• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

Objectives : To review and summarize the existing evidence on acupuncture treatment for cancer and cancer related symptoms. Methods: Literature searches were made through domestic and international databases. Data were extracted according to pre-defined criteria. The methodological quality was assessed using the Modified Jadad scale. Results: Seven studies were included. Two of the studies were high in methodological quality. One study concerning acupuncture treatment for cancerous dyspnea reported insignificant differences between the treatment group and placebo group. The other study concerning auricular acupuncture for cancer related pain showed significant pain relief compared with the control group. All the other studies were non-blinded or uncontrolled trials. Conclusion : The hypothesis that acupuncture may be effective for the treatment of cancer is not supported by the data in recent clinical trials. More accurately designed randomized control trials (RCT) are needed.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.151-163
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• 2011

Objectives : Our aim is to evaluate feasibility for massive clinical research and to make basic analysis of efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue. Methods : This study is a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial. It was developed through literature searches and discussions among researchers. Results : Forty participants allocated to acupuncture group and wait-list group. Participants allocated to acupuncture group will be treated three times per week for a total of 12 sessions over four weeks. Eight points (GV20; bilatral GB20, BL11, BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23) have been selected for the acupuncture group. Participants in the wait-list group will not receive acupuncture treatment during study period and follow-up will be made in the 5th and 9th weeks after random allocation. Then the same acupuncture treatment as that performed to the acupuncture group will be made to the wait-list group. Fatigue Severity Scale, a short form of Stress Response Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Insomnia Severity Index will be used as outcome variables to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture. Safety will be assessed at every visit. Conclusions : The trial based on this study will be performed. The results of the trial will provide basis for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic chronic fatigue.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.70-81
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• 2018

Objectives : To investigate the association of trial registration status with presence of reporting bias including publication bias and outcome reporting bias in recently published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture. Methods : A PubMed search for RCTs of acupuncture published from March 2016 to February 2017 was conducted. Primary outcomes were identified and the direction of the results was judged as positive (i.e., statistically significant) or negative. The trial registration was identified by manually screening the trial registration number in the main text of the published article and classified into 1) prospective registration; 2) retrospective registration based on the registration date or; 3) no registration. Results : Of the 125 included RCTs, only 40 studies (32.0%) prospectively registered the study protocols. Among 65 RCTs that adequately reported the primary outcome, unregistered trials were more likely to report positive results than the registered ones (p=0.013). Of the 40 prospectively registered studies, 19 trials (47.5%) had the discrepancies between the registered and published primary outcomes and furthermore, 40% of them reported the positive findings. Conclusions : Unregistered trials were more likely to report positive results and the discrepancies between the registered and published primary outcomes were detected in about a half of the prospectively registered studies, 42.1% of which tended to report positive findings. Journal editors and researchers in this field should be alerted to various reporting biases.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to systematically explore the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for upper extremity peripheral nerve injury and to review the methodology of clinical trials. Methods We searched 9 electronic databases(3 international, 1 Chinese, 5 Korean) including English, Korean and Chinese, up to December 2017 for randomized controlled trials which evaluated the effects of the acupuncture in patients with upper extremity peripheral nerve injury. We abstracted the designs of the randomized clinical trials and the method of acupuncture treatment according to the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture(STRICTA). Results A total of 8 papers were reviewed. All randomized clinical trials were conducted in China. Of them, five studies(62.5%) were electro-acupuncture as intervention. All randomized clinical trials reported favorable effects of acupuncture treatments compared to baseline or control group with outcomes of efficacy rate. However risk of bias seemed high. LI4, LI11, SI3, PC3, PC6 were most frequently used for acupoints to treat upper extremity peripheral nerve injury. Conclusions These results suggest that it is recommended to develop more detailed reporting standards for acupuncture treatment method. In the future, well designed randomized clinical trials which evaluate the effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for upper extremity peripheral nerve injury is highly needed.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-48
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of acupuncture treatment on Hwa-byung patient's insomnia. Methods: The study was performed through a patient-assessor blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which the volunteers, data collectors and analysts were unaware of individuals who were receiving the treatment. A total of thirty-seven volunteers were divided into 2 groups. 18 subjects were placed into a trial group and 19 subjects into a control group by a randomization table. The trial group was treated on bilateral Shigu, Ahnmyun, B62 (Shinmaek), and K6 (Chohae), while the control group was not given any other treatment. The ISI(Insomnia Severity Scale) was measured as the 1st evaluative instrument, and then a comparative analysis was conducted by comparing the results with those measured by a Likert scale for major symptoms of Hwa-byung, PSQI, Hwa-byung scale, BDI, STAI, and STAXI. Results: In the ISI, PSQI, and the Likert scale regarding major symptoms of Hwa-byung, Hwa-byung scale, BDI, and STAI, more significant decreases were found in those concerning the trial group compared to those of the control group from a statistical perspective. However, in the STAXI, regarding the trial group, there was no significant decrease compared to the control group. Conclusions: The results suggest that acupuncture treatment is effective in the treatment regarding Hwa-byung patients who suffer from insomnia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.29-38
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• 2011

Objectives : Recent well-designed randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and their meta-analysis have been published on the efficacy of acupuncture in different condition. In most of them, real acupuncture is compared with sham acupuncture including invasive and non-invasive sham methods. But it is not clear how active sham methods are. These results tend to lead the conclusion that acupuncture has no more effective than sham acupuncture. In order to investigate that sham acupuncture is appropriate as a control, we reviewed several acupuncture trials using different sham acupuncture as a control. Methods : We searched Cochrane researches of acupuncture, reviewed and analyzed 25 RCTs in 42 Cochrane reviews. And especially we compared the effect of acupuncture according to the type of sham acupuncture. Results : Invasive sham acupunctures are used in 12 RCTs and non-invasive types are used in the rest. The majority of studies(19 RCTs) fail to show effects beyond a sham acupuncture. Streitberger's sham needle is a validated sham acupuncture of non-invasive type that was used in 8 trials and also no significant group differences are shown except one trial. Conclusions : Acupuncture is a complex intervention. Clinical trials of acupuncture need to be reexamined and redesigned to remove several bias. Especially, sham acupuncture as a control might be investigated for physiological effects as well as validation test including patient-blinding and de qi sensation. Other research need to be investigated and developed for acupuncture trials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

Objectives : Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common female gynecological diseases. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have been used to treat dysmenorrhea in Korea. The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for primary dysmenorrhea as described in studies in Korea. Methods : A total of 8 databases were searched, with the search concluding February 15, 2015. These were the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, DBpia, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal, Research Information Sharing Service, and Pubmed. Randomized controlled Trails(RCTs) comparing acupuncture or moxibustion therapy with non acupoints stimulation or medication were selected. Data abstraction and assessment of methodology was conducted by authors and disagreements were resolved by discussion. Results : 7 trials were included in this review, with a total of 308 participants. 4 trials reported on acupuncture, 1 trial reported on acupress by magnet, 1 trial reported on pharmacopuncture, and the other trial reported on moxibustion. Quality of methodology was low. 2 trials showed that experimental therapy was effective for pain relief compared to the controlled group. However, 5 trials did not show a significant difference in pain relief. Conclusions : Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy may reduce period pain, however, it is needed for well designed RCTs in Korea.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2020

Background: Due to the aging population in Korea, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become an increasingly common condition. Many patients with KOA prefer analgesics, herbal medicines, acupuncture, or exercise, rather than arthroscopic surgery or a knee replacement. Gyebutang (GB) granules are a herbal extract widely used to treat KOA in traditional Korean medicine, but there is insufficient evidence of its efficacy and safety. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, 2-armed parallel, controlled clinical trial has been designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GB combined with acupuncture for the treatment of KOA. There will be 100 patients with KOA enrolled in the study from 3 traditional Korean medicine hospitals. The participants will be randomly allocated to an experimental group (GB and acupuncture) or a control group (celecoxib and acupuncture) in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive acupuncture treatment once a week for 6 weeks; one group will receive GB and the other will receive celecoxib for the same duration. Results: The primary outcome will be the change of knee osteoarthritic pain, based on scores on a 100 mm visual analog scale. The secondary outcomes will be scores on a numeric rating scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, patient global assessment, European quality of life 5-dimension 5-level scale, and adverse events. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide evidence of efficacy and safety of GB as a treatment for patients with KOA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.115-126
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• 2009

Objective: By assessing the quality of methodology and synthesis of results of RCTs (Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials) with herbal acupuncture (pharmacopuncture), we hope to help with administrating herbal acupuncture therapy in clinic and conducting RCT with herbal acupuncture. Methods: Reports of RCT conducted in Korea published in medical journals until February 2009 were collected. We surveyed elementary information of RCTs, evaluated randomization, double-blinding, allocation concealment and put together the results of RCTs by seven clinical topics. Results: 38 RCTs with herbal acupuncture were selected, then adequate methods for randomization and allocation concealment were found in 39% and 5% of studies. Complete double-blinding and a clear accounting of all participants were conducted in 42% and 50% of reports. The synthesis of RCTs revealed that herbal acupuncture was useful and effective on degenerative gonarthritis, omarthralgia on cerebrovascular accident, acute ankle sprain, back sprain, neck sprain, headache, rheumatoid arthritis and tennis elbow, generally. Conclusions: Although further improvement in quality of methodology of RCTs with herbal acupuncture is required, clinical usefulness of herbal acupuncture was shown especially on disorders of musculoskeletal system via RCTs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.183-195
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• 2007

Objectives : To determine whether individualized acupuncture (IA) provides greater pain relief and improved function compared with standardized acupuncture (SA) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Methods: Design is a randomized single blind controlled trial with two intervention arms (IA vs SA) of 6 weeks' duration and 3 months follow up. An orthopedist diagnosed 50 patients' symptoms as knee osteoarthritis. Interventions were applied by 2 residents studying the acupuncture and moxibustion specially in Dongguk University International Hospital. Primary outcome measure is pain as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary measures of pain and disability include WOMAC, SF-36, LFI and KHAQ. Results : The 50 participants were well matched for age, sex, bad side, VAS, WOMAC, SF-36, LFI and KHAQ scores at the baseline. 3 participants dropped out. There have not been any adverse events in both groups. Participants in both groups experienced great improvement in all measures except SF-36at 3 and 6 weeks. At 18 weeks, the IA group experienced significantly greater improvement than the SA group in VAS but not in WOMAC, SF-36, LFI and KHAQ. Conclusions : Manipulation of IA seems to provide pain relief longer for osteoarthritis of the knee when compared with SA.