Effect of acupuncture at 3 anti-fatigue acupoints in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue in patients with cancer: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF), is a common distressing symptom of cancer. What's more, "Three anti-fatigue acupoints" is one of the most important components of "Jin's 3-needle therapy" created by Rui Jin, a professor of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, which can be used in the treatment of CRF. In this article, researchers will assess the safety and effect of acupuncture at 3 anti-fatigue acupoints on CRF in patients with cancer. METHODS: Literature search for relevant articles up to October 2018 will be carried out in 9 databases: Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, VIP, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Database, CiNii, and OASIS. The included literatures will be randomized controlled trials of acupuncture at 3 anti-fatigue acupoints on CRF in patients with cancer. The certain common scales, which reflect the patients' fatigue degree or life quality will be the primary outcome measures. The secondary outcome measures will be defined with the blood index. After collecting the data, we will utilize Stata V.13.0. to perform data synthesis, subgroup analysis, partial sequence analysis, sensitivity analysis, and so on. A funnel plot will be used to assess reporting biases. And the funnel plot will be evaluated by the Egger and Begg tests. The quality of evidence will be judged by the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation. RESULTS: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Our study will provide the evidence for the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture at 3 anti-fatigue acupoints in the treatment of CRF.

Effectiveness of acupuncture for recovery of flatulence after cesarean section: A case report.

RATIONALE: Postoperative ileus with flatulence is a common symptom in patients who have undergone cesarean section, and it can lead to peritonitis and intestinal perforation. However, few previous reports described therapeutic effects of acupuncture in women with flatulence after cesarean delivery. We reported a case of 29-year-old woman with abdominal flatulence after cesarean section. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient developed right abdominal pain and distention with no discharging bowel movement or passage of gas through the anus after cesarean section. DIAGNOSIS: The computed tomography revealed bowel loops filled with gas. She was diagnosed with postoperative ileus. INTERVENTIONS: From the second day after cesarean section, acupuncture was administered at the bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), Yinlingquan (SP9), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zhigou (TE6), and Hegu (LI4) acupoints. OUTCOMES: The patient exhibited the successful passage of gas through the anus 30 minutes after acupuncture needles were removed. The time to first defecation with a normal total stool weight and moderate hardness was 3 hours after acupuncture treatment. LESSONS: Acupuncture can be an effective alternative treatment in patients with flatulence after cesarean section.

Effect of acupuncture at 3-points for intelligence on vascular dementia: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Vascular dementia (VD) is a commonly-seen disease in the elderly. What is more, "Acupuncture at 3-points for intelligence" is one of the most important components of "Jin's three-needle therapy" created by Rui Jin, a professor of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, which can be used in the VD patients. In this article, researchers will assess the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture at 3-points for intelligence in the treatment of VD. METHODS: A systematic literature search for articles up to September 2018 will be conducted using 9 databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, CBM, VIP, Wanfang database, OASIS, and CiNii. Inclusion criteria are randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture at 3-points for intelligence on treating VD. The primary outcome measures will be scores reflecting the neurological function of participants based on common medical scales. Hemorheology indexes, homocysteine (Hcy), acetylcholine (Ach), nitric oxide (NO), and adverse events will also be assessed. Stata V.13.0 software will be used for data synthesis, sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and risk of bias assessment. A funnel plot will be developed to evaluate reporting bias. Egger and Begg tests will be further performed to conduct quantitative evaluation of publication bias and to evaluate the symmetry of funnel plot. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system to assess the quality of evidence. RESULTS: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Our study will provide the evidence for the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture at 3-points for intelligence in the treatment of VD.