AP: Recent Medline Abstracts

[Guest guest]

Joos S, Wildau N, Kohnen R, Szecsenyi J, Schuppan D, Willich SN,

Hahn EG, Brinkhaus B. Acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment

of ulcerative colitis: A randomized controlled study. Scand J

Gastroenterol. 2006 Sep;41(9):1056-63. Department of Medicine I,

Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.

Objective. Acupuncture has traditionally been used in the treatment of

inflammatory bowel disease in China and is increasingly applied in

Western countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the

efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of active

ulcerative colitis (UC). Material and methods. In a prospective,

randomized, controlled clinical trial 29 patients with mild to moderately

active UC (mean age 37.8+/-12.0 years) were randomly assigned to

receive either traditional acupuncture and moxa (TCM group, n=15), or

sham acupuncture consisting of superficial needling at non-acupuncture

points (control group, CG, n = 14). All patients were treated in 10

sessions over a period of 5 weeks and followed-up for 16 weeks. The

main outcome measure was the change in the Colitis Activity Index

(CAI) after treatment; secondary outcome measures were changes in

quality of life, general well-being and serum markers of inflammation.

Results. In the TCM group, the CAI decreased from 8.0 (+/-3.7) to 4.2

(+/-2.4) points and in the control group from 6.5 (+/-3.4) to 4.8 (+/-3.9)

points (TCM versus CG: p=0.048). In both groups these changes were

associated with significant improvements in general well-being (TCM

group: from 3.0 (+/-1.8) to 1.8 (+/-1.0); CG: from 3.2 (+/-1.9) to 2.2 (+/-

1.7)) and quality of life (TCM group: from 146 (+/-23) to 182 (+/-18); CG:

from 157 (+/-20) to 183 (+/-23)). No significant differences between the

TCM and CG were found regarding these secondary outcome

measures. Conclusions. Differences in efficacy between traditional

acupuncture and sham acupuncture were small and significant only for

CAI as the main outcome measure. Both traditional and sham

acupuncture seem to offer an additional therapeutic benefit in patients

with mild to moderately active UC. PMID: 16938719 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Vas J, Perea-Milla E, Mendez C, Navarro CS, Leon Rubio JM, Brioso

M, Obrero IG. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic

uncomplicated neck pain: A randomised controlled study.Pain. 2006

Aug 22; [Epub ahead of print] Pain Treatment Unit, Dos Hermanas " A "

Primary Healthcare Centre, Dos Hermanas, Sevilla, Spain. Chronic

neck pain is highly prevalent. To determine the efficacy and safety of

acupuncture, in comparison with transcutaneous nerve stimulation-

placebo (TENS-placebo) in the treatment of chronic uncomplicated

neck pain, a single blind prospective study was designed, to be carried

out at a Primary Healthcare Centre, with random assignment to two

parallel groups and with evaluation and analysis by independent

evaluators. A random assignment was made from 123 patients of the

149 initially recruited. These patients had been diagnosed with

uncomplicated neck pain and experienced neck motion-related pain

intensity equal to or exceeding 30 on a visual analogue scale (VAS)

from 0 to 100mm. The treatment with acupuncture was compared with

TENS-placebo, applied over 5 sessions in three weeks. The primary

endpoint was the change in maximum pain intensity related to motion of

the neck, one week after the final treatment. Sensitivity was analysed

per protocol (PP) and variant analyses were by intention to treat (ITT).

Adjustment was made for confounders by multiple linear regression,

including baseline values and rescue therapy. By ITT analysis, the

change in the pain-VAS variable was greater among the experimental

group (28.1 (95% CI 21.4-34.7)). The improvements in quality of life

(physical aspect), active neck mobility and reduced rescue medication

were clinically and statistically significant. In the treatment of the

intensity of chronic neck pain, acupuncture is more effective than the

placebo treatment and presents a safety profile making it suitable for

routine use in clinical practice. PMID: 16934402 [PubMed - as supplied

by publisher]

 

Kim KS, Nam YM. The analgesic effects of capsicum plaster at the

Zusanli point after abdominal hysterectomy. Anesth Analg. 2006

Sep;103(3):709-13. Department of Anesthesiology, Hanyang University

Hospital, Seoul, Korea. kimks BACKGROUND:

Acupuncture has been used to supplement opioid analgesics for

postoperative pain control. We designed this double-blind, sham-

controlled study to assess the effectiveness of capsicum plaster (PAS)

at Zusanli (ST-36) acupoints on postoperative opioid analgesic

requirement, side effects, and recovery profile. METHODS: Ninety

women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly

assigned to 3 treatment regimens (n = 30 each): group Zusanli = PAS

at Zusanli acupoints, group sham = PAS at the nonacupoints on the

shoulders, and group control = placebo tape at Zusanli acupoints. The

PAS was applied before induction of anesthesia and maintained for 8 h

per day for 3 postoperative days. RESULTS: The total amount of

morphine administered in the first 24 h after the operation was

significantly decreased in group Zusanli (31.5 +/- 6.8 mL) compared

with groups control (44.3 +/- 10.1 mL) and sham (44.6 +/- 10.4 mL) (P <

0.01). The incidence of postoperative side effects and the use of rescue

antiemetics during the 72 h after surgery were significantly reduced in

group Zusanli compared with other groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION:

PAS at Zusanli points decreased the postoperative opioid requirement

and opioid-related side effects of patients undergoing abdominal

hysterectomy. PMID: 16931685 [PubMed - in process]

 

Best regards,

 

HOME + WORK: 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland

Tel: (H): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0)

<

 

 

 

" Man who says it can't be done should not interrupt man doing it " -

Chinese Proverb