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Cancer Medicine Jul 2021Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common chronic symptoms experienced by cancer patients. As moxibustion is a popular traditional therapy for managing... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common chronic symptoms experienced by cancer patients. As moxibustion is a popular traditional therapy for managing fatigue, it can be an alternative strategy to treat CRF as well. Therefore, we rigorously designed a full-scale, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion treatment for CRF. Ninety-six subjects suffering from CRF were recruited and randomly assigned to moxibustion group, sham moxibustion group, or usual care group. Both the moxibustion group and the sham group received moxibustion treatment for 8 weeks and the usual care group did not. Brief fatigue inventory (BFI) score and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue score were used to assess CRF at baseline and weeks 5, 9, and 13. Questionnaires for the assessment of cognitive impairment, quality of life, and Cold-Heat and Deficiency-Excess patterns were also evaluated. BFI scores significantly decreased in moxibustion group compared to the usual care group (mean difference of -1.92, p < 0.001 at week 9 and mean difference of -2.36, p < 0.001 at week 13). Although the sham group also showed significant improvement during the treatment period, only the moxibustion group showed improvement after 4 weeks of follow-up period (mean difference of -1.06, p < 0.001). There were no serious adverse events. Our findings confirmed the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for CRF compared to usual care. We also found that moxibustion has a prolonged treatment effect during 4 weeks of follow-up period.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Fatigue; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Moxibustion; Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Single-Blind Method; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 34189864
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4020 -
Medicine Oct 2023To compare the advantages and disadvantages of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods by network meta-analysis, in order to find out the best acupuncture and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To compare the advantages and disadvantages of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods by network meta-analysis, in order to find out the best acupuncture and moxibustion adjuvant chemotherapy scheme of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of NSCLC were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of science, EMbase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP database and SinoMed. The retrieval time was up to December 03, 2022. ROB2 was used to evaluate publication bias, and Stata16 was used for network meta-analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 14 studies involving 921 patients were included. The results of network Meta-analysis showed that the effect of acupuncture combined with chemotherapy was better than that of chemotherapy (RR = 1.28, 95%CI (1.04,1.58), P < .0001). The effect of acupuncture combined with chemotherapy was better than that of chemotherapy in improving KPS score (MD = 9.01, 95%CI (3.35,14.67), P < .0001). The safety of acupuncture combined with chemotherapy (RR = 0.35, 95%CI (0.15,0.83), P < .0001) was better than that of chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture combined with chemotherapy has the best comprehensive effect.
Topics: Humans; Moxibustion; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Network Meta-Analysis; Lung Neoplasms; Acupuncture Therapy; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
PubMed: 37861487
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035000 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jan 2024Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent progressive disorder. Moxibustion has found widespread use in clinical practice for OA, while its underlying mechanism remains elusive.
BACKGROUND
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent progressive disorder. Moxibustion has found widespread use in clinical practice for OA, while its underlying mechanism remains elusive.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether moxibustion can ameliorate OA by influencing the metabolic processes in OA and to elucidate the specific metabolic mechanisms involved.
METHODS
C57BL/6J WT mice were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the SHAM group, the ACLT group, and the ACLT+M group. In the ACLT+M group, mice underwent moxibustion treatment at acupoints Shenshu (BL23) and Zusanli (ST36) for a continuous period of 28 days, with each session lasting 20 min. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to assess the impact of moxibustion on OA, focusing on pathological changes, intestinal flora composition, and serum metabolites.
RESULTS
Moxibustion treatment effectively mitigated OA-related pathological changes. Specifically, moxibustion treatment resulted in the amelioration of articular cartilage damage, synovial inflammation, subchondral bone sclerosis when compared to the ACLT group. Moreover, 16S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that moxibustion treatment positively influenced the composition of the flora, making it more similar to that of the SHAM group. Notably, moxibustion treatment led to a reduction in the abundance of Ruminococcus and Proteobacteria in the intestine. In addition, non-targeted metabolomics analysis identified 254 significantly different metabolites between the groups. Based on KEGG pathway analysis and the observed impact of moxibustion on OA-related inflammation, moxibustion therapy is closely associated with the cAMP-related signaling pathway.
CONCLUSION
Moxibustion can relieve OA by regulating intestinal flora and via impacting cAMP-related signaling pathway.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Moxibustion; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Osteoarthritis; Inflammation; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 38113621
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116031 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Nov 2023Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), one of the most common adverse events associated with chemotherapy, may affect efficacy because of the interruption of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), one of the most common adverse events associated with chemotherapy, may affect efficacy because of the interruption of chemotherapy or change of regimen in severe cases, and may even increase cancer mortality. Relevant data supports the evidence that acupuncture can treat pain and sensory abnormalities. However, choosing the most effective acupuncture therapy is difficult because of the lack of evidence-based medicine and comparisons between different acupuncture therapies for treating CIPN. The aim of this study was to use a network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the efficacy of different acupuncture therapies for CIPN.
METHODS
We searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, The Chinese Journal Full Text Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and WanFang Database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for CIPN. The search period was from the creation of the relevant library to August 10, 2023. A total of 2 investigators independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and risk for bias evaluation. Stata 14.0 software (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas USA), was used for the NMA.
RESULTS
A total of 13 eligible RCTs involving 746 patients and 6 acupuncture therapies were included in the study. The NMA results showed that electroacupuncture was superior to moxibustion, manual acupuncture, acupoint injection and Western medicine in improving the total effective rate of treatment of CIPN; electroacupuncture + moxibustion was better than manual acupuncture, acupoint injection, and Western medicine. Manual acupuncture's total effective rate was better than Western medicine. However, electroacupuncture was the most effective treatment for CIPN according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) ranking.
CONCLUSION
After a comprehensive evaluation of 6 acupuncture therapies for treating CIPN based on NMA, electroacupuncture may be the best option for treating CIPN. However, would be more convincing to get evidence from more RCTs.
Topics: Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Acupuncture Therapy; Moxibustion; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Antineoplastic Agents
PubMed: 37708563
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Pain Research 2023To investigate the effects of moxibustion in relieving pain, and other clinical symptoms for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and explore the potential mechanism... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
PURPOSE
To investigate the effects of moxibustion in relieving pain, and other clinical symptoms for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and explore the potential mechanism of moxibustion treatment for RA.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Seventy qualified RA patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the moxibustion group or the routine group. The routine group only took oral methotrexate tablets and folic acid tablets. The moxibustion group was treated with moxibustion based on oral pharmaceutical. Moxibustion was performed two times weekly for 8 weeks, a total of 16 sessions. Patients scored their pain on a visual analog scale (VAS). The American College of Rheumatology improvement criteria of 20%, 50% and 70% (ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70) after treatment were investigated. Clinical symptoms, a disease activity score using 28 joint counts (DAS28), simplified disease activity index (SDAI), clinical disease activity index (CDAI), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of RA patients were analyzed before and after treatment.
RESULTS
After treatment, the VAS scores, tender and swollen joint counts, morning stiffness scores, disease activity scores (DAS28, SDAI, CDAI), HAQ scores in the two groups were both improved, and the effects of moxibustion group were more obvious ( < 0.05). The ACR20 and ACR50 of the moxibustion group were greater than that of the routine group ( < 0.05), no significant difference of the ACR70 existed between the two groups ( > 0.05). In addition, the decreases of IL-1β, TNF-α, VEGF of the moxibustion group were better than that of the routine group ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Moxibustion could effectively relieve pain, ameliorate the clinical symptoms, and decrease the disease activity of RA. The potential mechanism may be the decrease in the level of serum inflammatory factors.
PubMed: 37261035
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S408814 -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Mar 2022To synthesize the results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of indirect moxibustion for the treatment of allergic rhinitis... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize the results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of indirect moxibustion for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR).
METHODS
PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM from the establishment to May 22, 2020 were searched. This was a PRISMA review. Reviewers identified studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality, independently. RCTs for AR patients treated with IM alone or IM combined with other positive interventions (e.g. western medicine, conventional therapy, etc.) were included. The main outcomes included: total effective rate and TNSS. The secondary outcomes included: TNNSS, Graded symptom score, RQLQ, VAS, Serum IgE level and adverse events. RCTs were collected, methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool (RoB), and the level of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan5.3.0 manager.
RESULTS
We included 21 RCTs involving 1549 patients. Five RCTs adopt IM treatment alone; 16 RCTs adopt IM+other positive interventions. In the assessment of the quality, the evidence differs from low to high based on the Cochrane Bias Evaluation Tools. Six trials were high quality, twelve were moderate quality, and three were low quality. Therefore, the quality of the included studies was moderate. The total evidence quality of all outcome indicators was low. The main adverse reactions of moxibustion are burns and blisters, whereas the western medicine group was nasal bleeding. The results of pooled analysis indicated a statistically significant effect in total effective rate of (RR=1.16, 95%CI=1.11-1.21, I =30%, P = 0.10). Besides, indirect moxibustion intervention also showed significant difference in graded symptom score (SMD=-1.10; 95% CI [-1.58, -0.61]; P < 0.00001; I =88%), TNSS score (SMD=-1.36; 95% CI [-2.14, -0.58]; P = 0.76; I =0%), and RQLQ scale (SMD=-2.60; 95% CI [-4.06, -1.14]; P < 0.00001; I =92%) in patients with AR. However, there was no statistical significance in VAS score (SMD=-0.38; 95% CI [-1.06, 0.30]; P < 0.003; I =83%). Since only one literature was included in TNNSS and Serum IgE levels, descriptive analysis was conducted.And the results showed that the trial group was better than the control group in reducing TNNSS score (P < 0.05). In serum IgE levels,there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
From the analysis results, indirect moxibustion may have a good clinical effect on the overall treatment of AR, and improve the clinical symptoms of patients;but there was no obvious advantage in improving VAS score and Serum IgE level.Due to the limitations of small sample size, moderate quality and low level of evidence in the included literature, clinical trials should be designed in strict accordance with the standard of RCT in the future to verify this result.
Topics: Humans; Moxibustion; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rhinitis, Allergic
PubMed: 35041988
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102804 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2019To investigate the antiaging effects of moxibustion and moxa smoke on APP/PS1 mice and to illustrate the mechanism of moxibustion improving Alzheimer's disease (AD).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antiaging effects of moxibustion and moxa smoke on APP/PS1 mice and to illustrate the mechanism of moxibustion improving Alzheimer's disease (AD).
METHODS
36 male APP/PS1 mice were randomly assigned into three groups ( = 12), including a model control group, a moxibustion group, and a moxa smoke group. In addition, 12 C57BL/6 normal mice served as a normal (negative) control group. Mice in the moxibustion group received moxibustion intervention using Guanyuan (RN4) acupoint. Mice in the moxa smoke group received moxa smoke exposure with the same frequency as the moxibustion group. Behavioral tests were implemented in the 9th week, 3 days after the completion of the intervention. Tricarboxylic acid cycle and fatty acid metabolomics assessments of the mice were determined after behavioral tests.
RESULTS
In this study, relative to normal mice, we found that AD mice showed altered tricarboxylic and fatty acid metabolism and showed behavioral changes consistent with the onset of AD. However, both the moxibustion and moxa smoke interventions were able to mitigate these effects to some degree in AD mice.
CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that tricarboxylic acid cycle and unsaturated fatty acid metabolomics changes may be a target of AD, and the beneficial effects of moxibustion on cognitive behaviors may be mediated by the energy metabolism system.
PubMed: 31485251
DOI: 10.1155/2019/9419567 -
PloS One 2016We investigated whether there had been an improvement in the quality of reporting for randomised controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion published in Chinese... (Review)
Review
Do the CONSORT and STRICTA Checklists Improve the Reporting Quality of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Randomized Controlled Trials Published in Chinese Journals? A Systematic Review and Analysis of Trends.
BACKGROUND
We investigated whether there had been an improvement in the quality of reporting for randomised controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion published in Chinese journals. We compared the compliance rate for the quality of reporting following the publication of both the STRICTA and CONSORT recommendations in China.
METHODS
Four Chinese databases were searched for RCTs of acupuncture from January 1978 through to December 2012. The CONSORT and STRICTA checklists were used to assess the quality of reporting. Data were collected using a standardised form. All included RCTs were divided into three distinct time periods based on the time that CONSORT and STRICTA were introduced in China, respectively. Pearson's χ2 test and/or Fisher's exact test were used to assess differences in reporting among three groups.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
A total of 1978 RCTs were identified. Although the percentage of all the items has increased over time with the introduction of CONSORT and STRICTA in China, the actual compliance in several important methodological components, including sample size calculation (0% vs. 0% vs. 1.2%, for pre-CONSORT and pre-STRICTA, post-CONSORT but pre-STRICTA, and post-CONSORT and post-STRICTA, respectively), randomisation sequence generation (1.4% vs. 15% vs. 26.3%) and implementation (0% vs. 0% vs. 1.3%), allocation concealment (0% vs. 1.4% vs. 4.9%), and blinding (0% vs. 5.7% vs. 9.1%), remains low. Moreover, no RCTs have reported the setting and context of treatment and no descriptions of the participating acupuncturists have been provided thus far.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the quality of the reporting of RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion published in Chinese journals has improved since CONSORT and STRICTA were introduced in China, though the actual compliance rate of some important items were still low as of 2012. In the future, Chinese journals should enhance the adoption of the CONSORT and STRICTA statement to improve the reporting quality of the RCTs of acupuncture and moxibustion and to ensure the truth and reliability of the conclusions.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Bibliometrics; Checklist; China; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Moxibustion; Periodicals as Topic; Publishing; Quality Improvement; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Design
PubMed: 26808550
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147244 -
Integrative Cancer Therapies 2021The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) in women with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).
METHODS
We retrieved RCTs published before January 24, 2021, from the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (VIP), and Wanfang databases. RCTs that compared acupuncture and/or moxibustion intervention with other treatments were included. A random effects or fixed effects model was used based on the heterogeneity findings. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.
RESULTS
We included 14 RCTs in the analyses, of which 4 RCTs adopted acupuncture, 4 RCTs used moxibustion, and the rest used both. AM significantly reduced arm circumference at the elbow crease compared to routine care (Mean deviation (MD) = -7.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -8.30 to -6.21, < .00001). There was a significant difference between AM and diosmin tablets in the effective index for upper limb lymphedema (MD = 24.68, 95% CI = 24.82-30.53, < .00001), the range of motion of the shoulder during protraction (MD = 6.77, 95% CI = 2.81-10.73, = .0008), and adduction (MD = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.02-7.32, = .01). There was a significant difference between moxibustion and pneumatic circulation (MD = -0.51, 95% CI = -0.85 to -0.17, = .003) in the visual analog score (VAS) for swelling. Finally, compared to the blank control, acupuncture reduced the VAS for pain (MD = -1.33, 95% CI = -1.52 to -1.15, < .00001; heterogeneity () = 0%, = .57).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that AM is effective in the treatment of BCRL. AM may reduce arm circumference at the elbow crease (compared to routine care), increase effective index for upper limb lymphedema (compared to oral diosmin tablets), improve the range of motion of the shoulder during protraction and adduction (compared to oral diosmin tablets), and decrease the VAS for both swelling (compared to pneumatic circulation) and pain (compared to blank control).
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Lymphedema; Moxibustion; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 34521235
DOI: 10.1177/15347354211044107 -
Medicine Apr 2020This study aims to compare clinical effect between Jade moxibustion and traditional moxibustion, and to determine the clinical effect of Jade moxibustion on knee...
INTRODUCTION
This study aims to compare clinical effect between Jade moxibustion and traditional moxibustion, and to determine the clinical effect of Jade moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
METHODS/DESIGN
This is a 2-parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. A total of 148 subjects with KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or III) will be recruited and randomized to receive Jade moxibustion treatment or a traditional moxibustion treatment in a 1:1 ratio. Jade moxibustion group: The affected knee of the subjects will be covered with jade kneepad. Traditional moxibustion group: Chosen the ST35, ST34, EX-LE4, SP10 and Ashi points at the affected knee. The subjects will receive treatment three times a week, altogether 12 times in 4 weeks. The main outcomes are WOMAC knee pain score, knee function score and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire changes at the 4th week. Secondary outcomes include WOMAC knee pain score and knee function score, overall clinical efficacy evaluation, medication, safety evaluation at the 2nd, 12th, and 24th week, and cytokines related to osteoarthritis in serum.
DISCUSSION
This randomized controlled trial used traditional moxibustion as a control group to provide rigorous evidence for the clinical efficacy and safety of Jade moxibustion in treatment of KOA.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ISRCTN registry, No 21174552. Registered on 28 February 2020.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Middle Aged; Cytokines; Equivalence Trials as Topic; Moxibustion; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Pain Management; Pain Measurement; Quality of Life; Therapeutic Uses; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 32332638
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019845