The effect of foot bath of Chinese medicine combined with acupoint injection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy:a meta analysis

Objective:The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effect of foot bath of Chinese medicine combined with acupoint injection(FBCMCAI)on patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).Methods:Databases such as Cochrane Library,Pubmed,Web Of Science,China Biology Medicine(CBM),CNKI,VIP and WANFANG DATA were electronically searched to collect the randomized controlled trials(RCTs)(up to October 2016).According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,literature about effects of FBCMCAI in the treatment of DPN were screened and data were extracted.Literature quality evaluation was appliced by Cochrane Reviewer Handbook 5.1.0.A random or a fixed effects model was used to analyze outcomes by RevMan 5.3 software.Subgroup analysis,sensitivity analysis,and orientation description were performed if necessary.Results:11 randomized controlled trials with a total of 927 patients were included.Meta analysis results revealed that the efficacy of FBCMCAI for DPN was significantly superior to the control treatment(OR=5.07,95%CI:3.23-7.94,Z=7.08,P<0.00001).Besides,there was an increase in motor conduction velocity of peroneal nerve(SMD=1.08,95%CI:0.66-1.48,Z=5.30,P<0.00001),motor conduction velocity of tibial nerve(SMD=1.08,95%CI:0.58-1.58,Z=4.22,P<0.0001)and motor conduction velocity of median nerve(SMD=0.46,95%CI:0.23-0.68,Z=3.96,P<0.0001)in FBCMCAI groups.For another,there was also an increase in sensory motor conduction velocity of the motor nerve(SMD=0.80,95%CI:0.54-1.05,Z=6.06,P<0.00001)and sensory motor conduction velocity of median nerve(SMD=0.66,95%CI:0.38-0.93,Z=4.73,P<0.00001)in the FBCMCAI groups.Symptoms score was significantly reduced after FBCMCAI treatment(WMD=-4.21,95%CI[-4.95,-3.48],Z=11.25,P<0.00001).Conclusion:FBCMCAI may have significant therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of DPN.Diabetic neurologic symptoms and nerve conduction velocities can be improved under FBCMCAI treatment.In-depth research and high quality randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of FBCMCAI are necessary.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Bathing with Chinese Medicine Taohong Siwu Decoction(桃红四物汤) for Treatment of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis:A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective：To examine the efficacy and safety of bathing therapy with Taohong Siwu Decoction（桃红四物汤,TSD） in the treatment of early-stage,mild-moderate diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis（dc SSc）.Methods：This randomized,placebo-controlled trial enrolled 148 men and women（18–60 years） with dc SSc（disease duration 12 months） and baseline modified Rodnan skin score（MRSS） 10.Patients were randomized into a TSD group（71 cases bathing with TSD plus oral prednisone） or control group（71 cases bathing with placebo plus oral prednisone）.Bathing（40 ℃,30 min） of the upper and lower limbs was carried out once daily for 12 consecutive weeks.The primary outcome measure was MRSS;secondary outcomes were Raynaud＇s phenomenon（RP） score,quality of life（QOL）,physician visual analogue scale（VAS）,patient VAS,percent predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide（DLCO）,percent predicted forced vital capacity（FVC）,erythrocyte sedimentation rate（ESR）,C-reactive protein（CRP） level and overall treatment effect.Results：The final analysis included 135 patients（control group,68 cases;TSD group,67 cases）.Primary and secondary outcome measures after 2 weeks of treatment showed no improvement（versus baseline） in both groups,with no differences between groups.At 12 weeks,QOL,physician VAS,patient VAS,ESR and CRP were improved in both groups,but MRSS and RP score were improved only in the TSD group（all P〈0.05）.MRSS,RP score,QOL,physician VAS,patient VAS,ESR and CRP differed significantly between groups（all P〈0.05）.Meanwhile,the overall treatment effect was significantly higher in the TSD group than in the control group（P〈0.05）.Adverse events in the two groups were similar（P〉0.05）.Conclusions：Bathing with TSD plus oral prednisone achieves better outcomes than oral prednisone alone in patients with dcS Sc and is not associated with serious adverse events.