Effectiveness of acupuncture combined with artificial tears in managing dry eye syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye syndrome is an ocular surface disease with high incidence. Acupuncture combined with artificial tears is effective for treating dry eye syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture combined with artificial tears in dry eye syndrome by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic online search was performed from the date of database establishment to July 1, 2023. The study groups that addressed acupuncture combined with artificial tears for patients with dry eye syndrome (DES) and the control groups that addressed artificial tears were analyzed. The main outcomes were tear breakup time (BUT) and Schirmer I test (SIT), assessed as previously described. RESULTS: Sixteen randomized or controlled trials met the selection criteria, and 1383 patients with DES were included in this study. The analysis results showed that BUT [Standard mean difference (SMD) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.14, 1.37), P < .0001], SIT [SMD = 1.55, 95% CI (1.08, 2.02), P < .0001], and corneal fluorescein staining [SMD = -2.08, 95% CI (-2.96, -1.20), P < .00001] significantly improved in the trial groups compared with the control groups. The acupuncture treatment was more effective in reducing the levels of IL-6 (P < .0001) and TNF-α (P < .00001). The overall efficacy rate was better in the trial group than in the control group [odds ratio = 4.09, 95% CI (3.04, 5.51), P < .00001]. However, no significant difference was observed in the ocular surface disease index (P = .15) between the trial and control groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that acupuncture combined with artificial tears could be considered safe, effective to patients with DES.

Visualizing the intellectual structure and recent research trends of diabetic retinopathy.

AIM: To analyze the intellectual structure and recent research trends in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and unearth potential knowledge. METHODS: English DR publication included in this study was exported from the Web of Science Core Collection, and Chinese DR publication was exported from China National Knowledge Infrastructure from the establishment time of the database to 2019. CiteSpace and Microsoft Excel were used to visually analyze DR research, including analysis of the number of publications, highly cited publication analysis, spatial distribution analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis. RESULTS: A total of 23 795 English studies and 11 577 Chinese studies, including 2089 studies related to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), were obtained. The data suggested the following: 1) The number of English and Chinese DR publications increased over time, and the growth rate of English publications was relatively fast. 2) The distribution of international scholars and institutions was close, while the distribution was scattered in China. Shanghai Jiao Tong University has the largest number of publications. Tien-Yin Wong was the core author with the largest number of publications. England and the United States are the core of international DR research cooperation. 3) Optical coherence tomography and risk factors are recent international research hot spots and trends. The difference is that TCM is a recent research trend under DR in China. CONCLUSION: DR has drawn an increasing amount of attention worldwide. The focus of research in this field has shifted from tertiary type DR treatment to secondary prevention strategies which focus on the screening and monitoring of disease progression. The advantages of TCM in the prevention of DR have attracted attention, and it is worth incorporating this with Western medicine to address this challenge.

Tripterygium Glycosides Combined with Leflunomide for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To undertake an overview on the overall effects of Tripterygium glycosides (TG) combined with Leflunomide (LEF) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We searched electronic databases from database establishment time to December 1, 2019. The clinical trial data of TG combined with LEF (trial group) and control group in the treatment of RA were collected. The Cochrane system was used to evaluate the quality of the literature. RevMan 5.3 software was used to conduct a meta-analysis of the eligible studies. RESULTS: A total of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 834 patients with RA were included in this study. The meta-analysis results showed that morning stiffness (mean difference (MD) = -0.29, 95% confidential interval (CI) (-0.45, -0.12), P=0.0005), tender joint count (MD = -1.51, 95% CI (-2.20, -0.83), P=0.0001), swollen joint count (MD = -1.24, 95% CI (-1.59, -0.88), P=0.0001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD = -7.26, 95% CI (-9.92, -4.61), P=0.0001), C-reactive protein (MD = -4.04, 95% CI (-4.93, -3.14), P=0.0001), and rheumatoid factor (MD = -50.88, 95% CI (-72.30, -29.45), P = 0.0001) in the trial groups were lower than those in the control groups. The total effective rate in the trial group was better than that in the control group (risk ratio (RR) = 1.20, 95% CI (1.13, 1.28), P=0.00001). However, there was no significant difference of adverse events (RR = 0.83, 95% CI (0.61, 1.13), P=0.23) while comparing the trial groups with the control groups. CONCLUSION: Our results were found to be superior but limited evidence on the effectiveness of TG combined with LEF in the treatment of RA is available.

Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Method in Treating Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue method in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) with meta-analysis. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue method in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy in PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Weipu Journal, China Knowledge Network, and Wanfang database was conducted. Two reviewers independently extracted data and methodological quality assessment. Data analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 10 randomized controlled trials, including 661 patients, were included. The results showed that Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue method could significantly improve the vision [risk ratio (RR)=1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.18, 1.47), P<0.00001] and change the eye fundus [RR=1.23, 95% CI (1.10, 1.37), P=0.0002], fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA) [RR=1.33, 95% CI (1.11, 1.60), P=0.002], traditional Chinese medicine syndromes [RR=1.31, 95% CI (1.15, 1.49), P<0.0001], and hemorheological parameters [mean difference (MD) =-0.37, 95% CI (-0.41, -0.32), P<0.00001]. CONCLUSION: Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue method showed beneficial effects for DR on improving vision, eye fundus, FFA, TCM syndromes, and hemorheological parameters.

A Brief Review on the Pathological Role of Decreased Blood Flow Affected in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) represents a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by progressive photoreceptor loss. In recent years, research has been rarely made in blood flow affected in RP. The specific mechanism of blood flow affected in RP is not completely clear. A number of studies indicated that the decreased blood flow was related to RP. According to clinical observation and treatment experience, Chinese medicine considered that blood stasis runs throughout the RP disease progression, and the blood stasis corresponding to Chinese herbal medicine has a positive effect on the clinical treatment of RP. Therefore, we proposed that the decreased blood flow may participate in the lesion. In this article, we will review the findings on the decreased blood flow affected in RP from the perspective of modern medicine and Chinese medicine.