Background. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a complex male dysfunction, mostly seen in young and middle-aged men with a history of more than 3 months. As a traditional therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has been proven an effective method to treat CP/CPPS in recent years. Though some meta-analyses on acupuncture for chronic prostatitis were published in 2018 and 2019, most of the included studies were low in quality according to the JADAD score (JADAD < 4). The conclusions of acupuncture for CP/CPPS remain indefinite. Purpose. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for CP/CPPS by including high-quality literature only (JADAD ≥ 4) to provide a reliable basis for clinical applications and research. Method. Nine electronic databases were searched from inception to March 1, 2022, and only randomized controlled trials (RCT) with high-quality (JADAD ≥ 4) were included. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. and was verified through trial sequential analysis (TSA). We carried out a sensitivity analysis for the heterogeneity (I2 ≥ 50%). Publication bias was explored using a funnel plot. Result. Ten RCTs (11 trials) of high-quality methodology involving 798 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared to sham acupuncture (SAT) and western medicine (WM), acupuncture (AT) played superior roles for CP/CPPS patients in pain score, NIH-CPSI score, quality of life score, urinary symptom, and efficacy rate. As for the adverse effects, 4 RCTs described mild hematoma and pain in AT and SAT groups, while specific symptoms including nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and low blood pressure were reported in WM groups. Conclusion. This meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture has measurable benefits on CP/CPPS, and security has also been ensured. However, this meta-analysis only included 10 RCTs; thus, RCTs with a larger sample size and longer-term observation are required to verify the effectiveness of acupuncture further in the future.

BackgroundDyskinesia is a common manifestation after stroke. Motor functional rehabilitation after stroke is of great significance to the maintenance of national health. Ocular Acupuncture Kinesitherapy (OAKT) can repair nerve injuries, improve motor function, reduce rehabilitation time, and promote dyskinesia recovery after stroke. The mechanism, however, remains a mystery, necessitating urgent research. The M1-thalamus-spinal cord neural signaling pathway is linked to limb motor function. Bold-fMRI can represent the cerebral functional state, and TMS-MEP is of certain practical utility for assessing motor neural function and prognosis. Combining fMRI scanning with TMS-MEP detection is predicted to advance brain-spinal cord regulation and muscle response linkage control mechanism research, as well as completely investigate the central-peripheral coupling effect of Ocular Acupuncture Kinesitherapy on dyskinesia after stroke (PSD).MethodsThis is a prospective functional neuroimaging and neurotic electrophysiological study with a case-control design between the PSD with the HC groups and a randomized controlled design within the 3 PSD groups (OAKT group, ocular acupuncture group, and kinesitherapy group). Using fMRI scans and TMS-MEP approach, we will assess the central-peripheral neural function alterations in PSD as well as the coupling effects of OAKT on PSD. We plan to enroll 90 participants at the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Aug 31, 2022, to Dec 31, 2023, including 45 PSD and 45 HC subjects. After enrollment and on the last day after 4-weeks of waiting (HC subjects) or intervention (PSD subjects), all eligible subjects will be evaluated using fMRI scanning, TMS-MEP detection, and the MMT and Fugl-Mayer scales assessment. The MMT and Fugl-Meyer scores will be recorded, and a Pearson correlation analysis will be performed to assess the correlation between clinical and imaging outcomes.DiscussionFindings of this study will help to explain the central-peripheral coupling effect of OAKT on PSD and to further provide the neural processing of acupuncture kinesitherapy covering the entire pathway from peripheral to central nervous system.Clinical trial registrationThis study is registered with an identifier (ChiCTR2200060483) at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry in June 2022. http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.

Background Coronary heart disease(CHD) is a common disease of the cardiovascular system. Percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) has been proven an effective treatment. Various complications after PCI may further affect the long-term efficacy of PCI. Previous trials have showed that both kinesitherapy(KT) and acupuncture are beneficial to patients with CHD, but need further confirmation. Acupuncture kinesitherapy(AKT) is a kind of combination therapy of acupuncture with exercise training. In this study, we plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial(RCT) to confirm the superior efficacy of AKT compared to KT and conventional medical therapy(MT) in post-PCI rehabilitation for CHD patients, and to further guide the clinical strategy. Methods This is a single-center randomized controlled trial with 3 parallel arms. We will recruit 102 CHD patients after PCI and randomly assign them to 3 groups. Participants in 3 groups will receive 2-week MT. Besides, participants in AKT and KT groups will also receive acupuncture kinesitherapy and kinesitherapy alone, respectively. They will be treated once a day, 5-day a week, and the treatment course will last for a total of 2-week with a 2-day off during the course. The primary outcome is the changes in cardiac function. The secondary outcomes include aerobic capacity, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, mental status, and activity of daily living. All outcomes will be measured at baseline and 2-week after treatment. Adverse events also will be recorded. The cardiac function and activities of daily living will be followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. Discussion We expect findings of trial will provide important insight into application of AKT as a safety and more effective method for CHD patients. Successful completion of this proposed study will also contribute to promotion of AKT in the clinic in the future.

Background and purpose: Dyskinesia is a series of movement disorders arising from a stroke. Western medicine focuses on anticoagulation, which can lead to intracranial and gastrointestinal bleeding, and reduce the body's immunity. Traditional therapies including acupuncture, tuina, and Chinese herbs, etc., works slowly as well as the relatively simple efficacy. The triple facilitation therapy, an integrated rehabilitation therapy of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, consisting of Lee's pestle needle therapy, Du’s massage therapy, and functional exercise, has effects on improving muscle strength, reducing muscle tension, and assisting in establishing normal movement patterns according to a pilot trial. Whether the triple facilitation therapy is superior to Zhongfengxingnao Oral Liquid, a commonly used Chinese patent medicine in dyskinesia patients after stroke remains unclear. This study aims to compare the effect and safety of triple facilitation therapy and Zhongfengxingnao oral liquid in improving motor function and quality of life in post-stroke dyskinesia patients, and to further verify the non-inferiority of the triple facilitation therapy.Methods and analysis: This study is a randomized-controlled, single-blind trial of triple facilitation therapy (n=33) versus Zhongfengxingnao oral liquid (n=33) in the non-acute stage of post-stroke dyskinesia patients. MMT freehand muscle strength grading, modified Ashworth grading, simplified Fugl-Meyer scoring, isokinetic muscle test outcomes, and 3-D gait analysis outcomes are the primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes include ADL/disability (FIM), general indexes, biochemical indexes, and adverse events. All the primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline (1 day) and 4-weeks/post-intervention (28 days). This study will confirm whether triple facilitation therapy improves rehabilitation of the non-acute stage of post-stroke dyskinesia better than Zhongfengxingnao oral liquid. Ethics and dissemination: Institutional Review Board of the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine approved the research and will obtain the written informed consent of each subject or representative.Trial registry number: ChiCTR2100045105 (www.chictr.org.cn)