https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/34174 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:58:19 GMT 2026-04-10T06:58:19Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141834 Title: The effectiveness and efficacy of acupuncture and associated modalities on the vasomotor symptomatology associated with perimenopause or post-menopause : an evidence based literature review Abstract: Background : Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), generally referring to ‘Hot flushes’ and ‘night sweats’, are the most common and frequent reported episodes of perimenopausal symptom affecting around 75% of menopausal women .The worldwide occurrence of VMS to be as high as 80%, with a range in variety and severity sufficient to affect the quality of life and overall health of women. These symptoms commence one to two years before menopause and may continue from six months to more than 10 years. Objectives: To investigate the degree of effectiveness or efficacy and safety of acupuncture and concomitant modalities in treating vasomotor symptoms in females during spontaneous perimenopause and after the menopause. Methodology: The design method is the literature of randomised controlled trials .A total of 20 databases were systematically searched for the related reports over the past 17 years from date of inception of search (2005-2023) ,for peer-reviewed, full-text journal articles of international studies published in English language. Acupuncture from any tradition was considered, including auricular acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupressure, and laser acupuncture, moxibustion etc. A total of 118 potentially relevant articles were retrieved for this literature review. 109 studies were excluded since they did not meet the preselection criteria .Eventually, the 9 RCT studies that met the inclusion criteria and provided exclusive information about the use of acupuncture and its modalities for the treatment of Hot flushes were selected and incorporated in this literature review . The total population for 5 these studies were of 849 participants. The RCT’s were analysed for study strength using the STRICTA and CONSORT assessment tools. Additionally, the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to appraise the risk of bias in the included studies . These tools aided in assessing the quality of the methodology of each study and the standard of reporting in each selected RCT’S. Results: The average CONSORT score for all the studies was 27.6 (74.5%: minimum 43.2% | maximum 89.2%) while the average STRICTA score was 13.4 (78.8%: minimum 64.7% | maximum 94.1%) The average combined STRICTA and CONSORT scores for the nine reviewed studies is 40.9 (75.8%: minimum 50.9% | maximum 90.7%. All but one study has a combined CONSORT and STRICTA percentage score of >65% with an average percentage score of 75.8%. This suggests that the RCT studies can be considered as having an adequate scientific rigorous validity though careful attention could be given to improve validity. However ,different bias parameters for the nine studies reviewed were found. Some studies had a particularly high risk of bias and high risk of uncertain bias score . Conclusion : This literature review explored and subsequently indicated that acupuncture and concomitant modalities is safe, useful and effective or efficacious in managing hotflushes in females during all stages of menopause and that it improves the related quality of life. Regrettably, the robustness of the results was however difficult to determine mostly due to the heterogeneity of the included trials , poor methodology of most trials, low study populations with several reporting and selection bias and various study limitations in all 9 RCT’s. Therefore, definite firm conclusions on both the effectiveness or the efficacy of acupuncture treatment or its modalities and which is the leading protocol to 6 follow , could not be reached. In the interest of evidence-based practice, rigorous large - scale studies adhering to CONSORT and STRICTA guidelines , aiming to reduce Bias and possibly incorporating a standardized protocol are needed ,to confirm findings and elucidate optimal treatment approaches in investigating the role of acupuncture and concomitant modalities, in managing hot flush symptoms during natural female perimenopause and after the menopause. Description: M. TCM(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141834 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/140269 Title: The role of traditional Chinese medicine in cases of abnormal presentations in the third trimester : an evidence-based literature review Abstract: Background: Abnormal foetal presentation, particularly breech presentation, poses significant risks for both the mother and foetus. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers alternative approaches like moxibustion and acupuncture, which may provide non-invasive options to address these presentations. This literature review examines the success rate of foetal cephalic version through the analysis of twelve studies focusing on interventions of moxibustion and acupuncture, separately or in combination, and as a complementary therapy to External Cephalic Version (ECV). Aims and Objectives: The aim of this review is to explore and compare the use of acupuncture and moxibustion used, both in conjunction and separately, in order to increase the chances of normal vaginal delivery in an abnormal foetal presentation during the third trimester by correcting the foetal presentation to cephalic. Additionally, the review also examines the concurrent application of these Chinese medicine treatments with Western medicine's External Cephalic Version, with the aim of delivering improved outcomes for expectant mothers. Moreover, the objective of this dissertation is to carry out a literature review of systematic methodologies for the analysis of research such as randomised controlled trials (RCTs), where the effectiveness of Chinese traditional medicine treatments on abnormal foetal presentation in the third trimester was analysed, comparing this to the western medicine approach. Research questions: • Does the use of Traditional Chinese medicine techniques of moxibustion and acupuncture, in conjunction as well as separately, have an effect on abnormal foetal presentation in the third trimester? And if there is, is there a difference in the outcome when the different use of these techniques is compared? • Do these modalities have an effect on improving the outcomes of an ECV procedure? Method: A literature search was conducted using databases accessed through EBSCOhost and PubMed with the University of Malta Library platform Hydi. The available and relevant research evidence was identified to answer the proposed research questions. The included studies were limited to papers written in English and published in the last 25 years. They addressed moxibustion and acupuncture in addition to conventional care for breech presentations in pregnant women. Studies addressing treatment derivatives or these interventions but focusing on other outcomes were excluded. Search outcome Twelve RCT studies met the inclusion criteria. Method of appraisal: The STRICTA, CONSORT, and Jadad score frameworks were used to critically appraise the selected studies. Results: Some findings from this review suggest that treatments of moxibustion and acupuncture, in conjunction or separately, are promising. In the other studies, such treatment was found to have a different level of effectiveness. Differences in the methodology of the interventions of the trials may have led to discrepancies in the findings. Conclusion: This literature review underscores the need for more rigorous studies to validate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion and acupuncture in managing breech presentations. While initial findings are promising, comprehensive clinical guidelines and practitioner training are essential for effectively implementing these techniques in prenatal care. Implications: Raising awareness of the effectiveness of moxibustion and acupuncture therapy in prenatal care for abnormal foetal presentations. Detecting gaps in the currently available studies. Encouraging the integration of TCM techniques with conventional obstetric practices to improve maternal and foetal outcomes. Description: M. TCM(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/140269 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/34203 Title: The acupuncture role in treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy Abstract: Back ground: Diabetes mellitus is a global epidemic and in Malta, about 13.9% of the adult population is affected .The diabetic peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy is the most common Diabetic complication with the estimated prevalence in the range of 6.95%-9.73% in the Maltese population where the pharmaceutical therapy has very limited effect with high potential of side effects. Objectives: To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as an add on complimentary treatment Methodology: A total of about thirteen databases were systemically researched the period of the last 11 years (2006-2017). Total population of 1070 was included. The new modified quality assessment tool STRICTA Plus Score Scale (SPSS) was used in this study to assess the quality of methodology design and reporting of the included RCTs. RCTs with score of >9 and active control treatments such as sham acupuncture or medical therapy were included. Out of a total of 63 potentially relevant articles which were retrieved in this literature review study, eventually, sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria and included in the actual assessment and the final analysis. Research language was limited to English; however reviews in Chinese were included and translated. Results: The total efficacy rates in acupuncture treatment groups ranged from 83.33% to 95%. The average SPSS score was 16.31 (74.15%), with FEI Ai-hua, et al 2011 has the minimum SPSS of 12 (54.55%) and Garrow AP., et al 2014 has the maximum SPSS of 19 (86.36%). Nevertheless, dissecting the SPSS, shows that all the included trials failed to achieve 50% rate of the five points Jadad score (Jadad score ranged from 20% to 40%). Furthermore, 87.5% of the included trials scored zero for the Practitioner background score of (1) and only one study (Garrow AP., et al 2014) scored 1 (100%) and another study (Zhang C., et al, 2010) scored 0.5 (50%). However, the other scoring parameters of the novel SPSS tool were relatively on average well scored in the included reviews. Conclusion: This literature review showed that acupuncture treatment might be useful, effective and potentially safe complementary therapeutic tool in the management of DPN. However, these positive finding should be interpreted cautiously and conservatively, due to the fact that all included trials have high risks of bias. The heterogeneity of the included trials prevents us making a firm conclusion. The robustness of the results of the included trials could not be determined due to the fact that the majority of the included trials were of ‘inadequate methodology’ and low study population with multiple methodological and reporting biases. To ensure evidence-based clinical practice, further rigorous sham placebo-controlled, randomized trials are critically needed. These prospective trials need to be large scale studies and fully compliant with the CONSORT, STRICTA statements as well as the new quality assessment tool used in this study (SPSS) to ensure high power and robustness as well as the clinical implications of their results. Description: M.CHINESE MED. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/34203 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z