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Medicine Jul 2023To critically evaluate the effects of massage therapy on cancer pain. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To critically evaluate the effects of massage therapy on cancer pain.
METHODS
Nine Chinese and English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, SCOPUS, Web of Science core, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP) were systematically searched from the inception of databases to November 2022 for randomized controlled trials. According to Cochrane Collaboration, 2 reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data from the included studies. All analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.4.
RESULTS
Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis, containing 1000 patients (498 in the massage therapy group and 502 in the control group). Massage therapy could significantly relieve cancer pain in patients (standardized mean difference = -1.16, 95% confidence interval [-1.39, -0.93], P < .00001), especially those in the perioperative period and those with hematological malignancies. Foot reflexology and hand acupressure had a moderate effect on cancer pain relief, with hand acupressure being more effective. Massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes and a program length of ≥1 week had a better effect and could significantly relieve pain. The occurrence of adverse events was reported in 4 of the 13 studies, all of which were no adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS
Massage therapy can be used as a complementary alternative therapy to relieve cancer pain in patients with hematological malignancies, breast cancer, and cancers of the digestive system. It is suggested that chemotherapy patients use foot reflexology, and perioperative period patients use hand acupressure. A massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes and a program length of ≥1 week is recommended to achieve better effects.
Topics: Humans; Female; Cancer Pain; Massage; Complementary Therapies; Breast Neoplasms; Hematologic Neoplasms
PubMed: 37417622
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033939 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023To evaluate the effect of acupoint stimulation compared to other interventions on pain control in neonates who underwent heel lance, we searched for randomized...
To evaluate the effect of acupoint stimulation compared to other interventions on pain control in neonates who underwent heel lance, we searched for randomized controlled trials across six databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science) published up to January 2023. Studies comparing acupoint stimulation and other interventions for controlling heel lance pain in neonates were included. These reports measured at least one of the following variables: pain score, crying time, oxygenation saturation, heart rate, respiration rate, and duration of the procedure. The data were independently extracted by two authors, and the PRISMA guidelines for study selection were followed. A total of 79 articles were screened, and 10 studies, with results on 813 neonates, were included in the final selection. The pain scores recorded during the heel lance procedure were not significantly different between the acupoint stimulation cohort and the control cohort (SMD of -0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) from -0.52 to 0.01; = 0.06; I = 68%). After processing the subgroup analyses, significant differences were found in the comparisons of acupuncture vs. usual care (SMD of -1.25, 95% CI from -2.23 to 0.27) and acupressure vs. usual care (SMD of -0.62, 95% CI from -0.96 to -0.28); nonsignificant differences were found in other comparisons. Our results demonstrate that acupoint stimulation may improve pain score during the heel lance procedure.
PubMed: 37371256
DOI: 10.3390/children10061024 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023In situations where death by suicide is a major global issue and effective prevention and management approaches are lacking, acupuncture improves some risk factors for... (Review)
Review
In situations where death by suicide is a major global issue and effective prevention and management approaches are lacking, acupuncture improves some risk factors for suicide, including depression, and it has been used for a long time in clinical settings. Herein, we aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of suicidal behaviors. Fourteen electronic databases were searched for studies published up to 7 September 2022. Original interventional studies of acupuncture in suicide prevention were included. The primary outcome was the validated measure of suicidal ideation. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using an appropriate assessment tool. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies, only qualitative analyses were conducted. Eight studies on manual acupuncture (50%), electro-acupuncture (37.5%), and acupressure (12.5%) were included. In particular, three studies (37.5%) used the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol to stimulate the bilateral sympathetic, Shenmen, kidney, liver, and lung auricular points. Acupuncture was effective in direct and indirect outcomes related to suicidal behavior, not only for participants with suicidal behavior, but also for those with other conditions, including depression. A decrease in salivary cortisol was the only biological indicator of acupuncture in patients with suicidal ideation. However, the methodological quality of the included studies was not optimal. In conclusion, acupuncture may reduce the risk of suicidal behavior in clinical and non-clinical populations. Owing to clinical heterogeneity, low methodological quality, and the small number of included studies, further high-quality studies should assess the effectiveness of acupuncture.
PubMed: 37046882
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11070955 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common psychiatric complication of mental disorders after stroke. Acupuncture for PSD is effective and has few adverse effects. As a...
BACKGROUND
Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common psychiatric complication of mental disorders after stroke. Acupuncture for PSD is effective and has few adverse effects. As a classical complementary and alternative therapy, acupuncture is often used in combination with antidepressants for PSD. However, there is a wide variety of acupuncture therapies, and the efficacy of different acupuncture varies. In this study, a network meta-analysis (NMA) was used to assess the clinical efficacy of different acupuncture combined with antidepressants for the treatment of PSD.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wan-Fang databases for published randomized controlled trials of acupuncture combined with antidepressants for the treatment of PSD was conducted. The time frame for the literature search was from the date of database creation to April 30, 2022. The Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0) was used to evaluate the bias risk of the included studies. Data analysis was performed by STATA 14.0 software.
RESULTS
A total of 38 literatures with 2,898 patients involving nine acupuncture therapies were included. NMA results were as follows: moxibustion plus antidepressants had the best efficacy in terms of improving total effective rate. Conventional acupuncture plus antidepressants was the most effective in improving HAMD scores. In terms of improving SDS scores, acupressure plus antidepressants was the most effective. In terms of improving NIHSS scores, moxibustion plus antidepressants showed the best results.
CONCLUSION
A comparison of the efficacy indicators of the nine different acupuncture therapies combined showed that moxibustion plus antidepressants, conventional acupuncture plus antidepressants and acupressure plus antidepressants were superior in the treatment of PSD. Based on the shortcomings of the existing studies, this conclusion needs to be validated by additional high-quality randomized controlled trials.
PubMed: 37034090
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.979643 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are widely used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) due to the limitations of conventional medicine.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are widely used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) due to the limitations of conventional medicine. However, their efficacy and safety remain controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to assess the improvement of CAM therapy on NVP.
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched for where the trial group was CAM and the control group was a conventional medicine or a placebo for NVP. This was done 8 databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP, from inception to October 25, 2022. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of evidence. The Stata 15.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Thirty-three RCTs were included in this study. The acupuncture treatment was superior to conventional medicine at the effective rate [RR = 1.71, 95% CI (1.02, 2.86), = 0.042; Low-quality evidence]. Ginger had more significant effects than conventional medicine at the Rhodes index [WMD = -0.52, 95% CI (-0.79, -0.24), ≤ 0.001; Moderate-quality evidence] and it had the same effect as drugs to relieve vomiting [SMD = 0.30, 95% CI (-0.12, 0.73), = 0.160; Low-quality evidence]. Compared with placebo, ginger had a higher effective rate [RR = 1.68, 95% CI (1.09, 2.57), = 0.018; Low-quality evidence], and lower Visual analog scale (VAS) of Nausea [WMD = -1.21, 95% CI (-2.34, -0.08), = 0.036; Low-quality evidence]. Ginger had the same antiemetic effect as placebo [WMD = 0.05, 95% CI (-0.23, 0.32), = 0.743; Low-quality evidence]. Acupressure was superior to conventional medicine at the reduction of antiemetic drugs [SMD = -0.44, 95% CI (-0.77, -0.11), = 0.008; Low-quality evidence], and at the effective rate [RR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.30, 1.86), ≤ 0.001; Low-quality evidence]. Acupressure had the same effect as placebo at the effective rate [RR = 1.25, 95% CI (0.94, 1.65), = 0.124; Low-quality evidence]. Overall, CAM therapy was safer than conventional medicine or a placebo.
CONCLUSION
The results showed that CAM therapies were able to alleviate NVP. However, due to the low quality of existing RCTs, more RCTs with large sample sizes are needed to validate this conclusion in the future.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Vomiting; Complementary Therapies; Antiemetics; Nausea; Acupuncture Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 36969661
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108756 -
International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2023This study investigated the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep in older people through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We conducted a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
This study investigated the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep in older people through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We conducted a literature search using eight electronic databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol. Participant characteristics, the contents of the evaluated interventions, and the measured outcomes were systematically reviewed for 15 selected studies. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the effect size for overall, aggregated sleep outcomes. Due to the small number of studies available for each intervention, only the overall effectiveness of non-pharmacological sleep interventions was evaluated. The evaluated interventions included exercise, aromatherapy, acupressure, cognitive behavior therapy, and meditation. Our results demonstrated that non-pharmacological interventions showed statistically significant effects on sleep (effect size = 1.00, 95% confidence interval: 0.16, 1.85, I = 92%, < 0.001). After confirming publication bias and removing outliers, we found no heterogeneity (I = 17%, = 0.298), with a decrease in effect size to 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 0.47, 0.93). Non-pharmacological interventions are effective for improving sleep in older adults. Future studies should continue to investigate sleep problems and interventions addressing these problems in this demographic, particularly in older women. Objective measures should be used to follow-up on the evaluated sleep interventions over the long term.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Sleep Wake Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Sleep; Aromatherapy; Meditation
PubMed: 36833796
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043101 -
Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023Most individuals affected by cancer who are treated with certain chemotherapies suffer of CIPN. Therefore, there is a high patient and provider interest in... (Review)
Review
Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) with Non-Pharmacological Interventions: Clinical Recommendations from a Systematic Scoping Review and an Expert Consensus Process.
Most individuals affected by cancer who are treated with certain chemotherapies suffer of CIPN. Therefore, there is a high patient and provider interest in complementary non-pharmacological therapies, but its evidence base has not yet been clearly pointed out in the context of CIPN. The results of a scoping review overviewing the published clinical evidence on the application of complementary therapies for improving the complex CIPN symptomatology are synthesized with the recommendations of an expert consensus process aiming to draw attention to supportive strategies for CIPN. The scoping review, registered at PROSPERO 2020 (CRD 42020165851), followed the PRISMA-ScR and JBI guidelines. Relevant studies published in Pubmed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PEDro, Cochrane CENTRAL, and CINAHL between 2000 and 2021 were included. CASP was used to evaluate the methodologic quality of the studies. Seventy-five studies with mixed study quality met the inclusion criteria. Manipulative therapies (including massage, reflexology, therapeutic touch), rhythmical embrocations, movement and mind-body therapies, acupuncture/acupressure, and TENS/Scrambler therapy were the most frequently analyzed in research and may be effective treatment options for CIPN. The expert panel approved 17 supportive interventions, most of them were phytotherapeutic interventions including external applications and cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, and tactile stimulation. More than two-thirds of the consented interventions were rated with moderate to high perceived clinical effectiveness in therapeutic use. The evidence of both the review and the expert panel supports a variety of complementary procedures regarding the supportive treatment of CIPN; however, the application on patients should be individually weighed in each case. Based on this meta-synthesis, interprofessional healthcare teams may open up a dialogue with patients interested in non-pharmacological treatment options to tailor complementary counselling and treatments to their needs.
Topics: Humans; Antineoplastic Agents; Consensus; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neoplasms; Complementary Therapies
PubMed: 36810482
DOI: 10.3390/medsci11010015 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Auricular acupressure (AA) is widely used in treatment of dysmenorrhea, but the safety and efficacy of auricular acupressure on dysmenorrhoea are still lack of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Auricular acupressure (AA) is widely used in treatment of dysmenorrhea, but the safety and efficacy of auricular acupressure on dysmenorrhoea are still lack of evidence-based basis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on dysmenorrhea.
DATA SOURCES
A systematic search was conducted in six electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CINAHL), Weipu (CQVIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases, to retrieve studies published from the inception dates to June 10, 2022.
STUDY SELECTION
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness of AA on dysmenorrhea were identified.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
The data extraction and quality assessment of the included studies were performed by two reviewers independently. Outcomes were abstracted to determine the effect measure by using mean differences (MD), standardized mean differences (SMD), or odds ratio (OR) from a random effects model.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Cure rate, total effective rate, and visual analogue scale (VAS) were described as primary outcomes; Short-form Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQs), symptom scores, serum nitric oxide (NO) level, and adverse events were recorded as secondary outcomes.
RESULTS
Thirty-five RCTs involving 3960 participants were included in this study. Our findings indicated that, overall, AA was associated with a significant benefit in cured rate (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: [1.34, 2.83], P=0.0004, I = 75%), total effective rate (OR = 3.58, 95%CI: [2.92, 4.39], P<0.00001, I = 67%), VAS score (MD = -1.45, 95%CI: [-1.73, -1.17], P<0.00001, I = 67%), and symptom scores compared to the control group (SMD = -0.85, 95%CI: [-1.28, -0.43], P<0.0001, I = 91%). However, no difference in serum NO (SMD = 0.77, 95%CI: [-0.39, 1.92], P = 0.19, I = 89%) and MDQs (SMD = -0.58, 95%CI: [-1.26, 0.10], P = 0.10, I = 79%) was found between the two groups. Furthermore, subgroup analysis results indicated that AA showed significant superiorities in increasing cured rate and total effective rate, and reducing VAS score and symptom scores when compared to analgesics and non-intervention. Moreover, AA presented the same superiorities when used as an adjunctive strategy to other therapy. However, these benefits were not detected in AA used alone when compared to the therapies, including Chinese herbs, acupuncture, external application of Chineseherbal medicine, moxibustion, auricular needle, and health education.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, AA, as a potential safety therapy, is effective for the management of dysmenorrhea, such as increasing cured rate, total effective rate, VAS, and symptom scores. Nevertheless, AA showed no significant improvement in serum NO and MDQs. It is furtherly found that AA used alone is superior to analgesics and non-intervention regarding cured rate, total effective rate, VAS, and symptom scores. Furthermore, the same superiorities are observed when AA serves as an adjunctive strategy to other therapy. However, AA alone has little effect on them compared to other therapies, and there is no definite conclusion on the benefits of AA compared to placebo for patients with dysmenorrhea. Rigorous RCTs with blind method and placebo control are warranted to confirm these findings.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022338524.
Topics: Female; Humans; Dysmenorrhea; Acupressure; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Acupuncture Therapy; Analgesics; Nitric Oxide
PubMed: 36686444
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1016222 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jan 2023Background and Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the current evidence to examine the safety and effectiveness of auricular acupressure... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Background and Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the current evidence to examine the safety and effectiveness of auricular acupressure on dry eye diseases. Materials and Methods: Twenty databases were searched from their inception until November 2022. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which auricular acupressure was used for dry eye diseases were included. The selection process, data extraction and quantitative were conducted according to the guidelines. Results: Seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed that compared to artificial tears, auricular acupressure had a favorable effect on prolonging tear breakup time (TBUT), improving the Schirmer I test (SIT) score and the score of symptoms (SOS) of patients with dry eye disease (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the artificial tears alone, auricular acupressure plus artificial tears had a significantly greater SIT score (p < 0.001) and response rate (p = 0.006), significantly longer TBUT (p < 0.001), and significantly lower Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) (p = 0.02) and SOS (p = 0.03). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the auricular acupressure plus artificial tears group and the artificial tears group in terms of cornea fluorescein staining (CFS) (p = 0.09). Conclusions: Auricular acupressure, as a sole intervention or in combination with artificial tears, may have a beneficial effect on dry eye disease. However, more high-quality RCTs need to be included in the future to further prove the positive effects of auricular acupressure on patients with dry eye disease.
Topics: Humans; Lubricant Eye Drops; Acupressure; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Dry Eye Syndromes; Tears
PubMed: 36676806
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59010177 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2022Uremic pruritus causes sleep disturbances, poor quality of life, and increased morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease. Acupuncture has been shown to improve...
BACKGROUND
Uremic pruritus causes sleep disturbances, poor quality of life, and increased morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease. Acupuncture has been shown to improve uremic pruritus. There is limited evidence of the efficacy of traditional Chinese therapies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of acupoint stimulation therapy in patients with uremic pruritus.
METHODS
A systematic search of seven databases (up to Sep 2022) was conducted for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the clinical efficacy of acupuncture, acupressure, auricular acupressure, acupoint injection, acupoint thermal therapy, acupoint sticking therapy, or transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in the treatment of patients with uremic pruritus. Two reviewers selected eligible articles for inclusion in the meta-analysis and evaluated the risk of bias Cochrane Collaboration. The results of pruritus assessments and uremic pruritus-related laboratory parameters were analyzed.
RESULTS
Forty trials published between 2002 and 2022, including a total of 2,735 participants, were identified for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The effective rates for acupuncture, auricular acupressure, and the combination of acupoint injection and acupoint massage were significantly greater in patients with uremic pruritus compared to the control group. The levels of serum BUN, PTH, and histamine levels were significantly lower vs. control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture, auricular acupressure, and the combination of acupoint injection and acupoint massage seem to be effective in improving uremic pruritus in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, further investigation of these potential treatments is now warranted in larger patient populations and over a longer time frame.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022354585, identifier: PROSPERO CRD42022354585.
PubMed: 36530891
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1036072