scholarly journals Acupuncture Relieved Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3694
Author(s):  
Chien-Chen Huang ◽  
Tsung-Jung Ho ◽  
Hsin-Yueh Ho ◽  
Pei-Yu Chen ◽  
Cheng-Hao Tu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
World Health ◽  
Gynecologic Oncology Group ◽  
Touch Perception ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a disabling side effect caused by neurotoxic chemotherapy. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture on CIPN. Twenty eligible breast cancer patients receiving taxane chemotherapy treatment were recruited and randomly divided into verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. Each group received 15 treatments over 9 weeks. Quantitative tactile detection thresholds were measured using Semmes–Weinstein monofilament testing (SWM). The World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx), and the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) were measured before and after treatment. The between-group comparison of SWM revealed that the verum acupuncture group had more improvement of touch perception thresholds compared to the sham acupuncture group. The average pain severity in the BPI-SF of the verum acupuncture group was significantly lower than that of the sham acupuncture group. There were no significant differences in the FACT/GOG-Ntx trial outcome index and WHOQOL-BREF scores between the acupuncture and sham groups. The results suggest that acupuncture can alleviate the neuropathic pain of CIPN and improve touch perception thresholds.

A Sham-Controlled Trial of Acupuncture as An Adjunct in Migraine Prophylaxis

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Foroughipour ◽  
Amir Reza Golchian ◽  
Mohsen Kalhor ◽  
Saeed Akhlaghi ◽  
Mohammad Taghi Farzadfard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Migraine Prophylaxis ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Migraine Headaches ◽  
Prophylactic Drugs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group

Background Migraine is one of the most common types of headache, with significant socioeconomic effects. Prophylactic drugs are used to prevent migraine headaches but are unpromising. Objective To assess the effects of adding acupuncture to conventional migraine prophylaxis. Methods One hundred patients with migraine (41 male, 59 female), in whom prophylactic drugs had not produced a fall of at least 50% in the number of attacks, entered the study. The patients were randomised into two groups, sham and true acupuncture. The patients in both groups continued their prophylactic treatment and received 12 sessions of either true or sham acupuncture. Each session was 30 min and was repeated three times a week. The number of headaches in the two groups was compared at baseline, and at the end of four successive months. Results There was no significant difference in the frequency of attacks between the two groups before intervention. After 1 month, the frequency of attacks each month decreased from 5.1 (0.8) to 3.4 (1.2) in the true acupuncture group, and from 5.0 (0.8) to 4.4 (1.1) in the sham acupuncture group (a significant difference, p<0.001). The frequency continued to decrease in month 2 but increased in months 3 and 4; however, it was still significantly lower than baseline, and the difference remained significant after month 4. Conclusions Acupuncture is applicable as an adjunct to prophylactic drugs in migraineurs in whom the number of attacks does not fall with prophylactic medication.

scholarly journals Effect of “Deqi” during the Study of Needling “Wang’s Jiaji” Acupoints Treating Spasticity after Stroke

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanqin Li ◽  
Huilin Liu ◽  
Cunzhi Liu ◽  
Guangxia Shi ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group

Background.Acupuncture has been shown to reduce spasticity and prevent the onset of spasticity after stroke. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of “Deqi” during needling “Wang’s Jiaji” acupoints treating spasticity in the early stage of stroke.Methods. This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. 238 patients with stroke (<21 days) participated and were randomly allocated to the verum-acupuncture (n=121) group or sham-acupuncture group (n=117). The verum-acupuncture group received verum acupuncture required to produce the sense of “Deqi” while the sham-acupuncture group received sham acupuncture without “Deqi.” Patients in both groups followed the same 30 min acupuncture regimen 5 times per week for a period of 4 weeks. Scales of MAS, FMA, ADL, MBI, NIHSS, SS-QOL, and MRS were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks after intervention.Results.Significant differences were observed between two groups. The MRS rating composition has the statistical difference after 4 weeks (P=0.017). The score of MAS, FMA, Barthel, and SSQOL in verum-acupuncture group has increased significantly compared with the sham-acupuncture group after 12 weeks. There was 14% reduction of higher muscle tension in the verum-acupuncture group.Conclusion.Acupuncture “Wang’s Jiaji” points with sensation of “Deqi” in the early stage may reduce the occurrence and decrease the severity of spasticity after stroke.

Effect of Acupuncture on Perception Threshold: A Randomised Controlled Trial

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
Shuang Wu ◽  
Hidenori Yamaguchi ◽  
Koh Shibutani
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Foramen ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Perception Threshold ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Objective To determine the current perception thresholds (CPTs) for arm and mental foramen areas to enable a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment. Methods Ninety-eight volunteers enrolled as participants and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: an acupuncture group (34 subjects); a sham acupuncture group (32 subjects) and a waiting group (32 subjects). CPTs for the arm and mental foramen areas were determined before and after acupuncture at LI4 Hegu of the left hand. A Neurometer CPT was used to evaluate the perception threshold at the homolateral mental foramen and arm. For further exploration, thresholds of homolateral and contralateral mental foramina were determined before and after acupuncture in a subgroup of 13 participants in the acupuncture group. Results Acupuncture at LI4 increased the perception thresholds of the left mental foramen in the acupuncture group significantly (p<0.01). The increases were significantly greater than in the control group for all frequencies, and significantly greater than sham acupuncture for 250 Hz and 5 Hz. In the subgroup, only the CPTs at 5 Hz increased significantly for the contralateral mental foramen. Conclusions Acupuncture at LI4 increases the perception threshold in the mandibular area, but not in the arm. This finding is probably related to the analgesic effect of acupuncture.

scholarly journals The efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture for alleviating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients: study protocol for a pilot single-blinded, randomized sham-controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiyin Chan ◽  
Louisa Lui ◽  
Kaling Yu ◽  
Kwongwai Lau ◽  
Manchi Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has long been used to alleviate limb numbness in Chinese Medicine Practice. This pilot study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating CIPN in colorectal cancer patients in Hong Kong. Methods/Design: This is a pilot single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Eighty-four eligible patients, who are Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥18 years diagnosed with colorectal cancer and undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to electro-acupuncture group and sham-controlled group. During a 12-week treatment period, patients in electro-acupuncture group will undergo electro-acupuncture once a week from the first cycle of chemotherapy, patients in control group will receive sham-acupuncture, and the patients in both groups will be followed up for twelve weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOC-Ntx) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include numerical rating scale (NRS) for numbness/pain, vibration and light touch sense test, quality of life questionnaire-C30 of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Constitution of Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Discussion: The study will compare electro-acupuncture with sham acupuncture to explore the feasibility for electro-acupuncture in improving symptoms caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Randomized, Controlled Trial of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Patients

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (35) ◽  
pp. 5584-5590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Deng ◽  
Andrew J. Vickers ◽  
K. Simon Yeung ◽  
Gabriella M. D'Andrea ◽  
Han Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Sham Group ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Hot Flashes ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Hot Flash

Purpose To determine the immediate and long-term effects of true acupuncture versus sham acupuncture on hot flash frequency in women with breast cancer. Patients and Methods Seventy-two women with breast cancer experiencing three or more hot flashes per day were randomly assigned to receive either true or sham acupuncture. Interventions were given twice weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Hot flash frequency was evaluated at baseline, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months after initiation of treatment. Patients initially randomly assigned to the sham group were crossed over to true acupuncture starting at week 7. Results The mean number of hot flashes per day was reduced from 8.7 (standard deviation [SD], 3.9) to 6.2 (SD, 4.2) in the true acupuncture group and from 10.0 (SD, 6.1) to 7.6 (SD, 5.7) in the sham group. True acupuncture was associated with 0.8 fewer hot flashes per day than sham at 6 weeks, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (95% CI, −0.7 to 2.4; P = .3). When participants in the sham acupuncture group were crossed over to true acupuncture, a further reduction in the frequency of hot flashes was seen. This reduction in hot flash frequency persisted for up to 6 months after the completion of treatment. Conclusion Hot flash frequency in breast cancer patients was reduced following acupuncture. However, when compared with sham acupuncture, the reduction by the acupuncture regimen as provided in the current study did not reach statistical significance. We cannot exclude the possibility that a longer and more intense acupuncture intervention could produce a larger reduction of these symptoms.

scholarly journals Acupuncture for Psychosomatic Symptoms of Hwa-byung, an Anger Syndrome: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujin Choi ◽  
In-Hye Park ◽  
Jung-Eun Kim ◽  
Ojin Kwon ◽  
Ae-Ran Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Psychosomatic Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Trial Testing ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group

Objectives: Emerging studies found the potential effects of acupuncture for treating chronic pain and mental disorders, namely, depressive and anxiety disorders. Acupuncture is widely used for treating culture-related anger syndrome, Hwa-byung. This pilot trial aimed to investigate the feasibility of a clinical trial testing acupuncture for the psychosomatic symptoms of Hwa-byung.Methods: A total of 26 patients with Hwa-byung planned to be randomly assigned to the acupuncture or sham acupuncture groups. About 10 treatment sessions were applied over 4 weeks. The 100-mm visual analog scale was used to measure the six major Hwa-byung symptoms: stuffiness in the chest, heat sensations, pushing-up in the chest, feeling a mass in the throat, feelings of unfairness, and hard feelings. The criteria for assessing the success of this pilot trial were defined as improvement in three or more of the six Hwa-byung symptoms after treatment, with an effect size &gt;0.2.Results: A total of 15 patients were finally included and randomly assigned to the acupuncture group (n = 7) or the sham acupuncture group (n = 8). After 10 treatment sessions, the Cohen's d effect sizes for acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture were &gt;0.2 for each one of the six major Hwa-byung symptoms, which met our a priori criteria for success. Also, the effect size for the somatic symptoms of “stuffiness in the chest” was 0.81 (95% CI −0.40, 2.20), referring to a large effect size.Conclusions: Our results suggest that acupuncture treatment would be regarded as an acceptable intervention for a full-scale study of psychosomatic symptoms in patients with Hwa-byung.Trial Registration:cris.nih.go.kr, identifier: KCT0001732.

scholarly journals The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer patients: study protocol for a pilot single-blinded, randomized sham-controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiyin Chan ◽  
Louisa Lui ◽  
Kaling Yu ◽  
Kwongwai Lau ◽  
Manchi Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong. Oxaliplatin based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has been recognized as one of the effective intervention for preventing CIPN. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for preventing CIPN in colorectal cancer patients in Hong Kong. Methods/Design: This is a pilot single-blinded, randomized, sham- controlled trial. Eighty-four eligible patients, who are Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥18 years and are diagnosed as colorectal cancer undergoing oxaliplatin based chemotherapy, will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to acupuncture group and sham-controlled group. During 12-weektreatment period, patients in acupuncture group will undergo acupuncture once a week from the first cycle of chemotherapy, patients in control group will receive sham-acupuncture, and the patients in both groupswill be followed up for twelve weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOC-Ntx) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include numerical rating scale (NRS), vibration and light touch sense test, quality of life questionnaire-C30 of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EQRTC) (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Constitution of Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Discussion: The study will compare acupuncture with sham acupuncture and will obtain evidence for utilizing acupuncture for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

scholarly journals Effect of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) point on antral contraction function under ultrasound guidance: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingqi Chen ◽  
Yu Bian ◽  
Shanshan Li ◽  
Yuanyuan Zhao ◽  
Jiaying Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Superficial Fascia ◽  
Manual Acupuncture ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Objective Evidence ◽  
Contraction Function ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group

Abstract Background Although the relationship between deqi sensations and curative effect has always been controversial, deqi sensations has been regarded as the key indicator of clinical efficacy of acupuncture therapy. There is little evidence for standardization or visualization of the mechanism of acupuncture’s therapeutic effect. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of needling at Zusanli (ST36) on antral contraction function as visualized by ultrasound. Methods This is a two-arm, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 116 acupuncture-naïve healthy subjects will be randomly allocated to the acupuncture group or sham acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the acupuncture group will receive manual acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) with the needling depth at crural interosseous membrane. Those in the sham acupuncture group will be given penetrating needling depth at the superficial fascia layer. The primary outcome will be the changes in antral contraction frequency (ACF) before and after acupuncture. The secondary outcomes will be the changes in the thermal infrared spectrum of gastric area skin, the antral contraction amplitude (ACA), the antral movement index (AMI), and the scores on the Chinese version of Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS). The adverse events will be evaluated and recorded in detail. Discussion This study may provide visual and objective evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of manual acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36). In addition, the results of this study will help to identify the role of Zusanli (ST36)in the inducing deqi. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000040686. Registered on 8 December 2020

scholarly journals The efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture for alleviating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with coloreactal cancer: study protocol for a single-blinded, randomized sham-controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiyin Chan ◽  
Louisa Lui ◽  
Kaling Yu ◽  
Kwongwai Lau ◽  
Manchi Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Gynecologic Oncology Group ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Efficacy And Safety

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has long been used to alleviate limb numbness in Chinese medicine. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating CIPN in patients with colorectal cancer in Hong Kong. Methods/design This is a single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled efficacy trial. Eighty-four eligible patients, who are Hong Kong Chinese, aged ≥ 18 years, diagnosed with colorectal cancer and undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to the electro-acupuncture group or the sham-controlled group. During a 12-week treatment period, patients in the electro-acupuncture group will undergo electro-acupuncture once a week from the first cycle of chemotherapy, while patients in the control group will receive sham acupuncture, and the patients in both groups will be followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOC-Ntx) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include numerical rating scale (NRS) for numbness/pain, vibration and light touch sense test, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Constitution of Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Discussion The study will compare electro-acupuncture with sham acupuncture to explore the feasibility for electro-acupuncture in improving symptoms caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03582423. Registered on 11 July 2018.

Electro-acupuncture for joint pain related to aromatase inhibitors among breast cancer survivors: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9639-9639
Author(s):  
Jun J Mao ◽  
Sharon Xie ◽  
John T Farrar ◽  
Carrie Tompkins Stricker ◽  
Marjorie Bowman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Aromatase Inhibitors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Pain Severity ◽  
Acupuncture Points ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

9639 Background: Arthralgia is a common and debilitating symptom in a significant proportion of breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of electro-acupuncture compared to waitlist control (WLC) and sham acupuncture in postmenopausal women with breast cancer who self-attributed their arthralgia to taking AIs. Acupuncturists delivered ten treatments of tailored acupuncture with 2 Hz electro-stimulation via a TENS unit. Sham acupuncture used non-penetrating Streitberger needles at non-traditional acupuncture points and lacked electro-stimulation. The primary endpoint was pain severity measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) between electro-acupuncture and WLC at Week 8; durability of response at Week 12 and comparison of electro to sham acupuncture were secondary aims. Results: Sixty-seven patients were randomized to the three arms. The mean reduction in BPI pain severity was significantly greater in the electro-acupuncture group than WLC group at both Week 8 (-2.2 vs. -0.2 p=0.0004) and Week 12 (-2.4 vs. -0.2, p<0.0001). The BPI pain-related interference also improved significantly in the electro-acupuncture group compared to WLC group at Weeks 8 (-2.0 vs. +0.2, p=0.0006) and 12 (-2.1 vs. -0.1, p=0.0034). Sham acupuncture reduced pain severity (-2.3) and pain-related interference (-1.5) at Week 8 similar to electro-acupuncture (p= non-significant); however, the effect of sham acupuncture appeared to decrease at Week 12 for pain severity (-1.7) and pain-related inference (-1.3). Conclusions: Electro-acupuncture significantly improved AI-related arthralgia over “usual care” with clinically important and durable changes in symptoms. Treatment effects were similar between the electro and sham groups at Week 8, suggesting that a large component of acupuncture effect is mediated through the process of acupuncture delivery rather than the specificity of needle placement or needle penetration of skin. Research is needed to evaluate the long term effects of electro-acupuncture to improve AI-related arthralgia. Clinical trial information: NCT01013337.

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