Discovering different acupoint combinations of manual or electro-acupuncture to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting based on the complex networks analysis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research was to find the acupoint combinations of manual and electro-acupuncture to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting via the complex networks analysis.

METHODS

We conducted searches using PubMed, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, Ovid, spring, Wiley, EMBASE, the Chinese biomedicine database, VIP information network, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from the establishment of the databases to the August, 2023. Information about titles, journals, interventions, and main acupoints was extracted using the self-established "acupoint for prevention CINV data base" powered by EpiData. According to the level of literature evidence and sample size, the clinical trials and weights of the outcome indicators including nausea/vomiting efficiency were combined. After identifying articles, literature processing and complex network analysis were conducted. The degree distribution of each node, the probability distribution of node degree, the node clustering coefficient, and the distance matrix are calculated by software.

RESULTS

Of the 4001 screened publications, 489 were eligible after careful selection. Our result showed the acupoints ST36 and PC6 were the most common combination acupoints in both electro and manual acupuncture. In terms of efficiency, ST36, PC6, and CV12 are significantly effective acupoints for manual acupuncture, and the PC6 and ST36 are effective acupoint for electro-acupuncture.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the near-far collocation method has been commonly used for different types of acupuncture treatment in CINV. Zhongwan, Shangwan, and Liangmen have been mainly used as local acupoints, while Neiguan, Hegu, Quchi, Zusanli, Gongsun, TaiChong, and Neiguan have been mainly used as distal acupoints. From the effect analysis, acupuncture treatment of nausea manual acupuncture effect is better; acupuncture treatment of vomiting or electro-acupuncture effect is better.