ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and mechanism of auricular point sticking plus Western medicine for moderate gastric cancer pain. Methods: A total of 80 patients were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received Western medicine treatment, while patients in the observation group received additional auricular point sticking. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Numeric rating scale (NRS) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) were adopted before and after treatment. The total time and times of flare-up pain in 24 h were recorded. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were detected. The clinical efficacy of both groups was evaluated after treatment. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05); after treatment, NRS scores of both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (both P<0.05), and the score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05); KPS scores of both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (both P<0.05), and the score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the total time and flare-up times of pain during 24 h of both groups were significantly reduced (all P<0.05), and those of the observation group were significantly less than those of the control group (both P<0.05). After treatment, the COX-2 and TNF-α levels of both groups were significantly reduced (all P<0.05), and were lower in the observation group than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking plus Western medicine for moderate gastric cancer pain is valid. This combined treatment can alleviate cancer pain and improve patients' quality of life, which may be related to its ability to reduce COX-2 and TNF-α levels.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking at different points to relieve the pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture. Methods: A total of 42 patients with arteriovenous fistula were randomized into a Shenmen (TF4) group and an Elbow (SF3) group by the random number table method, with 21 cases in each group. After enrolled into different groups, before the dialysis, patients were given auricular point sticking with Wang Bu Liu Xing ( Semen Vaccariae) seeds at Shenmen (TF4) and Elbow (SF3), respectively. Patients were asked to press the seeds themselves for 2 min each time, four times a day, and an additional 5-15 min before the arteriovenous fistula puncture. Intensive pressing was offered during the puncture, 15-20 presses for each time, and the plasters were changed every 2-3 d. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to score the pain level one week before and after auricular point sticking. The NRS score was then compared and analyzed. Results: The intra-group comparison showed that the changes of NRS score in both groups were statistically significant after auricular point sticking (both P＜0.05). After the treatment, there was no significant difference in NRS score between the two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking at Shenmen (TF4) or Elbow (SF3) can effectively relieve the pain of arteriovenous fistula puncture, and these two points have equivalent analgesic effect.