Effects of acupuncture on radial artery hemodynamics: controlled trials in sensitized and naive subjects

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (2) ◽  
pp. H628-H633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Boutouyrie ◽  
Robert Corvisier ◽  
Michel Azizi ◽  
Dominique Lemoine ◽  
Brigitte Laloux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radial Artery ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Sham Group ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Arterial Diameter ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Real Acupuncture ◽  
Significant Difference

Palpation of the radial pulses is an important technique in traditional Chinese medicine. Two double-blind randomized trials of the effects of real and sham acupuncture on radial artery hemodynamics were conducted in 19 patients regularly exposed to acupuncture (sensitized subjects) and in 8 healthy subjects devoid of previous exposure (naive subjects), respectively. Radial artery diameter and pulse waveform were measured with a high-resolution echotracking system and aplanation tonometry, respectively, before and during a 20-min acupuncture period. In sensitized patients, arterial diameter significantly increased during real acupuncture, compared with the sham group (+7.5 ± 2.8 vs. −2.9 ± 2.7%, respectively; P < 0.01). By contrast, in naive subjects, arterial diameter did not change during real or sham acupuncture. In both populations, no significant difference was observed between real and sham acupuncture, concerning the time course of blood pressure, radial artery distensibility, and pressure waveform. Our results demonstrate that real acupuncture is associated with an objective vasodilatation of the radial artery in patients regularly exposed to acupuncture, but not in naive subjects.

scholarly journals Effect of Siguan Acupuncture on Gastrointestinal Motility: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Crossover Trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Min Shin ◽  
Ji-Eun Park ◽  
Sanghun Lee ◽  
Sun-Mi Choi ◽  
Yo-Chan Ahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Motility ◽  
Acupuncture Treatment ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
The Body ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
The Real ◽  
Real Acupuncture ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sham Acupuncture Group

Siguan acupoints have been used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms in acupuncture practices for a long time. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Siguan acupuncture on gastrointestinal motility under accelerated conditions using a randomized, sham-acupuncture-controlled, crossover study. Twenty-one healthy male subjects were hospitalized and randomized into either a real acupuncture group (at Siguan acupoints) or a sham acupuncture group. Subjects were administered with mosapride citrate (15 mg a day) for 2 days starting 24 hours before the first acupuncture treatment. Immediately after the administration of radio markers, acupuncture treatment was conducted 4 times at 12-hour intervals. Gastrointestinal motility was assessed using radiograph distribution of the radio-markers located in the small intestine, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, rectum, and outside the body immediately after the first acupuncture treatment and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. After a 2-week washout period, the real acupuncture group in the first session was treated with sham acupuncture in the second session, and vice versa. Gastrointestinal motility was generally reduced in the real acupuncture group compared with the sham acupuncture group throughout the 4 different time points. A significant difference was observed at 24 hours following the first acupuncture treatment (P<0.05).

scholarly journals Is Skin-Touch Sham Needle Not Placebo? A Double-Blind Crossover Study on Pain Alleviation

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miho Takayama ◽  
Hiroyoshi Yajima ◽  
Akiko Kawase ◽  
Ikuo Homma ◽  
Masahiko Izumizaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Treatment Control ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Analgesic Effects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Blind Crossover Study ◽  
Double Blind Crossover Study

It remains an open question whether placebo/sham acupuncture, in which the needle tip presses the skin, can be used as a placebo device for research on pain. We compare the analgesic effect of the skin-touch placebo needle with that of the no-touch placebo needle, in which the needle tip does not touch the skin, in a double-blind crossover manner including no-treatment control in 23 healthy volunteers. The subjects received painful electrical stimulation in the forearm before and during needle retention to the LI 4 acupoint and after the removal of the needle and rated pain intensity using a visual analogue scale. We found no significant difference in analgesic effects among the skin-touch placebo needle, no-touch placebo needle, and no-treatment control at every point before, during, and after the treatments (p>0.05). The results indicate that the skin-touch placebo needle can be used as a placebo device in clinical studies on pain.

Changes in patient-reported outcomes in women with breast cancer in a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of acupuncture in reducing aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS).

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9103-9103
Author(s):  
Ting Bao ◽  
Kelly Betts ◽  
Karineh Tarpinian ◽  
Ling Cai ◽  
Jeff Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Menopausal Symptoms ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Hot Flash ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Reported

9103 Background: Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) have been associated with worsening of patient related outcomes (PROs) such as AIMSS, menopausal symptoms and depression. Acupuncture has been reported to alleviate such symptoms. We hypothesized that real acupuncture (RA) would improve PROs more than sham acupuncture (SA). Methods: We collected PROs at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks (wks), from women enrolled in a multi-center double blind RCT designed to assess the effect of acupuncture in reducing PROs. Patients were randomized to 8 wkly RA or SA. PROs were measured by the revised National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) menopausal symptoms questionnaire, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hot Flash Daily Diary, Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDI) and EuroQoL survey. We measured estrogen and cytokines concentrations at baseline and wk 8. We used Wilcoxon rank sum and signed-rank tests to make comparisons between and within group, respectively. Results: We included 23 patients from RA and 24 from SA arms in the intent-to-treat analysis. We have previously reported no significant difference in reduction of AIMSS between two arms. RA caused reduction of CESD scores compared to SA (median: -2 vs 0, p = 0.057). When compared to baseline, there were statistically significant improvements at wk 8 in hot flash severity score (p=0.006), hot flash frequency (p=0.011), HFRDI (p=0.014) and NSABP menopausal symptoms (p=0.022) scores in RA arm; for EuroQoL (p=0.022), HFRDI (p=0.043) and NSABP menopausal symptoms (p=0.005) scores in SA arm. The majority of patients’ estradiol concentrations were undetectable at baseline and wk 8. Changes in other time points, data and analysis of cytokines changes will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: Real and sham acupuncture were both associated with improvement in PROs in breast cancer patients taking AIs. We detected no significant difference in the change of PROs between real and sham acupuncture, except for CESD.

Progesterone acutely increases LH pulse amplitude but does not acutely influence nocturnal LH pulse frequency slowing during the late follicular phase in women

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (3) ◽  
pp. E900-E906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. McCartney ◽  
Susan K. Blank ◽  
John C. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Pulse Amplitude ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Phase Cycle ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Acute Increase ◽  
Late Follicular Phase

Progesterone (P) is the primary effector of LH (and by inference gonadotropin-releasing hormone) pulse frequency slowing in cycling women, but the time course of this action is unclear. We hypothesized that P administration to estradiol (E2)-pretreated women would slow LH pulse frequency within 12 h. We studied eight normally cycling women in two separate cycles (follicular phase, cycle days 7–11). After 3 days of E2 pretreatment (0.2 mg/day via transdermal patches), a 25-h blood sampling protocol (starting at 0800) was performed to define LH pulsatility. Oral micronized P (100 mg) or placebo (PBO) was administered at 1800 in a randomized, double-blind fashion, with treatment crossover occurring during a subsequent cycle. The 10-h mean P concentration increased from 0.6 ± 0.1 ng/ml before P (0800–1800) to 3.9 ± 0.3 ng/ml after P administration (2200–0800, P < 0.01). Ten-hour mean LH interpulse interval increased significantly after both P and PBO administration, with no significant difference between P and PBO. In contrast, mean LH, LH amplitude, and mean FSH increased significantly within 4 h of P administration, but not after PBO. We conclude that, in E2-pretreated women in the late follicular phase, 1) nocturnal LH pulse frequency is not acutely (within 12 h) influenced by P administration; 2) an acute increase in P causes pronounced augmentation of gonadotropin pulse amplitude within 4 h; and 3) LH pulse frequency slows overnight during the second half of the follicular phase.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Panax ginseng Meyer Herbal Preparation HRG80 in Preventing and Mitigating Stress-Induced Failure of Cognitive Functions in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Pierre-Antoine Mariage ◽  
Areg Hovhannisyan ◽  
Alexander G. Panossian
Keyword(s):  
Panax Ginseng ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Crossover Trial ◽  
Accuracy Score ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Repeated Administrations ◽  
The Difference

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of hydroponically cultivated red Panax ginseng Meyer root preparation (HRG80) and traditionally harvested six-year-old white P. ginseng standard preparation (PGS) with placebo in preventing symptoms of stress. Methods: The effects of HRG80, PGS, and placebo capsules were studied in 50 tired healthy subjects in a three-arm, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Efficacy-outcome measures included the accuracy of processing the d2 test for cognitive functions, obtained accuracy score in a computerized memory test, and the perceived-stress (PS) score. Results: A statistically significant interaction effect between time and treatment (p < 0.0001) was observed in the attention d2 and memory tests, indicating that HRG80 treatment was more beneficial than that with a placebo. The effects of PGS were better than those of the placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was significant difference between the effects of HRG80 and PGS (p < 0.0001) that were observed after single (Day 1) and repeated administrations on Days 5 and 12 of treatment. Conclusion: Overall, HRG80 treatment was significantly superior compared to that with the PGS and placebo regarding attention, memory, and PS scores after single and repeated administrations for 5 and 12 days.

Laser Acupuncture for Adolescent Smokers — A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 443-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiming Cai ◽  
Changxin Zhao ◽  
Song Ung Wong ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Seuk Kean Lim
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Acupuncture Treatment ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Laser Acupuncture ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Adolescent Smokers ◽  
Significant Difference

A double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of laser acupuncture treatment in adolescent smokers. Three hundred and thirty adolescent smokers at the Smoking Cessation Clinic of Child Guidance Clinic, Institute of Health, Singapore, were randomly assigned in equal numbers to laser acupuncture treatment and sham acupuncture (control) groups. The proportions of patients with complete smoking cessation after completing treatment for four weeks were 21.9% in the treatment group and 21.4% in the control group. At three months post-treatment, the rates for complete cessation were 24.8% and 26.2%, respectively. Thus, there was no significant difference in the rates of smoking cessation in the treatment and control groups.

Multicenter double-blind randomized phase II: FOLFOX + ziv-aflibercept/placebo for patients (pts) with chemo-naive metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (MEGA).

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Enzinger ◽  
Nadine Jackson McCleary ◽  
Hui Zheng ◽  
Thomas Adam Abrams ◽  
Matthew B. Yurgelun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Randomized Phase Ii ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Vegf Inhibition ◽  
Ecog Ps ◽  
Clinical Trial Information ◽  
Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma

4 Background: FOLFOX has RR 53% and PFS 6.8 months in MEGA (CALGB 80403). VEGF inhibition has improved survival in some but not all randomized trials in MEGA. Ziv-aflibercept binds VEGF-A, B and PlGF and has improved survival in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods: All pts received mFOLFOX6 q14d. Pts were randomized 2:1 to A) ziv-aflibercept 4mg/kg/d1 or B) placebo. Pts were restaged every 8wks. Primary endpoint: 6mos PFS. Results: 64 pts enrolled (Jan 2013-Apr 2015): sex: 55M/9F; age (median): 32-83 (62); ECOG PS 0/1/2: 33/28/3; primary tumor: esophagus 26/GEJ 18/gastric 20; measurable/evaluable: 52/12; metastases: LN 48/liver 25/lung 15, other 12/adrenal 4/bone 3. Of 64 pts: 34 POD, 9 off for tox, 4 died on tx, 3 withdrew, 4 other, 10 on tx (see Table). Conclusion: Ziv-aflibercept did not significantly improve the efficacy of FOLFOX. HTN was predictive of response to ziv-aflibercept. Except for HTN, there was no significant difference in toxicity between tx arms. Clinical trial information: NCT01747551. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals The Effects of Blinding on the Outcomes of Psychotherapy and Pharmacotherapy for Adult Depression: a Meta-Analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 685-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cuijpers ◽  
E. Karyotaki ◽  
G. Andersson ◽  
J. Li ◽  
R. Mergl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Placebo Condition ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Adult Depression ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Calculated Effect ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Difference

AbstractBackgroundRandomized trials with antidepressants are often run under double blind placebo-controlled conditions, whereas those with psychotherapies are mostly unblinded. This can introduce bias in favor of psychotherapy when the treatments are directly compared. In this meta-analysis, we examine this potential source of bias.MethodsWe searched Pubmed, PsycInfo, Embase and the Cochrane database (1966 to January 2014) by combining terms indicative of psychological treatment and depression, and limited to randomized trials. We included 35 trials (with 3721 patients) in which psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for adult depression were directly compared with each other. We calculated effect sizes for each study indicating the difference between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy at post-test. Then, we examined the difference between studies with a placebo condition and those without in moderator analyses.ResultsWe did not find a significant difference between the studies with and those without a placebo condition. The studies in which a placebo condition was included indicated no significant difference between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy (g = −0.07; NNT = 25). Studies in which no placebo condition was included (and patients and clinicians in both conditions were not blinded), resulted in a small, but significant difference between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in favor of pharmacotherapy (g = −0.13; NNT = 14).ConclusionsStudies comparing psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in which both groups of patients (and therapists) are not blinded (no placebo condition is included) result in a very small, but significantly higher effect for pharmacotherapy.

Short-Term Effect of Acupuncture on Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Subjects

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Meira-Freitas ◽  
Angelino Julio Cariello ◽  
Ruth Cardoso Vita ◽  
Ângela Tabosa ◽  
Luiz Alberto S Melo
Keyword(s):  
Intraocular Pressure ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Sham Group ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Acupuncture Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Effect ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Purpose To evaluate the short-term effect of acupuncture on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy subjects. Methods A randomised controlled double-blinded trial was performed. 48 healthy volunteers (94 eyes) were randomly allocated to three groups: acupuncture group—19 subjects (38 eyes) were submitted to a 20 min session of acupuncture (GB1, GB14 and BL1); sham group—14 subjects (27 eyes) were submitted to a 20 min session of acupuncture with needles inserted in false points; and control group—15 subjects (29 eyes) who underwent no intervention. All subjects had the IOP measured by a masked investigator using Goldmann applanation tonometry immediately before intervention, as well as 20 min and 24 h after. Results The mean (SD) IOP in the acupuncture group was 17.9 (3.3) mm Hg at baseline, 16.4 (3.9) mm Hg at 20 min and 16.3 (3.3) mm Hg at 24 h. The mean (SD) IOP in the sham group was 18.6 (3.3) mm Hg at baseline, 17.7 (2.6) mm Hg at 20 min and 15.9 (3.6) mm Hg at 24 h. The mean (SD) IOP in the control group was 16.9 (3.5) mm Hg at baseline, 16.5 (3.8) mm Hg at 20 min and 15.8 (3.3) mm Hg at 24 h. There was no statistically significant difference in the IOP variation (post-intervention minus baseline measurements) between groups after 20 min (p=0.13) and 24 h (p=0.21). Conclusion Acupuncture in the studied points did not produce significant short-term effect on the IOP of healthy individuals in comparison with control groups. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT00639977

Validation of a Simplified Sham Acupuncture Technique for Its Use in Clinical Research: A Randomised, Single Blind, Crossover Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Kreiner ◽  
Ana Zaffaroni ◽  
Ramón Alvarez ◽  
Glenn Clark
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Crossover Study ◽  
Sham Acupuncture ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
The Real ◽  
Real Acupuncture ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Single Blind ◽  
Blind Crossover Study

Objectives The validity of a new sham acupuncture technique was tested on acupuncture naïve healthy subjects. Methods The procedure was tested in accupoints LI4 and ST6 in a randomised, single blind and crossover study. The participants were blind to which technique they received. 32 healthy volunteers (15 men, 17 women, aged between 20 and 62 years, mean age 34 years) were recruited at the Universidad de la República, Uruguay. Interventions Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) real acupuncture or (2) sham acupuncture. After 30 min, the patients were ‘needled’ again in a crossover design. Main outcome measures A yes/no questionnaire was used to assess the credibility and characteristics of the procedure. Results For the credibility question (do you think you received real acupuncture?) no statistically significant group differences were evident before or after the crossover. Subjects who answered yes to this question ranged from 14/16 (87.5%) before crossover to 10/16 (62.5%) after crossover for the sham and 12/16 (75%) before crossover to 15/16 (93.8%) after crossover for the real acupuncture. The question that showed a significant difference (only after crossover) was the question, “did you feel the needle penetrating the skin?”; after crossover 12/16 (75%) subjects in the real acupuncture group said yes and 2/16 (12%) subjects in the sham group said yes to this question (p<0.01). Conclusions These data suggests that this method is credible and constitutes a simple and inexpensive technique for use as a control in clinical research in acupuncture naïve subjects.

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