RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Converging evidence indicates that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) could be an early indicator of dementia. The hippocampus is the earliest affected region during the progression of cognitive impairment. However, little is known about whether and how acupuncture change the hippocampal structure and function of SCD individuals. METHODS: Here, we used multi-modal MRI to reveal the mechanism of acupuncture in treating SCD. Seventy-two older participants were randomized into acupuncture or sham acupuncture group and treated for 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, compared to sham acupuncture, participants with acupuncture treatment showed improvement in composite Z score from multi-domain neuropsychological tests, as well as increased hippocampal volume and functional connectivity. Moreover, the greater white matter integrity of the fornix, which is the major output tract of the hippocampus, was shown in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acupuncture may improve the cognitive function of SCD individuals, and increase hippocampal volume on the regional level and enhance the structural and functional connectivity of hippocampus on the connective level.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Disfunción Cognitiva , Hipocampo , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Humanos , Hipocampo/diagnóstico por imagen , Hipocampo/patología , Hipocampo/fisiopatología , Terapia por Acupuntura/métodos , Masculino , Femenino , Disfunción Cognitiva/terapia , Disfunción Cognitiva/fisiopatología , Disfunción Cognitiva/diagnóstico por imagen , Anciano , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Sustancia Blanca/diagnóstico por imagen , Sustancia Blanca/patología , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) is the most common subtype of functional dyspepsia. Acupuncture is commonly used to treat PDS, but its effect is uncertain because of the poor quality of prior studies. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in patients with PDS. DESIGN: Multicenter, 2-group, randomized clinical trial. (ISRCTN registry number: ISRCTN12511434). SETTING: 5 tertiary hospitals in China. PARTICIPANTS: Chinese patients aged 18 to 65 years meeting Rome IV criteria for PDS. INTERVENTION: 12 sessions of acupuncture or sham acupuncture over 4 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: The 2 primary outcomes were the response rate based on overall treatment effect and the elimination rate of all 3 cardinal symptoms: postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating, and early satiation after 4 weeks of treatment. Participants were followed until week 16. RESULTS: Among the 278 randomly assigned participants, 228 (82%) completed outcome measurements at week 16. The estimated response rate from generalized linear mixed models at week 4 was 83.0% in the acupuncture group versus 51.6% in the sham acupuncture group (difference, 31.4 percentage points [95% CI, 20.3 to 42.5 percentage points]; P < 0.001). The estimated elimination rate of all 3 cardinal symptoms was 27.8% in the acupuncture group versus 17.3% in the sham acupuncture group (difference, 10.5 percentage points [CI, 0.08 to 20.9 percentage points]; P = 0.034). The efficacy of acupuncture was maintained during the 12-week posttreatment follow-up. There were no serious adverse events. LIMITATION: Lack of objective outcomes and daily measurement, high dropout rate, and inability to blind acupuncturists. CONCLUSION: Among patients with PDS, acupuncture resulted in increased response rate and elimination rate of all 3 cardinal symptoms compared with sham acupuncture, with sustained efficacy over 12 weeks in patients who received thrice-weekly acupuncture for 4 weeks. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura/métodos , Dispepsia/terapia , Periodo Posprandial , Calidad de Vida , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Dispepsia/fisiopatología , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Síndrome , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Chronic shoulder pain (CSP) is the third most common musculoskeletal problem. For maximum treatment effectiveness, most acupuncturists usually choose acupoint in the nonpainful side, to alleviate pain or improve shoulder function. This method is named opposite needling, which means acupuncture points on the right side are selected for diseases on the left side and vice versa. However, the underlying neural mechanisms related to treatment are currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether different mechanisms were observed with contralateral and ipsilateral acupuncture at Tiaokou (ST 38) in patients with unilateral CSP. Twenty-four patients were randomized to the contralateral acupuncture group (contra-group) and the ipsilateral acupuncture group (ipsi-group). The patients received one acupuncture treatment session at ST 38 on the nonpainful or painful sides, respectively. Before and after acupuncture treatment, they underwent functional magnetic resonance scanning. The treatment-related changes in degree centrality (DC) maps were compared between the two groups. We found alleviated pain and improved shoulder function in both groups, but better shoulder functional improvement was observed in the contra-group. Increased DC in the anterior/paracingulate cortex and decreased DC in bilateral postcentral gyri were found in the contra-group, while decreased DC in the bilateral cerebellum and right thalamus was observed in the ipsi-group. Furthermore, the DC value in the bilateral anterior/paracingulate cortex was positively correlated with the treatment-related change in the Constant-Murley score. The current study reveals different changes of DC patterns after acupuncture at contralateral or ipsilateral ST 38 in patients with CSP. Our findings support the hypothesis of acupoint specificity and provide the evidence for acupuncturists to select acupoints for CSP.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Encéfalo/fisiopatología , Dolor Crónico/fisiopatología , Dolor Crónico/terapia , Dolor de Hombro/fisiopatología , Dolor de Hombro/terapia , Mapeo Encefálico , Dolor Crónico/complicaciones , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Persona de Mediana Edad , Dolor de Hombro/complicaciones , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND) in comparison with citicoline, an agent for cognitive disturbances associated with chronic cerebral disorders. DESIGN:: A randomized controlled multicenter trial. SETTING:: In three hospitals in Beijing, China. SUBJECTS:: A total of 216 patients with VCIND were recruited. INTERVENTIONS:: Patients with VCIND (mean age of 65.4 years) were randomized to receive acupuncture (two sessions per week) or oral citicoline (100 mg three times daily) over three months. MAIN MEASURES:: The primary outcome was the change from baseline to three months in cognitive symptom, measured by Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). Secondary outcomes included changes from baseline to six months in ADAS-cog, executive function measured by the Clock Drawing Test (CDT), and functional disability measured by the Ability of Daily Living (ADL) scale at three and six months. RESULTS:: At three months, the acupuncture group had a greater decrease in mean ADAS-cog score (-2.33 ± 0.31) than the citicoline group (-1.38 ± 0.34) with a mean difference of -0.95 (95% CI, -1.84 to -0.07, P = 0.035). The mean change from baseline to six months in ADAS-cog also significantly favored acupuncture treatments (acupuncture change -2.61 vs citicoline -1.25, difference: -1.36 points; 95% CI, -2.20 to -0.51; P = 0.002). There was no difference between the two groups on CDT and ADL scores at either time point. CONCLUSION:: Compared with citicoline, acupuncture has comparable and even superior efficacy with improved cognitive and daily living performance as a complementary and alternative medicine treatment for VCIND.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Disfunción Cognitiva/terapia , Anciano , China , Citidina Difosfato Colina/uso terapéutico , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Nootrópicos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Subjective cognitive decline(SCD),a clinical condition in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease,manifests as a continuous decrease in the individual's self-conscious cognitive function but with normal objective cognitive indicators. Research on SCD helps to identify individuals at high risk of senile dementia and explore the effective prevention and intervention strategies. This article reviews the recent research advances in SCD,with an attempt to provide evidence for early intervention in patients with SCD.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Disfunción Cognitiva , Cognición , HumanosRESUMEN
Previous small animal models for menopausal transition are mainly performed to mimic the biochemical changes of patients with menopausal transition. The psychological symptoms in animal models are often overlooked. To mimic clinical situation, we developed a new mouse model of menopausal transition: the combination of bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and empty bottle stimulation (EBS). After OVX and 21 days of EBS, behavioral test and pentobarbital-induced sleep test were carried out. Then all the animals were euthanized for further investigations. Compared with the control group, the combination of OVX and EBS group (OVX + EBS) showed higher bodyweight, lower organ index of uteri, and lower concentrations of serum estradiol. In addition, behavioral manifestations, sleep quality, and morphologic features in OVX + EBS group showed significant differences compared with the control group. OVX alone or EBS alone failed to include all the changes of OVX + EBS group. These findings indicate ovariectomy or EBS alone could not well mimic the symptoms of menopausal transition. The combination of bilateral ovariectomy and EBS offers an easy and repeatable method for building comprehensive menopausal transition model in mice.
Asunto(s)
Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Menopausia/fisiología , Ovariectomía , Animales , Peso Corporal/fisiología , Estradiol/sangre , Femenino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos ICR , Sueño/fisiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for pain relief and function improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis and to determine the feasibility of an eight-week acupuncture intervention. DESIGN:: Pilot randomized controlled trial. SETTING:: Three teaching hospitals in China. SUBJECTS:: Patients with knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren grade II or III). INTERVENTIONS:: Patients were randomly assigned to an eight-week (three sessions per week) intervention of either traditional Chinese acupuncture or sham acupuncture. MAIN MEASURES:: The primary outcome was response rate-the proportion of patients achieving score ⩾36% decrease in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and function at week 8 compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes included pain, function and quality of life. RESULTS:: Of 42 patients randomized, 36 (85.7%) completed the study. There was no significant difference in response rate between the traditional Chinese acupuncture and control groups: 61.9% (13 of 21) versus 42.9% (9 of 21) achieved score ⩾36% decrease in WOMAC pain and function at week 8 ( P = 0.217). The sum of WOMAC pain and function scores at week 8 was 11.6 (9.1) in the traditional Chinese acupuncture group compared with 16.3 (10.9) in the control group ( P = 0.183). There was no significant difference between groups. Three adverse events were recorded and were classified as mild. CONCLUSION:: It showed that three sessions per week acupuncture intervention of knee osteoarthritis was feasible and safe. No difference was observed between groups due to small sample size. Larger (sample size ⩾ 296) randomized controlled trials of this intervention appear justified.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/terapia , Anciano , China , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proyectos Piloto , Recuperación de la Función , Método Simple Ciego , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture is widely applied for treatment of various neurological disorders. This manuscript will review the preclinical evidence of acupuncture in mediating neural plasticity, the mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched acupuncture, plasticity, and other potential related words at the following sites: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP information data base. The following keywords were used: acupuncture, electroacupuncture, plasticity, neural plasticity, neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, neuroblast, stem cell, progenitor cell, BrdU, synapse, synapse structure, synaptogenesis, axon, axon regeneration, synaptic plasticity, LTP, LTD, neurotrophin, neurotrophic factor, BDNF, GDNF, VEGF, bFGF, EGF, NT-3, NT-4, NT-5, p75NTR, neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, noradrenaline, dopamine, monamine. We assessed the effects of acupuncture on plasticity under pathological conditions in this review. RESULTS: Relevant references were reviewed and presented to reflect the effects of acupuncture on neural plasticity. The acquired literatures mainly focused on neurogenesis, alterations of synapses, neurotrophins (NTs), and neurotranimitters. Acupuncture methods mentioned in this article include manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative evidences demonstrated that acupuncture could induce neural plasticity in rodents exposed to cerebral ischemia. Neural plasticity mediated by acupuncture in other neural disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression, were also investigated and there is evidence of positive role of acupuncture induced plasticity in these disorders as well. Mediation of neural plasticity by acupuncture is likely associated with its modulation on NTs and neurotransmitters. The exact mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects on neural plasticity remain to be elucidated. Neural plasticity may be the potential bridge between acupuncture and the treatment of various neurological diseases.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Sistema Nervioso Central/fisiología , Plasticidad Neuronal/fisiología , Animales , Humanos , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso/fisiopatología , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso/terapiaRESUMEN
As the most common sleep disorder,insomnia decreases the quality of life and is the high risk for cardiovascular disease,neurological disease,and psychiatric disease. It has become a major public health problem. In recent years,magnetic resonance imaging technology has been widely used for research on the brain structure in patients with insomnia. This article summarizes recent research findings of the abnormal brain structure and the potential neural mechanism of insomnia,with an attempt to understand the mechanisms in abnormal brain regions and thus further identify the pathophysiology of insomnia.
Asunto(s)
Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Trastornos del Inicio y del Mantenimiento del Sueño/diagnóstico por imagen , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Calidad de VidaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture could improve cognitive impairment in vascular dementia by enhancing synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether dopamine, a key mediator of synaptic plasticity, is involved in this cognitive improvement. METHODS: Vascular dementia model was established by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion in male Wistar rats. Three days after the operation, animals received acupuncture treatment for 2 weeks, once daily. The D1/D5 receptors antagonist SCH23390 was administered intraperitoneally 15 minutes before each acupuncture treatment. Morris water maze was examined after acupuncture. Long-term potentiation was studied by an electrophysiological technique. Dopamine and metabolites levels were detected by microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography from brain tissue. The expression of D1R and D5R was analyzed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Acupuncture remarkably reversed cognitive deficits in 2-vessel occlusion model (2VO) rats, and the acupuncture points Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) were confirmed to be the most effective combination. Electrophysiological recording data showed that 2VO-induced impairments of long-term potentiation were prevented by acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture promoted the release of dopamine and its major metabolites in the hippocampus of 2VO rats. The immunofluorescence experiment showed that the decrease of D1R and D5R in hippocampal dentate gyrus region of 2VO rats was reversed by acupuncture. Furthermore, we found that the effects of acupuncture against 2VO-induced impairments in cognition and synaptic plasticity were abolished by SCH23390. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in cognition and hippocampal synaptic plasticity induced by acupuncture was achieved via activation of D1/D5 receptors in 2VO rats.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura/métodos , Demencia Vascular/terapia , Giro Dentado/metabolismo , Giro Dentado/fisiopatología , Antagonistas de Dopamina/farmacología , Potenciación a Largo Plazo/fisiología , Trastornos de la Memoria/terapia , Receptores de Dopamina D1/metabolismo , Receptores de Dopamina D5/metabolismo , Animales , Conducta Animal , Benzazepinas/administración & dosificación , Benzazepinas/farmacología , Demencia Vascular/complicaciones , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Antagonistas de Dopamina/administración & dosificación , Masculino , Trastornos de la Memoria/etiología , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
The sympathetic nervous system, via epinephrine and norepinephrine, regulates ß-adrenergic receptor (ß-AR) expression, and renal sympathetic activation causes sustained increases in blood pressure by enhanced renin release. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of acupuncture at Taichong (LR3) on renal sympathetic activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Unanesthetized rats were subject to daily acupuncture for 2 weeks. Mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitored at days 0, 7, and 14 by radiotelemetry. After euthanasia on the 14th day, blood and the kidneys were collected and subject to the following analyses. Epinephrine and norepinephrine were detected by ELISA. The expression of ß-ARs was studied by western blotting and PCR. The renin content was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. 14-day acupuncture significantly attenuates the increase of MBP. The HRV indices, the standard deviation of all normal NN intervals (SDNN), and the ratio of the low-frequency component to the high-frequency component (LF/HF) were improved following acupuncture. Renal sympathetic activation induced upregulation of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and renin content were attenuated by acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture decreased ß1-AR expression and improved ß2-AR expression. These results indicated that acupuncture relieves the increased MBP via the regulation of renal sympathetic activity and ß-ARs.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Presión Sanguínea , Frecuencia Cardíaca , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta/fisiología , Sistema Nervioso Simpático/fisiología , Animales , Epinefrina/metabolismo , Masculino , Norepinefrina/metabolismo , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas SHR , Ratas Endogámicas WKY , Renina/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, acupoints are specifically chosen sites of acupuncture manipulation, and also the basis for studying the mechanism of acupuncture. Stimulating different acupoints on the body surface could provide various therapeutic benefits. However, what is the acupoint? This question is not clear. REVIEW SUMMARY: We focuse on examining the function of acupoints from different perspectives, including the local and the systemic effects of stimulating acupoints. For example, acupoints may release certain substances or incur some changes, which could adjust the function of organs, maintain homeostasis. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of verum acupoints versus sham acupoints were discussed. However, due to insufficience in evidence and in current methodologies, research into mechanisms of acupuncture is still incomplete. CONCLUSION: This review might explain, to some extent, what an acupoint is. Further research into the identity of acupoints is warranted, and multidisciplinary methods using novel technologies may yield significant advances over existing knowledge.
Asunto(s)
Puntos de Acupuntura/clasificación , Terapia por Acupuntura/métodos , Modelos Biológicos , Estimulación Física/métodos , Fenómenos Fisiológicos de la Piel , Vísceras/fisiología , Homeostasis/fisiología , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Decreased cognition is recognized as one of the most severe and consistent behavioral impairments in dementia. Experimental studies have reported that acupuncture may improve cognitive deficits, relieve vascular dementia (VD) symptoms, and increase cerebral perfusion and electrical activity. METHODS: Multi-infarction dementia was modeled in rats with 3% microemboli saline suspension. Two weeks after acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36), all rats were subjected to a hidden platform trial to test their 3-day spatial memory using the Morris water maze test. To estimate the numbers of pyramidal neuron, astrocytes, and synaptic boutons in hippocampal CA1 area, we adopted an unbiased stereology method to accurately sample and measure the size of cells. RESULTS: We found that acupuncture at ST36 significantly decreased the escape latency of VD rats. In addition, acupuncture significantly increased the pyramidal neuron number in hippocampal CA1 area (P < 0.05) and tended to decrease the number of astrocytes (P = 0.063). However, there was no significant change in the synaptic bouton number of hippocampal CA1 area in any of the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that acupuncture may improve cognitive deficits and increase pyramidal neuron number of hippocampal CA1 area in VD rats.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Trastornos del Conocimiento/terapia , Cognición , Demencia Vascular/terapia , Hipocampo/patología , Trastornos de la Memoria/prevención & control , Células Piramidales/metabolismo , Puntos de Acupuntura , Animales , Astrocitos/metabolismo , Trastornos del Conocimiento/etiología , Trastornos del Conocimiento/metabolismo , Trastornos del Conocimiento/patología , Demencia Vascular/complicaciones , Demencia Vascular/metabolismo , Demencia Vascular/patología , Masculino , Aprendizaje por Laberinto/fisiología , Trastornos de la Memoria/etiología , Trastornos de la Memoria/metabolismo , Trastornos de la Memoria/patología , Ratas Wistar , Memoria EspacialRESUMEN
In this trial, patients who agreed to random assignment were allocated to a randomized acupuncture group (R-acupuncture group) or control group. Those who declined randomization were assigned to a nonrandomized acupuncture group (NR-acupuncture group). Patients in the R-acupuncture group and NR-acupuncture group received up to 21 acupuncture sessions during a period of 6 weeks plus routine care, while the control group received routine care alone. Cognitive function, activities of daily living, and quality of life were assessed by mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL), and dementia quality of life questionnaire (DEMQOL), respectively. All the data were collected at baseline, after 6-week treatment, and after 4-week follow-up. No significant differences of MMSE scores were observed among the three groups but pooled-acupuncture group had significant higher score than control group. Compared to control group, ADL score significantly decreased in NR-acupuncture group and pooled-acupuncture group. For DEMQOL scores, no significant differences were observed among the three groups, as well as between pooled-acupuncture group and control group. Additional acupuncture to routine care may have beneficial effects on the improvements of cognitive status and activities of daily living but have limited efficacy on health-related quality of life in VaD patients.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Demencia Vascular/terapia , Actividades Cotidianas , Terapia por Acupuntura/efectos adversos , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Calidad de Vida , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is often used for primary dysmenorrhea. But there is no convincing evidence due to low methodological quality. We aim to assess immediate effect of acupuncture at specific acupoint compared with unrelated acupoint and nonacupoint on primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: The Acupuncture Analgesia Effect in Primary Dysmenorrhoea-II is a multicenter controlled trial conducted in six large hospitals of China. Patients who met inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to classic acupoint (N = 167), unrelated acupoint (N = 167), or non-acupoint (N = 167) group on a 1:1:1 basis. They received three sessions with electro-acupuncture at a classic acupoint (Sanyinjiao, SP6), or an unrelated acupoint (Xuanzhong, GB39), or nonacupoint location, respectively. The primary outcome was subjective pain as measured by a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Measurements were obtained at 0, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes following the first intervention. In addition, patients scored changes of general complaints using Cox retrospective symptom scales (RSS-Cox) and 7-point verbal rating scale (VRS) during three menstrual cycles. Secondary outcomes included VAS score for average pain, pain total time, additional in-bed time, and proportion of participants using analgesics during three menstrual cycles. FINDINGS: Five hundred and one people underwent random assignment. The primary comparison of VAS scores following the first intervention demonstrated that classic acupoint group was more effective both than unrelated acupoint (-4.0 mm, 95% CI -7.1 to -0.9, P = 0.010) and nonacupoint (-4.0 mm, 95% CI -7.0 to -0.9, P = 0.012) groups. However, no significant differences were detected among the three acupuncture groups for RSS-Cox or VRS outcomes. The per-protocol analysis showed similar pattern. No serious adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION: Specific acupoint acupuncture produced a statistically, but not clinically, significant effect compared with unrelated acupoint and nonacupoint acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhea patients. Future studies should focus on effects of multiple points acupuncture on primary dysmenorrhea.
Asunto(s)
Puntos de Acupuntura , Terapia por Acupuntura/métodos , Dismenorrea/diagnóstico , Dismenorrea/terapia , Manejo del Dolor/métodos , Dimensión del Dolor/métodos , Adulto , China/epidemiología , Dismenorrea/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Deqi is a central concept in traditional Chinese acupuncture. We performed a secondary analysis on data from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) in order to assess the effect of acupuncture on deqi traits and pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: A total of 60 primary dysmenorrhea patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Acupuncture was given at SP6, GB39 or nonacupoint. Subjective pain was measured by a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after acupuncture. The Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scales (MASS) with minor modification was used to rate deqi sensations during acupuncture. RESULTS: The results showed that VAS scores of pain after acupuncture were significantly decreased comparing to before acupuncture treatment in all three groups (P = 0.000). However, no significant differences were found among three groups at the beginning or end of acupuncture treatment (P = 0.928, P = 0.419). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistical difference among three groups in terms of intensity of deqi feeling. The types of sensation were similar across the groups with only minor differences among them. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN24863192.
Asunto(s)
Puntos de Acupuntura , Terapia por Acupuntura , Dismenorrea/terapia , Dolor , Qi , Sensación , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Dimensión del Dolor , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: An ideal animal model to explore that pathogenesis and prevention of dementia is essential. The present study was designed to compare the difference of behavior and cerebral blood flow of the two vascular dementia rat models at different time intervals. METHODS: The rats were randomly allocated to three groups: bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) group, thromboembolism (TE) group and sham-operated (SHAM) group. The performance in the Morris water maze (MWM) was analyzed at 7, 14 and 28 d after operation and cerebral blood flow (CBF) was analyzed at 28 days after operation. RESULT: The results showed that the two models exhibited longer latency, less times to crossing platform in MWM and lower CBF than the SHAM rats. Compared with the TE rats, the BCCAO rats have a significant prolongation of escape latency at 7 days and 28 days. In the probe trial, the BCCAO rats showed less number of times across the platform. CONCLUSION: The BCCAO rats maybe provide a more useful model to study the physiopathological mechanisms of cognitive impairment related to chronic cerebral ischemia.
Asunto(s)
Cognición/fisiología , Demencia Vascular/psicología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Animales , Trombosis de las Arterias Carótidas/fisiopatología , Trombosis de las Arterias Carótidas/psicología , Estenosis Carotídea/fisiopatología , Estenosis Carotídea/psicología , Corteza Cerebral/irrigación sanguínea , Demencia Vascular/fisiopatología , Masculino , Aprendizaje por Laberinto/fisiología , Ratas , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disorder among middle and older individuals. Electroacupuncture and exercise are present as two popular physical therapies for the management of KOA, and both were demonstrated to produce considerable results. However, the clinical decision-making process between these therapeutic interventions remains challenging due to the limited evidence of distinctions in their respective effects. This study aims to evaluate the clinical effect and cost effectiveness of electroacupuncture versus exercise in patients with KOA. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial in which 196 symptomatic KOA patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 either to the electroacupuncture group (n = 98) and the exercise group (n = 98). Patients in the electroacupuncture group will receive acupuncture with electric stimulation 3 times a week for 8 weeks, whereas patients in the exercise group will receive neuromuscular training twice a week for 8 weeks. Education concerning KOA management will be provided in both therapies. Co-primary outcomes include changes in numerical rating scale (NRS) and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) subscale from baseline at week 8. Secondary outcomes include KOOS Pain subscale, KOOS knee-related Quality of Life (QOL) subscale, Short Form 6 Dimensions (SF-6D), five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), Credibility/ Expectancy Questionnaire, Patient's global assessment (PGA), 30-second Chair Stand Test (30s-CST), 40m (4*10m) Fast Paced Walk Test (40m FPWT), and Daily Physical Activity level (DPA). DISCUSSION: The results of this study will provide evidence regarding differences between these 2 physical therapies in multiple aspects and will provide specific guidance for the development of treatments based on the needs of individual patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2300070376.
Asunto(s)
Electroacupuntura , Terapia por Ejercicio , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla , Calidad de Vida , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Actividades Cotidianas , Electroacupuntura/métodos , Ejercicio Físico , Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/terapia , Resultado del Tratamiento , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como AsuntoRESUMEN
The STRICTA checklist is the guideline for reporting clinical trials undertaken using acupuncture intervention. As an extension of the CONSORT checklist, the STRICTA checklist facilitates the reporting quality of acupuncture clinical trials. The clinical research paradigm changes along with the development of science and technology. It is crucial to ensure whether or not the existing STRICTA checklist guides the reporting clinical trials of acupuncture now and in the future as well. This paper introduces the development and the updating procedure of the STRICTA checklist, analyzes the characteristics of utility and the limitation, and proposes several suggestions on the difficulties and challenges encountered in the implementation of the STRICTA checklist of current version so as to advance the further update and improvement.
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Acupuntura , Lista de Verificación , Humanos , Terapia por Acupuntura/normas , Ensayos Clínicos como Asunto/normas , Proyectos de Investigación/normasRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Knee osteoarthritis represents the prevalent and incapacitating disease. Acupuncture, a widely used clinical treatment for knee osteoarthritis, has been shown to ameliorate pain and enhance joint function in affected individuals. However, there is a lack of evidence comparing different courses of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. In this trial, we will assess the effect of 4 weeks vs 8 weeks of acupuncture in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The protocol is a pragmatic, parallel, two-arm randomised controlled trial, with the data analyst and assessor being blinded. 148 eligible patients with knee osteoarthritis will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive 4-week or 8-week acupuncture. Electroacupuncture will be administered three times per week for 4 or 8 weeks, respectively. Patients with knee osteoarthritis in both groups will be followed up to 26 weeks. The primary outcome is the response rate at week 26, and secondary outcomes include knee joint pain, knee joint function, knee joint stiffness, quality of life, patient global assessment, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International response rate and rescue medicine. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be carried out over 26 weeks. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (2023BZYL0506). The study findings will be disseminated through presentation in a medical journal. Additionally, we plan to present them at selected conferences and scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300073383; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=199310).