Moxibustion therapy on lumbar disc herniation: An evidence-based clinical practice guideline.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH), as a disease with great disturbance to life and work, is known as the origin of the severe and disabling forms of nerve root pain. Recognized as an increasingly widely accepted treatment, the efficacy of moxibustion on LDH has been affirmed. However, clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for the treatment of LDH with moxibustion have not been developed. Therefore, we will carry out this work following the accepted methodological quality standards. METHODS: The new CPG will be developed according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) and WHO guideline handbook. And then determine recommendations based on high-level evidence. We will set up a Guideline Working Group and define clinical issues according to the PICO principles (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes). After evidence syntheses and several rounds of Delphi process, we will reach the consensus. In making the guideline, Patient values or preferences, results of peer review, and interest statements are all within the bounds of what we must consider. RESULTS: As the study is not yet complete, no results can be reported. CONCLUSION: So far, we will develop the first CPG for moxibustion of LDH strictly based on systematic methodologies in China. This CPG will establish the standard of LDH in moxibustion therapy. REGISTRATION NUMBER: IPGRP-2020CN034.

The effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for treating tenosynovitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: De Quervain's tenosynovitis is an overuse disease that involves a thickening of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons. Evidence shows that acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) could remarkably relieve the pain of De Quervain's tenosynovitis patients. The aim of this protocol is to determine the efficacy and safety of AM for treating De Quervain's tenosynovitis. METHODS: Several online databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literatures Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WangFang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database will be searched from their establishment to July 1, 2020. We will include all randomized controlled trials using AM as the method for treating De Quervain's tenosynovitis, regardless of blinding or publication types. The selection of studies, data extraction and the assessment of the studies quality will be conducted by 2 reviewers separately. When there is sufficient available data for meta-analysis, we will use the RevMan V.5.3 statistical software for data synthesis. The total effective rate, range of motion of wrist ulnar deviation will be the primary outcomes, and the secondary outcomes contain Visual Analog Scale, Coney Wrist Score and side effects. We will express the result by using Risk ratio for dichotomous data and mean differences with a 95% confidence interval for continuous data. RESULTS: The results of this study be presented in corresponding journal or conferences. CONCLUSIONS: This study is designed to provide sufficient evidence to assess the exact effectiveness of AM on De Quervain's tenosynovitis. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020158764.

Moxibustion for treating chronic pelvic inflammatory disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID) is a difficult-to-treat gynaecological disorder, which has complex etiologies, among married women. In recent years, moxibustion has gradually shown its clinical advantages and been more and more widely used In China. The protocol is try to synthesize and assess the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for patients with CPID. METHODS: Seven databases as following: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WangFang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literatures Database will be searched from their inception to May 2020. No restrictions about language and status. Study selection, data collection, and quality assessment will be respectively conducted by 2 researchers. Based on the heterogeneity test results, the fixed-effects or random-effects model will be selected to synthesize data. The effective rate, Pelvic inflammatory mass diameter and Pelvic fluid depth will be the primary outcomes. Patient reported outcome scale, visual analog scale, C-reactive protein, transforming growth factor ß1 =  transforming growth factor ß, incidence of any adverse events will be the secondary outcomes. Revman 5.4 software will be implemented for data synthesis. Dichotomous data will be represented by risk ratio for efficacy and safety of CPID treated with moxibustion, while continuous data will be represented by mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This study will provide a comprehensive review of the available evidence for the treatment of moxibustion with CPID. CONCLUSIONS: This study expects to provide high-quality, evidence-based recommendations on further treatment for clinical guidance of CPID. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020158744 in PROSPERO 2020.

Acupuncture for mammary gland hyperplasia: A Bayesian network meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that acupuncture (ACU) work well in the treating mammary gland hyperplasia, which has been widely used in hospitals of China. Although the choices of ACU treatments varies in practice, most are based on experience or preference. Therefore, we outline a plan to assess and rank the efficacy of the various ACU methods to formulate a prioritized regimen for mammary gland hyperplasia in ACU therapy. METHODS: We will make a comprehensive retrieval in 7 databases as following: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China BioMedical Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Wanfang database. The time is limited from the construction of the library to June 2020. We will evaluate the quality and the evidence of the included randomized controlled trials by the risk of bias tool and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation, respectively. Bayesian network meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata16.0 and WinBUGS V.1.4.3. RESULTS: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is expected to provide high-quality, evidence-based recommendations on further treatment of MGH for clinicians. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020158743).

Acupuncture and related techniques for restless legs syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sensory disorder of the nervous system, which often affects the sleep quality of patients. Acupuncture and related techniques are increasingly used to treat neurological diseases, but their efficacy and safety for RLS are yet to be established. The purpose of this study is to summarize the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and related techniques for RLS. METHODS: We will conduct a comprehensive data retrieval, and the electronic databases will include PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, WangFang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, from establishment to October 2020. We will also manually search unpublished studies and references, and contact lead authors. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and related techniques for RLS will be included. The outcomes of interest include: The total effective rate and International Restless Leg Syndrome rating scale (IRLS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), adverse events, quality of life. To assess the methodological quality, we will use the Cochrane risk assessment tool. RevMan 5.3.5 software will be used to conduct data synthesis. The evidence quality of each outcome will be appraised according to Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: This study will provide a high-quality evidence to evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of acupuncture and related techniques for RLS. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020157957.

Acupuncture with or without moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) occurs during menstrual cramps, and there is currently no pathological evidence. This disease severely affects the daily lives of young women. Acupuncture (ACU) and moxibustion are an excellent way to relieve the pain of patients with PD. And it has been widely utilizing. However, the effectiveness and safety of ACU and moxibustion in treating patients with PD are not confirmed by a high-quality meta-analysis. This work aims to evaluate ACU's efficacy and safety with or without moxibustion in the management of PD. METHODS: We will make a comprehensive retrieval in 9 databases as following: Embase; Cochrane Library; PubMed; Chinese databases SinoMed (previously called the Chinese Biomedical Database); Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure; Chinese Scientific Journals Database; Wanfang Data. The time is limited from the construction of the library to August 2020. No restrictions about language and status. Our 2 authors will perform the selection of studies, the extraction of data, and the quality assessment with the risk of bias tool independently. We will use NoteExpressV3.2.0 and Excel2010 software to extract data. The content will be saved in electronic form. We will use the bias risk tool provided by the Cochrane Collaboration to evaluate the quality of the literature using RevMan 5.4 software. The primary outcome is the pain degree evaluation, including visual analog scale, numerical rating scale, Cox retrospective symptom scale, or any other scale used to evaluate the level of pain.Furthermore, the response rate involved an overall reduction in symptoms. The adverse effects and quality of life will be assessed as secondary outcomes. The risk ratio for dichotomous data and mean differences with a 95% confidence interval for continuous data will be adopted to express the effect and safety of ACU with or without moxibustion for PD. RESULTS: The results of our study expect to provide high-quality, evidence-based recommendations on further treatment for clinicians. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202080006. CONCLUSION: This study will provide scientific evidence of PD Systematic review.

Acupuncture for post-stroke insomnia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke insomnia (PSI) is a significant complication of stroke, which often affects patients in various aspects. Acupuncture has fewer side effect and is increasingly used to treat PSI. The purpose of this study is to summarize the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PSI. METHODS: We will perform a comprehensive electronic searching, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, WangFang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, from inception to July 2020. We will also manually retrieve references, and contact lead authors. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for PSI will be included, regardless of whether blind method and allocation concealment are used. The outcomes of interest include: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), efficacy standards of Chinese medicine, relapse rate after follow-up, adverse events, quality of life. To assess the risk of bias, we will use the Cochrane risk assessment tool. RevMan 5.3 software will be used to conduct data synthesis. The evidence quality of each outcome will be appraised according to Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: This study will provide a high-quality evidence to evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of acupuncture for PSI. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020157865.

The effectiveness of Du moxibustion for ankylosing spondylitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common progressive autoimmune inflammatory disease. Du moxibustion can effectively treat AS with few adverse reactions. The aim of this protocol is to systematically investigate the effectiveness and safety for management of AS with Du moxibustion. METHODS: Seven relevant databases, namely, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literatures Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WangFang Database (WF), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP) will be searched from their inception until May 1st, 2020. All clinical randomized controlled trials containing eligible interventions(s) and outcome(s) will be included, regardless of blinding or publication types. Two reviewers will independently retrieval databases, extract data, and then assess the quality of studies. Data synthesis will be conducted by RevMan 5.3 software. We regard the effective rate, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) as the primary outcomes, and the secondary outcomes contain C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), finger-to-floor distance (FFD), occiput to wall distance (OWD), and side effects. The result about the curative effect and safety of Du moxibustion for AS will be presented as risk ratio for dichotomous data and mean differences with a 95% confidence interval for continuous data. RESULTS: The finding will be presented in a journal or related conferences. CONCLUSIONS: This study expects to provide high-quality, evidence-based recommendations on further treatment for clinical guidance. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020158727.

[Experience of Professor SUN Xue-mei in Treatment of Primary Thrombocythemia].

There is no radical cure for essential thrombocythemia currently. Professor SUN Xue-mei has extensive clinical experience in treating it by combined therapy of Chinese and Western medicine. In this paper, authors tried to summarize her experience from guiding ideology and therapeutic points. Authors insisted on the direction of integrative medicine on the basis of syndrome differentiation, paying attention to psychological counseling,and applied individual treatment in clinics.