The Limitation of Randomized Control Trials on the Influence of Acupuncture and In Vitro Fertilization: A Literature Review.

Objective: Acupuncture has gained popularity among patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, the beneficial effect of acupuncture for improving IVF success is controversial and debatable. Given that different meta-analyses have come to different conclusions, it is crucial to explore the clinical trials in more detail. This literature review examined the limitation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the influence of acupuncture in IVF. Methods: This review began with 844 studies. The inclusion criteria were studies that had acupuncture treatments in conjunction with IVF. After exclusion criteria were applied, the final number of peer-reviewed studies was 10. Results: There were substantial variations in the results of the 10 RCTs. This seemed to suggest that acupuncture was not effective in conjunction with IVF treatment. However, limitations emerged that might explain these variations in results. Such limitations include timing of acupuncture and point selections; acupuncture not performed by experienced licensed acupuncturists; lack of Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnoses and fixed protocols causing biases; acupuncture dosages; and using sham acupuncture as a control. Conclusions: There is an urgent need for further research into the effectiveness of acupuncture for improving IVF outcomes. This review provides insight into this complex and controversial topic, revealing limitations of the clinical trials that led to different conclusions. If future research can examine acupuncture treatment carefully to resemble real-world clinical practice-having appropriate controls and individualized acupuncture treatments-increasingly positive effects from acupuncture in IVF may be expected.

Four New Species of Earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae: Amynthas) from Taiwan Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence.

Yu-Hsi Wang and His-Te Shih (2017) Four new species of earthworms of the genus Amynthas are described from Taiwan. Amynthas lalashan n. sp. has two pairs of large genital markings medial to male porophores at the presetal portions on segments xviii and xix; the genital marking on segment xviii is closely adjacent to the male pore. Amynthas fusing n. sp. has a large C-shaped genital marking beside each male pore. Amynthas lioujia n. sp. has two large round genital markings beside each male pore. Amynthas majia n. sp. has a large V-shaped genital marking beside each male pore. The recognition of the four new species is also supported by the difference of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) marker.