Cystic fibrosis is the most commonly occurring genetic disorder among Caucasians. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture for pain management in patients with cystic fibrosis; clinical data was obtained regarding the integration of acupuncture into the management of pain in patients with cystic fibrosis. Visual analog scales were used for pain measurement. Acupuncture was found to be effective in decreasing pain complaints in patients with cystic fibrosis. No side effects or complications were reported in relation to the acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture is effective for managing symptoms and illnesses associated with cystic fibrosis. Further randomized controlled trials will be necessary to evaluate additional efficacy in pain management and the improvement of the quality of life of patients with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE:To observe clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus cupping for treating insomnia in college students.

METHODS:Ninety two college students suffering from insomnia were randomly divided into a treatment group (52 cases) and a control group (40 cases). Acupuncture plus cupping was used for profiting the brain and tranquilizing the mind in the treatment group, and conventional differentiation of symptoms and signs was used in the control group. Therapeutic effect, number of treatment, self-rating sleeping scaling (SRSS), and subtracted rate were evaluated after one month of treatment.

RESULTS:There was a significant difference in effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05). For the cases with moderate insomnia, the effective rate was obviously better in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.05), and for the cases with slight and moderate insomnia, the average treatment number was remarkably less in the former than that in the latter (P<0.01). SRSS was reduced in both groups (P<0.01, P<0.05) with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The subtracted rate in the former was more than that in the latter (P<0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group, showing superiority in the cases with moderate insomnia with less treatments and more improved and cured rates.

OBJECTIVE: In many Western countries breech presentation is an indication for elective Cesarean section. In order to correct fetal presentation, the stimulation of the acupoint BL67 by moxibustion, acupuncture or both has been proposed. Since no studies had previously been carried out on Western populations, pregnant Italian women at 33-35 weeks gestational age carrying a fetus in breech presentation were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial involving an active BL67 point stimulation and an observation group. METHODS: A total of 240 women at 33-35 weeks of gestation carrying a fetus in breech presentation were randomized to receive active treatment (acupuncture plus moxibustion) or to be assigned to the observation group. Bilateral acupuncture plus moxibustion was applied at the BL67 acupoint (Zhiyin). The primary outcome of the study was fetal presentation at delivery. RESULTS: Fourteen cases dropped out. The final analysis was thus made on 226 cases, 114 randomized to observation and 112 to acupuncture plus moxibustion. At delivery, the proportion of cephalic version was lower in the observation group (36.7%) than in the active-treatment group (53.6 %) (p = 0.01). Hence, the proportion of Cesarean sections indicated for breech presentation was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the observation group (52.3% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture plus moxibustion is more effective than observation in revolving fetuses in breech presentation. Such a method appears to be a valid option for women willing to experience a natural birth.

OBJECTIVE:To determine if injection of vitamin K3 in an acupuncture point is optimal for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea, when compared with 2 other injection treatments.

SETTING:A Menstrual Disorder Centre at a public hospital in Shanghai, China.

PARTICIPANTS:Chinese women aged 14-25 years with severe primary dysmenorrhoea for at least 6 months not relieved by any other treatment were recruited. Exclusion criteria were the use of oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices or anticoagulant drugs, pregnancy, history of abdominal surgery, participation in other therapies for pain and diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhoea. Eighty patients with primary dysmenorrhoea, as defined on a 4-grade scale, completed the study. Two patients withdrew after randomisation.

INTERVENTIONS:A double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial compared vitamin K3 acupuncture point injection to saline acupuncture point injection and vitamin K3 deep muscle injection. Patients in each group received 3 injections at a single treatment visit.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:The primary outcome was the difference in subjective perception of pain as measured by an 11 unit Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary measurements were Cox Pain Intensity and Duration scales and the consumption of analgesic tablets before and after treatment and during 6 following cycles.

RESULTS:Patients in all 3 groups experienced pain relief from the injection treatments. Differences in NRS measured mean pain scores between the 2 active control groups were less than 1 unit (-0.71, CI -1.37 to -0.05) and not significant, but the differences in average scores between the treatment hypothesised to be optimal and both active control groups (1.11, CI 0.45 to 1.78) and (1.82, CI 1.45 to 2.49) were statistically significant in adjusted mixed-effects models. Menstrualdistress and use of analgesics were diminished for 6 months post-treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:Acupuncture point injection of vitamin K3 relieves menstrual pain rapidly and is a useful treatment in an urban outpatient clinic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:NCT00104546; Results.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture treatment on dry eye syndrome.

DESIGN:This was a prospective observational study.

SETTING:The study was conducted at a clinical evaluation center for acupuncture and moxibustion of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine, Republic of Korea.

SUBJECTS:The subjects were patients with dry eye disease (N = 36), defined by Schirmer test scores of<10 mm/5 min and tear film break-up times (BUTs) of<10 seconds.

TREATMENTS:Participants were treated with acupuncture three times per week for 4 weeks. MEASURE OF EFFECTIVENESS: Schirmer test scores, BUTs, symptom scores, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores and dry eye symptom questionnaires were compared before and after treatment to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment.

RESULTS:After treatment, symptom scores, OSDI scores and the number of dry eye symptoms were all significantly lower (p < 0.0001). Although tear wettings were significantly higher (left: p < 0.0001, right: p = 0.0012), there were no significant differences in BUTs.

CONCLUSIONS:This study suggests that acupuncture treatment can effectively relieve the symptoms of dry eye and increase watery secretion.

The disturbance of balance function is one of main etiology resulting in falling down in stroke patients. A number of studies report that acupuncture may improve the motor function of stroke patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on balance function. We designed a single-blinded, controlled, randomized study. A total of 30 stroke patients were randomized into experimental and control groups. Experimental groups received acupuncture treatment accompanied by the manual twisting of needles and obtaining of qi (the subjects experienced sensations of soreness, numbness, swelling and heaviness, while the acupuncturist experienced a sensation of needle resistance), whereas the control group did not receive manual twisting of needles and without obtaining of qi. All of the subjects were first-time stroke patients; infarction location was limited to either the left or right hemisphere, and all subjects were able to walk for at least 6 meters. Acupuncture stimulation (AS) was applied to Baihui (GV 20) acupoint as well as to 4 spirit acupoints (1.5 cun anterior, posterior, left and right laterals from Baihui acupoint, respectively) for 20 min. Balance function outcome measures were: (1) the displacement area of the patient's center of gravity; (2) the time taken for a patient to stand vertically from a seated position; (3) the time taken for a patient to walk a distance of 6 meters; (4) muscle strength of both lower extremities. Results indicated that the displacement area from the center of gravity decreased in the experimental group, but not in the control group. There was greater reduction in the displacement area in the experimental group than in the control group. Following AS, the time taken to reach a standing position from a seated position, as well as the time taken to walk 6 meters was decreased equally in both the experimental and control groups. The muscle strength of the hip flexor and knee extensor were increased in the paralyzed and non-paralyzed sides of patients in the experimental group, but not in the control group. The results of the present study suggest that acupuncture stimulation may induce an immediate effect that improves balance function in stroke patients.

Objective.: This project was designed to test the feasibility and effectiveness of acupuncture therapy given in a group setting for chronic pain.

Design.: Nonrandomized, repeated measures quasi-experimental trial.

Setting.: Care was delivered in a primary care clinic waiting area after clinic hours.

Subjects.: Included were primary care patients (≥18 years old) with chronic pain of the neck, back, shoulder, or osteoarthritis of any site of at least three months' duration.

Methods.: Subjects received eight weekly acupuncture therapy sessions in a group setting. Acupuncture therapy included a combination of palpation, acupuncture needling, Tui na, Gua sha, and auricular treatment. Baseline pain levels were established in a two- to four-week run-in; assessment of the intervention impact on pain intensity, mood, and functional status were made at the end of the treatment period (eight weeks) and 16 weeks after completion of intervention (24 weeks).

Results.: Of the total 113 participants recruited for the trial, 96 completed the 24-week protocol. We found a statistically and clinically significant decrease in pain severity, pain interference, and depression in our study population. There were no serious adverse events.

Conclusions.: Acupuncture therapy offered in the group setting was effective in reducing pain severity, pain interference, and depression in patients with chronic neck, back, or shoulder pain or osteoarthritis. Benefit persisted through the 24-week measure despite no additional treatment. This finding has potentially important implications for improving access to effective acupuncture treatment for patients with limited financial resources.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy are troublesome symptoms for some women. We undertook a single blind randomized controlled trial to determine whether acupuncture reduced nausea, dry retching, and vomiting, and improved the health status of women in pregnancy. METHODS: The trial was undertaken at a maternity teaching hospital in Adelaide, Australia, where 593 women less than 14 weeks' pregnant with symptoms of nausea or vomiting were randomized into 4 groups: traditional acupuncture, pericardium 6 (p6) acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or no acupuncture (control). Treatment was administered weekly for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were nausea, dry retching, vomiting, and health status. Comparisons were made between groups over 4 consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Women receiving traditional acupuncture reported less nausea (p < 0.01) throughout the trial and less dry retching (p < 0.01) from the second week compared with women in the no acupuncture control group. Women who received p6 acupuncture (p < 0.05) reported less nausea from the second week of the trial, and less dry retching (p < 0.001) from the third week compared with women in the no acupuncture control group. Women in the sham acupuncture group (p < 0.01) reported less nausea and dry retching (p < 0.001) from the third week compared with women in the no acupuncture group. No differences in vomiting were found among the groups at any time. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture is an effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy. A time-related placebo effect was found for some women.

This study investigated the effect, onset, duration of action, and short-term outcomes of acupuncture therapy for treating patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus.This randomized controlled trial evaluated patients with chronic, idiopathic, and severe tinnitus. A total of 105 participants were divided into 2 groups using a randomization method: a study group who received verum acupuncture therapy ( = 53) and a sham acupuncture group ( = 52). Ten acupuncture sessions were given over 5 weeks. After treatment, each participant was monitored for up to 3 months according to changes on a visual analogue Scale (VAS), and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and Pure-Tone Audiometry and Speech Discrimination (Interacoustics AC-40, Denmark) scores.The VAS and THI scores were evaluated. A statistically significant difference was noted between the sham and verum acupuncture groups at post-treatment follow-up ( < 0.001). Decreases in the THI and VAS scores became significant in the second week of treatment ( < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively), but these scores increased again in the third month post-treatment ( < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively).Acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus. Patient complaints, decreased beginning at the second treatment week; however, in the third post-treatment month, the complaints reappeared. Maintenance acupuncture therapy is necessary for patients with tinnitus; this approach should be investigated in future studies.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common disorder with a high prevalence and significant social and economic impacts. Nevertheless, the treatment of MDD is far from satisfactory. Acupuncture treatment has emerged as a promising method for treating MDD. However, the neural mechanism by which acupuncture reduces depressive symptoms is not fully understood. Studies have shown that the corticostriatal reward circuitry is associated with the pathophysiology of MDD; thus, we investigated the corticostriatal resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) before and after real and sham acupuncture treatments combined with the antidepressant fluoxetine. Forty-six female major depressive patients were assigned to either verum acupuncture plus fluoxetine (n = 22) or sham acupuncture plus fluoxetine (n = 24) treatment for 8 weeks, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected before the first and after the last treatment sessions. The results showed that compared with sham acupuncture, the verum acupuncture group showed: (1) significantly increased rsFC between inferior ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex, ventral rostral putamen and amygdala/parahippocampus, as well as dorsal caudate and middle temporal gyrus; (2) significantly decreased rsFC between right ventral rostral putamen and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and right dorsal caudate and bilateral cerebellar tonsil. The increased rsFC between the inferior ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex, ventral rostral putamen and amygdala/parahippocampus were significantly positively associated with decreased clinical scores (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores) at the end of the eight-week treatment. Our findings suggest that acupuncture may achieve treatment effects by modulating the corticostriatal reward/motivation circuitry in MDD patients.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture intervention on abdominal obesity by stimulation of"Belt Vessel (Daimai) Regulation Acupoint Recipe".

METHODS:A total of 35 abdominal obesity outpatients were recuited in the present study. The"Belt Vessel (Daimai) Regulation Acupoint Recipe"was composed of Daimai (GB 26), Tianshu (ST25), Daheng (SP 15), Zhongwan (CV 12), Liangmen (ST 21), Shuidao (ST 28), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Fenglong (ST 40) and Zulinqi (GB 41, both sides except CV 12). In addition, electroacupuncture was also applied to bilateral GB 26 and ST 25. The treatment was conducted once every other day, 8 weeks altogether. The body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body fat rate [ = 1.2 x BMI + 0.23 x age-5.4-10.8 x sex (male = 1, female = 0)] were measured or calculated. The thickness of abdominal adipose layer (i.e.; S1 = distance from the interface of the skin and subcutaneous fat to the linea alba abdominis at the midpoint between the xiphoid-process and the umbilicus; S2 = distance from the interface of the skin and subcutaneous fat to the anterior bounder of the external oblique muscle of abdomen on the right side closely to the umbilicus center) and visceral fat layer thickness (V 1 = distance from the midpoint of the linea alba abdominis to the anterior bounder of the vertebra body; V 2 = distance from the peritoneum to the right bounder of the vertebra body at the umbilicus level) were measured for calculating ultrasound viscerofatty index [UVI = (V 1 + V2)/(S 1 + S 2)] by using a color Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTS:After 8 weeks' treatment, the body weight, BMI, waist and hips circumferences, WHtR and percentage of body fat were declined significantly (P<0.05, P<0.001). The WHR was decreased compared to that of pre-treatment, but without statistical significance (P>0.05). The thickness of abdominal subcutaneous adipose and visceral adipose layers and UVI were decreased significantly following the treatment (P<0.05, P<0.001). The reduction of visceral adipose layer was superior to that of the abdominal subcutaneous one (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION:Acupuncture intervention has a significant effect on reducing abdominal obesity in abdominal obesity patients.

Xerostomia is a common and usually irreversible side effects in patients receiving radiation therapy (> 50 Gy) for head and neck cancer. Of 38 patients with radiation-induced xerostomia, 20 in the experimental group were treated with classical acupuncture and 18 patients in the control group received superficial acupuncture as placebo. Within both groups the patients showed significantly increased salivary flow rates after the acupuncture treatment. In the experimental group 68% and in the control group 50% of the patients had increased salivary flow rates at the end of the observation period. Among those patients who had had all their salivary glands irradiated, 50% in both groups showed increased salivary flow rates (> 20%) by the end of the observation period of 1 year. The study indicates that among the patients who had increased salivary flow rates already after the first 12 acupuncture sessions, the majority had high probability of continual improvement after the completion of acupuncture treatment. The improved salivary flow rates usually persisted during the observation year. The changes observed in the control group were somewhat smaller and appeared after a longer latency phase. Significant differences for salivary flow rates could be observed only within each group, and there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. There were no differences in the improvement of salivary flow rates between those patients who were irradiated within a year before the acupuncture treatment and those who had received radiation therapy several years earlier. The results indicate that acupuncture might be a useful method for the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia, and that superficial acupuncture should preferably not be used as placebo acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients with abdominal obesity by regulating glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, sex hormones, etc.

METHODS:Eligible PCOS volunteers were randomly divided into treatment group(=30) and control group(=28). The treatment group received acupuncture therapy three times a week combined with diet control and exercise. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 4-8 mA) was applied to bilateral Daimai (GB 26)and Tianshu (ST 25) for 20 min/time, and bilateral Daheng (SP 15), Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), Guilai (ST 29), Zulinqi (GB 41) and Waiguan (SJ 5) were stimulated with filiform needles, with the needles retained for 20 min. Patients of the control group were asked to restrict intake of dietary calories (low fat, appropriate proteins, and high carbohydrate) and aerobic exercise (>40 min/time), 3 times/week. The treatment duration lasted 12 weeks. Before and after the treatment, serum fasting insulin (FINS), fasting blood-glucose (FBG), Testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) contents were assayed using immuno-fluorometry, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA -IR) and ratio of LH/FSH were calculated, and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were measured, separately.

RESULTS:Comparison with their own individual pre-treatment, the levels of FINS, HOMA -IR, T, LH, LH/FSH, BMI, WC and WHR (not FBG) in both control and treatment groups were significantly decreased (<0.05,<0.01), and the levels of FINS, HOMA-IR and WC were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (<0.01,<0.05). No marked differences were found between two groups in the levels of FBG, T, LH, LH/FSH, BMI and WHR (>0.05).

CONCLUSION:Acupuncture can effectively reduce FINS, HOMA-IR and WC levels in PCOS patients with abdominal obesity, down-regulating insulin resistance, which is significantly superior to simple diet control plus exercise.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of low back pain in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

METHOD:A quasi-experimental pre-post design was applied to pregnant women at a gestational age between 14 and 37 weeks, who had complaints of low back pain. Acupuncture sessions were performed, working systemic and auricular points. The McGill questionnaire was used to assess pain, as well as the instrument for identifying the sociodemographic, clinical and obstetric profile.

RESULTS:The acupuncture technique performed in up to six sessions in 56 pregnant women with low back pain had positive effects on the participants' health. According to the pain assessment, there was a statistically significant reduction in the low back pain among the pregnant women as early as in the second session, with a gradual improvement with the advancement of the number of sessions. There were no serious adverse events related to acupuncture.

CONCLUSION:Acupuncture offered significant effects for reducing or relieving pain in pregnant women. The participants expressed satisfaction and well-being as they left each session.

To study the biological effects of acupuncture on depression, we hypothesized that acupuncture will exert its antidepressant effect through a bottom-up neuromodulation of the autonomic dysfunction in depression. The participants received press needle (PN) acupuncture for 72 h continuously in a sham-controlled design. Psychological assessments and Holter electrocardiography were performed before and after PN acupuncture. We evaluated their autonomic functions through the heart rate variability (HRV). As a result, following PN acupuncture participants showed significant improvement in the Beck's Depression Inventory scores (P = 0.031), systolic/diastolic blood pressures (P = 0.002/P = 0.011), and coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (P < 0.0001), compared to sham PN. The present findings showed PN acupuncture induced alterations in vagal function, blood pressure, and Beck's Depression Inventory scores. It was suggested that vagal stabilization effect by acupuncture may be associated with the therapeutic mechanism in depression.

Both recovery time of post-exercise muscle oxygenation and muscle strength decline with aging. Although beetroot consumption has been shown to improve muscle oxygenation and exercise performance in adults, these effects in the elderly has not been addressed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a beetroot-based gel (BG) on muscle O2 saturation, blood volume (tHb) and handgrip strength in the elderly in response to handgrip exercise. In a randomized crossover double-blind design, twelve older subjects consumed BG (100 g of beetroot-based gel containing ~ 12 mmol nitrate) or PLA (100 g of nitrate-depleted gel nitrate-depleted). The subjects performed a rhythmic handgrip exercise which consisted of a one 1-min set at 30% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of each subject, followed by a 1 min recovery. The muscle oxygenation parameters and tHb were continuously monitored by using near-infrared spectroscopy. MVC was evaluated at baseline, immediately after exercise, and 30 min afterwards. The muscle O2 resaturation rate during exercise recovery was greater in the BG when compared to PLA condition (1.43± 0.77 vs 1.02 ± 0.48%.s-1; P<0.05). Significant increase was observed in tHb during exercise recovery (10.25± 5.47 vs 6.72 ± 4.55 μM; P<0.05) and significant reduction of handgrip strength decline was observed 30 min after exercise in BG (- 0.24± 0.18 vs-0.39 ± 0.20 N; P<0.05). In summary, a single dose of a beetroot-based gel speeds up muscle O2 resaturation, increases blood volume and improves recovery of handgrip strength after handgrip exercise in older adults.

RATIONALE: A previous study found that a 10-min bout of moderate intensity exercise reduced cigarette withdrawal symptoms and desire to smoke in sedentary smokers but the effect may have been due to participants focusing attention on physical activity rather than the activity itself.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of 5 min of moderate intensity exercise and 5 min of light intensity exercise on tobacco withdrawal symptoms amongst sedentary smokers.

METHODS: Eighty-four smokers attended a laboratory session having abstained from smoking for between 11 and 14 h. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: (i) light intensity exercise [ n=28; 10-20% of heart rate reserve (HRR)]; (ii) moderate intensity exercise ( n=28; 40-60% HRR), (iii) a passive control condition ( n=28). Both exercise conditions involved 5 min of stationary cycling and participants rated tobacco withdrawal symptoms and cravings immediately before exercise (baseline), during exercise at 2.5 min, immediately following exercise, then after 5 and 10 min of rest. Control participants made the same ratings across an equivalent time period.

RESULTS: For moderate intensity exercise compared to light intensity exercise and control there was a significant reduction in strength of desire to smoke, relative to baseline, both during exercise and up to 5 min post-exercise. Relative to baseline, there were also significant reductions in restlessness, stress, tension and poor concentration at 5 and 10 min post-exercise, for moderate intensity exercise compared to light intensity exercise and control.

CONCLUSIONS: Five minutes of moderate intensity exercise is associated with a short-term reduction in desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms. Very brief bouts of exercise may therefore be useful as an aid to smoking cessation.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have examined the effects of physical activity on craving to smoke and smoking withdrawal. The current study was designed to compare and contrast the effects of 2 different forms of physical activity on general and cue-elicited craving to smoke.

METHODS: Following 1-hr nicotine abstinence, 76 daily smokers were randomly assigned to engage in a 30-min bout of cardiovascular exercise (CE; brisk walk on a treadmill), Hatha yoga (HY), or a nonactivity control condition. Participants completed measures of craving and mood, and a smoking cue reactivity assessment, before, immediately following, and approximately 20 min after the physical activity or control conditions.

RESULTS: Compared with the control condition, participants in each of the physical activity groups reported a decrease in craving to smoke, an increase in positive affect, and a decrease in negative affect. In addition, craving in response to smoking cues was specifically reduced among those who engaged in CE, whereas those who engaged in HY reported a general decrease in cravings.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further support for the use of exercise bouts for attenuating cigarette cravings during temporary nicotine abstinence. Results also suggest that CE can attenuate cravings in response to smoking cues. There are several areas for further research that may improve integration of exercise within smoking cessation treatment.

BACKGROUND:Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance, dating back thousands of years, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed to this traditional mind-body method which integrates slow body movements, breathing, and meditation. Albeit we have already reported an immunomodulatory action of qigong in other investigations, measures were then assessed 1 day after the qigong program ended.

PURPOSE:The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of Taoist qigong practice on immune cell counts in healthy subjects 1 h after training.

METHOD:Forty-three healthy subjects participated in the study of whom 25 were randomly allocated to the experimental group and 18 to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent daily qigong training for 1 month. Blood samples for the quantification of immune parameters (number and percentage of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, total lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells) were taken the day before the experiment commenced and 1 h after the last session of the training program ended. As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed.

RESULTS:Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing higher values in the number (p = 0.006) and the percentage (p = 0.04) of B lymphocytes, as well as lower values in the percentage of NK cells (p = 0.05), as compared to control.

CONCLUSION:This study demonstrates that Taoist qigong is able to exert acute immunomodulatory effects on components of both innate as well as adaptive immune response.

OBJECTIVE:To determine if there is evidence for a causal relationship between acute encephalopathy followed by permanent brain injury or death associated with the administration of further attenuated measles vaccines (Attenuvax or Lirugen, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Kansas City, MO), mumps vaccine (Mumpsvax, Merck and Co, Inc, West Point, PA), or rubella vaccines (Meruvax or Meruvax II, Merck and Co, Inc, West Point, PA), combined measles and rubella vaccine (M-R-Vax or M-R-Vax II, Merck and Co, Inc, West Point, PA), or combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (M-M-R or M-M-R II, Merck and Co, Inc, West Point, PA), the lead author reviewed claims submitted to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

METHODS:The medical records of children who met the inclusion criteria of receiving the first dose of these vaccines between 1970 and 1993 and who developed such an encephalopathy with no determined cause within 15 days were identified and analyzed.

RESULTS:A total of 48 children, ages 10 to 49 months, met the inclusion criteria after receiving measles vaccine, alone or in combination. Eight children died, and the remainder had mental regression and retardation, chronic seizures, motor and sensory deficits, and movement disorders. The onset of neurologic signs or symptoms occurred with a nonrandom, statistically significant distribution of cases on days 8 and 9. No cases were identified after the administration of monovalent mumps or rubella vaccine.

CONCLUSIONS:This clustering suggests that a causal relationship between measles vaccine and encephalopathy may exist as a rare complication of measles immunization.