Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for pain after osteosarcoma post surgery: A study protocol of systematic review of randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study will assess the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) for pain in patients with osteosarcoma post surgery (OSPS). METHODS: In this study, we will comprehensively search the following electronic databases from inception to the present without language restrictions: Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Two authors will independently carry out study selection, data extraction, and methodological assessments. RevMan 5.3 software will be used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The primary outcome is pain intensity. The secondary outcomes consist of event-free survival, overall survival, quality of life, and adverse events. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will provide helpful evidence of EA treatment for patients with OSPS. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42019146696.

A retrospective study of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to topical ibuprofen for chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis.

This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to topical ibuprofen (TIP) for patients with chronic knee pain (CKP) due to osteoarthritis.This retrospective study analyzed medical records of 84 patients with CKP due to osteoarthritis. These patients were divided into a treatment group (n = 42) and a control group (n = 42). The patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture plus TIP, while the subjects in the control group received TIP monotherapy. The primary effectiveness endpoint was assessed by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC). The secondary effectiveness endpoints were evaluated by the numeric rating scale (NRS), 12-item Short FormHealth Survey (SF-12, mainly including mental component summary [MCS], and physical component summary [PCS]), and adverse events. All patients received an 8-week treatment. All endpoints were measured pre-treatment and posttreatment.The patients who received acupuncture plus TIP showed better effectiveness in both primary endpoint of WOMAC scale (pain, P < .01; function, P < .01; and stiffness, P < .01) and secondary endpoints of NRS (P < .01), and SF-12 (MCS, P < .01; and PCS, P < .01), than patients who received TIP monotherapy. In addition, both groups had similar safety profile.The results of this study showed that the effectiveness of acupuncture plus TIP may be better than TIP monotherapy for patients with CKP due to osteoarthritis.

Efficacy of methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin for osteosarcoma: Study protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review will address the efficacy and safety of methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MAP) for the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma. METHODS: We will retrieve the studies from the following 9 electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Information, and Wanfang Data. Two independent researchers will screen and select the relevant papers for eligibility after the search strategies have been conducted. All articles up to the present in any language, region will be considered in this study. A systematic review and data synthesis will be performed of randomized controlled trials of MAP for the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma. The primary outcome includes event-free survival. The secondary outcomes consist of overall survival, quality of life, and toxicity. In addition, 2 independent researchers will extract data, and will assess the quality of included studies by using Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results data will be pooled and meta-analysis will be conducted if >2 eligible studies will be included. RESULTS: This systematic review will evaluate the efficacy and safety of MAP for the treatment of patients with osteosarcoma. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will summarize the up-to-date evidence of MAP for osteosarcoma, and may provide the guidance for the clinical practice, as well as the health policy maker. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42018120004.