Category: Alternative Treatments

The longitudinal effects of seated isometric yoga on blood biomarkers, autonomic functions, and psychological parameters of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In a previous randomized controlled trial, we found that practicing seated isometric yoga regularly for 2 months improved the fatigue of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who are resistant to conventional therapy. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the possible mechanisms behind this finding by comparing blood biomarkers, autonomic nervous function, and psychological indices before versus after an intervention period of seated isometric yoga practice.

METHODS: Fifteen patients with CFS who did not show satisfactory improvements after at least 6 months of conventional therapy practiced seated isometric yoga (biweekly 20-min sessions with a yoga instructor and daily practice at home) for 2 months. The longitudinal effects of seated isometric yoga on fatigue, blood biomarkers, autonomic function, and psychological state were investigated by comparing the following parameters before and after the intervention period: Fatigue severity was assessed by the Chalder fatigue scale (FS) score. Levels of the blood biomarkers cortisol, DHEA-S, TNF-α, IL-6, prolactin, carnitine, TGF-β1, BDNF, MHPG, HVA, and α-MSH were measured. The autonomic nervous functions assessed were heart rate (HR) and HR variability. Psychological indices included the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

RESULTS: Practicing seated isometric yoga for 2 months resulted in significant reductions in the Chalder FS (P = 0.002) and HADS-depression (P = 0.02) scores. No significant changes were observed in any other parameter evaluated. The change in Chalder FS score was not correlated with the change in HADS-depression score. However, this change was positively correlated with changes in the serum TNF-α levels (P = 0.048), the high frequency component of HR variability (P = 0.042), and TAS-20 scores (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Regular practice of seated isometric yoga for 2 months reduced the fatigue and depressive symptom scores of patients with CFS without affecting any other parameters we investigated. This study failed to identify the markers responsible for the longitudinal fatigue-relieving effect of seated isometric yoga. However, considering that the reduced fatigue was associated with decreased serum TNF-α level and TAS-20 scores, fatigue improvement might be related to reduced inflammation and improved alexithymia in these patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN CTR) UMIN000009646. Registered Dec 27, 2012.

© The Author(s). 2019.

Source: Oka, T., Tanahashi, T., Lkhagvasuren, B. et al. The longitudinal effects of seated isometric yoga on blood biomarkers, autonomic functions, and psychological parameters of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study. BioPsychoSocial Med 13, 28 (2019) doi:10.1186/s13030-019-0168-x https://bpsmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13030-019-0168-x#citeas (Full article)

Clinical efficacy of neurometabolic therapy of dissomical disorders in asthenic syndrome

Abstract:

AIM: To analyze the efficacy of cytoflavin in the complex treatment of sleep disorders in asthenic syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients with sleep disorders and asthenic syndrome of various etiology and severity were studied. The patients were divided into three groups depending on the type of therapy: the first group received intravenous infusions of cytoflavin for 10 days; the second group, in addition to cytoflavin, received per os melatonin (3 mg or 5 mg) at bedtime; the third group in addition to cytoflavin received per os zopiclone (7.5 mg) at bedtime.

RESULTS: On the 14th day of the study, a decrease in severity or complete relief of asthenia manifestations (according to the SHAS scale) and, accordingly, improvement or normalization of sleep in 97% of patients was found. At the same time, during polysomnographic study, the data obtained are characteristic for improving the quality of sleep phases mainly in the first and second groups of patients and, to a lesser extent, in the third group.

CONCLUSION: Cytoflavin effectively suppresses the main manifestations of asthenic syndrome, including sleep disorders.

Source: Esipov AV, Ivolgin AF, Khritinin DF, Katenko SV, Kazakov SP, Karakozov AG, Kalyagin IE, Levchenko OB, Molodova AI. Clinical efficacy of neurometabolic therapy of dissomical disorders in asthenic syndrome. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2019;119(9):46-51. doi: 10.17116/jnevro201911909146. [Article in Russian; Abstract available in Russian from the publisher] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31626218

Open Trial of Vitamin B12 Nasal Drops in Adults With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Comparison of Responders and Non-Responders

Abstract:

Introduction: A recent study reported a favorable effect of vitamin B12 injections/oral folic acid support in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients. Recently, vitamin B12 nasal drops were developed as an alternative to the vitamin B12 injections. As no data are available on efficacy of this formulation, we studied vitamin B12 serum levels, the physical activity scale of the RAND-36, the number of steps on an activity meter, and the fatigue and concentration scales of the CIS20r questionnaires, before and after 3 months of treatment in ME/CFS patients.

Methods and Results: Fifty-one patients completed all measurements. Forty-four were female. Mean age was 42 years, and mean disease duration was 16 years. Median vitamin B12 levels before treatment were 328 (244-429) pmol/l, and 973 (476-1,476) pmol/l after treatment.

Thirty-four patients reported a favorable response to treatment. In the non-responders, only a small but significant increase in vitamin B12 levels was observed. In contrast, in responders, the number of steps, the physical activity scale of the RAND-36, and the vitamin B12 serum levels increased significantly. The CIS20r fatigue scale decreased significantly, and the CIS20r concentration scale was unchanged.

Conclusions: Nasal drop vitamin B12 administration resulted in a significant increase in vitamin B12 serum levels and therefore may be effective. This pilot study suggest that the nasal drops may be used as an alternative to injections because two thirds of ME/CFS patients reported a positive effect, accompanied by an increased number of steps, improvement of the RAND-36 physical functioning scale and the CIS20r fatigue scale, and a significant increase in serum vitamin B12 levels.Copyright © 2019 van Campen, Riepma and Visser.

Source: van Campen CLM, Riepma K, Visser FC. Open Trial of Vitamin B12 Nasal Drops in Adults With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Comparison of Responders and Non-Responders. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Sep 20;10:1102. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01102. eCollection 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6764214/ (Full article)

Qigong exercise for chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is often overlooked, has unclear etiology and no effective cure except some symptomatic treatments. Additionally, most people with CFS do not seek medical attention. Qigong exercise, an ancient Eastern body-mind-spirit practice, has been long practiced in Chinese communities and may powerfully trigger the self-healing process.

Using full baseline data (n=1409), the average Hong Kong CFS respondent was found to be female, married, 42.5yo, highly educated and employed full-time, experiencing sleep disturbance (~95%), anxiety (>80%), and depressive symptoms (68%).

Here, we summarized our previous studies to evaluate the potential of Qigong as a complementary and alternative therapy for CFS. Two randomized controlled trials were conducted (RCT1 n1=137, RCT2 n2=150). In both trials, extensive online questionnaires allowed individuals with CFS-like illness (i.e., symptoms match CFS, yet without clinical confirmation) to be identified. RCT1 included a 5-week intervention. The intervention in RCT2 was 8weeks. In RCT1 Qigong group had reduced fatigue (P<0.001) and depressive symptoms (P=0.002), and improved telomerase activity (P=0.029). An effective practice regimen was identified (≥3 days/week, at ≥30min/session). Methods were slightly adjusted for RCT2, which replicated RCT1 findings, and further documented improved subjective sleep quality (P=0.008) and adiponectin levels (P<0.05). A significant dose-response relationship was founded.

Thus, Qigong exercise should be recognized as a possible standalone therapy and self-management skill in CFS. Strategies are needed to increase motivation for regular practice and to explore its possibility of self-management skill in brain health. Further clarity would come from studies comparing Qigong with other physical exercises.

Source: Chan JSM, Ng SM, Yuen LP, Chan CLW. Qigong exercise for chronic fatigue syndrome. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2019;147:121-153. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.08.002. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31607352

Successful Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Chronic Febricula Using the Traditional Japanese Medicine Shosaikoto

Abstract:

We herein report the case of a 14-year-old girl who had been experiencing chronic fatigue, febricula, and social withdrawal for 20 months. No notable abnormalities were identified during routine checkups at a general pediatric hospital; symptomatic treatments did not affect her condition. She was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Based on the concepts of Japanese traditional medicine, she was administered shosaikoto-based treatment. After several weeks of treatment, all of the symptoms had been dramatically alleviated, consequently resolving the issue of non-attendance at school. Shosaikoto-based medication may be a therapeutic option for treating ME/CFS in patients presenting with chronic febricula.

Source: Numata T, Miura K, Akaishi T, Arita R, Ishizawa K, Saito N, Sasaki H, Kikuchi A, Takayama S, Tobita M, Ishii T. Successful Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Chronic Febricula Using the Traditional Japanese Medicine Shosaikoto. Intern Med. 2019 Sep 18. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3218-19. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31534083

Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture with sham acupuncture, other interventions that may have a therapeutic effect, or no intervention, for the treatment of CFS, were searched for in the following databases up to March 2018: Pubmed; Embase; the Cochrane Library; Web of Science; Wanfang database; China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI); Chinese Biomedicine (CBM) database; and VIP database. Risk of bias was determined using the Cochrane tool. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan V.5.3 software. The GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) was adopted for levels of evidence.

RESULTS: Sixteen studies with 1346 subjects were included. Most studies had low methodological quality. Meta-analyses showed a favourable effect of acupuncture on overall response rate compared with sham acupuncture (four studies, 281 participants, RR=2.08, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.1, I2=64%, low certainty) and Chinese herbal medicine (three studies, 290 participants, RR=1.17, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.29, I2=0%, low certainty). Acupuncture also appeared to significantly reduce fatigue severity measured by Chalder’s Fatigue Scale and the Fatigue Severity Scale compared with other types of control.

CONCLUSION: Our review indicated that acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture and other interventions (Chinese herbal medicine, mainly), but no firm conclusion could be reached owing to limited data, poor quality and potentially exaggerated effect size evaluation. Further large, rigorously designed and reported RCTs are required.

Source: Zhang Q, Gong J, Dong H, Xu S, Wang W, Huang G. Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupunct Med. 2019 Jun 17:acupmed2017011582. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011582. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31204859

Clinical research of auricular gold-needle therapy in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency constitution

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of auricular gold-needle therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency constitution and explore its potential mechanism.

METHODS: A total of 120 patients were randomized into an auricular gold-needle therapy group, an auricular point pressure therapy group and a Chinese herb group, 40 cases in each one. Additionally, a health control group (40 cases) was set up, without any intervention. In the auricular gold-needle therapy group, the gold needle was used to stimulate the auricular points on one side and the cowherb seed pressure therapy on the other side. In the auricular point pressure therapy group, the cowherb seed pressure therapy was adopted only on one side. The auricular points were shen (CO10), xin (CO15), fei (CO14), pizhixia (AT4), etc. in the two groups. The auricular points on both sides were used alternatively. The treatment was given once a week, 4 treatments as one course and the consecutive 3 courses of treatment were required. In the Chinese herb group, buzhong yiqi wan was prescribed for oral administration, 6 g, twice a day, the medication for 1 month was as one session and the consecutive 3 sessions of medication were required. Before and after treatment, separately, the clinical symptom score, the levels of the serum immunoglobulins, i.e. IgA, IgG and IgM were observed in the patients of the three groups. The therapeutic effects were evaluated in the three groups.

RESULTS: The total effective rate was 90.0% (36/40) in the auricular gold-needle therapy group, better than 80.0% (32/40) in the auricular point pressure therapy group and 82.5% (33/40) in the Chinese herb group (both P<0.05). Before treatment, the clinical symptom scores of the patients in the three groups were obviously higher than the health control group (all P<0.001). After treatment, the symptom scores were all reduced as compared the scores before treatment in the three groups (all P<0.001) and the symptom scores in the auricular gold-needle therapy group were better than the auricular point pressure therapy group and the Chinese herb group (both P<0.01). Before treatment, the levels of serum IgA, IgG and IgM of the patients in the three groups were lower than the health control group (all P<0.001). The levels were all improved after treatment in the three groups (all P<0.01), and the levels in the auricular gold-needle therapy group was better than the auricular point pressure therapy group and the Chinese herb group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The auricular gold-needle therapy achieves the significant therapeutic effects on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency constitution and its mechanism is probably related to the regulation of immune function.

Source: Xu YY, Liu JH, Ding H, Tang H, Song SY, Zhong WQ, Pan ZB. Clinical research of auricular gold-needle therapy in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency constitution. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2019 Feb 12;39(2):128-32. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.02.004.[Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30942029

Acupuncture in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome based on “interaction of brain and kidney” in TCM: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on the fatigue symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, the potential symptoms and cytokines on the base of the theory as “interaction of brain and kidney” and explore its clinical therapeutic effects and the potential mechanism.

METHODS: A total of 68 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. In the control group, oryzanol and vitamin B1 were prescribed for oral administration and the patients were required to have a proper rest and physical exercise. In the observation group, on the base of the theory as “interaction of brain and kidney”, acupuncture was added to Baihui (BL 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3). The treatment was given once a day, 5 treatments a week, with 2 days break. The consecutive treatment for 4 weeks was required. Before and after treatment, the score of the fatigue scale-14 (FS-14), the score of the somatic and psychological health report (SPHERE) and the score of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were observed in the patients of the two groups separately. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-γ (INF-γ) before and after treatment.

RESULTS: After treatment, FS-14 scores, SPHERE scores and PSQI scores were all reduced as compared with the scores before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of IL-6 and INF-γ in the serum in the observation group were reduced as compared with the levels before treatment (both P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of FS-14, SPHERE and PSQI as well as the levels of serum IL-6 and INF-γ in the observation group were all lower than the results in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: On the base of the theory as “interaction of brain and kidney”, acupuncture therapy relieves the fatigue symptoms and the potential symptoms and improves the sleep quality in the patients of chronic fatigue syndrome. The effect mechanism is probably related to the decrease of the levels of IL-6 and INF-γ in serum.

Source: Xu YX, Luo HS, Sun D, Wang R, Cai J. Acupuncture in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome based on “interaction of brain and kidney” in TCM: a randomized controlled trial. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2019 Feb 12;39(2):123-7. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2019.02.003. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30942028

Artificial intelligence based discovery of the association between depression and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Both of the modern medicine and the traditional Chinese medicine classify depressive disorder (DD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to one type of disease. Unveiling the association between depressive and the fatigue diseases provides a great opportunity to bridge the modern medicine with the traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODS: In this work, 295 general participants were recruited to complete Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales and Chalder Fatigue Scales, and meanwhile, to donate plasma and urine samples for 1H NMR-metabolic profiling. Artificial intelligence methods was used to analysis the underlying association between DD and CFS. Principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to analyze the metabolic profiles with respect to gender and age. Variable importance in projection and t-test were employed in conjunction with the PLS-DA models to identify the metabolite biomarkers. Considering the asymmetry and complexity of the data, convolutional neural networks (CNN) model, an artificial intelligence method, was built to analyze the data characteristics between each groups.

RESULTS: The results showed the gender- and age-related differences for the candidate biomarkers of the DD and the CFS diseases, and indicated the same and different biomarkers of the two diseases. PCA analysis for the data characteristics reflected that DD and CFS was separated completely in plasma metabolite. However, DD and CFS was merged into one group.

LIMITATION: Lack of transcriptomic analysis limits the understanding of the association of the DD and the CFS diseases on gene level.

CONCLUSION: The unmasked candidate biomarkers provide reliable evidence to explore the commonality and differences of the depressive and the fatigue diseases, and thereby, bridge over the traditional Chinese medicine with the modern medicine.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Source: Zhang F, Wu C, Jia C, Gao K, Wang J, Zhao H, Wang W, Chen J. Artificial intelligence based discovery of the association between depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. J Affect Disord. 2019 Mar 8;250:380-390. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.03.011. [Epub ahead of print]

Jin’s three-needle acupuncture technique for chronic fatigue syndrome: a study protocol for a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: With an unclear pathomechanism, no confirmed treatment regimen has been established for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Acupuncture is applied as an alternative therapy for CFS. As a kind of acupuncture therapy, Jin’s three-needle acupuncture (JTN) has been applied to treat CFS. However, few large-sample randomised controlled trials on JTN treatment for CFS have been reported. We designed this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of JTN treatment for CFS.

METHOD/DESIGN: This study is a multicentre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the JTN treatment group or the basic acupuncture group. Both interventions will be conducted for five consecutive days per week and last for 2 weeks. The primary outcome is the effective rate based on the 14-item Fatigue Scale (FS-14) score. Other outcome measures include the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAI), the Depression Status Inventory (DSI), and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), plasma cortisol, and serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ will also be measured in this study. Adverse events will be observed and recorded for the safety evaluation.

DISCUSSION: This study may help to identify the efficacy and safety of JTN acupuncture treatment for CFS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR-IOR-17011009 . Registered on 29 March 2017.

Source: Lin W, Chen XL, Chen Q, Wen J, Chen X. Jin’s three-needle acupuncture technique for chronic fatigue syndrome: a study protocol for a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial. Trials. 2019 Mar 4;20(1):155. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3243-5. https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-019-3243-5 (Full article)