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Efficacy and Safety of Fire Needle Therapy for Nodular Prurigo: A Quantitative Study.

ABSTRACT: In this quantitative study, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of fire needle therapy for nodular prurigo. We systematically searched several databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, the China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and the China Science and Technology Journal Database, and retrieved randomized controlled trials comparing conventional therapies (control group) with fire needle therapy alone or in combination with conventional therapies. Revman 5.2 software was used to calculate risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). In total, 14 trials with 1176 participants were included. Our quantitative study showed that the effectiveness rate of fire needle therapy combined with conventional therapies was significantly higher than that of conventional therapies alone (fire needle + traditional Chinese medicine [TCM] vs. TCM: RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.18; fire needle + oral thalidomide + topical glucocorticoid [TGC] vs. thalidomide + TGC: RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.70; fire needle + TGC vs. TGC only: RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.31). Similar results were obtained for the Symptom Score Reducing Index (fire needle + TCM vs. TCM: mean difference [MD], -3.39; 95% CI: -5.39 to -1.39), visual analog scale scores for itching severity (fire needle vs. halometasone cream: MD, -0.93; 95% CI, -1.29 to -0.58; fire needle + TCM vs. TCM: MD, -1.18; 95% CI, -1.78 to -0.58), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (fire needle vs. halometasone cream: MD, -3.03; 95% CI, -3.43 to -2.63; fire needle + TCM vs. TCM: MD, -2.53; 95% CI, -3.12 to -1.94). Adverse event and recurrence rates were comparable between groups. Thus, fire needle therapy alone or combined with conventional treatments may be effective for nodular prurigo, without any additional side effects.

SUBMITTER: Luo Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614990 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Flat warts are a common and recurrent skin disease that has no specific antiviral treatment. As an alternative or complementary therapy, fire needle therapy has been widely used in the treatment of flat warts. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of fire needle therapy for flat warts. Using the search terms "flat warts" and "fire needle," we searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese biomedical (SinoMed) database, and the China Science and Technology Journal databases for studies until March 12, 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing fire needle therapies with conventional therapies were also included. We calculated the risk ratios (RR) and mean differences with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We analyzed 29 trials involving 2,666 patients. Results showed that the use of fire needle therapy alone may have a higher efficacy rate compared with that of an immunomodulator (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.20, I 2 = 0%, P = 0.006; RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.37, I 2 = 70%, P = 0.02, respectively) or tretinoin (RR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.25 to 1.55, I 2 = 0%, P < 0.00001), with a lower risk of blisters (P = 0.03) or erythema (P = 0.04), but with a higher risk of pigmentation (P = 0.02). We also determined the efficacy rate of fire needle therapy in combination with traditional Chinese medicine (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.23, I 2 = 21%, P < 0.00001), immunomodulators (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.28, I 2 = 33%, P = 0.0005), imiquimod (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.42, P = 0.02), or as multidrug therapies (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.24, I 2 = 0%, P = 0.0001) and found that the combination treatments could reduce recurrence rates (P < 0.00001) and provided a lower risk of desquamation (P = 0.006). In conclusion, fire needle therapy seems to be effective for flat warts, with a reduced incidence of adverse events, such as blisters, erythema, and desquamation, but may increase incidence of pigmentation.

Project description:BackgroundFire needle therapy is a characteristic treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). An increasing number of studies have indicated that fire needle treatment for psoriasis provides satisfactory results with few side effects and a low recurrence rate. We herein describe the protocol for a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial that will provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of fire needle therapy for plaque psoriasis.MethodsNinety-two patients with blood stasis syndrome (BSS) of plaque psoriasis will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive fire needle therapy (intervention group) or fire needle control therapy (control group) once a week for 4 weeks. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score will serve as the major efficacy index, while the body surface area (BSA), Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score, patient-reported quality of life (PRQoL), visual analog scale (VAS) score for itching, TCM symptom score, and relapse rate will be assessed as secondary outcomes. The PASI score, BSA, PGA score, and VAS score for itching will be evaluated at baseline and during the 4-week treatment and follow-up periods. DLQI score, PRQoL, and TCM symptom score will be assessed at baseline and during the treatment period. Recurrence will be evaluated during the follow-up period. Safety assessments include vital sign monitoring, routine blood tests, blood biochemistry, routine urine tests, pregnancy tests, physical examinations, and adverse-event recording. SAS software will be used for data analysis. The data network platform will be designed by the data management center of Nanjing Ningqi Medical Technology Co., Ltd.DiscussionIt is believed that fire needle therapy can activate the meridians, promote blood circulation, and regulate skin immunity. BSS of plaque psoriasis is related to not only immune dysfunction but also poor or stagnant blood flow. We anticipate that the results of the trial described in this protocol will provide strong evidence for the safety and efficacy of fire needle therapy for BSS of plaque psoriasis.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT03953885 . Registered on May 15, 2019. Name: Fire Needle Therapy on Plaque Psoriasis with Blood Stasis Syndrome.

Project description:BackgroundAcute herpes zoster (AHZ) is a common skin disease caused by invasion of the varicella zoster virus into the ganglia and skin, and the severe pain is the most complaint, which can seriously disturb the normal life of patients. Fire needle plus cupping is a special acupuncture treatment, which is widely used to treat AHZ for its better analgesic effect in China although it has not been fully verified by rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT).Methods/designTo test the effect, a three-arm randomized parallel controlled trial protocol has been designed. A total of 105 AHZ patients suffering pain will be randomly divided into three groups in an equal proportion. The interventions are fire needle plus cupping (FC) in group A, famciclovir plus gabapentin (FG) in group B, and fire needle plus cupping plus famciclovir (FCF) in group C. The length for the trial is set for a week time frame. Precisely speaking, the A group (FC) is to carry out 1 treatment per day for the total of 7 treatment sessions within 1?week period. On the other hand, the B group (FG) will take drugs orally three times a day within the trial 1?week. Meanwhile, with its combination element, the C group (FCF) is due to undertake both treatments and drugs as prescribed for A and B groups within the trial week. As an intra-trial arrangement, analgesic medication will be carefully administered for temporary pain release if the sudden intolerable pain appeared. For the primary outcome, this study is due to apply visual analogue scale to identify pain intensity relief. As the secondary outcomes are concerned, this study is aiming to focus on the issues related to changes in substance P and beta-endorphin concentrations in peripheral plasma, as well as those issues of analgesic needs, side effects, symptoms, and physical signs including pain classification, local itching, burning sensation, fever, local lymphadenopathy, skin lesion area, blisters, herpes clusters, vesicular traits, ulcers, and pimples; all these are taken into account for evaluation. For the final stage, the participants are to be followed up for postherpetic neuralgia.DiscussionThe results of this trial aim to provide sufficient evidence on FC treatment over both FG and FCF treatments. It will then give a credible alternative treatment to cut down acute pain and to cure AHZ infection.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800015372 . Registered on 28 March 2018.

Project description:Many previous studies have shown the potential therapeutic effect of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis. Most of these studies, however, were limited by the short duration of observations and lack of sham acupuncture as the control group. Our preliminary experiments showed that the use of a warm needling achieved a much more persistent effect in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) compared with simple acupuncture therapy. Hence, we have designed a multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which the first-line medication loratadine will be used as the control group, and the effect of warm needling therapy will be evaluated through long-term observation.The trial is designed as a multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, single-blinded (outcome assessors), non-inferiority trial. A total of 98 patients with persistent AR will be randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the treatment group will be treated with warm needling at GV14 and acupuncture at EX-HN3, ST2, LI20, EX-HN8, GV23, LU7, LU5 and LI4 three times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Patients in the control group will be treated with oral loratadine 10 mg/day for 4 weeks. The primary outcome will be the change in the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) from baseline to that at 6 months after treatment during the follow-up period. The secondary outcomes will include the Total Non-nasal Symptom Score and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, changes in the TNSS from baseline to that at 2 and 4 weeks during treatment, and 3 months after treatment during the follow-up period. Outcomes will be measured at 2 and 4 weeks, and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Any side effects of treatment will be observed and recorded.We expect that the study results will provide evidence to determine the effects of warm needling compared with loratadine. Our final goal of the study is to evaluate the difference in the short-term and long-term effects between the two therapeutic methods, especially the long-term effect of warm needling.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02339714 . Registered on 14 January 2015.

Project description:European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends needle-knife fistulotomy (NKF) as the preferred precut technique. However, there is little information on whether NKF performed at different times is associated with different success and adverse event rates. We compared the outcomes of 3 different timings of NKF. This was an observational study conducted at 4 institutions and this was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. We included 330 consecutive patients submitted to NKF attempt for biliary access. Patients were divided into three groups: NKF as an initial procedure for biliary access (group A, n = 121); early NKF defined as after 5 min, 5 attempts, or 2 pancreatic passages (group B, n = 99); and late NKF: after at least 10 min of unsuccessful standard biliary cannulation (group C, n = 110). We assessed the success rate of biliary cannulation at initial ERCP, time to perform NKF until biliary cannulation, overall biliary cannulation rate (second ERCP when initial failure), adverse event rate, and predictors of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). The initial cannulation rate was 98%, 91% and 94% for groups A, B and C respectively, p = 0.08, whereas overall biliary cannulation rate was 100%, 95% and 98%, p = 0.115. The adverse event rate/PEP was 4.1%/2.5%, 7.1%/4% and 10.9%/8.2%, for groups A, B and C respectively, (p = 0.197 and p = 0.190). Median time for creating the fistula was A = 4.0 min, B = 3.2 min, and C = 5.6 min, p < 000.1. Each additional minute spent attempting cannulation increased the odds ratio (OR) for PEP by 1.072, and patients with 3 or more risk factors for pancreatitis had a higher chance of PEP. In conclusion, the timing of NFK does not appear to influence success rates but late NFK is associated with a higher time to create a fistula and an increased risk of pancreatitis. Primary NFK is associated with a high rate of success and a low rate of PEP and deserves additional investigation.

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Efficacy and Safety of Fire Needle Therapy for Nodular Prurigo: A Quantitative Study.

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