scholarly journals Electroacupuncture for Women with Chronic Severe Functional Constipation: Subgroup Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhou ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Kehua Zhou ◽  
Baoyan Liu ◽  
Tongsheng Su ◽  
...  

Background. Acupuncture has been found to be effective for treating chronic constipation. Objective. The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in the subgroup of women with chronic severe functional constipation. Methods. This is a subgroup analysis of the multicenter, randomized, sham-acupuncture (SA) controlled trial. The efficacy of 822 (76%) female patients of the 1075 randomized patients with chronic severe functional constipation was evaluated. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 28 sessions of EA or SA over 8 weeks with 12 weeks’ follow-up. This study focused on sustained complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) responders over the 8-week treatment. Results. The primary outcome which was percentage of the sustained CSBMs responders for the subset of women with severe constipation was significantly higher in the EA group (24.3%) than in the SA group (8.1%) with difference of 13.1% (95%CI, 6.5% to 19.7%; P<0.001). As for the secondary outcomes, responders for ≥9 of 12 weeks of follow-up were higher in the EA group than in the SA group. Additionally, EA had significantly better improvement in mean weekly CSBMs, mean weekly spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs), and mean score changes of stool consistency and straining as well as quality of life of patients. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) related to acupuncture was rare and no statistical significance was found between two groups. Conclusion. EA improved the spontaneity and the completeness of the bowel movement of women with severe functional constipation during 8-week treatment and the effect sustained for 12 weeks after stopping treatment.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175628481988185
Author(s):  
Yang Wang ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Kehua Zhou ◽  
Brent A. Bauer ◽  
Baoyan Liu ◽  
...  

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to improve complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), but the duration of its effects remains unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the duration of acupuncture effects after treatment and its associated factors for chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC). Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized, sham-acupuncture (SA) controlled trial that included 1075 participants with CSFC. The primary outcome, the duration of acupuncture effects after treatment, was the number of weeks during the 12-week follow-up period that participants were to meet the weekly CSBM responder criteria. A weekly CSBM responder was defined as a participant who had at least three CSBMs for a given week and an increase from baseline of at least one CSBM for that same week. We performed a retrospective multivariate analysis to explore potential factors associated with sustained acupuncture effects. Results: The duration of acupuncture effects in the EA group (5.5 weeks) was significantly higher than the duration of SA effects in the SA group (2.2 weeks) with a between-group difference of 3.2 weeks (95% CI, 2.77–3.78; p < 0.001). A younger age and higher baseline CSBMs per week [regression coefficient (RC) –0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.06 to −0.04); RC 2.43, 95% CI 1.78–3.60; respectively] were associated with longer durations of acupuncture effects. Conclusions: EA had sustained post-treatment effects for CFSC. A significant association among a younger age, higher baseline CSBMs and sustained acupuncture effects was observed. Further research is needed to confirm the association. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01726504). Registered on 26 August 2012.


2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (6) ◽  
pp. 508-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Gray ◽  
Morven Leese ◽  
Jonathan Bindman ◽  
Thomas Becker ◽  
Lorenzo Burti ◽  
...  

BackgroundThere is equivocal evidence of the effectiveness of adherence therapy in improving treatment adherence and clinical outcomes for people with schizophrenia.AimsTo evaluate the effectiveness of adherence therapy in improving quality of life for people with schizophrenia.MethodA 52-week, single-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of adherence therapy. Participants were individually randomised to receive eight sessions of adherence therapy or health education. Assessments were undertaken at baseline and at 52-week follow-up.ResultsAdherence therapy was no more effective than health education in improving quality of life.ConclusionsThis effectiveness trial provides evidence for the lack of effect of adherence therapy in people with schizophrenia with recent clinical instability, treated in ordinary clinical settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyi Wang ◽  
Charlie Changli Xue ◽  
Robert Helme ◽  
Cliff Da Costa ◽  
Zhen Zheng

Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of manual acupuncture as a prophylaxis for frequent migraine.Methods. Fifty frequent migraineurs were randomly allocated to receive 16 sessions of either real acupuncture (RA = 26) or sham acupuncture (SA = 24) during 20 weeks. The primary outcomes were days with migraine over four weeks, duration, and intensity of migraine and the number of responders with more than 50% reduction of migraine days. The secondary outcomes were the relief medication, quality of migraine, quality of life, and pressure pain thresholds.Results. The two groups were comparable at baseline. At the end of the treatment, when compared with the SA group, the RA group reported significant less migraine days (RA: 5.2 ± 5.0; SA: 10.1 ± 7.1;P=0.008), less severe migraine (RA: 2.18 ± 1.05; SA: 2.93 ± 0.61;P=0.004), more responders (RA: 19 versus SA: 7), and increased pressure pain thresholds. No other group difference was found. Group differences were maintained at the end of the three-month follow-up, but not at the one-year follow-up. No severe adverse event was reported. Blinding was successful.Discussion. Manual acupuncture was an effective and safe treatment for short-term relief of frequent migraine in adults. Larger trials are warranted.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
WenQian Zhao ◽  
Ying Xu ◽  
Jingjing Liao ◽  
Ji Li ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Many high-quality clinical trials have proved the efficacy of acupuncture in the improving frequency of spontaneous bowel movements, stool characteristics, and et cetera of Functional Constipation (FC) [1]. However, the high requirement of time make many patients unable to attend, this clinical trial will demonstrate the efficacy of intradermal thumbtack needle in ameliorate spontaneous bowel movement of FC.Methods: This multi-center real world clinical trial is performed involving 482 FC patients. All patients are randomly allocated into 2 group, which are group A to receive intradermal thumbtack needle twice a week for 4 weeks (intervention group n=241) or group B to take oral administration of mosapride 3 times a day for 4 weeks (control group n=241). This trial includes a 4-week treatment period and a 4-week follow-up period. The primary outcome is the number of completely spontaneous defecation per week, we use Weekly CSBMs analyze the frequency of spontaneous defecation per week during treatment and follow-up period to compared with the baseline. The secondary outcomes include FC patients’ stool consistence, gastrointestinal or anorectal symptoms, quality of life, anxiety and depression levels during treatment and follow-up period and efficacy expectations. The relevant assessment tools include: Bristol tool Form Scale (BSFS), Cleveland Constipation Score (CCS), Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire(PAC-QOL), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) , Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Efficacy Expectancy Scale. At the end, the scales filled by patients and researchers will be entered by data administrator, all the outcome assessments will be performed by independent outcome assessors and will be analyzed by professional statisticians with SPSS 25.0 software.Discussion: We hypothesize that intradermal needle is better than or equal to positive drugs in the improving frequency of spontaneous bowel movements, stool characteristics,and et cetera of FC patients . The results of this trial will provide us with a clinical basis for the application of intradermal needles in the treatment of FC.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChinCTR2100043684.Registered on 26 February 2021.


Author(s):  
John Satish Rudrapogu ◽  
Biju Govind ◽  
Adinarayana Unnagiri

Background: Anthracyclines are extensively used in the treatment of breast cancer. However, these therapeutic agents are responsible for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of use of prophylactic nebivolol for the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients.Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, single-blind, and placebo-controlled trial involving 80 participants with breast cancer, scheduled to undergo chemotherapy with doxorubicin. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the nebivolol group (n=40) to receive nebivolol 5 mg daily and the placebo group (n=40) to receive placebo. All patients were evaluated with baseline Electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiography prior to treatment, and at the 6-month follow-up. Echocardiography included 2D echocardiography, colour doppler and tissue doppler imaging.Results: The study groups had comparable baseline echocardiographic variables. At the 6-month echocardiographic follow-up, there were no changes of statistical significance in any 2D echocardiographic variables in either group. However, there were minimal reductions of 0.4% in left ventricular ejection fraction in the nebivolol group (62.2±4.4% to 61.9±4.2%, p=0.75) and 1.6% in the placebo group (62.8±3.6% to 61.8±3.2%, p=0.18). Doppler examinations also did not reveal any statistically significant changes in variables such as peak A velocity, peak E velocity, E/A ratio, isovolumic relaxation time, and isovolemic contraction time in either group.Conclusions: Prophylactic use of nebivolol treatment may possess cardioprotective properties against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients although not statistically significant in this study.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
William L Baker ◽  
Jeffrey Kluger ◽  
Craig I Coleman ◽  
C Michael White

Background: We evaluated the antiarrhythmic efficacy and quality of life (QoL) impact of oral magnesium Llactate on patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Methods: This prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized 70 patients with an ICD to receive oral magnesium L-lactate 3 tablets twice daily (504mg elemental magnesium daily) or matching placebo for 12 months. Patients were seen at baseline, 12, 24, 36, and 52 weeks. The primary endpoints were the cumulative occurrence of ICD therapy [either shock or anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP)] or QoL between the groups. Results: Among the 70 randomized patients with a mean ± SD follow-up of 6.4 ± 4.1 months, 10 patients in the placebo group and 8 in the magnesium group experienced either ICD shock or ATP [HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.33 to 2.12; p=0.706]. Without significant arrhythmia suppression, only minimal effects on QoL were seen. Eighty six percent of all patients had serum intracellular magnesium deficiency. Conclusion: In our underpowered trial, patients with ICDs had intracellular magnesium deficiency but oral magnesium Llactate only nonsignificantly reduced the occurrence of ICD therapies and had little impact on HrQoL.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 189-196
Author(s):  
Vian Harsution

Lesson study is a systematic, collaborative, and sustainable method of improving the quality of learning. Lesson study emphasizes the exploration of students’ learning needs; teacher openness towards learning difficulties encountered; the willingness of teachers to receive and provide advice and solutions to the difficulties encountered; and the consistency of the various parties to follow up the suggestions and solutions. Implementation of lesson study involving teachers, principals, and experts in the field of education. Kurikulum tingkat satuan pendidikan or abbreviated KTSP is operational curriculum formulated and implemented by each educational unit. KTSP has the characteristics, namely: giving broad autonomy to the educational unit, involving the community and parent participation, involving the democratic leadership of the principal, and require the support of a working team that is synergistic and transparent. KTSP based on the learning process, needs to be supported by a conducive learning environment and fun to be created by teachers.Teachers and principals in a professional, systematic and collaborative create an atmosphere that fosters independence, tenacity, entrepreneurial spirit, adaptive and proactive nature of the learning process. Thus, the learning needs of students who fulfilled optimally and professional ability of teacher who have increased on an ongoing basis, may usher in success – based learning KTSP. It means that the lesson study provides positive implications for the KTSP – based learning.


Vascular ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 170853812110100
Author(s):  
Mohamed Shukri Abdelgawad ◽  
Amr M El-Shafei ◽  
Hesham A Sharaf El-Din ◽  
Ehab M Saad ◽  
Tamer A Khafagy ◽  
...  

Background Venus ulcers developed mainly due to reflux of incompetent venous valves in perforating veins. Patients and methods In this randomized controlled trial, 119 patients recruited over two years, with post-phelebtic venous leg ulcers, were randomly assigned into one of two groups: either to receive radiofrequency ablation of markedly incompetent perforators (Group A, n = 62 patients) or to receive conventional compression therapy (Group B, n = 57 patients). Follow-up duration required for ulcer healing continued for 24 months post randomization. Results Statistically significant shorter time to healing (ulcer complete healing or satisfactory clinical improvement) between both groups (56 patients, 90.3% of cases in Group A versus 44 patients 77.2% of cases in Group B) over the follow-up period of 24 months was attained ( p  = 0.001). Also, significantly different ulcer recurrence was recorded between both groups, 8 patients (12.9%) in Group A versus 19 patients (33.3%) in Group B ( p = 0.004). Conclusion In absence of deep venous obstruction, the monopolar radiofrequency ablation for incompetent perforators is a feasible and effective method that surpasses the traditional compression protocol for incompetent perforator-induced venous ulcers in terms of time required for healing even in the presence of unresolved deep venous valvular reflux.


2021 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. E378-E387
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Triantafyllou ◽  
Paraskevas Gkolfakis ◽  
Alexandros Skamnelos ◽  
Georgia Diamantopoulou ◽  
Athanasios Dagas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and study aims Bowel preparation for colonoscopy is frequently inadequate in hospitalized patients. We explored the impact of specific verbal instructions on the quality of inpatients bowel preparation and factors associated with preparation failure. Patients and methods Randomized (1:1), two strata (mobilized vs. bedridden; 3:2) trial of consecutive inpatients from four tertiary centers, who received either specific, verbal instructions or the standard of care (SOC) ward instructions about bowel preparation. The rate of adequate bowel preparation (Boston Bowel Preparation Score [BBPS] ≥ 6, no segment < 2) comprised the primary endpoint. Mean BBPS score, good (BBPS score ≥ 7, no segment score < 2) and excellent (BBPS = 9) were among secondary endpoints. Results We randomized 300 inpatients (180 mobile) aged 71.7 ± 15.1 years in the intervention (49.7 %) and SOC (50.3 %) groups, respectively. Overall, more patients in the intervention group achieved adequate bowel preparation, but this difference did not reach statistical significance neither in the intention-to-treat [90/149 (60.4 %) vs. 82/151 (54.3 %); P = 0.29] nor in the per-protocol analysis [90/129 (69.8 %) vs. 82/132 (62.1 %); P = 0.19]. Overall BBPS score did not differ statistical significantly in the two groups, but the provision of specific verbal instructions was associated with significant higher rates of good (58.1 % vs. 43.2 %; P = 0.02) and excellent (31.8 % vs. 16.7 %; P = 0.004) bowel preparation compared to the SOC group. Administration of same-day bowel preparation and patient American Society of Anesthesiologists score > 2 were identified as risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation. Conclusions Provision of specific verbal instructions did not increase the rate of adequate bowel preparation in a population of mobilized and bedridden hospitalized patients.


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