Efficacy and safety of warm acupuncture in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Similarities and differences between kaiy in Persian medicine and moxibustion in Chinese medicine

Kaiy (medieval cautery) is an ancient method of heat therapy in traditional Persian medicine (TPM). Some of its important applications have been neglected during the medical revolution. Meanwhile, different treatment modalities that incorporate heat, including moxibustion, have progressed in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we reviewed the main TPM textbooks that were written specifically in the field of kaiy. We considered the traditional teachings in the context of contemporary information, gathered from the scientific literature about moxibustion and modern cauterization. Some surgical therapeutic indications of kaiy (e.g., debridement and coagulative procedures) have been advanced by the innovation of electro-cauterization. However, those therapeutic applications that were based on the TPM humoral theory for relieving body coldness or myofascial pains-which are similar to moxibustion usages-have not received the same attention. Apart from the broad similarities of kaiy and moxibustion as thermal therapies with similar indications, there is a striking correspondence between kaiy point mapping and acupoints. Therefore, further research on different kaiy aspects is recommended. Please cite this article as: Jaladat AM, Alizadeh Vaghasloo M, Atarzadeh F, Ayati MH, Kazemi AH, Akin E, Hashempur MH. Similarities and differences between kaiy in Persian medicine and moxibustion in Chinese medicine. J Integr Med. 2023; Epub ahead of print.

Assessment of complementary and alternative medicine methods in the management of ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome

A wide variety of musculoskeletal, arthritic, connective tissue, and vasculitic diseases fall under the umbrella of "rheumatic diseases". Ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome are the three members of this disease group with relatively high prevalence. Pharmacological options are at the center of therapeutic algorithms in treating rheumatic diseases, particularly in reducing inflammation. Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatment in recent years, achieving complete treatment success in a group of patients is impossible. Therefore, patients with rheumatic diseases frequently utilize alternative treatment options, such as complementary and alternative medicine. Complementary and alternative medicine is a broad category of health practices not part of the leading health system. Patients with rheumatic diseases turn to complementary and alternative medicine for various reasons, including restricted access to some treatments due to high prices and rigorous regulations, worries about drug side effects, and symptoms that continue despite pharmacological treatment. In addition, because complementary and alternative medicine options are considered natural, they are frequently accepted as well tolerated and have few harmful effects. Ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia syndrome are the primary foci of this comprehensive review. First, we attempted to summarize the non-traditional physical medicine and complementary and alternative medicine options that can be utilized to manage these diseases. Second, we addressed the link between exercise and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. We briefly discussed the possible benefits of exercise-based approaches. In addition, we highlighted the benefits of cooperation between rheumatology and physical medicine-rehabilitation clinics.

The Efficacy of Needle-Warming Moxibustion Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Ischemic Stroke and Its Effect on Neurological Function

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the therapeutic efficacy of needle-warming moxibustion (NWM) combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of patients with ischemic stroke and its effect on neurological function.

METHODS

One hundred patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the Xuzhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2019 to July 2021 were enrolled. Among them, 45 patients treated with NWM were set as the control group, and the rest 55 patients treated by NWM combined with HBOT were included in the research group. The curative effect, neurological deficit score, activity of daily living (ADL), balance ability, and the levels of serum proinflammatory factors in both groups were observed and recorded. Of them, the neurological deficit of patients was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NHISS), the ADL ability was determined by the Barthel index score, and the balance ability was assessed by the Berg balance scale.

RESULTS

The total effective rate of the research group was higher than that of the control group. Better ADL and balance ability and milder neurologic impairment were determined in the research group compared with the control group. After treatment, the secretion levels of proinflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the serum of patients in the research group were statistically lower than those before treatment and the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

NWM combined with HBOT is effective in the treatment of patients with ischemic stroke, which can not only improve patients' neurological function, ADL, and balance ability but also inhibit serum inflammatory reactions.