Reflexology is effective for reducing pain after appendectomy surgery.

Background The rising burden of premature mortality for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in developing countries necessitates the institutionalization of a comprehensive surveillance framework to track trends and provide evidence to design, implement, and evaluate preventive strategies. This study aims to conduct an organization-based prospective cohort study on the NCDs and NCD-related secondary outcomes in adult personnel of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) as main target population. Methods This study was designed to recruit 12,000 adults aged between 30 and 70 years for 15 years. Baseline assessment includes a wide range of established NCD risk factors obtaining by face-to-face interview or examination. The questionnaires consist of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle pattern, fuel consumption and pesticide exposures, occupational history and hazards, personal and familial medical history, medication profile, oral hygiene, reproduction history, dietary intake, and psychological conditions. Examinations include body size and composition test, abdominopelvic and thyroid ultrasonography, orthopedic evaluation, pulse wave velocity test, electrocardiography, blood pressure measurement, smell-taste evaluation, spirometry, mammography, and preferred tea temperature assessment. Routine biochemical, cell count, and fecal occult blood tests are also performed, and the biological samples (i.e., blood, urine, hair, and nail) are stored in preserving temperature. Annual telephone interviews and repeated examinations at 5-year intervals are planned to update information on health status and its determinants. Results A total of 5287 individuals (mean age of 43.9 ± 7.6 and 45.9% male) were included in the study thus far. About 18.5% were nurses and midwives and 44.2% had at least bachelor’s degree. Fatty liver (15.4%), thyroid disorders (11.2%), hypertension (8.8%), and diabetes (4.9%) were the most prevalent NCDs. A large proportion of the population had some degree of anxiety (64.2%). Low physical activity (13 ± 22.4 min per day), high calorie intake (3079 ± 1252), and poor pulse-wave velocity (7.2 ± 1.6 m/s) highlight the need for strategies to improve lifestyle behaviors. Conclusion The PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences is the first organizational cohort study in a metropolitan city of Iran aiming to provide a large data repository on the prevalence and risk factors of the NCDs in a developing country for future national and international research cooperation.

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Introduction Traditional Chinese medicine offers several theories to explain the mechanism of acupuncture. One of these theories proposes that acupuncture points and meridians have unique electrical properties and their electrical skin impedance is lower than surrounding areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in electrical skin impedance between PC4 and the pericardium meridian compared with the surrounding areas. Methods Eighteen healthy subjects (10 women) were recruited to participate in the study. An impedance meter based on the four-electrode technique was designed specifi cally for the study. Twenty-fi ve points were marked on the skin: one on the point PC4, four others on the pericardium meridian and 20 points around it. The electrical impedance of each point was measured with the four-electrode device. Results The mean electrical skin impedance at PC4 was signifi cantly different from the 20 of the surrounding points but not signifi cantly different from the four adjacent points. The mean skin impedance of the fi ve points over the pericardium meridian was signifi cantly different from that of parallel rows of points using repeated measures analysis of variance (p<0.001) Conclusion Within the possible limits of this measurement technique, skin impedance along the pericardium meridian is lower than surrounding areas, supporting the idea of different properties of the pericardium meridian compared with the control areas. Evidence on skin impedance at PC4 is inconclusive and further studies are needed. INTRODUCTIONAn important concept in traditional Chinese medicine is Qi which is believed to fl ow through channels called meridians. Acupuncture points are located along these meridians. Stimulating these points is believed to affect the quality and quantity of Qi fl ow and thus affect body systems. Although acupuncture points and meridians are basic issues of Chinese medicine, there is not yet a complete explanation for this system.Characterisation of human skin impedance at acupuncture point PC4 Ximen and pericardium meridian using the four-electrode method Traditional Chinese medicine offers several theories to explain the mechanism of acupuncture. One of these theories proposes that acupuncture points and meridians have unique electrical properties and their electrical skin impedance is lower than surrounding areas.1-4 Many devices have been developed to locate the right acupuncture points and to diagnose the diseases based upon this theory.This phenomenon was reported independently by different scientists in the 1950s. 5-7Although many investigators have tried to fi nd the relationship between acupuncture and electrical properties of the skin, a review article by Ahn et al in 2008 showed that, among 320 articles referring to electrical resistant and acupuncture points, only 18 met the criteria for further evaluation. These authors concluded that there is not enough evidence to prove conclusively that acupuncture points or meridians are electrically distinguishable and more r...

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