Effects of Electroacupuncture on Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients With Cancer: Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is one of the most prevalent adverse events associated with cancer patients who receive opioid analgesics for moderate to severe pain. Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for OIC. We designed this trial to assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for OIC in cancer patients.

Methods

This is a multicenter, sham-controlled, parallel-group, subject- and assessor-blinded randomized trial. A total of 100 cancer patients with OIC will be randomly assigned to either the electroacupuncture group or the sham electroacupuncture group at a ratio of 1:1. Patients in each group will receive a total of 24-session treatment over 8 weeks, three sessions a week and 30 min each session. Thereafter, patients will be followed up for another 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be the proportion of responders, defined as a patient who has ≥3 spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs)/wk and ≥ increase of 1 SBM from baseline simultaneously for at least 6 out of 8 weeks of the treatment period. The secondary outcomes will include the mean weekly SBMs and complete spontaneous bowel movements, the mean Bristol Stool Form Scale score for stool consistency, the mean score for straining of SBM, the total and subscale scores of Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptom questionnaires, and the total and subscale scores of Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life questionnaire. Patients' global assessment of treatment effectiveness, patients' expectation toward the effectiveness of acupuncture and safety of acupuncture will also be assessed. All efficacy analyses will be performed in the intention-to-treat population.

Discussion

To improve the adherence to intervention protocols, the majority of the participants will be recruited from an inpatient setting. The results will help to determine the clinical effects and safety of electroacupuncture for the treatment of OIC among patients with cancer.

Clinical Trial Registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03797586, registered on 4 January 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03797586.

The Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Combined With Biofeedback for Mixed Constipation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) combined with biofeedback for patients with mixed constipation. Patients who received biofeedback (biofeedback group, n = 40) and those who received FMT combined with biofeedback (FMT combination group, n = 45) were enrolled. Spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) frequency, Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) score were analyzed to evaluate the effect of treatment. Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) scores of patients were used to assess the quality of life, and the safety of FMT combination therapy was evaluated by the presence of adverse events. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on the fecal samples of 12 donors, feces of 31 patients before and after receiving FMT combination treatment. Comparing the biofeedback group and the FMT combination group 1 month after the treatment, significant differences were observed in the mean value of SBM frequency, BSFS, and PAC-SYM scores, which were 2.15 ± 1.05 vs. 3.61 ± 0.89 (p = 0.0031), 2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.5 ± 1.2 (p = 0.008), and 2.4 ± 0.5 vs. 2.2 ± 0.6 (p = 0.0021), respectively. Meanwhile, FMT combination therapy had long-term beneficial effects according to the data collected at six months and 12 months after the treatment. With respect to the quality of life, GIQLI scores were higher in the FMT combination group (103.6 ± 15.1) compared with that in the biofeedback group (88.7 ± 10.1) one month after administration (p = 0.0042). In addition, there were no significant differences between the two groups in adverse events, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and other side effects. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showing some well-known probiotics had significantly increased after FMT combination treatment compared with pre-FMT samples, such as Prevotella and Bifidobacterium. Findings of this study suggested that FMT combined with biofeedback could be effective and safe for patients with mixed constipation.

Microbial Profiles of Patients With Antipsychotic-Related Constipation Treated With Electroacupuncture

Antipsychotic-related constipation (APRC) is one of the most common side effects of taking antipsychotic medication. APRC can seriously impact patient quality of life and is potentially fatal, though the efficacy of current APRC treatments is low for most patients. In this study, we conducted a controlled, pilot randomized, sham-electroacupuncture (SEA) study to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in patients with APRC. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess the microbial profiles of these patients and analyze how EA treatments affected their bacteria.

Methods: We treated 133 APRC patients with randomly assigned EA treatments or SEA treatments for 4 consecutive weeks, fully evaluating the patients 8 weeks after treatment. The participants, outcome assessors, and statistics were all blind to the EA and SEA treatments. Outcomes assessed included changes in spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) and the frequency of rescue measures. We detected assessed the microbial diversity of stool specimens both before and after EA treatment using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results: Both EA and SEA treatments reduced the need for constipation rescue measures and did not have serious side effects. EA treatments were better than SEA treatments at increasing SBMs and reducing rescue measures. The diversity of gut microbiota changed after EA treatment. LEfSe analysis indicated changes in the genus (belonging to phylum Proteobacteria) of gut microbiota in patients following EA treatment.

Conclusions: This study found that EA treatment is effective and safe for patients with APRC, and could be associated with changes in their microbial profiles. Further study, with larger sample sizes, is needed to explore the efficacy of EA intervention as a clinical treatment for APRC.

Trial Registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR-ONC-17010842, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=18420.

Incidence of opioid-induced constipation in Japanese patients with cancer pain: A prospective observational cohort study

This multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study assessed opioid induced constipation (OIC) in Japanese patients with cancer. Eligible patients had stable cancer and an ECOG PS of 0-2. OIC incidence based on the Rome IV diagnostic criteria was determined by patient diary entries during the first 14 days of opioid therapy. The proportion of patients with OIC was calculated for each 1-week period and the overall 2-week study period. Secondary measurements of OIC included the Bowel Function Index (BFI) score (patient assessment administered by physician), spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week (patient assessment), and physician assessments. Medication for constipation was allowed. Two hundred and twenty patients were enrolled. The mean morphine-equivalent dose was 22 mg/day. By Rome IV criteria, the cumulative incidence of OIC was 56% (95% CI: 49.2%-62.9%); week 1, 48% (95% CI: 40.8%-54.6%); week 2, 37% (95% CI: 30.1%-43.9%). The cumulative incidence of OIC was lower in patients who received prophylactic agents for constipation (48% [95% CI: 38.1%-57.5%]) than in patients who did not (65% [95% CI: 55.0%-74.2%]). The cumulative incidences of OIC were 59% (95% CI: 51.9%-66.0%), 61% (95% CI: 54.3%-68.1%), and 45% (95% CI: 38.0%-51.8%) based on BFI scores, physician assessments, and SBM frequency, respectively. Frequency of BMs/week before starting opioids was the most influential factor for the occurrence of OIC. Utilization of prophylactic agents for constipation was associated with a modest effect on reducing the incidence of OIC. The incidences of OIC reported were variable depending on the diagnostic tool involved.

Lubiprostone in the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation: an update on health-related quality of life and patient-reported outcomes

Chronic idiopathic constipation, if inadequately treated, can be bothersome with a detrimental effect on patients’ quality of life (QOL). This may also result in frequent health care visits, increasing the burden of this ailment’s medical cost. Management strategies, focused on lifestyle changes, include increased exercise, a high-fiber diet, and toilet training. Pharmacologic options include fiber supplementation, laxatives, serotonergic agents, and prosecretory agents such as lubiprostone. In this review, we were able to conclude that lubiprostone, when used for chronic idiopathic constipation, has a significantly beneficial effect on both patients’ symptoms and their QOL. In multiple randomized controlled trials, it has been found to have increased the number of spontaneous bowel movements at different time endpoints. Corresponding improvements were also observed for abdominal bloating, discomfort, stool frequency, and straining symptoms among patients.