The Efficacy
of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Myofascial Pain
Smith P, et al. School of Dentistry, The University of Manchester,
Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6FH, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of real acupuncture and sham
acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibulat joint myofascial
pain, in order to establish the true efficacy of acupuncture. METHODS:
A double blind randomised controlled trial conducted in the TMD
Clinic, at the School of Dentistry, The University of Manchester.
Twenty-seven patients were assigned to one of two treatment groups.
Group 1 received real acupuncture treatment whilst Group 2 received a
sham acupuncture intervention. Both the assessor and the patient were
blinded regarding the group allocation. Baseline assessment of the
outcome variables was made prior to the first treatment session, and
was repeated following the last treatment. RESULTS: The results
demonstrated that real acupuncture had a greater influence on clinical
outcome measure of TMJ MP than those of sham acupuncture, and the
majority of these reached a level of statistical significance.
CONCLUSION: Acupuncture had a positive influence on the signs and
symptoms of TMJ MP. In addition, this study provides evidence that the
Park Sham Device was a credible acupuncture control method for trials
involving facial acupoints.
J Dent. 2006 Nov 7;
Source PubMed
[TOP]
Sedative
Effect of Acupuncture during Cataract Surgery
Gioia L, et al. Departments of Anesthesiology, Vita-Salute
University
of Milan, and H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing
anxiety in patients having cataract surgery under topical anesthesia.
SETTING: Vita-Salute University of Milan and IRCCS H. San Raffaele,
Milan, Italy. METHODS: In a prospective randomized double-blind
controlled trial, anxiety levels before and after cataract surgery in
3 groups (A = no acupuncture, B = true acupuncture starting 20 minutes
before surgery, C = sham acupuncture starting 20 minutes before
surgery) were compared using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Twenty-five patients scheduled for inpatient phacoemulsification were
enrolled in each group. All surgeries were performed using topical
anesthesia. Exclusion criteria were refusal to provide informed
consent, use of drugs with sedative properties, psychiatric disease,
pregnancy, knowledge of the principles of acupuncture, anatomic
alterations, or cutaneous infections precluding acupuncture at the
selected acupoints. RESULTS: Preoperative anxiety levels were
significantly lower only in Group B (P = .001). Anxiety in Group B was
significantly lower than in Group A (P = .001) and Group C (P = .037).
Regarding postoperative anxiety, the mean VAS score was 39 +/- 5 in
Group A, 19 +/- 3 in Group B, and 31 +/- 4 in Group C. The difference
was significant only between Group A and Group B (P = .003).
CONCLUSION: Acupuncture was effective in reducing anxiety related to
cataract surgery under topical anesthesia.
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 Nov;32(11):1951-4.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Tongxinluo (Tong
Xin Luo or Tong-Xin-Luo) Capsule for Unstable Angina Pectoris
Wu T, et al. West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chinese
Cochrane
Centre, Chinese EBM Centre, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan,
China. txwutx@hotmail.com
BACKGROUND: Tongxinluo capsule is a medicine consisting of traditional
Chinese herbs and insects used for cardiovascular diseases in China
and some other Asian countries. To date the evidence of its effect has
not previously been subject to systematic review, making it difficult
to derive robust conclusions about its actual benefits, and indeed,
possible harms. OBJECTIVES: To assess systematically the effects of
tongxinluo capsule in people with unstable angina pectoris. SEARCH
STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled
Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library, Issue 4 2004, MEDLINE,
EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge
Infrastructure, Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (all 1995 to 2005). We
also handsearched the relevant Chinese journals, checked with
manufacturers and registers of ongoing studies. SELECTION CRITERIA:
Randomised trials comparing either tongxinluo capsule only or standard
treatment plus tongxinluo capsule with standard treatment or other
anti-angina pectoris drugs, placebo or no intervention. DATA
COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors identified relevant studies for
the review independently and went on to abstract data, and assess
trial quality. Authors of included studies were contacted to obtain
further information as required. MAIN RESULTS: 18 short term follow-up
trials involving 1413 people were included. The studies did not
provide strong support of a benefit of tongxinluo for reducing the
combined outcome of acute myocardial infarction, angioplasty (PTCA)
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and sudden death or all-cause
mortality (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.59, P=0.35; RR 0.33, 95% CI
0.01to 7.78, P=0.49, respectively). Tongxinluo reduced the frequency
of acute angina attacks (WMD -1.20, 95%CI -1.38 to -1.02, P<0.00001
and RR -2.36, 95%CI -2.53 to -2.18, P<0.00001, respectively), improved
ECG (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.57, P=0.005) and angina symptoms (RR
1.21, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.40; P=0.007). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Tongxinluo in
combination with routine angina therapy appears to reduce the risk of subsequent
AMI, PTCA or CABG, angina attacks and severity, as well as improving symptoms
and ischaemic changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). Due to the methodological
limitations of the studies, the evidence is insufficient to make any conclusive
recommendations about the use of this treatment for patients presenting with
unstable angina. Large high quality randomised controlled trials are warranted.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD004474.
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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