Effect of ischemic compression performed by family caregivers on myofascial pain syndrome and the care burden of the families of patients: a multicenter open-label randomized comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic compression is a manual therapy technique for myofascial pain. This study aimed to verify the effect of ischemic compression performed by family caregivers on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in patients and on the family's care burden. METHODS: This multicenter, open-label, randomized, comparative study included patients with myofascial pain and their family caregivers who were randomized into the following groups: ischemia compression (performed by a family caregiver), sham ischemia compression, or untreated control. The effectiveness and safety of ischemic compression and the burden on family caregivers were evaluated. The primary endpoint was the rate of 50% or more improvement in the patient's mean numerical rating scale pain score in the previous 24 hours, 14 days after starting the intervention. The secondary endpoint was the rate of change in the family caregivers' reaction assessments. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients and caregivers (70 patients with cancer and family caregivers) who received home medical care were enrolled at three facilities. The study completion rate was 94.7%, and there were no adverse events. The rate of 50% or more improvement in the numerical rating scale score was 64.0% in the ischemic compression group, 16.0% in the sham ischemic compression group, and 4.0% in the control group (P<0.001). Caregivers' self-esteem was significantly lower in the ischemic compression and sham ischemic compression groups than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.370). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic compression for myofascial pain in patients performed by family caregivers can increase the analgesic effect in patients and self-esteem in family caregivers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (approval number: UMIN000036605).

Validity of the copper/zinc ratio as a diagnostic marker for taste disorders associated with zinc deficiency.

Although zinc (Zn) deficiency is often suspected in patients with taste disorders, it may be difficult to diagnose Zn deficiency, especially in patients without any clear risk factors. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to detect possible markers for taste disorders or zinc deficiency. To achieve this aim, we analyzed data obtained from 122 Japanese men who were not using medicines and had no diseases requiring treatment. We evaluated the following factors: awareness of dysgeusia; salty taste recognition threshold (SRT); the serum concentrations of Zn, copper (Cu), iron, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin; and the Cu/Zn ratio. The serum Cu/Zn ratio was positively correlated with the both the SRT and the awareness of dysgeusia. The serum Zn concentration was not correlated with the SRT or the awareness of dysgeusia in univariate analyses. However, in multivariate logistic regression, the serum Zn concentration was associated with the awareness of dysgeusia. In conclusion, the serum Cu/Zn ratio is a good diagnostic marker for taste disorders and the value of 1.1 may be a threshold level for detecting taste disorders.