RECENT RESEARCH
Acupuncture and TCM
Chmielewska D , Malá J , Opala-Berdzik A , Nocuń M , Dolibog P , Dolibog PT , Stania M , Kuszewski M , Kobesova A . Acupuncture and dry needling for physical therapy of scar : A systematic review . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2024 ; 24 ( 1 ): 14 . doi : 10.1186 / s12906-023-04301-4
Background : There is a continuing interest in finding effective methods for scar treatment . Dry needling is gaining popularity in physiotherapy and is defined by Western medicine as a type of acupuncture . The terms acupuncture and dry needling have been used interchangeably so we have focused on the efficacy of dry needling or acupuncture in scar treatment .
Objective : The aim of this systematic review was to determine the usefulness of dry needling or local acupuncture for scar treatment . In our search process , we used the terms ‘ acupuncture ,’ ‘ needling ,’ or ‘ dry needling ’ to identify all relevant scientific papers . We have focused on the practical aspects of local management of different scar types with dry needling or acupuncture .
Search strategy : The search strategy included different combinations of the following keywords : ‘ scar ’, ‘ keloid ’, ‘ dry needling ’, ‘ needling ’, ‘ acupuncture ’, ‘ treatment ’, ‘ physical therapy ’. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines . MEDLINE ( PubMed , EBSCOHost and Ovid ), EMBASE ( Elsevier ), and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant publications from inception through October 2023 .
Inclusion criteria : The studies that investigated the effectiveness of dry needling or acupuncture for scar treatment were included .
Data extraction and analysis : The main extraction data items were : the needling technique ; needle : diameter , length ; needling locations ; manual needling manipulation ; number of sessions ; settings ; outcomes and results .
Results : As a result of a comprehensive search , 11 manuscripts were included in the systematic review , of which eight were case reports , two were randomized trials and one study concerned case series . Two case reports scored 2 – 4 out of 8 points on the JBI checklist , five studies scored 5 – 7 , and one study scored 8 points . The methodological quality of the two clinical trials was rated as good or fair on the PEDro scale . The case series study scored 7 of 10 points on the JBI checklist . A meta-analysis was not possible as only two randomized trials , eight case reports , and one case series were eligible for review ; also , scar assessment scales and pain severity scales were highly heterogeneous .
Conclusions : The studies differed regarding the delivery of dry needling or local acupuncture for scar treatment . Differences included treatment frequency , duration , number of treatments , selection of needle insertion sites , number of needles used , angle of needle placement , and use of manual needling manipulation .
Systematic review registration : INPLASY no . 202310058 .
Gao YC , Cao R , Liu ZH , Liao YD , Tao LY , Feng YT , Chai QY , Luo MJ , Fei YT . Comprehensive consideration of multiple determinants from evidence to recommendations in guidelines for most traditional Chinese medicine was suboptimal : A systematic review . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2024 ; 24 ( 1 ): 19 . doi : 10.1186 / s12906-023-04321-0
Background : The overall comprehensive consideration of the factors influencing the recommendations in the traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) guidelines remains poorly studied . This study systematically evaluate the factors influencing recommendations formation in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment , Development , and Evaluation ( GRADE ) clinical practice guidelines ( CPGs ) and TCM CPGs .
Methods : This was a methodological review in which we searched six databases and multiple related websites . The GRADE CPGs were identified as the guidelines developed by the GRADE Working Group or the two Co-Chairs .
For the TCM CPGs , we randomly selected guidelines that were published by the TCM or integrative medicine academic societies from China mainland ( published by the TCM or integrative medicine academic societies of China mainland ). Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data . We included CPGs published in 2018 – 2022 . We extracted information on the influencing factors of evidence to recommendation and conducted the analyses using descriptive statistics and calculated the proportion of relevant items by IBM SPSS Statistics and Microsoft Excel to compare the differences between the GRADE CPGs and the TCM CPGs .
Results : Forty-five GRADE CPGs ( including 912 recommendations ) and 88 TCM CPGs ( including 2452 recommendations ) were included . TCM recommendations mainly considered the four key determinants of desirable anticipated effects , undesirable anticipated effects , balance between desirable and undesirable effects , certainty of evidence , with less than 20 % of other dimensions . And TCM CPGs presented more strong recommendations ( for or against ) and inappropriate discordant recommendations than GRADE CPGs . GRADE CPGs were more comprehensive considered about the factors affecting the recommendations , and considered more than 70 % of all factors in the evidence to recommendation .
Conclusions : The TCM CPGs lack a comprehensive consideration of multiple influencing determinants from evidence to recommendations . In the future , the correct application of the GRADE approaches should be emphasized .
Li-Wen F , Zu G , Ning Z , Nan Y , Hui-Yan L , Ling- Yuan K , Xiu-Yang L . Traditional Chinese medicine formulae : A complementary method for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome . J Ethnopharmacol . 2024 ; Apr 6:323:117698 . doi : 10.1016 / j . jep . 2023.117698
Ethnopharmacological relevance : Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) is a prevalent female endocrine condition that significantly affects women of
JATMS | Winter 2024 | 107