ObjectiveTo select the key questions of the reporting quality of acupuncture therapy network meta-analysis. MethodsA question pool about reporting quality of acupuncture therapy network meta-analysis was conducted by preliminary literature research and qualitative systematic review. A correspondence questionnaire was designed and the selection of key questions was carried out through two rounds of expert consultation using the Delphi method. ResultsA total of 21 key questions were selected for the network meta-analysis report standard of acupuncture, including whether to report details of acupuncture interventions (e.g., needle type, acupoints used, number of needles inserted, depth of needle insertion, retention time, needling techniques, and treatment duration), diagnostic criteria for diseases or traditional Chinese medicine syndromes, and qualifications of acupuncture practitioners. Of these, the only three key questions answered by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and network meta-analysis (PRISMA-NMA) were summary, protocol and registration, and source of funding, while the remaining 19 were specific to acupuncture-related report standards. ConclusionThe conducted key question on reporting guideline of acupuncture network meta-analysis can improve the standardization and rigor of relevant research and better utilize its academic and clinical value.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with hiccups after stroke. Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for patients with hiccups after stroke were collected by searching PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, and WangFang databases. The quality of the included studies was evaluated and the data were retrieved according to the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analyses were conducted by using RevMan software. Results Three trials involving 143 patients were included. All of them were open-label controlled without observing the effective rate and mortality rate (or dependence rate) at the end of follow-up visit lasting for at least three months. The result of meta-analyses showed that the group of acupuncture plus drug was more effective for hiccup after stroke than the drug group at the end of the treatment, and the difference was significant (OR=9.05, 95%CI 3.17 to 25.82, Plt;0.000 01). The three studies did not report any adverse reactions. Conclusion Although the acupuncture has the short-term improvement trend without adverse events for hiccups after stroke, the confirmed conclusion of long-term effectiveness has not yet been reached because both the methodological quality and the quantity of all included studies are poor, and especially the long-term outcome measures are insufficient. There is no enough evidence to recommend acupuncture as a routine treatment for hiccups after stroke. So more high-quality multi-center RCTs in large scale are required.
Based on the conclusion of recent clinical research conducted by foreign countries, there is no statistical
difference in outcomes between real and placebo acupuncture. This paper analyzes the weaknesses of methods currently
being used by foreign countries to compare the effects of real and placebo acupuncture, striving for a new way to test for
the placebo effect; a way that is more scientific, more suitable for the current conditions of China, while at the same time
capable of being recognized internationally. This paper describes a new acupuncture placebo-controlled method. Under
the condition of complete patient trust, we may ensure an ideal placebo effect to the greatest extent by minimizing the
potential curative effects in the placebo group. From the actual clinical practice, by randomized controlled trial comparing
acupuncture and medicine, using the concept as the double-dummy clinical trail, this paper explores the “double-dummy
– non-specific sites – random sampling” method in the clinical setting as a way to form a new acupuncture clinical research
model of comparison between acupuncture and medicine.
World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) standard Norms for Formulation and Evaluation of the Clinical Practice Guidelines of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Hereinafter referred to as Norms) is the first methodological specification for the development of guidelines of acupuncture and moxibustion (Acup-Mox) issued by an international academic organization. The Norms stipulates the principles, procedures, review process and requirements of the development of WFAS guidelines of Acup-Mox. It also proposes the development method, evaluation method, and reporting standards of WFAS guidelines of Acup-Mox. This article introduces the development process of the Norms and provides an interpretation of the methodological supplementary requirements for key links such as "formulation of clinical questions", "evidence retrieval, evaluation and synthesis", and "consensus decision-making", as well as the "framework and contents of recommendation" to provide relevant references for users in learning and using the Guidelines.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of acupuncture as adjuvant treatment on sepsis related gastrointestinal dysfunction. MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, WanFang Data, CNKI, VIP and SinoMed databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the objectives from inception to July, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 20 RCTs involving 1 384 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the bowel sound frequency per minute on the 7th day (MD=0.82, 95%CI 0.57 to 1.07, P<0.01), the effective rate of improvement in sepsis-related gastrointestinal dysfunction on the 7th day (RR=1.38, 95%CI 1.25 to 1.54, P<0.01), intra-abdominal pressure at 7th day (MD=?1.52, 95%CI ?2.21 to ?0.83, P<0.01), gastric residential volume on the 7th day (MD=?14.94, 95%CI ?24.72 to ?5.16, P<0.01), APACHE-Ⅱ score at 7th day (MD=?2.40, 95%CI ?3.56 to ?1.24, P<0.01), concentrations of procalcitonin on the 7th day (MD=?1.82, 95%CI ?2.68 to ?0.97, P<0.01) in the acupuncture group were all superior to the conventional treatment group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups concerning the 28-day mortality. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that acupuncture adjuvant treatment can promote the recovery of bowel sounds, reduce intra-abdominal pressure, and decrease gastric residual volume in patients with sepsis and gastrointestinal dysfunction, with good safety. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectivesTo analyze the development of acupuncture registered trials based on WHO international clinical trial registration platform (ICTRP) in the past 5 years.MethodsWHO ICTRP database was electronically searched to collect acupuncture-related clinical trials registered from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened items, extracted data, and descriptive analysis was performed for the included trials.ResultsThe results showed that there were 1 556 registered clinical trials on acupuncture, and the most registered year was 2017. China was in the main country in applying for acupuncture-related clinical trials, however, the most registered unit was Kyung Hee University in Korea. The trials were mainly interventional research, mostly used randomized, blinded methods, and design modes were mainly based on parallel trials. In clinical trial phase, the majority were in the clinical trial period of treatment of new technologies. The field of clinical research was expected to be on pain in the future.ConclusionsAlthough acupuncture research is currently in a good stage of development, it should still value on the quality and innovative training of relevant trials, strengthen Chinese ties with other countries, focus on regional, domestic and international cooperation, expand research types, and enhance acupuncture applicability.
Objective
To assess the effectiveness of acupunctures in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea by using network meta-analysis.
Methods
Databases including the PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2016), CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data were searched for relevant clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupunctures with ibuprofen or other kinds of acupuncture from inception to July 6th 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 13.0 and WinBugs 1.43 software.
Results
A total of 56 RCTs involving 4 600 PD patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that: for the clinical effects: simple acupuncture, acupuncture plus moxa-moxibustion, acupuncture plus indirect-moxibustion, electroacupuncture, warm-acupuncture and electroacupuncture plus warm-acupuncture were superior to ibuprofen, acupuncture plus moxa-moxibustion, acupuncture plus indirect-moxibustion and warm-acupuncture were superior to simple acupuncture. For VAS score, there was no significant difference among all treatments. Simple acupuncture and ibuprofen were superior to acupuncture plus indirect-moxibustion in dysmenorrhea symptom scores.
Conclusion
The included 6 kinds of acupunctures are superior to ibuprofen and different acupunctures have different advantages in the treatment of PD. When selecting treatment regimen, it is better to consider the clinical situation and TCM syndrome differentiation.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture versus western medicine in the treatment of parkinson disease. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving acupuncture versus western medicines in the treatment of parkinson disease were identified from CBM (1978 to 2008), VIP (1989 to 2008), Wanfang Database (1998 to 2008), CNKI (1979 to 2008), PubMed (1966 to 2008), EMbase (1980 to 2008), and The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2008). And some relevant journals were handsearched. Data were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently with a specially-designed extraction form. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.0.20 software was used for meta-analyses. Results A total of 13 trials involving 832 patients were included. The result of meta-analyses showed that the total effective rates of the acupuncture group or of the group of acupuncture plus Madopar were similar when compared with Madopar alone in Webster score. (1) The total effective rate: The total effective rate in acupuncture plus Madopar was similar when compared with Madopar alone in UPDRS score at Day 30 (RR=1.33, 95%CI 0.95 to 1.88) and Day 66 (RR=1.38, 95%CI 0.84 to 2.24), but there were significant differences between acupuncture plus Madopar and Madopar alone (RR=1.61, 95%CI (1.19 to 2.17) at Day 84. The total effective rate in acupuncture plus benserazide-levodopa was higher than benserazide-levodopa alone (RR=1.70, 95%CI 1.08 to 2.68) at Day 66. (2)Webster score: There were no significant differences between acupuncture and Madopar at Day 30 (WMD= –2.51, 95%CI –2.83 to –2.19) and at Day 63 (WMD= –2.48, 95%CI –3.01 to –1.95). There were significant differences between acupuncture plus Madopar and Madopar alone at Day 30 (WMD= –13.48, 95%CI –15.35 to –11.61), but not at Day 42 (WMD= 0.50, 95%CI –1.22 to 2.22). (3) UPDRS score: There were no significant differences between acupuncture and Madopar at Day 60 (WMD= –7.19, 95%CI –14.49 to 0.11). There were significant differences between acupuncture plus Madopar and Madopar alone at Day 30 (WMD= 7.07 and 95%CI 2.95 to 11.19) and at Day 84 (WMD= –12.49,95%CI –16.75 to –8.23), but no significant differences were found at Day 66 and Day 33 (WMD= –14.90, 95%CI –31.89 to 2.09; WMD= –8.60, 95%CI –21.51 to 4.31).But there were statistical differences between acupuncture plus Madopar and Madopar alone at Day 30 (WMD= 7.07, 95%CI 2.95 to 11.19). There were no differences between acupuncture plus benserazide-levodopa and benserazide-levodopa alone at Day 66 (WMD=-10.80,95%CI-21.78 to 0.18) and at Day 33 (WMD=-15.60,95%CI-28.38 to -2.82). (4) Adverse reaction: Three trials reported adverse reactions including dizziness, heartbeat acceleration, slight mouth drying and nausea, but all of these were relieved or disappeared in the course of treatment. Conclusion Acupuncture is safe and effective in the treatment of parkinson disease. Acupuncture plus western drugs may be superior to western drugs alone. Because of the defects in the methodological quality of the included trials, the conclusion is to be confirmed by more high-quality RCTs.
Objective To assess the quality reports on acupuncture in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Methods MEDLINE, CBM, CMCC and CNKI from 1994 to 2006 were searched electronically. Handsearching was also done. The retrieved articles were assessed in terms of several factors, including the type of clinical research, methodology, diagnostic criteria, inclusion/exclusion criteria, effectiveness measurements, calculation of sample size, follow-up, etc. Results Among the 109 included articles, only 6 were true randomized controlled trials. There were 17 quasi-randomized controlled trials, 13 non-randomized concurrent controlled trials, 1 case-control study and 63 narrative studies. 29 of the reports clearly described the diagnostic criteria, 14 mentioned the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 79 reported the effectiveness measurements, none mentioned the calculation of sample size, 24 reported the follow-up outcomes, and only 1 mentioned adverse reactions. Conclusion More prospective, multicenter, large-scale, high-quality randomised trials are needed, and recommendations should also be made for future evaluations of methodological quality.
In the realm of data mining based on modern acupuncture clinical research, the impact of literature features such as literature quality, evidence level, sample size, and clinical efficacy on the quality of data mining outcomes remains uncertain. These issues are significant factors restricting the translational application of data mining research results. We suggest employing both entropy weight and linear weighting techniques to assess the specified indicators. This assessment results in a comprehensive weighted score for acupuncture prescriptions, serving as the foundation for our ensuing data mining endeavors. In this study, migraine research serves as an example to contrast the efficacy of weighted algorithms against that of classical algorithms. The findings demonstrate that the algorithm introduced in this research significantly contributes to studies focusing on the dispersed selection of acupuncture points. Its superiority lies in cluster analysis, where it adeptly discerns potential patterns in the amalgamation of acupoints. This algorithm amalgamates evidence-based acupuncture with data mining processes, providing innovative perspectives that augment the caliber of research in acupuncture data mining. Nonetheless, additional research is essential to corroborate these results.
