Analysis on Acupoint Selection and Combination for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treated with Acupuncture Based on Data Mining

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the study was to explore the regularity of acupoints in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by means of data mining technology. Methods. Nine databases, including SinoMed, Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase, were comprehensively searched till December 2021. The published clinical literature testing acupuncture in the treatment of ALS was eligible for inclusion. Studies were organized to establish the prescription database. Modular data mining analysis, including acupoint frequency, complex network analysis, association rule analysis, and cluster analysis were used to conduct statistical analysis. Results. Forty-two literature studies on 141 acupoints were included, involving 626 times the total application frequency. The top 5 acupoints in application frequency were Hegu (LI 4, 67%), Zusanli (ST 36, 67%), Quchi (LI 11, 52%), Sanyinjiao (SP 6, 48%), and Yanglingquan (GB 34, 45%). The most involved meridian was the large intestine meridian of hand Yangming (90 times). The generally used acupoints were mainly distributed in the lower limbs. The top 5 combinations in application frequency were Hegu-Quchi (75 times), Quchi-Zusanli (66 times), Zusanli-Sanyinjiao (54 times), Hegu-Sanyinjiao (54 times), and Quchi-Sanyinjiao (49 times). The acupoint combinations with the strongest association were Quchi, Hegu, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, and Shousanli (LI 10). There were 7 acupoint groups according to the cluster analysis. The core prescriptions were Hegu, Zusanli, Quchi, and Jiaji (EX-B 2). Conclusions. Hegu, Zusanli, Quchi, and Jiaji could be used as the main prescriptions in treating ALS. The combination of Quchi, Hegu, Zusanli, and Sanyinjiao should be selected with priority in acupuncture therapy.

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“… 10 Based on these methods, previous studies investigated acupoint selection and combinations in acupuncture treatment of chronic stable angina pectoris, 11 obesity, 12 chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, 13 tic disorders, 14 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 15 This study may provide evidence for the existence of specificity between the acupoints of different meridians and the fact that the benefits of acupuncture depend on the specificity of the acupoints. Therefore, it is of great significance to determine the characteristics and rules of CTS acupoint selection and combinations for future research and clinical practice.…”

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“…Modular data mining techniques can be used to investigate the regularity of acupoint treatment for commonly encountered diseases [41] . A meta-analysis is a statistical method used to synthesize research results for specific conditions and subjects.…”

An Apriori algorithm-based association rule analysis to identify acupoint combinations for treating uremic pruritus

“…Data mining is a new approach used across multiple fields to enhance the generation of research findings from large datasets[ 14 ]. The data mining method has been gradually utilized in Chinese medicine to establish principles for selecting and combining acupoints to treat abundant conditions such as asthma[ 15 ], insulin resistance[ 16 ], and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis[ 17 ]. Although clinical practice relies on the combination of acupoints, there are currently no established criteria for determining the essential combinations.…”