185 research outputs found

    THE EFFECT OF ACUPRESSURE ON CONSTIPATION, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN CANCER PATIENTS WITH CONSTIPATION

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    Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint in the United States, resulting in about 2 million annual visits to the doctor. The purposes of this dissertation were to: 1) describe four theories of traditional Korean medicine; 2) review mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion and develop a conceptual model; 3) review findings from randomized controlled trials that tested the effects of acupressure used for the management of symptoms such nausea, pain, and dyspnea; 4) examine the reliability and validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in heart failure patients with constipation compared to those with gastrointestinal disease; 5) describe how Korean women experienced constipation and how constipation affected the quality of life and the experience of using complementary and alternative medicine for constipation; 6) test the effect of acupressure on constipation and to examine the quality of life and depressive symptoms in cancer patients with constipation. Meridian theory explains that acupressure stimulates meridians, a network of energy pathways in the body to increase the flow of bio-energy. Authors of 48 studies supported that acupressure reduced nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, pain, fatigue, and dyspnea. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to examine the depressive symptoms in cancer patients with constipation, but has not been tested in patients with constipation. Therefore, in this study, the psychometric properties of PHQ-9 were tested in patients with constipation. Cronbach’s alphas for the Patient Health Questionnaire were .89 and the correlation between the PHQ-9 and the BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory) was .81 (p\u3c.01) in 382 heart failure patients with constipation. Ten Korean women reported that living with constipation is a stressful and uncomfortable experience which impacts daily activity, lifestyle, social relationships, and diet. In this pilot study, three out of five patients in the acupressure group reported that acupressure was effective in improving constipation. Cancer patients with less than a four-month history of constipation had less depressive symptoms and higher quality of life compared to patient with more than a four-month history of constipation. In conclusion, acupressure can be a safe and cost effective alternative medicine for constipation

    Substance P and beta-endorphin mediate electro-acupuncture induced analgesia in mouse cancer pain model

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Opioid analgesics are generally used to combat the pain associated with cancerous conditions. These agents not only inhibit respiratory function and cause constipation, but also induce other significant side effects such as addiction and tolerance, all of which further contribute to a reduced quality of life for cancer patients. Thus, in the present study, the effects of electro-acupuncture treatment (EA) on mechanical allodynia were examined in a cancer pain mouse model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In order to produce a neuropathic cancer pain model, S-180 sarcoma cells were inoculated around the sciatic nerve of left legs of Balb/c mice. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning confirmed the mass of S-180 cancer cells embedded around the sciatic nerve. Mechanical allodynia was most consistently induced in the mouse sarcoma cell line S-180 (2 × 10<sup>6</sup>sarcoma cells)-treated group compared to all the other groups studied. EA stimulation (2 Hz) was administered daily to ST36 (Zusanli) of S-180 bearing mice for 30 min for 9 days after S-180 inoculation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>EA treatment significantly prolonged paw withdrawal latency from 5 days after inoculation. It also shortened the cumulative lifting duration from 7 days after inoculation, compared to the tumor control. Also, the overexpression of pain peptide substance P in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord was significantly decreased in the EA-treated group compared to the tumor control on Day 9 post inoculation. Furthermore, EA treatment effectively increased the concentration of β-endorphin in blood and brain samples of the mice to a greater extent than that of the tumor control as well as the normal group. The concentration of β-endorphin for EA treatment group increased by 51.457% in the blood and 12.6% in the brain respectively, compared to the tumor control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this study suggest that a S-180 cancer pain model is useful as a consistent and short time animal model. It also indicated that EA treatment could be used as an alternative therapeutic method for cancer pain due to a consequent decrease in substance P and increase in β-endorphin levels.</p

    Efficacy and safety of acupuncture in post-stroke constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    Background and objectivePost-stroke constipation (PSC) is a common complication of strokes that seriously affects the recovery and quality of life of patients, and effective treatments are needed. Acupuncture is a viable treatment option, but current evidence is insufficient to support its efficacy and safety. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of PSC.MethodsA systematic search of eight databases was conducted to identify PSC-related randomized clinical trials from the inception of each database through May 2023. Methodological quality assessment was conducted by RoB 2.0, meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.1, and evidence quality was evaluated by GRADE. Moreover, reporting quality of acupuncture interventions was assessed using the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA).ResultsThirty RCTs involving 2,220 patients were identified. We found that acupuncture was superior to conventional treatment (CT) in improving total responder rate [risk ratio (RR): 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09 to 1.25, p &lt; 0.0001], decreasing constipation symptom scores [standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.65, 95% CI: −0.83 to −0.46, p &lt; 0.00001], increasing serum P substance (SP) levels (SMD: 1.92, 95% CI: 0.47 to 3.36, p = 0.009), reducing the time to first bowel movement (BM) (SMD: -1.19, 95% CI: −2.13 to −0.25, p = 0.01), and lowing serum vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels (SMD: –2.11, 95% CI: −3.83 to −0.38, p = 0.02). Furthermore, acupuncture plus CT was superior regarding total responder rate (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.35, p &lt; 0.00001), serum SP levels (SMD: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.65–2.35, p &lt; 0.00001), time to first BM (SMD: –2.08, 95% CI: −2.44 to −1.71, p &lt; 0.00001), and serum VIP levels (SMD: –1.71, 95% CI: −2.24 to −1.18, p &lt; 0.00001). However, regarding Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) score, acupuncture plus CT was superior to CT (SMD: -2.48, 95% CI: −3.22 to −1.73, p &lt; 0.00001), while there was no statistically significant difference between acupuncture and CT (SMD: 0.28, 95% CI: −0.02 to 0.58, p = 0.07). Acupuncture causes fewer AEs than CT (RR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.26, p &lt; 0.00001), though there was no statistically significant difference between acupuncture plus CT vs. CT (RR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.60 to 2.84, p = 0.51).ConclusionAcupuncture may be an effective and safe therapy for PSC. However, given the inferior quality of clinical data, additional well-designed RCTs are required to confirm these findings

    The Holistic Effects of Acupuncture Treatment

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    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as a complex medical science which reflects philosophical principles and embodies large dialectical thought, is used to place the human body into a large system for observation. Acupuncture as a vital part of TCM, has been practiced to treat various diseases and symptoms. However, acupuncture is also facing severe challenges resulted from insufficient modern scientific research. Nowadays, the holistic effects of acupuncture can be researched by some modern approaches, such as the systems biology and fMRI technique. It is believed that having a better understand will greatly promote acupuncture research and be beneficial to scientization and modernization of acupuncture

    Effect of electro-acupuncture on reducing opioid consumption in patients with chronic pain: a randomised controlled clinical trial

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    Objectives: Electro-acupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing post-operative acute consumption of opioid-like medications (OLM) by previous studies. This effect has not been examined in patients with chronic pain. In this thesis, a randomised, double-blind, sham acupuncture-controlled study was reported. The trial aimed to evaluate the effect of EA in reducing OLM consumption in patients with chronic non-malignant pain. Methods: Thirty-five patients were recruited from a multidisciplinary pain management clinic in Melbourne. After a two-week baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups by a computer generated randomisation sequence: real EA (REA, n = 17) or sham EA (SEA, n = 18). The REA group received 2/100 Hz EA stimulation on two pairs of acupoints (Zusanli ST36 and Fenglong ST40 on one leg and Hegu LI4 and Quchi LI11 on one arm) and manual acupuncture on an additional five chosen acupoints for 30 minutes. The SEA group received superficial needling on non-acupoints without Deqi sensation or electrical stimulation. Both groups received treatment twice a week for six weeks. Participants were followed up for 12 weeks at intervals of four weeks. During the trial, participants were given clear instructions on how to reduce their OLM usage. A researcher telephoned the participants three times during the trial to encourage them to reduce OLM intake. The assessor, researcher and participants were blinded to treatment allocation. Outcome measures: The primary outcome measures included OLM consumption, related side effects, dosage of non-opioid analgesics and the intensity and unpleasantness of pain. These measures were recorded daily for two weeks before the intervention, six weeks during the treatment period and three times during the follow up period. Secondary outcome measures were depression and quality of life as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), respectively. Data were analysed with independent t-tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA) where appropriate and per protocol analysis was employed. Results: Nine participants withdrew from the study. At baseline, the two groups were comparable on all demographic characteristics and major outcome variables except for the average intensity of pain. During the treatment period, the reduction of OLM consumption was more rapid in the REA group (64%) than in the SEA (46%) (ANOVA, p less than 0.05). The effect was maintained for four weeks in the REA group. There were no differences in the improvement of all other measures between the two groups. The incidence of EA-related adverse events (AEs) per treatment was 21% and 10% in the REA and SEA groups, respectively. All AEs were minor. Over 90% of the participants were satisfied with the treatments given and would recommend EA to others. The blinding was successful. Conclusions: EA could be an effective and safe treatment for reducing OLM consumption for patients with chronic pain, and may be used as an adjunct therapy in chronic pain management. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted

    Advances in Treatment of Nocturnal Enuresis in Children

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    Nocturnal enuresis is a condition with complex etiology affecting plenty of children and families. Even though multifarious clinical trials and studies have been designed and completed, some inconclusive results on nocturnal enuresis confuse clinicians. This article aims to provide useful information for clinicians by summarizing the existing evidence on nocturnal enuresis and discussing the effectiveness and safety of different treatments. Nocturnal enuresis mainly results from the disorders related to central nervous system, which may cause nocturnal polyuria, nighttime bladder capacity decline, arousal disorder, and various accompanying diseases. We discussed the efficacy and safety of different treatments for monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, including standard therapies, simple behavioral interventions, complex behavioral interventions, alarm therapy, desmopressin and other drugs, biofeedback therapy, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage, and so on. Alarm is still the most effective single therapy with lower relapse rate. Desmopressin has efficacy mainly in children with nocturnal polyuria. Children with detrusor overactivity or decreasing functional bladder capacity can choose anticholinergics. Additionally, tricyclic drugs, biofeedback therapy, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, massage, and so on are therapeutic options for children with nocturnal enuresis

    Acupuncture

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    Acupuncture may have about 4000 years of history, but it has only been clinically accepted in the West for some 40 years. Acupuncture receives both praise from its users and skepticism from its critics. High-quality scientific studies have advanced, but the technique of acupuncture in health services has stagnated. In this current scenario of contrasts, Acupuncture - Resolving Old Controversies and Pointing New Pathways intends to be a modern reference for scholars, without totally exhausting the subject. The editors expect this work to assist with the advancement of the scientific understanding and clinical usage of acupuncture. The authors are well versed in the subject and, along with literature reviews, are able to add their own impressions. In this book, some traditional fundamentals of ancient Asian medicine are translated into the current scientific knowledge of neurophysiology and mechanisms of action. Specific variations of acupuncture, such as the scalp microsystem technique, are discussed and explained. Practical aspects, such as education on acupuncture, are enriched with descriptions of novel treatments. The therapeutic use of acupuncture and related techniques is explored regarding their incorporation into a comprehensive integrative medicine approach. As editors, we thank the contributing authors for their exquisite work, and we congratulate IntechOpen for its efforts in book production. For you, the readers, we hope to match the trust you put in this work, and we hope you find it useful

    Application of Traditional Medical Ideas to Geriatric Syndrome

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