ACUPRESSURE A M EDICAL D ICTIONARY , B IBLIOGRAPHY , AND A NNOTATED R ESEARCH G UIDE TO I NTERNET R E FERENCES
J AMES N. P ARKER , M.D. AND P HILIP M. P ARKER , P H .D., E DITORS
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ICON Health Publications ICON Group International, Inc. 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, 4th Floor San Diego, CA 92122 USA Copyright 2004 by ICON Group International, Inc. Copyright 2004 by ICON Group International, Inc. All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Last digit indicates print number: 10 9 8 7 6 4 5 3 2 1
Publisher, Health Care: Philip Parker, Ph.D. Editor(s): James Parker, M.D., Philip Parker, Ph.D. Publisher's note: The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. As new medical or scientific information becomes available from academic and clinical research, recommended treatments and drug therapies may undergo changes. The authors, editors, and publisher have attempted to make the information in this book up to date and accurate in accord with accepted standards at the time of publication. The authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for consequences from application of the book, and make no warranty, expressed or implied, in regard to the contents of this book. Any practice described in this book should be applied by the reader in accordance with professional standards of care used in regard to the unique circumstances that may apply in each situation. The reader is advised to always check product information (package inserts) for changes and new information regarding dosage and contraindications before prescribing any drug or pharmacological product. Caution is especially urged when using new or infrequently ordered drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements, alternative therapies, complementary therapies and medicines, and integrative medical treatments. Cataloging-in-Publication Data Parker, James N., 1961Parker, Philip M., 1960Acupressure: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References / James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker, editors p. cm. Includes bibliographical references, glossary, and index. ISBN: 0-497-00017-2 1. Acupressure-Popular works. I. Title.
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Disclaimer This publication is not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher, editors, and authors are not engaging in the rendering of medical, psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. References to any entity, product, service, or source of information that may be contained in this publication should not be considered an endorsement, either direct or implied, by the publisher, editors, or authors. ICON Group International, Inc., the editors, and the authors are not responsible for the content of any Web pages or publications referenced in this publication.
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Acknowledgements The collective knowledge generated from academic and applied research summarized in various references has been critical in the creation of this book which is best viewed as a comprehensive compilation and collection of information prepared by various official agencies which produce publications on acupressure. Books in this series draw from various agencies and institutions associated with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and in particular, the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Administration on Aging (AOA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Healthcare Financing Administration (HCFA), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Indian Health Service (IHS), the institutions of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Program Support Center (PSC), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In addition to these sources, information gathered from the National Library of Medicine, the United States Patent Office, the European Union, and their related organizations has been invaluable in the creation of this book. Some of the work represented was financially supported by the Research and Development Committee at INSEAD. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Finally, special thanks are owed to Tiffany Freeman for her excellent editorial support.
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About the Editors James N. Parker, M.D. Dr. James N. Parker received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from the University of California, Riverside and his M.D. from the University of California, San Diego. In addition to authoring numerous research publications, he has lectured at various academic institutions. Dr. Parker is the medical editor for health books by ICON Health Publications. Philip M. Parker, Ph.D. Philip M. Parker is the Eli Lilly Chair Professor of Innovation, Business and Society at INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France and Singapore). Dr. Parker has also been Professor at the University of California, San Diego and has taught courses at Harvard University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and UCLA. Dr. Parker is the associate editor for ICON Health Publications.
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About ICON Health Publications To discover more about ICON Health Publications, simply check with your preferred online booksellers, including Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com which currently carry all of our titles. Or, feel free to contact us directly for bulk purchases or institutional discounts: ICON Group International, Inc. 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, Fourth Floor San Diego, CA 92122 USA Fax: 858-546-4341 Web site: www.icongrouponline.com/health
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Table of Contents FORWARD .......................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. STUDIES ON ACUPRESSURE ........................................................................................... 3 Overview........................................................................................................................................ 3 The Combined Health Information Database................................................................................. 3 Federally Funded Research on Acupressure .................................................................................. 4 The National Library of Medicine: PubMed ................................................................................ 42 CHAPTER 2. NUTRITION AND ACUPRESSURE ................................................................................. 43 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 43 Finding Nutrition Studies on Acupressure ................................................................................. 43 Federal Resources on Nutrition ................................................................................................... 45 Additional Web Resources ........................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER 3. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND ACUPRESSURE ........................................................... 47 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 47 The Combined Health Information Database............................................................................... 47 National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.................................................. 48 Additional Web Resources ........................................................................................................... 63 General References ....................................................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER 4. PATENTS ON ACUPRESSURE........................................................................................ 73 Overview...................................................................................................................................... 73 Patents on Acupressure ............................................................................................................... 73 Patent Applications on Acupressure.......................................................................................... 101 Keeping Current ........................................................................................................................ 116 CHAPTER 5. BOOKS ON ACUPRESSURE ......................................................................................... 117 Overview.................................................................................................................................... 117 Book Summaries: Federal Agencies............................................................................................ 117 Book Summaries: Online Booksellers......................................................................................... 119 Chapters on Acupressure ........................................................................................................... 126 Directories.................................................................................................................................. 127 CHAPTER 6. MULTIMEDIA ON ACUPRESSURE .............................................................................. 129 Overview.................................................................................................................................... 129 Video Recordings ....................................................................................................................... 129 CHAPTER 7. PERIODICALS AND NEWS ON ACUPRESSURE ........................................................... 131 Overview.................................................................................................................................... 131 News Services and Press Releases.............................................................................................. 131 Newsletters on Acupressure ...................................................................................................... 132 Newsletter Articles .................................................................................................................... 133 Academic Periodicals covering Acupressure.............................................................................. 134 APPENDIX A. PHYSICIAN RESOURCES .......................................................................................... 139 Overview.................................................................................................................................... 139 NIH Guidelines.......................................................................................................................... 139 NIH Databases........................................................................................................................... 141 Other Commercial Databases..................................................................................................... 143 APPENDIX B. PATIENT RESOURCES ............................................................................................... 145 Overview.................................................................................................................................... 145 Patient Guideline Sources.......................................................................................................... 145 Finding Associations.................................................................................................................. 147 APPENDIX C. FINDING MEDICAL LIBRARIES ................................................................................ 149 Overview.................................................................................................................................... 149 Preparation................................................................................................................................. 149 Finding a Local Medical Library................................................................................................ 149 Medical Libraries in the U.S. and Canada ................................................................................. 149
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ONLINE GLOSSARIES................................................................................................................ 155 Online Dictionary Directories ................................................................................................... 155 ACUPRESSURE DICTIONARY ................................................................................................. 157 INDEX .............................................................................................................................................. 213
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FORWARD In March 2001, the National Institutes of Health issued the following warning: "The number of Web sites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading."1 Furthermore, because of the rapid increase in Internet-based information, many hours can be wasted searching, selecting, and printing. Since only the smallest fraction of information dealing with acupressure is indexed in search engines, such as www.google.com or others, a non-systematic approach to Internet research can be not only time consuming, but also incomplete. This book was created for medical professionals, students, and members of the general public who want to know as much as possible about acupressure, using the most advanced research tools available and spending the least amount of time doing so. In addition to offering a structured and comprehensive bibliography, the pages that follow will tell you where and how to find reliable information covering virtually all topics related to acupressure, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. Public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research studies are emphasized. Various abstracts are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on acupressure. Abundant guidance is given on how to obtain free-of-charge primary research results via the Internet. While this book focuses on the field of medicine, when some sources provide access to non-medical information relating to acupressure, these are noted in the text. E-book and electronic versions of this book are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). If you are using the hard copy version of this book, you can access a cited Web site by typing the provided Web address directly into your Internet browser. You may find it useful to refer to synonyms or related terms when accessing these Internet databases. NOTE: At the time of publication, the Web addresses were functional. However, some links may fail due to URL address changes, which is a common occurrence on the Internet. For readers unfamiliar with the Internet, detailed instructions are offered on how to access electronic resources. For readers unfamiliar with medical terminology, a comprehensive glossary is provided. For readers without access to Internet resources, a directory of medical libraries, that have or can locate references cited here, is given. We hope these resources will prove useful to the widest possible audience seeking information on acupressure. The Editors
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From the NIH, National Cancer Institute (NCI): http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/ten-things-to-know.
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CHAPTER 1. STUDIES ON ACUPRESSURE Overview In this chapter, we will show you how to locate peer-reviewed references and studies on acupressure.
The Combined Health Information Database The Combined Health Information Database summarizes studies across numerous federal agencies. To limit your investigation to research studies and acupressure, you will need to use the advanced search options. First, go to http://chid.nih.gov/index.html. From there, select the “Detailed Search” option (or go directly to that page with the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html). The trick in extracting studies is found in the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the format option “Journal Article.” At the top of the search form, select the number of records you would like to see (we recommend 100) and check the box to display “whole records.” We recommend that you type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. Consider using the option “anywhere in record” to make your search as broad as possible. If you want to limit the search to only a particular field, such as the title of the journal, then select this option in the “Search in these fields” drop box. The following is what you can expect from this type of search: •
Questionable: Acupressure Devices Source: Healthy Weight Journal. 10(5):94; Sept/Oct.1996. Contact: Healthy Living Institute, 402 S. 14th St., Hettinger, ND 58639. (701) 567-2645. Summary: This article reviews fraudulent and misleading claims for weight loss gadgets based on the theory of acupuncture and acupressure. It includes information on two new items now being heavily promoted: "Slimming Insoles" to slip inside shoes, and "Svelte Patch," as well as appetite patches, earrings, and ear inserts.
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Federally Funded Research on Acupressure The U.S. Government supports a variety of research studies relating to acupressure. These studies are tracked by the Office of Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health.2 CRISP (Computerized Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects) is a searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other institutions. Search the CRISP Web site at http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/crisp_query.generate_screen. You will have the option to perform targeted searches by various criteria, including geography, date, and topics related to acupressure. For most of the studies, the agencies reporting into CRISP provide summaries or abstracts. As opposed to clinical trial research using patients, many federally funded studies use animals or simulated models to explore acupressure. The following is typical of the type of information found when searching the CRISP database for acupressure: •
Project Title: A NEW STRATEGY FOR PROTECTION FROM CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA Principal Investigator & Institution: Xia, Ying; Associate Professor; Pediatrics; Yale University 47 College Street, Suite 203 New Haven, Ct 065208047 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-MAR-2002; Project End 31-JAN-2004 Summary: Stroke induces ischemic injury in the brain and is a leading cause of neurological disability and death in this country. Prevention and early treatment of ischemic injury are of great significance in reducing the devastating effects on individuals and their families. However, the related strategies are still limited so far. Recently, traditional Chinese medicine has advocated the use of acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) to treat acute stroke. Since this modality is relatively convenient, lowcosting and low-risk, it may be a useful therapeutic option. However, its efficacy has not been subjected to scientific testing and the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Therefore, this laboratory has begun to determine the efficacy of EA-induced protection against the effect of brain ischemia and explore the molecular mechanisms with multiple approaches. The initial studies demonstrated that EA significantly attenuated the size of ischemic infarction in the cortex and striatum. Functional studies also showed that EA greatly promoted the recovery of somatosensory evoked potential and electroencephalograms. These observations suggest that EA may be an effective strategy for protection from the effect of cerebral ischemia. Additional work from this laboratory has suggested that delta-opioid receptor (DOR) protects neurons against excitotoxic/hypoxic injury and its expression may be associated with stress tolerance. Since previous work from this laboratory and those of others have shown that EA upregulates brain opioid activity, and the cortex and striatum have the highest DOR density in the brain, it is possible that DOR serves as an inherent protector in the brain and EA up-regulates DOR activity to protect the brain against the effect of cerebral ischemia. Based on the preliminary data, this proposal will specifically test two major hypotheses: 1) EA protects against cerebral ischemia depending on acupuncture conditions (acupoints, stimulation intensity and time window of EA application, etc.)
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Healthcare projects are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and Office of Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH).
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And 2) EA protection is mediated by the DOR system in the brain. The outcome data may have important clinical implications and provide a guideline for EA application. More importantly, this work will open up a new research field. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying EA-induced protection will eventually lead to develop new solutions for ischemic brain injury. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE & MOXA FOR CHRONIC DIARRHEA IN HIV PTS Principal Investigator & Institution: Anastasi, Joyce K.; Associate Professor; None; Columbia University Health Sciences Po Box 49 New York, Ny 10032 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 30-SEP-1999; Project End 31-AUG-2004 Summary: (Adapted from applicant's abstract The objective of this proposal is to test alternative treatment strategies to reduce the frequency of chronic diarrhea among HIV positive individuals. 60 percent of patients with HIV disease in the U.S. will have diarrhea at some point in their illness. Although in general many of the opportunistic infections (OI's) associated with HIV have decreased due to new "drug cocktails," many of these drugs however, have diarrhea as a side effect. In Asian countries, acupuncture (including moxibustion) has been widely used for the treatment of various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. However, there are no published studies that test treatment protocols using acupuncture or moxibustion on patients with HIV experiencing chronic diarrhea. The subjects in the proposed experiment will be 144 men and women with HIV infection who report experiencing 3 or more episodes of diarrhea (non-pathogen related) per 24 hour period for 3 weeks or more. Subjects will be randomized to one of four experimental intervention conditions: Condition 1 subjects receive true acupuncture and placebo moxibustion; Condition 3, subjects receive true moxibustion and sham acupuncture; Condition 4 (Control Group), subjects receive sham acupuncture and placebo moxibustion. Subjects in Conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 will attend 20 scheduled sessions over 24 weeks. Week 1 is a baseline session followed by two sessions per week for weeks 2-8 (sessions 2-15), one session per week for weeks 9, 10, 11 and 12 (sessions 16, 17, 18 and 19) and a final follow-up session at week 24. All subjects will complete daily bowel movement and medication data collection diaries for the duration of the study. Measurement of quality of life and level of functioning will be taken preintervention (session 1), week 6 (session 10), week 12 (session 19) and week 24 (session 20). All interventions will be implemented by licensed acupuncturists trained in traditional Chinese medicine. This study is designed to assess the efficacy of two alternative medicine treatments for chronic diarrhea associated with HIV in a prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded, parallel groups study under the intent-totreat principle. True acupuncture, moxibustion, and combination therapy, in which specific meridian points are stimulated according to protocol, will be compared to each other and with the control group, with one-way ANOVA models for pre-treatment minus post-treatment difference scores for diarrhea frequency and stool consistency as the dependent measures and treatment group assignment (Conditions 1-4) as the independent variable. Average pretreatment diarrhea frequency and stool consistency scores will be entered as covariates into these models. Sample size determination for the above analysis, based on Preliminary data, with 80% power and a two-tailed type I error rate of.05% by the method of Holm (1979) and a 20% attrition factor indicates the need for 36 subjects assigned to each condition to detect a 0.95-standardized difference between the most extreme experimental conditions. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE AND COPING SKILLS TRAINING FOR COCAINE ABUSE Principal Investigator & Institution: Margolin, Arthur; Research Scientist; Psychiatry; Yale University 47 College Street, Suite 203 New Haven, Ct 065208047 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-SEP-1994; Project End 30-JUN-2005 Summary: (Applicant's Abstract) This competing renewal requests funds to continue our research investigating auricular acupuncture as a treatment for cocaine addiction. In the previous grant period we conducted three clinical studies enrolling 211 patients. Each study compared auricular acupuncture to two control conditions - a needle insertion control using sites in the auricle helix, and a relaxation group - under a variety of conditions, with and without a widely used psychosocial treatment (Coping Skills Training - CST) as well as financial incentives for attendance. Findings supported the efficacy of acupuncture when provided in conjunction with CST and without financial incentives. However, these studies were not designed to definitively examine the interaction between acupuncture and CST, or to determine whether acupuncture is more effective than CST delivered alone. The proposed study builds upon our previous research and will investigate two widely used treatments and their interactions acupuncture and CST - in a clinical context in which each treatment is provided by substance abuse counselors, employing a research design consistent with the need to bring research findings to clinical practice, and in which relative cost of each treatment is also considered. We propose to conduct a "Phase III" clinical trial in which 200 cocaine-abusing methadone maintained patients, all receiving standard methadone maintenance treatment, will be randomly assigned to 4 treatment conditions, each of 12 weeks duration, in a 2 (acupuncture/no acupuncture) by 2 (weekly coping skills training group/no coping skills training) factorial design. The four groups are: (a) acupuncture only (ACU); (b) coping skills training only (CST); (c) acupuncture plus coping skills training (ACU+CST); (d) standard methadone maintenance only (MM). In a second phase of the study, in order to explore the effectiveness of these treatments in preventing relapse, patients who initiate abstinence in the 12-week trial will be invited to continue their assigned treatment for 6 months. Both clinical efficacy, cost, as well as treatment/patient matching variables, will be examined. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DSM-IV PTSD Principal Investigator & Institution: Hollifield, Michael A.; Psychiatry; University of New Mexico Albuquerque Controller's Office Albuquerque, Nm 87131 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-SEP-2002; Project End 31-MAY-2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): This pilot study's aims are to develop a working diagnostic and treatment model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) within a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) paradigm, and to evaluate the acceptability and potential benefit of an acupuncture approach for the treatment of PTSD symptoms. Specifically, we will evaluate: 1) the TCM diagnostic differentiation patterns of people who have PTSD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition; 2) if an acupuncture treatment approach is acceptable to people with PTSD, measured by treatment completion rate and satisfaction; and 3) if an acupuncture treatment approach is associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms that is comparable to the treatment effect of a standard Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach and better than no treatment. Because symptoms of depression, insomnia and pain are often associated with PTSD, we will also evaluate the potential benefit of an acupuncture approach on
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depression, insomnia and pain symptoms in people with PTSD. Analyses: A description of the TCM diagnoses for people with PTSD will be offered. Treatment completion rates between groups will be analyzed with Chi-square, and a continuous measure of satisfaction between groups will be analyzed with ANOVA on a single post-treatment measure. A group by time repeated measures ANOVA will be conducted to determine the relative effects of the Acupuncture vs. the CBT vs. the Wait-List condition, and will be reported in terms of both significance and effect sizes (Cohen's d). Significance: This pilot project will allow TCM practitioners to have a logical and empirical approach to TCM diagnosis and treatment of people who might be referred with PTSD. Further, this study will provide preliminary data about the acceptability and potential benefit of an acupuncture approach in people with PTSD symptoms. These data will be significant because: 1) there are no empirical data or consensus paradigms of a TCM acupuncture approach for the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD; and 2) these preliminary data should encourage higher powered randomized clinical trials about the effectiveness of acupuncture in PTSD and/or related anxiety disorders. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE FOR HOT FLASHES IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS Principal Investigator & Institution: Beer, Tomasz M.; Associate Professor; Medicine; Oregon Health & Science University Portland, or 972393098 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 14-JUL-2003; Project End 30-JUN-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Up to 80% of men treated with androgen deprivation for prostate cancer suffer from hot flashes. Insomnia, fatigue, and irritability are often associated with hot flashes and adversely affect the quality of life for these patients. Several pharmacologic interventions can reduce hot flash frequency and intensity but have the potential for adverse effects. Acupuncture, a 23 centuries-old treatment modality, has been reported to substantially reduce hot flash frequency in 7 men treated with androgen deprivation for prostate cancer in Sweden. The study proposed here will apply validated methodology to assess the impact of acupuncture on hot flash frequency and intensity as well as hot flash related quality of life in an adequately powered phase Ii study. To extend current understanding of the physiologic changes associated with hot flashes and with acupuncture, the impact of acupuncture on serotonin and its metabolites, metabolites of brain norepinephrine, and circulating calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) will be evaluated. All three of these systems have been implicated in the pathophysiology of thermoregulatory instability associated with hot flashes. Serotonin and norepinephrine are amongst the targets of western pharmacologic treatment for hot flashes. Preliminary data suggest that acupuncture may mediate changes in circulating serotonin and CGRP. Promising results in this pilot trial will lead to randomized studies of acupuncture compared to pharmacologic therapy and pilot studies of acupuncture combined with western treatment. The overall goal is to provide prostate cancer patients an effective, low toxicity, non-pharmacologic treatment modality for hot flashes. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE FOR SHORTNESS OF BREATH IN CANCER PATIENTS Principal Investigator & Institution: Feinstein, Marc B.; Clinical Assistant Physician; Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Res New York, Ny 100216007
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Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 28-SEP-2001; Project End 31-AUG-2003 Summary: (provided by applicant): BACKGROUND: Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is one of the most common symptoms experienced by patients with advanced cancer. It is particularly prevalent among breast and lung cancer patients. Curative treatment, such as tapping an effusion, is indicated for some patients but it is not always successful. There are only limited data from controlled trials on the value of pharmacologic approaches. Many patients do not respond to treatment and experience significant shortness of breath with consequent seriously impaired quality of life. Several randomized trials suggest that acupuncture may benefit conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. An uncontrolled study in advanced cancer reported immediate and clinically significant reductions in dyspnea following treatment. OBJECTIVES: We plan to conduct a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III study of acupuncture for shortness of breath in advanced cancer. Such a study would aim to determine the immediate effect of acupuncture and the short-term effects of patient-self-administered acupressure. In this proposal, we plan to pilot such a study in order to refine accrual, treatment, placebo and data management procedures, and to determine whether a controlled trial is feasible and warranted. METHODS: Forty patients with breast or lung cancer will be accrued. Treatment consists of a single acupuncture session followed by administration of semi-permanent acupuncture needles ("studs"). Patients will be instructed on applying acupressure to the studs. Assignment to true treatment or placebo will be randomized, stratified by grade of breathlessness and cancer diagnosis. Placebo treatment consists of the "Streitberger" placebo needle, a device in which the needle retracts into the handle rather than piercing the skin, and a specially designed dummy stud. These will be placed at nonacupuncture points. Subjective breathlessness will be recorded for one hour immediately preceding and following the first acupuncture treatment and then twice a day for seven days. We will conduct a Phase III study if at least 75 percent of patients provide evaluable data; if accrual is sufficiently rapid so that, after suitable sample size calculations, a controlled trial could be completed in less than four years; and if the 95 percent confidence interval for the difference between group means includes at least a 20 percent greater improvement than placebo for either acupuncture or acupressure. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE FOR SHOULDER SYNDROME AFTER CANCER SURGERY Principal Investigator & Institution: Pfister, David G.; Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Res New York, Ny 100216007 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 23-JUN-2003; Project End 31-MAY-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): BACKGROUND: Neck dissection is a common procedure for treatment of head and neck cancer. Removal or damage to the spinal accessory nerve can lead to "shoulder syndrome", characterized by shoulder droop, winged scapula, weak abduction, inability to shrug and a dull ache with pain localized to the shoulder. Though modified surgical procedures have been developed which spare the spinal accessory nerve, these procedures do not prevent shoulder syndrome entirely. There are no effective treatments for shoulder syndrome and many patients live with significant long-term pain and disability. Acupuncture is widely used for pain and there is evidence of its effectiveness for both acute and chronic pain disorders. These considerations warrant further research on acupuncture for shoulder syndrome following neck dissection. OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine whether a Phase III trial of acupuncture for shoulder pain and dysfunction in cancer patients treated by neck
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dissection is warranted; 2. To determine whether such a trial is feasible in terms of accrual rate, drop-out rate, use of off-study treatment and compliance; 3. To determine the most sensitive outcome measure; 4. To provide data necessary (or sample size calculation. METHODS: Head and neck cancer patients complaining of shoulder pain and dysfunction at least three months after lack dissection will complete two visual analog scales of shoulder pain on movement, one week apart. They will also be assessed by a physical therapist using the Constant-Murley score, a validated shoulder pain and dysfunction assessment instrument. Patients will be randomized to eight biweekly treatments of acupuncture or to no additional care. Outcome will be assessed two weeks after the end of treatment. Change in pain and Constant-Murley will be compared between groups by analysis of co-variance. At the end of the trial we will have data to address each of our aims as follows: Is a Phase III indicated? Data: Confidence interval for the difference between group means. Aim: Is a Phase III trial feasible? Data: Accrual rate; drop-out rate; compliance with treatment; use of off-study treatments. Should Constant-Murley or VAS be used? Data: Effect sizes calculated by adjusted mean difference divided by adjusted standard deviation Aim: Sample size calculation for Phase III. Data: Standard deviations, mean of control group, correlation between and within baseline and follow-up measures. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEADACHE Principal Investigator & Institution: Coeytaux, Remy R.; Family Medicine; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Aob 104 Airport Drive Cb#1350 Chapel Hill, Nc 27599 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-JUL-2002; Project End 30-JUN-2007 Summary: (provided by applicant): Candidate: Remy Coeytaux, M.D. is an assistant professor of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC), a doctoral student in Epidemiology, a medical acupuncturist, and a former Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. Research career development plan: The career development plan includes coursework, tutorials, and mentored research activities to provide the candidate with further training in clinical trial methodology, acupuncture practice and research, headache research, and academic leadership. Immediate career goals: To become a productive and independent investigator who can apply rigorous research methods to the study of acupuncture, while at the same time respecting acupuncture traditions that may contribute to clinical outcomes. Long-term career goals: To become a Professor of Family Medicine who successfully integrates clinical acupuncture with conventional medical practice and research. Research projects: Project 1 is a randomized clinical trial (N=100) to assess the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct to medical care for the treatment of headache. Project 2 (N=30) will test the feasibility of a novel acupuncture comparison group that may make it possible to mask acupuncturists from subjects' treatment arm allocation. These two projects will provide preliminary data and guide the design of a subsequent R-O1 application for a "triple"-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture for headache. Environment: Patients will be recruited from the UNC Headache Clinic, and the clinical trials will be conducted through the NIH-funded General Clinical Research Center at UNC. Mentorship: Mentorship will be provided by a team of senior-level researchers, including a leader in education of complementary and alternative medicine (Dr. Curtis), a highly-experienced family medicine researcher (Dr. Sloane), a leading expert in measurement development and evaluation (Dr. DeVellis), and an expert in biostatistics and clinical trials (Dr. Davis). Outside consultants who will assist with select aspects of the proposed activities include a renowned expert, teacher, and researcher of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.
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Kaptchuk), an epidemiologist and health services researcher with extensive experience with clinical trials of acupuncture (Dr. Sherman), and a leading expert on chronic daily headache (Dr. Spierings). Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Principal Investigator & Institution: Middlekauff, Holly R.; Assistant Professor; Medicine; University of California Los Angeles 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1200 Los Angeles, Ca 90024 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-JUL-2001; Project End 30-JUN-2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture is used to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, and to relieve angina in patients with coronary artery disease. While the biological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia have been studied intensely in animals and humans, the biological mechanisms for modulation of the cardiovascular system in humans remain largely unexplored. Acupuncture at traditional acupoints, and at nonacupoints, decreases the blood pressure response during mental stress in normal humans. This depressor effect cannot be fully explained by a decline in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Further, in humans with heart failure (HF) in whom MSNA is elevated, we have preliminary data that acupuncture significantly decreases the MSNA response during mental stress. The following hypotheses will be tested: 1) acupuncture, performed at traditional acupoints and non-acupoints in normal humans, stimulates skeletal muscle afferent neurons causing a release of endogenous opioids, which oppose sympathetic excitation and vasoconstriction in visceral vascular beds, such as the kidney; 2) in humans with HF in whom MSNA is elevated and renal vasoconstriction is the rule, acupuncture utilizes similar mechanisms as in normal humans to produce I exaggerated inhibition of MSNA and reflex renal vasoconstriction. Positron emission tomography and I microneurography will be utilized to answer the following questions in normal humans and patients with heart failure: 1. Is acupuncture attenuation of BP during mental stress mediated by a decrease in renal vasoconstriction? 2. Is acupuncture sympathoinhibitory? 3. Is acupuncture modulation of the autonomic nervous system during mediated by muscle afferents? 4. Is acupuncture modulation of the autonomic nervous system mediated by activation of endogenous opioids? Understanding the mechanisms of acupuncture modulation of the autonomic nervous system in humans may help clarify its role as a therapeutic modality in cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: MODEL
ACUPUNCTURE
MECHANISM:
MECHANOTRANSDUCTION
Principal Investigator & Institution: Langevin, Helene M.; Assistant Professor; Neurology; University of Vermont & St Agric College 340 Waterman Building Burlington, Vt 05405 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 30-SEP-2002; Project End 31-MAY-2007 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture needle manipulation is associated with a biomechanical phenomenon, "needle grasp" resulting in increased resistance to needle pullout. Needle grasp is widely viewed as essential to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture, yet its mechanism is unknown. We have shown in a previous study in humans that needle grasp is markedly increased by manipulation of the acupuncture needle and involves connective tissue rather than muscle. In this study, we will test the
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working model that needle grasp involves mechanical signal transduction through connective tissue via: 1) winding of connective tissue around the needle, needle/tissue mechanical coupling, pulling of collagen fibers and local deformation of extracellular connective tissue matrix. We will perform quantitative histological measurements of human subcutaneous tissue biopsies after insertion and rotation of an acupuncture needle, together with measurement of the peak force necessary to pull the needle out of the tissue (pullout force) in anesthetized human subjects undergoing surgery. We will characterize the quantitative relationship between pull out force and the relative volume of collagen surrounding the needle after varying amounts of needle rotation performed with a computer-controlled acupuncture needling instrument (Aim 1). 2) Transduction of the mechanical signal created by matrix deformation into connective tissue fibroblasts with cytoskeletal actin polymerization. We will quantify the effect of needle rotation on connective tissue fibroblast actin polymerization in rat tissue explants using histochemistry and confocal microscopy. We will study temporal and spatial characteristics of these measurements using varying amounts of uni-directional and bidirectional needle rotation at acupuncture points and control points (Aim 2). 3) Activation of intracellular signaling pathways leading to changes in fibroblast gene expression. We will monitor gene expression, with and without acupuncture needle rotation, in mouse tissue explants. We will target genes coding for extracellular matrix components, growth factors and cytokines known to be released in response to mechanical stimuli, using comparative gene expression analysis (Aim3). We will test acupuncture points, control points, uni-directional and bi-directional needle rotation in all three aims. The result of these experiments will provide key, new insights into the nature of biomechanical, tissue, cellular and molecular responses to acupuncture needling. Understanding these mechanisms will permit improved clinical trials and expand clinical applications of acupuncture. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE POINT DECISION ENGINE (ACUDE) Principal Investigator & Institution: Mccarthy, Matthew J.; Mc Carthy Consultants 6506 E Sunnyside Dr, #100 Scottsdale, Az 85254 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 22-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAR-2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): We intend on researching, testing, and constructing the world's first completely logic-driven actuarial acupuncture database software, distributing it on Personal Computers, Handheld Devices (Palmpilot (r)), and as an Internet Application based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. Our research and products will provide health care professionals and researchers a tool that will enable them to produce accurate acupuncture point prescriptions, and their associated documentation, and still retain a completely holistic approach. With a prototype Acupuncture Decision Engine (AcuDE) in place, the research will 1) develop and validate the most accurate scoring methodology employed by the AcuDE through accepted references and TCM theory and statistical analysis; 2) research AcuDE's "dataneutral" approach which allows users to populate their own data, and reflect their own TCM judgment and practice and still retain AcuDE's core TCM logic via intensive statistical comparisons between AcuDE output and clinical case studies. 3) AcuDE's data model to produce point combinations will be researched to enhance accuracy by investigating other proven TCM theories and incorporating them into its data schema. AcuDE's innovative data-neutral approach will lead to potential enabling technologies where any decision process is required. These products will facilitate acupuncture's acceptance and integration into conventional medicine worldwide.
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Acupressure
Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE TO PREVENT POSTOPERATIVE PARALYTIC LLEUS Principal Investigator & Institution: Chiang, Joseph S.; Anesthesiology; University of Texas Md Anderson Can Ctr Cancer Center Houston, Tx 77030 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 15-JUN-2003; Project End 28-FEB-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): The primary aim of this prospective randomized trial is to determine if acupuncture is effective in preventing postoperative paralytic ileus (PPI) among cancer survivors undergoing colostomy/ileostomy closure. Additional objectives are to: 1) compare post-surgical quality of life status between treatment and control groups in terms of pain, use of opioid analgesics, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, abdominal distention/fullness, activity, and sense of well-being; and 2) compare costs due to extended hospital stay and care related to ileus between patients who develop PPI and those who do not. This study will also provide preliminary data for subsequent large scale projects and serve as a basis for future research in an area where existing evidence is sparse, yet potential benefits to patient care are considerable. The treatment group will receive acupuncture with electrical stimulation twice each day for 20 minutes beginning on postoperative day 1 and ending on postoperative day 4 for a total of 8 treatments. With each treatment session, 10 needles will be placed on points LI-4, Sp-6, St-36, St-25, CV-6, and CV-12, and electroacupuncture will be applied at points LI-4 and St-36. A bowel motility index including bowel sounds, passage of flatus, bowel movement, and diet tolerance will be recorded for both groups until 72 hours after acupuncture treatments have been stopped or until hospital discharge. Information regarding pain, use of opioid analgesics, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, abdominal distention/fullness, activity, and general sense of wellbeing will be compared between groups. Time (in hours) for each bowel motility indicator (bowel sounds, passage of flatus, and bowel movement) and time to hospital discharge will be compared between groups using standard survival techniques both as Kaplan-Meier analysis and adjusting for the other measured parameters in the study using proportional hazards analyses. Contingency table methods and logistic regression will be used to determine related parameters. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE PANCREATIC CA
TREATMENT
OF
CHRONIC
PAIN
IN
Principal Investigator & Institution: Cassileth, Barrie R.; Chief; Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Res New York, Ny 100216007 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 28-SEP-2001; Project End 31-AUG-2003 Summary: (provided by applicant): BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer affects approximately 28,000 Americans a year. Approximately 85-90 percent of these patients are first diagnosed when their disease already is locally advanced or metastatic. AT this point, median survival is three to six months. Treatment of pancreatic cancer is predominantly palliative in nature. Pain control is often the most serious challenge: the pancreas has an extensive blood, lymphatic and nerve supply and is surrounded by numerous other abdominal organs. More than 90 percent of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer experience moderate to severe pain. Several surgical and nonoperative procedures are used to palliate pancreatic pain, including blocking afferent pain fibers from the pancreas. Data on the efficacy of these approaches are limited and
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these interventions tend to be used only in select cases. Oncologic management with gemcitabine chemotherapy or radiotherapy reduces pain in a minority of patients. Most patients require opiates for pain control, and the high doses needed often cause undesirable sedation. Basic and clinical research supports acupuncture for the treatment of pain. A randomized trial found that acupuncture helps relieve non-malignant pancreatic pain, suggesting that an early phase trial of acupuncture for pancreatic cancer pain would be warranted. Objectives: To assess the effects of an acupuncture/acupressure intervention on pain, sedation and opiate medication in patients with pancreatic cancer experiencing moderate to severe pain to: i) determine whether controlled trials are warranted and ii) provide data to aid design of further warranted studies. Methods: Initially, a small number of pancreatic cancer patients reporting either high levels of pain or high levels of sedation will be treated in order to finalize the acupuncture prescription and the data collection procedures. We will then accrue patients in a standard two-stage, Phase II design. Patients will receive four sessions of a standardized acupuncture treatment with intervening acupressure over 10 days. Pain, opiate medication and sedation will be assessed for three days at baseline and post-treatment. Patients will be considered to have responded to treatment if they report a pre-specified level of improvement in either pain or sedation. Ten patients will be recruited. If less than two experience responses, the trial will be terminated. Otherwise, an additional 19 patients will be accrued. A Phase III trial will be deemed warranted if there are 6 or more responses in total; this is consistent with a 30 percent response rate. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: PREGNANCY
ACUPUNCTURE
TREATMENT
OF
DEPRESSION
DURING
Principal Investigator & Institution: Manber, Rachel; Associate Professor; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sci; Stanford University Stanford, Ca 94305 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 30-SEP-1998; Project End 31-AUG-2007 Summary: (TAKEN FROM APPLICANT): Objective: The aim of the proposed randomized controlled study is to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture treatment of depression during pregnancy. Significance: Depression is, unfortunately common during pregnancy and it has significant deleterious effects on mother and infant, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and continued depression into postpartum. Few medically acceptable treatments are available for the treatment of depression during pregnancy. Our preliminary work provides evidence that acupuncture may be a safe and acceptable treatment option for depression. Specific aims: 1) to evaluate the efficacy of brief 8-week treatment with SPEC acupuncture for major depression during pregnancy relative to the two control treatments; 2) to evaluate the efficacy and clinical significance (pregnancy outcome) of continued treatment with SPEC acupuncture relative to the two control treatments; and 3) to evaluate the differential impact of treatment with SPEC acupuncture for major depression on the incidence of postpartum depression. Participants. Design: To test the efficacy of acupuncture designed specifically to address depressive symptomatology during pregnancy (SPEC) it will be compared, using random assignment, to the following 2 control conditions: 1) valid acupuncture that does not directly address depressive symptoms (NSPEC), thus controlling for the belief in the efficacy of the treatment; and 2) prenatal massage (MSSG), thus controlling for attention, physical contact, relaxation and respite from daily stress. The study includes three phases, acute, continuation and follows up. Participants: 180 participants meeting western diagnostic criteria for Major
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Acupressure
Depression with a score >: 14 on the first 17 items of the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRSD) will be randomized. The ethnic distribution of the sample will be representative of the ethnic distribution in the San Francisco Bay Area. Treatments: The acute phase of treatment consists of 16 half-hour treatment sessions delivered over 8 weeks. To consolidate treatment gains and to prevent post partum depression, participants who have full or partial response at the end of the acute phase will continue to receive the same, but less frequent, treatment until 10 weeks post partum, and will be followed up for 6 more months. Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome measures are the HRSD and the depression portion of the SCID-IV, to be administered monthly during the treatment phases and at 3 and 6 months follow up. Other important measures include the Beck Depression Inventory (weekly), expectations (of the participants and the providers), and delivery and infant measures. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ACUPUNCTURE/FUNCTIONAL IMAGING OF THE BRAIN Principal Investigator & Institution: Cho, Zang-Hee; Professor; Radiological Sciences; University of California Irvine Irvine, Ca 926977600 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-MAY-2001; Project End 31-MAR-2003 Summary: (APPLICANT'S ABSTRACT): The ultimate goal of this proposed study is to understand the CNS mechanisms by which acupuncture treats disease. In order to accomplish this goal and to relieve suffering and illness, our long-term objectives are the following: 1) to utilize the newest technology in fMRI to demonstrate functional changes of the brain during stimulation of specific acupoints in the peripheral nervous system; 2) to study the data from real time fMRI to describe "functional circuitry" of "streaming" between areas of the CNS to gain insight into basic acupuncture mechanisms and to discover new functional relationships; 3) to develop new techniques for delineating anatomy of the peripheral nervous system in vivo to facilitate reproducibility of fMRIacupuncture research and to improve the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy; and 4) to study patients with focal cerebrovascular accidents (CVA's or strokes) of the visual cortex when using acupuncture stimulation in order to understand the effects of acupuncture on disease states as well as on normal controls, possibly giving a rationale for the use of acupuncture in the treatment of strokes. A carefully-controlled doubleblinded study of 25 normal controls will utilize real time fMRI to record neuronal activity change in the cerebral cortex during acupuncture stimulation of 12 major acupoints. The technique will include gradient echo EPI sequences and the sagittal view Z-Readout mode to avoid acoustic noise effects. The information of "functional circuitry" and "streaming" will be found in the post-processing of data using the obtained timecourse data and our more recently developed Gabor-decomposition-analysis technique. New techniques to delineate the functional anatomy of the peripheral nerves will include Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and MRI neurography in the living subject. The study of cerebral blood flow in stroke patients with pathology in only a localized area of the brain, the occipital cortex, will be compared with our work on normal controls using gradient echo EPI sequences. The results of this research will give new insight and approaches to understanding the mechanisms of acupuncture, with a most important windfall of improving the efficacy and specificity of a 3,000 year-old Oriental medical therapy, acupuncture. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: ADJUNCTIVE ACUPUNCTURE TO TREAT BIPOLAR DEPRESSION Principal Investigator & Institution: Suppes, Patricia; Psychiatry; University of Texas Sw Med Ctr/Dallas Dallas, Tx 753909105 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-FEB-2001; Project End 31-JAN-2004 Summary: Complementary and alternative therapies for psychiatric disorders are increasingly popular despite the lack of rigorous scientific data addressing their safety, tolerability, or efficacy. The proposed study adds to a small but growing body of literature to evaluate acupuncture in the treatment of mood disorders. The primary aims are to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of acupuncture treatment in conjunction with psychopharmacology alone. The study will replicate methods of acupuncture diagnosis and treatment designed in a previous NIMH- funded study. The role of subjects' expectancies for acupuncture treatment will be evaluated. Patients will be randomized to either acupuncture plus stable medications (ACUP N=15) on clinical outcome or nonspecific acupuncture plus stable medications (NS ACUP N=15). Clinical contact with an acupuncturist will be equivalent for both groups (12 sessions, 8 weeks). Patients, raters, and psychiatrists will be blind to group assignment. The criteria for inclusion now require moderate (vs. mild) depression for study entry to minimize study confounds such as spontaneous improvement. Safety measures and procedures to maintain study retention have been strengthened. Acupuncture patients will meet weekly with an RA and psychiatrist to complete ratings (IDS-C, CGI-BP, YMRS, GAF) and to assess side effects and symptom severity. We will include a comparison group (TAU) of patients who met entry criteria but refused the acupuncture intervention. Those subjects will continue to receive pharmacological treatment, and retrospective chart audit will allow us to determine the degree of change expected from medication treatment alone in this sample. While clinical trials have addressed the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for unipolar depression, a unique opportunity exists to bring similar rigor to the study of acupuncture for depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder. A strength of this proposal is its replication of methodology developed and used by other researchers in a study of acupuncture in MDD. Should acupuncture demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of bipolar disorder, further studies will be proposed to evaluate its utility for maintenance and prevention. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: AN INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE END-OF-LIFE SYMPTON DISTRESS Principal Investigator & Institution: Redinbaugh, Ellen M.; None; University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh 350 Thackeray Hall Pittsburgh, Pa 15260 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 28-SEP-2001; Project End 31-AUG-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): End-stage colorectal cancer is associated with physical and psychological symptoms that negatively affect patients' quality of life (QOL) [1,2]. Nonpharmacological interventions that promote relaxation and reduce psychological distress are associated with a reduction of pain [3] suggesting that psychological distress and anxiety may mediate the relationship between symptom severity and QOL. Pilot data from a sample of 28 end-stage cancer patients supports the mediational role of psychological distress in the symptom severity - QOL relationship. The results indicated that the mere presence or absence of a physical symptom is not related to patient QOL. Rather, greater symptom severity was associated with significantly poorer QOL, and when the effects of psychological distress were controlled, the relationships between symptom severity and QOL were no longer
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Acupressure
significant. The proposed research focuses on psychological distress as an underlying mechanism of physical symptom severity among EOL cancer patients and a nontraditional approach (acupuncture) to relieving distress and symptom severity. Acupuncture has been used successfully with end-of-life populations (EOL) to reduce pain and shortness of breath [4]. Patients with psychological distress report the greatest benefit from acupuncture [5,6]. Rather than using acupuncture to treat pain and discomfort, the proposed research will evaluate acupuncture that targets acupoints associated with anxiety and emotional well-being. One hundred seventy patients with metastatic colorectal cancer will be recruited for the study through the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). Participating patients will be randomized into one of three conditions: 1) a "true" acupuncture condition, 2) a "sham" acupuncture condition, and 3) a usual care control group. Assessment procedures will gather demographic, QOL, physical and psychological symptomatology, medication use, and salivary cortisol data. Randomization will occur after baseline assessment, and participants randomized to one of the two intervention conditions will receive acupuncture treatments three times a week for four weeks. Follow-up assessments will occur weekly for four weeks following the intervention. The proposed study will 1) test the efficacy of an acupuncture intervention in reducing psychological distress and physical symptom severity and 2) examine acupuncture's role in regulating stress responses associated with hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) activity. Findings from this study will 1) promote our understanding of psychological distress as a mechanism of physical symptom distress, and 2) promote the integration of Eastern healing philosophies (acupuncture) with the Western medical model (stress-related HPA activation). Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF JIN SHIN TREATMENT AFTER STROKE Principal Investigator & Institution: Hernandez, Theresa D.; Associate Professor; Psychology; University of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, Co 80309 Timing: Fiscal Year 2004; Project Start 01-MAR-2004; Project End 28-FEB-2009 Summary: (provided by applicant): CANDIDATE: The candidate, Theresa D. Hernandez, Ph.D, is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Psychology and the Center for Neuroscience. Dr. Hernandez's research has utilized animal models to assess the neurobehavioral consequences of anti-convulsant drugs and seizures after brain injury. She has been a successful, independent, extramurally-funded researcher in this area. Her immediate goal is to acquire new research skills and training to help her achieve her long-term goal of developing a successful, independent, extramurally-funded research program in the clinical science fields of stroke and complementary & alternative medicine (CAM). The proposed K01 development plan will provide Dr. Hernandez with the necessary training to achieve her goal. CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Dr. Hernandez's research career development training activities consist of: 1) acquired research skills associated with and supplementary to the proposed research plan; and 2) structured activities including formal course work, attendance and presentations at scientific meetings, as well as intensive interactions with her mentors and their research groups. ENVIRONMENT: The environment for Dr. Hernandez's training is outstanding. The Sponsor (Dr. Seals) is a well-established, extramurally-funded scientist with a strong record of mentoring in biomedical and clinical research. His mentoring will be rounded out by a team of extramurally-funded consulting mentors who will provide expertise in specific areas of the training plan. RESEARCH: The general aim of this research is to determine whether a complementary therapeutic approach, Jin Shin Tara (acupressure-like touch), can diminish stroke-associated functional disabilities
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associated with hemiplegia and aphasia during the stable, post-stroke period. The general hypothesis is that Jin Shin treatment will decrease stroke-associated deficits and disability. Results supporting this hypothesis will provide a scientific basis for the potential use of a complementary therapeutic approach in individuals years after stroke, for whom there are few interventions and a great deal of dependence on providers and family. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: CENTER FOR PEDIATRIC INTEGRATIVE MEDICAL EDUCATION Principal Investigator & Institution: Kemper, Kathi J.; Children's Hospital (Boston) Boston, Ma 021155737 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 28-SEP-2000; Project End 31-JUL-2005 Summary: (Applicant's abstract): The overall aim of the Center for Pediatric Integrative Medical Education (PIME) is to enhance the health care of children and families by creating a national model of pediatric education, integrating information about and experiences with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into existing curricula. Building on our existing programs, relationships, and resources, we will design, develop, implement, evaluate and continuously refine and integrated curriculum for a) students at Harvard Medical School (HMS); b) residents at the Combined Pediatric Residency Training Program (CPRTP) at the Childrens Hospital (TCH) and Boston Medical Center (BMC); c) general pediatric fellows at TCH; and b) pediatric faculty at HMS, TCH and BMC. The Center's three curricular goals are to improve: 1) knowledge of a) the epidemiology of the use of CAM therapies for children; b) a conceptual model integrating CAM and mainstream medicine; c) scientific evidence of benefits and risks of CAM for specific common childhood conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma and pain; and d) evidencebased resources for addressing clinical, educational and research questions; 2) attitudes toward a) CAM use by families, b) CAM therapies and providers and c) colleagues and students with interests in CAM; 3) communication skills with families, with CAM providers and with peers and trainees about integrating CAM in pediatric care. The four core CAM content areas for this curricula are: 1) herbs/dietary supplements, 2) mind/body therapies, 3) massage, and 4) acupuncture. Diverse educational methods for adult learners will include a) interactive didactic sessions, b) electronic and written selfinstructional curricula, c) experiential observation/precepting with integrative pediatricians and CAM providers, and d) expert training in selected core areasherbs/supplements, mind/body therapies and acupuncture. Benchmarks, process and outcome evaluations will include: a) the number of learners/trainees at each level who receive each curricular component; b) learners' feedback about and satisfaction with the curriculum; c) pre- and post-test measures of knowledge, attitudes and skills; b) behavioral observation through direct clinical supervision, and e) products by trainees, such as the preparation and presentation of didactic sessions, workshops, selfinstructional curricula, electronic curricula and conferences. This Center addresses the health care needs of America's most vulnerable population-infants, children and adolescents-integrating CAM into mainstream curricula to enhance communication and collaboration among pediatric professionals providing truly comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Acupressure
Project Title: CHEMICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL & FUNCTIONAL STUDY OF MERIDIANS Principal Investigator & Institution: Ma, Sheng-Xing X.; Harbor-Ucla Research & Educ Inst 1124 W Carson St Torrance, Ca 905022052 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 27-SEP-2001; Project End 30-JUN-2005 Summary: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract) - The meridian system is the central theory of acupuncture, and serves as a guiding principle for diagnosis and treatment of many alternative therapies. Investigators have demonstrated in both humans and animals that acupoints/meridians possess characteristics of low electric resistance. The principal investigator has recently found that neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein levels and nitric oxide (NO) content are consistently increased in the three meridian skin regions containing low skin resistance points (LSRP) in rats. The principal investigator's histochemical examinations reveal that nNOS expression is markedly increased in nerve fibers, axons, neurons, and hair follicles in the meridians/acupoints. Consistent with the postulated role of NO, LSRP are manifested in rats and normal mice. In contrast, in nNOS knockout mice the resistance is increased. Furthermore, preliminary data show that exogenous NO reduces the resistance in LSRP while the responses are attenuated by blockade of noradrenergic function. The principal investigator hypothesizes that 1) NO is an important meridian chemical and enhanced nNOS expression in the skin is a histochemical marker of meridian/acupoint structures, and 2) NO increases NE release which locally facilitates sympathetic function and mediates the biophysical characteristics of acupoints/meridians. In view of the critical importance and unexplored territory of the meridian system, the major goals of this proposal are: 1) Are nNOS-NO levels selectively increased in the acupoints and/or in the meridian regions? 2) Does L-arginine-derived NO synthesis and acupuncture modify NO release in acupoints/meridians? 3) What are the distributions of nNOS expression in the LSRP and meridian lines? 4) Are nNOS expressions and the skin resistance abolished/reduced in the LSRP of nNOS knockout mice? And 5) does Larginine-derived NO synthesis increase turnover of NE that mediates biophysical characteristics of acupoints/meridians? The proposed studies will examine localization of nNOS expression, combined with structural analysis of the skin tissues with or without LSRP/meridians detected by electrical methods. Quantification of nNOS protein, mRNA, NE, and NO metabolites will be integrated with neuropharmacological manipulations and electrophysiological examination of LSRP to test the hypotheses in rats, genetically-altered mice, and humans. The results should advance the understanding of the roles of nNOS-NO on a neurochemical, morphological, and functional basis for meridians/acupoints, and yield new insights regarding the effects of NO on noradrenergic activation that mediates the biophysical characteristics of acupoints/meridians. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: CLINICAL HYPERTENSION
TRIAL
OF
ACUPUNCTURE
FOR
TREATING
Principal Investigator & Institution: Macklin, Eric A.; New England Research Institutes, Inc. 9 Galen St Watertown, Ma 02472 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 01-JUN-2000; Project End 30-NOV-2004 Summary: Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that lowering blood pressure (BP) can translate into reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet many hypertensive individuals are inadequately treated, in part because of the costs and
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side effects associated with conventional medical therapies. Alternative treatment strategies which can provide hypertension control would be welcomed by many. This randomized controlled clinical trial will evaluate the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture for treating mild to moderate hypertension. Eligible patients must be free of antihypertensive medication for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization. After a screening period to identify patients who satisfy key eligibility criteria, including having BP in the target range, 900 patients will be stratified by antihypertensive medication history and allocated randomly to one of three acupuncture treatment groups, each delivered weekly for 12 weeks: 1)Standardized Acupuncture, 2)Traditional Chinese Medicine (Individualized) Acupuncture, or 3)a placebo (Sham Acupuncture) Control group. The treatment group assignment will be blinded to everyone except those administering the treatment. Outcome data will be blinded to those administering the treatment. The primary endpoint will be change in systolic BP, adjusted for baseline level, from baseline to 4 months post-randomization. (Parallel analyses will be performed for diastolic BP.) 300 patients per treatment group will assure high statistical power for detecting small group differences in hypertension control. All patients will be followed for 12 months following randomization, with BP monitored frequently, including pre and post treatment measurements at selected treatment visits to assess short-term effects. The entire 12-month trajectories of systolic and diastolic BP will also be modeled in order to investigate how quickly treatment differences may appear, and the duration of any such effect. In addition, use of conventional medical treatments will be monitored in order to test whether acupuncture reduces the need to introduce or resume pharmacologic treatment. Changes in quality of life will be assessed and compared across treatment groups. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: CNS AUTONOMIC REGULATION BY ELECTROACUPUNCTURE Principal Investigator & Institution: Longhurst, John C.; Professor; Medicine; University of California Irvine Irvine, Ca 926977600 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 20-SEP-2000; Project End 31-DEC-2003 Summary: (Adapted from Applicant's Abstract): Acupuncture is an effective therapeutic modality in Eastern cultures, but has not achieved widespread recognition as a useful therapeutic option in Western medicine. In addition to its use in pain and anesthesia, electro-acupuncture (EA) has been used in hypertension, hypotension, angina and cardiac arrhythmias. Recently, the Pl's laboratory has begun to explore the physiological basis of EA. An initial study demonstrated that low frequency EA ameliorates myocardial ischemia by reducing myocardial oxygen demand in a feline model of reversible ischemia. In this model, stimulation of gallbladder chemosensitive afferent nerve endings reflexly increased arterial blood pressure, and augmented myocardial oxygen demand, which outstripped coronary blood supply following partial coronary ligation. Concurrent stimulation of the median nerves underlying the Neiguan acupoints reduced myocardial ischemia, measured as a reduction in regional wall thickening. A second study employing EA suggests a role of the endogenous opiate system in the rostral ventral lateral medulla (rVLM). Preliminary data from the Pl's laboratory indicate that the rVLM and periaqueductal gray (PAG) mediate the interaction between visceral (gallbladder) and somatic (EA) afferent nerve stimulation, and suggest a role for mu- and delta-opioid receptors. Also, the Pl has demonstrated in preliminary studies the ability to identify cells in the rVLM that receive convergent input from the greater splanchnic nerve (supplying the gallbladder) and the median nerve. Five hypotheses are now proposed: 1 ) The order of potency for the blood
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pressure-lowering effect of EA will be mu-equal to or greater than delta-greater than kappa-opioid receptors; 2) Non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptors are responsible for stimulation of its neuronal subpopulation; 3) EA of Neiguan produces post-synaptic inhibition of an excitatory input to these neurons; 4) The ventrolateral PAG participates in EA modulation of reflex autonomic responses through an opioid mechanism and by influencing sympathoexcitatory rVLM neurons; and 5) Deep but not superficial somatic nerves underlying specific acupoints provide convergent input into rVLM and PAG neurons, and, through an opioid mechanism, modulate neuronal activity. Studies will be conducted in anesthetized cats whose rVLM and PAG are approached stereotaxically for extracellular recording and to deliver pharmacologic antagonists and agonists. Collaboration with both US and Chinese authorities on central neural electrophysiological and acupuncture research will significantly contribute to the ability to accomplish this investigation. By demonstrating the central neural mechanisms underlying this clinically beneficial modification of a cardiovascular reflex response by EA, scientists and clinicians will have a better understanding that will likely aid in acceptance and use of this alternative therapy. The Pl indicates that this project has important clinical implications. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON BONE CANCER PAIN IN MICE Principal Investigator & Institution: Zhang, Ruixin; Family Medicine; University of Maryland Balt Prof School Baltimore, Md 21201 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 01-AUG-2003; Project End 31-JUL-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Cancer pain, particularly bone cancer pain, is a major symptom that significantly affects the quality of life of cancer patients. Clinical trials have demonstrated that acupuncture can alleviate cancer pain, but as yet evidence from basic scientific research is absent. An animal model of femur bone cancer pain, which mimics clinical cancer pain, has been established in our lab. We propose to use this model to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoint G30 (Huan Tiao) on femoral cancer pain. The proposed hypotheses are: 1) EA of acupoint G30 at the optimal sets of parameters will significantly inhibit femur bone cancer-induced hyperalgesia. 2) Activity of the central neurons during cancer pain will be modulated by EA. The specific aims of this proposal are: Aim I: Evaluate the effects of EA on cancer-induced thermal hyperalgesia by measuring hindpaw withdrawal latency. Various combinations of frequencies (10 and 100 Hz) and stimulation durations (10, 15, 20 min) at the maximum tolerable electrical current of 1 mA will be administered to study the anti-hyperalgesic effects of EA in a mouse model of bone cancer pain. Aim II- Determine the optimal treatment protocol. With the optimal sets of parameters determined in Aim I, various EA treatment regimens will be conducted to establish how often treatments should be administered to achieve the greatest anti-hyperalgesic effects. Aim lll: Investigate the central mechanisms of action of EA on cancer pain. The modulation of EA on the activities of central neurons in the spinal cord will be investigated by characterizing Fos protein and dynorphin peptide expression with immunohistochemical staining. These studies will advance our knowledge of EA in control and management of cancer pain and provide useful information for designing future clinical trials using optimal EA parameters for patients with cancer pain. These studies will set a stage for further studying the mechanisms of EA in the control and management of cancer pain. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON GASTRIC MOTILITY IN RATS Principal Investigator & Institution: Takahashi, Toku; Associate Professor; Surgery; Duke University Durham, Nc 27710 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 01-JUL-2003; Project End 31-MAR-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture has been used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in China for more than 3,000 years. However, the mechanism of beneficial effects of acupuncture still remains unknown. Our recent studies have shown that acupuncture to the abdomen caused a transient relaxation of the stomach, while the acupuncture to the hind limb caused a transient contraction in thiobutabarbital (Inactin)anesthetized rats. Gastric relaxations induced by acupuncture to the abdomen were abolished by guanethidine, propranolol, hexamethonium, splanchnic ganglenectomy, but not by vagotomy. In contrast, gastric contractions induced by acupuncture to the hind limb were abolished by atropine, hexamethonium and vagotomy, while splanchnic ganglenectomy and guanethidine had no effects. Both of acupuncture-induced gastric relaxations and contractions were abolished by spino-medullary transection, but not by pontomedullary transection, suggesting the mediation via the brain stem. It is suggested that gastric relaxations and contractions induced by acupuncture are mediated via the somato-sympathetic and somato-parasympathetic neural pathway, respectively. We will study whether acupuncture to the hind limb stimulates c-Fos expression at the dorsal motor nucleus of vagi (DMV), neural activity of vagal efferent and ACh release from the gastric wall. Acupuncture of the lower extremity has been used to treat the patients with anorexia and postoperative ileus in China. Our preliminary study demonstrated that acupuncture to the hind limb potentiates gastric contractions and accelerates solid gastric emptying in conscious rats. It has been demonstrated that gastric emptying is delayed in diabetic rats and that the origin of the delayed gastric emptying was implied to be because of impaired vagal tone. We will study whether acupuncture improves impaired gastric emptying in diabetic rats. Although the mechanism of postoperative ileus still remains unclear, the possibility of reduced vagal tone and increased sympathetic tone has been suggested. We will study whether acupuncture shortens the period of postoperative ileus in rats. This study would provide beneficial information for patients with gastroparesis and postoperative ileus. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON PAIN,NAUSEA,QUALITY OF LIFE Principal Investigator & Institution: Rosenthal, David S.; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 44 Binney St Boston, Ma 02115 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 28-SEP-2001; Project End 29-FEB-2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): Over the past several decades, an increasing number of the US public are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to maintain or improve health and well being. It is estimated that within the US alone, the use of CAM has grown 380 percent since 1990 and that the public is now spending billions of dollars per year for these therapies. A large percentage of the practice and use of these methods is focused on cancer. Whether the CAM use is aimed at reducing one's risk of developing cancer or improving the quality of life of a cancer patient during treatment or at the end of life, the public focus on CAM and cancer has created a driving force for cancer centers to address the efficacy and science of these methods. At the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, CAM clinical services have been established and integrated within the oncology practice. Acupuncture, massage therapy, Reiki, spirituality programs, mind body techniques, herbal consults and a number of other clinical programs are offered
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through the newly established Zakim Center for Integrated Therapies. The issues of palliative care in the end of life of a cancer patient are extremely important as currently, the majority of cancer patients do not receive adequate palliative care. In this proposal, we are addressing the use of' acupuncture by traditional Chinese clinicians to address the quality of life and symptoms of patients with incurable cancer. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in the treatment of pain and nausea and has also been shown to improve one's general well being. Acupuncture has some effectiveness in anxiety and depression as well. We seek to determine if studying such an intervention be feasible in ambulatory patients at the end of life? The study population will be women with recurrent metastatic ovarian cancer and similar patients with advanced cancer who are ambulatory and receiving conventional palliative care. These patients will continue to receive high quality conventional clinical interventions, including chemotherapy and pain and symptom reduction programs, but in addition receive acupuncture. Evaluation tools such as Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale for Cancer (SLDS-C), Brief Pain Inventory and Rotterdam Symptom Check List will be piloted to determine appropriate end points of the study as well as the feasibility of end of life patients completing the surveys. The Behavioral Research Center of the American Cancer Society will provide additional in-kind support for data analysis and evidence of effectiveness of Quality of Life measures for end of life evaluation. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF THE RELIEF BRIEF Principal Investigator & Institution: Taylor, Diana L.; University of California San Francisco 500 Parnassus Ave San Francisco, Ca 941222747 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002 Summary: This abstract is not available. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: EFFICACY OF ACUPUNCTURE FOR CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN Principal Investigator & Institution: Cherkin, Daniel C.; Associate Director and Sr Investigator; Center for Health Studies Seattle, Wa 98101 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 15-MAY-2003; Project End 31-JAN-2008 Summary: (provided by applicant): A 5-arm multi-site randomized controlled trial is proposed to clarify the extent to which acupuncture needling can diminish the effect of chronic low back pain on patient functioning and symptoms. Reviews have noted the poor quality of research in this area and urged that scientifically rigorous studies be conducted. Recent higher quality trials suggest acupuncture is a promising treatment for back pain. This study directly addresses methodological shortcomings that have plagued previous studies. Specific aims are to determine, for chronic low back pain, if: 1) acupuncture is more effective than placebo acupuncture, 2) individualized acupuncture is more effective than standardized acupuncture, 3) acupuncture is more effective when needles are inserted in acupuncture points believed effective for chronic low back pain than when needles are inserted in points considered ineffective for chronic low back pain, 4) acupuncture is more effective than usual medical care alone. A total of 1100 subjects (220 per arm) with low back pain lasting at least 3 months will be recruited from group model HMOs in Seattle, Oakland, and Honolulu. They will be randomized to one of two forms of Traditional Chinese Medical acupuncture needling (individualized or standardized), one of two "control" groups (simulated acupuncture or needling of ineffective points), or to continued usual medical care. Ten treatments will
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be provided over 7 weeks. The primary outcomes, dysfunction and bothersomeness of low back pain, will be measured at baseline, and after 3, 8, 26 and 52 weeks by telephone interviewers masked to treatment. Analysis of covariance within an intention-to-treat context will be used to analyze the data. Because chronic back pain is a major public health problem and the top reason patients seek acupuncture treatment, a clear, unambiguous assessment is critical for making informed decisions about whether acupuncture should be included as part of conventional care for back pain or covered by insurance. Results of this study will provide the clearest evidence to date about the value of acupuncture needling as a treatment for chronic low back pain. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: EFFICACY OF ACUPUNCTURE WITH PT FOR KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS Principal Investigator & Institution: Farrar, John T.; Senior Scholar; Biostatistics and Epidemiology; University of Pennsylvania 3451 Walnut Street Philadelphia, Pa 19104 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-JUL-2001; Project End 31-MAR-2006 Summary: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique of using a fine needle to stimulate points along theoretical meridians of energy to correct imbalances thought to be responsible for specific disease states. In the United States, acupuncture is often used for the treatment of painful conditions. The 1997 NIH Consensus Conference concluded that there was adequate evidence of efficacy in an acute dental pain model and in nausea. In chronic pain, most studies were too small, poorly designed, poorly executed, or improperly controlled to adequately demonstrate that needle acupuncture worked better than sham acupuncture, placebo, standard medical therapy, or even no treatment. Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee has been proposed as a good model to test the efficacy of acupuncture in a chronic pain condition because it is an extremely common, well defined, and disabling condition with well established outcome measures for symptoms and functional status. There is clinical trial evidence of efficacy for the standard treatments of acetaminophen and NSAIDs, and exercise physical therapy (EPT), which is usually added when the patient develops functional limitations. One high quality study of acupuncture for knee OA, demonstrated moderate benefit in an unblinded comparison to a usual care control group. As such, a major question remains about whether acupuncture, used in addition to exercise therapy, will provide a clinically meaningful improvement in pain and function. Since pain can be the primary limiting factor in improved exercise capacity, if acupuncture has any efficacy in reducing the pain of knee OA, then the combination with an EPT program should be substantially more effective than EPT alone. Another major concern is that the effect of the acupuncture may be predominantly mediated by non- specific placebo effects rather than the specific effects of the placement of a needle. Another important component of this proposal is our use of a validated blinded placebo needle instead of sham acupuncture points. Therefore, the primary goal of this proposal is to use a properly designed randomized blinded clinical trial, using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended outcome measures, to determine whether the addition of acupuncture to standard EPT provides an overall clinically important benefit to patients with symptomatic knee OA compared to placebo acupuncture. As a secondary goal, we will use the clinical trial data to develop prognostic and etiologic models for the patients that are most likely to respond to acupuncture. If a clinically important benefit for acupuncture is found, a broader application of this technique would be justified. However, if the results are negative, then the addition of acupuncture to EPT should be generally curtailed.
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Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: EIGHT YEAR DATA FROM AN INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE SETTING Principal Investigator & Institution: Culliton, Patricia D.; Minneapolis Medical Research Fdn, Inc. 600 Hfa Bldg Minneapolis, Mn 55404 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 17-SEP-2001; Project End 31-AUG-2004 Summary: (Provided by applicant): Hennepin Faculty Associates (HFA) is a network of over 250 conventional care physicians, staffing the Hennepin County Medical Center, a public multi-disciplinary health care campus in downtown Minneapolis. In 1993, after 10 years of research and limited service, HFA opened an Alternative Medicine Division and Clinic which, in 2000, served approximately 1200 individuals in more than 9000 patient-visits. Approximately 80% of the services provided at the Clinic are paid by 3rd party payers; over 75% of HFA physicians have referred patients to the clinic at least once. Patient data have been collected since opening in 1993, with total health care use and cost data available for some patients. The primary aim of the study is to analyze 8year data collected at this integrated site to address questions relevant to establishing integrated health care delivery systems today. The secondary aim is to provide preliminary estimates and address feasibility concerns that will assist the design of future prospective studies to examine cost-avoidances that may be attributed to CAM therapies. Three sets of data and analyses are available. One set of analyses will compare health care uses and costs, from 1993 through 2001, for patients enrolled in a managed care plan who received treatment for pain, comparing outcomes for those who received acupuncture to those who did not, and matching by age, sex, education, date of diagnosis and severity of complaint. These analyses also will produce preliminary estimates of treatment effects (if they exist), variability, and necessary follow-up time to detect differences if they exist. These estimates may be used to design prospective trials investigating cost-offsets attributable to CAM. Additionally, the experience will address feasibility concerns related to conducting such trials. The second set of analyses will identify patient characteristics and types and severities of complaints that are associated with number of CAM patient-visits over time. The third set of analyses will identify physician characteristics associated with referring patients to an on-site CAM clinic, and how these patterns have changed in the past 5 years. The proposed project is in response to RFA AT-01-001: Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Health Services Research Perspective. This RFA seeks to fund research that will facilitate integration of proven CAM therapies into the total health care delivery system in the U.S. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: ELECTROACUPUNCTURE FOR MAJOR DEPRESSION: A PILOT STUDY Principal Investigator & Institution: Mulsant, Benoit H.; Psychiatry; University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh 350 Thackeray Hall Pittsburgh, Pa 15260 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 08-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAY-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Major depression is a common and serious mental illness. It is associated with a markedly lower quality of life, significant functional impairment, and premature death due to suicide or comorbid physical illness. Over the past 50 years, effective and safe treatments for major depression have been developed, including antidepressant pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive
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therapy. However, many Americans who suffer from a depressive disorder either do not accept to receive one of these conventional treatments or do not complete an adequate course of treatment. A growing number of Americans with depression are choosing to be treated with complementary and alternative therapies. Acupuncture, in particular, is increasingly being used to treat depression even though only limited data support its safety and efficacy. The proposed pilot study builds upon the complementary expertise of a group of investigators of conventional antidepressant treatments and a group of practitioners of alternative medicine. It will use a randomized parallel-group design to compare the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of electroacupuncture (EA) and sham electroacupuncture (SA) for the treatment of major depression. Over a 15-month period, 60 adult outpatients with a major depressive disorder of mild or moderate severity (as defined by the DSM-IV) will be randomized to either 12 sessions of EA or SA to be provided over 6 weeks. Safety and symptomatic improvement (as measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) will constitute the primary outcome measures. Tolerability and functional improvement will constitute secondary outcome measures. The data generated by this pilot project will be used to support the feasibility of conducting, and inform the design of, a large multicenter study comparing the efficacy of two forms of acupuncture with a conventional treatment for depression. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ENDOMETRIOSIS :TRADITIONAL MEDICINE VS HORMONE THERAPY Principal Investigator & Institution: Hammerschlag, Richard; Research Director; None; Oregon College of Oriental Medicine 10525 Se Cherry Blossom Dr Portland, or 97216 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 30-SEP-2001; Project End 31-AUG-2004 Summary: (APPLICANT'S ABSTRACT): Endometriosis is a significant public health problem affecting 10-15% of women of childbearing age, many of whom suffer persistent pelvic pain and infertility. Therapeutic options include surgery and hormone therapy that are often temporarily effective but produce unwanted side-effects. The present proposal, based on case series reports of the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM: acupuncture and Chinese herbs) for this condition, aims to evaluate whether TCM is as effective as hormone therapy for alleviating endometriosis-related chronic pain. The study is designed as a prospective trial of 66 women, with laparoscopy-diagnosed endometriosis, randomized to TCM or hormone therapy. Women assigned to TCM will be divided into four sub-groups on the basis of the diagnostic categories of endometriosis recognized by TCM. A pre-established acupuncture protocol and herbal formula specific for each sub-group will be followed. This aspect of the research design permits an important feature of the clinical practice of TCM (matching treatment to sub-group diagnosis) to be adopted in a clinical trial. Women assigned to hormone therapy will be treated with the gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), nafarelin, chosen for this study on the basis of its clinical trial-established efficacy, ease of patient usage via intranasal spray and milder sideeffect profile relative to other GnRHa's. Pelvic pain symptoms (patient-scored) and signs (physician-scored) will be assessed at baseline, after 12 weeks of treatment, and at 12and 24-week post-treatment follow-up. Pelvic examination scores will be determined by a physician blinded to the treatment group assignments. Side effects, including those of pseudomenopause known to result from GnRHa therapy, will be recorded in both groups at 4-week intervals during the 12-week treatment, and at each follow-up time. A further objective is to make a preliminary assessment of whether diagnostic sub-groups
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of endometriosis recognized by TCM serve as predictors of differential response to hormone therapy. Data obtained from this study, on treatment effectiveness, side effect profiles, recurrence of symptoms, compliance with therapy and drop-out rates, will be used to design a large-scale clinical trial. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: EVALUATION OF DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY (DBT) Principal Investigator & Institution: Linehan, Marsha M.; Professor and Director; Psychology; University of Washington Grant & Contract Services Seattle, Wa 98105 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 20-JUL-2003; Project End 30-APR-2008 Summary: (provided by applicant): The purpose of this proposal is to conduct an efficacy trial to determine whether Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) added to suboxone (an opiate drug replacement) is an efficacious treatment for suicidal opiate addicts with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) characteristics and to analyze factors that influence efficacy in this population in order to improve the treatment. The combination of suicidality with substance abuse, particularly when other Axis I or II disorders are present, significantly compromises treatment outcome, and the purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of DBT added to suboxone as an effective treatment for this population. DBT, originally developed for chronically suicidal women with borderline personality disorder (BPD), is a synthesis of behavior therapy strategies aimed at change, and validation strategies aimed at acceptance, both held together by a set of dialectical strategies and underlying assumptions. DBT has been adapted for BPD substance abusers by the addition of 1) specific targets relevant to drug use, 2) a set of attachment strategies, 3) greater reliance on arbitrary reinforcers at treatment start, 4) weekly urinalysis, and 5) an opiate drug-replacement program (suboxone, i.e., buprenorphine in combination with naloxone) plus DBT clinical management. The research proposed here is a two arm, randomized clinical trial comparing a one year treatment program of DBT + suboxone for heroin addicted individuals to a one year program of Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) + suboxone. Treatment-as-usual will consist of the standard drug counseling and group therapies offered at area methadone clinics plus suboxone. Participants in both conditions will be prescribed psychotropic medications as needed. One hundred and thirty-six individuals (68 per condition) with opiate dependence, high suicidality and meeting a minimum of four BPD criterion will be enrolled in a one-year treatment and a one-year follow-up assessment. Assessments measuring drug use, suicidal behaviors, retention and other treatment-related behaviors, general psychopathology, and increases in behavioral skills will be given at four month intervals for the entire two years. Results will be analyzed using HLM and other regression-based procedures. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: EXPLORING NEUROCIRCUITRY OF ACUPUNCTURE ACTION WITH FMRI Principal Investigator & Institution: Napadow, Vitaly; Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit St Boston, Ma 02114 Timing: Fiscal Year 2004; Project Start 01-JUN-2004; Project End 31-MAY-2009 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture is an ancient (over 2500 years old) therapeutic practice that originated in China and is growing in popularity in the West. However, scientific research into the basic mechanisms underlying acupuncture is relatively recent and incomplete. The purpose of the proposed study is to determine
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how acupuncture, with its variable treatment locations and stimulation techniques, affects human brain activity. We will accomplish this by integrating whole brain functional MRI (fMRI) with psychophysical, and physiological monitoring. Many classical acupuncture points are proposed to have multiple regulatory functions and diverse clinical effects. We propose that the neurocircuitry common to these multiple functions is comprised by the neural structures that modulate monoamine (particularly dopamine) neurotransmitter systems. Our overall hypothesis is that acupuncture will elicit a widespread brain response whose key components include neuromodulatory subcortical and brainstem structures. The limbic system, with its rich dopaminergic innervation, will play a central role in the brain's response to different acupoints and needle stimulation techniques. We will explore the central neural substrate of deqi, a unique acupuncture sensation that is considered essential to clinical efficacy in traditional Chinese acupuncture. We will also investigate the brain's response to long duration multi-acupoint needling (akin to clinical acupuncture) with model-free statistical analysis of the fMRI data, using probabilistic independent component analysis (pICA). The temporal and spatial characteristics of the independent components will be correlated with the known neurocircuitry of the monoaminergic and opioidergic systems. The goals of this study are to understand the neurobiology of acupuncture action and promote the development of this ancient healing technique into evidencebased medicine. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: FMRI AND OPIOID NEUROIMAGING OF ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA Principal Investigator & Institution: Gollub, Randy L.; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit St Boston, Ma 02114 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-JUL-2002; Project End 30-APR-2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): This multimodality functional neuroimaging (PET and fMRI) study investigates the neurobiological basis of acupuncture analgesia. It is submitted in response to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's call for R21 applications to investigate areas of specific interest to this institute. The goal of this application is to use a double-blind, sham-controlled experimental paradigm in a single cohort to determine both fMRI signal change during acupuncture administration and during acute noxious stimulation before and after acupuncture treatment and to perform quantitative characterization of endogenous opioid peptide release during acupuncture treatment. To accomplish this goal we will harness the power of high field, rapid acquisition fMRI to yield the high spatial and temporal resolution maps necessary for in-depth characterization of neuronal responses. We will use our novel magnet-compatible, mechanical and thermal stimulators to deliver noxious stimuli with precise timing and on-line psychophysical assessments to investigate the mechanism of pain intensity encoding and how this encoding is affected by acupuncture treatment. We will utilize PET and [11C]diprenorphine at baseline and during acupuncture to quantitate opioid receptor binding and thus indirectly measure endogenous opioid peptide release. We will determine in which brain regions opioid binding changes correlate with analgesia. Finally we will determine the relation between acupuncture-associated changes in endogenous opioid peptide release and the pattern of neuronal activity changes as evidenced in fMRI signal changes in specific brain regions. We have built into our study design the collection of physiological data in order to help bridge the findings from these experiments to both clinical practice and other, non-neuroimaging research studies. This application also responds to a recent Program
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Announcement, PA-99-021 that calls for efforts to "investigate both pharmacological and behavioral interventions to prevent pain". This application specifically directs efforts to address the needs outlined in that PA by refining neuroimaging paradigms for the study of functional correlates of pain perception. The proposed experiments will explore basic mechanisms of the conscious perception of pain and the affective responses to pain and attempt to elucidate the central nervous system mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia. This application in addition addresses another recent Program Announcement, PA-98102 that calls for expansion of research on neuroimaging of pain, including analytical techniques for the study of structural and functional correlates of pain perception, particularly for diagnostic purposes. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: FUNCTIONAL BOWEL DISORDERS IN CHINESE MEDICINE Principal Investigator & Institution: Berman, Brian M.; Director; Family Medicine; University of Maryland Balt Prof School Baltimore, Md 21201 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 22-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAR-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): This application is for a Planning Grant for International Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (PICRC) in response to RFA AT-03-002. The goal of planning phase activities is to begin creation of the Functional Bowel Disorders and Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Group, with the participation of consortium members of three universities, The University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Illinois at Chicago Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences. The consortium will develop a grant application for an International Center for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICRC) to be submitted during the two-year planning phase, which will request funding to support three pilot projects related to irritable bowel syndrome and three cores: a Pharmacologic Core, a Data Management, Analysis, and Coordination Core, and an Administrative Core. The projects to be proposed will include 1) a rat model irritable bowel syndrome treatment trial using acupuncture and herbs, 2) a human pathophysiology pilot study on the effect of TCM on cerebral cortical activation and visceral sensation to rectal distension in IBS patients and non-IBS volunteers, and 3) Phase I and II clinical trials of TCM treatment in diarrhea-type IBS patients. Pilot studies in the animal model, standardization and authentication of the herbal preparation, and the techniques of human rectal distension in the functional MRI environment will be conducted in the planning phase to facilitate the projects to be proposed. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: FUNCTIONAL IMPACT OF PENS FOR 65+ CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN Principal Investigator & Institution: Weiner, Debra K.; Medicine; University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh 350 Thackeray Hall Pittsburgh, Pa 15260 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 01-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAY-2007 Summary: (provided by applicant): Chronic low back pain (CLBP) plagues greater than 6 million community dwelling older adults, and causes physical and psychosocial dysfunction as well as increased utilization of health care resources. While the mainstay of treatment for these individuals consists of non-opioid analgesics and physical therapy (PT), frail older adults with unrelieved symptoms have limited therapeutic alternatives. Opioid analgesics and surgical treatment may be inapplicable to those with prohibitive
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physical or cognitive comorbidities. Many individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain seek out complementary and alternative treatments, although most have not been subjected to rigorous scientific investigation. Acupuncture is among the most commonly employed of these modalities. The purpose of this investigation is to explore the utility of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), a neuroanatomically guided form of electroacupuncture, as a safe non-pharmacologic analgesic alternative for the older adult with CLBP. In order to optimize physical performance and diminish disability, the value of a general conditioning and aerobic exercise (GCAE) program with and without PENS will also be studied. A randomized controlled clinical trial will be performed. Two hundred community dwelling older adults equal to or > age 65 with CLBP will receive either (1) PENS alone, (2) sham PENS alone, (3) PENS + GCAE, or (4) sham PENS + GCAE, twice a week for 6 weeks. All outcome measures will be collected pretreatment, at the completion of the 6 weeks protocol, and 6 months later. Primary outcome measures include pain intensity (short form McGill Pain Questionnaire) and pain-related disability (Roland Disability Scale). Because chronic pain is a complex, multidimensional experience, important secondary outcome measures will also be collected that assess key aspects of (1) physical function (self-reported and performancebased), (2) psychosocial function (mood, self-efficacy, self-rated health, cognitive coping, fear, sleep), and (3) health care utilization. This study represents the first wellcontrolled, comprehensive examination of an alternative medicine intervention for CLBP in older adults. If effective, this trial could lead to improved quality of life for millions of suffering older Americans, and by diminishing pain intensity and the use of toxic analgesic regimens, lead to substantial cost savings by decreasing health care utilization. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: FUNCTIONAL MRI OF REAL AND SHAM ACUPUNCTURE Principal Investigator & Institution: Parrish, Todd B.; Professor; Northwestern University Office of Sponsored Research Chicago, Il 60611
Radiology;
Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 08-FEB-2001; Project End 31-DEC-2003 Summary: (Applicant's Abstract): In this project, we propose to investigate the brain's response to acupuncture, an ancient Eastern medical method, by using a modern neuroimaging technology. Recent developments in the field of functional neuroimaging enable us to noninvasively measure blood oxygenation changes in response to a stimulus. The MR signal changes in conjunction with an appropriate statistical model can be used to detect and localize brain activation. Therefore, it is possible to measure the brain's response to acupuncture and identify the anatomic centers involved in this process. Our preliminary data of visual and auditory acupuncture point stimulation demonstrates increased activation in the associated cortices. The overall goals of this project are 1) to validate and characterize acupuncture-induced brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 2) to characterize the brain's response to different types of sham acupuncture points compared to real acupuncture points. Acupuncture is becoming more popular in Western society for medical treatment, as evidenced by the 15 million Americans who have reported treatment with acupuncture in the last year [Chicago Tribune, 2/ 11/99]. The World Health Organization reports that there are approximately 10,000 acupuncture specialists in the U.S., and an estimated 3,000 practicing acupuncturists are physicians. In 1993 the Food and Drug Administration reported that Americans were spending $500 million per year on acupuncture treatment. Nevertheless, a scientific understanding of the neuroanatomical centers involved and the method of treatment will be necessary for the widespread
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medical acceptance of acupuncture. In addition, since functional magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive, whole brain method used to visualize cortical activation, a clearer understanding of the neural substrate associated with acupuncture is likely to provide considerable insights into acupuncture treatment. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: HEALING INTERACTIONS
AND
EXPECTATION:CAM
PATIENT-HEALER
Principal Investigator & Institution: Stibich, Mark A.; Health Policy and Management; Johns Hopkins University 3400 N Charles St Baltimore, Md 21218 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-AUG-2001 Summary: (Provided by applicant): The purpose of this proposal is to acquire research skills and training experience that will be directed toward developing new knowledge about Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), specifically in the area of expectation and healing. In the course of this proposal, guided independent study and coursework at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health will culminate in a Ph.D. thesis. For the thesis, there are two overall goals: 1) To describe the techniques CAM practitioners use in patient-healer interaction; 2) To better understand the relationship of patient-provided interaction and expectation creation. Phase one of the thesis research will consist of examining patient-healer interactions conducted by acupuncturists using rigorous methods developed for analyzing patient-healer interactions conducted by conventional practitioners. Phase two of the research thesis will explore the connection of the patient-healer interaction and the creation of expectation using in-depth qualitative interviews with both acupuncture patients and practitioners. The long-term goals are to further the understanding of expectation and healing (by examining in detail both the mechanisms by which expectation works to promote healing and how expectation is created in clinical settings); and to develop interventions to help healers, both conventional and alternative, to better serve their patients by using expectation. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF TCM FOR CANCER Principal Investigator & Institution: Cohen, Lorenzo; Associate Professor; Behavioral Science; University of Texas Md Anderson Can Ctr Cancer Center Houston, Tx 77030 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 30-SEP-2003; Project End 31-AUG-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. As with the general population, patients with cancer typically use CAM-based modalities in combination with their conventional cancer treatments. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most ancient alternative medical systems and is being practiced throughout the world today. TCM has been practiced in China as routine therapy for more than 5000 years and is rapidly gaining popularity in western countries. A significant component of TCM is the use of herbal- and animal-based products, from which some important chemotherapy agents have been derived. Other aspects of TCM modalities include acupuncture and energy-based treatments. As researchers begin to examine the scientific bases of many non-conventional biologically-based therapies in a rigorous and controlled manner, some will be found to have clinical benefit. The proposed planning grant is the first step to develop an international center for evaluation of TCM in cancer. This initial planning phase will allow examination and
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strengthening of the research infrastructure at Cancer Hospital, Fundan University (CHFU), Shanghai, China, one of the top cancer centers in China and will promote an educational exchange between CHFU and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). We propose to establish a partnership and cross-cultural exchange through which investigators at MDACC and CHFU will collaborate to study TCM in appropriate clinical and laboratory environments. In order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the international collaborative team, we will develop three separate but overlapping areas of research during the period of this planning grant. We will move each area of research forward in parallel to determine how best to develop a fully functional and productive international collaborative team. The three collaborative research programs that will be developed include: evaluating herbal/natural product treatments that target disease outcomes and treatment- and disease-related symptoms; determining the effects of acupuncture on specific clinical symptoms in patients with cancer; and examining the biobehavioral effects of qigong and other mind/body-based interventions in patients with cancer. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: KOREAN ACUPUNCTURE IN CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS Principal Investigator & Institution: Mann, John D.; Neurology; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Aob 104 Airport Drive Cb#1350 Chapel Hill, Nc 27599 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 26-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAR-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Korean acupuncture is used effectively for a variety of neurological conditions in Korea, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, pain, and bladder dysfunction. Success with this mode of therapy in the United States is documented less consistently, particularly in acute and rehabilitative stroke settings and Parkinson' s. Possible explanations for this disparity include variations in: criteria for patient selection; technique; specific outcome measures; patient beliefs; methods of reporting and other unknown factors. This NIH planning grant supports development of collaborative research efforts between investigators at Kyung Hee University in Korea and UNC - Chapel Hill for the study of Korean acupuncture in the two cultures as a way of understanding mechanisms of action and factors that optimize outcomes when applied to specific neurological conditions. The proposal will bring together investigators from the two institutions with expertise in these areas to develop ideas and pilot projects leading to more extensive research proposals. The proposal requests funding for development of parallel, interactive administrative structures to support exploration of innovative research strategies, project development and investigator training. The grant will provide funding for the development of the necessary infrastructure for effective collaboration that will lead to competitive proposals integrating animal models of human disease, clinical trials, and translational research in Korean acupuncture and neurological disorders. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: LEGAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS TO ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES Principal Investigator & Institution: Cohen, Michael H.; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center St 1005 Boston, Ma 02215 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-JAN-2002; Project End 28-FEB-2002 Summary: (provided by applicant): The purpose of this application is to prepare a scholarly, book-length manuscript that critically evaluates the integration of
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complementary and alternative medical ("CAM") therapies into conventional medical settings in the United States. The empirical focus is on studying a minimum of fifteen and as many as thirty established, integrative health care centers, most of which are hospital-based or affiliated with academic medical centers. The book will present a scholarly analysis of how these integrative health care centers have undertaken the challenge of integrating CAM therapies into conventional care. Our specific aims are to provide information to help health care providers and institutions: (1) develop credentialing standards and procedures for licensed CAM practitioners (e.g., chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists) who may serve as members of a clinical team within an integrative health care setting; (2) develop appropriate policies and procedures to minimize malpractice liability risk in integrative health care practices; (3) develop guidelines regarding pharmacy and therapeutics committee practices, as they relate to the use or avoidance of herbal products and other dietary supplements; and (4) understand the institutional, political and social support structure that develops integrative health care centers, the role of market forces, and the importance of scientific and medical knowledge for the responsible delivery of integrative health care. Our methods include: (a) a critical review of the existing literature on strategies and barriers involved in forging models of integrative care, (b) interviews with key personnel in the selected, integrated health care centers regarding views and policies about credentialing, liability, and dietary supplements, and (c) interviews with such leaders regarding the development of their practices and the problems they have encountered. Such a study aims to fill a gap in the current health care literature by collecting the kind of information needed to develop, sustain, or critically evaluate the evidence-based clinical integration of CAM therapies in conventional medical settings. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: MECHANISMS OF ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA Principal Investigator & Institution: Harris, Richard E.; Internal Medicine; University of Michigan at Ann Arbor 3003 South State, Room 1040 Ann Arbor, Mi 481091274 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 15-SEP-2002; Project End 31-JUL-2007 Summary: (adapted from the application): Pain is one of the major complaints of those seeking professional healthcare. Although recent advances have been made in pharmacological and invasive approaches to relief pain, many patients suffering pain chose alternative healing modalities, such as acupuncture. This application focuses on determining the neurobiological mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia (the relief of pain) in people who suffer from fibromyalgia (FM), a chronic pain condition. All proposed work will occur at the University of Michigan. The first year of funding of this proposed K award would coincide with the final year of funding of the R01 grant, allowing an opportunity to use both the research subjects and information from the existing grant to obtain preliminary data for the remainder of the K award. During the first two years of the K award, the applicant will: 1) establish the ideal conditions for acupuncture induced analgesia, and 2) begin to elucidate the mechanisms of acupuncture induced analgesia by using both psychophysical and fMRI experiments. In the final three years of the K award, the applicant will focus on the techniques that show the most promise for elucidating neural mechanisms underlying the analgesia. Comparisons will be drawn between analgesia of patient?s clinical spontaneous pain as well as evoked pain. In addition to clinical research experience, the applicant will attend didactic lectures, seminars, and conferences designed to increase his knowledge of clinical research. Although the applicant already has training in acupuncture and a strong basic research training in neuroscience, this career development program is
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designed to allow the Candidate to become a successful independent clinical investigator. There is a strong institutional commitment to see the applicant succeed in this task due to a tremendous need for well-trained clinical investigators in alternative and complementary medicine. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: MODULATORY EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON HUMAN BRAIN ACTIVITY Principal Investigator & Institution: Hui, Kathleen K.; Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit St Boston, Ma 02114 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-JUL-2002; Project End 30-APR-2004 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture is emerging as an important modality in complementary medicine. Its mechanism of action remains unclear. Given the modulatory action of acupuncture on many mental and physiological functions, we hypothesize that its effects are mediated via the limbic system and its closely related structures in the cortex and brainstem, a widely connected network that is involved in the regulation of mood, behavior and functions of multiple physiological systems. We shall employ the powerful and noninvasive fMRI technique (BOLD) to monitor the central effects of manual acupuncture at commonly used acupuncture points on normal human subjects. An initial study using LI 4 on the hand demonstrated quantifiable and regionally specific signal changes that indicate modulatory effects on limbic, paralimbic and subcortical gray structures. The effects were not observed in control tactile stimulation and were distinct from response to pain (Hui et al, 00, 01). We propose a new study that will encompass the whole brain in order to demonstrate that limbic related regions in the cortex and brainstem will respond in a similar manner. We shall compare the central effects of acupuncture points of different meridians (specific routes of acupuncture points) and of different segmental innervations to determine the regional specificity of limbic and somatosensory areas. Furthermore, we shall use a special technique that targets the brainstem to examine effects on the descending antinociceptive pathway. The studies are aimed at the beginning of imaging neuroscience-based investigation of the central effects of acupuncture and will provide a scientific basis for the understanding of the therapeutic potentials of this ancient healing technique. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: NESA ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE Principal Investigator & Institution: Wayne, Peter M.; None; New England School of Acupuncture Watertown, Ma 02472 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 25-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAY-2006 Summary: As a Developmental Center for Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (DCRC), the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA)-Harvard Acupuncture Research Collaborative will bring together leaders from the oriental medicine (OM) and conventional medicine communities to critically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture, and develop sound methodologies and feasible study designs required for acupuncture research. Our DCRC will strengthen and build upon already ongoing collaborations between NESA, the Harvard Medical School's (HMS) Osher Institute, and two other HMS-affiliated institutions, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital Boston. The DCRC will support three developmental/exploratory studies and two infrastructure cores (Administrative and
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Clinical Trials) that will be synergistically integrated by three themes. The first theme centers around diversifying OM research to evaluate the plurality of approaches employed in clinical practice which will be addressed through the evaluation of both Japanese- and Chinese-style acupuncture. The second theme emphasizes the development and implementation of novel research methods that are required to meet the unique challenges posed in clinical trials of acupuncture and OM. One of our three studies will develop, validate, and test the reliability of an instrument used to derive OM diagnoses in the context of clinical trials. Other methodological issues related to individualization of acupuncture treatments, appropriate controls in acupuncture trials, and the development of outcome measures that reflect the treatment philosophy of OM will also be addressed. The third theme addresses the benefits of acupuncture as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of women's health conditions. Specifically, we will study the application of acupuncture to two conditions for which the current evidence evaluating its efficacy and safety is limited-- chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in women with ovarian cancer, and chronic pelvic pain in adolescent and young women with endometriosis. Integral to our DCRC are a number of academic and administrative mentoring programs through which HMS faculty, staff, and training programs will assist NESA in developing its clinical research infrastructure and capacity to autonomously sustain a productive research program that combines the highest standards of science and the integrity of traditional OM practices. The ultimate goal of our DCRC will be for NESA to play the lead role in the future submission of R01 and R21 proposals that build upon our developmental studies. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: ANALGESIA
NEURAL
MECHANISMS
UNDERLYING
ACUPUNCTURE
Principal Investigator & Institution: Chung, Jin M.; Professor; Anatomy and Neurosciences; University of Texas Medical Br Galveston 301 University Blvd Galveston, Tx 77555 Timing: Fiscal Year 2004; Project Start 01-DEC-2003; Project End 30-NOV-2007 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture is an appealing pain control technique in that it can evoke endogenous analgesic mechanisms by minimally invasive means. The mechanisms of acupuncture are not well understood, however, and one of the major problems impeding this understanding is a lack of proper experimental models. The present proposal describes a model of electroacupuncture (EA)- induced analgesia in ankle sprain pain. This model gives a repeatable and quantifiable index of persistent pain in the ankle joint and the preliminary data show that acupuncture at a remote site produces long-lasting analgesia in this model. This is shown by the finding that EA results in about 40% recovery of weight bearing by the hind limb with ankle sprain. This reproducibility and susceptibility to acupuncture will allow one to pursue the neural mechanisms of this phenomenon in considerably greater detail than has previously been possible. Four specific aims are proposed. Aim 1 is to investigate the origin and the fiber size group of afferent nerve fibers mediating EA analgesia using behavioral testing and electrophysiological techniques. Aim 2 is to test if EA induces NE release in the spinal cord by a descending system using pharmacological and neurochemical methods. Aim 3 is to test if ankle sprain induces central sensitization in the spinal cord as well as sensitization of peripheral nociceptors and if EA reduces the level of central sensitization. Aim 4 is to test if EA activates brainstem noradrenergic cell groups, which in turn release NE into the spinal cord. Successful completion of this proposal will unveil important mechanisms underlying acupuncture analgesia in ankle sprain pain.
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This knowledge can then be applied to acupuncture analgesia in other forms of painful conditions, thereby gaining the insight to establish a maximally effective means of utilizing this endogenous analgesic system. An understanding of these mechanisms is necessary if acupuncture is to move into the mainstream of medical therapy. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: THERAPY/ALCOHOLISM
NEUROBIOL
MECHANISM/ACUPUNCTURE
Principal Investigator & Institution: Ye, Jiang-Hong; Associate Professor Anesthesiology; Anesthesiology; Univ of Med/Dent Nj Newark Newark, Nj 07107
of
Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 15-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAY-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Alcohol abuse and alcoholism pose serious social and economic problems in the United States and around the world. Despite the increasing number of pharmacotherapies for alcoholism, current treatments have limited success and high rates of relapse. Although acupuncture has shown promising results in alleviating alcohol craving, the mechanism causing this effect remains unclear. Our long-range goal is to understand the neurobiological principles underlying acupuncture therapy for alcoholism. The objective of this proposal is to identify the changes induced by alcohol withdrawal and by acupuncture in rat dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a reward center of drug abuse. The central hypothesis is that acupuncture reverses or attenuates the reduction in excitability of dopamine neurons induced by the withdrawal of chronic ethanol administration and thus restores "normal" function of the dopamine system The changes caused by acupuncture can be detected in brain slices. We plan to test our hypothesis and accomplish the objective of this application by pursuing the following two Specific Aims: 1. Identify effects of ethanol withdrawal on dopamine neurons in brain slices. 2. Identify effects of acupuncture on alterations induced by ethanol withdrawals. Research design and methods: To achieve these aims, acupuncture/sham acupuncture will be given to rats withdrawn from chronic alcohol administration. While behavioral responses to withdrawal will be examined in vivo, the neuronal activities will be examined on VTA brain slices, using patch clamp techniques. The proposed work is innovative, because it will use proven modern techniques to elucidate the mechanisms of both acupuncture and its use in treating alcohol addiction. This approach is expected to yield the following outcomes: it will identify the effects of ethanol withdrawal on dopamine neurons in brain slices; optimize parameters of acupuncture to alter the neuronal responses induced by ethanol withdrawal, and elucidate changes induced by acupuncture in dopamine neurons of rats withdrawn from chronic ethanol administration. This new knowledge will have a major impact on our understanding of how acupuncture works. The application of this knowledge is expected to improve the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in alcohol addiction. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: NEUROIMAGING ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTS ON HUMAN BRAIN ACTIVITY Principal Investigator & Institution: Rosen, Bruce R.; Professor of Radiology; Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit St Boston, Ma 02114 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 26-SEP-2003; Project End 31-MAY-2008 Summary: The central goal of this "Center of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine" application is to investigate the neurobiology of acupuncture.
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For the healing art of acupuncture to be fully integrated into mainstream medicine, it needs to be examined within the evidence-based framework of the scientific method. To attain this goal, all three projects will investigate the possible brain pathways and circuitries involved in acupuncture. Projects 1 and 3 will study healthy human subjects and patients, while Project 2 will use animal models to complement human neuroimaging data by studying the underlying neurochemical processes. Moreover, Projects 1 and 2 will both use functional MRI (fMRI) to identify and compare the brain activity involved with different classes of acupuncture points and different acupuncture techniques. The focus of these two Projects will be on the limbic network and its rich monoaminergic irmervations. Project 1 will also probe the central neural substrate of deqi, the acupuncture sensation that is related to clinical efficacy, while Project 2 will also use a blood volume contrast agent and modulating ligands in rat and monkey to provide more specific imaging data. In Project 2, extracellular neurotransmitter concentration will be assessed dynamically with in vivo techniques such as microdialysis. Projects 2 and 3 will also use positron emission tomography (PET) to study the role of the opioid peptidergic system in acupuncture on animals and humans, and Projects 3 will specifically compare the role of this neurotransmitter in acupuncture and in placebo analgesia. All three projects will begin to probe the role of the neuromodulator dopamine in the brain's response to acupuncture by exploring the influence of an enzyme that removes dopamine, catechol-O-methyltransferase or the human genetic polymorphism that codes for variants in this enzyme, on the central effects of acupuncture. The Neuroanatomy and Biostatistics Core will provide a common neuroanatomical and statistical framework to be used by all projects to facilitate structure/function inter-paradigm and inter-species analyses. The Administrative Core will provide administrative and clerical infrastructure for the scientific projects and core and orchestrate their utilization of other locally available core resources including the Harvard Genomics Core and the NCRR-sponsored General Clinical Research Center. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: PATIENT-PROVIDER ACUPUNCTURE
INTERACTION
&
RESPONSE
TO
Principal Investigator & Institution: Suarez-Almazor, Maria; Associate Professor; Medicine; Baylor College of Medicine 1 Baylor Plaza Houston, Tx 77030 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 26-SEP-2002; Project End 31-AUG-2006 Summary: (provided by applicant): The association of positive patient expectations with placebo responses is well recognized. However, the potential role of health care providers' behavior in modeling these expectations has not been adequately established, The overall goal of this proposal is to describe and quantify placebo effects in a trial of acupuncture for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. No previous studies have scientifically evaluated the effects of communicative style in providers of alternative and complementary medicine, and tile placebo response that may result. This proposal will examine placebo responses in the context of practitioner-patient interactions at the time of the acupuncture treatment. The study will have three phases: Phase 1 will include a qualitative component to determine potential patient-related determinants of placebo response, such as beliefs and expectations towards treatment of knee OA with acupuncture, in phase 2 we will develop and test an instrument to measure evaluate outcome and self efficacy expectations. Phase 3 will be a nested RCT to evaluate practitioner-patient interactions and placebo responses. The experimental design will include two stages or randomization. Patients will initially be randomized to one of two
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different structures of practitioner-patient interaction. Acupuncture practitioners will be trained to behave following semi-structured communicative styles, including traditional approaches in Chinese Medicine, and techniques previously described in patient-doctor communication studies. Within each of these groups patients will be further randomized to receive acupuncture or sham acupuncture. In addition there will be a natural control group (waiting list group), in which patients will be offered acupuncture three months after study entry. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: PERIMENOPAUSAL ACUPUNCTURE
SYMPTOMS
MANAGEMENT
WITH
Principal Investigator & Institution: Cohen, Susan M.; Yale University 47 College Street, Suite 203 New Haven, Ct 065208047 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003 Summary: This abstract is not available. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: PHYSICAL CAM THERAPIES FOR CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN Principal Investigator & Institution: Eisenberg, David M.; Instructor in Medicine; Medicine; Harvard University (Medical School) Medical School Campus Boston, Ma 02115 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-SEP-2000; Project End 30-JUN-2004 Summary: Back problems are among the most prevalent conditions afflicting adults in general and the second most common condition reported by persons over age 65. Furthermore, back pin in general is the leading reason for the use of complimentary or alternative medicine (CAM) therapies by adults of all ages. Despite the common use of CAM therapies for back pain, little is known about how they compare with each other or with conventional medical therapies in terms of effectiveness and cost. Studies evaluating back pin treatments for older adults (greater than or equal to 65 years old) are particularly rare. This study will lay the groundwork for a full-scale trial that evaluates the relative effectiveness and costs of the three most commonly used physical CAM therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage) for both older and younger adults with chronic low back pain. During Phase I, we will develop, test and refine specific components of a randomized clinical trial evaluating acupuncture, chiropractic and massage for chronic low back pain. This will include specification of treatment and comparison groups, subject selection criteria, recruitment and retention strategies, and development of Phase I to conduct a pilot study designed to evaluate the three physical CAM treatments. Thirty persons with chronic low back pain will be randomized to each of the following groups: acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and continued usual care. The subjects randomized to each intervention will be equally divided between persons over and under age 65. (Recruitment will include subjects in their 70s, 80s, and older.) The pilot study will permit us to identify and resolve unanticipated problems and to estimate the sample sizes required for an adequately powered full-scale trial. At the conclusion of this project, we will be prepared to write a competitive grant proposal to evaluate the most commonly used CAM therapies for treating both older and younger adults with chronic low back pain. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: PILOT OF TWO CAM TRATMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE WT LOSS Principal Investigator & Institution: Ritenbaugh, Cheryl K.; Senior Investigator; Kaiser Foundation Research Institute 1800 Harrison St, 16Th Fl Oakland, Ca 946123433 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 15-AUG-2003; Project End 30-APR-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): The prevalence of obesity is at epidemic proportions, 60% of US adults are overweight or obese. Obesity contributes to chronic diseases-diabetes, CVD, hypertension, diabetes, cancer and osteoarthritis and to escalating health care costs. Weight loss can have a substantial impact on reducing these conditions. Substantial efforts have been made in developing effective short-term wt. loss programs using behavioral treatments. However, long-term maintenance of wt. loss continues to be problematic - many individuals regain the wt. lost within a year. Innovative intervention options are critically needed to help people successfully maintain weight loss and to fight the obesity epidemic. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches - mind-body, energy healing, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches - may hold great promise for helping improve the maintenance of wt. loss. Despite long historical use, significant anecdotal and case report information on benefits and efficacy, plausible biologic mechanisms for action and great consumer interest, there is little data available on the evaluation of these CAM therapies for wt. maintenance or wt. loss. The goal of this study is to pilot test in a group of overweight-obese individuals the feasibility and acceptability and indications of efficacy of two CAM treatments, qigong, and acupressure-TAT, for improving long term maintenance of wt. loss. The design is a randomized, controlled 3-arm study: 1) Control, 2) qigong maintenance and 3) Acupressure-TAT maintenance, with 30 participants per group. All participants receive a standard 12-week behavioral wt. loss program. Following this, participants are randomized to receive the maintenance interventions and are followed for 6 months. Measurements occur at screening, baseline, and 12, and 24 post-randomization. Outcomes include: wt. change, diet, physical activity, selfreported use of the maintenance techniques, acceptability and satisfaction with the approaches as well as a variety of psychosocial parameters that may be mediators or moderated by the intervention (QOL, perceived stress, etc.). Information from this study will be used to develop a larger randomized trial to evaluate different maintenance approaches to improve long-term maintenance of wt. loss. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: RELAXATION RESPONSE WITH ACUPUNCTURE FOR HIV PATIENTS Principal Investigator & Institution: Chang, Bei H.; Assistant Professor; Health Services; Boston University Medical Campus 715 Albany St, 560 Boston, Ma 02118 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 01-JUN-2003; Project End 28-FEB-2005 Summary: (provided by applicant): Although recent changes in HIV/AIDS treatment have resulted in dramatic declines in morbidity and mortality nationwide, disease management and quality of life among HIV/AIDS patients continue to be of concern. HIV/AIDS patients experience a range of symptoms associated with clinical manifestations of the disease, opportunistic infections, and medication side effects, all of which are strongly associated with quality of life (QoL). Many HIV/AIDS patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to help alleviate their symptoms and to improve their QoL. Among the various CAMs, acupuncture and relaxation response are commonly used regimens. These two therapies are thought to share common features and can complement each other in that acupuncture facilitates the effect of relaxation
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response and on the other hand relaxation response prepares the body to be more accessible to acupuncture. The clinical effects of each of these two therapies alone have been shown in numerous studies. However, no study has investigated the combined effects of these two regimens. We therefore propose an exploratory study to test the feasibility of conducting a double blind 2-arm controlled trial and to collect pilot data in preparation for a large-scale study to fully test the hypothesis that adding relaxation response to acupuncture will have an enhanced effect in HIV+ patients. For this pilot study, we will recruit 100 HIV+ patients who are currently receiving acupuncture. Study participants in the intervention group will listen to tapes with instructions to elicit the relaxation response as well as music routinely played while receiving acupuncture. Study participants in the control group will receive usual care that is listening to music while receiving acupuncture. Study participants in both groups will be given the respective tapes for home practice and they are asked to record the frequency of usage. We will assess both groups' symptoms and quality of life at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and upon completion of the intervention at 12 weeks. We will assess the feasibility using various indicators, including patient evaluation of the study. Ultimately, the qualitative analysis of patients' study evaluation as well as the longitudinal regression analysis results that compare the outcomes between the intervention and control groups will be used to help design a future large-scale study of the relaxation response intervention among HIV+ patients treated with acupuncture. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: SHAM DEVICE, PILL PLACEBO OR TREATMENT FOR ARM PAIN Principal Investigator & Institution: Kaptchuk, Ted J.; Assistant Professor of Medicine; Medicine; Harvard University (Medical School) Medical School Campus Boston, Ma 02115 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-SEP-2000; Project End 30-JUN-2004 Summary: (adapted from investigator's abstract): This application is based on observations that the magnitude of the placebo effect produced by a device is greater than that produced by a pill. If this is generally true, there are significant implications for the design of clinical trials involving medical devices and for our understanding of the role of the placebo effect in randomized controlled trials (RCT). This is a two phase study. In the first phase, the investigators will estimate the relative magnitudes of placebo effects associated with a sham acupuncture procedure versus an inactive oral treatment in patients with persistent upper extremity pain secondary to repetitive strain injury (RSI) most notably, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In the second phase, parallel RCTs of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) and low-dose amitriptyline (AMI) versus their respective placebo treatments will be conducted. In Phase I, 240 patients with RSI will be randomly assigned to receive a placebo device (a recently validated sham acupuncture device) or a placebo pill (dummy AMI). The primary hypothesis in Phase I is that patients will respond better to the sham device than the placebo pill. Phase II will see patients in each arm of Phase I randomly assigned to active or inactive treatment. Patients from the sham acupuncture arm of Phase I will receive either TCA or continue to receive the sham version. Patients in the placebo pill arm of Phase I will receive either AMI or continue receiving the placebo pill. Outcomes in these studies will include assessments of the nature and severity of upper extremity pain, function, grip and pinch strength, and mood. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: THE USE OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE TO MODULATE AROUSAL Principal Investigator & Institution: Garcia-Rill, Edgar E.; Professor and Director; Anatomy; University of Arkansas Med Scis Ltl Rock Little Rock, Ar 72205 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 01-APR-2001; Project End 31-DEC-2003 Summary: (APPLICANT'S ABSTRACT): The vertex-recorded midlatency auditory evoked P50 potential is a measure of the output of the reticular activating system (RAS). This rapidly-habituating, sleep state-dependent potential is present during waking and paradoxical sleep but absent during slow-wave sleep, i.e. is present only during cortical EEC "desynchronization" or arousal. The amplitude of the P50 potential is decreased in narcolepsy and autism, that is, in diseases in which there appears to be downregulation of the output of the RAS. Using a paired stimulus paradigm, sensory gating of the P50 potential (the ability to habituate to or "filter" repetitive stimuli) can be assessed. There is a deficit in sensory gating of this potential in schizophrenia and anxiety disorders, that is, it diseases in which there appears to be an upregulation of the output of the RAS. We have preliminary data suggesting that electroacupuncture (EA) applied at three specific points may modulate the manifestation of the P50 potential. In a small number of subjects, we found that stimulation using needles was as effective a., stimulation using surface electrodes (an important innovation in the therapeutic use of EA), that stimulation a low frequencies may be more efficacious than stimulation at medium or high frequencies, that stimulation at only two of these points or three unrelated "control" points may be ineffective, and that using multiple episodes o1 stimulation may have additive effects in modulating P50 potential amplitude, suggesting important clinical applications in a number of disorders. The proposed feasibility studies will use larger samples of subjects comparing male vs female, and Caucasian vs African-American, populations to determine with sufficient power that a statistically significant effect on the amplitude of the P50 potential is present or absent under each of these experimental conditions. In addition, sensory gating of the P50 potential will be assessed for each experiments condition, allowing predictions of the effects of such treatment on either the initial manifestation (amplitude o1 the P50 potential induced by the first stimulus of a pair) or the sensory gating (ratio of the amplitudes of the PM potentials induced by the paired stimuli) of this non-invasive measure of RAS function. It may be possible in the future, to use this novel treatment methodology as an adjunct/replacement therapy for disorders of arousal, especially if the effects of multiple episodes of stimulation can be found to affect amplitude and/or sensory gating of the P50 potential for prolonged periods of time. However, the optimal stimulation sites and paradigms muse be identified and proven effective, first, in control populations, and later, in pathological populations. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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Project Title: TO STUDY THE NEURONAL MECHANISM OF ACUPUNTURE ANALGESIA Principal Investigator & Institution: Leung, Albert Y.; Anesthesiology; University of California San Diego La Jolla, Ca 920930934 Timing: Fiscal Year 2003; Project Start 01-SEP-2003; Project End 31-AUG-2007 Summary: (provided by applicant): Acupuncture provides an alternative means of low cost and risk treatment option for pain. Despite the clinical efficacy of acupuncture suggested by a recent NIH consensus panel, the current principles, which govern the practice of acupuncture, are empirical. To facilitate the integration of acupuncture as a viable treatment modality for pain, a neuronal mechanism of acupuncture needs to be
Studies
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established. The long-term goal of the proposed study is to establish a new investigational approach that can correlate and establish the relationship between the analgesic mechanism of acupuncture and the corresponding dynamic brain activities. Based on the preliminary data that we have obtained in the past year, we propose to utilize the following for studying the neuronal mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in human volunteers: 1) a textbook acupuncture paradigm for treating acute pain, 2) a tonic acute thermal pain model, 3) a well established method of modality specific quantitative peripheral thermal neurosensory testing, and 4) functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the brain with a data-driven analysis model. This proposed study contains two phases with the following specific aims: 1) To quantitatively establish the effect of acupuncture on pain perception and thermal thresholds by using behavioral measurement and thermal neurosensory testing; 2) To establish the dynamic central nervous system response to the noxious thermal sensory stimulation with individually predetermined noxious thermal heat thresholds by using fMRI; 3) To establish the dynamic central nervous system response to acupuncture by using fMRI; 4) To assess the corresponding effect of acupuncture on peripheral acute thermal heat pain stimulation by using fMRI; 5) To assess the effect of variation in acupuncture needling on pain perception, peripheral thermal thresholds and correlated fMRI indices. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen •
Project Title: TREATING ACUPRESSURE
CHEMOTHERAPY
INDUCED
NAUSEA
WITH
Principal Investigator & Institution: Dibble, Suzanne L.; Professor; Institute for Health and Aging; University of California San Francisco 500 Parnassus Ave San Francisco, Ca 941222747 Timing: Fiscal Year 2002; Project Start 02-AUG-2001; Project End 31-MAR-2004 Summary: Although the newer antiemetic agents have controlled a notable portion of the vomiting associated with chemotherapy administration, nausea continues to be a significant problem. Therefore, the specific aims of this [randomized clinical trial] are to compare differences in the nausea experience and intensity among three groups (Total N=237) undergoing doxorubicin hydrochloride (Addamycin ) and cyclophosphamide with or without fluorouracil chemotherapy for breast cancer. The groups are those receiving a) usual nausea care plus "Active Acupressure" via finger pressure on the nei guan point (P6), b) usual nausea care plus placebo acupressure and c) usual nausea care. Secondarily, the differences in quality of life, anxiety, and functional status among these group participants will be explored. Using eight oncology settings, participants will be recruited who had experienced nausea with their previous chemotherapy treatment. They will be randomly assigned to treatment groups. Stratification criteria will include regimen and site. The interventions will be conducted by carefully trained research assistants. All participants will be followed on a daily basis for two cycles of chemotherapy (a cycle is usually 21- 28 days). Analyses will be done using repeated measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance, when baseline data is an appropriate covariate. A strength of this study is that it does not pit modem Western and Chinese medicine against each other to determine which is more effective. All participants will continue to receive their Western medical care, but the added value of acupressure will be explored. Website: http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/crisp/Crisp_Query.Generate_Screen
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The National Library of Medicine: PubMed One of the quickest and most comprehensive ways to find academic studies in both English and other languages is to use PubMed, maintained by the National Library of Medicine.3 The advantage of PubMed over previously mentioned sources is that it covers a greater number of domestic and foreign references. It is also free to use. If the publisher has a Web site that offers full text of its journals, PubMed will provide links to that site, as well as to sites offering other related data. User registration, a subscription fee, or some other type of fee may be required to access the full text of articles in some journals. To generate your own bibliography of studies dealing with acupressure, simply go to the PubMed Web site at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the search box, and click “Go.” The following is the type of output you can expect from PubMed for acupressure (hyperlinks lead to article summaries): •
Medical, social, and legal implications of treating nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Author(s): Brent R. Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn, USA. Source: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002 May;186(5 Suppl Understanding):S262-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12011898
•
Cherokee prescriptions for accupressure and massage. Author(s): William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital, West Virginia, USA. Source: N C Med J. 1998 Nov-Dec;59(6):368. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9828625
3
PubMed was developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The PubMed database was developed in conjunction with publishers of biomedical literature as a search tool for accessing literature citations and linking to full-text journal articles at Web sites of participating publishers. Publishers that participate in PubMed supply NLM with their citations electronically prior to or at the time of publication.
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CHAPTER 2. NUTRITION AND ACUPRESSURE Overview In this chapter, we will show you how to find studies dedicated specifically to nutrition and acupressure.
Finding Nutrition Studies on Acupressure The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) offers a searchable bibliographic database called the IBIDS (International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements; National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room 1B29, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2086, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2086, Tel: 301-435-2920, Fax: 301-480-1845, E-mail:
[email protected]). The IBIDS contains over 460,000 scientific citations and summaries about dietary supplements and nutrition as well as references to published international, scientific literature on dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, and botanicals.4 The IBIDS includes references and citations to both human and animal research studies. As a service of the ODS, access to the IBIDS database is available free of charge at the following Web address: http://ods.od.nih.gov/databases/ibids.html. After entering the search area, you have three choices: (1) IBIDS Consumer Database, (2) Full IBIDS Database, or (3) Peer Reviewed Citations Only. Now that you have selected a database, click on the “Advanced” tab. An advanced search allows you to retrieve up to 100 fully explained references in a comprehensive format. Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the search box, and click “Go.” To narrow the search, you can also select the “Title” field.
4
Adapted from http://ods.od.nih.gov. IBIDS is produced by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health to assist the public, healthcare providers, educators, and researchers in locating credible, scientific information on dietary supplements. IBIDS was developed and will be maintained through an interagency partnership with the Food and Nutrition Information Center of the National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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The following information is typical of that found when using the “Full IBIDS Database” to search for “acupressure” (or a synonym): •
112 cases of juvenile myopia treated by auricular acupressure. Source: Chen, M C J-Tradit-Chin-Med. 1989 September; 9(3): 173 0254-6272
•
A consultation system integrating Chinese medical practice in herbaltherapy, acupuncture and acupressure. Author(s): Software ITC SA, Bucharest, Romania. Source: Raclariu, A Alecu, S Loghin, M Serbu, L Stud-Health-Technol-Inform. 1997; 43 Pt A285-9
•
A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of an acupressure device (relief brief) for managing symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Author(s): Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California-San Francisco, 94143-0606, USA.
[email protected] Source: Taylor, D Miaskowski, C Kohn, J J-Altern-Complement-Med. 2002 June; 8(3): 357-70 1075-5535
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Acupressure and motion sickness. Author(s): Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, Hants, England. Source: Bruce, D G Golding, J F Hockenhull, N Pethybridge, R J Aviat-Space-EnvironMed. 1990 April; 61(4): 361-5 0095-6562
•
Acupressure relieves the symptoms of motion sickness and reduces abnormal gastric activity. Author(s): Gastrointestinal Psychology Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., USA. Source: Stern, R M Jokerst, M D Muth, E R Hollis, C Altern-Ther-Health-Med. 2001 JulAugust; 7(4): 91-4 1078-6791
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Acupressure: an alternative approach to mental health counseling through bodymind awareness. Source: Ortego, N E Nurse-Pract-Forum. 1994 June; 5(2): 72-6 1045-5485
•
Acupuncture and acupressure. Applications to women's reproductive health care. Author(s): Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06536-0747, USA. Source: Beal, M W J-Nurse-Midwifery. 1999 May-June; 44(3): 217-30 0091-2182
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Effects of acupressure and ibuprofen on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. Author(s): Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran-Iran. Source: Pouresmail, Z Ibrahimzadeh, R J-Tradit-Chin-Med. 2002 September; 22(3): 20510 0254-6272
•
Effects of digital acupressure on the capillary arteriolar flow in cerebral pia mater of the dog. Source: Han, F Y Wang, Z P Dong, X J J-Tradit-Chin-Med. 1989 June; 9(2): 135-9 02546272
•
Morning sickness control in early pregnancy by Neiguan point acupressure. Author(s): Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bologna University, Italy. Source: de Aloysio, D Penacchioni, P Obstet-Gynecol. 1992 November; 80(5): 852-4 00297844
•
P6 acupressure and nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery. Author(s): Department of Anaesthesia, Northampton General Hospital, England.
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Source: Allen, D L Kitching, A J Nagle, C Anaesth-Intensive-Care. 1994 December; 22(6): 691-3 0310-057X •
Sequelae of cerebral birth injury in infants treated by acupressure. Source: Wang, Z P J-Tradit-Chin-Med. 1988 March; 8(1): 19-22 0254-6272
Federal Resources on Nutrition In addition to the IBIDS, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide many sources of information on general nutrition and health. Recommended resources include: •
healthfinder®, HHS’s gateway to health information, including diet and nutrition: http://www.healthfinder.gov/scripts/SearchContext.asp?topic=238&page=0
•
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Web site dedicated to nutrition information: www.nutrition.gov
•
The Food and Drug Administration’s Web site for federal food safety information: www.foodsafety.gov
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The National Action Plan on Overweight and Obesity sponsored by the United States Surgeon General: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/
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The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has an Internet site sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/
•
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/
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Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/
•
Food and Nutrition Service sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
Additional Web Resources A number of additional Web sites offer encyclopedic information covering food and nutrition. The following is a representative sample: •
AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=174&layer=&from=subcats
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Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/med_nutrition.html
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Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Nutrition/
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Healthnotes: http://www.healthnotes.com/
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Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Nutrition/
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Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Nutrition/
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WebMDHealth: http://my.webmd.com/nutrition
•
WholeHealthMD.com: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/reflib/0,1529,00.html
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The following is a specific Web list relating to acupressure; please note that any particular subject below may indicate either a therapeutic use, or a contraindication (potential danger), and does not reflect an official recommendation: •
Food and Diet Hypertension Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com
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CHAPTER 3. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND ACUPRESSURE Overview In this chapter, we will begin by introducing you to official information sources on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) relating to acupressure. At the conclusion of this chapter, we will provide additional sources.
The Combined Health Information Database The Combined Health Information Database (CHID) is a bibliographic database produced by health-related agencies of the U.S. federal government (mostly from the National Institutes of Health) that can offer concise information for a targeted search. The CHID database is updated four times a year at the end of January, April, July, and October. Check the titles, summaries, and availability of CAM-related information by using the “Simple Search” option at the following Web site: http://chid.nih.gov/simple/simple.html. In the drop box at the top, select “Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” Then type “acupressure” (or synonyms) in the second search box. We recommend that you select 100 “documents per page” and to check the “whole records” options. The following was extracted using this technique: •
Women's Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Reproductive Health Care Source: Journal of Nurse-Midwifery. 43(3): 224-234. May-June 1998. Summary: This journal article discusses the use of complementary and alternative therapies in women's reproductive health care. The first part reviews the literature on usage and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine in the United States and other selected countries. It also summarizes the classification of complementary and alternative treatments developed by the Office of Alternative Medicine. The second part discusses the complementary and alternative therapies used by women for a variety of reproductive health problems. One section discusses commonly used herbal therapies, particularly those used to treat morning sickness, induce labor, and relieve the symptoms of menopause. It includes information about potential side effects and those herbs that should be avoided during pregnancy. Another section reviews the history and principles of homeopathy and its applications to
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women's health, with special reference to the use of arnica and caulophyllum. A third section addresses the use of acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion for various women's reproductive health concerns, including the treatment of morning sickness and breech presentation. The article has 57 references. •
Complementary/Alternative Therapies: So Many Choices Source: Geriatric Nursing. 20(3): 125-133. May-June 1999. Summary: This journal article provides an overview of the some of the most commonly used types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. In the author's opinion, nurses need to become more knowledgeable about these therapies and their potential risks and benefits so they can give patients accurate information and help them make informed decisions. This article summarizes the basic principles, practices, reported effects, and potential risks of the following CAM therapies: energy therapies, crystal therapy, acupuncture and acupressure, reflexology, massage, aromatherapy, homeopathy, herbal medicines, flower essences, magnet therapy, chiropractic care, craniosacral therapy, imagery and relaxation, exercises (tai chi, qigong, yoga), and meditation. The article has 3 tables and 57 references.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (http://nccam.nih.gov/) has created a link to the National Library of Medicine’s databases to facilitate research for articles that specifically relate to acupressure and complementary medicine. To search the database, go to the following Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html. Select “CAM on PubMed.” Enter “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the search box. Click “Go.” The following references provide information on particular aspects of complementary and alternative medicine that are related to acupressure: •
112 cases of juvenile myopia treated by auricular acupressure. Author(s): Chen MC. Source: J Tradit Chin Med. 1989 September; 9(3): 173. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2615447
•
A consultation system integrating Chinese medical practice in herbaltherapy, acupuncture and acupressure. Author(s): Raclariu A, Alecu S, Loghin M, Serbu L. Source: Stud Health Technol Inform. 1997; 43 Pt A: 285-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10179555
•
A double-blind placebo controlled evaluation of acupressure in the treatment of motion sickness. Author(s): Warwick-Evans LA, Masters IJ, Redstone SB. Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1991 August; 62(8): 776-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1930060
Alternative Medicine 49
•
A randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial of an acupressure device for weight loss. Author(s): Allison DB, Kreibich K, Heshka S, Heymsfield SB. Source: International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders : Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 1995 September; 19(9): 653-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8574276
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A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of an acupressure device (relief brief) for managing symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Author(s): Taylor D, Miaskowski C, Kohn J. Source: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.). 2002 June; 8(3): 357-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12165194
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Acupressure and acustimulation bands for control of nausea: a brief review. Author(s): Roscoe JA, Matteson SE. Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2002 May; 186(5 Suppl Understanding): S244-7. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12011894
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Acupressure and fatigue in patients with end-stage renal disease-a randomized controlled trial. Author(s): Tsay SL. Source: International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2004 January; 41(1): 99-106. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14670399
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Acupressure and morning sickness. Author(s): Fry EN. Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1988 August; 81(8): 441. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3418654
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Acupressure and motion sickness. Author(s): Bruce DG, Golding JF, Hockenhull N, Pethybridge RJ. Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1990 April; 61(4): 361-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2339974
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Acupressure and ondansetron for postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Author(s): Agarwal A, Bose N, Gaur A, Singh U, Gupta MK, Singh D. Source: Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'anesthesie. 2002 JuneJuly; 49(6): 554-60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12067865
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Acupressure and postoperative vomiting in strabismus correction. Author(s): Veroli P, Astier V. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1992 June; 68(6): 634. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1610642
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Acupressure and postoperative vomiting. Author(s): Fry EN. Source: Anaesthesia. 1986 June; 41(6): 661-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3728942
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Acupressure and prevention of nausea and vomiting during and after spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Author(s): Harmon D, Ryan M, Kelly A, Bowen M. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2000 April; 84(4): 463-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10823097
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Acupressure and prevention of nausea and vomiting. Author(s): Youngs PJ. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2000 November; 85(5): 807-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11094608
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Acupressure and prevention of nausea and vomiting. Author(s): Bowie RA. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1999 September; 83(3): 542. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10655948
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Acupressure and prevention of nausea and vomiting. Author(s): Coe TR. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1999 September; 83(3): 541-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10655947
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Acupressure and prevention of PONV. Author(s): Farmery AD. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1999 August; 83(2): 352. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10618960
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Acupressure and quality of sleep in patients with end-stage renal disease--a randomized controlled trial. Author(s): Tsay SL, Chen ML. Source: International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2003 January; 40(1): 1-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12550145
Alternative Medicine 51
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Acupressure and the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopy. Author(s): Harmon D, Gardiner J, Harrison R, Kelly A. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1999 March; 82(3): 387-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10434821
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Acupressure as an adjunct to a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Author(s): Maa SH, Gauthier D, Turner M. Source: Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. 1997 July-August; 17(4): 268-76. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9271771
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Acupressure for hyperemesis gravidarum. Author(s): Hoo JJ. Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1997 June; 176(6): 1395-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9215207
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Acupressure for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomized, blinded study. Author(s): Brill JR. Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1995 January; 85(1): 159-60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=7800314
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Acupressure for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomized, blinded study. Author(s): Belluomini J, Litt RC, Lee KA, Katz M. Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994 August; 84(2): 245-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8041539
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Acupressure for nausea: results of a pilot study. Author(s): Dibble SL, Chapman J, Mack KA, Shih AS. Source: Oncology Nursing Forum. 2000 January-February; 27(1): 41-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10660922
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Acupressure for prevention of emesis in patients receiving activated charcoal. Author(s): Eizember FL, Tomaszewski CA, Kerns WP 2nd. Source: Journal of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology. 2002; 40(6): 775-80. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12475190
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Acupressure gets clinical nod. Author(s): Cohen J. Source: Calif Nurse. 1984 December-1985 January; 80(10): 3. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=6391615
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Acupressure in dental practice: magic at the tips of your fingers. Author(s): Penzer V, Matsumoto K.
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Source: J Mass Dent Soc. 1985 Spring; 34(2): 71-2, 74-5. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3858402 •
Acupressure relieves the symptoms of motion sickness and reduces abnormal gastric activity. Author(s): Stern RM, Jokerst MD, Muth ER, Hollis C. Source: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2001 July-August; 7(4): 91-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11452572
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Acupressure technique to control gag reflex during maxillary impression procedures. Author(s): Vachiramon A, Wang WC. Source: The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 2002 August; 88(2): 236. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12397258
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Acupressure therapy for morning sickness. A controlled clinical trial. Author(s): Hyde E. Source: Journal of Nurse-Midwifery. 1989 July-August; 34(4): 171-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2769441
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Acupressure treatment for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Author(s): Fan CF, Tanhui E, Joshi S, Trivedi S, Hong Y, Shevde K. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 1997 April; 84(4): 821-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9085965
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Acupressure treatment of morning sickness in pregnancy. A randomised, doubleblind, placebo-controlled study. Author(s): Norheim AJ, Pedersen EJ, Fonnebo V, Berge L. Source: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. 2001 March; 19(1): 43-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11303547
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Acupressure versus intravenous metoclopramide to prevent nausea and vomiting during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. Author(s): Stein DJ, Birnbach DJ, Danzer BI, Kuroda MM, Grunebaum A, Thys DM. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 1997 February; 84(2): 342-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9024025
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Acupressure versus oxybutinin in the treatment of enuresis. Author(s): Yuksek MS, Erdem AF, Atalay C, Demirel A. Source: J Int Med Res. 2003 November-December; 31(6): 552-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14708420
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Acupressure wrist bands to relieve nausea and vomiting in hospice patients: do they work? Author(s): Brown S, North D, Marvel MK, Fons R. Source: Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 1992 July-August; 9(4): 26-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1457233
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Acupressure wristbands do not prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting after urological endoscopic surgery. Author(s): Agarwal A, Pathak A, Gaur A. Source: Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'anesthesie. 2000 April; 47(4): 319-24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10764175
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Acupressure wristbands for the nausea of pregnancy. Author(s): Stone CL. Source: The Nurse Practitioner. 1993 November; 18(11): 15, 18, 23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8278088
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Acupressure wristbands for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults undergoing cardiac surgery. Author(s): Klein AA, Djaiani G, Karski J, Carroll J, Karkouti K, McCluskey S, Poonawala H, Shayan C, Fedorko L, Cheng D. Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 2004 February; 18(1): 68-71. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14973803
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Acupressure. A point of pressure. Author(s): Phillips K, Gill L. Source: Nurs Times. 1993 November 10-16; 89(45): 44-5. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8247869
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Acupressure: a hands-on technique for treating headaches. Author(s): Stumbo WG. Source: J Ky Med Assoc. 1986 February; 84(2): 69-71. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3958577
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Acupressure: a self-help technique for relieving headache pain. Author(s): Joachim G. Source: Can Nurse. 1984 December; 80(11): 38-40. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=6568862
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Acupressure: an alternative approach to mental health counseling through bodymind awareness. Author(s): Ortego NE.
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Acupressure: an ancient wisdom. Author(s): Cohen J. Source: Calif Nurse. 1984 December-1985 January; 80(10): 3. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=6391616
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Acupressure: an overview of theory and application. Author(s): Weaver MT. Source: The Nurse Practitioner. 1985 August; 10(8): 38-9, 42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3855238
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Acupressure-acupuncture antiemetic prophylaxis in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Author(s): Shenkman Z, Holzman RS, Kim C, Ferrari LR, DiCanzio J, Highfield ES, Van Keuren K, Kaptchuk T, Kenna MA, Berde CB, Rockoff MA. Source: Anesthesiology. 1999 May; 90(5): 1311-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10319779
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Acupuncture and acupressure for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Author(s): Collins KB, Thomas DJ. Source: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2004 February; 16(2): 76-80. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15055425
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Acupuncture and acupressure. Applications to women's reproductive health care. Author(s): Beal MW. Source: Journal of Nurse-Midwifery. 1999 May-June; 44(3): 217-30. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10380442
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Acupuncture/acupressure for weight reduction? A systematic review. Author(s): Ernst E. Source: Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift. 1997 January 31; 109(2): 60-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9123946
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Acupuncture/acupressure to treat gagging dental patients: a clinical study of antigagging effects. Author(s): Lu DP, Lu GP, Reed JF 3rd.
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Source: Gen Dent. 2000 July-August; 48(4): 446-52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11199620 •
Are acupressure wrist bands helpful for motion sickness? Author(s): Atkinson HG. Source: Health News. 2003 January; 9(1): 12. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12545956
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Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety in prehospital transport settings. Author(s): Kober A, Scheck T, Schubert B, Strasser H, Gustorff B, Bertalanffy P, Wang SM, Kain ZN, Hoerauf K. Source: Anesthesiology. 2003 June; 98(6): 1328-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12766639
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Can acupressure relieve nausea? Author(s): Sadler C. Source: Nurs Times. 1989 December 20-1990 January 2; 85(51): 32-4. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2616323
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Comparison of acupressure bands and droperidol for reducing post-operative nausea and vomiting in gynecologic surgery patients. Author(s): Schultz AA, Andrews AL, Goran SF, Mathew T, Sturdevant N. Source: Applied Nursing Research : Anr. 2003 November; 16(4): 256-65. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14608559
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Continuous PC6 wristband acupressure for relief of nausea and vomiting associated with acute myocardial infarction: a partially randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Author(s): Dent HE, Dewhurst NG, Mills SY, Willoughby M. Source: Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2003 June; 11(2): 72-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12801491
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Effect and placebo effect of acupressure (P6) on nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynaecological surgery. Author(s): Alkaissi A, Stalnert M, Kalman S. Source: Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 1999 March; 43(3): 270-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10081532
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Effect of acupressure by Sea-Bands on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Author(s): Steele NM, French J, Gatherer-Boyles J, Newman S, Leclaire S.
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Source: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : Jognn / Naacog. 2001 January-February; 30(1): 61-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11277163 •
Effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study. Author(s): Werntoft E, Dykes AK. Source: J Reprod Med. 2001 September; 46(9): 835-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11584487
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Effect of acupressure on postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Author(s): Samad K, Afshan G, Kamal R. Source: J Pak Med Assoc. 2003 February; 53(2): 68-72. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12705488
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Effect of acupuncture or acupressure on quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive asthma: a pilot study. Author(s): Maa SH, Sun MF, Hsu KH, Hung TJ, Chen HC, Yu CT, Wang CH, Lin HC. Source: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.). 2003 October; 9(5): 659-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14629844
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Effect of P6 acupressure on postoperative vomiting in children undergoing outpatient strabismus correction. Author(s): Lewis IH, Pryn SJ, Reynolds PI, Pandit UA, Wilton NC. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1991 July; 67(1): 73-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1859764
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Effect of P-6 acupressure on prevention of nausea and vomiting after epidural morphine for post-cesarean section pain relief. Author(s): Ho CM, Hseu SS, Tsai SK, Lee TY. Source: Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 1996 March; 40(3): 372-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8721471
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Effectiveness of acupressure in improving dyspnoea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Author(s): Wu HS, Wu SC, Lin JG, Lin LC. Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2004 February; 45(3): 252-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14720242
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Effects of acupressure and ibuprofen on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. Author(s): Pouresmail Z, Ibrahimzadeh R.
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Source: J Tradit Chin Med. 2002 September; 22(3): 205-10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12400430 •
Effects of acupressure, manual acupuncture and Laserneedle acupuncture on EEG bispectral index and spectral edge frequency in healthy volunteers. Author(s): Litscher G. Source: European Journal of Anaesthesiology. 2004 January; 21(1): 13-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14768918
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Effects of digital acupressure on the capillary arteriolar flow in cerebral pia mater of the dog. Author(s): Han FY, Wang ZP, Dong XJ. Source: J Tradit Chin Med. 1989 June; 9(2): 135-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2779277
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Effects of LI4 and BL 67 acupressure on labor pain and uterine contractions in the first stage of labor. Author(s): Chung UL, Hung LC, Kuo SC, Huang CL. Source: The Journal of Nursing Research : Jnr. 2003 December; 11(4): 251-60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14685931
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Efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation bands for the prevention of motion sickness. Author(s): Miller KE, Muth ER. Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 2004 March; 75(3): 227-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15018290
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Efficacy of P6 acupressure in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Author(s): O'Brien B, Relyea MJ, Taerum T. Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1996 February; 174(2): 708-15. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8623811
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Hand acupressure reduces postoperative vomiting after strabismus surgery (n=50). Author(s): Cummings M. Source: Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society. 2001 June; 19(1): 53-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11471586
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Is traditional Samoan massage a form of acupressure? Author(s): St George I.
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Source: N Z Med J. 1983 April 27; 96(730): 315. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=6573591 •
Korean hand acupressure for motion sickness in prehospital trauma care: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial in a geriatric population. Author(s): Bertalanffy P, Hoerauf K, Fleischhackl R, Strasser H, Wicke F, Greher M, Gustorff B, Kober A. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2004 January; 98(1): 220-3, Table of Contents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14693623
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Korean hand acupressure reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynecological laparoscopic surgery. Author(s): Boehler M, Mitterschiffthaler G, Schlager A. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2002 April; 94(4): 872-5, Table of Contents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11916788
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Korean hand acupressure reduces postoperative vomiting in children after strabismus surgery. Author(s): Schlager A, Boehler M, Puhringer F. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2000 August; 85(2): 267-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10992837
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Minute sphere acupressure does not reduce postoperative pain or morphine consumption. Author(s): Sakurai M, Suleman MI, Morioka N, Akca O, Sessler DI. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2003 February; 96(2): 493-7, Table of Contents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12538202
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Morning sickness control in early pregnancy by Neiguan point acupressure. Author(s): de Aloysio D, Penacchioni P. Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1992 November; 80(5): 852-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1407927
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P6 acupressure and nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery. Author(s): Allen DL, Kitching AJ, Nagle C. Source: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. 1994 December; 22(6): 691-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=7892973
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P6 acupressure and postoperative vomiting. Author(s): Dundee JW, McMillan CM.
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Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1992 February; 68(2): 225-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1540472 •
P6 acupressure may relieve nausea and vomiting after gynecological surgery: an effectiveness study in 410 women. Author(s): Alkaissi A, Evertsson K, Johnsson VA, Ofenbartl L, Kalman S. Source: Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'anesthesie. 2002 December; 49(10): 1034-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12477673
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P6 acupressure reduces morning sickness. Author(s): Root DT. Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1989 October; 82(10): 635. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2810307
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P6 acupressure reduces morning sickness. Author(s): Dundee JW, Sourial FB, Ghaly RG, Bell PF. Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1988 August; 81(8): 456-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3418660
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P6 acupressure reduces symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness. Author(s): Hu S, Stritzel R, Chandler A, Stern RM. Source: Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 1995 July; 66(7): 631-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=7575310
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Postoperative nausea is relieved by acupressure. Author(s): Barsoum G, Perry EP, Fraser IA. Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1990 February; 83(2): 86-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2181138
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Prehospital analgesia with acupressure in victims of minor trauma: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial. Author(s): Kober A, Scheck T, Greher M, Lieba F, Fleischhackl R, Fleischhackl S, Randunsky F, Hoerauf K. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2002 September; 95(3): 723-7, Table of Contents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12198060
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Prolongation of the antiemetic action of P6 acupuncture by acupressure in patients having cancer chemotherapy. Author(s): Dundee JW, Yang J.
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Source: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1990 June; 83(6): 360-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2380964 •
Reduction of nausea, vomiting, and dry retches with P6 acupressure during pregnancy. Author(s): Markose MT, Ramanathan K, Vijayakumar J. Source: International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics: the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 2004 May; 85(2): 168-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15099782
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Sequelae of cerebral birth injury in infants treated by acupressure. Author(s): Wang ZP. Source: J Tradit Chin Med. 1988 March; 8(1): 19-22. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3393014
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Shiatsu acupressure in nursing practice. Author(s): Hare ML. Source: Holistic Nursing Practice. 1988 May; 2(3): 68-74. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=3366807
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Sidelights on acupressure: useful and famous points. Author(s): Matsumura WM. Source: J Gen Orthod. 1993 March; 4(1): 29-30. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8399725
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Success of acupuncture and acupressure of the Pc 6 acupoint in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. Author(s): Habek D, Barbir A, Habek JC, Janculiak D, Bobic-Vukovic M. Source: Forschende Komplementarmedizin Und Klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in Complementary and Natural Classical Medicine. 2004 February; 11(1): 20-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15004444
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Suggesting the optimal control procedure for acupressure studies. Author(s): Usichenko TI, Pavlovic D. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2003 October; 97(4): 1196-7; Author Reply 1197. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14500183
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Tender active acupoint is not an ideal control for acupressure study. Author(s): Chernyak G. Source: Anesthesia and Analgesia. 2003 September; 97(3): 925; Author Reply 925-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12933442
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The effect of acupressure with massage on fatigue and depression in patients with end-stage renal disease. Author(s): Cho YC, Tsay SL. Source: The Journal of Nursing Research : Jnr. 2004 March; 12(1): 51-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15136963
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The effectiveness of acupressure in improving the quality of sleep of institutionalized residents. Author(s): Chen ML, Lin LC, Wu SC, Lin JG. Source: The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 1999 August; 54(8): M389-94. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=10496543
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The effectiveness of relaxation acupoint stimulation and acupressure with aromatic lavender essential oil for non-specific low back pain in Hong Kong: a randomised controlled trial. Author(s): Yip YB, Tse SH. Source: Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2004 March; 12(1): 28-37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=15130569
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The effects of acupressure on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in postsurgical patients. Author(s): Windle PE, Borromeo A, Robles H, Ilacio-Uy V. Source: Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing : Official Journal of the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses / American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses. 2001 June; 16(3): 158-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=11395836
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The efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation wrist bands for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. A University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program multicenter study. Author(s): Roscoe JA, Morrow GR, Hickok JT, Bushunow P, Pierce HI, Flynn PJ, Kirshner JJ, Moore DF, Atkins JN. Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2003 August; 26(2): 731-42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12906958
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The efficacy of acupressure to prevent nausea and vomiting in post-operative patients. Author(s): Ming JL, Kuo BI, Lin JG, Lin LC. Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2002 August; 39(4): 343-51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=12139646
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The gentle power of acupressure. Author(s): Maxwell J.
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Source: Rn. 1997 April; 60(4): 53-6. Review. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9110874 •
Treatment of essential hypertension with auriculoacupressure. Author(s): Yu P, Li F, Wei X, Wu R, Fu C. Source: J Tradit Chin Med. 1991 March; 11(1): 17-21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1861504
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Treatment of headache pain with auto-acupressure. Author(s): Kurland HD. Source: Dis Nerv Syst. 1976 March; 37(3): 127-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=1253662
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Treatment of headache with auto-acupressure. Author(s): Kurland HD. Source: Curr Psychiatr Ther. 1977; 17: 271-4. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=598236
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Treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting by acupressure. Author(s): Chow AE. Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 1998 July; 81(1): 102. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=9771281
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Use of acupressure techniques and concepts for nonsurgical management of TMJ disorders. Author(s): Matsumura WM. Source: J Gen Orthod. 1993 March; 4(1): 5-16. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=8399726
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Use of acupressure to improve gastrointestinal motility in women after transabdominal hysterectomy. Author(s): Chen LL, Hsu SF, Wang MH, Chen CL, Lin YD, Lai JS. Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2003; 31(5): 781-90. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=14696681
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Using acupressure bands for postoperative nausea. Author(s): Rogers P. Source: Nurs Times. 1990 May 16-22; 86(20): 52-3. No Abstract Available. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=A bstract&list_uids=2188224
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Using acupuncture and acupressure to treat postoperative emesis. Author(s): Mann E.
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Source: Prof Nurse. 1999 July; 14(10): 691-4.
Additional Web Resources A number of additional Web sites offer encyclopedic information covering CAM and related topics. The following is a representative sample: •
Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc.: http://www.herbmed.org/
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AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=169&layer=&from=subcats
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Chinese Medicine: http://www.newcenturynutrition.com/
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drkoop.com: http://www.drkoop.com/InteractiveMedicine/IndexC.html
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Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/med_altn.htm
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Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Alternative/
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Healthnotes: http://www.healthnotes.com/
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MedWebPlus: http://medwebplus.com/subject/Alternative_and_Complementary_Medicine
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Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Alternative/
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HealthGate: http://www.tnp.com/
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WebMDHealth: http://my.webmd.com/drugs_and_herbs
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WholeHealthMD.com: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/reflib/0,1529,00.html
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Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Alternative_Medicine/
The following is a specific Web list relating to acupressure; please note that any particular subject below may indicate either a therapeutic use, or a contraindication (potential danger), and does not reflect an official recommendation: •
General Overview Angina Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com Epilepsy Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Insomnia Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Morning Sickness Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com Motion Sickness Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com
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Motion Sickness Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Obesity Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com Roseola Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Seizure Disorders Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Sleeplessness Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Tension Headache Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com Tension Headache Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com TIAs Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Transient Ischemic Attacks Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com •
Alternative Therapy Acceptance Acupressure Method[tm] (aam) Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acu-ball Pressure Self-treatment Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acu-diet Alternative names: Dr. Bahr's acu-diet Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acupressure Alternative names: G-jo [GEE-joh] Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D.
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Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acupressure Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525,662,00.html Acupressure Massage Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acupressure Touch Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acupuncture Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Acu-stop 2000 Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Acu-yoga Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Agape Quest Program Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Applied Kinesiology Alternative names: AK kinesiology Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Ayurvedic Reflexology-Acupressure Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/a.html Body Reflexology Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/b.html
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Bodywork Source: Healthnotes, Inc.; www.healthnotes.com Bodywork Alternative names: Bodywork Therapy Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/b.html Ching Lo Alternative names: meridian therapy Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/c.html Crystal Healing Alternative names: crystal therapeutics crystal therapy crystal work Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/c.html Cymatic Therapy Alternative names: cymatic medicine Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/c.html Diagnostic Acupressure Alternative names: acupressure diagnosis acupuncture diagnosis Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/d.html Dr. Lynch's Holistic Self-health Program Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/d.html Energy Body Work Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/e.html Energy Therapies Alternative names: energy psychotherapy Energy Therapies/Psychology energy therapy energy therapy methods Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/e.html
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G-jo Acupressure Alternative names: G-Jo [GEE-joh] Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/g.html Hand-Mediated Energetic Healing Alternative names: HMEH HMEH approaches HMEH traditions hand-mediated healing modalities Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/h.html Healtheology Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/h.html Hoshino Therapy Alternative names: Hoshino Therapy Art Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/h.html Integrative Acupressure Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/i.html Jin Shin Acupressure Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/j.html Jin Shin Do Alternative names: Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure The Way of the Compassionate Spirit Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/j.html Macroreflexology Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/m.html Massage Therapy Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525,716,00.html
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Metta Touch Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/m.html Multi Incarnational Recall and Emotional Body Balancing Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/m.html Naturology Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/n.html Omni-force Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/o.html Oriental Bodywork Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/o.html Oriental Channel Diagnosis Alternative names: CD Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/o.html Orthopractic Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/o.html Pointing Therapy Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/p.html Polarity Therapy Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525,727,00.html Process Acupressure Alternative names: PA Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/p.html
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Psycho-neuroaligning Alternative names: PNA Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/p.html Reflexology Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/r.html Reflexology Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525,730,00.html Shen Tao Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/s.html Shiatsu Alternative names: acupressure schiatsu shiatsu massage therapy shiatsu therapy shiatzu Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/s.html Shiatsu Source: WholeHealthMD.com, LLC.; www.wholehealthmd.com Hyperlink: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/0,1525,733,00.html Shiatsu Acupressure Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/s.html Tapas Acupressure Technique Alternative names: TAT Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/t.html Tapping Therapies Alternative names: tapping treatments Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/t.html
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Thai Massage Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/t.html Thai Massage-reflex Yoga with Mettatouch Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/t.html Touch for Health Alternative names: TFH Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/t.html Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: Integrative Medicine Communications; www.drkoop.com Tsubo Therapy Alternative names: Tsubo Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/t.html Windows to the Sky Acupressure Alternative names: Window to the Sky acupressure Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/w.html Zen Shiatsu Acupressure Alternative names: Zen Shiatsu Acupressure massage Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/z.html Zen-touch Alternative names: Zen-Touch body balancing Zen-Touch therapy Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/z.html Zero Balancing Alternative names: ZB Core Zero Balancing Source: The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, M.S., R.D. Hyperlink: http://www.canoe.ca/AltmedDictionary/z.html
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General References A good place to find general background information on CAM is the National Library of Medicine. It has prepared within the MEDLINEplus system an information topic page dedicated to complementary and alternative medicine. To access this page, go to the MEDLINEplus site at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alternativemedicine.html. This Web site provides a general overview of various topics and can lead to a number of general sources.
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CHAPTER 4. PATENTS ON ACUPRESSURE Overview Patents can be physical innovations (e.g. chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment) or processes (e.g. treatments or diagnostic procedures). The United States Patent and Trademark Office defines a patent as a grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the Patent and Trademark Office.5 Patents, therefore, are intellectual property. For the United States, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date when the patent application was filed. If the inventor wishes to receive economic benefits, it is likely that the invention will become commercially available within 20 years of the initial filing. It is important to understand, therefore, that an inventor’s patent does not indicate that a product or service is or will be commercially available. The patent implies only that the inventor has “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States. While this relates to U.S. patents, similar rules govern foreign patents. In this chapter, we show you how to locate information on patents and their inventors. If you find a patent that is particularly interesting to you, contact the inventor or the assignee for further information. IMPORTANT NOTE: When following the search strategy described below, you may discover non-medical patents that use the generic term “acupressure” (or a synonym) in their titles. To accurately reflect the results that you might find while conducting research on acupressure, we have not necessarily excluded nonmedical patents in this bibliography.
Patents on Acupressure By performing a patent search focusing on acupressure, you can obtain information such as the title of the invention, the names of the inventor(s), the assignee(s) or the company that owns or controls the patent, a short abstract that summarizes the patent, and a few excerpts from the description of the patent. The abstract of a patent tends to be more technical in nature, while the description is often written for the public. Full patent descriptions contain much more information than is presented here (e.g. claims, references, figures, diagrams, etc.). We will tell you how to obtain this information later in the chapter. The following is an 5Adapted
from the United States Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/whatis.htm.
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example of the type of information that you can expect to obtain from a patent search on acupressure: •
Acupressure and massaging method Inventor(s): Mencher-Aliazzo; Bonnie (6 Fiddlers Green Spur, Huntington, NY 11743) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,779,652 Date filed: December 12, 1996 Abstract: A unitary and configurative acupressure and massaging device and system for detecting and treating muscular irregularities and injuries, comprised of a plurality of resilient and compressive balls slidably mounted on and between the ends of an elongate and flexible fibrous component functioning as a ball carrier, and against which device a user's body weight is applied when the body is either at rest or in motion. Excerpt(s): The invention relates generally to self-applied acupressure and massaging devices and systems for detection and treatment of muscular irregularities, pain and injuries. More specifically, it relates to novel improvements in surface-supporting devices having balls and ball carriers which, when in use, requires the user to lie, press and move thereagainst and in various positions for device functioning. The main objective of the invention is to simplify, make more functional and wieldable, safe, more efficient and less expensive the structure of ball carriers. Pertinent devices as exemplified in the prior art are U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,966 to George K. Takahashi, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,616 to Yousef Panapour, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,582 to Gary C. Johnson, 1990. In contrast to such prior art, the invention provides a carrier characterized by an elongate, fibrous, flexible element which provides a slidable and configurative string mounting for the balls of the device. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05779652__
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Acupressure device Inventor(s): Minarik; Richard (61-61 Woodhaven Blvd., Rego Park, Queens, New York City, NY 11374) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,584,854 Date filed: August 8, 1995 Abstract: Acupressure clamps include a U-shape band having opposite end portions respectively provided with a pressure applying screw and a spherical counterabutment. The end portions can be parallel with a line of action of the screw extending through the protuberance for application of pressure to precisely opposite portions of a foot or, the end portions can diverge for simultaneous application of pressures along non aligned axes at two locations on a back of a hand. Another device for the leg below the knee or the sole of the foot has a body engaging, arcuate plate carrying a pressure screw and mounted on a fastening strap. A device for the big toe is a socket with a pressure screw and a device for smaller toes is a clip. Excerpt(s): The invention relates to medical devices for the application of pressure to appendages of the human body for the treatment of discomfort, in particular to relieve
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pain. It has been recognized for many years that acupressure, which is the application of non-invasive stimulative pressure at discrete points of the human body, particularly at recognized acupuncture points, can relieve pain or discomfort in other locations of the body. It is believed that the relief is obtained by a mechanism essentially the same as that operative in acupuncture in that the application of pressure causes the nerves to stimulate the pituitary to release pain killing and relaxing hormones known as endorphins which can also create a euphoric state of relaxation, reported to relieve stiffness, bodily tensions, nervousness, hyperactivity, depressions and insomnia. In order to avoid the expense of the presence of a practitioner to administer the treatment, various devices have been proposed to apply a sustained pressure to selected points on the human body. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05584854__ •
Acupressure device Inventor(s): Ferber; Jack Richard (New York, NY) Assignee(s): Ferberdent International Inc. (new York, Ny) Patent Number: 5,709,647 Date filed: August 1, 1995 Abstract: An acupressure device is disclosed for stimulating an LI-4 acupressure point located on the back side of a hand within the fleshy crotch between the thumb and index finger. The acupressure device is simple to use and enables accurate positioning over the LI-4 acupressure point and simultaneous stimulation of both hands. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to acupressure devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an acupressure device which is placed on the fleshy crotch between the thumb and the forefinger of a hand in order to stimulate the LI-4 acupressure point. Acupressure, i.e., the application of pressure to specific topical locations of the body, has been used to alleviate many diverse types of pain. One such location is the LI-4 acupressure point located on the backside of a hand, deep in the fleshy crotch between the thumb and the forefinger. It has been proposed that the application of firm pressure to the LI-4 acupressure point reduces or eliminates various types of pain, such as headaches, earaches, and dental and oral pains. The specifics of such pain control is not well understood. The amount of applied pressure depends on several factors, such as, the intensity of pain and the user's tolerance for pressure. Therefore, the amount of pressure should be adjustable by the user. Persons may manually apply pressure to their own LI-4 acupressure points and massage the backside crotch of their hand between the thumb and the forefinger. However, a self-massage only allows applying pressure to one hand at a time. Furthermore, it is tiring and not accurate. Even when a second person is massaging else's hands, often, only one hand at a time is massaged. Furthermore, such a second person may be costly or not be available during a pain attack. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05709647__
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Acupressure device Inventor(s): Berger; Allen (Wainscott, NY), Johnson; Chris (Irvine, CA), O'Connell; Drew (Cold Spring Harbor, NY) Assignee(s): Cirrus Air Technologies Llc (locust Valley, Ny) Patent Number: 6,007,503 Date filed: May 14, 1998 Abstract: An acupressure device is especially adapted for use as an anti-nausea prophylactic. The device comprises a substantially flat base having first and second opposing surfaces and a central aperture. A rounded button is disposed within the central aperture, the rounded pressure-applying surface of the button facing in the same direction as the first surface of the base. A pluraliy of spokes extend from the button to the perimeter of the central aperture, thereby supporting the button within the aperture. The first surface of the base has an adhesive coating so that the device may be adhered to the skin with the button contacting a desired acupressure point. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates generally to a device for applying pressure to an acupuncture or acupressure point on the human body. More specifically, the present invention relates to an acupressure device for relieving nausea. The effectiveness of acupuncture and acupressure for relieving pain and for treating certain physical disorders has been known for several thousand years. In acupuncture, fine needles are inserted into the skin at specific locations on the anatomy in order to treat specific disorders. Since it is an invasive procedure, acupuncture should be administered only by a skilled practitioner. Even with normal clinical precautions, there is a danger of infection at acupuncture sites. Due, at least in part, to the disadvantages of acupuncture, acupressure has enjoyed increasing popularity. The same anatomical locations used for acupuncture are also used for acupressure; however, only pressure is applied to the location. Pressure alone has proven to be effective for the treatment of certain disorders and for certain symptomatic relief. In particular, it has been found that pressure applied to the interior of the wrist can be effective in relieving nausea due, for example, to motion sickness. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06007503__
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Acupressure foot massage mat Inventor(s): Bukowski; Voytek Z. (8451 E. Doris St., San Gabriel, CA 91775) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,158,073 Date filed: December 18, 1990 Abstract: An acupressure foot massage mat (10) that is molded of a resilient material and consists of an upper surface (12) and a non-slip lower surface (16). On the upper surface are randomly located a multiplicity of cone shaped protrusions (14) that are designed to apply an optimum pressure-point contact to the body. The mat (10) is primarily designed to be placed on a flat surface to provide an acupressure massage when a user walks on the mat. However, it can also be hung on a wall or draped over a chair or automobile seat to apply a massage to the buttocks and back. The mat design also incorporates an attachment means that allows two or more mats to be joined so that several persons can obtain an acupressure massage at the same time.
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Excerpt(s): The invention pertains to the general field of acupressure therapy and implements and more particularly to an acupressure implement consisting of a foot massage pad that allows selected zones of the foot or the entire foot to be massaged. Acupressure therapy is closely related to the field of acupuncture which is conservatively estimated to be more the 2,000 years old. Acupuncture therapy is based on the concept that the human body has an internal set of channels or meridians that surface onto the skin at 365 points. These meridian points are places where control of functional body areas can best be exercised and effected by the insertion of needles. The concept of acupressure, which is also referred to as reflexology massaging, utilizes the thumb, knuckle or some other external mechanical or electrical massaging implement to apply pressure to the selected meridian points. In the methodology of acupressure, as in acupuncture, there is taught that there are various organs, nerves and glands in the body that are connected with certain "reflex areas" located on the bottom of the feet, the hands and other meridian related areas of the body. By massaging these reflex areas and through resulting stimulating response, therapeutic help for various body ailments and pain reduction can be obtained. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05158073__ •
Acupressure glove device Inventor(s): Lanzisera; Frank (8008 18th Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34209), Rowe-Lanzisera; Lisa (8008 18th Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34209) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,405,357 Date filed: September 22, 1993 Abstract: An acupressure glove enabling safe, accurate and cost-effective application of self-stimulation of acupressure points on the hand and wrist. By producing direct pressure onto an acupressure point via a specifically positioned nodule on the glove's interior surface and guided by the corresponding color-coded locator on the glove's exterior surface an individual can utilize acupressure therapy for a variety of physical complaints. The physical complaints can be comprised of carpal tunnel syndrome, golfer's and tennis elbow, general pain, acute and chronic neck pain, headache, and stress and anxiety. Excerpt(s): This invention is a device for non-invasive auto-stimulation of acupressure points on the dorsal and palmar surfaces of the hands and fingers. More specifically, a glove, conforming to anatomical contours, is fitted on its interior surface area with nodules that, when worn by an individual, are positioned over acupressure points of the hand, wrist, and fingers. Gloves are to be worn on both the right and left. The individual, after pulling the gloves on snugly, applies direct pressure to locators on the exterior surface area of the glove which are attached through the glove to the underlying nodules. Stimulation of acupressure points via direct pressure produces a positive reaction by the body for a plurality of physical complaints. Acupressure, a non-invasive form of acupuncture is accepted by the medical community and the general public, as a valid form of treatment. Individuals seeking a non-drug approach for a plurality of physical complaints find acupressure therapy a safe and cost-effective alternative. This invention relates to a glove for auto-stimulation of acupressure points on the hands, fingers and wrists using direct pressure on nodules located on the glove's interior surface area. Automatic correct placement of these nodules over the acupressure points is accomplished by a flexible, elastic glove that conforms to a typical hand's bony and
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soft-tissue contours. These nodules are identified on the glove's exterior surface by locators. The individual then only has to refer to the enclosed chart for their physical complaint and corresponding acupressure point(s) to safely and accurately apply acupressure therapy via direct pressure. This invention allows an individual to accurately apply acupressure therapy without having to rely on other guides or having specific anatomical knowledge of the hand, wrist, and fingers. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05405357__ •
Acupressure gloves adhered acupressure devices Inventor(s): Yoo; Tae W. (807, 1-Dong, Hanyang, Apt. 32-5, Banpo-dong, Seocho-ku, Seoul, KR) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,405,310 Date filed: December 13, 1993 Abstract: An acupressure glove includes upper and lower skins which closely adhere to the back and palm of a hand, respectively, when worn by a user, the skins defining a cavity therebetween for receiving a hand; a plurality of receiving holes in the upper and lower skins; a plurality of hollow acupressure protuberances for applying acupressure to the hand, the protuberances being positioned within the cavity in association with selected receiving holes, each acupressure protuberance including a flat sheet portion which lies against the inner surface of one skin, a narrow neck portion extending toward the other skin from the flat sheet portion and a bulbous portion extending toward the other skin from the narrow neck portion, the narrow neck portion and the bulbous portion being hollow and the flat sheet portion having an opening which opens into the narrow neck portion; and a plurality of securing protuberances extending into the receiving holes and engaged within the plurality of hollow acupressure protuberances, respectively, for retaining the acupressure protuberances to the upper and lower skins, each securing protuberance including a second flat sheet portion which lies against an outer surface of one skin, a second narrow neck portion extending toward the other skin from the second flat sheet portion and a second bulbous portion extending toward the other skin from the second narrow neck portion, the bulbous portion having an outer dimension greater than the neck portion of the acupressure protuberances. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to acupressure gloves with adhered acupressure devices in the form of acupressure protuberances being made of non-ferrous metals for cooperation with blood vessels distributed on the palms, backs of hands or finger parts of the human body. More specifically, it relates to an invention activating the living body activity by acupressure and ion treatment effect by means of the projected protuberances being made of non-ferrous materials. In the interior of the human body there is a minute living electric current which operates or runs the living body. This current relates to electric physiological phenomena of muscle contractions, etc. If the balance of such minute living electric current is destroyed by an external influence of stress, etc., a magnetic change can occur, resulting in the living organization be inharmonious. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05405310__
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Acupressure patch and method of use Inventor(s): Chang; Henry H. (Apt. 1313, 1900 Frontage Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,792,176 Date filed: December 9, 1996 Abstract: An acupressure patch for providing a controlled pressure to a selected point on the skin of a patient for a selected period of time is disclosed. The patch includes a rigid nub fixedly mounted to a flat rigid pressure plate. The pressure plate is positioned on an adhesive disc and held in place by an adhesive ring. The nub sits in an aperture such that it is not covered with any adhesive. A cushioning pad may also be provided between the pressure plate and the adhesive disc. The acupressure patch provides a low profile apparatus which can be secured to a patient's skin to provide adequate pressure to be effective but not to irritate the skin. Excerpt(s): This invention is related to the field of acupressure. In particular, the invention is directed to an acupressure patch and a method of applying acupressure. It has long been the practice for Eastern medical practitioners to employ needles during acupuncture to redirect and improve the flow of energy in the patient's body. The needles must be inserted in the skin of the patient at selected points by highly skilled professionals. The needles may be left in the skin for a period of time as the acupuncturist determines is necessary but they must be removed before the patient leaves the office. Since the needles penetrate the skin, the acupuncturist must guard against the risk of infection to himself and to the patient. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture but a gentle controlled pressure is applied to the point on the skin, rather than inserting a needle. While the points to which the pressure are applied are the same, since there are no needles inserted into the skin, there is no risk of infection and less treatment anxiety in the patient. The patients can be instructed themselves to place the acupressure patches to certain areas of the skin for the treatment of certain problems. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05792176__
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Acupressure pillow apparatus and method Inventor(s): Myler; Scott G. (354 E. Heather Rd., Orem, UT 84057) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,305,040 Date filed: June 3, 1999 Abstract: An Acupressure pillow provides selective pressure by location and force applied to a body of a user. By selection of a body member, a location on that body member, and a pressure point thereat, an acupressure pillow may be used for gauging and applying a localized, selective force or pressure at a designated point for a user. For example, headaches have been attributed to various causes including stress, tension, and so forth, all of which may result in involuntary tightening of muscles. Tightening of muscles affects blood flow. Restriction of blood flow may be responsible for certain headache pain. By applying a steady, predictable, reliable, continuing pressure at a designated acupressure location on member of a body of a user, muscles may be relaxed. Massage therapy requires knowledgeable application of pressure and motion. An acupressure pillow applies steady pressure, to which the body will become
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accustomed and relax. The actual continual application of pressure may tend to speed relaxation better than unpredictable motion such as vibration and other techniques used in the art. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to physical therapy and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for selectively applying pressure to designated locations on a member of a human body in order to provide relaxation of muscles for therapeutic effect. Massage therapy has been known for several years, even decades or more. Within the established medical community within the United States and other countries of the world, massage therapy has gained increased recognition for the therapeutic benefits available by selective application of regular motion and pressure to muscles of the body in order to relieve tension and provide associated benefits. Chiropractic medicine has gained favor as persons treated thereby become satisfied that they feel better. Regardless of the school that one subscribes to, feeling healthy is one ultimate measure of success of any treatment. In Asian countries, ancient arts have been practiced that have only recently become known, acknowledged, applied, investigated, and the like, within the Western Hemisphere. For example, acupuncture involves the use of carefully placed and manipulated needles for providing relief of various symptoms. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06305040__ •
Acupressure stimulator for a watch Inventor(s): Yoo; Tae Woo (807, 1-Dong, Hanyang Apt., 32-5, Banpo-dong, Seocho-ku, Seoul, KR) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,774,424 Date filed: January 21, 1997 Abstract: An acupressure stimulator for a watch includes a plate; a plurality of protuberances projected from the bottom of the plate for applying finger-pressure to the wrist; a double-sided adhesive-layer stuck on the other side of the plate, in order to use the double-sided adhesive-layer to adhere to the back of a watch; and a release-layer adhered to the double-sided adhesive-layer. In use, after removing the release-layer at the double-sided adhesive-layer, it is stuck to the back of a watch. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an acupressure stimulator for a watch and more particularly this invention has a metallic circular plate having a plurality of projections in the bottom thereof and can be stuck on the back of a watch for applying finger-pressure at the wrist. In general, acupressure or finger-pressure is known as an effective method which helps in blood circulation. However, acupressure or fingerpressure needs to use some instrument or implement and someone's help and to spend a time thereon for having an effect. Therefore, the conventional method is inconvenient. On the other hand, a watch has an effect of checking a time and as ornamentation. Recently, a watch which has various functions is required. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05774424__
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Acupressure-type moxa treatment device Inventor(s): Shimada; Osamu (996 Shima-machi, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Pref., JP) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,931,806 Date filed: February 17, 1998 Abstract: An acupressure-type moxa treatment device uses a carbonized moxa, of which main component is moxa and which is compression-moulded into a fixed shape and does not generate smoke nor bad smell when burned. The device includes a holding cage held between a front inner cylinder 1 and a rear inner cylinder 2, and an ignited carbonized moxa 9 in a holding cage 8. The inner cylinders enclosed by a cap 5, a front outer cylinder 2, and a rear outer cylinder 2. The front inner cylinder 1, the rear inner cylinder 2, the front outer cylinder 3, and the rear outer cylinder 2 are provided with cooperating and adjustable air inlets 1a, 2a, and air control ports 3a, 4a, respectively, to enable proper combustion of the carbonized moxa 9. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an acupressure-type moxa treatment device that also exhibits therapeutic effects of acupressure. When the above-mentioned acupressure-type moxa treatment device is used to repeatedly give thermotherapy to the affected part, the bar-shaped moxa 51 will be consumed and its overall length will gradually get shorter. The bar-shaped moxa 51 will be pressed further forward into the inner cylinder and subsequently unloaded so powdery ashes of moxa accumulated inside can be removed and a fresh bar-shaped moxa 51 can be loaded. The major component of the bar-shaped moxa 51 used in the conventional acupressure type moxa treatment device is moxa, which is normally produced by drying leaves of mugwort and rumpling the dried leaves with the fingers to refine them into cotton-like substance. This substance is then processed and turned into flakes or grains. Other materials that have proved to have beneficial effects may be used as supplementary components. Appropriate portions of these materials are mixed together, and wrapped in a sheet of paper (such as a kind of Japanese paper that does not produce an unpleasant odor when burned) to form the bar-shaped moxa. This bar-shaped moxa is loaded in a moxa treatment device such as one shown in the diagram and in the manner as illustrated in the diagram and used as the fuel of the acupressure-type moxa treatment device. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05931806__
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Acupuncture treatment device and methods of use Inventor(s): Kramer; George H. (Minnetonka, MN) Assignee(s): East West Medical, Llp (wayzata, Mn) Patent Number: 6,458,146 Date filed: February 28, 2000 Abstract: The present invention provides an acupressure device for use on a selected skin surface portion of a human body. The device comprises a base sheet; one or more protrusions; a fastener; and an orienting margin, orienting constellation, orienting template or orienting protrusion, suitable to position the device on the selected skin surface. The invention also provides therapeutic methods comprising applying a devise of the invention to a human in need of therapy.
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Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an acupressure device, and, in particular, to an acupressure device having an orienting peripheral margin, an orienting template, or an orienting constellation to allign or key the device to specific landmarks of the human body. Acupressure, as with acupuncture, is a form of treatment for various conditions and maladies. Acupuncture is well known to eastern medical thought and practice, but only recently is introduced into western medicine. Acupuncture can be traced back at least 2,500 years as a form of medical treatment in China. The concept behind acupuncture is based on the premise there are patterns of energy flow through the body that are essential for proper health. Imbalance or disruption of energy flow through any of these patterns is believed to be responsible for disease. Which pattern is disrupted, and where, influences which disease state is experienced by the afflicted person. The energy flow patterns through the body have been mapped extensively and there are substantial numbers of points along the flow patterns where the energy flow is close to the skin surface. Using needles of various types, the acupuncturist is able to reach these points by placing the needles into the skin at these known points. The presence of the needle at that point alters the flow of energy, changing the dynamics in the energy flow. When done properly, using the proper number and position of needles, acupuncture realigns the energy flow to one of balance and restoration of health. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06458146__ •
Apparatus for applying acupressure Inventor(s): Coseo; Marc C. (1 Harbor St., Manchester, MA 01944) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,545,177 Date filed: August 24, 1994 Abstract: An apparatus for self administration of acupressure that comprises a surface for supporting the individual. A pressure arm supported above the surface moves between a first position displaced from the individual and a second position where pressure probes apply acupressure. The position of an actuation arm supported below the surface is controlled by the individual and is linked to the pressure arm. This enables the individual to control the magnitude and duration of force applied through the pressure arm and pressure probes. The individual can operate another linkage to position the pressure probes relative to the pressure arm and along the individuals' spine. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to the field of acupressure and more specifically to a method and apparatus for the self-administration of acupressure. Healthy muscles are soft, flexible and well nourished by blood flow in the circulatory system. A decrease in the blood flow reduces the temperature of the muscle tissue and the oxygen and nutrient supply to the tissue. Muscles which are overworked or otherwise subjected to a reduction in temperature and in levels of oxygen and nutrients tend to become tense and painful. Conversely, increasing the blood flow to muscle tissue tends to reduce tension and pain in muscles exhibiting such conditions and reduce the likelihood of development of such conditions in other muscles. The application of acupressure at specific locations proximate the selected tissue increases the blood flow to selected muscle tissue. The application of such pressure is therefore useful in reducing and preventing muscle tension and pain resulting from reduced blood flow to the muscle tissue. 4,037,590 (1977) Dohring et al.
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Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05545177__ •
Articles of humanwear merchandise having magnetic structure for producing magnetic healing effects Inventor(s): Fong; Augustine C. (920 S. Craycroft, Tucson, AZ 85711), Lopez; Richard A. (4001 W. Redwing St., Tucson, AZ 85741) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,720,046 Date filed: June 29, 1995 Abstract: Humanwear merchandise is provided in the form of torso-worn garments, headgear and gear for body appendages. The merchandise includes magnetic structure that corresponds to acupressure points on the human torso, head and body appendages for effecting therapeutic magnetic exposure when worn by a human user. The magnetcontaining humanwear merchandise includes: (1) several glove designs, (2) torso-worn garments, including T-shirts, pants, briefs, and brassieres, and (3) headgear and various gear for body appendages, including a facemask, a visored-headband, footwear, ankle/foot band support, wrist/hand band supports, finger band, neck band support, and localized elbow and knee support bands. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to merchandise worn by humans. More particularly, the present invention relates to merchandise worn by humans for therapeutic reasons. Even more particularly, the present inventions relates to merchandise having magnetic structure that is worn by humans for therapeutic trains. Acupuncture is an original Chinese practice of needle puncturing the body at specific points on the body to cure disease, or relieve pain. The specific points are well documented and known to practitioners in the art, and have been used in the related practice of shiatsu. Shiatsu pertains to the massage therapy applied with the fingers to those specific areas of the body used in acupuncture, also termed acupressure. Magnetic healing/therapy is another related practice that has utilized the same specific points on the body known to acupuncture and acupressure practitioners. The magnetic therapy practice has caused the development of products with permanent magnets distributed on the products. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,219 teaches a sleeping mattress structure provided with permanent magnets each having a magnetic field strength of at least 850 gauss which are disposed on the mattress for maximum magnetic curing effect. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,560 teaches a method for fixing the permanent magnets to bed covering. Merchandise worn by humans having magnetic structure has also been developed. For example, Japan Life Products 1992 Catalog, at page 10 and 11, shows belts, elbow and knee supporters, wrist and foot support massager provided with magnetic structure. Similarly, OMS Medical Supplies 1992-93 Catalog, at pages 59-67, shows humanwear merchandise provided with magnetic structure. The DMS merchandise includes head bands, vests, belts, wrist bands, supports for the elbows, arms, legs, knee and ankle, and also necklaces. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05720046__
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Device and method for therapeutic treatment of living organisms Inventor(s): Sullivan; Jana (2939 Hewlett Gulch Rd., Livermore, CO 80536) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,602,275 Date filed: September 18, 2000 Abstract: A device is disclosed which is therapeutically beneficial to the well-being of living organisms such as humans, animals, and/or plant life, using photon or light waves. The device is intended to lie against the skin or surface, near the skin/surface, and/or from a distance ranging up to several feet from the skin/surface. The device is intended to be used for: general relaxation and detoxification of an organism; stimulating the healing process in an organism which is ill, diseased or injured; aiding in the elimination of pain and inflammation in an organism; stimulating/sedating the acupressure meridian system of an organism and rebalancing the electromagnetic energy-field surrounding the organism. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to devices containing arrays of light-emitting diodes (hereinafter LED's) which are employed in photo-therapy for various living organisms. Many U. S. and foreign patents disclose the use of light sources such as laser diodes and light emitting diodes emitting electromagnetic radiation of various wavelengths (i.e., colors) for administering positive and beneficial treatments to living organisms (including mammals) for injury, pain relief and illness. U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,377 discloses LED arrays comprising a substrate and two sets of LED's emitting different colors of light which can be used as light sources for facsimile or scanner devices. The first and second sets of LED's are connected in series so that a current alternatively flows through one set or the other, in opposite directions. The two sets of LED's connected in series are further connected with each other in parallel. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06602275__
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Device for manual application of acupressure Inventor(s): Willow; Sky F. (151 - 10090 152nd Street, Suite #118, Surrey, B.C. V3R 8X8, CA) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,560,746 Date filed: November 10, 1994 Abstract: A manual device for self-application of acupressure by a user, comprises a substantially "J"-shaped rigid frame having a first tip at one end for application of pressure to specific points of the user's body and a handle at the other end. The first tip is adapted to be placed on the back portions of the user while the frame is substantially transverse to the user's body. The handle is adapted to be grabbed by the user such that a pushing force imparted to the handle away from the user's body transmits pressure to the first tip. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a manual device to self apply a technique of dorsal acupressure, diathetic medicine and magnet therapy which are useful for the relief of certain kinds of body pain. For several decades interest in the application of the non-traditional treatment techniques for the relief of body pain and other organic irregularities has increased. An important area of these non-traditional techniques is
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called Diathetic Medicine, which is related to the constitutional tendency of the human body to suffer certain diseases. Diathetic medicine includes two branches: acupuncture and catalytic medicine. Acupuncture consists of the physical stimulation of certain points of the skin, through needles, massages (or acupressure) or moxibustion. Moxibustion is the combustion of certain substances applied to certain points on the skin. The object of this local stimulation on the skin, according to the principles of acupuncture, is to manipulate the energy that circulates through certain meridians in the organism. According to this principle, several kinds of pain and organic dysfunctions are due to irregularities in the flux of energy due to congestions produced in certain nodes of the meridians. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05560746__ •
Device for relief from morning sickness Inventor(s): Giarratano; Robert C. (4632 Weston Rd., La Mesa, CA 92041) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,078,728 Date filed: September 29, 1988 Abstract: A method of alleviating morning sickness in pregnant women resides in the application of a continuum of a controlled amount of pressure to the Neiguan acupressure points on both forearms of the patient. This is achieved by the use of a pair of pressure applying devices, each of which is adapted to be secured to a respective one of the patient's forearms.Each such device comprises a strap of a length to encompass forearms of various girths, a protuberance on the strap for localized engagement with the Neiguan point on the patient's forearm, and adjustable securements on the strap for adjustably securing the strap about the patient's forearm with said protuberance engaging the Neiguan point and for adjusting the amount of pressure applied about the arm and onto said point. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to the malady suffered by pregnant women, particularly in the early months of pregnancy, known as "morning sickness", and particularly to relief from this malady. Morning sickness comprises nausea and vomiting, and/or related physical distress, that occurs in pregnant women on or shortly after rising in the morning, especially during the earlier months of pregnancy. Though still called "morning sickness", the onset of nausea in many pregnant women can occur at almost anytime of the day, or it can be substantially constant for days, weeks or even months. For most women, the distress of morning sickness is sufficiently severe that they are essentially incapacitated. Every woman who has suffered through "morning sickness" does not want it to happen again, ever. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05078728__
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Device for self massage, acupressure self care and acupressure meridian stimulation Inventor(s): Howard; Christian (36038 Elaine Way, Yucaipa, CA 92399) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,315,742 Date filed: April 20, 1999
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Abstract: A massaging device is adapted for effective back massage especially along the spine. A flat platform supports a number of rotating wheels positioned for contact with separated muscle groups and acupressure points. The wheels are of a rubber material of such hardness as to allow a person to lay down onto the device without pain but to receive an effective pressure massage in the tissues of the back without bruising. With the device centered on the spine and with its wheels spaced on either side of the spine the individual may move along the ground while receiving a deep therapeutic massage. A pair of close spaced rollers are positioned relative to the wheels for massaging the tissues of the neck. Excerpt(s): This invention relates generally to devices used for manual massage, and more particularly to a device constructed with a plurality of wheels positioned advantageously for accomplishing the objectives of the invention. Hamilton, U.S. Pat. No. 1,572,794 describes a massage device comprising a plurality of grooved rollers of different sizes and alternately arranged, the rollers being shaped to straddle the spine, means for retaining the rollers in spaced relation to one another, a table on which the rollers travel, and means attached to the table for guiding the movement of the rollers on the table. Buffalow, U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,839 describes a massage device comprising a vibratory arm, a socketed ball applicator on the arm, and rollers associated with the applicator for travel over the body, the axis of rotation of the rollers being in the plane of vibration of the arm for cooperation with the ball applicator in the massaging operation. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06315742__ •
Ergonomic kinetic acupressure massaging system Inventor(s): Strumor; Mathew A. (158 Key Heights Dr., Tavernier, FL 33070) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,607,749 Date filed: April 26, 1996 Abstract: An acupressure massaging system includes a platform having an upper surface, and includes an array of intersecting air channels extending therethrough in communication with space external of the pad. An array of spaced, independently flexible nipples extends from the upper surface of the platform, each nipple having an upper distal end and a flexible, accordion-pleated side wall comprised of material having elastic memory and defining an internal air-flow chamber. The air-flow chamber is in fluid communication with the air-flow channels and each nipple is structured and disposed for movement from a biased and normally extended position to a compressed position in response to contact with the skin or clothing of the user. The elastic memory of the nipples' side walls, created by the accordion-pleated side wall structure in cooperation with the elastic memory of the material of the side walls, normally urges the nipples to their extended positions to exert a kinetic counterforce on the skin or through clothing of the user providing an acupressure massaging and air-flow effect. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an acupressure massaging system, and more particularly to an acupressure ergonomic kinetic and massaging system having an array of normally extended compressible nipples adapted to acupressure massage and invigorate the user. Acupressure is defined as the application of pressure to parts of the human body. Ergonomics is defined as the study of the problems of people in adjusting to their environment; the science that seeks to adapt work or working conditions to suit the worker. Kinetic is defined as of or resulting from motion. While it is recognized that
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sports and other highly active physical activities are often the cause of injuries, there is an increasing awareness that virtually any activity that involves a repetitious motion or contact of an object with the body may cause stress to the muscle and tendons, resulting in repetitive strain injury (RSI). Presently, injuries to the muscles and tendons are most commonly treated with physical therapy. Physical therapy encompasses a variety of modalities including massage, exercise, hydrotherapy, and ultrasound to name a few. Physical therapy, however, is concerned with the treatment of physical ailments, not the prevention of them. There is, therefore, a need to provide a means to prevent injuries, for instance those injuries resulting from repetitive strain, such as carpal tunnel and torsal tunnel syndrome. Recently, the use of keyboards has been identified as a major contributing factor in repetitive.strain injuries to the hands and wrists. This is due to the fact that keyboards tend to force the upper body into unnatural positions, causing the hands to bend with the wrists cocked, resulting in straining of the tendons and muscles and reducing circulation. Although designers may reduce the incidence of repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome through ergonomic considerations, experts expect that millions of workers per year will join the millions of workers around the world who have already been gripped by repetitive strain injuries. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05607749__ •
Foot massage apparatus Inventor(s): Ahn; Boo-Hong (Gyungki-Do, KR) Assignee(s): Ahn; Shin-young (seoul, Kr) Patent Number: 6,602,212 Date filed: September 5, 2001 Abstract: In a foot massage apparatus, a foot massage apparatus which is capable of performing various massages such as an acupressure massage, a cold-water massage, a hot-water massage, a liquid medicine medicine, etc. efficiently by jetting water to feet includes a bottom jet means installed inside a main body, an intermittent jet head jetting water at the upper surface and bottom surface intermittently, a upper casing combined with a lower casing so as to be angle-adjustable, an acupressure roller installed at a center portion of a footstool, an aromatic agent jet means and a hot-air drying means, a heater in stalled between a detachable water vessel and a pump, and an input tube for depositing ice, salt, various medicines, etc. into the detachable water vessel installed at a lower casing of the main body. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a foot massage apparatus, and in particular to a foot massage apparatus which is capable of performing various massages such as an acupressure massage, a cold-water massage, a hot-water massage, a massage with medicine added, etc. effeciently by including a bottom surface jet means installed inside a main body, an intermittent jet head for intermittently jetting water toward the upper surface and bottom surface of a user's feet, an upper casing and a lower casing angleadjustably coupled to each other, an acupressure roller installed at a center portion of a footstool, an aromatic agent jet means and a hot-air drying means, a heater installed between a detachable water vessel and a pump, and an input tube for depositing ice, salt, various medicines, etc. into the detachable water vessel installed at a lower casing of the main body. Generally, a foot massage apparatus using air bubbles in an underwater state or a vibrator is widely known. A foot massage apparatus using an airbubble generator is convenient for using a liquid medicine but has little massage effect, and a foot massage apparatus using an electric vibrator is difficult to use for
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administering a liquid medicine and simply vibrates the feet of a user, and accordingly both foot massage apparatus can not have a massage effect by pressure such as a momentary impact or continuous impact. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06602212__ •
Foot supporter having projection for acupressure which abuts on base region of toes when fitted Inventor(s): Tanaka; Nobutaka (Daito, JP) Assignee(s): Tanaka Planning Corporation (osaka, Jp) Patent Number: 5,792,093 Date filed: February 27, 1997 Abstract: A foot supporter body is formed into a cylindrical shape using cloth having excellent elasticity and it has an approximately X-shaped acupressure projection on its inner side including first to fourth linear ribs extending in four directions from the center. The acupressure projection is formed in a symmetrical shape on the right and left sides of the center. When this foot supporter is fitted on the foot in the region somewhat back from the base region of the toes, the acupressure projection stimulates the surface of the foot to produce the effect of treating hallux valgus and the like and reducing the pain in the sole of foot caused by the this problem. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to supporters, and particularly to a foot supporter for treating hallux valgus and minimus valgus and for reducing the pain due to these troubles, which can also be used to reduce pain in the sole of the foot caused when exercising, and for other purposes. If hallux valgus, in which the base of the big toe (hallux) of the foot outwardly projects, occurs, the projecting part of the toe is pressed against a shoe, for example. This may cause pain not only in that region but also in a region extending to the ankle or to the knee. The same is true in the case of minimus valgus in which the base of the little toe (minimus) outwardly protrudes. The technique of so-called taping for treating hallux valgus and the like, and reduction in the accompanying pain, by sticking adhesive tapes on the diseased part is known, which is practiced in an osteopath's office, for example. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05792093__
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Health promoting implement having acupressure effect and capable of easy attachment/detachment and repeating use Inventor(s): Tanaka; Nobutaka (Daito, JP) Assignee(s): Tanaka Planning Corporation (osaka, Jp) Patent Number: 5,893,871 Date filed: December 10, 1996 Abstract: A wrist band according to the present invention includes a band body which is fitted on the body in a freely fitted and removable manner to surround part of the body, and a projection provided on the surface of the band body on the side facing the body. When the wrist band is fitted around the wrist, the projection, formed like a lattice on its inner surface, abuts on the hand joint region. Then, the band body surrounds the entire wrist and the projection is pressed against the hand joint region by the elastic force of
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the band body. Thus, the projection pressed against the hand joint region provides an acupressure effect. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to health promoting implements, and particularly to a health promoting implement which is used for the purpose of reducing pains in joints and muscles in arms or legs or the purpose of maintaining and promoting health conditions of the joint regions and the like. However, in the taping technique, the adhesive tapes are difficult to handle because of their adhesiveness. Furthermore, the adhesive may cause a rash on the skin depending on the constitution of the patient. Moreover, since the adhesive tapes removed from the body can not be reused, they must be discarded. Therefore it is necessary to prepare and use new adhesive tapes every time a treatment is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a health promoting implement which avoids the trouble of sticking difficult-to-handle adhesive tape on the body. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05893871__ •
Hydro-thermo massaging tub and method of treatment Inventor(s): Brunelle; Henry (Quebec, CA) Assignee(s): Bains Ultra Inc. (bernieres, Quebec, Ca) Patent Number: 5,930,851 Date filed: April 10, 1997 Abstract: A hydro-thermo massaging tub and method of massage treatment wherein the treatment is performed by warm air jets distributed adjacent the bottom wall of the tub all about its circumference. Air jets are formed by holes made in the tub wall with the longitudinal axis of the holes oriented less than 45.degree. from the plane of the bottom wall. The jets communicate with an air distribution duct which is fed hot air under pressure by a blower. Controls are also provided to vary the pressure of the air as well as the temperature thereof. Warm air jets are released in the water contained within the tub to impart turbulence in the body of water to create acupressure massaging flows of warm air jets and water flows from opposed sidewalls and end walls of the tub towards a central area of least turbulence which is occupied by the body of a person. The acupressure massaging flows perform a massaging action all about the body simultaneously. The tub also includes a back massaging cavity to simultaneously massage the back. Hot air circulating in the distribution duct also heats the neck and back portion of the tub where the neck and back of the bather rests during treatment. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a hydro-thermo massaging tub and method of operation and wherein a plurality of air jets are formed about the side walls and end walls of the tub to provide acupressure massaging flows comprised of warm air jets and water about the body of a person occupying the tub and simultaneously providing a back massage action while providing heat to the back and neck portion of the bather and wherein the air pressure as well as the temperature of the air is controllable by the bather or an attendant. In an earlier patent assigned to the assignee of the present invention, namely U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,522 issued Feb. 10, 1981, there is disclosed the construction of a hydro massage bathtub for domestic and therapeutic applications. In that patent, air jets are formed in the sidewall and end walls of the bathtub and a cavity is provided in a backrest portion of the tub to provide a massage to the bather's back. Such a massage bathtub has been found advantageous over other forms of massaging bathtubs where water and air is released through nozzles contained at strategic
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locations in the sidewalls or bottom wall of a bathtub. Other forms of massaging bathtubs where air only is released within the tub are known and again the air is released through nozzles usually mounted in the bottom wall of the tub. The problem with such massaging tub construction is that the treatment by water massage is not uniform over the body of a bather sitting in the bathtub and causes skin and muscular irritation in localized areas of the body due to the pressure of the water displaced by the jets and the proximity of the jet nozzles to the body of the bather sitting in the tub. Another disadvantage is that the air is not heated and when released in a hot tub it causes discomfort and could also cause muscle contraction and spasm. Today people are more sensitive to their well-being and therefore pay more attention to their health due to this awareness of its importance on their quality of life. They are determined to maintain and enhance their physical condition and are seeking simple, efficient and personalized solutions to meet their health objectives. There is therefore a need to provide a hydro massaging bathtub which can meet these objectives and wherein natural products can be added to the water contained within the tub. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05930851__ •
Isometric neck exerciser and method Inventor(s): Glover; James T. (4577 Saville Ct., Independence, MO 64055) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,713,816 Date filed: December 4, 1996 Abstract: An isometric neck exerciser includes a main platform that houses three separate cushioned supports. A first of the supports is contoured and positioned to maintain firm pressure on the mid cervical spine. The second support is contoured to form a notch which is positioned to maintain firm pressure on the upper cervical vertebra and to contact a plurality of acupressure points. The third support is positioned to provide general positive support for the base of the skull. Each support reliably achieves constant support for the particular portion of the cervical system as the neck is moved through three primary axes of motion, (flexion/extension, lateral flexion and rotation). One or more stepping platforms can be added to selectively elevate the main platform to tailor the exerciser for different sized individuals. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an isometric neck exerciser, and, more particularly, to such an isometric exerciser which includes a contoured main platform upon which are placed three supports. A first of the supports is sized, contoured and positioned to maintain firm pressure on the mid cervical spine. The second support is contoured and positioned to maintain firm pressure on the top rear portion of the neck, including the top or "atlas" vertebrae. The third support is positioned to provide general positive support for the back of the user's skull when the user is in a supine position. When a user is properly positioned in a supine position with their head resting on the third support, controlled movement of the head and neck exercises and strengthens the neck muscles and aligns the upper spine. Many medical practitioners, particularly including osteopaths and chiropractors, have long recognized the importance of properly aligned neck vertebrae and strong neck muscles in the overall health of their patients. Literally millions of chiropractic patients make regular visits to their doctors for "neck adjustments" in which the upper vertebrae are aligned by manual manipulation and stimulation. Many patients have experienced a lessening or elimination of headache symptoms, better breathing, increased oxygen flow to the brain,
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a lessening of sinus problems, and other benefits from these adjustments. A problem with this practice is that, typically, the benefits of such adjustments are temporary since the same root causes of vertebrae misalignment recur shortly after the patient leaves the practitioner's office. This means that repeated, often expensive visits to the chiropractor or osteopath must be made in order to maintain the health benefits of this treatment. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05713816__ •
Method and apparatus for applying acupressure Inventor(s): Lambden; Brian D. (P.O. Box 729, Englewood, CO 80151) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,241,693 Date filed: April 30, 1998 Abstract: An apparatus and a method for applying pressure to the body of a person is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an arcuate shaft, a handle that extends from the arcuate shaft in a plane intersecting the plane of the arcuate shaft, and a pressure applicator movably attached to the arcuate shaft for applying pressure to the body. The apparatus can be used for massaging or for applying acupressure. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for applying a pressure to a desired portion of the body of a person. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for massaging or for applying acupressure on parts of the body which are difficult to reach. The benefits of massage and acupressure have been known for centuries. Massage as a form of therapy has been used by almost all cultures for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans where Hippocrates extolled its virtues as a form of medical treatment. There are currently over 100 different types of massage therapy being practiced today. Acupressure is a specific type of massage, dating back over 5,000 years in ancient China. The technique consists of applying localized pressure to specific points on the body as opposed to acupuncture which inserts needles into these same points. The effects of acupressure and acupuncture are similar. Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, causing alterations in the amount of neurotransmitters and/or neurohormones released, thus resulting in changes in blood flow, immune function and/or pain perception. The effects of massage and acupressure such as reduction in pain, muscle tension and stress are well documented. Other physical methods which have been scientifically proven to reduce pain and muscle spasm include physical modalities such as applying heat or cold. In addition, recent medical studies have demonstrated that treatment with magnetic fields reduces muscular pain and is useful in treating persistent neck pain. See, for example, Vallbona, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 1997, 78, 11 and Orthopedics 1990, 13(4), 445. Treatment with these types of modalities typically requires daily treatment. In fact, most types of pain and spasm respond better to daily treatment whether it is by physical modalities or massage. Indeed, many instructors of ancient healing arts and physical therapists instruct their clients on self management of pain using techniques of self massage, self acupressure or other self administered physical modalities. Thus, with most injuries it is advantageous to be able to self-treat the painful area. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06241693__
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Natural headache reliever using acupressure points Inventor(s): Ioan; Radu (1508 Centinela Av. Ap. 8, Los Angeles, CA 90025) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,792,174 Date filed: March 20, 1997 Abstract: A natural headache reliever using acupressure points on the scalp and upper posterior neck is disclosed. A cap-like device having an outer membrane (1) and an inner membrane (2) will be placed comfortably on the head of the wearer. The two membranes meet and are attached at their margins, thus forming an inner potential space (4) between the membranes. The inner membrane, that which will be closest to the scalp of the wearer, will contain a plurality of immobile protrusions (5) at a distance of between 10 and 20 millimeters apart. Direct pressure will be applied by the protrusions on different acupressure points on the scalp and upper posterior neck. A pump (3) will be used to create the pressure by introducing air into the potential space (4) between the inner and outer membranes. The wearer controls the duration and amount of pressure, thereby ensuring his or her comfort while alleviating the head pain. Excerpt(s): This invention concerns a novel drug-free relief of various headaches by stimulating acupressure points on the scalp and upper posterior neck. Headaches are a very common disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. A common cause of headaches, concluded by present day scientific research, is dilatation of the blood vessels of the head and scalp. Another common source of headaches is tension of the muscles of the head and neck. There are numerous medications on the market used to treat headaches. While medications are often effective, it is not without risk due to toxic side effects and/or the possibility of adverse reaction. Many patients therefore, opt to using drug-free types of treatments. Many headache sufferers often seek relief by applying finger pressure over the areas of most severe pain. This type of treatment is limited to a small number of pressure points that can be stimulated simultaneously. It is also limited in the potential pressure time due to the fingers becoming fatigued. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05792174__
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Physio/energetic therapeutic method and interactive monitoring device Inventor(s): Blum; Jeanne Elizabeth (Haikuleana, 555 Rd., Haiku, HI 96708-5884) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,152,140 Date filed: June 27, 1997 Abstract: A physio/energetic therapeutic method for articulating various acupressure points in a specific sequence, in which these points have been heretofore "forbidden" because of the risk of termination of pregnancy, involving three sets of points that are articulated in the first three days of a woman's period, for 3 to 5 minutes for each point, per day, in order to regulate problematic menstrual cycles by having a clearing effect on the next cycle, thereby eliminating build-up in the body which leads to PMS and cramps, and in the case of endometriosis, back flow and back-up of energy. Also shown are various acupressure point therapies for generally minimizing the effects of PMS and edema, maximizing the chances of contraception in a woman, and minimizing the chances of miscarriage or abnormal uterine bleeding. An interactive monitoring device
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is also shown for storing, identifying and retrieving information relative to the treatment therapies. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to the field of therapeutic methods and processes for regulating bodily functions through the application of pressure to various external points on the human anatomy in accordance with a specific, repeated regime. More particularly, the invention relates to stimulation of energy flows by articulation of precise, predetermined points in a specific sequence in a manner intended to improve the physical state of the body, including balancing and regulating womens' menses and reproductive cycles. Since ancient times, chinese medical practitioners have recognized the interconnection of mind, body and spirit and the direct and significant effect of this interconnection on physical healing. Western medicine, while challenged by the ancient Eastern concept of "invisible" energy flowing throughout the body, has done little to recognize the evidence of efficacy of these ancient concepts--although Hippocrates was the father of Western medicine, treated women with menstrual problems through ear piercing and the wearing of earings--or investigate the underlying concepts or techniques through, for example, the development of effective therapeutic techniques or devices that employ energy manipulation or redirection. For example, Dr. Kim Bong Han of the University of Pyongang in North Korea discovered that the energy flows in the body are contained within thin membranes filled with colorless fluid. German doctors have found that when electricity is introduced at one point in the flow, it arrives at the target organ with which the point is associated. These flows were also noted by Sir Thomas Lewis as early as 1937, but he did not understand the significance or utility of his discovery. Stephen T. Chang, The Great Tao (San Francisco:Tao Publishing, 1992), pp. 238, 239. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06152140__ •
Quantitative acupressure device Inventor(s): Mocny; Michael A. (2965 Calle Noguera, Santa Barbara, CA 93105) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,224,469 Date filed: December 22, 1989 Abstract: A device for applying therapeutic or analgesic pressure quantitatively which includes a sensor for continuously measuring the pressure on a patient's skin and underlying tissue. The instrument includes a hand-held force sensitive transducer having a blunt tip extending therefrom. When the blunt tip of the device is pressed against the skin thereby compressing the underlying tissue, the transducer yields an electrical signal proportional to the applied pressure. This signal is then fed to a resettable digital display. When the pressure applied to the skin reaches a threshold value, an actuator switch is actuated starting a timer which measures the elapsed time period during which the skin and underlying tissue is exposed to the measured pressure. An optional alarm indicates when the combination of pressure and elapsed time has reached a previously determined level. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to a device for measuring and applying pressure to the skin and underlying tissue of a patient in therapeutic or analgesic quantities. Such a device is useful to therapists and physicians in treating ailments responsive to acupressure or acupuncture or trigger point therapy. Health care practitioners have used a patient's sensitivity to externally applied pressure as a diagnostic tool for at least
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thirty-five years. The sensitivity to external pressure was indicated by bilateral variation, in pain threshold, is considered symptomatic of certain ailments. Certain neurological and other medical examinations and procedures entail the location and delineation of areas of analgesia or hyposthesia, the former being the absence of pain or touch sensitivity; the latter, reduced pain or touch sensitivity. Also of interest is hyperalgesia, that is, enhanced sensitivity to painful stimuli. Such tests are normally carried out in special examinations for the treatment of neurological disorders as well as in general medical checkups and in diagnosing various diseases. Cutaneous sensations are transmitted from the skin to various regions of the cerebral cortex. Thus, sensations of touch as well as those of warmth and coolness are perceived and interpreted in particular regions of the somesthetic or bodily sensor area of the parietal lobe. The sensation of pain for each side of the body is conducted to the brain independently. Hence, the sensitivity of a particular area of the body may be compared with a reference area on the opposite side thereof. This comparison, as mentioned above, is useful in diagnosis because as the involvement of the sensory nervous system is unilateral. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05224469__ •
Spinal acupressure device Inventor(s): Choy; Daniel S. J. (892 River Bank Rd., Stamford, CT 06903) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,290,307 Date filed: March 28, 1991 Abstract: An acupressure belt for the treatment of lower back pain is formed of a central fabric panel to which opposed elastic panels are affixed. The elastic panels terminate in a pair of end panels which may be joined together to retain the belt about the torso of the wearer. Located on the inner surface of the central panel is a plurality of acupressureapplying protrusions, each of which are individually positionable on the panel. The protrusions are positioned to apply pressure to the L.sub.1 -L.sub.4 acupressure points associated with the lower spine. A pair of overlapping elastic panels are further affixed to the opposed sides of the control panel about the torso with the protrusions in position, whereby acupressure is generated and applied for the relief of lower back pain. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a medical device and, in particular, to a device intended to alleviate lower back pain in a non-invasive manner. The oriental teachings of a plurality of target sites in the human body for the treatment of pain and certain ailments has been established in literature and practice for some three thousand years. These sites, some 400 in number, are located on 12 paired and 2 unpaired "meridians". The science of acupuncture, utilizing a series of thin needles inserted through the skin at such specific sites, provides a methodology for the treatment of ailments associated with the meridians. Current medical thinking suggests that the insertion of the acupuncture needles stimulates the production and release of endorphins, which serve to moderate or eliminate pain in surrounding areas. For obvious reasons, there is a reluctance on the part of certain individuals to participate in an acupuncture regimen. In addition, the physical insertion of the needles and their manipulation requires great skill and clearly is not a therapy which can be provided by the patient himself. Related acupressure therapy, which utilizes the known acupuncture points for the application of concentrated and direct pressure on the skin surface, rather than the penetration of the skin surface by an acupuncture needle, provides an
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alternative therapy which can accomplish the same results in a non-invasive manner and thus may be practiced by the patient without the continued presence and supervision of an acupuncture therapist. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05290307__ •
System and method for treatment of infertility Inventor(s): Mendell; Sherwin G. (1495 Seabay Rd., Weston, FL 33326) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,450,945 Date filed: February 20, 2001 Abstract: A method of treatment for infertility includes hypnotic suggestions of relaxation and feelings of being pregnant. Also included are acupressure applied to specific selected body sites, and application of a large area magnet to the body surface over the uterus. The acupressure may be applied by acupuncture needles, pressure applied by small blunt sticks, laser light, electro-stimulation, or small strong magnets. The method may be applied by a practitioner. In another embodiment of the invention, the materials are supplied in a kit form including audio and video recordings and implements for application of acupressure by the patient herself. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to infertility and more particularly to a system and a method of enhancing a woman's chances of conceiving a child. It is well known that some women have great difficulty in becoming pregnant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,416 issued Jun. 30, 1998 to Chehab reviews some of the concepts related to infertility. It states that while a variety of treatments have been proposed for lack of fertility, none have been entirely successful, and there remains a need for identifying improved and/or alternative therapies for enhancing fertility. Improved methods should be effective, have minimal side effects, be compatible with other treatments, and contribute to conception. It is well known that an infertile woman may more easily become pregnant after adopting a child. The fertility system is very complex. It involves the brain, which acts on the hypothalamus. This in turn acts on the pituitary, which releases gonadotropins that act on the gonads. Much of the process remains a mystery, but we can assume that the brain is at least a partial mediator in the process of conception. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and system for treatment of infertility in women that has little or no side effects. It is another object of the invention that the method and system be compatible with other therapies such as the administration hormones. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06450945__
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Tension headache reliever with multiple pain relieving modalities Inventor(s): Stone; Ross G. (2601 Tecumseh Dr., West Palm Beach, FL 33409) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,132,392 Date filed: March 27, 1996 Abstract: A pain relieving device for selectively applying three or more pain relieving modalities to an upper body region of a person. The modalities include acupressure and
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at least two other modalities selected from the group of vibration, massage, heat, traction and electric stimulation. The device further includes a controller for enabling an operator of the pain relieving device to select which two or more of the pain relieving modalities are applied to the person at any given time. The controller causes the pain relieving apparatus to automatically apply the selected modalities to the person. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a tension headache reliever, and more particularly to a tension headache reliever that does not require the use of pharmaceuticals. Headaches are attributable to many factors. Tension, stress, concerns about business or family problems, all cause headaches. Eye strain, sinuses, colds and flu can also cause headaches as well as overexposure to the sun, excessive consumption of alcohol, loud noises and high air or water pressure. Headaches can occur for several hours or last for many days, e.g. migraine headaches. Presently, there are various pharmaceutical headache and pain relievers available to the public that have met with varying degrees of success in curing headaches. However, the pharmaceutical products are deficient for a number of reasons. Many of the pharmaceutical products are not effective in relieving certain types of headaches. They do not relieve the same type of headaches in different people. People often build up an immunity to these pharmaceutical products rendering them ineffective. Other people are allergic to these pharmaceutical products or cannot or do not want to ingest the chemicals in these pharmaceutical products. Also, the pharmaceutical products are aimed at curing generalized pain only, and cannot cure particular areas of pain. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06132392__ •
Therapeutic head cradle Inventor(s): Eschenbach; Paul William (143 Lakeland Ave., Moore, SC 29369) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,182,313 Date filed: March 22, 1999 Abstract: A therapeutic head cradle apparatus has a pair of lateral side support members positioned to support the back, front or side of the head. Weight of the head will apply acupressure and shiatsu pressure to various pressure points located in the head area. Elastomeric cushion layers of different densities allow Chinese self-massage while the head is rolled side to side. A means to adjust the distance between the lateral support members is provided. Magnetic therapy and a sound system may also be part of the head cradle apparatus. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to therapeutic head cradle apparatus intended to support the back, front or side of head to apply acupressure and shiatsu to portions of the head resulting from contact with the head cradle. The head cradle can be used in a prone body or inclined body position. Elastomeric cushion covers lateral support members of the head cradle to provide self-massage when the head is rolled side to side. The benefits of Acupressure, Shiatsu and Chinese self-massage to relieve stress, tension, insomnia, headaches, anxiety and other symptoms is well documented in the literature. Acupressue deals with the application of pressure to certain meridian points on the body to relieve pain. The human body has fourteen meridians that carry energy throughout the body according to James Roy Holliday, III in his "Guide to Acupressure" on the internet. The meridians start at the fingertips, connect to the brain, and then connect to the organ associated with the specific meridian. Acupressue is applied locally
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to a small area of the body at pressure points using the thumb, finger, knuckle or probes. Thirty-two pressure point areas are given by James Roy Holliday, III where five areas are located about the head. One pair is found on either side of the head where the spine meets the skull. A second pair is found on the back of the jawbone just below the ear. The third pair is located on the cheek, next to the outside of the nostril. A fourth and fifth pair are located among the eyebrows. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06182313__ •
Therapeutic massaging apparatus Inventor(s): Burke; Susan Ann (2680 Forest Park Rd., Jamul, CA 91935), Cabados; Rick Henry (2680 Forest Park Rd., Jamul, CA 91935) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,007,501 Date filed: January 21, 1997 Abstract: A therapeutic massaging apparatus having a pair of resilient balls adjustably positioned in a flexible container, wherein a strap assembly is connected to opposing ends of the container so as to maintain the container in a pre-selected position upon the user. The present invention also integrates other therapeutic principals by utilizing a pocket formed in the container for allowing the user to enjoy the benefits of traditional acupressure therapy while simultaneously enjoying the well known therapeutic effects of magnetism, gemstones, crystals and/or herbs. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates generally to a massaging apparatus for relieving ailments and pain emanating from various areas on the human body of a user. More specifically, the present invention provides a therapeutic massaging apparatus having a pair of resilient balls selectively positioned in a flexible container which can be worn on the body of the user. Moreover, the present invention is adaptable for containing one or more of the following therapeutic objects; magnet, gemstone, and herb. A 5,000 year old Chinese tradition, known as acupressure therapy, teaches the placement of pressure on set points of the body to treat tension-related ailments, muscular discomfort, and illness prevention. The pressure is thought to release blocked energy along the body's energy channels. Over the years, many lines of massaging devices have been developed which implement this concept. One line of massaging devices which have been known to provide a satisfying massaging effect are those which apply the pressure of resilient balls upon various parts of a human body. Examples of prior art devices of that type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,777,440 granted to Baker in 1957 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,616 granted to Panahpour in 1989. Prior art massaging devices similar to the type shown above have had the unfortunate drawback of not being adaptable to be worn on the body of the user. This disadvantage has presented a significant limitation in the effective application of these devices when the user is frequently moving, particularly when the user is either in a restful or unaware state of mind, such as sleeping, or when the assistance of another person is necessary to administer the massage but is either unavailable or undesired. Accordingly, there is a need for a massaging device which would allow the user to enjoy the beneficial effects of an acupressure therapy massage despite physical movement in his or her position or circumstance, including while the user is sleeping. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06007501__
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Tragus acupressure clip Inventor(s): Cohen; Ellen R. (New York, NY), Curran; Barbara (New York, NY), Kirk, III; Karl D. (New York, NY), Voss; Theodore N. (New York, NY) Assignee(s): Shatzu Health Products, Inc. (new York, Ny) Patent Number: 5,366,475 Date filed: December 21, 1992 Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is attached to the tragus lobe of the ear. The clip has a concave spring with two opposing jaws separated by a slot delineated by an inner surface of the concave spring. The clip also has two opposing pressure pads, each positioned on the end of a different jaw, on the inner surface of the spring, so that they are separated by an opening of the slot. The ear clip additionally has two finger tabs, each having one end attached to an end of a different jaw, on an outer surface of the spring and a second end extending away from the end of the jaw, along the outer surface of the spring. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to acupressure devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ear clip which is placed on the tragus lobe of the ear in order to stimulate nerve endings. Acupressure, i.e., the application of pressure to specific topical locations of the body, has been used to control weight loss and to reduce the urge to smoke. It has been proposed that the application of light pressure to the tragus lobe (small cartilage lobe which partially eclipses the opening to the ear canal) slows peristalsis (the wave-like contractions of the intestine). The brain, in turn, may interpret this effect as being caused by a half full stomach. Thus, appetite is reduced. The control of the desire to smoke is less well understood. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tragus clip which is comfortable to wear. It is another object of the present invention to provide an ear clip which is easy to attach to the tragus. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a tragus clip which supplies sufficient pressure to remain attached to the tragus yet is comfortable for use by a large segment of the population. It is further object of the present invention to provide a tragus clip which is easy to manufacture. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05366475__
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Tragus acupressure clip with over-opening prevention and pressure adjustment Inventor(s): Kirk, III; Karl D. (New York, NY), Voss; Theodore N. (New York, NY) Assignee(s): Shatzu Health Products, Inc. (new York, Ny) Patent Number: 5,662,679 Date filed: March 26, 1996 Abstract: A tragus acupressure clip is disclosed with a concave spring having two opposing jaws. The jaws are separated by an opening of a slot delineated by an inner surface of the concave spring. Two opposing pressure pads are provided, each positioned on an inner surface of the concave spring and separated by the slot. Two mutually non-touching finger tabs are provided, each having one end attached to a different jaw on the outer surface of the spring. Each finger tab has a second end extending along an outer surface of the spring approximately only as far as the portion of the spring opposite the opening separating the jaws. When the second ends of the finger tabs are urged towards each other, against a compression bias of the spring, the
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slot separating the pressure pads is enlarged. The tragus acupressure clip is not subject to over-opening of the slot which over-opening would otherwise permanently deform the spring. According to another embodiment, one of the pads is attached to its respective clamping jaw via a threaded shaft so as to enable adjustment of the clamping pressure delivered by the clip. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to acupressure devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ear clip which is placed on the tragus lobe of the ear in order to stimulate nerve endings. Acupressure, i.e., the application of pressure to specific topical locations of the body, has been used to control weight loss and to reduce the urge to smoke. It has been proposed that the application of light pressure to the tragus lobe (small cartilage lobe which partially eclipses the opening to the ear canal) slows peristalsis (the wave-like contractions of the intestine). The brain, in turn, may interpret this effect as being caused by a half full stomach. Thus, appetite is reduced. The control of the desire to smoke is less well understood. The prior art has proposed acupressure ear clips. One ear clip is disclosed in a brochure distributed by Health Care Research, a company located in Patterson, N.J. This ear clip is designed to be secured to the auricle (the external cartilage portion of the ear which projects from the head). A second ear clip is disclosed in a 1990 brochure distributed by Nulife Corp. The Nulife clip is designed for attachment to the tragus and has a single padded arm which is positioned in the ear canal. A third "Chinese Weight Loss Earring" is disclosed in a 1992 "Mail Order Fun" catalogue distributed by the Johnson Smith Company located in Bradenton, Fla. The weight loss earring is an approximately circular shaped plastic device which fits loosely around the auricle and which may be manually squeezed periodically (using the fingers) to pinch the auricle. A fourth is disclosed in a March, 1994 advertisement distributed by Slim-Line products of Norcross Ga. This ear clip does not stimulate the ear by applying clamping pressure thereto but rather provides a small electric charge for stimulating the ear. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05662679__ •
Treatment device to aid in long-term cessation of smoking Inventor(s): Fisher; Gary R. (2251 Federal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 5,601,598 Date filed: August 8, 1994 Abstract: Removably attachable wrist band devices for use in helping an addicted cigarette smoker permanently quit smoking. The devices comprise an acupressure stimulator section, a wrist attachment section, and an elastic section with controlled elasticity. The wrist band is placed on a user's wrist such that the acupressure stimulator is positioned proximal to the L-7 acupuncture point and the elastic section of the wrist band is positioned on top of the user's wrist. The elastic section of the wrist band is designed to limit the maximal energy that the user can transfer to a unit area of skin when the band is snapped against the wrist. This is so that snapping the wrist band will not be perceived as aversive to the user. The disclosed wrist band devices have the dual functions of providing a non-aversive behavioral modification function together with providing stimulation of the L-7 acupuncture point, which has therapeutic value in treatment of smoking addiction.
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Excerpt(s): This invention relates to the fields of psychology and acupuncture and specifically to a device to aid a person in quitting cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking is a particularly tenacious addiction. As contrasted to use of illegal drugs, smoking is tolerated in a variety of every day situations. Thus the smoker has the unfortunate opportunity to integrate cigarette usage into virtually every aspect of his daily life. The addicted smoker develops strong psychological dependencies and habit patterns that remain for many months after nicotine is eliminated from the body. Therefore, quitting smoking is considerably more difficult than simply ridding the body of nicotine. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05601598__ •
Yoga inversion bed with leg attachment Inventor(s): Nanan; Dharamraj (1937 Lebanon St., Hyattsville, MD 20783) Assignee(s): None Reported Patent Number: 6,637,055 Date filed: December 5, 2002 Abstract: A bed which is pivotable from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement to controllably invert a human body from a supine position to an inverted position. The arrangement of the bed is controlled by at least one electric actuator so that injured or ill persons may attain the inverted position safely and easily. Hanging by their legs, users are suspended in the inverted position by a trapeze bar which is supported within a rotatable leg attachment; by adjusting the position of the trapeze bar and the angle of the leg attachment, selective stimulation may be applied to targeted acupressure points. A heating and/or vibrating unit may be included to provide further stimulation to the spine. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to the field of devices which encourage and facilitate the practice of Yoga. More specifically, the present intention relates to a inversion bed having a leg attachment which facilitates the practice of "Monkey Swing Yoga". Yoga, as a body of exercises for promoting physical and mental well-being, has been practiced in various forms throughout the Indian subcontinent for several thousand years. Today, schools offering a myriad of yoga disciplines currently exist that convey the teachings of yogis worldwide, especially in western countries, as interest in alternatives to western medicine are sought. Amongst the schools of yoga practiced two thousand years ago is "Monkey Swing Yoga" which has disappeared from practice, yet offers a stark contrast to the remaining yoga schools. As the name implies, the Monkey Swing Yoga includes yoga poses in which the practitioner swings in an inverted position, relieving compressive pressures on the chest, neck and spine, reversing the effects of gravity on the internal organs and strengthening the muscles of the abdomen and back. Importantly, the inverted swinging positions stimulate blood flow to the head and reduce blood pooling in the pelvic region and the legs. The practice of exercises of Monkey Swing Yoga are believed to calm the mind, thereby alleviating stress and mild forms of depression, as well as stimulating lungs, thyroid and digestive organs. In addition, it is believed that menopausal symptoms can be reduced, digestion can be improved and symptoms of anxiety, fatigue, headache, backache, insomnia, asthma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and variscosities can be lessened. Web site: http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US06637055__
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Patent Applications on Acupressure As of December 2000, U.S. patent applications are open to public viewing.6 Applications are patent requests which have yet to be granted. (The process to achieve a patent can take several years.) The following patent applications have been filed since December 2000 relating to acupressure: •
Accupressure treatment device and methods of use Inventor(s): Kramer, George H.; (Minnetonka, MN) Correspondence: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.; P.O. Box 2938; Minneapolis; MN; 55402; US Patent Application Number: 20030074020 Date filed: August 28, 2002 Abstract: The present invention provides an acupressure device for use on a selected skin surface portion of a human body. The device comprises a base sheet; one or more protrusions; a fastener; and an orienting element (e.g., orienting margin, orienting constellation, orienting template or orienting protrusion) suitable to position the device on the selected skin surface. The invention also provides therapeutic methods comprising applying a devise of the invention to a human in need of therapy. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an acupressure device, and, in particular, to an acupressure device having an orienting peripheral margin, an orienting template, an orienting protrusion, or an orienting constellation to align or key the device to specific anatomical landmarks of the human body. Acupressure, as with acupuncture, is a form of treatment for various conditions and maladies. Acupuncture is well known to eastern medical thought and practice, but only recently is introduced into western medicine. Acupuncture can be traced back at least 2,500 years as a form of medical treatment in China. The concept behind acupuncture is based on the premise there are patterns of energy flow through the body that are essential for proper health. Imbalance or disruption of energy flow through any of these patterns is believed to be responsible for disease. Which pattern is disrupted, and where, influences which disease state is experienced by the afflicted person. The energy flow patterns through the body have been mapped extensively and there are substantial numbers of points along the flow patterns where the energy flow is close to the skin surface. Using needles of various types, the acupuncturist is able to reach these points by placing the needles into the skin. The presence of the needle at a point alters the flow of energy, changing the dynamics in the energy flow. When done properly, using the proper number and position of needles, acupuncture re-aligns the energy flow to one of balance and restoration of health. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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This has been a common practice outside the United States prior to December 2000.
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Acupressure and reflexology clamp Inventor(s): Mills, Jeremy; (Marietta, GA) Correspondence: Myers & Kaplan, Intellectual; Property Law, L.L.C.; 1827 Powers Ferry Road; Building 3, Suite 200,; Atlanta; GA; 30339; US Patent Application Number: 20020151930 Date filed: April 10, 2002 Abstract: An acupressure and reflexology clamping apparatus wherein a variety of interchangeable pressure delivery tips enables selection thereof for a variety of applications and body points and a centrally positioned ratcheting hub enables fine incremental adjustment of pressure settings, reproducible selection of such settings and consistent delivery thereof, thereby delivering incrementally variable quantities of pressure to specific body locations and maximizing the effective relief experienced at each such location. Excerpt(s): To the full extent permitted by law, the present application claims priority to and the benefit as a non-provisional application to provisional patent application entitled "Acupressure and Reflexology Clamp" filed on Apr. 16, 2001, having assigned Ser. No. 60/283,991, wherein said application is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates generally to acupressure devices and, more specifically, to an acupressure and reflexology clamping apparatus capable of delivering incrementally variable quantities of pressure to specific body locations and maximizing the effective relief experienced at each such location by utilizing a variety of easily interchangeable pressure delivery tips. The present invention is particularly useful in, although not strictly limited to, acupressure and reflexology applications wherein an individual desires to administer specific pressure to his or her hand, ankle, arm, foot, ear or other appropriate site for relief from headaches, menstrual cramps, carpel tunnel, sinus pain or other body aches or pains susceptible to acupressure or reflexology treatment. Nonmedicinal alternatives for health maintenance and wellness are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, the marketplace has become crowded with devices intended to assist the user's well being, such as magnetic bracelets, crystals and therapeutic herbal wraps and pillows. Alternative remedies once utilized by only small segments of the population have now become mainstream. Acupressure and reflexology are examples of such remedies. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Acupressure device for fingers Inventor(s): Yoo, Tae-Woo; (Seoul, KR) Correspondence: Richard M. Goldberg; Suite 419; 25 East Salem Street; Hackensack; NJ; 07601; US Patent Application Number: 20030045899 Date filed: February 15, 2002 Abstract: The purpose of the acupressure device for fingers designed to be inserted by the end of a finger in order to provide pressure stimulation effects with protuberances of the inner surface of the device and to enhance blood circulation effects by producing negative(-) ion. The acupressure device for fingers includes an inserting unit for the end of a finger to be inserted, at one side, a cutting unit in a center of the inserting unit, a
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semi-circular base unit having a flat outer surface and an inner surface cast into a plurality of protuberances, and two fixing strips at both sides of the semi-circular base unit. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an acupressure device for fingers and more particularly, to an acupressure device for fingers designed to be inserted by the end of a finger in order to provide pressure stimulation effects into fingers with protuberances inner surface of the device and to enhance blood circulation effects by producing negative(-) ion. The inner surface of the acupressure device for fingers according to the present invention is cast into protuberances, therefore, the protuberances offer pressure stimulation effects into a finger inserted inside a cutting unit of the invention. The outer surface of the present invention is made into flat surface, so that there is no space where dirt sticks inside. Further, the acupressure device for fingers has a control over the inner space according to the thickness of the fingers of the users, since a fixing strip on the front side of the acupressure device can be pressured hard or slightly. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Acupressure device for relieving motion sickness and method therefor Inventor(s): Klassen, Emilie C.; (Mesa, AZ) Correspondence: Weiss & Moy PC; 4204 North Brown Avenue; Scottsdale; AZ; 85251; US Patent Application Number: 20040044362 Date filed: September 3, 2002 Abstract: A clasp for securing a piece of jewelry around a wrist of a wearer and for relieving symptoms of motion sickness has a base member. A protrusion is formed on a bottom surface of the base member. The protrusion will apply pressure to a wrist area of a wear to relieve symptoms of motion sickness. A locking arm is hingely coupled to the base member. The locking arm is used for securing the clasp around the wrist of the wearer. Excerpt(s): This invention relates generally to jewelry and, more specifically, to a clasp for securing a piece of jewelry to a user's wrist wherein the clasp has a protrusion for applying pressure to the wrist of the wearer in order to relieve the wearer from the symptoms of motion sickness. When traveling in an automobile, train, airplane, ship, or the like, many people tend to suffer from motion sickness. Sometimes the motion sickness is so severe that the person traveling must stop the trip. This is extremely difficult if a person is flying or aboard a ship which is not scheduled to stop for some time. Many people take anti-nausea medication when feeling the effects of motion sickness. Although there are many effective anti-nausea medications available today, there are also drawbacks associated with the use of chemical compositions. For example, many people are allergic to some chemical medications and therefore cannot use this form of treatment to alleviate nausea. Furthermore, many people would prefer not to use medication as a means to alleviate motion sickness. Consequently, the need to relieve nausea by means other than chemical medications has developed. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Acupressure foot board Inventor(s): Chang, Jey Won; (Seoul, KR) Correspondence: Edward A Sokolski; 3868 Carson Street, 105; Torrance; CA; 90503; US Patent Application Number: 20020049469 Date filed: December 14, 2001 Abstract: A foot board has a plurality of pressure rods extending upwardly therefrom which are positioned within outlines of average foot sizes for men and women. The pressure rods are positioned at reflex points for attaining acupressure treatment when the user stands on the rods with his or her feet oriented within the appropriate foot outlines. The user can change the rods to provide the needed intensity to make for greater pressure on the needed reflex points and more intense massaging. Also, thermal pressure rods or vibrating pressure rods activated electrically can be installed. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to acupressure devices and more particularly to a foot board having pressure rods extending upwardly therefrom on which the user can stand with the rods abutting against predetermined reflex points on the soles of the user's feet. Many instruments are available for massaging reflex points on foot soles. Such instruments are described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,229 issued Jan. 19, 1999 to Morgenstern; U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,073 issued Oct. 27, 1992 to Bukowski; U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,474 issued Nov. 23, 1993 to Agader; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,306 issued Jul. 17, 2001 to Kramer. These devices generally have uniform rods which are not arranged to provide proper effects in that they are often randomly oriented and not oriented at the correct reflex points. Further, they generally do not provide for changing of the rods to accommodate different requirements of the user. In addition, prior art devices generally utilize uniform rods for the entire set of rods which does not accommodate for individual requirements of the user. It is well established that as the reflex points are very sensitive, if the wrong reflex points are massaged or are massaged with incorrect intensity the needed effects cannot be obtained. The device of the present invention is formed from a base board which has two sets of left and right foot outlines formed thereon. One of these sets of foot outlines is larger than the other and can generally be used for men while the other is smaller so as to accommodate women and children or men with smaller feet. Holes are formed within the foot outlines corresponding to the locations of various known pressure points on the soles of the feet. The holes have different depths so as to accommodate different sizes and types of pressure rods in different predetermined holes. The rods may be of plastic, wood, jade, ocher, or metallic magnetic material. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Acupressure point treating system Inventor(s): Cao, Thanh D.; (Pasadena, CA) Correspondence: Christie, Parker & Hale, Llp; 350 West Colorado Boulevard; Suite 500; Pasadena; CA; 91105; US Patent Application Number: 20010047186 Date filed: June 15, 2001 Abstract: An acupressure point treatment apparatus including an acupressure pointer including a pellet on a finger strap, a finger grounder including a grounding plate on a
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finger strap, and a Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) monitor electrically connected to the acupressure pointer and the finger grounder. Excerpt(s): This invention is a novel device for acupressure point therapy. More specifically, the apparatus is invented not only for treating but also for locating treatment points particularly on the four zones of extremities, i.e. ears, face, hands and feet. Pressure with pellets, on the ears, face, hands and feet, is just as effective as penetration with needles if treatment points are correctly located. A pellet can be nonmetallic such as a grain or seed. A metal pellet, commonly known to practitioners as migraine pellet, acu-pellet or press pellet, is embedded in the center of a circular tape section, about 7.5 mm or 0.3" in diameter, to be applied adhesively on the skin. The pellet is usually plated with titanium, gold or silver, and has a blunt and polished circular contact surface, about 1.2 mm in diameter, to prevent skin penetration. The use of such pellets is wasteful, because the pellet has to be disposed together with its used tape after each treatment. Furthermore, adhesive application is unnecessary and often causes adverse effect after a prolonged period of time. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Adjustable foot acupressure and pain relief platform Inventor(s): Chan, Kwok Ching; (Kowloon, HK) Correspondence: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen; 1180 Avenue OF The Americas; New York; NY; 100368403 Patent Application Number: 20030004443 Date filed: October 24, 2001 Abstract: A sole massage and pain-relief board that includes a substrate and a plurality of massage grains. A plurality of small orifices are formed within the outlines of the two footprints on the substrate. Each orifice is individually numbered and the orifices are distributed in positions corresponding to the positions of the reflex acupuncture points on the soles of the feet. The lower ends of the massage grains possess short handles to permit the insertion of the massage grains into the small orifices. The massage grains can be disposed on the substrate in positions that correspond to the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet for different types of pain in order to apply pressure to different locations on the soles of the feet of the sufferer, thus providing a targeted pain-relief effect. Better effects can be achieved by employing magnetic type massage grains to provide stimulus. Excerpt(s): This invention relates to a pain-relief therapeutic device that stimulates the acupressure points on the soles of the feet according to the theory of meridian (the channel in which energy travels) and foot reflexology. When people suffer from pain, they usually ingest analgesics from their doctors. Some of them will also seek help from physical therapists to relieve their pain, if it is musculo-skeletal in nature. Furthermore, many people are willing to purchase all sorts of pain-relieving devices that are available on the market as home remedies. The most common devices are products in which pressure is applied to the soles of the feet, such as massage shoes and insoles. There are two patented products on the market claimed to provide a pain-relieving effect through the application of massage to the sole of the foot. They are "Massage Insole with Massage Grains Distributed According to the Acupuncture Pressure Points of the Sole of the Human Foot" (Chinese Patent Number 94202570) and "Health Insole" (Chinese Patent Number 97239346). Both products have non-adjustable massage grains that are
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fixed and distributed over the entire insole. As a result, massage is applied to the entire foot instead of a particular area. According to the theory of meridian and foot reflexology, an effect of pain relief from a certain condition can be achieved through stimulating a particular area on the sole of the foot rather than the entire sole. Therefore, the two products mentioned may only give rise to health effects over the entire body but not have any effect on pain relief for a specific condition. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Animal garment Inventor(s): Sharpe, Susan D.; (Huntington, IN) Correspondence: Taylor & Aust P C; 142 S Main ST; P O Box 560; Avilla; IN; 46710; US Patent Application Number: 20020121247 Date filed: March 1, 2001 Abstract: A new and improved animal garment for contacting various acupressure points of its wearer. In other aspects of the invention, there is provided a new and improved animal garment with an elastic or adjustable collar, an elastic or adjustable belly flap, an elastic or adjustable lumbar band, and means for securing the garment to the wearer. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an animal garment and more particularly to an animal garment which selectively applies pressure to known animal acupressure points to control the behavior of the animal. The use of acupressure on humans can be traced to the practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient China. Traditional Chinese medicine has been relied upon by doctors to diagnose disease and treat illness in ancient China. This practice of medicine evolved as an extension of contemporary lifestyle in the third and fourth centuries B.C. As the practitioners of ancient China studied the world around them, they discerned connections between major forces in nature and specific internal organ systems of animals. Based on perceived similarities between the natural elements and the body, these practitioners developed a concept of health care that encompassed both systems. Using all of their senses, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine used the interwoven systems to both diagnose and treat illnesses. In order to do this, traditional Chinese medicine utilized herb therapy, food therapy, acupressure and massage techniques in all diagnosis and treatment. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Automatically modulating acupressure device Inventor(s): Duffy, Robert J.; (Poway, CA), Grey, Thomas L.; (San Marcos, CA) Correspondence: Crockett & Crockett; Sutie 400; 24012 Calle DE LA Plata; Laguna Hills; CA; 92653; US Patent Application Number: 20010023359 Date filed: April 26, 2001 Abstract: An acupressure device with mechanisms for modulating the pressure applied to the user.
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Excerpt(s): This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/489,665, filed Jan. 19, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,103. The present invention relates generally to the field of acupressure. Stimulation of various areas on the body is known to be an effective treatment method for various conditions that affect the body. These areas lie along certain channels or meridians according to the practice of acupuncture and are typically of small size, often referred to as acupuncture points on the body. Treatment typically consists of stimulation of a certain combination of these areas in a single therapeutic session. The combination and sequence of stimulation has been determined through thousands of years of acupuncture experimentation. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
BELT FOR ACUPRESSURE Inventor(s): Yoo, Tae Woo; (Seoul, KR) Correspondence: Richard M. Goldberg; Suite 419; 25 East Salem Street; Hackensack; NJ; 07601; US Patent Application Number: 20040055076 Date filed: December 2, 2002 Abstract: An elastic textile belt for acupressure, includes securing elements at opposite ends of the belt for securing the belt around the waist of a user; an abdominal acupressure element having a plurality of metal protrusions on the inner surface of the belt and a pouch for holding heat generating elements on an outer surface of the belt; a movable lumbar acupressure element having a plurality of metal protrusions on the inner surface, a plurality of hooks on the outer surface and a pouch for holding heat generating elements between the surfaces. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a belt for acupressure, and more particularly, to a belt for acupressure comprising an elastic textile belt which comprises securing elements at opposite ends of the belt for securing the belt around the waist of a user, an abdominal acupressure element having a plurality of metal protrusions on an inner surface, pouches for holding heat generating elements on an outer surface and a plurality of metal protrusions formed at several places of the inner surface, and a movable lumbar acupressure element which comprises a plurality of metal protrusions on the inner surface, a plurality of hooks on the outer surface and a pouch for holding heat generating elements between these surfaces. The movable lumbar acupressure element can be inserted onto the textile belt via said hooks. Generally, a belt is made from elastic fabrics and has securing elements at opposite ends. Such belt merely provides a pressure effect to lumbar and abdominal portions. Even though an elastic fabric belt having a magnet, a nonferrous metal, and a mineral inserted inside has been used, particular effects from properties of those materials are not sufficient. Furthermore, those materials have the property of getting cold when they contact the skin. Thus, the belt cannot be worn for a long period of time. In order to solve this drawback, a belt having a heating wire inserted inside to keep it warm has been used. However, this belt has the drawbacks that its structure is complicated and electronic waves harmful to the human body are emitted. Korean Utility Model application No. 2002-17374, which was filed by the present applicant, and which is the subject of corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/217,208, filed Aug. 12, 2002, relates to a belt which comprises a plurality of metal protrusions and a pouch formed on the lumbar and abdominal acupressure portions and provides acupressure and warming effects by inserting heat generating elements into said pouch. However, the belt of this
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prior application can only be used by a limited number of users because the plurality of metal protrusions formed on the lumbar and abdominal acupressure portions are fixed. When a user who has a waist either thinner or thicker than the given belt size wears it, only one of the lumbar and abdominal portions can receive acupressure by the plurality of metal protrusions and heat generating elements. Thus, the belt of the prior application has limited usage and is uneconomical because various sizes of the belts are required depending on the waist thickness. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Exercising tool for acupressure Inventor(s): Yoo, Dong-Hoon; (Seoul, KR) Correspondence: Richard M. Goldberg; Suite 419; 25 East Salem Street; Hackensack; NJ; 07601; US Patent Application Number: 20020183661 Date filed: August 8, 2001 Abstract: An exercising tool for acupressure includes a curved surface with a plurality of acupressure protuberances on the upper side, a space at one part of the curved surface, a gripe being at one side of the space, the gripe being a circular rod in shape, and having a plurality of acupressure protuberances made of nonferrous metals, two rollers inserted into two inserting grooves respectively at the lower side of the curved surface, and the rollers being fixed with screws and fixing strips; and a sliding control protuberance rod at the lower side of the curved surface. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an exercising tool for acupressure and more particularly, to an exercising tool for acupressure with which users exercise the whole body including strengthening muscles of the stomach, the sides, the chest, the shoulders, etc. Holding the gripes of each tools having a plurality of protuberances with both hands, respectively provides users with pressure-stimulation effects and encourages blood circulation by creating negative ion. Also, if users keep rolling the present tool forwardly and backwardly repeatedly with their knees at the ground and the palm of both hands on the curved surface with a plurality of protuberances, this movement offers users effects of exercising the whole body including strengthening muscles of the stomach, the sides, the chest, the shoulders, etc. There are a lot of tools for exercising the arm, but the most commonly used one is a calisthenic iron dumbbell made of metals with both circular typed sides. Since the dumbbell is made of metals and used only for strengthening muscles of the arms, the dumbbell has no other exercising effects except arm exercises. There are also other kinds of exercising tools for the stomach, the sides, the chest, and the shoulders, respectively, but they have just their own exercise effects. In order to provide users more than one exercising effect at the same time, it is needed to combine one exercising tool which have one exercise effect with another exercising tool which have another exercise effect. But it requires high costs and a large space where the combined device is located. The present invention was designed to solve the problems as described above. The object of the present invention is to provide users with not only arm exercise effect but also other kinds of exercise effects at the same time. The present invention provides users with acupressure-stimulation effects due to a plurality of acupressure protuberances of nonferrous metals on the surface. T he present invention al so encourages blood-circulation by creating negative ion. Further, the present invention offers users effects of exercising the whole body including strengthening muscles of the stomach, the sides, the chest, the shoulders, etc by rolling
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this device forwardly and backwardly by the roller inserted inside the lower side of the invention, with the both palm of the hand on the curved surface of the present invention, and both knees on the ground. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Headphone accessory Inventor(s): Kim, Sung-Il; (Kyungki-do, KR) Correspondence: Lowe Hauptman Gilman And Berner, Llp; 1700 Diagonal Road; Suite 300 /310; Alexandria; VA; 22314; US Patent Application Number: 20030190049 Date filed: April 11, 2003 Abstract: A headphone accessory such as an outer casing for use in combination with a headphone system, which makes the headphone system more comfortable to wear, and serves various function suitable for long time wearing. The headphone accessory includes a sound field-forming member having a cylindrical part, which supports speaker units for reproducing sound from electrical signals or supports enclosures in which the speaker units are mounted, surrounds listener's ears and forms a space in which sound output from the speaker units or enclosures are collected into the listener's ears, and an outer casing formed of an elastic material, which can be separated from the circumference of the cylindrical part of the sound field-forming member and is directly in contact with the side of a listener's head around the ears. Various kinds of an outer casing such as a functional outer casing having improved ventilation for preventing sweating so as to be advantageous for long-time wearing, a fashionable outer casing made of various designs according to user's liking, and an outer casing capable of improving health using functions for keeping warm or cool according to the season and for acupressure, thereby effectively enabling headphones to be worn comfortably for a long time. Excerpt(s): This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 200060359, filed on Oct. 13, 2000, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The present invention relates to a headphone accessory such as an outer casing, which covers a listener's ears or contacts the side of a listener's face around the ears, is comfortable to wear, is used in combination with a headphone system, and serves various functions suitable for being worn for a long time. Due to the development of multimedia using a personal computer (PC) and digital communication technology, there is a rapidly increasing demand for headphones or headsets, which enable personal non-noise-polluting when viewing movies, listening to music, delving into visual reality, playing games, chatting, or making telephone calls via the Internet. Considering performance, conventional twochannel stereo headphones have been improved upon, resulting in the creation of multichannel headphones, which reproduce three-dimensional 5.1-channel stereophonic sound. Such multi-channel headphones are disclosed in Korean Patent Applications Nos. 10-2000-0009587 and 10-2000-0056191 by the present applicant. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Insole for shoes Inventor(s): Everz, Manfred; (Essen, DE) Correspondence: Weingarten Schurgin; Gagnebin & Lebovici; Ten Post Office Square; Boston; MA; 02109; US Patent Application Number: 20040103558 Date filed: September 17, 2003 Abstract: An inner sole (1) has a base sole (2) which consists of a foamed material layer. A cover layer (20) is deposited over the material layer (10, 30). Whilst the foamed material layer (10, 30) has a hardness of preferably between 10.degree. and 20.degree. Shore A, by way of the cover layer (20) one achieves an inner sole (1) which as a whole has a hardness between 30.degree. and 40.degree. Shore A. The foamed material layer may be of latex and/or polyurethane foam.The inner sole with the material pairing shown here provides for excellent massage or acupressure effects and may be designed for the targetted effect on individual body organs or regions, without effecting an overstimulation. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to an inner sole with a flat base sole of elastic foam material which corresponds to the outline of a shoe and which on its upper side in the region of reflex zones of the foot sole comprises several integrally formed projections, likewise of elastic foam material. The term inner sole is to be understood on the one hand as an inner sole rigidly connected to a sole of a shoe, as well as an inner sole which is layed loosely thereon, which is also called an inlay sole. Inner sole is a more general term under which insoles and cover soles are also to be understood. Inner soles which are provided with suitable projections for reflex zone massage are known in the most varied of embodiment forms. The plurality of such inner soles have a napped contact surface arranged over the whole surface, wherein the surface structure of the inner sole is formed by the entirety of the naps. Inner soles of this type are for example shown in EP-0'225'285 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,655 A. Whilst in the latter case as with CH-686,062 A the nap height is designed constant over the whole surface of the inlay sole, other inner soles such as for example according to WO 85/04786 are formed with naps whose height varies and which accordingly practically form a foot bed. Inner soles of this type practically always effect an over-stimulation of the sole of the foot, with which the desired foot reflex zone massage no longer shows the desired effect. On the contrary, the over-stimulation leads to blockages of nerve lines and to injurious consequences. The providers of these correctly point out that such footwear should only be worn for 1-2 hours. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Massage devices and methods Inventor(s): Chinea, Josephine; (Bronx, NY) Correspondence: White & Case Llp; Patent Department; 1155 Avenue OF The Americas; New York; NY; 10036; US Patent Application Number: 20030120189 Date filed: April 15, 2002 Abstract: The invention provides acupressure and messaging devices in the form of beads strung on a flexible cord sized and configured to be fitted about the human hand.
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The invention further relates to acupressure and massage methods which employ the device of the invention. Excerpt(s): This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/342,621, filed Dec. 20, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The present invention is directed to a massage device and method which can be selfapplied or applied by others. The method employs a device in the form of a closed length of rotatable beads that are strung together. The closed length is designed to fit a user's hand. Exercise or abnormal stress often creates a buildup of lactic acid in the muscles of the body. When this buildup occurs, there are often muscular aches or pains. These pains may often be eliminated or reduced by massaging the muscles thereby stimulating the circulation and purging the excess lactic acid from the muscles. Prior inventions have attempted to alleviate muscles pain in various ways. For example, the Mencher-Aliazzo Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,652) discloses a massage device that is comprised of a plurality of balls mounted on a flexible fibrous element. The device is then draped over a surface and the user's body weight is applied against this draped "curtain" of balls during the massage procedure. Another example is the Lewark Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,169). This patent discloses a flexible strand containing spaced nodules along its length. This strand may then be looped around various parts of the user's body. A static pressure is then applied to the strand. Another example is the Burnham Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,484) which describes a personal massager consisting of a pair of handles which are connected by a grid of filaments that supports a massage surface made up of beads strung on these filaments. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Mat for hot compress and acupressure mounted with new type hyperthermo-radiative apparatus Inventor(s): Lee, Hwan Sung; (Seoul, KR) Correspondence: Jonathan Y. Kang ESQ.; Lee & Hong P.C.; 11th Floor; 221 N. Figueroa Street; Los Angeles; CA; 90012; US Patent Application Number: 20020058973 Date filed: November 13, 2001 Abstract: The present invention relates to a mat for hot compress and acupressure equipped with a roller type hyperthermo-radiative apparatus designed to minimize friction resistance upon horizontal movement thereof. The mat includes a mat member foldable at one side thereof and with a longitudinal groove formed in the center thereof; curved rails formed at both sides of the central groove on the bottom of the mat member and with curved portions corresponding to the curvature of the vertebral region of a user; a roller type hyperthermo-radiative apparatus traveling along the curved rails; a conveying means for moving the roller type hyperthermo-radiative apparatus in a horizontal direction a control panel for controlling the conveying means and an operating unit for adjusting a position of the roller type hyperthermo-radiative apparatus. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a mat for hot compress and acupressure mounted with a new type hyperthermo-radiative apparatus, and more particularly, a mat for hot compress and acupressure mounted with a roller type hyperthermoradiative apparatus designed to minimize friction resistance of the apparatus upon horizontal movement thereof. The present invention relates to improvements on the
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invention disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 1999-26985 entitled "a treatment mat" (which was filed on Jan. 14, 2000 in U.S.A. and issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,609 on Jun. 5, 2001). Therefore, when a user who wishes to obtain the effects of the hot compress and acupressure intends to utilize the conventional mat for hot compress and acupressure constructed as such, the user first lies down on the mat and presses down a button on the operating unit 59. Then, the motor 55 is actuated during a time when the button continues to be pressed down. Thereafter, the hyperthermo-radiative apparatus 60 is pulled through the pulleys 53, 54 and the rope 52, and is conveyed horizontally on the rails 51 in a longitudinal direction. When the hyperthermo-radiative apparatus 60 is completely moved to one side of the rails 51, a reverse switch (not shown) installed on a distal end of the rails 51 causes the flow direction of current applied to the motor 55 to be changed in the opposite flow direction. Thus, the hyperthermo-radiative apparatus 60 comes to stop temporarily, changes its direction of movement, and then moves again in the opposite direction. That is, at least while the user presses down the button on the operating unit 59, the hyperthermo-radiative apparatus 60 advances completely in one direction and then in the opposite direction again. During the horizontal movement, the hyperthermo-radiative apparatus 60 emits the heat from the lamp 62 installed therein, and the heat reaches the vertebral region of the user through the small holes 67. Consequently, a hot compress effect can be obtained. At the same time, while the hemispherical cap 65 located at an uppermost end of the hyperthermo-radiative apparatus 60 moves along the rails 51 in a straight line, the vertebral region of the user lying down on the mat is caused to get acupressure in the straight line. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Medicated wrap Inventor(s): Hyson, Morton I; (Las Vegas, NV) Correspondence: Pennie & Edmonds; 1155 Avenue OF The Americas; New York; NY; 10036-2711; US Patent Application Number: 20030139698 Date filed: July 16, 2002 Abstract: A device for treating pain in an injured body member includes a wrap having an interior section which can be loaded with medicament. The wrap also includes at least one inwardly extending nodule adapted to exert pressure on and compress a specific area of the injured member, having acupressure like effect in producing pain relief. The wrap has adjustable means for fastening the wrap around the body member, thereby enabling the wearer to extent a specific amount of pressure on the nodule to achieve the desired results. The combination of restricted movement imparted by the wrap along with the medicament and acupressure affords the wearer more rapid pain relief than any of the treatments applied separately. Excerpt(s): This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/561,170, filed Apr. 27, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/131,857, which was filed Apr. 29, 1999, the disclosures and contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. The present invention relates to a medical device for relieving pain by simultaneously restricting movement of a body member, applying pain-relieving medicament, and applying pressure to acupressure points. Many people suffer from sprains, arthritis and other ailments at the joints such as the knees, elbows, wrists as well as neck pain. Often the treatment consists of wraps
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to stabilize and provide pressure to the joint, sports ointments and creams as well as prescribed and over-the-counter pain medications. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Personal thermotherapeutic apparatus having chiropractic function Inventor(s): Bae, Kyung-Han; (Kyungnam, KR) Correspondence: Notaro & Michalos; 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6902; Empire State Building; New York; NY; 10118-0110; US Patent Application Number: 20030163176 Date filed: May 7, 2003 Abstract: Disclosed is a personal thermo-therapeutic apparatus having an acupressure function. The thermo-therapeutic apparatus is adapted to be connected to a typical thermo-therapeutic and low frequency generating apparatus. The personal thermotherapeutic apparatus comprises a body including at least one acupressure projection having a low frequency oscillatory member, and an electro-thermal wire arranged in the body. The body and the acupressure projection are made of silicon material, and the body includes a wearing belt. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a personal thermo-therapeutic apparatus having low frequency therapy, thermo-therapy, and acupressure function. Generally, a low frequency therapy apparatus is to treat a subject by stimulating a nerve or muscle with an electrical signal consisting of a low frequency. In particular, since such an apparatus has an advantage that the treatment such as neurolepsis, stitch, myalgia or the like can be performed by himself or herself, the apparatus is widely used. Recently, since a new low frequency therapy apparatus employing a microprocessor for adjusting frequency, time and intensity is available, the selection range of the subject may be further extended. The prior low frequency therapy apparatus is limited to the kneading, massaging and acupressure effects, and no hot cataplasm is provided, thereby deteriorating the remedial value. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
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Photo-therapy device Inventor(s): Sullivan, Jana; (Livermore, CO) Correspondence: Palmer C. Demeo; Palmer Patent Consultants; P.O. Box 1634; Woodbridge; VA; 22195; US Patent Application Number: 20020198575 Date filed: May 22, 2002 Abstract: A device is disclosed which is therapeutically beneficial to the well-being of living organisms such as humans, animals, and/or plant life, using photon or light waves. The device is intended to lie against the skin or surface, near the skin/surface, and/or from a distance ranging up to several feet from the skin/surface. The device is intended to be used for: general relaxation and detoxification of an organism; stimulating the healing process in an organism which is ill, diseased or injured; aiding in the elimination of pain and inflammation in an organism; stimulating/sedating the
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acupressure meridian system of an organism and rebalancing the electromagnetic energy-field surrounding the organism. Excerpt(s): This application is a divisional application of patent application Ser. No. 09/664,074, entitled Device and Method for Therapeutic Treatment of Living Organisms, filed on Sep. 19, 2000. This invention relates to devices containing arrays of light-emitting diodes (hereinafter LED's) which are employed in photo-therapy for various living organisms. Many U. S. and foreign patents disclose the use of light sources such as laser diodes and light emitting diodes emitting electromagnetic radiation of various wavelengths (i.e., colors) for administering positive and beneficial treatments to living organisms (including mammals) for injury, pain relief and illness. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Thermal therapy device and therapy system using the same Inventor(s): Park, Mi-Ja; (Yeongi-Gun, KR) Correspondence: Peter T. Kwon; G W I P S; Kangnam P. O. Box 2301; Seoul; 135-242; KR Patent Application Number: 20040082983 Date filed: June 27, 2003 Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat therapy device and a heat therapy system using the same. The heat therapy device of the present invention is provided at its upper surface with a plurality of acupressure knobs, which are attached with a superconductive and far-infrared emitting material, respectively. Both side end portions of the heat therapy device are curved upwardly at a certain angle and provided with handles, respectively. The heat therapy system of the present invention comprises heat therapy devices; upper and lower bodies; control boxes provided at adjacent portions of the upper and lower bodies and adapted to control the upper and lower bodies; upper control panels connected to the upper sides of the respective control boxes, respectively; motors installed under the respective upper and lower bodies, respectively; pulleys installed at the opposite sides of the motors, respectively; upper and lower rails installed between the motors and pulleys; timing belts positioned, respectively, between the upper rails and between the lower rails while being directly connected with the motors and pulleys; upper and lower mobile units coupled with the timing belts and seated on the upper rails and lower rails, respectively, each mobile unit being installed with a plurality of heat therapy devices; and other heat therapy devices formed at left and right sides of the upper rails. According to the construction of the heat therapy device as stated above, the superconductive and far-infrared emitting material is attached to the respective acupressure knobs of the heat therapy device and therefore a heat generating time of the acupressure knobs is reduced and a large amount of far-infrared rays is emitted, thereby increasing a healing effect thereof. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a heat therapy device and a heat therapy system using the same for applying acupressure and thermal treatment to aching parts of a patient's body using high-temperature heat and far-infrared rays emitted from the heat therapy device, thereby preventing and healing various diseases. In addition, the present invention relates to a heat therapy system comprising: upper and lower bodies; control boxes positioned at adjacent portions of the upper and lower bodies and adapted to control them, respectively; upper control panels connected to the upper side of the respective control boxes, respectively; motors installed, respectively, at the lower portion of the respective upper and lower bodies; respective pulleys installed opposite
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to the respective motors; upper and lower rails installed between the motors and pulleys; timing belts located between the upper and lower rails while being directly connected to the motors and pulleys; upper and lower mobile units seated on the upper and lower rails, respectively, while being coupled with the respective timing belts, each of the mobile units being formed with a plurality of heat therapy devices; and additional heat therapy devices provided at right and left sides of the upper rails. According to the present invention, by virtue of the superconductive and far-infrared emitting material attached to the respective acupressure knobs, it is possible to reduce a heat generating time of the acupressure knobs as well as to emit a large amount of far-infrared rays therefrom, thereby enhancing a healing effect of the heat therapy device and the heat therapy system using the same. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html •
Waist exercising device Inventor(s): Jang, Jong-Hyeon; (Seoul, KR) Correspondence: Richard M. Goldberg; Suite 419; 25 East Salem Street; Hackensack; NJ; 07601; US Patent Application Number: 20020177511 Date filed: September 21, 2001 Abstract: A waist exercising device includes a supporting board with a plurality of acupressure projections on the upper side and two rotating board stopping devices at both lower sides, the rotating board stopping devices including each bent operating rod connected and operated by a spring and upholding strips at both sides, a rotating board located in the upper center of the supporting board, the rotating board having a plurality of acupressure projections on the upper side and a plurality of holes at the lower side of the outer circumference, a circular board located in the upper side of the rotating board, the circular board moving upwardly and downwardly on both upholding bars by both supporting implements at both sides, a plurality of tension springs and a plurality of rollers with a plurality of acupressure projections on the outer surface fixed between the upper and lower backing board with a plurality of connecting rods, combination rods and holes in regular spaces, respectively, two combination implements fixed to both sides of the circular board, the combination implements inserted by upholding bars, and the combination implements including stoppers with grips and springs, which are to be engaged with linear ratchets on both upholding bars according to upward and downward movements of the rotating board, and two upholding bars located inside the supporting implements, the upholding bars including two grips on top of the both bars, and the linear ratchets which are to be engaged with the stoppers on the combination implements, and two linear ratchets fixed to the both upholding bars by screws and engaged with the stoppers for upward and downward movements. Excerpt(s): The present invention relates to a waist exercising device and more particularly, to a waist exercising device with which users do the waist pliability increasing exercise or warming-up by turning the waist in the left and right direction repeatedly, with standing on the circular board and holding the grips of the upholding bars with hands. Users can stimulate and massage the waist or the stomach due to a plurality of acupressure projections on a plurality of rollers between the upper supporting board and the lower supporting board by moving the circular board upwardly fixing the circular board on the linear ratchet with stoppers on the
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combination implements on the height of the waist of users. There is a Hula Hoop for preventing abdominal fatness and exercising the waist. In general, the Hula Hoop is a ring-shaped pipe made of plastic material. The Hula Hoop provides users with the waist pliability effects, muscular strengths and abdominal fatness decreasing effects by pressuring the circumference of the waist repeatedly by rotating it around the waist. However, the Hula Hoop is not that helpful for users who are not good at rotating Hula Hoops. For beginners or the old, it is difficult to keep on rotating the Hula Hoop for a long time in order to obtain satisfactory exercise effects. There is provided another Hula Hoop which has a plurality of acupressure projections in the inner circumference. But this kind of Hula Hoop may sometimes cause damages on the backs of the users due to continuous contacts to the backs according to repetitions of rotations, since this kind of Hula Hoop is heavy due to a plurality of acupressure projections. Web site: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
Keeping Current In order to stay informed about patents and patent applications dealing with acupressure, you can access the U.S. Patent Office archive via the Internet at the following Web address: http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html. You will see two broad options: (1) Issued Patent, and (2) Published Applications. To see a list of issued patents, perform the following steps: Under “Issued Patents,” click “Quick Search.” Then, type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “Term 1” box. After clicking on the search button, scroll down to see the various patents which have been granted to date on acupressure. You can also use this procedure to view pending patent applications concerning acupressure. Simply go back to http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html. Select “Quick Search” under “Published Applications.” Then proceed with the steps listed above.
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CHAPTER 5. BOOKS ON ACUPRESSURE Overview This chapter provides bibliographic book references relating to acupressure. In addition to online booksellers such as www.amazon.com and www.bn.com, excellent sources for book titles on acupressure include the Combined Health Information Database and the National Library of Medicine. Your local medical library also may have these titles available for loan.
Book Summaries: Federal Agencies The Combined Health Information Database collects various book abstracts from a variety of healthcare institutions and federal agencies. To access these summaries, go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. You will need to use the “Detailed Search” option. To find book summaries, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer. For the format option, select “Monograph/Book.” Now type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. You should check back periodically with this database which is updated every three months. The following is a typical result when searching for books on acupressure: •
Healthy mouth, healthy body: The natural dental program for total wellness Source: New York, NY: Kensington Publishing. 2000. 278 pp. Contact: Available from Kensington Publishing Corporation, 850 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022 / Web site: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com. $13.00. Summary: This book focuses on alternative prevention and treatment methods for dental care with attention to the impact on the entire body. Topics include the overall health and diet of the patient, reducing bacteria and stress, vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements, reducing sugar in the diet, and the use of acupressure and acupuncture techniques. Conditions such as temporomandibular joint problems, periodontal disease, tooth decay, tooth pain, and halitosis are discussed. Selected references, a resource section, and an index are provided.
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Medical Advisor Home Edition: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments Source: Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books. 1997. 960 p. Contact: Available from Time-Life Books. 400 Keystone Industrial Park, Dunsmore, PA 18512. PRICE: $20.00. ISBN: 0783552505. Summary: This book offers information about 300 health problems, ranging from relatively benign conditions to the most serious diseases. There are symptoms charts which name several related problems and help readers decide which ailment entry to look up. Ailment entries provide a more complete list of symptoms, plus guidelines to discern whether the condition is potentially serious or requires a doctor's attention. Each entry describes the ailment and how it affects the body. Next, the entry outlines the underlying causes of the ailment and the tests and procedures a doctor may use to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment segment presents conventional and alternative recommendations for curing the problem or alleviating the symptoms. Most ailment entries conclude with advice on preventive measures that can be used to maintain health. Alternative treatments discussed include bodywork, acupuncture and acupressure, herbal therapies, homeopathy, lifestyle changes, and nutrition and diet. The book begins with a section on emergency medicine. Also included is a visual diagnostic guide, an atlas to the body, a medicine chest section (describing herbs, homeopathic remedies, and over the counter drugs), a glossary, a subject index, a bibliography, and a list of health associations and organizations. Topics related to digestive diseases include abdominal pain, AIDS, allergies, anal bleeding, anal fissure, anorexia nervosa, bad breath, bowel movement abnormalities, bulimia, celiac disease, cholesterol problems, colitis, colorectal cancer, constipation, Crohn's disease, diarrhea, diverticulitis, flu, food poisoning, gallstones, gas and gas pains, gastritis, gastroenteritis, heartburn, hiatal hernia, hiccups, incontinence, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, lupus, obesity, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic problems, stomach cancer, stomach ulcers, swallowing difficulty, trichomoniasis, vomiting, and worms. The book is illustrated with line drawings and full-color photographs.
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The alternative health and medicine encyclopedia Source: Detroit, MI: Visible Ink Press. 1995. 400 pp. Contact: Available from Gale Research, Visible Ink Press, P.O. Box 33477, Detroit, MI 48232-5477. Telephone: (800) 877-GALE / fax: (800) 414- 5043. $15.95 includes shipping and handling. Summary: This book presents information on a wide range of alternative or complementary methods for providing health care. It provides an introductory chapter on alternative medicine which covers approaches such as acupuncture and acupressure, biofeedback, homeopathy, massage, hydrotherapy, kinesiology, and visualization therapy, among others. It includes chapters on the following topics: natural nutrition; vitamins; minerals and trace elements; botanical medicines; coping with stress; stressrelated disorders; drug abuse and addiction; mental health disorders; common male and female health problems; pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care; dental care; eye, ear, nose, and throat problems; cancer; heart disorders; and aging. Each chapter presents alternative treatments for specific conditions, includes sidebars which summarize certain strategies, and provides bibliographical references. A glossary, a general bibliography, and an index are included.
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Bridging Conventional and Alternative Health Care Contact: Chicago Holistic Center, 2400 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614, (773) 2966700. Summary: This directory provides a description of various holistic treatments and a statement of treatment philosophy accompanied by a photograph of each staff practitioner. Some of the therapies and treatments covered include: acupressure, ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, psychotherapy, biofeedback, meditation, doula services, infant massage, body movement, musculoskeletal therapy (t'ai chi, massage, chiropractic, etc.), nutrition, Bach flower counseling, and Shiatsu.
Book Summaries: Online Booksellers Commercial Internet-based booksellers, such as Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com, offer summaries which have been supplied by each title’s publisher. Some summaries also include customer reviews. Your local bookseller may have access to in-house and commercial databases that index all published books (e.g. Books in Print). IMPORTANT NOTE: Online booksellers typically produce search results for medical and non-medical books. When searching for “acupressure” at online booksellers’ Web sites, you may discover non-medical books that use the generic term “acupressure” (or a synonym) in their titles. The following is indicative of the results you might find when searching for “acupressure” (sorted alphabetically by title; follow the hyperlink to view more details at Amazon.com): •
A Complete Guide to Acupressure by Iona Marsaa Teeguarden; ISBN: 0870408801; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870408801/icongroupinterna
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A Complete Guide to Acupressure: Jin Shin Do by Iona Teeguarden, et al; ISBN: 4817090073; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/4817090073/icongroupinterna
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Acu Energy Painless Acupressure Energizi by Patti C Lloyd (Author); ISBN: 0895570602; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895570602/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure by Nancy. Shiffrin; ISBN: 0890410887; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0890410887/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure (Headway Lifeguides) by Eliana Harvey, Mary Jane Oatley; ISBN: 0340611065; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340611065/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure : (Naturally Better) by Carola Beresford Cooke (Author), Peter Albright (Author); ISBN: 002860833X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/002860833X/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure Acupuncture Without Needles by C. V. Cerney; ISBN: 0346123518; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0346123518/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure and Electro Acupuncture for Pa by Kurt W Donsbach (Author); ISBN: 0866640517; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0866640517/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure and Reflextherapy in the Treatment of Medical Conditions by John R. Cross, James L. Oschman; ISBN: 0750649623; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0750649623/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Athletes by David J. Nickel, et al; ISBN: 080500128X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080500128X/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Athletes; ISBN: 0961400927; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0961400927/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure For Common Ailments : A Gaia Original by Chris Jarmey (Author); ISBN: 0671731351; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671731351/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Emotional Healing : A Self-Care Guide for Trauma, Stress, & Common Emotional Imbalances by MICHAEL GACH (Author), BETH A. PHD HENNING (Author); ISBN: 0553382438; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553382438/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Everybody: Gentle, Effective Relief for More Than 100 Common Ailments by Cathryn Bauer, Jackie Aher (Illustrator); ISBN: 0805015795; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805015795/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Health: A Complete Self-Care Manual by Jacqueline Young; ISBN: 0722527020; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722527020/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Lovers : Secrets of Touch for Increasing Intimacy by Michael Gach (Author); ISBN: 055337401X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/055337401X/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for the Boater: Alternative Emergency Medical Procedures by Michael Friedman; ISBN: 0912561017; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0912561017/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for the Soul: How to Awaken Biological Spirituality and the Gifts of the Emotions by Nancy Fallon; ISBN: 0929385497; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0929385497/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Women by Cathryn Bauer; ISBN: 0895942321; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895942321/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure for Your Beauty and Health: Magic at the Tips of Your Fingers by Andrew Kim; ISBN: 0317923021; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0317923021/icongroupinterna
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ACUPRESSURE HEALTH BOOK by Frank Bahr; ISBN: 0046130446; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0046130446/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure made easy : ancient Chinese healing art you do yourself without needles or drugs : a science health report by Ben Morris (Author); ISBN: B00005VASO; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005VASO/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure Made Easy: Self Treatment for Your Health Problems by Julian Kenyon; ISBN: 0722534906; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722534906/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure Step by Step: The Oriental Way to Health by Jacqueline Young; ISBN: 0722535295; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722535295/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure Techniques: A Self-Help Guide by Julian, MD Kenyon; ISBN: 0892816414; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892816414/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure Techniques: For the Self-Treatment of Minor Ailments by Hans Ewald; ISBN: 0722504330; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0722504330/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure Way of Health: Jin Shin Do by Iona M. Teeguarden, Iona Teeguard; ISBN: 0870404210; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870404210/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure, Yoga and You by Louise Taylor, Betty Bryant; ISBN: 0870405748; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870405748/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure: Clinical Applications in Musculo-Skeletal Conditions by John R. Cross; ISBN: 0750640545; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0750640545/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure: For Health, Vitality and First Aid (Health Essentials Series) by Jon Sandifer; ISBN: 1852309644; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852309644/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure: Healing Techniques Using Gentle Pressure and Self-massage (Health Care Today) by Franz Wagner, George Lewith (Editor); ISBN: 0705435210; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0705435210/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure: How to Cure Common Ailments the Natural Way by Michael Reed Gach; ISBN: 074991114X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/074991114X/icongroupinterna
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Acupressure: Simple Steps to Health by Jacqueline Young, Julian Kenyon; ISBN: 0007120028; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007120028/icongroupinterna
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Acu-Yoga: Ancient Techniques from Acupressure & Yoga Combined to Relieve Tension and Stress by Michael Reed Gach; ISBN: 1564553396; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564553396/icongroupinterna
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All You Wanted to Know About Acupressure in Daily Life by Savitri Ramaiah; ISBN: 8120723015; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8120723015/icongroupinterna
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All You Wanted to Know About the Healing Touch: Acupressure by Dolores Rodriguez; ISBN: 8120724232; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8120724232/icongroupinterna
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An Atlas of Skeletal Muscles: The A to Z of Acupressure by Chris Jarmey; ISBN: 1903333121; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1903333121/icongroupinterna
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An oriental path to holistic health : Sun-Do (ancient Korean philosophical art), Ji-Ap (Korean traditional acupressure) by Yong-Sup Kimm; ISBN: 8908040498; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8908040498/icongroupinterna
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Anybody can do it : acupressure by Leon A. Hart; ISBN: 0918322014; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0918322014/icongroupinterna
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Art of Shiatsu: Fundamental Applications in Acupressure Massage by Seymour A. Koblin; ISBN: 0962500003; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0962500003/icongroupinterna
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Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips: How to Use Acupressure Massage to Ease Your Aches and Pains by Michael Reed Gach; ISBN: 0861889738; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0861889738/icongroupinterna
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Canine Acupressure: A Treatment Workbook by Nancy A. Zidonis, et al; ISBN: 0964598205; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964598205/icongroupinterna
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Celestial Stems: Five Element Diet and Exercise Program/With Acupressure Ear Clips by William Nat Clearfield; ISBN: 0912975156; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0912975156/icongroupinterna
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Chinese Acupressure Therapy by Zhaopu Wang, Wang Zhaopu; ISBN: 7119020560; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/7119020560/icongroupinterna
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Chinese Massage and Acupressure (English Version by Nancy Dargel) by Kuan Hin, et al; ISBN: 0930267095; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0930267095/icongroupinterna
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Chinese Qigong Acupressure Therapy: A Traditional Healing Technology for the Modern World by Xiaokuan Huang, Huang Xiaokuan; ISBN: 7119007483; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/7119007483/icongroupinterna
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Complete Idiot's Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure by David W. Sollars, Daniel D. Seitz; ISBN: 0028639421; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0028639421/icongroupinterna
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Cosmetic Acupressure Facelift by Kurt Schultz; ISBN: 0787309915; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0787309915/icongroupinterna
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Dictionnaire Pratique de l'Acupuncture et de L'Acupressure by Pierre Crepon; ISBN: 0785979689; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0785979689/icongroupinterna
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Digitopuntura/Acupressure by Zhao Zhengguo; ISBN: 8420514136; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8420514136/icongroupinterna
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Do-It-Yourself Natural Health: Acupressure, Herbal, & Aromatherapy by John Sherman; ISBN: 0970941110; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970941110/icongroupinterna
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Do-It-Yourself Shiatsu: How to Perform the Ancient Japanese Art of Acupressure by Wataru Ohashi, Vicki Lindner (Editor); ISBN: 0140196323; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140196323/icongroupinterna
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Ear Acupressure by Pedro Chan; ISBN: 0843104112; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0843104112/icongroupinterna
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Emotional Healing in Minutes: Simple Acupressure Techniques for Your Emotions by Valerie Lynch, Paul Lynch; ISBN: 0007112580; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007112580/icongroupinterna
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Equine Acupressure: A Treatment Workbook by Nancy A. Zidonis, Marie K. Soderberg; ISBN: 0964598213; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964598213/icongroupinterna
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Finger Acupressure by Chan Pedro (Author); ISBN: 0345329538; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345329538/icongroupinterna
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Finger Acupressure; ISBN: 9991560947; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9991560947/icongroupinterna
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Finger Acupressure : Treatment for Many Common Ailments from Insomnia to Impotence by Using FingerMassage on Acupuncture Points by PEDRO CHAN (Author); ISBN: 0345459741; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345459741/icongroupinterna
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Finger Acupressure: Treatment for Many Common Ailments from Migraine to Insomnia by Using Finger Massage on Acupuncture Points by Pedro Chan; ISBN: 0843103442; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0843103442/icongroupinterna
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Freedom from Pain the Acupressure Way by F. Z. Warren; ISBN: 0811902560; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0811902560/icongroupinterna
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From Acupressure to Zen: An Encyclopedia of Natural Therapies by Barbara Nash, Michael Endacott; ISBN: 0897931890; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0897931890/icongroupinterna
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Greater Energy at Your Fingertips: An Easy, Self-Applied Energy Boost Using Acupressure by Michael Reed Gach; ISBN: 0945093004; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0945093004/icongroupinterna
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Healing with Acupressure by Helen Saul (Author); ISBN: 0658012398; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0658012398/icongroupinterna
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High Tech Touch: Acupressure in the Schools by Jeanne St. John, Jeanne st John; ISBN: 0878795677; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0878795677/icongroupinterna
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How to Heal Yourself Using Foot Acupressure: Foot Reflexology (The G-Jo Institute Self-Health Series) by Michael Blate; ISBN: 0916878228; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916878228/icongroupinterna
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How to Heal Yourself Using Hand Acupressure : Hand Reflexology; ISBN: 091687821X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/091687821X/icongroupinterna
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Integrative Acupressure: A Hands-On Guide to Balancing the Body's Structure and Energy for Health and Healing by Sam McClellan, Tom Monte (Contributor); ISBN: 039952441X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039952441X/icongroupinterna
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Intimate Touch: How to Heighten Sexual Ecstasy Using Acupressure by Michael Reed Gach; ISBN: 0749916672; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0749916672/icongroupinterna
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Lindsay Wagner's New Beauty: The Acupressure Facelift by Lindsay Wagner, Robert M. Klein (Contributor); ISBN: 0135368065; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0135368065/icongroupinterna
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Living Pain Free with Acupressure by Devi S. Nambudripad; ISBN: 0965824209; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0965824209/icongroupinterna
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Massage in a Box: The Healing Art of Massage and Acupressure by Bharti Vyas; ISBN: 000715366X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/000715366X/icongroupinterna
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Natural Healer's: Acupressure Handbook by Michael Blate; ISBN: 0916878066; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916878066/icongroupinterna
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Natural Medicine for Back Pain: The Best Alternative Methods for Banishing Backache from Acupressure & Chiropractic to Nutrition & Yoga (G.K. Hall Large Print Reference Collection) [LARGE PRINT] by Glenn S. Rothfeld, Suzanne Levert (Contributor); ISBN: 0783820267; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0783820267/icongroupinterna
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Natural Medicine for Back Pain: The Best Alternative Methods for Banishing Backache: From Acupressure & Chiropractic to Nutrition & Yoga by Glenn S., Md Rothfeld, et al; ISBN: 0875962882; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875962882/icongroupinterna
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Nature's Cures: From Acupressure & Aromatherapy to Walking & Yoga, the Ultimate Guide to the Best Scientifically Proven, Drug_Free Healing Methods by Michael Castleman; ISBN: 0875963013; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875963013/icongroupinterna
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Pocket Guide to Acupressure Points for Women by Cathryn Bauer; ISBN: 0895948796; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895948796/icongroupinterna
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Reflexology and Acupressure: Pressure Points for Healing by Janet Wright; ISBN: 1570671494; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570671494/icongroupinterna
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Relax! With Self-Therapy-Ease: Whole-Body Acupressure by Bonnie Pendleton; ISBN: 0917306015; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0917306015/icongroupinterna
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Relieving Pain With Acupressure by Dagmar-Pauline Heinke (Author); ISBN: 0806942134; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0806942134/icongroupinterna
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Seated Acupressure Massage: From Ancient Art to Modern Practice, a Practical Guide for Therapists by Patricia Abercromby, Davina Thomson; ISBN: 1903333016; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1903333016/icongroupinterna
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Sports Injuries: Their Treatment by Homoeopathy and Acupressure by Leslie J. Speight; ISBN: 0852072139; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0852072139/icongroupinterna
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The Acupressure Warmup: For Fitness, Athletic Preparation and Injury Management by Marc Coseo, Robert L. Felt (Editor); ISBN: 0912111348; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0912111348/icongroupinterna
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The Art of Acupressure (Beautiful People); ISBN: 0938629441; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0938629441/icongroupinterna
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The Complete Guide to Acupuncture and Acupressure; ISBN: 0811902404; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0811902404/icongroupinterna
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The Encyclopedia of Bodywork: From Acupressure to Zone Therapy by Elaine Stillerman; ISBN: 0816036462; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0816036462/icongroupinterna
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The Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicine: An Essential Guide to the Traditional and Natural Therapies and Remedies from Acupressure to Herbal Medicine by Duo Gao; ISBN: 1842221833; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1842221833/icongroupinterna
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The Encyclopedia of Thai Massage: A Complete Guide to Traditional Thai Massage Therapy and Acupressure by Pierce Salguero, C. Pierce Salguero; ISBN: 1844090299; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844090299/icongroupinterna
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The Healing Benefits of Acupressure: Acupuncture Without Needles by Fred M. Houston, Linda Clark (Introduction); ISBN: 0879835362; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0879835362/icongroupinterna
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The Joy of Feeling: Bodymind Acupressure by Iona Marsaa Teeguarden; ISBN: 0870406345; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0870406345/icongroupinterna
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The Little Baby Massage Book: Complete With Acupressure and Aromatherapy Hands-On Massage Instruction to Give the Gift of Love and Touch to Your Baby by Linda Ellen Larson, Stacie Sheridan (Illustrator); ISBN: 1587210010; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1587210010/icongroupinterna
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The Natural Healer's Acupressure Handbook: Advanced G-Jo by Michael Blate; ISBN: 0916878147; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916878147/icongroupinterna
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The Natural Healer's Acupressure Handbook: Basic G-Jo by Michael Blate, Barry Sultanoff (Designer); ISBN: 0916878287; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0916878287/icongroupinterna
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The Prevention How-To Dictionary of Healing Remedies and Techniques: From Acupressure and Aspirin T O Yoga and Yogurt: Over 350 Curative Options by John Feltman (Editor), et al; ISBN: 0875961142; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875961142/icongroupinterna
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The Prevention How-To Dictionary of Healing Remedies and Techniques: From Acupressure and Aspirin to Yoga and Yogurt-Over 350 Curative Options by Prevention Magazine (Editor), John Feltman (Editor); ISBN: 0425151913; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0425151913/icongroupinterna
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The Shiatsu Handbook: A Guide to the Traditional Art of Shiatsu Acupressure by Shizuko Yamamoto, Patrick McCarty (Contributor); ISBN: 0895297140; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0895297140/icongroupinterna
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Timeless Face : 30 Days To A Younger You Through Face Reading, Acupressure, and Toning by Ellae Elinwood (Author); ISBN: 031219529X; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/031219529X/icongroupinterna
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Touch for Health: A Practical Guide to Natural Health Using Acupressure Touch and Massage to Improve Postural Balance and Reduce Physical and Mental Pain and Tension by John F. Thie, Keith Marks (Photographer); ISBN: 0875161804; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0875161804/icongroupinterna
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Touching Horses: Communication, Health and Healing Through Shiatsu (Acupressure) by Marion Kaselle, et al; ISBN: 0851315798; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0851315798/icongroupinterna
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Weight Loss & Pain Relief with the Easy Method of Self-Acupressure by Vince K. Tran; ISBN: 0970672306; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970672306/icongroupinterna
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You Can Heal Now: The Tapas Acupressure Techniques by Tapas Fleming; ISBN: 1893412008; http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1893412008/icongroupinterna
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Chapters on Acupressure In order to find chapters that specifically relate to acupressure, an excellent source of abstracts is the Combined Health Information Database. You will need to limit your search to book chapters and acupressure using the “Detailed Search” option. Go to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find book chapters, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the format option “Book Chapter.” Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. The following is a typical result when searching for book chapters on acupressure: •
Mind-Body Connection Source: in Zonderman, J. and Vender, R.S. Understanding Crohn Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. 2000. p. 77-88. Contact: Available from University Press of Mississippi. 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211-6492. (601) 432-6205. Fax (601) 432-6217. E-mail:
[email protected]. PRICE: $28.00 plus shipping and handling. ISBN: 1578062039. Summary: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, together known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic illnesses of unknown origin. This chapter on the connection between mind and body is from a book that provides timely information about how to obtain and maintain the highest quality of life possible while living with IBD. The authors offer a patient's perspective on coping with IBD. They briefly consider the historical thinking about diseases such as IBD, which are clearly affected by the connection between mind and body. Topics include ways to cope with a chronic disease, the effects on family members, hospitalizations, body image, fear of colorectal cancer, ways to create a long term strategy for managing the disease, and the use of alternative therapies to cope with IBD. Alternative therapies considered include diet, nutrition and lifestyle; strategies such as biofeedback, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques; ethnotherapies, such as traditional Asian herbs, acupuncture, homeopathy, and healing techniques; structural and energy techniques, including acupressure, chiropractic, and therapeutic touch; alternative pharmaceutical and biological therapies, including chelation and metabolic therapy; and bioelectric appliances (the use of magnets). The authors conclude that some mind body treatments, such as hypnosis, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques, including autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation, can help to improve quality of life for those who live with IBD. Such treatments provide people with a sense that they can put themselves in control of their pain and anxiety.
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Painful Bladder Syndrome: Interstitial Cystitis and Urethral Syndrome Source: in Chalker, R. and Whitmore, K.E. Overcoming Bladder Disorders: Compassionate, Authoritative Medical and Self-Help Solutions for Incontinence, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis, Prostate Problems, and Bladder Cancer. New York, NY: HarperPerennial. 1991. p. 133-179. Contact: Available from HarperCollins Publishers. Box 588, Dunmore, PA 18512. (800) 242-7737 or (800) 331-3861. Fax (800) 822-4090. PRICE: $12.50 plus $2.75 shipping and handling (as of 1996). ISBN: 0060920831 (paperback). Also available from National Association for Continence (NAFC). P.O. Box 8310, Spartanburg, SC 29305-8310. (800)BLADDER or (864) 579-7900. Fax (864) 579-7902.
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Summary: This chapter on interstitial cystitis (IC) and urethral syndrome is from a guidebook that provides up-to-date information on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bladder disorders. The authors provide a self-evaluation checklist that notes the symptoms and typical experiences of people who have IC. They then discuss topics including the symptoms in detail; pregnancy and IC; possible causes of IC; preparing to consult a health care provider; diagnostic considerations; and the classification of IC. The authors also discuss the range of treatments that are available and review the advantages and disadvantages of each, including laser treatment, bladder instillations, drug therapy, electrical stimulation, bladder retraining, acupressure and acupuncture, self-help strategies, and surgical options. An additional section discusses the urethral syndrome. The chapter concludes with a brief list of resources for readers who wish to explore this topic in more depth. The book includes an index of diagnostic tests; a drug glossary; a glossary of urological terms; a reference list; and a subject index. 30 references.
Directories In addition to the references and resources discussed earlier in this chapter, a number of directories relating to acupressure have been published that consolidate information across various sources. The Combined Health Information Database lists the following, which you may wish to consult in your local medical library:7 •
Directory of Schools for Alternative and Complementary Health Care Source: Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. 1998. 250 p. Contact: Oryx Press. PO Box 33889, Phoenix, AZ 85067-3889. 800-279-6799, 602-265-2651, FAX: 602-265-2650, 800-279-4663. PRICE: $49.50. ISBN: 157356110X. Summary: This book provides information on schools and programs in the United States and Canada that offer professional training in alternative and complementary modalities, including acupressure, acupuncture, Alexander technique, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, biofeedback, chiropractic, Feldenkrais, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy and bodywork, midwifery, naturopathic medicine, Oriental medicine, polarity therapy, reflexology, reiki, Shiatsu, and yoga. The book contains a list of abbreviations, a glossary, a subject index, and nine essays on selected alternative medicine health fields describing each modality and the training and education required to practice in that field. The alphabetical listing of schools by state provides contact information, including the school's name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and Web page address, if available. The school listing is followed by a list of organizations and accrediting bodies and resources for further
7
You will need to limit your search to “Directory” and “acupressure” using the "Detailed Search" option. Go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find directories, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” For publication date, select “All Years.” Select your preferred language and the format option “Directory.” Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. You should check back periodically with this database as it is updated every three months.
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reading. This book also provides an index of schools by name and by specialization, and a general index.
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CHAPTER 6. MULTIMEDIA ON ACUPRESSURE Overview In this chapter, we show you how to keep current on multimedia sources of information on acupressure. We start with sources that have been summarized by federal agencies, and then show you how to find bibliographic information catalogued by the National Library of Medicine.
Video Recordings An excellent source of multimedia information on acupressure is the Combined Health Information Database. You will need to limit your search to “Videorecording” and “acupressure” using the “Detailed Search” option. Go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find video productions, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language you prefer, and the format option “Videorecording (videotape, videocassette, etc.).” Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. The following is a typical result when searching for video recordings on acupressure: •
Self-Care for the Interstitial Cystitis Patient Source: Rockville, MD: Interstitial Cystitis Association. 1995. Contact: Available from Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA). 51 Monroe Street, Suite 1402, Rockville, MD 20850. (301) 610-5300. Fax (301) 610-5308. E-mail:
[email protected]. Website: www.ichelp.org. PRICE: $14.50 (as of 1995). Summary: This patient education videotape program provides viewers with guidelines for coping strategies and self-care therapies to use in managing interstitial cystitis (IC). Narrated by Dr. Kristene Whitmore, the program defines IC; describes the symptoms and the chronic nature of the disease; explains the role of the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA); briefly reviews the conventional treatments for IC, including drug therapy, surgery, and drugs instilled into the bladder; stresses the need for a combination of traditional and alternative therapies to reduce the frequency of IC flareups and to prolong remission of the disease; and details alternative management strategies. Strategies covered include dietary modifications, including how to perform a
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strict elimination diet; urine alkalization, with baking soda, potassium citrate, antacids, urine dilution, and dietary acid restriction; bladder holding protocol (a bladder muscle strengthening program, not behavior modification); the role of exercise; stress reduction techniques, including biofeedback, self hypnosis, visualization, yoga, massage therapy, and acupressure and acupuncture; helpful products, including absorbent pads, external catheters, and portable toilets; travel tips; support and information available from the ICA; and the role of counseling. The videotape depicts various patients using each of these strategies. •
Rational Approach to the Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Interstitial Cystitis Source: Rockville, MD: Interstitial Cystitis Association. 1994. Contact: Available from Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA). 51 Monroe Street, Suite 1402, Rockville, MD 20850. (301) 610-5300. Fax (301) 610-5308. E-mail:
[email protected]. Website: www.ichelp.org. PRICE: $14.50 (as of 1995). Summary: This professional education videotape provides clinicians with an overview of the diagnosis, treatment, and management of interstitial cystitis (IC). Narrated by Dr. Phillip Hanno, the program defines IC; describes the symptoms and the chronic nature of the disease; discusses the exclusionary diseases to consider in the diagnosis of IC; demonstrates the urodynamic workup of a suspected IC patient, including the role of cystoscopy, bladder distension, and biopsy; details the treatment options for IC, including hydrodistension, DMSO therapy, oxychlorosene sodium (Chlorpactin) therapy, the use of tricyclic antidepressants, the use of sodium pentosanpolysulfate (Elmiron-includes availability of this not-yet-approved drug) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), narcotics, fulgeration, and surgery; and outlines self-care strategies including acid restriction and urine alkalization, exercise, stress reduction, acupressure, biofeedback, products and supplies, bladder holding protocol, and patient education and support. The program concludes with a brief discussion of the role of the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) in research and patient education and support.
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Pain Control Source: Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities and Sciences. 199x. (videocassette). Contact: Available from Films for the Humanities and Sciences. P. O. Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543-2053. (800) 257-5126; (609) 452-1128. PRICE: $149.00 for purchase; $75.00 for rental. Order Number TF-2368. Summary: This videotape looks at some of the available treatments for the most serious types of pain. The program discusses treatment modalities including injections, infusions, topical sprays, inhalants, pills, acupressure and acupuncture, electromyography, and a number of other ways to relieve muscle spasms. (AA-M).
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CHAPTER 7. PERIODICALS AND NEWS ON ACUPRESSURE Overview In this chapter, we suggest a number of news sources and present various periodicals that cover acupressure.
News Services and Press Releases One of the simplest ways of tracking press releases on acupressure is to search the news wires. In the following sample of sources, we will briefly describe how to access each service. These services only post recent news intended for public viewing. PR Newswire To access the PR Newswire archive, simply go to http://www.prnewswire.com/. Select your country. Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the search box. You will automatically receive information on relevant news releases posted within the last 30 days. The search results are shown by order of relevance. Reuters Health The Reuters’ Medical News and Health eLine databases can be very useful in exploring news archives relating to acupressure. While some of the listed articles are free to view, others are available for purchase for a nominal fee. To access this archive, go to http://www.reutershealth.com/en/index.html and search by “acupressure” (or synonyms). The following was recently listed in this archive for acupressure: •
Acupressure, acustimulation ease morning sickness Source: Reuters Health eLine Date: October 18, 2001
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Botox injections, acupressure might relieve stroke-related lower limb spasticity Source: Reuters Industry Breifing Date: August 17, 2001
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The NIH Within MEDLINEplus, the NIH has made an agreement with the New York Times Syndicate, the AP News Service, and Reuters to deliver news that can be browsed by the public. Search news releases at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html. MEDLINEplus allows you to browse across an alphabetical index. Or you can search by date at the following Web page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/newsbydate.html. Often, news items are indexed by MEDLINEplus within its search engine. Business Wire Business Wire is similar to PR Newswire. To access this archive, simply go to http://www.businesswire.com/. You can scan the news by industry category or company name. Market Wire Market Wire is more focused on technology than the other wires. To browse the latest press releases by topic, such as alternative medicine, biotechnology, fitness, healthcare, legal, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals, access Market Wire’s Medical/Health channel at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_index?channel=MedicalHealth. Or simply go to Market Wire’s home page at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/home, type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the search box, and click on “Search News.” As this service is technology oriented, you may wish to use it when searching for press releases covering diagnostic procedures or tests. Search Engines Medical news is also available in the news sections of commercial Internet search engines. See the health news page at Yahoo (http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/News_and_Media/), or you can use this Web site’s general news search page at http://news.yahoo.com/. Type in “acupressure” (or synonyms). If you know the name of a company that is relevant to acupressure, you can go to any stock trading Web site (such as http://www.etrade.com/) and search for the company name there. News items across various news sources are reported on indicated hyperlinks. Google offers a similar service at http://news.google.com/. BBC Covering news from a more European perspective, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) allows the public free access to their news archive located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/. Search by “acupressure” (or synonyms).
Newsletters on Acupressure Find newsletters on acupressure using the Combined Health Information Database (CHID). You will need to use the “Detailed Search” option. To access CHID, go to the following
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hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. Limit your search to “Newsletter” and “acupressure.” Go to the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language that you prefer. For the format option, select “Newsletter.” Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. The following list was generated using the options described above: •
TMJ News 'n Views: Offering Education, Support and Hope Source: TMJ News 'n Views. Number 9: 1-4. November-December 1993. Contact: Available from MyoData-TMJ and Stress Center. P.O. Box 803394, Dallas, TX 75380. (972) 416-7676 (information). PRICE: $20.00 for one-year subscription (6 issues); $35.00 for two-year subscription; back issues $4.00 each. Summary: 'TMJ News 'N Views' is a bi-monthly newsletter written specifically for people who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). The 2-color newsletter is written by a person with TMD and is edited by a medical professional. Sections in each issue include: an article by a health professional; an article by Sharon Carr, the founder of the TMJ and Stress Center; a Question and Answer section for patients to write in and receive printed answers; Pain Pointers; and a Recipe Corner with recipes for soft, easy-to-chew food. Specific topics have included surgery for TMD; the use of acupressure for pain; the role of posture; biofeedback; caffeine; tinnitus and TMD; whiplash and TMD; new treatment; swallowing disorders; and stress reduction. (AA-M).
Newsletter Articles Use the Combined Health Information Database, and limit your search criteria to “newsletter articles.” Again, you will need to use the “Detailed Search” option. Go directly to the following hyperlink: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. Go to the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” Select the dates and language that you prefer. For the format option, select “Newsletter Article.” Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. You should check back periodically with this database as it is updated every three months. The following is a typical result when searching for newsletter articles on acupressure: •
Muscle Cramps: Do They Cramp Your Style? Source: Fit Society Page. p. 7. Summer 2001. Contact: American College of Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 1440, Indianapolis, IN 462061440. Summary: Muscle cramps are poorly understood. Only recently have researchers found a way to cause cramps that may open the door for research on ways to prevent them. Muscle cramps commonly occur among athletes who work their muscles to the point of exhaustion. This intensity is likely related to over stimulation of the nerves that trigger the muscles to contract. Popular remedies to relieve cramps include massage, stretching, and acupressure. Although nutrition may not play a role, Clark provides a few food tips to help rule out theoretical nutritional causes. His first theory is lack of water followed by lack of calcium, sodium, and potassium. Some football players and athletic trainers also endorse pickle juice. The remedy is 2 ounces of pickle juice taken 10 minutes before
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exercise. Clark notes that although none of these theories are proven solutions, none will cause harm. •
Massage Is More Than an Indulgence Source: Harvard Women's Health Watch. 9(7): 7. January 2002. Contact: Available from Harvard Women's Health Watch. Department SR, P.O. Box 380, Boston, MA 02117. (800) 829-5921. Email:
[email protected]. Summary: This newsletter article addresses the therapeutic benefits of massage. Most Western massage is based on Swedish massage, introduced in the United States in the early nineteenth century. Different massage strokes are used depending on the type of massage and its purpose. Deep tissue massage uses slow strokes and fingertip pressure and is used to improve lymph and blood circulation. Myofascial release uses gentle, stretching strokes to relieve posture and alignment problems. Sports massage uses stretches and movements against resistance to reduce injury and increase range of motion in the patient. Eastern techniques of massage with roots in Eastern philosophy and medicine, such as Shiatsu and acupressure, are described. Studies have shown that massage is beneficial in relieving back pain, lessening pain, nausea, and anxiety in cancer patients, enabling better sleep in older institutionalized patients, and relieving lymphedema (swelling due to the buildup of fluids in the arm) in patients with breast cancer. Although massage has proven beneficial for many health conditions, it should not be used for patients with deep venous thrombosis or anyone with an open wound, a rash, or an acute infection. Two professional organizations for massage therapists are listed. 1 figure.
•
Flare-Up Management Source: Fibromyalgia Frontiers. 9(3): 2-29. 2001. Contact: Available from National Fibromyalgia Partnership, Inc. 140 Zinn Way, Linden, VA 22642-5609. (866) 725-4404 toll-free. Fax (540) 622-2998. E-mail:
[email protected]. Website: www.fmpartnership.org. Summary: This newsletter article provides people who have fibromyalgia with suggestions on self care. Actions that may help a person feel in control of flareups include removing or changing a modulating factor, evaluating sleep, discussing medication options with a physician, using relaxation techniques, learning biofeedback techniques, taking frequent breaks from activity, making activities of daily living as easy as possible, and reducing stress. Other self care suggestions include using heat, cold, analgesics, massage, acupressure, and acupuncture; increasing stretching; decreasing duration and intensity of exercise; repeating self affirming messages; and getting extra support when it is needed.
Academic Periodicals covering Acupressure Numerous periodicals are currently indexed within the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database that are known to publish articles relating to acupressure. In addition to these sources, you can search for articles covering acupressure that have been published by any of the periodicals listed in previous chapters. To find the latest studies published, go to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed, type the name of the periodical into the search box, and click “Go.”
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If you want complete details about the historical contents of a journal, you can also visit the following Web site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/jrbrowser.cgi. Here, type in the name of the journal or its abbreviation, and you will receive an index of published articles. At http://locatorplus.gov/, you can retrieve more indexing information on medical periodicals (e.g. the name of the publisher). Select the button “Search LOCATORplus.” Then type in the name of the journal and select the advanced search option “Journal Title Search.”
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APPENDIX A. PHYSICIAN RESOURCES Overview In this chapter, we focus on databases and Internet-based guidelines and information resources created or written for a professional audience.
NIH Guidelines Commonly referred to as “clinical” or “professional” guidelines, the National Institutes of Health publish physician guidelines for the most common diseases. Publications are available at the following by relevant Institute8: •
Office of the Director (OD); guidelines consolidated across agencies available at http://www.nih.gov/health/consumer/conkey.htm
•
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS); fact sheets available at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/facts/
•
National Library of Medicine (NLM); extensive encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.) with guidelines: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
•
National Cancer Institute (NCI); guidelines available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/list.aspx?viewid=5f35036e-5497-4d86-8c2c714a9f7c8d25
•
National Eye Institute (NEI); guidelines available at http://www.nei.nih.gov/order/index.htm
•
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); guidelines available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/index.htm
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National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI); research available at http://www.genome.gov/page.cfm?pageID=10000375
•
National Institute on Aging (NIA); guidelines available at http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/
8
These publications are typically written by one or more of the various NIH Institutes.
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•
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); guidelines available at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/publications.htm
•
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); guidelines available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); fact sheets and guidelines available at http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/index.htm
•
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD); guidelines available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm
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National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD); fact sheets and guidelines at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/
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National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); guidelines available at http://www.nidr.nih.gov/health/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); guidelines available at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/health.htm
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National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); guidelines available at http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugAbuse.html
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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); environmental health information available at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/facts.htm
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); guidelines available at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/practitioners/index.cfm
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); neurological disorder information pages available at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorder_index.htm
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National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR); publications on selected illnesses at http://www.nih.gov/ninr/news-info/publications.html
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National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; general information at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/becon/becon_info.htm
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Center for Information Technology (CIT); referrals to other agencies based on keyword searches available at http://kb.nih.gov/www_query_main.asp
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National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM); health information available at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/
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National Center for Research Resources (NCRR); various information directories available at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/publications.asp
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Office of Rare Diseases; various fact sheets available at http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/html/resources/rep_pubs.html
•
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; various fact sheets on infectious diseases available at http://www.cdc.gov/publications.htm
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NIH Databases In addition to the various Institutes of Health that publish professional guidelines, the NIH has designed a number of databases for professionals.9 Physician-oriented resources provide a wide variety of information related to the biomedical and health sciences, both past and present. The format of these resources varies. Searchable databases, bibliographic citations, full-text articles (when available), archival collections, and images are all available. The following are referenced by the National Library of Medicine:10 •
Bioethics: Access to published literature on the ethical, legal, and public policy issues surrounding healthcare and biomedical research. This information is provided in conjunction with the Kennedy Institute of Ethics located at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_bioethics.html
•
HIV/AIDS Resources: Describes various links and databases dedicated to HIV/AIDS research: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/aidsinfs.html
•
NLM Online Exhibitions: Describes “Exhibitions in the History of Medicine”: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/exhibition.html. Additional resources for historical scholarship in medicine: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/hmd.html
•
Biotechnology Information: Access to public databases. The National Center for Biotechnology Information conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data, and disseminates biomedical information for the better understanding of molecular processes affecting human health and disease: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
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Population Information: The National Library of Medicine provides access to worldwide coverage of population, family planning, and related health issues, including family planning technology and programs, fertility, and population law and policy: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_population.html
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Cancer Information: Access to cancer-oriented databases: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_cancer.html
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Profiles in Science: Offering the archival collections of prominent twentieth-century biomedical scientists to the public through modern digital technology: http://www.profiles.nlm.nih.gov/
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Chemical Information: Provides links to various chemical databases and references: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Chem/ChemMain.html
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Clinical Alerts: Reports the release of findings from the NIH-funded clinical trials where such release could significantly affect morbidity and mortality: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/alerts/clinical_alerts.html
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Space Life Sciences: Provides links and information to space-based research (including NASA): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_space.html
•
MEDLINE: Bibliographic database covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the healthcare system, and the pre-clinical sciences: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases_medline.html
9
Remember, for the general public, the National Library of Medicine recommends the databases referenced in MEDLINEplus (http://medlineplus.gov/ or http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/databases.html). 10 See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/databases.html.
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Toxicology and Environmental Health Information (TOXNET): Databases covering toxicology and environmental health: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/ToxMain.html
•
Visible Human Interface: Anatomically detailed, three-dimensional representations of normal male and female human bodies: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/visible_human.html
The NLM Gateway11 The NLM (National Library of Medicine) Gateway is a Web-based system that lets users search simultaneously in multiple retrieval systems at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). It allows users of NLM services to initiate searches from one Web interface, providing one-stop searching for many of NLM’s information resources or databases.12 To use the NLM Gateway, simply go to the search site at http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd. Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the search box and click “Search.” The results will be presented in a tabular form, indicating the number of references in each database category. Results Summary Category Journal Articles Books / Periodicals / Audio Visual Consumer Health Meeting Abstracts Other Collections Total
Items Found 266 80 14 5 2 367
HSTAT13 HSTAT is a free, Web-based resource that provides access to full-text documents used in healthcare decision-making.14 These documents include clinical practice guidelines, quickreference guides for clinicians, consumer health brochures, evidence reports and technology assessments from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as AHRQ’s Put Prevention Into Practice.15 Simply search by “acupressure” (or synonyms) at the following Web site: http://text.nlm.nih.gov.
11
Adapted from NLM: http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/gw/Cmd?Overview.x.
12
The NLM Gateway is currently being developed by the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications (LHNCBC) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 13 Adapted from HSTAT: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/hstat.html. 14 15
The HSTAT URL is http://hstat.nlm.nih.gov/.
Other important documents in HSTAT include: the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference Reports and Technology Assessment Reports; the HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service (ATIS) resource documents; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT) Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP) and Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) Prevention Enhancement Protocols System (PEPS); the Public Health Service (PHS) Preventive Services Task Force's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services; the independent, nonfederal Task Force on Community Services’ Guide to Community Preventive Services; and the Health Technology Advisory Committee (HTAC) of the Minnesota Health Care Commission (MHCC) health technology evaluations.
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Coffee Break: Tutorials for Biologists16 Coffee Break is a general healthcare site that takes a scientific view of the news and covers recent breakthroughs in biology that may one day assist physicians in developing treatments. Here you will find a collection of short reports on recent biological discoveries. Each report incorporates interactive tutorials that demonstrate how bioinformatics tools are used as a part of the research process. Currently, all Coffee Breaks are written by NCBI staff.17 Each report is about 400 words and is usually based on a discovery reported in one or more articles from recently published, peer-reviewed literature.18 This site has new articles every few weeks, so it can be considered an online magazine of sorts. It is intended for general background information. You can access the Coffee Break Web site at the following hyperlink: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Coffeebreak/.
Other Commercial Databases In addition to resources maintained by official agencies, other databases exist that are commercial ventures addressing medical professionals. Here are some examples that may interest you: •
CliniWeb International: Index and table of contents to selected clinical information on the Internet; see http://www.ohsu.edu/cliniweb/.
•
Medical World Search: Searches full text from thousands of selected medical sites on the Internet; see http://www.mwsearch.com/.
16 Adapted 17
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Coffeebreak/Archive/FAQ.html.
The figure that accompanies each article is frequently supplied by an expert external to NCBI, in which case the source of the figure is cited. The result is an interactive tutorial that tells a biological story. 18 After a brief introduction that sets the work described into a broader context, the report focuses on how a molecular understanding can provide explanations of observed biology and lead to therapies for diseases. Each vignette is accompanied by a figure and hypertext links that lead to a series of pages that interactively show how NCBI tools and resources are used in the research process.
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APPENDIX B. PATIENT RESOURCES Overview Official agencies, as well as federally funded institutions supported by national grants, frequently publish a variety of guidelines written with the patient in mind. These are typically called “Fact Sheets” or “Guidelines.” They can take the form of a brochure, information kit, pamphlet, or flyer. Often they are only a few pages in length. Since new guidelines on acupressure can appear at any moment and be published by a number of sources, the best approach to finding guidelines is to systematically scan the Internet-based services that post them.
Patient Guideline Sources The remainder of this chapter directs you to sources which either publish or can help you find additional guidelines on topics related to acupressure. Due to space limitations, these sources are listed in a concise manner. Do not hesitate to consult the following sources by either using the Internet hyperlink provided, or, in cases where the contact information is provided, contacting the publisher or author directly. The National Institutes of Health The NIH gateway to patients is located at http://health.nih.gov/. From this site, you can search across various sources and institutes, a number of which are summarized below. Topic Pages: MEDLINEplus The National Library of Medicine has created a vast and patient-oriented healthcare information portal called MEDLINEplus. Within this Internet-based system are “health topic pages” which list links to available materials relevant to acupressure. To access this system, log on to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html. From there you can either search using the alphabetical index or browse by broad topic areas. Recently, MEDLINEplus listed the following when searched for “acupressure”:
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Arthritis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/arthritis.html Interstitial Cystitis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/interstitialcystitis.html Nausea and Vomiting http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nauseaandvomiting.html You may also choose to use the search utility provided by MEDLINEplus at the following Web address: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/. Simply type a keyword into the search box and click “Search.” This utility is similar to the NIH search utility, with the exception that it only includes materials that are linked within the MEDLINEplus system (mostly patient-oriented information). It also has the disadvantage of generating unstructured results. We recommend, therefore, that you use this method only if you have a very targeted search. The Combined Health Information Database (CHID) CHID Online is a reference tool that maintains a database directory of thousands of journal articles and patient education guidelines on acupressure. CHID offers summaries that describe the guidelines available, including contact information and pricing. CHID’s general Web site is http://chid.nih.gov/. To search this database, go to http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. In particular, you can use the advanced search options to look up pamphlets, reports, brochures, and information kits. The following was recently posted in this archive: •
Living With HIV: Treatment Contact: Education Training and Research Associates, PO Box 1830, Santa Cruz, CA, 95061-1830, (800) 321-4407, http://www.etr.org. Summary: This brochure informs the reader about treatment options for HIV-positive individuals. It explains why planning treatment is important; discusses deciding about treatment; lists kinds of treatment; and mentions drug trials. The brochure also includes other treatments, such as herbs, acupressure, and meditation. It suggests buyers clubs as an alternative source for drugs to treat HIV. It emphasizes utilizing the support and services that can be found from local health departments and AIDS service agencies and includes the toll-free numbers of several AIDS agencies and hotlines.
•
OI Issues: Pain Management Source: Gaithersburg, MD: Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF). 1997. 4 p. Contact: Available from Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. 804 West Diamond Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. (800) 981-2663 or (301) 947-0083. Fax (301) 947-0456. Website: www.oif.org. PRICE: Single copy free. Summary: This fact sheet for health professionals and people with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) provides an overview of different options for pain management. It defines acute and chronic pain and explains the importance of managing it by such physical methods as heat and ice therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, exercise or physical therapy, acupuncture and acupressure, and massage therapy. The fact sheet also describes psychological methods of pain management, such as relaxation
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therapy, biofeedback, visual imagery or distraction, hypnosis, and individual or family therapy. In addition, the fact sheet discusses the use of pain medication on a continuous or around-the-clock basis. Medications include over-the-counter pain relievers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, topical pain relievers, narcotic pain medication, antidepressants, and nerve blocks. The NIH Search Utility The NIH search utility allows you to search for documents on over 100 selected Web sites that comprise the NIH-WEB-SPACE. Each of these servers is “crawled” and indexed on an ongoing basis. Your search will produce a list of various documents, all of which will relate in some way to acupressure. The drawbacks of this approach are that the information is not organized by theme and that the references are often a mix of information for professionals and patients. Nevertheless, a large number of the listed Web sites provide useful background information. We can only recommend this route, therefore, for relatively rare or specific disorders, or when using highly targeted searches. To use the NIH search utility, visit the following Web page: http://search.nih.gov/index.html. Additional Web Sources A number of Web sites are available to the public that often link to government sites. These can also point you in the direction of essential information. The following is a representative sample: •
AOL: http://search.aol.com/cat.adp?id=168&layer=&from=subcats
•
Family Village: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/specific.htm
•
Google: http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/
•
Med Help International: http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/A.html
•
Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/Health/Conditions_and_Diseases/
•
Yahoo.com: http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and_Conditions/
•
WebMDHealth: http://my.webmd.com/health_topics
Finding Associations There are several Internet directories that provide lists of medical associations with information on or resources relating to acupressure. By consulting all of associations listed in this chapter, you will have nearly exhausted all sources for patient associations concerned with acupressure. The National Health Information Center (NHIC) The National Health Information Center (NHIC) offers a free referral service to help people find organizations that provide information about acupressure. For more information, see the NHIC’s Web site at http://www.health.gov/NHIC/ or contact an information specialist by calling 1-800-336-4797.
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Directory of Health Organizations The Directory of Health Organizations, provided by the National Library of Medicine Specialized Information Services, is a comprehensive source of information on associations. The Directory of Health Organizations database can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/Dir/DirMain.html. It is composed of two parts: DIRLINE and Health Hotlines. The DIRLINE database comprises some 10,000 records of organizations, research centers, and government institutes and associations that primarily focus on health and biomedicine. To access DIRLINE directly, go to the following Web site: http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov/. Simply type in “acupressure” (or a synonym), and you will receive information on all relevant organizations listed in the database. Health Hotlines directs you to toll-free numbers to over 300 organizations. You can access this database directly at http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/hotlines/. On this page, you are given the option to search by keyword or by browsing the subject list. When you have received your search results, click on the name of the organization for its description and contact information. The Combined Health Information Database Another comprehensive source of information on healthcare associations is the Combined Health Information Database. Using the “Detailed Search” option, you will need to limit your search to “Organizations” and “acupressure”. Type the following hyperlink into your Web browser: http://chid.nih.gov/detail/detail.html. To find associations, use the drop boxes at the bottom of the search page where “You may refine your search by.” For publication date, select “All Years.” Then, select your preferred language and the format option “Organization Resource Sheet.” Type “acupressure” (or synonyms) into the “For these words:” box. You should check back periodically with this database since it is updated every three months. The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. has prepared a Web site that provides, at no charge, lists of associations organized by health topic. You can access this database at the following Web site: http://www.rarediseases.org/search/orgsearch.html. Type “acupressure” (or a synonym) into the search box, and click “Submit Query.”
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APPENDIX C. FINDING MEDICAL LIBRARIES Overview In this Appendix, we show you how to quickly find a medical library in your area.
Preparation Your local public library and medical libraries have interlibrary loan programs with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the largest medical collections in the world. According to the NLM, most of the literature in the general and historical collections of the National Library of Medicine is available on interlibrary loan to any library. If you would like to access NLM medical literature, then visit a library in your area that can request the publications for you.19
Finding a Local Medical Library The quickest method to locate medical libraries is to use the Internet-based directory published by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). This network includes 4626 members and affiliates that provide many services to librarians, health professionals, and the public. To find a library in your area, simply visit http://nnlm.gov/members/adv.html or call 1-800-338-7657.
Medical Libraries in the U.S. and Canada In addition to the NN/LM, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) lists a number of libraries with reference facilities that are open to the public. The following is the NLM’s list and includes hyperlinks to each library’s Web site. These Web pages can provide information on hours of operation and other restrictions. The list below is a small sample of
19
Adapted from the NLM: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/psd/cas/interlibrary.html.
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libraries recommended by the National Library of Medicine (sorted alphabetically by name of the U.S. state or Canadian province where the library is located)20: •
Alabama: Health InfoNet of Jefferson County (Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences), http://www.uab.edu/infonet/
•
Alabama: Richard M. Scrushy Library (American Sports Medicine Institute)
•
Arizona: Samaritan Regional Medical Center: The Learning Center (Samaritan Health System, Phoenix, Arizona), http://www.samaritan.edu/library/bannerlibs.htm
•
California: Kris Kelly Health Information Center (St. Joseph Health System, Humboldt), http://www.humboldt1.com/~kkhic/index.html
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California: Community Health Library of Los Gatos, http://www.healthlib.org/orgresources.html
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California: Consumer Health Program and Services (CHIPS) (County of Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Library) - Carson, CA, http://www.colapublib.org/services/chips.html
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California: Gateway Health Library (Sutter Gould Medical Foundation)
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California: Health Library (Stanford University Medical Center), http://wwwmed.stanford.edu/healthlibrary/
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California: Patient Education Resource Center - Health Information and Resources (University of California, San Francisco), http://sfghdean.ucsf.edu/barnett/PERC/default.asp
•
California: Redwood Health Library (Petaluma Health Care District), http://www.phcd.org/rdwdlib.html
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California: Los Gatos PlaneTree Health Library, http://planetreesanjose.org/
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California: Sutter Resource Library (Sutter Hospitals Foundation, Sacramento), http://suttermedicalcenter.org/library/
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California: Health Sciences Libraries (University of California, Davis), http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/healthsci/
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California: ValleyCare Health Library & Ryan Comer Cancer Resource Center (ValleyCare Health System, Pleasanton), http://gaelnet.stmarysca.edu/other.libs/gbal/east/vchl.html
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California: Washington Community Health Resource Library (Fremont), http://www.healthlibrary.org/
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Colorado: William V. Gervasini Memorial Library (Exempla Healthcare), http://www.saintjosephdenver.org/yourhealth/libraries/
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Connecticut: Hartford Hospital Health Science Libraries (Hartford Hospital), http://www.harthosp.org/library/
•
Connecticut: Healthnet: Connecticut Consumer Health Information Center (University of Connecticut Health Center, Lyman Maynard Stowe Library), http://library.uchc.edu/departm/hnet/
20
Abstracted from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/libraries.html.
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•
Connecticut: Waterbury Hospital Health Center Library (Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury), http://www.waterburyhospital.com/library/consumer.shtml
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Delaware: Consumer Health Library (Christiana Care Health System, Eugene du Pont Preventive Medicine & Rehabilitation Institute, Wilmington), http://www.christianacare.org/health_guide/health_guide_pmri_health_info.cfm
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Delaware: Lewis B. Flinn Library (Delaware Academy of Medicine, Wilmington), http://www.delamed.org/chls.html
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Georgia: Family Resource Library (Medical College of Georgia, Augusta), http://cmc.mcg.edu/kids_families/fam_resources/fam_res_lib/frl.htm
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Georgia: Health Resource Center (Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon), http://www.mccg.org/hrc/hrchome.asp
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Hawaii: Hawaii Medical Library: Consumer Health Information Service (Hawaii Medical Library, Honolulu), http://hml.org/CHIS/
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Idaho: DeArmond Consumer Health Library (Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d’Alene), http://www.nicon.org/DeArmond/index.htm
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Illinois: Health Learning Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago), http://www.nmh.org/health_info/hlc.html
•
Illinois: Medical Library (OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria), http://www.osfsaintfrancis.org/general/library/
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Kentucky: Medical Library - Services for Patients, Families, Students & the Public (Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington), http://www.centralbap.com/education/community/library.cfm
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Kentucky: University of Kentucky - Health Information Library (Chandler Medical Center, Lexington), http://www.mc.uky.edu/PatientEd/
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Louisiana: Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation Library (Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans), http://www.ochsner.org/library/
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Louisiana: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Medical LibraryShreveport, http://lib-sh.lsuhsc.edu/
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Maine: Franklin Memorial Hospital Medical Library (Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington), http://www.fchn.org/fmh/lib.htm
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Maine: Gerrish-True Health Sciences Library (Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston), http://www.cmmc.org/library/library.html
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Maine: Hadley Parrot Health Science Library (Eastern Maine Healthcare, Bangor), http://www.emh.org/hll/hpl/guide.htm
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Maine: Maine Medical Center Library (Maine Medical Center, Portland), http://www.mmc.org/library/
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Maine: Parkview Hospital (Brunswick), http://www.parkviewhospital.org/
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Maine: Southern Maine Medical Center Health Sciences Library (Southern Maine Medical Center, Biddeford), http://www.smmc.org/services/service.php3?choice=10
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Maine: Stephens Memorial Hospital’s Health Information Library (Western Maine Health, Norway), http://www.wmhcc.org/Library/
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Manitoba, Canada: Consumer & Patient Health Information Service (University of Manitoba Libraries), http://www.umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/health/reference/chis.html
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Manitoba, Canada: J.W. Crane Memorial Library (Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg), http://www.deerlodge.mb.ca/crane_library/about.asp
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Maryland: Health Information Center at the Wheaton Regional Library (Montgomery County, Dept. of Public Libraries, Wheaton Regional Library), http://www.mont.lib.md.us/healthinfo/hic.asp
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Massachusetts: Baystate Medical Center Library (Baystate Health System), http://www.baystatehealth.com/1024/
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Massachusetts: Boston University Medical Center Alumni Medical Library (Boston University Medical Center), http://med-libwww.bu.edu/library/lib.html
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Massachusetts: Lowell General Hospital Health Sciences Library (Lowell General Hospital, Lowell), http://www.lowellgeneral.org/library/HomePageLinks/WWW.htm
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Massachusetts: Paul E. Woodard Health Sciences Library (New England Baptist Hospital, Boston), http://www.nebh.org/health_lib.asp
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Massachusetts: St. Luke’s Hospital Health Sciences Library (St. Luke’s Hospital, Southcoast Health System, New Bedford), http://www.southcoast.org/library/
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Massachusetts: Treadwell Library Consumer Health Reference Center (Massachusetts General Hospital), http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/library/chrcindex.html
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Massachusetts: UMass HealthNet (University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester), http://healthnet.umassmed.edu/
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Michigan: Botsford General Hospital Library - Consumer Health (Botsford General Hospital, Library & Internet Services), http://www.botsfordlibrary.org/consumer.htm
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Michigan: Helen DeRoy Medical Library (Providence Hospital and Medical Centers), http://www.providence-hospital.org/library/
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Michigan: Marquette General Hospital - Consumer Health Library (Marquette General Hospital, Health Information Center), http://www.mgh.org/center.html
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Michigan: Patient Education Resouce Center - University of Michigan Cancer Center (University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor), http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/leares.htm
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Michigan: Sladen Library & Center for Health Information Resources - Consumer Health Information (Detroit), http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=39330
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Montana: Center for Health Information (St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Missoula)
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National: Consumer Health Library Directory (Medical Library Association, Consumer and Patient Health Information Section), http://caphis.mlanet.org/directory/index.html
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National: National Network of Libraries of Medicine (National Library of Medicine) provides library services for health professionals in the United States who do not have access to a medical library, http://nnlm.gov/
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National: NN/LM List of Libraries Serving the Public (National Network of Libraries of Medicine), http://nnlm.gov/members/
Finding Medical Libraries
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Nevada: Health Science Library, West Charleston Library (Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Las Vegas), http://www.lvccld.org/special_collections/medical/index.htm
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New Hampshire: Dartmouth Biomedical Libraries (Dartmouth College Library, Hanover), http://www.dartmouth.edu/~biomed/resources.htmld/conshealth.htmld/
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New Jersey: Consumer Health Library (Rahway Hospital, Rahway), http://www.rahwayhospital.com/library.htm
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New Jersey: Dr. Walter Phillips Health Sciences Library (Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood), http://www.englewoodhospital.com/links/index.htm
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New Jersey: Meland Foundation (Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood), http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/9360/
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New York: Choices in Health Information (New York Public Library) - NLM Consumer Pilot Project participant, http://www.nypl.org/branch/health/links.html
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New York: Health Information Center (Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse), http://www.upstate.edu/library/hic/
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New York: Health Sciences Library (Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park), http://www.lij.edu/library/library.html
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New York: ViaHealth Medical Library (Rochester General Hospital), http://www.nyam.org/library/
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Ohio: Consumer Health Library (Akron General Medical Center, Medical & Consumer Health Library), http://www.akrongeneral.org/hwlibrary.htm
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Oklahoma: The Health Information Center at Saint Francis Hospital (Saint Francis Health System, Tulsa), http://www.sfh-tulsa.com/services/healthinfo.asp
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Oregon: Planetree Health Resource Center (Mid-Columbia Medical Center, The Dalles), http://www.mcmc.net/phrc/
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Pennsylvania: Community Health Information Library (Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey), http://www.hmc.psu.edu/commhealth/
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Pennsylvania: Community Health Resource Library (Geisinger Medical Center, Danville), http://www.geisinger.edu/education/commlib.shtml
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Pennsylvania: HealthInfo Library (Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton), http://www.mth.org/healthwellness.html
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Pennsylvania: Hopwood Library (University of Pittsburgh, Health Sciences Library System, Pittsburgh), http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/chi/hopwood/index_html
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Pennsylvania: Koop Community Health Information Center (College of Physicians of Philadelphia), http://www.collphyphil.org/kooppg1.shtml
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Pennsylvania: Learning Resources Center - Medical Library (Susquehanna Health System, Williamsport), http://www.shscares.org/services/lrc/index.asp
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Pennsylvania: Medical Library (UPMC Health System, Pittsburgh), http://www.upmc.edu/passavant/library.htm
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Quebec, Canada: Medical Library (Montreal General Hospital), http://www.mghlib.mcgill.ca/
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South Dakota: Rapid City Regional Hospital Medical Library (Rapid City Regional Hospital), http://www.rcrh.org/Services/Library/Default.asp
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Texas: Houston HealthWays (Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library), http://hhw.library.tmc.edu/
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Washington: Community Health Library (Kittitas Valley Community Hospital), http://www.kvch.com/
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Washington: Southwest Washington Medical Center Library (Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver), http://www.swmedicalcenter.com/body.cfm?id=72
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ONLINE GLOSSARIES The Internet provides access to a number of free-to-use medical dictionaries. The National Library of Medicine has compiled the following list of online dictionaries: •
ADAM Medical Encyclopedia (A.D.A.M., Inc.), comprehensive medical reference: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html
•
MedicineNet.com Medical Dictionary (MedicineNet, Inc.): http://www.medterms.com/Script/Main/hp.asp
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Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary (Inteli-Health, Inc.): http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/
•
Multilingual Glossary of Technical and Popular Medical Terms in Eight European Languages (European Commission) - Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish: http://allserv.rug.ac.be/~rvdstich/eugloss/welcome.html
•
On-line Medical Dictionary (CancerWEB): http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd/
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Rare Diseases Terms (Office of Rare Diseases): http://ord.aspensys.com/asp/diseases/diseases.asp
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Technology Glossary (National Library of Medicine) - Health Care Technology: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/ta101/ta10108.htm
Beyond these, MEDLINEplus contains a very patient-friendly encyclopedia covering every aspect of medicine (licensed from A.D.A.M., Inc.). The ADAM Medical Encyclopedia can be accessed at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html. ADAM is also available on commercial Web sites such as drkoop.com (http://www.drkoop.com/) and Web MD (http://my.webmd.com/adam/asset/adam_disease_articles/a_to_z/a).
Online Dictionary Directories The following are additional online directories compiled by the National Library of Medicine, including a number of specialized medical dictionaries: •
Medical Dictionaries: Medical & Biological (World Health Organization): http://www.who.int/hlt/virtuallibrary/English/diction.htm#Medical
•
MEL-Michigan Electronic Library List of Online Health and Medical Dictionaries (Michigan Electronic Library): http://mel.lib.mi.us/health/health-dictionaries.html
•
Patient Education: Glossaries (DMOZ Open Directory Project): http://dmoz.org/Health/Education/Patient_Education/Glossaries/
•
Web of Online Dictionaries (Bucknell University): http://www.yourdictionary.com/diction5.html#medicine
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ACUPRESSURE DICTIONARY The definitions below are derived from official public sources, including the National Institutes of Health [NIH] and the European Union [EU]. Abdomen: That portion of the body that lies between the thorax and the pelvis. [NIH] Abdominal: Having to do with the abdomen, which is the part of the body between the chest and the hips that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and other organs. [NIH] Abdominal fat: Fat (adipose tissue) that is centrally distributed between the thorax and pelvis and that induces greater health risk. [NIH] Abdominal Pain: Sensation of discomfort, distress, or agony in the abdominal region. [NIH] Abduction: Forcible pulling of a limb away from its natural position, a risk in road accidents and disasters; move outwards away from middle line. [NIH] Academic Medical Centers: Medical complexes consisting of medical school, hospitals, clinics, libraries, administrative facilities, etc. [NIH] Accessory Nerve: The 11th cranial nerve. The accessory nerve originates from neurons in the medulla and in the cervical spinal cord. It has a cranial root, which joins the vagus (10th cranial) nerve and sends motor fibers to the muscles of the larynx, and a spinal root, which sends motor fibers to the trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Damage to the nerve produces weakness in head rotation and shoulder elevation. [NIH] Accommodation: Adjustment, especially that of the eye for various distances. [EU] Acetaminophen: Analgesic antipyretic derivative of acetanilide. It has weak antiinflammatory properties and is used as a common analgesic, but may cause liver, blood cell, and kidney damage. [NIH] Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine in vertebrates is the major transmitter at neuromuscular junctions, autonomic ganglia, parasympathetic effector junctions, a subset of sympathetic effector junctions, and at many sites in the central nervous system. It is generally not used as an administered drug because it is broken down very rapidly by cholinesterases, but it is useful in some ophthalmological applications. [NIH] Acoustic: Having to do with sound or hearing. [NIH] Acrylonitrile: A highly poisonous compound used widely in the manufacture of plastics, adhesives and synthetic rubber. [NIH] Actin: Essential component of the cell skeleton. [NIH] Activities of Daily Living: The performance of the basic activities of self care, such as dressing, ambulation, eating, etc., in rehabilitation. [NIH] Acupuncture Analgesia: Analgesia produced by the insertion of acupuncture needles at certain points in the body. These activate the small myelinated nerve fibers in the muscle which transmit impulses to the spinal cord and then activate three centers - the spinal cord, midbrain and pituitary hypothalamus - to produce analgesia. [NIH] Acupuncture Points: Designated locations along nerves or organ meridians for inserting acupuncture needles. [NIH] Acupuncture Therapy: Treatment of disease by inserting needles along specific pathways or meridians. The placement varies with the disease being treated. Heat or moxibustion and
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acupressure may be used in conjunction. [NIH] Acustimulation: Mild electrical stimulation of acupuncture points to control symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. [NIH] Adenosine: A nucleoside that is composed of adenine and d-ribose. Adenosine or adenosine derivatives play many important biological roles in addition to being components of DNA and RNA. Adenosine itself is a neurotransmitter. [NIH] Adipose Tissue: Connective tissue composed of fat cells lodged in the meshes of areolar tissue. [NIH] Adjustment: The dynamic process wherein the thoughts, feelings, behavior, and biophysiological mechanisms of the individual continually change to adjust to the environment. [NIH] Adrenal Cortex: The outer layer of the adrenal gland. It secretes mineralocorticoids, androgens, and glucocorticoids. [NIH] Adrenal Medulla: The inner part of the adrenal gland; it synthesizes, stores and releases catecholamines. [NIH] Adrenergic: Activated by, characteristic of, or secreting epinephrine or substances with similar activity; the term is applied to those nerve fibres that liberate norepinephrine at a synapse when a nerve impulse passes, i.e., the sympathetic fibres. [EU] Adverse Effect: An unwanted side effect of treatment. [NIH] Aerobic: In biochemistry, reactions that need oxygen to happen or happen when oxygen is present. [NIH] Aerobic Exercise: A type of physical activity that includes walking, jogging, running, and dancing. Aerobic training improves the efficiency of the aerobic energy-producing systems that can improve cardiorespiratory endurance. [NIH] Afferent: Concerned with the transmission of neural impulse toward the central part of the nervous system. [NIH] Affinity: 1. Inherent likeness or relationship. 2. A special attraction for a specific element, organ, or structure. 3. Chemical affinity; the force that binds atoms in molecules; the tendency of substances to combine by chemical reaction. 4. The strength of noncovalent chemical binding between two substances as measured by the dissociation constant of the complex. 5. In immunology, a thermodynamic expression of the strength of interaction between a single antigen-binding site and a single antigenic determinant (and thus of the stereochemical compatibility between them), most accurately applied to interactions among simple, uniform antigenic determinants such as haptens. Expressed as the association constant (K litres mole -1), which, owing to the heterogeneity of affinities in a population of antibody molecules of a given specificity, actually represents an average value (mean intrinsic association constant). 6. The reciprocal of the dissociation constant. [EU] Agonist: In anatomy, a prime mover. In pharmacology, a drug that has affinity for and stimulates physiologic activity at cell receptors normally stimulated by naturally occurring substances. [EU] Alanine: A non-essential amino acid that occurs in high levels in its free state in plasma. It is produced from pyruvate by transamination. It is involved in sugar and acid metabolism, increases immunity, and provides energy for muscle tissue, brain, and the central nervous system. [NIH] Alertness: A state of readiness to detect and respond to certain specified small changes occurring at random intervals in the environment. [NIH]
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Algorithms: A procedure consisting of a sequence of algebraic formulas and/or logical steps to calculate or determine a given task. [NIH] Alkaline: Having the reactions of an alkali. [EU] Alkaloid: A member of a large group of chemicals that are made by plants and have nitrogen in them. Some alkaloids have been shown to work against cancer. [NIH] Allergen: An antigenic substance capable of producing immediate-type hypersensitivity (allergy). [EU] Alopecia: Absence of hair from areas where it is normally present. [NIH] Alpha Particles: Positively charged particles composed of two protons and two neutrons, i.e., helium nuclei, emitted during disintegration of very heavy isotopes; a beam of alpha particles or an alpha ray has very strong ionizing power, but weak penetrability. [NIH] Alpha-1: A protein with the property of inactivating proteolytic enzymes such as leucocyte collagenase and elastase. [NIH] Alternative medicine: Practices not generally recognized by the medical community as standard or conventional medical approaches and used instead of standard treatments. Alternative medicine includes the taking of dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, and herbal preparations; the drinking of special teas; and practices such as massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. [NIH] Alveoli: Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs. [NIH] Amenorrhea: Absence of menstruation. [NIH] Amino Acids: Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins. [NIH] Amino Acids: Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins. [NIH] Amitriptyline: Tricyclic antidepressant with anticholinergic and sedative properties. It appears to prevent the re-uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin at nerve terminals, thus potentiating the action of these neurotransmitters. Amitriptyline also appears to antaganize cholinergic and alpha-1 adrenergic responses to bioactive amines. [NIH] Amphetamines: Analogs or derivatives of amphetamine. Many are sympathomimetics and central nervous system stimulators causing excitation, vasopression, bronchodilation, and to varying degrees, anorexia, analepsis, nasal decongestion, and some smooth muscle relaxation. [NIH] Ampulla: A sac-like enlargement of a canal or duct. [NIH] Amygdala: Almond-shaped group of basal nuclei anterior to the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle of the brain, within the temporal lobe. The amygdala is part of the limbic system. [NIH]
Anaesthesia: Loss of feeling or sensation. Although the term is used for loss of tactile sensibility, or of any of the other senses, it is applied especially to loss of the sensation of pain, as it is induced to permit performance of surgery or other painful procedures. [EU] Anal: Having to do with the anus, which is the posterior opening of the large bowel. [NIH] Anal Fissure: A small tear in the anus that may cause itching, pain, or bleeding. [NIH] Analgesic: An agent that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness. [EU] Analog: In chemistry, a substance that is similar, but not identical, to another. [NIH]
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Analysis of Variance: A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable. [NIH] Anaphylatoxins: The family of peptides C3a, C4a, C5a, and C5a des-arginine produced in the serum during complement activation. They produce smooth muscle contraction, mast cell histamine release, affect platelet aggregation, and act as mediators of the local inflammatory process. The order of anaphylatoxin activity from strongest to weakest is C5a, C3a, C4a, and C5a des-arginine. The latter is the so-called "classical" anaphylatoxin but shows no spasmogenic activity though it contains some chemotactic ability. [NIH] Anatomical: Pertaining to anatomy, or to the structure of the organism. [EU] Anesthesia: A state characterized by loss of feeling or sensation. This depression of nerve function is usually the result of pharmacologic action and is induced to allow performance of surgery or other painful procedures. [NIH] Angina: Chest pain that originates in the heart. [NIH] Angina Pectoris: The symptom of paroxysmal pain consequent to myocardial ischemia usually of distinctive character, location and radiation, and provoked by a transient stressful situation during which the oxygen requirements of the myocardium exceed the capacity of the coronary circulation to supply it. [NIH] Animal model: An animal with a disease either the same as or like a disease in humans. Animal models are used to study the development and progression of diseases and to test new treatments before they are given to humans. Animals with transplanted human cancers or other tissues are called xenograft models. [NIH] Ankle: That part of the lower limb directly above the foot. [NIH] Ankle Joint: The joint that is formed by the inferior articular and malleolar articular surfaces of the tibia, the malleolar articular surface of the fibula, and the medial malleolar, lateral malleolar, and superior surfaces of the talus. [NIH] Anorexia: Lack or loss of appetite for food. Appetite is psychologic, dependent on memory and associations. Anorexia can be brought about by unattractive food, surroundings, or company. [NIH] Anorexia Nervosa: The chief symptoms are inability to eat, weight loss, and amenorrhea. [NIH]
Antagonism: Interference with, or inhibition of, the growth of a living organism by another living organism, due either to creation of unfavorable conditions (e. g. exhaustion of food supplies) or to production of a specific antibiotic substance (e. g. penicillin). [NIH] Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. [NIH]
Antibody: A type of protein made by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Each antibody can bind to only a specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies destroy antigens directly. Others make it easier for white blood cells to destroy the antigen. [NIH] Anticholinergic: An agent that blocks the parasympathetic nerves. Called also parasympatholytic. [EU] Antidepressant: A drug used to treat depression. [NIH] Antiemetic: An agent that prevents or alleviates nausea and vomiting. Also antinauseant. [EU]
Antigen: Any substance which is capable, under appropriate conditions, of inducing a
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specific immune response and of reacting with the products of that response, that is, with specific antibody or specifically sensitized T-lymphocytes, or both. Antigens may be soluble substances, such as toxins and foreign proteins, or particulate, such as bacteria and tissue cells; however, only the portion of the protein or polysaccharide molecule known as the antigenic determinant (q.v.) combines with antibody or a specific receptor on a lymphocyte. Abbreviated Ag. [EU] Antigen-Antibody Complex: The complex formed by the binding of antigen and antibody molecules. The deposition of large antigen-antibody complexes leading to tissue damage causes immune complex diseases. [NIH] Antihypertensive: An agent that reduces high blood pressure. [EU] Anti-inflammatory: Having to do with reducing inflammation. [NIH] Antimetabolite: A chemical that is very similar to one required in a normal biochemical reaction in cells. Antimetabolites can stop or slow down the reaction. [NIH] Antineoplastic: Inhibiting or preventing the development of neoplasms, checking the maturation and proliferation of malignant cells. [EU] Antipyretic: An agent that relieves or reduces fever. Called also antifebrile, antithermic and febrifuge. [EU] Antiseptic: A substance that inhibits the growth and development of microorganisms without necessarily killing them. [EU] Anus: The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body. [NIH] Anxiety: Persistent feeling of dread, apprehension, and impending disaster. [NIH] Anxiety Disorders: Disorders in which anxiety (persistent feelings of apprehension, tension, or uneasiness) is the predominant disturbance. [NIH] Anxiolytic: An anxiolytic or antianxiety agent. [EU] Aphasia: A cognitive disorder marked by an impaired ability to comprehend or express language in its written or spoken form. This condition is caused by diseases which affect the language areas of the dominant hemisphere. Clinical features are used to classify the various subtypes of this condition. General categories include receptive, expressive, and mixed forms of aphasia. [NIH] Aqueous: Having to do with water. [NIH] Arginine: An essential amino acid that is physiologically active in the L-form. [NIH] Arnica: Genus of composite-flowered plants in the family Asteraceae. The dried flower heads of Arnica montana are used externally as a counterirritant and tincture for sprains and bruises. Arnica contains volatile oils, arnicin, arnisterol, flavonoids, tannins, and resin. [NIH]
Arterial: Pertaining to an artery or to the arteries. [EU] Arteries: The vessels carrying blood away from the heart. [NIH] Arteriolar: Pertaining to or resembling arterioles. [EU] Arterioles: The smallest divisions of the arteries located between the muscular arteries and the capillaries. [NIH] Artery: Vessel-carrying blood from the heart to various parts of the body. [NIH] Articular: Of or pertaining to a joint. [EU] Articulation: The relationship of two bodies by means of a moveable joint. [NIH] Astringent: Causing contraction, usually locally after topical application. [EU]
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Astrocytes: The largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the blood brain barrier. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with microglia) respond to injury. Astrocytes have high- affinity transmitter uptake systems, voltage-dependent and transmitter-gated ion channels, and can release transmitter, but their role in signaling (as in many other functions) is not well understood. [NIH] Atrium: A chamber; used in anatomical nomenclature to designate a chamber affording entrance to another structure or organ. Usually used alone to designate an atrium of the heart. [EU] Atropine: A toxic alkaloid, originally from Atropa belladonna, but found in other plants, mainly Solanaceae. [NIH] Attenuated: Strain with weakened or reduced virulence. [NIH] Attenuation: Reduction of transmitted sound energy or its electrical equivalent. [NIH] Auditory: Pertaining to the sense of hearing. [EU] Auricular: Pertaining to an auricle or to the ear, and, formerly, to an atrium of the heart. [EU] Autogenic: A type of succession when the developing vegetation itself is the cause for the succession. [NIH] Autogenic Training: Technique based on muscle relaxation during self-hypnotic exercises. It is used in conjunction with psychotherapy. [NIH] Autonomic Nervous System: The enteric, parasympathetic, and sympathetic nervous systems taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the central nervous system, especially the hypothalamus and the solitary nucleus, which receive information relayed from visceral afferents; these and related central and sensory structures are sometimes (but not here) considered to be part of the autonomic nervous system itself. [NIH] Axons: Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. [NIH] Back Pain: Acute or chronic pain located in the posterior regions of the trunk, including the thoracic, lumbar, sacral, or adjacent regions. [NIH] Bacteria: Unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which generally possess rigid cell walls, multiply by cell division, and exhibit three principal forms: round or coccal, rodlike or bacillary, and spiral or spirochetal. [NIH] Bactericidal: Substance lethal to bacteria; substance capable of killing bacteria. [NIH] Bacteriuria: The presence of bacteria in the urine with or without consequent urinary tract infection. Since bacteriuria is a clinical entity, the term does not preclude the use of urine/microbiology for technical discussions on the isolation and segregation of bacteria in the urine. [NIH] Basal Ganglia: Large subcortical nuclear masses derived from the telencephalon and located in the basal regions of the cerebral hemispheres. [NIH] Base: In chemistry, the nonacid part of a salt; a substance that combines with acids to form salts; a substance that dissociates to give hydroxide ions in aqueous solutions; a substance whose molecule or ion can combine with a proton (hydrogen ion); a substance capable of donating a pair of electrons (to an acid) for the formation of a coordinate covalent bond. [EU]
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Basement Membrane: Ubiquitous supportive tissue adjacent to epithelium and around smooth and striated muscle cells. This tissue contains intrinsic macromolecular components such as collagen, laminin, and sulfated proteoglycans. As seen by light microscopy one of its subdivisions is the basal (basement) lamina. [NIH] Behavior Therapy: The application of modern theories of learning and conditioning in the treatment of behavior disorders. [NIH] Belladonna: A species of very poisonous Solanaceous plants yielding atropine (hyoscyamine), scopolamine, and other belladonna alkaloids, used to block the muscarinic autonomic nervous system. [NIH] Benign: Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. [NIH]
Bilateral: Affecting both the right and left side of body. [NIH] Biochemical: Relating to biochemistry; characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms. [EU] Biological therapy: Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease. Also used to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also known as immunotherapy, biotherapy, or biological response modifier (BRM) therapy. [NIH] Biopsy: Removal and pathologic examination of specimens in the form of small pieces of tissue from the living body. [NIH] Biosynthesis: The building up of a chemical compound in the physiologic processes of a living organism. [EU] Biotechnology: Body of knowledge related to the use of organisms, cells or cell-derived constituents for the purpose of developing products which are technically, scientifically and clinically useful. Alteration of biologic function at the molecular level (i.e., genetic engineering) is a central focus; laboratory methods used include transfection and cloning technologies, sequence and structure analysis algorithms, computer databases, and gene and protein structure function analysis and prediction. [NIH] Bipolar Disorder: A major affective disorder marked by severe mood swings (manic or major depressive episodes) and a tendency to remission and recurrence. [NIH] Bladder: The organ that stores urine. [NIH] Blastocyst: The mammalian embryo in the post-morula stage in which a fluid-filled cavity, enclosed primarily by trophoblast, contains an inner cell mass which becomes the embryonic disc. [NIH] Bloating: Fullness or swelling in the abdomen that often occurs after meals. [NIH] Blood Coagulation: The process of the interaction of blood coagulation factors that results in an insoluble fibrin clot. [NIH] Blood Platelets: Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation. [NIH] Blood pressure: The pressure of blood against the walls of a blood vessel or heart chamber. Unless there is reference to another location, such as the pulmonary artery or one of the heart chambers, it refers to the pressure in the systemic arteries, as measured, for example, in the forearm. [NIH] Blood vessel: A tube in the body through which blood circulates. Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins. [NIH] Blood Volume: Volume of circulating blood. It is the sum of the plasma volume and
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erythrocyte volume. [NIH] Blood-Brain Barrier: Specialized non-fenestrated tightly-joined endothelial cells (tight junctions) that form a transport barrier for certain substances between the cerebral capillaries and the brain tissue. [NIH] Body Fluids: Liquid components of living organisms. [NIH] Body Image: Individuals' personal concept of their bodies as objects in and bound by space, independently and apart from all other objects. [NIH] Body Mass Index: One of the anthropometric measures of body mass; it has the highest correlation with skinfold thickness or body density. [NIH] Bone Marrow: The soft tissue filling the cavities of bones. Bone marrow exists in two types, yellow and red. Yellow marrow is found in the large cavities of large bones and consists mostly of fat cells and a few primitive blood cells. Red marrow is a hematopoietic tissue and is the site of production of erythrocytes and granular leukocytes. Bone marrow is made up of a framework of connective tissue containing branching fibers with the frame being filled with marrow cells. [NIH] Bowel: The long tube-shaped organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. There is both a small and a large bowel. Also called the intestine. [NIH] Bowel Movement: Body wastes passed through the rectum and anus. [NIH] Brachial: All the nerves from the arm are ripped from the spinal cord. [NIH] Brachial Plexus: The large network of nerve fibers which distributes the innervation of the upper extremity. The brachial plexus extends from the neck into the axilla. In humans, the nerves of the plexus usually originate from the lower cervical and the first thoracic spinal cord segments (C5-C8 and T1), but variations are not uncommon. [NIH] Bradykinin: A nonapeptide messenger that is enzymatically produced from kallidin in the blood where it is a potent but short-lived agent of arteriolar dilation and increased capillary permeability. Bradykinin is also released from mast cells during asthma attacks, from gut walls as a gastrointestinal vasodilator, from damaged tissues as a pain signal, and may be a neurotransmitter. [NIH] Brain Hypoxia: Lack of oxygen leading to unconsciousness. [NIH] Brain Infarction: The formation of an area of necrosis in the brain, including the cerebral hemispheres (cerebral infarction), thalami, basal ganglia, brain stem (brain stem infarctions), or cerebellum secondary to an insufficiency of arterial or venous blood flow. [NIH] Brain Ischemia: Localized reduction of blood flow to brain tissue due to arterial obtruction or systemic hypoperfusion. This frequently occurs in conjuction with brain hypoxia. Prolonged ischemia is associated with brain infarction. [NIH] Brain Stem: The part of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres with the spinal cord. It consists of the mesencephalon, pons, and medulla oblongata. [NIH] Bronchitis: Inflammation (swelling and reddening) of the bronchi. [NIH] Buccal: Pertaining to or directed toward the cheek. In dental anatomy, used to refer to the buccal surface of a tooth. [EU] Bulimia: Episodic binge eating. The episodes may be associated with the fear of not being able to stop eating, depressed mood, or self-deprecating thoughts (binge-eating disorder) and may frequently be terminated by self-induced vomiting (bulimia nervosa). [NIH] Bunion: A swelling of the bursa mucosa of the ball of the great toe, with thickening of the overlying skin and forcing of the toe outward. [NIH] Buprenorphine: A derivative of the opioid alkaloid thebaine that is a more potent and
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longer lasting analgesic than morphine. It appears to act as a partial agonist at mu and kappa opioid receptors and as an antagonist at delta receptors. The lack of delta-agonist activity has been suggested to account for the observation that buprenorphine tolerance may not develop with chronic use. [NIH] Caesarean section: A surgical incision through the abdominal and uterine walls in order to deliver a baby. [NIH] Caffeine: A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes smooth muscle, stimulates cardiac muscle, stimulates diuresis, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, antagonism of adenosine receptors, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling. [NIH] Calcitonin: A peptide hormone that lowers calcium concentration in the blood. In humans, it is released by thyroid cells and acts to decrease the formation and absorptive activity of osteoclasts. Its role in regulating plasma calcium is much greater in children and in certain diseases than in normal adults. [NIH] Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide: Calcitonin gene-related peptide. A 37-amino acid peptide derived from the calcitonin gene. It occurs as a result of alternative processing of mRNA from the calcitonin gene. The neuropeptide is widely distributed in neural tissue of the brain, gut, perivascular nerves, and other tissue. The peptide produces multiple biological effects and has both circulatory and neurotransmitter modes of action. In particular, it is a potent endogenous vasodilator. [NIH] Calcium: A basic element found in nearly all organized tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. [NIH] Capillary: Any one of the minute vessels that connect the arterioles and venules, forming a network in nearly all parts of the body. Their walls act as semipermeable membranes for the interchange of various substances, including fluids, between the blood and tissue fluid; called also vas capillare. [EU] Cardiac: Having to do with the heart. [NIH] Cardiorespiratory: Relating to the heart and lungs and their function. [EU] Cardioselective: Having greater activity on heart tissue than on other tissue. [EU] Cardiovascular: Having to do with the heart and blood vessels. [NIH] Cardiovascular disease: Any abnormal condition characterized by dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels. CVD includes atherosclerosis (especially coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (e.g., stroke), and hypertension (high blood pressure). [NIH] Cardiovascular System: The heart and the blood vessels by which blood is pumped and circulated through the body. [NIH] Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A median nerve injury inside the carpal tunnel that results in symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, clumsiness, and a lack of sweating, which can be caused by work with certain hand and wrist postures. [NIH]
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Case report: A detailed report of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports also contain some demographic information about the patient (for example, age, gender, ethnic origin). [NIH] Case series: A group or series of case reports involving patients who were given similar treatment. Reports of case series usually contain detailed information about the individual patients. This includes demographic information (for example, age, gender, ethnic origin) and information on diagnosis, treatment, response to treatment, and follow-up after treatment. [NIH] Catechol: A chemical originally isolated from a type of mimosa tree. Catechol is used as an astringent, an antiseptic, and in photography, electroplating, and making other chemicals. It can also be man-made. [NIH] Catecholamine: A group of chemical substances manufactured by the adrenal medulla and secreted during physiological stress. [NIH] Catheters: A small, flexible tube that may be inserted into various parts of the body to inject or remove liquids. [NIH] Caudal: Denoting a position more toward the cauda, or tail, than some specified point of reference; same as inferior, in human anatomy. [EU] Celiac Disease: A disease characterized by intestinal malabsorption and precipitated by gluten-containing foods. The intestinal mucosa shows loss of villous structure. [NIH] Cell: The individual unit that makes up all of the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells. [NIH] Cell Differentiation: Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function which takes place during the development of the embryo and leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs. [NIH] Cell Division: The fission of a cell. [NIH] Cell proliferation: An increase in the number of cells as a result of cell growth and cell division. [NIH] Cell Survival: The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability. [NIH] Central Nervous System: The main information-processing organs of the nervous system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges. [NIH] Central Nervous System Infections: Pathogenic infections of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges. DNA virus infections; RNA virus infections; bacterial infections; mycoplasma infections; Spirochaetales infections; fungal infections; protozoan infections; helminthiasis; and prion diseases may involve the central nervous system as a primary or secondary process. [NIH] Cerebellum: Part of the metencephalon that lies in the posterior cranial fossa behind the brain stem. It is concerned with the coordination of movement. [NIH] Cerebral: Of or pertaining of the cerebrum or the brain. [EU] Cerebral Aqueduct: Narrow channel in the mesencephalon that connects the third and fourth ventricles. [NIH] Cerebral Cortex: The thin layer of gray matter on the surface of the cerebral hemisphere that develops from the telencephalon and folds into gyri. It reaches its highest development in man and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions. [NIH] Cerebral hemispheres: The two halves of the cerebrum, the part of the brain that controls
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muscle functions of the body and also controls speech, emotions, reading, writing, and learning. The right hemisphere controls muscle movement on the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere controls muscle movement on the right side of the body. [NIH] Cerebrovascular: Pertaining to the blood vessels of the cerebrum, or brain. [EU] Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain. It is divided into two hemispheres, or halves, called the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebrum controls muscle functions of the body and also controls speech, emotions, reading, writing, and learning. [NIH] Cervical: Relating to the neck, or to the neck of any organ or structure. Cervical lymph nodes are located in the neck; cervical cancer refers to cancer of the uterine cervix, which is the lower, narrow end (the "neck") of the uterus. [NIH] Cervix: The lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina. [NIH] Cesarean Section: Extraction of the fetus by means of abdominal hysterotomy. [NIH] Chelation: Combination with a metal in complexes in which the metal is part of a ring. [EU] Chemotactic Factors: Chemical substances that attract or repel cells or organisms. The concept denotes especially those factors released as a result of tissue injury, invasion, or immunologic activity, that attract leukocytes, macrophages, or other cells to the site of infection or insult. [NIH] Chemotherapy: Treatment with anticancer drugs. [NIH] Chin: The anatomical frontal portion of the mandible, also known as the mentum, that contains the line of fusion of the two separate halves of the mandible (symphysis menti). This line of fusion divides inferiorly to enclose a triangular area called the mental protuberance. On each side, inferior to the second premolar tooth, is the mental foramen for the passage of blood vessels and a nerve. [NIH] Chiropractic: A system of treating bodily disorders by manipulation of the spine and other parts, based on the belief that the cause is the abnormal functioning of a nerve. [NIH] Cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder. [NIH] Cholesterol: The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils. [NIH] Cholinergic: Resembling acetylcholine in pharmacological action; stimulated by or releasing acetylcholine or a related compound. [EU] Chromosome: Part of a cell that contains genetic information. Except for sperm and eggs, all human cells contain 46 chromosomes. [NIH] Chronic: A disease or condition that persists or progresses over a long period of time. [NIH] Chronic Disease: Disease or ailment of long duration. [NIH] Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Collective term for chronic bronchitis and emphysema. [NIH] Circulatory system: The system that contains the heart and the blood vessels and moves blood throughout the body. This system helps tissues get enough oxygen and nutrients, and it helps them get rid of waste products. The lymph system, which connects with the blood system, is often considered part of the circulatory system. [NIH] Cisplatin: An inorganic and water-soluble platinum complex. After undergoing hydrolysis, it reacts with DNA to produce both intra and interstrand crosslinks. These crosslinks appear to impair replication and transcription of DNA. The cytotoxicity of cisplatin correlates with cellular arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. [NIH]
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Clamp: A u-shaped steel rod used with a pin or wire for skeletal traction in the treatment of certain fractures. [NIH] Clinical study: A research study in which patients receive treatment in a clinic or other medical facility. Reports of clinical studies can contain results for single patients (case reports) or many patients (case series or clinical trials). [NIH] Clinical trial: A research study that tests how well new medical treatments or other interventions work in people. Each study is designed to test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. [NIH] Cloning: The production of a number of genetically identical individuals; in genetic engineering, a process for the efficient replication of a great number of identical DNA molecules. [NIH] Coca: Any of several South American shrubs of the Erythroxylon genus (and family) that yield cocaine; the leaves are chewed with alum for CNS stimulation. [NIH] Cocaine: An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake. [NIH] Cochlear: Of or pertaining to the cochlea. [EU] Cochlear Diseases: Diseases of the cochlea, the part of the inner ear that is concerned with hearing. [NIH] Colitis: Inflammation of the colon. [NIH] Collagen: A polypeptide substance comprising about one third of the total protein in mammalian organisms. It is the main constituent of skin, connective tissue, and the organic substance of bones and teeth. Different forms of collagen are produced in the body but all consist of three alpha-polypeptide chains arranged in a triple helix. Collagen is differentiated from other fibrous proteins, such as elastin, by the content of proline, hydroxyproline, and hydroxylysine; by the absence of tryptophan; and particularly by the high content of polar groups which are responsible for its swelling properties. [NIH] Colon: The long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. The remaining material, solid waste called stool, moves through the colon to the rectum and leaves the body through the anus. [NIH] Colorectal: Having to do with the colon or the rectum. [NIH] Colorectal Cancer: Cancer that occurs in the colon (large intestine) or the rectum (the end of the large intestine). A number of digestive diseases may increase a person's risk of colorectal cancer, including polyposis and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. [NIH] Colostomy: An opening into the colon from the outside of the body. A colostomy provides a new path for waste material to leave the body after part of the colon has been removed. [NIH] Combination Therapy: Association of 3 drugs to treat AIDS (AZT + DDC or DDI + protease inhibitor). [NIH] Complement: A term originally used to refer to the heat-labile factor in serum that causes immune cytolysis, the lysis of antibody-coated cells, and now referring to the entire functionally related system comprising at least 20 distinct serum proteins that is the effector not only of immune cytolysis but also of other biologic functions. Complement activation occurs by two different sequences, the classic and alternative pathways. The proteins of the classic pathway are termed 'components of complement' and are designated by the symbols
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C1 through C9. C1 is a calcium-dependent complex of three distinct proteins C1q, C1r and C1s. The proteins of the alternative pathway (collectively referred to as the properdin system) and complement regulatory proteins are known by semisystematic or trivial names. Fragments resulting from proteolytic cleavage of complement proteins are designated with lower-case letter suffixes, e.g., C3a. Inactivated fragments may be designated with the suffix 'i', e.g. C3bi. Activated components or complexes with biological activity are designated by a bar over the symbol e.g. C1 or C4b,2a. The classic pathway is activated by the binding of C1 to classic pathway activators, primarily antigen-antibody complexes containing IgM, IgG1, IgG3; C1q binds to a single IgM molecule or two adjacent IgG molecules. The alternative pathway can be activated by IgA immune complexes and also by nonimmunologic materials including bacterial endotoxins, microbial polysaccharides, and cell walls. Activation of the classic pathway triggers an enzymatic cascade involving C1, C4, C2 and C3; activation of the alternative pathway triggers a cascade involving C3 and factors B, D and P. Both result in the cleavage of C5 and the formation of the membrane attack complex. Complement activation also results in the formation of many biologically active complement fragments that act as anaphylatoxins, opsonins, or chemotactic factors. [EU] Complementary and alternative medicine: CAM. Forms of treatment that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) standard treatments. These practices are not considered standard medical approaches. CAM includes dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. [NIH] Complementary medicine: Practices not generally recognized by the medical community as standard or conventional medical approaches and used to enhance or complement the standard treatments. Complementary medicine includes the taking of dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, and herbal preparations; the drinking of special teas; and practices such as massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation. [NIH] Complete remission: The disappearance of all signs of cancer. Also called a complete response. [NIH] Compliance: Distensibility measure of a chamber such as the lungs (lung compliance) or bladder. Compliance is expressed as a change in volume per unit change in pressure. [NIH] Compress: A plug used to occludate an orifice in the control of bleeding, or to mop up secretions; an absorbent pad. [NIH] Computational Biology: A field of biology concerned with the development of techniques for the collection and manipulation of biological data, and the use of such data to make biological discoveries or predictions. This field encompasses all computational methods and theories applicable to molecular biology and areas of computer-based techniques for solving biological problems including manipulation of models and datasets. [NIH] Conception: The onset of pregnancy, marked by implantation of the blastocyst; the formation of a viable zygote. [EU] Connective Tissue: Tissue that supports and binds other tissues. It consists of connective tissue cells embedded in a large amount of extracellular matrix. [NIH] Connective Tissue: Tissue that supports and binds other tissues. It consists of connective tissue cells embedded in a large amount of extracellular matrix. [NIH] Connective Tissue Cells: A group of cells that includes fibroblasts, cartilage cells, adipocytes, smooth muscle cells, and bone cells. [NIH] Consciousness: Sense of awareness of self and of the environment. [NIH] Constipation: Infrequent or difficult evacuation of feces. [NIH]
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Constitutional: 1. Affecting the whole constitution of the body; not local. 2. Pertaining to the constitution. [EU] Constriction: The act of constricting. [NIH] Constriction, Pathologic: The condition of an anatomical structure's being constricted beyond normal dimensions. [NIH] Consultation: A deliberation between two or more physicians concerning the diagnosis and the proper method of treatment in a case. [NIH] Continuum: An area over which the vegetation or animal population is of constantly changing composition so that homogeneous, separate communities cannot be distinguished. [NIH]
Contraception: Use of agents, devices, methods, or procedures which diminish the likelihood of or prevent conception. [NIH] Contraindications: Any factor or sign that it is unwise to pursue a certain kind of action or treatment, e. g. giving a general anesthetic to a person with pneumonia. [NIH] Control group: In a clinical trial, the group that does not receive the new treatment being studied. This group is compared to the group that receives the new treatment, to see if the new treatment works. [NIH] Controlled clinical trial: A clinical study that includes a comparison (control) group. The comparison group receives a placebo, another treatment, or no treatment at all. [NIH] Controlled study: An experiment or clinical trial that includes a comparison (control) group. [NIH]
Conventional treatment: A currently accepted and widely used treatment for a certain type of disease, based on the results of past research. Also called conventional therapy. [NIH] Convulsions: A general term referring to sudden and often violent motor activity of cerebral or brainstem origin. Convulsions may also occur in the absence of an electrical cerebral discharge (e.g., in response to hypotension). [NIH] Coronary: Encircling in the manner of a crown; a term applied to vessels; nerves, ligaments, etc. The term usually denotes the arteries that supply the heart muscle and, by extension, a pathologic involvement of them. [EU] Coronary Arteriosclerosis: Thickening and loss of elasticity of the coronary arteries. [NIH] Coronary heart disease: A type of heart disease caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries that feed the heart, which needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood in the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged by fat and cholesterol deposits and cannot supply enough blood to the heart, CHD results. [NIH] Coronary Thrombosis: Presence of a thrombus in a coronary artery, often causing a myocardial infarction. [NIH] Cortex: The outer layer of an organ or other body structure, as distinguished from the internal substance. [EU] Cortical: Pertaining to or of the nature of a cortex or bark. [EU] Cortices: The outer layer of an organ; used especially of the cerebrum and cerebellum. [NIH] Cortisol: A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex as part of the body's response to stress. [NIH] Cost Savings: Reductions in all or any portion of the costs of providing goods or services. Savings may be incurred by the provider or the consumer. [NIH]
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Cranial: Pertaining to the cranium, or to the anterior (in animals) or superior (in humans) end of the body. [EU] Craniocerebral Trauma: Traumatic injuries involving the cranium and intracranial structures (i.e., brain; cranial nerves; meninges; and other structures). Injuries may be classified by whether or not the skull is penetrated (i.e., penetrating vs. nonpenetrating) or whether there is an associated hemorrhage. [NIH] Credentialing: The recognition of professional or technical competence through registration, certification, licensure, admission to association membership, the award of a diploma or degree, etc. [NIH] Criterion: A standard by which something may be judged. [EU] Curative: Tending to overcome disease and promote recovery. [EU] Cutaneous: Having to do with the skin. [NIH] Cyclic: Pertaining to or occurring in a cycle or cycles; the term is applied to chemical compounds that contain a ring of atoms in the nucleus. [EU] Cyclophosphamide: Precursor of an alkylating nitrogen mustard antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent that must be activated in the liver to form the active aldophosphamide. It is used in the treatment of lymphomas, leukemias, etc. Its side effect, alopecia, has been made use of in defleecing sheep. Cyclophosphamide may also cause sterility, birth defects, mutations, and cancer. [NIH] Cystitis: Inflammation of the urinary bladder. [EU] Cystoscopy: Endoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the urinary bladder. [NIH] Cytokines: Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some nonleukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner. [NIH] Cytotoxic: Cell-killing. [NIH] Cytotoxic chemotherapy: Anticancer drugs that kill cells, especially cancer cells. [NIH] Data Collection: Systematic gathering of data for a particular purpose from various sources, including questionnaires, interviews, observation, existing records, and electronic devices. The process is usually preliminary to statistical analysis of the data. [NIH] Daunorubicin: Very toxic anthracycline aminoglycoside antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces peucetius and others, used in treatment of leukemias and other neoplasms. [NIH]
Degenerative: Undergoing degeneration : tending to degenerate; having the character of or involving degeneration; causing or tending to cause degeneration. [EU] Delivery of Health Care: The concept concerned with all aspects of providing and distributing health services to a patient population. [NIH] Dendrites: Extensions of the nerve cell body. They are short and branched and receive stimuli from other neurons. [NIH] Dental Care: The total of dental diagnostic, preventive, and restorative services provided to meet the needs of a patient (from Illustrated Dictionary of Dentistry, 1982). [NIH] Depolarization: The process or act of neutralizing polarity. In neurophysiology, the reversal of the resting potential in excitable cell membranes when stimulated, i.e., the tendency of the cell membrane potential to become positive with respect to the potential outside the cell. [EU] Depressive Disorder: An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss
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of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent. [NIH] Deprivation: Loss or absence of parts, organs, powers, or things that are needed. [EU] Dermis: A layer of vascular connective tissue underneath the epidermis. The surface of the dermis contains sensitive papillae. Embedded in or beneath the dermis are sweat glands, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands. [NIH] Detoxification: Treatment designed to free an addict from his drug habit. [EU] Diagnostic procedure: A method used to identify a disease. [NIH] Diaphragm: The musculofibrous partition that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. Contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic cavity aiding inspiration. [NIH] Diarrhea: Passage of excessively liquid or excessively frequent stools. [NIH] Diarrhoea: Abnormal frequency and liquidity of faecal discharges. [EU] Diastole: Period of relaxation of the heart, especially the ventricles. [NIH] Diastolic: Of or pertaining to the diastole. [EU] Diffusion: The tendency of a gas or solute to pass from a point of higher pressure or concentration to a point of lower pressure or concentration and to distribute itself throughout the available space; a major mechanism of biological transport. [NIH] Digestion: The process of breakdown of food for metabolism and use by the body. [NIH] Dilution: A diluted or attenuated medicine; in homeopathy, the diffusion of a given quantity of a medicinal agent in ten or one hundred times the same quantity of water. [NIH] Diprenorphine: A narcotic antagonist similar in action to naloxone. It is used to remobilize animals after etorphine neuroleptanalgesia and is considered a specific antagonist to etorphine. [NIH] Direct: 1. Straight; in a straight line. 2. Performed immediately and without the intervention of subsidiary means. [EU] Discrete: Made up of separate parts or characterized by lesions which do not become blended; not running together; separate. [NIH] Disinfectant: An agent that disinfects; applied particularly to agents used on inanimate objects. [EU] Disparity: Failure of the two retinal images of an object to fall on corresponding retinal points. [NIH] Dissection: Cutting up of an organism for study. [NIH] Distal: Remote; farther from any point of reference; opposed to proximal. In dentistry, used to designate a position on the dental arch farther from the median line of the jaw. [EU] Distention: The state of being distended or enlarged; the act of distending. [EU] Diuresis: Increased excretion of urine. [EU] Diuretic: A drug that increases the production of urine. [NIH] Diverticula: Plural form of diverticulum. [NIH] Diverticulitis: Inflammation of a diverticulum or diverticula. [NIH] Diverticulum: A pathological condition manifested as a pouch or sac opening from a tubular or sacular organ. [NIH] Dopamine: An endogenous catecholamine and prominent neurotransmitter in several
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systems of the brain. In the synthesis of catecholamines from tyrosine, it is the immediate precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. Dopamine is a major transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain, and important in regulating movement. A family of dopaminergic receptor subtypes mediate its action. Dopamine is used pharmacologically for its direct (beta adrenergic agonist) and indirect (adrenergic releasing) sympathomimetic effects including its actions as an inotropic agent and as a renal vasodilator. [NIH] Dorsal: 1. Pertaining to the back or to any dorsum. 2. Denoting a position more toward the back surface than some other object of reference; same as posterior in human anatomy; superior in the anatomy of quadrupeds. [EU] Dorsum: A plate of bone which forms the posterior boundary of the sella turcica. [NIH] Double-blind: Pertaining to a clinical trial or other experiment in which neither the subject nor the person administering treatment knows which treatment any particular subject is receiving. [EU] Double-blinded: A clinical trial in which neither the medical staff nor the person knows which of several possible therapies the person is receiving. [NIH] Doxorubicin: Antineoplastic antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces peucetics. It is a hydroxy derivative of daunorubicin and is used in treatment of both leukemia and solid tumors. [NIH] Drug Interactions: The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. [NIH] Drug Tolerance: Progressive diminution of the susceptibility of a human or animal to the effects of a drug, resulting from its continued administration. It should be differentiated from drug resistance wherein an organism, disease, or tissue fails to respond to the intended effectiveness of a chemical or drug. It should also be differentiated from maximum tolerated dose and no-observed-adverse-effect level. [NIH] Duct: A tube through which body fluids pass. [NIH] Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine. [NIH] Dysmenorrhea: Painful menstruation. [NIH] Dyspepsia: Impaired digestion, especially after eating. [NIH] Dysphoric: A feeling of unpleasantness and discomfort. [NIH] Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing. [NIH] Dyspnoea: Difficult or laboured breathing. [EU] Edema: Excessive amount of watery fluid accumulated in the intercellular spaces, most commonly present in subcutaneous tissue. [NIH] Effector: It is often an enzyme that converts an inactive precursor molecule into an active second messenger. [NIH] Efferent: Nerve fibers which conduct impulses from the central nervous system to muscles and glands. [NIH] Efficacy: The extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions. Ideally, the determination of efficacy is based on the results of a randomized control trial. [NIH] Effusion: The escape of fluid into a part or tissue, as an exudation or a transudation. [EU] Elastic: Susceptible of resisting and recovering from stretching, compression or distortion applied by a force. [EU] Elasticity: Resistance and recovery from distortion of shape. [NIH]
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Elastin: The protein that gives flexibility to tissues. [NIH] Electroacupuncture: A form of acupuncture using low frequency electrically stimulated needles to produce analgesia and anesthesia and to treat disease. [NIH] Electroconvulsive Therapy: Electrically induced convulsions primarily used in the treatment of severe affective disorders and schizophrenia. [NIH] Electrolyte: A substance that dissociates into ions when fused or in solution, and thus becomes capable of conducting electricity; an ionic solute. [EU] Electromyography: Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. [NIH] Electrons: Stable elementary particles having the smallest known negative charge, present in all elements; also called negatrons. Positively charged electrons are called positrons. The numbers, energies and arrangement of electrons around atomic nuclei determine the chemical identities of elements. Beams of electrons are called cathode rays or beta rays, the latter being a high-energy biproduct of nuclear decay. [NIH] Electroplating: Coating with a metal or alloy by electrolysis. [NIH] Embolus: Bit of foreign matter which enters the blood stream at one point and is carried until it is lodged or impacted in an artery and obstructs it. It may be a blood clot, an air bubble, fat or other tissue, or clumps of bacteria. [NIH] Embryo: The prenatal stage of mammalian development characterized by rapid morphological changes and the differentiation of basic structures. [NIH] Embryo Transfer: Removal of a mammalian embryo from one environment and replacement in the same or a new environment. The embryo is usually in the pre-nidation phase, i.e., a blastocyst. The process includes embryo or blastocyst transplantation or transfer after in vitro fertilization and transfer of the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. It is not used for transfer of differentiated embryonic tissue, e.g., germ layer cells. [NIH] Emergency Medicine: A branch of medicine concerned with an individual's resuscitation, transportation and care from the point of injury or beginning of illness through the hospital or other emergency treatment facility. [NIH] Emergency Treatment: First aid or other immediate intervention for accidents or medical conditions requiring immediate care and treatment before definitive medical and surgical management can be procured. [NIH] Emesis: Vomiting; an act of vomiting. Also used as a word termination, as in haematemesis. [EU]
Emollient: Softening or soothing; called also malactic. [EU] Emphysema: A pathological accumulation of air in tissues or organs. [NIH] Empirical: A treatment based on an assumed diagnosis, prior to receiving confirmatory laboratory test results. [NIH] Endogenous: Produced inside an organism or cell. The opposite is external (exogenous) production. [NIH] Endometrial: Having to do with the endometrium (the layer of tissue that lines the uterus). [NIH]
Endometriosis: A condition in which tissue more or less perfectly resembling the uterine mucous membrane (the endometrium) and containing typical endometrial granular and stromal elements occurs aberrantly in various locations in the pelvic cavity. [NIH] Endometrium: The layer of tissue that lines the uterus. [NIH] Endorphin: Opioid peptides derived from beta-lipotropin. Endorphin is the most potent
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naturally occurring analgesic agent. It is present in pituitary, brain, and peripheral tissues. [NIH]
Endoscope: A thin, lighted tube used to look at tissues inside the body. [NIH] Endoscopic: A technique where a lateral-view endoscope is passed orally to the duodenum for visualization of the ampulla of Vater. [NIH] Endothelium: A layer of epithelium that lines the heart, blood vessels (endothelium, vascular), lymph vessels (endothelium, lymphatic), and the serous cavities of the body. [NIH] Endothelium-derived: Small molecule that diffuses to the adjacent muscle layer and relaxes it. [NIH] Endotoxins: Toxins closely associated with the living cytoplasm or cell wall of certain microorganisms, which do not readily diffuse into the culture medium, but are released upon lysis of the cells. [NIH] End-stage renal: Total chronic kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, the body retains fluid and harmful wastes build up. A person with ESRD needs treatment to replace the work of the failed kidneys. [NIH] Energetic: Exhibiting energy : strenuous; operating with force, vigour, or effect. [EU] Enkephalins: One of the three major families of endogenous opioid peptides. The enkephalins are pentapeptides that are widespread in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the adrenal medulla. [NIH] Enuresis: Involuntary discharge of urine after the age at which urinary control should have been achieved; often used alone with specific reference to involuntary discharge of urine occurring during sleep at night (bed-wetting, nocturnal enuresis). [EU] Environmental Health: The science of controlling or modifying those conditions, influences, or forces surrounding man which relate to promoting, establishing, and maintaining health. [NIH]
Enzymatic: Phase where enzyme cuts the precursor protein. [NIH] Enzyme: A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body. [NIH] Epidemic: Occurring suddenly in numbers clearly in excess of normal expectancy; said especially of infectious diseases but applied also to any disease, injury, or other healthrelated event occurring in such outbreaks. [EU] Epidural: The space between the wall of the spinal canal and the covering of the spinal cord. An epidural injection is given into this space. [NIH] Epigastric: Having to do with the upper middle area of the abdomen. [NIH] Epinephrine: The active sympathomimetic hormone from the adrenal medulla in most species. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic vasoconstriction and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the heart, and dilates bronchi and cerebral vessels. It is used in asthma and cardiac failure and to delay absorption of local anesthetics. [NIH] Epithalamus: The dorsal posterior subdivision of the diencephalon. The epithalamus is generally considered to include the habenular nuclei (habenula) and associated fiber bundles, the pineal body, and the epithelial roof of the third ventricle. The anterior and posterior paraventricular nuclei of the thalamus are included with the thalamic nuclei although they develop from the same pronuclear mass as the epithalamic nuclei and are sometimes considered part of the epithalamus. [NIH] Erythrocyte Volume: Volume of circulating erythrocytes. It is usually measured by radioisotope dilution technique. [NIH]
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Erythrocytes: Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing hemoglobin whose function is to transport oxygen. [NIH] Esophagus: The muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach. [NIH]
Estrogens: A class of sex hormones associated with the development and maintenance of secondary female sex characteristics and control of the cyclical changes in the reproductive cycle. They are also required for pregnancy maintenance and have an anabolic effect on protein metabolism and water retention. [NIH] Ethanol: A clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages. [NIH] Etorphine: A narcotic analgesic morphinan used as a sedative in veterinary practice. [NIH] Evacuation: An emptying, as of the bowels. [EU] Evoke: The electric response recorded from the cerebral cortex after stimulation of a peripheral sense organ. [NIH] Excitability: Property of a cardiac cell whereby, when the cell is depolarized to a critical level (called threshold), the membrane becomes permeable and a regenerative inward current causes an action potential. [NIH] Excitation: An act of irritation or stimulation or of responding to a stimulus; the addition of energy, as the excitation of a molecule by absorption of photons. [EU] Excitatory: When cortical neurons are excited, their output increases and each new input they receive while they are still excited raises their output markedly. [NIH] Exercise Therapy: Motion of the body or its parts to relieve symptoms or to improve function, leading to physical fitness, but not physical education and training. [NIH] Exhaustion: The feeling of weariness of mind and body. [NIH] Exocrine: Secreting outwardly, via a duct. [EU] Exogenous: Developed or originating outside the organism, as exogenous disease. [EU] Expectorant: 1. Promoting the ejection, by spitting, of mucus or other fluids from the lungs and trachea. 2. An agent that promotes the ejection of mucus or exudate from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea; sometimes extended to all remedies that quiet cough (antitussives). [EU]
Extensor: A muscle whose contraction tends to straighten a limb; the antagonist of a flexor. [NIH]
Extracellular: Outside a cell or cells. [EU] Extracellular Matrix: A meshwork-like substance found within the extracellular space and in association with the basement membrane of the cell surface. It promotes cellular proliferation and provides a supporting structure to which cells or cell lysates in culture dishes adhere. [NIH] Extracellular Space: Interstitial space between cells, occupied by fluid as well as amorphous and fibrous substances. [NIH] Extrapyramidal: Outside of the pyramidal tracts. [EU] Extremity: A limb; an arm or leg (membrum); sometimes applied specifically to a hand or foot. [EU] Family Planning: Programs or services designed to assist the family in controlling
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reproduction by either improving or diminishing fertility. [NIH] Family Therapy: A form of group psychotherapy. It involves treatment of more than one member of the family simultaneously in the same session. [NIH] Fat: Total lipids including phospholipids. [NIH] Fatigue: The state of weariness following a period of exertion, mental or physical, characterized by a decreased capacity for work and reduced efficiency to respond to stimuli. [NIH]
Feasibility Studies: Studies to determine the advantages or disadvantages, practicability, or capability of accomplishing a projected plan, study, or project. [NIH] Feces: The excrement discharged from the intestines, consisting of bacteria, cells exfoliated from the intestines, secretions, chiefly of the liver, and a small amount of food residue. [EU] Femoral: Pertaining to the femur, or to the thigh. [EU] Femur: The longest and largest bone of the skeleton, it is situated between the hip and the knee. [NIH] Fertilization in Vitro: Fertilization of an egg outside the body when the egg is normally fertilized in the body. [NIH] Fetus: The developing offspring from 7 to 8 weeks after conception until birth. [NIH] Fibroblasts: Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules. [NIH] Fibula: The bone of the lower leg lateral to and smaller than the tibia. In proportion to its length, it is the most slender of the long bones. [NIH] Fixation: 1. The act or operation of holding, suturing, or fastening in a fixed position. 2. The condition of being held in a fixed position. 3. In psychiatry, a term with two related but distinct meanings : (1) arrest of development at a particular stage, which like regression (return to an earlier stage), if temporary is a normal reaction to setbacks and difficulties but if protracted or frequent is a cause of developmental failures and emotional problems, and (2) a close and suffocating attachment to another person, especially a childhood figure, such as one's mother or father. Both meanings are derived from psychoanalytic theory and refer to 'fixation' of libidinal energy either in a specific erogenous zone, hence fixation at the oral, anal, or phallic stage, or in a specific object, hence mother or father fixation. 4. The use of a fixative (q.v.) to preserve histological or cytological specimens. 5. In chemistry, the process whereby a substance is removed from the gaseous or solution phase and localized, as in carbon dioxide fixation or nitrogen fixation. 6. In ophthalmology, direction of the gaze so that the visual image of the object falls on the fovea centralis. 7. In film processing, the chemical removal of all undeveloped salts of the film emulsion, leaving only the developed silver to form a permanent image. [EU] Flatus: Gas passed through the rectum. [NIH] Flexion: In gynaecology, a displacement of the uterus in which the organ is bent so far forward or backward that an acute angle forms between the fundus and the cervix. [EU] Fluorouracil: A pyrimidine analog that acts as an antineoplastic antimetabolite and also has immunosuppressant. It interferes with DNA synthesis by blocking the thymidylate synthetase conversion of deoxyuridylic acid to thymidylic acid. [NIH] Follicles: Shafts through which hair grows. [NIH] Forearm: The part between the elbow and the wrist. [NIH] Friction: Surface resistance to the relative motion of one body against the rubbing, sliding, rolling, or flowing of another with which it is in contact. [NIH]
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging: A noninvasive tool used to observe functioning in the brain or other organs by detecting changes in chemical composition, blood flow, or both. [NIH]
Fundus: The larger part of a hollow organ that is farthest away from the organ's opening. The bladder, gallbladder, stomach, uterus, eye, and cavity of the middle ear all have a fundus. [NIH] Gallbladder: The pear-shaped organ that sits below the liver. Bile is concentrated and stored in the gallbladder. [NIH] Gamma Rays: Very powerful and penetrating, high-energy electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength than that of x-rays. They are emitted by a decaying nucleus, usually between 0.01 and 10 MeV. They are also called nuclear x-rays. [NIH] Gamma-Endorphin: An endogenous opioid peptide derived from the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor peptide. It differs from alpha-endorphin by one amino acid. [NIH] Ganglia: Clusters of multipolar neurons surrounded by a capsule of loosely organized connective tissue located outside the central nervous system. [NIH] Ganglionic Blockers: Agents having as their major action the interruption of neural transmission at nicotinic receptors on postganglionic autonomic neurons. Because their actions are so broad, including blocking of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, their therapeutic use has been largely supplanted by more specific drugs. They may still be used in the control of blood pressure in patients with acute dissecting aortic aneurysm and for the induction of hypotension in surgery. [NIH] Gas: Air that comes from normal breakdown of food. The gases are passed out of the body through the rectum (flatus) or the mouth (burp). [NIH] Gas exchange: Primary function of the lungs; transfer of oxygen from inhaled air into the blood and of carbon dioxide from the blood into the lungs. [NIH] Gastric: Having to do with the stomach. [NIH] Gastric Emptying: The evacuation of food from the stomach into the duodenum. [NIH] Gastrin: A hormone released after eating. Gastrin causes the stomach to produce more acid. [NIH]
Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach. [EU] Gastroenteritis: An acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, characterized by anorexia, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and weakness, which has various causes, including food poisoning due to infection with such organisms as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella species; consumption of irritating food or drink; or psychological factors such as anger, stress, and fear. Called also enterogastritis. [EU] Gastrointestinal: Refers to the stomach and intestines. [NIH] Gastrointestinal tract: The stomach and intestines. [NIH] Gastroparesis: Nerve or muscle damage in the stomach. Causes slow digestion and emptying, vomiting, nausea, or bloating. Also called delayed gastric emptying. [NIH] Gemcitabine: An anticancer drug that belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites. [NIH]
Gene: The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein. [NIH]
Gene Expression: The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of gene
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action. [NIH] Generator: Any system incorporating a fixed parent radionuclide from which is produced a daughter radionuclide which is to be removed by elution or by any other method and used in a radiopharmaceutical. [NIH] Geriatric: Pertaining to the treatment of the aged. [EU] Gland: An organ that produces and releases one or more substances for use in the body. Some glands produce fluids that affect tissues or organs. Others produce hormones or participate in blood production. [NIH] Glutamic Acid: A non-essential amino acid naturally occurring in the L-form. Glutamic acid (glutamate) is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. [NIH]
Gluten: The protein of wheat and other grains which gives to the dough its tough elastic character. [EU] Glycine: A non-essential amino acid. It is found primarily in gelatin and silk fibroin and used therapeutically as a nutrient. It is also a fast inhibitory neurotransmitter. [NIH] Gonadorelin: A decapeptide hormone released by the hypothalamus. It stimulates the synthesis and secretion of both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. [NIH] Gonadotropin: The water-soluble follicle stimulating substance, by some believed to originate in chorionic tissue, obtained from the serum of pregnant mares. It is used to supplement the action of estrogens. [NIH] Gonads: The gamete-producing glands, ovary or testis. [NIH] Governing Board: The group in which legal authority is vested for the control of healthrelated institutions and organizations. [NIH] Grade: The grade of a tumor depends on how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Grading systems are different for each type of cancer. [NIH] Granulocytes: Leukocytes with abundant granules in the cytoplasm. They are divided into three groups: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. [NIH] Growth factors: Substances made by the body that function to regulate cell division and cell survival. Some growth factors are also produced in the laboratory and used in biological therapy. [NIH] Guanethidine: An antihypertensive agent that acts by inhibiting selectively transmission in post-ganglionic adrenergic nerves. It is believed to act mainly by preventing the release of norepinephrine at nerve endings and causes depletion of norepinephrine in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals as well as in tissues. [NIH] Guanylate Cyclase: An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of GTP to 3',5'-cyclic GMP and pyrophosphate. It also acts on ITP and dGTP. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 4.6.1.2. [NIH] Gynaecological: Pertaining to gynaecology. [EU] Gyrus Cinguli: One of the convolutions on the medial surface of the cerebral hemisphere. It surrounds the rostral part of the brain and interhemispheric commissure and forms part of the limbic system. [NIH] Habituate: Eventual cessation of response to a repeated sound. [NIH] Haematemesis: The vomiting of blood. [EU]
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Hair follicles: Shafts or openings on the surface of the skin through which hair grows. [NIH] Halitosis: An offensive, foul breath odor resulting from a variety of causes such as poor oral hygiene, dental or oral infections, or the ingestion of certain foods. [NIH] Hallux Valgus: Lateral displacement of the great toe, producing deformity of the first metatarsophalangeal joint with callous, bursa, or bunion formation over the bony prominence. [NIH] Headache: Pain in the cranial region that may occur as an isolated and benign symptom or as a manifestation of a wide variety of conditions including subarachnoid hemorrhage; craniocerebral trauma; central nervous system infections; intracranial hypertension; and other disorders. In general, recurrent headaches that are not associated with a primary disease process are referred to as headache disorders (e.g., migraine). [NIH] Headache Disorders: Common conditions characterized by persistent or recurrent headaches. Headache syndrome classification systems may be based on etiology (e.g., vascular headache, post-traumatic headaches, etc.), temporal pattern (e.g., cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, etc.), and precipitating factors (e.g., cough headache). [NIH] Health Care Costs: The actual costs of providing services related to the delivery of health care, including the costs of procedures, therapies, and medications. It is differentiated from health expenditures, which refers to the amount of money paid for the services, and from fees, which refers to the amount charged, regardless of cost. [NIH] Health Expenditures: The amounts spent by individuals, groups, nations, or private or public organizations for total health care and/or its various components. These amounts may or may not be equivalent to the actual costs (health care costs) and may or may not be shared among the patient, insurers, and/or employers. [NIH] Health Services: Services for the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. [NIH] Heart attack: A seizure of weak or abnormal functioning of the heart. [NIH] Heart failure: Loss of pumping ability by the heart, often accompanied by fatigue, breathlessness, and excess fluid accumulation in body tissues. [NIH] Heartburn: Substernal pain or burning sensation, usually associated with regurgitation of gastric juice into the esophagus. [NIH] Hemiparesis: The weakness or paralysis affecting one side of the body. [NIH] Hemiplegia: Severe or complete loss of motor function on one side of the body. This condition is usually caused by BRAIN DISEASES that are localized to the cerebral hemisphere opposite to the side of weakness. Less frequently, BRAIN STEM lesions; cervical spinal cord diseases; peripheral nervous system diseases; and other conditions may manifest as hemiplegia. The term hemiparesis (see paresis) refers to mild to moderate weakness involving one side of the body. [NIH] Hemorrhage: Bleeding or escape of blood from a vessel. [NIH] Hemostasis: The process which spontaneously arrests the flow of blood from vessels carrying blood under pressure. It is accomplished by contraction of the vessels, adhesion and aggregation of formed blood elements, and the process of blood or plasma coagulation. [NIH]
Heredity: 1. The genetic transmission of a particular quality or trait from parent to offspring. 2. The genetic constitution of an individual. [EU] Hexamethonium: A nicotinic cholinergic antagonist often referred to as the prototypical ganglionic blocker. It is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and does not cross the blood-brain barrier. It has been used for a variety of therapeutic purposes including
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hypertension but, like the other ganglionic blockers, it has been replaced by more specific drugs for most purposes, although it is widely used a research tool. [NIH] Hiatal Hernia: A small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest. Causes heartburn from stomach acid flowing back up through the opening. [NIH] Hippocampus: A curved elevation of gray matter extending the entire length of the floor of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle (Dorland, 28th ed). The hippocampus, subiculum, and dentate gyrus constitute the hippocampal formation. Sometimes authors include the entorhinal cortex in the hippocampal formation. [NIH] Holistic Health: Health as viewed from the perspective that man and other organisms function as complete, integrated units rather than as aggregates of separate parts. [NIH] Homeopathic remedies: Small doses of medicines, herbs, or both that are believed to stimulate the immune system. [NIH] Homogeneous: Consisting of or composed of similar elements or ingredients; of a uniform quality throughout. [EU] Homologous: Corresponding in structure, position, origin, etc., as (a) the feathers of a bird and the scales of a fish, (b) antigen and its specific antibody, (c) allelic chromosomes. [EU] Hormone: A substance in the body that regulates certain organs. Hormones such as gastrin help in breaking down food. Some hormones come from cells in the stomach and small intestine. [NIH] Hormone therapy: Treatment of cancer by removing, blocking, or adding hormones. Also called endocrine therapy. [NIH] Hospice: Institution dedicated to caring for the terminally ill. [NIH] Humeral: 1. Of, relating to, or situated in the region of the humerus: brachial. 2. Of or belonging to the shoulder. 3. Of, relating to, or being any of several body parts that are analogous in structure, function, or location to the humerus or shoulder. [EU] Hydrogen: The first chemical element in the periodic table. It has the atomic symbol H, atomic number 1, and atomic weight 1. It exists, under normal conditions, as a colorless, odorless, tasteless, diatomic gas. Hydrogen ions are protons. Besides the common H1 isotope, hydrogen exists as the stable isotope deuterium and the unstable, radioactive isotope tritium. [NIH] Hydroxylysine: A hydroxylated derivative of the amino acid lysine that is present in certain collagens. [NIH] Hydroxyproline: A hydroxylated form of the imino acid proline. A deficiency in ascorbic acid can result in impaired hydroxyproline formation. [NIH] Hyperalgesia: Excessive sensitiveness or sensibility to pain. [EU] Hyperemesis: Excessive vomiting. [EU] Hypersensitivity: Altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen. [NIH] Hypertension: Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Currently accepted threshold levels are 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. [NIH] Hyperthyroidism: Excessive functional activity of the thyroid gland. [NIH] Hypnotherapy: Sleeping-cure. [NIH] Hypnotic: A drug that acts to induce sleep. [EU] Hypotension: Abnormally low blood pressure. [NIH]
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Hypothalamic: Of or involving the hypothalamus. [EU] Hypothalamus: Ventral part of the diencephalon extending from the region of the optic chiasm to the caudal border of the mammillary bodies and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the third ventricle. [NIH] Hypoxic: Having too little oxygen. [NIH] Hysterectomy: Excision of the uterus. [NIH] Hysterotomy: An incision in the uterus, performed through either the abdomen or the vagina. [NIH] Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties used in the therapy of rheumatism and arthritis. [NIH] Ileostomy: Surgical creation of an external opening into the ileum for fecal diversion or drainage. Loop or tube procedures are most often employed. [NIH] Ileum: The lower end of the small intestine. [NIH] Ileus: Obstruction of the intestines. [EU] Immune response: The activity of the immune system against foreign substances (antigens). [NIH]
Immune system: The organs, cells, and molecules responsible for the recognition and disposal of foreign ("non-self") material which enters the body. [NIH] Immunity: Nonsusceptibility to the invasive or pathogenic microorganisms or to the toxic effect of antigenic substances. [NIH]
effects
of
foreign
Immunization: Deliberate stimulation of the host's immune response. Active immunization involves administration of antigens or immunologic adjuvants. Passive immunization involves administration of immune sera or lymphocytes or their extracts (e.g., transfer factor, immune RNA) or transplantation of immunocompetent cell producing tissue (thymus or bone marrow). [NIH] Immunologic: The ability of the antibody-forming system to recall a previous experience with an antigen and to respond to a second exposure with the prompt production of large amounts of antibody. [NIH] Immunosuppressant: An agent capable of suppressing immune responses. [EU] Immunosuppression: Deliberate prevention or diminution of the host's immune response. It may be nonspecific as in the administration of immunosuppressive agents (drugs or radiation) or by lymphocyte depletion or may be specific as in desensitization or the simultaneous administration of antigen and immunosuppressive drugs. [NIH] Immunosuppressive: Describes the ability to lower immune system responses. [NIH] Impairment: In the context of health experience, an impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function. [NIH] Implantation: The insertion or grafting into the body of biological, living, inert, or radioactive material. [EU] In vitro: In the laboratory (outside the body). The opposite of in vivo (in the body). [NIH] In vivo: In the body. The opposite of in vitro (outside the body or in the laboratory). [NIH] Incision: A cut made in the body during surgery. [NIH] Incontinence: Inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence) or the escape of stool from the rectum (fecal incontinence). [NIH] Indigestion: Poor digestion. Symptoms include heartburn, nausea, bloating, and gas. Also
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called dyspepsia. [NIH] Infant Care: Care of infants in the home or institution. [NIH] Infarction: A pathological process consisting of a sudden insufficient blood supply to an area, which results in necrosis of that area. It is usually caused by a thrombus, an embolus, or a vascular torsion. [NIH] Infection: 1. Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may be clinically unapparent or result in local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response. The infection may remain localized, subclinical, and temporary if the body's defensive mechanisms are effective. A local infection may persist and spread by extension to become an acute, subacute, or chronic clinical infection or disease state. A local infection may also become systemic when the microorganisms gain access to the lymphatic or vascular system. 2. An infectious disease. [EU]
Infertility: The diminished or absent ability to conceive or produce an offspring while sterility is the complete inability to conceive or produce an offspring. [NIH] Inflammation: A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. [NIH] Inflammatory bowel disease: A general term that refers to the inflammation of the colon and rectum. Inflammatory bowel disease includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. [NIH]
Infrared Rays: That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum usually sensed as heat. Infrared wavelengths are longer than those of visible light, extending into the microwave frequencies. They are used therapeutically as heat, and also to warm food in restaurants. [NIH]
Ingestion: Taking into the body by mouth [NIH] Inhalation: The drawing of air or other substances into the lungs. [EU] Inlay: In dentistry, a filling first made to correspond with the form of a dental cavity and then cemented into the cavity. [NIH] Innervation: 1. The distribution or supply of nerves to a part. 2. The supply of nervous energy or of nerve stimulus sent to a part. [EU] Inotropic: Affecting the force or energy of muscular contractions. [EU] Insight: The capacity to understand one's own motives, to be aware of one's own psychodynamics, to appreciate the meaning of symbolic behavior. [NIH] Insomnia: Difficulty in going to sleep or getting enough sleep. [NIH] Intermittent: Occurring at separated intervals; having periods of cessation of activity. [EU] Interstitial: Pertaining to or situated between parts or in the interspaces of a tissue. [EU] Intervertebral: Situated between two contiguous vertebrae. [EU] Intervertebral Disk Displacement: An intervertebral disk in which the nucleus pulposus has protruded through surrounding fibrocartilage. This occurs most frequently in the lower lumbar region. [NIH] Intestinal: Having to do with the intestines. [NIH] Intestinal Mucosa: The surface lining of the intestines where the cells absorb nutrients. [NIH] Intestine: A long, tube-shaped organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. There is both a large intestine and a small intestine. Also called the bowel. [NIH]
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Intoxication: Poisoning, the state of being poisoned. [EU] Intracellular: Inside a cell. [NIH] Intracranial Hypertension: Increased pressure within the cranial vault. This may result from several conditions, including hydrocephalus; brain edema; intracranial masses; severe systemic hypertension; pseudotumor cerebri; and other disorders. [NIH] Intravenous: IV. Into a vein. [NIH] Invasive: 1. Having the quality of invasiveness. 2. Involving puncture or incision of the skin or insertion of an instrument or foreign material into the body; said of diagnostic techniques. [EU]
Involuntary: Reaction occurring without intention or volition. [NIH] Ionizing: Radiation comprising charged particles, e. g. electrons, protons, alpha-particles, etc., having sufficient kinetic energy to produce ionization by collision. [NIH] Ions: An atom or group of atoms that have a positive or negative electric charge due to a gain (negative charge) or loss (positive charge) of one or more electrons. Atoms with a positive charge are known as cations; those with a negative charge are anions. [NIH] Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A disorder that comes and goes. Nerves that control the muscles in the GI tract are too active. The GI tract becomes sensitive to food, stool, gas, and stress. Causes abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea. Also called spastic colon or mucous colitis. [NIH] Ischemia: Deficiency of blood in a part, due to functional constriction or actual obstruction of a blood vessel. [EU] Kb: A measure of the length of DNA fragments, 1 Kb = 1000 base pairs. The largest DNA fragments are up to 50 kilobases long. [NIH] Kidney Failure: The inability of a kidney to excrete metabolites at normal plasma levels under conditions of normal loading, or the inability to retain electrolytes under conditions of normal intake. In the acute form (kidney failure, acute), it is marked by uremia and usually by oliguria or anuria, with hyperkalemia and pulmonary edema. The chronic form (kidney failure, chronic) is irreversible and requires hemodialysis. [NIH] Kinetic: Pertaining to or producing motion. [EU] Labile: 1. Gliding; moving from point to point over the surface; unstable; fluctuating. 2. Chemically unstable. [EU] Laparoscopy: Examination, therapy or surgery of the abdomen's interior by means of a laparoscope. [NIH] Large Intestine: The part of the intestine that goes from the cecum to the rectum. The large intestine absorbs water from stool and changes it from a liquid to a solid form. The large intestine is 5 feet long and includes the appendix, cecum, colon, and rectum. Also called colon. [NIH] Larynx: An irregularly shaped, musculocartilaginous tubular structure, lined with mucous membrane, located at the top of the trachea and below the root of the tongue and the hyoid bone. It is the essential sphincter guarding the entrance into the trachea and functioning secondarily as the organ of voice. [NIH] Latency: The period of apparent inactivity between the time when a stimulus is presented and the moment a response occurs. [NIH] Least-Squares Analysis: A principle of estimation in which the estimates of a set of parameters in a statistical model are those quantities minimizing the sum of squared differences between the observed values of a dependent variable and the values predicted
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by the model. [NIH] Lesion: An area of abnormal tissue change. [NIH] Leukemia: Cancer of blood-forming tissue. [NIH] Ligament: A band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilages, serving to support and strengthen joints. [EU] Ligands: A RNA simulation method developed by the MIT. [NIH] Ligation: Application of a ligature to tie a vessel or strangulate a part. [NIH] Likelihood Functions: Functions constructed from a statistical model and a set of observed data which give the probability of that data for various values of the unknown model parameters. Those parameter values that maximize the probability are the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters. [NIH] Limbic: Pertaining to a limbus, or margin; forming a border around. [EU] Limbic System: A set of forebrain structures common to all mammals that is defined functionally and anatomically. It is implicated in the higher integration of visceral, olfactory, and somatic information as well as homeostatic responses including fundamental survival behaviors (feeding, mating, emotion). For most authors, it includes the amygdala, epithalamus, gyrus cinguli, hippocampal formation (see hippocampus), hypothalamus, parahippocampal gyrus, septal nuclei, anterior nuclear group of thalamus, and portions of the basal ganglia. (Parent, Carpenter's Human Neuroanatomy, 9th ed, p744; NeuroNames, http://rprcsgi.rprc.washington.edu/neuronames/index.html (September 2, 1998)). [NIH] Linear Models: Statistical models in which the value of a parameter for a given value of a factor is assumed to be equal to a + bx, where a and b are constants. The models predict a linear regression. [NIH] Linkage: The tendency of two or more genes in the same chromosome to remain together from one generation to the next more frequently than expected according to the law of independent assortment. [NIH] Liver: A large, glandular organ located in the upper abdomen. The liver cleanses the blood and aids in digestion by secreting bile. [NIH] Lobe: A portion of an organ such as the liver, lung, breast, or brain. [NIH] Localization: The process of determining or marking the location or site of a lesion or disease. May also refer to the process of keeping a lesion or disease in a specific location or site. [NIH] Localized: Cancer which has not metastasized yet. [NIH] Logistic Models: Statistical models which describe the relationship between a qualitative dependent variable (that is, one which can take only certain discrete values, such as the presence or absence of a disease) and an independent variable. A common application is in epidemiology for estimating an individual's risk (probability of a disease) as a function of a given risk factor. [NIH] Low Back Pain: Acute or chronic pain in the lumbar or sacral regions, which may be associated with musculo-ligamentous sprains and strains; intervertebral disk displacement; and other conditions. [NIH] Lumbar: Pertaining to the loins, the part of the back between the thorax and the pelvis. [EU] Lupus: A form of cutaneous tuberculosis. It is seen predominantly in women and typically involves the nasal, buccal, and conjunctival mucosa. [NIH] Lymph: The almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system and carries cells that help fight infection and disease. [NIH]
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Lymph node: A rounded mass of lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue. Also known as a lymph gland. Lymph nodes are spread out along lymphatic vessels and contain many lymphocytes, which filter the lymphatic fluid (lymph). [NIH]
Lymphatic: The tissues and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease. [NIH] Lymphatic system: The tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infection and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells. These tubes branch, like blood vessels, into all the tissues of the body. [NIH] Lymphedema: Edema due to obstruction of lymph vessels or disorders of the lymph nodes. [NIH]
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. [NIH] Malabsorption: Impaired intestinal absorption of nutrients. [EU] Malignant: Cancerous; a growth with a tendency to invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. [NIH] Mammary: Pertaining to the mamma, or breast. [EU] Manic: Affected with mania. [EU] Manifest: Being the part or aspect of a phenomenon that is directly observable : concretely expressed in behaviour. [EU] Man-made: Ionizing radiation emitted by artificial or concentrated natural, radioactive material or resulting from the operation of high voltage apparatus, such as X-ray apparatus or particle accelerators, of nuclear reactors, or from nuclear explosions. [NIH] Maxillary: Pertaining to the maxilla : the irregularly shaped bone that with its fellow forms the upper jaw. [EU] Medial: Lying near the midsaggital plane of the body; opposed to lateral. [NIH] Median Nerve: A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand. [NIH] Mediate: Indirect; accomplished by the aid of an intervening medium. [EU] Mediator: An object or substance by which something is mediated, such as (1) a structure of the nervous system that transmits impulses eliciting a specific response; (2) a chemical substance (transmitter substance) that induces activity in an excitable tissue, such as nerve or muscle; or (3) a substance released from cells as the result of the interaction of antigen with antibody or by the action of antigen with a sensitized lymphocyte. [EU] Medical Staff: Professional medical personnel who provide care to patients in an organized facility, institution or agency. [NIH] Medicament: A medicinal substance or agent. [EU] MEDLINE: An online database of MEDLARS, the computerized bibliographic Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System of the National Library of Medicine. [NIH] Medullary: Pertaining to the marrow or to any medulla; resembling marrow. [EU] Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a surface. [NIH]
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Memory: Complex mental function having four distinct phases: (1) memorizing or learning, (2) retention, (3) recall, and (4) recognition. Clinically, it is usually subdivided into immediate, recent, and remote memory. [NIH] Meninges: The three membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. [NIH] Menopause: Permanent cessation of menstruation. [NIH] Menstrual Cycle: The period of the regularly recurring physiologic changes in the endometrium occurring during the reproductive period in human females and some primates and culminating in partial sloughing of the endometrium (menstruation). [NIH] Menstruation: The normal physiologic discharge through the vagina of blood and mucosal tissues from the nonpregnant uterus. [NIH] Mental: Pertaining to the mind; psychic. 2. (L. mentum chin) pertaining to the chin. [EU] Mental Health: The state wherein the person is well adjusted. [NIH] Mental Processes: Conceptual functions or thinking in all its forms. [NIH] Mentors: Senior professionals who provide guidance, direction and support to those persons desirous of improvement in academic positions, administrative positions or other career development situations. [NIH] Mesolimbic: Inner brain region governing emotion and drives. [NIH] Metabolic therapy: Treatment to correct changes in metabolism that can be caused by disease. [NIH] Metastasis: The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. Tumors formed from cells that have spread are called "secondary tumors" and contain cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor. The plural is metastases. [NIH] Metastatic: Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. [NIH] Metatarsophalangeal Joint: The articulation between a metatarsal bone and a phalanx. [NIH] Methyltransferase: A drug-metabolizing enzyme. [NIH] Metoclopramide: A dopamine D2 antagonist that is used as an antiemetic. [NIH] Microbe: An organism which cannot be observed with the naked eye; e. g. unicellular animals, lower algae, lower fungi, bacteria. [NIH] Microdialysis: A technique for measuring extracellular concentrations of substances in tissues, usually in vivo, by means of a small probe equipped with a semipermeable membrane. Substances may also be introduced into the extracellular space through the membrane. [NIH] Microglia: The third type of glial cell, along with astrocytes and oligodendrocytes (which together form the macroglia). Microglia vary in appearance depending on developmental stage, functional state, and anatomical location; subtype terms include ramified, perivascular, ameboid, resting, and activated. Microglia clearly are capable of phagocytosis and play an important role in a wide spectrum of neuropathologies. They have also been suggested to act in several other roles including in secretion (e.g., of cytokines and neural growth factors), in immunological processing (e.g., antigen presentation), and in central nervous system development and remodeling. [NIH] Microorganism: An organism that can be seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses are not considered living organisms, they are sometimes classified as microorganisms. [NIH] Microscopy: The application of microscope magnification to the study of materials that
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cannot be properly seen by the unaided eye. [NIH] Midwifery: The practice of assisting women in childbirth. [NIH] Miscarriage: Spontaneous expulsion of the products of pregnancy before the middle of the second trimester. [NIH] Modeling: A treatment procedure whereby the therapist presents the target behavior which the learner is to imitate and make part of his repertoire. [NIH] Modification: A change in an organism, or in a process in an organism, that is acquired from its own activity or environment. [NIH] Molecular: Of, pertaining to, or composed of molecules : a very small mass of matter. [EU] Molecular Structure: The location of the atoms, groups or ions relative to one another in a molecule, as well as the number, type and location of covalent bonds. [NIH] Molecule: A chemical made up of two or more atoms. The atoms in a molecule can be the same (an oxygen molecule has two oxygen atoms) or different (a water molecule has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). Biological molecules, such as proteins and DNA, can be made up of many thousands of atoms. [NIH] Monitor: An apparatus which automatically records such physiological signs as respiration, pulse, and blood pressure in an anesthetized patient or one undergoing surgical or other procedures. [NIH] Monoamine: Enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the astrocytes and microglia. [NIH] Mood Disorders: Those disorders that have a disturbance in mood as their predominant feature. [NIH] Morphine: The principal alkaloid in opium and the prototype opiate analgesic and narcotic. Morphine has widespread effects in the central nervous system and on smooth muscle. [NIH] Morphological: Relating to the configuration or the structure of live organs. [NIH] Motility: The ability to move spontaneously. [EU] Motion Sickness: Sickness caused by motion, as sea sickness, train sickness, car sickness, and air sickness. [NIH] Mucosa: A mucous membrane, or tunica mucosa. [EU] Mucus: The viscous secretion of mucous membranes. It contains mucin, white blood cells, water, inorganic salts, and exfoliated cells. [NIH] Multicenter study: A clinical trial that is carried out at more than one medical institution. [NIH]
Muscle Contraction: A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments. [NIH] Muscle Relaxation: That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position. [NIH] Muscle tension: A force in a material tending to produce extension; the state of being stretched. [NIH] Myalgia: Pain in a muscle or muscles. [EU] Myocardial infarction: Gross necrosis of the myocardium as a result of interruption of the blood supply to the area; it is almost always caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, upon which coronary thrombosis is usually superimposed. [NIH] Myocardial Ischemia: A disorder of cardiac function caused by insufficient blood flow to
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the muscle tissue of the heart. The decreased blood flow may be due to narrowing of the coronary arteries (coronary arteriosclerosis), to obstruction by a thrombus (coronary thrombosis), or less commonly, to diffuse narrowing of arterioles and other small vessels within the heart. Severe interruption of the blood supply to the myocardial tissue may result in necrosis of cardiac muscle (myocardial infarction). [NIH] Myocardium: The muscle tissue of the heart composed of striated, involuntary muscle known as cardiac muscle. [NIH] Myopia: That error of refraction in which rays of light entering the eye parallel to the optic axis are brought to a focus in front of the retina, as a result of the eyeball being too long from front to back (axial m.) or of an increased strength in refractive power of the media of the eye (index m.). Called also nearsightedness, because the near point is less distant than it is in emmetropia with an equal amplitude of accommodation. [EU] Myosin: Chief protein in muscle and the main constituent of the thick filaments of muscle fibers. In conjunction with actin, it is responsible for the contraction and relaxation of muscles. [NIH] Nafarelin: 6-(3-(2-Naphthalenyl)-D-alanine)luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (pig). A gonadorelin analog agonist. It has been used in the treatment of central precocious puberty and endometriosis. [NIH] Naloxone: A specific opiate antagonist that has no agonist activity. It is a competitive antagonist at mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. [NIH] Narcolepsy: A condition of unknown cause characterized by a periodic uncontrollable tendency to fall asleep. [NIH] Narcosis: A general and nonspecific reversible depression of neuronal excitability, produced by a number of physical and chemical aspects, usually resulting in stupor. [NIH] Narcotic: 1. Pertaining to or producing narcosis. 2. An agent that produces insensibility or stupor, applied especially to the opioids, i.e. to any natural or synthetic drug that has morphine-like actions. [EU] Nausea: An unpleasant sensation in the stomach usually accompanied by the urge to vomit. Common causes are early pregnancy, sea and motion sickness, emotional stress, intense pain, food poisoning, and various enteroviruses. [NIH] Nearsightedness: The common term for myopia. [NIH] Neck dissection: Surgery to remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck. [NIH] Neck Muscles: The neck muscles consist of the platysma, splenius cervicis, sternocleidomastoid(eus), longus colli, the anterior, medius, and posterior scalenes, digastric(us), stylohyoid(eus), mylohyoid(eus), geniohyoid(eus), sternohyoid(eus), omohyoid(eus), sternothyroid(eus), and thyrohyoid(eus). [NIH] Neck Pain: Discomfort or more intense forms of pain that are localized to the cervical region. This term generally refers to pain in the posterior or lateral regions of the neck. [NIH] Necrosis: A pathological process caused by the progressive degradative action of enzymes that is generally associated with severe cellular trauma. It is characterized by mitochondrial swelling, nuclear flocculation, uncontrolled cell lysis, and ultimately cell death. [NIH] Neoplasms: New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. [NIH] Nerve Endings: Specialized terminations of peripheral neurons. Nerve endings include neuroeffector junction(s) by which neurons activate target organs and sensory receptors
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which transduce information from the various sensory modalities and send it centrally in the nervous system. Presynaptic nerve endings are presynaptic terminals. [NIH] Nerve Fibers: Slender processes of neurons, especially the prolonged axons that conduct nerve impulses. [NIH] Nervous System: The entire nerve apparatus composed of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and ganglia. [NIH] Nervousness: Excessive excitability and irritability, with mental and physical unrest. [EU] Neural: 1. Pertaining to a nerve or to the nerves. 2. Situated in the region of the spinal axis, as the neutral arch. [EU] Neuroeffector Junction: The synapse between a neuron (presynaptic) and an effector cell other than another neuron (postsynaptic). Neuroeffector junctions include synapses onto muscles and onto secretory cells. [NIH] Neuroleptanalgesia: A form of analgesia accompanied by general quiescence and psychic indifference to environmental stimuli, without loss of consciousness, and produced by the combined administration of a major tranquilizer (neuroleptic) and a narcotic. [NIH] Neuroleptic: A term coined to refer to the effects on cognition and behaviour of antipsychotic drugs, which produce a state of apathy, lack of initiative, and limited range of emotion and in psychotic patients cause a reduction in confusion and agitation and normalization of psychomotor activity. [EU] Neuronal: Pertaining to a neuron or neurons (= conducting cells of the nervous system). [EU] Neurons: The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the nervous system. [NIH] Neuropeptide: A member of a class of protein-like molecules made in the brain. Neuropeptides consist of short chains of amino acids, with some functioning as neurotransmitters and some functioning as hormones. [NIH] Neurotransmitter: Any of a group of substances that are released on excitation from the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron of the central or peripheral nervous system and travel across the synaptic cleft to either excite or inhibit the target cell. Among the many substances that have the properties of a neurotransmitter are acetylcholine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, glycine, y-aminobutyrate, glutamic acid, substance P, enkephalins, endorphins, and serotonin. [EU] Neutrons: Electrically neutral elementary particles found in all atomic nuclei except light hydrogen; the mass is equal to that of the proton and electron combined and they are unstable when isolated from the nucleus, undergoing beta decay. Slow, thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons refer to the energy levels with which the neutrons are ejected from heavier nuclei during their decay. [NIH] Neutropenia: An abnormal decrease in the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. [NIH] Neutrophils: Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes. [NIH] Nicotine: Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke. [NIH]
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Nipples: The conic organs which usually give outlet to milk from the mammary glands. [NIH]
Nitric Oxide: A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells. It is synthesized from arginine by a complex reaction, catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide is endothelium-derived relaxing factor. It is released by the vascular endothelium and mediates the relaxation induced by some vasodilators such as acetylcholine and bradykinin. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic guanylate cyclase and thus elevates intracellular levels of cyclic GMP. [NIH]
Nitrogen: An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight 14. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells. [NIH] Nociceptors: Peripheral receptors for pain. Nociceptors include receptors which are sensitive to painful mechanical stimuli, extreme heat or cold, and chemical stimuli. All nociceptors are free nerve endings. [NIH] Nonverbal Communication: Transmission of emotions, ideas, and attitudes between individuals in ways other than the spoken language. [NIH] Norepinephrine: Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers and of the diffuse projection system in the brain arising from the locus ceruleus. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. [NIH] Nuclear: A test of the structure, blood flow, and function of the kidneys. The doctor injects a mildly radioactive solution into an arm vein and uses x-rays to monitor its progress through the kidneys. [NIH] Nuclei: A body of specialized protoplasm found in nearly all cells and containing the chromosomes. [NIH] Nucleus: A body of specialized protoplasm found in nearly all cells and containing the chromosomes. [NIH] Nucleus Accumbens: Collection of pleomorphic cells in the caudal part of the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle, in the region of the olfactory tubercle, lying between the head of the caudate nucleus and the anterior perforated substance. It is part of the so-called ventral striatum, a composite structure considered part of the basal ganglia. [NIH] Occipital Lobe: Posterior part of the cerebral hemisphere. [NIH] Ointments: Semisolid preparations used topically for protective emollient effects or as a vehicle for local administration of medications. Ointment bases are various mixtures of fats, waxes, animal and plant oils and solid and liquid hydrocarbons. [NIH] Oncology: The study of cancer. [NIH] Ondansetron: A competitive serotonin type 3 receptor antagonist. It is effective in the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin, and it has reported anxiolytic and neuroleptic properties. [NIH] On-line: A sexually-reproducing population derived from a common parentage. [NIH] Opiate: A remedy containing or derived from opium; also any drug that induces sleep. [EU] Opioid Peptides: The endogenous peptides with opiate-like activity. The three major classes currently recognized are the enkephalins, the dynorphins, and the endorphins. Each of these families derives from different precursors, proenkephalin, prodynorphin, and pro-
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opiomelanocortin, respectively. There are also at least three classes of opioid receptors, but the peptide families do not map to the receptors in a simple way. [NIH] Opium: The air-dried exudate from the unripe seed capsule of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, or its variant, P. album. It contains a number of alkaloids, but only a few morphine, codeine, and papaverine - have clinical significance. Opium has been used as an analgesic, antitussive, antidiarrheal, and antispasmodic. [NIH] Opportunistic Infections: An infection caused by an organism which becomes pathogenic under certain conditions, e.g., during immunosuppression. [NIH] Optic Chiasm: The X-shaped structure formed by the meeting of the two optic nerves. At the optic chiasm the fibers from the medial part of each retina cross to project to the other side of the brain while the lateral retinal fibers continue on the same side. As a result each half of the brain receives information about the contralateral visual field from both eyes. [NIH]
Oral Hygiene: The practice of personal hygiene of the mouth. It includes the maintenance of oral cleanliness, tissue tone, and general preservation of oral health. [NIH] Ossification: The formation of bone or of a bony substance; the conversion of fibrous tissue or of cartilage into bone or a bony substance. [EU] Osteoarthritis: A progressive, degenerative joint disease, the most common form of arthritis, especially in older persons. The disease is thought to result not from the aging process but from biochemical changes and biomechanical stresses affecting articular cartilage. In the foreign literature it is often called osteoarthrosis deformans. [NIH] Osteoclasts: A large multinuclear cell associated with the absorption and removal of bone. An odontoclast, also called cementoclast, is cytomorphologically the same as an osteoclast and is involved in cementum resorption. [NIH] Osteogenesis: The histogenesis of bone including ossification. It occurs continuously but particularly in the embryo and child and during fracture repair. [NIH] Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A collagen disorder resulting from defective biosynthesis of type I collagen and characterized by brittle, osteoporotic, and easily fractured bones. It may also present with blue sclerae, loose joints, and imperfect dentin formation. There are four major types, I-IV. [NIH] Osteoporosis: Reduction of bone mass without alteration in the composition of bone, leading to fractures. Primary osteoporosis can be of two major types: postmenopausal osteoporosis and age-related (or senile) osteoporosis. [NIH] Outpatient: A patient who is not an inmate of a hospital but receives diagnosis or treatment in a clinic or dispensary connected with the hospital. [NIH] Ovary: Either of the paired glands in the female that produce the female germ cells and secrete some of the female sex hormones. [NIH] Overweight: An excess of body weight but not necessarily body fat; a body mass index of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2. [NIH] Oxygenation: The process of supplying, treating, or mixing with oxygen. No:1245 oxygenation the process of supplying, treating, or mixing with oxygen. [EU] Pain Threshold: Amount of stimulation required before the sensation of pain is experienced. [NIH]
Palliative: 1. Affording relief, but not cure. 2. An alleviating medicine. [EU] Pancreas: A mixed exocrine and endocrine gland situated transversely across the posterior abdominal wall in the epigastric and hypochondriac regions. The endocrine portion is comprised of the Islets of Langerhans, while the exocrine portion is a compound acinar
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gland that secretes digestive enzymes. [NIH] Pancreatic: Having to do with the pancreas. [NIH] Pancreatic cancer: Cancer of the pancreas, a salivary gland of the abdomen. [NIH] Paradoxical: Occurring at variance with the normal rule. [EU] Parasite: An animal or a plant that lives on or in an organism of another species and gets at least some of its nutrition from that other organism. [NIH] Paresis: A general term referring to a mild to moderate degree of muscular weakness, occasionally used as a synonym for paralysis (severe or complete loss of motor function). In the older literature, paresis often referred specifically to paretic neurosyphilis. "General paresis" and "general paralysis" may still carry that connotation. Bilateral lower extremity paresis is referred to as paraparesis. [NIH] Parietal: 1. Of or pertaining to the walls of a cavity. 2. Pertaining to or located near the parietal bone, as the parietal lobe. [EU] Parietal Lobe: Upper central part of the cerebral hemisphere. [NIH] Partial remission: The shrinking, but not complete disappearance, of a tumor in response to therapy. Also called partial response. [NIH] Partial response: A decrease in the size of a tumor, or in the extent of cancer in the body, in response to treatment. [NIH] Patch: A piece of material used to cover or protect a wound, an injured part, etc.: a patch over the eye. [NIH] Pathogen: Any disease-producing microorganism. [EU] Pathologic: 1. Indicative of or caused by a morbid condition. 2. Pertaining to pathology (= branch of medicine that treats the essential nature of the disease, especially the structural and functional changes in tissues and organs of the body caused by the disease). [EU] Pathophysiology: Altered functions in an individual or an organ due to disease. [NIH] Patient Education: The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs. [NIH]
Patient Selection: Criteria and standards used for the determination of the appropriateness of the inclusion of patients with specific conditions in proposed treatment plans and the criteria used for the inclusion of subjects in various clinical trials and other research protocols. [NIH] Pelvic: Pertaining to the pelvis. [EU] Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. [NIH] Peptide: Any compound consisting of two or more amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Peptides are combined to make proteins. [NIH] Perception: The ability quickly and accurately to recognize similarities and differences among presented objects, whether these be pairs of words, pairs of number series, or multiple sets of these or other symbols such as geometric figures. [NIH] Percutaneous: Performed through the skin, as injection of radiopacque material in radiological examination, or the removal of tissue for biopsy accomplished by a needle. [EU] Periaqueductal Gray: Central gray matter surrounding the cerebral aqueduct in the mesencephalon. Physiologically it is probably involved in rage reactions, the lordosis reflex, feeding responses, bladder tonus, and pain. [NIH] Periodontal disease: Disease involving the supporting structures of the teeth (as the gums and periodontal membranes). [NIH]
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Periodontal disease: Disease involving the supporting structures of the teeth (as the gums and periodontal membranes). [NIH] Peripheral Nerves: The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium. [NIH] Peripheral Nervous System: The nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system has autonomic and somatic divisions. The autonomic nervous system includes the enteric, parasympathetic, and sympathetic subdivisions. The somatic nervous system includes the cranial and spinal nerves and their ganglia and the peripheral sensory receptors. [NIH] Peripheral Nervous System Diseases: Diseases of the peripheral nerves external to the brain and spinal cord, which includes diseases of the nerve roots, ganglia, plexi, autonomic nerves, sensory nerves, and motor nerves. [NIH] Peristalsis: The rippling motion of muscles in the intestine or other tubular organs characterized by the alternate contraction and relaxation of the muscles that propel the contents onward. [NIH] Perivascular: Situated around a vessel. [EU] PH: The symbol relating the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration or activity of a solution to that of a given standard solution. Numerically the pH is approximately equal to the negative logarithm of H+ concentration expressed in molarity. pH 7 is neutral; above it alkalinity increases and below it acidity increases. [EU] Pharmacist: A person trained to prepare and distribute medicines and to give information about them. [NIH] Pharmacologic: Pertaining to pharmacology or to the properties and reactions of drugs. [EU] Pharmacotherapy: A regimen of using appetite suppressant medications to manage obesity by decreasing appetite or increasing the feeling of satiety. These medications decrease appetite by increasing serotonin or catecholamine—two brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite. [NIH] Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee: An advisory group composed primarily of staff physicians and the pharmacist which serves as the communication link between the medical staff and the pharmacy department. [NIH] Phospholipases: A class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphoglycerides or glycerophosphatidates. EC 3.1.-. [NIH] Phosphorus: A non-metallic element that is found in the blood, muscles, nevers, bones, and teeth, and is a component of adenosine triphosphate (ATP; the primary energy source for the body's cells.) [NIH] Physical Fitness: A state of well-being in which performance is optimal, often as a result of physical conditioning which may be prescribed for disease therapy. [NIH] Physical Therapy: The restoration of function and the prevention of disability following disease or injury with the use of light, heat, cold, water, electricity, ultrasound, and exercise. [NIH]
Physiologic: Having to do with the functions of the body. When used in the phrase "physiologic age," it refers to an age assigned by general health, as opposed to calendar age. [NIH]
Pilot Projects: Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. [NIH]
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Pilot study: The initial study examining a new method or treatment. [NIH] Placebo Effect: An effect usually, but not necessarily, beneficial that is attributable to an expectation that the regimen will have an effect, i.e., the effect is due to the power of suggestion. [NIH] Plant Oils: Oils derived from plants or plant products. [NIH] Plants: Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of the kingdom Plantae. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (meristems); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absense of nervous and sensory systems; and an alteration of haploid and diploid generations. [NIH] Plasma: The clear, yellowish, fluid part of the blood that carries the blood cells. The proteins that form blood clots are in plasma. [NIH] Plasma Volume: Volume of plasma in the circulation. It is usually measured by indicator dilution techniques. [NIH] Platelet Activation: A series of progressive, overlapping events triggered by exposure of the platelets to subendothelial tissue. These events include shape change, adhesiveness, aggregation, and release reactions. When carried through to completion, these events lead to the formation of a stable hemostatic plug. [NIH] Platelet Aggregation: The attachment of platelets to one another. This clumping together can be induced by a number of agents (e.g., thrombin, collagen) and is part of the mechanism leading to the formation of a thrombus. [NIH] Platelets: A type of blood cell that helps prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form. Also called thrombocytes. [NIH] Pleated: Particular three-dimensional pattern of amyloidoses. [NIH] Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs. [NIH] Poisoning: A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection or inhalation of, or exposure to a deleterious agent. [NIH] Polymorphism: The occurrence together of two or more distinct forms in the same population. [NIH] Polypeptide: A peptide which on hydrolysis yields more than two amino acids; called tripeptides, tetrapeptides, etc. according to the number of amino acids contained. [EU] Polyposis: The development of numerous polyps (growths that protrude from a mucous membrane). [NIH] Pons: The part of the central nervous system lying between the medulla oblongata and the mesencephalon, ventral to the cerebellum, and consisting of a pars dorsalis and a pars ventralis. [NIH] Post partum: After childbirth, or after delivery. [EU] Posterior: Situated in back of, or in the back part of, or affecting the back or dorsal surface of the body. In lower animals, it refers to the caudal end of the body. [EU] Postmenopausal: Refers to the time after menopause. Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods stop permanently; also called "change of life." [NIH] Postoperative: After surgery. [NIH] Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Emesis and queasiness occurring after anesthesia. [NIH]
Postsynaptic: Nerve potential generated by an inhibitory hyperpolarizing stimulation. [NIH]
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Post-synaptic: Nerve potential generated by an inhibitory hyperpolarizing stimulation. [NIH] Potassium: An element that is in the alkali group of metals. It has an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte and it plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the water-electrolyte balance. [NIH] Potassium Citrate: A powder that dissolves in water, which is administered orally, and is used as a diuretic, expectorant, systemic alkalizer, and electrolyte replenisher. [NIH] Potentiates: A degree of synergism which causes the exposure of the organism to a harmful substance to worsen a disease already contracted. [NIH] Potentiating: A degree of synergism which causes the exposure of the organism to a harmful substance to worsen a disease already contracted. [NIH] Potentiation: An overall effect of two drugs taken together which is greater than the sum of the effects of each drug taken alone. [NIH] Practicability: A non-standard characteristic of an analytical procedure. It is dependent on the scope of the method and is determined by requirements such as sample throughout and costs. [NIH] Practice Guidelines: Directions or principles presenting current or future rules of policy for the health care practitioner to assist him in patient care decisions regarding diagnosis, therapy, or related clinical circumstances. The guidelines may be developed by government agencies at any level, institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or by the convening of expert panels. The guidelines form a basis for the evaluation of all aspects of health care and delivery. [NIH] Precursor: Something that precedes. In biological processes, a substance from which another, usually more active or mature substance is formed. In clinical medicine, a sign or symptom that heralds another. [EU] Pregnancy Outcome: Results of conception and ensuing pregnancy, including live birth, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, induced abortion. The outcome may follow natural or artificial insemination or any of the various reproduction techniques, such as embryo transfer or fertilization in vitro. [NIH] Prenatal: Existing or occurring before birth, with reference to the fetus. [EU] Presynaptic: Situated proximal to a synapse, or occurring before the synapse is crossed. [EU] Presynaptic Terminals: The distal terminations of axons which are specialized for the release of neurotransmitters. Also included are varicosities along the course of axons which have similar specializations and also release transmitters. Presynaptic terminals in both the central and peripheral nervous systems are included. [NIH] Prevalence: The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from incidence, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. [NIH] Primary endpoint: The main result that is measured at the end of a study to see if a given treatment worked (e.g., the number of deaths or the difference in survival between the treatment group and the control group). What the primary endpoint will be is decided before the study begins. [NIH] Probe: An instrument used in exploring cavities, or in the detection and dilatation of strictures, or in demonstrating the potency of channels; an elongated instrument for exploring or sounding body cavities. [NIH] Progression: Increase in the size of a tumor or spread of cancer in the body. [NIH]
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Progressive: Advancing; going forward; going from bad to worse; increasing in scope or severity. [EU] Projection: A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, whereby that which is emotionally unacceptable in the self is rejected and attributed (projected) to others. [NIH] Proline: A non-essential amino acid that is synthesized from glutamic acid. It is an essential component of collagen and is important for proper functioning of joints and tendons. [NIH] Prone: Having the front portion of the body downwards. [NIH] Pro-Opiomelanocortin: A precursor protein, MW 30,000, synthesized mainly in the anterior pituitary gland but also found in the hypothalamus, brain, and several peripheral tissues. It incorporates the amino acid sequences of ACTH and beta-lipotropin. These two hormones, in turn, contain the biologically active peptides MSH, corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide, alpha-lipotropin, endorphins, and methionine enkephalin. [NIH] Prophylaxis: An attempt to prevent disease. [NIH] Propranolol: A widely used non-cardioselective beta-adrenergic antagonist. Propranolol is used in the treatment or prevention of many disorders including acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, hypertension, hypertensive emergencies, hyperthyroidism, migraine, pheochromocytoma, menopause, and anxiety. [NIH] Prospective Studies: Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. [NIH] Prostate: A gland in males that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra. It secretes a substance that liquifies coagulated semen. It is situated in the pelvic cavity behind the lower part of the pubic symphysis, above the deep layer of the triangular ligament, and rests upon the rectum. [NIH] Protease: Proteinase (= any enzyme that catalyses the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein). [EU] Protein S: The vitamin K-dependent cofactor of activated protein C. Together with protein C, it inhibits the action of factors VIIIa and Va. A deficiency in protein S can lead to recurrent venous and arterial thrombosis. [NIH] Proteins: Polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The specific sequence of amino acids determines the shape and function of the protein. [NIH] Proteolytic: 1. Pertaining to, characterized by, or promoting proteolysis. 2. An enzyme that promotes proteolysis (= the splitting of proteins by hydrolysis of the peptide bonds with formation of smaller polypeptides). [EU] Protocol: The detailed plan for a clinical trial that states the trial's rationale, purpose, drug or vaccine dosages, length of study, routes of administration, who may participate, and other aspects of trial design. [NIH] Protons: Stable elementary particles having the smallest known positive charge, found in the nuclei of all elements. The proton mass is less than that of a neutron. A proton is the nucleus of the light hydrogen atom, i.e., the hydrogen ion. [NIH] Protozoan: 1. Any individual of the protozoa; protozoon. 2. Of or pertaining to the protozoa; protozoal. [EU] Proximal: Nearest; closer to any point of reference; opposed to distal. [EU] Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry. [EU] Psychiatry: The medical science that deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. [NIH]
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Psychic: Pertaining to the psyche or to the mind; mental. [EU] Psychoactive: Those drugs which alter sensation, mood, consciousness or other psychological or behavioral functions. [NIH] Psychology: The science dealing with the study of mental processes and behavior in man and animals. [NIH] Psychopathology: The study of significant causes and processes in the development of mental illness. [NIH] Psychopharmacology: The study of the effects of drugs on mental and behavioral activity. [NIH]
Psychotherapy: A generic term for the treatment of mental illness or emotional disturbances primarily by verbal or nonverbal communication. [NIH] Psychotropic: Exerting an effect upon the mind; capable of modifying mental activity; usually applied to drugs that effect the mental state. [EU] Puberty: The period during which the secondary sex characteristics begin to develop and the capability of sexual reproduction is attained. [EU] Public Health: Branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of disease and disability, and the promotion of physical and mental health of the population on the international, national, state, or municipal level. [NIH] Public Policy: A course or method of action selected, usually by a government, from among alternatives to guide and determine present and future decisions. [NIH] Pulmonary: Relating to the lungs. [NIH] Pulmonary Artery: The short wide vessel arising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle and conveying unaerated blood to the lungs. [NIH] Pulse: The rhythmical expansion and contraction of an artery produced by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle of the heart as it contracts. [NIH]
Quality of Life: A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral and social environment. [NIH] Radiation: Emission or propagation of electromagnetic energy (waves/rays), or the waves/rays themselves; a stream of electromagnetic particles (electrons, neutrons, protons, alpha particles) or a mixture of these. The most common source is the sun. [NIH] Radioimmunotherapy: Radiotherapy where cytotoxic radionuclides are linked to antibodies in order to deliver toxins directly to tumor targets. Therapy with targeted radiation rather than antibody-targeted toxins (immunotoxins) has the advantage that adjacent tumor cells, which lack the appropriate antigenic determinants, can be destroyed by radiation cross-fire. Radioimmunotherapy is sometimes called targeted radiotherapy, but this latter term can also refer to radionuclides linked to non-immune molecules (radiotherapy). [NIH] Radiological: Pertaining to radiodiagnostic and radiotherapeutic procedures, and interventional radiology or other planning and guiding medical radiology. [NIH] Radiopharmaceutical: Any medicinal product which, when ready for use, contains one or more radionuclides (radioactive isotopes) included for a medicinal purpose. [NIH] Radiotherapy: The use of ionizing radiation to treat malignant neoplasms and other benign conditions. The most common forms of ionizing radiation used as therapy are x-rays, gamma rays, and electrons. A special form of radiotherapy, targeted radiotherapy, links a cytotoxic radionuclide to a molecule that targets the tumor. When this molecule is an antibody or other immunologic molecule, the technique is called radioimmunotherapy. [NIH]
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Rage: Fury; violent, intense anger. [NIH] Random Allocation: A process involving chance used in therapeutic trials or other research endeavor for allocating experimental subjects, human or animal, between treatment and control groups, or among treatment groups. It may also apply to experiments on inanimate objects. [NIH] Randomization: Also called random allocation. Is allocation of individuals to groups, e.g., for experimental and control regimens, by chance. Within the limits of chance variation, random allocation should make the control and experimental groups similar at the start of an investigation and ensure that personal judgment and prejudices of the investigator do not influence allocation. [NIH] Randomized: Describes an experiment or clinical trial in which animal or human subjects are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments. [NIH] Randomized clinical trial: A study in which the participants are assigned by chance to separate groups that compare different treatments; neither the researchers nor the participants can choose which group. Using chance to assign people to groups means that the groups will be similar and that the treatments they receive can be compared objectively. At the time of the trial, it is not known which treatment is best. It is the patient's choice to be in a randomized trial. [NIH] Randomized Controlled Trials: Clinical trials that involve at least one test treatment and one control treatment, concurrent enrollment and follow-up of the test- and control-treated groups, and in which the treatments to be administered are selected by a random process, such as the use of a random-numbers table. Treatment allocations using coin flips, odd-even numbers, patient social security numbers, days of the week, medical record numbers, or other such pseudo- or quasi-random processes, are not truly randomized and trials employing any of these techniques for patient assignment are designated simply controlled clinical trials. [NIH] Receptor: A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific physiologic effect in the cell. [NIH] Receptors, Serotonin: Cell-surface proteins that bind serotonin and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behavior of cells. Several types of serotonin receptors have been recognized which differ in their pharmacology, molecular biology, and mode of action. [NIH] Rectal: By or having to do with the rectum. The rectum is the last 8 to 10 inches of the large intestine and ends at the anus. [NIH] Rectum: The last 8 to 10 inches of the large intestine. [NIH] Recur: To occur again. Recurrence is the return of cancer, at the same site as the original (primary) tumor or in another location, after the tumor had disappeared. [NIH] Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. [NIH] Red Nucleus: A pinkish-yellow portion of the midbrain situated in the rostral mesencephalic tegmentum. It receives a large projection from the contralateral half of the cerebellum via the superior cerebellar peduncle and a projection from the ipsilateral motor cortex. [NIH] Refer: To send or direct for treatment, aid, information, de decision. [NIH] Reflex: An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord. [NIH] Refraction: A test to determine the best eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct a refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism). [NIH]
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Refractive Power: The ability of an object, such as the eye, to bend light as light passes through it. [NIH] Regimen: A treatment plan that specifies the dosage, the schedule, and the duration of treatment. [NIH] Regression Analysis: Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see linear models) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and least-squares analysis is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see logistic models) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and likelihood functions are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. [NIH]
Regurgitation: A backward flowing, as the casting up of undigested food, or the backward flowing of blood into the heart, or between the chambers of the heart when a valve is incompetent. [EU] Rehabilitative: Instruction of incapacitated individuals or of those affected with some mental disorder, so that some or all of their lost ability may be regained. [NIH] Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of cancer after a period of improvement. [NIH] Relaxation Techniques: The use of muscular relaxation techniques in treatment. [NIH] Reliability: Used technically, in a statistical sense, of consistency of a test with itself, i. e. the extent to which we can assume that it will yield the same result if repeated a second time. [NIH]
Remission: A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although there still may be cancer in the body. [NIH] Research Design: A plan for collecting and utilizing data so that desired information can be obtained with sufficient precision or so that an hypothesis can be tested properly. [NIH] Research Support: Financial support of research activities. [NIH] Respiration: The act of breathing with the lungs, consisting of inspiration, or the taking into the lungs of the ambient air, and of expiration, or the expelling of the modified air which contains more carbon dioxide than the air taken in (Blakiston's Gould Medical Dictionary, 4th ed.). This does not include tissue respiration (= oxygen consumption) or cell respiration (= cell respiration). [NIH] Respiratory Physiology: Functions and activities of the respiratory tract as a whole or of any of its parts. [NIH] Response rate: The percentage of patients whose cancer shrinks or disappears after treatment. [NIH] Resuscitation: The restoration to life or consciousness of one apparently dead; it includes such measures as artificial respiration and cardiac massage. [EU] Reticular: Coarse-fibered, netlike dermis layer. [NIH] Retina: The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the optic nerve and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the choroid and the inner surface with the vitreous body. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent. [NIH] Retinal: 1. Pertaining to the retina. 2. The aldehyde of retinol, derived by the oxidative enzymatic splitting of absorbed dietary carotene, and having vitamin A activity. In the
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retina, retinal combines with opsins to form visual pigments. One isomer, 11-cis retinal combines with opsin in the rods (scotopsin) to form rhodopsin, or visual purple. Another, all-trans retinal (trans-r.); visual yellow; xanthopsin) results from the bleaching of rhodopsin by light, in which the 11-cis form is converted to the all-trans form. Retinal also combines with opsins in the cones (photopsins) to form the three pigments responsible for colour vision. Called also retinal, and retinene1. [EU] Retrospective: Looking back at events that have already taken place. [NIH] Rod: A reception for vision, located in the retina. [NIH] Rubber: A high-molecular-weight polymeric elastomer derived from the milk juice (latex) of Hevea brasiliensis and other trees. It is a substance that can be stretched at room temperature to atleast twice its original length and after releasing the stress, retractrapidly, and recover its original dimensions fully. Synthetic rubber is made from many different chemicals, including styrene, acrylonitrile, ethylene, propylene, and isoprene. [NIH] Sagittal: The line of direction passing through the body from back to front, or any vertical plane parallel to the medial plane of the body and inclusive of that plane; often restricted to the medial plane, the plane of the sagittal suture. [NIH] Saliva: The clear, viscous fluid secreted by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth. It contains mucins, water, organic salts, and ptylin. [NIH] Salivary: The duct that convey saliva to the mouth. [NIH] Schizoid: Having qualities resembling those found in greater degree in schizophrenics; a person of schizoid personality. [NIH] Schizophrenia: A mental disorder characterized by a special type of disintegration of the personality. [NIH] Schizotypal Personality Disorder: A personality disorder in which there are oddities of thought (magical thinking, paranoid ideation, suspiciousness), perception (illusions, depersonalization), speech (digressive, vague, overelaborate), and behavior (inappropriate affect in social interactions, frequently social isolation) that are not severe enough to characterize schizophrenia. [NIH] Sclerae: A circular furrow between the sclerocorneal junction and the iris. [NIH] Screening: Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. [NIH] Sedative: 1. Allaying activity and excitement. 2. An agent that allays excitement. [EU] Sediment: A precipitate, especially one that is formed spontaneously. [EU] Segmental: Describing or pertaining to a structure which is repeated in similar form in successive segments of an organism, or which is undergoing segmentation. [NIH] Segmentation: The process by which muscles in the intestines move food and wastes through the body. [NIH] Seizures: Clinical or subclinical disturbances of cortical function due to a sudden, abnormal, excessive, and disorganized discharge of brain cells. Clinical manifestations include abnormal motor, sensory and psychic phenomena. Recurrent seizures are usually referred to as epilepsy or "seizure disorder." [NIH] Self Administration: Administration of a drug or chemical by the individual under the direction of a physician. It includes administration clinically or experimentally, by human or animal. [NIH] Self Care: Performance of activities or tasks traditionally performed by professional health care providers. The concept includes care of oneself or one's family and friends. [NIH] Semen: The thick, yellowish-white, viscid fluid secretion of male reproductive organs
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discharged upon ejaculation. In addition to reproductive organ secretions, it contains spermatozoa and their nutrient plasma. [NIH] Senile: Relating or belonging to old age; characteristic of old age; resulting from infirmity of old age. [NIH] Sensibility: The ability to receive, feel and appreciate sensations and impressions; the quality of being sensitive; the extend to which a method gives results that are free from false negatives. [NIH] Sensitization: 1. Administration of antigen to induce a primary immune response; priming; immunization. 2. Exposure to allergen that results in the development of hypersensitivity. 3. The coating of erythrocytes with antibody so that they are subject to lysis by complement in the presence of homologous antigen, the first stage of a complement fixation test. [EU] Sensor: A device designed to respond to physical stimuli such as temperature, light, magnetism or movement and transmit resulting impulses for interpretation, recording, movement, or operating control. [NIH] Septal: An abscess occurring at the root of the tooth on the proximal surface. [NIH] Septal Nuclei: Neural nuclei situated in the septal region. They have afferent and cholinergic efferent connections with a variety of forebrain and brainstem areas including the hippocampus, the lateral hypothalamus, the tegmentum, and the amygdala. Included are the dorsal, lateral, medial, and triangular septal nuclei, septofimbrial nucleus, nucleus of diagonal band, nucleus of anterior commissure, and the nucleus of stria terminalis. [NIH] Serotonin: A biochemical messenger and regulator, synthesized from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. In humans it is found primarily in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and blood platelets. Serotonin mediates several important physiological functions including neurotransmission, gastrointestinal motility, hemostasis, and cardiovascular integrity. Multiple receptor families (receptors, serotonin) explain the broad physiological actions and distribution of this biochemical mediator. [NIH] Serum: The clear liquid part of the blood that remains after blood cells and clotting proteins have been removed. [NIH] Shock: The general bodily disturbance following a severe injury; an emotional or moral upset occasioned by some disturbing or unexpected experience; disruption of the circulation, which can upset all body functions: sometimes referred to as circulatory shock. [NIH]
Shoulder Pain: Unilateral or bilateral pain of the shoulder. It is often caused by physical activities such as work or sports participation, but may also be pathologic in origin. [NIH] Side effect: A consequence other than the one(s) for which an agent or measure is used, as the adverse effects produced by a drug, especially on a tissue or organ system other than the one sought to be benefited by its administration. [EU] Signal Transduction: The intercellular or intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GABA-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptormediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal
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transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway. [NIH] Signs and Symptoms: Clinical manifestations that can be either objective when observed by a physician, or subjective when perceived by the patient. [NIH] Silicon: A trace element that constitutes about 27.6% of the earth's crust in the form of silicon dioxide. It does not occur free in nature. Silicon has the atomic symbol Si, atomic number 14, and atomic weight 28.09. [NIH] Silicon Dioxide: Silica. Transparent, tasteless crystals found in nature as agate, amethyst, chalcedony, cristobalite, flint, sand, quartz, and tridymite. The compound is insoluble in water or acids except hydrofluoric acid. [NIH] Skeletal: Having to do with the skeleton (boney part of the body). [NIH] Skeleton: The framework that supports the soft tissues of vertebrate animals and protects many of their internal organs. The skeletons of vertebrates are made of bone and/or cartilage. [NIH] Skull: The skeleton of the head including the bones of the face and the bones enclosing the brain. [NIH] Small intestine: The part of the digestive tract that is located between the stomach and the large intestine. [NIH] Smooth muscle: Muscle that performs automatic tasks, such as constricting blood vessels. [NIH]
Social Environment: The aggregate of social and cultural institutions, forms, patterns, and processes that influence the life of an individual or community. [NIH] Social Security: Government sponsored social insurance programs. [NIH] Social Support: Support systems that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities in order that they may better cope. Informal social support is usually provided by friends, relatives, or peers, while formal assistance is provided by churches, groups, etc. [NIH] Sodium: An element that is a member of the alkali group of metals. It has the atomic symbol Na, atomic number 11, and atomic weight 23. With a valence of 1, it has a strong affinity for oxygen and other nonmetallic elements. Sodium provides the chief cation of the extracellular body fluids. Its salts are the most widely used in medicine. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Physiologically the sodium ion plays a major role in blood pressure regulation, maintenance of fluid volume, and electrolyte balance. [NIH] Solid tumor: Cancer of body tissues other than blood, bone marrow, or the lymphatic system. [NIH] Solitary Nucleus: Gray matter located in the dorsomedial part of the medulla oblongata associated with the solitary tract. The solitary nucleus receives inputs from most organ systems including the terminations of the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves. It is a major coordinator of autonomic nervous system regulation of cardiovascular, respiratory, gustatory, gastrointestinal, and chemoreceptive aspects of homeostasis. The solitary nucleus is also notable for the large number of neurotransmitters which are found therein. [NIH] Solvent: 1. Dissolving; effecting a solution. 2. A liquid that dissolves or that is capable of dissolving; the component of a solution that is present in greater amount. [EU] Soma: The body as distinct from the mind; all the body tissue except the germ cells; all the axial body. [NIH] Somatic: 1. Pertaining to or characteristic of the soma or body. 2. Pertaining to the body wall
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in contrast to the viscera. [EU] Spasm: An involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Spasms may involve skeletal muscle or smooth muscle. [NIH] Spastic: 1. Of the nature of or characterized by spasms. 2. Hypertonic, so that the muscles are stiff and the movements awkward. 3. A person exhibiting spasticity, such as occurs in spastic paralysis or in cerebral palsy. [EU] Spasticity: A state of hypertonicity, or increase over the normal tone of a muscle, with heightened deep tendon reflexes. [EU] Specialist: In medicine, one who concentrates on 1 special branch of medical science. [NIH] Species: A taxonomic category subordinate to a genus (or subgenus) and superior to a subspecies or variety, composed of individuals possessing common characters distinguishing them from other categories of individuals of the same taxonomic level. In taxonomic nomenclature, species are designated by the genus name followed by a Latin or Latinized adjective or noun. [EU] Specificity: Degree of selectivity shown by an antibody with respect to the number and types of antigens with which the antibody combines, as well as with respect to the rates and the extents of these reactions. [NIH] Spectrum: A charted band of wavelengths of electromagnetic vibrations obtained by refraction and diffraction. By extension, a measurable range of activity, such as the range of bacteria affected by an antibiotic (antibacterial s.) or the complete range of manifestations of a disease. [EU] Spinal cord: The main trunk or bundle of nerves running down the spine through holes in the spinal bone (the vertebrae) from the brain to the level of the lower back. [NIH] Spinal Cord Diseases: Pathologic conditions which feature spinal cord damage or dysfunction, including disorders involving the meninges and perimeningeal spaces surrounding the spinal cord. Traumatic injuries, vascular diseases, infections, and inflammatory/autoimmune processes may affect the spinal cord. [NIH] Spinal Nerves: The 31 paired peripheral nerves formed by the union of the dorsal and ventral spinal roots from each spinal cord segment. The spinal nerve plexuses and the spinal roots are also included. [NIH] Spleen: An organ that is part of the lymphatic system. The spleen produces lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells. It is located on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach. [NIH] Spontaneous Abortion: The non-induced birth of an embryo or of fetus prior to the stage of viability at about 20 weeks of gestation. [NIH] Sprains and Strains: A collective term for muscle and ligament injuries without dislocation or fracture. A sprain is a joint injury in which some of the fibers of a supporting ligament are ruptured but the continuity of the ligament remains intact. A strain is an overstretching or overexertion of some part of the musculature. [NIH] Statistically significant: Describes a mathematical measure of difference between groups. The difference is said to be statistically significant if it is greater than what might be expected to happen by chance alone. [NIH] Steel: A tough, malleable, iron-based alloy containing up to, but no more than, two percent carbon and often other metals. It is used in medicine and dentistry in implants and instrumentation. [NIH] Sterility: 1. The inability to produce offspring, i.e., the inability to conceive (female s.) or to
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induce conception (male s.). 2. The state of being aseptic, or free from microorganisms. [EU] Steroid: A group name for lipids that contain a hydrogenated cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring system. Some of the substances included in this group are progesterone, adrenocortical hormones, the gonadal hormones, cardiac aglycones, bile acids, sterols (such as cholesterol), toad poisons, saponins, and some of the carcinogenic hydrocarbons. [EU] Stillbirth: The birth of a dead fetus or baby. [NIH] Stimulant: 1. Producing stimulation; especially producing stimulation by causing tension on muscle fibre through the nervous tissue. 2. An agent or remedy that produces stimulation. [EU]
Stimulus: That which can elicit or evoke action (response) in a muscle, nerve, gland or other excitable issue, or cause an augmenting action upon any function or metabolic process. [NIH] Stomach: An organ of digestion situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen between the termination of the esophagus and the beginning of the duodenum. [NIH] Stomach Ulcer: An open sore in the lining of the stomach. Also called gastric ulcer. [NIH] Stool: The waste matter discharged in a bowel movement; feces. [NIH] Strand: DNA normally exists in the bacterial nucleus in a helix, in which two strands are coiled together. [NIH] Stress: Forcibly exerted influence; pressure. Any condition or situation that causes strain or tension. Stress may be either physical or psychologic, or both. [NIH] Striatum: A higher brain's domain thus called because of its stripes. [NIH] Stroke: Sudden loss of function of part of the brain because of loss of blood flow. Stroke may be caused by a clot (thrombosis) or rupture (hemorrhage) of a blood vessel to the brain. [NIH] Stromal: Large, veil-like cell in the bone marrow. [NIH] Stupor: Partial or nearly complete unconsciousness, manifested by the subject's responding only to vigorous stimulation. Also, in psychiatry, a disorder marked by reduced responsiveness. [EU] Styrene: A colorless, toxic liquid with a strong aromatic odor. It is used to make rubbers, polymers and copolymers, and polystyrene plastics. [NIH] Subacute: Somewhat acute; between acute and chronic. [EU] Subarachnoid: Situated or occurring between the arachnoid and the pia mater. [EU] Subclinical: Without clinical manifestations; said of the early stage(s) of an infection or other disease or abnormality before symptoms and signs become apparent or detectable by clinical examination or laboratory tests, or of a very mild form of an infection or other disease or abnormality. [EU] Subcutaneous: Beneath the skin. [NIH] Subspecies: A category intermediate in rank between species and variety, based on a smaller number of correlated characters than are used to differentiate species and generally conditioned by geographical and/or ecological occurrence. [NIH] Substrate: A substance upon which an enzyme acts. [EU] Supine: Having the front portion of the body upwards. [NIH] Supine Position: The posture of an individual lying face up. [NIH] Sympathetic Nervous System: The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral
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column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system. [NIH] Sympathomimetic: 1. Mimicking the effects of impulses conveyed by adrenergic postganglionic fibres of the sympathetic nervous system. 2. An agent that produces effects similar to those of impulses conveyed by adrenergic postganglionic fibres of the sympathetic nervous system. Called also adrenergic. [EU] Symphysis: A secondary cartilaginous joint. [NIH] Symptomatic: Having to do with symptoms, which are signs of a condition or disease. [NIH] Symptomatology: 1. That branch of medicine with treats of symptoms; the systematic discussion of symptoms. 2. The combined symptoms of a disease. [EU] Synaptic: Pertaining to or affecting a synapse (= site of functional apposition between neurons, at which an impulse is transmitted from one neuron to another by electrical or chemical means); pertaining to synapsis (= pairing off in point-for-point association of homologous chromosomes from the male and female pronuclei during the early prophase of meiosis). [EU] Synaptic Transmission: The communication from a neuron to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a synapse. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a neurotransmitter that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors. These activated receptors modulate ion channels and/or secondmessenger systems to influence the postsynaptic cell. Electrical transmission is less common in the nervous system, and, as in other tissues, is mediated by gap junctions. [NIH] Systemic: Affecting the entire body. [NIH] Systolic: Indicating the maximum arterial pressure during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. [EU] Talus: The second largest of the tarsal bones and occupies the middle and upper part of the tarsus. [NIH] Telencephalon: Paired anteriolateral evaginations of the prosencephalon plus the lamina terminalis. The cerebral hemispheres are derived from it. Many authors consider cerebrum a synonymous term to telencephalon, though a minority include diencephalon as part of the cerebrum (Anthoney, 1994). [NIH] Temporal: One of the two irregular bones forming part of the lateral surfaces and base of the skull, and containing the organs of hearing. [NIH] Tendon: A discrete band of connective tissue mainly composed of parallel bundles of collagenous fibers by which muscles are attached, or two muscles bellies joined. [NIH] Tennis Elbow: A condition characterized by pain in or near the lateral humeral epicondyle or in the forearm extensor muscle mass as a result of unusual strain. It occurs in tennis players as well as housewives, artisans, and violinists. [NIH] Testis: Either of the paired male reproductive glands that produce the male germ cells and the male hormones. [NIH] Thalamus: Paired bodies containing mostly gray substance and forming part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle of the brain. The thalamus represents the major portion of the diencephalon and is commonly divided into cellular aggregates known as nuclear groups. [NIH]
Therapeutics: The branch of medicine which is concerned with the treatment of diseases, palliative or curative. [NIH]
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Thermal: Pertaining to or characterized by heat. [EU] Thigh: A leg; in anatomy, any elongated process or part of a structure more or less comparable to a leg. [NIH] Third Ventricle: A narrow cleft inferior to the corpus callosum, within the diencephalon, between the paired thalami. Its floor is formed by the hypothalamus, its anterior wall by the lamina terminalis, and its roof by ependyma. It communicates with the fourth ventricle by the cerebral aqueduct, and with the lateral ventricles by the interventricular foramina. [NIH] Thoracic: Having to do with the chest. [NIH] Threshold: For a specified sensory modality (e. g. light, sound, vibration), the lowest level (absolute threshold) or smallest difference (difference threshold, difference limen) or intensity of the stimulus discernible in prescribed conditions of stimulation. [NIH] Thrombosis: The formation or presence of a blood clot inside a blood vessel. [NIH] Thymus: An organ that is part of the lymphatic system, in which T lymphocytes grow and multiply. The thymus is in the chest behind the breastbone. [NIH] Thyroid: A gland located near the windpipe (trachea) that produces thyroid hormone, which helps regulate growth and metabolism. [NIH] Tibia: The second longest bone of the skeleton. It is located on the medial side of the lower leg, articulating with the fibula laterally, the talus distally, and the femur proximally. [NIH] Tinnitus: Sounds that are perceived in the absence of any external noise source which may take the form of buzzing, ringing, clicking, pulsations, and other noises. Objective tinnitus refers to noises generated from within the ear or adjacent structures that can be heard by other individuals. The term subjective tinnitus is used when the sound is audible only to the affected individual. Tinnitus may occur as a manifestation of cochlear diseases; vestibulocochlear nerve diseases; intracranial hypertension; craniocerebral trauma; and other conditions. [NIH] Tissue: A group or layer of cells that are alike in type and work together to perform a specific function. [NIH] Tolerance: 1. The ability to endure unusually large doses of a drug or toxin. 2. Acquired drug tolerance; a decreasing response to repeated constant doses of a drug or the need for increasing doses to maintain a constant response. [EU] Tomography: Imaging methods that result in sharp images of objects located on a chosen plane and blurred images located above or below the plane. [NIH] Tone: 1. The normal degree of vigour and tension; in muscle, the resistance to passive elongation or stretch; tonus. 2. A particular quality of sound or of voice. 3. To make permanent, or to change, the colour of silver stain by chemical treatment, usually with a heavy metal. [EU] Tonic: 1. Producing and restoring the normal tone. 2. Characterized by continuous tension. 3. A term formerly used for a class of medicinal preparations believed to have the power of restoring normal tone to tissue. [EU] Tonus: A state of slight tension usually present in muscles even when they are not undergoing active contraction. [NIH] Topical: On the surface of the body. [NIH] Torsion: A twisting or rotation of a bodily part or member on its axis. [NIH] Toxic: Having to do with poison or something harmful to the body. Toxic substances usually cause unwanted side effects. [NIH] Toxicity: The quality of being poisonous, especially the degree of virulence of a toxic
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microbe or of a poison. [EU] Toxicology: The science concerned with the detection, chemical composition, and pharmacologic action of toxic substances or poisons and the treatment and prevention of toxic manifestations. [NIH] Toxin: A poison; frequently used to refer specifically to a protein produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic bacteria, which is highly toxic for other living organisms. Such substances are differentiated from the simple chemical poisons and the vegetable alkaloids by their high molecular weight and antigenicity. [EU] Trace element: Substance or element essential to plant or animal life, but present in extremely small amounts. [NIH] Trachea: The cartilaginous and membranous tube descending from the larynx and branching into the right and left main bronchi. [NIH] Traction: The act of pulling. [NIH] Transcutaneous: Transdermal. [EU] Transduction: The transfer of genes from one cell to another by means of a viral (in the case of bacteria, a bacteriophage) vector or a vector which is similar to a virus particle (pseudovirion). [NIH] Transfection: The uptake of naked or purified DNA into cells, usually eukaryotic. It is analogous to bacterial transformation. [NIH] Translational: The cleavage of signal sequence that directs the passage of the protein through a cell or organelle membrane. [NIH] Transmitter: A chemical substance which effects the passage of nerve impulses from one cell to the other at the synapse. [NIH] Trauma: Any injury, wound, or shock, must frequently physical or structural shock, producing a disturbance. [NIH] Treatment Outcome: Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, practicability, etc., of these interventions in individual cases or series. [NIH]
Trees: Woody, usually tall, perennial higher plants (Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, and some Pterophyta) having usually a main stem and numerous branches. [NIH] Trichomoniasis: An infection with the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. [NIH] Tricyclic: Containing three fused rings or closed chains in the molecular structure. [EU] Tryptophan: An essential amino acid that is necessary for normal growth in infants and for nitrogen balance in adults. It is a precursor serotonin and niacin. [NIH] Tuberculosis: Any of the infectious diseases of man and other animals caused by species of Mycobacterium. [NIH] Tyrosine: A non-essential amino acid. In animals it is synthesized from phenylalanine. It is also the precursor of epinephrine, thyroid hormones, and melanin. [NIH] Ulcer: A localized necrotic lesion of the skin or a mucous surface. [NIH] Ulcerative colitis: Chronic inflammation of the colon that produces ulcers in its lining. This condition is marked by abdominal pain, cramps, and loose discharges of pus, blood, and mucus from the bowel. [NIH] Uncontrolled study: A clinical study that lacks a comparison (i.e., a control) group. [NIH] Urethra: The tube through which urine leaves the body. It empties urine from the bladder.
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[NIH]
Urinalysis: Examination of urine by chemical, physical, or microscopic means. Routine urinalysis usually includes performing chemical screening tests, determining specific gravity, observing any unusual color or odor, screening for bacteriuria, and examining the sediment microscopically. [NIH] Urinary: Having to do with urine or the organs of the body that produce and get rid of urine. [NIH] Urine: Fluid containing water and waste products. Urine is made by the kidneys, stored in the bladder, and leaves the body through the urethra. [NIH] Urodynamic: Measures of the bladder's ability to hold and release urine. [NIH] Uterine Contraction: Contraction of the uterine muscle. [NIH] Uterus: The small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis. This is the organ in which a fetus develops. Also called the womb. [NIH] Vaccine: A substance or group of substances meant to cause the immune system to respond to a tumor or to microorganisms, such as bacteria or viruses. [NIH] Vagal: Pertaining to the vagus nerve. [EU] Vagotomy: The interruption or removal of any part of the vagus (10th cranial) nerve. Vagotomy may be performed for research or for therapeutic purposes. [NIH] Vagus Nerve: The 10th cranial nerve. The vagus is a mixed nerve which contains somatic afferents (from skin in back of the ear and the external auditory meatus), visceral afferents (from the pharynx, larynx, thorax, and abdomen), parasympathetic efferents (to the thorax and abdomen), and efferents to striated muscle (of the larynx and pharynx). [NIH] Vascular: Pertaining to blood vessels or indicative of a copious blood supply. [EU] Vasoconstriction: Narrowing of the blood vessels without anatomic change, for which constriction, pathologic is used. [NIH] Vasodilator: An agent that widens blood vessels. [NIH] Vein: Vessel-carrying blood from various parts of the body to the heart. [NIH] Venous: Of or pertaining to the veins. [EU] Venous Thrombosis: The formation or presence of a thrombus within a vein. [NIH] Venter: Belly. [NIH] Ventilation: 1. In respiratory physiology, the process of exchange of air between the lungs and the ambient air. Pulmonary ventilation (usually measured in litres per minute) refers to the total exchange, whereas alveolar ventilation refers to the effective ventilation of the alveoli, in which gas exchange with the blood takes place. 2. In psychiatry, verbalization of one's emotional problems. [EU] Ventral: 1. Pertaining to the belly or to any venter. 2. Denoting a position more toward the belly surface than some other object of reference; same as anterior in human anatomy. [EU] Ventral Tegmental Area: A region in the mesencephalon which is dorsomedial to the substantia nigra and ventral to the red nucleus. The mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic systems originate here, including an important projection to the nucleus accumbens. Overactivity of the cells in this area has been suspected to contribute to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. [NIH] Ventricle: One of the two pumping chambers of the heart. The right ventricle receives oxygen-poor blood from the right atrium and pumps it to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. The left ventricle receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the
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body through the aorta. [NIH] Venules: The minute vessels that collect blood from the capillary plexuses and join together to form veins. [NIH] Vertebrae: A bony unit of the segmented spinal column. [NIH] Vertebral: Of or pertaining to a vertebra. [EU] Vestibulocochlear Nerve: The 8th cranial nerve. The vestibulocochlear nerve has a cochlear part (cochlear nerve) which is concerned with hearing and a vestibular part (vestibular nerve) which mediates the sense of balance and head position. The fibers of the cochlear nerve originate from neurons of the spiral ganglion and project to the cochlear nuclei (cochlear nucleus). The fibers of the vestibular nerve arise from neurons of Scarpa's ganglion and project to the vestibular nuclei. [NIH] Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases: Diseases of the vestibular and/or cochlear (acoustic) nerves, which join to form the vestibulocochlear nerve. Vestibular neuritis, cochlear neuritis, and acoustic neuromas are relatively common conditions that affect these nerves. Clinical manifestations vary with which nerve is primarily affected, and include hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus. [NIH] Veterinary Medicine: The medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in animals. [NIH] Villous: Of a surface, covered with villi. [NIH] Virulence: The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. [NIH] Viscera: Any of the large interior organs in any one of the three great cavities of the body, especially in the abdomen. [NIH] Visceral: , from viscus a viscus) pertaining to a viscus. [EU] Visceral Afferents: The sensory fibers innervating the viscera. [NIH] Visual Cortex: Area of the occipital lobe concerned with vision. [NIH] Vivo: Outside of or removed from the body of a living organism. [NIH] Volition: Voluntary activity without external compulsion. [NIH] White blood cell: A type of cell in the immune system that helps the body fight infection and disease. White blood cells include lymphocytes, granulocytes, macrophages, and others. [NIH]
Windpipe: A rigid tube, 10 cm long, extending from the cricoid cartilage to the upper border of the fifth thoracic vertebra. [NIH] Winged scapula: An undue prominence or sticking-out of the scapula. [NIH] Withdrawal: 1. A pathological retreat from interpersonal contact and social involvement, as may occur in schizophrenia, depression, or schizoid avoidant and schizotypal personality disorders. 2. (DSM III-R) A substance-specific organic brain syndrome that follows the cessation of use or reduction in intake of a psychoactive substance that had been regularly used to induce a state of intoxication. [EU] Womb: A hollow, thick-walled, muscular organ in which the impregnated ovum is developed into a child. [NIH] Xenograft: The cells of one species transplanted to another species. [NIH] X-ray: High-energy radiation used in low doses to diagnose diseases and in high doses to treat cancer. [NIH]
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Zygote: The fertilized ovum. [NIH]
213
INDEX A Abdomen, 21, 100, 157, 163, 164, 175, 182, 183, 184, 185, 193, 204, 205, 209, 210 Abdominal, 12, 62, 107, 116, 118, 157, 165, 167, 172, 178, 184, 192, 208 Abdominal fat, 116, 157 Abdominal Pain, 118, 157, 178, 184, 208 Abduction, 8, 157 Academic Medical Centers, 32, 157 Accessory Nerve, 8, 157 Accommodation, 157, 189 Acetaminophen, 23, 157 Acetylcholine, 157, 167, 190, 191 Acoustic, 14, 157, 210 Acrylonitrile, 157, 201 Actin, 11, 157, 188, 189 Activities of Daily Living, 134, 157 Acupuncture Analgesia, 10, 27, 32, 34, 41, 157 Acupuncture Points, 8, 11, 22, 23, 27, 29, 33, 36, 75, 94, 105, 107, 123, 157, 158 Acupuncture Therapy, 14, 35, 157 Acustimulation, 49, 57, 61, 131, 158 Adenosine, 158, 165, 194 Adipose Tissue, 157, 158 Adjustment, 98, 99, 102, 157, 158 Adrenal Cortex, 158, 170 Adrenal Medulla, 158, 166, 175, 191 Adrenergic, 158, 159, 173, 175, 179, 197, 206 Adverse Effect, 7, 105, 158, 202 Aerobic, 29, 158 Aerobic Exercise, 29, 158 Afferent, 10, 12, 19, 34, 158, 202 Affinity, 158, 162, 203 Agonist, 25, 158, 165, 173, 189, 190 Alanine, 158, 189 Alertness, 158, 165 Algorithms, 159, 163 Alkaline, 159, 165 Alkaloid, 159, 162, 164, 168, 188, 190 Allergen, 159, 202 Alopecia, 159, 171 Alpha Particles, 159, 198 Alpha-1, 159 Alternative medicine, 5, 16, 25, 29, 37, 118, 127, 132, 159 Alveoli, 159, 209
Amenorrhea, 159, 160 Amino Acids, 159, 190, 193, 195, 197 Amitriptyline, 39, 159 Amphetamines, 159, 168 Ampulla, 159, 175 Amygdala, 159, 185, 202 Anaesthesia, 44, 49, 50, 51, 53, 56, 58, 59, 62, 159 Anal, 118, 159, 177 Anal Fissure, 118, 159 Analgesic, 29, 34, 41, 93, 157, 159, 165, 175, 176, 182, 188, 192 Analog, 9, 159, 177, 189 Analysis of Variance, 41, 160 Anaphylatoxins, 160, 169 Anatomical, 76, 77, 101, 160, 162, 167, 170, 182, 187 Anesthesia, 19, 52, 53, 58, 59, 60, 160, 174, 195 Angina, 10, 19, 63, 160, 197 Angina Pectoris, 160, 197 Animal model, 16, 20, 28, 31, 36, 160 Ankle, 34, 83, 88, 102, 160 Ankle Joint, 34, 160 Anorexia, 21, 118, 159, 160, 178 Anorexia Nervosa, 118, 160 Antagonism, 160, 165 Antibiotic, 160, 171, 173, 204 Antibody, 158, 160, 161, 168, 171, 181, 182, 183, 186, 198, 202, 204 Anticholinergic, 159, 160 Antidepressant, 24, 159, 160 Antiemetic, 41, 54, 59, 160, 187 Antigen, 158, 160, 161, 169, 181, 182, 183, 186, 187, 202 Antigen-Antibody Complex, 161, 169 Antihypertensive, 19, 161, 179 Anti-inflammatory, 147, 157, 161, 182 Antimetabolite, 161, 177 Antineoplastic, 161, 171, 173, 177 Antipyretic, 157, 161 Antiseptic, 161, 166 Anus, 159, 161, 164, 168, 199 Anxiety, 7, 15, 22, 40, 41, 55, 77, 79, 96, 100, 126, 134, 161, 197 Anxiety Disorders, 7, 40, 161 Anxiolytic, 161, 191 Aphasia, 17, 161
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Aqueous, 161, 162 Arginine, 18, 160, 161, 191 Arnica, 48, 161 Arterial, 19, 161, 164, 181, 197, 206 Arteries, 161, 163, 170, 188, 189 Arteriolar, 44, 57, 161, 164 Arterioles, 161, 163, 165, 189 Artery, 10, 161, 170, 174, 198 Articular, 160, 161, 192 Articulation, 93, 161, 187 Astringent, 161, 166 Astrocytes, 162, 187, 188 Atrium, 162, 209 Atropine, 21, 162, 163 Attenuated, 4, 18, 162, 172 Attenuation, 10, 162 Auditory, 29, 40, 162, 209 Auricular, 6, 44, 48, 55, 162 Autogenic, 126, 162 Autogenic Training, 126, 162 Autonomic Nervous System, 10, 162, 163, 194, 203, 205 Axons, 18, 162, 190, 194, 196 B Back Pain, 22, 37, 94, 124, 134, 162 Bacteria, 117, 160, 161, 162, 174, 177, 187, 204, 208, 209 Bactericidal, 162, 176 Bacteriuria, 162, 209 Basal Ganglia, 162, 164, 185, 191 Base, 76, 81, 88, 90, 101, 103, 104, 110, 162, 184, 206 Basement Membrane, 163, 176 Behavior Therapy, 26, 163 Belladonna, 162, 163 Benign, 118, 163, 180, 189, 198 Bilateral, 94, 163, 193, 202 Biochemical, 161, 163, 192, 202 Biological therapy, 163, 179 Biopsy, 130, 163, 193 Biosynthesis, 163, 192 Biotechnology, 42, 132, 141, 163 Bipolar Disorder, 15, 163 Bladder, 31, 126, 127, 129, 130, 163, 169, 171, 178, 182, 193, 197, 208, 209 Blastocyst, 163, 169, 174 Bloating, 163, 178, 182, 184 Blood Coagulation, 163, 165 Blood Platelets, 163, 202 Blood pressure, 10, 18, 19, 100, 161, 163, 165, 178, 181, 188, 203
Blood vessel, 78, 92, 163, 165, 167, 175, 184, 186, 203, 205, 207, 209 Blood Volume, 36, 163 Blood-Brain Barrier, 164, 180 Body Fluids, 164, 173, 203 Body Image, 126, 164 Body Mass Index, 164, 192 Bone Marrow, 164, 182, 186, 203, 205 Bowel, 5, 12, 28, 118, 159, 164, 183, 205, 208 Bowel Movement, 5, 12, 118, 164, 205 Brachial, 164, 181, 186 Brachial Plexus, 164, 186 Bradykinin, 164, 191 Brain Hypoxia, 164 Brain Infarction, 164 Brain Ischemia, 4, 164 Brain Stem, 21, 164, 166 Bronchitis, 164, 167 Buccal, 164, 185 Bulimia, 118, 164 Bunion, 164, 180 Buprenorphine, 26, 164 C Caesarean section, 50, 165 Caffeine, 133, 165 Calcitonin, 7, 165 Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, 7, 165 Calcium, 133, 165, 169, 202 Capillary, 44, 57, 164, 165, 210 Cardiac, 19, 53, 165, 175, 176, 188, 189, 200, 205 Cardiorespiratory, 158, 165 Cardioselective, 165, 197 Cardiovascular, 10, 18, 20, 165, 202, 203 Cardiovascular disease, 10, 165 Cardiovascular System, 10, 165 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 39, 77, 87, 165 Case report, 38, 166, 168 Case series, 25, 166, 168 Catechol, 36, 166 Catecholamine, 166, 172, 194 Catheters, 130, 166 Caudal, 166, 182, 191, 195 Celiac Disease, 118, 166 Cell Differentiation, 166, 202 Cell Division, 162, 166, 179, 195 Cell proliferation, 166, 202 Cell Survival, 166, 179 Central Nervous System Infections, 166, 180 Cerebellum, 164, 166, 170, 195, 199
215
Cerebral Aqueduct, 166, 193, 207 Cerebral Cortex, 14, 94, 166, 176 Cerebral hemispheres, 162, 164, 166, 167, 206 Cerebrovascular, 14, 165, 167 Cerebrum, 166, 167, 170, 206 Cervical, 90, 157, 164, 167, 180, 186, 189 Cervix, 167, 177 Cesarean Section, 52, 56, 167 Chelation, 126, 167 Chemotactic Factors, 167, 169 Chemotherapy, 13, 22, 30, 34, 41, 54, 59, 61, 167 Chin, 44, 45, 48, 57, 60, 62, 167, 187 Chiropractic, 37, 48, 80, 90, 113, 119, 124, 126, 127, 167 Cholecystectomy, 49, 56, 167 Cholesterol, 118, 167, 170, 205 Cholinergic, 159, 167, 180, 190, 202 Chromosome, 167, 185 Chronic Disease, 38, 126, 167 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 56, 167 Circulatory system, 82, 167 Cisplatin, 167, 191 Clamp, 35, 102, 168 Clinical study, 54, 168, 170, 208 Clinical trial, 4, 6, 9, 11, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28, 31, 34, 39, 141, 168, 170, 173, 188, 193, 197, 199 Cloning, 163, 168 Coca, 168 Cocaine, 6, 168 Cochlear, 168, 207, 210 Cochlear Diseases, 168, 207 Colitis, 118, 126, 168, 184 Collagen, 11, 163, 168, 177, 192, 195, 197 Colon, 168, 183, 184, 208 Colorectal, 15, 118, 126, 168 Colorectal Cancer, 15, 118, 126, 168 Colostomy, 12, 168 Combination Therapy, 5, 168 Complement, 36, 38, 44, 160, 168, 169, 202 Complementary and alternative medicine, 9, 17, 21, 30, 38, 47, 48, 71, 169 Complementary medicine, 33, 36, 48, 169 Complete remission, 169, 200 Compliance, 9, 26, 169 Compress, 111, 112, 169 Computational Biology, 141, 169 Conception, 95, 169, 170, 177, 196, 205
Connective Tissue, 10, 164, 168, 169, 172, 178, 186, 194, 206 Connective Tissue Cells, 169 Consciousness, 159, 169, 190, 198, 200 Constipation, 118, 169, 184 Constitutional, 85, 170 Constriction, 170, 184, 209 Constriction, Pathologic, 170, 209 Consultation, 44, 48, 170 Continuum, 85, 170 Contraception, 92, 170 Contraindications, ii, 170 Control group, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 37, 39, 170, 196, 199 Controlled clinical trial, 19, 29, 49, 52, 170, 199 Controlled study, 13, 52, 170 Conventional treatment, 25, 129, 170 Convulsions, 170, 174 Coronary, 10, 19, 160, 165, 170, 188, 189 Coronary Arteriosclerosis, 170, 189 Coronary heart disease, 165, 170 Coronary Thrombosis, 170, 188, 189 Cortex, 4, 14, 33, 170, 181, 199 Cortical, 28, 30, 40, 170, 176, 201 Cortices, 29, 170 Cortisol, 16, 170 Cost Savings, 29, 170 Cranial, 157, 166, 171, 180, 184, 194, 209, 210 Craniocerebral Trauma, 171, 180, 207 Credentialing, 32, 171 Criterion, 26, 171 Curative, 8, 125, 171, 206 Cutaneous, 94, 171, 185 Cyclic, 165, 171, 179, 191 Cyclophosphamide, 41, 171 Cystitis, 126, 127, 129, 130, 146, 171 Cystoscopy, 130, 171 Cytokines, 11, 171, 187 Cytotoxic, 171, 191, 198, 202 Cytotoxic chemotherapy, 171, 191 D Data Collection, 5, 13, 171 Daunorubicin, 171, 173 Degenerative, 171, 192 Delivery of Health Care, 171, 180 Dendrites, 171, 190 Dental Care, 117, 118, 171 Depolarization, 171, 202 Depressive Disorder, 25, 171 Deprivation, 7, 172
216
Acupressure
Dermis, 172, 200 Detoxification, 84, 113, 172 Diagnostic procedure, 73, 132, 172 Diaphragm, 172, 181 Diarrhea, 5, 28, 118, 172, 184 Diarrhoea, 172, 178 Diastole, 172 Diastolic, 19, 172, 181 Diffusion, 172 Digestion, 100, 164, 172, 173, 178, 182, 183, 185, 205 Dilution, 130, 172, 175, 195 Diprenorphine, 27, 172 Direct, iii, 17, 77, 92, 93, 94, 172, 173, 199 Discrete, 75, 172, 185, 206 Disinfectant, 172, 176 Disparity, 31, 172 Dissection, 8, 172 Distal, 86, 112, 172, 196, 197 Distention, 12, 172 Diuresis, 165, 172 Diuretic, 172, 196 Diverticula, 172 Diverticulitis, 118, 172 Diverticulum, 172 Dopamine, 27, 35, 36, 168, 172, 187, 188, 190 Dorsal, 21, 77, 84, 173, 175, 195, 202, 204 Dorsum, 173 Double-blind, 14, 27, 48, 52, 58, 59, 173 Double-blinded, 14, 58, 59, 173 Doxorubicin, 41, 173 Drug Interactions, 173 Drug Tolerance, 173, 207 Duct, 89, 159, 173, 176, 201 Duodenum, 173, 175, 178, 205 Dysmenorrhea, 44, 49, 56, 173 Dyspepsia, 173, 183 Dysphoric, 171, 173 Dyspnea, 8, 173 Dyspnoea, 56, 173 E Edema, 92, 173, 184, 186 Effector, 157, 168, 173, 190 Efferent, 21, 173, 202 Efficacy, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 33, 36, 38, 40, 57, 61, 93, 173, 208 Effusion, 8, 173 Elastic, 77, 86, 88, 94, 99, 106, 107, 109, 110, 173, 179 Elasticity, 88, 99, 170, 173
Elastin, 168, 174 Electroacupuncture, 20, 25, 29, 34, 40, 174 Electroconvulsive Therapy, 25, 174 Electrolyte, 174, 196, 203 Electromyography, 130, 174 Electrons, 162, 174, 184, 198 Electroplating, 166, 174 Embolus, 174, 183 Embryo, 163, 166, 174, 192, 196, 204 Embryo Transfer, 174, 196 Emergency Medicine, 118, 174 Emergency Treatment, 174 Emesis, 51, 62, 174, 195 Emollient, 174, 191 Emphysema, 167, 174 Empirical, 7, 32, 40, 174 Endogenous, 10, 19, 27, 34, 165, 172, 174, 175, 178, 191 Endometrial, 174 Endometriosis, 25, 34, 92, 174, 189 Endometrium, 174, 187 Endorphin, 174, 178 Endoscope, 175 Endoscopic, 53, 171, 175 Endothelium, 175, 191 Endothelium-derived, 175, 191 Endotoxins, 169, 175 End-stage renal, 49, 50, 61, 175 Energetic, 67, 92, 175 Enkephalins, 175, 190, 191 Enuresis, 52, 175 Environmental Health, 140, 142, 175 Enzymatic, 165, 169, 175, 200 Enzyme, 36, 173, 175, 179, 187, 188, 197, 202, 205 Epidemic, 38, 175 Epidural, 56, 175 Epigastric, 175, 192 Epinephrine, 158, 173, 175, 190, 191, 208 Epithalamus, 175, 185 Erythrocyte Volume, 164, 175 Erythrocytes, 164, 175, 176, 202 Esophagus, 176, 180, 205 Estrogens, 176, 179 Ethanol, 35, 176 Etorphine, 172, 176 Evacuation, 169, 176, 178 Evoke, 34, 176, 205 Excitability, 35, 176, 189, 190 Excitation, 10, 159, 176, 190 Excitatory, 20, 176, 179 Exercise Therapy, 23, 176
217
Exhaustion, 133, 160, 176 Exocrine, 176, 192 Exogenous, 18, 174, 176 Expectorant, 176, 196 Extensor, 176, 206 Extracellular, 11, 20, 36, 162, 169, 176, 177, 187, 203 Extracellular Matrix, 11, 169, 176, 177 Extracellular Space, 176, 187 Extrapyramidal, 173, 176 Extremity, 21, 39, 164, 176, 186, 193 F Family Planning, 141, 176 Family Therapy, 147, 177 Fat, 157, 158, 164, 170, 174, 177, 192 Fatigue, 7, 49, 61, 100, 177, 180 Feasibility Studies, 40, 177 Feces, 169, 177, 205 Femoral, 20, 177 Femur, 20, 177, 207 Fertilization in Vitro, 177, 196 Fetus, 167, 177, 196, 204, 205, 209 Fibroblasts, 11, 169, 177 Fibula, 160, 177, 207 Fixation, 177, 202 Flatus, 12, 177, 178 Flexion, 90, 177 Fluorouracil, 41, 177 Follicles, 177 Forearm, 85, 163, 177, 186, 206 Friction, 111, 177 Functional magnetic resonance imaging, 29, 178 Fundus, 177, 178 G Gallbladder, 19, 157, 167, 178 Gamma Rays, 178, 198 Gamma-Endorphin, 178 Ganglia, 157, 178, 190, 194, 206 Ganglionic Blockers, 178, 181 Gas, 118, 172, 177, 178, 181, 182, 184, 191, 209 Gas exchange, 178, 209 Gastric, 21, 44, 52, 178, 180, 205 Gastric Emptying, 21, 178 Gastrin, 178, 181 Gastritis, 118, 178 Gastroenteritis, 118, 178 Gastrointestinal, 5, 21, 44, 62, 164, 175, 176, 178, 180, 202, 203 Gastrointestinal tract, 176, 178, 180, 202 Gastroparesis, 21, 178
Gemcitabine, 13, 178 Gene, 11, 163, 165, 178 Gene Expression, 11, 178 Generator, 87, 179 Geriatric, 48, 58, 179 Gland, 158, 179, 181, 186, 192, 193, 197, 205, 207 Glutamic Acid, 179, 190, 197 Gluten, 166, 179 Glycine, 179, 190 Gonadorelin, 179, 189 Gonadotropin, 25, 179 Gonads, 95, 179 Governing Board, 179, 196 Grade, 8, 179 Granulocytes, 179, 202, 210 Growth factors, 11, 179, 187 Guanethidine, 21, 179 Guanylate Cyclase, 179, 191 Gynaecological, 44, 55, 58, 179 Gyrus Cinguli, 179, 185 H Habituate, 40, 179 Haematemesis, 174, 179 Hair follicles, 18, 172, 180 Halitosis, 117, 180 Hallux Valgus, 88, 180 Headache, 9, 53, 62, 64, 77, 79, 90, 92, 95, 96, 100, 165, 180 Headache Disorders, 180 Health Care Costs, 38, 180 Health Expenditures, 180 Health Services, 10, 24, 38, 44, 171, 180 Heart attack, 165, 180 Heart failure, 10, 180 Heartburn, 118, 180, 181, 182 Hemiparesis, 180 Hemiplegia, 17, 180 Hemorrhage, 171, 180, 205 Hemostasis, 180, 202 Heredity, 178, 180 Hexamethonium, 21, 180 Hiatal Hernia, 118, 181 Hippocampus, 181, 185, 202 Holistic Health, 121, 181 Homeopathic remedies, 118, 181 Homogeneous, 170, 181 Homologous, 181, 202, 206 Hormone, 25, 165, 170, 175, 178, 179, 181, 189, 202, 207 Hormone therapy, 25, 181 Hospice, 53, 181
218
Acupressure
Humeral, 181, 206 Hydrogen, 162, 181, 188, 190, 194, 197 Hydroxylysine, 168, 181 Hydroxyproline, 168, 181 Hyperalgesia, 20, 94, 181 Hyperemesis, 51, 60, 181 Hypersensitivity, 159, 181, 202 Hypertension, 10, 19, 38, 46, 62, 165, 181, 184, 197 Hyperthyroidism, 181, 197 Hypnotherapy, 127, 181 Hypnotic, 95, 162, 181 Hypotension, 19, 170, 178, 181 Hypothalamic, 16, 182 Hypothalamus, 95, 157, 162, 179, 182, 185, 197, 202, 207 Hypoxic, 4, 182 Hysterectomy, 62, 182 Hysterotomy, 167, 182 I Ibuprofen, 44, 56, 182 Ileostomy, 12, 182 Ileum, 182 Ileus, 12, 21, 182 Immune response, 161, 182, 202 Immune system, 163, 181, 182, 209, 210 Immunity, 96, 158, 182 Immunization, 182, 202 Immunologic, 167, 182, 198 Immunosuppressant, 177, 182 Immunosuppression, 182, 192 Immunosuppressive, 171, 182 Impairment, 24, 182 Implantation, 169, 182 In vitro, 174, 182 In vivo, 14, 35, 36, 182, 187 Incision, 165, 182, 184 Incontinence, 118, 126, 182 Indigestion, 118, 182 Infant Care, 118, 183 Infarction, 4, 164, 183 Infection, 5, 76, 79, 134, 162, 163, 167, 178, 183, 185, 186, 192, 205, 208, 210 Infertility, 25, 95, 183 Inflammation, 84, 113, 161, 164, 168, 171, 172, 178, 183, 195, 208 Inflammatory bowel disease, 126, 183 Infrared Rays, 114, 183 Ingestion, 180, 183, 195 Inhalation, 183, 195 Inlay, 110, 183 Innervation, 27, 164, 183, 186
Inotropic, 173, 183 Insight, 14, 35, 183 Insomnia, 6, 7, 12, 63, 75, 96, 100, 123, 183 Intermittent, 87, 183 Interstitial, 126, 127, 129, 130, 146, 176, 183 Intervertebral, 183, 185 Intervertebral Disk Displacement, 183, 185 Intestinal, 166, 183, 186 Intestinal Mucosa, 166, 183 Intestine, 98, 99, 164, 168, 183, 184, 194 Intoxication, 184, 210 Intracellular, 11, 165, 183, 184, 191, 196, 199, 202 Intracranial Hypertension, 180, 184, 207 Intravenous, 52, 184 Invasive, 32, 34, 40, 75, 76, 77, 94, 182, 184, 186 Involuntary, 79, 175, 184, 189, 199, 204 Ionizing, 159, 184, 186, 198 Ions, 162, 174, 181, 184, 188 Irritable Bowel Syndrome, 28, 118, 184 Ischemia, 4, 19, 164, 184 K Kb, 140, 184 Kidney Failure, 175, 184 Kinetic, 86, 184 L Labile, 168, 184 Laparoscopy, 25, 51, 184 Large Intestine, 168, 183, 184, 199, 203 Larynx, 157, 184, 208, 209 Latency, 20, 184 Least-Squares Analysis, 184, 200 Lesion, 185, 208 Leukemia, 173, 185 Ligament, 185, 197, 204 Ligands, 36, 185 Ligation, 19, 185 Likelihood Functions, 185, 200 Limbic, 27, 33, 36, 159, 179, 185 Limbic System, 27, 33, 159, 179, 185 Linear Models, 185, 200 Linkage, 82, 185 Liver, 157, 171, 177, 178, 185 Lobe, 98, 99, 159, 185, 197 Localization, 18, 185 Localized, 8, 14, 79, 83, 85, 90, 91, 164, 177, 180, 183, 185, 189, 195, 208 Logistic Models, 185, 200 Low Back Pain, 22, 28, 37, 61, 185 Lumbar, 106, 107, 162, 183, 185
219
Lupus, 118, 185 Lymph, 134, 167, 175, 185, 186, 189 Lymph node, 167, 186, 189 Lymphatic, 12, 175, 183, 185, 186, 203, 204, 207 Lymphatic system, 185, 186, 203, 204, 207 Lymphedema, 134, 186 M Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 30, 41, 186 Malabsorption, 166, 186 Malignant, 13, 161, 186, 189, 198 Mammary, 186, 191 Manic, 163, 186 Manifest, 180, 186 Man-made, 166, 186 Maxillary, 52, 186 Medial, 160, 179, 186, 192, 201, 202, 207 Median Nerve, 19, 165, 186 Mediate, 7, 15, 19, 173, 186 Mediator, 95, 186, 202 Medical Staff, 173, 186, 194 Medicament, 112, 186 MEDLINE, 141, 186 Medullary, 21, 186 Membrane, 92, 162, 169, 171, 174, 176, 184, 186, 187, 188, 195, 200, 202, 208 Memory, 86, 160, 187 Meninges, 166, 171, 187, 204 Menopause, 47, 187, 195, 197 Menstrual Cycle, 92, 187 Menstruation, 159, 173, 187 Mental Health, iv, 4, 44, 53, 118, 140, 142, 187, 198 Mental Processes, 187, 198 Mentors, 16, 187 Mesolimbic, 187, 209 Metabolic therapy, 126, 187 Metastasis, 187, 189 Metastatic, 12, 16, 22, 187 Metatarsophalangeal Joint, 180, 187 Methyltransferase, 36, 187 Metoclopramide, 52, 187 Microbe, 187, 208 Microdialysis, 36, 187 Microglia, 162, 187, 188 Microorganism, 187, 193 Microscopy, 11, 163, 187 Midwifery, 44, 47, 52, 54, 127, 188 Miscarriage, 92, 188 Modeling, 36, 188 Modification, 20, 99, 130, 188, 198
Molecular, 4, 11, 141, 143, 163, 169, 188, 199, 201, 208 Molecular Structure, 188, 208 Molecule, 161, 162, 169, 173, 175, 176, 188, 198, 199, 202 Monitor, 11, 33, 105, 188, 191 Monoamine, 27, 188 Mood Disorders, 15, 188 Morphine, 56, 58, 165, 188, 189, 192 Morphological, 18, 174, 188 Motility, 12, 62, 188, 202 Motion Sickness, 44, 48, 49, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 63, 64, 76, 103, 188, 189 Mucosa, 164, 185, 188 Mucus, 176, 188, 208 Multicenter study, 25, 61, 188 Muscle Contraction, 78, 90, 188 Muscle Relaxation, 126, 162, 188 Muscle tension, 82, 91, 188 Myalgia, 113, 188 Myocardial infarction, 55, 170, 188, 189, 197 Myocardial Ischemia, 19, 160, 188 Myocardium, 160, 188, 189 Myopia, 44, 48, 189, 199 Myosin, 188, 189 N Nafarelin, 25, 189 Naloxone, 26, 172, 189 Narcolepsy, 40, 189 Narcosis, 189 Narcotic, 147, 172, 176, 188, 189, 190 Nearsightedness, 189 Neck dissection, 8, 189 Neck Muscles, 90, 189 Neck Pain, 77, 91, 112, 189 Necrosis, 164, 183, 188, 189 Neoplasms, 161, 171, 189, 198 Nerve Endings, 19, 98, 99, 179, 189, 191 Nerve Fibers, 18, 34, 157, 164, 190 Nervous System, 10, 14, 28, 41, 91, 94, 157, 158, 159, 162, 165, 166, 168, 173, 178, 179, 186, 187, 188, 190, 194, 195, 202, 206 Nervousness, 75, 190 Neural, 20, 21, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36, 158, 165, 178, 187, 190, 202 Neuroeffector Junction, 189, 190 Neuroleptanalgesia, 172, 190 Neuroleptic, 190, 191 Neuronal, 14, 18, 20, 27, 35, 40, 189, 190, 194
220
Acupressure
Neurons, 4, 10, 18, 20, 35, 157, 168, 171, 176, 178, 189, 190, 205, 206, 210 Neuropeptide, 165, 190 Neurotransmitter, 27, 36, 157, 158, 164, 165, 172, 179, 190, 191, 202, 206 Neutrons, 159, 190, 198 Neutropenia, 34, 190 Neutrophils, 179, 190 Nicotine, 100, 190 Nipples, 86, 191 Nitric Oxide, 18, 191 Nitrogen, 159, 171, 177, 191, 208 Nociceptors, 34, 191 Nonverbal Communication, 191, 198 Norepinephrine, 7, 158, 159, 173, 179, 190, 191 Nuclear, 162, 174, 178, 185, 186, 189, 191, 206 Nuclei, 159, 174, 175, 186, 190, 191, 197, 202, 210 Nucleus, 21, 171, 178, 183, 190, 191, 197, 202, 203, 205, 209, 210 Nucleus Accumbens, 191, 209 O Occipital Lobe, 191, 210 Ointments, 113, 191 Oncology, 21, 41, 51, 61, 191 Ondansetron, 49, 191 On-line, 27, 155, 191 Opiate, 13, 19, 26, 188, 189, 191 Opioid Peptides, 175, 191 Opium, 188, 191, 192 Opportunistic Infections, 5, 38, 192 Optic Chiasm, 182, 192 Oral Hygiene, 180, 192 Ossification, 192 Osteoarthritis, 23, 36, 38, 192 Osteoclasts, 165, 192 Osteogenesis, 146, 192 Osteogenesis Imperfecta, 146, 192 Osteoporosis, 100, 192 Outpatient, 55, 56, 192 Ovary, 179, 192 Overweight, 38, 45, 192 Oxygenation, 29, 192 P Pain Threshold, 94, 192 Palliative, 12, 22, 192, 206 Pancreas, 12, 157, 192, 193 Pancreatic, 12, 118, 193 Pancreatic cancer, 12, 118, 193 Paradoxical, 40, 193
Parasite, 193, 208 Paresis, 180, 193 Parietal, 94, 193 Parietal Lobe, 94, 193 Partial remission, 193, 200 Partial response, 14, 193 Patch, 3, 35, 79, 193 Pathogen, 5, 193 Pathologic, 163, 170, 181, 193, 202, 204 Pathophysiology, 7, 28, 193 Patient Education, 129, 130, 146, 150, 152, 155, 193 Patient Selection, 31, 193 Pelvic, 25, 34, 100, 174, 193, 197 Pelvis, 157, 185, 193, 209 Peptide, 20, 27, 165, 178, 192, 193, 195, 197 Perception, 28, 41, 91, 193, 201 Percutaneous, 29, 193 Periaqueductal Gray, 19, 193 Periodontal disease, 117, 193, 194 Peripheral Nerves, 14, 194, 204 Peripheral Nervous System, 14, 175, 180, 190, 194, 196 Peripheral Nervous System Diseases, 180, 194 Peristalsis, 98, 99, 194 Perivascular, 165, 187, 194 PH, 84, 113, 194 Pharmacist, 194 Pharmacologic, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 29, 160, 194, 208 Pharmacotherapy, 24, 194 Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, 32, 194 Phospholipases, 194, 202 Phosphorus, 165, 194 Physical Fitness, 176, 194 Physical Therapy, 23, 28, 80, 87, 146, 194 Physiologic, 7, 158, 163, 187, 194, 199 Pilot Projects, 28, 31, 194 Pilot study, 6, 25, 28, 37, 39, 51, 56, 194, 195 Placebo Effect, 23, 36, 39, 55, 195 Plant Oils, 191, 195 Plants, 159, 161, 162, 163, 168, 191, 195, 208 Plasma, 158, 163, 165, 180, 184, 195, 202 Plasma Volume, 163, 195 Platelet Activation, 195, 203 Platelet Aggregation, 160, 191, 195 Platelets, 191, 195 Pleated, 86, 195
221
Pneumonia, 170, 195 Poisoning, 118, 178, 184, 189, 195 Polymorphism, 36, 195 Polypeptide, 168, 195 Polyposis, 168, 195 Pons, 164, 195 Post partum, 14, 195 Posterior, 92, 159, 162, 166, 173, 175, 189, 191, 192, 195 Postmenopausal, 192, 195 Postoperative, 12, 21, 49, 50, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 195 Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, 49, 52, 53, 56, 58, 61, 62, 195 Postsynaptic, 190, 195, 202, 206 Post-synaptic, 20, 196 Potassium, 130, 133, 196 Potassium Citrate, 130, 196 Potentiates, 21, 196 Potentiating, 159, 196 Potentiation, 196, 202 Practicability, 177, 196, 208 Practice Guidelines, 142, 196 Precursor, 171, 173, 175, 178, 191, 196, 197, 208 Pregnancy Outcome, 13, 196 Prenatal, 13, 174, 196 Presynaptic, 190, 196, 206 Presynaptic Terminals, 190, 196 Prevalence, 38, 196 Primary endpoint, 19, 196 Probe, 36, 187, 196 Progression, 160, 196 Progressive, 126, 166, 173, 189, 192, 195, 197 Projection, 88, 113, 191, 197, 199, 209 Proline, 168, 181, 197 Prone, 96, 197 Pro-Opiomelanocortin, 178, 192, 197 Prophylaxis, 54, 197 Propranolol, 21, 197 Prospective Studies, 24, 197 Prostate, 7, 126, 197 Protease, 168, 197 Protein S, 163, 197 Proteins, 159, 161, 168, 171, 188, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 202 Proteolytic, 159, 169, 197 Protocol, 5, 20, 25, 29, 130, 197 Protons, 159, 181, 184, 197, 198 Protozoan, 166, 197, 208 Proximal, 99, 172, 196, 197, 202
Psychiatric, 15, 197 Psychiatry, 6, 13, 15, 24, 27, 177, 197, 205, 209 Psychic, 187, 190, 198, 201 Psychoactive, 198, 210 Psychology, 16, 26, 44, 66, 100, 198 Psychopathology, 26, 198 Psychopharmacology, 15, 198 Psychotherapy, 24, 66, 119, 162, 177, 198 Psychotropic, 26, 198 Puberty, 189, 198 Public Health, 23, 25, 30, 142, 198 Public Policy, 141, 198 Pulmonary, 8, 51, 163, 184, 198, 209 Pulmonary Artery, 163, 198, 209 Pulse, 188, 198 Q Quality of Life, 5, 7, 8, 12, 15, 19, 20, 21, 24, 29, 38, 41, 56, 90, 126, 198 R Radiation, 84, 114, 160, 178, 182, 184, 186, 198, 210 Radioimmunotherapy, 198 Radiological, 14, 193, 198 Radiopharmaceutical, 179, 198 Radiotherapy, 13, 198 Rage, 193, 199 Random Allocation, 199 Randomization, 16, 19, 36, 38, 199 Randomized clinical trial, 7, 9, 26, 37, 41, 44, 49, 199 Randomized Controlled Trials, 18, 39, 199 Receptor, 4, 27, 161, 173, 191, 199, 202 Receptors, Serotonin, 199, 202 Rectal, 28, 199 Rectum, 161, 164, 168, 177, 178, 182, 183, 184, 197, 199 Recur, 91, 199 Recurrence, 26, 163, 199 Red Nucleus, 199, 209 Refer, 1, 78, 164, 168, 177, 185, 190, 198, 199, 208 Reflex, 10, 20, 48, 52, 65, 69, 70, 77, 102, 104, 105, 110, 123, 124, 127, 193, 199 Refraction, 189, 199, 204 Refractive Power, 189, 200 Regimen, 41, 94, 173, 194, 195, 200 Regression Analysis, 39, 200 Regurgitation, 180, 200 Rehabilitative, 31, 200 Relapse, 6, 35, 200 Relaxation Techniques, 126, 134, 200
222
Acupressure
Reliability, 34, 200 Remission, 129, 163, 199, 200 Research Design, 6, 25, 200 Research Support, 13, 200 Respiration, 188, 200 Respiratory Physiology, 200, 209 Response rate, 13, 200 Resuscitation, 174, 200 Reticular, 40, 200 Retina, 189, 192, 200, 201 Retinal, 172, 192, 200 Retrospective, 15, 201 Rod, 108, 115, 168, 201 Rubber, 86, 157, 201 S Sagittal, 14, 201 Saliva, 201 Salivary, 16, 193, 201 Schizoid, 201, 210 Schizophrenia, 40, 174, 201, 209, 210 Schizotypal Personality Disorder, 201, 210 Sclerae, 192, 201 Screening, 19, 38, 168, 201, 209 Sedative, 159, 176, 201 Sediment, 201, 209 Segmental, 33, 201 Segmentation, 201 Seizures, 16, 201 Self Administration, 82, 201 Self Care, 85, 134, 157, 201 Semen, 197, 201 Senile, 192, 202 Sensibility, 159, 181, 202 Sensitization, 34, 202 Sensor, 93, 94, 202 Septal, 185, 202 Septal Nuclei, 185, 202 Serotonin, 7, 159, 190, 191, 194, 199, 202, 208 Serum, 160, 168, 179, 202 Shock, 202, 208 Shoulder Pain, 8, 202 Side effect, 5, 15, 19, 25, 38, 47, 92, 95, 158, 163, 171, 202, 207 Signal Transduction, 11, 202 Signs and Symptoms, 200, 203 Silicon, 113, 203 Silicon Dioxide, 203 Skeletal, 10, 105, 121, 168, 203, 204 Skeleton, 157, 177, 203, 207 Skull, 90, 97, 171, 203, 206 Small intestine, 173, 181, 182, 183, 203
Smooth muscle, 159, 160, 165, 169, 188, 203, 204 Social Environment, 198, 203 Social Security, 199, 203 Social Support, 32, 203 Sodium, 130, 133, 203 Solid tumor, 173, 203 Solitary Nucleus, 162, 203 Solvent, 176, 203 Soma, 203 Somatic, 19, 185, 194, 203, 209 Spasm, 90, 91, 204 Spastic, 184, 204 Spasticity, 131, 204 Specialist, 147, 204 Species, 36, 163, 175, 178, 193, 204, 205, 208, 210 Specificity, 14, 33, 158, 204 Spectrum, 183, 187, 204 Spinal cord, 20, 34, 157, 162, 164, 166, 167, 175, 180, 186, 187, 190, 194, 199, 204, 206 Spinal Cord Diseases, 180, 204 Spinal Nerves, 194, 204 Spleen, 186, 204 Spontaneous Abortion, 196, 204 Sprains and Strains, 185, 204 Statistically significant, 40, 204 Steel, 168, 204 Sterility, 171, 183, 204 Steroid, 170, 205 Stillbirth, 196, 205 Stimulant, 165, 205 Stimulus, 29, 40, 105, 176, 183, 184, 199, 205, 207 Stomach, 21, 98, 99, 108, 115, 118, 157, 176, 178, 181, 189, 203, 204, 205 Stomach Ulcer, 118, 205 Stool, 5, 168, 182, 184, 205 Strand, 111, 205 Striatum, 4, 191, 205 Stroke, 4, 14, 16, 31, 131, 140, 165, 205 Stromal, 174, 205 Stupor, 189, 205 Styrene, 201, 205 Subacute, 183, 205 Subarachnoid, 180, 205 Subclinical, 183, 201, 205 Subcutaneous, 11, 173, 205 Subspecies, 204, 205 Substrate, 27, 30, 36, 84, 105, 205 Supine, 90, 100, 205 Supine Position, 90, 100, 205
223
Sympathetic Nervous System, 162, 205, 206 Sympathomimetic, 173, 175, 191, 206 Symphysis, 167, 197, 206 Symptomatic, 23, 25, 76, 94, 206 Symptomatology, 13, 16, 206 Synaptic, 190, 202, 206 Synaptic Transmission, 190, 206 Systemic, 163, 164, 175, 183, 184, 196, 206 Systolic, 19, 181, 206 T Talus, 160, 206, 207 Telencephalon, 162, 166, 206 Temporal, 11, 27, 159, 180, 181, 206 Tendon, 204, 206 Tennis Elbow, 77, 206 Testis, 179, 206 Thalamus, 175, 185, 206 Therapeutics, 66, 206 Thermal, 20, 27, 41, 104, 113, 114, 190, 207 Thigh, 177, 207 Third Ventricle, 175, 182, 206, 207 Thoracic, 162, 164, 172, 186, 207, 210 Threshold, 93, 176, 181, 207 Thrombosis, 197, 205, 207 Thymus, 182, 186, 207 Thyroid, 100, 165, 181, 207, 208 Tibia, 160, 177, 207 Tinnitus, 133, 207, 210 Tolerance, 4, 12, 75, 165, 207 Tomography, 10, 14, 36, 207 Tone, 21, 192, 204, 207 Tonic, 41, 207 Tonus, 193, 207 Topical, 75, 98, 99, 130, 147, 161, 176, 207 Torsion, 183, 207 Toxic, iv, 29, 92, 162, 171, 182, 190, 205, 207, 208 Toxicity, 7, 173, 207 Toxicology, 51, 142, 208 Toxin, 207, 208 Trace element, 118, 203, 208 Trachea, 176, 184, 207, 208 Traction, 96, 168, 208 Transcutaneous, 130, 146, 208 Transduction, 11, 202, 208 Transfection, 163, 208 Translational, 31, 208 Transmitter, 157, 162, 173, 186, 191, 208 Trauma, 58, 59, 120, 189, 208 Treatment Outcome, 26, 208 Trees, 201, 208
Trichomoniasis, 118, 208 Tricyclic, 130, 159, 208 Tryptophan, 168, 202, 208 Tuberculosis, 185, 208 Tyrosine, 173, 208 U Ulcer, 205, 208 Ulcerative colitis, 126, 183, 208 Uncontrolled study, 8, 208 Urethra, 197, 208, 209 Urinalysis, 26, 209 Urinary, 162, 171, 175, 182, 209 Urine, 130, 162, 163, 172, 175, 182, 208, 209 Urodynamic, 130, 209 Uterine Contraction, 57, 209 Uterus, 95, 167, 174, 177, 178, 182, 187, 209 V Vaccine, 197, 209 Vagal, 21, 209 Vagotomy, 21, 209 Vagus Nerve, 203, 209 Vascular, 10, 53, 172, 175, 180, 183, 191, 204, 209 Vasoconstriction, 10, 175, 209 Vasodilator, 164, 165, 173, 209 Vein, 184, 191, 209 Venous, 134, 164, 197, 209 Venous Thrombosis, 134, 209 Venter, 209 Ventilation, 109, 209 Ventral, 19, 35, 182, 191, 195, 204, 209 Ventral Tegmental Area, 35, 209 Ventricle, 159, 181, 191, 198, 206, 207, 209 Venules, 163, 165, 210 Vertebrae, 90, 183, 204, 210 Vertebral, 111, 112, 210 Vestibulocochlear Nerve, 207, 210 Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases, 207, 210 Veterinary Medicine, 141, 210 Villous, 166, 210 Virulence, 162, 207, 210 Viscera, 204, 210 Visceral, 10, 19, 28, 162, 185, 209, 210 Visceral Afferents, 162, 209, 210 Visual Cortex, 14, 210 Vivo, 210 Volition, 184, 210 W White blood cell, 160, 186, 188, 190, 210 Windpipe, 207, 210 Winged scapula, 8, 210
224
Acupressure
Withdrawal, 20, 35, 210 Womb, 209, 210 X Xenograft, 160, 210
X-ray, 178, 186, 191, 198, 210 Z Zygote, 169, 211