We appreciate the financial support from the National TCM Clinical Excellent Talents Training Program (National TCM Renjiao Letter [2022] No. 1), 100 Talent Plan Project of Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hospital office [2021] 42), Special subject of scientific research of Sichuan Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2021MS093, 2021MS539, 2023MS608), 2022 Tianfu Qingcheng Plan Tianfu Science and Technology Leading Talents Project (Chuan Qingcheng No. 1090) and Sichuan science and technology program of Science &#38; Technology Department of Sichuan Province (2022YF0392).

The protocol is carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. It is approved by the Approval Committee of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The number is KY2022009. Informed consent was obtained.
1. Patient candidacy screening
<ol>
	<li>Inclusion criteria
	<ol>
		<li>Ensure age is between 50-65 years. Ensure that the patients meet the diagnosis of stable COPD and lung and kidney qi deficiency. Ensure patients volunteer to participate in and comply with study requirements and sign informed consent forms.</li>
		<li>For the diagnosis of stable COPD, reference the Global Strategy for The Diagnosis Management and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2022 Report15. Ensure that patients have a modified Medical Research Council grade (mMRC) &#8804; 2; the degree of airflow limitation is mild or moderate, which means the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) &#8805; 50% of the predicted value.</li>
		<li>Ensure that the diagnosis of COPD with wheezing due to lung and kidney qi deficiency refers to the corresponding criteria in the Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Chinese Medicine16. Main symptoms include 1) wheezing, shortness of breath, aggravated by exercise; 2) weakness, or spontaneous sweating, aggravated by exercise; 3) Susceptibility to cold and wind; 4) Senselessness and weakness of the waist and knees; 5) Tinnitus, dizziness, or floaters; 6) Frequent urination, nocturnal urination, or coughing and drowning; 7) Pale tongue with white coating and sunken or weak pulse. If two of 1), 2), and 3) and two of 4), 5), 6), and 7) are present, diagnose it as COPD.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Exclusion criteria
	<ol>
		<li>Exclude patients with diseases that seriously affect breathing or quality of life, such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, and mental illness.</li>
		<li>Exclude patients with severe cognitive and motor dysfunction and uncooperative.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Material preparation
<ol>
	<li>Check equipment to be used for disinfection: cotton balls with 75% ethanol, sterile forceps, and medical blades.</li>
	<li>Prepare medicinal seeds in advance. Sieve the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis with spherical shape to obtain uniform seeds 2 mm in diameter, as shown in Figure 1A.</li>
	<li>Prepare the medical tape and auricular acupressure patch template. Use hypoallergenic ultra-thin paper tape with a width of 5 cm, as shown in Figure 1B. Prepare a 5 cm x 8.5 cm white auricular acupressure patch template, as shown in Figure 1B. 
	NOTE: For people who are allergic to regular tape, use desensitizing tape. Be careful not to get the tape wet, or the skin may become infected.</li>
</ol>
3. Treatment preparation
<ol>
	<li>Ensure cleanliness and hygiene in the environment to avoid pollution.</li>
	<li>Ask the operator to wash hands with a disinfectant. Then, wipe fingers with cotton balls containing 75% ethanol.</li>
	<li>Place the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis on the auricular acupressure patch template. Stick them down with medical tape, as shown in Figure 1C. Maintain strict disinfection to avoid infection.</li>
</ol>
3. Treatment steps
<ol>
	<li>Body position: Ask the patient to be seated.</li>
	<li>Disinfection and positioning: Ask the operator to fix the patient&#39;s auricle. Keep the patient in the sitting position. Use one hand to immobilize the patient&#39;s head. Use 75% ethanol cotton balls for one-time skin disinfection.</li>
	<li>Locating the points: Follow the points in the national standard Nomenclature and location of auricular points issued by the National Committee for Standardization in 200817. Based on the locations shown in Figure 1D and Table 1, find the positions of the ear points of Lung (CO14), Spleen (CO13), Kidney (CO10), Shen Men (TF4), and Ping Chuan (AT1.2.4i).</li>
	<li>Patching: Remove the prepared auricular acupressure patch and stick it on the corresponding ear point. For each ear point, use a single ear patch.</li>
	<li>Compression: After applying the patch, apply compression using direct pressure. Place the thumb and index finger on both sides of the ear auricle. Apply relative pressure to the medical seed patch on the ear point, ensuring that the patient feels mild pain but does not interfere with sleep. 
	NOTE: Pressure intensity is determined according to different pain levels on the Visual Analog Scoring Tool (VAS)18: moderate pain on a scale of 1 to 3 is chosen as the criterion for pressure intensity.</li>
</ol>
5. Treatment course
<ol>
	<li>Press the auricular pressure points 3x a day. Apply pressure once at 9:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 9:00 pm. Keep the intensity of the pressure between 1-3 on the VAS pain scale. Alternate compressions every 3 days, alternating on both ears, for 12 days.</li>
	<li>Check the patch daily and replace it if it is wet or the ear cavity has skin lesions, frostbite, or inflammation. If none of them occur, keep the patch. The patches exert buried pressure or moderate pressure; ask the patient not to rub the patch to prevent contamination of the skin caused by infection. Ensure that the ear patches are applied to the auricular points and do not affect the patient&#39;s sleep.</li>
</ol>
6. Efficacy evaluation
NOTE: Efficacy is judged by objective and subjective indicators together. When it comes to subjective indicators such as scale filling, patients must complete the scoring independently without any suggestive reminder.
<ol>
	<li>Instruct patient to perform tests for pulmonary function indices, including FEV1, FVC (forced vital capacity), and FEV1/FVC. The increase in the above indicators after receiving treatment suggests that the therapy is effective.</li>
	<li>Use the TCM symptom rating scale to evaluate efficacy19. Changes of more than 2 points before and after treatment indicate that the treatment has clinical significance.</li>
	<li>Use mMRC Grade to evaluate patient&#39;s quality of life. Patients with a score of 0-1 mean light dyspnea; between 2-4 mean heavy dyspnea. Changes of more than 1 point in patient&#39;s mMRC scores before and after treatment indicate that the treatment has clinical significance.</li>
</ol>

Traditional Chinese Medicine Ear Point Therapy for Wheezing in COPD Patients

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Modern medicine treats COPD patients mainly with long-acting &#946;2 agonists (LABAs), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), and ICS23. Chinese medicine classifies COPD as wheezing based on the clinical characteristics of cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and dyspnea24. At the same time, Chinese medicine believes that the 12 meridians are connected to the ear. Auricular points are interconnected with meridians, tissues, and organs. It is closely related to the body&...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable, and treatable chronic respiratory disease. The disease is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, usually associated with airway and/or alveolar abnormalities caused by significant exposure to harmful particles or gases1. In 2016, more than 3 million people died from COPD, accounting for 6% of all deaths worldwide2. Healthcare costs for COPD are an increasing burden on the world3. COPD is now a major public health problem with high rates of death, morbidity, disability, and disease burden4.
The main symptoms of COPD are chronic cough, sputum, dyspnea, wheezing, and chest tightness. Depending on the symptoms and lung function, it can be divided into an acute exacerbation phase and a stable phase5. Aggressive treatment during the stable phase can effectively reduce the number of acute exacerbations and delay the deterioration of lung function. Currently, treatment in the stable phase relies largely on pharmacological treatments such as bronchodilators, glucocorticoids, and expectorants. Non-pharmacological treatment modalities still have limitations6. The experiment here provides a special traditional Chinese medicine therapy, auricular acupressure, to expand the treatment modality.
For in-ear acupressure, small round granular objects are applied to the surface of the ear points. Moderate kneading, pressing, pinching, and squeezing are used to produce stimulation sensations such as soreness, numbness, swelling, and pain. As the main ingredient in auricular pressure, the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis can stimulate acupuncture points for the treatment of disease7. It is a non-drug external treatment method for the treatment of diseases8. The therapy is easy to use, inexpensive, safe, has no side effects, and is less prone to infection. It has certain advantages, like improving clinical symptoms, quality of life, and reducing acute exacerbations. It is suitable for adjuvant treatment of patients with stable COPD9.
As for the mechanism of auricular acupressure for wheezing, Chinese medicine believes that pressing certain acupuncture points on the auricle can communicate with qi, blood, meridians, and internal and external organs and harmonize the internal and external organs. In this way, acupuncture can play a role in regulating qi and relieving wheezing10. Modern medicine has shown that auricular acupressure stimulates blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels in the ear11. It regulates the immune system and suppresses the inflammatory response by activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory signaling pathway, which in turn relieves bronchial inflammation and alleviates wheezing symptoms. The theory of holographic biology states that the auricle is allometric to the body&#39;s information. According to the correspondence, there could be a connection between auricular acupressure and wheezing symptoms12.
According to related studies, lung and kidney qi deficiency account for 23.20% of COPD in the stable stage13. The patients have frequent chronic coughs with wheezing, which means deficiency in the lungs; simultaneously, cold intolerance, weakness in the waist and knees, and self-perspiration show a deficiency in the kidney14. In this experiment, we implemented auricular acupressure for COPD patients with lung and kidney qi deficiency. In identifying wheezes of the lung and kidney qi deficiency, reference was made to the 2020 edition of the Committee on Auricular Acupuncture Diagnosis and Treatment of the Chinese Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion8. The ear points formulated for this experiment were Lung (CO14), Spleen (CO13), Kidney (CO10), Shen Men (TF4), and Ping Chuan (AT1.2.4i).
The aim of this study is to provide a non-pharmacological treatment modality for stable COPD patients with wheezing and lung and kidney qi deficiency using auricular acupressure. Auricular acupressure was introduced after screening patients for a stable phase of COPD. The treatment protocol is clinically simple, safe, and cost-effective.
CASE PRESENTATION: 
The patient is a 64-year-old male from Sichuan, China. He has been experiencing repeated cough and sputum for the past 5 years, along with worsening chest tightness over the last month. The patient has had diabetes for 5 years and has been taking metformin to manage his blood sugar levels, although he does not regularly monitor them. Additionally, he has a history of hypertension for 7 years and takes amlodipine besylate orally to control his blood pressure, which is also not regularly monitored. The patient denies any surgical history, trauma history, or blood transfusions. He smoked an average of 2 packs per day for 30 years but quit smoking 10 years ago. Furthermore, the patient denies any family genetic history.
Diagnosis, Assessment, and Plan: 
After the doctor&#39;s specialized examination of the patient, he found a barrel chest and widened rib space. Chest CT showed chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and coronary artery calcification. Pulmonary function showed that the patient had moderate obstructive ventilation dysfunction, slightly obstructed airflow in the large airways, and increased total airway resistance. Combined with the patient&#39;s symptoms and signs, auxiliary examinations, and past medical history, a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus was made. For treatment, Budesonide, Glycopyrronium Bromide, and Formoterol Fumarate Inhalation were performed twice daily in the morning and in the evening15. Additionally, hydroxypropyl theophylline intravenous drip (2 mL: 0.25 g, dilute 1 vial with 5% of 250 mL sugar water) was administered 1x day16. Auricular acupressure was given to relieve wheezing.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Auricular acupressure patch template</td><td>Hengshui Runhuang Trading Co., Ltd</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cotton balls with 75% ethanol</td><td>Qingdao Hainuo Biological Engineering Co., Ltd</td><td>20172640783</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Medical blades</td><td>Suzhou Kaiyuan Medical Equipment Co., Ltd</td><td>20192020831</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Medical tape</td><td>Zhende Medical Supplies Co., Ltd</td><td>20170090</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sterile forceps</td><td>Yangzhou Zhixiang Medical Technology Co., Ltd</td><td>20210081</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The seeds of &lt;em&gt;Vaccaria segetalis&lt;/em&gt;</td><td>Anhui Kang Yunuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd</td><td>SC10334161107893</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

auricular acupressure as an adjuvant treatment for wheezing in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. Due to the restriction of expiratory airflow, it is characterized by emphysematous destruction of the lungs. Shortness of breath is one of the main clinical symptoms. Auricular acupressure is a clinical therapy characteristic of Chinese medicine that treats the disease by compressing ear points. Usually, the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis are used to stimulate ear points, which has the effect of regulating qi and alleviating wheezing. In this paper, we propose this characteristic therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the clinical symptoms of wheezing of lung and kidney qi deficiency type in stable COPD patients. Ear points are selected as the treatment protocol for Lung (CO14), Spleen (CO13), Kidney (CO10), Shen Men (TF4), and Ping Chuan (AT1.2.4i) points. The protocol describes a case study using auricular acupressure for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to relieve wheezing symptoms.

The above protocol describes a controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of auricular acupressure in improving wheezing symptoms in stable COPD patients. For this study, 1 patient who met the criteria was enrolled and completed the trial. The patient was male and 64 years old. The patient suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for 5+ years. Long-term regular treatment with inhalation preparations was administered for long-term cough and wheezing.
The patient was admitted to the...

Read this Scientific Article Protocol about Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at JoVE.com

Author Spotlight: Efficacy of Auricular Pressure Bean Therapy in Reducing Wheezing Symptoms

This protocol describes an effective therapy using auricular acupressure to relieve wheezing symptoms in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. Due to the restriction of expiratory airflow, it is characterized by ...

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804 Views.  University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dit protocol onderzocht de effectiviteit van auriculaire decubitatietherapie op piepende ademhaling symptomen bij patiënten met stabiele chronische obstructieve longziekte. Deze techniek is kosteneffectief en eenvoudig te bedienen. Bovendien heeft het een hoog veiligheidsprofiel, waardoor de kans op infectie aanzienlijk wordt verkleind.Dit protocol presenteert een nieuwe adjuvante therapie voor patiënten met de diagnose chronische obstructieve longzi...

Video: Auteur in de schijnwerpers: werkzaamheid van auriculaire drukbonentherapie bij het verminderen van piepende ademhaling symptomen

Urinary Bladder Distention Evoked Visceromotor Responses as a Model for Bladder Pain in Mice

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition characterized by increased urgency and frequency of urination, as well as nocturia and general pelvic pain, especially upon bladder filling or voiding. Despite years of research, the cause of IC/BPS remains elusive and treatment strategies are unable to provide complete relief to patients. In order to study nervous system contributions to the condition, many animal models have been developed to mimic the pain and symptoms associated with IC/BPS. One such murine model is urinary bladder distension (UBD). In this model, compressed air of a specific pressure is delivered to the bladder of a lightly anesthetized animal over a set period of time. Throughout the procedure, wires in the superior oblique abdominal muscles record electrical activity from the muscle. This activity is known as the visceromotor response (VMR) and is a reliable and reproducible measure of nociception. Here, we describe the steps necessary to perform this technique in mice including surgical manipulations, physiological recording, and data analysis. With the use of this model, the coordination between primary sensory neurons, spinal cord secondary afferents, and higher central nervous system areas involved in bladder pain can be unraveled. This basic science knowledge can then be clinically translated to treat patients suffering from IC/BPS.

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition characterized in part by pelvic pain. In order to study nervous system contributions to the condition, a physiological model of urinary bladder pain is used in mice and rats.

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition ...

Busulfan as a Myelosuppressive Agent for Generating Stable High-level Bone Marrow Chimerism in Mice

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is often used to replace the bone marrow (BM) compartment of recipient mice with BM cells expressing a distinct biomarker isolated from donor mice. This technique allows for identification of donor-derived hematopoietic cells within the recipient mice, and can be used to isolate and characterize donor cells using various biochemical techniques. BMT typically relies on myeloablative conditioning with total body irradiation to generate niche space within the BM compartment of recipient mice for donor cell engraftment. The protocol we describe here uses myelosuppressive conditioning with the chemotherapeutic agent busulfan. Unlike irradiation, which requires the use of specialized facilities, busulfan conditioning is performed using intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg busulfan until a total dose of 60-100 mg/kg has been administered. Moreover, myeloablative irradiation can have toxic side effects and requires successful engraftment of donor cells for survival of recipient mice. In contrast, busulfan conditioning using these doses is generally well tolerated and mice survive without donor cell support. Donor BM cells are isolated from the femurs and tibiae of mice ubiquitously expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), and injected into the lateral tail vein of conditioned recipient mice. BM chimerism is estimated by quantifying the number of GFP+ cells within the peripheral blood following BMT. Levels of chimerism&nbsp;>80% are typically observed in the peripheral blood 3-4 weeks post-transplant and remain established for at least 1 year. As with irradiation, conditioning with busulfan and BMT allows for the accumulation of donor BM-derived cells within the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in mouse models of neurodegeneration. This busulfan-mediated CNS accumulation may be more physiological than total body irradiation, as the busulfan treatment is less toxic and CNS inflammation appears to be less extensive. We hypothesize that these cells can be genetically engineered to deliver therapeutics to the CNS.

We describe a protocol whereby busulfan conditioning permits the bone marrow of a recipient mouse to be replaced with bone marrow cells from donor mice ubiquitously expressing green fluorescent protein, in the absence of irradiation. This technique is useful to study bone marrow cell accumulation in the central nervous system.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is often used to replace the bone marrow (BM) compartment of recipient mice with BM cells expressing a distinct ...

An Improved Method for Rapid Intubation of the Trachea in Mice

Despite some anatomical and physiological differences, mouse models continue to be an essential tool for studying human lung disease. Bleomycin toxicity is a commonly used model to study both acute lung injury and fibrosis, and multiple methods have been developed for administering bleomycin (and other toxic agents) into the lungs. However, many of these approaches, such as transtracheal instillation, have inherent drawbacks, including the need for strong anesthetics and survival surgery. This paper reports a quick, reproducible method of intratracheal intubation that involves mild inhaled anesthesia, visualization of the trachea, and the use of a surrogate spirometer to confirm exposure. As a proof of concept, 8-12 week old C57BL/6 mice were administered either 2.0 U/kg of bleomycin or an equivalent volume of PBS, and both damage and fibrotic endpoints were measured post-exposure. This procedure allows researchers to treat a large cohort of mice in a relatively short period with little expense and minimal post-procedure care.

This article presents a rapid and simple method for administering bleomycin directly into the mouse trachea via intubation. Key advantages of this method are that it is highly reproducible, easy to master, and does not require specialized equipment or lengthy recovery times.

Despite some anatomical and physiological differences, mouse models continue to be an essential tool for studying human lung disease. Bleomycin toxicity ...

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and lung parenchymal destruction. It has a very high incidence in aging populations. The current conventional therapies for COPD focus mainly on symptom-modifying drugs; thus, the development of new therapies is urgently needed. Qualified animal models of COPD could help to characterize the underlying mechanisms and can be used for new drug screening. Current COPD models, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or the porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema model, generate COPD-like lesions in the lungs and airways but do not otherwise resemble the pathogenesis of human COPD. A cigarette smoke (CS)-induced model remains one of the most popular because it not only simulates COPD-like lesions in the respiratory system, but it is also based on one of the main hazardous materials that causes COPD in humans. However, the time-consuming and labor-intensive aspects of the CS-induced model dramatically limit its application in new drug screening. In this study, we successfully generated a new COPD model by exposing mice to high levels of ozone. This model demonstrated the following: 1) decreased forced expiratory volume 25, 50, and 75/forced vital capacity (FEV25/FVC, FEV50/FVC, and FEV75/FVC), indicating the deterioration of lung function; 2) enlarged lung alveoli, with lung parenchymal destruction; 3) reduced fatigue time and distance; and 4) increased inflammation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the ozone exposure (OE) model is a reliable animal model that is similar to humans because ozone overexposure is one of the etiological factors of COPD. Additionally, it only took 6 - 8 weeks, based on our previous work, to create an OE model, whereas it requires 3 - 12 months to induce the cigarette smoke model, indicating that the OE model might be a good choice for COPD research.

This study describes the successful generation of a new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) animal model by repeatedly exposing mice to high concentrations of ozone.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and lung parenchymal destruction. It has a very high ...

Endolymphatic Duct Blockage as a Surgical Treatment Option for M&#233;ni&#232;re's Disease

Endolymphatic duct blockage is a relatively new treatment option for M&#233;ni&#232;re's disease, aiming to reduce vertigo attacks while sparing hearing and equilibrium. After a regular mastoidectomy, the posterior semicircular canal is identified, and Donaldson's line is determined. This is a line through the horizontal semicircular canal, crossing the posterior semicircular canal. The endolymphatic sac is usually found at this site under the posterior semicircular canal. The bone of the endolymphatic sac and the dura are thinned until the sac is skeletonized, after which the endolymphatic duct is identified. The duct is then blocked with a titanium clip. Using a computerized tomography (CT) scan, the position is confirmed. Follow-up visits take place 1 week, 6 weeks and 1 year after surgery. To this day, only one prospective trial assessing this method has been conducted, comparing this new method to endolymphatic sac decompression. Results of the duct blockage are promising, with 96.5% of the patients free of vertigo after 2 years. However, further research is required.

Endolymphatic duct blockage is a relatively new surgical method for patients suffering from M&#233;ni&#232;re's disease. Following a regular mastoidectomy, the endolymphatic duct is identified and ligated using a regular titanium hemoclip. The effectiveness of this procedure is currently being assessed in a randomized trial.

Endolymphatic duct blockage is a relatively new treatment option for M&#233;ni&#232;re's disease, aiming to reduce vertigo attacks while sparing hearing ...

3D Reconstruction for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Nodules

A 3D Digital Model for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Nodules

The three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of pulmonary nodules using medical images has introduced new technical approaches for diagnosing and treating pulmonary nodules, and these approaches are progressively being acknowledged and adopted by physicians and patients. Nonetheless, constructing a relatively universal 3D digital model of pulmonary nodules for diagnosis and treatment is challenging due to device differences, shooting times, and nodule types. The objective of this study is to propose a new 3D digital model of pulmonary nodules that serves as a bridge between physicians and patients and is also a cutting-edge tool for pre-diagnosis and prognostic evaluation. Many AI-driven pulmonary nodule detection and recognition methods employ deep learning techniques to capture the radiological features of pulmonary nodules, and these methods can achieve a good area under-the-curve (AUC) performance. However, false positives and false negatives remain a challenge for radiologists and clinicians. The interpretation and expression of features from the perspective of pulmonary nodule classification and examination are still unsatisfactory. In this study, a method of continuous 3D reconstruction of the whole lung in horizontal and coronal positions is proposed by combining existing medical image processing technologies. Compared with other applicable methods, this method allows users to rapidly locate pulmonary nodules and identify their fundamental properties while also observing pulmonary nodules from multiple perspectives, thereby providing a more effective clinical tool for diagnosing and treating pulmonary nodules.

Author Spotlight: A 3D Digital Model for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Nodules  

The objective of this study is to develop a novel 3D digital model of pulmonary nodules that serves as a communication bridge between physicians and patients and is also a cutting-edge tool for pre-diagnosis and prognostic evaluation.

The three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of pulmonary nodules using medical images has introduced new technical approaches for diagnosing and treating ...

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequent disease in elderly patients, with a tendency for progressive exacerbation. Constipation that reduces the quality of life and triggers the risk of diseases is a common concomitant symptom in patients with COPD. Currently, western medical treatment does not achieve the desired results for patients. A high recurrence rate accompanies it, whereas traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history and rich experience in treating chronic diseases. Both acupoint application and acupoint massage are characteristic therapies of TCM, with minor side effects, high safety, simple operation, and outstanding advantages. They are effective in treating constipation for patients with COPD and are considered an ideal alternative therapy for patients with chronic constipation. The purpose of this article is to introduce the method of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for the treatment of constipation in patients with COPD, including the selection of points, items, treatment time, and operation procedure.

Here we demonstrate acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequent disease in elderly patients, with a tendency for progressive exacerbation. ...

Acupuncture Stimulation of Ears to Alleviate Sleeping Disorders in COPD Patients

Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and irreversible airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. It has a wide spectrum of complications, and sleep disorders, as part of it, are common in severe cases, especially in elderly patients. Long-term lack of sleep may lead to the aggravation of the original disease, reducing patients' quality of life. Benzodiazepines are mainly used for symptomatic treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders. However, such drugs have the side effect of respiratory central inhibition and could probably aggravate hypoxia symptoms. Auricular acupuncture is a special method of treating physical and psychosomatic dysfunctions by stimulating specific points in the ear. This article explains the specific methods of clinical operation of auricular acupuncture in detail, including assessment of patient eligibility, medical devices used, acupuncture points, course of treatment, post-treatment care, responses to emergencies, etc. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment scale (CAT) were used as the observational index of this method. So far, clinical reports have proved that auricular acupuncture has a definite curative effect in the treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders, and its advantages of simple operation, few adverse reactions are worthy of further study and promotion, which provide a reference for the clinical treatment of such diseases.

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders 

This protocol introduces an effective method to improve the sleep condition of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and alleviate cough symptoms by using auricular acupuncture techniques to percutaneously stimulate specific acupoints in the patients' ears.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and irreversible airflow limitation and chronic ...

Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Relieve COPD with Abdominal Distension

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Most patients with COPD have a combination of abdominal distension, which has been shown to adversely affect pulmonary symptoms, frequency of acute exacerbations, and quality of life in patients with COPD. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms in patients with COPD combined with abdominal distention. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion are highly effective, easy to perform, and inexpensive forms of traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The standardized practice of warm acupuncture and moxibustion is very important for the treatment of COPD combined with abdominal distension. The specific steps include selecting the appropriate acupoints for needling through syndrome differentiation treatment and selecting moxa sticks of appropriate length for moxibustion for about 30 min after the De-qi. The course of treatment lasts for one week. The following indicators are specifically assessed: the score of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the abdominal distension visual analog scale (VAS). This article will clearly illustrate how to standardize the manipulation of warm acupuncture and moxibustion to relieve COPD combined with abdominal distention.

Author Spotlight: An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension 

Here, we present a protocol to properly manipulate warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with abdominal distension.

Most patients with COPD have a combination of abdominal distension, which has been shown to adversely affect pulmonary symptoms, frequency of acute ...

Acupoint and Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders in AECOPD Patients

Acupoint Application Combined with Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, which is not fully reversible and progressive. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) refers to acute changes in respiratory distress, cough, and sputum in COPD patients at baseline levels. Sleep disorders are a very common complication in patients with AECOPD. At present, long-term use of sedative-hypnotics alone has many side effects, such as mental and physical dependence and cognitive impairment. While the efficacy of other special intervention methods is not clear, and the cost is high, there is an urgent need for effective and safe treatment in clinics. Acupoint application and ear plaster therapy are considered the characteristic therapies of traditional Chinese medicine. They have the advantages of small side effects, high safety, and simple procedure. This study will elucidate in detail the specific process and efficacy of the two treatment methods for AECOPD complicated with sleep disorders, including medical devices used, selection of acupoints, procedure, and posttreatment care. This study is intended to provide a new reference for the clinical treatment modality of this type of disease.

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD &#8212; A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

The present protocol describes the specific process and efficacy of the acupoint application combined with ear plaster therapy for sleep disorders in a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including medical devices, selection of acupoints, operating methods, and posttreatment care.

Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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