Benefits of acupuncture for diabetic gastroparesis: a comparative preliminary study

Effects of stimulating single acupoint and combination acupoints on diabetic gastroparesis: A randomised controlled trial study

Background and aim

The most effective among the acupoints remains to be determined for treating diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). This study aimed to compare single and combination acupoints for their effectiveness in DGP.

Experimental procedure

A prospective, patient-assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial was designed to compare the efficacy of 8-week acupuncture at a single acupoint (Zhongwan, CV-12), combination acupoints (Zhongwan, CV-12 and Zusanli, ST-36), and a sham-acupoint, in 99 adults with DGP. The primary clinical outcome was measured using the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), while barium meal examination, fasting plasma glucose, the 2-h plasma glucose, short-form health survey (SF-36), and GCSI subscales were performed for evaluating secondary clinical outcomes. These results were analysed by two factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, Chi-Square, Fisher Exact, Kruskal-Wallis tests and Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test.

Results

After randomization, 97 patients completed the study. GCSI scores of all groups decreased during both post-treatment and the follow-up period, they were statistically significant compared to the baseline period (p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference among the groups (p > 0.05) during the post-treatment period. GCSI scores improved more in the combination acupoints group than in the single acupoint group which was better than the sham group after treatment. During the follow-up period, the same trend was observed.

Conclusions

Among patients with DGP, the combination acupoints were more beneficial compared with single and sham acupoints.

Trial registration number

NCT02452489.

Risk of Adverse Events Associated with Domperidone and Metoclopramide in Gastroparesis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Dopamine antagonists are the main pharmacological options to treat gastroparesis. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to evaluate the profile of adverse events (AEs) of dopamine antagonists used in the treatment of children and adults with gastroparesis.

METHODS

We searched EMBASE and MEDLINE up to March 25, 2021, for relevant clinical trials and observational studies. We conducted a proportional meta-analysis to estimate the pooled occurrence of AEs (%), with 95% confidence interval (CI), from arm-level data across studies and the comparative occurrence of AEs from placebo-controlled clinical trials (odds ratio [OR] with 95% CI).

RESULTS

We identified 28 studies assessing AEs experienced by patients treated for gastroparesis with domperidone and metoclopramide; 22 studies contributed data to the meta-analyses. Cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine AEs were commonly observed, with point incidences varying from 1 to > 50%. Clinically important AEs, such as QTc prolongation, occurred in 5% of patients treated with domperidone (95% CI: 3.32-8.62). Restlessness, an extrapyramidal AE, occurred in 15% of patients (95% CI: 7.48-26.61) treated with metoclopramide, with a 7-fold increase compared with patients receiving placebo (OR: 7.72; 95% CI: 1.27-47.05). Variation in terminology to describe extrapyramidal events precluded further pooled analyses. Additional meta-analyses were not feasible due to discrepancies in the assessment and reporting of the AEs.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence confirms concerns of cardiovascular, extrapyramidal, and endocrine AEs in patients with gastroparesis treated with domperidone and metoclopramide. Imprecise AE reporting limits firm interpretation and conclusions.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (registration number: CRD42021248888).

Effects of Stimulating Local and Distal Acupoints on Diabetic Gastroparesis: A New Insight in Revealing Acupuncture Therapeutics

One of the most important aspects of clinical acupuncture practice, like diabetic gastroparesis, is the selection of suitable acupoints. Furthermore, it is critical to examine the therapeutic impact differences between distal and local acupoints, as well as the prescription of their combination. In this study, diabetic gastroparesis rats were treated by needling Zhongwan (CV12) and Zusanli (ST36), and then used Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-CT (SPECT-CT) technology to assess the effects of promoting gastric motility. In addition, morphological observation, immunohistochemical examination, and biomarker assays, such as determination of growth factor 1, motilin, and ghrelin contents in serum samples, were performed to better understand the impact of certain various acupuncture treatments. All of the therapies improved the symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis rats, according to the findings. Stimulating these acupoints, on the other hand, can have a different therapeutic effect. In addition, needling local and distal acupoints together can have an antagonistic or synergistic impact on specific physiological and biochemical indexes such as gastric motility, ghrelin, gastrin, and growth factor 1, among others. Our findings demonstrated the benefits of acupoints and acupuncture in the management of diabetic gastroparesis, as well as a new insight into acupuncture therapeutics.

Acupuncture Reduces Hypertrophy and Cardiac Fibrosis, and Improves Heart Function in Mice with Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

PURPOSE

To assess the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on glycemic control, myocardial inflammation, and the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy in mice with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Db/Db mice received EA at PC6+ST36 (DM-Acu), non-acupoint simulation (DM-Sham), or no treatment (DM). EA was applied for 30 min per day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Heart function was assessed by echocardiography. Myocardium was assessed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and histology. Serum TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were measured.

RESULTS

DM-Acu, but not DM-Sham, reduced fasting blood glucose without affecting body weight. DM decreased systolic function. DM-Acu, but not DM-Sham, attenuated the decrease in systolic function. Heart weight was significantly smaller in the DM-Acu than in the DM and DM-Sham groups. Percent fibrosis and apoptosis were reduced in the DM-Acu, but not the DM-Sham, group. Serum levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, ICAM-1, MCP-1, and TNF-α were significantly lower in the DM-Acu than in the DM or DM-Sham groups. Protein levels of P-Akt and P-AMPK and mRNA levels of phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 6 (PIK3r6) were significantly higher in the DM-Acu group. Myocardial mRNA and protein levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) were significantly lower in the DM and DM-Sham groups compared with the DM-Acu group.

CONCLUSIONS

EA reduced serum glucose; prevented DM-induced hypertrophy and deterioration of systolic function, inflammation, and fibrosis; and restored IGF1R, P-Akt, and P-AMPK levels in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Gastroparesis and Functional Dyspepsia: A Blurring Distinction of Pathophysiology and Treatment

Gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia are 2 of the most common gastric neuromuscular disorders. These disorders are usually confused, having both similarities and differences. The pathophysiology of these disorders involves abnormal gastric motility, visceral hypersensitivity, mucosal inflammation, and various cellular changes. Both disorders have similar symptoms such as epigastric pain or discomfort, early satiety, and bloating. If patients suspected of having either gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia present with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, they should undergo upper endoscopy to exclude an alternative organic cause. Although the gastric emptying rate is frequently assessed during the clinical workup of patients with gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia, the correlation between gastric emptying and the symptoms is generally poor. Once the diagnosis of gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia is made, treatment should focus on the predominant symptom. Recently, various treatment modalities have been developed and validated. Prokinetic agents are generally used as treatment for both gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia. Acid-suppressive therapy, Helicobacter pylori eradication, and use of drugs that enhance gastric accommodation are employed for functional dyspepsia. Psychoactive drugs are also effective in symptom control. For gastroparesis, antiemetic agents, ghrelin receptor agonists, and serotonergic agents are used aside from prokinetic agents. Acupuncture and gastric electrical stimulation can be attempted. In severe cases, endoscopic and surgical interventions are considered for symptom control.

Diabetic gastroparesis: current challenges and future prospects

Diabetic gastroparesis (DMGP) is a condition of delayed gastric emptying after gastric outlet obstruction has been excluded. Symptoms of nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating, and abdominal pain are associated with DMGP. Uncontrolled symptoms can lead to overall poor quality of life and financial burdens on the healthcare system. A combination of antiemetics and prokinetics is used in symptom control; metoclopramide is the main prokinetic available for clinical use and is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved agent in the United States. However, a black box warning in 2009 reporting its association with tardive dyskinesia and recommending caution in chronically using this agent beyond 3 months has decreased its role in clinical practice. There is an unmet need for new prokinetics with good efficacy and safety profiles. Currently, there are several new drugs with different mechanisms of action in the pipeline that are under investigation and show promising preliminary results. Surgically combining gastric electrical stimulation with pyloroplasty is considered "gold" standard. Advances in therapeutic endoscopic intervention with gastric per-oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy have also been shown to improve gastric emptying and gastroparesis (GP) symptoms. In this review, we will comment on the challenges encountered when managing patients with DMGP and provide an update on advances in drug development and endoscopic and surgical interventions.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Early Recovery of Bowel Function in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture therapy to reduce the duration of postoperative ileus (POI) and to enhance bowel function in cancer patients.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases for studies published from inception until January 2017 was carried out from six databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving the use of acupuncture and acupressure for POI and bowel function in cancer patients were identified. Outcomes were extracted from each study and pooled to determine the risk ratio and standardized mean difference.

Results

10 RCTs involving 776 cancer patients were included. Compared with control groups (no acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and other active therapies), acupuncture was associated with shorter time to first flatus and time to first defecation. A subgroup analysis revealed that manual acupuncture was more effective on the time to first flatus and the time to first defecation; electroacupuncture was better in reducing the length of hospital stay. Compared with control groups (sham or no acupressure), acupressure was associated with shorter time to first flatus. However, GRADE approach indicated a low quality of evidence.

Conclusions

Acupuncture and acupressure showed large effect size with significantly poor or inferior quality of included trials for enhancing bowel function in cancer patients after surgery. Further well-powered evidence is needed.

Acupuncture for enhancing early recovery of bowel function in cancer: Protocol for a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients undergoing surgical procedure often suffer from bowel dysfunction and postoperative ileus (POI). Cancer management for early recovery of bowel function is still a challenging topic. Acupuncture has been commonly used in a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of acupuncture therapy to reduce the duration of POI and enhance bowel function in cancer patients.

METHODS

We will systematically screen all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through electronically and hand searching. The following search engines including Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Information, Wanfang Data, one Japanese database (Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic) and 2 Korean Medical Databases (Korean Studies Information, and Data Base Periodical Information Academic) will be retrieved. Supplementary sources will be searched including gray literature, conference proceedings, and potential identified publications. Two reviewers will independently conduct the trial inclusion, data extraction and assess the quality of studies. The time to first passing flatus and time to first bowel motion will be assessed as the primary outcomes. Adverse effects, time to first bowel sound, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, hospital stay, and postoperative analgesic requirement will be measured as secondary outcomes. Methodological quality will be evaluated according to the Cochrane risk of bias. Details of interventions will be assessed by the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) checklist. All analyses will be applied by RevMan (version 5.3) and StataSE (version 12).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This systematic review will provide up-to-date information on acupuncture therapy for early recovery of bowel function in cancer patients. This review does not require ethical approval and will be reported in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant conference.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42016049633.

Acupuncture for Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Single-Blinded Randomized Crossover Trial

OBJECTIVES

Many patients with painful chronic pancreatitis (CP) have insufficient effect of treatment, and the prevalence of adverse effects is high. Consequently, alternatives to conventional management are needed. We aimed to study the effect of acupuncture in painful CP.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized crossover trial. Fifteen patients with CP were assigned to a session of acupuncture followed by sham stimulation or vice versa. Patients rated clinical pain scores daily on a 0 to 10 visual analogue scale (VAS) and completed the Patient Global Impression of Change. For mechanistic linkage, resting state electroencephalograms were recorded and quantified by spectral power analysis to explore effects on central pain processing.

RESULTS

Acupuncture, compared with sham stimulation, caused more pain relief (2.0 ± 1.5 VAS vs 0.7 ± 0.8 VAS; P = 0.009). The effect, however, was short, and after 1-week follow-up, there was no difference in clinical pain scores between groups (P = 1.0) or the rating of Patient Global Impression of Change (P = 0.8). Electroencephalogram spectral power distributions between sham and acupuncture were comparable between groups (all P > 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS

The study presents proof-of-concept for the analgesic effect of acupuncture in pancreatic pain. Although the effect was short lasting, the framework may be used to conceptualize future trials of acupuncture in visceral pain.

Current and Emerging Medical Therapies for Gastroparesis

OPINION STATEMENT

Gastroparesis likely involves various pathophysiological disorders and is increasingly prevalent as complications of surgeries, medications, and chronic diabetes. Key to diagnosis is evidence of delayed gastric emptying, generally based on standardized scintigraphy, and ruling out distal obstruction or other dysmotilities. Initial medical management includes reviewing potentially exacerbating medications and ruling out other reversible causes, achieving tighter glucose control in diabetics, and implementing dietary and lifestyle changes. While current available medications are limited, symptomatic control is aimed at improving gastric emptying, alleviating nausea and vomiting, and treating associated abdominal pain. Other potential therapies are aimed at reducing acid production, improving gastric accommodation or pyloric dysfunction, and treating bacterial overgrowth. Future studies should be aimed toward identification of subpopulations of gastroparetics who are better responders to the various medications based on differences in underlying pathophysiology and adopting standardized study end point measures that may allow for comparisons across trials. This chapter will review current treatment options, upcoming promising medications, and some of the hurdles in advancing the field forward.

Gastroparesis in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gastroparesis is a disorder with delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. It is one of the more common dysmotilities that occur in the gastrointestinal tract, and is thought to primarily affect adults. Pediatric cases of gastroparesis were considered rare; however, recent evidence suggests growing recognition in children and adolescents. Therefore, it is important for the pediatric caregiver to understand the condition and the treatment options available.

RECENT FINDINGS

The majority of patients are women, and presentation is usually with symptoms of persistent nausea, emesis, postprandial pain and bloating, and early satiety. Weight loss may occur in some cases, though this is not universal. The majority of cases are idiopathic, with diabetes mellitus the second most common cause.

SUMMARY

Treatment consists of symptomatic relief with medication to counteract the nausea, emesis, pain, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux, early satiety, and improve gastric emptying. Dietary modification is also used with small meals and avoidance of high fiber and fat-containing foods. Recalcitrant cases of gastroparesis require the use of additional approaches such as jejunal feeds, intrapyloric botulinum toxin, gastric emptying procedures such as pyloroplasty, and gastric electrical stimulation. We will review these options in this article.

The short-term effects of acupuncture on patients with diabetic gastroparesis: a randomised crossover study

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture may improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with various disorders, but its efficacy in diabetic gastroparesis is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the short-term effects of acupuncture on gastric emptying and gastroparesis symptoms in patients with diabetic gastroparesis.

METHODS

In a single-blind controlled crossover trial, 25 patients with diabetic gastroparesis were randomly assigned to undergo 1 week of real acupuncture (RA) treatment followed by 1 week of sham acupuncture (SA) treatment, or vice versa, with a washout of 1 month in between. Before and after each intervention, gastric retention, the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c levels were measured.

RESULTS

21 patients completed the study. Compared with SA treatment, RA treatment was associated with significantly greater reductions in gastric retention at 2 h (-11.1±7.0%; 95% CI -13.6% to -6.2%; p<0.01) and at 4 h (-5.0±2.8%; 95% CI -6.0% to -0.2%; p=0.04) and in GCSI score (-8.0±3.4; 95% CI -8.4 to -2.8; p<0.01). There were no significant differences in FBG and HbA1c levels between RA and SA treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with diabetic gastroparesis, 1 week of short-term manual acupuncture reduces gastric retention and improves gastroparesis symptoms.

Does Braun enteroenterostomy reduce delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy?

Whether an additional Braun enteroenterostomy is necessary in reducing delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has not yet been well investigated. Herein, in this retrospective study, 395 consecutive cases of patients undergoing classic PD from 2009 to 2013 were reviewed. Patients with and without Braun enteroenterostomy were compared in preoperative baseline characteristics, surgical procedure, postoperative diagnosis, and morbidity including DGE. The DGE was defined and classified by the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery recommendation. The incidence of DGE was similar in patients with or without Braun enteroenterostomy following PD (37/347, 10.7% vs 8/48, 16.7%, P = 0.220). The patients in the 2 groups were not different in patient characteristics, lesions, surgical procedure, or postoperative complications, although patients without Braun enteroenterostomy more frequently presented postoperative vomiting than those with Braun enteroenterostomy (33.3% vs 15.3%, P = 0.002). Bile leakage, pancreatic fistula, and intraperitoneal abscess were risk factors for postoperative DGE (all P < 0.05). Prokinetic agents and acupuncture were effective in symptom relief of DGE in 24 out of 45 patients and 12 out of 14 patients, respectively.The additional Braun enteroenterostomy following classic PD was not associated with a decreased rate of DGE. Postoperative abdominal complications were strongly correlated with the onset of DGE. Prokinetic agents and acupuncture could be utilized in some patients with DGE.

Electroacupuncture at ST36 accelerates the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after colorectal surgery: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 can accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after colorectal surgery.

METHODS

Forty patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II and III undergoing elective open resection of malignant colorectal tumours were included in this study. Using a sealed envelope method, the patients were randomly divided into two groups either receiving EA (EA group) or sham EA (SEA group). Data regarding the recovery of bowel function (times to the first bowel sounds, passage of flatus and defaecation) were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

In the EA group, the time intervals from surgery to the first bowel movement and passage of flatus were shorter than in the SEA group (13±10 h vs 19±13 h, p<0.05 and 23±14 h vs 32±18 h, p<0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the time to first defaecation (68±45 h vs 72±53 h, p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

EA at ST36 accelerates the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after colorectal surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

JJ22011-15.