The efficacy and safety of warming acupuncture and moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Immunological studies on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A review

From the 4 perspectives of T lymphocytes, various cytokines, adenosine and "neuro-endocrine-immune" network, the researches related to the immune mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in recent years were summarized, and different acupuncture and moxibustion treatments were analyzed. The method has a regulatory effect on the mechanism of RA, in order to provide a reference and basis for acupuncture research on the immune mechanism of RA, and promote the further development of research in this field.

Investigation of the Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture Combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine Fumigation in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis by Meta-Analysis

In order to investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by meta-analysis, literature related to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation are searched in line with the research direction. Meta-analysis is conducted by RevMan 5.2 software. A total of 17 literature are included and the publication bias of the included literature is low. The experimental results show that acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine fumigation can reduce the inflammatory response and clinical symptoms of RA patients, and the addition of acupuncture can improve the clinical efficacy, which has a certain feasibility of promotion.

Effects of Warm Needle Acupuncture plus Xitong Waixi Lotion in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

To evaluate the effect of warm needle acupuncture plus Xitong Waixi lotion on the levels of IL-1, TNF-α, and MMP-3 in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted to our hospital from October 2019 to June 2021 were recruited and assigned via the random number table method at a ratio of 1 : 1 to receive either Xitong Waixi lotion (conventional group) or warm needle acupuncture plus Xitong Waixi lotion (combined group). Outcome measures included clinical efficacy, inflammatory cytokine level, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score, and adverse reactions.

Results

Warm needle acupuncture plus Xitong Waixi lotion was associated with a significantly higher clinical efficacy versus Xitong Waixi lotion alone (P=0.006). Patients in the combined group had significantly lower levels of interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) than those in the conventional group (P=0.020). Warm needle acupuncture plus Xitong Waixi lotion resulted in significantly lower WOMAC scores and VAS scores and higher HSS scores for the patients versus Xitong Waixi lotion (P=0.012). The two groups had a similar incidence of adverse events (P=0.068).

Conclusion

Warm needle acupuncture plus Xitong Waixi lotion effectively alleviates the inflammatory response and knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis, with significant clinical effects and a high safety profile.

Exploring the Clinical Point Selection Rules of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Infantile Enuresis Based on Data Mining Technology

In order to explore the clinical point selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of infantile enuresis based on data mining technology, first, it introduces the principle of data mining technology, the global optimization strategy of information extraction + genetic search. In China Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, Weipu, Wanfang. Use "enuresis," "enuresis," "leathering," "urinary discharge," "drowning," "bedwetting," "nocturia," "drowning," "moxibustion," "moxibustion," and "moxibustion" as search terms, take (enuresis + enuresis + urination + urination + addiction + bedwetting), (moxibustion + moxibustion + moxibustion)" as the retrieval style. The analysis of the use of moxibustion, the law of acupoint selection by different moxibustion methods, and the frequency analysis of meridian use show that most of the moxibustion methods are used (62 articles, of which 3 articles use 2 moxibustion methods), including non-suppurative moxibustion, ginger moxibustion, medicinal cake moxibustion, salt moxibustion, mild moxibustion, warm acupuncture moxibustion, bird pecking moxibustion, circling moxibustion, and warm moxibustion; among them, mild moxibustion has the highest frequency of use 24 and non-suppurative moxibustion and salt-separated moxibustion have the lowest frequency of use1; there are 4 non-moxibustion methods, which are medicated thread moxibustion methods. Different moxibustion methods for acupoint selection have their own emphasis. The 63 included literatures included 63 prescriptions for moxibustion, 11 prescriptions for acupoints. Analyzing the frequency of acupoint selection, a total of 18 ear acupoints are involved, and the total frequency of auricular acupoints is 54 times; 44 points are involved (including 1 odd point outside the meridian), the total frequency of acupoints is 300 times, and the total frequency of meridian points is 298, and the total frequency of Jingwaiqi acupoints (Sishencong) is 2. The results can provide great help for the clinical selection of acupuncture points for the treatment of infantile enuresis.

The efficacy and safety of silver needle in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A protocol of randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis is a kind of chronic crippling disease, the condition is complex, the course of the disease is repeated, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. Adverse reactions and drug resistance associated with conventional treatment can no longer meet the clinical need. Therefore, complementary and alternative therapies need to be explored. The evidence shows that silver needle therapy has advantages in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but there is a lack of standard clinical studies to verify this conclusion.

METHODS

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy and safety of silver needles in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of our hospital. The patients are randomly divided into a treatment group (silver needle treatment group) or control group (routine western medicine treatment group). The patients are followed up for 2 months after 4 weeks of treatment. Observation indicators include: TCM symptom score, HAQDI score, DAS-28 score, laboratory indicators, adverse reactions and so on. Data will be analyzed using the statistical software package SPSS version 18.0 (Chicago, IL).

DISCUSSION

This study will evaluate the clinical efficacy of a silver needle in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The results of this study will provide a reliable reference for the clinical use of a silver needle in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

OSF Registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/4X5QB.