Last weekend, I accompanied my grandma with acupuncture (针灸). As she has been suffering some health issues, she decided to try this traditional Chinese medical treatments. The acupuncturist greeted us warmly and asked about my grandma’s symptoms while we arrived at the clinic. After a thoroughly examination, he explains the process and benefits of acupuncture. My grandma was a bit nervous so I held her hands calm her. After the session, my grandma felt a sense of relief. The acupuncturist told her to rest and drink a plenty of water. We thanked him for his care and left the clinic. While walking back home, my grandma shared his experience with me, express the admiration for the magic of acupuncture.

3 . “Tooth loss and gum disease, which is inflammation (发炎) of the tissue around the teeth that can cause shrinkage (萎缩) of the gums and loosening of the teeth, are very common, so evaluating a potential link with brain diseases is incredibly important. Our study found that these conditions may play a role in the health of the brain area that controls thinking and memory, giving people another reason to take better care of their teeth,” said study author Satoshi Yamaguchi, Ph.D. of Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.

The study involved 172 people with an average age of 67 who did not have memory problems at the beginning of the study. Researchers found that the number of teeth and amount of gum disease was linked to changes in the left hippocampus of the brain. For people with mild gum disease, having fewer teeth was associated with a faster rate of brain shrinkage, which was the same for people with severe gum disease having more teeth. After adjusting for age, researchers found that for people with mild gum disease, the increase in the rate of brain shrinkage due to one less tooth was equal to nearly one year of brain aging. By contrast, for people with severe gum disease, the increase in brain shrinkage due to one more tooth was equal to 1.3 years of brain aging.

“These results highlight the importance of preserving the health of the teeth and not just maintaining the teeth,” Yamaguchi said. Though the study does not prove that gum disease or tooth loss causes diseases like Alzheimer’s, it only shows an association. Yamaguchi added, “Future studies are needed with larger groups of people.” The current experiment involved only a small group of people in one region of Japan, and that too from one particular region of the world.

Acupuncture(针灸),       1     ancient Chinese medical practice, has been the treatment for     2     (count) patients for thousands of years. Before modern medicine came to life, ancient Chinese used stone tools     3     (relieve) pain. As time went by, this practice developed a comprehensive medical system and shaped the root of acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a treatment that aims to promote the body’s self-regulating functions. Its principles are in line    4     the philosophical concepts of traditional Chinese medicine,     5     emphasize integrated treatment, and balance of bodily functions.

Practices can vary in forms. Needle insertion (插入), the most common method,     6     (carry) out by inserting hair-thin needles into specific points on the body that channel vital energy (the qi). Practitioners lift and spin needles to unblock the flow of energy; restore yin and yang balance; and stimulate the body’s inborn potential to heal     7     (it).

Looking beyond China, acupuncture has become a global treatment. Over the years, acupuncture    8     (see) many advancements in scientific research and modern medicine. It is now a mainstream alternative and treatment for    9     (variety) of diseases. According to a 2019 WHO report, acupuncture is used in 113 of its 120 member countries,     10     (illustrate) its widespread recognition and application.

Acupuncture (针灸), a traditional Chinese medical practice,     1     (be) the remedy for       2    (count) patients since ancient times. Before modern medicine came to life, ancient Chinese used stone tools to relieve pain. Over time, this primitive practice gradually evolved     3     a comprehensive and profound medical system and shaped the root of acupuncture.

    4    (aim) at promoting the body’s self-regulating functions, acupuncture emphasizes all-inclusive treatment, balance of bodily functions and overall physiological well-being,     5     therapeutic principles are in line with the philosophical concepts of traditional Chinese medicine.

Practices can vary in forms, including needle insertion, cupping and scraping. Needle insertion,     6     most common method,     7     (carry) out by inserting hair-thin needles into meridians, with specific points on the body that channel vital energy (the qi). Practitioners lift, twirl and rotate needles to unblock the flow of energy and stimulate the body’s innate potential to heal     8     (it).

Looking beyond China, acupuncture has become a global therapy. According to a 2019 WHO report, acupuncture is used in 113 of its 120 member countries,     9     (illustrate) its widespread recognition and application.

With a rich history and deep cultural significance, acupuncture has seen many     10     (advance) in scientific research and modern medicine, which is now an embodiment of profound cultural heritage and a historic path to healing.

10 . Medical artificial intelligence (AI) can perform with expert-level accuracy and deliver cost-effective care. IBM’s Watson diagnoses (诊断) heart disease better than cardiologists (心脏病专家) do. Chatbots give better medical advice to patients in place of nurses. Some forecast that medical AI will enter 90% of hospitals and replace as much as 80% of what doctors currently do. Yet, as our recent research suggests, patients show a strong resistance to medical AI.

The reason, we found, is not the belief that AI provides lower care. Nor is it that patients think that AI is more costly or less informative. Rather, resistance to medical AI seems to come from a belief that AI does not take into account one’s specific circumstances. People view themselves as unique. By contrast, they think medical care delivered by AI providers is suited to treat an average patient but unsuitable to account for the unique circumstances that apply to an individual. No wonder that medical AI providers are given a cold welcome.

There are a number of steps that care providers can take to overcome patients’ resistance to medical AI. For example, if an AI provider is capable of tailoring its recommendation for whether to have a surgery to each patient’s unique characteristics and medical history, patients would be likely to follow the treatment recommendations of the AI provider. In addition, health care providers could also deliver individualized health care by explaining how the algorithms (算法) work and sharing patients’ reviews with the media. Having a physician confirm the recommendation of an AI provider should make people more willing to accept AI-based care. People are comfortable using medical AI if a physician remains in charge of the ultimate decision.

AI-based health care technologies are being developed and employed at an impressive rate, providing better medical services for the patients. But harnessing the full potential of them will require that we first overcome patients’ doubt of having an algorithm, rather than a person making decisions about their care.