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

Figures & data

Table 1 Study Schedule for Data Measurements

Timepoint	Study Period
	Enrolment	Allocation	Treatment Phase
	Week
	−1	0	2	4	6	8	10	12
ENROLMENT:
Eligibility screen	×
Informed consent	×
Physical examination	×
Randomization		×
INTERVENTIONS:
Group A (n=20)		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
Group B (n=20)		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
Group C (n=20)		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
Group D (n=20)		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
Group E (n=20)		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
Healthy group (n=20)	×
ASSESSMENTS
MRI parameters		×						×
BMI		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
Weight		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
WC		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
VAS of appetite		×	×	×	×	×	×	×
SAS		×						×
SDS		×						×
TC/TG/HDL/LDL		×						×
PARTICIPANTS SAFETY
AE			×	×	×	×	×	×
Laboratory test		×						×

Abbreviations: ACE, acupoint catgut embedding; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; VAS, visual analog scale; SAS, self-rating anxiety scale; SDS, self-rating depression scale; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides (TG); HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; AE, adverse events.

Figure 1 Flowchart of the study design.

Table 2 The Location of Acupoints

Acupoints		Location
Shu acupoints	Pishu (BL20)	In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra (T11), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line.
	Weishu (BL21)	In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line.
	Dachangshu (BL25)	In the upper back region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra (T10), 1.5 B-cun lateral to the posterior median line.
Mu acupoints	Zhangmen (LR13)	On the lateral abdomen, inferior to the free extremity of the 11th rib.
	Zhongwan (RN12)	On the upper abdomen, 3 B-cun superior to the centre of the umbilicus, on the anterior median line.
	Tianshu (ST25)	On the upper abdomen, 2 B-cun lateral to the centre of the umbilicus.

Figure 2 Locations of acupoints.

Figure 3 The scale of VAS of appetite.