Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (Mar 2023)
Brain-Imaging Mechanisms on Female Abdominal Obesity Treated by “Shu-Mu” Acupoint Catgut Embedding and Compatibility Relation: Study Protocol for a 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Qifu Li,1,* Yi Lu,2,* Xinghe Zhang,1 Ziwen Chen,3 Jialei Feng,4 Xuanxiang Zeng,1 Siwen Zhao,1 Gaoyangzi Huang,1 Li Li,5 Chonghui Xing,6 Fanrong Liang,3 Taipin Guo1 1School of Second Clinical Medicine/The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 2The Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 4Institute for History of Medicine and Medical Literature, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5The Third Affiliated Hospital, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 6The Sports Trauma Specialist Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Taipin Guo, School of Second Clinical Medicine/The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Fanrong Liang, School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) has been proven to be effective and safe in the treatment of obesity, but few studies have been conducted involving its central mechanisms. Our previous study has demonstrated the effectiveness of Shu-Mu ACE in the treatment of abdominal obesity (AO). However, the neurological mechanism of Shu-Mu ACE for weight loss has not yet been elucidated. The mechanism of the combination of the Shu and Mu acupoints may be related to the central integrative effects of the brain. This paper aims to explore the potential neural mechanisms of Shu-Mu ACE in female patients with AO.Methods and Analysis: A total of 100 eligible female AO patients and 20 healthy female subjects will be recruited for this study. 100 AO patients will be randomly allocated to five groups: Shu-Mu ACE (Group A), Shu ACE (Group B), Mu ACE (Group C), sham ACE (Group D), and waiting-list (Group E). Treatment will be administrated once every two weeks for 12 weeks. The body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), Visual Analog Scales (VAS) of appetite, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) will be utilized to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at each time point of treatment. Multimodal MRI will be performed at baseline and after 12-week treatment and the results will be used to investigate the neural mechanisms of ACE for obesity. Neurological changes and clinical data will be analysed for correlation.Discussions: This study hypothesized that Shu-Mu ACE therapy has a synergistic effect and may treat AO by modulating the neuropathological alterations in the brain. Our findings will demonstrate the neurological mechanism of AO treated by “Shu-Mu” Acupoint Catgut Embedding and compatibility relation.Trial Registration: This trial is registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registration Center (No. ChiCTR2100048920).Keywords: acupoint catgut embedding, female, abdominal obesity, Shu-Mu acupoints, compatibility relation, study protocol, neurological mechanism
