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Review
. 2016:2016:3685785.
doi: 10.1155/2016/3685785. Epub 2016 May 8.

The Status of the Quality Control in Acupuncture-Neuroimaging Studies

Ke Qiu  1 , Miaomiao Jing  2 , Ruirui Sun  2 , Jie Yang  2 , Xiaoyan Liu  2 , Zhaoxuan He  2 , Shuai Yin  2 , Ying Lan  2 , Shirui Cheng  3 , Feifei Gao  2 , Fanrong Liang  2 , Fang Zeng  2
Affiliations
Review

The Status of the Quality Control in Acupuncture-Neuroimaging Studies

Ke Qiu et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016.

Abstract

Using neuroimaging techniques to explore the central mechanism of acupuncture gains increasing attention, but the quality control of acupuncture-neuroimaging study remains to be improved. We searched the PubMed Database during 1995 to 2014. The original English articles with neuroimaging scan performed on human beings were included. The data involved quality control including the author, sample size, characteristics of the participant, neuroimaging technology, and acupuncture intervention were extracted and analyzed. The rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria are important guaranty for the participants' homogeneity. The standard operation process of acupuncture and the stricter requirement for acupuncturist play significant role in quality control. More attention should be paid to the quality control in future studies to improve the reproducibility and reliability of the acupuncture-neuroimaging studies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The nationality distribution of acupuncture-neuroimaging studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The techniques used in acupuncture-neuroimaging studies. MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, PET: Positron Emission Tomography, EEG: electroencephalography, MEG: magnetoencephalography, SPECT: Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography, and TCD: Transcranial Doppler.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The acupuncture methods used in acupuncture-neuroimaging studies.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The scales/questionnaire used in needle sensation evaluation. VAS: 10-point Visual Analogue Scale, MASS: Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale, SASS: Subject Acupuncture Sensation Scale, PRNS: Psychophysical Rating of Needling Sensation, and NSQ: Needle Sensation Questionnaire.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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