Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy Research Articles

Consensus on Treatment of Acne Scars in China (2021) #

Acne scars are caused by inflammatory reactions, infections, and improper handling of acne lesions. Such scars have a high incidence and are difficult to treat. There are many methods currently used to treat acne scars, including medications, photoelectric technology, surgery, filling, chemical peeling, traditional Chinese medicine, biotherapy, and microneedle therapy, and many new methods are constantly emerging. However, there are still many issues, such as the lack of high-quality clinical studies, non-uniform treatment methods, and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. The selection of appropriate methods for the comprehensive treatment of different types of acne scars at different stages in clinical practice remains challenging and is a research topic of great interest. From the perspective of evidence-based medicine, this consensus aims to provide a reference for the treatment of acne scars in clinical practice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoctions Improve Longevity Following Diagnosis with Stage IV Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis.

ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient form of personalized medicine and may improve morbidity and mortality in patients with esophageal cancer. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the utility of TCM in the treatment of stage IV esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodsWe collected the medical records of patients with stage IV SCC admitted to Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Linzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between July 2017 and June 2020. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to determine if the use of TCM improved patient prognosis. Moreover, cluster analysis was used to classify the patients according to TCM syndrome type and identify the most frequently used combinations of remedies.ResultsAfter that 402 patients were included in PSM, of which 196 (48.8%) were treated with traditional Chinese medicine. TCM prolonged the survival time of patients with stage IV esophageal SCC (P=0.084), and was an independently associated with prognosis as demonstrated by Cox multivariate regression analysis [risk ratio (RR) =0.543, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.390–0.755, P<0.001]. Association analysis revealed 75 cases (38.26%) had obstruction of phlegm and qi syndrome, 53 cases (27.04%) had phlegm and blood stasis syndrome, 38 cases (19.39%) had yang-qi deficiency syndrome, and 30 cases (15.31%) had heat retention and fluid consumption syndrome.ConclusionTreatment with TCM derived therapies may increase the survival time of patients with stage IV esophageal SCC. Since these patients were diagnosed with different TCM syndromes, individualized TCM therapy is essential for improving symptoms and survival.

Moxibustion alleviates decreased ovarian reserve in rats by restoring the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

ObjectiveMoxibustion, a common therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, has potential benefits for treating decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). The present study investigates the protective effect of moxibustion in a rat model of DOR and explores the possible mechanisms. MethodsSixty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, DOR, moxibustion (MOX), and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The DOR rat model was established by intragastric administration of 50 mg/kg Tripterygium glycoside suspension (TGS), once daily for 14 days. MOX and HRT treatments were given from the day TGS administration was initiated. The ovarian reserve function was evaluated by monitoring the estrus cycle, morphological changes in ovaries, levels of serum estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), pregnancy rate and embryo numbers. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end-labeling staining was used to identify ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis, while the protein and mRNA expressions of Bax, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) in ovarian tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. ResultsCompared with the DOR group, MOX improved the disordered estrous cycle, promoted follicular growth, reduced the number of atresia follicles, increased the concentrations of serum E2 and AMH, and decreased serum FSH and LH concentrations. More importantly, the pregnancy rate and embryo numbers in DOR rats were both upregulated in the MOX treatment group, compared to the untreated DOR model. Further, we found that the MOX group had reduced apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells, increased Bcl-2 expression and reduced expression of Bax. Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was triggered by the moxibustion treatment. ConclusionMoxibustion improved ovarian function and suppressed apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in a rat model of DOR induced by TGS, and the mechanism may involve the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy Improve the Gynecologic Laparoscopic Postoperative Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Review

Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy Improve the Gynecologic Laparoscopic Postoperative Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Review

Pediatric Tuina in children with autism spectrum disorder: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by repetitive stereotypical behavior and communication deficits. Currently, it lacks a specific clinical treatment method. Pediatric Tuina is a recent therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been used to treat children with ASD. Nonetheless, it remains uncommon given the lack of large-scale evidence-based medical studies. This study aims to compare the efficacy of Tuina and conventional treatment in children with ASD.MethodsEligible children will be randomly assigned to either the pediatric Tuina plus conventional treatment group or to the conventional treatment alone group based on a random table at a ratio of 1:1. The effectiveness of the Tuina intervention for ASD will be evaluated by a third-party organization. The pre- and post-intervention scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale comprised the primary outcome, whereas pre- and post-intervention scores on the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist were the secondary outcomes to assess improvement in symptoms. Baseline values of the participants will be determined at the time of registration. Outcomes will be evaluated after the 30th treatment session. The follow-up period will last for 6 months after treatment.DiscussionThis study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tuina in the treatment of ASD. The results of this study could provide reliable evidence to improve the management of patients with ASD.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (CHICTR), ChiCTR2000040452. Registered on 28 November 2020.

Treatment of myasthenia gravis with the method of tonifying spleen and replenishing qi in traditional Chinese medicine: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that is associated with the production of autoantibodies. The symptoms of MG are mainly mediated by pathogenic antibodies directed against nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, resulting in a decrease in the number of acetylcholine receptors molecules on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction endplate, leading to clinical symptoms of muscle fatigue and weakness. At present, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of MG has a better effect by tonifying spleen and replenishing qi. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM therapy for tonifying spleen and replenishing qi in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.Methods:We searched the following databases from their establishment until December 2021: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Springer, CNKI, Wanfang, China Biomedical Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese Knowledge Infrastructure, China Clinical Trial Registry, and Baidu Scholars. The literature search language was limited to Chinese and English, and publication time and status were not limited. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Two researchers independently searched and screened the articles, assessed their quality, and used the RevMan 5.4.1 software to perform a meta-analysis of the included literature.Results:This study compared the main outcome indicators: efficacy rate, recurrence rate, quality of life, and quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG). Secondary outcome indicators were the clinical absolute score, TCM syndrome score, serum acetylcholine receptor antibody level, and electromyogram low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation.Conclusion:This study aimed to evaluate whether the TCM method of tonifying spleen and replenishing qi is effective in the treatment of MG and to provide evidence-based data.Ethics and dissemination:The protocol of the systematic review did not require ethical approval because it did not involve human subjects. This article will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at conferences.

Current Status and Evaluation of Randomized Clinical Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long been applied to various diseases in China for a few thousand years. In recent years, its market has gradually developed from Asian countries to Western countries. At present, due to the lack of evidence-based medicine research, the effect of traditional Chinese medicine on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease remains unclear. In evaluating the efficacy and safety of drugs, randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) are recognized as the gold standard for testing the effectiveness and safety of treatments and could offer the best evidence for the formulation of clinical treatment guidelines. Although traditional Chinese medicine has long been used to treat cardiovascular diseases, the research on the application of RCT to test the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy or single traditional Chinese medicine therapy started late, and the number is comparably small. In order to summarize and objectively evaluate the research results of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in intervention of cardiovascular diseases, we reviewed the literature of RCTs in this field by searching some Chinese and English databases and put forward some suggestions for the future development and research of traditional Chinese medicine.

Cochrane systematic reviews on traditional Chinese medicine: What matters–the quantity or quality of evidence?

BackgroundSystematic reviews on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are constantly increasing. However, if these reviews are to be of practical value, the evidence needs to be relevant, valid, and adequately reported. Cochrane Systematic Reviews (CSRs) are considered as high-quality systematic reviews that can inform health care decision making. Our aim was to provide an overview of the scope, findings, quality and impact of CSRs on the benefits and harms associated with TCM interventions for the treatment and prevention of disease to provide new information for clinical practice and future research. MethodsThe Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was searched up to May 2021, and descriptive characteristics were extracted. The correspondence between the questions asked in the CSRs and the available evidence, conclusions and certainty of findings (according to GRADE assessment), methodological quality (AMSTAR 2), and impact (Altmetric Attention Score [AAS], total citations by guideline, and total citations in Web of Science [WoS]) of CSRs were extracted. Tabular and graphical summaries of these descriptive characteristics were constructed. ResultsOf 104 CSRs on TCM identified, 70 diseases belonged to 16 disease systems and contained 1642 primary studies with 157,943 participants. Interventions included Chinese herbal medicine (n = 70), acupuncture (n = 28), TCM exercises (n = 4), and moxibustion (n = 2). Among 1642 primary studies, 662 studies included an intervention group treated with at least one TCM therapy and 980 studies included a combination of therapies. Promising outcomes from the 104 CSRs were divided into endpoint outcomes (34 diseases), doctor- or patient-reported outcomes (27 diseases), and surrogate outcomes (37 diseases). Despite the presence of promising outcomes, only 5/104 CSRs drew overall positive conclusions, 42 CSRs concluded the evidence was insufficient, and 54 failed to draw firm conclusions. GRADE assessments were reported in 41.3% of the CSRs, and the ratings were mostly low or very low. Comparing the questions asked and results obtained, there was frequently a lack of information about specific outcomes. Only 16 CSRs obtained results for all outcomes listed in the methods section. According to AMSTAR 2, 51 CSRs (49.0%) were of low quality. The total number of citations in the WoS was 2135 (mean ± SD: 20.8 ± 21.2), and 38.5% of the CSRs had been cited in guidelines 95 times. ConclusionAlthough TCM is commonly used, evidence of its effectiveness remains largely inconclusive. Rigorous high-quality trials are needed to support the performance of high-quality reviews and to increase the evidence base. It is critical to emphasize quality over quantity in future TCM research.

Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine External Therapy for Diabetic Constipation: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Diabetic constipation is a common complication of diabetes mellitus(DM), which not only leads to pains of patients such as abdominal pain and abdominal distention, but increases the economic burden of patients and society. Whether external therapy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) an effective way to treat diabetic constipation has not yet come to a conclusion. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TCM external therapy for treating diabetic constipation. Methods: We searched 7 databases from inception to 21 December, 2021. The databases included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang database, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database(CBM). All analyses were conducted by RevMan5.4 and Stata12.0. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used for quality assessment and risk of bias assessment. Results: A total of 40 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, involving 3074 diabetic constipation patients. The results showed that TCM external therapy increased in total effective rate and weekly defecation times compared with control group. TCM external therapy also showed more reduction in defecation time, fecal traits score and FBS level than control group. Conclution: TCM external therapy effectively relieves the costive symptom of DM patients. This meta-analysis demonstrated that TCM external therapy was more effective in treating diabetic constipation patients than common therapy or routine defecation medicine. However, the quality of most included studies were low. More multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled clinical trials will be needed in the future.

A Personalized Nursing Care of DSA Complicated with Contrast Media Encephalopathy

This article reports a case of DSA examination of the head using a contrast agent. Neurological symptoms appear at the end of the examination. After excluding other diseases, it is considered as contrast agent encephalopathy. After the symptoms appear, after active rescue, after the patient's condition is stable, the clinical symptoms of the patient are combined with the characteristic treatment of traditional Chinese medicine to do a good job of nursing work to relieve the patient's symptoms and promote their recovery. This article is based on the treatment of western medicine, combined with the characteristic therapies of traditional Chinese medicine, and provides a new way of thinking for personalized nursing of contrast encephalopathy by combining Chinese and Western medicine.

Seminar of Gynecological Oncology of the International Conference on Psychiatry and Neurorestoratology (ICPN2022)

The International Conference on Psychiatry and Neurorestoratology (ICPN2022) will be held in Zhengzhou in November, 2022 with the theme of psychiatry and global mental health under the current global context. On the ICPN 2022, a seminar on gynecological oncology was held and panel reports were shared. In recent years, the treatment of gynecological tumors has produced inspiring progress. On the one hand, medical technology has seen tremendous advances, and medical imaging, treatment methods, and surgical plans have undergone new changes. On the other hand, the barriers of different medicine segments are breaking down. Multi-level synergistic treatment has become a popular trend. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine therapy also provides a supplement for the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological tumors. The discussions of the seminar focused on some controversial issues of gynecological malignant tumor surgery, process management of breast cancer, imaging diagnosis of gynecological tumors, precise diagnosis and treatment of gynecological tumors, infection and nursing of gynecological malignant tumors, and in particular the traditional Chinese medicine. These research and academic exchanges, from a multi-perspective and multidisciplinary aspect, enable researchers and clinicians to better address concerns of gynecological oncology patients. Through this conference, we look forward to receiving more discussions and solutions on the whole management model of gynecological tumor prevention and treatment from multiple perspectives, thus to promote the vigorous development of gynecological oncology.

Progress in Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

By looking up the relevant literature and journals in recent years, some literature on traditional Chinese medicine therapy of polycystic ovary were selected, and by analyzing, summarizing and inducing these literatures, the etiology and pathogenesis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the characteristic treatment methods and the latest progress of the disease were sorted out. It can be seen from more literature that TCM diagnosis and treatment ideas can not only help clinicians to eliminate complex pathogenesis and simplify it, but also provide better treatment in clinic, which is the characteristic advantage of traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine therapy is often treated by the principles of tonifying the kidney, strengthening the spleen and soothing the liver, eliminating dampness and phlegm, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, because there is no final conclusion on which viscera is the basis of treatment in China at present, and the views of various schools are not the same, so this paper focuses on the relationship between main syndrome and concurrent syndrome.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine plus triple therapy in treating Helicobacter pylori induced chronic atrophic gastritis: a meta-analysis and cumulative meta-analysis

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine plus triple therapy in treating Helicobacter pylori induced chronic atrophic gastritis: a meta-analysis and cumulative meta-analysis

Clinical Spectrum and Trajectory of Innovative Therapeutic Interventions for Insomnia: A Perspective.

Increasing incidences of insomnia in adults, as well as the aging population, have been reported for their negative impact on the quality of life. Insomnia episodes may be associated with neurocognitive, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, and metabolic disorders. Epidemiological evidence also revealed the association of insomnia with oncologic and asthmatic complications, which has been indicated as bidirectional. Two therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and drugs-based therapies are being practiced for a long time. However, the adverse events associated with drugs limit their wide and long-term application. Further, Traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure, and pulsed magnetic field therapy may also provide therapeutic relief. Notably, the recently introduced cryotherapy has been demonstrated as a potential candidate for insomnia which could reduce pain, by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation. It seems that the synergistic therapeutic approach of cryotherapy and the above-mentioned approaches might offer promising prospects to further improve efficacy and safety. Considering these facts, this perspective presents a comprehensive summary of recent advances in pathological aetiologies of insomnia including COVID-19, and its therapeutic management with a greater emphasis on cryotherapy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for COVID-19: A Network Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

To compare the efficacy of different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and provide a higher level of evidence in the form of network meta-analysis (NMA) and systematic review. We searched the studies from the following databases: CNKI, VIP, WanFang, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from the establishment of the respective database until December 2021. Relevant studies were screened according to the pre-established inclusion criteria. The quality of the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were assessed using the risk of bias (ROB) tool and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS), respectively. R software 4.1.1 and Stata 13.1 were used for data analysis and mapping. A total of 34 studies were included in this network meta-analysis that tested 24 TCM interventions and included 3443 patients. Using cluster analysis of time to negative SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the length of hospital stay and composite events, we found that Jinyinhua oral liquid (JYH, 120 mL) + conventional Western medicine (CWM) has the highest SUCRA value at 88.64%, 85.61% and 84.24%. The traditional meta-analysis results revealed that Qingfei Paidu decoction + CWM were significantly different compared with CWM alone for the score of clinical symptoms (MD =-0.75, 95% CI [-1.04, -0.47]). Nine studies reported 57 adverse reactions (ADRs) and 3 adverse events (ADEs) in TCM + CWM groups, and eight studies reported 33 ADRs and 8 ADEs in CWM groups. In conclusion, the combination of TCM and CWM approaches may enhance the efficacy of CWM in COVID-19 patients. Based on the NMA result, JYH (120 mL) + CWM may be a more effective treatment and deserves further investigation. However, the differences in many comparisons between TCM interventions did not reach statistical significance; therefore, further high-quality studies are required to validate these findings.

Artificial Intelligence Algorithm-Based High-Resolution Computed Tomography Image in the Treatment of Children with Bronchiolitis Obliterans by Traditional Chinese Medicine Method of Resolving Phlegm and Removing Blood Stasis.

This research was aimed to explore the application of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) based on intelligent iterative reconstruction technique in the early diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in children and to explore the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis. Sixty pediatric patients with BO were selected as the study subjects and diagnosed by HRCT scanning, and the scanned images were processed by iterative reconstruction technique. The patients were treated with TCM therapy of resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis alone (group A), HRCT-guided TCM therapy of resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis (group B), and iterative reconstruction HRCT-guided TCM therapy of resolving phlegm and removing blood stasis (group C). The results showed that the lung HRCT image after iterative reconstruction was closer to the original image than that after filtered back projection reconstruction, and the edge of the image after filtered back projection reconstruction was more blurred and the noise was higher. The image obtained by iterative reconstruction technique was smoother and clearer, and the image stability after iterative reconstruction was higher. The treatment results showed that the proportion of moderate and severe obstruction in group C was 5.18%, which was significantly lower than that in group A (18.75%) and group B (11.29%), and group B was significantly lower than that in group A (18.75%) (P < 0.05). The proportion of clinical effect in group C after treatment was 70.18%, significantly higher than that in group A (55.5%) and group B (63.34%), and that in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (55.5%) (P < 0.05). In summary, the lung HRCT after iterative reconstruction can more clearly and intuitively show the lesion site, which has a key role in guiding the early diagnosis and treatment planning of BO; the HRCT image based on iterative reconstruction technique combined with TCM treatment of removing blood stasis and resolving phlegm has a better therapeutic effect on children, with a high application value.

Nursing perspective of the expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality in China, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a unique advantage in the treatment and rehabilitation of lung cancer. In order to standardize TCM diagnosis and treatment and disease management of clinical medical workers, the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine issued the “Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer by Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine” in August 2021. Experts' recommendations were made on the clinical staging and syndrome differentiation and classification of lung cancer, characteristic TCM therapies, and nursing care of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. This article interpreted the Consensus on the above aspects from a nursing perspective, hoping to provide references for clinical medical workers in the treatment and nursing care of lung cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine attenuates hospitalization and mortality risks in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ in Taiwan

BackgroundDiabetic patients are at high risk of developing cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become increasingly popular as an adjuvant treatment for patients with chronic diseases, and some studies have identified its beneficial effect in diabetic patients with cancer. The purpoes of this study was to outline the potential of TCM to attenuate hospitalization and mortality rates in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). MethodsA total of 6,987 diabetic subjects with CIS under TCM therapy were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, along with 38,800 of 1:1 sex-, age-, and index year-matched controls without TCM therapy. Cox proportional hazard analysis was conducted to compare hospitalization and mortality rates during an average of 15 years of follow-up. ResultsA total of 3,999/1,393 enrolled-subjects (28.62%/9.97%) had hospitalization/mortality, including 1,777/661 in the TCM group (25.43%/9.46%) and 2,222/732 in the control group (31.80%/10.48%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of hospitalization and mortality for subjects in the TCM group (adjusted HR=0.536; 95% CI=0.367–0.780, P<0.001; adjusted HR=0.783; 95% CI=0.574–0.974, P = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of hospitalization and mortality in the case and control groups was significantly different (log rank, P<0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). ConclusionsDiabetic patients with CIS under TCM therapy were associated with lower hospitalization and mortality rates compared to those without TCM therapy. Thus, TCM application may reduce the burden of national medical resources.

Warming Acupuncture in the Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Warming acupuncture (WA) is widely used in the management of Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) in China and obtains desirable efficacy. Therefore, the aim of this study is to systematically assess the efficacy and safety whether using WA alone or combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for the treatment of CSR. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Sinomed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases were searched from their inception through 30 September 2020. All the retrieved records were screened or excluded based on the criteria that were pre-established, and the results that meet the criteria were assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool and Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan5.3 software. Results: Fourteen RCTs (1021patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The effective rate of WA alone or combination with TCM therapy was analyzed in comparison with the treatment of regular therapy. The results indicated that compared with regular therapy, WA alone or in combination with TCM therapy increased clinical effective rate (Odds ratio (OR)=4.43, 95% CI 2.85 to 6.90, P&lt;0.01). Additionally decreased VAS score (mean difference (MD)=-1.21, 95% CI -1.68 to -0.73, P&lt;0.01), PPI (MD = -1.34, 95% CI -2.08 to -0.61) and PRI (MD = -0.55, 95% CI -0.72 to -0.37, P&lt;0.001). However, adverse events of WA were not specially reported in all studies. Conclusions: WA as the main treatment for CSR can improve the clinical effective rate and reduce the level of VAS score, PPI and PRI. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of WA for CSR treatment, rigorously and unambiguously.

Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for dry eye disease: a network Meta-analysis of rando-mized controlled trial

A network Meta-analysis based on Bayesian theory was used to evaluate efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of dry eye disease(DED), so as to provide evidence-based research basis for clinical application. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) for acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of DED published from the inception of database to November 25, 2020 were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Sinomed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP Database. Two reviewers independently screened the literatures, extracted the data. The quality of the included literature was evaluated, and network Meta-analysis was performed by using Stata14.0 and R4.0.3 software. A total of 71 literatures were identified, including 5 536 patients with DED, covering 11 different interventions. Network Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture+traditional Chinese medicine+artificial tears was the best treatment option in terms of the clinical effective rate, breakup time of tear film (BUT), Schirmer I test (SIT) with surface under cumulative ranking area value. Acupuncture+traditional Chinese medicine+artificial tears was better than artificial tears in the clinical effective rate (odds ratio［OR］=12.34, 95% confidence interval［CI］［4.72, 36.89］), BUT(mean differenc［MD］=2.76, 95%CI［0.16, 5.40］), SIT(MD=4.76, 95%CI［1.23, 8.29］). Acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of DED are generally better than artificial tears, and acupuncture-moxibustion combined with other traditional Chinese medicine therapy has the best effect.