Efficacy of ah shi Point Acupuncture on Acne Vulgaris

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byeong-Kook Son ◽  
Younghee Yun ◽  
In-Hwa Choi

Background Ah shi point acupuncture involves inserting needles at painful or pathological sites. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ah shi point and general acupuncture point treatment of acne vulgaris. Methods 36 subjects were recruited and randomised in a double-blind (patient-blind and observer-blind) controlled trial to receive acupuncture either at general acupuncture points only, or at both general acupuncture points and ah shi points 12 times over 6 weeks. The subjects were evaluated using the following outcome measurements: an inflammatory lesion count, a quality-of-life scale (Skindex-29) and a subjective symptom score. Results After 12 treatment sessions, there was a significant reduction in the inflammatory acne lesion counts, the Skindex-29 scores and the subjective symptom scores from baseline in both groups, but no significant difference between groups. Conclusions Acupuncture treatment of moderate acne vulgaris was associated with reduction of inflammatory lesions and improvement of the quality of life.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19643-e19643
Author(s):  
Kalyan Pulivarthi ◽  
Rony Dev ◽  
Jose Garcia ◽  
J. Lynn Palmer ◽  
Eduardo Bruera ◽  
...  

e19643 Background: Hypogonadism affects two thirds of men with advanced cancer. Uncontrolled studies show fatigue, anorexia, depression,and insomnia are associated with low testosterone in men with cancer. Testosterone replacement improves quality of life and diminishes fatigue in patients with non-cancer conditions. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of testosterone replacement on fatigue in hypogonadal males with advanced cancer, by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F)at day 29. Methods: Randomized, double-blinded placebo controlled at two centers. Clinic outpatients with advanced cancer, bioavailable testosterone (BT) <70ng/dL, hemoglobin>9g/dL, and moderate to severe fatigue assessed by a score >3/10 on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were eligible.Contraindications to testosterone therapy or other causes of fatigue such as hypothyroidism, hypercalcemia, or chronic kidney disease excluded subjects. Weight-based intra-muscular testosterone or a sesame seed oil placebo administered every 14 days to achieve a BT level 70-270ng/dL. Initial sample size was for fifty evaluable patients per group. One-sided t test was used to analyze differences in FACIT scores between arms. Results: Accrual was slower than anticipated with a final total of 43 eligible males randomized to testosterone(19) or placebo(24). Neither age nor site was statistically significant (<0.05) between arms. 14 placebo and 12 testosterone treated patients were evaluable for the primary outcome.No statistically significant difference was found for FACIT-F total scores between arms, with a trend for testosterone to improve scores (-5.5±19 for placebo, 3.9±14 for testosterone, p=0.09) using a one-sided t test. Adverse events were similar between groups. There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes of ESAS scores, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, hand-grip or 6 minute walk. Conclusions: Testosterone replacement in hypogonadal male patients with advanced cancer had a trend to improve fatigue and quality of life in this preliminary trial.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 393-393
Author(s):  
Anne Eaton ◽  
Mithat Gonen ◽  
Paul Jack Karanicolas ◽  
Michael Ian D'Angelica ◽  
Ronald P. DeMatteo ◽  
...  

393 Background: A recent trial demonstrated that prophylactic pasireotide reduces pancreatic complication (PC) rates (primary objective). In this secondary analysis, we describe quality of life (QoL) in this population before and after resection using a standard instrument (the EORTC QLQ-C30) and the EORTC pancreatic cancer module (PAN26), which was recently developed to address the unmet need for QoL assessment in this subpopulation. Also of interest is assessing the association between PC and QoL and testing the hypothesis that pasireotide improves QoL. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of preoperative subcutaneous pasireotide in 300 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy. Participants completed the C30 and PAN26 preoperatively and on postoperative days 14 and 60. Scores were compared using paired t-tests. Results: All patients completed at least one questionnaire and 87% of patients completed all three. No major differences in QoL were seen between treatment groups so pooled results were reported. A significant worsening of function at 14 days was detected on all PAN26 and C30 function scales except hepatic and emotional functioning (EF), and all C30 symptom scales (all p<.01). These effects lessened by 60 days, but scores remained significantly worse than baseline with the exception of the sexuality, cognitive functioning, nausea and vomiting, insomnia and constipation scales, which returned to near baseline, and EF, which was significantly better than baseline (p=0.03). PC occurred in 45 patients and was associated with worse body image, dyspnea, financial difficulties and physical, role, emotional and social functioning at 14 and 60 days (all p<.05). Conclusions: During the first 14 days following resection, patients can be expected to have a significant decline in QoL. Many symptoms abate by 60 days, and EF improves. Although pasireotide effectively reduced PC, its effect did not appear to translate to improved QoL based on this sample of 300 patients. While PC was associated with worse QoL, most patients in both pasireotide and placebo groups did not experience PC, which may explain why no significant difference in QoL was observed. Clinical trial information: NCT00994110.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Karadas ◽  
M Oksul ◽  
N Ozer ◽  
L Ozdemir

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background and Aim Mindfulness meditation (MM) leads to controlled blood pressure and positive improvements in other symptoms which may trigger acute coronary diseases. The present randomized controlled study was aimed to investigate the effect of the MM on fatigue, kinesiophobia, and the quality of life (QoL) in patients with acute MI. Method The study was carried out with 56 MI patients. Participants were randomly assigned to meditation group (MG; n = 28) or control group (CG; n = 28).  The MG patients received a 15 min MM session comprising sitting and breathing for a total of eight weeks, while the CG patients received only a single-time attention-matched education. Piper Fatigue Intervention, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-Heart and MacNew Quality of Life scales were utilized for data collection. Results After completion of the 8-week MM, any significant difference was not found in the fatigue scores of the patients (p &gt; 0.05). On the other hand, kinesiophobia scores in the MG were significantly lower in the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks (p &lt; 0.05). Similarly, the QoL scores were significantly higher in the MG in 8th week (p &lt; 0.05). Significant change in the emotional function sub-dimension of QoL continued in the follow-up assessment at 12th week (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion The MM can significantly improve the QoL and decrease kinesiophobia in patients with MI. Beneficial effect of MM is maintained particularly in the emotional aspect. Based on the results of the study, MM may be recommended as a mind-body based complementary approaches within the scope of secondary protection after MI. Comparison of the study groupsGroupBaseline(Mean ± SD)4th week(Mean ± SD)8th week(Mean ± SD)12th week(Mean ± SD)PFSMM2.08 ± 1.870.90 ± 0.990.47 ± 0.780.44 ± 0.76CG1.56 ± 2.011.12 ± 1.590.98 ± 1.520.76 ± 1.33tp1.004 0.32-0.6210.54-1.5840.12-1.0850.28TSK-HMM40.25 ± 5.0436.18 ± 4.4934.39 ± 4.6134.96 ± 4.71CG41.71 ± 7.2841.89 ± 6.7441.82 ± 5.8441.00 ± 5.54tp-0.8750.39-3.7340.001-5.279 0.000-4.3900.00MacNewMM5.04 ± 0.715.53 ± 0.455.76 ± 0.475.77 ± 0.47CG5.17 ± 0.855.32 ± 0.605.37 ± 0.525.53 ± 0.46t; p-0.640; 0.531.436; 0.162.933; 0.0051.964; 0.06(Mean ± SD): Mean ± Standard Deviation; PFS: Piper Fatigue Scores; TSK-H: Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-Heart; MacNew: MacNew Quality of life Scale; EFS: emotional functioning sub-dimension; PFS: physical functioning sub-dimension; SFS: social functioning sub-dimension; t= Student T Test value; p&lt; 0.05


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 670-677
Author(s):  
Gelareh Niakan ◽  
Samaneh Rokhgireh ◽  
Majid Ebrahimpour ◽  
Abolfazl Mehdizadeh Kashi

Background: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease that adversely affects women’s quality of life (QOL). We aimed to compare the effect of dienogest and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on pain and QOL in women with endometriosis. Methods: This randomized double-blind trial was conducted at Rasoul-e-Akram hospital, affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from March 2018 to March 2020, on women with severe endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. Ninety patients were randomly given either dienogest (Vissane 2 mg tablet; n = 30), or OCPs (LD; n = 30), or placebo (n = 30) daily for 12 weeks. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the patient’s pain including dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia, and pelvic pain. The secondary outcome was considered as a change in patients’ QOL score. Results: The mean age of population was 32.99 ± 7.1 years. There was no significant difference in the three groups regarding baseline characteristics. Pelvic pain was significantly reduced, while the effect of medication on dysuria and dyschezia was not significant. The overall QOL score between the control and dienogest (P = 0.02) and OCPs groups (P = 0.001) was significantly different; however, the difference was not significant between the two intervention groups Conclusion: The finding of the present study revealed that there is no difference in the efficacy of dienogest and OCPs in management of pain and the QOL. But there was a significant difference between the placebo and intervention groups.


2020 ◽  
pp. 070674372098243
Author(s):  
Alyna Turner ◽  
Andrea Baker ◽  
Olivia M. Dean ◽  
Adam J. Walker ◽  
Seetal Dodd ◽  
...  

Objectives: Garcinia mangostana Linn. (“mangosteen”) pericarp contains bioactive compounds that may target biological pathways implicated in schizophrenia. We conducted a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of adjunctive mangosteen pericarp, compared to placebo, in the treatment of schizophrenia. Methods: People diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder ( Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), recruited across 2 sites (Brisbane and Victoria, Australia), were randomized to receive 24 weeks of adjunctive mangosteen pericarp (1,000 mg/day) or matched placebo. The primary outcome measure was the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale total score. Secondary outcomes included positive and negative symptoms, general psychopathology, clinical global severity and improvement, participant reported overall improvement, depressive symptoms, functioning, quality of life, and safety data at 24 and 28 weeks (4 weeks postdiscontinuation). Data were collected from July 2016 to February 2019. Results: Baseline assessments were conducted on 148 people (mangosteen = 74, placebo = 74); data analyses were conducted on 136 (92%) participants with postbaseline data. The treatment group had significantly higher symptom severity compared to placebo, and both groups significantly improved on all symptom, functioning, and quality of life measures over time. No between-group differences were found for the rate of change between baseline and 24 or 28 weeks. Conclusion: Despite promising preclinical and clinical work, our results do not support mangosteen pericarp extract as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Rajagopal ◽  
Srikanth N Jois ◽  
Sumanth Mallikarjuna Majgi ◽  
MN Anil Kumar ◽  
HB Shashidhar

Objectives: Depression is a mental disorder, affecting the quality of life. Our study explores the efficacy of Pranic Healing (PH), as an adjuvant therapy in treating depression Methods: In this randomised double-blind controlled trial, 52 participants with a mean age of 34.4 years, with mild to moderate depression were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D) scale during the 5-week study. Both Medication + PH (MedPH) and Medication + Mock PH (MedMockPH) groups comprising 26 members received Pranic and mock healing lasting 20 minutes per session respectively once a week for 4 weeks, along with the antidepressant drug. Results: The average decrease in HAM-D score in MedPH was median 11 (Interquartile Range (IQR) 7–12) and was significantly higher compared with the MedMockPH group median 6.5 (IQR 3–9). At pre-assessment, both groups had 8 cases of mild and 18 cases of moderate depression. At post-assessment, HAM-D showed that the improvement in depression category was seen in 69.2% of participants in the MedMockPH group and 100% in MedPH group. Conclusions: These results give first the evidence that PH can aid as an adjuvant therapy for depressed people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83
Author(s):  
Erwin Astha Triyono ◽  
Sarah Firdausa ◽  
Heru Prasetyo ◽  
Joni Susanto ◽  
James Hutagalung ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infectious disease that targets the human immune system by attacking cluster of differentiation (CD)4 cells. The use of propolis in HIV patients is expected to be safe and beneficial in terms of increasing endurance and immunity by its role in increasing CD4 level. This study aimed to analyze the influence of propolis supplementation in increasing the CD4 level in anti-retroviral (ARV)-treated HIV patients.METHODS: Double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 50 HIV patients who took regular ARV therapy. The subjects were divided into two groups, one group was treated with ARV and propolis, while another one was given ARV and placebo. The CD4 cell count was measured during pre-treatment, in the 3rd month, in the 6th month after treatment. The level of hemoglobin, leukocyte, and platelets were also measured. The SF-12 questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of life of the subject.RESULTS: Out of 50 subjects, 43 subjects completed the study, which were 19 subjects from the propolis group and 24 subjects from the placebo group. After 3-month of treatment, there was a statistically significant difference in the incrwase of CD 44 level in propolis group, while the increment was not significant in the placebo group. After 6-month treatment, the increase of CD4 level was occurred in both groups, propolis and placebo, however the increment was not statistically significant. The levels of hemoglobin, leukocyte, and platelets were not altered by the treatment and remained normal throughout the study. The quality of life was improved during the study; however, it was also not statistically significant. Mild adverse events occurred in 3 subjects which were relieved after the treatment stopped.CONCLUSION: Based on the result of this study, the administration of propolis on HIV patients receiving ARV bring significant difference in the increase of CD4 in propolis group from baseline to 3 month after the treatment. While in placebo group, this increment was not significant. At the end of study, CD4 count continued to rise up, however the increase was not statistically significant. There are no hemoglobin, leukocyte, platelets, and quality of life abnormalities. Therefore, it is necesary to do further research with a spesific CD4 count. However, it may be beneficial in relieving the clinical symptoms and quality of life of patient living with HIV.KEYWORDS: CD4, ARV, HIV, propolis


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Leela Raj ◽  
Denise Smith ◽  
James Heilman

Background Wikipedia is frequently used as a source of health information. However, the quality of its content varies widely across articles. The DISCERN tool is a brief questionnaire developed in 1996 by the Division of Public Health and Primary Health Care of the Institute of Health Sciences of the University of Oxford. They claim it provides users with a valid and reliable way of assessing the quality of written information. However, the DISCERN instrument’s reliability in measuring the quality of online health information, particularly whether or not its scores are affected by reader biases about specific publication sources, has not yet been explored. Methods This study is a double-blind randomized assessment of a Wikipedia article versus a BMJ literature review using a modified version of the DISCERN tool. Participants will include physicians and medical residents from four university campuses in Ontario and British Columbia and will be randomized into one of four study arms. Inferential statistics tests (paired t-test, multi-level ordinal regression, and one-way ANOVA) will be conducted with the data collected from the study. Outcomes The primary outcome of this study will be to determine whether a statistically significant difference in DISCERN scores exists, which could suggest whether or not how health information is packaged influences how it is assessed for quality. Plain Language Summary The internet, and in particular Wikipedia, is an important way for professionals, students and the public to obtain health information. For this reason, the DISCERN tool was developed in 1996 to help users assess the quality of the health information they find. The ability of DISCERN to measure the quality of online health information has been supported with research, but the role of bias has not necessarily been accounted for. Does how the information is packaged influence how the information itself is evaluated? This study will compare the scores assigned to articles in their original format to the same articles in a modified format in order to determine whether the DISCERN tool is able to overcome bias. A significant difference in ratings between original and inverted articles will suggest that the DISCERN tool lacks the ability to overcome bias related to how health information is packaged.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire CARDAILLAC ◽  
Stéphane Ploteau ◽  
Aurélie Le Thuaut ◽  
Vincent Dochez ◽  
Norbert Winer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Perineal pain due to episiotomy is commonly reported and can be severe enough to disturb the mother-infant dyad during the postpartum period. Its incidence at day 7 postpartum varies from 63% to 74%. Recent studies have already investigated the analgesic efficacy of perineal infiltration of ropivacaine after episiotomy, but have only focused on the immediate postpartum period (at 24 and 48 hours after birth). Large, adequately powered, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate the impact of ropivacaine infiltration on perineal pain and mid- and long-term quality of life before the widespread use of ropivacaine to prevent perineal pain after episiotomy can be recommended. Methods The ROPISIO study is a two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in La Roche sur Yon and Nantes, France. It will involve 272 women with vaginal singleton delivery and mediolateral episiotomy at term (≥ 37 weeks). Perineal infiltration (ropivacaine 75mg or placebo) will be administrated just after vaginal birth and before episiotomy repair. The primary outcome will be the analgesic efficacy at day 7 postpartum (mid-term), defined by the numerical rating scale of pain (ENS NRS) strictly superior to 3/10 on the perineal repair area. Secondary outcomes will be the analgesic efficacy (ENS NRS), the impact of pain on daily behavior, on the quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey), on the occurrence of symptoms of postpartum depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and on sexuality (Female Sexual Function Index) at 3 and 6 months (long-term) using validated online questionnaires. This study will have 90% power to show approximately 30% relative risk reduction in the incidence of perineal pain at day 7, from 70.0% to 50.0%. Discussion Ropivacaine is a promising candidate drug, inexpensive, easy to administer, and would be suitable to include in the routine management of deliveries in labor ward. This study will investigate if perineal ropivacaine infiltration just after birth can reduce mid- and long-term postpartum pain and increase quality of life in women with mediolateral episiotomy.


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