Acupotomy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee; A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. There were 9 databases searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials until August 3, 2019 regarding acupotomy versus conventional Western medicine, conventional Western medicine treatment with and without acupotomy, and Korean medicine treatment with and without acupotomy, and meta-analysis was performed. Of 303 potentially relevant studies retrieved, 43 were systematically reviewed. All studies were conducted in China. Effective rate, visual analogue scale, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index were used as the evaluation scales. The Ashi point was selected most frequently. In all studies, the intervention group was more effective than the control group. Meta-analysis revealed that acupotomy showed statistically significant beneficial results. Although acupotomy had a beneficial effect on knee osteoarthritis, the risk of bias of the included studies was not low. The majority of the results from the evaluation scales used were highly heterogeneous (> 50%) which reduced confidence in the estimation of effect, or had a small sample size. Further clinical research and development is required in the future.

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Effects of Microbiota-Driven Therapy on Circulating Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Metabolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine ◽

10.3389/fcvm.2021.710567 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Lina Miao ◽

Jianpeng Du ◽

Zhuhong Chen ◽

Dazhuo Shi ◽

Hua Qu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Small Sample ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Bias Analysis ◽

Betaine Aldehyde

Aim: This study was designed to systematically evaluate the effects of microbiota-driven therapy on decreasing TMAO and its related metabolites.Methods and Results: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched (up to July 2021). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), compared microbiota-driven therapy (prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics) with placebo on decreasing TMAO and its related metabolites, were eligible. Two researchers extracted the data independently and the disagreement was resolved by a third researcher. The risk of bias of included study was evaluated using Cochrane tool (RoB 2.0). Meta-analysis, meta-regression analysis and publication bias analysis were performed by RevMan 5.3 or Stata 12.0 software. Ten studies (12 arms) involving 342 patients (168 patients in the intervention group and 174 patients in the control group) were included. Compared with the control group, microbiota-driven therapy did not reduce circulating TMAO [SMD = −0.05, 95% CI (−0.36, 0.26), P = 0.749], choline [SMD = −0.34, 95% CI (−1.09, 0.41), P = 0.373], betaine aldehyde [SMD = −0.704, 95% CI (−1.789, 0.382), P = 0.204], and L-carnatine [SMD = −0.06, 95% CI (−0.38, 0.25), P = 0.692].Conclusion: Current evidence does not support that microbiota-driven treatment reduce circulating levels of TMAO, choline, betaine aldehyde, and L-carnitine. However, given the small sample size, this conclusion needs to be proved in the future.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO:CRD42019119107.

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Effect of Phonophoresis On Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

10.21203/rs.3.rs-799017/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fu-An Yang ◽

Hung-Lun Chen ◽

Chih-Wei Peng ◽

Tsan-Hon Liou ◽

Reuben Escorpizo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Large Scale ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled

Abstract Phonophoresis is an alternative treatment for knee osteoarthritis. However, evidence supporting the advantages of phonophoresis remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to illustrate the effect of phonophoresis. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies from the date of their inception to 28 June, 2021. The eligibility criteria were: (1) randomized controlled trials (RCTs); (2) patients diagnosed as having knee osteoarthritis; (3) treatment with either phonophoresis or therapeutic ultrasound with placebo gels; and (4) reporting clinical and functional outcomes. Continuous variables are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. The analysis included nine RCTs covering a total of 423 patients. The intervention group significantly outperformed the control group in visual analog scale score [SMD = −0.65, 95% CI (−1.04, −0.25), P = 0.001], Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score [SMD = −0.71, 95% CI (−1.26, −0.16), P = 0.01], and walk test score [SMD = −0.67, 95% CI (−1.21, −0.13), P = 0.02]. As a result, phonophoresis might alleviate pain and improve function in the short term. Further high-quality, large-scale RCTs are required to confirm the benefits.

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Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Acetaminophen-Related Liver Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies in Vivo

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x16666211007092055 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

Author(s):

Li Wang ◽

Yiwen Zhang ◽

Jiajun Zhong ◽

Yuan Zhang ◽

Shuisheng Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Liver Injury ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cell ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Small Sample ◽

Control Group

Objective: The efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in acetaminophen-induced liver injury has been investigated in animal experiments, but individual studies with a small sample size cannot be used to draw a clear conclusion. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies to explore the potential of using MSCs in acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Methods: Eight databases were searched for studies reporting the effects of MSCs on acetaminophen hepatoxicity. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool for animal studies was applied to assess the methodological quality. A meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.4 and STATA/SE 16.0 software. Results: Eleven studies involving 159 animals were included according to PRISMA statement guidelines. Significant associations were found for MSCs with the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) (standardized mean difference (SMD) − 2.58, p < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SMD − 1.75, p = 0.001), glutathione (GSH) (SMD 3.7, p < 0.0001), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD 1.86, p = 0.022), interleukin 10 (IL-10) (SMD 5.14, p = 0.0002) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (SMD − 4.48, p = 0.011) compared with those in the control group. The subgroup analysis showed that the tissue source of MSCs significantly affected the therapeutic efficacy (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis results demonstrate that MSCs could be a potential treatment for acetaminophen-related liver injury.

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Comparison of the Effectiveness of Lifestyle Modification with Other Treatments on the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in People at High Risk: A Network Meta-Analysis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11061373 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1373 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kazue Yamaoka ◽

Asuka Nemoto ◽

Toshiro Tango

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

High Risk ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Lifestyle Modifications ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Indirect Comparisons

Background: Many clinical trials have been conducted to verify the effects of interventions for prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) using different treatments and outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of lifestyle modifications (LM) with other treatments in persons at high risk of T2D by a network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: Searches were performed of PUBMED up to January 2018 to identify randomized controlled trials. The odds ratio (OR) with onset of T2D at 1 year in the intervention group (LM, dietary, exercise, or medication) versus a control group (standard treatments or placebo) were the effect sizes. Frequentist and Bayesian NMAs were conducted. Results: Forty-seven interventions and 12 treatments (20,113 participants) were used for the analyses. The OR in the LM was approximately 0.46 (95% CI: 0.33 to 0.61) times lower compared to the standard intervention by the Bayesian approach. The effects of LM compared to other treatments by indirect comparisons were not significant. Conclusions: This meta-analysis further strengthened the evidence that LM reduces the onset of T2D compared to standard and placebo interventions and appears to be at least as effective as nine other treatments in preventing T2D.

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Acupuncture for Chronic Pain-Related Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/5381028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Fushui Liu ◽

Jianyu You ◽

Qi Li ◽

Ting Fang ◽

Mei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Sample Size ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sham Acupuncture ◽

Small Sample ◽

Control Group ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Cure Rate ◽

Significant Difference

Objectives. Acupuncture has been widely used to relieve chronic pain-related insomnia (CPRI). However, the efficacy of acupuncture for CPRI is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for CPRI. Methods. Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if acupuncture was compared to sham acupuncture or conventional drug therapies for treating CPRI. Two reviewers screened each study and extracted data independently. Statistical analyses were conducted by RevMan 5.3 software. Results. A total of nine studies involving 944 patients were enrolled. The pooled analysis indicated that acupuncture treatment was significantly better than control group in improving effective rate (OR = 8.09, 95%CI = [4.75, 13.79], P < 0.00001) and cure rate (OR = 3.17, 95%CI = [2.35, 4.29], P < 0.00001), but subgroup analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture in improving cure rate (OR =10.36, 95% CI [0.53, 201.45], P=0.12) based on one included study. In addition, meta-analysis demonstrated that acupuncture group was superior to control group in debasing PSQI score (MD = -2.65, 95%CI = [-4.00, -1.30], P = 0.0001) and VAS score (MD = -1.44, 95%CI = [-1.58, -1.29], P < 0.00001). And there was no significant difference in adverse events (OR =1.73, 95%CI = [0.92, 3.25], P =0.09) between the two groups. Conclusions. Acupuncture therapy is an effective and safe treatment for CPRI, and this treatment can be recommended for the management of patients with CPRI. Due to the low quality and small sample size of the included studies, more rigorously designed RCTs with high quality and large sample size are recommended in future.

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The Efficacy of Acupuncture for Treating Depression-Related Insomnia Compared with a Control Group: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2017/9614810 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Bo Dong ◽

Zeqin Chen ◽

Xuan Yin ◽

Danting Li ◽

Jie Ma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Western Medicine ◽

Acupuncture Treatment ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Alternative Therapy ◽

Control Group ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Hamd Score

Objective.To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture as monotherapy and as an alternative therapy in treating depression-related insomnia.Data Source.Seven databases were searched starting from 1946 to March 30, 2016.Study Eligibility Criteria.Randomized-controlled trials of adult subjects (18–75 y) who had depression-related insomnia and had received acupuncture.Results.18 randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were introduced in this meta-analysis. The findings determined that the acupuncture treatment made significant improvements in PSQI score (MD = −2.37, 95% CI −3.52 to −1.21) compared with Western medicine. Acupuncture combined with Western medicine had a better effect on improving sleep quality (MD = −2.63, 95% CI −4.40 to −0.86) compared with the treatment of Western medicine alone. There was no statistical difference (MD = −2.76, 95% CI −7.65 to 2.12) between acupuncture treatment and Western medicine towards improving the HAMD score. Acupuncture combined with Western medicine (MD = −5.46, CI −8.55 to −2.38) had more effect on improving depression degree compared with the Western medicine alone.Conclusion. This systematic review indicates that acupuncture could be an alternative therapy to medication for treating depression-related insomnia.

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The Effect of Pharmaceutical Care Programs on Blood Pressure Control in Individuals with Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis

Journal of Pharmacy Technology ◽

10.1177/875512250902500503 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 292-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yongbing Ni ◽

Yongfa Chen ◽

Wenlong Huang

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Pharmaceutical Care ◽

Blood Pressure Control ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Pressure Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Program Intervention ◽

Review Manager

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pharmaceutical care (PC) programs on blood pressure control in individuals with hypertension. Methods: Studies were retrieved by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, CNKI, and CBM databases from 1999 to February 2008. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the association of pharmaceutical care programs with blood pressure control in individuals with hypertension were included in this study. Moreover, the studies were selected independently by 2 authors. The analysis was conducted by using Review Manager version 4.2 software. Results: Five RCTs with a total of 585 patients with hypertension were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the control group, the PC program intervention group had significantly lower endpoint systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Moreover, SBP and DBP were significantly improved in the intervention group relative to the control group. Conclusions: PC programs appear to be an effective tool in helping to control blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

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Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with traditional Chinese medicine sloughingClinical efficacy study

Journal of Integrative Medicine ◽

10.30564/jim.v8i2.2060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Liang Wen

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Western Medicine ◽

Clinical Effect ◽

Effective Rate ◽

Control Group ◽

Observation Group ◽

Group A ◽

Group B

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with traditional Chinese medicine.Methods: 152 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were treated in our hospital from July 2018 to April 2020 were divided into two groups. Group A (control group) was treated with conventional western medicine, i.e. celecoxib 200 mg capsule +Glucosamine hydrochloride capsule 0.75g, group B (observation group): the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine sloughing using our experience formula, and further comparative evaluation of the treatment effect of the two groups. Results: the effective rate was 75% in the control group and 92% in the observation group. Conclusion: in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, traditional Chinese medicine is more effective than western medicine.

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Tai Chi as a Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Reducing Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/4094325 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Xiandu Pan ◽

Li Tian ◽

Fan Yang ◽

Jiahao Sun ◽

Xinye Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Bodily Pain ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Tai Chi Exercise

Objective. This study systematically evaluated the effects of Tai Chi exercise on blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life (QOL) in patients with hypertension. A meta-analysis was performed to provide a reliable reference for clinical practice. Methods. We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in five English databases and two Chinese databases, with the earliest data dated December 5, 2020. A quality assessment of the methods and a meta-analysis were also conducted. Results. The meta-analysis of 24 studies showed that the intervention group showed better outcomes in terms of systolic blood pressure (SBP) (SMD −1.05, 95% CI −1.44 to −0.67, P ≤ 0.001 ; I2 = 93.7%), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (SMD −0.91, 95% CI −1.24 to −0.58, P ≤ 0.001 ; I2 = 91.9%), and QOL (physical functioning (SMD 0.86, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.37, P = 0.001 ; I2 = 91.3%), role-physical (SMD 0.86, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.11, P ≤ 0.001 ; I2 = 65%), general health (SMD 0.75, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.17, P = 0.001 ; I2 = 88.1%), bodily pain (SMD 0.65, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.00, P ≤ 0.001 ; I2 = 83.1%), vitality (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.07, P ≤ 0.001 ; I2 = 84.3%), social functioning (SMD 0.63, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.19, P = 0.027 ; I2 = 93.1%), role-emotional (SMD 0.64, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.06, P = 0.003 ; I2 = 88.1%), and mental health (SMD 0.73, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.16, P = 0.001 ; I2 = 88.2%)) compared to those of the control group. However, no significant improvements were seen in BMI of the intervention group (SMD −0.08, 95% CI −0.35 to −0.19, P = 0.554 ; I2 = 69.4%) compared to that of the control group. Conclusion. Tai Chi is an effective intervention to improve SBP and DBP in patients with essential hypertension.

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Use of GnRH Analogues in the Reduction of Submucous Fibroid for Surgical Hysteroscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1712446 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (10) ◽

pp. 649-658

Author(s):

Thayane Delazari Corrêa ◽

Isabela Maciel Caetano ◽

Pedro Henrique Tannure Saraiva ◽

Maurício Bechara Noviello ◽

Admário Silva Santos Filho

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Original Data ◽

Small Sample ◽

Control Group ◽

Gnrh Analogue ◽

Gnrh Analogues ◽

Hysteroscopic Myomectomy ◽

Submucous Fibroid

Abstract Objective Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-a) have been used preoperatively before hysteroscopic myomectomy to decrease the size and vascularization of the myomas, but evidence to support this practice is weak. Our objective was to analyze the use of GnRH-a in the reduction of submucous fibroid as a facilitator for surgical hysteroscopy from published clinical trials. Data sources Studies from electronic databases (Pubmed, Scielo, EMBASE, Scopus, PROSPERO), published between 1980 and December 2018. The keywords used were fibroid, GnRH analogue, submucous, histeroscopy, histeroscopic resection and their correspondents in Portuguese. Study selection The inclusion criteria were controlled trials that evaluated the GnRH-a treatment before hysteroscopic resection of submucous myomas. Four clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. Data collection Two review authors extracted the data without modification of the original data, using the agreed form. We resolved discrepancies through discussion or, if required, we consulted a third person. Data synthesis The present meta-analysis included a total of 213 women and showed no statistically significant differences in the use of GnRH-a compared with the control group for complete resection of submucous myoma (relative risk [RR]: 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–1.11); operative time (mean difference [MD]: - 3.81; 95%CI : - 3.81–2.13); fluid absorption (MD: - 65.90; 95%CI: - 9.75–2.13); or complications (RR 0.92; 95%CI: 0.18–4.82). Conclusion The present review did not support the routine preoperative use of GnRH-a prior to hysteroscopic myomectomy. However, it is not possible to determine its inferiority when compared with the other methods due to the heterogeneity of existing studies and the small sample size.

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