Development of a New Sham Needle

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jongbae Park ◽  
Adrian White ◽  
Hyejung Lee ◽  
Edzard Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Guide Tube ◽  
Naive Subject ◽  
Basal Ring ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Sticky Tape

The problem of providing an acupuncture placebo that is indistinguishable from genuine needling has appeared insurmountable. However, the authors have developed an apparatus, the Park sham needle unit, which is intended to match what an acupuncture-naïve subject expects to see and experience with needling, but is intended not to produce the specific needling sensation (deqi) that is felt with true needling. This can still not be regarded as a true placebo since skin contact must be made for verisimilitude and there may thus be some physiological stimulation. Nonetheless this form of sham acupuncture should be considered an advance on all previously used methods. The apparatus consists of a blunted needle, the shaft of which telescopes into the handle when tapped, so that, while the needle appears to have been inserted, it does not actually pierce the skin. The needle is held in place by a standard guide tube contained within a fitted sheath with basal ring that is secured to the skin with double sided sticky tape.

Relief of Low Back Pain Immediately after Acupuncture Treatment – a Randomised, Placebo Controlled Trial

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motohiro Inoue ◽  
Hiroshi Kitakoji ◽  
Naoto Ishizaki ◽  
Munenori Tawa ◽  
Tadashi Yano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Sham Group ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Guide Tube ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Stainless Steel Needle

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effect of single acupuncture stimulation to the most painful point in patients with low back pain. Method A randomised, evaluator-blinded, sham controlled clinical trial was conducted in which 31 patients with low back pain were randomly allocated to either an acupuncture group (n=15) or a sham acupuncture group (n=16). Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture were performed at the most painful point on the lower back of the subjects. For the acupuncture group, a stainless steel needle was inserted to a depth of 20mm and manually stimulated (sparrow pecking method) for 20 seconds, while for the sham treatment a guide tube without a needle was placed at the point and tapped on the skin. Changes in low back pain were evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Schober test. Participants were also asked if they felt the needling sensation or not. The therapy and the evaluation were independently performed by two different acupuncturists. Results VAS score and the Schober test score showed significant improvement after treatment as compared with the sham group (P=0.02, 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the needling sensation between the acupuncture and sham group. Conclusion These results suggest that acupuncture at the most painful point gives immediate relief of low back pain.

scholarly journals Title: The Effectiveness of Participant Blinding of Non-Penetrating Sham/Placebo Acupuncture in Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yee Hung Gan ◽  
Nway Aye Saint ◽  
Yen Suan Sin
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Placebo Control ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract Background: Acupuncture clinical trial is important to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture. However, it is challenging to achieve effective blinding due to the nature of acupuncture. A standardised placebo control method of acupuncture has yet to be established. The study focuses on the non-penetrating sham acupuncture because it eliminates the placebo effect and generates lesser physiological responses. The study aims to evaluate and compare the participant blinding effectiveness of non-penetrating sham acupuncture devices, and analyse the factors which may influence the participant blinding.Methods: The study followed the PRISMA guidelines. An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Ovid and CNKI up until 1st of October 2020 to include English and Chinese randomised controlled trials which evaluated the awareness on the type of acupuncture (real or sham) in any population who received acupuncture. Data screening, data extraction and quality assessment were done independently by two researchers and discrepancies were sorted out via discussion with a co-researcher. Data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1.Results: 34 full-text articles had been included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The quality of the studies ranged from moderate to good. Generally, non-penetrating sham acupuncture devices were effective in blinding participants in clinical trials. The foam device demonstrated a better blinding effect, followed by Streitberger, Park and Takakura devices. Sham needles with no skin contact could not blind the participants successfully. Naive, experienced, healthy and diseased participants all could be blinded using non-penetrating sham acupuncture devices but naive and healthy participants could be blinded comparatively easily. Acupoints from different regions could achieve blinding, however, the acupoints on the back could blind the participants more easily compared to the other areas.Conclusion: Non-penetrating sham acupuncture devices are valid placebo control for acupuncture clinical trials. The foam device has a better blinding effect, followed by Streitberger, Park and Takakura devices. Recruiting naive healthy participants and choosing acupoints from the back can achieve better blinding effects in the participants.

Facilitated migration of cells from a transected peripheral nerve over collagen fibers: in vivo observations

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 888-889
Author(s):  
Arthur J. Wasserman ◽  
Azam Rizvi ◽  
George Zazanis ◽  
Frederick H. Silver
Keyword(s):  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Collagen Gel ◽  
Collagen Fibers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Guide Tube ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Silicone Tube ◽  
Thin Sections

In cases of peripheral nerve damage the gap between proximal and distal stumps can be closed by suturing the ends together, using a nerve graft, or by nerve tubulization. Suturing allows regeneration but does not prevent formation of painful neuromas which adhere to adjacent tissues. Autografts are not reported to be as good as tubulization and require a second surgical site with additional risks and complications. Tubulization involves implanting a nerve guide tube that will provide a stable environment for axon proliferation while simultaneously preventing formation of fibrous scar tissue. Supplementing tubes with a collagen gel or collagen plus extracellular matrix factors is reported to increase axon proliferation when compared to controls. But there is no information regarding the use of collagen fibers to guide nerve cell migration through a tube. This communication reports ultrastructural observations on rat sciatic nerve regeneration through a silicone nerve stent containing crosslinked collagen fibers.Collagen fibers were prepared as described previously. The fibers were threaded through a silicone tube to form a central plug. One cm segments of sciatic nerve were excised from Sprague Dawley rats. A control group of rats received a silicone tube implant without collagen while an experimental group received the silicone tube containing a collagen fiber plug. At 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively, the implants were removed and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde buffered by 0.1 M cacodylate containing 1.5 mM CaCl2 and balanced by 0.1 M sucrose. The explants were post-fixed in 1% OSO4, block stained in 1% uranyl acetate, dehydrated and embedded in Epon. Axons were counted on montages prepared at a total magnification of 1700x. Montages were viewed through a dissecting microscope. Thin sections were sampled from the proximal, middle and distal regions of regenerating sciatic plugs.

New MRSA Subclone Spread Through Skin Contact

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
PATRICE WENDLING
Keyword(s):  
Skin Contact

FLEXIBLE HOLLOW GUIDE TUBE FOR CO2 LASER

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-278
Author(s):  
Yuichi Hashishin ◽  
Uichi Kubo
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Laser ◽  
Guide Tube

THE EFFECT OF EARLY SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT IN TERM NEONATES AFTER C-SECTION ON BREASTFEEDING CHOICE AT THE TIME OF DISCHARGE

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
POURABOLI BATOOL ◽  
ESTABRAGHI MAHDIEH ◽  
JAHANI YOUNES ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Term Neonates ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Skin To Skin

Scabies: A Neglected Global Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander K.C. Leung ◽  
Joseph M. Lam ◽  
Kin F. Leong
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Sarcoptes Scabiei ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Skin Contact ◽  
Intense Pruritus ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background: Scabies is a skin disease caused by an obligate human parasite mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Children under the age of two and elderly individuals are at the greatest risk. Knowledge of this condition is important for an early diagnosis to be made and treatment to be initiated. Objective: The review aimed to familiarize physicians with the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of scabies. Methods: A search was conducted using Pubmed with the built-in "Clinical Queries" tool. The search term "Scabies" was used. The categories of "epidemiology", "diagnosis", "therapy", "prevention" and "prognosis" had a limited scope for primary clinical studies. Meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews were included. Only papers published in the English language were included. A descriptive, narrative synthesis was provided of the retrieved articles. Results: Worldwide, scabies affects 200 to 300 million individuals annually. The average prevalence is estimated to be 5 to 10% in children of developing countries. Transmission usually occurs after close prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Classic scabies is characterized by an erythematous papular eruption, serpiginous burrows, and intense pruritus. Sites of predilection include the webs of the fingers, volar wrists, lateral aspects of fingers, extensor surfaces of elbows and knees, waist, navel, abdomen, buttocks, groins, and, genitals. A clinical diagnosis of classic scabies can be made on the basis of the history and clinical findings. Other clinical variants include crusted scabies, nodular scabies, and bullous scabies. Finding the mite, ova, or fecal pellets on microscopic examination of scrapings taken from skin lesions confirms the diagnosis of scabies infestation. For eradication of scabies mites, the drugs of choice are topical permethrin and oral ivermectin. Conclusion: Scabies is a highly contagious parasitic cutaneous disease that is stigmatising and debilitating. Increased awareness, accurate diagnosis, and prompt treatment are essential for the effective control of scabies and for the prevention of the spread of the disease.

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