RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections specified in the clinical guideline for COVID-19 by conducting a meta-analysis of viral pneumonia data. METHODS: TCM injections data on viral pneumonia were collected until July 31, 2021. CNKI, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane electronic database were used to collect the clinical data. "COVID-19," "Viral pneumonia," "Tanreqing," "Xiyanping," "Reduning," "Xingnaojing," "Xuebijing," "Shenmai," "Shengmai," and "Shenfu" were used as keywords. All data collected were mainly about TCM injections and viral pneumonia. Furthermore, studies that included results such as the total effective rate, cough disappearance time, antipyretic time, lung rhomboid disappearance time, and adverse drug reaction were collected for the meta-analysis to identify the efficacy of TCM injections. However, data unrelated to TCM injections specified in the clinical guidelines for COVID-19 or viral pneumonia were excluded. The quality of included RCTs was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies with 1540 patients were included in this study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate OR = 4.61 (95% CI 2.92, 7.25, p = 1.00/ I2 = 0%); the cough disappearance time SMD -1.23 (-1.37, -1.09, p < 0.00001/ I2 = 94%); the antipyretic time SMD -1.26 (-1.40, -1.11, p < 0.00001/ I2=94%); lung rhomboid disappearance time SMD -1.17 (-1.33, -1.02, p < 0.00001/ I2 = 89%); and adverse drug reaction was OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.20, 0.64, p = 0.21/ I2 = 30%). From the results, the treatment group (TCM injection) showed better efficacy than the control group (Western medication). CONCLUSION: Xiyanping, Reduning, and Tanreqing injections may yield benefits as COVID-19 treatments. However, clinical trials on TCM injections for the treatment of COVID-19 are still lacking. More high-quality clinical trials are still required.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the microneedle therapy system (MTS) and its research methods for the past 10 years in Korea. METHODS: Data on microneedle therapy system were collected using NDSL, KISS, RISS, and OASIS electronic databases from January 2010 to August 2021. "microneedle," "derma stamp," "microneedle therapy system" were used as the keywords. The present study, however, excluded data that were 1) unrelated to the microneedle therapy system, 2) from review/meta/protocol studies, and 3) from overseas studies. Data selected through the primary screening process, animal studies, case reports, and clinical data were included in the analysis. However, information data not related to the microneedle therapy system were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Among the MTS-related papers published from January 2010 to August 2021, 7 animal research, 2 clinical trials, and 10 case studies were published. Based on the research topics, there were 8 papers on skin improvement and skin diseases, 7 papers on hair growth and hair loss, 3 papers on stability, and 1 paper on peripheral facial paralysis. CONCLUSION: Most of the studies related to MTS focused on skin, hair, and stability. The effect of MTS on hair growth and skin improvement has been confirmed, and it has been proven to have significant effects on the treatment of acne, acne scars, and hair loss in clinical practice. No serious side effects were observed during the MTS treatment, and the safety assessment confirmed that it was safe for use.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to appraise Korean studies published between 2010 and 2021 which examined the role of acupuncture in the treatment of obesity. METHODS: We performed a search of the NDSL, KISS, RISS, OASIS, PubMed, EMBASE electronic databases for relevant animal researches, case reports, and clinical trials, using the following search terms 'obesity', 'acupuncture', 'electroacupuncture', and 'pharmacopuncture'. We excluded previous reviews and meta-analyses, studies not related to obesity or acupuncture treatment, as well as studies conducted in countries other than Korea. We also excluded studies where relevant information on acupuncture treatment in obesity could not be obtained. RESULTS: Most studies were conducted in animals, followed by case reports and clinical trials. In animal researches and case reports, pharmacopuncture was the most used intervention. In case studies, electroacupuncture, thread-embedding therapy, manual acupuncture, acupotomy, and auricular acupuncture were also used. In animal researches, pharmacopuncture treatment was associated with improvement in obesity indices. In the case of local obesity, specific acupuncture techniques such as thread-embedding therapy and pharmacopuncture were associated with significant improvements in local obesity, even when diet and exercise were not controlled for. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture treatment showed significant benefit in the treatment of obesity, with a local effect evident for certain approaches, such thread-embedding therapy and acupotomy.
