BackgroundTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has gradually drawn the attention of clinicians as an alternative choice for insomniacs and TCM Yangxin Anshen Therapy (TYAT) is a crucial therapy of treating insomniacs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TYAT for insomnia.  MethodsSeven electronic databases were searched from inception to July 2019. Two authors independently identified Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), extracted data and assessed risk of bias by Cochrane risk bias assessment tool. Comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted with the Review Manager for eligible and appropriate studies.  ResultsFourteen trials (1549 participants) were finally included in this study....Weiterlesen

Abstract OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of acupuncture on pregnancy success rates applied before and after embryo transfer (ET) among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this randomized controlled trial, 72 infertile women undergoing IVF were randomized to acupuncture (AG; n = 36) and control group (CG; n = 36). Three sessions of acupuncture were applied to AG, the first was one week before ET, the second was 30 min before ET, and the third was 30 min after ET. CG received no acupuncture. The primary outcome was pregnancy success rate (Beta-HCG level, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, live birth). Secondary outcome was anxiety level...Weiterlesen

Abstract This randomized clinical trial investigates the effect of acupuncture vs a sham procedure or usual care for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms. MethodsThis pilot randomized clinical trial compared the effect of 8 weeks of real acupuncture vs sham acupuncture or usual care to treat CIPN. The trial protocol was approved by the institutional review board of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and follows the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (reporting guideline. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. Patients with solid tumors with persistent moderate to severe CIPN (symptoms of numbness, tingling, or pain rated ≥4 on a...Weiterlesen

Abstract Acupuncture has many advantages in the treatment of certain diseases as opposed to drug therapy. Besides, adenosine has been revealed to affect cellular progression including proliferation. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring the mechanism involving acupuncture stress and adenosine in fibroblast proliferation. The fibroblasts from fascia tissues of the acupoint area (Zusanli) were stimulated by different levels of stress, different concentrations of adenosine, and agonist or antagonist of A3 receptor (A3R) to investigate the effect of stress stimulation, adenosine, and adenosine-A3 R inhibition on fibroblasts. Then, the fibroblasts were treated with stress stimulation of 200 kPa or/and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)...Weiterlesen

Abstract BACKGROUND Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture reveal no significant differences between acupuncture and so-called placebo acupuncture. There is a strong tendency to replace the term „placebo“ by the term „sham,“ because any needling stimulates a certain physiological response. However, neither concept accounts for the great diversity of results in RCTs comparing verum acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture. Some trials have shown little or no difference, while other studies have found statistically significant differences. OBJECTIVE Verum acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture may achieve similar results to the extent that they share active constituents. We identified these common active...Weiterlesen

Abstract The hypothesis that cutaneous mast cells (MCs) are responsible for skin phenomena in acupuncture was proposed 40 years ago, but very little is known about the correlation of MC distribution with acupuncture systems in human. The aim of this study is to quantify cutaneous mast cells at different body sites and compare them with the distributions of classical acupuncture points and micro-acupuncture systems. Skin biopsies from dermatological practice were evaluated under microscope with H&E or CD117 stains. Dermal MCs were counted and expressed as MCs per high power field. Densities of classical acupuncture points at different body sites were...Weiterlesen

Abstract STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for the treatment of primary insomnia. DESIGN Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group. SETTING A university-based sleep clinic. PARTICIPANTS Community sample of 60 Chinese adult volunteers who report having insomnia 3 or more nights per week, whose symptoms meet the DSM-IV criteria for primary insomnia for at least 3 months, and who have an Insomnia Severity Index total score of at least 15. Participants were screened with polysomnography and the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV prior to randomization. INTERVENTION Electroacupuncture at Yintang (EX-HN3), Baihui (GV20), bilateral ear Shenmen, Sishencong...Weiterlesen

Abstract Importance Radiation-induced xerostomia (RIX) is a common, often debilitating, adverse effect of radiation therapy among patients with head and neck cancer. Quality of life can be severely affected, and current treatments have limited benefit. Objective To determine if acupuncture can prevent RIX in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Design, Setting, and Participants This 2-center, phase 3, randomized clinical trial compared a standard care control (SCC) with true acupuncture (TA) and sham acupuncture (SA) among patients with oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were undergoing radiation therapy in comprehensive cancer centers in the United States and China....Weiterlesen

Abstract Importance Research into acupuncture and acupressure and their application for cancer pain has been growing, but the findings have been inconsistent. Objective To evaluate the existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for evidence of the association of acupuncture and acupressure with reduction in cancer pain. Data Sources Three English-language databases (PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL) and 4 Chinese-language biomedical databases (Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang) were searched for RCTs published from database inception through March 31, 2019. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials that compared acupuncture and acupressure with a sham...Weiterlesen

Abstract Purpose Pharmacological therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation are useful for exertional dyspnoea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, several patients have no meaningful improvements. Although acupuncture significantly improves exercise intolerance and dyspnoea, the pathophysiological mechanism of these effects is unknown; therefore, we evaluated this mechanism using cardiopulmonary exercise testing in a single-arm, open experimental study. Patients and methods Sixteen patients with COPD underwent acupuncture once a week for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes were exercise performance parameters, including peak oxygen uptake in the incremental exercise tests (IETs) and the time to the limit of tolerance measured in constant...Weiterlesen