Research Information Service System Research Articles

PRECIS-2 analysis of pragmatic acupuncture trials: a systematic review

BackgroundPragmatic acupuncture trials (PATs) are a research tool for assessing the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments in a real-world setting. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive methodological analysis of PATs using the PRECIS-2(PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary-2) tool to determine their pragmatism.MethodsThe MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, WANFANG, Taiwan Periodical Literature Database, KoreaMed, KMbase, Research Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, CiNii and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched. The search included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and protocols of RCTs that investigated all types of acupuncture and used self-declared pragmatic design. Two authors independently collected the basic information and characteristics of the studies and assessed their pragmatism using the nine PRECIS-2 domains and the additional domain of control.ResultsA total of 93 studies were included. The means of eligibility, recruitment, organisation, primary outcome, primary analysis, and control domains were statistically larger than three and were shown to be pragmatic. The means of setting, flexibility:delivery, and follow-up domains were not greater than three and were shown to be non-pragmatic. For flexibility:adherence domain was inappropriate for assessment owing to insufficient information in the studies.ConclusionsPATs were pragmatic in the domain of eligibility, recruitment, organisation, primary outcome, primary analysis, and control and were not pragmatic in the domain of setting, flexibility:delivery, and follow-up. Future PATs need to strengthen the pragmatism in the setting, flexibility:delivery, and follow-up domains and to describe the flexibility:adherence domain in more detail.Trial registrationCRD42021236975.

Construction of Research Intelligence Service System for College Libraries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract University libraries are undergoing a critical transformation and enhancement phase in their research intelligence services. The evolution of research demands and the exponential growth of information have rendered traditional service models inadequate for meeting faculty and students’ precise and personalized requirements. To address this challenge, libraries must adopt innovative service strategies that leverage technological advancements and optimize service processes. Such strategies are vital for enhancing the efficiency of access and the value of information resources, thereby bolstering high-quality academic research and teaching. This paper presents an optimized design for the existing research information service system, identifying key challenges within university library research services and introducing an improvement plan rooted in artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Empirical research indicates that the proposed system boosts information retrieval speed by 30%, user satisfaction by 25%, and research support efficiency by 40%. The enhanced research intelligence service system significantly elevates university libraries’ service capabilities and research support functions, offering more effective and precise information services to the academic community.

작업치료분야 인공지능 적용에 대한 체계적 고찰

Objective : In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted to analyze research on the application of artificial intelligence in the field of occupational therapy. Through this, we aim to examine the current status and potential of artificial intelligence applications in occupational therapy and provide foundational data for the future utilization and research directions of artificial intelligence in this field. Methods : This study targeted domestic literature from January 2018 to October 2023. The databases utilized for literature search included the Korean Studies Information Service (KISS), the Research Information Service System (RISS), and the Nurimedia (DBpia). Out of a total of 67 papers obtained from the search results, 57 papers were excluded based on exclusion criteria, and a final selection of 10 papers was made
 Results : The analysis of the selected 10 papers in this study revealed that there were 3 (30.0%) randomized experimental studies, 1 (10.0%) non-randomized two-group experimental study, 5 (50.0%) survey studies, and 1 (10.0%) qualitative study. Out of all the studies, robot-related research accounted for 7 (70%) of the total, while digital therapeutic interventions, cognitive rehabilitation, and measurement technologies each constituted 1 paper Conclusion : Although artificial intelligence has been applied in the field of occupational therapy, particularly centered around robots and computerized cognitive rehabilitation systems, there has been a limited number of studies focusing on the practical application of artificial intelligence. Future research should focus on conducting studies that explore the therapeutic application of artificial intelligence using deep learning or machine learning. It is crucial to conduct high-quality research with a systematic research design to ensure the practical and effective implementation of artificial intelligence in the field.

Efficacy of Herbal Medicine on Sleep Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objectives: This study reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of herbal medicine on sleep disorders associated with Parkinson’s disease and suggests a better research process.Methods: We searched for RCTs for herbal medicine treatments for sleep disorders related to Parkinson’s disease on July 31, 2023 using eight databases (PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], the Research Information Service System [RISS], Science ON, the Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], and the Korea Citation Index [KCI]). Cochrane’s risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the RCTs.Results: A total of 16 RCTs met all the inclusion criteria, and in most reports, the treatment group showed a significant improvement in sleep disorders compared to the control group. Total effective rate (TER), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), TCM Symptom Score (TSS), Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS), etc., were used as evaluation indicators.Conclusion: Herbal medicine is a potential treatment for sleep disorders associated with Parkinson’s disease. However, the selected RCTs were of poor quality, and it is necessary to perform more systematic studies.

Acupuncture for gouty arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

: We examined the effects of acupuncture on gouty arthritis by comparing acupuncture versus—and in addition to—conventional treatment. : We searched randomized controlled trials published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2022, from eight electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, KoreaMed, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure), and selected studies by eligibility criteria for meta-analysis. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used, and meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. : We retrieved 1,909 articles and selected 12 studies. Compared to conventional treatment, acupuncture was significantly better at reducing pain intensity (95% Confidence interval [CI]: -2.03 to -1.09, p < 0.00001) and showed a better effective rate (95% CI: 1.03 to 1.17, p = 0.003). The combination of acupuncture with conventional treatment significantly improved pain intensity (95% CI: -2.18 to -0.76, p < 0.0001), pain relief duration (95% CI: -1.28 to -0.50, p < 0.00001), and serum uric acid (SUA) level (95% CI: -0.93 to -0.33, p < 0.0001) compared with conventional treatment alone. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology, acupuncture alone and acupuncture with conventional treatment showed a very low quality of evidence for reducing pain intensity as a primary outcome measure due to a high risk of bias and imprecision. : Acupuncture might be a beneficial alternative or adjunctive treatment for patients with gouty arthritis. However, due to very low certainty in the evidence, well-powered and rigorously designed clinical trials are necessary to further validate these preliminary findings.

Oriental medicine as collaborating treatments with conventional treatments for knee osteoarthritis: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oriental medicine (OM) treatments as monotherapy and add-on therapy compared to conventional treatments for knee osteoarthritis and assess the quality of evidence for these results. OM treatment included acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacoacupuncture, and moxibustion. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Google Scholar, 4 Korean medical databases (KoreaMed, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System), and one Chinese database (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for articles published between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of OM interventions, single or combined with conventional treatments, on knee osteoarthritis were searched. The risk of bias and quality of evidence of the included studies were evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methods, respectively. A total of 3911 relevant studies were retrieved and only 23 studies were included for systematic review. Most of the studies showed a significant effect on knee osteoarthritis. 21 studies comparing single OM treatment with conventional treatment were included in the meta-analysis. The effect size of standardized mean difference (SMD) was analyzed as a "small effect" with 0.48 (95% CI -0.80 to -0.16, Z = 2.98, P = .003). In addition, a meta-analysis of 4 studies comparing integrative treatment with conventional treatment showed a "very large effect" with 1.52 (95% CI -2.09 to -0.95, Z = 5.19, P < .001). Our results suggest that single OM treatment and integrative treatment significantly reduce pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, there is a limited number of RCTs considering integrative treatment which implies more related RCTs should be conducted in the future.

Association of Fried Food Intake with Gastric Cancer Risk: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in Asia, and has a significant global incidence. However, the impact of fried food consumption on gastric cancer risk remains uncertain, mainly due to the limited number of participants in previous studies. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to examine the association between fried food intake and gastric cancer incidence through a comprehensive meta-analysis. We conducted a thorough search across multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Information Service System (KISS), and Research Information Service System (RISS), to collect studies. The newly analyzed results of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) findings were added. We assessed integrated odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from the selected studies using Cochrane RevMan 5.0 for the meta-analysis. The quality of the studies included in the meta-analysis was assessed using the Study Quality Assessment Tool of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). We included 18 studies in the analysis, which compared the impact of fried food intake in gastric cancer patients (n = 5739) and healthy adults (control, n = 70,933). There was a significant positive association between gastric cancer risk and fried food intake (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.23-1.87, I2 = 76%, p = 0.0001). The relationship was found to be significant in both non-East Asians (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.18-1.85, I2 = 31%, p = 0.0006) and East Asians (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.14-2.08, I2 = 83%, p = 0.005). In conclusion, this meta-analysis supports the notion that fried food intake is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in both non-Asians and Asians. Promoting a reduction in fried food consumption as a measure against gastric cancer risk is recommended.

Integrative medicine using East Asian herbal medicine for inflammatory pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis integrated with multiple data mining for core candidate discovery.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by a wide range of clinical symptoms affecting various bodily functions, including skeletal, vascular, metabolic, and cognitive functions. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of integrative medicine (East Asian herbal medicine combined with conventional medicine) used for the treatment of inflammatory pain in rheumatoid arthritis and to identify key candidate drugs based on the data. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in 4 core databases (PubMed, Excerpta Medica database, Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature) 4 Korean databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, and Korea Citation Index), 2 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database and Wanfang data), and 1 Japanese database (Citation Information by National Institute of Informatics) for randomized controlled trials from December 13, 2022. Statistical analysis will be performed using R version 4.1.2 and R Studio program. The American College of Rheumatology 20/50/70 score and rate of adverse events will be the primary outcomes. All outcomes will be analyzed using a random-effects model to produce more statistically conservative results. Sensitivity, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses will be used to identify the sources of any heterogeneity in the study. The revised tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials, version 2.0, will be used to evaluate methodological quality. The overall quality of evidence will be assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Pro Framework. There are no ethical issues, as no primary data will be collected directly from the participants. The results of this review will be reported in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023412385.

A Protocol for the Overview of Systematic Reviews of Aromatherapy for Management of Health

Background: Aromatherapy has been reported to have a positive effect on various health conditions. While these studies show positive results, many of them have limited evidence. The aim of this study was to develop a protocol to evaluate all systematic reviews (SRs) that have evaluated the efficacy of aromatherapy (for any health condition) as a therapeutic treatment (protocol registration number INPLASY202280089).Methods: We will include aromatherapy through different therapeutic application methods such as inhalation, massage, and bathing. Seven international databases (including PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library), and three Korean medical databases (Korean Studies Information, Research Information Service System, KoreaMed), will be searched. The SR process, including study selection, data extraction, and assessment, will be performed by two independent reviewers. Methodological assessment will be performed using AMSTAR-2.Discussion: The benefits of aromatherapy for health management are evaluated to provide useful information to patients and therapists and inform decisions on further studies on this topic.

A Protocol for the Overview of Systematic Reviews of Aromatherapy for Management of Health

Background: Aromatherapy has been reported to have a positive effect on various health conditions. While these studies show positive results, many of them have limited evidence. The aim of this study was to develop a protocol to evaluate all systematic reviews (SRs) that have evaluated the efficacy of aromatherapy (for any health condition) as a therapeutic treatment (protocol registration number INPLASY202280089).Methods: We will include aromatherapy through different therapeutic application methods such as inhalation, massage, and bathing. Seven international databases (including PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library), and three Korean medical databases (Korean Studies Information, Research Information Service System, KoreaMed), will be searched. The SR process, including study selection, data extraction, and assessment, will be performed by two independent reviewers. Methodological assessment will be performed using AMSTAR-2.Discussion: The benefits of aromatherapy for health management are evaluated to provide useful information to patients and therapists and inform decisions on further studies on this topic.

Integrative medicine (East Asian herbal medicine combined with conventional medicine) for psoriasis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune skin disease. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of integrative medicine (East Asian herbal medicine combined with conventional medicine) used to treat inflammatory skin lesions of psoriasis. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in 3 English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase), 4 Korean databases (Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and Korea Citation Index), 2 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database and Wanfang data), and 1 Japanese database (Citation Information by National Institute of Informatics) for randomized controlled trials from their inception until July 29, 2021. Statistical analysis will be performed using R version 4.1.2 and the R studio program using the default settings of the "meta" and "metafor" packages. The primary outcome will be an improvement in the psoriasis area severity index. All outcomes will be analyzed using a random-effects model to produce more statistically conservative results. If heterogeneity is detected in the study, the cause will be identified through sensitivity, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses. Methodological quality will be assessed independently using the revised tool for the risk of bias in randomized trials, version 2.0. The overall quality of evidence will be evaluated according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation pro framework. This study will review all available trials on the same subject and arrive at a more statistically robust conclusion based on a sufficient sample size of participants and additional analysis using data mining techniques will be performed on intervention prescription information in clinical studies collected according to rigorous criteria. We believe that this study will provide useful knowledge on managing inflammatory skin lesions of psoriasis vulgaris using integrative medicine using East Asian herbal medicine.

Oral herbal medicine for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of shingling. Herbal medicine for PHN is clinically used to improve chronic pain and other symptoms that reduce the quality of life (QoL), such as sleep disturbances and emotional problems. This study aims to describe methods for synthesizing evidence for the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine for treating PHN. Randomized controlled trials using herbal medicine in patients with PHN will be included in this review. Electronic databases such as MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, KoreaMed, Research Information Service System, Korean Studies Information Service System, Database Periodical Information Academic, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and Korea Citation Index will be searched without language limitations from their inception to September 2022. Two authors will perform quality assessments independently using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and the secondary outcomes will be global impression, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, QoL, and safety. All data from eligible studies will be synthesized for meta-analysis. This study will be a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral herbal medicine for treatment of PHN. This study will provide evidence for herbal medicine as a potential treatment for PHN which is advantageous not only for patients but also for researchers and policymakers.

국내외 코칭관련 대학과 교육과정 분석

This study investigates coaching-related departments and curriculums at domestic and foreign universities to solidify the academic foundation of coaching science based on universities as domestic and foreign coaching-related universities that continue to increase. Various curriculums are also being created through universities and coaching-related institutions. To this end, the names of schools, departments, and curriculum names where coaching was opened at domestic and foreign universities were analyzed through the academic Research Information Service System(RISS) and domestic and foreign sites search. The results of this study are as follows. In domestic universities, 30 undergraduate and master's and doctorate programs were opened in 23 universities, while in foreign universities, 22 universities were opened in the order of coaching-related schools in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. The names of coaching-related departments at home and abroad are marked in various ways, and as a result, the national coaching certificate course for standardization work was reviewed and presented. The fact that coaching departments have been opened at domestic and foreign universities and coaching curriculums are being operated in various ways is very encouraging in that coaching is more academically organized and excellent professional coaches are being trained. It is also very noteworthy that South Korea has the largest number of coaching departments in the world, and South Korea's coaching status can be unfolded globally.

East asian herbal medicine for the treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental illness that can place a significant burden on individuals, their families, and society. East Asian Herbal Medicine (EAHM) has long been used in East Asian nations to treat mental illness in children. Nevertheless, the evidence for the effectiveness of EAHM for the treatment of ADHD is insufficient. A systematic review was performed to examine the effectiveness and safety. In addition, research on core herbal combinations was also conducted to help clinicians in their prescription selection. Materials and methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis were prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The following databases were searched: 4 English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE), 4 Korean databases (Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Research Information Service System (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Korea Citation Index (KCI)), 2 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wanfang Data), and 1 Japanese database (CiNii) database. The publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. GRADE pro was used to evaluate the evidence of the study. The core herb combination of EAHM used in this study was revealed using apriori algorithm-based association rule mining. ResultsThis review assessed 42 studies that evaluated 3484 children and adolescents. In meta-analysis, EAHM monotherapy had a similar clinical efficacy rate to conventional medicine (CM) (n = 2166; random effects RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.13; heterogeneity χ2= 25.08, df = 23, p = 0.35, I2=8%). EAHM-combined therapy showed a better clinical efficacy rate than when conventional therapy was used alone (n = 746; fixed effects RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.26; heterogeneity χ2= 11.80, df = 9, p = 0.22, I2=24%). For adverse events, EAHM had a lower incidence than conventional therapy. In GRADE pro, each outcome varied from moderate to very low quality. The constituents of the herb combinations with consistent association rules were Fossilia Ossis Mastodi, Polygalae Radix, and Acori Graminei Rhizoma. ConclusionEAHM monotherapy has similar effects to CM but with fewer side effects. Hence, it will be helpful for children with ADHD suffering from the side effects of CM. EAHM-combined therapy has a better effect than conventional therapy. Accordingly, it will be useful for children with ADHD who do not respond to treatment with conventional therapy. Nevertheless, more well-designed studies will be needed to confirm this in the future.

Effect of Delirium Prevention Program on Delirium Occurrence and the Length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Stay: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background:ICU patients typically experience diverse kinds of distress factors, which make them vulnerable to delirium thereby resulting in a higher rate of delirium occurrence. We aimed to review systematically current states of preventive nursing intervention in ICUs, and to analyze delirium occurrence and the length of ICU stay to provide suggestions for the preventive nursing practice in ICU.Methods:Data collection was done with literature search databases including PubMed, Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, KMbase, KoreaMed, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KiSTi), Research Information Service System (RISS) and with hand searching, from Apr 20 to May 10, 2020. Two researchers independently selected research literature, and three researchers summarized and identified related variables based on data extraction methods.Results:Overall, 236 articles identified, 11 articles met the inclusion criteria for review. The systematic review of the contents of preventive nursing intervention other than drug administration rendered the four types of intervention. The Peto odds ratio (OR) of the rate of delirium occurrence appeared as 0.29 (95% Confidence Interval (CI)=0.20∼0.43) which was statistically significant (Z=6.23, P<.01) in both group. The magnitude of the effect for the length of ICU stay demonstrated insignificant values, Mean difference (MD) −0.23 (95% CI=−0.51∼0.05) (Z=1.60, P=.11).Conclusion:For management of delirium among ICU patients, multi-component intervention packages, suitable for care setting in ICUs, need to be taken into account for the preparation of nursing intervention for prevention of delirium applicable to nursing practices.

The Effect of Acupuncture on Modulating Inflammatory Cytokines in Rodent Animal Models of Respiratory Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PurposeAlthough respiratory diseases (RD) are rapidly becoming a global health issue due to their high mortality and prevalence, there are limitations to the currently available treatments. Acupuncture has been recognized to mitigate many diseases by reducing inflammation and modulating cytokines. However, no systematic analysis has been performed to examine the effects of acupuncture on RD. We aimed to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on rodent animal models of RD.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Research Information Service System were searched to retrieve studies that met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. The quality of each included study was evaluated using a 10-item checklist modified from the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies. With adequate data extracted, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan software.ResultsA total of 18 studies were included, and the mean quality assessment was 5.7. The meta-analysis revealed that acupuncture had a significant effect on changing the cytokine levels, including pro-/anti-inflammatory, Th1-, Th2- and Th17- specific cytokines.ConclusionAlthough there were limitations in the number of included studies, the results suggest that acupuncture can be a possible treatment for RD through its modulation of various cytokines, leading to reduced inflammation.

Acupuncture for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with dry eye: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionThe global incidence of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with dry eye is increasing annually, which imposes additional healthcare costs and financial burden on families and societies. In...

Applying the PRECIS-2 tool for self-declared ‘pragmatic’ acupuncture trials: protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionThe pragmatic design has received much attention in the field of acupuncture clinical trials because of insufficient information about the specific effects of acupuncture. However, pragmatism in pragmatic acupuncture trials...

Oral administration of East Asian herbal medicine for rheumatoid arthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory, and painful joint disease. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral administration East Asian herbal medicine monotherapy for inflammatory pain of RA, and to explore core herb material information based on collected data.Methods:A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in 11 electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica database, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korea Citation Index, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang data, citation information by NII for randomized controlled trials from their inception until October 13, 2021. Statistical analysis will be performed in the software R version 4.1.1. and R studio program using the default settings of the “meta” and “metafor” package. When heterogeneity in studies is detected, the cause will be identified through subgroup analysis. Methodological quality will be assessed independently using the revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials (Rob 2.0).Results:This study will provide more comprehensive and specific evidence of East Asian herbal medicine monotherapy for RA pain management.Conclusions:Based on the results of this review, it is expected that the efficacy and safety of East Asian herbal medicine for inflammatory pain of RA may be confirmed. In addition, it will be possible to derivation of a core herb material information related to this research topic through additional data mining.Ethics and dissemination:There are no ethical issues as there are no primary data collected by directly recruiting subjects. The results of this review will be reported in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.PROSPERO registration number:CRD42021273643

East Asian Herbal Medicine to Reduce Primary Pain and Adverse Events in Cancer Patients : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Association Rule Mining to Identify Core Herb Combination.

Objective: Cancer pain is an important factor in cancer management that affects a patient’s quality of life and survival-related outcomes. The aim of this review was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral administration of East Asian herbal medicine (EAHM) for primary cancer pain and to explore core herb patterns based on the collected data. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 11 electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korea Citation Index, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and CiNii for randomized controlled trials from their inception until August 19, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed in R version 4.1.1 and R studio program using the default settings of the meta-package. When heterogeneity in studies was detected, the cause was identified through meta-regression and subgroup analysis. Methodological quality was independently assessed using the revised tool for risk of bias in randomized trials (Rob 2.0). Results: A total of 38 trials with 3,434 cancer pain patients met the selection criteria. Meta-analysis favored EAHM-combined conventional medicine on response rate (risk ratio: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.09, p < 0.0001), continuous pain intensity (standardized mean difference: −1.74; 95% CI: −2.17 to −1.30, p < 0.0001), duration of pain relief (standardized mean difference: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.22, p < 0.0001), performance status (weighted mean difference: 10.71; 95% CI: 4.89 to 16.53, p = 0.0003), and opioid usage (weighted mean difference: −20.66 mg/day; 95% CI: −30.22 to −11.10, p < 0.0001). No significant difference was observed between EAHM and conventional medicine on response rate and other outcomes. Patients treated with EAHM had significantly reduced adverse event (AE) incidence rates. In addition, based on the ingredients of herb data in this meta-analysis, four combinations of herb pairs, which were frequently used together for cancer pain, were derived. Conclusion: EAHM monotherapy can decrease adverse events associated with pain management in cancer patients. Additionally, EAHM-combined conventional medicine therapy may be beneficial for patients with cancer pain in increasing the response rate, relieving pain intensity, improving pain-related performance status, and regulating opioid usage. However, the efficacy and safety of EAHM monotherapy are difficult to conclude due to the lack of methodological quality and quantity of studies. More well-designed, multicenter, double-blind, and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials are needed in the future. In terms of the core herb combination patterns derived from the present review, four combinations of herb pairs might be promising for cancer pain because they have been often distinctly used for cancer patients in East Asia. Thus, they are considered to be worth a follow-up study to elucidate their actions and effects. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021265804