Objective: To observe the effect of grain-moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Methods: Sixty patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group, conventional chemotherapy regimen combined with symptomatic treatment，such as antiemetic, acid-suppressive, liver-protecting drugs. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, grain-moxibustion was applied at Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) in the observation group, 9 cones for each acupoint, once a day for a total of 90 days. The levels of NLR were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and quality of life were evaluated in the two groups.
Results: After treatment, the value of NLR in the observation group was significantly lower than before treatment (P<0.05), there was no significant difference before and after treatment in the control group (P>0.05), and the descend range of observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.05). The effective rates (RR) were 33.3% (10/30) in the observation group and 36.7% (11/30) in the control group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the QOL in the observation group was improved in diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, general health states (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in the control group before and after treatment in varions scores (P>0.05), and the observation group was superior to the control group in fatigue, sleep disorder, loss of appetite, diarrhea and general health states after treatment (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Grain-moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) can decrease NLR and improve QOL of patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Keywords: advanced gastric cancer; grain-moxibustion; neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; quality of life.