1.
Acupuncture and related techniques for obesity and cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.
Chen, J, Chen, D, Ren, Q, Zhu, W, Xu, S, Lu, L, Chen, X, Yan, D, Nie, H, Zhou, X
Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society. 2020;(4):227-234
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess how acupuncture and related techniques affect weight-related indicators and cardiovascular risk factors compared with non-acupuncture interventions in overweight and obese patients. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL up to 19 April 2018 and included relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using the inverse variance method with random-effects model. Prespecified hypotheses were tested in meta-regression to investigate the source of heterogeneity. Statistical software packages used were RevMan 5.3.5 and Stata 14.0. RESULTS Thirty-three RCTs were included (n=2503 patients). Compared with non-acupuncture interventions, acupuncture produced a greater reduction in body weight (WMD -1.76 kg, 95% CI -2.22 to -1.30, I2=77%; moderate quality), body mass index (WMD -1.13 kg/m2, 95% CI -1.38 to -0.88, I2=85%; low quality) and waist circumference (WMD -2.42 cm, 95% CI -3.22 to -1.62, I2=75%; moderate quality). Acupuncture plus lifestyle intervention resulted in a greater reduction in body weight than acupuncture alone (MD -1.94 kg, 95% CI -3.17 to -0.70). Acupuncture also led to a greater reduction in total cholesterol (WMD -12.87 mg/dL, 95% CI -22.17 to -3.57, I2=87%; very low quality) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD -13.52 mg/dL, 95% CI -21.47 to -5.58, I2=74%; low quality). The differences were not statistically significant for blood glucose or blood pressure. CONCLUSION In the short term, acupuncture and related techniques may produce a small but statistically significant degree of weight loss based on moderate- to low-quality evidence, and improve serum lipid parameters based on low- to very-low-quality evidence. Their effects on blood glucose and blood pressure remain uncertain.
2.
[Clinical observation on acupoint electro-superconducting therapy with Cinese herbal drugs contained pad in treating children asthma].
Chen, J, Zhang, CM, Chen, H
Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine. 2005;(12):1120-2
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of acupoint electro-superconducting therapy with Chinese herbal drugs contained pad in treating children asthma. METHODS Sixty asthma children in the mild to moderate stage of asthma attack were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group and the control group. Besides the basic treatment, acupoint electro-superconducting therapy with the pad containing Chinese herbal drugs was applied to the treated group, and to the control group the same therapy but with pad of placebo was applied, seven days as a course of treatment. The peak exhalation force (PEF) was measured daily, and the cytokines, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS No significant difference was found in the ratio of patients' PEF to the normal predicted value between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). But on the fourth day of the treatment course, the increase of PEF in the treated group was more obvious than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The IL-10 levels of two groups were raised after ending the treatment course, but the increment in the treated group was more obvious (P < 0.01). However, the changes of IFN-gamma levels after treatment showed insignificant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Acupoint electro-superconducting therapy with Chinese herbal drugs contained pad is helpful to improve the pulmonary function of children with asthma, it could also increase the serum IL-10 level in attack stage of the asthma children.