Is Acupoint Stimulation an Active Ingredient in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT): A Controlled Trial of Teacher Burnout

Introduction: Progress achieved by long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) against malaria is threatened by the widespread selection of pyrethroid resistance among vector populations. LLINs with non-pyrethroid insecticides are urgently needed. This study aims to assess the durability of three novel dual active ingredient LLINs and to parameterise a mathematical model to predict epidemiological outcomes of these products for malaria vector control. Methods: A WHO Phase 3 active ingredients and textile durability study will be carried out within a cluster randomised controlled trial in Misungwi district in 40 clusters. The following treatments will be evaluated; 1/ Interceptor G2 combining chlorfenapyr and a pyrethroid alpha-cypermethrin, 2/ Royal Guard treated with pyriproxyfen and alpha-cypermethrin and 3/ Olyset Plus which incorporates a synergist piperonyl butoxide and the pyrethroid permethrin, and 4/ a reference standard pyrethroid-only LLIN (Interceptor). 750 nets will be followed in 5 clusters per intervention arm at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months post distribution for survivorship and hole index assessment. A second cohort of 1950 nets per each type will be identified in 10 clusters, of which 30 LLINs will be withdrawn for bio-efficacy and chemical analysis every 6 months up to 36 months and another 30 collected for an experimental hut trial study every year. Bio-efficacy will be assessed using cone bioassays and tunnel tests against susceptible and resistant laboratory strains of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto. Efficacy of field collected nets will be compared in six experimental huts. The main outcomes will be Anopheles mortality up to 72 hours post exposure, blood feeding and egg maturation using ovary dissection to assess impact on fecundity. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was received from the Tanzanian ethics review committee as well as from each institution. Study findings will be disseminated via reports and presentations to national and international stakeholders, conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.

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Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with electroacupuncture for rapid recovery of patients after laparotomy for gastrointestinal surgery: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053309 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. e053309

Author(s):

Hao Li ◽

Qian Wen ◽

Lingyun Lu ◽

Hangqi Hu ◽

Ying He ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Abdominal Surgery ◽

Perioperative Management ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Gastrointestinal Surgery ◽

Rapid Recovery ◽

Surgical Trauma ◽

Solid Diet ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Acupoint Stimulation

IntroductionAbdominal surgery is associated with common complications, including decreased or poor appetite, abdominal distension, abdominal pain caused by decreased or absent gastrointestinal motility, anal arrest with flatus and defecation, and nausea and vomiting resulting from the use of anaesthetics and opioid analgesics. These complications seriously affect postoperative recovery, prolong hospital stay and aggravate patient burden. This study aims to investigate for the first time the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with electroacupuncture (EA) therapy for rapid recovery after laparotomy for gastrointestinal surgery. There have been no clinical studies of this combination therapy.Methods and analysisThis will be a prospective, single-centre, three-arm, randomised controlled trial. A total of 480 patients undergoing abdominal surgery will be stratified according to surgery type (ie, gastric or colorectal procedure) and randomised into three groups; namely, the EA, TEAS +EA and control groups. The control group will receive enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)-standardised perioperative management, including preoperative education, optimising the anaesthesia scheme, avoiding intraoperative hypothermia, restrictive fluid infusion and reducing surgical trauma. The EA group will receive EA stimulation at LI4, PC6, ST36, ST37 and ST39 based on the ERAS-standardised perioperative management. Moreover, the TEAS +EA group will receive ERAS-standardised perioperative management; EA stimulation at the LI4, PC6, ST36, ST37 and ST39; and TEAS stimulation at ST21 and SP15. The primary outcome will be the GI-2 (composite outcome of time to first defaecation and time to tolerance of a solid diet). Secondary outcomes will include the time of first passage of flatus, time to first defaecation, time to tolerance of a solid diet, time to first ambulation, hospital duration from operation to discharge, pain and nausea vomiting scores on the Visual Analogue Scale, medication use, incidence of postoperative complications and evaluation of treatment modality acceptability. All statistical analyses will be performed based on the intention-to-treat principle.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee on Biomedical Research, West China Hospital of Sichuan University (approval number: 2021; number 52). The results are expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberChiCTR2100045646.

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