Shexian Bupleurum Alleviates Insomnia and Improves Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression:A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Shexian bupleurum on insomnia based on evaluation scales and polysomnogram(PSG).Methods:A total of 260 patients suffering from insomnia admitted to the outpatient department of Handan Central Hospital were included in a randomized,double blind,placebo-controlled trial.The patients were randomly divided into two groups:a control group(receiving placebo,n=150),and an intervention group(receiving Shexian bupleurum treatment,n=110).The clinical trial lasted for 4 weeks.The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),Insomnia Severity Index(ISI),Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ)-9,Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD)-7,17 items of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-17),and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)were used to evaluate the patients at baseline as well as two weeks and four weeks after treatment;the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale(TESS)was used to evaluate adverse reactions;polysomnography(PSG)was used to monitor and analyze their sleep characteristics at baseline and four weeks after treatment.Results:The PSQI,ISI,PHQ-9,HAMD-17,and HAMA scores of the intervention group significantly decreased compared to the control group,while the total sleep time,rapid eye movement sleep latency,stage 2 sleep,deep sleep,rapid eye movement sleep,and sleep efficiency of the intervention group significantly increased compared to the control group.The PHQ-9 score of the control group only decreased two weeks after treatment(p<0.05)compared to the intervention group.In addition,there were no obvious adverse events in both the intervention group and the control group.Conclusion:Shexian bupleurum not only improves sleep quality,but also relieves depression and anxiety in patients who suffer from insomnia.

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.

Effects of Depth of Needle Insertion with Risperidone Long-Acting Injectable in Persons with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Double-Blind Study

In some cases, if the insertion depth is shallower than expected, intramuscular (IM) injection of risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) may not penetrate the muscle fascia. However, if needle insertion depth is deeper than anticipated, needle penetration may cause damage to nerves, arteries and veins. Few clinical studies were done to evaluate the depth of needle length insertion reaching the intended gluteal muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitable depth of injecting RLAI. Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia were treated with RLAI, and randomly divided into two groups: 50 mm needle inserted group (Group-D, deep insertion, n = 13) and 20 mm needle insertion group (Group-S, shallow insertion, n = 13). For Group-S, the needle length was marked with a spacer at exactly 20 mm. Injections were performed by the psychiatrist or nurse, alternating between the two gluteal sites by double-cross method every two weeks. Clinical psychotic symptoms and injection site reactions were recorded throughout the study period. Experienced psychologists who were blinded from the needle-length experimental variable evaluated patients’ psychotic symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) every two weeks. The plasma 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-OH-RIS) concentrations were measured every two weeks;comparison data were determined on the 8th week and the 14th week. No significant difference was observed in 9-OH-RIS concentrations, psychotic symptoms, injection site skin reactions of subjects in both groups. However, in Group-D, injection site adverse reactions were confirmed in two subjects (15%). In Group-S, injection site reactions were confirmed in six subjects (46%). Although effective 9-OH-RIS concentrations were obtained with the insertion using both depth, it was concluded that the 50 mm insertion length was more suitable for dorsogluteal IM injections in adult patients with schizophrenia as demonstrated by the incidence of local adverse skin reactions.

A randomized double-blind multicenter study on comparing levonorgestrel and mifepristone for emergency contraception

Objective: To compare the efficacy and side effects of levonorgestrel and low dose mifepristone in emergency contraception. Method: The study is a randomized double--blind multicenter comparative trial. A total of 1, 276 women with unprotected intercourse within 72 hours were allocated to one of the two study groups. In the levonorgestrel (LNG) group, 0. 75 mg LNG was taken twice, 12 hours apart, whereas in the mifepristone (Mife) group, a single dose of 10 mg mifepristone was taken and a placebo 12 hours after. Follow--up visit was paid on the seventh day of the expected next menstruation to evaluate the contraceptive efficacy and side effects. Contraceptive efficacy was calculated by Dixon’s method. Result:In the LNG group 20 pregnancies occurred among 643 women, while in the Mife group 9 pregnancies occurred among 633 women. The pregnancy rates were 3. 10% and 1. 43% respectively. Contraceptive efficacy rate of preventing pregnancy was 59. 16% and 79. 73%, the difference was statistically significant (P<O. 05). The incidence of various side effects, which were mild, was less than 10%. There was no statistical difference between the two groups. The percentage of subjects who had their next menstruation 3 days earlier or later than their expected menstruation in LNG group and Mife group was 77. 7% and 78. 5% respectively. Conclusion: Use of levonorgestrel or low dose mifepristone for emergency contraception is effective and safe.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Efficacy of Biejiajian Pill on Intestinal Microbiota in Patients with Hepatitis B Cirrhosis/Liver Fibrosis:A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of Biejiajian Pill(BJJP)on intestinal microbiota in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis/liver fibrosis,and explore its relationship with liver fibrosis.Methods:This was a prospective,randomized double-blind controlled trial.Using the stratified block randomization method,35 patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis/liver fibrosis were randomly assigned(1:1)to receive entecavir(0.5 mg/d)combined with BJJP(3 g/time,3 times a day)or placebo(simulator as control,SC group,simulator 3 g/time,3 times a day)for 48 weeks.Blood and stool samples were collected from patients at baseline and week 48 of treatment,respectively.Liver and renal functions as well as hematological indices were detected.Fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rDNA V3-V4 high-throughput sequencing,and intestinal microbiota changes in both groups before and after treatment were compared,and their correlations with liver fibrosis were analyzed.Results:Compared with the SC group,there was no significant difference in liver function,renal function and hematology indices in the BJJP group,however,the improvement rate of liver fibrosis was higher in the BJJP group(94.4%vs.64.7%,P=0.041).Principal coordinate analysis(PCoA)based on weighted Unifrac distance showed significant differences in intestinal microbiota community diversity before and after BJJP treatment(P<0.01 and P=0.003),respectively.After 48 weeks'treatment,the abundance levels of beneficial bacteria(Bifidobacteria,Lactobacillus,Faecalibacterium and Blautia)increased,whereas the abundance levels of potential pathogenic bacteria,including Escherichia coli,Bacteroides,Ruminococcus,Parabacteroides and Prevotella decreased,among which Ruminococcus and Parabacteroides were significantly positively correlated with degree of liver fibrosis(r=0.34,P=0.04;r=0.38,P=0.02),respectively.The microbiota in the SC group did not change significantly throughout the whole process of treatment.Conclusion:BJJP had a certain regulatory effect on intestinal microbiota of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis/liver fibrosis(ChiCTR1800016801).

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.

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.

Evaluation of the Potential Inhibitory Activity of A Combination of L.Acidophilus,L.Rhamnosus and L.Sporogenes on Helicobacter Pylori：A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective： To investigate whether three strains of probiotics, L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. sporogenes, had significant inhibitive effects on Helicobacter pylori（H. pylori）. Methods： This is a 4-week, randomly assigned, parallel-group, doubled-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Fifty patients with a positive H. pylori infection urea breath test（△UBT） result 〉 10% and without ulcer symptoms were randomized into a treatment group and a placebo group by a computer generated allocation sheet with 1：1. These subjects took one capsule of probiotics or placebo twice daily. The primary measurement was the change in △UBT values. Results： The △UBT values during the 4-week treatment period and the 2-week follow-up period were not significantly different between the treatment group and the placebo group, indicating that the inhibitive effects on H. pylori were comparable between both groups. The monocyte count（%） was 5.77±1.11 in the treatment group versus 5.09±1.12 in the placebo group（P=0.044）, and the basophile count was 0.55±0.32 in the treatment group versus 0.36±0.23 in the placebo group（P=0.024） at week 2 of the treatment period, both of which reached statistical significance. The monocyte count was 5.75±1.26 in the treatment group and 4.72±0.99 in the placebo group at the end of the follow-up period（P=0.003）. Conclusions： There was no significant inhibitive effects of the three probiotic strains（L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. sporogenes） on H. pylori. Probiotics can not play the same role as antibiotics in the eradication of H. pylori, the role of probiotics is likely to be important as adjuvant to the triple or quadruple therapy for H. pylori, especially in resistance cases.

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY TO EVALUATE THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY USING REMOVING BLOOD STASIS HERBALS FOR PATIENTS WITH INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE OF HYPERACUTE STAGE AND RELATIVE FACTORS OF HEMATOMA ENLARGEMENT(A MULTICENTER PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO

The aim was to investigate whether using a removing blood stasis method in hyperacute intracranial hemorrhage stage can lead to hematoma enlargement and its clinical efficacy.A multicenter retrospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.We recruited patients aged 18 years or older and presenting at less than 6 h from symptom onset in 8 research centers.All the patients

Benefits of Mindfulness Training on the Mental Health of Women During Pregnancy and Early Motherhood:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention on depression,anxiety,fear of childbirth(FOC),and life satisfaction of pregnant women in China.Methods Women experiencing first-time pregnancy(n=104)were randomly allocated to the intervention group or a parallel active control group.We collected data at baseline(T0),postintervention(T1),3 days after delivery(T2),and 42 days after delivery(T3).The participants completed questionnaires for the assessment of the levels of depression,anxiety,FOC,life satisfaction,and mindfulness.Differences between the two groups and changes within the same group were analyzed at four time points using repeated-measures analysis of variance.Results Compared with the active control group,the intervention group reported lower depression levels at T2(P=0.038)and T3(P=0.013);reduced anxiety at T1(P=0.001)and T2(P=0.003);reduced FOC at T1(P<0.001)and T2(P=0.04);increased life satisfaction at T1(P<0.001)and T3(P=0.015);and increased mindfulness at T1(P=0.01)and T2(P=0.006).Conclusion The mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention effectively increased life satisfaction and reduced perinatal depression,anxiety,and FOC.

Characteristics of Xiao Chai Hu decoction based on randomized controlled trials: A bibliometric analysis

Objective:To explore the characteristics of Xiao Chai Hu(XCH)decoction in randomized controlled trials(RCTs)using a bibliometric method.Methods:Seven databases including PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Cochrane library,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Chinese Scientific Journal Database(VIP)and Wanfang database were retrieved from inception to May 27,2022.In the study,XCH decoction(or modified)used alone or combined with conventional Western medicine as an intervention measure was included.The basic characteristics,funding support,relevant diseases,intervention methods,and adverse events(AEs)were analyzed.Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software.Results:A total of 813 RCTs were included,published from 1989 to 2022.There was only one Englishlanguage literature with the recent impact factor of 5.374.There were 147 studies were from Chineselanguage core journals,with the highest impact factor of 2.414.Only 6.15%of the literatures mentioned funding support.96.31%of the included literature reported the statistical significance of using XCH decoction.The diseases treated mainly included chronic hepatitis B(9.35%),cough variant asthma(5.66%),dizziness(5.54%),bile reflux gastritis(4.43%),and fever(4.18%).However,the overall research design of the included literature was poor,and large sample size,multicenter RCTs are needed.The incidence of AEs of XCH decoction alone was 8.86%,which was significantly lower than that of conventional Western medicine treatment.The combination of XCH decoction and conventional Western medicine treatment could reduce the incidence of AEs,and no serious adverse event was reported.Conclusion:Although the included studies show that XCH decoction is widely used,and has good efficacy and few AEs.Due to the low quality of the included RCTs,there may be some bias,and its rational use based on the specific conditions is recommended in clinical practice.

Short-term outcomes of single-incision compared to multi-port laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer:A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective:Single-incision laparoscopic sugery has emerged as a safe and less invasive approach to conventional multi-port laparoscopy.The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the collective outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic gastrectomy(SILG)compared to multi-port laparoscopic gastrectomy(MLG)for gastric cancer.Methods:A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that compared SILG and MLG for gastric cancer in PubMed and Scopus through January 2023 was conducted.The main outcomes of the review were complications,postoperative pain,conversion to open surgery,hospital stay,and recovery.Results:Three RCTs including 301 patients(61.8%male)were incuded.A total of 151 patients underwent SILG,and 150 underwent MLG.SILG was associated with a shorter operative time(WMD=-16.39,95%CI:=27.38 to=5.40,p=0.003;2=0%)and lower pain scores at postoperative day 3(WMD=-1.18,95%CI:=2.27 to=0.091,p=0.033;I^(2)=99%)than MLG.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in es timated blood loss(WMD=-16.95,95%CI:-35.84 to 1.95,p=0.078;I^(2)=82%),complications(OR=0.71,95%Cl:0.36 to 1.42,p=0.337;I^(2)=0%),conversion to open surgery(OR=0.33,95%C:0.01 to 8.38,p=0.504),hospital stay(WMD=0.72,95%CI:-0.92 to 2.36,p=0.056;P=84%),time to first flatus(WMD=0.06,95%CI:=0.14 to 0.26,p=0.566;I^(2)=0%),time to first defecation(WMD=-0.14,95%CI:=0.46 to 0.18,p=0.392;I^(2)=0%),or time to first oral intake(WMD=0.37,95%a:=0.75 to 1.49,p=0.520;I^(2)=94%).Conclusions:SILG is associated with shorter operative times and less early postoperative pain than MLG.The odds of complications,blood loss,hospital stay,and gastrointestinal recovery were similar between the two procedures.

Safety and effectiveness of electromyography-induced rehabilitation treatment after epidural electrical stimulation for spinal cord injury:study protocol for a prospective,randomized,controlled trial

Epidural electrical stimulation is a new treatment method for spinal cord injury(SCI).Its efficacy and safety have previously been reported.Rehabilitation treatment after epidural electrical stimulation is important to ensure and improve the postoperative efficacy of epidural electrical stimulation in patients with SCI.Considering that electromyography(EMG)-induced rehabilitation treatment can accurately match the muscle contraction of patients with SCI,we designed a study protocol for a prospective,randomized controlled trial.In this trial,on the premise of adjusting the spinal cord electrical stimulator to obtain the maximum EMG signal of the target muscle,patients with SCI receiving epidural electrical stimulation will undergo EMG-induced rehabilitation treatment.Recovery of muscle strength of key muscles,quality of life,safety and therapeutic effects will be monitored.Twenty patients with SCI who are scheduled to undergo epidural electrical stimulation in Shanghai Ruijin Rehabilitation Hospital will be randomly divided into two groups with 10 patients per group.The control group will receive conventional rehabilitation treatment.The EMG-induced rehabilitation group will receive EMG-induced rehabilitation treatment of the target muscles of the upper and lower limbs based on conventional rehabilitation treatment.After rehabilitation treatment,follow up for all patients will occur at 2 weeks and 1,3 and 6 months.The primary outcome measure of this trial will be evaluation of target muscle recovery using the Manual Muscle Testing grading scale.Secondary outcome measures will include modified Barthel Index scores,integrated EMG values,the visual analogue scale,Spinal Cord Independence Measure scores,and modified Ashworth scale scores.The safety indicator will be the incidence of adverse events.This trial will collect data regarding the therapeutic effects of EMG-induced rehabilitation in patients with SCI receiving epidural electrical stimulation for 6 months after rehabilitation treatment.Findings from this trial will help develop rehabilitation methods in patients with SCI after epidural electrical stimulation.This study protocol was approved by Ethics Committee of Shanghai Ruijin Rehabilitation Hospital(Approval No.RKIRB2022-12)on February 15,2022 and was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number:ChiCTR2200061674;date:June 30,2022).Study protocol version:1.0.