Acupuncture for HIV-associated distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) is one of the most frequent neurological complications of HIV infection, and causes pain and dysaesthesias in millions globally. Many individuals with this infection report using acupuncture to manage their symptoms, but evidence supporting the use of acupuncture is limited. This systematic review will assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with HIV-associated DSPN. METHODS: Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of science, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine), the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database and clinical trials registers (the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform portal and www.ClinicalTrials.gov) will be electronically searched from inception to December 1, 2020. All randomized controlled trials in English or Chinese without restriction on publication status will be included. Selection of studies, extraction of data, and assessment of studies quality will be independently performed by 2 reviewers. The primary outcome measure will be the change in pain intensity assessed by validated scales. Secondary outcomes include change in neurologic summary scores, quality of life, physical function evaluated by admitted tools, and adverse events related to acupuncture reported in the included trials. If possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted to provide an estimate of the pooled treatment effect using Review Manager 5.3 statistical software. Otherwise, qualitative descriptive analysis will be given. The results will be presented as the risk ratio for binary data and the mean difference (MD) or standardized MD for continuous data. RESULTS: The results of the systematic review will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant conference. CONCLUSION: This review will be the first review entirely focused on assessing the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for HIV-associated DSPN. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020210994.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture Treatment on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot, Randomized, Assessor-Blinded, Controlled Trial.

Objective: This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial, which was conducted with cooperation between Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM), China, and Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS), Iran. Forty participants with CIPN were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to receive twelve sessions of acupuncture (20 minutes each session over 4 weeks) or take one 300 mg tablet of vitamin B1 and three 300 mg capsules of gabapentin per day for 4 weeks, after which both groups were followed up for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was CIPN symptom severity measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The secondary endpoints included sensory neuropathy grade evaluated by the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), neurophysiological assessment of CIPN by the nerve conduction study (NCS), and the patient overall satisfaction with treatment. Safety was assessed at each visit. Results: The NRS and NCI-CTCAE sensory neuropathy grading scales decreased significantly over time in both groups (both P < 0.001), with a significantly higher reduction in the acupuncture group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). In addition, the acupuncture group showed a higher overall satisfaction with the treatment at the end of treatment and after 4 weeks follow-up, in comparison with the vit B1 and gabapentin group (P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively). The NCS (except for the latency of the sural nerve) in the acupuncture group improved significantly (P < 0.05), while improvement in the vit B1 and gabapentin group was not observed (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study revealed that acupuncture, as a kind of traditional Chinese therapeutic method, is significantly effective and safe in the treatment of CIPN. Moreover, acupuncture is more effective than using vitamin B1 and gabapentin as the conventional treatment. Trial registration. This trial is registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20190615043900N1).

Comparison of high tone therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy in chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a worldwide concern in patients receiving neurotoxic agents for cancer therapy. High tone external muscle stimulation is a promising therapeutic approach to alleviate symptoms of CIPN. METHODS: This pilot study aims to investigate whether the application of home-based high-tone external muscle stimulation therapy (HTEMS) improves symptoms of CIPN. The trial is planned as a therapist- and assessor-blinded, 1:1 randomized controlled study. A total of 50 patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral polyneuropathy will be included. All patients will perform therapy at home. Study participants will be allocated randomly to the HTEMS therapy (intervention group) or to the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS, control group), respectively, following a standardized therapy schedule. Compliance of participants can be verified by reading out the tool box. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks of home-based therapy. The primary outcome includes improvement of CIPN according to the patient-reported EORTC QLQ-CIPN 20 questionnaire. Secondary outcomes are the patient-reported change in health-related quality of life and clinician-reported changes of vibration sensibility, tendon reflexes, temperature sensibility, perception of touch, and strength of the lower leg muscles. Further a safety- and process evaluation will be performed. DISCUSSION: This pilot RCT aims to evaluate the impact of home-based HTEMS as compared to TENS in CIPN. There is a need for an effective treatment for CIPN and the results of this study are expected to possibly identify a novel and effective treatment strategy in the future.

Diagnosis and management of sensory polyneuropathy.

Sensory polyneuropathies, which are caused by dysfunction of peripheral sensory nerve fibers, are a heterogeneous group of disorders that range from the common diabetic neuropathy to the rare sensory neuronopathies. The presenting symptoms, acuity, time course, severity, and subsequent morbidity vary and depend on the type of fiber that is affected and the underlying cause. Damage to small thinly myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers results in neuropathic pain, whereas damage to large myelinated sensory afferents results in proprioceptive deficits and ataxia. The causes of these disorders are diverse and include metabolic, toxic, infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, and genetic conditions. Idiopathic sensory polyneuropathies are common although they should be considered a diagnosis of exclusion. The diagnostic evaluation involves electrophysiologic testing including nerve conduction studies, histopathologic analysis of nerve tissue, serum studies, and sometimes autonomic testing and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The treatment of these diseases depends on the underlying cause and may include immunotherapy, mitigation of risk factors, symptomatic treatment, and gene therapy, such as the recently developed RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotide therapies for transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Many of these disorders have no directed treatment, in which case management remains symptomatic and supportive. More research is needed into the underlying pathophysiology of nerve damage in these polyneuropathies to guide advances in treatment.

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation on Myopathy in Intensive Care Patients.

BACKGROUND: Critical illness polyneuropathy or myopathy is a severe disorder that may adversely affect patients in the intensive care unit, resulting in reduced mobilization, decline in muscle mass, and prolonged recovery periods. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the application of trans-cutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation (TENMS) reduces the incidence or severity of myopathy related to critical illness in intensive care unit patients. METHODS: A total of 80 patients aged 18 years or older with an intensive care unit stay of 96 hours or more and receipt of mechanical ventilation for 96 hours or more were initially enrolled in a prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial in a university hospital. Patients received either conventional physical therapy alone (control group) or conventional physical therapy plus TENMS (TENMS group) for 10 days. Myopathy was assessed histologically (by needle biopsy of the quadriceps muscles) on the 4th and 14th days of the intensive care unit stay. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients who completed the study, 27 (40%) had myopathy on the 14th day: 11 patients in the TENMS group (9 mild, 1 moderate, and 1 severe) and 16 patients in the control group (13 mild, 2 moderate, and 1 severe). Patients who progressed from mild to moderate or severe myopathy between the 4th and 14th days had significantly lower body mass index (P = .001) and longer time periods with inadequate nutrition (P = .049) compared with the other patients. Mean (SD) Rankin scale scores at 6 months were 3.2 (1.8) and 3.8 (2.1) in the TENMS and control groups, respectively (P = .09). CONCLUSION: TENMS had no significant impact on myopathy in the critically ill patients in this study.

[Clinical and electromyography characteristics of chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy]. / Klinicheskie i élektroneiromiograficheskie osobennosti postkhimioterapevticheskoi polineiropatii.

AIM: The study aimed at determining clinical and electromyography characteristics and developing the methods of CIPN treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clinical and electromyographic examinations and treatment of 30 with CIPN symptoms developed after polychemotherapy were performed. The authors developed treatment schemes included allopathic, homeopathic drugs, hydrotherapy and pharmacopuncture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Most of the patients were diagnosed with axonal polyneuropathy with affection of long nerves of the limbs, some patients had a combination of axonopathy with myelopathy. After treatment, regression of neuropathy symptoms and improvement of quality of life was noted in all patients.

Magnetic field therapy in patients with cytostatics-induced polyneuropathy: A prospective randomized placebo-controlled phase-III study.

No causal treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is known. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a therapy for CIPN. Only scarce clinical data are available concerning magnetic field therapy (MFT) in this context. We conducted a unicentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase-III trial of an MFT device versus placebo. In this study, we randomized 44 patients with CIPN to two treatment groups, where 21 patients were treated with MFT (Group 1) and 23 patients received placebo (Group 2). We evaluated the efficacy of MFT at baseline (T1 ), after 3 weeks of study treatment (T2 ), and after 3 months of study treatment (T3 ). The primary endpoint was nerve conduction velocity (NCV), while secondary endpoints were the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTCAE) score and the Pain Detect End Score at T3 . Seventeen of the patients in Group 1 and 14 patients in Group 2 completed the respective study treatment. The primary endpoint, significant improvement of NCV at T3 , was achieved by MFT (P = 0.015), particularly for sensory neurotoxicity of the peroneal nerve. Also, in respect to the secondary endpoints, significant improvement (P = 0.04) was achieved in terms of the patients' subjectively perceived neurotoxicity (CTCAE score), but not of neuropathic pain (P = 0.11). From data in the randomized study presented here, a positive effect on the reduction of neurotoxicity can be assumed for the MFT device. Patients with sensory neurotoxicity in the lower limbs, especially, should therefore be offered this therapy. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:85-94, 2017. © 2016 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Efficiency of therapeutically applied physical factors for vibration disease caused by exposure to local vibration (review of literature).]

Important role in treatment and prophylaxis for vibration disease due to local vibration is played by physical factors. If high frequency components prevalent in occupational vibration, treatment with electric therapy, laser, magnetic fields, lymphatic drainage, hydrotherapy provides influence on leading chains of systemic microangiopathies pathogenesis - dysbalance of regulation influences by vegetative nervous system, vasoconstriction and intravascular changes, vascular permeability and microcirculation disorders. If low frequency coomponents prevalent in occupational vibration, treatment of polyneuropathies and locomotory disorders incorporates trophic processes activation: transcranial electroanalgesia, surface application of mineral waters, manual and subwater massage, ozone therapy, local spark discharges, peloids. Complex use of physical methods also increases human adaptational resources.

Diagnosing and treating HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: a global perspective.

HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) is a common complication of HIV and remains highly prevalent even with modern HIV management strategies, causing debilitating pain in millions globally. We review HIV-SN diagnosis and management. We suggest most HIV-SN cases are easily recognized using clinical screening tools, with physician assessment and/or specialized testing prioritized for atypical cases. Management aims to prevent further nerve damage and optimize symptom control. Symptom relief is difficult and rarely complete, with a lack of proven pharmacological strategies. Work is needed to clarify optimal use of available medications. This includes understanding the marked placebo effect in HIV-SN analgesic trials and exploring 'responder phenotypes'. Limited data support nondrug strategies including hypnosis, meditation, psychology, physical activity and a positive therapeutic relationship.

Low frequency magnetic field therapy in patients with cytostatic-induced polyneuropathy: a phase II pilot study.

Cytostatic-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) is a common and serious toxicity in tumor patients. Treatment and prophylactic measures are mainly ineffective. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a sufficient therapy for pPNP. Between July 2007 and August 2008, 20 patients were treated with low frequency (4-12 Hz) magnetic field therapy (MFT), and neurological examinations were conducted at the trial therapy's beginning, as well as after 3-4 weeks. Standardized testing methods were applied, i.e., the Common Toxicity Criteria questionnaire of the National Cancer Institute and the measurement of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in the electrophysiological examination. In terms of the components sensory ataxia and neuropathy as well as neuropathic pain, an improvement was achieved using MFT. This effect was confirmed by an increase in NCV. Using low frequency MFT, CIPN was influenced positively on both hands and feet. This could represent a future therapy principle for these patients.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment of polyneuropathy developed after chemotherapy].

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the main problem of modern cytotoxic therapy. Drug dose reduction, delay or even complete stopping of chemotherapy until the regression of CIPN symptoms impair treatment effectiveness and patients' survival. We studied 44 cancer patients with CIPN developed after polychemotherapy. We suggested a treatment regimen that included a complex of allopathic, homeopathic drugs and hydrotherapy. The treatment resulted in a subjective and objective regression of neuropathy symptoms and improving of quality of life in all patients. Patients who had to delay chemotherapy were able to restart it.

Farmacopuntura en la rehabilitación de neuropatía periférica epidémica / Pharmacopuncture in the rehabilitation of peripheral and epidemic neuropathy

Se realiza un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, y retrospectivo en pacientes con polineuropatía periférica epidémica (PPE); que son rehabilitados por el método de farmacopuntura en la Clínica de Medicina Tradicional y Natural de Baracoa; con el objetivo de evaluar su evolución clínica en el período comprendido desde enero de 2000 a diciembre de 2009. Conforman la muestra de estudio 96 pacientes afectados. Las variables a utilizar son: edad, sexo y números de sesiones recibidos. La información se obtiene de la base de datos de archivo, los mismos son llevados a una planilla de vaciamiento procesados mediante técnicas computarizadas, analizados y plasmados en tablas de distribución de frecuencia, lo que permite concluir que la enfermedad tiene predominio en mujeres, en su primer período de vida adulta (20-40), llegando a demostrar la efectividad del método en la mayoría de los pacientes en estudio, por lo que se recomienda su aplicación(AU)

A descriptive, longitudinal and retrospective study is done in patients with peripheral polyneuropathy Epidemic, that were rehabilitated by the method of pharmacopuncture at the Clinic of Traditional and natural Medicine, with the aim of evaluating its clinical course during January 2000 to December 2009. In the study, sample was involved 96 patients. The variables were used: age, sex and numbers of received sessions. The information was obtained from the database file, they were taken to a form of emptying processed by computer techniques, analyzed and reflected in frequency distribution tables, which concluded that the disease was more common in women in their first adult life (20 - 40), coming to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in most studied patients, and its application is recommended(AU)

[Using transcranial electric stimulation in patients with occupational disorders of the nervous system].

The paper presents the results of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in treating patients with vibration disease and occupational lumbosacral radiculopathy. It is shown that the inclusion of TES in the program of rehabilitation therapy gives a more pronounced clinical effect, helps to reduce pain, has psychological correcting antidepressant action significantly, improves the quality of life of patients. The study results enable to recommend TES in the complex medical and rehabilitative measures as an effective and pathogenetically substantiated method of treatment of patients with occupational diseases of the nervous system.

Current concepts in the management of diabetic polyneuropathy.

Approximately one in three people with diabetes is affected by diabetic distal symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN), which represents a major health problem as it may present with excruciating neuropathic pain and is responsible for substantial morbidity, increased mortality and impaired quality of life. Neuropathic pain causes considerable interference with sleep, daily activities, and enjoyment of life. Treatment is based on four cornerstones: (1) intensive diabetes therapy and multifactorial risk intervention; (2) treatment based on pathogenetic mechanisms; (3) symptomatic treatment; and (4) avoidance of risk factors and complications. Recent experimental studies suggest a multifactorial pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. From the clinical point of view, it is important to note that, based on these pathogenetic mechanisms, therapeutic approaches could be derived, some of which are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Management of chronic painful DSPN remains a challenge for the physician and should consider the following practical rules: the appropriate and effective drug has to be tried and identified in each patient by carefully titrating the dosage based on efficacy and side effects; lack of efficacy should be judged only after 2-4 weeks of treatment using an adequate dosage. Analgesic combination therapy may be useful, and potential drug interactions have to be considered given the frequent polypharmacy in people with diabetes. Not only increased alcohol consumption but also the traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as visceral obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking have a role in the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy and hence need to be prevented or treated.

[Evaluation of methods of traditional chinese medicine at the clinic at Steigerwald Part 2: therapy success and sustainability]. / Evaluation von verfahren der traditionellen chinesischen medizin in der klinik am steigerwald. teil 2: therapieerfolg und dessen nachhaltigkeit.

INTRODUCTION: in 2008, we described the documentation system of the 'Klinik am Steigerwald'. Now, we report on the results gained with this system, especially on the therapeutic success and its sustainability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: we evaluated 1,972 in-patients treated between 1999 and 2007. 74% of these patients were followed for up to 24 months. The therapeutic success achieved at the time of discharge from hospital was comparable in patients with follow-up and in patients lost to follow-up. Therefore, no relevant bias has to be assumed. RESULTS: at discharge from hospital complaints had improved markedly or somewhat in 62­77% of the patients. 2 years after discharge from hospital between 62 and 85% of the patients said that their complaints had improved as compared to the time before admission. This is also true for progressive diseases and if medication had been reduced. The proportion of days with inability to work decreased from 21.6% before admission to 16.0% at 0­6 months after discharge to 14.0% at 6­12 months after discharge to 11.9% at 18­24 months after discharge from hospital. Special focus is laid on Morbus Crohn /colitis ulcerosa and polyneuropathy which are core areas of the 'Klinik am Steigerwald'. CONCLUSION: documentation of the therapeutic success and its sustainability is essential for an evidence based medicine. Assessment of therapeutic success by complaints of patients is according to the idea of quality of life. This holds for modern as well as for traditional medical procedures like e.g., traditional Chinese medicine.

[Heat stroke and burns resulting from use of sauna]. / Hedeslag og brandsår i forbindelse med saunaophold.

We describe a case of severe heat stroke resulting from exposure to extreme heat in a sauna for an unknown period of time. The patient sustained 20% 2nd degree burns. On arrival at the emergency department, the patient's temperature was 40.5 degrees C. At the critical care unit, the patient developed severe multi-organ failure and critical polyneuropathy. Severe heat stroke is a rare diagnosis in Denmark. The treatment is symptomatic and the prognosis is grave, especially in combination with severe burns.

Polineuropatía en una persona viviendo con vih - sida / Polyneuropathy in a person living with HIV - AIDS

Se expone el caso clínico de un paciente de 31 años de edad, con virus de inmunodeficiencia humana desde hacía 4 años, que había comenzado a presentar fiebre de 39° C , dolor lumbar, calambre con dificultad para la marcha y sepsis urinaria. Los exámenes realizados confirmaron una lesión axonomielínica en fibras sensitivas dístales bilaterales, atribuibles a una polineuropatía axonal desmielinizante subaguda sensitiva. Se administraron 43 g/L de ozono por vía rectal en 20 sesiones, al término de las cuales disminuyó el dolor, desapareció la parestesia y mejoró la marcha, lo cual corroboró la efectividad del ozono como potente inmunomodulador y antimicrobiano, particularmente en el tratamiento de la mencionada enfermedad(AU)

The clinical case of a 31 year-old patient with human immunodeficiency virus for 4 years is reported, who had begun to present with fever of 39°C, lumbar pain, cramps with difficulty for walking and urinary sepsis. Examinations confirmed an axonomyelinic lesion in bilateral distal sensitive fibers attributable to a subacute sensitive demyelinating axonal polyneuropathy. 43 g/L ozone was administered via the rectal route in 20 sessions, at the end of which pain was relieved, paresthesia disappeared and walking improved, thus proving the effectiveness of the ozone as a strong immunomodulator and antimicrobial, particularly in the treatment of this condition(AU)