Tag: acupuncture

Gray matter volumes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue with uncertain pathologic mechanism. Neuroimage may be an important key to unveil the central nervous system (CNS) mechanism in CFS. Although most of the studies found gray matter (GM) volumes reduced in some brain regions in CFS, there are many factors that could affect GM volumes in CFS, including chronic pain, stress, psychiatric disorder, physical activity, and insomnia, which may bias the results. In this paper, through reviewing recent literatures, we discussed these interferential factors, which overlap with the symptoms of CFS.

 

Source: Tang LW, Zheng H, Chen L, Zhou SY, Huang WJ, Li Y, Wu X. Gray matter volumes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:380615. doi: 10.1155/2015/380615. Epub 2015 Feb 22. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4352504/ (Full article)

 

Effect of manual acupuncture stimulation of “Baihui” (GV 20), etc. on serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 contents in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of manual acupuncture stimulation of “Baihui” (GV 20), etc. on serum IFN- gamma and IL-4 contents in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: A total of 24 male SD rats were equally randomized into control group, model group and acupuncture group. CFS model was established by bounding and forced swimming in cold water once daily for 14 days. Rats in the acupuncture group were treated by manual acupuncture stimulation of bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36), “Baihui” (GV 20), and “Guanyuan” (CV 4), once daily for 14 days. Serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 contents were detected by ELISA.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the contention of serum IFN-gamma and ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 were significant decreased in the model group (P<0.01). While in comparison with the model group, the contention of IFN-gamma and ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 were obviously increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found among the three groups in serum IL-4 levels (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Manual acupuncture can inhibit CFS induced reduction of serum IFN-gamma level and the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in CFS rats, suggesting a favorable adjustment of acupuncture intervention for CFS by balancing the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4.

 

Source: Wang C, Xie WJ, Liu M, Yan J, Zhang JL, Liu Z, Guo LN. Effect of manual acupuncture stimulation of “Baihui” (GV 20), etc. on serum IFN-gamma and IL-4 contents in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2014 Oct;39(5):387-9. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25518113

 

Randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome patients

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: A total of 133 CFS patients were randomized into acupuncture group (47 cases), warm-needling group (44 cases) and non-acupoint group (42 cases). Manual acupuncture (MA) stimulation was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Danzhong (CV 17), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for patients in the acupuncture group. For patients in the warm-needling group, moxa-heated needle was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36). Non-acupoints were located about 1-2 cm beside the Baihui (GV 20), Danzhong (CV 17), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Hegu (LI 4). The treatment was given once daily for 20 days. The Chalder Fatigue Scale (14-item fatigue scale) was adopted to evaluate the changes of CFS before and after the treatment.

RESULTS: In comparison with pre-treatment, the scores of Chalder Fatigue Scale including physical and mental fatigue and total score were significantly decreased in both acupuncture and warm-needling groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), but not in the non-acupoint group (P > 0.05) except physical score (P < 0.05). The physical, mental and total scores of the acupuncture and warm-needling groups were significantly lower than those of the non-acupoint group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the physical and total scores of the warm-needling group were markedly lower than those of the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the CFS patients’ satisfactory rates of the acupuncture, warm-needling and non-acupoint groups were 36.2% (17/47), 72.7% (32/44) and 35.7% (15/42), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Both MA and warm-needling interventions have a good therapeutic effect in the treatment of CFS patients, while the latter is obviously better.

 

Source: Lu C, Yang XJ, Hu J. Randomized controlled clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2014 Aug;39(4):313-7. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25219128

 

Impacts on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome and T cell subgroups in patients treated with acupuncture at selective time

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical efficacy on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome treated with acupuncture at selective time and explore the effect mechanism.

METHODS: Eighty patients were randomized into a selective-time-acupuncture group and an acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one. Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected in the two groups. In the selective-time-acupuncture group, acupuncture was used at 9:00am to 11:00am. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was used at any time except in the range from 9:00am to 11:00am. No any manipulation was applied after the arrival of needling sensation. The treatment was given once every day, 10 day treatment made one session and two sessions of treatment were required. The fatigue scale was adopted to evaluate the efficacy before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The ratios among CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood were detected before ad b a after treatment.

RESULTS: In the acupuncture group, the total score of fatigue and the score of physical fatigue were reduced after treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). In the selective-time -acupuncture group, the total score of fatigue, the s core of physical fatigue and the score of mental fatigue after treatment were reduced obviously as compared with those hefore treatment (all P<0. 01). The improvements in the scores of the selective-time-acupuncture group were superior to the acupuncture group (all P<0. 05). The ratio of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells was increased obviously after treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 05) and the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was reduced obviously in the selective-time-acupuncture group (P<0. 05), which was better than that in the acupuncture group (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.0% (38/40) in the selective-time-acupuncture group, which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The acupuncture therapy at selective time is effective in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome, which is especially better at relieving mental fatigue. The effect of this therapy is achieved probably by improving the immune function via the regulation of the ratios among CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

 

Source: Ling JY, Shen L, Liu Q, Wang LY. Impacts on chronic fatigue syndrome of qi deficiency syndrome and T cell subgroups in patients treated with acupuncture at selective time. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2013 Dec;33(12):1061-4. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24617226

 

Effect of acupuncture intervention on learning-memory ability and cerebral superoxide dismutase activity and malonaldehyde concentration in chronic fatigue syndrome rats

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture intervention on learning-memory ability and cerebral superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malonaldehyde (MDA) content in chronic fatigure syndrome (CFS) rats so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of clinical CFS.

METHODS: Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and acupuncture group (n = 12 in each group). CFS model was established by double stress stimulation of suspending (1.0 – 2.5 h increasing gradually) and forced swimming [Morris water maze tasks, 7 min in (10 +/- 1) degrees C water], once daily for 12 days. Manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to “Baihui” (CV 20), bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36) and “Sanyinjiao” (SP 6), once daily for 21 days (with 3 days’ interval between every two weeks). Learning-memory ability was determined by Morris water maze tests, and SOD activity and MDA concentration in the brain tissues were detected by xanthine oxidase method and thiobarbiturif acid method, respectively.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the escape latencies at time-points of day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Morris water maze tests were significantly longer, the target platform crossing times were markedly fewer and the target platform quadrant staying time obviously shorter, cerebral SOD activity was considerably decreased, and cerebral MDA content remarkably increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Following acupuncture intervention, the escape latencies at time-points of day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were significantly decreased, both target platform crossing times and staying time, and cerebral SOD activity were apparently increased, as well as cerebral MDA level was markedly lowered in comparison with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture intervention can improve the learning-memory ability in CFS rats, which may be related to its effect in regulating metabolism of free radicals in the brain tissues.

 

Source: Liu CZ, Lei B. Effect of acupuncture intervention on learning-memory ability and cerebral superoxide dismutase activity and malonaldehyde concentration in chronic fatigue syndrome rats.Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2013 Dec;38(6):478-81. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24588031

 

Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized, sham-controlled trial with single-blinded design

Abstract:

CONTEXT: Given that the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is believed to be multidimensional, interventions generally have been nonspecific and typically produce only mild to moderate effects. In medical practice, treatment for CFS remains largely symptomatic. Preliminary evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture for CFS is available, but the field has lacked high-quality trials.

OBJECTIVE: The research team conducted the study to determine the efficacy of acupuncture for CFS.

DESIGN: A two-arm, randomized, controlled, singleblinded design was adopted.

SETTING: The study took place in a teaching laboratory at the School of Chinese Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

PARTICIPANTS: Recruited through press publicity in Hong Kong, 127 individuals–40 men and 87 women–participated in the study. Intervention Through careful implementation of sham acupuncture in the control group (CG), the study blinded all participants with regard to their experimental or control status. The treatment regime was 2 sessions/wk for 4 consecutive wk.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures of fatigue (Chalder’s Fatigue Scale), health-related quality of life (SF-12), and general mental health (GH Q-12) were taken at baseline and upon completion of treatment.

RESULTS: Ninety-nine participants completed the interventions, with 50 and 49 participants in the experimental group (EG) and CG respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in physical (F(1,93) = 4.327; P = .040) and mental fatigue (F(1,96) = 10.451; P = .002) and improvement in the physical component score of SF-12 (F(1,93) = 4.774; P = .031). Considerable effects with Cohen’s d were observed in the sham-control group: 0.92, 0.78, and 0.38 for the three scores, respectively. These positive effects could have included some therapeutic effects due to pressure on the acupuncture points from the sham needles in addition to normal placebo effects. The EG showed moderate net effect sizes with Cohen’s d: 0.52, 0.63, and 0.54 for the three outcome measures, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Despite considerable positive effects for the CG, the EG demonstrated significant net-effect sizes at a moderate magnitude in physical and mental fatigue and in the physical component of health-related quality of life. The impacts on general mental health outcomes appeared to be smaller.

 

Source: Ng SM, Yiu YM. Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized, sham-controlled trial with single-blinded design. Altern Ther Health Med. 2013 Jul-Aug;19(4):21-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23981369

 

An open-label study of effects of acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Even though chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue are quite common, there are no clearly known causes. Most treatments are therefore symptomatic in nature, and chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue patients are highly interested in using oriental medicine or complementary and alternative medicine treatment. Acupuncture, one of the major treatments used in oriental medicine, is effective in treating various diseases. This study will attempt to analyze the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic fatigue by comparing the two treatment groups (body acupuncture, Sa-am acupuncture) and the control group (usual care).

METHODS/DESIGN: This study consists of a four-center, three-arm, randomized, controlled, and open-label trial. One hundred and fifty participants are randomly divided into treatment groups A and B and a control group. The treatment groups will receive acupuncture treatments either two or three times per week for a total of 10 sessions over a period of 4 weeks. The control group will not receive acupuncture treatments and will continue their usual care during this period. The primary outcome variable is the Fatigue Severity Scale, which will be utilized 5 weeks after randomization. Secondary outcome variables are the Fatigue Severity Scale at 13 weeks, a short form of the Stress Response Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Numeric Rating Scale, and the EuroQol-5 Dimension at 5 and 13 weeks after randomization.

DISCUSSION: This study will provide evidence with high external validity on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service KCT0000508.

 

Source: Kim JE, Hong KE, Kim HJ, Choi JB, Baek YH, Seo BK, Lee S, Kang KW, Lee MH, Kim JH, Lee S, Jung SY, Jung HJ, Shin MS, Choi SM. An open-label study of effects of acupuncture on chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2013 May 21;14:147. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-14-147. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3663812/ (Full article)

 

Effect of acupuncture on serum malonaldehyde content, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in chronic fatigue syndrome rats

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen free radical metabolism in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10), model group (n = 10) and acupuncture group (n = 10). CFS model was established by repeated suspension (1.0-2.5 h) and forced cold water swimming (7 min), once daily continuously for 12 days. For rats in the acupuncture group, bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36) and “Sanyinjiao” (SP 6) were stimulated by manipulating the acupuncture needles intermittently for 20 min, once daily, and with 7 days being a treatment course. The treatment was conducted for three courses with an interval of 3 days between two courses. Serum malonaldehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity were detected by thiobarbituric acid chromatometry (TBA), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and dithio-bis-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB), respectively.

RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, serum MDA content was up-regulated significantly, while serum SOD activity and GSH-PX activity were decreased considerably in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, serum MDA level was down-regulated apparently, and serum SOD activity and GSH-PX activity were up-regulated remarkably in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can adjust metabolism of serum oxygen free radicals in CFS rats, which probably contributes to its effect in relieving CFS in clinic.

 

Source: Liu CZ, Lei B. Effect of acupuncture on serum malonaldehyde content, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in chronic fatigue syndrome rats. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2012 Feb;37(1):38-40, 58. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22574567

 

Observation on therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with coiling dragon needling and moving cupping on back

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with the combined therapy of coiling dragon needling and cupping on back and the western medicine therapy with Prednisone.

METHODS: Seventy-two cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture and cupping group (37 cases) and a Prednisone group (35 cases). In acupuncture and cupping group, Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of T1–L5 were applied with coiling dragon needling (once a day), combined with moving cupping on back (once every two days); in Prednisone group, Prednisone tablets were orally taken for 10 mg at 8:00 am. Seven days made one course, and 2 courses were carried on totally. FS-14 scale and BELL’s chronic fatigue syndrome integral table were applied to evaluate the fatigue degree of patients before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effects of both groups were compared.

RESULTS: After one course of treatment, the BELL’s scores of both groups were obviously improved (both P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05); after two courses of treatment, the BELL’s score in acupuncture and cupping group improved more obviously than that in Prednisone group, and the total effective rate of 91.9% (34/37) in acupuncture and cupping group was superior to that of 71.4% (25/35) in Prednisone group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with coiling dragon needling and moving cupping on back is positive, superior to that of Prednisone with oral administration.

 

Source: Xu W, Zhou RH, Li L, Jiang MW. Observation on therapeutic effect of chronic fatigue syndrome treated with coiling dragon needling and moving cupping on back. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2012 Mar;32(3):205-8. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22471128

 

Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture of Back-shu acupoints for chronic fatigue syndrome patients

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture of Back-shu points [Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), etc.] in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: A total of 120 CFS patients were equally randomized Into acupuncture and control groups. Acupuncture needles were inserted into bilateral Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), and Gaohuang (BL 43) points, once daily for 4 weeks except weekends. For patients of the control group, acupuncture needles were inserted into the shallow layer of the non-acupoints (two mid-points of the horizon lines passing through the crossing-points of the 1st and 2nd branches of the Gallbladder Meridian and the crests of 4th, 5th and 11th thoracic vertebrae). General health scale (SF-20) and Chalder fatigue scale were used to measure the CFS patients’ degree of general health. A follow-up survey was carried out 3 months after the last treatment.

RESULTS: In comparison with pre-treatment, the scores of Chalder fatigue scale were decreased significantly in both treatment and control groups (P < 0.01), while the scores of physiological function (PF) and general health (GH) of SF-20 in both acupuncture groups and those of the role function (RF), social function (SF), mental health (MH) and pain sensation (PS) in the treatment group were increased apparently after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The scores of Chalder Scale and PF, RF, SF, GH, MH, PS and the CFS patients’ satisfication degrees 4 weeks (64.4% and 36.7%) and 3 months (62.3% and 32%) after the treatment in the treatment group were significantly superior to those of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Back-shu point has a good therapeutic effect (including immediate and midterm effect) in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

 

Source: Zhang W, Liu ZS, Xu HR, Liu YS. Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture of Back-shu acupoints for chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2011 Dec;36(6):437-41, 448. [Article in Chinese] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22379791