A multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial of three-step acupuncture and cupping therapy for cervicogenic headache

Objective:To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of three-step acupuncture and cupping therapy for cervicogenic headache(CEH).Methods:A randomized,single-blind,multi-center,parallel controlled clinical trial was performed,including 63 patients with CEH who met the study criteria.They were randomly divided into treatment(n=32)and control groups(n=31).The treatment group was treated with three-step acupuncture and cupping therapy,and the control group was treated with sham acupuncture.The simplified McGill pain scores,comprising three parts:the pain rating index,visual analogue scale score,and present pain intensity,alongside head and neck stiffness and cervical vertebra range of motion,and a safety evaluation were recorded in the two groups before treatment,immediately after the first treatment,after 10 days of treatment,after 20 days of treatment,and 3 months after the end of treatment.Results:Compared with before treatment,the scores at each follow-up time point were significantly improved after treatment;moreover,the treatment group was significantly better than the control group.When the scores at the 3 months follow-up after the end of the treatment were compared with the scores after 20 days of treatment,there were no significant differences in the treatment group while significant differences from the scores of the control group,suggesting that the treatment group had better long-term benefits than the control group.Conclusion:Compared with the sham acupuncture group,the three-step acupuncture and cupping method has a beneficial effect in the treatment of CEH.It provides rapid benefits,has better short-and long-term efficacy than sham acupuncture,and is associated with a low recurrence rate.

Effect of meridian sinew row needling combined with dermal needling on spasticity of post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparalysis: a multi-center randomized controlled trial

Objective To explore the effect of meridian sinew row needling combined with dermal needling on spasticity of post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparalysis. Methods Four hundred and eighty-eight cases of post-stroke patients with upper limb spasticity were randomly divided into two groups at the ratio of 1： 1, the group of meridian sinew row needling combined with dermal needling （group A, 244 cases） and western medication group （group B, 244 cases）. Coupled with rehabilitation, the patients in the group A were given meridian sinew row needling combined with dermal needling where five shu points were specifically selected, and three yang meridians of the hand were treated with acupuncture with muscle region, and three yin meridians of the hand were treated with dermal needles; the patients in the group B was treated with conventional western medication with piracetam injection and cerebroprotein hydrolysate included. Clinical efficacy was evaluated among patients in the two groups after three weeks of continuous treatment, and upper limb spasticity and motor functions were observed through modified Asworth Scale and FugI-Meyer Assessment Scale （FMA） before and after treatment. Results For Asworth Scale, group A was significantly superior to group B （3.04 ± 1.29 vs 3.88 ± 1.54, P〈0.05）; for FMA scale, group A was also significantly superior to group B （48.67± 15.64 vs 42.96±14.72, P〈0.05）; mitigations of motor status of upper limb joints in group A, such as remission of shoulder adduction （90.5%）, pronation of forearm （70.7%）, elbow joint flexion （73.1%）, wrist joint flexion （80.9%） and finger flexion （88.1%）, were superior to those of group B （70.0%, 60.0%, 61.9%, 57.4%, 63.2%, all P〈0.05）. Conclusion Good clinical efficacy of the treatment with combined with dermal needling on spasticity of post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparalysis is achieved.

Effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol(宽胸气雾剂)on Patients with Angina Pectoris:A Non-inferiority Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective： To evaluate the effect and safety of Kuanxiong Aerosol （宽胸气雾剂, KA） on patients with angina pectoris. Methods： Block randomization was performed to randomly allocate 750 patients into KA （376 cases） and control groups （374 cases）. During an angina attack, the KA group received 3 consecutive sublingual sprays of KA （0.6 mL per spray）. The control group received 1 sublingual nitroglycerin tablet （NT, 0.5 rag/tablet）. Log-rank tests and Kaplan-Meier estimations were used to estimate the angina remission rates at 6 time-points after treatment （1,2, 3, 4, 5, and 〉5 min）. Logistic regression analysis was performed to observe the factors influencing the rate of effective angina remission, and the remission rates and incidences of adverse reactions were compared for different Canadian Cardiovascular Society （CCS） classes of angina. Results： The 5-min remission rates in the KA and control groups were not significantly different （94.41% vs. 90.64%, P〉0.05）. The angina CCS class significantly influenced the rate of remission （95% confidence interval = 0.483-0.740, P〈0.01）. In the CCS subgroup analysis, the 3- and 5-min remission rates for KA and NT were similar in the CCS I and IV subgroups （P〉0.05）, while they were significantly better for KA in the CCS Ⅱ and Ⅲ subgroups （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Furthermore, the inciden0ce of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the KA group than in the control group for the CCS Ⅱ and Ⅲ subgroups （9.29% vs. 26.22%, 10.13% vs. 20.88%, P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Conclusions： KA is not inferior to NT in the remission of angina. Furthermore, in CCS Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients, KA is superior to NT, with a lower incidence of adverse reactions. （Registration No. ChiCTR- IPR-15007204）

Efficacy and safety of Xiangsha Liujunzi granules for functional dyspepsia: A multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study

AIM To assess the efficacy and safety of a Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), Xiangsha Liujunzi granules, in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with patients from three centers. Two hundred and sixteen subjects diagnosed with FD according to ROME. criteria and confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and spleen-deficiency and Qi-stagnation syndrome were selected to receive Xiangsha Liujunzi granules or placebo for 4 wk in a 2: 1 ratio by blocked randomization. The subjects also received follow-up after the 4-wk intervention. Herbal or placebo granules were dissolved in 300 mL of water. Participants in both groups were administered 130 mL (45 degrees C) three times a day. Participants were evaluated prior to and following 4 wk of the intervention in terms of changes in the postprandial discomfort severity scale (PDSS) score, clinical global impression (CGI) scale score, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) score, traditional Chinese medicine symptoms score (SS), scores of various domains of the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), gastric emptying (GE) and any observed adverse effects. RESULTS Compared with the placebo group, patients in the CHM group showed significant improvements in the scores of PDSS, HADS, SS, SF-36 and CGI scale (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). They also showed the amelioration in the GE rates of the proximal stomach and distal stomach (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Xiangsha Liujunzi granules offered significant symptomatic improvement in patients with FD.

Wake-Promoting Effect of Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points in Acute Stroke Patients:A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To assess the effect and safety of bloodletting puncture at hand twelve Jing-Well points(HTWPs)in acute stroke patients with conscious disturbance.Methods In this multi-center and randomized controlled trial,360 patients suffered from ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with conscious disturbance within 48 h from the onset of symptom were divided into bloodletting(180 cases)and control(180 cases)groups using a block randomization.Patients in both groups received routine Western medicine,and patients in the bloodletting group received additional bloodletting puncture at HTWPs on admission immediately before conventional treatment.The primary outcome measure was Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)score and the secondary outcomes included blood pressure,respiratory rate and pulse rate.All variables were evaluated at baseline(before bloodletting),0(after bloodletting immediately),15,30,50 and 80 min post bloodletting.Results At 80 min post bloodletting,the proportion of patients with improved consciousness in the bloodletting group was greater than the control group(P<0.05).In the separate analysis of moderate consciousness disturbance subgroup,bloodletting therapy benefited ischemic patients,and improved the eye and language response of GCS score at 15,30,50,80 min post bloodletting(P<0.05 or P<0.01).No significant differences were observed regarding the secondary outcomes between two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The bloodletting puncture at HTWPs was safe and could improve conscious levels of ischemic stroke patients,highlighting a first-aid intervention for acute stroke.

Effect of Thick-Needle Therapy in Patients with Bell's Palsy at Recovery Stage: A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of thick-needle therapy(TNT)and acupuncture therapy(AT)on patients with Bell's palsy(BP)at the recovery stage.Methods:A total of 146 eligible participants from 3 hospitals in China were randomized into the TNT group(73 cases)and the AT group(73 cases)using a central randomization.Both groups received Western medicine thrice a day for 4 weeks.Moreover,patients in the TNT group received subcutaneous insertion of a thick needle into Shendao(GV 11)acupoint,while patients in the AT group received AT at acupoints of Cuanzhu(BL 2),Yangbai(GB 14),Dicang(ST 4),Xiaguan(ST 7),Jiache(ST 6),Yingxiang(LI 20)and Hegu(LI 4),4 times a week,for 4 weeks.Both groups received 2 follow-up visits,which were arranged at 1 month and 3 months after treatment,respectively.The primary outcome measure was House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System(HBFNGS)grade.And the clinical recovery rates of both groups were evaluated according to the HBFNGS grades after treatment.The secondary outcome measures included the facial disability index(FDI)and electroneurogram(EnoG).The adverse events were observed and recorded in both groups.Results:Three cases withdrew from the trial,2 in the TNT group and 1 in the AT group.There was no significant difference in the clinical recovery rates between the TNT and AT groups after 4-week treatment[40.85%(29/71)vs.34.72%(25/72),P>0.05].At the 2nd follow-up visit,more patients in the TNT group showed reduced HBFNGS grades than those in the AT group(P<0.01).No significant difference was observed between the two groups in FDI score,EnoG latency and maximum amplitude ratio at all time points(all P>0.05).Conclusion:The clinical effect of TNT was equivalent to that of AT in patients with BP at recovery stage,while the post-treatment effect of TNT was superior to that of AT.

Music electric stimulation of points for anxiety:a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial

To observe the therapeutic efficacy of music electric stimulation of points in treating anxiety. Methods： By adopting a design of multi-centered randomized controlled trial （RCT）, a total of 270 patients with anxiety were randomized into a treatment group and a medication group. The treatment group was intervened by music electric stimulation of points, while the medication group was intervened by oral administration of doxepin. The two groups were evaluated by using Hamilton anxiety rating scale （HAMA） and Chinese revised edition of self-rating anxiety scale （SAS-CR） before and after the intervention. The therapeutic efficacies were also compared. Results： The total effective rate was 93.6% in the treatment group versus 92.3% in the medication group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant （P〉O.05）. After the treatment, the aggregate scores of HAMA and SAS-CR were significantly changed in both groups （both P〈0.001）, and the inter-group differences were statistically insignificant （P〉O.05）. Conclusion： Music electric stimulation of points can produce equivalent efficacy in treating anxiety compared to doxepin. Thus, it can be taken as a choice in the treatment of anxiety.

Treatment of Patients with Erectile Dysfunction by Shugan Yiyang Capsule(疏肝益阳胶囊)A Multi-Centered Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shugan Yiyang Capsule (SGYY,疏肝益阳胶囊 ) in treating psychogenic and mild arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) of Gan stagnation and Shen deficiency Syndrome type with or without blood stasis. Methods: A multi-centered, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 304 patients was conducted by dividing them into 3 groups, who received respectively SGYY (n = 102), placebo (n = 101) and Suoyang Bushen capsule (锁阳补肾胶囊, SYBS, n = 101), 1.0g taken three times a day for 4 weeks. Besides, 205 patients were arranged in an open-label study and treated with SGYY 1.0 g taken three times a day for 4 weeks. The total effective rate, total remarkably effective rate, erection recovery rate tested by penis hardness test ring, time taken for improving erection a-mong groups, as well as therapeutic effect between psychogenic ED group and mild arteriogenic ED group were compared. Adverse reactions related to SGYY were recorded. And a 3-month follow-up study was conducted on 105 cured patients. Results: The trial was completed in 500 patients. The total effective rate and total remarkably effective rate in the SGYY treated double-blinded group were 88. 0% and 64. 0% respectively, and those in the open-label group 90. 5% and 65. 0% , respectively, all significantly higher than those in the placebo (21.0%, 6. 0% ) and SYBS groups (60. 0% , 29.0%), P<0.01. At the same time, the e-rection recovery rate and improving time in SGYY group were significantly better than those in other groups ( P<0. 01). No adverse reactions related to SGYY were found. The successful rate of potency to have intercourse within 3 months was over 80% (100 patients out of the 105 cured patients). Conclusion: SGYY was an effective and safe treatment for patients with psychogenic and mild arteriogenic ED of Gan stagnation and Shen deficiency Syndrome type with or without blood stasis, especially for psychogenic ED patients.

Bloodletting puncture in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke:protocol for a mixed-method study of a multi-center randomized controlled trial and focus group

This study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of bloodletting puncture(BP)for acute ischemic stroke(AIS)when used in combination with standard treatment,as well as the patients'feelings and attitudes toward the treatment.This is a mixed method research which includes a multi-center,superiority,randomized controlled clinical trial,and focus group interview.A total of 360 AIS participants will be enrolled.They will be randomized into one of the following two groups for 7 d:(a)BP with standard treatment group(n=180);(b)standard treatment group(n=180).The primary outcome will be National Institute of Health stroke scale(NIHSS)score at day 7 after treatment.Secondary outcomes will be changes of Glasgow Coma Scale score,NIHSS score,mRS and Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome score from baseline to 7,14,and 30 d after treatment,recurrence rate and all-cause mortality rate within 30 d,and the safety assessments.The focus group will be conducted with a purposive sample of 1-2 acupuncturists and 1-2 patients respectively at each center at 7 and 30 d after treatment.We designed a mixed method study to evaluate the effect of BP,an acupuncture therapy for patients with AIS.If the findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of BP to reduce the NIHSS score and other related outcomes and patients are willing to accept the therapy,we believe this study will help the implementation of this therapy in clinical practice,and provide new evidence for the treatment of AIS.

Xi-Feng-Hua-Shi granules for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome:protocol for a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trial

Background:Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a common functional bowel disorder that can severely affect the quality of life of patients.Limited drugs have been reported for modern medical IBS treatment.The advantages of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)treatment are gradually becoming prominent.Xi-Feng-Hua-Shi granules have been clinically used for diarrhea-predominant IBS(IBS-D)treatment for many years in TCM practice.Thus,this study aimed to further verify the effectiveness and safety of Xi-Feng-Hua-Shi(XFHS)granules in IBS-D treatment through a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trial and provide high-quality evidence for its effectiveness and safety in treatment,as well as provide a basis for clinical rational drug use and explore new clinical IBS-D treatment plans.Methods:A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trial will be performed in 23 hospitals.A total of 300 participants will be randomly divided into the experimental group(prescribed with XFHS granules)and the control group(prescribed with the placebo granules),with 150 participants in each group.The appearance,shape,color,and taste of the placebo granules are the same as those of XFHS granules.All participants will receive a 4-week treatment and a 6-month follow-up.The primary outcome is the overall clinical efficacy;the secondary outcomes are the IBS-Symptom Severity Score(IBS-SSS),TCM Syndrome Evaluation,and the IBS-Quality of Life(IBS-QoL)score,mental state assessment,and recurrence rate.Outcome measures(including primary and secondary outcome measures)are collected at baseline,as well as 2,4,16,and 28 weeks post-intervention.Discussion:This randomized,placebo-controlled,multi-center trial may provide high-quality evidence for the clinical XFHS granule efficacy in IBS-D treatment.Additionally,this study will conduct safety evaluations to provide a basis for clinical rational drug use.

How completely are randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion reported? A systematic review

Purpose:The study aimed to examine the reporting completeness of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion.Methods:We searched MEDLINE,Embase,PsycInfo,CINAHL,and Web of Science up to May 2022.Two reviewers independently screened studies and assessed reporting completeness using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication(TIDieR),Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template(CERT),and international Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise aNd Training(i-CONTENT)checklists.Additional information was sought my study authors where reporting was incomplete.Risk of bias(ROB)was assessed with the Cochrane ROB-2 Tool.RCTs examining non-pharmacological interventions following concussion.Results:We included 89 RCTs(n=53 high ROB)examining 11 different interventions for concussion:sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise,cervicovestibular therapy,physical/cognitive rest,vision therapy,education,psychotherapy,hyperbaric oxygen therapy,transcranial magnetic stimulation,blue light therapy,osteopathic manipulation,and head/neck cooling.Median scores were:TIDieR 9/12(75%;interquartile range(IQR)=5;range:5-12),CERT 17/19(89%;IQR=2;range:10-19),and i-CONTENT 6/7(86%;IQR=1;range:5-7).Percentage of studies completely reporting all items was TIDieR 35%(31/89),CERT 24%(5/21),and i-CONTENT 10%(2/21).Studies were more completely reported after publication of TIDieR(t_(87)=2.08;p=0.04)and CERT(t_(19)=2.72;p=0.01).Reporting completeness was not strongly associated with journal impact factor(TIDieR:rs=0.27;p=0.01;CERT:r_(s)=-0.44;p=0.06;i-CONTENT:r_(s)=-0.17;p=0.48)or ROB(TIDieR:rs=0.11;p=0.31;CERT:rs=0.04;p=0.86;i-CONTENT:rs=0.12;p=0.60).Conclusion:RCTs of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion demonstrate moderate to good reporting completeness,but are often missing key components,particularly modifications,motivational strategies,and qualified supervisor.Reporting completeness improved after TIDieR and CERT publication,but publication in highly cited journals and low ROB do not guarantee reporting completeness.

Efficacy of a Nutritional Cream Intervention to Treat Depression in Rescuers:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To explore the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention in rescuers who screened positive for depression.Methods A randomized controlled trial design was employed.From June to August,2022,4,460 rescuers were screened using the Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),and 1,615 positive cases were identified.Thirty-one volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into a nutritional intervention group and a control group.The intervention group received health education and nutritional intervention(a compound paste therapy primarily composed of red roses and Seville orange flowers),while the control group received psychological education.SDS scores were assessed before and after the intervention.Results There was a statistically significant decline in SDS scores in the nutritional intervention group after the intervention(P<0.05).Furthermore,the SDS scores of the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group,both before and after the intervention(P<0.05).No severe adverse reactions were observed during safety evaluation.Conclusion The nutritional intervention effectively reduced the depression scores in rescuers.Early nutritional intervention is recommended for rescuers who initially screen positive for depression.

Effect of Jianpi Shengxue Tablet on Iron Metabolism and Nutritional Status in Patients with Renal Anemia:A Prospective,Randomized,Open,Parallel Controlled and Multicenter Clinical Study

Objective This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of the Jianpi Shengxue tablet for treating renal anemia.Methods A total of 200 patients with renal anemia from December 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups.Patients in the control group were treated with polysaccharide-iron complex,and those in the experimental group were administered Jianpi Shengxue tablet.After 8 weeks of continuous treatment,the therapeutic outcomes regarding anemia were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the red blood cell(RBC)count,hematocrit(HCT),reticulocyte percentage(RET),ferritin(SF),serum iron(SI),transferrin saturation(TSAT),and serum albumin(ALB)all increased(P<0.01),and the clinical symptom score and total iron binding capacity decreased(P<0.01)in the experimental group.Moreover,the improvements in RBC,HCT,RET,SF,SI,TAST,ALB,and clinical symptoms(fatigue,anorexia,dull skin complexion,numbness of hands and feet)in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate for treating renal anemia was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The Jianpi Shengxue tablet demonstrates efficacy in treating renal anemia,leading to significant improvements in the laboratory examination results and clinical symptoms of patients with renal anemia.

Effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on cytokines in adolescents with subthreshold depression:a randomized controlled study

Strong evidence has accumulated to show a correlation between depression symptoms and inflammatory responses.Moreover,anti-inflammatory treatment has shown partial effectiveness in alleviating depression symptoms.Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP),derived from Goji berries,exhibits notable antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.In our recent double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial,we found that LBP significantly reduced depressive symptoms in adolescents with subthreshold depression.It is presumed that the antidepressant effect of LBP may be associated with its influence on inflammatory cytokines.In the double-blinded randomized controlled trial,we enrolled 29 adolescents with subthreshold depression and randomly divided them into an LBP group and a placebo group.In the LBP group,adolescents were given 300 mg/d LBP.A 6-week follow up was completed by 24 adolescents,comprising 14 adolescents from the LBP group(15.36±2.06 years,3 men and 11 women)and 10 adolescents from the placebo group(14.9±1.6 years,2 men and 8 women).Our results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment,the interleukin-17A level in the LBP group was lower than that in the placebo group.Network analysis showed that LBP reduced the correlations and connectivity between inflammatory factors,which were associated with the improvement in depressive symptoms.These findings suggest that 6-week administration of LBP suppresses the immune response by reducing interleukin-17A level,thereby exerting an antidepressant effect.

Can Tibetan medicine Honghua Ruyi pills relieve endometriosisassociated dysmenorrhea?Protocol for a randomized placebocontrolled trial

Objective:To provide high-quality clinical evidence of the efficacy of Tibetan medicine Honghua Ruyi(HHRY)pills for endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea.Methods:This study constitutes a multicenter,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial encompassing a three-menstrual cycle intervention followed by a three-menstrual cycle follow-up period.A total of 164 eligible females with endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into HHRY pills and placebo groups in a 1:1 ratio.The primary outcome included dysmenorrhea symptoms assessed using Visual Analog Scale(VAS)scores and quality of life,whereas the secondary outcome measures included the maximum VAS for non-menstrual pelvic pain,duration of pain episodes(in days),frequency and quantity of the consumption of ibuprofen sustained-release capsules(or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs),and days off work/study for staff/student due to dysmenorrhea,ovarian cyst,and/or pelvic nodule size.The safety was monitored throughout the treatment period.All the analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle.For continuous outcomes,simple or multiple linear regressions were used to estimate the differences between the HHRY pills and placebo groups,with categorical data expressed as the number and percentage of occurrences.Differences were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.The predefined analysis was adjusted for concomitant treatment,a variable considered to be associated with outcomes but unaffected by treatment allocation.Estimates of treatment effects were reported with 95%confidence intervals.Two-tailed P values≤.05 were considered statistically significant.Conclusion:Positive results from this trial,upon completion would provide robust evidence for the efficacy and safety of HHRY pills in treating dysmenorrhea in patients with endometriosis.

Electroacupuncture with different waveforms for primary dysmenorrhea:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe and compare the clinical effects of different electroacupuncture waveforms on primary dysmenorrhea.Methods: This was a prospective,randomized,three-group,parallel-controlled trial.Participants with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into dense-sparse wave,continuous wave,and discontinuous wave groups in a 1:1:1 ratio.Two lateral Ciliao(BL 32)points were used.All three groups started treatment 3–5 days before menstruation,once a day for six sessions per course of treatment,one course of treatment per menstrual cycle,and three menstrual cycles.The primary outcome measure was the proportion with an average visual analog scale(VAS)score reduction of≥50%from baseline for dysmenorrhea in the third menstrual cycle during treatment.The secondary outcome measures included changes in dysmenorrhea VAS scores,Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale scores and the proportion of patients taking analgesic drugs.Results: The proportion of cases where the average VAS score for dysmenorrhea decreased by≥50%from baseline in the third menstrual cycle was not statistically significant(P>.05).Precisely 30 min after acupuncture and regarding immediate analgesia on the most severe day of dysmenorrhea,there was a statistically significant difference in the dense-sparse wave group compared with the other two groups during the third menstrual cycle(P<.05).Additionally,there was a statistically significant difference between the dense-sparse wave and discontinuous wave groups 24 h after acupuncture(P<.05).Conclusions: Waveform electroacupuncture can alleviate primary dysmenorrhea and its related symptoms in patients.The three groups showed similar results in terms of short-and long-term analgesic efficacy and a reduction in the number of patients taking analgesic drugs.Regarding achieving immediate analgesia,the dense-sparse wave group was slightly better than the other two groups.

Can propensity score matching replace randomized controlled trials?

Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)have long been recognized as the gold standard for establishing causal relationships in clinical research.Despite that,various limitations of RCTs prevent its widespread implementation,ranging from the ethicality of withholding potentially-lifesaving treatment from a group to relatively poor external validity due to stringent inclusion criteria,amongst others.However,with the introduction of propensity score matching(PSM)as a retrospective statistical tool,new frontiers in establishing causation in clinical research were opened up.PSM predicts treatment effects using observational data from existing sources such as registries or electronic health records,to create a matched sample of participants who received or did not receive the intervention based on their propensity scores,which takes into account characteristics such as age,gender and comorbidities.Given its retrospective nature and its use of observational data from existing sources,PSM circumvents the aforementioned ethical issues faced by RCTs.Majority of RCTs exclude elderly,pregnant women and young children;thus,evidence of therapy efficacy is rarely proven by robust clinical research for this population.On the other hand,by matching study patient characteristics to that of the population of interest,including the elderly,pregnant women and young children,PSM allows for generalization of results to the wider population and hence greatly increases the external validity.Instead of replacing RCTs with PSM,the synergistic integration of PSM into RCTs stands to provide better research outcomes with both methods complementing each other.For example,in an RCT investigating the impact of mannitol on outcomes among participants of the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial,the baseline characteristics of comorbidities and current medications between treatment and control arms were significantly different despite the randomization protocol.Therefore,PSM was incorporated in its analysis to create samples from the treatment and control arms that were matched in terms of these baseline characteristics,thus providing a fairer comparison for the impact of mannitol.This literature review reports the applications,advantages,and considerations of using PSM with RCTs,illustrating its utility in refining randomization,improving external validity,and accounting for non-compliance to protocol.Future research should consider integrating the use of PSM in RCTs to better generalize outcomes to target populations for clinical practice and thereby benefit a wider range of patients,while maintaining the robustness of randomization offered by RCTs.

Multicenter Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial and Network Pharmacology Analysis of Zhenzhu Qingyuan Granules for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Zhenzhu Qingyuan Granules through a clinical randomized controlled trial and to analyze the potential action targets and pathways of this formula using network pharmacology.Methods Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)of liver–stomach stagnant heat pattern who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group.The control group received oral rabeprazole,whereas the observation group were given Zhenzhu Qingyuan Granules in addition to the rabeprazole.The treatment duration was 8 weeks.Clinical efficacy was observed in both groups after 8 weeks.Network pharmacology was used to analyze the action targets of ZhenzhuQingyuanGranules and the genes related to GERD,and core targets were inferred.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the potential mechanisms of this formula.Results The clinical research results showed that the total effective rate in the treatment group was 92.68%,compared with 70.00%in the control group,with a statistically significant difference(p<0.05).After treatment,both Chinese medicine syndrome score and endoscopic score improved in both groups compared with before treatment(p<0.05),and the treatment group showed greater improvement than the control group(p<0.05).Network pharmacology identified effective components of Zhenzhu Qingyuan Granules for treating GERD,including quercetin,luteolin,andβ-sitosterol,with potential action targets such as tumor protein 53(TP53),protein kinase B(AKT1),and tumor necrosis factor.Conclusion Zhenzhu Qingyuan Granules can significantly improve clinical symptoms in patients with GERD of liver–stomach stagnated heat pattern,enhance clinical efficacy,and have high safety.This formula may exert therapeutic effects through multiple targets and pathways.

Botulinum toxin type A for treating chronic low back pain:A double blinded randomized control study

BACKGROUND Low back pain(LBP)is a prevalent issue that orthopedic surgeons frequently address in the outpatient setting.LBP can arise from various causes,with stiffness in the paraspinal muscles being a notable contributor.The administration of Botulinum toxin type A(BoNT-A)has been found to alleviate back pain by relaxing these stiff muscles.While BoNT-A is approved for use in numerous conditions,a limited number of randomized clinical trials(RCTs)validate its efficacy specifically for treating LBP.AIM To study the safety and the efficacy of BoNT-A in minimizing pain and improving functional outcomes in patients of chronic LBP(CLBP).METHODS In this RCT,adults aged 18-60 years with mechanical LBP persisting for at least six months were enrolled.Participants were allocated to either the Drug group,receiving 200 Ipsen Units(2 mL)of BoNT-A,or the Control group,which received a 2 mL placebo.Over a 2-month follow-up period,both groups were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS)for pain intensity and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)for disability at the start and conclusion of the study.A decrease in pain by 50%was deemed clinically significant.RESULTS The study followed 40 patients for two months,with 20 in each group.A clinically significant reduction in pain was observed in 36 participants.There was a statistically significant decrease in both VAS and ODI scores in the groups at the end of two months.Nonetheless,when comparing the mean score changes,only the reduction in ODI scores(15 in the placebo group vs 16.5 in the drug group,clinically insignificant)was statistically significant(P=0.012),whereas the change in mean VAS scores was not significant(P=0.45).CONCLUSION The study concludes that BoNT-A does not offer a short-term advantage over placebo in reducing pain or improving LBP scores in CLBP patients.

Clinical study on the treatment of acute pancreatitis with external application of Yi-Dan Therapy based on the method of“stagnation requiring dispersion”:study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background:Acute pancreatitis is an unpredictable and potentially lethal disease,causing tremendous pain in patients.The initial treatment of acute pancreatitis in modern medicine is supportive,but it is generally ineffective in relieving abdominal pain and distension.Traditional Chinese medicine has been shown to be more effective in regulating the body’s homeostasis and reducing the clinical symptoms of pancreatitis.Yi-Dan ointment,derived from Dahuang-Mudan Decoction,is an effective external ointment for treating acute pancreatitis.The aim of this trial is to investigate the clinical efficacy of Yi-Dan ointment,providing a valuable complement to existing treatment options for pancreatitis.Methods:This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups.Patients in the control group were given basic treatment and nursing for 7 days;in the treatment group,Yi-Dan ointment was applied externally in addition to basic treatment and nursing.The main indicator is the overall efficacy,serum amylase,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡscore,symptom score,inflammatory markers,and classification of computed tomography.Conclusion:The trial results will provide high-quality evidence for Yi-Dan ointment,and provide a complement to existing treatment options for pancreatitis.