scholarly journals Oral herbal medicine for women with intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruiting Wang ◽  
Nuo Cheng ◽  
Rongyan Peng ◽  
Zeyu Yu ◽  
Mengdie Nan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Intrahepatic Cholestasis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Fetal Distress ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Combination Group ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Asphyxia Neonatorum ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy complication whose range has been calculated to be between 0.01 and 15.6% all around the world. We wanted to systematically evaluate the effect and safety of oral herbal medicine on treatment for ICP. Methods Details of the methods could be found in the registered protocol on PROSPERO (CRD42018096013). Trials assessing the effectiveness of herbal medicine for ICP were searched from seven electronic databases from inception to 28th February 2020. RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform all statistical analysis. Meta-analysis, additional analysis, Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) were conducted if data permitted. Results Totally 43 randomized controlled trials with 3556 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed potential good adjunctive effect of herbal medicine on decreasing the pruritus scores (MD -0.58, 95% CI − 0.79 to − 0.36), the serum TBA scores (MD − 3.99 μmol/L, 95% CI − 4.24 to − 3.74) on the basis with Ursodesoxycholic acid. Compared to the medicine alone, significantly lower incidence of fetal distress (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.51), asphyxia neonatorum (RR 0.35, 95%CI 0.25 to 0.49), cesarean section (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.85), postpartum hemorrhage (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.72) were observed in the combination group. But the comparison between herbal medicine and medicine showed inconsistent results among trials. Insufficient information could be used to evaluate the safety of herbal medicine for ICP. Conclusion This review found the current evidence may support the effectiveness of combination of herbal medicine and conventional medicine for decreasing the maternal pruritus scores, the serum TBA, and the number of fetal distress, or asphyxia neonatorum events related to this condition (which was supported by TSA results). Since there were obvious statistical and clinical heterogeneity among trials, and the methodological quality of the included studies was poor, the level of the evidence could only be defined as “very low” according to the GRADE criteria. Further high quality studies are still needed to testify the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine for ICP.

scholarly journals Comparative Efficacy of Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Interventions for Acne Vulgaris: A Network Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingyang Shi ◽  
Lizi Tan ◽  
Zhe Chen ◽  
Long Ge ◽  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Comparative Efficacy ◽  
Inflammatory Lesions ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Acne has several effects on physical symptoms, but the main impacts are on the quality of life, which can be improved by treatment. There are several acne treatments but less evidence comparing their relative efficacy. Thus, we assessed the comparative efficacy of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for acne. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to April 2019, to include randomized controlled trials for acne that compared topical antibiotics (TA), benzoyl peroxide (BPO), topical retinoids (TR), oral antibiotics (OA), lasers, light devices including LED device (LED), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and intense pulsed light, chemical peels (CP), miscellaneous therapies or complementary and alternative medicine (MTCAM), or their combinations. We performed Bayesian network meta-analysis with random effects for all treatments compared with placebo and each other. Mean differences (MDs) of lesions count and risk ratios of adverse events with their 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were calculated, and all interventions were ranked by the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) values. Additional frequentist additive network meta-analysis was performed to detect the robustness of results and potential interaction effects. Sensitivity analyses were carried out with different priors, and metaregression was to adjust for nine potential effect modifiers. In the result, seventy-three randomized controlled trials (27,745 patients with mild to moderate acne), comparing 30 grouped intervention categories, were included with low to moderate risk of bias. For adverse effects, OA had more risk in combination treatment with others. For noninflammatory lesions reduction, seventeen interventions had significant differences comparing with placebo and three interventions (TR+BPO: MD = −21.89, 95%CrI [−28.97, −14.76]; TR+BPO+MTCAM: −22.48 [−34.13, −10.70]; TA+BPO+CP: −20.63 [−33.97, −7.13]) were superior to others with 94, 94, and 91% SUCRA values, respectively. For inflammatory lesions reduction, nineteen interventions were significantly better than placebo, and three interventions (TR+BPO: MD = −12.13, 95%CrI [−18.41, −5.80]; TR+BPO+MTCAM: −13.21 [−.39, −3.04]; LED: −11.30 [−18.34, −4.42]) were superior to others (SUCRA: 81, 81, and 77%, respectively). In summary of noninflammatory and inflammatory lesions results, TR+BPO and TA+BPO were the best options compared to others. The frequentist model showed similar results as above. In summary, current evidence supports the suggestion that TR+BPO and TA+BPO are the best options for mild to moderate acne. LED is another option for inflammatory lesions when drug resistance occurs. All the combinations involved with OA showed more risk of adverse events than others. However, the evidence of this study should be cautiously used due to the limitations.

scholarly journals Acupuncture Treatment for Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo-Hyun Sung ◽  
Angela-Dong-Min Sung ◽  
Hyun-Kyung Sung ◽  
Tteul-E-Bom An ◽  
Kyeong Han Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Pelvic Pain ◽  
Chronic Pelvic Pain ◽  
Acupuncture Treatment ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Aim of the Study. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the current evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment (AT), including electroacupuncture or thread-embedding therapy in combination with modern technology, for chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women. Materials and Methods. We searched 12 electronic databases up to December 2017. All randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of AT for CPP were considered. Results. Four RCTs with 474 participants were included. The methodological quality of included studies was generally low. The results of meta-analysis of two studies showed that AT combined with conventional treatment (CT) was associated with significantly reduced CPP, based on the total effectiveness rate (n=277, mean difference = 1.29, confidence interval = 1.13 to 1.47, P=0.0001, I2 = 0%). Conclusions. This review suggests the potential of AT combined with CT compared to CT alone for treating female CPP. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that AT can be recommended as a complementary and alternative (CAM) treatment for women with CPP. To draw a firm conclusion, future studies should require not only lager, more rigorously designed RCTs but also research on different AT types. Protocol Registration Number. This study is registered with PROSPERO 2018 (CRD42018088627).

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine for Aspirin Resistance: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ai-ju Liu ◽  
Hui-qin Li ◽  
Ji-huang Li ◽  
Yuan-yuan Wang ◽  
Dong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Aspirin Resistance ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Chinese Herbal

Aspirin resistance (AR) is a prevalent phenomenon and leads to significant clinical consequences, but the current evidence for effective interventional strategy is insufficient. The objective of this systematic review is thus to assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for AR. A systematical literature search was conducted in 6 databases until December 2012 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CHM for AR. As a result, sixteen RCTs with a total of 1011 subjects were identified, suggesting that the interests of the medical profession and the public in the use of CHM for AR have grown considerably in the recent years. Tongxinluo capsule and Danshen-based prescriptions were the most frequently used herbal prescriptions, while danshen root, milkvetch root, Leech, and Rosewood were the most frequently used single herbs. Despite the apparent reported positive findings, it is premature to determine the efficacy and safety of CHM for the treatment of AR due to poor methodological quality and insufficient safety data. However, CHMs appeared to be well tolerated in all included studies. Thus, CHM as a promising candidate is worthy of improvement and development for further clinical AR trials. Large sample-size and well-designed rigorous RCTs are needed.

scholarly journals Effect of Intermittent Fasting Strategies on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1091-1091
Author(s):  
Zhila Semnani-Azad ◽  
Tauseef Khan ◽  
Stefan Kabisch ◽  
Hana Kahleova ◽  
Cyril Kendall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Ldl Cholesterol ◽  
Fasting Glucose ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Ad Libitum

Abstract Objectives Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular trending diet, yet there is limited evidence-based support considering its clinical impact on cardiometabolic outcomes. In an effort to inform the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) clinical practice guidelines for nutrition therapy, we conducted a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing IF strategies and continuous energy restriction (CER) on cardiometabolic outcomes using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched through Nov 2020. We included RCTs assessing the effect of IF strategies (alternate-day fasting (ADF), whole-day periodic fasting (WDF), time-restricted feeding (TRF)), CER, and ad libitum diet. Outcomes included body weight, fasting glucose and LDL-cholesterol. Two independent researchers extracted data and assessed risk of bias. A network meta-analysis was performed and data were expressed as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The certainty of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results We identified 19 RCTs (n = 590) including adults of varying health backgrounds. ADF and CER both showed a benefit for body weight reduction compared to ad libitum diet (18 trials, n = 520; MD −3.95 kg [95% CI −6.09, −1.81] and MD −2.85 kg [95% CI −4.99, −0.71], respectively). For fasting glucose (17 trials, n = 590), TRF showed a benefit compared to ad libitum diet (MD −0.39 mmol/L [95% CI −0.59, −0.20]), to CER (MD −0.25 mmol/L [95% CI, −0.45 to −0.06]) and to WDF (MD −0.20 mmol/L [95% CI, −0.45, −0.05]). Furthermore, ADF showed a benefit in reducing LDL-cholesterol (17 trials, n = 590) compared to ad libitum diet (MD −0.21 mmol/L [95% CI −0.40, −0.1]), and to CER (MD −0.15 mmol/L [95% CI −0.31, −0.01]). The certainty of the evidence ranged from high to moderate due to variable downgrades for imprecision. Conclusions Current evidence provides a good indication that IF strategies have similar benefits to CER for weight loss but may have additional benefits for fasting glucose and LDL-cholesterol. Long-term high quality RCTs are needed to clarify the effect of different IF strategies on cardiometabolic outcomes. Funding Sources Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group of the EASD, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Diabetes Canada.

scholarly journals Pharmacological treatments of Chinese herbal medicine for irritable bowel syndrome in adults: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255665
Author(s):  
Yun-bo Wu ◽  
Yun-kai Dai ◽  
Ling Zhang ◽  
Huai-geng Pan ◽  
Wei-jing Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Irritable Bowel

Introduction Plenty of clinical studies have suggested the value of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but their efficacy and safety have not been systematically concluded yet. This article aimed to compare and rank the therapeutic effect and safety of CHM with routine pharmacotherapies and placebo in the treatment of IBS. Methods Randomized controlled trials regarding CHM to treat IBS were searched in six databases from inception to Jan 31, 2020. A network meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the data of included publications. The quality assessment was assessed by Cochrane Handbook and GRADEpro software. The risk ratio was calculated for dichotomous outcomes while the standardized mean difference was used for continuous variables with 95% credible intervals. A Funnel plot was performed to evaluate publication bias. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve was conducted to rank the included interventions. Data were analyzed with STATA 15.0 and Review Manager 5.3. Result 3194 records were searched, and 28 eligible trials involving 3323 patients ere identified. Compared with conventional therapies and placebo, Jianpi-Chushi therapy showed significant improvement in adequate relief and IBS symptom severity scale; Shugan-Jianpi therapy showed the best efficacy in relieving the abdominal pain and abdominal distension; Wenshen-Jianpi therapy had a better effect on avoiding adverse effects and improving stool character. Conclusion This study confirmed that CHM could be beneficial for patients with IBS in relieving their clinical symptoms and should be recommended as alternative therapies. The quality of evidence in this study based on the GRADE system was “low”.

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