Complementary Medicine Research最新文献

Introduction: For women who have experienced failed attempts at in vitro fertilization (IVF) and face medical issues, leading to infertility, the renewed effort to seek fertility treatment, coupled with decreasing likelihood of success, can exert substantial emotional and physical strains. Consequently, many couples opt to discontinue treatment before attaining pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive outcomes in patients with unsuccessful prior IVF attempts who received a complementary treatment designed to alleviate emotional distress and burden.

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis of data from infertile patients who initiated the complementary intervention at a private clinic between January 2014 and December 2016 was conducted. Information on diagnosis, history of infertility, prior assisted reproductive technology treatments, mode of conception, and pregnancy outcomes were retrieved.

Results: The data of 133 patients with a history of one or more unsuccessful IVF treatments were analyzed. Patients had an average age of 36.7 years (±4.4 SD) and had been experiencing infertility for an average of 4.6 years (±2.7 SD). The two main causes of their infertility were endometriosis (36.1%, 48 patients) and diminished egg quality (31.6%, 42 patients). By May 2020, a significant proportion of the patients, 81.2% (108 patients), had achieved pregnancy, leading to 94 live births, which represents a 70.7% success rate. These pregnancies mostly resulted from natural cycle IVF (35.1%), donor cycles (23.4%), and conventional IVF (21.3%). The dropout rate was comparatively low at 23.3%. The median time from the start of complementary treatment to delivery was 18 months, with a range of 12-28 months.

Conclusions: This study highlights the potential value of complementary treatment approaches in conjunction with standard medical care for women who have experienced unsuccessful IVF treatments in the past and thus face a reduced chance of motherhood. The reported 71% live birth rate is notably high, indicating that the inclusion of complementary treatments may provide women with past IVF failures a tangible opportunity for achieving successful pregnancy and childbirth. However, these findings need to be confirmed through randomized controlled studies.

Background: Acupuncture treatment for tinnitus has received attention owing to its potential as an alternative to conventional treatment modalities. We conducted a scoping review to identify detailed information on acupuncture treatment methods used in clinical studies and to provide useful information for practitioners, patients, and researchers.

Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Korean Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), DataBase Periodical Information Academic (DBPIA), and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched from their inception to December 2023. This review included single-arm trials, open-label randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and double-blind RCTs using needle-type acupuncture to treat tinnitus in English, Chinese, and Korean. We investigated basic and detailed information on the acupuncture treatment methods, assessment methods, and study outcomes. Network analysis was also conducted to evaluate the centrality between acupoints in the double-blind RCTs.

Results: We included 106 articles. There were 11 single-arm trials, 90 open-label RCTs, and 5 double-blind RCTs. Most (89.6%) of these studies were conducted in China. Manual acupuncture was the most common type of acupuncture in treatment group. A total of 119 acupuncture points were used 1,138 times. The most frequently used acupoints were local points around the ear (TE17, GB2, SI19, and TE21). Both local and distant acupoints were used simultaneously in these studies. The treatment duration of 20-39 days, 10 to 19 sessions of treatment, the mean acupuncture duration of 30 min, needle diameter of 0.30 mm × 40 mm, and needling depth over 30 mm and less than 50 mm were confirmed as the most common.

Conclusion: These study outcomes will enable future acupuncture studies on tinnitus to perform more effective and standardized acupuncture treatments in selecting acupoints and procedures. Furthermore, the study has implications for informing clinicians and students about more impactful acupuncture strategies for addressing tinnitus.

Die Anwendung von Akupunktur bei Tinnitus erhält seit einiger Zeit Aufmerksamkeit als potenzielle Alternative zu konventionellen Behandlungsmodalitäten. Wir führten einen Scoping-Review durch, um detaillierte Informationen zu den in klinischen Studien angewandten Akupunktur-Behandlungsmethoden zu sammeln und nützliche Informationen für Praktiker, Patienten und Forscher bereitzustellen.MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), Korean Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), DataBase Periodical Information Academic (DBPIA) und die China National Knowledge Infrastructure (

Introduction: Dry eye disorder (DED) is a growing global issue linked to excessive digital screen time. Chinese eye exercise of acupoint (CEA), a set of self-massages on shared Chinese acupuncture (CA), has been used to reduce visual-related ocular symptoms and possibly as an alternative treatment for DED. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of CEA.

Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted at Thammasat University Hospital in Thailand, recruiting 56 participants aged 20-60 years, equally divided into two groups: the treatment group with CEA and the control group with standard lid hygiene treatment (STD). The intervention program lasted 12 weeks.

Main outcome measures: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer-I test (SIT), corneal surface staining (CSS), and self-recorded forms for safety and adverse effects were measured at baseline, week 4, and week 12. An independent sample t test, paired t test, and repeated measures (ANOVA) were used to compare results between both groups, study visits, and primary and secondary outcome measurements, respectively. The p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The characteristics were not statistically different between both groups at the baseline. The mean OSDI scores were significantly reduced in both groups at week 4 and week 12 compared to baseline (p value <0.05). Additionally, both CEA and STD showed significant improvement in TBUT and SIT (p value <0.05). CSS was significantly improved only in the CEA groups (p value <0.05). No significant differences were observed between the study groups, except for SIT at week 12 (p value <0.05). For the safety, there were no adverse side effects in either group.

Conclusion: CEA seemed to be as effective as STD in improving the OSDI, TBUT, and SIT of DED without causing any side effects.

Das Trockene Auge (Dry eye disorder, DED) ist weltweit ein zunehmendes Problem, das mit übermässiger Bildschirmarbeit zusammenhängt. Die chinesische Augenübung der Akupunkturpunkte (Chinese eye exercise of acupoint, CEA), eine Reihe von Selbstmassagen an gemeinsamen CA-Akupunkturpunkten, wird zur Linderung visusbezogener Augensymptome und als mögliche alternative Behandlung für DED eingesetzt. Mit dieser Studie sollte die Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit von CEA bewertet werden.Am Thammasat-Universitätsklinikum in Thailand wurde eine einfach verblindete, randomisierte, kontrollierte Studie mit 56 Teilnehmern im Alter von 20 bis 60 Jahren durchgeführt, die zu gleichen Teilen zwei Gruppen zugewiesen wurden: die Behandlungsgruppe mit CEA und die Kontrollgruppe, die die Standard-Lidhygienebehandlung erhielt (STD). Das Interventionsprogramm dauerte 12 Wochen. Die Haupt-Zielkriterien, der Ocular Surface Disease Index (OS

Background: Migraine is one of the leading causes of morbidity and disability in the world. Its prevalence ranges from 5 to 40% in the pediatric population, with about 50% of these headaches continuing to adulthood. Incidental diagnosis of pineal cysts (PCs) is on the rise with the evolution of imaging techniques; the causal relationship of PC and individuals with headache however remains controversial, and complete resolution is uncommon. Conventional medicine stresses on the importance of tailored therapy in the management of pediatric migraine.

Case report: An 11-year-old female, diagnosed with migraine with an aura and PC, was benefitted by individualized classical homeopathic therapy using the homeopathic preparation Phosphorous and Natrum muriaticum. The symptoms of migraine improved, and the incidentally diagnosed PC completely resolved during the course of treatment.

Conclusion: Individualized classical homeopathy may have a role in effectively treating migraines and PCs in the pediatric population. There is a need for further scientific investigation with well-designed studies to prove the effectiveness of this therapeutic method, taking care to maintain the individualization principle of classical homeopathy.

Migräne ist eine der führenden Ursachen für Krankheitslast und Behinderung weltweit. Ihre Prävalenz bei Kindern und Jugendlichen liegt im Bereich von 5–40%; hiervon sind etwa 50% bis ins Erwachsenenalter von den Kopfschmerzen betroffen. Zufallsdiagnosen von Pinealiszysten (PC) kommen im Zuge des Fortschritts bei den bildgebenden Verfahren immer häufiger vor, jedoch ist ein kausaler Zusammenhang der PC mit Kopfschmerzen umstritten, und ein vollständige Rückbildung kommt nicht häufig vor. Die Schulmedizin betont, wie wichtig eine maßgeschneiderte Therapie bei der Behandlung der Migräne im Kindesalter ist.Ein 11-jähriges Mädchen, bei dem eine Migräne mit Aura und eine Pinealiszyste diagnostiziert wurde, profitierte von einer individualisierten klassisch-homöopathischen Therapie mit den homöopathischen Präparaten Phosphorus und Natrum muriaticum. Die Migränesymptome besserten sich, und die zufällig diagnostizierte Pinealiszyste bildete sich im Laufe der Behandlung vollständig zurück.Die individualisierte klassische Homöopathie kann bei der wirksamen Behandlung von Migräne und Pinealiszysten bei Kindern und Jugendlichen eine Rolle spielen. Es bedarf weiterer wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen mit gutem Studiendesign, um die Wirksamkeit dieser Behandlungsmethode nachzuweisen, wobei darauf zu achten ist, das Individualisierungsprinzip der klassischen Homöopathie aufrechtzuerhalten.

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) significantly impacts the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing treatment, often leading to treatment interruptions and compromised adherence to therapy. Our objective was to identify patterns for selecting the optimal acupoints and explore the treatment principles behind forming effective acupoint combinations for CINV.

Methods: Clinical trials were retrieved from eight databases. Descriptive statistics analysis was performed, followed by association rule mining, network analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and correlation analysis, all implemented with R software.

Results: In summary, this study investigated the potential acupoints and combinations for CINV treatment in 104 published controlled clinical trials and randomized controlled trials. 104 prescriptions involving 48 acupoints were extracted. ST36, PC6, CV12, SP4, LI4, and ST25 appeared to be the most frequently used acupoints for CINV. Stomach Meridian, Conception Vessel (Renmai), and Pericardium Meridian were the most common selected meridians. The lower limbs, chest, and abdomen appeared as the predominant sites for acupoint selection. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that ST36, PC6, and CV12 were central key node acupoints. The clustering analysis displayed the treatment principle of "harmonizing the stomach, stopping vomiting, and descending counterflow." Association rule mining revealed that the combination of CV4, CV12, ST36, CV6, and PC6 emerged as the optimal acupoint combination for effectively treating CINV.

Conclusion: Overall, our research provides evidence-based optimal acupuncture prescription for acupuncturists to treat CINV and presents a complementary therapy for chemotherapy physicians as well as patients to address CINV symptoms.

Introduction: Only 5% of rare diseases have an approved treatment available, therefore patients often utilise complementary and integrative medicines (CIMs) to help manage their condition. Limited high-quality evidence-based studies are available which support the effectiveness of CIM, as it is difficult to show that an outcome is a direct result of the CIM intervention and not due to bias. Patients and healthcare professionals must weigh up the evidence quality, safety, efficacy, practical logistics, and financial implications of utilising CIM for rare diseases. This study aimed to elucidate perspectives of stakeholders (individuals with rare diseases, carers, family members, CIM practitioners and healthcare professionals), on the usage of CIM for rare diseases across Northern Ireland.

Methods: This was a mixed methods study. An online survey was open from January to February 2019 (n = 29 responses). Themes identified from the survey were then discussed with stakeholders in a semi-structured discussion workshop in March 2019.

Results: A limited number of participants responded to the survey (n = 29). Some individuals with rare diseases reported CIM as effective in the management of their condition, in particular acupuncture, dietary supplements, herbal medicines, homoeopathy, hydrotherapy, kinesiology, mindfulness, pilates, reflexology, tai chi, and yoga. However, a number of respondents (n = 7) experienced a negative side effect from CIM. Workshop participants raised concerns over the lack of information available about CIM and rare disease. Both the survey and workshop identified inequality of access with participants reporting CIM to be expensive.

Conclusions: More information, high-quality research, and education about CIM are required for patients and healthcare professionals to help make informed decisions about the usage of CIM for rare diseases. Improved communication, information, and health and social care in general would help individuals be more confident and knowledgeable about therapeutic options in relation to their rare disease(s).

Nur für fünf Prozent der seltenen Erkrankungen existiert eine zugelassene Behandlung, weshalb Patienten häufig komplementäre und integrative Medizin (CIM) nutzen, um ihre Krankheit zu behandeln. Es liegen nur wenige qualitativ hochwertige evidenzbasierte Studien vor, die die Wirksamkeit von CIM stützen, da sich schwer nachweisen lässt, dass ein Behandlungsergebnis direkt durch die CIM-Intervention bedingt und nicht Folge einer Verzerrung ist. Patienten und Angehörige der Gesundheitsberufe müssen die Qualität der Evidenz, die Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit sowie praktische logistische Aspekte und die finanziellen Folgen der Anwendung von CIM bei seltenen Erkrankungen abwägen. Mit der vorliegenden Studie sollte die Perspektive der Betroffenen (Menschen mit seltenen Erkrankungen, Betreuun

Background: The increasing worldwide mental health crisis, notably anxiety, emphasizes the urgency for available and effective interventions. Traditional therapies, although beneficial, pose limitations due to their considerable costs and possible adverse effects, thereby inviting alternative treatments such as auricular acupressure (AA). This non-pharmacological, integrative method, underpinned by Eastern and Western medical principles, presents a significant prospect for managing anxiety.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the efficacy of AA in reducing anxiety, as elucidated through a systematic review.

Methods: A comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials was conducted across various databases: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine (CBM), Wan Fang, and Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP). Two reviewers retrieved the pertinent studies and assessed their methodological quality. A meta-analysis was then conducted, incorporating data from all relevant time points.

Results: Upon examining 25 studies encompassing 1,909 participants, it was discerned that AA significantly diminished anxiety (SMD = -1.1074; 95% confidence interval, -1.348 to -0.801; z = 7.70, p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses indicated that neither an increased number of auricular points nor extended intervention augmented effects. Larger effect sizes were associated with probing and avoidance of sham acupressure. Notably, 23 of the 25 studies exhibited some bias, suggesting further research is necessary.

Conclusions: The extant evidence advocates for AA as an effective supplementary intervention that reduces patient anxiety. The results hint at a potential placebo effect elicited by sham acupressure, necessitating rigorous control group definitions in future inquiries. The study findings suggest that fewer acupressure points and shorter intervention durations could effectively alleviate anxiety symptoms. Nonetheless, the significant heterogeneity across the studies underscores the requirement for more stringent research methodologies to substantiate these conclusions.

Die weltweit zunehmende Krise der psychischen Gesundheit, vor allem von Angstzuständen, zeigt, dass dringend verfügbare und wirksame Interventionen erforderlich sind. Herkömmliche Therapien sind zwar hilfreich, werden aber durch ihre hohen Kosten und möglichen unerwünschten Wirkungen eingeschränkt, so dass alternative Behandlungen wie die Ohrakupressur gefragt sind. Diese nicht-pharmakologische, integrative Methode, die sich auf östliche und westliche medizinische Prinzipien stützt, stellt eine bedeutsame Perspektive für die Behandlung von Angstzuständen dar.Ziel dieser Studie ist