Objective. To explore the existing scientific information regarding safe needling depth of acupuncture points and the needling depth of clinical efficacy. Methods. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED), The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases to identify relevant monographs and related references from 1991 to 2013. Chinese journals and theses/dissertations were hand searched. Results. 47 studies were recruited and divided into 6 groups by measuring tools, that is, MRI, in vivo evaluation, CT, ultrasound, dissected specimen of cadavers, and another group with clinical efficacy. Each research was analyzed for study design, definition of safe depth, and factors that would affect the measured depths. Depths of clinical efficacy were discussed from the perspective of de-qi and other clinical observations. Conclusions. Great inconsistency in depth of each point measured from different subject groups and tools exists. The definition of safe depth should be established through standardization. There is also lack of researches to compare the clinical efficacy. A well-designed clinical trial selecting proper measuring tools to decide the actual and advisable needling depth for each point, to avoid adverse effects or complications and promote optimal clinical efficacy, is a top priority.
This study aimed to compare the effects of Zusanli and nonacupoint electroacupuncture stimulation on ultrasonographic gastric emptying and vital signs in eight healthy participants. Gastric emptying and its rate of change were analyzed to search for correlation with physical characteristics such as body mass index (BMI), sternocostal angle, and abdominal wall thickness. Methods: Eight healthy participants with no gastrointestinal disorders were enrolled in this study. Each participant went through three abdominal sonographies for gastric emptying assessment. At the second and third visits, participants received Zusanli and nonacupoint electroacupuncture stimulation in a random order. During the study period, we examined the BMI, sternocostal angle, and abdominal wall thickness of all participants. Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature) were also examined before and after the electroacupuncture stimulation. Results: Electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli significantly improved gastric emptying when compared to nonacupoint stimulation. Gastric emptying showed a positive correlation with BMI, sternocostal angle, and abdominal wall thickness, but this correlation was statistically insignificant. The improvement rate of gastric emptying by Zusanli electroacupuncture stimulation showed a positive correlation with BMI and sternocostal angle and a negative correlation with abdominal wall thickness. However, such results were also statistically insignificant. Among vital signs, only heart rate showed a significant decrease according to Zusanli electroacupuncture stimulation. Conclusions: A significant effect of Zusanli electroacupuncture was confirmed through ultrasonographic gastric emptying in healthy participants.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between Stomach Qi Deficiency and gastric emptying as measured by abdominal ultrasonography in postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), a subgroup of functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods: Ten patients who met the RomeⅢ diagnostic criteria for PDS and ten healthy controls participated in this study Gastric emptying shown as the half-life of gastric volume (T1/2) was measured by abdominal ultrasonography. The degree of Stomach Qi Deficiency was assessed using the scale for Stomach Qi Deficiency pattern (SSQD). In addition, functional dyspepsia-related quality of life (FD-QoL), Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version (NDI-K), and visual analogue scale (VAS) of distention and fullness were conducted on all subjects. Results: The scores of SSQD, FD-QoL, NDI-K, and VAS of distention and fullness in the patient group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). T1/2 was also higher in the patient group than in the control group. The SSQD score significantly correlated positively with T1/2 in the patient group (r=0.640, p=0.046). However, there was no significant correlation between T1/2 and other questionnaire scores in the patient group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the gastric emptying measured by abdominal ultrasonography could be a quantitative indicator to diagnose Stomach Qi Deficiency in FD patients, especially the PDS subtype.
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients showing fissured tongue (FT) with burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 16 FT patients with BMS who visited the Oral Diseases Clinic of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from March 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018. The subjects were graded by FT classification and compared with each group on a numeral rating scale (NRS) of tongue pain, proportion of coated tongue, unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR), Ryodoraku, and heart rate variability (HRV) results. Results: FT grade had no significant correlation with NRS of tongue pain and USFR. FT grade had a substantially significant positive correlation with BMI and LF/HF ratio in HRV. FT grade had a substantially significant negative correlation with proportion of coated tongue. The most frequent accompanying symptoms were xerostomia and insomnia. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that FT has no correlation with tongue pain in BMS. Rather, FT seems to correlate with sympathetic function acceleration.
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