Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on obesity and HbA1c

© 2015 Elsevier GmbH.Introduction: The popularity of acupuncture as a complementary treatment for obesity has been increasing. Its role in body weight reduction (BWR) in obese patients is promising, but no studies have yet examined its effects on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Our aim was to investigate whether acupuncture reduces HbA1c levels, weight and BMI in obese patients. Methods: Patients presenting to the acupuncture clinic for weight loss with a BMI greater than 25 were enrolled into this prospective before and after study. Each patient received 20 sessions of acupuncture therapy delivered by a certified acupuncturist. Weight, BMI and HbA1c levels were measured both before and after the full course of acupuncture treatments for comparison. Comorbid conditions that influence the development of obesity such as diabetes, age and postmenopausal state were reviewed. Results: A total of 42 patients were enrolled into the study mean age of 42.6 ± 11.9 years. Of the 42 patients completing all 20 sessions, the average of body weight was 99.7 ± 21.6 and BWR was 6.9 ± 4.5kg (95% CI, 5.5-8.3; p < 0.001). At the beginning and end of the acupuncture treatment, mean BMI was 38.1 ± 7.6 kg/m2 (25.2-59.5 kg/m2) and 35.4 ± 7.2 kg/m2 (95% CI, 2.1-3.2; p < 0.001), respectively. The mean HbA1c level before and after acupuncture was 5.9 ± 0.8% and 5.7 ± 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1-0.4; p = 0.015), respectively. Conclusions: 20 sessions of acupuncture treatment for obese patients may confer reductions in weight, BMI and HbA1c levels

The Effect of Corticosteroid Therapy on Choroidal Thickness in Patients With Covid-19 Infection: A Prospective, Comparative, and Observational Study

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has many different ocular manifestations. This study evaluates the effects of the disease and the steroid used in this disease on ocular structures. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of Covid-19 and the steroids used in the treatment of severe infection on ocular structures and choroidal thickness. Methods: This prospective study included 76 eyes of 76 patients who were hospitalized due to Covid-19 and 30 eyes of 30 healthy volunteering controls. Group I included 35 eyes who were hospitalized due to moderate-to-severe involvement that received steroid treatment, group II included 41 eyes with moderate involvement that did not require steroid treatment, and group III included 30 eyes with age- and gender-matched control subjects. Ophthalmological examination and imaging results of the patients obtained in the third week and third month after the diagnosis were compared between the groups. Results: Mean age of all participants was 40.2 ± 6.1 years. In the third week after the diagnosis of Covid-19, choroidal thickness in all regions (subfoveal, nasal, and temporal) was significantly greater in group I than in group II (for all, p<0.001). Moreover, choroidal thicknesses were significantly higher in group I and group II than in the control group (for all, p<0.001). In the third month, all the groups had similar choroidal thickness values (for subfoveal, nasal, and temporal; p=0.058, p=0.111, p=0.079, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings showed that Covid-19 infection causes choroidal thickening by affecting the choroidal layer and that steroid treatment further increases this thickness in the acute period. In addition, the reversal of this thickening to the normal level within a period of three months indicates that the effect of the disease on the choroid is reversible

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on obesity and HbA1c

© 2015 Elsevier GmbH.Introduction: The popularity of acupuncture as a complementary treatment for obesity has been increasing. Its role in body weight reduction (BWR) in obese patients is promising, but no studies have yet examined its effects on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Our aim was to investigate whether acupuncture reduces HbA1c levels, weight and BMI in obese patients. Methods: Patients presenting to the acupuncture clinic for weight loss with a BMI greater than 25 were enrolled into this prospective before and after study. Each patient received 20 sessions of acupuncture therapy delivered by a certified acupuncturist. Weight, BMI and HbA1c levels were measured both before and after the full course of acupuncture treatments for comparison. Comorbid conditions that influence the development of obesity such as diabetes, age and postmenopausal state were reviewed. Results: A total of 42 patients were enrolled into the study mean age of 42.6 ± 11.9 years. Of the 42 patients completing all 20 sessions, the average of body weight was 99.7 ± 21.6 and BWR was 6.9 ± 4.5kg (95% CI, 5.5-8.3; p < 0.001). At the beginning and end of the acupuncture treatment, mean BMI was 38.1 ± 7.6 kg/m2 (25.2-59.5 kg/m2) and 35.4 ± 7.2 kg/m2 (95% CI, 2.1-3.2; p < 0.001), respectively. The mean HbA1c level before and after acupuncture was 5.9 ± 0.8% and 5.7 ± 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1-0.4; p = 0.015), respectively. Conclusions: 20 sessions of acupuncture treatment for obese patients may confer reductions in weight, BMI and HbA1c levels