Status and strategies analysis on international standardization of auricular acupuncture points

AbstractObjectiveTo supply literature for developing an international standard of auricular acupuncture points.MethodsElectronic database searches were conducted in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP, and the Western databases, Pubmed, the National Science and Technology Library, and the German Journal of Acupuncture, from 1990 to April, 2012. We also searched the documents of international symposiums for auricular acupuncture points (AAPs). Keywords were “auricular points”, “auricular acupuncture points”, “ear points”, or “auriculotherapy”.ResultsBasic and clinical research on AAPs was performed in China, the United States, France, and Germany. Clinical AAP research was done in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Holland, Japan, Russia, and Africa. However, AAP research was not communicated internationally. The World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies recommended international standard of auricular acupuncture points (ISAAPs). Standardized nomenclature and locations of AAPs would provide a solid basis to draft an international standard organization.ConclusionExperts need to find common points from different countries or regions, provide evidence of different ideas, and list the proposal as a recommendation for an international standard

Status and strategies analysis on international standardization of auricular acupuncture points

AbstractObjectiveTo supply literature for developing an international standard of auricular acupuncture points.MethodsElectronic database searches were conducted in the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP, and the Western databases, Pubmed, the National Science and Technology Library, and the German Journal of Acupuncture, from 1990 to April, 2012. We also searched the documents of international symposiums for auricular acupuncture points (AAPs). Keywords were “auricular points”, “auricular acupuncture points”, “ear points”, or “auriculotherapy”.ResultsBasic and clinical research on AAPs was performed in China, the United States, France, and Germany. Clinical AAP research was done in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Holland, Japan, Russia, and Africa. However, AAP research was not communicated internationally. The World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies recommended international standard of auricular acupuncture points (ISAAPs). Standardized nomenclature and locations of AAPs would provide a solid basis to draft an international standard organization.ConclusionExperts need to find common points from different countries or regions, provide evidence of different ideas, and list the proposal as a recommendation for an international standard

The similarities between the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies’ standards for auricular acupuncture points and the European System of Auriculotherapy Points according to Nogier and Bahr

AbstractIntroductionBasic and clinical research on auricular acupuncture points (AAPs) was performed in China, the United States, France and Germany. Clinical auricular acupuncture point (AAP) research was done in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Holland, Japan, Russia, and Africa. This paper is aimed at investigating the similarities of WFAS standard of auricular acupuncture points (AAPs) and European system of AAPs according to Nogier and Bahr.MethodsSimilarities were analyzed from the perspective of name and location of auricular acupuncture points, taking the standards of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS)-Auricular Acupuncture Point, and the European system of auricular acupuncture according to Nogier/Bahr as a reference.ResultsThe location of the acupoints associated with the locomotor system, including shoulder, wrist, elbow, finger, pelvis and buttock, were similar. The reflexed gastrointestinal system on the auricle, including stomach, esophagus, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, appendix, liver, gallbladder and pancreas were also similar, as were the mapping for the urogenital system, including the ureter, urinary bladder, prostate and urethra. For the head region, only the eye point is similar but for the nervous system, including the temple, occiput, sub-cortex and endocrine, locations were similar. An additional twenty-five sub-areas or points, named by the auricular anatomical name, can be listed internationally as more widely acknowledged points.ConclusionThere are twenty-four auricular acupuncture points sharing the same name and similar locations, and twenty-five sub-areas or points which share the auricular anatomical name with different reflexed parts of the body and different therapeutic effects

Effects of Shenque Moxibustion on Behavioral Changes and Brain Oxidative State in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Purpose. To determine whether moxibustion influences the learning and memory behavior of ApoE−/− male mice, and investigate the mechanism of moxibustion on the alteration of oxidized proteins (glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-amyloid) in hippocampus. Methods. Thirty-three ApoE−/− mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=11/group): moxibustion, sham moxibustion, and no treatment control. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice n=13 were used for normal control. Moxibustion was performed with Shenque (RN8) moxibustion for 20 minutes per day, 6 days/week for 12 weeks. In sham control, the procedure was similar except burning of the moxa stick. Behavioral tests (step-down test and Morris water maze task) were conducted in the 13th week. The mice were then sacrificed and the tissues were harvested for immune-histochemical staining. Results. In the step-down test, the moxibustion group had shorter reaction time in training record and committed less mistakes compared to sham control. In immune-histochemical study, the moxibustion group expressed lower level of GFAP and less aggregation of β-amyloid in the hippocampus than the sham control. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that moxibustion may enhance learning capability of ApoE−/− mice. The mechanism may be via inhibiting oxidized proteins (GFAP and β-amyloid) in astrocytes

A desinstitucionalização e as alternativas habitacionais ao dispor de indivíduos com perturbações mentais: Um novo modelo habitacional – A habitação apoiada

Desde o início do processo de desinstitucionalização desinstitucionalização que este se tem vindo a deparar com dificuldades. Passando pelos poucos recursos ao dispor dos serviços de saúde mental, à tendência para trabalhar com os elementos que apresentam maiores probabilidades de sucesso, à não articulação entre os serviços hospitalares e os centros comunitários de saúde mental, até à falta de investimentos em alternativas habitacionais de carácter permanente. Estas têm sido algumas das situações a que os consumidores de serviços de saúde mental se têm sujeitado. Actualmente, assistimos à emergência de um paradigma que assenta na crença de que se deverá prestar apoio a estes consumidores numa casa tipicamente normal, com uma vivência na comunidade, em que o apoio é disponibilizado consoante as necessidades de cada indivíduo sem que exista uma limitação temporal à sua prestação. Torna-se assim necessário criar novos papéis para os técnicos, no sentido de que estes ajudem os consumidores a escolher, a obter, e a manter uma habitação. É pois urgente o desenvolvimento de um conjunto diversificado de alternativas habitacionais que se baseiem nos recursos e capacidades das comunidades locais, no sentido de garantir que o processo de desinstitucionalização se conclua com sucesso. Palavras-chave: desinstitucionalização, habitação apoiada, satisfação dos consumidores, doença mental.ABSTRACT: Since its beginning the deinstitutiondeinstitutionalization process has faced some difficulties, such as the mental health services lack of resources, the trend to work with the individual who presents higher probability of success, the lack of articulation between hospital services and community mental health centers, and the lack of investments on accommodations for long periods of time. These are some of the situations that consumers of mental health services have endured. Nowadays we witness the emerging of a paradigm which lies on the idea that these consumers need to be supported at a ordinary house, living in community, where the support is provided according to each person’s needs, and without a time limit. This paradigm also creates a need for the professionals to find new roles so that they will be able to help the consumers to choose, get, and keep a home. To ensure the success of deinstitutionalization it is vital that the establishment of different alternatives of accommodation be based on communities’ resources and capabilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FMRI connectivity analysis of acupuncture effects on an amygdala-associated brain network

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recently, increasing evidence has indicated that the primary acupuncture effects are mediated by the central nervous system. However, specific brain networks underpinning these effects remain unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study using fMRI, we employed a within-condition interregional covariance analysis method to investigate functional connectivity of brain networks involved in acupuncture. The fMRI experiment was performed before, during and after acupuncture manipulations on healthy volunteers at an acupuncture point, which was previously implicated in a neural pathway for pain modulation. We first identified significant fMRI signal changes during acupuncture stimulation in the left amygdala, which was subsequently selected as a functional reference for connectivity analyses. Our results have demonstrated that there is a brain network associated with the amygdala during a resting condition. This network encompasses the brain structures that are implicated in both pain sensation and pain modulation. We also found that such a pain-related network could be modulated by both verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture. Furthermore, compared with a sham acupuncture, the verum acupuncture induced a higher level of correlations among the amygdala-associated network.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate that acupuncture may change this amygdala-specific brain network into a functional state that underlies pain perception and pain modulation.</p

The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers

A randomized controlled clinical trial in 196 obese subjects was performed to examine the effectiveness of body acupuncture on body weight loss, lipid profile and immunogenic and inflammatory markers. Subjects received authentic (cases) or sham (controls) acupuncture for 6 weeks in combination with a low-calorie diet. In the following 6 weeks, they received the low-calorie diet alone. Subjects were assessed at the beginning, 6 and 12 weeks later. Heat shock protein (Hsps)-27, 60, 65, 70 antibody titers and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also assessed. A significant reduction in measures of adiposity and improvement in lipid profile were observed in both groups, but the levels of anti-Hsp-antibodies decreased in cases only. A reduction in anthropometric and lipid profile in cases were sustained in the second period, however, only changes in lipid profile were observed in the control group. Anti-Hsp-antibodies and hs-CRP levels continued to be reduced in cases but in controls only the reduction in hs-CRP remained. Changes in anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and anti-Hsp-antibodies were more evident in cases. Body acupuncture in combination with diet restriction was effective in enhancing weight loss and improving dyslipidemia