Auricular acupressure for overweight and obese individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Effects of traditional Chinese medicines on weight management among adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Increasing evidence has reported the anti-obesity effects of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and their potential advantages in weight loss, such as fewer side effects and lower costs compared to the current recommended treatments like Western medicines. Previous review studies have examined the effects of a few commonly used TCM therapies such as acupuncture and herbal medicines on weight loss. This network meta-analysis (NMA) study aims to review and rank the effects of currently available TCMs on weight loss and to compare the effects of TCMs with different intervention durations. Eligible Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted among Chinese adults with overweight or obesity were searched on electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and SinoMed) up to 1 March 2023. Pairwise meta-analysis was performed to examine the pooled effects of TCMs on weight loss, and NMA was conducted to rank different types of TCMs. Subgroup analysis stratified by intervention duration was performed. Forty-six RCTs were eligible for inclusion in the review. The results showed that TCMs, especially when the treatment duration was ≤6 months, were more effective in both body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) reduction than non-pharmacological interventions and placebo/no treatment. Acupotomy was ranked as the most effective TCM treatment in reducing both body weight and BMI. Traditional Chinese medicines have promising potential for weight loss and could be included in future clinical guidance as a standalone or supplementary treatment for obesity. Future studies need to further investigate under-researched TCMs, examine the long-term effects and safety of TCMs in obesity treatment, and validate the findings from this study among other ethnic populations.

[Deep learning approach for automatic segmentation of auricular acupoint divisions]

The automatic segmentation of auricular acupoint divisions is the basis for realizing intelligent auricular acupoint therapy. However, due to the large number of ear acupuncture areas and the lack of clear boundary, existing solutions face challenges in automatically segmenting auricular acupoints. Therefore, a fast and accurate automatic segmentation approach of auricular acupuncture divisions is needed. A deep learning-based approach for automatic segmentation of auricular acupoint divisions is proposed, which mainly includes three stages: ear contour detection, anatomical part segmentation and keypoints localization, and image post-processing. In the anatomical part segmentation and keypoints localization stages, K-YOLACT was proposed to improve operating efficiency. Experimental results showed that the proposed approach achieved automatic segmentation of 66 acupuncture points in the frontal image of the ear, and the segmentation effect was better than existing solutions. At the same time, the mean average precision (mAP) of the anatomical part segmentation of the K-YOLACT was 83.2%, mAP of keypoints localization was 98.1%, and the running speed was significantly improved. The implementation of this approach provides a reliable solution for the accurate segmentation of auricular point images, and provides strong technical support for the modern development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Inequalities in access to integrative and complementary health practices in Brazil: National Health Survey, 2019

Aim

Integrative and complementary practices (PICs) can be important health care strategies, mainly because they consider the integrality of the person. The objective of this article was to verify the inequality in the access to PICs of the Brazilian population based on data from the National Health Survey (PNS).

Subject and methods

This is a population-based cross-sectional study, with data from the 2019 PNS. The use of PICs in the past 12 months was investigated. Adjusted analysis was performed using Poisson regression and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Concentration Index (CIX) were used to assess absolute and relative inequality.

Results

The prevalence of PIC use in Brazil was 5.4% (95%CI 5.3; 5.5). Individuals from the richest quintile, with higher education and with health insurance were more likely to use PICs in general, except for medicinal plants/herbal medicine. When observing the magnitude of inequalities, this was more positively accentuated in those with higher education and who had a private health plan.

Conclusion

The results reveal social inequalities in the access to integrative practices, where the most elitist are more accessed by people with better socioeconomic conditions.

Auricular Acupressure Effect on Autonomic Responses Evoked by a Cold Pressor Test in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study

Objective

This pilot study was conducted to investigate changes in the pulse rate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers after applying auricular acupressure at the "heart acupoint."

Methods

A total of 120 healthy volunteers with hemodynamic indexes within normal limits were randomly allocated into 4 groups to receive auricular acupressure treatment either at the heart acupoint of the left or the right, or in both ears, and one control group without applying auricular acupressure.

Results

Before the application of auricular acupressure, there were no statistical differences in pulse rate and blood pressure increments among the four groups during the first cold pressor test. In groups in which auricular pressure was applied, the pulse rate was significantly reduced after the application of auricular acupressure in three groups; however, no statistically significant difference was detected among the groups. Changes in blood pressure were not statistically significant in or among the different groups after applying auricular acupressure. The average recorded pulse rate values during the second cold pressor test (after auricular acupressure) were significantly lower compared to the corresponding values taken during the first cold pressor test (before auricular acupressure) (p < 0.05); however, pulse rate increments during the two cold pressor tests (with and without auricular acupressure) were similar (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that auricular acupressure could be used as an adjunctive nonpharmacological method for reducing the pulse rate.

Comparison of Chinese Acupressure with Traditional Iranian Medicine Along with Aerobic Exercise on Weight Loss and Serum Lipid Factors in Obese and Overweight Women

Background: Overweightness and obesity were major health problems in the last century. Chinese acupressure, traditional Iranian medicine, and aerobic exercise are low-risk and low-cost methods for its prevention and treatment. Objectives: The purpose of this study was a comparison of six weeks of Chinese acupressure with traditional Iranian medicine along with aerobic exercise on body weight and serum lipid factors in obese and overweight women. Methods: In this applied study, 24 obese and overweight women with a BMI above 25 were randomly divided into two groups of 12: Chinese acupressure and Iranian traditional medicine with aerobic exercise. In the Chinese acupressure group, the ear acupressure method was used using herbal seed and in the traditional Iranian medicine group, the lunch elimination method was used. The aerobic exercise program of the two groups was performed for six weeks, three sessions per week, and each session lasted 60 minutes with moderate intensity. Body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, lipid factors, blood sugar, blood pressure, and nutritional status of the subjects were measured before and after the study and were analyzed using independent and dependent t-tests. Results: The results of the present study showed that in the Chinese acupressure group, along with aerobic exercise, lipid factors improved, and body weight decreased. In the traditional Iranian medicine group, along with aerobic exercise, lipid factors improved, while blood pressure and blood sugar decreased significantly. In the intergroup results, there was a significant difference only in the blood sugar variable. Conclusions: Both Iranian and Chinese medicine, along with aerobic exercise, had a relatively similar effect on the variables.

Comparative Effectiveness of East Asian Traditional Medicine for Childhood Simple Obesity: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Childhood obesity leads to various comorbidities and usually persists into adulthood, increasing socioeconomic burden. In the absence of a clearly effective treatment, East Asian traditional medicine (EATM) therapies have been widely used. We aimed to analyze the comparative effectiveness and safety of EATM techniques for children with simple obesity through network meta-analysis (NMA). Twelve databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of EATMs on childhood simple obesity. Individual EATMs were ranked based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. The risk of bias in the individual studies and publication bias in the NMA were evaluated. Thirty-three RCTs were included. Acupuncture, chuna, chuna plus acupressure, cupping plus acupressure, herbal medicine (HM), and HM plus acupuncture significantly reduced BMI compared with lifestyle management. Based on the treatment ranking, cupping plus acupressure was optimal for BMI reduction compared with a non-medical management, followed by chuna and HM. The quality of evidence for individual findings was usually moderate to low, and no serious adverse events of EATM were reported. Cupping plus acupressure might have a large beneficial effect, and chuna or HM probably have a moderate beneficial effect on reducing BMI in children with simple obesity.

Acupuncture Therapies for Individuals with Overweight or Obesity: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

PURPOSE

An increasing number of people are affected by overweight or obesity, and the personal and social health burden is growing rapidly. Acupuncture is gaining popularity as an alternative treatment to manage weight. This research aims to update and synthesize the evidence of acupuncture therapies from systematic reviews for treating overweight and obesity.

METHODS

Nine databases were searched from their inception to March 2022. Overweight or obesity was classified using standard diagnostic criteria. Published systematic reviews that included randomized controlled trials and quasi-randomized studies were eligible. Quality was assessed via the AMSTAR-2 scale and risk of bias using the ROBIS tool.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight systematic reviews were identified. Acupuncture therapies and auricular acupoint stimulation showed benefits in terms of reducing body weight and body mass index. Catgut embedding therapy and abdominal acupuncture are currently not in widespread use with insufficient evidence. Acupuncture therapies appear to be safe. Most of the reviews were assessed as having high risk of bias and low confidence in the findings.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for larger and more methodologically sound randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture therapies for individuals who are affected by overweight or obesity.

Impact of Aerobic Exercise and Acupuncture Treatment on Obese Patients; A Retrospective Case-Controlled Study

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise and acupuncture treatment in obese patients.

Methods

The effects of exercise in obese patients receiving acupuncture therapy were investigated in this retrospective, case-controlled study in which subjects complying with exercise were enrolled in the case and non-compliers were enrolled in the control group.

Results

There was a statically significant weight loss in both the study case group (94.39 ± 20.36; 88.91 ± 19.00; n = 22; p = 0.001) and the control group (103.18 ± 21.92; 99.56 ± 21.92; n = 34; p = 0.001) after 3 months. Weight loss occurred in all 22 patients in the case group. In the control group, while weight loss occurred in 27 of the 34 patients, weight gain occurred in three patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the addition of modalities such as acupuncture, exercise and diet may provide effective improvement in weight control.

Auriculotherapy as a means of managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of auriculotherapy on managing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial, 128 pregnant women suffering from nausea and vomiting were selected and assigned to study groups. The data were collected using demographic information and Rhodes' questionnaires and analyzed in SPSS v.22.

RESULTS

After intervention, the average nausea score of the Rhodes index declined significantly in patients in the intervention group (p < 0.001).However, there was no significant (p = 0.305) difference between the two groups regarding vomiting. The results of the repeated measures showed that interventions had a significant effect on the total score of the questionnaire and also the scores regarding nausea (p < 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The appropriate use of effective points on ears to control nausea and vomiting as a non-medicine and complementary treatment can alleviate nausea among pregnant women.

Effect of auriculotherapy and intervention types on weight control: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity characterized by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, can cause many complications. Auriculotherapy, as the traditional Chinese technique, is widely applied in clinical trials for the management of body weight. The program aims to evaluate the effect and safety of auriculotherapy therapy and intervention types on weight control.

METHODS

All randomized controlled trials related to auriculotherapy targeting overweight and obesity will be searched in online databases, such as Medline, EMbase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, AMED, CBM, Wanfang Data, and other databases from their inception to July 2019. The primary outcome is the difference in BMI from baseline to the end of studies. Secondary outcomes include the change of weight, percentage of body fat, waist circumference, serum lipid before and after treatment. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 3; Biostat Inc.) will be used for data synthesis.

RESULTS

This study will provide a comprehensive review of the available evidence for the treatment of obesity with auriculotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion of this study will provide evidence to judge whether auriculotherapy is an effective therapeutic intervention for obesity.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019136827.