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Lim SM, Go E. A systematic review of sham acupuncture validation studies. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:215. [PMID: 38840076 PMCID: PMC11155071 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04506-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture is widely used worldwide; however, studies on its effectiveness have been impeded by limitations regarding the design of appropriate control groups. In clinical research, noninvasive sham acupuncture techniques can only be applied through validation studies. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the scope of existing literature on this topic to identify trends. METHODS We queried Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from inception to July 2022 for relevant articles. Author names were used to identify additional relevant articles. Two independent reviewers assessed the identified articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The following data were extracted: study design, information regarding acupuncturists and participants, general and treatment-related characteristics of the intervention and control groups, participants' experience of acupuncture, and research findings. RESULTS The database query yielded 673 articles, of which 29 articles were included in the final review. Among these, 18 involved the use of one of three devices: Streitberger (n = 5), Park (n = 7), and Takakura (n = 6) devices. The remaining 11 studies used other devices, including self-developed needles. All the included studies were randomized controlled trials. The methodological details of the included studies were heterogeneous with respect to outcomes assessed, blinding, and results. CONCLUSIONS Sham acupuncture validation studies have been conducted using healthy volunteers, with a focus on blind review and technological developments in sham acupuncture devices. However, theren may be language bias in our findings since we could not query Chinese and Japanese databases due to language barriers. There is a need for more efforts toward establishing control groups suitable for various acupuncture therapy interventions. Moreover, there is a need for more rigorous sham acupuncture validation studies, which could lead to higher-quality clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Min Lim
- Department of Clinical Research on Rehabilitation, Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute, 58 Samgaksan-Ro, Gangbuk-Gu, Seoul, 142-070, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Go
- Department of Clinical Research on Rehabilitation, Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute, 58 Samgaksan-Ro, Gangbuk-Gu, Seoul, 142-070, Republic of Korea.
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Zardosht R, Arabi A, Akhlaghi M, Javan R, Khosrojerdi M, Sahebkar M. Evaluating the effect of acupuncture on symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) among individuals with diabetic neuropathy: A single-blind, randomized trial study. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2023; 22:1769-1778. [PMID: 37975127 PMCID: PMC10638218 DOI: 10.1007/s40200-023-01314-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the impact of acupuncture on Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) symptoms among individuals with diabetic neuropathy. Methods In a single-blind, randomized trial conducted between 2019 and 2020, 60 patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy were enrolled. These participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received real acupuncture alongside routine treatment once a week for seven sessions, each lasting 20 min. Meanwhile, the control group received sham acupuncture as an adjunct to their routine treatment, following the same schedule. To evaluate treatment efficacy, the study assessed primary outcomes, such as pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included evaluating fatigue severity and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) side effects, measured using the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) and a standard questionnaire after each session. Results No statistically significant differences in pain and fatigue scores were observed between the two groups throughout all visits, even after adjusting for baseline characteristics, age, sex, type of diabetes, discopathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome parameters (P > 0.05). The findings did not provide strong evidence supporting a significant effect of real acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture on pain and fatigue values (P = 0.267 and 0.634, respectively). However, the 95% confidence interval for pain scores (-0.35, 1.28) was inconclusive, encompassing effect sizes favoring sham acupuncture. Conclusion Findings suggest that using acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy alongside routine treatment may not lead to a significant reduction in the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and fatigue severity among individuals with diabetic neuropathy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01314-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Zardosht
- Iranian Research Centre on Healthy Aging Department of operative room and anaesthetics, School of paramedical, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Akram Arabi
- Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Maedeh Akhlaghi
- Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Roghayeh Javan
- Non-Communicable Disease Research Centre, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Maryam Khosrojerdi
- Iranian Research Centre on Healthy Aging, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Mohammad Sahebkar
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
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Chan K, Lui L, Lam Y, Yu K, Lau K, Lai M, Lau W, Tai L, Mak C, Bian Z, Zhong LL. Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients: a single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Acupunct Med 2023; 41:268-283. [PMID: 36325677 DOI: 10.1177/09645284221125421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has long been used to alleviate limb numbness in Chinese medicine practice. AIM The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for the alleviation of CIPN in CRC patients. DESIGN This was a pilot single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Sixty eligible patients, who had been diagnosed with CRC and were undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, were randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to the EA intervention group or sham acupuncture (SA) control group. During a 12-week treatment period, patients in the EA group received EA once a week, while patients in the SA group received SA; both groups were followed up for 12 weeks. RESULTS Compared with the SA group, the EA group exhibited significant alleviation of CIPN severity during chemotherapy. Moreover, EA also improved the physical function, role function, and social function of CRC patients. However, there were no significant differences in tests of vibration or light touch sensation. In addition, EA appeared to be a safe treatment for CIPN and was both feasible and acceptable to CRC patients during chemotherapy. CONCLUSION This study showed preliminary evidence for the efficacy and safety of EA in acute CIPN among CRC patients, although further studies are needed to verify these effects and to further explore the potential role of EA in chronic CIPN (effects on which remain unclear). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03582423 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyin Chan
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Louisa Lui
- Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yukting Lam
- Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Kaling Yu
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Kwongwai Lau
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Manchi Lai
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Waiwai Lau
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Lokyin Tai
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Chunkin Mak
- Yan Chai Hospital-Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre (Kwai Tsing District), Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Zhaoxing Bian
- Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Linda Ld Zhong
- Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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Ma Y, Li B, Cui Y, Zhang Z, Jiang S, Yan X, He J, Du Y. The Top 100 Cited Articles on Acupuncture in the Last 20 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis. Complement Med Res 2023; 30:393-407. [PMID: 37263232 DOI: 10.1159/000530778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture has gained increasing international attention in recent decades. The act of incorporating acupuncture treatment into the routine treatment of COVID-19 in China drove us to review the 100 most influential articles of the last 20 years to learn about the current status and trends of acupuncture. METHOD Articles related to acupuncture from January 1, 2001, to July 4, 2022, were searched in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection database. The top 100 most cited publications were selected, and information was extracted. Software such as VOSviewer, GraphPad Prism, Scimago Graphica, and CiteSpace were used to visualize and analyze the extracted data. RESULT The 100 most cited articles were identified, with an average of 218 citations (range: 131-625). The majority of the top 100 articles were from the USA (n = 53). The institution that published the most highly cited papers was Harvard University (n = 16). The most influential team was Klaus Linde's group. Pain was the top-ranked journal in terms of the number of publications. The largest clusters for co-occurrence keyword analysis focused on acupuncture and electroacupuncture analgesia and brain imaging responses to acupuncture stimulation via functional MRI. The two highest strength burst keywords were "randomized controlled trials" and "osteoarthritis," with "randomized controlled trials" being a consistent burst keyword from 2011 to the present. CONCLUSION This study provides insight into articles of historical significance in the field of acupuncture through bibliometric analysis. These data should provide clinicians and researchers with insight into future directions related to acupuncture. Hintergrund Die Akupunktur hat in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten zunehmend die internationale Aufmerksamkeit auf sich gezogen. Die Einbeziehung der Akupunktur in die Routinebehandlung von COVID-19 in China hat uns dazu veranlasst, die 100 einflussreichsten Artikel der letzten 20 Jahre zu überprüfen, um etwas über den aktuellen Stand und die Trends in der Akupunktur zu erfahren. Methode Artikel mit Bezug zu Akupunktur vom 1. Januar 2001 bis 4. Juli 2022 wurden in der Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection Datenbank gesucht. Die 100 am häufigsten zitierten Veröffentlichungen wurden ausgewählt und die Informationen wurden extrahiert. Visualisierung und Analyse der extrahierten Daten erfolgten mithilfe der Software VOSviewer, GraphPad Prism, Scimago Graphica und CiteSpace. Ergebnis Es wurden die 100 am häufigsten zitierten Artikel ermittelt mit durchschnittlich 218 Zitierungen (Spanne: 131 bis 625). Der Großteil der 100 meistzitierten Artikel stammte aus den Vereinigten Staaten ( n = 53). Die Institution, die die meisten zitierten Artikel veröffentlichte, war die Harvard-Universität ( n = 16). Das einflussreichste Team war die Gruppe von Klaus Linde. Was die Zahl der Veröffentlichungen betrifft, war Pain die am häufigsten zitierte Zeitschrift. Bei der Analyse der Koinzidenz von Schlüsselwörtern lag der Fokus der größten Cluster auf Akupunktur-und Elektroakupunktur-Analgesie sowie auf den Reaktionen auf Akupunkturstimulation in den bildgebenden Untersuchungen des Gehirns mittels funktioneller MRT. Die beiden stärksten Burst-Schlüsselwörter waren “randomisierte kontrollierte Studien” und “Osteoarthritis,” wobei “randomisierte kontrollierte Studien” von 2011 bis heute durchgängig ein Burst-Schlüsselwort ist. Schlussfolgerung Diese Studie bietet einen Einblick in historisch bedeutsame Artikel auf dem Gebiet der Akupunktur mittels bibliometrischer analyse. Diese Daten sollen Klinikern und Forschern einen Einblick in zukünftige Richtungen im Zusammenhang mit Akupunktur geben.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Ma
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China,
| | - Bo Li
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Cui
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Zixing Zhang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiyi Jiang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiong Yan
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Junpeng He
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuzheng Du
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
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Asano H, Plonka D, Weeger J. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Med Acupunct 2022; 34:96-106. [PMID: 35509875 PMCID: PMC9057891 DOI: 10.1089/acu.2021.0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis assess the effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to standard therapy in the management of nonspecific chronic low back pain (NScLBP), compared with standard therapy alone. Methods A systematic literature search of full-text articles of randomized controlled trials in the date range of 2000-2020, utilizing PubMed and EBSCO databases, was performed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for nonspecific chronic lower back pain. The outcomes of interest were pain intensity and disability. The methodological quality of each study was evaluated using Cochrane risk-of-bias criteria. The studies were combined using meta-analysis when statistical pooling of data was possible. Results This systematic review included 5 studies of which 4 were included in the meta-analysis. Acupuncture as an adjunct to standard therapy had clinically meaningful reduction in self-reported pain at post-treatment (mean difference = -1.04 [95% confidence interval (CI), -1.59 to -0.49], P < 0.001, I 2 = 46.1%) and at intermediate term (mean difference = -0.82 [95% CI, -1.13 to -0.50], P < 0.001, I 2 = 0%), compared with standard care. Levels of disability showed similar clinically meaningful reduction at post-treatment and intermediate term. Conclusion Both the systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that acupuncture as an adjunct to standard therapy is a safe and effective method in reducing pain and disability among adults with NScLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Asano
- Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Derek Plonka
- Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Santa Monica, CA, USA
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Lee B, Kim BK, Kim M, Kim AR, Park HJ, Kwon OJ, Lee JH, Kim JH. Electroacupuncture for treating cancer-related insomnia: a multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled, pilot clinical trial. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:77. [PMID: 35303841 PMCID: PMC8932204 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03561-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Insomnia is one of the most frequent symptoms in people with cancer. Electroacupuncture has been widely used in people with cancer or insomnia. We explored the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of electroacupuncture for cancer-related insomnia. Methods People with cancer and insomnia disorder were randomly allocated to electroacupuncture, sham-electroacupuncture, or usual care groups. Participants received either 10 sessions of electroacupuncture at real acupoints, sham-electroacupuncture at non-acupoints, or usual care in each group for 4 weeks. We calculated the recruitment, adherence, and completion rates of participants. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep diary and actigraphy-derived sleep parameters, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and salivary levels of cortisol and melatonin were evaluated as outcome measures. Results Twenty-two participants were enrolled (8, 6, and 8 respectively in the electroacupuncture, sham-electroacupuncture, and usual care groups) and 20 participants completed the trials (8, 4, and 8 respectively). The recruitment, adherence, and completion rates were 78.57% (22/28), 95.45% (21/22), and 90.91% (20/22), respectively. Most of the participants had previously received conventional treatment for insomnia, but few had received Korean medicine treatment, without any demographic or clinical differences between groups. In the electroacupuncture group, there was a statistically significant reduction of 10.13 (mean) ± 8.15 (standard deviation) and 5 ± 3.70 points in mean ISI and PSQI scores at 4 weeks post-treatment (P = .0098 and .0066), compared with sham-electroacupuncture (2.06 ± 7.15 and 1.61 ± 4.34; P = .4796 and .3632) and usual care (3.25 ± 2.60 and 1.38 ± 2.13; P = .0096 and .1112). Although there was no significant difference in ISI score between groups at 4 weeks post-treatment, the electroacupuncture group continued to improve significantly at 4 weeks’ follow-up, showing borderline and significant differences compared to the sham-electroacupuncture and usual care (P = .0614 and .0015). The FACT-F scores in electroacupuncture group showed a significant improvement compared with the sham-electroacupuncture group (P = .0305). No electroacupuncture-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions Electroacupuncture might be feasible for cancer-related insomnia, despite slow participant recruitment. Additional trials with adequately powered sample sizes and a substantial change to the recruitment procedure are needed. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0002162. Submitted 27 October 2016, Registered 2 December 2016 - Retrospectively registered (The first participant enrolment: 28 November 2016), Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03561-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boram Lee
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Kyung Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Mikyung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ae-Ran Kim
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Ju Park
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - O-Jin Kwon
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Hwan Lee
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science & Technology (UST), Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo-Hee Kim
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. .,Research institute of Korean medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
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Zeng D, Yan X, Deng H, Li J, Xiao J, Yuan J, Huang J, Xu N, Fu W, Jianhua L. Placebo response vary between different types of sham acupuncture: A randomized double-blind trial in neck pain patients. Eur J Pain 2022; 26:1006-1020. [PMID: 35129852 PMCID: PMC9305463 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background In prospective experimental studies of neck pain patients, it is difficult to determine whether responses to sham acupuncture differ from responses to real acupuncture due to the heterogeneous methodologies in control/sham interventions. Here we aim to compare the specific and nonspecific effects of electroacupuncture with four types of sham acupuncture. Methods In this double‐blind, sham‐controlled study, we randomly assigned 175 patients with neck pain to receive 10 sessions of electroacupuncture, shallow puncture, nonacupoint deep puncture, nonacupoint shallow puncture, or nonpenetration acupuncture. We used the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) as our primary outcome, and Short‐form McGill Pain Questionnaire, visual analog scale (VAS), and Pain Threshold as secondary outcomes to measure the changes from baseline to a 3‐month follow up. Results All groups, except nonacupoint shallow puncture, had significant improvement in all outcome measurements. Electroacupuncture only showed superior improvements than the shallow puncture, nonacupoint shallow puncture, and nonpenetration groups when compared using the NPQ and VAS scale (*p < 0.001). Interestingly, the nonacupoint shallow puncture produced even less placebo response than nonpenetration acupuncture. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the high variability of placebo response among different types of sham controls depending on the depth of needle insertion and the puncture location. An important implication of our results is nonacupoint deep puncture produced similar analgesic effects as electroacupuncture. Our study may shed a new light on the predominant underlying mechanisms among different types of sham acupuncture controls, which can help with interpreting the effect of acupuncture in other studies. Trial registration Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR‐IOR‐15006886). Significance This study compared the observed specific and nonspecific analgesia effect in four different types of sham acupuncture stimulation with neck pain patients, assessed by four outcomes. Although all of the sham controls produced significant reduction in neck pain, electroacupuncture had superior significant improvement. Importantly, placebo responses differed significantly between the sham controls and responses were inconsistent according to different outcome assessments. This study emphasizes the importance of taking into consideration which sham control and method of outcome measurement were used in a pain research study when evaluating its results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Zeng
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxia Yan
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongmei Deng
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiemei Li
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Xiao
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Yuan
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianpeng Huang
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nenggui Xu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbin Fu
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liu Jianhua
- Acupuncture Research Team, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Acupuncture Treatment Associated with Functional Connectivity Changes in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Resting State fMRI Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10204731. [PMID: 34682857 PMCID: PMC8537009 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10204731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is the most commonly encountered gynecological problem in reproductive-age women. Acupuncture has been suggested as an effective treatment of PDM that may modulate descending pain modulation systems. In the present study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate possible changes in descending pain modulation systems after acupuncture treatment in women with PDM. Thirty-four right-handed adult women with PDM participated in this randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled study. Each patient was randomly allocated to an 8-week verum or sham acupuncture intervention on the bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was conducted before, during, and after the intervention to measure the spontaneous activity in brain. After the 8-week intervention, both verum and sham groups reported decreased menstrual pain. However, the cessation of decreased functional connectivity (FC) between periaqueductal gray matter and the regions associated with affective pain modulation and attention-related pain modulation were found in the verum but not in the sham group after the 8-week intervention. More decreased FC has been found in the region associated with non-specific effects of acupuncture intervention after the early stage of acupuncture intervention. These results indicated that verum acupuncture may intercept the altered FC in descending pain modulation systems in PDM.
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Sheng X, Yue H, Zhang Q, Chen D, Qiu W, Tang J, Fan T, Gu J, Jiang B, Qiu M, Chen L. Efficacy of electroacupuncture in patients with failed back surgery syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2021; 22:702. [PMID: 34649614 PMCID: PMC8518192 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05652-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent pain following back surgery called failed back surgery syndrome remains a major treatment challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture on relieving back pain in FBSS patients. METHODS/DESIGN This is a randomized, single-blind, single-site, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 144 eligible FBSS patients will be randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture, manual acupuncture, or sham acupuncture group in a 1:1:1 ratio. Each group will receive 2 treatment sessions per week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be low back pain intensity based on the 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS). The secondary outcomes include Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and analgesic consumption. All clinical outcomes will be collected at baseline, during the treatment phase (at 8 and 12 weeks), and at the 16-, 24- and 36-week follow-ups. All data will be analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle and adverse events will be assessed during the trial. DISCUSSION This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture for treating failed back surgery syndrome. The outcomes will determine whether electroacupuncture is efficacious in relieving low back pain as well as improving the quality of life in failed back surgery syndrome patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000040144 . Registered on 22 November 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Sheng
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Hongyu Yue
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Shanghai Xuhui District Xietu Community Health Service Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Deta Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Weidong Qiu
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Tianyou Fan
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Jingliang Gu
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Bingchen Jiang
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Minlei Qiu
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China.
| | - Lin Chen
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Middle Zhijiang Road, Shanghai, 200071, China.
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10
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Lynning M, Hanehøj K, Westergaard K, Kjær Ersbøll A, Claesson MH, Boesen F, Skovgaard L. Effect of Acupuncture on Cytokine Levels in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med 2021; 27:832-840. [PMID: 34265224 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2020.0510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cytokines have been found to play a role in the disease activity of multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies indicate that acupuncture can affect cytokine levels in persons with other inflammatory diseases. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of acupuncture on cytokine levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with MS. Materials and Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed. Participants (n = 66) were randomized into three groups (real acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and reference). Participants in the real acupuncture and sham groups received six treatments during a period of 4 weeks. The serum levels of 11 pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-13, TNFα, IL-10, IL-4, IL-2, and IL-17A) were assessed at baseline, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, and 4 weeks after the final treatment. Changes in HRQoL were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis questionnaire. Results: No statistically significant differences in plasma levels between the three groups were seen for either of the cytokines, nor were there any differences between the groups for HRQoL. Conclusions: In this study, the authors could not demonstrate that a 4-week acupuncture treatment had a measurable effect on the plasma levels of seven selected cytokines or on HRQoL among people with MS. The trial was registered with the ISRCTN registry as ISRCTN34352011.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Annette Kjær Ersbøll
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mogens Helweg Claesson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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11
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Chen H, So TH, Cho WCS, Qin Z, Ma CH, Li SG, Yang Z, Jiang F, Wu J, Zhang ZJ, Kong FM, Lao L. The Adjunctive Effect of Acupuncture for Advanced Cancer Patients in a Collaborative Model of Palliative Care: Study Protocol for a 3-Arm Randomized Trial. Integr Cancer Ther 2021; 20:15347354211012749. [PMID: 33957783 PMCID: PMC8113363 DOI: 10.1177/15347354211012749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death before the age of 70. Improved cancer survival has put increasing demands on cancer care. Palliative care is the specialized multi-disciplinary care providing relief from the pain, symptoms, and stress of serious illness. The study aims to evaluate the adjunctive effect of acupuncture for advanced cancer patients in a collaborative model of palliative care. Methods/Design: This is a single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. One hundred twenty advanced cancer patients undergoing palliative care will be randomized in a ratio of 2:1:1 to manual acupuncture plus standard care group (ASC), sham acupuncture plus standard care group (SSC), and standard care group (SC). Patients in ASC and SSC will receive 9 sessions of acupuncture or sham acupuncture for 3 weeks, and will be followed up for 2 months. The primary measure is the change from baseline score of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System at 3 weeks. The secondary measures include the Brief Fatigue Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Numeric Rating Scale, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life 15 items Questionnaire for Palliative Care. Discussion: The finding of this trial will provide high-quality evidence on the adjunctive effect of acupuncture to standard care on advanced cancer patients undergoing palliative care. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04398875 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04398875), Registered on 21 May 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tsz Him So
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Zongshi Qin
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Ho Ma
- The University of Hong Kong Clinical Centre for Teaching and Research in Chinese Medicine (Aberdeen), Hong Kong, China
| | - Shi Guang Li
- Shen Zhen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhenjiang Yang
- Shen Zhen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Jiang
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Junmei Wu
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Lixing Lao
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, Fairfax, VA, USA
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12
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Yue H, Zhou S, Wu H, Yin X, Li S, Liang T, Li Y, Fang Z, Zhang X, Wang L, Han M, Chen X, Zhang M, Zhang W, Zhang Z, Xu S. Efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture (EA) on insomnia in patients with lung cancer: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:788. [PMID: 32928276 PMCID: PMC7491165 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04721-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer-related insomnia (CRI) is one of the most prevalent complaints among cancer survivors and severely impairs patients’ quality of life. As a popular non-pharmacological alternative treatment, acupuncture provides a good clinical curative effect on insomnia. The aim of this trial is to evaluate efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture on insomnia in patients with lung cancer. Method This is a protocol for a multicenter randomized single-blinded sham-controlled trial. We will randomly assign 252 eligible patients with lung cancer-related insomnia into two groups at a ratio of 1:1, the treatment group (EA) and the control group (sham EA). All treatment will be given 3 times per week for 8 weeks, and a 12-week follow-up will be conducted. The primary outcome will be measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The secondary outcomes will include sleep parameters recorded from the actigraphy, scores from Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (QLQ-C30), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). All adverse effects during the trial will be assessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). All analyses will be based on ITT principle and performed with the statistical software SPSS (version 24.0) by t test, rank-sum test, chi-square, and so on. A two-sided significance level will be set at 5%. Discussion This large-sample trial protocol will evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture on insomnia in patients with lung cancer. This protocol, if proven to be effective, will contribute to filling the gap in treatment options in the CRI field and provide a promising intervention for insomnia in lung cancer survivors. Trial registration ChiCTR ChiCTR1900026395. Registered on 8 October 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=44068
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Yue
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- Acupuncture and Moxibusion College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Huangan Wu
- Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Xuan Yin
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Tingting Liang
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Yan Li
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Zhihong Fang
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Xufeng Zhang
- Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Linglin Wang
- Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Min Han
- Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiaolei Chen
- Xie-Tu Community Health Service Centre, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhangjin Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shifen Xu
- Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200071, China.
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13
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Wang C, Yang WJ, Yu XT, Fu C, Li JJ, Wang J, Xu WL, Zheng YX, Chen XY, Chen YF. Acupuncture for insomnia with short sleep duration: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e033731. [PMID: 32139486 PMCID: PMC7059535 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Insomnia with short sleep duration has a more serious negative impact on patient health. The existing literature suggests that medication therapy is more effective for this phenotype of insomnia compared with cognitive-behavioural therapy. However, the potential side effects of hypnotic medications hinder their clinical application. Acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of insomnia, but it remains unclear whether it has therapeutic efficacy for insomnia with short sleep duration. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for insomnia with short sleep duration. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This study is designed as a randomised, single-centre, single-blinded, placebo acupuncture controlled trial involving 152 participants. Eligible patients will be divided into two groups according to the objective total sleep time: insomnia with normal sleep duration group and insomnia with short sleep duration group. Then, patients in each group will be randomly assigned to two subgroups, the treatment group (acupuncture) and the control group (placebo acupuncture), in a 1:1 ratio with 38 subjects in each subgroup. The primary outcome is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index. Secondary outcomes are actigraphy, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Fatigue Severity Scale. All adverse effects will be assessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, post treatment, as well as at 1-week and 1-month follow-up. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol has been approved by the ethics committee of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (no. 2019-17). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals for publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ChiCTR1900023473; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Wang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Jia Yang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Tong Yu
- Laboratory Center of Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Fu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Jin Li
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Lin Xu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Xin Zheng
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Yun-Fei Chen
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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14
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Chan K, Lui L, Yu K, Lau K, Lai M, Lau W, Ng B, Zhong LLD, Bian ZX. The efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture for alleviating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with coloreactal cancer: study protocol for a single-blinded, randomized sham-controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:58. [PMID: 31918748 PMCID: PMC6953283 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3972-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has long been used to alleviate limb numbness in Chinese medicine. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating CIPN in patients with colorectal cancer in Hong Kong. Methods/design This is a single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled efficacy trial. Eighty-four eligible patients, who are Hong Kong Chinese, aged ≥ 18 years, diagnosed with colorectal cancer and undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to the electro-acupuncture group or the sham-controlled group. During a 12-week treatment period, patients in the electro-acupuncture group will undergo electro-acupuncture once a week from the first cycle of chemotherapy, while patients in the control group will receive sham acupuncture, and the patients in both groups will be followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOC-Ntx) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include numerical rating scale (NRS) for numbness/pain, vibration and light touch sense test, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Constitution of Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Discussion The study will compare electro-acupuncture with sham acupuncture to explore the feasibility for electro-acupuncture in improving symptoms caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03582423. Registered on 11 July 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyin Chan
- Yan Chai Hospital cum Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre, Ha Kwai Chung, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Louisa Lui
- Oncology Department of Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kaling Yu
- Yan Chai Hospital cum Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre, Ha Kwai Chung, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kwongwai Lau
- Yan Chai Hospital cum Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre, Ha Kwai Chung, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Manchi Lai
- Yan Chai Hospital cum Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre, Ha Kwai Chung, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Waiwai Lau
- Yan Chai Hospital cum Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine Clinic cum Training and Research Centre, Ha Kwai Chung, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Bacon Ng
- Chinese Medicine Department, Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Linda L D Zhong
- Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Jockey Club School of Chinese Building, 7 Baptist Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR. .,School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Jockey Club School of Chinese Building, 7 Baptist Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Zhao-Xiang Bian
- Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Clinical Study Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Jockey Club School of Chinese Building, 7 Baptist Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR. .,School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Jockey Club School of Chinese Building, 7 Baptist Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR.
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15
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Suh HW, Kim J, Kwon O, Cho SH, Kim JW, Kwak HY, Kim Y, Lee KM, Chung SY, Lee JH. Neurocircuitry of acupuncture effect on cognitive improvement in patients with mild cognitive impairment using magnetic resonance imaging: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2019; 20:310. [PMID: 31146774 PMCID: PMC6543690 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-019-3446-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as a decline in cognitive state with preservation of activities of daily living. Medications such as donepezil and rivastigmine have been commonly prescribed for MCI, but their use is controversial. Acupuncture has been widely used in Korea and has been shown to improve cognitive function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for MCI and investigate the effect of acupuncture on structural and functional brain changes in patients with MCI. Methods This study is a randomized, assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial. Fifty participants with MCI will be randomly assigned to the acupuncture group (n = 25) or sham acupuncture group (n = 25). The acupuncture group will receive acupuncture treatment at nine acupuncture points (GV20, EX-HN1, bilateral LI4, and ST36) twice a week for 12 weeks. The sham acupuncture group will receive sham acupuncture treatment at the same points with non-penetrating sham needles. Both groups will be restricted from all other treatments for the improvement of cognitive function. The primary outcome measure is the Digit Span Test (DST). The secondary outcome measures are the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-II (SNSB-II), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), working memory (WM) task performance score, and structural/functional brain changes. Outcomes will be assessed at screening, baseline, 4 and 8 weeks, and after the end of treatment. We will also observe adverse events. In the statistical analysis, a full analysis set and per-protocol analysis will be performed. Discussion This randomized clinical trial aims to examine the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for MCI. Neuropsychological tests, psychological inventories for measuring depression and anxiety, and magnetic resonance imaging will be performed to investigate the underlying neurological mechanisms and the association between cognition, emotion, and brain networks following acupuncture treatment. The results of the trial will provide evidence supporting the efficacy of acupuncture and also add to the neurobiological understanding of acupuncture treatment for MCI. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0002896. Registered on 25 May 2018. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3446-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Weon Suh
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Kim
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea
| | - Ojin Kwon
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hun Cho
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Woo Kim
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Hui-Yong Kwak
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunna Kim
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyung Hee University Medical Center Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Mi Lee
- Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.,Department of Radiology, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Yong Chung
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jun-Hwan Lee
- Clinical Medicine Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea. .,Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science & Technology (UST), Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, 34054, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Influence of the Intensity, Components, and Spreading of the Deqi Sensation on the Analgesic Effect of SP6 Needling in Primary Dysmenorrhea Patients: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Trial. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:6462576. [PMID: 31223331 PMCID: PMC6541943 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6462576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although deqi, the phenomenon whereby excitation of Qi in the meridians occurs with needling, is critical to the practice of acupuncture and its efficacy, it is poorly understood. So we investigate the influence of the deqi sensation on the analgesic effects of acupuncture in patients who were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial for the treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea, a painful and common condition, and cold and dampness stagnation. Two groups were assessed: a deqi group (undergoing deep needling with thick needles and manipulation, n=17) and a non-deqi group (undergoing shallow needling with thin needles and no manipulation, n=51). The Sanyinjiao (SP6) was needled for 30 min in both groups. Pain scores at baseline, upon needle removal, and at 10, 20, and 30 min after needle removal were evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale for pain. The deqi sensation was evaluated by the Acupuncture Deqi Clinical Assessment Scale. Patients who experienced a genuine deqi sensation (n=39) were selected for further analysis. Compared with patients in the non-deqi group who experienced deqi (n=25), patients who self-reported deqi in the deqi group (n=14) felt a stronger deqi sensation, experienced soreness and fullness more frequently, felt a greater intensity of soreness, fullness, electric sensation, spreading, and radiating, and experienced larger spreading distances. In those who experienced the deqi sensation in the deqi group, the intensity of the sensation, as well as their degree of soreness and fullness, was negatively correlated with pain reduction. In patients who experienced the deqi sensation in the non-deqi group, deqi intensity was positively correlated with pain reduction, while soreness was negatively correlated with pain reduction. The distance of spreading was not correlated with pain reduction in either group. We found, in SP6 needling of patients with primary dysmenorrhea with cold and dampness stagnation, that a moderate deqi response predicted a prolonged analgesic effect better than a strong deqi response.
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17
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Jiang Y, Bai P, Chen H, Zhang XY, Tang XY, Chen HQ, Hu YY, Wang XL, Li XY, Li YP, Tian GH. The Effect of Acupuncture on the Quality of Life in Patients With Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1190. [PMID: 30416444 PMCID: PMC6212461 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Acupuncture is frequently used as an efficient method to prevent and treat migraines. However, its effect on the quality of life remains controversial. Methods: Seven databases, such as PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched to retrieve reference lists of eligible trials and related reviews. Randomized controlled trials that were published in Chinese and English were included. Results: Acupuncture resulted in lower Visual Analog Scale scores than the medication group at 1 month after treatment (MD -1.22, 95%CI -1.57 to -0.87; low quality) and 1-3 months after treatment (MD -1.81, 95%CI -3.42 to -0.20; low quality). Compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture resulted in lower Visual Analog Scale scores at 1 month after treatment (MD -1.56, 95%CI -2.21 to -0.92; low quality). Conclusion: Acupuncture exhibits certain efficacy both in the treatment and prevention of migraines, which is superior to no treatment, sham acupuncture and medication. Further, acupuncture enhanced the quality of life more than did medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Jiang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Bai
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Chen
- The Second Clinical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Zhang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Tang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - He-Qing Chen
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ye-Yin Hu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Li Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Yi Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - You-Ping Li
- Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gui-Hua Tian
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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18
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Takakura N, Takayama M, Nasu M, Nishiwaki M, Kawase A, Yajima H. Patient blinding with blunt tip placebo acupuncture needles: comparison between 1 mm and 2 mm skin press. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 16:164-171. [PMID: 29753429 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of the depth of skin press in blunt tip placebo acupuncture needles on patient blinding and its relationship to needle diameter. METHODS Forty healthy volunteers were enrolled as subjects for patient blinding. Four acupuncturists applied the following needles randomly at three points in each forearm: 0.18 mm and 0.25 mm diameter penetrating needles inserted to a depth of 5 mm, and 0.18 mm and 0.25 mm diameter skin-touch needles depressing the skin at the acupoint to a depth of 1 mm and 2 mm from the skin surface. The subjects reported their guesses at the nature of needles they received, and rated needle pain and de qi. A blinding index was calculated to define the success of blinding for subjects. RESULTS The blinding status of subjects for 1 mm press needles of 0.18 mm diameter was "random guess", but "unblinded" for 1 mm press needles of 0.25 mm diameter. For 2 mm press needles of both diameters, the blinding status was "opposite guess" and the blinding status for penetrating needles of both diameters was "unblinded." The percentages of "felt pain" with 2 mm press needles of both diameters were similar to that with penetrating needles, but those were not similar for 1 mm press needles. The frequency of de qi occurrence with 2 mm press needles of 0.18 mm diameter was similar to that of penetrating needles of both diameters. CONCLUSION Placebo needles of 2 mm press made more subjects guess that the needles penetrated the skin than 1 mm press needles. The use of small diameter needles increased patient blinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuari Takakura
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan; Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan; Japan School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Physiotherapy, Tokyo 150-0031, Japan.
| | - Miho Takayama
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan; Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan; Japan School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Physiotherapy, Tokyo 150-0031, Japan
| | - Morihiro Nasu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan
| | - Masako Nishiwaki
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan
| | - Akiko Kawase
- Japan School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Physiotherapy, Tokyo 150-0031, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Yajima
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan; Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan; Japan School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Physiotherapy, Tokyo 150-0031, Japan
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A Double-Blind Study on Acupuncture Sensations with Japanese Style of Acupuncture: Comparison between Penetrating and Placebo Needles. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:8128147. [PMID: 29849728 PMCID: PMC5941723 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8128147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the acupuncture sensations elicited by the Japanese style of acupuncture, penetrating acupuncture and skin-touch placebo needles were randomly administered at various insertion depths (5 and 10 mm for the penetrating needles and 1 and 2 mm for the placebo needles) at LI4 to 50 healthy subjects. Among the 12 acupuncture sensations in the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS), “heaviness” was the strongest and most frequently reported sensation with the 10 mm needles, but not with the 5 mm needles. There were no significant differences in number of sensations elicited, MASS index, range of spreading, and intensity of needle pain for 5 mm penetration versus 1 mm skin press and 10 mm penetration versus 2 mm skin press. The MASS index with 2 mm skin-touch needles was significantly larger than that with 1 mm skin-touch and 5 mm penetrating needles. The factor structures in the 12 acupuncture sensations between penetrating and skin-touch needles were different. The acupuncture sensations obtained in this study under satisfactorily performed double-blind (practitioner–patient) conditions suggest that a slight difference in insertion depth and skin press causes significant differences in quantity and quality of acupuncture sensations.
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Abstract
Because acupuncture treatment is defined by the process of needles penetrating the body, placebo needles were originally developed with non-penetrating mechanisms. However, whether placebo needles are valid controls in acupuncture research is subject of an ongoing debate. The present review provides an overview of the characteristics of placebo needles and how they differ from placebo pills in two aspects: (1) physiological response and (2) blinding efficacy. We argue that placebo needles elicit physiological responses similar to real acupuncture and therefore provide similar clinical efficacy. We also demonstrate that this efficacy is further supported by ineffective blinding (even in acupuncture-naïve patients) which may lead to opposite guesses that will further enhances efficacy, as compared to no-treatment, e.g., with waiting list controls. Additionally, the manner in which placebo needles can exhibit therapeutic effects relative to placebo pills include enhanced touch sensations, direct stimulation of the somatosensory system and activation of multiple brain systems. We finally discuss alternative control strategies for the placebo effects in acupuncture therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Younbyoung Chae
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ye-Seul Lee
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Anatomy and Meridians, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Paul Enck
- Department of Internal Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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21
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Schaible A, Schwan K, Bruckner T, Plaschke K, Büchler MW, Weigand M, Sauer P, Bopp C, Knebel P. Acupuncture to improve tolerance of diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy in patients without systemic sedation: results of a single-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial (DRKS00000164). Trials 2016; 17:350. [PMID: 27455961 PMCID: PMC4960815 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-016-1468-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sedation prior to esophagogastroduodenoscopy is widespread and increases patient comfort. However, it demands additional trained personnel, accounts for up to 40 % of total endoscopy costs and impedes rapid hospital discharge. Most patients lose at least one day of work. 98 % of all serious adverse events occurring during esophagogastroduodenoscopy are ascribed to sedation. Acupuncture is reported to be effective as a supportive intervention for gastrointestinal endoscopy, similar to conventional premedication. We investigated whether acupuncture during elective diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy could increase the comfort of patients refusing systemic sedation. Methods We performed a single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled superiority trial to compare the success rates of elective diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopies using real and placebo acupuncture. All patients aged 18 years or older scheduled for elective, diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy who refused systemic sedation were eligible; 354 patients were randomized. The primary endpoint measure was the rate of successful esophagogastroduodenoscopies. The intervention was real or placebo acupuncture before and during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Successful esophagogastroduodenoscopy was based on a composite score of patient satisfaction with the procedure on a Likert scale as well as quality of examination, as assessed by the examiner. Results From February 2010 to July 2012, 678 patients were screened; 354 were included in the study. Baseline characteristics of the two groups showed a similar distribution in all but one parameter: more current smokers were allocated to the placebo group. The intention-to-treat analysis included 177 randomized patients in each group. Endoscopy could successfully be performed in 130 patients (73.5 %) in the real acupuncture group and 129 patients (72.9 %) in the placebo group. Willingness to repeat the procedure under the same conditions was 86.9 % in the real acupuncture group and 87.6 % in the placebo acupuncture group. Conclusions Esophagogastroduodenoscopy without sedation is safe and can successfully be performed in two-thirds of patients. Patients planned for elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy without sedation do not benefit from acupuncture of the Sinarteria respondens (Rs) 24 Chengjiang middle line, Pericard (Pc) 6 Neiguan bilateral, or Dickdarm (IC) 4 Hegu bilateral, according to traditional Chinese medicine meridian theory. Trial registration DRKS00000164. Registered on 10 December 2009.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schaible
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, INF 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Schwan
- Department of Anaesthesiology, GRN-Hospital, Eberbach, Germany
| | - Thomas Bruckner
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Konstanze Plaschke
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus W Büchler
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, INF 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Weigand
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Sauer
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Bopp
- Department of Anaesthesiology, GRN-Hospital, Schwetzingen, Germany
| | - Phillip Knebel
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, INF 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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22
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Ko SJ, Park K, Kim J, Kim M, Kim JH, Lee J, Mohamed AZ, Yeo I, Kim J, Choi SM, Kim H, Park JW, Lee JH. Effect of acupuncture and its influence on cerebral activity in functional dyspepsia patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2016; 17:183. [PMID: 27039086 PMCID: PMC4818864 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-016-1296-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent gastric disorder that is difficult to manage due to lack of satisfactory treatments. Acupuncture has been studied with regard to the rising need for treating FD, but the mechanism verifying its efficacy has not yet been fully revealed. The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture for FD compared with a sham group. METHODS/DESIGN We describe a proposal for a randomized, assessor-blind, sham-controlled trial with 70 eligible participants who will be randomly allocated either into an acupuncture or a sham group. Participants in the acupuncture group will receive 10 sessions of real acupuncture treatment and those in the sham group will be treated with identical sessions using a Streitberger needle. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and metabolomics studies will be implemented before and after 4 weeks of treatment to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture. The primary outcome is a proportion of responders with adequate symptom relief and the secondary outcomes include the Nepean Dyspepsia Index - Korean version, Functional Dyspepsia-Related Quality of Life questionnaire, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, perception of bodily sensation questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale. The outcomes will be evaluated before and after the treatment. DISCUSSION This is the first large-scale trial evaluating the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture with fMRI and metabolomic methods. We will compare real acupuncture with the Streitberger sham needle to verify the specific effect of acupuncture. The results of this trial are expected to be relevant evidences affecting policy and decision-makers associated with routine healthcare. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02358486 . Date of Registration: 21 January 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok-Jae Ko
- Department of Gastroenterology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmo Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Kim
- Division of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minji Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo-Hee Kim
- Division of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeungchan Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.,Athinoula A Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, USA
| | - Abdalla Z Mohamed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Inkwon Yeo
- Department of Statistics, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsung Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Mi Choi
- Division of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Honggeol Kim
- Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Woo Park
- Department of Gastroenterology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jun-Hwan Lee
- Division of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. .,Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science & Technology, Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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