Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for simple obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Obesity is a growing chronic health problem worldwide. Studies about acupuncture for obesity treatment are many. But there are some doubts about the effectiveness of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in treating obesity due to its lack of medical evidence. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for obesity treatment and provide clinic evidence. Four English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese BioMedical Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database and Wan-Fang Data) were searched from their receptions to August 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the comparison between acupuncture and sham acupuncture to treat simple obesity were included. The primary outcome of body mass index (BMI) would be used to measure the effect of acupuncture on obesity. According to the trial data extraction form based on the Cochrane Handbook, two reviewers separately extracted the data. Risk of bias of the RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The study included 8 RCTs with 403 patients. When compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture showed obviously effect in BMI reduction (MD=1.0kg/m2, 95% CI=0.6 to 1.4, P<0.001). There was also significant reduction in body weight (MD=1.85kg, 95%CI=0.82 to 2.88, p<0.001), WC (MD=0.97cm, 95%CI=0.24 to 1.71, p=0.01) and body fat mass percentage (MD=1.01, 95%CI=0.25 to 1.77, p<0.05). However, WHR (MD=0.01, 95%CI=0 to 0.03, p>0.05) was not statistically and significantly different between the acupuncture and control groups. Adverse effects were reported in 3 studies. The review suggests that acupuncture is an effective therapy for simple obesity rather than a placebo effect. This potential benefit needs to be further evaluated by longer-term and more rigorous RCTs.

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Acupuncture in sham device controlled trials may not be as effective as acupuncture in the real world: a preliminary network meta-analysis of studies of acupuncture for hot flashes in menopausal women

Acupuncture in Medicine ◽

10.1136/acupmed-2018-011671 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 37-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tae-Hun Kim ◽

Myeong Soo Lee ◽

Terje Alraek ◽

Stephen Birch

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trials ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hot Flashes ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Randomised Controlled

Background: Randomised controlled trials of acupuncture performed using sham interventions to control for the placebo effect have mostly used two types of sham techniques: techniques with minimal insertion of acupuncture needles with no additional stimulation (shallow needling control) and techniques with sham acupuncture devices that do not penetrate the skin (sham device control). To achieve successful blinding, sham device controlled acupuncture trials also use the acupuncture base unit in the verum acupuncture group, but in the shallow needling control trials this is not necessary for the verum acupuncture treatment. Objective: In this study, we analysed the estimated comparative effectiveness of these two verum acupuncture modalities in studies of acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes that used two types of sham control treatments. Methods: We conducted a network meta-analysis that included randomised controlled trials of acupuncture for hot flashes. Electronic databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and AMED, were searched through March 2017. Data were extracted using a predefined data extraction tool by two independent reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised controlled trials. A five-node network meta-analysis was conducted based on the frequentist framework. Results: Eight studies were included in this review. From the network meta-analysis, we found that verum acupuncture in the shallow needling controlled trials was more effective than verum acupuncture in the sham device controlled trials (SMD −7.27, 95% CI−9.11 to −5.43). Significant heterogeneity and inconsistency were not observed among the included studies or the comparisons. Conclusions: From this preliminary analysis, we found that different types of verum acupuncture may have different effect sizes with respect to the severity of menopausal hot flashes.

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Acupuncture for biliary colic: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041931 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e041931

Author(s):

Ning Sun ◽

Wenwei Zuo ◽

Yuanfang Zhou ◽

Ying Cheng ◽

Shirui Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Biliary Colic ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure

IntroductionBiliary colic (BC) is a severe pain associated with nausea and vomiting, which is the most common symptom among the gallstone population. This protocol proposes a methodology for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis that aims to assess the benefits and safety of acupuncture in patients with BC.Methods and analysisClinical trials will be identified through nine databases from inception to December 2020, using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP Database and Wanfang Database. Search words will be used for the BC and acupuncture. The analysis would include randomised, controlled, clinical trials of adults with BC that were published in either Chinese or English. The primary outcome is to measure pain relief. Two or three reviewers should be in charge of study selection, data extraction and evaluating the risk of bias. RevMan software (V.5.4) will be used to perform the assessment of the risk of bias and data synthesis.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval will not be required for this review, as it will only involve the collection of literature previously published. The results of this meta-analysis will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal or relevant conference, through publication.Trial registration numberCRD42020167510.

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Acupuncture for migraine: a protocol for a meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomised controlled trials

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022998 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. e022998 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Zishan Gao ◽

Carlo Maria Giovanardi ◽

Hongxiao Li ◽

Chen Hao ◽

Qian Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Episodic Migraine ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Randomised Controlled

IntroductionAlthough the effectiveness of acupuncture for episodic migraine has been confirmed by multiple clinical trials and Cochrane systematic reviews, the mechanisms underlying the specific effect of acupuncture for migraine remain controversial. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for both episodic migraine and chronic migraine by meta-analysis and explore the possible factors influencing the specific effect of acupuncture for migraine by meta-regression.Methods and analysisWe will search for randomised control trials of acupuncture for migraine in the following eight databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED (via OVID) and four Chinese databases (Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database and Wanfang Database) from inception to 31 December 2017. We will also search OpenSIGLE (opensigle.inist.fr) for conference abstracts. No language restriction will be applied. The selection of studies, data extraction and coding and assessment of risk of bias of the included studies will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Standard meta-analysis and, if appropriate, meta-regression will be performed using the R packages Meta and Metafor.Ethics and disseminationThe results of this meta-analysis and meta-regression will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant conference. The data used in this meta-analysis will not contain individual patient data; therefore, ethical approval is not required.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018087270.

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The Immediate Analgesic Effect of Acupuncture for Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2017/3837194 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Anfeng Xiang ◽

Ke Cheng ◽

Xueyong Shen ◽

Ping Xu ◽

Sheng Liu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pain Relief ◽

Analgesic Effect ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Relief Effect

Although acupuncture is gaining popularity for the treatment of nonspecific pain, the immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture has never been reviewed. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on disease-related pain to critically evaluate the immediate effect of acupuncture for pain relief. The PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases as well as three Chinese databases including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP platforms were searched through November 2016. The outcome was the extent of pain relief from baseline within 30 min of the first acupuncture treatment. We evaluated all RCTs comparing acupuncture with other interventions for disease-related pain. Real acupuncture showed statistically significantly greater pain relief effect compared to sham acupuncture (SMD, −0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.00 to −0.12; 9 RCTs) and analgesic injection (SMD, −1.33; 95% CI, −1.94 to −0.72; 3 RCTs). No serious adverse events were documented. Acupuncture was associated with a greater immediate pain relief effect compared to sham acupuncture and analgesic injections. Further RCTs with stricter design and methodologies are warranted to evaluate the immediate pain relief effect of acupuncture for more disease-related pain.

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Short Segment versus Long Segment Pedicle Screws Fixation in Management of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: Meta-Analysis

Asian Spine Journal ◽

10.4184/asj.2017.11.1.150 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 150-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tarek Ahmed Aly

Keyword(s):

Pedicle Screw ◽

Screw Fixation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Pedicle Screw Fixation ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures ◽

Burst Fractures ◽

Significant Difference

<p>Posterior pedicle screw fixation has become a popular method for treating thoracolumbar burst fractures. However, it remains unclear whether additional fixation of more segments could improve clinical and radiological outcomes. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of fixation levels with pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures. MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Springer, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant randomized and quasirandomized controlled trials that compared the clinical and radiological efficacy of short versus long segment for thoracolumbar burst fractures managed by posterior pedicle screw fixation. Risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Based on predefined inclusion criteria, Nine eligible trials with a total of 365 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Results were expressed as risk difference for dichotomous outcomes and standard mean difference for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence interval. Baseline characteristics were similar between the short and long segment fixation groups. No significant difference was identified between the two groups regarding radiological outcome, functional outcome, neurologic improvement, and implant failure rate. The results of this meta-analysis suggested that extension of fixation was not necessary when thoracolumbar burst fracture was treated by posterior pedicle screw fixation. More randomized controlled trials with high quality are still needed in the future.</p>

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Effectiveness of orthodontic temporary anchorage devices in canine retraction and anchorage preservation during the two-step technique: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Oral Health ◽

10.1186/s12903-020-01271-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Haonan Tian ◽

Congman Xie ◽

Min Lin ◽

Hongmei Yang ◽

Aishu Ren

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Canine Retraction ◽

Temporary Anchorage Devices ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Differences ◽

Implant Anchorage

Abstract Background Temporary anchorage devices have been used for decades in orthodontic practice for many applications. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of orthodontic temporary anchorage devices in canine retraction during the two-step technique. Methods A search was systematically performed for articles published prior to June 30, 2019 in five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Scopus). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for controlled clinical trials (CCTs). The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used for the quality assessment. Data concerning the mean difference in mesial molar movement and extent of canine retraction were extracted for statistical analysis. The mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were analyzed for continuous data. A meta-analysis with a random-effects model for comparable outcomes was carried out. Results Three RCTs and five CCTs were finally included. Meta-analysis showed a significant increase not only in anchorage preservation in the implant anchorage group in both the maxilla (1.56 mm, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.98, P < 0.00001) and the mandible (1.62 mm, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.01, P < 0.00001) but also in canine retraction in the implant anchorage group in both the maxilla (0.43 mm, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.69, P = 0.001) and the mandible (0.26 mm, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.49, P = 0.03). Conclusions There is very low-quality evidence showing that implant anchorage is more efficient than conventional anchorage during canine retraction. Additional high-quality studies are needed.

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Relationship between hormonal contraceptives and sleep among women of reproductive age: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045819 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e045819

Author(s):

Jinhui Ma ◽

Megan Cheng ◽

Lehana Thabane ◽

Caihong Ma ◽

Ning Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Research Question ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Hormonal Contraceptives ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Women Of Reproductive Age

IntroductionThe aetiology of sleep disruptions is unknown, but hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause have been shown to potentially affect how well a woman sleeps. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether hormonal contraceptives are associated with a decreased quality of sleep and increased sleep duration in women of reproductive age.MethodsThis review will analyse data from randomised controlled trials or non-randomised comparative studies investigating the association between hormonal contraceptives and sleep outcomes among women of reproductive age. Reviews addressing the same research question with similar eligibility criteria will be included. A literature search will be performed using the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from inception to 7 March 2021. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias for Randomised Trials V.2.0 and The Risk of Bias for Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool will be used to assess risk of bias for each outcome in eligible studies. Two reviewers will independently assess eligibility of studies and risk of bias and extract the data. All extracted data will be presented in tables and narrative form. For sleep measures investigated by two or more studies with low heterogeneity, we will conduct random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the magnitude of the overall effect of hormonal contraceptives. If studies included in this systematic review form a connected network, a network meta-analysis will be conducted to estimate the comparative effect of different contraceptives. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach will be used to summarise the quality of evidence. Our protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Protocols 2015 guidelines.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required as data were sourced from previously reported studies. The findings of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020199958.

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Interpersonal psychotherapy for perinatal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-019-1158-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katherine S. Bright ◽

Elyse M. Charrois ◽

Muhammad Kashif Mughal ◽

Abdul Wajid ◽

Deborah McNeil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Full Text ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Mode Of Delivery ◽

Well Being ◽

Interpersonal Psychotherapy ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Perinatal Women

Abstract Background Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is an intervention that has established efficacy in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders. Previous systematic reviews have not evaluated the effectiveness of IPT on symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, relationship satisfaction/quality, social supports, and an improved psychological sense of well-being. There is limited data regarding factors that moderate and mediate the effectiveness of IPT including the timing of the intervention or the mode of delivery of IPT intervention. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of IPT interventions to treat perinatal psychological distress and to summarize the evidence on predictors, mediators, and moderators of IPT. Methods We will include peer-reviewed studies that recruited perinatal women. The search strategy will involve the following databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Ovid), CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCO), Social Work Abstracts (EBSCO), SocINDEX with Full Text (EBSCO), Academic Search Complete (EBSCO), Family & Society Studies Worldwide (EBSCO), Family Studies Abstracts (EBSCO), and Scopus. Study inclusion criteria include (1) randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and pre-post studies that evaluated the effectiveness of IPT; (2) qualitative studies that evaluated feasibility and acceptability of IPT; (3) study sample included and analyzed perinatal women; and (4) publication language was English. Using pilot-tested screening and data extraction forms, two reviewers will independently review studies in three steps: (1) abstract/title screening, (2) full-text screening of potentially accepted studies, and (3) data extraction of accepted studies. Disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. Studies will be aggregated for meta-synthesis and meta-analysis should the data allow for this. Two independent reviewers will grade methodological quality. Discussion Findings from this review will inform future development and implementation of IPT intervention research for perinatal women. Identifying key factors of successful IPT interventions will inform intervention design and adaptation of IPT interventions to increase the likelihood that perinatal women will engage in and benefit from IPT interventions. This review will also identify key considerations for increasing the effectiveness of IPT interventions during the perinatal period. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42019114292

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Is Acupuncture Another Good Choice for Physicians in the Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome? Review of the Latest Literature

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2020/5921038 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Junjun Li ◽

Liang Dong ◽

Xuhong Yan ◽

Xiaozhang Liu ◽

Ying Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pelvic Pain ◽

Chronic Prostatitis ◽

Chronic Pelvic Pain ◽

Scientific Journal ◽

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome ◽

Pain Syndrome ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Pelvic Pain Syndrome ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). A search of PUBMED, EMBASE, Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Chinese Biomedicine Literature (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wang-Fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and other available resources was made for studies (up to February 2019). Searches were limited to studies published in English and Chinese. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the efficacy and/or safety of acupuncture for CP/CPPS were included. Two investigators independently evaluated the quality of the studies. A total of 11 studies were included, involving 748 participants. The results revealed that compared with sham acupuncture (MD: −6.53 [95% CI: −8.08 to −4.97]) and medication (MD: −4.72 [95% CI: −7.87 to −1.56]), acupuncture could lower total NIH-CPSI score more effectively. However, there are no significant differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture in terms of IPSS score. In terms of NIH-CPSI voiding domain subscore, no significant differences were found between acupuncture and medication. Compared with sham acupuncture (OR: 0.12 [95% CI: 0.04 to 0.40) and medication (OR: 3.71 [95% CI: 1.83 to 7.55]), the results showed favorable effects of acupuncture in improving the response rate. Acupuncture plus medication is better than the same medication in improving NIH-CPSI total score and NIH-CPSI pain domain subscore. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that acupuncture may be an effective intervention for patients with CP/CPPS. However, due to the heterogeneity of the methods and high risk of bias, we cannot draw definitive conclusions about the entity of the acupuncture’s effect on alleviating the symptoms of CP/CPPS. The adverse events of acupuncture are mild and rare.

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Acupuncture for patients with vascular dementia: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019066 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. e019066 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yang Ye ◽

Ling-Yong Xiao ◽

Yi-Hua Liu ◽

Jing-Wen Yang ◽

Chao-Qun Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Vascular Dementia ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Evaluation Study ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Systematic Review Protocol ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽

Review Protocol

IntroductionThis systematic review protocol aims to provide the methods used to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture therapy for treating vascular dementia.Methods and analysisThe following eight databases will be searched from inception to July 2017: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database and Wanfang Database. All randomised controlled trials in English or Chinese related to acupuncture for vascular dementia will be included. Outcomes will include change in cognitive function and activities of daily living. The incidence of adverse events will be assessed for safety evaluation. Study inclusion, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed independently by two reviewers. Assessment of risk of bias and data synthesis will be performed using Review Manager software.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required because individual patient data are not included. The findings of this systematic review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication or conference presentations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017071820.

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