OBJECTIVE:To propose an automatic acupuncture robot system for performing acupuncture operations.METHODS:The acupuncture robot system consists of three components:automatic acupoint localization,acupuncture manipulati...OBJECTIVE:To propose an automatic acupuncture robot system for performing acupuncture operations.METHODS:The acupuncture robot system consists of three components:automatic acupoint localization,acupuncture manipulations,and De Qi sensation detection.The OptiTrack motion capture system is used to locate acupoints,which are then translated into coordinates in the robot control system.A flexible collaborative robot with an intelligent gripper is then used to perform acupuncture manipulations with high precision.In addition,a De Qi sensation detection system is proposed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture.To verify the stability of the designed acupuncture robot,acupoints'coordinates localized by the acupuncture robot are compared with the Gold Standard labeled by a professional acupuncturist using significant level tests.RESULTS:Through repeated experiments for eight acupoints,the acupuncture robot achieved a positioning error within 3.3 mm,which is within the allowable range of needle extraction and acupoint insertion.During needle insertion,the robot arm followed the prescribed trajectory with a mean deviation distance of 0.02 mm and a deviation angle of less than 0.15°.The results of the lifting thrusting operation in the Xingzhen process show that the mean acupuncture depth error of the designed acupuncture robot is approximately 2 mm,which is within the recommended depth range for the Xingzhen operation.In addition,the average detection accuracy of the De Qi keywords is 94.52%,which meets the requirements of acupuncture effect testing for different dialects.CONCLUSION:The proposed acupuncture robot system streamlines the acupuncture process,increases efficiency,and reduces practitioner fatigue,while also allowing for the quantification of acupuncture manipulations and evaluation of therapeutic effects.The development of an acupuncture robot system has the potential to revolutionize low back pain treatment and improve patient outcomes.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To take Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)targeting inflammatory response to regulate migraine as an example to describe a new method for studying the mechanism of stimulating acupoints.METHODS:The target informa...OBJECTIVE:To take Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)targeting inflammatory response to regulate migraine as an example to describe a new method for studying the mechanism of stimulating acupoints.METHODS:The target information of Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)was retrieved,and after intersection with migraine,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG),Reactome,and Uni Prot Keywords were used for functional enrichment.After selecting the main pathway,rats were selected and nitroglycerin was used for modeling,and the behavioral scores,inflammatory factors,heme oxygenase 1(HMOX1),protein kinase B(AKT1),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(P-ERK1/ERK2)and other states of the rats in the acupuncture,twisting,and electroacupuncture groups were compared.RESULTS:A total of 135 Baihui(GV20)targets and 27 Fengchi(GB20)targets were collected.A total of 73 target information were obtained after the intersection of these targets in migraine.These 73 targets have three main pathways:hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1)signaling pathway,signaling by interleukins and inflammatory response.The main targets in the pathway were verified and found that interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)and HMOX1,AKT1,STAT3,P-ERK1/ERK2 can be regulated by Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20).CONCLUSION:Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)can regulate migraine by regulating inflammatory factors and HMOX1,AKT1,STAT3,P-ERK1/ERK2 and other changes in HIF-1 signaling pathway,Signaling by Interleukins and Inflammatory response pathways.Based on systems biology and network pharmacology,and with the model of"acupoint-target-disease",explore the research methods of systematic acupuncture and moxibustion.We believe this is a usable research direction for exploring the mechanism of acupuncture stimulation.展开更多
Objective:In this study,we evaluated the methodological quality of systematic reviews on acupuncture and moxibustion for the prevention and management of cancer-related conditions,aiming to provide evidence-based supp...Objective:In this study,we evaluated the methodological quality of systematic reviews on acupuncture and moxibustion for the prevention and management of cancer-related conditions,aiming to provide evidence-based support and establish levels of evidence for clinical application.Method:A comprehensive search was conducted to identify systematic reviews on acupuncture and mox-ibustion for the prevention and management of cancer-related conditions,covering databases including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese Biomedical Databases,China Science and Technology Journal Database,and Wanfang Data,from their in-ception to August 1,2024.The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was assessed by using AMSTAR 2,and bubble plots were employed to visualize the evidence.Results:Overall,137 systematic reviews were included,with China being the most prolific country,with 117 reviews.These reviews addressed 21 cancer-related conditions,with the three most frequently stud-ied being cancer-related fatigue(25 reviews),nausea and vomiting(20 reviews),and cancer pain(19 re-views).The three most commonly used acupuncture modalities were manual acupuncture(81 reviews),electroacupuncture(55 reviews),and moxibustion(39 reviews).Quality assessment revealed that one systematic review was rated as“high quality,”eight as“low quality,”and 128 as“critically low quality,”primarily due to the absence of protocol registration and lists of excluded studies.Conclusion:Acupuncture and moxibustion have shown potential efficacy in alleviating cancer-related con-ditions and treatment-related adverse effects,and their clinical use has been widely reported.However,the overall methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was low,limiting the reliability and the strength of the evidence.Future high-quality studies are needed to improve the quality of evidence and support the standardized application and broader promotion of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice.展开更多
Background:Acupuncture has shown potential therapeutic benefits for individuals with simple obesity.However,some researchers argue that some of the effectiveness of acupuncture may be due to the placebo response.Objec...Background:Acupuncture has shown potential therapeutic benefits for individuals with simple obesity.However,some researchers argue that some of the effectiveness of acupuncture may be due to the placebo response.Objective:To understand the placebo response of acupuncture treatment in simple obesity,a systematic review and meta-analysis was designed based on the comparison between sham acupuncture before and after treatment.Search strategy:Eight databases(Pub Med,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Embase,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Database,China Biology Medicine Database,and Chinese Scientific Journals Database)were searched from inception to August 1,2023.The Me SH search terms comprised obesity and acupuncture.Inclusion criteria:Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)using sham or placebo acupuncture as a control in treating obesity were enrolled.Data extraction and analysis:Two researchers independently extracted data,and the results were crosschecked after completion.Each RCT’s detailed sham/placebo acupuncture treatment protocol was assessed according to the SHam Acupuncture REporting guidelines.The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)system were used to determine the risk of bias and quality of evidence,respectively.Body mass index(BMI)was defined as the primary outcome.Anthropometric parameters and laboratory test parameters related to obesity were defined as secondary outcomes.We used standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI)to calculate treatment effects of outcomes.Results:Fifteen RCTs with a total of 1250 patients were included.The BMI significantly decreased after treatment in the sham acupuncture group compared to baseline(SMD 0.37,95%CI 0.09–0.66;I2=81%,random model;P<0.01).Treatment duration(P=0.02)and other interventions significantly impacted the placebo response rate(P=0.00).Conclusion:The placebo response of sham acupuncture was strong in the RCTs for simple obesity,and the effect sizes differed between various outcomes.The treatment duration and other interventions emerged as potential influencing factors for the placebo response of sham acupuncture.展开更多
Stroke,which is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide and the third leading cause of death and disability combined,[1]necessitates cost-effective rehabilitation interventions.Acupuncture is a traditional Chi...Stroke,which is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide and the third leading cause of death and disability combined,[1]necessitates cost-effective rehabilitation interventions.Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that is increasingly recognized as a complementary stroke therapy.展开更多
Background:Acupuncture is widely used in modulating brain excitability and motor function,as a form of complementary and alternative medicine.However,there is no existing meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and...Background:Acupuncture is widely used in modulating brain excitability and motor function,as a form of complementary and alternative medicine.However,there is no existing meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on corticospinal excitability(CSE),and the credibility of the evidence has yet to be quantified.Objective:This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture(EA)and manual acupuncture(MA)in enhancing brain excitability,specifically focusing on CSE as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS).Search strategy:This study followed a systematic approach,searching 9 databases up to August 2024 and examining grey literature,in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Inclusion criteria:Studies were included if they compared the clinical efficacy of EA or MA with sham acupuncture,no treatment or usual training.Data extraction and analysis:Three investigators independently conducted literature screening,data extraction,and risk of bias assessment.The primary outcome focused on motor-evoked potentials as measured by TMS,with treatment effects quantified using mean differences or standardized mean differences between pre-and post-treatment.Subgroup analyses were conducted using mixed-effects models,while random-effects or fixed-effects models were used to estimate average treatment differences across studies.Results:Based on 34 studies involving 1031 adults,acupuncture techniques significantly enhanced CSE.EA had a greater impact than MA,with effect sizes of 0.53 mV vs 0.43 mV(95%confidence interval[CI]:[0.30,0.76],P<0.00001 vs 95%CI:[0.28,0.59],P<0.00001).The 5 most frequently used acupoints were LI4(Hegu,32 times),ST36(Zusanli,10 times),LI11(Quchi,7 times),TE5(Waiguan,6 times),and GB34(Yanglingquan,5 times).Conclusion:This systematic review indicates that both EA and MA could effectively and safely enhance CSE,bringing the corticospinal pathway closer to the threshold for firing,which may ultimately improve motor function.LI4,ST36,LI11,TE5 and GB34 are the most commonly used acupoints.展开更多
Background Temporomandibular disorders(TMD)are the leading cause of chronic orofacial pain,which significantly affects patients’quality of life.However,the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of TMD remains unc...Background Temporomandibular disorders(TMD)are the leading cause of chronic orofacial pain,which significantly affects patients’quality of life.However,the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of TMD remains unclear.Objective This systematic review aimed to conduct a PRISMA-compliant review to critically assess the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture as an intervention for patients with TMD.Methods We searched nine electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for TMD published up to February 4,2025.Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with TMD and compared acupuncture(manual,electroacupuncture,warm,auricular,thread-embedding,or laser)with conservative treatment(positive control)or sham acupuncture(negative control).Outcomes included pain intensity,mouth opening,pressure pain threshold,and adverse events.Risk of bias was assessed using ROB 2,and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE.All outcome data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software.Low heterogeneity was defined as I^(2)≤50% and P≥0.1,in which case a fixed-effects model was applied.High heterogeneity(I^(2)>50% or P<0.1)prompted further analysis to identify its source.After excluding the influence of evident heterogeneity,a random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis.Results Of the 2664 screened records,14 randomized controlled trials involving 476 participants met the inclusion criteria.Acupuncture significantly reduced pain intensity compared with that of negative controls(MD=-1.75,95%confidence interval[CI]-2.47 to-1.03;P<0.00001;I^(2)=60%)but showed no difference compared with that of positive controls(MD=-0.06,95%CI-0.62 to 0.50;P=0.83;I^(2)=0%).No significant differences were observed in pain-free jaw opening,whereas acupuncture improved maximum mouth opening relative to negative controls(MD=1.80,95%CI 1.62 to 1.97;P<0.00001;I^(2)=0%).For pressure pain threshold,two small studies suggested greater increases with acupuncture.Safety data were limited,with only one trial reporting mild adverse events in the acupuncture group.Conclusion Based on limited evidence,acupuncture appears superior to negative controls in relieving pain associated with TMD but shows no significant advantage over positive controls.The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes,as assessed by GRADE,was low or very low.Therefore,these findings should be interpreted with caution.Future high-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to further evaluate the role of acupuncture in the management of patients with TMD.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To reevaluate systematic reviews and Meta-analysis(SR/MAs)on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating arrhythmias.METHODS:SR/MAs of acupuncture treatment for arrhythmias were retrieved from four En...OBJECTIVE:To reevaluate systematic reviews and Meta-analysis(SR/MAs)on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating arrhythmias.METHODS:SR/MAs of acupuncture treatment for arrhythmias were retrieved from four English databases(Pub Med,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library)and four Chinese databases(China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,China Science and Technology Journal Database,Wanfang Data and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database)up to December 2023.Data were extracted according to predefined criteria.The methodological quality of included SR/MAs was assessed using the A Measurement Tool to assess systematic Reviews 2,the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development,and Evaluation were used to assess the reporting quality and evidence quality of the included SR/MAs.RESULTS:A total of 10 SR/MAs were included,involving 8 types of arrhythmias(atrial fibrillation,atrial flutter,paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia,atrial premature beat,ventricular premature beat,sinus tachycardia,sinus bradycardia,and sick sinus syndrome)and 10 outcome indicators.The evaluation of efficacy and safety showed that acupuncture can effectively improve the average heart rate and clinical efficacy of patients with various types of arrhythmias,reduce the number of premature beats in patients with premature beats based on 24-h dynamic electrocardiography,increase the rate of sinus rhythm conversion in patients with atrial fibrillation,shorten the time to convert to sinus rhythm,etc.,without serious adverse reactions.The results of methodological quality,reporting quality,and evidence quality of the included SR/MAs showed that the methodological quality evaluation was very low;reporting quality evaluation included 5 items rated as“somewhat deficient”and 5 items rated as“relatively complete”;evidence quality evaluation included 0 items rated as high,4 items rated as medium,13 items rated as low,and 17 items rated as very low.CONCLUSION:Acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment for arrhythmias is clinically effective.However,due to the low quality of existing evidence,further improvement in the quality of original research design and SR/MAs is needed to provide strong scientific evidence and clear conclusions.展开更多
Background:The use of inserted sham acupuncture as a placebo in randomized controlled trials(RCTs)is controversial,because it may produce specific effects that cause an underestimation of the effect of acupuncture tre...Background:The use of inserted sham acupuncture as a placebo in randomized controlled trials(RCTs)is controversial,because it may produce specific effects that cause an underestimation of the effect of acupuncture treatment.Objective:This systematic survey investigates the magnitude of insert-specific effects of sham acupuncture and whether they affect the estimation of acupuncture treatment effects.Search strategy:PubMed,Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify acupuncture RCTs from their inception until December 2022.Inclusion criteria:RCTs that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture and no treatment.Data extraction and analysis:The total effect measured for an acupuncture treatment group in RCTs were divided into three components,including the natural history and/or regression to the mean effect(controlled for no-treatment group),the placebo effect,and the specific effect of acupuncture.The first two constituted the contextual effect of acupuncture,which is mimicked by a sham acupuncture treatment group.The proportion of acupuncture total effect size was considered to be 1.The proportion of natural history and/or regression to the mean effect(PNE)and proportional contextual effect(PCE)of included RCTs were pooled using meta-analyses with a random-effect model.The proportion of acupuncture placebo effect was the difference between PCE and PNE in RCTs with non-inserted sham acupuncture.The proportion of insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture(PIES)was obtained by subtracting the proportion of acupuncture placebo effect and PNE from PCE in RCTs with inserted sham acupuncture.The impact of PIES on the estimation of acupuncture's treatment effect was evaluated by quantifying the percentage of RCTs that the effect of outcome changed from no statistical difference to statistical difference after removing PIES in the included studies,and the impact of PIES was externally validated in other acupuncture RCTs with an inserted sham acupuncture group that were not used to calculate PIES.Results:This analysis included 32 studies with 5492 patients.The overall PNE was 0.335(95%confidence interval[CI],0.255-0.415)and the PCE of acupuncture was 0.639(95%CI,0.567-0.710)of acupuncture's total effect.The proportional contribution of the placebo effect to acupuncture's total effect was 0.191,and the PIES was 0.189.When we modeled the exclusion of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture,the acupuncture treatment effect changed from no difference to a significant difference in 45.45%of the included RCTs,and in 40.91%of the external validated RCTs.Conclusion:The insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture in RCTs represents 18.90%of acupuncture's total effect and significantly affects the evaluation of the acupuncture treatment effect.More than 40%of RCTs that used inserted sham acupuncture would draw different conclusions if the PIES had been controlled for.Considering the impact of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture,caution should be taken when using inserted sham acupuncture placebos in RCTs.展开更多
Background:Acupuncture therapy provides a complementary and alternative approach to treating major depressive disorder(MDD),but its efficacy and safety have still not been comprehensively assessed.Recently published s...Background:Acupuncture therapy provides a complementary and alternative approach to treating major depressive disorder(MDD),but its efficacy and safety have still not been comprehensively assessed.Recently published systematic reviews remain confusing and inconclusive.Objective:This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy alone or combined with antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD.Search strategy:Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Wanfang Database,Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database,Pub Med,Embase,and Cochrane Library were searched from their inceptions to March 2025.Inclusion criteria:Randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture therapy with antidepressants,or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants with acupuncture therapy or antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD were included.Data extraction and analysis:Five reviewers independently extracted data from original literature using a standardized form,and the data were verified by two reviewers to ensure accuracy.Statistical meta-analyses,publication bias analyses,and subgroup analyses were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software.The Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence.Results:A total of 60 eligible studies including 4675 participants were included.Low-certainty evidence showed that compared with antidepressants,acupuncture therapy(standardized mean difference[SMD]=-0.57;95%confidence interval[CI]=[-0.87,-0.27];I^(2)=86%;P=0.006)or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants(SMD=-1.00;95%CI=[-1.18,-0.81];I^(2)=77%;P<0.00001)may reduce the severity of depression at the end of treatment.Low-certainty evidence indicated that compared with acupuncture therapy alone,acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants slightly reduced the severity of depression at the end of treatment(SMD=-0.38;95%CI=[-0.61,-0.14];I^(2)=18%;P=0.002).Similar results were also found for acupuncture's relief of insomnia.The reported adverse effects of acupuncture therapy were mild and transient.For most of the subgroup analyses,acupuncture type,scale type,and the course of treatment did not show a significant relative effect.Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy may provide antidepressant effects and relieve insomnia with mild adverse effects for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD.But the certainty of evidence was very low.More high-quality,well designed,large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed in the future.展开更多
Objective:Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cause of mortality in women and the predominant malignancy type.However,breast cancer treatment faces challenges in managing aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia....Objective:Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cause of mortality in women and the predominant malignancy type.However,breast cancer treatment faces challenges in managing aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia.Aromatase inhibitors have been shown to decrease recurrence risk in hormone receptor-positive cases;however,joint discomfort remains the primary adverse effect.Randomized clinical trials have evaluated the therapeutic outcomes of acupuncture for medication-related musculoskeletal complications.This comprehensive analysis sought to elucidate both the therapeutic efficacy and placebo responses associated with acupuncture intervention.Methods:Two reviewers searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)in four English(PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library)and four Chinese databases(CNKI,Wanfang Database,VIP,and SinoMed)from their inception to May 31,2024.Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Data were synthesized using random effects models and presented with forest plots.Results:Seven trials involving 604 patients were included.The primary outcome and Brief Pain Inventory(BPI)score differed between the acupuncture and control groups(sham acupuncture or usual medication)in three subscales over the course of 6 weeks:worst pain:standardized mean difference(SMD)=-1.18,95%confidence interval(CI):-1.74,-0.63,P<0.001;painrelated interference:SMD=-0.87,95%CI:-1.70,-0.05,P=0.038;pain severity:SMD=-0.63,95%CI:-1.22,-0.04,P=0.036.No severe adverse events were reported in any study.Conclusions:This meta-analysis showed that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for patients with breast cancer with aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia during the course of 6 weeks.Improvements in the blinding method and clarification of the total treatment recommendations and intervals need to be explored further.展开更多
Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN)is a common neurotoxic reaction for patients undergoing anticancer regimens.More and more studies show that acupuncture-moxibustion plays a positive role in t...Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN)is a common neurotoxic reaction for patients undergoing anticancer regimens.More and more studies show that acupuncture-moxibustion plays a positive role in the management and prevention of CIPN.Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture-moxibustion in patients with CIPN,with a focus on assessing its effectiveness on improving treatment response rates,alleviating pain,enhancing quality of life(QoL),and improving nerve conduction.Additionally,the study compares the differences in clinical effectiveness among various acupuncture therapies for CIPN management.Methods Six databases(PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,OVID,and China National knowledge infrastructure[CNKI])were searched from earliest available dates to December 1,2024,and only randomized controlled trials(RCTs)containing relevant search terms were included.Network meta-analysis of the RCT data were conducted to assess the effective rate of the treatment as the primary outcome.Nerve conduction,pain scores,and QoL were assessed as secondary outcomes.The version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials(RoB 2)was used to examine methodological quality,and Stata 15.1 was used to take network meta-analysis.Results A total of 34 RCTs involving 2039 participants and 9 acupuncture-moxibustion therapies were included.The network meta-analysis evaluated the effect of different acupuncture therapies across four outcomes:effective rate,pain scores,QoL,and nerve conduction.For effective rate,electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion ranked first with a surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA)value of 62.9%,followed by acupoint application(56.9%)and moxibustion(52.3%).Electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion had the highest effective rate compared to standard of care treatments(odds ratio[OR]=1.62,95%confidence interval[CI]−5.18 to 8.43).For alleviating pain,auricular acupressure had the highest SUCRA value(85.9%),while electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture combined with three-edged needle ranked second(63.4%)and third(51.0%),respectively.Auricular acupressure significantly reduced pain(SMD=−1.73,95%CI−3.54 to 0.08).For QoL,warming needle ranked first(SUCRA=92.0%),followed by electroacupuncture(48.7%)and filiform needle(43.0%).Warming needle significantly improved QoL scores(SMD=−0.75,95%CI−1.66 to 0.15).For nerve conduction,electroacupuncture combined with three-edged needle had the highest SUCRA value(100%),while moxibustion and filiform needle ranked second(65.3%)and third(39.2%),respectively.Electroacupuncture combined with three-edged had the best neuroprotective effect(SMD=1.85,95%CI 1.23 to 2.47).Conclusion Network meta-analysis based on the primary outcome(effective rate)suggests that electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion seems to be the optimal acupuncture therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN).Secondary outcomes exhibited considerable heterogeneity:auricular acupressure demonstrated superior efficacy in pain relief,electroacupuncture combined with three-edged needle showed greater advantages in improving nerve conduction function,while warm needling was associated with more significant improvements in QoL.Given the variability in interventions across different outcome measures and the methodological limitations of included studies,the current evidence requires cautious interpretation.Systematic review registration:Registration number in PROSPERO:CRD42024560017.展开更多
Aconitines are a group of highly bioactive and toxic compounds found in aconitum species.[1]It is clinically used to treat rheumatism,rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis,and cancer.[2]In folk medicine,aconitine is oft...Aconitines are a group of highly bioactive and toxic compounds found in aconitum species.[1]It is clinically used to treat rheumatism,rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis,and cancer.[2]In folk medicine,aconitine is often soaked in white wine to make medicinal wine,which is used to treat rheumatism,joint pain,and other diseases.[3]Improper use of aconitine can cause adverse effects in the nervous system and digestive system,as well as cardiovascular dysfunction,especially arrhythmia.[4]Because of its high toxicity when it is improperly handled,aconitine has attracted widespread attention.展开更多
Objective:Based on the theory of“Taiyang governs tendons”,to explore the effect of acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang on the expression of serum inflammatory factors in rabbit models of ce...Objective:Based on the theory of“Taiyang governs tendons”,to explore the effect of acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang on the expression of serum inflammatory factors in rabbit models of cervical spondylosis.Methods:Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,and a treatment group,with 10 rabbits in each group.The models of cervical spondylosis in the model group and treatment group were established by long-term head-down flexion combined with cold-damp stimulation.After modeling,the treatment group received acupuncture at three points(Kunlun,Weizhong,and Feishu)on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang,once a day for 20 minutes each time,for 14 consecutive days;the model group and blank group received no therapeutic intervention.After the intervention,cardiac blood was collected from all rabbits to detect the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β.Meanwhile,cervical muscle tissue was collected,stained with HE,and the morphological changes of the posterior cervical muscle tissue in each group were observed under an optical microscope.Results:After modeling,the levels of inflammatory factors in the serum of rabbits in the model group and treatment group were significantly increased compared with those before modeling,with a statistically significant difference(p<0.01).After intervention,the serum inflammatory factors in the treatment group decreased significantly compared with those in the model group,and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.01).Conclusion:Acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang in rabbit models of cervical spondylosis can reduce the serum levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6.展开更多
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture compared to western medicine systematically. Methods Databases were retrieved such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Si...Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture compared to western medicine systematically. Methods Databases were retrieved such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Sicence, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data so as to look up randomized controlled trials （RCT） of treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture and western medicine, and the time limit for the retrieval spanned from the date of database established to September 2013. By extracting data and evaluating methodological quality of included studies according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, RevMan 5.2 software was applied for Meta-analysis and evidence quality was assessed by adopting the GRADE system. Results Atotal of 23 RCTs （845 patients with post-stroke depression） were included in this study. It was revealed by Meta-analysis that the differences of the two groups were statistically significant in terms of HAMD scale scores measured at the end of the treatment by comparing the treatment of acupuncture and western medicine [SMD=0.26, 95% CI （0.11, 0.40）], but via susceptibility analysis （excluding low quality studies）, the differences were not statistically significant [SMD=-0.06, 95% CI （-0.37, 0.25）], and the reliability of the results was low; in terms of adverse events, the differences were statistically significant [RR= 0.32, 95% Cl （0.19, 0.53）], and the risk of adverse events reduced by 68% in the acupuncture group. From the assessment on evidence quality grade based on GRADE system, it was revealed that HAMD scores and adverse events were evidences with fairly low quality. Conclusion Although this system assessment showed that treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture was more effective compared with western medicine, the result was less reliable and quality of evidences was poor. The above-mentioned results need more high- quality randomized controlled trials for further verification.展开更多
Acupuncture has reportedly improved memory and cognitive impairment in both animal and clinical studies. It may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to revi...Acupuncture has reportedly improved memory and cognitive impairment in both animal and clinical studies. It may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to review the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of AD. Eight databases were searched for articles published up to and including July 2017, and 13 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. The main outcomes assessed were clinical efficacy rate, Mini-Mental State Examination score, Ability of Daily Living Scale score, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition score, Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS) score, and adverse events. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias. All the studies compared the efficacy of acupuncture with that of medication, and were published in Chinese journals. Meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture yielded positive results as determined via all the indexes scored except the HDS (95% CI -0.26 to 0.90, Z=0.35, P=0.73). Only one of the studies reported adverse events associated with acupuncture and medication. The rate of adverse events in the medication group was 13%. In most of the studies assessed in the current metaanalysis, acupuncture alone was better than conventional western medicines for the treatment of AD.展开更多
Background:Acupuncture therapy has shown promise for effectively relieving preoperative anxiety.Nevertheless,previous findings from randomized controlled trials(RCTs)are inconsistent and must be examined in detail.Obj...Background:Acupuncture therapy has shown promise for effectively relieving preoperative anxiety.Nevertheless,previous findings from randomized controlled trials(RCTs)are inconsistent and must be examined in detail.Objective:This study systematically evaluates the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for preoperative anxiety as well as the quality of evidence supporting this application.Search strategy:The China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Wanfang Data Journal Database,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,Chongqing VIP,Embase,Pub Med and Cochrane Library Databases were queried from their inception to 19,February 2020,using keywords such as“acupuncture therapy,”“preoperative”and“anxioty.”Manual searches expanded the search breadth and included conference abstracts and other reference lists.Inclusion criteria:RCTs were included in the current study if they contained a comparison between a group of anxiety patients that received acupuncture therapy and a control group that received sham acupuncture.Data extraction and analysis:Literature was reviewed,and various articles were selected using the Note Express 3.2.0 software.Two researchers independently screened and extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies.The Rev Man 5.3 software was used for data aggregation and the Grades of Recommendation,Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)assessment was used to evaluate the quality of the study outcomes.Results:Twelve studies were included in the review,containing a total of 916 patients.Meta-analysis showed that,compared with the control group,patients who received acupuncture therapy had reduced State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale(STAI-S)score(mean difference[MD]=–9.07,95%confidence interval[CI][–13.19 to–4.96],P<0.0001)and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score(MD=–1.37,95%CI[–2.29 to–0.45],P=0.003).However,for the Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)score,there was no difference between the two groups(MD=–3.98,95%CI[–12.89 to 4.92],P=0.38).Further,the GRADE assessment demonstrated that the STAI-S was of moderate quality,the VAS of low quality and the HAMA of very low quality.Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy may be able to decrease anxiety in preoperative patients,but the results need to be further verified due to the small sample sizes and the low quality of evidence to date.展开更多
BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia(FD)is a common digestive disease with limited therapeutic options.According to evidence-based clinical practice,acupuncture or electroacupuncture(EA)seems to be a promising therapy for ...BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia(FD)is a common digestive disease with limited therapeutic options.According to evidence-based clinical practice,acupuncture or electroacupuncture(EA)seems to be a promising therapy for patients with FD.However,there is still a lack of systematic reviews that have analyzed current clinical trials for a better understanding of mechanisms involved in the ameliorating effect of acupuncture and EA on FD.AIM To evaluate the results and qualities of existing clinical evidence for researching the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture/EA in treating FD.METHODS A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify randomized controlled trials in which research on the mechanism of acupuncture or EA was conducted in FD patients.Databases searched included PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science.Data extraction and quality assessment were completed by two investigators independently and the results of quality evaluation were exported through Review Manager V5.3.RESULTS Eight studies were included in this review with a total of 17 items for detecting techniques for mechanistic research.Positive effects of acupuncture and EA were observed in regulating gastric motility,gastric accommodation,mental status,gastrointestinal hormones,and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life.CONCLUSION The key findings of this systematic review support the potential of acupuncture and EA in altering the heterogeneous pathophysiology in patients with FD.However,high-quality studies with well-planned designs are necessary to provide more credible evidence.展开更多
The purpose of this work was to assess the evidence for effectiveness of acupuncture （AC） treatment in gastrointestinal diseases. A systematic review of the Medline-cited literature for clinical trials was performed...The purpose of this work was to assess the evidence for effectiveness of acupuncture （AC） treatment in gastrointestinal diseases. A systematic review of the Medline-cited literature for clinical trials was performed up to May 2006. Controlled trials assessing acupuncture point stimulation for patients with gastrointestinal diseases were considered for inclusion. The search identified 18 relevant trials meeting the inclusion criteria. Two irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） trials, 1 Crohn＇s disease and 1 colitis ulcerosa trial had a robust random controlled trial （RCT） design. In regard to other gastrointestinal disorders, study quality was poor. In all trials, quality of life （QoL） improved significantly independently from the kind of acupuncture, real or sham. Real AC was significantly superior to sham acupuncture with regard to disease activity scores in the Crohn and Colitis trials. Efficacy of acupuncture related to QoL in IBS may be explained by unspecific effects. This is the same for QoL in inflammatory bowel diseases （IBD）, whereas specific acupuncture effects may be found in clinical scores. Further trials for IBDs and in particular for all other gastrointestinal disorders would be necessary to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment. However, it must be discussed on what terms patients benefit when this harmless and obviously powerful therapy with regard to QoL is demystified by further placebo controlled trials.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined acupuncture and eugenol on learning-memory ability and the antioxidation system of the hippocampus in Alzheimer disease (AD) rats. METHODS: Sixty Sprague Dawley rats, ...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined acupuncture and eugenol on learning-memory ability and the antioxidation system of the hippocampus in Alzheimer disease (AD) rats. METHODS: Sixty Sprague Dawley rats, weighing (300±10) g, were randomly divided with 10 rats per group into a normal control group, AD model group, AD with cut olfactory nerve group, Xiu three-needle group, eugenol group, and combined acupuncture and eugenol group. The AD model was established by injection of amyloid β1-40 (Aβ 1-40). Morris maze tests were conducted for evaluating the learning-memory ability. Content of malo- ndialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the hippocampus were detected. RESULTS: The average escape latency and the mean swimming distance in the normal control group, the Xiu three-needle group, the eugenol group, and the combined acupuncture and euge-nol group were significantly shorter than those in the AD model group (all P<0.01). The combined acupuncture and eugenol group had shorter escape latency and mean swimming distance than those in the Xiu three-needle group and the eugenol group. There were no significant differences between the Xiu three-needle group and the eugenol group and between the AD group and the AD with cut olfactory nerve group (P>0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the MDA content in the hippocampus significantly increased (P<0.05) and GSH-Px and SOD activities significantly decreased in the AD model group (P<0.01). Compared with the AD model group, significantly decreased (P< 0.01) and SOD and GSH-Px activities significantly increased in the Xiu three-needle group, eugenol group, and combined acupuncture and eugenol group (P<0.05). Compared with the Xiu three-needle group and eugenol group, the MDA content significantly decreased (P<0.05) and SOD and GSH-Px activities increased (P<0.05) in the combined acupuncture and eugenol group. There were no significant differences among the three indices between the Xiu three-needle group and the eugenol group and between the AD model group and the AD with cut olfactory nerve group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Both Xiu three-needle and eugenol can increase learning-memory ability, decrease MDA content, and increase SOD and GSH-Px activities in the hippocampus in AD rats. The combination of acupuncture with eugenol has stronger effects, and the effects depend on the olfactory pathway.展开更多
基金Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Project of National Key R&D Program of China:The construction of the theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine nonpharmacological therapy based on body surface stimulation(2023YFC3502704)Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Program Project:Research and Development of Chinese Medicine Intelligent Tongue Diagnosis Equipment for Digestive System Chinese Medicine Advantageous Diseases(2023YFS0327)+2 种基金Research and Development of Chinese Medicine Intelligent Detection System for Intestinal Functions(2024YFFK0044)Research and Application of Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Herpes Zoster Treated by Shu Pai Fire Acupuncture(2024YFFK0089)Major Research and Development Project of The China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Innovation:Construction and application of the theoretical research mode of Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment of modern diseases(CI2021A00104)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To propose an automatic acupuncture robot system for performing acupuncture operations.METHODS:The acupuncture robot system consists of three components:automatic acupoint localization,acupuncture manipulations,and De Qi sensation detection.The OptiTrack motion capture system is used to locate acupoints,which are then translated into coordinates in the robot control system.A flexible collaborative robot with an intelligent gripper is then used to perform acupuncture manipulations with high precision.In addition,a De Qi sensation detection system is proposed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture.To verify the stability of the designed acupuncture robot,acupoints'coordinates localized by the acupuncture robot are compared with the Gold Standard labeled by a professional acupuncturist using significant level tests.RESULTS:Through repeated experiments for eight acupoints,the acupuncture robot achieved a positioning error within 3.3 mm,which is within the allowable range of needle extraction and acupoint insertion.During needle insertion,the robot arm followed the prescribed trajectory with a mean deviation distance of 0.02 mm and a deviation angle of less than 0.15°.The results of the lifting thrusting operation in the Xingzhen process show that the mean acupuncture depth error of the designed acupuncture robot is approximately 2 mm,which is within the recommended depth range for the Xingzhen operation.In addition,the average detection accuracy of the De Qi keywords is 94.52%,which meets the requirements of acupuncture effect testing for different dialects.CONCLUSION:The proposed acupuncture robot system streamlines the acupuncture process,increases efficiency,and reduces practitioner fatigue,while also allowing for the quantification of acupuncture manipulations and evaluation of therapeutic effects.The development of an acupuncture robot system has the potential to revolutionize low back pain treatment and improve patient outcomes.
基金the Study on the Mechanism of Action of Dutong and Tiaoshen Acupuncture in Improving Upper Limb Motor Function After Ischemic Stroke based on Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Technology(Science and Technology Program of Panyu,2022-Z04-107)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To take Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)targeting inflammatory response to regulate migraine as an example to describe a new method for studying the mechanism of stimulating acupoints.METHODS:The target information of Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)was retrieved,and after intersection with migraine,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG),Reactome,and Uni Prot Keywords were used for functional enrichment.After selecting the main pathway,rats were selected and nitroglycerin was used for modeling,and the behavioral scores,inflammatory factors,heme oxygenase 1(HMOX1),protein kinase B(AKT1),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(P-ERK1/ERK2)and other states of the rats in the acupuncture,twisting,and electroacupuncture groups were compared.RESULTS:A total of 135 Baihui(GV20)targets and 27 Fengchi(GB20)targets were collected.A total of 73 target information were obtained after the intersection of these targets in migraine.These 73 targets have three main pathways:hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1)signaling pathway,signaling by interleukins and inflammatory response.The main targets in the pathway were verified and found that interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)and HMOX1,AKT1,STAT3,P-ERK1/ERK2 can be regulated by Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20).CONCLUSION:Baihui(GV20)and Fengchi(GB20)can regulate migraine by regulating inflammatory factors and HMOX1,AKT1,STAT3,P-ERK1/ERK2 and other changes in HIF-1 signaling pathway,Signaling by Interleukins and Inflammatory response pathways.Based on systems biology and network pharmacology,and with the model of"acupoint-target-disease",explore the research methods of systematic acupuncture and moxibustion.We believe this is a usable research direction for exploring the mechanism of acupuncture stimulation.
基金Supported by WFAS 2023 International Standard Project of Acupuncture-Moxibustion:WFASRP2023-SC05Tianjin Nankai District Pilot Demonstration Project for Integrated Inheritance and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine:20250102001Beijing Natural Science:7252224。
文摘Objective:In this study,we evaluated the methodological quality of systematic reviews on acupuncture and moxibustion for the prevention and management of cancer-related conditions,aiming to provide evidence-based support and establish levels of evidence for clinical application.Method:A comprehensive search was conducted to identify systematic reviews on acupuncture and mox-ibustion for the prevention and management of cancer-related conditions,covering databases including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese Biomedical Databases,China Science and Technology Journal Database,and Wanfang Data,from their in-ception to August 1,2024.The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was assessed by using AMSTAR 2,and bubble plots were employed to visualize the evidence.Results:Overall,137 systematic reviews were included,with China being the most prolific country,with 117 reviews.These reviews addressed 21 cancer-related conditions,with the three most frequently stud-ied being cancer-related fatigue(25 reviews),nausea and vomiting(20 reviews),and cancer pain(19 re-views).The three most commonly used acupuncture modalities were manual acupuncture(81 reviews),electroacupuncture(55 reviews),and moxibustion(39 reviews).Quality assessment revealed that one systematic review was rated as“high quality,”eight as“low quality,”and 128 as“critically low quality,”primarily due to the absence of protocol registration and lists of excluded studies.Conclusion:Acupuncture and moxibustion have shown potential efficacy in alleviating cancer-related con-ditions and treatment-related adverse effects,and their clinical use has been widely reported.However,the overall methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was low,limiting the reliability and the strength of the evidence.Future high-quality studies are needed to improve the quality of evidence and support the standardized application and broader promotion of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82405192)the Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research(CFH 2022-2-20213,CFH 2022-1-2021)+1 种基金the project of"Friendship Seed Plan"Talent Project of Beijing Friendship Hospital,Capital Medical University(YYZZ202333)Beijing key project of major disease by Chinese medicine and Western medicine(Fatty liver,No.2023BJSZDYNJBXTGG-017)。
文摘Background:Acupuncture has shown potential therapeutic benefits for individuals with simple obesity.However,some researchers argue that some of the effectiveness of acupuncture may be due to the placebo response.Objective:To understand the placebo response of acupuncture treatment in simple obesity,a systematic review and meta-analysis was designed based on the comparison between sham acupuncture before and after treatment.Search strategy:Eight databases(Pub Med,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Embase,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Database,China Biology Medicine Database,and Chinese Scientific Journals Database)were searched from inception to August 1,2023.The Me SH search terms comprised obesity and acupuncture.Inclusion criteria:Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)using sham or placebo acupuncture as a control in treating obesity were enrolled.Data extraction and analysis:Two researchers independently extracted data,and the results were crosschecked after completion.Each RCT’s detailed sham/placebo acupuncture treatment protocol was assessed according to the SHam Acupuncture REporting guidelines.The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)system were used to determine the risk of bias and quality of evidence,respectively.Body mass index(BMI)was defined as the primary outcome.Anthropometric parameters and laboratory test parameters related to obesity were defined as secondary outcomes.We used standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI)to calculate treatment effects of outcomes.Results:Fifteen RCTs with a total of 1250 patients were included.The BMI significantly decreased after treatment in the sham acupuncture group compared to baseline(SMD 0.37,95%CI 0.09–0.66;I2=81%,random model;P<0.01).Treatment duration(P=0.02)and other interventions significantly impacted the placebo response rate(P=0.00).Conclusion:The placebo response of sham acupuncture was strong in the RCTs for simple obesity,and the effect sizes differed between various outcomes.The treatment duration and other interventions emerged as potential influencing factors for the placebo response of sham acupuncture.
基金supported by the social development project of the National Social Science Fund Project(No.17BTQ063)National Natural Science Foundation of China(72174094).
文摘Stroke,which is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide and the third leading cause of death and disability combined,[1]necessitates cost-effective rehabilitation interventions.Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that is increasingly recognized as a complementary stroke therapy.
文摘Background:Acupuncture is widely used in modulating brain excitability and motor function,as a form of complementary and alternative medicine.However,there is no existing meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on corticospinal excitability(CSE),and the credibility of the evidence has yet to be quantified.Objective:This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture(EA)and manual acupuncture(MA)in enhancing brain excitability,specifically focusing on CSE as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS).Search strategy:This study followed a systematic approach,searching 9 databases up to August 2024 and examining grey literature,in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Inclusion criteria:Studies were included if they compared the clinical efficacy of EA or MA with sham acupuncture,no treatment or usual training.Data extraction and analysis:Three investigators independently conducted literature screening,data extraction,and risk of bias assessment.The primary outcome focused on motor-evoked potentials as measured by TMS,with treatment effects quantified using mean differences or standardized mean differences between pre-and post-treatment.Subgroup analyses were conducted using mixed-effects models,while random-effects or fixed-effects models were used to estimate average treatment differences across studies.Results:Based on 34 studies involving 1031 adults,acupuncture techniques significantly enhanced CSE.EA had a greater impact than MA,with effect sizes of 0.53 mV vs 0.43 mV(95%confidence interval[CI]:[0.30,0.76],P<0.00001 vs 95%CI:[0.28,0.59],P<0.00001).The 5 most frequently used acupoints were LI4(Hegu,32 times),ST36(Zusanli,10 times),LI11(Quchi,7 times),TE5(Waiguan,6 times),and GB34(Yanglingquan,5 times).Conclusion:This systematic review indicates that both EA and MA could effectively and safely enhance CSE,bringing the corticospinal pathway closer to the threshold for firing,which may ultimately improve motor function.LI4,ST36,LI11,TE5 and GB34 are the most commonly used acupoints.
文摘Background Temporomandibular disorders(TMD)are the leading cause of chronic orofacial pain,which significantly affects patients’quality of life.However,the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of TMD remains unclear.Objective This systematic review aimed to conduct a PRISMA-compliant review to critically assess the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture as an intervention for patients with TMD.Methods We searched nine electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for TMD published up to February 4,2025.Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with TMD and compared acupuncture(manual,electroacupuncture,warm,auricular,thread-embedding,or laser)with conservative treatment(positive control)or sham acupuncture(negative control).Outcomes included pain intensity,mouth opening,pressure pain threshold,and adverse events.Risk of bias was assessed using ROB 2,and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE.All outcome data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software.Low heterogeneity was defined as I^(2)≤50% and P≥0.1,in which case a fixed-effects model was applied.High heterogeneity(I^(2)>50% or P<0.1)prompted further analysis to identify its source.After excluding the influence of evident heterogeneity,a random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis.Results Of the 2664 screened records,14 randomized controlled trials involving 476 participants met the inclusion criteria.Acupuncture significantly reduced pain intensity compared with that of negative controls(MD=-1.75,95%confidence interval[CI]-2.47 to-1.03;P<0.00001;I^(2)=60%)but showed no difference compared with that of positive controls(MD=-0.06,95%CI-0.62 to 0.50;P=0.83;I^(2)=0%).No significant differences were observed in pain-free jaw opening,whereas acupuncture improved maximum mouth opening relative to negative controls(MD=1.80,95%CI 1.62 to 1.97;P<0.00001;I^(2)=0%).For pressure pain threshold,two small studies suggested greater increases with acupuncture.Safety data were limited,with only one trial reporting mild adverse events in the acupuncture group.Conclusion Based on limited evidence,acupuncture appears superior to negative controls in relieving pain associated with TMD but shows no significant advantage over positive controls.The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes,as assessed by GRADE,was low or very low.Therefore,these findings should be interpreted with caution.Future high-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to further evaluate the role of acupuncture in the management of patients with TMD.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China:Mechanistic Study of the“Treating Different Diseases with the Same Therapy”of Yin-Nourishing,Wind-Extinguishing,and CollateralsConnecting Method in Regulating Calcium Ion Homeostasis for the Prevention and Treatment of Myocardial Infarction and Ventricular Arrhythmias(82405324)Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine First Affiliated Hospital“Tuoxin Project”Funded Research Topic:Mechanistic Study of the Core Medicinal Pair of Yin-Nourishing,Wind-Extinguishing,and Collaterals-Connecting Formula in Regulating Late Sodium Current to Inhibit Early Afterdepolarizations(2023003)+1 种基金Special Fund for Scientific and Technological Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine from the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine:National Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation Team Project-Inheritance and Innovation Team for Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases(ZYYCXTD-C-202203)Nankai District,Tianjin,Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation Development Demonstration Pilot Project:Survey of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Characteristics of Ventricular Premature Contractions and Exploration of the Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms of the Yin-Nourishing,Wind-Extinguishing,and Collaterals-Connecting Formula(NKQPT2024010)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To reevaluate systematic reviews and Meta-analysis(SR/MAs)on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating arrhythmias.METHODS:SR/MAs of acupuncture treatment for arrhythmias were retrieved from four English databases(Pub Med,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library)and four Chinese databases(China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,China Science and Technology Journal Database,Wanfang Data and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database)up to December 2023.Data were extracted according to predefined criteria.The methodological quality of included SR/MAs was assessed using the A Measurement Tool to assess systematic Reviews 2,the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development,and Evaluation were used to assess the reporting quality and evidence quality of the included SR/MAs.RESULTS:A total of 10 SR/MAs were included,involving 8 types of arrhythmias(atrial fibrillation,atrial flutter,paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia,atrial premature beat,ventricular premature beat,sinus tachycardia,sinus bradycardia,and sick sinus syndrome)and 10 outcome indicators.The evaluation of efficacy and safety showed that acupuncture can effectively improve the average heart rate and clinical efficacy of patients with various types of arrhythmias,reduce the number of premature beats in patients with premature beats based on 24-h dynamic electrocardiography,increase the rate of sinus rhythm conversion in patients with atrial fibrillation,shorten the time to convert to sinus rhythm,etc.,without serious adverse reactions.The results of methodological quality,reporting quality,and evidence quality of the included SR/MAs showed that the methodological quality evaluation was very low;reporting quality evaluation included 5 items rated as“somewhat deficient”and 5 items rated as“relatively complete”;evidence quality evaluation included 0 items rated as high,4 items rated as medium,13 items rated as low,and 17 items rated as very low.CONCLUSION:Acupuncture as an adjuvant treatment for arrhythmias is clinically effective.However,due to the low quality of existing evidence,further improvement in the quality of original research design and SR/MAs is needed to provide strong scientific evidence and clear conclusions.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFC3503300 and No.2023YFC3503304)National Natural Science Foundation of China for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.82225049)and Youths(No.82305045)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Welfare Research Institutes(No.2020YJSZX-3)。
文摘Background:The use of inserted sham acupuncture as a placebo in randomized controlled trials(RCTs)is controversial,because it may produce specific effects that cause an underestimation of the effect of acupuncture treatment.Objective:This systematic survey investigates the magnitude of insert-specific effects of sham acupuncture and whether they affect the estimation of acupuncture treatment effects.Search strategy:PubMed,Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify acupuncture RCTs from their inception until December 2022.Inclusion criteria:RCTs that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture and no treatment.Data extraction and analysis:The total effect measured for an acupuncture treatment group in RCTs were divided into three components,including the natural history and/or regression to the mean effect(controlled for no-treatment group),the placebo effect,and the specific effect of acupuncture.The first two constituted the contextual effect of acupuncture,which is mimicked by a sham acupuncture treatment group.The proportion of acupuncture total effect size was considered to be 1.The proportion of natural history and/or regression to the mean effect(PNE)and proportional contextual effect(PCE)of included RCTs were pooled using meta-analyses with a random-effect model.The proportion of acupuncture placebo effect was the difference between PCE and PNE in RCTs with non-inserted sham acupuncture.The proportion of insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture(PIES)was obtained by subtracting the proportion of acupuncture placebo effect and PNE from PCE in RCTs with inserted sham acupuncture.The impact of PIES on the estimation of acupuncture's treatment effect was evaluated by quantifying the percentage of RCTs that the effect of outcome changed from no statistical difference to statistical difference after removing PIES in the included studies,and the impact of PIES was externally validated in other acupuncture RCTs with an inserted sham acupuncture group that were not used to calculate PIES.Results:This analysis included 32 studies with 5492 patients.The overall PNE was 0.335(95%confidence interval[CI],0.255-0.415)and the PCE of acupuncture was 0.639(95%CI,0.567-0.710)of acupuncture's total effect.The proportional contribution of the placebo effect to acupuncture's total effect was 0.191,and the PIES was 0.189.When we modeled the exclusion of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture,the acupuncture treatment effect changed from no difference to a significant difference in 45.45%of the included RCTs,and in 40.91%of the external validated RCTs.Conclusion:The insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture in RCTs represents 18.90%of acupuncture's total effect and significantly affects the evaluation of the acupuncture treatment effect.More than 40%of RCTs that used inserted sham acupuncture would draw different conclusions if the PIES had been controlled for.Considering the impact of the insert-specific effect of sham acupuncture,caution should be taken when using inserted sham acupuncture placebos in RCTs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82474644)the National Key R&D Foundation of China(No.2017YFC1703600)+1 种基金the Shenzhen“Sanming Project”(No.202101007)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.JCYJ2022081810080300)。
文摘Background:Acupuncture therapy provides a complementary and alternative approach to treating major depressive disorder(MDD),but its efficacy and safety have still not been comprehensively assessed.Recently published systematic reviews remain confusing and inconclusive.Objective:This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy alone or combined with antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD.Search strategy:Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Wanfang Database,Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database,Pub Med,Embase,and Cochrane Library were searched from their inceptions to March 2025.Inclusion criteria:Randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture therapy with antidepressants,or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants with acupuncture therapy or antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD were included.Data extraction and analysis:Five reviewers independently extracted data from original literature using a standardized form,and the data were verified by two reviewers to ensure accuracy.Statistical meta-analyses,publication bias analyses,and subgroup analyses were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software.The Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development,and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence.Results:A total of 60 eligible studies including 4675 participants were included.Low-certainty evidence showed that compared with antidepressants,acupuncture therapy(standardized mean difference[SMD]=-0.57;95%confidence interval[CI]=[-0.87,-0.27];I^(2)=86%;P=0.006)or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants(SMD=-1.00;95%CI=[-1.18,-0.81];I^(2)=77%;P<0.00001)may reduce the severity of depression at the end of treatment.Low-certainty evidence indicated that compared with acupuncture therapy alone,acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants slightly reduced the severity of depression at the end of treatment(SMD=-0.38;95%CI=[-0.61,-0.14];I^(2)=18%;P=0.002).Similar results were also found for acupuncture's relief of insomnia.The reported adverse effects of acupuncture therapy were mild and transient.For most of the subgroup analyses,acupuncture type,scale type,and the course of treatment did not show a significant relative effect.Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy may provide antidepressant effects and relieve insomnia with mild adverse effects for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD.But the certainty of evidence was very low.More high-quality,well designed,large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed in the future.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFC1712200-2019YFC1712204)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82004467,82030125)the Youth Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine Projects of Tianjin Health Commission(No.2025027).
文摘Objective:Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cause of mortality in women and the predominant malignancy type.However,breast cancer treatment faces challenges in managing aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia.Aromatase inhibitors have been shown to decrease recurrence risk in hormone receptor-positive cases;however,joint discomfort remains the primary adverse effect.Randomized clinical trials have evaluated the therapeutic outcomes of acupuncture for medication-related musculoskeletal complications.This comprehensive analysis sought to elucidate both the therapeutic efficacy and placebo responses associated with acupuncture intervention.Methods:Two reviewers searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs)in four English(PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library)and four Chinese databases(CNKI,Wanfang Database,VIP,and SinoMed)from their inception to May 31,2024.Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Data were synthesized using random effects models and presented with forest plots.Results:Seven trials involving 604 patients were included.The primary outcome and Brief Pain Inventory(BPI)score differed between the acupuncture and control groups(sham acupuncture or usual medication)in three subscales over the course of 6 weeks:worst pain:standardized mean difference(SMD)=-1.18,95%confidence interval(CI):-1.74,-0.63,P<0.001;painrelated interference:SMD=-0.87,95%CI:-1.70,-0.05,P=0.038;pain severity:SMD=-0.63,95%CI:-1.22,-0.04,P=0.036.No severe adverse events were reported in any study.Conclusions:This meta-analysis showed that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for patients with breast cancer with aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia during the course of 6 weeks.Improvements in the blinding method and clarification of the total treatment recommendations and intervals need to be explored further.
基金Supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China:2022YFC3500701。
文摘Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN)is a common neurotoxic reaction for patients undergoing anticancer regimens.More and more studies show that acupuncture-moxibustion plays a positive role in the management and prevention of CIPN.Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture-moxibustion in patients with CIPN,with a focus on assessing its effectiveness on improving treatment response rates,alleviating pain,enhancing quality of life(QoL),and improving nerve conduction.Additionally,the study compares the differences in clinical effectiveness among various acupuncture therapies for CIPN management.Methods Six databases(PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,OVID,and China National knowledge infrastructure[CNKI])were searched from earliest available dates to December 1,2024,and only randomized controlled trials(RCTs)containing relevant search terms were included.Network meta-analysis of the RCT data were conducted to assess the effective rate of the treatment as the primary outcome.Nerve conduction,pain scores,and QoL were assessed as secondary outcomes.The version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials(RoB 2)was used to examine methodological quality,and Stata 15.1 was used to take network meta-analysis.Results A total of 34 RCTs involving 2039 participants and 9 acupuncture-moxibustion therapies were included.The network meta-analysis evaluated the effect of different acupuncture therapies across four outcomes:effective rate,pain scores,QoL,and nerve conduction.For effective rate,electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion ranked first with a surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA)value of 62.9%,followed by acupoint application(56.9%)and moxibustion(52.3%).Electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion had the highest effective rate compared to standard of care treatments(odds ratio[OR]=1.62,95%confidence interval[CI]−5.18 to 8.43).For alleviating pain,auricular acupressure had the highest SUCRA value(85.9%),while electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture combined with three-edged needle ranked second(63.4%)and third(51.0%),respectively.Auricular acupressure significantly reduced pain(SMD=−1.73,95%CI−3.54 to 0.08).For QoL,warming needle ranked first(SUCRA=92.0%),followed by electroacupuncture(48.7%)and filiform needle(43.0%).Warming needle significantly improved QoL scores(SMD=−0.75,95%CI−1.66 to 0.15).For nerve conduction,electroacupuncture combined with three-edged needle had the highest SUCRA value(100%),while moxibustion and filiform needle ranked second(65.3%)and third(39.2%),respectively.Electroacupuncture combined with three-edged had the best neuroprotective effect(SMD=1.85,95%CI 1.23 to 2.47).Conclusion Network meta-analysis based on the primary outcome(effective rate)suggests that electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion seems to be the optimal acupuncture therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN).Secondary outcomes exhibited considerable heterogeneity:auricular acupressure demonstrated superior efficacy in pain relief,electroacupuncture combined with three-edged needle showed greater advantages in improving nerve conduction function,while warm needling was associated with more significant improvements in QoL.Given the variability in interventions across different outcome measures and the methodological limitations of included studies,the current evidence requires cautious interpretation.Systematic review registration:Registration number in PROSPERO:CRD42024560017.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82360387)the Key Laboratory of Emergency Medicine of Yunnan Province(202449CE340015).
文摘Aconitines are a group of highly bioactive and toxic compounds found in aconitum species.[1]It is clinically used to treat rheumatism,rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis,and cancer.[2]In folk medicine,aconitine is often soaked in white wine to make medicinal wine,which is used to treat rheumatism,joint pain,and other diseases.[3]Improper use of aconitine can cause adverse effects in the nervous system and digestive system,as well as cardiovascular dysfunction,especially arrhythmia.[4]Because of its high toxicity when it is improperly handled,aconitine has attracted widespread attention.
基金Yunnan Provincial High-Level Traditional Chinese Medicine Talent Training ProjectYunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research Joint Special Project(Project No.:202101AZ070001-138)。
文摘Objective:Based on the theory of“Taiyang governs tendons”,to explore the effect of acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang on the expression of serum inflammatory factors in rabbit models of cervical spondylosis.Methods:Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,and a treatment group,with 10 rabbits in each group.The models of cervical spondylosis in the model group and treatment group were established by long-term head-down flexion combined with cold-damp stimulation.After modeling,the treatment group received acupuncture at three points(Kunlun,Weizhong,and Feishu)on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang,once a day for 20 minutes each time,for 14 consecutive days;the model group and blank group received no therapeutic intervention.After the intervention,cardiac blood was collected from all rabbits to detect the expression levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β.Meanwhile,cervical muscle tissue was collected,stained with HE,and the morphological changes of the posterior cervical muscle tissue in each group were observed under an optical microscope.Results:After modeling,the levels of inflammatory factors in the serum of rabbits in the model group and treatment group were significantly increased compared with those before modeling,with a statistically significant difference(p<0.01).After intervention,the serum inflammatory factors in the treatment group decreased significantly compared with those in the model group,and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.01).Conclusion:Acupuncture at points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang in rabbit models of cervical spondylosis can reduce the serum levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6.
基金Supported by Special Project for Practice Development of National TCM Clinical Research Bases:JDZX 2012154
文摘Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture compared to western medicine systematically. Methods Databases were retrieved such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Sicence, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data so as to look up randomized controlled trials （RCT） of treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture and western medicine, and the time limit for the retrieval spanned from the date of database established to September 2013. By extracting data and evaluating methodological quality of included studies according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, RevMan 5.2 software was applied for Meta-analysis and evidence quality was assessed by adopting the GRADE system. Results Atotal of 23 RCTs （845 patients with post-stroke depression） were included in this study. It was revealed by Meta-analysis that the differences of the two groups were statistically significant in terms of HAMD scale scores measured at the end of the treatment by comparing the treatment of acupuncture and western medicine [SMD=0.26, 95% CI （0.11, 0.40）], but via susceptibility analysis （excluding low quality studies）, the differences were not statistically significant [SMD=-0.06, 95% CI （-0.37, 0.25）], and the reliability of the results was low; in terms of adverse events, the differences were statistically significant [RR= 0.32, 95% Cl （0.19, 0.53）], and the risk of adverse events reduced by 68% in the acupuncture group. From the assessment on evidence quality grade based on GRADE system, it was revealed that HAMD scores and adverse events were evidences with fairly low quality. Conclusion Although this system assessment showed that treating post-stroke depression with acupuncture was more effective compared with western medicine, the result was less reliable and quality of evidences was poor. The above-mentioned results need more high- quality randomized controlled trials for further verification.
基金The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81574065).
文摘Acupuncture has reportedly improved memory and cognitive impairment in both animal and clinical studies. It may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to review the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of AD. Eight databases were searched for articles published up to and including July 2017, and 13 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were identified. The main outcomes assessed were clinical efficacy rate, Mini-Mental State Examination score, Ability of Daily Living Scale score, Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition score, Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS) score, and adverse events. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias. All the studies compared the efficacy of acupuncture with that of medication, and were published in Chinese journals. Meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture yielded positive results as determined via all the indexes scored except the HDS (95% CI -0.26 to 0.90, Z=0.35, P=0.73). Only one of the studies reported adverse events associated with acupuncture and medication. The rate of adverse events in the medication group was 13%. In most of the studies assessed in the current metaanalysis, acupuncture alone was better than conventional western medicines for the treatment of AD.
基金funded by grants from Shanghai Threeyear Action Plan for Further Development of Chinese Medicine ZY(2018–2020)-CCCX-1005the Planned Science Program of the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(No.2019LK089)Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality,China(No.18401970601)。
文摘Background:Acupuncture therapy has shown promise for effectively relieving preoperative anxiety.Nevertheless,previous findings from randomized controlled trials(RCTs)are inconsistent and must be examined in detail.Objective:This study systematically evaluates the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy for preoperative anxiety as well as the quality of evidence supporting this application.Search strategy:The China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Wanfang Data Journal Database,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,Chongqing VIP,Embase,Pub Med and Cochrane Library Databases were queried from their inception to 19,February 2020,using keywords such as“acupuncture therapy,”“preoperative”and“anxioty.”Manual searches expanded the search breadth and included conference abstracts and other reference lists.Inclusion criteria:RCTs were included in the current study if they contained a comparison between a group of anxiety patients that received acupuncture therapy and a control group that received sham acupuncture.Data extraction and analysis:Literature was reviewed,and various articles were selected using the Note Express 3.2.0 software.Two researchers independently screened and extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies.The Rev Man 5.3 software was used for data aggregation and the Grades of Recommendation,Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)assessment was used to evaluate the quality of the study outcomes.Results:Twelve studies were included in the review,containing a total of 916 patients.Meta-analysis showed that,compared with the control group,patients who received acupuncture therapy had reduced State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale(STAI-S)score(mean difference[MD]=–9.07,95%confidence interval[CI][–13.19 to–4.96],P<0.0001)and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score(MD=–1.37,95%CI[–2.29 to–0.45],P=0.003).However,for the Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)score,there was no difference between the two groups(MD=–3.98,95%CI[–12.89 to 4.92],P=0.38).Further,the GRADE assessment demonstrated that the STAI-S was of moderate quality,the VAS of low quality and the HAMA of very low quality.Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy may be able to decrease anxiety in preoperative patients,but the results need to be further verified due to the small sample sizes and the low quality of evidence to date.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81703923 and No.81820108033.
文摘BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia(FD)is a common digestive disease with limited therapeutic options.According to evidence-based clinical practice,acupuncture or electroacupuncture(EA)seems to be a promising therapy for patients with FD.However,there is still a lack of systematic reviews that have analyzed current clinical trials for a better understanding of mechanisms involved in the ameliorating effect of acupuncture and EA on FD.AIM To evaluate the results and qualities of existing clinical evidence for researching the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture/EA in treating FD.METHODS A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify randomized controlled trials in which research on the mechanism of acupuncture or EA was conducted in FD patients.Databases searched included PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,and Web of Science.Data extraction and quality assessment were completed by two investigators independently and the results of quality evaluation were exported through Review Manager V5.3.RESULTS Eight studies were included in this review with a total of 17 items for detecting techniques for mechanistic research.Positive effects of acupuncture and EA were observed in regulating gastric motility,gastric accommodation,mental status,gastrointestinal hormones,and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life.CONCLUSION The key findings of this systematic review support the potential of acupuncture and EA in altering the heterogeneous pathophysiology in patients with FD.However,high-quality studies with well-planned designs are necessary to provide more credible evidence.
文摘The purpose of this work was to assess the evidence for effectiveness of acupuncture （AC） treatment in gastrointestinal diseases. A systematic review of the Medline-cited literature for clinical trials was performed up to May 2006. Controlled trials assessing acupuncture point stimulation for patients with gastrointestinal diseases were considered for inclusion. The search identified 18 relevant trials meeting the inclusion criteria. Two irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） trials, 1 Crohn＇s disease and 1 colitis ulcerosa trial had a robust random controlled trial （RCT） design. In regard to other gastrointestinal disorders, study quality was poor. In all trials, quality of life （QoL） improved significantly independently from the kind of acupuncture, real or sham. Real AC was significantly superior to sham acupuncture with regard to disease activity scores in the Crohn and Colitis trials. Efficacy of acupuncture related to QoL in IBS may be explained by unspecific effects. This is the same for QoL in inflammatory bowel diseases （IBD）, whereas specific acupuncture effects may be found in clinical scores. Further trials for IBDs and in particular for all other gastrointestinal disorders would be necessary to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment. However, it must be discussed on what terms patients benefit when this harmless and obviously powerful therapy with regard to QoL is demystified by further placebo controlled trials.
基金Supported by a Grant from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(No.30973792)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined acupuncture and eugenol on learning-memory ability and the antioxidation system of the hippocampus in Alzheimer disease (AD) rats. METHODS: Sixty Sprague Dawley rats, weighing (300±10) g, were randomly divided with 10 rats per group into a normal control group, AD model group, AD with cut olfactory nerve group, Xiu three-needle group, eugenol group, and combined acupuncture and eugenol group. The AD model was established by injection of amyloid β1-40 (Aβ 1-40). Morris maze tests were conducted for evaluating the learning-memory ability. Content of malo- ndialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the hippocampus were detected. RESULTS: The average escape latency and the mean swimming distance in the normal control group, the Xiu three-needle group, the eugenol group, and the combined acupuncture and euge-nol group were significantly shorter than those in the AD model group (all P<0.01). The combined acupuncture and eugenol group had shorter escape latency and mean swimming distance than those in the Xiu three-needle group and the eugenol group. There were no significant differences between the Xiu three-needle group and the eugenol group and between the AD group and the AD with cut olfactory nerve group (P>0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the MDA content in the hippocampus significantly increased (P<0.05) and GSH-Px and SOD activities significantly decreased in the AD model group (P<0.01). Compared with the AD model group, significantly decreased (P< 0.01) and SOD and GSH-Px activities significantly increased in the Xiu three-needle group, eugenol group, and combined acupuncture and eugenol group (P<0.05). Compared with the Xiu three-needle group and eugenol group, the MDA content significantly decreased (P<0.05) and SOD and GSH-Px activities increased (P<0.05) in the combined acupuncture and eugenol group. There were no significant differences among the three indices between the Xiu three-needle group and the eugenol group and between the AD model group and the AD with cut olfactory nerve group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Both Xiu three-needle and eugenol can increase learning-memory ability, decrease MDA content, and increase SOD and GSH-Px activities in the hippocampus in AD rats. The combination of acupuncture with eugenol has stronger effects, and the effects depend on the olfactory pathway.
