title: Acupoint Application for Asthma Therapy in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the evidence available on the effects of acupuncture point (acupoint) application for asthma therapy in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six electronic databases were searched up to May 2014 to identify relevant studies. Randomized controlled trials, which assessed the effects of acupoint application for asthma treatment in adults, were included in our review. The methodological quality of eligible studies was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of a random-effects model were calculated. The heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies were included in our review. The aggregated results indicated that acupoint application improved forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (SMD, 0.32; 95% CI 0.04-0.60; p = 0.03), FEV1/forced vital capacity (SMD, 0.89; 95% CI 0.70-1.09; p < 0.00001), interleukin (SMD, -0.26; 95% CI -0.50 to -0.01; p = 0.04) and immunoglobulin E (SMD, -0.49; 95% CI -0.83 to -0.16; p = 0.004) in patients with asthma, but not eosinophilic cation protein (SMD, -0.58; 95% CI -1.42 to 0.26; p = 0.18). There was no sufficient evidence for the follow-up effects of acupoint application for asthma therapy in adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupoint application may be a valid complementary and alternative therapy for asthma in adults. It contributes especially to improving pulmonary function and reducing the levels of interleukin and immunoglobulin E. However, more studies with longer follow-ups are warranted to confirm the current findings.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cadre, Jinan Military General Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Man
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007378:Interleukins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E