Association of healthy lifestyle behaviours with incident irritable bowel syndrome: a large population-based prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between healthy lifestyle behaviours and the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). DESIGN: Population-based prospective cohort study. SETTING: The UK Biobank. PARTICIPANTS: 64 268 adults aged 37 to 73 years who had no IBS diagnosis at baseline were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and followed up to 2022. MAIN EXPOSURE: The five healthy lifestyle behaviours studied were never smoking, optimal sleep, high level of vigorous physical activity, high dietary quality and moderate alcohol intake. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The incidence of IBS. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 12.6 years, 961 (1.5%) incident IBS cases were recorded. Among the 64 268 participants (mean age 55.9 years, 35 342 (55.0%) female, 7604 (11.8%) reported none of the five healthy lifestyle behaviours, 20 662 (32.1%) reported 1 behaviour, 21 901 (34.1%) reported 2 behaviours and 14 101 (21.9%) reported 3 to 5 behaviours at baseline. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios associated with having 1, 2 and 3 to 5 behaviours for IBS incidence were 0.79 (95% confidence intervals 0.65 to 0.96), 0.64 (0.53 to 0.78) and 0.58 (0.46 to 0.72), respectively (P for trend <0.001). Never smoking (0.86, 0.76 to 0.98, P=0.02), high level of vigorous physical activity (0.83, 0.73 to 0.95, P=0.006) and optimal sleep (0.73, 0.60 to 0.88, P=0.001) demonstrated significant independent inverse associations with IBS incidence. No significant interactions were observed between these associations and age, sex, employment status, geographic location, gastrointestinal infection, endometriosis, family history of IBS or lifestyle behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Adhering to a higher number of healthy lifestyle behaviours is significantly associated with a lower incidence of IBS in the general population. Our findings suggest the potential of lifestyle modifications as a primary prevention strategy for IBS.

Association of coffee consumption with cardiometabolic multimorbidity: A prospective cohort study in the UK biobank.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous observational studies have investigated the association between coffee consumption and single cardiometabolic disease. Yet, the extent to which coffee might confer health advantages to individuals with a singular cardiometabolic disease remains unclear. This study aimed to further investigate the association of coffee consumption and the onset and progression from single cardiometabolic disease to cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM). METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective cohort study included 185,112 participants from the UK Biobank who were enrolled between 2006 and 2010 and followed up until 2020. Coffee consumption was collected using a 24-h dietary questionnaire. CMM was defined as the coexistence of at least two cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Cox proportional hazards and multi-state models estimated the associations between coffee consumption and CMM. During a median follow-up of 11.4 years, 1585 participants developed CMM. Compared with nonconsumers, coffee consumers had lower risks for the transitions from baseline to single cardiometabolic disease, with the respective lowest hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the transitions from baseline to T2D, CHD and stroke after multivariable adjustment being 0.79 (CI, 0.72-0.87), 0.91 (CI, 0.86-0.97) and 0.87 (CI, 0.78-0.96). Coffee consumption resulted in a significant reduction in the risk of the transitions from CHD and stroke to CMM, with the lowest estimates were 0.56 (CI, 0.43-0.73) and 0.60 (CI, 0.43-0.83). Similar associations were observed in unsweetened coffee. Sugar-sweetened coffee was associated with some transitions at low levels of consumption. The associations between artificially sweetened coffee and CMM were less consistent. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee consumption was associated with lower risk for almost all transition phases of CMM development and consistent findings were observed with unsweetened coffee.

Fish oil supplementation and risk of incident systemic lupus erythematosus: a large population-based prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although fish oil has been considered to have an anti-inflammatory effect and has been proven to play a beneficial role in the incidence of numerous diseases, the association between fish oil supplementation and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is still unknown. This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between fish oil use and incident SLE in a large population-based prospective cohort. METHODS: 390,277 participants without SLE at baseline from the UK Biobank were enrolled. Fish oil use was ascertained through a touchscreen questionnaire at baseline. The incidence of SLE was identified by the International Classification of Diseases version 10 code in medical records or self-report. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to estimate the association between fish oil use and SLE risk. RESULTS: Fish oil users accounted for 31.47% of participants. During a median follow-up duration of 11.57 years, 141 participants without fish oil use (4.56/100 000 person-years) and 68 participants with fish oil use (4.78/100 000 person-years) developed SLE. In four models with adjustments for different amounts of confounders, there was no significant difference in the risk of SLE between fish oil users and fish oil non-users (all p-values > 0.05). In subgroup analyses, we found that fish oil supplementation was associated with a lower risk of SLE among females with ultraviolet radiation ≥ 3 h/day (hazard ratio: 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.98), which turned insignificant after further adjustment for female-related factors and sun protection measures. CONCLUSIONS: No significant association between fish oil use and overall incident SLE was observed, except in females exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation. Subgroup analysis suggested that females exposed to prolonged ultraviolet radiation might benefit from fish oil supplementation in terms of preventing SLE, but it needs to be confirmed in further studies.

Immunological parameters of maternal peripheral blood as predictors of future pregnancy outcomes in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

INTRODUCTION: Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL), affecting approximately 1%-5% of women, exhibits a strong association with various maternal factors, particularly immune disorders. However, accurately predicting pregnancy outcomes based on the complex interactions and synergistic effects of various immune parameters without an automated algorithm remains challenging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this historical cohort study, we analyzed the medical records of URPL patients treated at Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China, between January 2020 and October 2022. The primary outcomes included clinical pregnancy and miscarriage. Predictors included complement, autoantibodies, peripheral lymphocytes, immunoglobulins, thromboelastography findings, and serum lipids. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis and logistic regression analysis was performed for model development. The model's performance, discriminatory, and clinical applicability were assessed using area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis, respectively. Additionally, models were visualized by constructing dynamic and static nomograms. RESULTS: In total, 502 patients with URPL were enrolled, of whom 291 (58%) achieved clinical pregnancy and 211 (42%) experienced miscarriage. Notable differences in complement, peripheral lymphocytes, and serum lipids were observed between the two outcome groups. Moreover, URPL patients with elevated peripheral NK cells (absolute counts and proportion), decreased complement levels, and dyslipidemia demonstrated a significantly increased risk of miscarriage. Four models were developed in this study, of which Model 2 demonstrated superior performance with only seven predictors, achieving an AUC of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.99) and an accuracy of 0.92. A web-based platform was established to visually present model 2 and to facilitate its utilization by clinicians in outpatient settings (available from: https://yingrongli.shinyapps.io/liyingrong/). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the implementation of such prediction models could serve as valuable tools for providing comprehensive information and facilitating clinicians in their decision-making processes.

Methodological quality of systematic reviews on sepsis treatments: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Systematic reviews (SRs) offer updated evidence to support decision-making on sepsis treatments. However, the rigour of SRs may vary, and methodological flaws may limit their validity in guiding clinical practice. This cross-sectional study appraised the methodological quality of SRs on sepsis treatments. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database for eligible SRs on randomised controlled trials on sepsis treatments with at least one meta-analysis published between 2018 and 2023. We extracted SRs' bibliographical characteristics with a pre-designed form and appraised their methodological quality using AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews) 2. We applied logistic regressions to explore associations between bibliographical characteristics and methodological quality ratings. RESULTS: Among the 102 SRs, two (2.0%) had high overall quality, while respectively four (3.9%), seven (6.9%) and 89 (87.3%) were of moderate, low, and critically low quality. Performance in several critical methodological domains was poor, with only 32 (31.4%) considering the risk of bias in primary studies in result interpretation, 22 (21.6%) explaining excluded primary studies, and 16 (15.7%) applying comprehensive searching strategies. SRs published in higher impact factor journals (adjusted odds ratio: 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 1.36) was associated with higher methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS: The methodological quality of recent SRs on sepsis treatments is unsatisfactory. Future reviewers should address the above critical methodological aspects. More resources should also be allocated to support continuous training in critical appraisal among healthcare professionals and other evidence users.

Interaction of physical activity and low-level air pollution on cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study in UK Biobank.

To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA), low-level air pollution, and interaction on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) incidence based on the UK Biobank. PA was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and five air pollutants were estimated using Land Use Regression. All association estimates were based on Cox regression. Dose-response relationship was explored by restricted cubic spline, while multiplicative and additive interaction were examined by Pinteraction and relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). As deviating proportional hazards assumption, we analyzed data as follow-up < 4 years and ≥ 4 years, separately. PA with 1000-4000 Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) min/week showed the strongest protective impact on CVD incidence, while only low-level nitrogen dioxides (NO2) showed negative impact among five air pollutants and was considered for further analysis. Multiplicative interaction between PA and NO2 was observed during ≥ 4 years follow-up (Pinteraction = 0.049) while not during < 4 years (Pinteraction = 0.290). Positive additive interactions were found for high PA and low NO2 (< 20 µg/m3) group (RERI: 0.07, 95% confidence intervals: 0.02-0.11) during < 4 years, and for moderate PA with NO2 at 40- µg/m3 (0.07, 0.02-0.13) and < 20 µg/m3 (0.07, 0.02-0.12), while high PA showed similar results with NO2 at 40-, 20- and < 20 µg/m3 during ≥ 4 years. PA about 1000-4000 METs min/week showed the lowest CVD risk. Possibility of interaction with PA and NO2 is more likely to present with the increase in follow-up duration. We call for the optimal thresholds of PA, and exploring interaction thoroughly by considering types of PA.

Association between Sleep Factors and Parkinson's Disease: A Prospective Study Based on 409,923 UK Biobank Participants.

INTRODUCTION: Limited evidence indicates an association between sleep factors and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, large prospective cohort studies including both sexes are needed to verify the association between daytime sleepiness, sleep duration, and PD risk. Furthermore, other sleep factors like chronotype and snoring and their impact on increased PD risk should be explored by simultaneously considering daytime sleepiness and snoring. METHODS: This study included 409,923 participants from the UK Biobank. Data on five sleep factors (chronotype, sleep duration, sleeplessness/insomnia, snoring, and daytime sleepiness) were collected using a standard self-administered questionnaire. PD occurrence was identified using linkages with primary care, hospital admission, death register, or self-report. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the association between sleep factors and PD risk. Subgroup (age and sex) and sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 11.89 years, 2,158 incident PD cases were documented. The main association analysis showed that prolonged sleep duration (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.37) and occasional daytime sleepiness (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.26) increased the PD risk. Compared to those who self-reported never or rarely having sleeplessness/insomnia, participants who reported usually having sleeplessness/insomnia had a decreased risk of PD (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.96). Subgroup analysis revealed that women who self-reported no snoring had a decreased PD risk (HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.99). Sensitivity analyses indicated that the robustness of the results was affected by potential reverse causation and data completeness. CONCLUSION: Long sleep duration increased the PD risk, especially among men and participants ≥60 years, while snoring increased the risk of PD in women. Additional studies are needed to (i) further consider other sleep traits (e.g., rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and sleep apnea) that might be related to PD, (ii) objectively measure sleep-related exposure, and (iii) confirm the effects of snoring on PD risk by considering the impact of obstructive sleep apnea and investigating its underlying mechanisms.

Medication Status and Related Factors in Essential Tremor Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in China.

INTRODUCTION: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common movement disorders. Oral drugs play a crucial role in treating ET, with various available options such as propranolol, primidone, and topiramate. However, the medication status and related factors among Chinese ET patients are unknown yet. METHODS: This study used the baseline data from the National Survey of Essential Tremor Plus in China cohort. ET patients with information related to medication intake were included. Medication patients were defined as patients who were taking medication at the time of the survey. We further defined recommended medication users according to Chinese guideline recommendations and clinical knowledge. We used mean and standard deviation (SD), median and interquartile range (IQR), or frequencies and percentages when appropriate for descriptive analysis. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to explore factors related to medication intake in all ET patients and in recommended medication users. RESULTS: Of 1,153 included ET participants, 207 (18.0%) took medication. Arotinolol (115, 55.6%) and propranolol (63, 30.4%) were the top 2 used medicines. Patients with middle school education (odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.39-0.83), college or higher level education (0.46, 0.28-0.76), and late-onset ET (LO-ET) (0.38, 0.23-0.63) were less likely to take medication. Patients with intention tremor (1.90, 1.38-2.62), every 10-unit increase in age (1.10, 1.00-1.21), Tremor Research Group Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale (TETRAS) Part 1 (1.63, 1.37-1.93), and TETRAS Part 2 (1.81, 1.48-2.22) were more likely to take medication. Among 332 recommended medication users, only 104 (31.3%) took medicine. The associations of LO-ET (0.36, 0.17-0.75), intention tremor (2.27, 1.35-3.81), TETRAS Part 1 (1.52, 1.09-2.13), and TETRAS Part 2 (1.59, 1.15-2.20) with medication were similar to all ET patients. CONCLUSION: The proportion of medication intake is low among both all ET patients and recommended medication users. The top 2 commonly used medications among all ET patients are arotinolol and propranolol. Influencing factors of medication intake are different between all ET patients and recommended medication users. Clinicians are suggested to provide counseling and education on ET medication to promote medication intake.

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and their interaction with physical activity on insomnia: A prospective cohort study.

Exposure to air pollution or lack of physical activity (PA) increases the risk of insomnia. However, evidence on joint exposure to air pollutants is limited, and the interaction of joint air pollutants and PA on insomnia is unknown. This prospective cohort study included 40,315 participants with related data from the UK Biobank, which recruited participants from 2006 to 2010. Insomnia was assessed by self-reported symptoms. The annual average air pollutant concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) were calculated based on participants' addresses. We applied a weighted Cox regression model to evaluate the correlation between air pollutants and insomnia and newly proposed an air pollution score to assess joint air pollutants effect using a weighted concentration summation after obtaining the weights of each pollutant in the Weighted-quantile sum regression. With a median follow-up of 8.7 years, 8511 participants developed insomnia. For each 10 µg/m³ increase in NO2, NOX, PM10, SO2, the average hazard ratios (AHRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of insomnia were 1.10 (1.06, 1.14), 1.06 (1.04, 1.08), 1.35 (1.25, 1.45) and 2.58 (2.31, 2.89), respectively; For each 5 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 and each 1 mg/m³ increase in CO, the corresponding AHRs (95%CI) were 1.27 (1.21, 1.34) and 1.83 (1.10, 3.04), respectively. The AHR (95%CI) for insomnia associated with per interquartile range (IQR) increase in air pollution scores were 1.20 (1.15, 1.23). In addition, potential interactions were examined by setting cross-product terms of air pollution score with PA in the models. We observed an interaction between air pollution scores and PA (P = 0.032). The associations between joint air pollutants and insomnia were attenuated among participants with higher PA. Our study provides evidence on developing strategies for improving healthy sleep by promoting PA and reducing air pollution.

Comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for frailty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Frailty endangers the health of older adults. Furthermore, the prevalence of frailty continues to increase as the global population ageing. OBJECTIVE: To update evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for frailty by conducting a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Eight databases were searched from January 1, 2000, until September 24, 2021. RCTs of interventions for frailty among participants aged ≥60 years were considered eligible. The primary outcome was frailty. Pairwise meta-analysis and NMA were performed, with the pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) being reported. RESULTS: A total of 69 RCTs were included after screening 16,058 retrieved citations. There were seven types of interventions (11 interventions) for frailty among the included RCTs. Physical activity (PA) (pooled SMD = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.34-0.51), multicomponent intervention (pooled SMD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.23-0.45) and nutrition intervention (pooled SMD = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06-0.35) were associated with reducing frailty compared to control, of which PA was the most effective type of intervention. In terms of specific types of PA, resistance training (pooled SMD = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33-0.83), mind-body exercise (pooled SMD = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.24-0.90), mixed physical training (pooled SMD = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.37-0.57) and aerobic training (pooled SMD = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.09-0.62) were associated with a reduction in frailty compared to usual care. Resistance training was the most effective PA intervention. CONCLUSION: Resistance training has the best potential to reduce frailty in older adults. This finding might be useful to clinicians in selecting interventions for older adults with frailty.

Epidural electrical stimulation of the cervical spinal cord opposes opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Opioid overdose suppresses brainstem respiratory circuits, causes apnoea and may result in death. Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) at the cervical spinal cord facilitated motor activity in rodents and humans, and we hypothesized that EES of the cervical spinal cord could antagonize opioid-induced respiratory depression in humans. Eighteen patients requiring surgical access to the dorsal surface of the spinal cord between C2 and C7 received EES or sham stimulation for up to 90 s at 5 or 30 Hz during complete (OFF-State) or partial suppression (ON-State) of respiration induced by remifentanil. During the ON-State, 30 Hz EES at C4 and 5 Hz EES at C3/4 increased tidal volume and decreased the end-tidal carbon dioxide level compared to pre-stimulation control levels. EES of 5 Hz at C5 and C7 increased respiratory frequency compared to pre-stimulation control levels. In the OFF-State, 30 Hz cervical EES at C3/4 terminated apnoea and induced rhythmic breathing. In cadaveric tissue obtained from a brain bank, more neurons expressed both the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and somatostatin (SST) in the cervical spinal levels responsive to EES (C3/4, C6 and C7) compared to a region non-responsive to EES (C2). Thus, the capacity of cervical EES to oppose opioid depression of respiration may be mediated by NK1R+/SST+ neurons in the dorsal cervical spinal cord. This study provides proof of principle that cervical EES may provide a novel therapeutic approach to augment respiratory activity when the neural function of the central respiratory circuits is compromised by opioids or other pathological conditions. KEY POINTS: Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) using an implanted spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an FDA-approved method to manage chronic pain. We tested the hypothesis that cervical EES facilitates respiration during administration of opioids in 18 human subjects who were treated with low-dose remifentanil that suppressed respiration (ON-State) or high-dose remifentanil that completely inhibited breathing (OFF-State) during the course of cervical surgery. Dorsal cervical EES of the spinal cord augmented the respiratory tidal volume or increased the respiratory frequency, and the response to EES varied as a function of the stimulation frequency (5 or 30 Hz) and the cervical level stimulated (C2-C7). Short, continuous cervical EES restored a cyclic breathing pattern (eupnoea) in the OFF-State, suggesting that cervical EES reversed the opioid-induced respiratory depression. These findings add to our understanding of respiratory pattern modulation and suggest a novel mechanism to oppose the respiratory depression caused by opioids.

Trial-level characteristics associate with treatment effect estimates: a systematic review of meta-epidemiological studies.

BACKGROUND: To summarize the up-to-date empirical evidence on trial-level characteristics of randomized controlled trials associated with treatment effect estimates. METHODS: A systematic review searched three databases up to August 2020. Meta-epidemiological (ME) studies of randomized controlled trials on intervention effect were eligible. We assessed the methodological quality of ME studies using a self-developed criterion. Associations between treatment effect estimates and trial-level characteristics were presented using forest plots. RESULTS: Eighty ME studies were included, with 25/80 (31%) being published after 2015. Less than one-third ME studies critically appraised the included studies (26/80, 33%), published a protocol (23/80, 29%), and provided a list of excluded studies with justifications (12/80, 15%). Trials with high or unclear (versus low) risk of bias on sequence generation (3/14 for binary outcome and 1/6 for continuous outcome), allocation concealment (11/18 and 1/6), double blinding (5/15 and 2/4) and smaller sample size (4/5 and 2/2) significantly associated with larger treatment effect estimates. Associations between high or unclear risk of bias on allocation concealment (5/6 for binary outcome and 1/3 for continuous outcome), double blinding (4/5 and 1/3) and larger treatment effect estimates were more frequently observed for subjective outcomes. The associations between treatment effect estimates and non-blinding of outcome assessors were removed in trials using multiple observers to reach consensus for both binary and continuous outcomes. Some trial characteristics in the Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB2) tool have not been covered by the included ME studies, including using validated method for outcome measures and selection of the reported results from multiple outcome measures or multiple analysis based on results (e.g., significance of the results). CONCLUSIONS: Consistently significant associations between larger treatment effect estimates and high or unclear risk of bias on sequence generation, allocation concealment, double blinding and smaller sample size were found. The impact of allocation concealment and double blinding were more consistent for subjective outcomes. The methodological and reporting quality of included ME studies were dissatisfactory. Future ME studies should follow the corresponding reporting guideline. Specific guidelines for conducting and critically appraising ME studies are needed.

Comparing diagnostic performance of Cantonese-Chinese version of Rome IV criteria and a short Reference Standard for functional dyspepsia in China.

INTRODUCTION: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is diagnosed based on self-reported symptoms and negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings. The Rome criteria were not adopted as a diagnostic instrument in clinical guidelines due to their complexity. Different guidelines used relatively simple symptom assessment schemes with contents that vary significantly. A previously evaluated short Reference Standard may serve as a more standardised tool for guidelines. We evaluated its diagnostic accuracy against the Rome IV criteria in a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong. METHODS: A total of 220 dyspeptic patients sampled consecutively from a tertiary hospital and the community completed the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire, which was translated into Cantonese-Chinese, and the Reference Standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRs), and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated. RESULTS: Among the participants, 160 (72.7%) fulfilled the Reference Standard with negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopic results. The Reference Standard identified patients with Rome IV-defined FD with 91.1% (95% CI 82.6%-96.4%) sensitivity and 37.6% (95% CI 29.6%-46.1%) specificity. The positive and negative LRs were 1.46 (95% CI 1.26-1.69) and 0.24 (95% CI 0.11-0.49), respectively. The AUC value was 0.64 (95% CI 0.59-0.69). CONCLUSIONS: The Reference Standard can rule out patients without Rome IV-defined FD. It may be used as an initial screening tool for FD in settings where the use of the Rome IV criteria is impractical. It may also provide a uniform definition and diagnostic rule for future updates of clinical guidelines.

Low methodological quality of systematic reviews on acupuncture: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: While well-conducted systematic reviews (SRs) can provide the best evidence on the potential effectiveness of acupuncture, limitations on the methodological rigour of SRs may impact the trustworthiness of their conclusions. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the methodological quality of a representative sample of SRs on acupuncture effectiveness. METHODS: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched for SRs focusing on the treatment effect of manual acupuncture or electro-acupuncture published during January 2018 and March 2020. Eligible SRs must contain at least one meta-analysis and be published in English language. Two independent reviewers extracted the bibliographical characteristics of the included SRs with a pre-designed questionnaire and appraised the methodological quality of the studies with the validated AMSTAR 2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2). The associations between bibliographical characteristics and methodological quality ratings were explored using Kruskal-Wallis rank tests and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. RESULTS: A total of 106 SRs were appraised. Only one (0.9%) SR was of high overall methodological quality, zero (0%) was of moderate-quality, six (5.7%) and 99 (93.4%) were of low-quality and critically low-quality respectively. Among appraised SRs, only ten (9.4%) provided an a priori protocol, four (3.8%) conducted a comprehensive literature search, five (4.7%) provided a list of excluded studies, and six (5.7%) performed meta-analysis appropriately. Cochrane SRs, updated SRs, and SRs that did not search non-English databases had relatively higher overall quality. CONCLUSIONS: Methodological quality of SRs on acupuncture is unsatisfactory. Future reviewers should improve critical methodological aspects of publishing protocols, performing comprehensive search, providing a list of excluded studies with justifications for exclusion, and conducting appropriate meta-analyses. These recommendations can be implemented via enhancing the technical competency of reviewers in SR methodology through established education approaches as well as quality gatekeeping by journal editors and reviewers. Finally, for evidence users, skills in SR critical appraisal remain to be essential as relevant evidence may not be available in pre-appraised formats.

Prioritizing Chinese medicine clinical research questions in cancer palliative care from patient and caregiver perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine (CM) modalities, including acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), are popular palliative interventions among patients with cancer, but further clinical research is required to assess their effectiveness and safety. OBJECTIVE: To prioritize top ten important CM clinical research questions from patients with cancer, cancer survivors and caregivers' perspectives via a face-to-face prioritization workshop in Hong Kong. METHODS: A list of 25 CM clinical research questions for cancer palliative care, which were identified from existing systematic reviews (SRs) and overview of SRs, was presented to 17 participants (patients with cancer [n = 5], cancer survivors [n = 6] and caregivers [n = 6]). The participants were then invited to establish consensus on prioritizing top ten research questions. RESULTS: Among the top ten priorities, five (50%) focused on acupuncture and related therapies, while five (50%) were on CHM. The three most important research priorities were (i) manual acupuncture plus opioids for relieving pain; (ii) CHM for improving quality of life among patients receiving chemotherapy; and (iii) concurrent use of CHM plus loperamide for reducing stomatitis. CONCLUSION: The top ten participant-endorsed CM clinical research priorities for cancer palliative care can guide local researchers on future direction. They can also inform local research funders on patient-centred allocation of limited funding. Under limited research funding, the most important co-prioritized research question from professional and patient perspectives may be addressed first. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients with cancer, cancer survivors and caregivers participated in conduct of the study to prioritize CM clinical research questions.

Acupuncture and related interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome: systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture and related therapies for primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES: Nine databases were searched for potential RCTs from their inception till July 2019. REVIEW METHODS: RCTs which reported at least one of the three outcomes were included: symptom severity, functional status and pain. Included RCTs were appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. RESULTS: A total of 10 RCTs (728 participants) were included. Majority were at high risk of bias for blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors. When compared to conventional medications, manual acupuncture showed significant superior effect in reducing symptom than ibuprofen (mean difference (MD) on Symptom Severity Scale (SSS)) = -5.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): -7.95 to -3.65) and prednisolone (MD = -6.50, 95% CI: -10.1, -2.86). Electroacupuncture plus splinting was more effective in reducing symptom severity than splinting alone (SSS score: MD = -0.20, 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.03). Manual acupuncture showed significantly superior effect than ibuprofen in improving functional status (Functional Status Scale (FSS): MD = -1.84, 95% CI: -2.66 to -1.02). The combination of electroacupuncture and splinting showed more improvement in functional status compared to splinting alone (FSS: MD = -6.22, 95%CI: -10.7 to -1.71). Triple treatment of acupuncture, magnetic spectrum heat lamp and splinting showed stronger pain relief than splinting alone. CONCLUSION: For both symptom relief and function improvement, manual acupuncture is superior to ibuprofen while electroacupuncture plus splinting outperforms splinting alone. Limited evidence showed electroacupuncture's potential role in pain reduction.

Electroacupuncture plus on-demand gastrocaine for refractory functional dyspepsia: Pragmatic randomized trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Treatment options for functional dyspepsia (FD) refractory to pharmacological treatments are limited but the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) is uncertain. We assessed the effectiveness of EA combined with on-demand gastrocaine. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, assessor-blind, randomized parallel-group 2-arm trial on Helicobacter pylori negative FD patients of the postprandial distress syndrome subtype refractory to proton pump inhibitor, prokinetics, or H2 antagonists. Enrolled participants were block randomized in a 1:1 ratio, with concealed random sequence. The treatment and control groups both received on-demand gastrocaine for 12 weeks, but only those in treatment group were offered 20 sessions of EA over 10 weeks. The primary endpoint was the between-group difference in proportion of patients achieving adequate relief of symptoms at week 12. RESULTS: Of 132 participants randomly assigned to EA plus on-demand gastrocaine (n = 66) or on-demand gastrocaine alone (n = 66), 125 (94.7%) completed all follow-up at 12 weeks. The EA group had a compliance rate 97.7%. They had a significantly higher likelihood in achieving adequate symptom relief at 12 weeks, with a clinically relevant number needed to treat (NNT) value of 2.36 (95% CI: 1.74, 3.64). Among secondary outcomes, statistically and clinically significant improvements were observed among global symptom (NNT = 3.85 [95% CI: 2.63, 7.69]); postprandial fullness and early satiation (NNT = 5.00 [95% CI: 2.86, 25.00]); as well as epigastric pain, epigastric burning, and postprandial nausea (NNT = 4.17 [95% CI: 2.56, 11.11]). Adverse events were minimal and nonsignificant. CONCLUSION: For refractory FD, EA provides significant, clinically relevant symptom relief when added to on-demand gastrocaine (ChiCTR-IPC-15007109).

Increased Central Nervous System Interleukin-8 in a Majority Postlaminectomy Syndrome Chronic Pain Population.

Background and Objectives: Multiple processes have been identified as potential contributors to chronic pain, with increasing evidence illustrating an association with aberrant levels of neuroimmune mediators. The primary objectives of the present study were to examine central nervous system cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors present in a chronic pain population and to explore patterns of the same mediator molecules over time. Secondary objectives explored the relationship of central and peripheral neuroimmune mediators while examining the levels of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and perception of pain associated with the chronic pain patient experience. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a population of majority postlaminectomy syndrome patients (N = 8) was compared with control CSF samples (N = 30) to assess for significant differences in 10 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. The patient population was then followed over time, analyzing CSF, plasma, and psychobehavioral measures. Results: The present observational study is the first to demonstrate increased mean CSF levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8; P < 0.001) in a small population of majority postlaminectomy syndrome patients, as compared with a control population. Over time in pain patients, CSF levels of IL-8 increased significantly (P < 0.001). Conclusions: These data indicate that IL-8 should be further investigated and psychobehavioral components considered in the overall chronic pain paradigm. Future studies examining the interactions between these factors and IL-8 may identify novel targets for treatment of persistent pain states.

Botulinum toxin type a injections for cervical and shoulder girdle myofascial pain using an enriched protocol design.

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain syndrome is a regional condition of muscle pain and stiffness and is classically characterized by the presence of trigger points in affected musculature. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) has been shown to have antinociceptive properties and elicit sustained muscle relaxation, thereby possibly affording even greater relief than traditional strategies. Our goal was to determine whether direct injection of BoNT-A into painful muscle groups is effective for cervical and shoulder girdle myofascial pain. METHODS: An enriched protocol design was used, wherein 114 patients with cervical and shoulder girdle myofascial pain underwent injection of BoNT-A to determine their response to the drug. Fifty-four responders were then enrolled in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pain scales and quality of life measures were assessed at baseline and at routine follow-up visits until completion of the study after 26 weeks. RESULTS: Injection of BoNT-A into painful muscle groups improved average visual numerical pain scores in subjects who received a second dose of BoNT-A compared to placebo (P = 0.019 [0.26, 2.78]). Subjects who received a second dose of BoNT-A had a reduced number of headaches per week (P = 0.04 [0.07, 4.55]). Brief Pain Inventory interference scores for general activity and sleep were improved (P = 0.046 [0.038, 3.700] and 0.02 [0.37, 4.33], respectively) in those who received a second dose of BoNT-A. CONCLUSION: BoNT-A injected directly into painful muscle groups improves average pain scores and certain aspects of quality of life in patients experiencing severe cervical and shoulder girdle myofascial pain.

Utilization of a novel digital measurement tool for quantitative assessment of upper extremity motor dexterity: a controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The current methods of assessing motor function rely primarily on the clinician's judgment of the patient's physical examination and the patient's self-administered surveys. Recently, computerized handgrip tools have been designed as an objective method to quantify upper-extremity motor function. This pilot study explores the use of the MediSens handgrip as a potential clinical tool for objectively assessing the motor function of the hand. METHODS: Eleven patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were followed for three months. Eighteen age-matched healthy participants were followed for two months. The neuromotor function and the patient-perceived motor function of these patients were assessed with the MediSens device and the Oswestry Disability Index respectively. The MediSens device utilized a target tracking test to investigate the neuromotor capacity of the participants. The mean absolute error (MAE) between the target curve and the curve tracing achieved by the participants was used as the assessment metric. The patients' adjusted MediSens MAE scores were then compared to the controls. The CSM patients were further classified as either "functional" or "nonfunctional" in order to validate the system's responsiveness. Finally, the correlation between the MediSens MAE score and the ODI score was investigated. RESULTS: The control participants had lower MediSens MAE scores of 8.09%±1.60%, while the cervical spinal disorder patients had greater MediSens MAE scores of 11.24%±6.29%. Following surgery, the functional CSM patients had an average MediSens MAE score of 7.13%±1.60%, while the nonfunctional CSM patients had an average score of 12.41%±6.32%. The MediSens MAE and the ODI scores showed a statistically significant correlation (r=-0.341, p<1.14×10⁻5). A Bland-Altman plot was then used to validate the agreement between the two scores. Furthermore, the percentage improvement of the the two scores after receiving the surgical intervention showed a significant correlation (r=-0.723, p<0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The MediSens handgrip device is capable of identifying patients with impaired motor function of the hand. The MediSens handgrip scores correlate with the ODI scores and may serve as an objective alternative for assessing motor function of the hand.