Integrative traditional Chinese medicine treatment for children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease that affects 1%-6% of children. Our study aims to explore the effectiveness and clinical characteristics of integrative Traditional Chinese Medicine (ITCM) for pediatric OSA. Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed differences of polysomnography (PSG) parameters and clinical characteristics between 2009 and 2020. Children <12 years old diagnosed with OSA (n = 508) were included and were categorized into ITCM cohort, western medicine (WM) cohort ,and surgery cohort. Outcomes were apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and body mass index (BMI). Results: There were 56 (11%), 324 (63.8%), and 128 (25.2%) patients in the ITCM, WM, and surgery cohorts. Among 17, 26, and 33 patients in the ITCM, WM, and surgery cohorts underwent follow-up PSG studies, respectively. In the ITCM follow-up cohort, AHI were significantly reduced (9.59 to 5.71, p < 0.05). BMI significantly increased in the WM follow-up cohort (19.46 to 20.50, p < 0.05) and the surgery follow-up cohort (18.04 to 18.85, p < 0.01). Comparing ITCM to WM cohort, a significant difference was found between the changes in RDI (ITCM: -6.78, WM: 0.51, p < 0.05) after treatment. Among ITCM follow-up cohort, the most prescribed TCM formula was Forsythia and Laminaria Combination. The most prescribed TCM herb was Ephedrae Herba. Conclusions: ITCM therapy can significantly reduce RDI and control BMI. We identified potential TCM treatments for pediatric OSA. Further study of the pharmacological mechanisms and clinical efficacy is warranted.

The Effects of Laser Acupuncture Therapy on Nocturnal Enuresis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Nocturnal enuresis (NE), often known as bedwetting, is a common condition in children and, as a result, they may have subsequent social impairments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in children with NE. Methods: International databases with laser- and NE-related keywords were searched, and only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used any type of LLLT to treat NE and compared it with any type of control intervention were included. Eleven studies using laser acupuncture therapy (LAT), involving 927 participants, were included for a systematic review. A meta-analysis was conducted using full and partial response-rate variables. The analysis was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation recommendations for quality of evidence were used to rate all included publications. Results: The LAT groups showed significant improvement, compared with control groups when full response rates were analyzed. There was no significant difference between the groups treated with LAT and the groups who underwent medication therapy alone when full response rates were analyzed. Red and infrared wavelengths and continuous waves were the most commonly used LAT modalities, and lower abdomen and back acupoints were the most-common sites. Conclusions: LAT seems to be an effective and safe treatment for NE; however, the quality of evidence available in the literature was relatively low. More-rigorous and higher-quality trials are needed to investigate this treatment modality further.

Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Use in Pediatric Cancer Patients: A Nationwide, Retrospective, Taiwanese-Registry, Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale surveys of complementary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) use in pediatric cancer patients are lacking. The aim of our study was to investigate the use of TCM in pediatric cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed cancer patients younger than 18 years (n = 12 965) who were registered in the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan between 2001 and 2011. Patients were categorized into TCM or non-TCM users based on their use of TCM. RESULTS: In Taiwan, 8086 (62.4%) children with cancer sought TCM treatment at some point. Children in older age groups, including school-aged children and adolescents, were more likely to use TCM. There was no significant difference in the distributions of gender and urbanization. The 3 most common diseases for which TCM users visited the clinic were neoplasm (33.2%), respiratory system disease (32.9%), and infectious disease (8.86%). The most commonly utilized TCM therapy was Chinese herbal remedies. Patients who had comorbid conditions such as allergic rhinitis, dyspepsia, disorders of menstruation, and disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue tended to visit TCM clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive TCM use is not low in Taiwanese children with cancer. Further studies to investigate the efficacy and safety of TCM in children with cancer are warranted.

Prescription patterns of traditional Chinese medicine for peptic ulcer disease in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Peptic ulcer disease is a common digestive disease. There is a lack of large-scale survey on the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. This study aimed to investigate the utilization of TCM for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed a random sample comprised of one million individuals with newly diagnosed peptic ulcer disease between 2001 and 2010 from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Demographic characteristics and TCM usage, including Chinese herbal formulas and the single herbs prescribed for patients with peptic ulcer disease, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 96,624 newly diagnosed subjects with peptic ulcer disease were included. 14,983 (15.5%) patients were TCM users. People residing in highly urbanized areas, younger people and female (compared with male) were more likely to use TCM. With regard to the comorbidities, TCM users had a lower prevalence of coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes mellitus and liver cirrhosis and stroke. The average time between onset of peptic ulcer disease and the first visit to a TCM clinic was 4.7 months. Majority of the patients (n=14,449; 96.4%) received only Chinese herbal remedies. The most frequently prescribed Chinese herbal formula and single herb was Ban-Xia-Xie-Xin-Tang (Pinelliae Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) and Hai-Piao-Xiao (Os Sepiae), respectively. The core pattern analysis showed that combination of Ban-Xia-Xie-Xin-Tang, Hai-Piao-Xiao (Os Sepiae), Yan-Hu-Suo (Rhizoma Corydalis), Bei-Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii) and Chuan-Lian-Zi (Fructus Toosendan) was most frequently used for peptic ulcer disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified the core prescription patterns of TCM for patients with peptic ulcer disease in Taiwan. Further basic and clinical studies are necessary to elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms.