Treatment Of Primary Dysmenorrhea Research Articles

Effectiveness of dry needling of rectus abdominis trigger points for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea: a randomised parallel-group trial.

To compare the effectiveness of trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) versus placebo needling, relative to an untreated control group, on pain and quality of life in primary dysmenorrhoea. In this randomised, single blind, parallel-group trial, 56 females with primary dysmenorrhoea were randomly allocated to TrP-DN (n=19), placebo needling (n=18) or no treatment (n=19). Patients in both groups were asked to undertake a stretching exercise of the rectus abdominis daily. The needling group received a single session of TrP-DN to trigger points (TrPs) in the rectus abdominis, and the placebo group received placebo needling. The primary outcome was pain intensity (visual analogue scale). Secondary outcomes were quality of life, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the number of days with pain, and self-perceived improvement, measured using a Global Rate of Change. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, and 1 and 2 months after the treatment. Females receiving TrP-DN exhibited greater decreases (P<0.001) in pain than those receiving placebo (1 month: Δ-19.8 mm, 25.9 to -13.7; 2 months: Δ-26.0 mm, -33.1 to -18.9) or assigned to the untreated control group (1 month: Δ-26.0mm, -32.5 to -19.5; 2 months: Δ-20.1 mm, -26.4 to -13.8). Females in the TrP-DN group also exhibited a greater decrease in the amount of medications (P<0.001). No differences in the number of days with pain or quality of life were found (all P>0.1). This trial suggests that a single session of TrP-DN of the rectus abdominis combined with stretching was more effective than placebo needling and stretching alone at reducing pain and the amount of medication used in primary dysmenorrhoea. ACTRN12616000170426 .

To compare the effectiveness of taping technique and hydrotherapy in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea

Background: Dysmenorrhea is one of the common complaints in women. Globally, the reported prevalence rate is 90%. Sometimes the pain intensity is so severe that it may depict labour contractions. Hence, it greatly affects the productivity of women and causes socioeconomic lose. To subside such pain, over the counter medications are widely used, regardless of its systemic side effects. This study was conducted to estimate the extent to which women are affected with dysmenorrhea and to compare the effectiveness of Taping and Hydrotherapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.&#x0D; Methodology: A survey-based quasi experimental single blinded, two- stage study with pre-test and post-test design was conducted. Fifty menstruating women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea of grade 2 or 3 between the age group of 15 to 25 years were recruited and divided into two groups with 25 females in each group. Females with any severe co-morbidity, abdominal surgery within past 2 years, intrauterine contraceptive devices, any skin lesions (scar, cyst or erosions) or who have recently conceived were excluded from the study sample. Females in taping group received treatment 2 days prior to menstruation which then continued till the first day of cycle. The hydrotherapy group was treated with 30 minutes session for 2 days a week, during non-menstruating phase. Data was collected using a Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) and Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System (VMSS) to estimate the frequency of dysmenorrhea, specifically primary dysmenorrhea in our society. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention, Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was completed before and after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 22.0.&#x0D; Results: The survey revealed 92.4% of women were suffering from dysmenorrhea out of which 64% were primary dysmenorrheic. A significant decline was observed in Pain Rating Index (PRI) before and after intervention i.e. the mean PRI prior to the intervention was 29.53±2.53 for the taping group and 29.4±3.18 for the hydrotherapy group while after intervention it decreased up to 4.33±0.61 in taping and 4.26±0.7 in hydrotherapy group. Whereas, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) means before intervention were 8.53±1.06 and 8.73±1.03 for taping and hydrotherapy group respectively. Which then decreased to 3.93±1.03 and 5.2±1.52 for the two groups. The mean Present Pain Intensity (PPI) scores were 4.33±0.61 in taping and 4.26±0.7 in hydrotherapy group and reduced to 1.66±0.81 and 2.26±1.57.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study findings proclaimed that taping technique was found more effective in decreasing the painful cramps in women with primary dysmenorrhea as compared to the hydrotherapy.

Pengaruh Konsumsi Susu Sapi Terhadap Penurunan Intensitas Nyeri Dismenore Primer Pada Siswi Jurusan Keperawatan Di SMKN 2 Malang

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological disorder among adolescents females without pathological abnormalities. Primary dysmenorrhea usually begins two days before menstruation or during menstruation and lasts up to 48-72 hours. This is due to high levels of prostaglandins that cause contraction in the myometrium. The incidence of dysmenorrhea in Indonesia is 64.25%, which 54.89% has primary dysmenorrhea while 9.36% has secondary dysmenorrhea. In principle there are two therapies for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea that is pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Cow milk is a food that containing high calcium and can be used as one of the non-pharmacological therapy to reduce pain intensity of primary dysmenorrhea. This study aims to determine the influence of cow milk consumption to decrease the pain intensity of primary dysmenorrhea in students of nursing department at SMKN 2 Malang. The research design used was true experiment with pre test-post test with control group design. The sample in this study were 21 people and divided into three groups taken by simple random sampling . The results showed that there was a difference of decrease pain intensity in three groups using One Way Anova test with p value 0.000 (p <0.005). The optimal dose can decrease pain intensity of primary dysmenorrhea is cow milk with 1000 mg calcium which has the highest pain delta value of 4.57 compared with experimental group II and control group. So it can be concluded that the higher value of the delta pain then the greater the dose effect given to decreased pain intensity of primary dysmenorrhea.

Exploration on method and strategy of Gegen decoction from its novel application in primary dysmenorrhea

Many classical prescriptions still have superior clinical values nowadays, and their modern studies also have far-reaching scientific research demonstration values. Gegen decoction, a representative prescription for common cold due to wind-cold, can treat primary dysmenorrhea due to cold and dampness, characterized by continuous administration without recurrence. It is not only in accordance with the principle of homotherapy for heteropathy, but also demonstrates the unique feature of traditional Chinese medicine of relieving the primary and secondary symptoms simultaneously. This article aimed to discuss the method and strategy of Gegen decoction study based on the discovery of its novel application in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and previous research progress of our group. It was assumed that modern medicine and biology studies, as well as chemical research based on biological activity should be used for reference. Principal active ingredients (groups) in Gegen decoction could be accurately and effectively identified, and its possible mechanism in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea could be eventually elucidated as well. Simultaneously, the theoretical and clinical advantages of traditional Chinese medicine were explored in this paper, focusing on the compatibility characteristics of Gegen decoction. The research hypothesis showed the necessity of following the characteristics and advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in the modern research and reflected the importance of basic research based on the clinical efficacy, expecting to provide some ideas and methods for reference for further modern studies of classical prescriptions.

Acupuncture Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea by Needling Acupoints of the Spleen Meridian with Positive Reactions：A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

To observe whether acupuncture of the tender-points of the Spleen Meridian can achieve a better therapeutic effect for primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients, so as to verify the importance of examining meridian-acupoint reactions in clinical practice. A total of 72 PD patients were randomly assigned to tender-point group (observation group) and regular acupoint group (control group, n＝36 in each). For patients of the observation group, the tender-points around San-yinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were needled, and for those of the control group, the regular SP 6, SP 8 and SP 9 were needled. After "Deqi", the filiform needles were manipulated with lifting-thrusting reducing technique for about 30 s, repeated once again every 10 min during 30 min's needle retention, and the treatment was conducted once daily for 3 days during every menstrual cycle, continuously for 3 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was rated for assessing the pain severity, and the COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) consists of 17 items and 5 grades/item (0－4 points) according to the severity of discomfort was rated before and after the treatment. After the treatment, the VAS and CMSS scores on the 1st days of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstrual cycles were significantly decreased in both control and observation groups in comparison with their own individual pre-acupuncture (P<0.05), suggesting a marked relief of both pain and discomforts after the treatment, and the therapeutic effect of the tender-point needling was significantly superior to that of the regular acupoint needling in relieving pain in the 2nd and 3rd menstrual cycles. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the discomfort severity (P>0.05). Acupuncture stimulation of the tender points around the SP 6, SP 8 and SP 9 has a stronger analgesic effect relevant to needling the regular acupoints in PD patients.

Extracts of compound Muniziqi granule suppressed uterus contraction and ameliorated oxytocin-induced primary dysmenorrhea

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCompound Muniziqi granule (CMG) is usually used as a traditional Uighur medicine to treat acne, chloasma, skin inflammation, primary dysmenorrhea (PDM), and menopausal syndrome. However, there are no sufficient data to support the clinic uses of CMG in PDM. Aim of the studyThis work aims to examine the effect of CMG as a treatment for PDM and reveal its possible therapeutic mechanism. Materials and methodsIn vivo and in vitro mouse PDM models were utilized in this study. The mouse uterine contraction was induced by oxytocin after progynova or estradiol benzoate pretreatment. CMG, alkaloid extracts from seeds of Peganum harmala (AEP), and 10% and 95% ethanol extracts from seeds of Nigella glandulifera (EEN10 and EEN95) were given to mice in three doses by gavage. The writhing times within 30 min after oxytocin treatment were recorded to evaluate the analgesic effect, and the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-k-PGF1α), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in uterine tissues and PGF2α and MDA in serum were determined. The effects (contractile curve) of CMG, AEP, EEN10, and EEN95 on uterus contraction induced by oxytocin in isolated mouse uterus were recorded. ResultsIn contrast to the control group, CMG, AEP, N10, and N95 could display analgesic activities dose dependently by reducing the writhing response of the PDM model mice. CMG, AEP, EEN10, and EEN95 could also remarkably decrease the level of PGF2α, 6-k-PGF1α, TXB2, NO and MDA in uterine tissues and PGF2α and MDA in serum, whereas the activity of GSH-Px in uterine tissues was increased. Furthermore, CMG, AEP, EEN10, and EEN95 could significantly inhibit the frequency and amplitude of isolated uterus induced by oxytocin in a concentration-dependent manner. ConclusionsCMG exhibited a significant protective effect on experimental PDM. The mechanisms are probably associated with abating lipid peroxidation and over-inflammatory reaction, and alleviating the contraction of isolated mouse uterus. The seeds of P. harmala and N. glandulifera in the CMG may play an important role in exerting protective effects on PDM. This study provides pre-clinic proof to the use of CMG in clinical practice of PDM.

Vitamin E and fish oil, separately or in combination, on treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints of women. The aim of this study was to investigate the adjuvant effect of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, separately or in combination, supplements on pain in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. This clinical trial conducted on students of university. Qualified girls completed the VAS before randomization. Arrangement was determined according to the severity of the pain (mild 0–3; moderate 3.1–6; severe 6.1–10). One hundred patients were randomly assigned to four groups receiving omega-3 (n = 25), vitamin E (n = 25), vitamin E- omega-3 (n = 25), or placebo (n = 25). Three hundred milligrams of omega-3 capsules (180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA) and 200 international units (IU) vitamin E were administered daily. Severity of the pain measured in the beginning and the end of the study. Omega-3 and vitamin E supplements effectively relieved menstrual pain compared with the placebo. But in group with combination of vitamin E + omega-3 has a considerable effect on menstrual pain when compared with other groups (p < .05). Using of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has high complication; however, Fish oil and vitamin E are helpful in reducing of dysmenorrhea pain and can be replaced with them.

Comparison of the Effects of Acupressure and Electroacupuncture in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation is a frequently observed fertility and femininity abnormality in women of childbearing age. Dysmenorrhea is treated by medical, complementary or surgical treatments. The aim of the present randomized clinical trial (RCT) study was to compare the effectiveness of electroacupuncture and acupressure treatment methods in reducing symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: In this double-blinded RCT, 64 female students who met the criteria were assigned into 2 groups (Intervention group: electroacupuncture and Control group: acupressure) using random allocation software (RAS). Pain according to visual analogue scale (VAS), menstrual distress severity according to Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ) and the frequency of drug use during menstruation were measured 3 times before and after treatment cycle and follow up cycle. Electroacupuncture and acupressure were done by applying electrical stimulation (ES) to needles or pressure at SP6 and SP4 points for 10 minutes on each side. Results: The MMDQ (P=0.000) and VAS (P=0.000) showed a significant decrease in both groups but the rate of decline was higher in the electroacupuncture group. Conclusions: According to the results, it was revealed that treatment with electroacupuncture can also be suggested as a treatment in complementary medicine for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea which has no reported side effects.

Medicinal plants for primary dysmenorrhoea: A systematic review

ObjectivesPrimary dysmenorrhoea is a common complaint experienced by many females in their reproductive years. The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of various gynaecological conditions is on the increase, despite the limited evidence available regarding efficacy and safety of their use. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise the most recent evidence relating to the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea with medicinal plants. MethodologyA thorough database search was conducted using defined search terms, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English between 2008 and 2016, pertaining to the use of medicinal plants (single use) for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea, were assessed. Studies evaluating dysmenorrhoeal pain and associated symptoms as a primary or secondary outcome were considered and assessed by two reviewers independently of each other, using the JADAD scale and the Cochrane risk of bias tool,. Results22 RCTs were included in the review; 9 were placebo-controlled trials and 13 were comparative studies to pharmacological treatment or nutritional supplements. Most of the evaluated medicinal plants showed evidence of efficacy in relieving menstrual pain in at least one RCT. The low or unclear quality of the majority of these studies however warrants caution in interpreting these results. ConclusionThis review adds to the knowledge-base on the use of these medicinal plants in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. Further research is needed before definitive conclusions can be made regarding the efficacy and safety of the use of these medicinal plants.

Effect of Menstrugole on primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized clinical trial.

ObjectivePrimary dysmenorrhea occurs in more than 50% of women of reproductive age. This survey evaluated the effects of Menstrugole on the alleviation of primary dysmenorrhea.MethodsThis study was performed in western Iran between August 15 and December 15, 2017, in female students with primary dysmenorrhea. The students were randomly divided into 2 groups and received placebo or a Menstrugole capsule for 3 days in each of 2 menstrual cycles. The visual analog scale was used to assess pain severity. The χ2 test, one-way analysis of variance, and the paired t-test were used for statistical evaluation.ResultsWe compared the severity of pain between the 2 groups. There was a significant change in the mean pain score during the first (P<0.001) and second months (P<0.001) after the use of Menstrugole, compared with that in the placebo group.ConclusionMenstrugole decreased pain severity in female students, and can be considered by health care providers for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

Clinical efficacy observation on treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1)

To investigate the clinical effect of ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1) for primary dysmenorrhea. A total of 112 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into an observation group and a control group according to their visiting sequence, 56 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1), while patients in the control group received oral intake of analgesic. For both groups, treatment started 1 week before menstruation and lasted for 3 menstrual cycles, continued by a 3-month follow-up visit, then the clinical efficacy was evaluated. By the end of treatment, symptom score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the value of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2α), systolic-to-diastolic peak velocity ratio (S/D), resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, showing statistical significances (all P<0.01).The recovery rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P<0.05). Ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zigong (EX-CA 1) for primary dysmenorrhea is a combination of the merits of warming function of moxibustion, dissipating function of ginger and stimulation of acupoint, and is better than oral intake of analgesic.

EXERCÍCIO FÍSICO COMO TERAPIA NÃO FARMACOLÓGICA NO TRATAMENTO DA DISMENORREIA PRIMÁRIA: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

Introdução: A dismenorreia primária é caracterizada como uma dor pélvica associada a outros sintomas. É uma queixa ginecológica frequente que pode ocasionar queda de rendimento e produtividade nas mulheres afetadas, sendo comumente tratada por automedicações apesar dos efeitos colaterais que esta prática pode desencadear. Objetivo: Analisar a eficácia dos exercícios físicos no tratamento da sintomatologia da dismenorreia primária. Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de revisão sistemática, conduzido conforme a metodologia PRISMA. Artigos classificados como ensaios clínicos randomizados controlados foram pesquisados nas bases de dados PEDro, PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE e CENTRAL. Os artigos foram avaliados quanto a sua qualidade metodológica através da escala PEDro. Resultados: Cinco artigos foram incluídos para análise com amostra total de 436 mulheres com sintomas dismenorreicos que foram submetidas ou não a um protocolo de exercícios físicos. O escore médio geral, resultante da avaliação da qualidade dos estudos, foi de 4,6. Todos os artigos avaliados apresentaram resultados benéficos advindos da prática de exercícios físicos no tratamento da dismenorreia primária, para pelo menos uma variável avaliada. Conclusão: Identificaram-se evidências de que a prática de exercícios físicos pode reduzir a sintomatologia associada á dismenorreia primária. sendo, portanto, passível de ser considerada como um tratamento eficaz em detrimento ao uso de fármacos. A elaboração de um instrumento de avaliação mais fiável e assertivo acerca da totalidade da sintomatologia relacionada á dismenorreia primária. é necessária para contribuir com a produção de estudos futuros padronizados que permitam uma análise e comparação de resultados de maneira mais consistente.

Somato-Visceral Effects in the Treatment of Dysmenorrhea: Neuromuscular Manual Therapy and Standard Pharmacological Treatment

This study aims to verify whether neuromuscular therapy (NMT) or pharmacology therapy (PT) is more effective for reducing symptoms in women affected by primary dysmenorrhea and the effects associated with each treatment. A controlled, randomized, single-blind clinical trial within the framework of the chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation of the University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara. The study was conducted on a sample of 60 women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. Subjects were randomly divided in two groups (A and B). Group A was treated with NMT and group B with PT. Group B was given ibuprofen or naproxen because they are considered the best painkillers for this condition. Group A was treated with 8 neuromuscular manual lumbosacral and abdominal therapy sessions twice per week for 4 weeks. Results were analyzed at the beginning (T0) and end (T1) of the study with a menstrual distress questionnaire, brief pain inventory, and visual analogue scale. Twenty patients from Group A were selected for evaluation of their maintenance of the eventual improvement that was detected in T1 at follow-up (T2). Both therapies had significant short-term effects in reducing the perception and duration of pain. However, NMT appears to give more improvements in the duration of pain. NMT had a long-term effect on perception of pain because patients conserved the positive effects of treatment after 4 weeks. NMT also had a long-term effect on duration of pain because patients conserved benefits of treatment, but this improvement started to decrease after 4 weeks. In the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, NMT represents a valid therapeutic alternative method to PT. NMT is free from potential adverse effects of analgesics, is noninvasive, and is easy to perform.

Comparison the Effect of Fish-Oil and Calcium Supplementation on Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea is common among young girls and childbearing women. Dysmenorrhea is a painful contraction of uterus which occurs in the beginning of bleeding or before the menstrual cycle begins. Regarding the mechanism of calcium in response to hormonal change and the role of fish oil on reducing prostaglandins, we compared the effectiveness of fish-oil and calcium supplementation in treating primary dysmenorrheal. This randomized double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on women aged 18 to 45 years with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea symptoms from January 2015 to March 2015. The women were randomly divided to two groups (fish oil and calcium). The drugs were given every day in the first cycle and from 8 days before till 2 days after initiation of menstruation for the second and third cycles. The intensity of pain and other symptoms of dysmenorreha were recorded and data were analyzed in SPSS 16 using T-test and X2 tests. Significant level was considered to be less than 0.05. The mean ± SD age of the patients in the fish oil group was 25.0±4.3 and in calcium group was 25.48±6.6 years. According to this result, there was no statistically significant difference in the intensity of pain between fish-oil group and calcium group before and 1 month after the study (P>0.05). However, there was statistically significant difference between fish-oil group and calcium group before the study and 2 months (P=0.001) and 3 months after study (p<0.001). Besides, the fishoil patients needed less analgesic as compared to the calcium patients. It is concluded that omega-3 is more effective than calcium, what can be justified by pain mechanisms and symptoms pathology in dysmenorrheal.

Intergrated metabonomic study of the effects of Guizhi Fuling capsule intervention on primary dysmenorrheal using RP‐UPLC–MS complementary with HILIC‐UPLC–MS technique

Guizhi Fuling capsule (GFC), developed from the traditional Chinese prescription of Guizhi Fuling Wan, has been commonly used for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (PD). However, the intervention effective mechanism in vivo has not been well elucidated. In this study, an integrated plasma metabonomic strategy based on RP-UPLC-MS coupled with HILIC-UPLC-MS technique has been developed to investigate the global therapeutic effects and intervention mechanisms of GFC on dysmenorrhea rats induced by oxytocin. The 20 potential biomarkers were identified and primarily related to sphingolipid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and energy metabolism. The results showed that the GFC has therapeutic effects on rats with dysmenorrhea via the regulation of multiple metabolic pathways. Some new potential biomarkers associated with primary dysmenorrhea such as phenylalanine, tryptophan, taurine, carnitine, betaine, creatine and creatinine have been discovered in this study for the first time. This study provides a metabonomic platform based on RP-UPLC-MS complementary to HILIC-UPLC-MS technique to investigate both nonpolar and polar compounds, so as to get a more comprehensive metabolite information to yield insight into the pathophysiology of PD and assessing the efficacy of GFC on PD rats.

Estado de las publicaciones sobre acupuntura en el tratamiento de la dismenorrea primaria indexadas en PubMed (2007-2016): análisis bibliométrico

ObjectiveTo identify the status of publications on acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea indexed in PubMed (2007-2016). Material and methodsRecords were retrieved using PubMed (2007-2016), and the evaluation of the visibility of the publications made using SCImago Journal Rank. The bibliometric indicators applied were: temporal production, authorship, geographical coverage, collaboration, Bradford's Dispersion Law and formulation of Egghe, visibility, and language coverage. ResultsA total of 78 items were retrieved in 30 international Journals. The main production country was China (69.23%), highlighting the most prolific author Jiang Zhu of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, which in turn was the leading institution in terms of volume of publications. The index was 77.77%. Almost all works (97.43%) were in collaboration between authors, of which 28.20% were between national institutions, and 2.56% international. The core journals were: Zhongguo Zhen Jiu [Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion], Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and Zhen ci yan jiu [Acupuncture research]. Almost all (98.80%) of publications were present in the SCImago Journal Rank, where 50% of the production is presented in the first quartile. The language coverage of publications focuses on two languages, English (69.23%) and Chinese (30.77%). ConclusionsA comprehensive strategy needs to be implemented in order to continue advancing in this field, with a greater involvement of researchers both at national and international level.

Effects of acupoint-stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared with NSAIDs: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs

BackgroundPrimary dysmenorrhoea (PD), defined as painful menses in women with normal pelvic anatomy, is one of the most common gynaecological syndromes. Acupoint-stimulation could potentially be an effective intervention for PD. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of acupoint-stimulation compared with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NASIDs) in the treatment of PD.MethodsSix databases were searched to December 2014. Sixteen studies involving 1679 PD patients were included. We included randomized controlled trials that compared acupoint-stimulation with NASIDs for the treatment of PD. The main outcomes assessed were clinical effectiveness rate, symptom score, visual analogue score, variation in peripheral blood prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and side effects. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis statistical software.Results(1) The total efficacy was better than control group: odds ratio = 5.57; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 3.96, 7.83; P < 0.00001; (2) The effect of intervention was positive in relieving the severity of PD symptoms: mean difference (MD) = 2.99; 95%CI = 2.49, 3.49; P < 0.00001; (3) No statistical difference existed between two groups in terms of a reduction in the VAS: MD = 1.24; 95%CI = −3.37, 5.85; P = 0.60; (4) The effect of intervention on the variation in peripheral blood PGF2α between two groups was positive: MD = 7.55; 95%CI = 4.29,10.82; P < 0.00001; (5) The side effects of control groups was more than the acupoint-stimulation group: OR = 0.03; 95%CI =0.00,0.22; P = 0.0005.ConclusionsAccording to this article, acupoint-stimulation can relieve pain effectively in the treatment of PD and offers advantages in increasing the overall effectiveness.

Efficacy of filiform needle manipulation on primary dysmenorrhea:a systematic review

The paper is a systematic review on the efficacy of acupuncture manipulation on primary dysmenorrhea. Ten medical literatures database at home and abroad were retrieved, including CNKI, VIP, CBM, WANFANG, MEDLINE, Cochrane, CENTRAL, CINAHL PLUS, EMBASE, AMED and PsycINFO, as well as 6 clinical trial registration platforms. All of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on primary dysmenorrhea treated with different acupuncture manipulations were collected. The data were extracted by two persons. Finally, RevMa 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis. Totally, 5 148 pieces of literature were retrieved and 8 pieces on RCTs were screened with 644 cases included. According to the results of statistical analysis on the total effective rate and other indicators of pain degree, it was showed that the effects of the manipulation with filiform needle, deep puncture with strong stimulation, and specific reinforcing and reducing needling technique were better than those without manipulation applied or with shallow puncture and weak stimulation and even needling technique in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. It is believed initially that acupuncture manipulation contributes to the improvement of the therapeutic effects of primary dysmenorrheal, but much higher quality studies are required for the further confirmation. Protocol registration number:PROSPERO:CRD42016038515.

Wenjing decoction (herbal medicine) for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Wenjing decoction is a well-accepted traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in East Asia, but its clinical effectiveness and risk have not been adequately assessed. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of Wenjing decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Eight databases were used in our research: the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and the Wan-fang Database. The following search terms were used: (Wenjing decoction OR Wenjing formula OR Wenjing tang) AND (primary dysmenorrhea OR dysmenorrhea OR painful menstruation) AND (randomized controlled trial). No language limitation was used. A total of 18 studies, including 1736 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Wenjing decoction was shown to be significantly better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the improvement of primary dysmenorrhea according to the clinical effective rate (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.24-1.61), the visual analogue scale (MD -1.77, 95% CI -2.69 to -0.84), and the pain scale for dysmenorrhea (MD -1.81, 95% CI -2.41 to -1.22). The results supported the clinical use of Wenjing decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. However, the quality of the evidence for this finding was low due to a high risk of bias in the included studies. Therefore, well-designed randomized controlled trials are still needed to further evaluate the efficacy of Wenjing decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

The role of treatment timing and mode of stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture: An exploratory randomised controlled trial.

ObjectivesWe examined the effect of changing treatment timing and the use of manual, electro acupuncture on the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.MethodsA randomised controlled trial was performed with four arms, low frequency manual acupuncture (LF-MA), high frequency manual acupuncture (HF-MA), low frequency electro acupuncture (LF-EA) and high frequency electro acupuncture (HF-EA). A manualised trial protocol was used to allow differentiation and individualized treatment over three months. A total of 74 women were randomly assigned to one of the four groups (LF-MA n = 19, HF-MA n = 18, LF-EA n = 18, HF-EA n = 19). Twelve treatments were performed over three menstrual cycles, either once per week (LF groups) or three times in the week prior to menses (HF groups). All groups received a treatment in the first 48 hours of menses. The primary outcome was the reduction in peak menstrual pain at 12 months from trial entry.ResultsDuring the treatment period and nine month follow-up all groups showed statistically significant (p < .001) reductions in peak and average menstrual pain compared to baseline but there were no differences between groups (p > 0.05). Health related quality of life increased significantly in six domains in groups having high frequency of treatment compared to two domains in low frequency groups. Manual acupuncture groups required less analgesic medication than electro-acupuncture groups (p = 0.02). HF-MA was most effective in reducing secondary menstrual symptoms compared to both–EA groups (p<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture treatment reduced menstrual pain intensity and duration after three months of treatment and this was sustained for up to one year after trial entry. The effect of changing mode of stimulation or frequency of treatment on menstrual pain was not significant. This may be due to a lack of power. The role of acupuncture stimulation on menstrual pain needs to be investigated in appropriately powered randomised controlled trials.