Safety Of Acupuncture Research Articles

Does acupuncture therapy improve language function of patients with aphasia following ischemic stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND:Aphasia is one of the most common complications in patients with ischemic stroke. Studies have shown that acupuncture can improve the symptoms of aphasia patients. However, the effect of acupuncture on language function in patients with ischemic stroke is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to critically assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for aphasia following ischemic stroke.METHODS:PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science Core Collection, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Digital Periodicals, and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals database were searched. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the criteria were included.RESULTS:Meta-analyses showed that mean difference in change of auditory comprehension score (MD = 7.71, 95% CI: 1.83 to 13.59, P = 0.01), spontaneous speech (MD = 2.77, 95% CI: 0.59 to 4.95, P = 0.01), repetition score (MD = 14.48, 95% CI: 11.04 to 17.91, P < 0.00001) and naming score (MD = 14.60, 95% CI: 11.33 to 17.88, P < 0.00001) measured by WAB scale were statistically significant. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that there were statistically significant mean differences in four items of WAB scale in patients with sub-acute stroke, and no statistically significant differences in patients with acute stroke.CONCLUSION:The present study suggests that acupuncture may improve the language function of patients with aphasia following ischemic stroke, especially during the sub-acute phase. However, due to insufficient sample sizes and information on the safety, more high-quality RCTs are still needed

Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture to Treat Sleep Difficulties in Women on Hormone Replacement Therapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Sleep difficulties are commonly reported by cancer patients as consequences of cancer or its treatments. Aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture to treat sleep difficulties in breast cancer women on hormone replacement therapy. Methods: 58 breast cancer women were randomized to once weekly acupuncture session for 8 weeks (acupuncture group) or to a standard care session once a week, for 8 weeks (control group). The primary endpoint was change in sleep difficulties and insomnia, as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), administered at baseline and 8 weeks later. Results: Random assignment produced equivalent groups regarding demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline. After 8 weeks, the changes in sleep quality and quantity were significantly different in the two groups. In the acupuncture group 43.33% go into complete remission (absence of insomnia), but none in the control group, and the mean ISI score decreased from 15.87 (standard deviation, SD= 3.95) to 9.80 (SD= 6.22), in the acupuncture group versus 17.46 to 15.39. No patient reported any problems or discomfort associated with acupuncture. Conclusion: A weekly session of acupuncture may have beneficial effects on quality and quantity of sleep among breast cancer women on hormone replacement therapy, after 8 weeks. The results could have important implications for Public Health to prioritize promotion of healthy sleep and acupuncture may be considered as alternative intervention in healthcare setting to ameliorate cancer patients’ sleep and quality of life.

Effect of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on functional dyspepsia caused by sequelae of COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a group of diseases that cannot be explained after routine clinical examination, and is characterized by postprandial fullness, early satiety, and upper abdominal pain or burning. According to the statistics, FD continues to become one of the high-risk sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affecting patients’ quality of life, increasing psychological burden and increasing economic costs. However, its optimal treatment is still an urgent problem. A large number of studies have shown that acupuncture and moxibustion is effective and safe in the treatment of FD caused by sequelae of COVID-19, which is of research value. Therefore, based on the current literatures, the effectiveness and safety of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods were systematically evaluated to provide possible alternative therapy on FD.Methods:Studies search for eligible randomized controlled trials that use different acupuncture and moxibustion methods as the sole treatment on FD and their data extraction will be done by 2 researchers. In case of disagreement, a third researcher will be introduced for arbitration. Mean difference or relative risk with fixed or random effect model in terms of 95% confidence interval will be adopted for the data synthesis. To evaluate the risk of bias, the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool will be utilized. The sensitivity or subgroup analysis will also be conducted when meeting high heterogeneity (I2 > 50%).Results:This meta-analysis will provide an authentic synthesis of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on FD caused by sequelae of COVID-19.Conclusion:This meta-analysis will evaluate the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on FD caused by sequelae of COVID-19, providing evidence as to the treatment in these patients.

Acupuncture for oculomotor nerve palsy:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP). MethodsThe following database will be required from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture alone versus no treatment/another active therapy/sham acupuncture or comparing acupuncture with another active therapy versus the same active therapy were included. Meta-analysis was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. Data was analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results were reported as risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes or mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes, with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to access the methodological quality of the trails. ResultsEighteen RCTs with 1150 participants comparing acupuncture versus other therapies were included. The results showed a significant differences in the clinical efficiency rate (RR = 1.30, 95 %CI = 1.23–1.37, P < 0.001), scores of diplopia (MD = − 0.78, 95 %CI = − 1.39 to − 0.77, P < 0.001), palpebral fissure size (MD = 1.04, 95 %CI = 0.41–1.68, P = 0.001), the pupil diameter (MD = − 0.56, 95 %CI = − 0.70 to − 0.42, P < 0.001), quality of life (MD = 8.96, 95 %CI = 6.79–11.13, P < 0.001) between the experiment and control groups. However, there were no significant differences in the adverse effects (RR = 0.52, 95 %CI = 0.22–1.22, P = 0.13). The quality of the evidence test by GRADE was low or very low. ConclusionMost included studies suggested that acupuncture was more effective than the control group in the treatment of ONP. However, the quality evidence of most of the studies was low and most of them were performed in China.

The efficacy and safety of Jin's three-needle therapy vs. placebo acupuncture on anxiety symptoms in patients with post-stroke anxiety: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundA large number of clinical RCTs have verified that Jin's three-needle therapy (JTNT) has a great contribution to promoting the function of paralyzed limbs and relieving anxiety disorders for patients with post-stroke anxiety (PSA). However, there is still a lack of sham needle control, and its placebo effect cannot be ruled out. This study firstly verifies the real effectiveness of JTNT. Besides, the changes in serum indexes on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) are observed dynamically by the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). The activation of different brain regions by JTNT is recorded using resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Therefore, we can provide more practical and powerful evidence-based medical evidence for clinical decisions.MethodThis is a 16 week parallel, single-blind, random, controlled trial, including baseline, 4 weeks of treatment, and 12 weeks of follow-up. A total of 114 participants will be randomly divided into three groups in the proportion of 1:1:1. Participants will receive Jin's three-needle therapy in the active acupuncture group and accept sham needle treatment in the sham acupuncture group. In the waitlist control group, patients will not receive any acupuncture treatment. Outcomes cover three types of indicators, including scale indicators, serum indicators, and imaging indicators. The primary outcome is the change in the performance of anxiety symptoms, which is estimated by the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA-14) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). Secondary outcomes are physical recovery and daily quality of life, which are evaluated by the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) and the Modified Barthel Index Score (MBI Scale). Therefore, the assessment of the scale is carried out at baseline, 2nd, 4th, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Adrenocorticotropin and cortisol will be quantitatively detected by ELISA at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. In addition, regional homogeneity analysis (ReHo) will be used to record the activity of brain regions at baseline and 4 weeks after intervention.DiscussionThe study aims to provide high-quality clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of JTNT for patients with PSA. In addition, this trial explores a possible mechanism of JTNT for patients with PSA.Clinical trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, identifier [ChiCTR2200058992].

Effect of acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion for the treatment of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis: Study protocol for a three-armed randomized controlled trial.

IntroductionSeasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is a major health problem with a relatively high worldwide prevalence that severely limits the quality of life for sufferers. Acupuncture is widely used for SAR treatment in China; however, the evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) for SAR is inconclusive. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture at the SPG acupoint for the treatment of SAR.Methods and analysisA total of 120 participants with SAR will be recruited and randomly assigned to the acupuncture group, placebo acupuncture (PA) group, or rescue medication (RM) group with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. Participants in the acupuncture group and PA group will receive 8 sessions of acupuncture stimulus at the SPG plus RM or 8 sessions of shallow needling at the SPG acupoint plus RM for 4 weeks with a 4-week follow-up in the first year and a 1-week follow-up in the second year. Participants in the RM group will only receive RM throughout the study. The primary outcome is the change from baseline in the average daily combined symptoms and medication score (CSMS) over weeks 1–4. All analysis will be based on an intention-to-treat principle. All statistical tests will be two-sided and a p-value < 0.05 will be considered to be statistically significant.

Acupuncture for Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

BackgroundPost-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the most common complications after stroke. In recent years, as a complementary alternative therapy, many systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analysis (MAs) have reported the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in improving cognitive function in patients with PSCI, but the quality of evidence is unknown and therefore needs to be evaluated comprehensively.AimWe aimed to evaluate the SRs of acupuncture for patients with PSCI, to summarize the evidence quality of SRs to provide scientific evidence.MethodsWe searched for relevant SRs and MAs in seven databases up to March 22, 2022. Two reviewers independently completed literature retrieval, screening, and data extraction. We used A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) to evaluate the methodological quality; the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool to determine the strength of evidence; and the ROBIS tool to assess RoB.ResultsWe identified 14 SRs. The methodological quality of all SRs was low (2/14) or very low (12/14). GRADE results showed 13 were moderate quality (26%), 5 were low quality (10%), and 32 were very-low quality (64%). RoB showed that one SR had a low risk and 13 had a high risk. Moderate quality results showed that combined acupuncture therapy was superior to western medicine or cognitive rehabilitation training in improving cognitive function, the total response rate, and the daily living ability of patients with PSCI.ConclusionBased on the evidence, acupuncture appears to be effective and safe in improving cognitive function for patients with PSCI, but the overall quality of SRs is not high. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on the cognitive function of patients with PSCI.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42022315441.

The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Neurodermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Neurodermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with neurological dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of neurodermatitis through meta-analysis. Methods We comprehensively searched 9 databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and China Biomedicine (CBM), from their inception to November 15, 2021, for published neurological and clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture to treat dermatitis. We also searched gray literature in four databases: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, Chinese Cochrane Center, Open Grey, and GreyNet International. Two authors independently screened the data, extracted the literature, and evaluated the quality of the literature using Cochrane 5.3.3 and Review Manager 5.4.1 software. Results The meta-analysis included 8 studies with a total of 728 participants, including 369 patients in the treatment group and 359 patients in the control group. Compared with conventional treatment, acupuncture significantly increased the effective rate (OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.78∼4.75; p < 0.001) and decreased the recurrence rate after treatment (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12∼0.59; p=0.001). Meanwhile, analysis of disease symptom scores showed that acupuncture group had a greater impact (OR: 3.51, 95% CI: 2.12∼4.91; p < 0.00001). Furthermore, no significant difference in the adverse reaction rate was observed. Conclusion Acupuncture is safe and effective in treating neurodermatitis. However, the current level of research evidence is limited, and therefore, larger sample and high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness. Protocol registration number is INPLASY2021110041.

The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Tinnitus-Associated Insomnia: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BackgroundTinnitus accounts for a significant proportion of the factors that cause insomnia, and insomnia, in turn, aggravates tinnitus. Given that tinnitus and insomnia have a bidirectional relationship, tinnitus-associated insomnia is prevalent. Nonetheless, current treatments including medication and psychological therapies for tinnitus-associated insomnia do not yield satisfactory efficacy, thereby making it challenging to manage. Although acupuncture is a potentially effective treatment option, the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for tinnitus-associated insomnia remains inconclusive. Therefore, this systematic review and analysis protocol aims to investigate whether acupuncture is beneficial for tinnitus-associated insomnia with an acceptable safety profile.MethodsNine mainstream English-language and Chinese-language databases will be searched to include qualified RCTs and meta-analyses will be conducted by combining extracted data using RevMan 5.3. The risk of bias 2.0 tool recommended by Cochrane will be adopted to evaluate the methodological quality of the included RCTs. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be utilized to appraise the strength and certainty of evidence. Where available, we will also perform sensitivity analyses, publication bias and subgroup analysis.DiscussionExpected results from our systematic review and meta-analysis will verify the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in tinnitus-associated insomnia. The evidence generated by this review will help patients and clinicians make informed treatment decisions.

Safety and efficacy of wrist-ankle acupuncture in treating catheter-related bladder discomfort after transurethral resection of the prostate: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

BackgroundBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related condition and its prevalence has increased as China’s population ages. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) remains the gold standard for treating moderate to severe BPH. Routine placement of a urinary catheter after TURP is often associated with catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD). The development of CRBD is related to an increased synthesis of prostaglandin (PG), and wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) can inhibit the expression of PG at the site of inflammation, thus alleviating CRBD symptoms. Here we evaluated the efficacy of WAA in alleviating CRBD in patients undergoing TURP.MethodsA total of 46 patients who underwent elective TURP in Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2022 to July 2022 were randomly divided into two groups according to the complete randomization method. The WAA group (n=23) and the control group (n=23). The WAA group received WAA, and the needles were retained for 24 h. The control group was treated with sham needles that did not penetrate the skin, and the needles were also retained for 24 h. At T1 (0 h after entering the ward), T2 (0.5 h after entering the ward), T3 (6 h after entering the ward), and T4 (24 h after entering the ward), CRBD severity score, visual analogue scale (VAS) and vital signs monitor were used for assessment. Accidents were recorded in the case report form. Graded data using Wlicoxon signed rank sum test, repeated measures using repeated measures analysis of variance.ResultsA total of 46 patients participated in this study, and 44 patients completed the experiment. At T2, T3, and T4, the severity of CRBD in the WAA group was significantly lower than that in the control group (all P<0.05), and the VAS pain score was significantly lower in the WAA group than in the control group (all P<0.05). In contrast, the vital signs, including mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and blood oxygen saturation, showed no statistical significance (all P>0.05). No accident occurred in both groups.ConclusionsWAA can effectively relieve CRBD symptoms after TURP. WAA deserves further research and assessment for clinical practice.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR2200061525..

Effect of acupuncture for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundDiarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is the most common subtype of IBS. Acupuncture is commonly used to treat IBS-D, but its effect is uncertain because of the poor quality of prior studies. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for IBS-D through comparisons with sham acupuncture.Methods/designThis is a large-scale, multi-center, randomized, two-arm interventional clinical trial. Participants will take part in a total of 20 weeks of study, which contained 3 phases: 2-week screening, 6-week treatment, and 12-week follow-up. Based on the composite response rate of the primary endpoint in our pilot study (a sham acupuncture response rate of 27% and a true acupuncture of approximately 45%), 280 randomly allocated participants were planned. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to the true acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group according to a ratio of 1:1, and a total of 15 sessions of treatment overall 6-week treatment period will be brought. The primary endpoint is a composite response rate at week 6, and the responder is defined as who responses in both abdominal pain intensity and stool consistency. Furthermore, composite response rates at other weeks, IBS Symptom Severity Scale, IBS Quality of Life, Adequate Relief scale, and individual IBS symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating, stool frequency) are chosen as secondary endpoints.DiscussionThis trial may provide high-quality evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of IBS-D. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2100044762. Registered on 26 March 2021.

Effect of acupuncture with donepezil based on syndrome differentiation on cognitive function in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThere has been a rapid increase in the worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that acupuncture can improve neurological and cognitive function; however, the utility of applying acupuncture in patients with AD remains unclear. This study protocol describes a clinical trial for evaluating the efficacy and safety of acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation with donepezil hydrochloride on cognitive function in patients with AD.Methods/designThis multicenter randomized controlled trial commenced on February 1, 2019, at the Shanghai Longhua Hospital of TCM, Shanghai Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, and Shanghai Mental Health Center, and will conclude on June 30, 2022. The study will recruit 184 patients randomly divided into an acupuncture group or a control group at a 1:1 ratio. All participants will receive donepezil hydrochloride (5 mg/day), and those in the acupuncture group will receive acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation with donepezil for 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be the post-treatment change in the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognition score at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes will be the efficacy scores of the Minimum Mental State Examination, Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Research Activity-Daily Life, and Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease. All assessments will be performed at baseline, after treatment (week 12), and at follow-up (weeks 24 and 36).DiscussionThis trial may provide high-quality evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of AD. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT03810794. Registered on 17 January 2019.

Systematic Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture Combined with Nursing Intervention on Postpartum Depression

Systematic Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Acupuncture Combined with Nursing Intervention on Postpartum Depression

Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Acupuncture Combined with Massage in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background Knee osteoarthritis is a common clinical disease with frequent occurrence. More and more studies have shown that external therapies such as acupuncture and massage are beneficial to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Objective The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTS) was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and massage combined with treatment of KOA and to provide some reference for clinical treatment of KOA. Methods Network meta-analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture combined with massage in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP, and Wanfang were searched by computer for randomized controlled trials on acupuncture combined with massage in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. All researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated quality, and studies that met the quality criteria were analyzed using Stata16.0 software. Results A total of 3076 articles were retrieved, and finally, 49 studies involving 10 acupuncture combined with massage methods were included. The total sample size was 4458, including 2182 in the experimental group and 2276 in the control group. The results of network meta-analysis showed the following: in terms of effective rate, the optimal first three interventions were floating needle+massage, needle knife+massage, and silver needle+massage; in terms of reducing VAS score, the optimal first three interventions were common acupuncture+massage, needle knife+massage, and warm needle+massage; in terms of improving total Lysholm index score, the optimal first three interventions were silver needle+massage, electroacupuncture+massage, and needle knife+massage; in terms of reducing total WOMAC score, the optimal first three interventions were silver needle+massage, electrothermal needle+massage, and common acupuncture+massage; in terms of reducing WOMAC stiffness score, the optimal first three interventions were warm needle+massage, silver needle+massage, and common acupuncture+massage; and in terms of reducing WOMAC joint function score, the optimal first three interventions were silver needle+massage, warm needle+massage, and common acupuncture+massage. Conclusion The results showed that acupuncture combined with massage could improve the clinical therapeutic effect of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Limited by the quality of the included studies, the conclusions obtained still need to be further validated.

Acupuncture Treatment of Long-COVID: A Narrative Review of Selected Case Studies and Review Articles

Background: Long-COVID is the “long tail” of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Even though surges in cases have occurred since early 2020, overall, the Pandemic is in decline. However, a chronic form emerged that affects millions and without any sign of letting up. Diagnosis of Long-COVID is illusive. No specific drug safely and effectively addresses this condition. Restoring health and the search for relief became essentially the responsibility of patients and self-help groups. Acupuncture has proven safe and effective in symptom management and may flatten the disease progression curve. Objective: To systematically review reports and case studies since 2020 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture for the management of Long-COVID. Results: The author reports on three review papers and two case studies. All results support the thesis that acupuncture is an effective and safe treatment for Long-COVID. Acupuncture provides symptom relief and may shorten the duration of illness. Conclusions: Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for managing Long-COVID.

Clinical practice and safety of acupuncture in the COVID‐19 pandemic: Lessons for the next pandemic — have there been any changes in the empirical knowledge of acupuncturists and physicians practicing traditional medicine since the outbreak of COVID‐19? “1st International Symposium on Kampo Medicine”

Traditional & Kampo MedicineVolume 9, Issue 2 p. 142-143 LETTER TO THE EDITOR Clinical practice and safety of acupuncture in the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons for the next pandemic — have there been any changes in the empirical knowledge of acupuncturists and physicians practicing traditional medicine since the outbreak of COVID-19? “1st International Symposium on Kampo Medicine” Shoko Masuyama, Corresponding Author Shoko Masuyama masuyama@morinomiya-u.ac.jp orcid.org/0000-0003-4273-331X Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, Osaka, Japan Correspondence Shoko Masuyama, Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, 1-26-16 Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka 559-8611, Japan. Email: masuyama@morinomiya-u.ac.jpSearch for more papers by this authorAtsuko Fritz, Atsuko Fritz Acupuncture & Kampo Clinic, London, UKSearch for more papers by this authorSetsuko Pitschmann, Setsuko Pitschmann Naturheilpraxis Setsuko Pitschmann, Aspach, Baden-Württemberg, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorHideko Pelzer, Hideko Pelzer Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley (AIMC), Berkeley, California, USASearch for more papers by this authorJun-Yong Choi, Jun-Yong Choi Korean Medicine Hospital of Pusan National University, Kumjeong-ku, Yangsan-si, South KoreaSearch for more papers by this author Shoko Masuyama, Corresponding Author Shoko Masuyama masuyama@morinomiya-u.ac.jp orcid.org/0000-0003-4273-331X Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, Osaka, Japan Correspondence Shoko Masuyama, Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, 1-26-16 Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka 559-8611, Japan. Email: masuyama@morinomiya-u.ac.jpSearch for more papers by this authorAtsuko Fritz, Atsuko Fritz Acupuncture & Kampo Clinic, London, UKSearch for more papers by this authorSetsuko Pitschmann, Setsuko Pitschmann Naturheilpraxis Setsuko Pitschmann, Aspach, Baden-Württemberg, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorHideko Pelzer, Hideko Pelzer Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley (AIMC), Berkeley, California, USASearch for more papers by this authorJun-Yong Choi, Jun-Yong Choi Korean Medicine Hospital of Pusan National University, Kumjeong-ku, Yangsan-si, South KoreaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 August 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/tkm2.1337Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume9, Issue2August 2022Pages 142-143 RelatedInformation

Head Acupuncture Plus Schuell's Language Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 32 Randomized Controlled Trials.

To evaluate the existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for evidence of the efficacy and safety of head acupuncture (HA) plus Schuell's language rehabilitation (SLR) in post-stroke aphasia. Seven databases including Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Technology Periodical Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed and Wanfang Data Information Site were searched for RCTs published from database inception until November 14, 2021. RCTs that compared HA plus SLR with sham (or blank) control, acupuncture therapy alone, certain language rehabilitation therapy alone or other therapies for post-stroke aphasia were included. Data were extracted and assessed, and the quality of RCTs was evaluated. Fixed-effects model was used, with meta-inflfluence analysis, meta-regression, and regression-based sub-group analyses applied for exploration of heterogeneity. Publication bias was estimated by funnel plots and Egger's tests. A total of 32 RCTs with 1,968 patients were included and 51 comparisons were conducted classified as types of strokes and aphasia. (1) For patients with aphasia after ischemic stroke, HA plus PSA showed significantly higher accumulative markedly effective rate [relative risk (RR)=1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-2.02, I2=0%] and accumulative effective rate (RR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.09-1.36, I2=0%). (2) For patients with comprehensive types of stroke, HA plus PSA was more effective in increasing recovery rate (RR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.39-2.56, I2=0%), accumulative markedly effective rate (RR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.36-1.72, I2=9%) and accumulative effective rate (RR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.19, I2=34%). (3) For patients with aphasia after stroke, HA plus PSA was superior to PSA alone with statistical significance in increasing recovery rate (RR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.24-3.46, I2=0%), accumulative markedly effective rate (RR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.24-1.78, I2=0%) and accumulative effective rate (RR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.24, I2=39%). (4) For patients with multiple types of aphasia, HA plus PSA also demonstrated significantly higher recovery rate (RR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.28-2.72, I2=0%), accumulative markedly effective rate (RR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.35-1.78, I2=22%), and accumulative effective rate (RR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.11-1.23, I2=41%). (5) For patients with motor aphasia after ischemic stroke, compared with PSA alone, HA plus PSA showed significantly higher accumulative markedly effective rate (RR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.06-1.79, I2=0%) and accumulative effective rate (RR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.05-1.37, I2=0%). Meta-regression analyses were performed without significant difference, and publication bias was found in some comparisons. HA plus SLR was significantly associated with better language ability and higher effective rate for patients with post-stroke aphasia, and HA should be operated cautiously especially during acupuncture at eye and neck. (Registration No. CRD42020154475).

Treatment Alternative and High Safety Profile of Acupuncture Plus Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and tumor marker level changes of acupuncture plus chemotherapy (FOLFOX4) for advanced gastric cancer. Methods One hundred and twenty patients with advanced gastric cancer who were treated at our hospital between May 2019 and April 2021 were recruited for prospective analysis, and all patients were allocated to the control and experimental groups in a 1 : 1 ratio using the random number table method, with 60 patients in each group. They received either chemotherapy using the FOLFOX4 regimen (control group) or the FOLFOX4 chemotherapy plus acupuncture (experimental group). Outcome measures included tumor marker levels, quality of life, and adverse events. Results Before treatment, the two groups showed similar tumor markers levels and the MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) scores (P > 0.05). FOLFOX4 chemotherapy plus acupuncture was associated with significantly lower levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, and CA72-4 versus FOLFOX4 chemotherapy alone (P < 0.05). The patients who were given FOLFOX4 chemotherapy plus acupuncture showed significantly increased SF-36 scores versus monotherapy of the FOLFOX4 regimen (P < 0.05). The joint therapy resulted in a significantly lower incidence of adverse events versus the monotherapy (P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture plus chemotherapy using the FOLFOX4 regimen can effectively regulate the serum tumor marker levels of patients with advanced gastric cancer, with a high safety profile, which provides a viable treatment alternative.

Effectiveness of acupuncture at acupoint BL1 (Jingming) in comparison with artificial tears for moderate to severe dry eye disease: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe global incidence of dry eye disease (DED) is very high. DED seriously affects the quality of life of patients; however, the current curative effect of medicine for moderate to severe DED is poor. This randomized clinical trial was planned to investigate the effect of acupuncture compared with artificial tears (AT) on moderate to severe DED.MethodsA randomized clinical trial was performed at 2 hospitals in China. 120 DED patients were randomly equally divided into an acupuncture and an artificial tear group. Either acupuncture or artificial tears was performed for an 8-week period, and a 24-week follow-up was performed. The primary outcome measure was the Schirmer-I test (SIT) change from baseline. The secondary outcome measures included the numerical rating scale (NRS) change from baseline for improvement in ocular symptoms, the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), the tear-film break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and acupuncture acceptability. Adverse events also were monitored and documented.ResultsFor the primary outcome, the mean changes from baseline in the SIT values were significantly different between the acupuncture (5.75 [2.53–9.75]) and AT (0.52 [− 1.18–2.46]) groups at week 8 with a between difference of 5.23 (P < 0.05). Between-group differences of 8.49 in OSDI score change from baseline differed significantly at week 8 (P < 0.05). However, between-group differences of the changes in the average symptom NRS score, TBUT, and CFS did not differ significantly at week 8. Five cases experienced acupuncture-related adverse events.ConclusionsThis randomized clinical trial found that acupuncture at BL1 significantly promoted tear secretion. Acupuncture showed greater benefits than AT for moderate to severe DED. However, the study findings warrant verification.Trial registration Registration number: ChiCTR1800015831. Name of trial registry: Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye disease: a randomized controlled trial. Registered on 23 April 2018 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/).

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for smoking cessation: A study protocol of a multicentre, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

BackgroundNicotine dependence is an addictive behavioral disease facilitated by habitually smoking cigarettes. In many countries, acupuncture and auricular acupressure have attracted growing attention as complementary or alternative treatments for smoking cessation; however, there is a lack of rigorous randomized, controlled studies evaluating the combination of these two interventions specifically for smoking cessation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure (A&AA) to increase the rates of smoking cessation and ultimately reduce the rates of relapse.MethodsThis is a multicentre, prospective, parallel, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 360 patients with severe nicotine dependence will be randomized into test (A&AA) or control (nicotine replacement therapy, NRT) groups. The test group will be treated with A&AA twice weekly, while the control group will use an NRT patch daily. All treatments will be administered for 8 weeks, with a follow-up period of 4 months. The primary outcome will be the smoking abstinence rate at week 24, with a combined safety assessment. The secondary outcomes will be smoking cessation rates at other timepoints, saliva cortisone test results, and scores on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, the Autonomy over Tobacco Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The cost of treatment will also be used to evaluate the economic effects of different smoking cessation interventions. Statistical analysis on the data collected from both the intention-to-treat (all randomly assigned patients) and per-protocol (patients who complete the trial without any protocol deviations) patients, will be performed using the statistical software package, IBM SPSS 27.0.DiscussionThis study will provide rigorous clinical evidence evaluating the efficacy and safety of using A&AA as a smoking cessation therapy.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR1900028371).