular preoperative visits, the WeChat education group will also watch science videos through the WeChat public platform. The regular group will only receive education from ward nurses during preoperative visits. The primary outcome measure will be the incidence of preoperative anxiety, defined by scores of the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) exceeding 40 points. Secondary outcome measures include the incidence of severe anxiety (SAI > 44) on the day before surgery, incidence of anxiety 72 h after surgery, incidence of severe anxiety 72 h after surgery, NRS scores for pain at rest and during activity 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery, incidence of nausea and vomiting within 24 h after surgery, subjective sleep score at 1 week postoperatively, quality of life QoR-15 scores at 1 and 3 months postoperatively, incidence of chronic pain at 3 months postoperatively, bowel function recovery, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization expenses.

DISCUSSION

This is the first clinical trial to investigate the use of WeChat public platform for delivering preoperative education on perioperative anxiety in breast cancer patients. By utilizing the renowned WeChat public platform, our study aims to improve patient outcomes by providing video education that explains the disease, surgery, and anesthesia in a more accessible manner, thereby reducing the incidence of perioperative anxiety. If our hypothesis is confirmed, this non-pharmacological approach can be universally acknowledged as a cost-effective and practical method in clinical care. Its application can also be extended to other medical fields beyond breast cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05291494. Registered on 29 December 2021.

Acupuncture Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Activating the Vagus Nerve and Improving Heart-Rate Variability and Heart-Rhythm Coherence, A Case-Series Study

Objective

The goal of this case series was to observe the effectiveness of acupuncture for reducing sympathetic stress and anxiety-related symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder. The effect of acupuncture on the balance of the autonomic nervous system was also examined.

Materials and Methods

This was a case-series study with 10 participants enrolled. Each participant received acupuncture treatment 2 times per week for 4 weeks. Participants were evaluated with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the Body Perception Questionnaire-Short Form (BPQ-SF) before and after the treatment program. Heart-rate variability heart-rhythm coherence (HRC) was also assessed during each acupuncture session.

Results

Five participants completed the program. Both GAD-7 and BPQ mean scores showed significant reductions. The mean HRC high-coherence ratio also increased significantly after acupuncture treatment. No adverse effects occurred.

Conclusions

Acupuncture may be an effective therapy for sympathetic stress and anxiety-related symptoms. The mechanism of action may be through activating the vagus nerve and improving the HRC high coherence ratio. It is feasible to conduct larger clinical trials with random controls, longer treatment durations, and long-term follow-ups to support the results of this study.

Acupuncture for brain diseases: Conception, application, and exploration

The brain is probably the most complex organ in the human body. It has been the hot spot and direction of brain science research all over the world to deeply study the pathogenesis of various kinds of brain diseases and find effective treatment methods. Acupuncture is a nonpharmacological therapy of traditional Chinese medicine originating from ancient clinical practice. The research on the treatment of brain diseases by acupuncture has been constantly enriched and updated with the promotion of interdisciplinary research. In order to account for the current achievements in the field of acupuncture for brain diseases, this article reviews it in terms of conception, application, and exploration. Based on the literature review, we found that in the past decades, acupuncture has received widespread attention worldwide and many literatures have reported the clinical efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of brain diseases. Presently, the conception, application, and exploration of acupuncture in the treatment of brain diseases have evolved from empirical medicine to evidence-based medicine and precision medicine, and are experiencing a deeper understanding of the information about acupuncture regulating the brain function based on interdisciplinary research.

A randomized-controlled trial assessing the effect of intraoperative acupuncture on anesthesia-related parameters during gynecological oncology surgery

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

The present study examined the impact of intraoperative acupuncture on anesthesia-related parameters in patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery.

METHODS

Participants underwent preoperative integrative oncology (IO) touch/relaxation treatments, followed by intraoperative acupuncture (Group A); preoperative IO treatments without acupuncture (Group B); or standard care only (Group C). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), MAP variability (mean of MAP standard deviation), bispectral index (BIS), and calculated blood pressure Average Real Variability (ARV) were measured intraoperatively.

RESULTS

A total of 91 patients participated: Group A, 41; Group B, 24; Group C, 26. Among patients undergoing open laparotomy, Group A showed lower and more stable MAP and HR compared to Group B, (MAP, p = 0.026; HR, p = 0.029) and Group C (MAP, p = 0.025). Mean BIS, from incision to suture closing, was lower in Group A (vs. controls, p = 0.024). In patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, MAP was elevated within Group A (p = 0.026) throughout surgery, with MAP variability significantly higher in Group A (P = 0.023) and Group B (P = 0.013) 10 min post-incision (vs. pre-incision). All groups showed similar intraoperative and post-anesthesia use of analgesic medication.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative acupuncture was shown to reduce and stabilize MAP and HR, and reduce BIS in gynecology oncology patients undergoing laparotomy, with no impact on perioperative analgesic medication use. In the laparoscopic setting, intraoperative acupuncture was associated with elevated MAP. Further research is needed to explore the hemodynamic and BIS-associated benefits and risks of intraoperative acupuncture, and the impact on the use of analgesic drugs in response to these changes.

Effects of electroacupuncture on perioperative anxiety and stress response in patients undergoing surgery for gastric or colorectal cancer: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Perioperative anxiety is one of the main psychological stresses experienced by patients who undergo cancer surgery. The surgery itself inevitably causes a stress response characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Both the perioperative anxiety and surgical stress response lead to increased levels of catecholamines and prostaglandins, which may be related to perioperative suppression of antimetastatic immunity and tumor-promoting alterations in the microenvironment. Hence, we designed this clinical trial to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture in reducing perioperative anxiety and surgical stress response.

METHODS

This is a randomized, single-center, parallel, and controlled clinical trial. Seventy-eight participants between the ages of 35 and 85 with gastric or colorectal cancer who plan to undergo tumorectomy will be randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group and a control group. The primary outcome will be the six-item short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score. The secondary outcomes will be the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale score; levels of plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α; first exhaust time after surgery; postoperative quality of the recovery-15 score, numeric rating scale for pain score; and dosage of postoperative analgesics.

DISCUSSION

Cumulative studies revealed the efficacy of various types of acupuncture therapy with regard to reducing the anxiety and stress response caused by surgery. We expect that the results of this trial will provide high-quality clinical evidence for the choice of perioperative acupuncture for patients undergoing cancer surgery.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR200003 7127.

Effect of electroacupuncture on discomfort during gastroscopy: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Gastroscopy procedures are frequently performed under general sedation to minimize discomfort. Patients who refuse a sedative injection may experience more discomfort and adverse reactions such as pain and nausea. These instances reduce patient compliance and willingness to participate in future procedures. Acupuncture has been shown to have an anti-nausea and analgesic effect; however, there is limited data available that demonstrates the efficacy of acupuncture when applied before gastroscopy.

Methods

A total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture (EA) group and the sham electroacupuncture (SEA) group at a ratio of 1:1. Acupuncture treatment will be performed before gastroscopy for a duration of 30 min. All patients will complete detailed questionnaires at 30 min and 7 days post-procedure to record the severity of their symptoms. The primary outcome will be the average of 4 standard visual analogue scale (VAS) scores in the categories of nausea, vomiting, throat discomfort, and agitation as reported by the patient. The secondary outcomes will be patient’s anxiety level as recorded by the 6-item short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S6) and Amsterdam Pre-Operative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), preference in a future endoscopy, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP). Anxiety scales will be assessed before and after acupuncture; others will be completed at 30 min and 7 days post-procedure. The duration of the gastroscopy and the number of biopsies will be recorded after operation.

Discussion

This randomized controlled trial will explore the feasibility of the further clinical application of electroacupuncture for the improvement of patient discomfort during gastroscopy without systemic sedation.

Trial registration

ChiCTR2000040726. This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2020SHL-KY-11). Registration date 12 August 2020.

Effects of acupuncture for relieving preoperative anxiety in adolescents: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Preoperative anxiety is a frequent burden affecting adolescent patients before various surgical procedures. Acupuncture has shown promise for addressing symptoms of preoperative anxiety in adolescents. This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for preoperative anxiety in adolescents.

METHODS

We will search the relevant randomized controlled trials by the following databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, VIP, China Biomedical Literature Database, and TCM Literature Analysis and Retrieval Database. The process of selecting studies, extracting data and evaluating methodological quality will be conducted by 2 researchers independently. We will use Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials to assess the risk of bias of included studies. Statistical analyses will be performed using R (version3.6.3).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No patient's privacy are involved in this study, ethical approval will not be required. Our research results are intended to be published through conference reports and peer-reviewed journals.

INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY2021110096.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies on Acupuncture Therapy in Depression: A Systematic Review

Accumulating studies had been performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to understand the neural mechanism of acupuncture therapy for depression. However, inconsistencies remain due to differences in research designs and MRI analytical methods. Therefore, we aim to summarize the current MRI research and provide useful information for further research by identifying papers published in English and Chinese about MRI studies on acupuncture for depression up to November 2020. A total of 22 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 810 depression patients and 416 health controls (HCs). The applied designs of these studies are mainly random control trial and pre-post designs. The MRI analytical methods are mainly (fractional) amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF/ALFF) and functional connectivity (FC), whereas a small subset of studies used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The most consistent functional MRI (fMRI) results showed increased N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) ratios, increased ALFF in the right precuneus, decreased ALFF in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and increased FC of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In contrast, no significant neurological changes were identified in any of the DTI or VBM studies. However, clear, reliable conclusions cannot be drawn due to the use of different designs, analytical methods, seed points selected, types of depression, acupuncture points, and so on. Improved report specifications, well-designed studies, consistent analytical methods, and larger sample sizes will enable the field to better elucidate the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in depressed patients.

Quantitative Data for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Acupuncture Effectiveness in Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Aim. To evaluate the effects of acupuncture and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) applications on the quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) changes and to evaluate their therapeutic effects in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The study included 42 patients with FMS and 21 healthy volunteers. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups (n=21 in each) to undergo either TENS or acupuncture application. In both acupuncture and TENS groups, baseline electroencephalography (EEG) recording was performed for 10 min and, then, TENS or acupuncture was performed for 20 min, followed by another 10 min EEG recording. Baseline qEEG findings of FMS patients in the TENS and acupuncture groups were similar. Delta and theta powers over the frontal region of FMS patients were lower than controls. Theta powers of right posterior region were also lower than controls. In the TENS group, after the treatment, an increase was observed in the alpha power of the left anterior region as well as a decrease in pain scores. In the acupuncture group, an increase was determined in the alpha power of the right and left posterior regions as well as a decrease in pain score after the treatment. The power of low- and moderate-frequency waves on resting EEG was decreased in the patients with FMS. Decreased pain and increased inhibitor activity were found on qEEG after TENS and acupuncture applications. In conclusion, both TENS and acupuncture applications seem to be beneficial in FMS patients.

Acupuncture or Acupressure on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for Anxiety: A Preliminary Review

Background: Anxiety is a very common psychiatric symptom and can also occur in many physical conditions. Due to the limitations of conventional pharmacotherapy, the discovery of nonpharmacologic treatments that alleviate anxiety effectively is clinically important. Yintang (EX-HN 3), an acupoint located between the eyebrows, is known to have a mentally stabilizing effect in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Objectives: This preliminary review was conducted to investigate the current state of studies using acupressure or acupuncture on EX-HN 3 alone for anxiety, and to explore ways to apply this in clinical settings and future research, including systematic reviews and clinical trials. Materials and Methods: The authors searched 2 electronic medical databases, including PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, up to December 7, 2017, to collect clinical studies that used acupuncture or acupressure on EX-HN 3 only to relieve anxiety. Methodological qualities of included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed by the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and a Jadad scale. Results: Five RCTs were included. Most of the RCTs were aimed at preoperative participants. In this population, the reduction of self-reported anxiety was consistently significant. Conclusions: Acupuncture or acupressure on EX-HN 3 was used mainly to reduce the anxiety of preoperative participants. The simplicity and economics of this intervention suggest the need for future rigorous clinical trials or systematic reviews on this topic. In addition, more experimental studies should be conducted to identify the underlying mechanisms of this anxiolytic effect.

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture for anxiety disorders: A systematic review of the clinical research

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health concerns with a major contribution to the global burden of disease. When not treated, anxiety can be aggravated to more serious and complicated health problems. Pharmacology and psychotherapy stand for the conventional treatment for anxiety disorders but these present limited efficacy, especially in the case of chronic anxiety, with high relapse rates and often causing adverse side effects. Clinical research studies render acupuncture as a valid treatment therapy for anxiety disorders without significant adverse effects. The objective of this paper is to review the literature on the effectiveness of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for the treatment of patients with anxiety disorders in order to find strong scientific evidence for its regular practice in Western culture. The systematic review of the clinical research was focused on published clinical trials (controlled, randomized and non-randomized) regarding the treatment of anxiety with acupuncture. Only clinical trials where anxiety was treated as the therapeutic target, and not as a secondary measurement or being associated with other health condition or disease, were considered. Two authors extracted the data independently and exclusion and inclusion criteria were set. The search rendered 1135 papers addressing anxiety as a primary therapeutic target. After review, 13 papers were identified to match exclusion and inclusion criteria and were selected for this analysis. Methodology, design, and quality of the research were highly variable and are discussed and compared. Overall, there is good scientific evidence encouraging acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety disorders as it yields effective outcomes, with fewer side effects than conventional treatment. More research in this area is however needed.

Acupuncture Reduces Excitability of Spinal Motor Neurons in Patients with Spastic Muscle Overactivity and Chronic Disorder of Consciousness Following Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Spastic hypertonia usually occurs in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC) following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Spinal motor neuron excitability has been reported to increase in patients with brain damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of acupuncture on spinal motor neuron excitability in patients with DOC following TBI by using evoked electromyography.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Eleven male patients (mean age, 33 ± 14 years) with refractory muscle spasticity of the upper extremity accompanying chronic DOC following TBI and admitted to Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction were included.

DESIGN

A crossover study design was used. Changes in variables in the acupuncture session were compared with those in the control session in the same patients.

INTERVENTION

Acupuncture treatment was performed at GV 26, Ex-HN 3, bilateral LI 4, and ST 36 for 10 minutes.

OUTCOME MEASURES

F-wave was recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. The main outcome measure was F/M amplitude ratio (F-wave amplitude/M-wave amplitude), calculated as an index for spinal motor neuron excitability. F-waves were recorded before treatment (baseline), 10 minutes after needle insertion (phase 1), and 10 minutes after needle removal (phase 2). The same procedure was followed in the control session without acupuncture on a separate day.

RESULTS

F/M ratio was significantly reduced from baseline to phase 1 (p < 0.001) and phase 2 (p < 0.001) in the acupuncture session, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control session. Changes in F/M ratio from baseline to phase 1 and phase 2 were greater in the acupuncture session than the control session (p = 0.001 and <0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The excitability of the spinal motor neurons in patients with DOC following TBI was reduced after acupuncture treatment, suggesting that it is beneficial for reducing spastic muscle hypertonia in these patients.

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of a photographic display with and without music on pre-operative anxiety

AIMS

To determine the effectiveness of photographic display at reducing pre-operative anxiety in an ear, nose and throat surgery unit; alone and in combination with music.

BACKGROUND

The waiting time prior to the surgery is often unpleasant and a time of anxiety for patients. Anxiety can affect physical recovery and psychological well-being; lengthening convalescence and hospital stay after the surgery. Improving pre-operative anxiety is a challenge with potential impacts on improving patients' satisfaction and well-being and decreasing the cost of care.

DESIGN

A clinical trial was conducted with two intervention groups and one control group.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 180 subjects from the otolaryngology major ambulatory surgery unit in a tertiary hospital in the province of Granada, with 60 subjects per group. The outcome variables measured were state anxiety, heart and respiratory rate and blood pressure. The data were collected from May-December 2013.

RESULTS

After the intervention, in the comparison between control group and photographic display group, all variables had lower means in the intervention group, although a significant P value was only obtained for respiratory rate using one-way anova test. When comparing control group and photographic display combined with music group, using one-way anova test, all mean values were lower in the intervention group and a significant P value were observed for all variables except diastolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Photographic display in combination with music is more effective at reducing pre-operative anxiety than the standard intervention and photographic display alone.

Evaluation of peripheral perfusion in term newborns before and after Yintang (EX-HN 3) massage

OBJECTIVE

To identify how acupressure on the acupoint Yintang (EX-HN 3) impacts oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and peripheral perfusion in term-born infants without underlying disease.

METHODS

Infants born between weeks 37 and 42 of gestation were included in this study. The polyclinic's neonatology room was noise-controlled and made half-dark to prevent the perfusion index from being confounded. A pulse oximeter was linked to the baby's left lower extremity. Acupressure was applied on Yintang (EX-HN 3) for 30 s clockwise, held for 30 s, and then acupressure was applied for another 30 s counterclockwise. The baby's SaO2, pulse rate, and perfusion index were recorded for each minute before and after acupressure.

RESULTS

When pre- and post-acupressure pulse rate values were compared, a significant decrease in pulse rate values after acupressure application was observed. When pre- and post-acupressure oxygen saturation values were compared, a significant increase in post-acupressure oxygen saturation was observed. In addition, peripheral perfusion increased significantly after acupressure.

CONCLUSION

Acupressure application has been used in traditional medicine for many years. However, it is not yet widely used in modern medicine. This study shows the impact of acupressure on neonatal skin perfusion, oxygen saturation, and pulse rate.

Acupuncture for Functional Dyspepsia: A Single Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial

In order to investigate the therapeutic potential of acupuncture on patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), patients were randomized to receive acupuncture at classic acupoints with manipulations (treatment group) versus acupuncture at nonacupoints without manipulation (control group) once every other day, three times a week, for one month and were followed up for three months. The primary outcomes included dyspeptic symptoms, quality of life, and mental status. The secondary outcomes included the fasting serum gastrin concentration, and frequency and propagation velocity of gastric slow waves. Sixty patients with FD were included, among whom, four dropped out. After one month's treatment, patients with FD showed significant improvements in primary (in both groups) and secondary (in the eight patients of the treatment group) outcomes as compared with baseline (P = 0.0078 to <0.0001); treatment group has better outcomes in all primary outcome measures (P < 0.0001 except for SDS (P = 0.0005)). Improvements on dyspeptic symptoms persist during follow-up (better in the treatment group). Acupuncture with manual manipulation had better effects on improving dyspeptic symptoms, mental status, and quality of life in patients with FD. These effects may be related to the increased frequency and propagation speed of gastric slow waves and serum gastrin secretion.

Acupressure and anxiety in cancer patients

Background:

Anxiety has negative effects on mental and physical performance, quality of life, duration of hospitalization, and even on the treatment of patients with cancer.

Objectives:

Today acupressure is widely used to treat anxiety. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of acupressure on anxiety in patients with cancer.

Patients and Methods:

A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 85 patients hospitalized with 3 groups including acupressure group (n = 27), sham group (n = 28), and control group (n = 30) in the hematologic ward of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Hamadan, Iran, in 2013. The sampling permuted-block randomization with triple block was used. The anxiety of the patients in the experimental, sham, and control groups were measured with Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Then, real acupressure was performed in the experimental group and fake acupressure in the sham group, and only routine care was provided for the control group. Anxiety of the patients was also assessed at 5 and 10 days after the intervention. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by SPSS software using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc least significant difference (LSD) test.

Results:

According to the findings, the mean level of anxiety before the intervention between groups were matched (P > 0.05). Acupressure had a significant influence on the anxiety in the experimental group at 5 (45.30 ± 7.14) and 10 days (43.48 ± 6.82) after the intervention (P < 0.05). However, it did not have a significant impact on their covert anxiety (45.48 ± 7.92 at 5^th day vs 45.63 ± 8.08 at 10th day, P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the fake points regarding overt and covert anxiety of patients in the sham group (overt anxiety; 47.57 ± 7.85 at 5^th day vs. 46.71 ± 7.32 at 10^th day, P > 0.05) (covert anxiety; 47.96 ± 6.33 at 5^th day vs. 46.89 ± 6.94 at 10^th day, P > 0.05). Moreover, the routine care provided for the control group did not have any effect on the overt and covert anxiety of the patients (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Acupressure is recommended as a complementary therapy to reduce anxiety in patients with cancer because of its low cost, safety, and simplicity.

Narrative Review of Perioperative Acupuncture for Clinicians

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of the natural healing arts. The exact mechanisms of action are unknown at this time; however, current theories to explain the benefits experienced after acupuncture include Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine concepts. Acupuncture may improve the quality of perioperative care and reduce associated complications. Perioperative acupuncture is apparently effective in reducing preoperative anxiety, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative pain. The Pericardium-6 (P-6; Nei Guan), Yintang (Extra 1), and Shenmen acupuncture points are the most studied and effective acupuncture points in reducing preoperative anxiety, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative pain experiences. Intraoperatively administered acupuncture may reduce immunosuppression in patients and lessen intraoperative anesthetic requirements, although the clinical usefulness of acupuncture in the intraoperative period remains inconclusive. Perioperative acupuncture is a promising intervention, but additional studies are needed to further understand and define acupuncture's role throughout the perioperative period and determine its clinical usefulness. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief clinical review concerning acupuncture and its application for common issues that occur in the perioperative period.

Accumulated mental stress study using the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine with photoplethysmography

OBJECTIVES

To investigate accumulated mental stress according to the concept of the meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This stress was quantified by using pulse spectrum analysis of finger-tip photoplethysmography (PPG). Stress accumulation is one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease and depression in humans, resulting in chronic physiologic malfunctions; however, few studies have thoroughly assessed the quantitative evaluation of accumulative stress using the concept of TCM.

DESIGN

This study investigated accumulated mental stress from the perspective of TCM based on an 8-day experiment. The theory of organ resonance was integrated into the proposed PPG sensing instrument to capture the nine harmonics of TCM. Participants were given daily mental arithmetic tasks over 1 week to simulate stress accumulation, and trends in the proportion of the nine harmonics of TCM were extracted over several days and analyzed to identify the affective factors related to cumulative stress.

RESULTS

The experimental results showed that the kidney harmonic proportion (C2) and stomach harmonic proportion (C5) were significant only on the first few days because of a physiologic phenomenon of temporary stimulation. Most important, the trend of the liver harmonic proportion (C1) from days 3 to 8 dramatically increased and became gradually saturated because of the influence of accumulated mental stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The results strongly suggest that pulse spectrum analysis of the PPG signal provides physiologically and pathologically important information on accumulated mental stress and can be useful for TCM analysis.

Efficacy of acupuncture in reducing preoperative anxiety: a meta-analysis

Background. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce preoperative anxiety in several previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In order to assess the preoperative anxiolytic efficacy of acupuncture therapy, this study conducted a meta-analysis of an array of appropriate studies. Methods. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL) were searched up to February 2014. In the meta-analysis data were included from RCT studies in which groups receiving preoperative acupuncture treatment were compared with control groups receiving a placebo for anxiety. Results. Fourteen publications (N = 1,034) were included. Six publications, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), reported that acupuncture interventions led to greater reductions in preoperative anxiety relative to sham acupuncture (mean difference = 5.63, P < .00001, 95% CI [4.14, 7.11]). Further eight publications, employing visual analogue scales (VAS), also indicated significant differences in preoperative anxiety amelioration between acupuncture and sham acupuncture (mean difference = 19.23, P < .00001, 95% CI [16.34, 22.12]). Conclusions. Acupuncture therapy aiming at reducing preoperative anxiety has a statistically significant effect relative to placebo or nontreatment conditions. Well-designed and rigorous studies that employ large sample sizes are necessary to corroborate this finding.