The evidence strength of a meta-analysis of aspirin for primary prevention of cancer

Tuina for Enuresis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective

To evaluate the effects of Tuina (massage) vs. non-Tuina traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments on nocturnal enuresis in children.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted following the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.

Results

Twelve RCTs recruiting a total of 1,007 children were included. Meta-analysis results showed that, compared with non-Tuina TCM treatments, Tuina could significantly improve the total effective rate of children's enuresis [RR = 1.29, 95%CI (1.22–1.36), P < 0.00001]. The results of subgroup analyses indicated that the total effective rate of Tuina combined with acupuncture in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis was higher than acupuncture alone [RR = 1.24, 95%CI (1.12–1.37), P < 0.0001]. The total effective rate of Tuina in the treatment of enuresis in children was better than that of herbal medicine alone [RR = 1.45, 95%CI (1.31–1.61), P < 0.00001]. The total effective rate of Tuina combined with herbal medicine in the treatment of enuresis in children was better than that of herbal medicine alone [RR = 1.16, 95%CI (1.06–1.26), P = 0.0007]. No adverse reactions of Tuina were reported in all included studies.

Conclusion

From the available evidence, Tuina, or Tuina combined with non-Tuina TCM treatments (acupuncture, or herbal medicine) can improve the clinical outcome of children with enuresis, indicating Tuina is a promising treatment choice for children's enuresis. However, because of the intrinsic limitations of the included studies, more high-quality randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are still needed to further confirm the efficacy and safety of Tuina in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis in children.

Long-term aspirin use for primary cancer prevention: An updated systematic review and subgroup meta-analysis of 29 randomized clinical trials

Background and objective: Long-term aspirin use for the primary prevention of cancer remains controversial, and variations in the effect of aspirin use on cancer outcomes by aspirin dose, follow-up duration, or study population have never been systematically evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of aspirin on primary cancer prevention and to determine whether the effect differed according to aspirin dose, follow-up duration, or study population.

Materials and methods: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to September 30, 2019. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared aspirin use versus no aspirin use in participants without pre-existing cancer and reported cancer outcomes were selected. Data were screened and extracted by different investigators. Analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2.0. Total cancer incidence was defined as the primary clinical endpoint. Total cancer mortality, all-cause mortality, major bleeding, and total bleeding events were the secondary outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on aspirin dose, follow-up duration, and study populations.

Results: Twenty-nine RCTs that randomized 200,679 participants were included. Compared with no aspirin, aspirin use was not associated with significant reductions in total cancer incidence (RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.04, P = 0.72), total cancer mortality (RR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.07, P = 0.90), or all-cause mortality (RR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.02, P =0.31); however, aspirin use was associated with a 44% increase in the risk of major bleeding (RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.32 to 1.57, P < 0.00001) and a 52% increase in the risk of total bleeding events (RR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.33 to 1.74, P < 0.00001). Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent results.

Conclusions: Long-term aspirin use in individuals without pre-existing cancer was not associated with a significant reduction in total cancer incidence, cancer mortality, or all-cause mortality; however, aspirin use was associated with a significant increase in the risk of bleeding. Therefore, aspirin is not an appropriate choice for the primary cancer prevention.

Compound Kushen injection combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis of 37 RCTs following the PRISMA guidelines

Objective: Compound Kushen injection (CKI), one of the commonly used antitumor Chinese patent medicines, has been widely prescribed as adjunctive treatment to platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy for advanced NSCLC remain controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of CKI combined with PBC on patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis) guidelines. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CKI in combination with PBC versus PBC alone were retrieved and assessed for inclusion. Analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014), Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3.0 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ, United States; 2016) and Trial Sequential Analysis software (TSA) (Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2011). The disease control rate (DCR) was regarded as the primary outcome, and the objective response rate (ORR), quality of life (QOL), survival rate, and toxicities were the secondary outcomes. Results: Thirty-seven trials, recruiting 3,272 patients with stage III/IV NSCLC, were included. The results showed that, CKI combined with PBC resulted in significant improvements in DCR (RR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.15, P < 0.00001), ORR (RR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.40, P < 0.00001), QOL (RR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.55 to 1.92, P < 0.00001), 1-year survival rate (RR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.94, P = 0.001), and a 58% decline in the incidence of severe toxicities (RR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.49, P < 0.00001). Conclusions: From the available evidence, our data indicate that CKI plus platinum-based chemotherapy is more effective in improving clinical efficacy and alleviating the toxicity of chemotherapy than platinum-based chemotherapy alone in the treatment of stage III/IV NSCLC. However, considering the intrinsic limitations of the included trials, high-quality RCTs with survival outcomes are still needed to further confirm our findings.