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BackgroundChronic Sciatica is a disabling condition causing considerable medical, social and financial implications. Currently, there is no recognised long-term effective treatment to alleviate sciatica. Acupuncture has been widely used for treating chronic pains with persistent analgesic effects. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic sciatica with follow-up in 52 weeks.Methods and analysisThis is a multicenter randomised sham-controlled trial. A total of 216 patients with chronic sciatica will be enrolled and randomly assigned to the acupuncture or sham acupuncture group. There will be 10 treatment sessions applied in 4 weeks with frequency decreased over time. Patients will complete follow-ups during 52 weeks. The primary outcomes are changes in leg pain intensity and disability from baseline to week 4. Secondary outcomes include back pain intensity, frequency and bothersomeness, quality of life, and global perceived effect. Adverse events will be recorded in detail.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval of this trial was granted from the ethics committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and all study centres (No. 2020BZYLL0803). Written informed consent will be obtained from enrolled patients. Trial results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration numberChiCTR2100044585 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn, registered on 24 March 2021); preresults.

OBJECTIVE To identify the acupoint combinations used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS The clinical literature regarding acupuncture and moxibustion for AD was searched and collected from databases including Chinese Biomedical Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and PubMed. The database of acupuncture and moxibustion prescriptions for AD was established by using Excel software so as to conduct the descriptive analysis, association analysis on the data. RESULTS Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), Fengchi (GB 20), Taixi (KI 3), Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenting (GV 24), Fenglong (ST 40), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Shuigou (GV 26) and Taichong (LR 3) were of higher frequency in the treatment of AD with acupnucture and moxibustion. Most acupoints were selected from the Governor Vessel. The commonly used acupoints were located on the head, face, neck and lower limbs. The combination of the local acupoints with the distal ones was predominated. The crossing points among the specific points presented the advantage in the treatment. The association analysis indicated that the correlation among Fengchi (GB 20)-Baihui (GV 20) was the strongest, followed by combinations of Dazhui (GV 14)-Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23)- Baihui (GV 20) and Neiguan (PC 6)- Baihui (GV 20) and indicated the common rules of the clinical acupoint selection and combination for AD. CONCLUSION Our findings provide a reference for acupoints selection and combination for AD in clinical acupuncture practice.

As the worldwide population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) increases. However, the results of promising medications have been unsatisfactory. Chinese acupuncture has a long history of treating dementia, but lack of evidence from well-designed randomized controlled trials that validate its efficacy and safety, as well as its lack of clear underlying mechanisms, contribute to its limited application in clinical practice. In recent years, brain imaging technologies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, have been used to assess brain responses to acupuncture in a dynamic, visual, and objective way. These techniques are frequently used to explore neurological mechanisms of responses to acupuncture in AD and provide neuroimaging evidence as well as starting points to elucidate the possible mechanisms. This review summarizes the existing brain imaging evidence that explains the effects of acupuncture for AD and analyzes brain responses to acupuncture at cognitive-related acupoints [Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), and Taixi (KI 3)] from perspectives of acupoint specificity and acupoint combinations. Key issues and directions to consider in future studies are also put forward. This review should deepen our understanding of how brain imaging studies can be used to explore the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in AD.

Objective This review aimed to systematically evaluate the evidence on the effects of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) therapy for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods Five databases (CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and PubMed) were searched to identify relevant studies published before June 2017. The outcomes were resumption of menstruation and serum levels of testosterone (T). The methodological quality of the included studies was judged using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The overall level of evidence was judged by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Results Twenty-five randomized controlled trials were included. ACE therapy significantly lowered serum T levels, and patients receiving ACE treatment reported resumption of menstruation. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to a high risk of randomization and blinding bias, and likely publication bias. The level of evidence for resumption of menstruation and serum T levels was assessed as “low” and “low”, respectively, using GRADE. Conclusion The current evidence on ACE therapy for PCOS is insufficient to draw firm conclusions due to the poor methodological quality. Future well-designed trials are needed to validate the therapeutic efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of ACE in patients with PCOS.

Background Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is impaired in people with chronic pain such as knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The purpose of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to investigate whether strong electroacupuncture (EA) was more effective on chronic pain by strengthening the CPM function than weak EA or sham EA in patients with KOA. Methods In this multicenter, three-arm parallel, single-blind randomized controlled trial, 301 patients with KOA were randomly assigned. Patients were randomized into three groups based on EA current intensity: strong EA (> 2 mA), weak EA (

Objective To excavate and analyze the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture for PCOS. Methods A literature search was conducted in databases of Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) and PubMed. All clinical trials evaluating the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were included with or without methods of randomization and/or control. Four authors extracted information and two reviewers recorded information on titles, journals, interventions, main acupoints in self-established Excel sheet. Results The top ten acupoints of acupuncture therapy used most frequently were, by turns, Sānyīnjiāo ( SP 6), Guānyuan ( CV 4), Zhōngji ( CV 3), Zľgōng ( EX-CA 1), Qihai ( CV 6), Zusānlľ ( ST 36), Shenshu ( BL 23), Tiānshū ( ST 25), Guīlai ( ST 29), Zhōngwan ( CV 12). Conclusion Our study indicates that modern acupuncture treatment for PCOS is based on selection of specific acupoints according to traditional Chinese acupuncture theory. Points of spleen meridian, stomach meridian and conception vessel are chosen frequently which are most located on the abdomen and the lower limbs. Specific points used most are the front-mu points, the he -sea points, matching points and the back-shu points.

We investigate the interface between a three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Cd3As2 and a normal metal via soft-point contact spectroscopy measurement. The superconducting gap features were detected below 3.8 K and 7.1 K in the case of Cd3As2 single crystals sputter-coated with the Pt and Au films, respectively, in the differential conductance dI/dV–V plots of the point contacts. As the applied magnetic field increased, the drop in the zero-bias contact resistance shifted toward lower temperatures. The topologically non-trivial band structure of Cd3As2 is considered to play a crucial role in inducing the superconductivity. Apart from realizing superconductivity in topological materials, our creative approach can be used to investigate possible topological superconductivity and exhibits a high application potential in electronic devices.

To observe the clinical efficacy of modified acupuncture at Renying point (ST 9) for patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type and its influence on velocity of cervical blood flow.Fifty-nine cases of vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis were randomly divided into control group (CVSFAS scoring, Vs of LVA, RVA and BA after treatment showed significant improvement compared with those before treatment (The modified acupuncture method at ST 9 is clinically effective in the treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type via increasing the Vs of vertebral-basilar artery, improving the local blood circulation and relieving pain.

We report a systematic study on magnetotransport properties of the single crystal of cadmium (Cd). When the applied magnetic field B is perpendicular to the current I, the resistivities for both directions (I || a, I || c) show field induced metal-to-insulator-like transitions. The isothermal magnetoresistance (MR) at low temperatures increases approximately as the square of the magnetic field without any sign of saturation, and reaches up to 1140000% and 58000% at T = 2 K and B = 9 T for I || a and I || c, respectively. As the magnetic field rotates to parallel to the current, no sign of negative MR is observed for I || a, while an obvious negative MR appears up to −70% at 2 K and 9 T for the current flowing along the c-axis, and the negative longitudinal MR shows a strong dependence of the electrode position on the single crystal. These results suggest that the negative longitudinal MR is caused by the dislocations formed in the process of crystal growing along the c-axis. Further studies are needed to clarify this point.

We report the transport properties of the CaAs3 single crystal, which has been predicted to be a candidate for topological nodal-line semimetals. At ambient pressure, CaAs3 exhibits semiconducting behavior with a small gap, while in some crystals containing tiny defects or impurities, a large "hump" in the resistivity is observed around 230 K. By applying hydrostatic pressure, the samples appear to a tendency towards metallic behavior, but not fully metallized up to 2 GPa. Further high pressure studies are needed to explore the topological characteristics for CaAs3.

Aiming at the limitation problem of constant dynamic parameters for classical vibration absorber, a new cantilever beam-type absorber device is designed which is composed of a continuous beam and mass block, a vibration isolation system model with a beam-type absorber is established, the absorption frequency of the mass block at different positions is calculated. And based on the software of ADAMS, the frequency response characteristics of the system are obtained. Finally, the good vibration absorption of the beam absorber is verified. The results show that the feasibility and effectiveness of cantilever beam-type absorber is confirmed, and the dynamic vibration absorber with continuous adjustable parameters is achieved.

Traditionally assembly cost models are established through static spreadsheet algorithms. However, there are some inherent problems in using spreadsheets for the estimation of manufacturing cost. Among these is the lack of accounting for dynamic effects caused by stochastic variation such as inventory fluctuation, downtimes, supply interruptions, and system failures. Therefore, a dynamic cost estimation model is proposed which can be seen as an integration method between spreadsheet modeling and the virtual plant concept, which maintained the accessibility and flexibility of the spreadsheet model, and did not require a significant increase in the effort level to build a simulation. However, it still includes the effects of interaction between machines, along with simulating random failures, maintenance dispatch and repair. A case study is also tested and the results verify that the methodology demonstrates the feasibility of dynamic cost model based on a number of improvements on static spreadsheet algorithms

Previous research on crystallization processes has demonstrated that through tracking an optimum temperature or supersaturation profile obtained through optimisation using a multi-dimensional or morphological population balance (M-PB) model, the shape of rod-likeL-Glutamic acid crystals, as defined as the ratio between the mean length and the mean width, can be optimized and close-loop controlled. The current paper is concerned with optimization and control of shape distribution for a population of crystals grown from solution. An optimisation algorithm was applied to an M-PB model developed for L-glutamic acid crystallisation to find the optimal profile of supersaturation that leads to the desired shape distributionof β-form rod-like product crystals. A closed-loop feedback control system was designed to control the solution concentration to track the optimum trajectory. On a one litre crystalliser, it was demonstrated that crystals of different shape distributions can be obtained using the developed closed-loop control methodology.

We report the magnetoresistance (MR), de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect and Hall effect measurements on a single crystal of TiSi, which is predicted to be a nodal line semimetal. With application of a magnetic field, a metal-to-insulator-like transition in ρ(T) and a nonsaturating MR are observed at low temperatures. The dHvA oscillations reveal a small Fermi-surface pocket with a nontrivial Berry phase. The analysis of the nonlinear Hall resistivity shows that TiSi is a multiband system with low carrier densities and high mobilities. All these results unambiguously prove the existence of Dirac fermions in TiSi.

Rhodiola L. has a long history as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a medicinal efficacy similar to Ginseng and Manyprickle Acathopanax roots. There exist three classes of important active constituents, i.e., phenylethanoids (salidroside, p-tyrosol), phenylpropanoides (rosarin, rosavin, rosin), and monoterpene (rosiridin) in this TCM. In this study, by optimizing the extraction, separation and analytical conditions, a sensitive and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of the six active compounds in the different species of Rhodioa L. for the first time. The analysis was performed on a Purospher STAR C18 column at 30 °C using 20 mmol L−1 aqueous ammonia acetate/methanol gradient system at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1 and photodiode array detection (DAD ) at wavelengths 276, 250 and 205 nm, respectively. The optimized method provided good linear relation (r2 > 0.9993 for all the target compounds), satisfactory precision (RSD values less than 1.53%) and good recovery (from 96.3–104.8%). The limits of detection ranged between 0.012 and 0.047 μg mL−1 for the different analytes. The developed method has been successfully applied to analysis and quality control of Rhodiola L.

To observe the clinical efficacy difference in treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD) between syndrome differentiation based acupuncture and ordinary acupuncture.Seventy FD patients were assigned to a syndrome differentiation based acupuncture group (Group A) and an ordinary acupuncture group (Group B) by Excel Software randomization. Zhongwan (RN12 ), Tianshu (ST25), and Zusanli (ST36) were needled as main points for patients in Group A. Meanwhile, different combined acupoints were needled according to syndrome differentiation. Only the same main points were needled for patients in Group B. All patients were needled once per day, 30 min each time, 6 days as one treatment cycle, 2 treatment cycles in total. Fasting serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were determined before treatment and after 2 treatment cycles. 36-item Short-form Heath Survey (SF-36) and Nepean Dyspepsia Index [NDI, including Nepean Dyspepsia Symptom Index (NDSI) and Nepean Dyspepsia Life Quality Index (NDLQI)] were assessed before treatment, after 2 treatment cycles, and one month after treatment.Compared with before treatment in the same group, serum levels of GAS and MLT increased in the two groups after 2 treatment cycles (P0. 05), but changes were more obvious in Group A (P0. 05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, SF-36 and NDLQI score increased, and NDSI score decreased in the two groups after 2 treatment cycles and 1 month after treatment (all P0. 05). Compared with Group B, SF-36 and NDLQI score increased in Group A after 2 treatment cycles and 1 month after treatment (P0. 05, P0. 01). But NDSI score at 1 month after treatment was lower in Group A than in Group B (P0.01).Syndrome differentiation based acupuncture could evidently improve dyspeptic symptoms of FD patients, and significantly improve their quality of life with remarkable curative effect.

To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on post-stroke insomnia between the low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints and the conventional western medication.One hundred and twenty patients of post-stroke insomnia were randomized into a low-frequency electric stimulation group, a medication group and a placebo group, 40 cases in each one. In the low-frequency electric stimulation group, the low-frequency electric-pulsing apparatus was used at Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenshu (BL 23), once a day; the treatment of 15 days made one session and 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, estazolam was taken orally, 1 mg each time. In the placebo group, starch capsules were taken orally, 1 capsule each time. All the drugs were taken before sleep every night, continuously for 15 days as one session, and 2 sessions were required. PSQI changes and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in each group.Pitlsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score was reduced in every group after treatment (all P0.01). In the low-frequency electric stimulation group and medication group, the score was reduced much more significantly as compared with the placebo group (both P0.01). In the placebo group, 1 case was rejected. The total effective rates were 95.0% (38/40), 92.5% (37/40) and 17.9% (7/39) in the low-frequency electric stimulation group, medication group and placebo group separately. The efficacy in the low-frequency electric stimulation group and medication group was better apparently than that in the placebo group (both P0.01).The low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints effectively and safely treats post-stroke insomnia and the efficacy of it is similar to that of estazolam.

To observe effects of syndrome-differentiation acupuncture on life quality in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy.One hundred and five cases of FD were randomly divided into a syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, a regular acupuncture group and a non-acupoint group, 35 cases in each one. Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. After syndrome differentiation, Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhangmen (LR 13) were added for those with stagnation of liver qi; Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) were added for those with deficiency of spleen-stomach qi; Qimen (LR 14) and Taichong (LR 3) were added for liver-qi invading stomach and Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Neiting (ST 44) were added for dampness-heat blocking stomach. The selection of acupoints in the regular acupuncture group was the same as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. The points 10 mm lateral to the main acupoints were selected in the non-acupoint group. The treatment was given once a day, six days as a treatment course and totally two courses were required. The symptom total score, health-related quality of life survey (SF-36) and Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) were evaluated before and after the treatment as well as one month after the treatment (follow-up visit), respectively. The efficacy was also assessed.After the treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5% (28/32) in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, which was superior to 74.2% (23/31) in the regular acupuncture group and 20.7% (6/29) in the non-acupoint group (P0.05, P0.01). Compared before the treatment, the SF-36, NDI and symptom total score after the treatment and in the follow-up visit were all obviously improved in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group and regular acupuncture group (all P0.05), which was the most obvious in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group [after the treatment, SF-36: 84.54 +/- 5.93 vs 81.44 +/- 6.22, 63.46 +/- 6.59; NDSI: 18.94 +/- 9.30 vs 21.23 +/- 8.39, 43.93 +/- 11.26; NDLQI: 71.42 +/- 7.23 vs 63.11 +/- 7.06, 54.87 +/- 6.00; symptom total score: 22.06 +/- 15.80 vs 32.52 +/- 16.88, 47.97 +/- 10.92]; the improvement in the regular acupuncture group was more obvious than that in the non-acupoint group (P0.01, P0.05). Compared before the treatment, only NDSI score was improved in the non-acupoint group after the treatment (P0.05).The syndrome-differentiation acupuncture could obviously improve patient's life quality in the treatment of FD, which is an effective therapy for FD.

To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Quchi (LI 11) on blood pressure and blood plasma catecholamines in the patient of essential hypertension and to investigate the mechanism.Sixty cases of essential hypertension were randomly divided into an EA group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). In the EA group, bilateral Quchi (LI 11) were selected; and in the control group, western medicine Nicardipine was taken. The variation of blood pressure and blood plasma catecholamines were examined before and after the treatment.(1) After treatment, there were significant reduction in the levels of systolic blood pressure and diastole blood pressure in both groups (P0.01); (2) After treatment, significant reduction in levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline were also found in both groups (P0.01), however, no significant differences in the level of dopamine were observed in both groups (P0.05); (3) The effective rate of 66.7% in the EA group was similar to that of 70.0% in the control group (P0.05).Both EA at Quchi (LI 11) and western medicine are able to beneficially regulate blood pressure of patients with essential hypertension through adjusting blood plasma catecholamines.

To investigate the effects of scalp-acupuncture on intelligence in patients with vascular dementia (VaD).A total of 108 VaD patients were randomly divided into two groups: scalp-acupuncture group and Western medicine group. The scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blesse Dementia Scale (BDS), Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS), Abilities of Daily Life (ADL) before and after treatment in the two groups were detected.A total of 92 patients completed the treatment. The scores of MMSE, BDS and HDS in the two groups were significantly increased, and the ADL scores significantly declined (P0.05). There was no difference in the scores of MMSE, BDS, HDS and ADL between the two groups before and after the treatment. There was no difference in the total effectiveness between the two groups (P0.05).Scalp-acupuncture therapy could improve the clinical intelligence level of VaD patients.

Background Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) has a significant effect on acute pain, but it has not solved the clinical problem of the chronification of acute pain. Diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) function as a reliable indicator to predict the risk of chronic pain events. DNIC function in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients has been demonstrated to gradually decrease during the development of chronic pain. The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine if EA can repair impaired DNIC function and thus prevent chronification of the acute pain of KOA. Methods/Design This is a multicenter, single blind, randomized, controlled, three-arm, large-scale clinical trial. A total of 450 KOA patients will be randomly assigned to three groups. The strong EA group will receive EA with high-intensity current (2 mA