scholarly journals Efficacy of Qigong Exercise for Treatment of Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Wang ◽  
Xueyan Huang ◽  
Yeqi Wu ◽  
Dai Sun
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Standard Mean Difference ◽  
Significant Difference

Objective: Several studies suggested that Qigong exercise (QE) can relieve fatigue in patients diagnosed with various diseases. Our review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of QE for alleviating fatigue.Methods: A related literature search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP data bases from inception to November 2020. Information on fatigue, malaise, tiredness, and Qigong research data was collected.Results: Sixteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were reported in patients with cancer (n = 4), chronic fatigue syndrome (n = 2), and other diseases (n = 10). The QE groups showed significant improvements in total fatigue intensity [15 RCTs, p < 0.00001; standard mean difference (SMD) −0.69 (−0.95 to −0.44)]. The QE groups did not show significant improvement in quality of life [4 RCTs, p = 0.08; SMD 0.53 (−0.07 to 1.14)]. The statistically significant difference of the subgroup analyses (different primary diseases, QE types, and study quality) also remained unchanged.Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that QE may be beneficial for improving fatigue in patients diagnosed with various diseases. Considering the limitations of the study, we draw a very cautious conclusion regarding the resulting estimate of the effect. Further studies are warranted to better understand the benefits of QE in primary medical care.

scholarly journals Efficacy Comparison of Different Acupuncture Treatments for Primary Insomnia: A Bayesian Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huachong Xu ◽  
Yucong Shi ◽  
Yike Xiao ◽  
Pei Liu ◽  
Sizhi Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Scalp Acupuncture ◽  
Primary Insomnia ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Indirect Comparisons

Background. Acupuncture treatments are used frequently in the treatment of primary insomnia considering its less side effect. However, most treatment choices are made just based on personal experience among different forms of acupuncture. This study compared the effectiveness of different forms of acupuncture for primary insomnia by using network meta-analysis. Methods. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatments for primary insomnia were searched in seven databases from the date of database inception to January 6, 2019, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, and VIP Chinese Science and Technique Journals (CQVIP) database. After screening, the effectiveness rate was extracted from the included RCTs as primary outcomes. The network meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3, Stata13.0, and GeMTC 0.14.3. Results. Forty-two studies were included, which contained 3304 participants among 6 interventions. Based on the ranking probability and compared to western medicine, scalp acupuncture (OR = 8.12, 95% CI (4.07,16.81)) is considered to be the most effective method, followed by electroacupuncture (OR = 6.29, 95% CI (3.36, 12.67)), electroacupuncture combined scalp acupuncture (OR = 5.20, 95% CI (2.43,11.28)), warm acupuncture (OR = 3.79, 95% CI (1.85,8.16)), and conventional acupuncture (OR = 2.86, 95% CI (2.05,3.95)). There was no significant difference between the results of direct and indirect comparisons. Conclusions. The finding indicated that five acupuncture methods may be all effective in the treatment of primary insomnia, and scalp acupuncture seems to be the best treatment. However, the overall quality of the included trials could only be ranked as medium to low quality, and higher quality RCTs are warranted for sufficient evidence.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Modified Yunu-Jian in Patients with Periodontitis: A Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Yue ◽  
Meng Gao ◽  
Yanru Deng ◽  
Jiemin Shao ◽  
Yingguang Sun
Keyword(s):  
Western Medicine ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Effective Rate ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Oral Inflammation

Background. Modified Yunu-Jian (mYJ), a Chinese medicine (CM) formula, is thought to clear heat and nourish yin. Clinically, it is often used to treat oral inflammation. However, its efficacy remains controversial. Methods. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mYJ for treating patients with periodontitis. We searched electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, VIP database, and CBM) from inception to December 2020. Only randomized controlled trials investigating modified Yunu-Jian, with or without other medications, against controlled intervention in the treatment of patients diagnosed with periodontitis were included. Both Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.0 software were used to analyze the data. The Cochrane Collaborations risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the methods. Results. Thirteen clinical trials, involving 1179 participants, were included in our investigation. The results showed that the combination of mYJ with western medicine improved the total effective rate compared with western medicine alone (RR = 1.17, 95% CI (1.12, 1.23), P  < 0.00001). The sensitivity analysis and Harbord’s test ( P  = 0.255) both showed that the results were statistically robust. Moreover, the periodontal indexes (GI, SBI, PLI, and PD; P  < 0.00001) of patients with periodontitis were also significantly improved after receiving the combined therapy. No serious adverse reactions were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusions. Evidence from the meta-analysis suggested that mYJ appeared to be effective and relatively safe for treating periodontitis. Because of the low quality of the methods used in the included RCTs, further studies with larger sample sizes and well-designed models are required to confirm our findings.

scholarly journals Acupuncture for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Liaoyao Wang ◽  
Jia Xu ◽  
Yijun Zhan ◽  
Jian Pei
Keyword(s):  
Subgroup Analysis ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Biomedical Literature ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Clinically Significant

Objective. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for OSA patients with various severities of the disorder. Methods. Eight databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), Wanfang Data, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were comprehensively searched till July 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing acupuncture in the treatment of OSA were eligible for inclusion. Studies were selected for inclusion, and data were extracted by two authors independently. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Assessment Tool and RevMan software (version 5.3) were used to evaluate the quality of studies and conduct statistical analysis. Results. Nine RCTs with 584 participants were included. The trials covered acupuncture and electropuncture. Acupuncture caused clinically significant reductions in AHI (MD: -6.18; 95% CI: -9.58 to -2.78; Z=3.56, P=0.0004) as well as in ESS (MD: -2.84; 95% CI: -4.80 to -0.16, Z=2.09, P=0.04). AHI was reduced more in the subgroup analysis of moderate OSA patients (MD: -9.44; 95% CI: -12.44 to -6.45; Z=6.18, P<0.00001) and severe OSA patients (MD: -10.09; 95% CI: -12.47 to -7.71; Z=8.31, P<0.00001). ESS was also reduced more in the subgroup analysis of moderate OSA patients (MD: -2.40; 95% CI: -3.63 to -1.17; Z=3.83, P=0.0001) and severe OSA patients (MD: -4.64; 95% CI: -5.35 to -3.92; Z=12.72, P<0.00001). Besides, acupuncture had a beneficial effect on LSaO2 (MD: 5.29; 95% CI: 2.61 to 7.97; Z=3.86, P=0.0001). The outcome of AHI and LSaO2 yielded consistent results after sensitivity analysis, but the direction of the outcome of ESS was reversed. And the quality of evidence was mainly low to very low. Conclusions. Acupuncture therapy is effective for OSA patients in reducing AHI and ESS and in improving the LSaO2 of various severities, especially in moderate and severe OSA patients. High-quality trials are urgently needed.

scholarly journals The Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Total Glucosides of Peony and Leflunomide for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhitao Feng ◽  
Juan Xu ◽  
Guochao He ◽  
Meiqun Cao ◽  
Lihong Duan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Liver Function ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Systemic Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Total Glucosides Of Peony

Objective.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the total glucosides of peony (TGP) and leflunomide (LEF) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of the combination of TGP and LEF versus LEF alone for the treatment of RA were retrieved by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and Wanfang database.Results.Eight RCTs including 643 RA patients were included in the present meta-analysis. The quality of included studies was poor. The levels of ESR (P<0.0001), CRP (P<0.0001), and RF (P<0.0001) in RA patients who received the combination of TGP and LEF were significantly lower than RA patients who received LEF therapy alone. The pooled results suggest that the combination of TGP and LEF caused less abnormal liver function than LEF alone (P=0.02). No significant difference in the gastrointestinal discomfort was identified between the combination of TGP and LEF and LEF alone groups (P=0.18).Conclusion.The combination of TGP and LEF in treatment of RA presented the characteristics of notably decreasing the levels of laboratory indexes and higher safety in terms of liver function. However, this conclusion should be further investigated based on a larger sample size.

scholarly journals Effects of Novel Anti-VEGF Agents with Intravitreal Conbercept in Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Hui Wang ◽  
Jing Zhou ◽  
Caoyu Sun ◽  
Xu Dong
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Intravitreal Triamcinolone ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
The Mean

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal conbercept (IVC) for diabetic retinopathy (DR) compared with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP database, and Wanfang database were searched from their earliest records to January 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of conbercept in DR patients compared with ITVA. Outcomes included the mean changes from the baseline in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) score, central macular thickness (CMT), quality of life (QoL) over time, and the incidence of adverse events (AEs). A total of 19 RCTs involving 1,811 eyes were included in this meta-analysis. IVC might improve BCVA (WMD = 0.10, 95% CI (0.07, 0.12), P < 0.001 ) and reduce CMT (WMD = −102.5, 95% CI (−148.48, −56.53), P < 0.001 ) compared to IVTA. The incidence of AEs in patients receiving IVC was significantly lower than those receiving IVTA (RR = 0.29, 95% CI (0.21, 0.40), P < 0.001 ). Patients with IVC treatments acquired better self-care, mobility, social, and mental scores compared with IVTA ( P < 0.001 ). Current evidence shows that IVC has better effects and safety than IVTA in treating DR, and it can significantly enhance the QoL of patients with DR.

scholarly journals The Effect of Letrozole Combined with Dydrogesterone for Endometriosis in China: A Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Shumei Sun ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Peicheng Zhong ◽  
Zhihong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Carbohydrate Antigen ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Carbohydrate Antigen 125 ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Purpose. To discuss the effects of dydrogesterone combined with letrozole on the effectiveness, sex hormone levels, and serological indicators in patients with endometriosis. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020213172). Methods. We searched relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and VIP Database. The standardized mean differences (SMDs), the mean differences (MDs), or odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were computed to be outcome indicators, including total effectiveness, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) level, Carbohydrate Antigen 125 (CA125) level, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) level, estrogen (E2) level, progesterone (P) level, interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) level. Results. A total of 19 RCTs involving 1,591 patients were included in this study. Our results showed that letrozole combined with dydrogesterone can significantly reduce the levels of VEGF (SMD -2.23, 95% CI -2.39 to -2.07; p < 0.00001 ), CA125 (MD -10.53, 95% CI -11.19 to -9.88; p < 0.00001 ), E2 (SMD -1.64, 95% CI -1.81 to -1.47; p < 0.00001 ), P (MD -5.11, 95% CI -6.26 to -3.96; p < 0.00001 ), IL-6 (MD -4.41, 95% CI -5.16 to -3.67; p < 0.00001 ), and TNF-a (MD -5.67, 95% CI -6.34 to -5.00; p < 0.00001 ) in patients with endometriosis compared with the control group. In addition, the results indicated that total effectiveness was significantly higher in the experiment group (OR 6.21, 95% CI 4.17 to 9.24; p < 0.00001 ) compared to the control. However, there was no significant difference between FSH and LH levels in both groups ( p > 0.05 ). Conclusion. This combination therapy can effectively decrease the levels of VEGF, CA125, E2, P, IL-6, and TNF-a and increase the total effectiveness when comparing with the control group.

scholarly journals Acupuncture plus Rehabilitation for Unilateral Neglect after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yonghui Hou ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Minying Li ◽  
Baile Ning ◽  
Zehuai Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Living ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Biomedical Literature ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Medical Database ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Unilateral Neglect ◽  
Significant Difference

Objectives. To systematically assess the efficacy of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on unilateral neglect after stroke. Methods. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Excerpt Medical Database (EMBASE), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Wan Fang databases were searched online for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and its effects on unilateral neglect after stroke from their inception to September 2019. RCTs on acupuncture combined with rehabilitation in the experimental group for unilateral neglect compared with rehabilitation alone or rehabilitation plus sham acupuncture in the control group were included. Two authors separately screened the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the data analysis. Results. A total of 542 patients from nine RCTs were included. The meta-analysis showed that the experimental groups could significantly improve Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA) (MD = 11.54, 95% CI [9.54, 13.54], P<0.00001) and the ability of daily living (SMD = 1.35, 95% CI [0.64, 2.07], P<0.00001) when compared with the control groups. However, there was no significant difference in the drop of Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) and Behavioural Inattention Test-conventional (BIT-C) between the two groups. Conclusions. Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation was more effective in improving the motor function and the ability of daily living. Because of the limitations regarding the quantity and quality of the studies in this meta-analysis, high-quality and well-designed RCTs are necessary to validate the above conclusions.

scholarly journals Efficacy of alendronate for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-hua Tang ◽  
Yu-zhi Li ◽  
Zhao-chen Tang ◽  
Quan-wei Jiang ◽  
Yu Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Safe Management

Abstract Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a very tricky orthopedic disorder. If such condition can not be managed fairly well, it may significantly affect quality of life and even leads to disability among such population. A variety of studies have reported that alendronate is utilized for the treatment of AS. However, their results are still contrary, and no systematic review has addressed on this topic. Thus, this study will systematically assess the efficacy and safety of alendronate for the treatment of patients with AS. Methods A comprehensive literature search will be performed from the below electronic databases from their commencement to the January 31, 2020 without language and publication status limitations: PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, WANGFANG, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the alendronate for the treatment of patients with AS will be considered for inclusion in this study. Two authors will independently select all identified records, extract essential data from all included studies, and appraise study quality for each eligible trial using Cochrane risk of bias. If any differences occur, another experienced author will be invited to solve them by discussion and a consensus decision will be made. We will implement RevMan 5.3 software to analyze the extracted data. Results This study will summarize high quality RCTs to assess the efficacy and safety of alendronate for the treatment of patients with AS through primary outcome of bone densitometry; and secondary outcomes of pain intensity, quality of life, disease activity, functional status, and adverse events. Conclusions This study will provide evidence to help determine whether alendronate is an effective and safe management for patient with AS or not.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of the laid-back position on lactation-related nipple problems and comfort: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Wang ◽  
Qiuyue Liu ◽  
Lihua Min ◽  
Xiaorong Mao
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Background The importance of breastfeeding for maternal and child health is agreed upon worldwide. However, lactation-related nipple problems are common and are important factors affecting breastfeeding. Multiple studies recommended laid-back breastfeeding, but they are of various levels of quality, and the results are inconclusive. Methods We systematically searched the following twelve databases from inception to January 28,2020: Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), WanFang, and VIP. All studies regarding laid-back breastfeeding or biological nurturing were considered, regardless of whether they were randomized controlled trials. Two trained investigators independently evaluated the quality of the selected articles and screened the data. All the data were analysed separately using Review Manager Version 5.3 and STATA/SE Version 15.1. Results A total of 12 studies involving 1936 groups of postpartum women and their newborns were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that nipple pain (RR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.14, 0.40; p < 0.00001), nipple trauma (RR = 0.47; 95% CI 0.29, 0.75; p = 0.002) and correct latching position (RR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.11, 1.33; p < 0.0001) in the experimental groups were all better than those of the control groups, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05), which indicates that the laid-back position has a positive effect on maternal breastfeeding. However, the results of position comfort showed that there was no statistical significance between the two groups (ES = 0.09; 95% CI -0.63, 0.81; p = 0.798). Conclusion Compared with traditional breastfeeding positions, the laid-back position has been proven to be related to a decreased incidence of nipple pain and nipple trauma and is seemingly conducive to the use of the correct latching position. It is suggested that the laid-back position is helpful in solving lactation-related nipple problems and can be recommended as a position for breastfeeding. However, no significant difference in position comfort was found between the two groups based on the current evidence, and further studies are still needed to validate these results due to the limitations of the included studies.

scholarly journals Systematic review with meta-analysis: effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy for ulcerative colitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628482110233
Author(s):  
Pingrun Chen ◽  
Yina Li ◽  
Xian Zhang ◽  
Yan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Ulcerative Colitis ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Hyperbaric Oxygen ◽  
Hyperbaric Oxygenation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽  
Complementary Method ◽  
Standard Mean Difference

Background and aims: Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy has been used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in the past few years. However, its efficacy still remains unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen combination therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive study search up to September 2020, from the online databases Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang and VIP. Results: Thirteen studies comprising 780 patients were included. We found that compared with conventional therapy, hyperbaric oxygen combination therapy was superior in reaching clinical remission [risk ratio (RR)=1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42 to 1.84; p < 0.001] and clinical response (RR=1.29; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.38; p < 0.001), with lower disease activity scores [standard mean difference (SMD)= −1.19; 95%CI −1.74 to −0.65; p < 0.001]. An obvious reduction of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD= −1.96; 95%CI −2.50 to −1.41; p < 0.001) and interleukin (IL)-6 (SMD= −2.49; 95% CI −2.84 to −2.15; p < 0.001), and elevation of IL-10 level (SMD=2.40; 95% CI 0.68 to 4.12; p = 0.006) were also observed. Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygen combination therapy was effective in patients with ulcerative colitis, and has potential as a complementary method for its treatment.

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