Shaun Wen Huey Lee1, Men Long Liong2, Kah Hay Yuen3, John N Krieger4. 1. School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. 2. Department of Urology, Island Hospital, George Town, Penang, Malaysia. 3. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town, Penang, Malaysia. 4. Department of Urological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, 98108 WA, USA. Electronic address: jkrieger@u.washington.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The immune system has been implicated as one mechanism underlying the benefits of acupuncture therapy. Evidence suggests that acupuncture can ameliorate symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), but the association between clinical response and the immune system has not been investigated. DESIGN/ SETTING: We investigated 12 CP/CPPS patients participating in a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for effects on cellular immunity. Blood samples were taken before the first needling and after the last of 20 treatment sessions (week 10). Patients also completed questionnaires examining their CP/CPPS symptoms and mood status at the baseline and end of study visits. RESULTS: At the end of study 8 of 12 participants (67%) were classified as treatment responders, four participants each from the acupuncture and sham groups. The acupuncture group averaged a 5% increase in natural killer cell levels compared to corresponding sham (-13%; p=0.03). Similarly, patients randomized to acupuncture reported a reduction in other white blood cell parameters examined, supporting the possibility that immunity might be important in the pathophysiology of CP/CPPS. CONCLUSIONS: The specific effect of acupuncture on CP/CPPS remains unclear. Further research is warranted to examine the mechanisms by which acupuncture therapy may improve clinical symptoms in patients with CP/CPPS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00260637).
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: The immune system has been implicated as one mechanism underlying the benefits of acupuncture therapy. Evidence suggests that acupuncture can ameliorate symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), but the association between clinical response and the immune system has not been investigated. DESIGN/ SETTING: We investigated 12 CP/CPPS patients participating in a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for effects on cellular immunity. Blood samples were taken before the first needling and after the last of 20 treatment sessions (week 10). Patients also completed questionnaires examining their CP/CPPS symptoms and mood status at the baseline and end of study visits. RESULTS: At the end of study 8 of 12 participants (67%) were classified as treatment responders, four participants each from the acupuncture and sham groups. The acupuncture group averaged a 5% increase in natural killer cell levels compared to corresponding sham (-13%; p=0.03). Similarly, patients randomized to acupuncture reported a reduction in other white blood cell parameters examined, supporting the possibility that immunity might be important in the pathophysiology of CP/CPPS. CONCLUSIONS: The specific effect of acupuncture on CP/CPPS remains unclear. Further research is warranted to examine the mechanisms by which acupuncture therapy may improve clinical symptoms in patients with CP/CPPS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00260637).
Authors: Shaun Wen Huey Lee; Phaik Yeong Cheah; Men Long Liong; Kah Hay Yuen; Anthony J Schaeffer; Kathleen Propert; John N Krieger Journal: J Urol Date: 2007-01 Impact factor: 7.450
Authors: Shaun Wen Huey Lee; Men Long Liong; Kah Hay Yuen; Wing Seng Leong; Nurzalina Karim Khan; John N Krieger Journal: Acupunct Med Date: 2011-01-18 Impact factor: 2.267
Authors: John N Krieger; Shaun Wen Huey Lee; Jeonseong Jeon; Phaik Yeong Cheah; Men Long Liong; Donald E Riley Journal: Int J Antimicrob Agents Date: 2007-12-31 Impact factor: 5.283
Authors: Phaik Yeong Cheah; Men Long Liong; Kah Hay Yuen; Shaun Lee; Jin Rong Yang; Chu Leong Teh; Timothy Khor; Hin Wai Yap; John N Krieger Journal: World J Urol Date: 2006-02-08 Impact factor: 4.226
Authors: Shaun Wen Huey Lee; Men Long Liong; Kah Hay Yuen; Wing Seng Leong; Christopher Chee; Phaik Yeong Cheah; Weng Pho Choong; Yue Wu; Nurzalina Khan; Wooi Long Choong; Hin Wai Yap; John N Krieger Journal: Am J Med Date: 2008-01 Impact factor: 4.965