• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.271-302
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• 2017

Objectives : Jakyakgamcho-tang has been used to treat muscular tension, spasm and pain. On this study, new clinical uses of Jakyakgamcho-tang were confirmed and the other pharmacological results were summarized by analysing trends of modern experimental studies and clinical studies. Methods : Papers related to Jakyakgamcho-tang were searched on PUBMED, RISS, and National Assembly Library, and classified by categories and effects of clinical application and a variety of experiment around abstract. Also, figures were used for sketching out a timeline of expressing when these papers were read and core research content was described as a digest for identifying research trends. Results : Until today, there are 104 researches about the antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory effects of Jakyakgamcho-tang. In total, 91 papers were analyzed in this study. In matter of subject, researches on the antispasmodic effects were 17 cases, researches on the analgesic effects were 14 cases, researches on gynecological therapeutics were 14 cases, researches on pharmacokinetics were 12 cases, researches on the constituent identification were 7 cases, studies about constituents efficacy were 6 cases, studies about interactions with drugs were 6 cases. Conclusion : The traditional use of Jakyakgamcho-tang on muscle tension, spasm and pain has proven to have effects through the experimental evidences. Other effects of Jakyakgamcho-tang such as gynecological therapeutics, anti-inflammatory effects, are now emerging as a new area in clinical use. Futhermore as an auxiliary treatment, Jakyakgamcho-tang is a good alternative for muscle cramps during maintenance of hemodialysis, myalgia or arthralgia induced by anticancer drugs, amenorrhea induced by neuroleptics.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2020

Objective : Radiodermatitis is a common sequelae in 95% of patients receiving radiation therapy, which is important to be well managed as it can affect the patient's quality of life as well as the cancer treatment schedule. The aim of this study is to review and summarize the interventions available for the treatment of acute radiodermatitis, including traditional Korean medicine, and to propose treatment algorithms for clinicians. Methods : To collect studies about managements for radiodermatitis, domestic and foreign database were used such as Korean journal of traditional knowledge portal (KTKP), Korean studies information service system (KISS), national discovery or science leaders (NDSL), and oriental medicine advance searching integrated system (OASIS), Pubmed, Google scholar and Scopus. Results : Thirty-two studies were selected. There were nine studies on usual care and dressing, eleven studies on chemical agents, two studies on biological preparations, and ten studies on herbal medicines. Conclusion : Hygienic options and dressings have proved to be useful in the management of radiodermatitis. Chemical agents such as corticosteroid, statin, and topical antibiotic agent have proved to alleviate symptoms and severity, regenerate damaged skin, and prevent secondary infection. In biological preparations, EGF (epidermal growth factor) and GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) could be used to protect skin and prevent radiodermatitis. For herbal medicines, Calendula, catechin, β-sitosterol, and Jaungo (紫雲膏) may be effective for symptoms including pain, itching, and burning sensation induced by radiation therapy. Because of some research with conflicting results, further studies are needed to propose an algorithm for more optimal treatments.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.55-83
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmacopuncture and bee venom acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of pharmacopuncture and bee venom acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis through the electronic databases including Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CiNii, CNKI, KMBASE, KISS, NDSL, and OASIS. Meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager software and the quality of included studies were assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: A total of 20 articles with 1536 participants were identified. 12 trials about phamacopuncture and 8 trials about bee venom acupuncture showed significant improvement than sham treatment, western medicine treatment, and other Korean medicine treatment such as acupuncture in diverse scales. Six trials reported adverse events. Conclusions: These findings showed certain efficacy and safety of pharmacopuncture and bee venom acupuncture. It would be helpful for patients and Korean medicine doctors in the choice of the treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Well-designed studies with long term follow up and more number of participants should be conducted to strengthen the evidence of the use of pharmacopuncture and bee venom acupuncture.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.205-220
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this review is to assess the clinical benefit of chuna for managing symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Methods: We searched eligible studies from the following 11 databases with no language restriction: Pubmed, CENTRAL, Embase, CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, CiNii, OASIS, RISS and Koreamed. We selected randomized controlled trial (RCT), quasi-randomized controlled trial (Quasi-RCT) and controlled clinical trial (CCT) in which patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were treated with chuna. The results of the included studies were synthesized through meta-analysis, and their risk of bias were also assessed. Results: We searched 914 potentially relevant studies, and only 20 studies were selected for this systematic review. Meta-analysis showed that chuna was more effective in improving general symptoms (n=291, RR 0.19 [95% CI 0.11 to 0.32], Z=6.08, p<0.00001, I2=0%), fatigue (n=487, SMD -0.95 [95% CI -1.19 to -0.71], Z=7.76, p<0.00001, I2=37%) and sleep disorder (n=139, SMD -0.58 [95% CI -0.92 to -0.24], Z=3.36, p=0.0008, I2=0%) compared to health supplements or usual care. When chuna was used as an added intervention, it was more effective in improving general symptoms(n=729, RR 0.25 [95% CI 0.15 to 0.42], Z=5.19, p<0.00001, I2=0%) and fatigue severity alone(n=217, SMD -1.21 [95% CI -1.53 to -0.89], Z=7.45, p<0.00001, I2=15%) compared to control. Conclusion: We found that chuna was beneficial for improving severity of general symptoms and fatigue at post treatment in CFS patients.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.90-108
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of Mahaenggamsuktang for treating mycoplasma pneumonia in children based on the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods Literatures were searched from OASIS, KISS, NDSL, CNKI, Cochrane, Embase and Pubmed, and the search was conducted on January 29, 2020. Only RCTs published since 2000 were included. Trials comparing Mahaenggamsuktang combined with antibiotics or antibiotics treatment alone for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children were included. Results 17 trials, including 2,241 participants with mycoplasma pneumonia were included in this review. As a result of the meta-analysis, total effective rate of combination of Mahaggamsuktang and antibiotics was 1.24 times higher than that of the antibiotics alone, which was statistically significant. Symptoms with fever, lung sounds, cough, chest X-ray lesion findings, wheezing were also significantly reduced in the treatment group with Mahaenggamseoktang and antibiotics. Also, Serum CRP level was significantly lower with combination treatment. The incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the treatment group with Mahaenggamseoktang and antibiotics, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions As a result of meta-analysis, combination treatment of Mahaenggamseoktang and antibiotics seems significantly effective for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in children. In order to have a higher level of evidence for efficacy and safety of Mahaenggamsuktang in treating mycoplasma pneumonia, additional RCTs with good qualities are required.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2018

Background: One of the most frequent problems caused by diabetes is the so called painful diabetic neuropathy. This condition can be treated through numerous types of therapy. The purpose of this study was to analyze, as a meta-analysis, different treatments used to alleviate painful diabetic neuropathy, with the aim of generating results that help making decisions when applying such treatments to tackle this pathology. Methods: A search was conducted in the main databases for Health Sciences, such as PUBMED, Web of Science (WOS), and IME biomedicina (Spanish Medical Reports in Biomedicine), to gather randomized controlled trials about treatments used for painful diabetic neuropathy. The analyzed studies were required to meet the inclusion criteria selected, especially those results related to pain intensity. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials were chosen. The meta-analysis shows significant positive effects for those treatments based on tapentadol [g: -1.333, 95% CI (-1.594; -1.072), P < 0.05], duloxetine [g: -1.622, 95 % CI (-1.650; -1.594), P < 0.05], pregabalin [g: -0.607, 95% CI (-0.980; -0.325), P < 0.05], and clonidine [g: -0.242, 95 % CI (-0.543; -0.058), P < 0.05]. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates the effectiveness of the treatments based on duloxetine, gabapentin and pregabalin, as well as other drugs, such as tapentadol and topic clonidine, whose use is better prescribed in more specific situations. The results provided can help increase the knowledge about the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy and also in the making of clinical practice guidelines for healthcare professionals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2361-2368
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• 2015

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in differentiating between benign and malignant enlarged lymph nodes using meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Pubmed, Embase, SCI and Cochrane databases were searched for studies (up to September 1, 2014) reporting the diagnostic performance of CEUS in discriminating between benign and malignant lymph nodes. Inclusion criteria were: prospective study; histopathology as the reference standard; and sufficient data to construct $2{\times}2$ contingency tables. Methodological quality was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2). Patient clinical characteristics, sensitivity and specificity were extracted. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve was used to examine the accuracy of CEUS. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the clinical utility in identification of benign and malignant lymph nodes. Sensitivity analysis was performed after omitting outliers identified in a bivariate boxplot and publication bias was assessed with Egger testing. Results: The pooled sensitivity, specificity and AUROC were 0.92 (95%CI, 0.85-0.96), 0.91 (95%CI, 0.82-0.95) and 0.97 (95%CI, 0.95-0.98), respectively. After omitting 3 outlier studies, heterogeneity decreased. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated no disproportionate influences of individual studies. Publication bias was not significant. Conclusions: CEUS is a promising diagnostic modality in differentiating between benign and malignant lymph nodes and can potentially reduce unnecessary fine-needle aspiration biopsies of benign nodes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10421-10425
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• 2015

Background: While the incidence of non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) has been rising worldwide, the reasons remain undefined. Recent research has focused on effect of red andf processed meat intake as a risk factor, but with inconclusive results. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of data published to date, to ascertain the overall association between intake and NHL. Materials and Methods: A published literature search was performed through Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Science Citation Index Expanded databases for articles published in English. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated using random or fixed effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using Chi-square and I2 statistics. Dissemination bias was evaluated by funnel plot analysis.We performed a formal meta-analysis using summary measures from these studies. Results: In total, 11 published studies were included in the final analysis. The combined analysis revealed that there was significant association between the red meat and NHL risk (OR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.02 to 1.19, p=0.01). Additionally, there was showed significance association between processed red meat and NHL risk (OR=1.17, 95%CI: 1.06 to 1.29, p=0.001). In subgroup analysis, a statistical significant association was noted between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (OR=1.20, 95%CI: 1.04 to 2.37, P=0.01) and red meat intake. Conclusions: In this meta-Analysis, there was evidence for association between consumption of red meat, or processed meat and risk of NHL, particularly with the DLBCL subtype in the red meat case.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2605-2610
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• 2012

Background: Studies investigating the association of 2R/3R polymorphism in the thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region (TSER) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk have reported conflicting results. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to summarize the data on the potential association. Methods: Pubmed, Embase and CBM databases were searched for all available studies. Links between the TSER 2R/3R polymorphism and CRC risk were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven case-control studies with a total of 2723 cases and 4030 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the 3R variant of TSER 2R/3R polymorphism contributes to CRC risk in two comparison models (OR 3R vs. 2R =1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.18, P = 0.015; OR Homozygote comparison model = 1.22 1.04-1.43, 95%CI 1.04-1.43, P = 0.012). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity further demonstrated a contribution in Caucasians with three comparison models (OR 3R vs. 2R = 1.10, 95%CI 1.02-1.19, P = 0.015; OR Homozygote comparison model = 1.21, 95%CI 1.03-1.41, P = 0.019; OR Recessive comparison model = 1.18, 95%CI 1.05-1.33, P = 0.008). However, the association in the Asian population was still uncertain due to the limited data (all P values were more than 0.05). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that the 3R variant of Thymidylate synthase 5'-untranslated enhanced region 2R/3R polymorphism contributes to gastric cancer risk in the Caucasian population, while any association in Asian populations needs further study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6863-6869
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• 2014

Objectives: Several preclinical and observational studies have shown that anti-diabetic medications (ADMs) may modify the risk of lung cancer. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effect of metformin, sulfonylureas (SUs), thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and insulin on the risk of lung cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic search of Pubmed and Web of Science, up to August 20, 2013. We also searched the Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for abstracts from major meetings. Fixed or random effect pooled measures were selected based on heterogeneity among studies, which was evaluated using Q test and the I2 of Higgins and Thompson. Meta-regression was used to explore the sources of between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was analyzed by Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression test. Associations were assessed by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 15 studies (11 cohort, 4 case-control) were included in this meta-analysis. In observational studies no significant association between metformin (n=11 studies; adjusted OR=0.99, 95%CI: 0.87-1.12), SUs (n=5 studies; adjusted OR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.79-1.22), or TZDs (n=7 studies; adjusted OR=0.92, 95%CI: 0.75-1.13), insulin (n=6 studies; adjusted OR=1.13, 95%CI: 0.79-1.62) use and risk of developing lung cancer was noted. There was considerable inherent heterogeneity between studies not explained by study design, setting, or location. Conclusions: Meta-analysis of existing studies does not support a protective or harmful association between ADMs use and risk of lung cancer in patients with DM. There was considerable heterogeneity across studies, and future, well-designed, prospective studies would be required for better understanding of any association.