Addition of Probiotics to Anti-Obesity Therapy by Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation of Dermatome T6. A Pilot Study

Obesity is becoming a pandemic and percutaneous electrical stimulation (PENS) of dermatome T6 has been demonstrated to reduce stomach motility and appetite, allowing greater weight loss than isolated hypocaloric diets. However, modulation of intestinal microbiota could improve this effect and control cardiovascular risk factors. Our objective was to test whether addition of probiotics could improve weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors in obese subjects after PENS and a hypocaloric diet. A pilot prospective study was performed in patients (n = 20) with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. Half of them underwent ten weeks of PENS in conjunction with a hypocaloric diet (PENS-Diet), and the other half was treated with a PENS-Diet plus multistrain probiotics (L. plantarum LP115, B. brevis B3, and L. acidophilus LA14) administration. Fecal samples were obtained before and after interventions. The weight loss and changes in blood pressure, glycemic and lipid profile, and in gut microbiota were investigated. Weight loss was significantly higher (16.2 vs. 11.1 kg, p = 0.022), whereas glycated hemoglobin and triglycerides were lower (−0.46 vs. −0.05%, p = 0.032, and −47.0 vs. −8.5 mg/dL, p = 0.002, respectively) in patients receiving PENS-Diet + probiotics compared with those with a PENS-Diet. Moreover, an enrichment of anti-obesogenic bacteria, including Bifidobacterium spp, Akkermansia spp, Prevotella spp, and the attenuation of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio were noted in fecal samples after probiotics administration. In obese patients, the addition of probiotics to a PENS intervention under a hypocaloric diet could further improve weight loss and glycemic and lipid profile in parallel to the amelioration of gut dysbiosis.

THE INFLUENCED REGIONS OF ANESTHESIA ACUPUNCTURE AT SHENSHU OR JIAJI-L2 ACUPOINTS

Background: This research examined the influenced regions of Shenshu or Jiaji-L2 acupoints on human body after electronic anesthesia acupuncture and monitored side effect. Materials and Method: This is basic study, experimental analysis. To examined pain threshold at points of whole body’s dermatomes before and after anesthesia acupuncture on Shenshu or Jiaji-L2 acupoints. Thirty-two healthy volunteers were used electronic stimulus parameter with two phases symmetric thorn pulse, 160Hz, 20 minutes, cathode on the left acupoint and anode on the right acupoint. Data analyzed with SPSS16.0 software. Results: For Shenshu acupoints: Pain threshold were increased symmetrically from dermatome T6 to dermatome S1 on two sides of dorsal body, and diastolic blood pressure was increased significantly (p=0.003). For Jiaji-L2 acupoints: Pain threshold increased symmetrically from dermatome T11 to dermatome L4 on two sides of dorsal body. This study was safe and had no side effects. Conclusion: The influenced regions of Shenshu acupoints were from dermatome T6 to dermatome S1. The influenced regions of Jiaji-L2 acupoints were from dermatome T11 to dermatome L4. Keywords: Acupoint, Shenshu, Jiaji-L2, pain threshold, dermatome, anesthesia acupuncture