Acupuncture for Hot Flashes in Patients With Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer.

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Acupuncture treatment: Acupoint selection: Hegu-Yinxi acupoint group (clearing heat and relieving sweat), Sanyinjiao-Fuliu acupoint group (nourishing yin and tonifying kidney), Tianshu-uteri acupoint group (special effect points) (12 acupoints on both sides). Frequency: 3 times a week (once every other day) for a total of 8 weeks of continuous treatment. Operation: Use a one-time sterile acupuncture needle (0.30×40mm, Huatuo brand), insert the needle 0.5 inch along the anatomical position, level up and relieve the qi, and keep the needle for 20 minutes.

Sham Acupuncture treatment: Selecting acupoints: Select the side opening positions of the 6 acupuncture points in the real acupuncture group, and select non-meridian and non-points (points with less nerve distribution, sparseness, and rich muscles). Frequency: 3 times a week (once every other day) for a total of 8 weeks of continuous treatment. Operation: ① Shallow needling scheme: use a disposable sterile acupuncture needle, insert the needle 0.2 inch, without twisting, and keep the needle for 20 minutes. ②Non-invasive acupuncture plan: choose a special comfort needle with no needle tip at the top of the needle, paste a disposable sterile foam pad on the non-acupoint, and use a disposable sterile flat head The acupuncture needles were pierced into the foam pad, lightly touching but not piercing the skin, and not breathing; the needles were kept for 20 minutes.

Study summary

This study intends to further evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture by comparing the intervention effects of different acupuncture treatment regimens on hot flashes in breast cancer ; and to explore the central effect regulation mechanism of acupuncture intervention on hot flashes based on functional magnetic resonance imaging technology.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in cancer therapy functional assessment — Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
  Cancer therapy functional assessment scores will be assessed with Cancer Therapy Functional Assessment-Breast cancer, version 4.The minimum value is 0 , and the maximum value is 185. The higher scores mean a worse outcome.
• Change in acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment — Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
  Acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment scores will be assessed with acupuncture efficacy expectation assessment. The minimum value is 0 , and the maximum value is 20. The higher scores mean a better outcome.
• Change of functional connectivity of whole brain — Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
  Functional connectivity will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging based on blood oxygen level dependence.
• Change of metabolism of glucose in the brain — Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
  Accumulation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG) will be analyzed by time-related Positron emission tomography.
• Change of hot flash severity — Baseline, 8,24 weeks later
  Hot flash severity will be assessed with hot flash scores each week. There are four levels of severity： Mild: Duration: Less than five minutes. Symptoms: warmth, discomfort, flushing. Moderate: Duration: Up to fifteen minutes. Symptoms: warmth in head, neck, ears, or body; tense, tight muscles; clammy skin; change in heart rate or rhythm; light sweating; dry mouth. Severe: Duration: Up to twenty minutes. Symptoms: Fever, sometimes like a crucible or burning sensation; change in heart rate or rhythm; feeling faint; headache; heavy sweating. Very severe: Duration: Up to forty-five minutes. Symptoms: boiling heat; constant sweating; trouble breathing; feeling faint, dizzy; leg cramps or feeling cramps; change in heart rate; stomach upset. The greater severity mean a worse outcome.

Trial sites (1)

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