[Re-evaluation of systematic reviews of acupuncture and moxibustion for childhood autism].

OBJECTIVE: To re-evaluate the systematic review/Meta-analysis of acupuncture and moxibustion for childhood autism (CA), aiming to provide decision-making basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: The systematic review and/or Meta-analysis of acupuncture and moxibustion for CA were searched in PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases. The retrieval time was from the database establishment to May 5th, 2022. PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and Meta-analyses) was used to evaluate the report quality, and AMSTAR 2 (a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews 2) was used to evaluate the methodological quality, bubble map was used to construct the evidence map and GRADE was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 9 systematic reviews were included. The PRISMA scores ranged from 13 to 26. The report quality was low, and there was a serious lack in the aspects of program and registration, search, other analysis and funding. The main problems in methodology included not making prespecified protocol, incomplete retrieval strategy, not providing a list of excluded literatures, and incomplete explanation on heterogeneity analysis and bias risk. The evidence map showed that 6 conclusions were valid, 2 conclusions were possible valid and 1 conclusion was uncertain valid. The overall quality of evidence was low, and the main factors leading to the downgrade were limitations, followed by inconsistency, imprecision and publication bias. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion has a certain effect for CA, but the quality of reporting, methodology and evidence in included literature need to be improved. It is suggested to perform high-quality and standardized research in the future to provide evidence-based basis.

Analysis of Chinese Medical Syndrome Features of Ischemic Stroke Based on Similarity of Symptoms Subgroup.

OBJECTIVE: To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup. RESULTS: Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.

[Stable angina pectoris of coronary heart disease treated with different acupuncture and moxibustion therapies: a network Meta-analysis].

To compare the clinical efficacy among different acupuncture and moxibustion therapies on stable angina pectoris (SAP) of coronary heart disease by means of network Meta-analysis. The articles of randomized controlled trial (RCT) for SAP of coronary heart disease treated with acupuncture and moxibustion therapies were searched from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang database and VIP database from May 1, 2002 to May 1, 2022. The quality of them was assessed with the risk of bias assessment tool of Cochrane 5.3, and the network Meta-analysis was undertaken with Stata 13.1 software. A total of 29 articles were included with the acupuncture and moxibustion therapies involved, e.g. acupuncture, acupoint application and moxibustion. In comparison with the simple routine western medication, the effective rate was better on SAP treated with the combined treatments, in which, acupoint application, moxibustion, acupuncture and intradermal needling were combined with routine western medication (P<0.05). Of those combined treatments, the combination of the acupoint application with routine western medication had high probability, suggesting the optimal regimen (area under the curve [SUCRA]=0.711, P<0.05). The effective rate of acupuncture combined with routine western medication for ECG improvement was better than that of routine western medication (P<0.05), and such combined treatment was high in probability, underlying its optimal treatment (SUCRA=0.800, P<0.05). Combined with routine western medication, acupuncture, acupoint application, moxibustion and intradermal needling all improve the clinical efficacy on SAP of coronary heart disease. But, with different outcomes considered, the optimal treatments may be different. It needs more multi-central and large-sample randomized controlled trials to validate these results.

[Minimal clinically important difference of the frequency of bowel movement for patients with chronic severe functional constipation treated with acupuncture].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the frequency of bowel movement for the patients with chronic severe functional constipation treated with acupuncture so as to provide the evidence for the clinical decision. METHODS: In this study, 813 patients with chronic severe functional constipation treated with acupuncture in two previous randomized controlled trials were included. Through the anchor-based method (anchored by the item 28 "satisfaction with previous treatment" of the patient assessment of constipation-quality of life [PAC-QOL]) and the distribution-based method, the MCID of the weekly frequency of complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) and spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) was analyzed statistically in the patients. RESULTS: The MCID of the mean weekly frequency of CSBM and SBM was 1.3 times and 1.6 times in patients with chronic severe functional constipation treated with acupuncture, respectively. CONCLUSION: The mean increase of the weekly CSMB is ≥ 1.3 times and that of SBM is ≥ 1.6 times after treatment when compared with the baseline respectively, suggesting the clinical significance.

[Expert consensus on Antiviral Oral Liquid in treatment of influenza in clinical practice].

Antiviral Oral Liquid is modified on the basis of Baihu Decoction in Treatise on Febrility Diseases by ZHANG Zhongjing and Qingwen Baidu Yin in Qing Dynasty, with effects in clearing toxic heat, repelling dampness and cooling blood. It is widely used in clinical treatment of common colds, influenza and upper respiratory tract infection, mumps, viral conjunctivitis and hand-foot-mouth disease, with a good clinical efficacy and safety. Based on a questionnaire survey of clinicians and a systematic review of study literatures on Antiviral Oral Liquid, the international clinical practice guidelines development method was adopted to analyze the optimal available evidences and expert experiences in the "evidence-based, consensus-based and experience-based" principles. The consensus was jointly reached by more than 30 multidisciplinary experts nationwide, including clinical experts of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the field of respiratory diseases and infectious diseases, and methodological experts. In the study, literatures were retrieved based on clinical problems in the clinical survey as well as PICO clinical problems. The GRADE system was used for the classification and evaluation of evidence, and fully combined with clinical expert experience, so as to reach expert consensus by the nominal grouping method. This expert consensus recommended or suggested indications, usage and dosage, course of treatment, intervention time for treatment, and the safety and precautions of Antiviral Oral Liquid for treatment of influenza, and can provide reference for the rational use of this drug in clinical practice.

[Rule of point selection in treatment of cerebral palsy in children with acupuncture based on data mining of 1584 electronic medical records].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the rule of point selection in treatment of cerebral palsy with acupuncture in preschool children. METHODS: Based on the electronic medical records of Xi'an Encephalopathy Hospital of TCM, through structuring medical record text, acupuncture prescriptions were extracted. Using the data mining tools of the ancient and modern medical record cloud platform V2.2.3 and the clinical effective prescription and molecular mechanism analysis system of traditional Chinese medicine V2.0, the cluster analysis and complex network analysis were conducted on acupuncture prescriptions. RESULTS: Of 1584 acupuncture prescriptions for cerebral palsy in children, there were 84 acupoints and stimulating areas of scalp acupuncture, of which, foot-motor-sensory area, balance area and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were the top 3 acupoints with the highest use rate. With cluster analysis, 5 groups of common supplementary acupoints and stimulating areas were found, named, Weizhong (BL 40) and Waiguan (TE 5), Shousanli (LI 10), Xingjian (LR 2), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and Chengfu (BL 36), foot-motor-sensory area, balance area and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Fenglong (ST 40), Pishu (BL 20), motor area and Yanglingquan (GB 34). With complex network analysis on core prescriptions, 13 core acupoints and stimulating areas of scalp acupuncture were obtained, including 3 core main points, i.e. Sanyinjiao (SP 6), balance area and foot-motor-sensory area and 10 sub-core points, i.e. Taichong (LR 3), motor area, Xuehai (SP 10), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20) and Shenshu (BL 23). CONCLUSION: In treatment of acupuncture for cerebral palsy in preschool children, the core prescriptions reveal the simultaneous treatment of exterior and interior, the mutual regulation of yin and yang and the combination of acupoints with stimulating ares of scalp acupuncture for both encephalopathy and paralysis.

Diabetes insipidus with impaired vision caused by germinoma and perioptic meningeal seeding: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Germinoma is a type of germ cell tumor that most frequently arises in the midline axis of the brain. Impaired vision is a clinical manifestation of germinnoma. Although rare, intracranial germinoma seeding to the perioptic arachnoid space is one cause of visual acuity decrease. CASE SUMMARY: An 11yearold girl who presented with polyuria and polydipsia and subsequently developed diminution of vision. Imaging showed bilateral heterogeneous enhancement of the optic nerve sheaths and atrophy of the optic nerve, and transsphenoidal biopsy revealed a germinoma. The patient experienced poor visual recovery following chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Germinomas are rare and they are mostly identified in children and adolescents. The manifestations include diabetes insipidus, pituitary dysfunction, visual complaints, etc. The mechanisms that lead to visual loss include intracranial hypertension, compression of optic chiasma, and tumor invasion. A literature review was performed to summarize the cases with a tumor infiltrating the optic nerve. Most of the reported patients were adolescents and presented with anterior pituitary hormone deficiency. Enhancement of optic nerve sheaths and optic disc pallor could be identified in most of the cases. The purpose of this report is to provide awareness that in cases where a germinoma is associated with visual loss, though rare, perioptic meningeal seeding should be taken into consideration. CONCLUSION: The case report suggests that children with diabetes insipidus need a complete differential diagnosis.

[Moxibustion therapy in prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): construction and application of non-contact diagnosis and treatment mode].

OBJECTIVE: To establish and promote the non-contact doctor-patient interactive diagnosis and treatment mode based on mobile internet for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with moxibustion therapy, and to observe the feasibility and effectiveness of the model in the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 43 first-line medical staff and 149 suspected and confirmed cases with COVID-19 [18 cases in medical observation period, 17 cases of mild type (cold dampness and stagnation in the lung), 24 cases of ordinary type (cold-dampness accumulated in the lung) and 90 cases in recovery period (qi deficiency of spleen and lung)] were included. A non-contact doctor-patient interactive diagnosis and treatment platform was established for the treatment of COVID-19 with indirect moxibustion plaster based on mobile internet. By the platform, the patients were instructed to use indirect moxibustion plaster in treatment. For the first-line medical staff and patients in the medical observation period, Zusanli (ST 36), Qihai (CV 6) and Zhongwan (CV 12) were selected. For the mild cases (cold dampness and stagnation in the lung) and the cases of ordinary type (cold-dampness accumulated in the lung), Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected. In the recovery period (qi deficiency of spleen and lung), Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Zusanli (ST 36) and Kongzui (LU 6) were used. The treatment was given once daily for 40 min each time. The intervention lasted for 10 days. After intervention, the infection rate and the improvement in the symptoms and psychological status of COVID-19 were observed in clinical first-line medical staff and COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: In 10 days of intervention with indirect moxibustion plaster, there was "zero" infection among medical staff. Of 43 first-line physicians and nurses, 33 cases had some physical symptoms and psychological discomforts, mainly as low back pain, poor sleep and anxiety. After treatment, regarding the improvements in the symptoms and psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 78.8% (26/33) and the curative rate was 36.4% (12/33). Regarding the improvements in psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 58.3% (14/24) and the curative rate was 37.5 (9/24). Of 149 patients, 133 cases had the symptoms and psychological discomforts. After treatment, regarding the improvements in the symptoms and psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 81.2% (108/133) and the curative rate was 34.6% (46/133). Regarding the improvements in psychological discomforts, the effective rate was 76.5% (52/68) and the curative rate was 57.4 % (39/68). CONCLUSION: It is feasible to apply the indirect moxibustion plaster technique based on mobile internet to the treatment COVID-19. This mode not only relieves the symptoms such as cough and fatigue, improves psychological state, but also possibly prevents the first-line medical staff from COVID-19.

[Discussion on registry study of acupuncture-moxibustion for malignant pleural effusion].

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is one of the common complications of tumor. Acupuncture-moxibustion therapy has several advantages for treatment of MPE. Acupuncture is regarded as a complex individualized intervention, and its characteristics of TCM is difficult to be reflected by strict randomized controlled trials. The registry study provides more possibilities for the data collection of individualized diagnosis and treatment under the guidance of the overall concept and syndrome differentiation, and is more suitable for data management and collection of large samples and multi-center trials in the real-world study. It has become an opportunity to carry out real-world study of acupuncture for MPE. There are many challenges in the registry study of acupuncture for MPE. However, it is of great significance to collect real-world data of acupuncture for MPE to improve the clinical effect of MPE and provide a new clinical research method for acupuncture in tumors and related complications.

[Current status of application of acupuncture in low back pain guidelines].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the current status of application of acupuncture in low back pain guidelines. METHODS: The computer retrieval was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, China Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP, Wanfang, guidelines databases, and the official websites of WHO and academic organizations (American Pain Society, American College of Physicians, etc.). After screening, the basic information and acupuncture-related issues in the guidelines that met the inclusion criteria were extracted and compared by using Excel software. RESULTS: A total of 35 low back pain guidelines were included. ① One guideline was published before 2000, 16 guidelines were published from 2000 to 2010, and 18 guidelines were published from 2011 to 2017; 17 guidelines were published by the United States, 4 by Canada and China, 2 by New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Europe, and 1 by Netherlands, Philippines, Denmark and Italy. ② Twenty-three guidelines were evidence-based guidelines, which was developed mainly by system review, meta-analysis and expert consultation, involving diagnosis, treatment, primary care of low back pain. ③ Acupuncture was mentioned in 23 guidelines, of them, 7 guidelines recommended acupuncture, 6 guidelines indicated that acupuncture might be considered under certain conditions such as combined with other therapies or patients were interested in acupuncture, however, 10 guidelines did not recommended acupuncture for low back pain. CONCLUSION: The guidelines of low back pain are mainly developed by Europe countries and the United States, and the majority is published in the last 20 years. Among them, 20% of the guidelines have recommend acupuncture for low back pain.

[Systematic review and analysis on the appropriate diseases in clinical treatment with Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy].

The clinical research articles relevant with Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy (FSN) were retrieved from CNKI, WANFANG, CBM and PubMed databases till January 2018 since the establishment of database. According to the general international criteria of disease classification, the diseases involved in the articles were classified and summarized. In terms of the clinical application and research of FSN, the questions were extracted and commented through expert's consultation. As a result, 412 articles were included. The statistical results of disease spectrum indicated that FSN was adopted in 65 kinds of diseases in 11 systems. Of these diseases, the relevant somatic pain disorders in the musculoskeletal system were the most appropriate. Professor FU Zhong-hua explained that the clinical physicians of FSN should select the muscle-related disorders as the clinical research subject and treat them with normalized manipulation of FSN. The research on FSN is still at the preliminary stage. It needs more high-quality clinical and basic researches to provide the evidences for the therapeutic effects of FSN.

Development of Improved Version of Quality of Life Assessment Instrument for Lung Cancer Patients Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (QLASTCM-Lu).

OBJECTIVE: To develop an improved version of the Quality-of-Life Assessment instrument for Lung Cancer Patients Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (QLASTCM-Lu) and to evaluate its psychometric property. METHODS: The structured group method and the theory in developing rating scale were employed to revise the preliminary scale. The psychometric property (reliability, validity, and responsiveness) of the established QLASTCM-Lu (modified) were evaluated by quality of life data measured in 100 lung cancer patients. Statistical analyses were made accordingly by way of correlation analysis, factor analysis and paired t-test. RESULTS: The internal consistency reliability of the overall scale and all domains was from 0.80 to 0.94. Correlation and factor analyses demonstrated that the scale was good in construct validity. The criterion validity was formed with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer (EORTC QLQ-LC43) as the criterion. Statistically significant changes were found apart from such domain as "mental condition" and "social function", with the standardized response means being close to those of QLQ-LC43. CONCLUSION: QLASTCM-Lu (modified) could be used to measure the quality of life of lung cancer patients with good reliability, validity and a certain degree of responsiveness.

Pattern Classification of Enterovirus 71-Associated Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Chinese Medicine: A Retrospective Study in 433 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patterns of enterovirus 71 (EV71)-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) were classified based on symptoms and signs, and explore whether individual characteristics were correlated with membership in particular pattern. METHODS: Symptom-based latent class analysis (LCA) was used to determine whether patterns of EV71-HFMD existed in a sample of 433 cases from a clinical data warehouse system. Logistic regression was then performed to explore whether demographic, and laboratory data were associated with pattern membership. RESULTS: LCA demonstrated a two-subgroup solution with an optimal fit, deduced according to the Bayesian Information Criterion minima. Hot pattern (59.1% of all patients) was characterized by a very high fever and high endorsement rates for classical HFMD symptoms (i.e., rash on the extremities, blisters, and oral mucosa lesions). Non-hot pattern (40.9% of all patients) was characterized by classical HFMD symptoms. The multiple logistic regression results suggest that white blood cell counts and aspartate transaminase were positively correlated with the hot pattern (adjust odds ratio=1.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.006-1.115; adjust odds ratio=1.051, 95% confidence interval: 1.019-1.084; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LCA on reported symptoms and signs in a retrospective study allowed different subgroups with meaningful clinical correlates to be defined. These findings provide evidence for targeted prevention and treatment interventions.

[Expert consensus on the design and implementation of clinical safety centralized monitoring study of Chinese medical injection].

Along with the increase of clinical application, the safety of traditional Chinese medicine gained more and more attentions. In particular, the safety evaluation of Chinese medical injections has become a mandatory task should be completed by pharmaceutical companies under the supervision of China Food and Drug Administration(CFDA). Due to the weak foundation of previous studies, the safety issues of Chinese medical injections have not been fully understood, and lack of scientific and rational risk management programs. Clinical safety centralized monitoring(CSCM) is an important method for post-market safety evaluation of Chinese medicine. Due to the lack of appropriate norms and procedures, the quality of similar research is uneven, and the results vary. Combined with practical experience with experts' suggestions, we developed this expert consensus on the design and implementation of CSCM from three stages (design, implementation and report) with 20 technical points, which will provide technical support for future CSCM studies.

Practitioners' perspectives on evaluating treatment outcomes in traditional Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: There are no generally accepted standards for evaluation of treatment outcomes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Pattern differentiation and individual treatments are recognized as the most distinguishing features of TCM. Therefore, how practitioners determine curative effects is an issue worthy of research, though little has been done in this area up to this point. This study examines perceptions of the effectiveness of TCM treatments and the means of evaluating clinical outcomes from the practitioners' perspective. METHODS: Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: A total of nine TCM practitioners from three university-affiliated hospitals and two scientific institutions participated in the interviews in August 2013. Participants reported evaluation of periodical treatment as an important part of the process of individual treatment based on pattern differentiation. Themes included (1) ways of evaluating treatment outcomes; (2) relationships between treatment outcomes and pathological transformation; and (3) distinguishing manifestations of the healing process from true adverse reactions. These considerations helped determine the optional treatment principles for further follow-up. An additional theme emerged related to the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment in TCM. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals considered all of the following as important ways of evaluating TCM treatment outcomes: patients' input and subjective experience, physicians' intake and examination, laboratory tests and medical device measurements. Pathological conditions were determined based on all the above factors, and no single factor determined the effectiveness from the practitioners' perspectives. If the patients felt no significant beneficial effects, then it was necessary to judge the effectiveness from adverse effect. The follow-up measures were usually based on the previous treatment, and physicians' satisfaction with each phase of TCM treatment was a significant factor in the process of making further decisions.

[Post-marketing reevaluation for potential quality risk and quality control in clinical application of traditional Chinese medicines].

The effective quality control in clinical practices is an effective guarantee for the authenticity and scientificity of the findings. The post-marketing reevaluation for traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) focuses on the efficacy, adverse reaction, combined medication and effective dose of drugs in the market by expanded clinical trials, and requires a larger sample size and a wider range of patients. Therefore, this increases the difficulty of quality control in clinical practices. With the experience in quality control in clinical practices for the post-marketing reevaluation for Kangbingdu oral for cold, researchers in this study reviewed the study purpose, project, scheme design and clinical practice process from an overall point of view, analyzed the study characteristics of the post-marketing reevaluation for TCMs and the quality control risks, designed the quality control contents with quality impacting factors, defined key review contents and summarized the precautions in clinical practices, with the aim to improve the efficiency of quality control of clinical practices. This study can provide reference to clinical units and quality control-related personnel in the post-marketing reevaluation for TCMs.

Effect of transcatheter embolization by autologous fat particles in the treatment of coronary artery perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is a rare but severe complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect and safety of transcatheter embolization by autologous fat particles in the treatment of CAP. METHODS: Once the CAP was confirmed, a little autologous subcutaneous fatty tissue was obtained from the groin of the patient and then was made into 1 mm × 1 mm fat particles. The perforated vessel was embolized by fat particles via a micro-catheter. There were eight patients undergoing transcatheter embolization by autologous fat particles in the treatment of CAP during PCI in Peking University Third Hospital from February 2009 to June 2014, and the clinical data of these patients were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The lesion morphology of the patients was classified based on the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force classification, there were one patient with Class B2 lesion and seven patients with Class C lesions (there were five patients with chronic total occlusion lesions). According to the Ellis classification of CAP, there were six patients with Class II perforations and two patients with Class III perforations. The causes of perforation included that seven patients induced by guide wire and one patient by balloon predilation. Three patients had pericardial effusion. All of the eight patients with CAP underwent transcatheter embolization by autologous fat particles. Coronary angiography confirmed that all of them were embolized successfully. There was no severe complication after the procedure. The coronary angiography of one patient at 1 week and another patient at 2 years after the embolization showed that the embolized arteries had recanalized. The median follow-up time was 20.3 months (8.8-50.2 months), the event-free survival rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter embolization by autologous fat particles was an effective, safe, cheap, and easy way to treat the perforation of small vessels during PCI.

Individual patient data meta-analysis is needed in Chinese medical research.

Publication biases and collection limitations are the main disadvantages of a traditional meta-analysis based on aggregate patient data (APD) from published articles. Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis, as the gold standard of systematic review, is a possible alternative in this context. However, the publications relative to IPD meta-analyses are still rare compared with the traditional ones, especially in the research oriented to Chinese medicine (CM). In this article, the strengths and detailed functioning of IPD meta-analysis are described. Furthermore, the need for IPD meta-analysis to assess the treatments based on CM was also discussed. Compared with the traditional APD meta-analysis, the IPD meta-analysis might give a more accurate and unbiased assessment and is worth to be recommended to CM researchers.