title: A trial design that generates only ''positive'' results. Side-effects of moxibustion for cephalic version of breech presentation. [Clinical observation on treatment of primary knee osteoarthritis of liver and kidney deficiency type with Aconite cake-separated moxibustion]. [Clinical observation on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with cake-separated mild moxibustion combined with Western medicine]. The different immunomodulation of indirect moxibustion on normal subjects and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with medicated moxibustion plus salicylazosulfapyridine and methotrexate--a report of 30 cases. [Observation on therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion on fibromyalgia syndrome].
abstract: In this article , we test the hypothesis that r and omized clinical trials of acupuncture for pain with certain design features ( A + B versus B ) are likely to generate false positive results . Based on electronic search es in six data bases , 13 studies were found that met our inclusion criteria . They all suggested that  acupuncture is effected ( one only showing a positive trend , all others had significant results ) . We conclude that the ' A + B versus B ' design is prone to false positive results and discuss the design features that might prevent or exacerbate this problem OBJECTIVES Moxibustion , a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique related to acupuncture , was proposed to facilitate cephalic version of breech presentation . Several trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy , but there are few reports on the safety of moxibustion . Our objective was to assess the side-effects and acceptability of this intervention . DESIGN We are conducting a r and omized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion for breech version . The first 12 participants r and omized in the moxibustion group had additional fetal surveillance by electronic monitoring . SUBJECTS Pregnant women with a fetus in breech presentation are included in the trial between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation . INTERVENTIONS We performed a cardiotocogram during 10 minutes before , 20 minutes during , and 10 minutes after each session . A maximum of 9 sessions were scheduled every other day , and stopped when cephalic version was diagnosed . The recordings were assessed by 3 independent readers using the Fischer scoring system . OUTCOME MEASURES Fetal well-being was evaluated by the cardiotocogram ; effect on the mother was evaluated by blood pressure recorded before and after each session ; maternal views , contractions , and perceived changes in fetal movements were assessed using a question naire . RESULTS A total of 65 cardiotocograms were analyzed . All scores were considered as normal , being at 8 or more on a 0 - 10 scale . Acceptability for the women and compliance to the intervention were good . No significant maternal or fetal side-effect was observed . CONCLUSIONS We have not detected alterations of fetal and maternal well-being or other side-effects associated with moxibustion applied to the BL 67 for cephalic version of breech presentations . Moxibustion appears to be safe for both the mother and the fetus OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of Aconite cake-separated moxibustion on primary knee osteoarthritis of liver and kidney deficiency type . METHODS Fifty-six cases of such disease ( 80 knees ) were r and omly divided into a cake-separated moxibustion group ( 41 knees ) with Neixiyan ( EX-LE 5 ) , Dubi ( ST 35 ) , Yinlingquan ( SP 9 ) etc . selected , and a western medicine group ( 39 knees ) were treated with oral administration of Sodium Diclofenate Slow-released Tablet . RESULTS The cumulative score for symptoms and signs was ( 37.41 + /- 6.61 ) points before treatment and ( 9.37 + /- 8.15 ) points after treatment in the cake-separated moxibustion group and ( 37.64 - 6.00 ) points before treatment and ( 12.05 + /- 8.83 ) points after treatment in the western medicine group , with a very significant difference before and after treatment in the two groups ( P < 0.01 ) ; two months after treatment , it was ( 11.71 + /- 8.69 ) points in the cake-separated moxibustion group and ( 15.95 + /- 9.96 ) points in the western medicine group , the former being better than the latter ( P < 0.05 ) . After the end of treatment , there was no significant difference in the comprehensive therapeutic effect between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ) , the cured and markedly effective rate was 63.4 % in the cake-separated moxibustion group and 48.7 % in the western medicine group , but two months after treatment , the cured and markedly effective rate of 56.1 % in the cake-separated moxibustion group was better than 33.3 % in the western medicine group ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Aconite cake-separated moxibustion has an ideal therapeutic effect on primary knee osteoarthritis of liver and kidney deficiency type , and the therapeutic effect at anaphase is better than that of Sodium Diclofenate Slow-released Tablet OBJECTIVE To observe the effect-increasing action of cake-separated mild moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) , and to probe a new method for RA . METHODS Sixty cases were r and omly divided into 2 groups . The control group ( n=30 ) were treated with oral administration of methotrexate ( MTX ) as basic treatment , and non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents ( NSAIDs ) according to conditions of the patient . The treatment group ( n=30 ) were treated with the same treatment as the control group , and Fuzi case-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan ( CV 4 ) and Zusanli ( ST 36 ) was added . They were treated for 3 months . RESULTS After treatment of 3 months , the total effective rate was 83.3 % in the treatment group , which was higher than 60.0 % in the control group ( P < 0.05 ) ; there were significant differences before and after treatment in all indexes in the two groups ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ) ; the ratio of the patients who completely withdrew NSAIDs in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05 ) ; the rate of adverse reaction in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Fuzi cake-separated mild moxibustion can increase clinical therapeutic effect on RA and reduce dosage of NSAIDs Moxibustion has been thought to enhance immunity in healthy condition , but suppress abnormal immune response in disease status . We collected 12 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) and 12 healthy women who received indirect moxibustion on acupuncture points ST-36 ( Zusanli ) and SP-6 ( Sanyinjiao ) 20 minutes per day for 1 week . During the course , there were no changes of their regular medications or intercurrent infections in normal subjects and SLE patients . We found that indirect moxibustion for 1 week could elevate CD3 + and CD4 + T-lymphocytes in normal subjects , whereas decrease relative proportions of CD8 + T-lymphocytes in patients with SLE . This result confirms that indirect moxibustion has different immunomodulation in normal condition and autoimmune status . However , whether immunomodulatory effects of indirect moxibustion are beneficial for normal subjects and patients with SLE require further confirmation OBJECTIVE To evaluate the therapeutic effect of medicated moxibustion plus administration of salicylazosulfapyridine ( SASP ) and methotrexate ( MTX ) for treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHOD Ninety cases of active AS were r and omly assigned to Group A , B and C ( N = 30 in each group ) , and treated respectively with SASP and MTX , acupuncture plus SASP and MTX , and composite sulfur ( tablet ) moxibustion plus SASP and MTX for 3 successive courses ( 2 months each course with an interval of 5 days ) . RESULTS Improvement in sacroiliitis index , Schober test , occipital wall test , finger-ground distance , as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) and the content of C-reactive protein ( CRP ) in Group B and C was far superior to that of Group A ( P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION Combined use of western medicine with acupuncture or with medicated moxibustion produces a better therapeutic effect than western medicine given alone OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication on fibromyalgia syndrome . METHODS Sixty cases were r and omly divided into a treatment group and an observation group , 30 cases in each group . The observation group was treated with oral administration of amitriptyline , and the treatment group with oral administration of amitriptyline and herb-partitioned moxibustion at Dazhui ( GV 14 ) , Zhiyang ( GV 9 ) , Mingmen ( GV 4 ) , Shenshu ( BL 23 ) , Guanyuan ( CV 4 ) , Shenque ( CV 8) , and direct moxibustion at Baihui ( GV 20 ) . After treatment of one month , their clinical therapeutic effect , and changes of the number of pain points and the scores of VAS and the HAMD depression rating scale were observed . RESULTS The total effective rate was 93.3 % in the treatment group and 56.7 % in the observation group , the former being better than the latter ( P<0.01 ) . The scores of VAS and HAMD and the number of pain points after treatment in the treatment group were better than those before treatment ( P<0.01 ) ; the score of HAMD and the number of pain points after treatment in the observation group were superior to those before treatment ( P<0.01 ) , and there was no significant difference in the score of VAS before and after treatment ( P>0.05 ) . After treatment , the score of HAMD and the number of pain points in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the observation group ( P<0.01 ) , and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the score of VAS ( P>0.05 ) . CONCLUSION The herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with medication is an effective therapy for fibromyalgia syndrome
target: This systematic review fails to provide conclusive evidence for the effectiveness of moxibustion compared with drug therapy in rheumatic conditions .
background: Moxibustion , an acupuncture-like intervention , is increasingly used in the management of rheumatic conditions .
  The aim of this review is to summarize and critically evaluate the trials testing effectiveness of moxibustion for major rheumatic conditions .