Microcurrent stimulation at shenmen acupoint facilitates EEG associated with sleepiness and positive mood: a randomized controlled electrophysiological study

Effectiveness of Acupressure for Fatigue Alleviation in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Fatigue, a major health concern among patients receiving hemodialysis, is associated with poor quality of life, negative emotions, and cognitive dysfunction. Acupressure is a low-cost and noninvasive traditional Chinese therapy that has been widely used in community and clinic settings. However, the beneficial effects of acupressure on various aspects of fatigue among these patients have not been systematically investigated.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to determine the effects of acupressure on fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis. The moderating influences of bio-sociodemographic characteristics and methodology on the association between acupressure and posthemodialysis fatigue were also examined.

METHODS

Four electronic databases were searched for qualified articles published between database inception and November 2, 2022. Only randomized controlled trials designed to investigate the effects of acupressure on fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis were qualified for consideration. A random-effects model was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Eight randomized controlled trials with 11 effect sizes and 725 participants were included in this study. In these studies, acupressure was found to have a significantly higher alleviation effect on general fatigue (g = -0.78; 95% confidence interval [-1.09, -0.48]) and the behavioral, emotional, sensory, and cognitive domains of fatigue (g = -0.51, -0.51, -0.72, and -0.41, respectively) among patients receiving hemodialysis than those in the control groups. Furthermore, the stimulation of the Shenmen acupoint was found to increase the effects (p < .01) of acupressure on fatigue reduction significantly. Notably, the use of special equipment to perform the acupressure was not found to significantly improve outcomes (p = .99).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Acupressure is effective in alleviating fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis, particularly when the Shenmen acupoint is used together with other acupoints, and is effective without the application of special equipment. Acupressure may be adopted as a complementary therapy for fatigue alleviation in patients receiving hemodialysis. Based on the findings, healthcare providers should coach patients receiving hemodialysis with fatigue on how to use acupressure therapy appropriately to alleviate this health concern.

Development of Home Beauty Devices for Facial Rejuvenation: Establishment of Efficacy Evaluation System

Background

Home beauty devices for facial rejuvenation utilizing technologies such as radiofrequency, microcurrent, and light emitting diode have gained widespread attention due to their claimed ability to improve skin tightness and elasticity, making them popular among consumers. However, there is controversy within the industry regarding the effectiveness and safety of these devices.

Objective

This study aims to verify the safety and effectiveness of these home beauty devices in treating skin aging based on relevant efficacy evaluation indicators.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed and web of science was conducted to include original research literature on the efficacy of home beauty devices for facial rejuvenation over the past two decades. The selected literature was processed and analyzed based on efficacy evaluation indicators such as sample size, follow-up period, experimental results, adverse reactions, and others.

Results

After screening, a total of 18 clinical studies were included. A comprehensive analysis of the experimental results and adverse reaction indicators from existing literature revealed that home beauty devices for facial rejuvenation can improve skin aging to a certain extent. Apart from transient redness and swelling, no other adverse reactions were observed.

Conclusion

Despite the variety of home beauty devices for facial rejuvenation available in the market, corresponding research reports are limited. Existing studies suffer from issues such as small sample sizes and short follow-up periods, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive efficacy evaluation system. Furthermore, the physical stimulation of meridian acupoints by home beauty devices for facial rejuvenation may meet the multi-dimensional anti-aging needs of patients, suggesting a potential direction for future research.

Efficacy of electrophysical agents in fibromyalgia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effectiveness of electrophysical agents in fibromyalgia.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PEDro, and Web of Science were searched from their inceptions to March 27, 2023.

METHODS

This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022354326). Methodological quality of included trials was assessed using PEDro scale, and the quality of evidence was determined according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. The primary outcomes were pain, functional status, and mood.

RESULTS

Fifty-four studies involving 3045 patients with fibromyalgia were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 47 (pain), 31 (functional status), and 26 (mood) for network meta-analysis. The network consistency model revealed that, when compared with true control, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and microcurrent improved pain symptoms (P = 0.006 and P = 0.037, respectively); repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improved patient functional status (P = 0.018); and microcurrent (P = 0.001), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (P = 0.022), and no treatment (P = 0.038) significantly improved mood after intervention. Surface under the cumulative ranking indicated that microcurrent was most likely to be the best for managing pain and mood (surface under the cumulative ranking: 70% and 100%, respectively); low-level laser therapy for pain and mood (80% and 70%, respectively); and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for improving functional status and mood (80% and 70%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This review found low to moderate quality evidence that microcurrent, laser therapy, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation are the most effective electrophysical agents for improving at least one outcome in fibromyalgia.

The effect of auriculotherapy on improving sleep quality in postmenopausal women aged 45-60 years: A clinical trial study

BACKGROUND

Menopause is one of the developmental stages of women. One of the most common problems during this period is sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can affect the quality of life of these people. To improve sleep disorders, auriculotherapy has received less attention due to its low cost and effectiveness, and side effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of auriculotherapy on improving sleep quality in postmenopausal women aged 45-60 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study is a clinical trial study that was performed on 82 postmenopausal women aged 45-60 years under the auspices of health centers in Mahshahr city, Iran from 2021-2022. Women with inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control). The intervention group underwent auriculotherapy for 4 weeks. The St. Petersburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire was completed by both groups at the beginning and 4 weeks after the start of the intervention. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 and independent t-test, paired t-test and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

At the beginning of the study, both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic variables. The results of data analysis using independent t-test showed that before the intervention, mental quality (P = 0.513), length of incubation period (P = 0.285), sleep duration (P = 0.121), sleep efficiency (P = 0.513), sleep disorders (P = 0.685), use of sleeping pills (P = 0.530), daily functioning (P = 0.60), and overall sleep quality score (P = 0.30) in the control and intervention groups were not statistically significant. However, comparing the mean scores after the intervention in the control and intervention groups showed that mental quality (P < 0.001), incubation period (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P < 0.001), sleep efficiency (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P < 0.001), use of hypnotics (P = 0.002), daily functioning (P = 0.001), overall sleep quality score (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P = 0.822), sleep efficiency (P = 0.889), sleep disorders (P = 0.889), use of sleeping pills (P = 1.00), daily performance (P = 0.767), overall sleep quality score (P = 0.69) were statistically significant between the two groups. In-group comparison using paired t-test in the control group showed that mental quality (P = 0128), length of the incubation period (P = 1.00), and before and after the intervention did not differ significantly in the mean scores. However, a within-group comparison in the intervention group showed that mental quality (P < 0.001), incubation period (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P < 0.001), sleep efficiency (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P = 0.003), use of sleeping pills (P = 0.007), daily functioning (P < 0.001), and overall sleep quality score (P < 0.001) before and after the intervention had a significant difference in the mean scores.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that auriculotherapy has significant effectiveness in improving the quality of sleep, and its dimensions and can be used as an effective method in this area that can be implemented at a low cost and easily. According to reports from participants and previous studies in this field, auriculotherapy did not have any side effects and can be used as a safe way to improve sleep quality.

Self-Rated Recovery and Mood Before and After Resistance Training and Muscle Microcurrent Application

Background

Resistance training (RT) can offer beneficial physiological and psychological effects. The regular continuation of this exercise can be accomplished by improving the recovery and mood after a workout. Frequency-specific microcurrent (microstimulation) might offer a solution here as it has been shown to improve physical injuries, mood state, and sleep. However, knowledge is lacking about the impact of microstimulation after RT on said parameters. The present study aimed to test the effects of RT and muscle-microstimulation on mood and physical recovery in healthy men after performing conventional deadlifts, which is a type of RT.

Methods

The study was conducted according to a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and two-way crossover study. Twenty participants naïve to microstimulation (MS) engaged in RT twice on separate days. They were randomized to receive MS on 1 day and no microstimulation (Sham-MS) on another day. Before and after the workout and after their treatment (MS or Sham-MS), participants self-rated their mood state and mental and physical exhaustion levels.

Results

Findings showed that MS increased the self-ratings of well-rested and sociable and, most importantly, reduced the feeling of exercise-induced exhaustion. There were no MS effects on ratings of feeling sad, happy, or exhausted, although the workout, independent of MS, negatively influenced the level of exhaustion.

Conclusion

The combination of enhanced sociableness, reduced fatigue, and exercise-induced exhaustion after a workout, followed by microstimulation, has important implications for professional sporters and nonprofessionals who try to get the best result after a workout. Future studies using a double-blind approach including different types of exercises, different durations of programs, and both sexes can shed more light on the full potential of microstimulation after a workout on mood state and exercise-induced exhaustion.

Auricular Acupressure Therapy for Patients with Cancer with Sleep Disturbance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

We aim to provide available synthesized evidence of the efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure for cancer patients with sleep disturbance.

Methods

Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were identified from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, and Wanfang Data, and the search date ranged from the inception of the databases to May 2021. Literature screening and data extraction were independently performed by three researchers. The Cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias was applied to evaluate the risk of bias of the RCTs included. The extracted data were analyzed using Rev-Man 5.4.1 software.

Results

Nine trials involving 688 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis; 6 trials involving 485 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Synthesized results showed that auricular acupressure had a significant effect on reducing the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (MD = −3.88, 95% CI (−5.24, −2.53), P < 0.00001), and the scores of five PSQI components, sleep latency (MD = −0.53, 95% CI (−0.73, −0.32), P < 0.00001), subjective sleep quality (MD = −0.79, 95% CI (−1.05, −0.53), P < 0.00001), sleep duration (MD = −0.50, 95% CI (−0.69, −0.31), P < 0.0001), daytime dysfunction (MD = −0.53, 95% CI (−0.77, −0.29), P < 0.0001), and sleep disturbances (MD = −0.54, 95% CI (−0.60, −0.49), P < 0.00001), were also obviously decreased after the intervention of auricular acupressure. Shenmen and heart were the most commonly selected auricular acupoints, the main intervention durations ranged from 10 to 42 days, and the pressing times of auricular acupoints were 1–6 times a day, 1–5 min each time. One trial reported slight and transient pain caused by auricular acupressure, while the remaining 8 trials did not report obvious side effects.

Conclusion

Auricular acupressure can significantly improve the sleep quality of cancer patients with sleep disturbance, with no obvious side effects. Rigorously designed clinical trials are necessary for the further support of the clinical application.

Research on the Specificity of Electrophysiological Signals of Human Acupoints Based on the 90-Day Simulated Weightlessness Experiment on the Ground

Acupoint specificity for diseases has consistently been the focus of acupuncture research owing to its excellent prospects for clinical diagnosis and treatment. However, the specificity of cardiovascular and sleep functions in terms of electrical signals at acupoints remains unclear. In this study, five volunteers were recruited and their electrophysiological signals of GV20 (baihui), RN17 (danzhong), PC6 (neiguan), and SP6 (sanyinjiao) and the corresponding sham points, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, blood pressure, and echocardiography were monitored over four periods of 90-day head-down bed rest (HDBR). The results demonstrated that the power and characteristic amplitude of the acupoints were more significant than those of the sham points under normal conditions. And along with the altered physiological condition of the body after HDBR, the differential signal characteristic amplitude (DSCA) and the power of the acupoints were decreased to a larger extent than those of the sham points. In addition, the difference between the power of acupuncture and sham points was also reduced. During the recovery period, except for GV20, the power and DSCA of other acupoints did not return to normal. In terms of DSCA, GV20 is related to human sleep function and other acupoints are related to cardiovascular function. The above results show that the electrophysiological signals of acupoints are disease-specific and more accurately reflect the changes of physiological homeostasis. The research conduces to the development of acupuncture-based disease diagnosis and treatment integrated methods, and the realization of the portable and accurate diagnosis and regulation of diseases in space medicine.

Low-Frequency Magnetic Stimulation of Shenmen Acupoint Reduces Blood Oxygen Levels in the Prefrontal Cortex of Healthy Subjects: A Near-Infrared Brain Functional Imaging Study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of low-frequency magnetic stimulation at Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint on blood oxygen levels in the prefrontal cortex of healthy subjects.

METHODS

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology was used to collect real-time data of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in the prefrontal cortex of 16 healthy subjects at resting state and low-frequency magnetic stimulation of Shenmen. The mean and integral values of blood oxygen concentration were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with the resting state, the mean and integral values of blood oxygen concentration were decreased during the task period, recovery period, and the whole process in the magnetic stimulation of Shenmen acupoint (P<0.05). In particular, the difference was statistically significant in the recovery period (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prefrontal cortex was widely activated and produced an immediate effect by reducing the local blood oxygen concentration at low-frequency magnetic stimulation of Shenmen acupoint, which verifies the sedative effect of Shenmen acupoint.

The Application of Laser Acupuncture in Animal Experiments: A Narrative Review of Biological Aspects

Experimental studies on animals are conducted in almost all areas of medical research. The experiments offer insights into diseases and expand biomedical knowledge. Animal experiments are also imperative for studying acupuncture treatment mechanisms and the exploration of innovative acupuncture techniques. Laser acupuncture (LA), as a promising alternative to traditional manual acupuncture (MA), has the characteristics of painless and controllable stimulation. Today, society is more aware of animal welfare than previous generations. The use of noninvasive LA as a substitute for invasive MA in basic experimental research of acupuncture should be encouraged. Thus, we conducted an overview of animal experiments in the research field of LA from January 1978 to April 2020. After careful research, 52 studies were included in the work. Among these studies, both single-point and multipoint LA studies have been reported. To make noninvasive LA better in replacing invasive MA in experimental animal research of acupuncture, further experiments should focus on exploring uniform criteria for selecting laser parameters and revealing the extent to which the curative effect of LA depends on the property of acupuncture points rather than the characteristics of photobiomodulation.

Auricular acupressure as a complementary therapy for psoriasis vulgaris: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis vulgaris is a common skin disease characterized by persistent localized erythematous scaly plaques, typically on the elbows, knees, and scalp. It is an immune-abnormal disease that progresses slowly over a long period with frequent symptom recurrence. Current studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective therapy for psoriasis. However, the scientific evidence of the efficacy of auricular acupressure treatment for patients with psoriasis is still insufficient. Therefore, we designed a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the effect, safety, and cost-effectiveness of auricular acupressure in addition to medication in patients with psoriasis.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This on-going study is a two-arm parallel, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial in which 180 participants with psoriasis will be recruited and then randomly allocated into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Equal randomization will be conducted using a computer-generated random allocation sequence. Participants in the intervention group will receive auricular acupressure treatment once per week for 4 weeks, and calcipotriol betamethasone ointment for topical use once daily for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group will receive only calcipotriol betamethasone ointment treatment once daily for 4 weeks. All patients will be followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is relapse rate. The secondary outcomes include time to relapse, rebound rate, time to new onset, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score improvement rate, body surface area affected, a visual analogue scale, and Dermatology Life Quality Index. Cost-effectiveness analysis will be carried out from a health and community care provider perspective.

DISCUSSION

This multicenter randomized controlled trial will provide important clinical evidence for the effect and safety of auricular acupressure as a complementary therapy in patients with psoriasis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-14004916 . Registered on 20 May 2014. This protocol is version 3.0 which was updated on 24 September 2016.