Effect of grain-moxibustion on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and quality of life in patients with advanced gastric cancer / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of grain-moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced gastric cancer.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, conventional chemotherapy regimen combined with symptomatic treatment，such as antiemetic, acid-suppressive, liver-protecting drugs. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, grain-moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) in the observation group, 9 cones for each acupoint, once a day for a total of 90 days. The levels of NLR were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and quality of life were evaluated in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the value of NLR in the observation group was significantly lower than before treatment (0.05), and the descend range of observation group was larger than the control group (0.05). After treatment, the QOL in the observation group was improved in diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, general health states (0.05), and the observation group was superior to the control group in fatigue, sleep disorder, loss of appetite, diarrhea and general health states after treatment (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Grain-moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) can decrease NLR and improve QOL of patients with advanced gastric cancer.