Delivering Acupuncture Therapy in an Interdisciplinary Global Health Setting in Guatemala: Pilot Study and Lessons Learned

Objective

Pain, stress, and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common complaints for Guatemalans seeking health care. Because acupuncture therapy (AT) is a low-cost, effective treatment for these concerns, it was offered to Guatemalans during a health care mission as an adjunct to primary care. The purpose of this study was to gather feedback about providing AT in this context and to describe the lessons that were learned.

Materials and Methods

A pretest single-arm exploratory study design was used, collecting demographic data and administering a pretest to patients referred for AT. Patients received AT according to presenting symptoms, except patients with DM, who were treated with a previously developed auricular AT protocol. After AT, all patients received adhesive seeds for self-administered auricular acupressure, along with a printed diagram, showing where and how to apply them, and a symptom-tracking form.

Results

AT was given to 11 patients (1 had DM; 10 did not). Most were female (9; 82%), older (average 59.27 years; range: 40-81 years), and had little education (average 4 years; range: 0-12 years). Complaints were pain (11; 100%), insomnia (6; 55%), anxiety (4; 36%), depression (7; 64%), and stress (3; 27%). More than 50% had seen health care providers (6; 55%). One person had AT previously and 3 people requested more information about AT before receiving it.

Conclusions

Reporting high symptom burdens, most patients were unfamiliar with AT. AT ceased when the licensed acupuncturist contracted COVID. Patients will be followed in 2023 and AT will be given to collect data on feasibility, satisfaction, and possible implementation.

Effects of monocyte- and macrophage-derived products on granulocyte function in asthma

The pathology of bronchial asthma demonstrates a multicellular process. The airway mucosa is infiltrated with both mononuclear cells and granulocytes, of which the eosinophil is particularly prominent. In order to elucidate the cellular biology of airways inflammation, it is important to understand the interactions between different cells, as well as the biology of each individual cell type. The review highlights the effects of monocyte-macrophage-derived cell products on granulocyte function, because of the evidence for monocyte/macrophage activation in bronchial asthma.