scholarly journals Moxibustion as an Adjuvant Therapy for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 23 Randomized Controlled Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Xu Zhou ◽  
Qingni Wu ◽  
Yanping Wang ◽  
Qing Ren ◽  
Weifeng Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Blood Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Protein Excretion

Objective. This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods. Nine databases were searched to identify relevant evidence up to March 8, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that tested moxibustion + basic treatments versus basic treatments alone for patients with CKD and reported, at least, one of the outcomes of interest were included. In the meta-analyses, the mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the effect size. Results. Twenty-three RCTs (n = 1571) with a moderate to high risk of bias were included. The pooled estimates showed that compared with the controls, patients after moxibustion had a significant reduction in serum creatinine (MD −17.34 μmol/L, 95% CI −28.44 to −6.23; I2 = 87%), 24-hour urine protein excretion (MD −0.75 g/h, 95% CI −1.07 to −0.42; I2 = 84%), and blood urea nitrogen (MD −0.63 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.09 to −0.18; I2 = 37%) and a significant improvement in the quality of life (MD 10.18, 95% CI 3.67 to 16.69; I2 = 57%). Moxibustion did not show a significant effect on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), creatinine clearance, or hemoglobin. The subgroup analyses showed that a longer course of moxibustion (>8 weeks) and indirect moxibustion had a greater effect on reducing serum creatinine. The effect of moxibustion on blood urea nitrogen changed to be nonsignificant after excluding RCTs with a high risk of bias (MD −0.96 mmol/L, 95% CI −2.96 to 1.03). Only one adverse event of burn was reported. Conclusions. This systematic review suggests that, as an adjuvant therapy, moxibustion may improve serum creatinine, urinary protein excretion, blood urea nitrogen, and quality of life in patients with CKD. Moxibustion may not have effects on eGFR, creatinine clearance, or hemoglobin. The quality of evidence is weakened by the limitations of risk of bias, heterogeneity, and imprecision.

scholarly journals Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4551
Author(s):  
Elwira Gliwska ◽  
Dominika Guzek ◽  
Zuzanna Przekop ◽  
Jacek Sobocki ◽  
Dominika Głąbska
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Enteral Nutrition ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Other ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Most studies confirm the beneficial effects of enteral nutrition on the quality of life, but some studies indicate an inverse association and its detrimental impacts. However, there are insufficient data on the effects of enteral nutrition on the quality of life of cancer patients. This systematic review aimed to describe the influence of applied enteral nutrition on the quality of life of cancer patients, based on the results of randomized controlled trials. It was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021261226) and conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. The searching procedure was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases, as well as Cochrane Library, and it included studies published until June 2021. It was conducted to select randomized controlled trials assessing the influence of enteral nutrition (compared with the other model of nutrition) on the quality of life of cancer patients. A general number of 761 records were screened and a final number of 16 studies were included in the systematic review. The studies were included and assessed by two independent researchers, while the risk of bias was analyzed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Studies compared patients treated with and without enteral nutrition, patients treated with various methods of enteral nutrition or with enteral diets of various content, as well as patients treated with enteral and parenteral nutrition. Within the included studies, the majority were conducted in patients with cancers located in various parts of the body, or diverse areas within the gastrointestinal system, while some studies were conducted in specific populations of patients with a defined cancer location—esophagus, stomach, or ovary. The duration of applied enteral nutrition within the included studies was diversified—from two weeks or less to half a year or even more. The vast majority of studies used well-known and validated tools to assess the quality of life, either developed for a specific group of head/neck, esophagus/stomach, and ovary cancer patients or developed for more general patient populations. Most studies concerning patients treated with and without enteral nutrition supported applying enteral nutrition, which was concluded in seven studies out of ten (including four studies with a low risk of bias). The other important observations to be emphasized—formulated based on the studies with a low risk of bias—presented the role of oral supportive nutrition guided by a dietitian, as well as the beneficial role of enteral and parenteral nutrition, combined. In spite of a relatively low number of randomized controlled trials assessing the influence of enteral nutrition on the quality of life of cancer patients, which should be considered as a limitation, the results were promising. Most studies supported the positive influence of enteral nutrition on the quality of life, either assessed based on the psychological measures of the quality of life or by considering the other potential determinants (e.g., malnutrition, complications, etc.). Taking this into account, enteral nutrition should be applied whenever possible, both to prevent and treat malnutrition in cancer patients. However, considering the limited number of studies conducted so far, further research conducted in homogenic populations of patients is necessary.

scholarly journals The Efficacy of Triptolide in Preventing Diabetic Kidney Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongning Liang ◽  
Hanwen Mai ◽  
Fangyi Ruan ◽  
Haiyan Fu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Blood Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Urea Nitrogen ◽  
Angiotensin System ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
Ras Inhibitors

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Triptolide (TP), the primary biologically active ingredient of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), possesses the potential to solve the shortcomings of TWHF in treating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in the clinic.Aim of the Study: We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of TP in treating DKD and offer solid evidence for further clinical applications of TP.Materials and Methods: Eight databases (CNKI, VIP, CBM, WanFang, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library) were electronically searched for eligible studies until October 17, 2020. We selected animal experimental studies using TP versus renin–angiotensin system inhibitors or nonfunctional liquids to treat DKD by following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two researchers independently extracted data from the included studies and assessed the risk of bias with the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation Risk of Bias tool. Fixed-effects meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and meta-regression were conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. Inplasy registration number: INPLASY2020100042.Results: Twenty-six studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that TP significantly reduced albuminuria (14 studies; standardized mean difference SMD: −1.44 [−1.65, −1.23], I2 = 87%), urine albumin/urine creatinine ratio (UACR) (8 studies; SMD: –5.03 [–5.74, −4.33], I2 = 84%), total proteinuria (4 studies; SMD: –3.12 [–3.75, −2.49], I2 = 0%), serum creatinine (18 studies; SMD: –0.30 [–0.49, −0.12], I2 = 76%), and blood urea nitrogen (12 studies; SMD: –0.40 [–0.60, −0.20], I2 value = 55%) in DKD animals, compared to the vehicle control. However, on comparing TP to the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors in DKD treatment, there was no marked difference in ameliorating albuminuria (3 studies; SMD: –0.35 [–0.72, 0.02], I2 = 41%), serum creatinine (3 studies; SMD: –0.07 [–0.62, 0.48], I2 = 10%), and blood urea nitrogen (2 studies; SMD: –0.35 [–0.97, 0.28], I2 = 0%). Of note, TP exhibited higher capacities in reducing UACR (2 studies; SMD: –0.66 [–1.31, −0.01], I2 = 0%) and total proteinuria (2 studies; SMD: –1.18 [–1.86, −2049], I2 = 0%). Meta-regression implicated that the efficacy of TP in reducing DKD albuminuria was associated with applied dosages. In addition, publication bias has not been detected on attenuating albuminuria between TP and RAS inhibitors after the diagnosis of DKD.Systematic Review Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier INPLASY2020100042

scholarly journals Exercise and Quality of Life in Women with Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7049
Author(s):  
Thi Mai Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thanh Toan Do ◽  
Tho Nhi Tran ◽  
Jin Hee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Menopausal Symptoms ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Menopausal symptoms are associated with deterioration in physical, mental, and sexual health, lowering women’s quality of life (QoL). Our study objective is to examine the effect of exercise on QoL in women with menopausal symptoms. After initially identifying 1306 studies published on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library before June 2020, two researchers independently selected nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which any type of exercise was compared with no active treatment. We assessed the risk of bias in the included studies using the Cochrane risk-of-bias 2.0 tool for RCTs and computed the converged standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. We found evidences for the positive effects of exercise on physical and psychological QoL scores in women with menopausal symptoms. However, there was no evidence for the effects of exercise on general, social, and menopause-specific QoL scores. The most common interventions for women with menopausal and urinary symptoms were yoga and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), respectively. In our meta-analyses, while yoga significantly improved physical QoL, its effects on general, psychological, sexual, and vasomotor symptoms QoL scores as well as the effect of PFMT on general QoL were not significant. Our findings suggest that well-designed studies are needed to confirm the effect of exercise on QoL in women with menopausal symptoms.

scholarly journals The effects of pharmacological interventions on quality of life and fatigue in sarcoidosis: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (155) ◽  
pp. 190057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roeland Vis ◽  
Ewoudt M.W. van de Garde ◽  
Jan C. Grutters ◽  
Ingrid H.E. Korenromp
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Minimal Important Difference ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis ◽  
Pharmacological Interventions ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Double Blind

AimsMany sarcoidosis patients experience a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and a majority of patients report fatigue. Historically, drug trials in sarcoidosis have focused on changes in chest radiographs, lung function parameters and biomarkers, while HRQoL and fatigue have not been the main outcomes examined. We performed a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the existing evidence on the effects of pharmacological interventions on HRQoL and fatigue outcomes.MethodsThe systematic search was performed in Medline and Embase and yielded 15 records covering seven randomised controlled trials and seven single-arm open label studies, which were included in a qualitative synthesis (the results of one study were included in two publications). 12 studies evaluated immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulatory therapies and two studies evaluated stimulants.ResultsNine out of the 14 studies observed positive treatment effects from the interventions on HRQoL and/or fatigue, exceeding the minimal important difference. The risk of bias was generally high with only three studies rated as having a low risk of bias. The results suggest a potential for improvement in HRQoL and/or fatigue in patients with active disease who are either untreated or treated but not yet fully stabilised or therapy refractory.ConclusionMore randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled trials are needed to expand the evidence base on these important outcome parameters.

Effect of complementary therapies on functional capacity and quality of life among prefrail and frail older adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 104236
Author(s):  
Marcele Stephanie de Souza Buto ◽  
Marcos Paulo Braz de Oliveira ◽  
Cristiano Carvalho ◽  
Verena Vassimon-Barroso ◽  
Anielle Cristhine de Medeiros Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Complementary Therapies ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Frail Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled

scholarly journals The comparison between total hip arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty in patients with femoral neck fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on 25 randomized controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiumei Tang ◽  
Duan Wang ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Jiali Chen ◽  
Zongke Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Total Hip Arthroplasty ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Femoral Neck Fractures ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Acetabular Erosion

Abstract Background We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis which enrolled 25 prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the outcomes between total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) in patients with femoral neck fractures (FNFs). Methods We searched English databases which included PubMed, Embase (vis OvidSP), The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and Chinese databases Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wang Fang, and China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM) in July 2020. The quality of each study was assessed according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias. Risk ratios (RRs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled with random-effects models. Data regarding baseline characteristics, hospital and surgery outcomes, clinical outcomes, patients’ quality of life, common complications, prothesis-related complications, mortality, and costs were reported. Results A total of 25 RCTs involving 3223 patients (1568 THA and 1655 HA) were included. THA had longer hospital length (WMD = 0.721, P < 0.0001) and surgery time (WMD = 20.044, P < 0.0001), and more blood loss compared with HA (WMD = 69.109, P < 0.0001). THA showed better ratings in the Harris Hip Score during follow-up periods between 1 and 5 years while no differences within 6 months and after 9 years. THA was associated with higher quality-of-life EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) scores after 2 years of surgery but no difference within 1 year. There was no difference in common complications. THA had significant higher rate of dislocation (WMD = 1.897, P = 0.002) and lower acetabular erosion (WMD = 0.030, P = 0.001). For mortality, there was no difference during all the follow-up periods except for slightly higher 2-year mortality after surgery. Conclusion This meta-analysis demonstrates that THA has better medium-term functional results and quality of life and lower acetabular erosion rate, while HA shows better in reducing hospital stay, surgery time, and blood loss and also has lower dislocation rate.

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