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Chen SP, Yang ST, Hu KC, Satyanarayanan SK, Su KP. Usage Patterns of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:490. [PMID: 38391865 PMCID: PMC10888309 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12040490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) receive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for clinical needs unmet with psychotropic medications. However, the clinical characteristics of practices and outcomes of TCM in BD are not fully understood. This cohort study investigated the clinical characteristics, principal diagnoses, TCM interventions, and TCM prescriptions in patients with BD. METHODS Data for a total of 12,113 patients with BD between 1996 and 2013 were withdrawn from Taiwan's longitudinal health insurance database 2000 (LHID 2000). The chi-square test was used for categorical variables, and the independent t-test was used for continuous variables. A p-value less than 0.05 indicated significance. RESULTS One thousand three hundred nineteen patients who visited TCM clinics after the diagnosis of BD were in the TCM group, while those who never visited TCM were in the non-TCM group (n = 1053). Compared to the non-TCM group, patients in the TCM group had younger average age, a higher percentage of female individuals, more comorbidities of anxiety and alcohol use disorders, and higher mood stabilizer usage rates. The TCM group exhibited pain-related indications, including joint pain, myalgia, myositis, headache, and sleep disturbances. Corydalis yanhusuo and Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang were the most useful single herbs and herbal formulae. CONCLUSIONS Physicians need to be aware of the use of TCM in patients with BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Ping Chen
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404328, Taiwan
| | - Su-Tso Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404328, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Chieh Hu
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404439, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404328, Taiwan
| | | | - Kuan-Pin Su
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404328, Taiwan
- Mind-Body Interface Laboratory (MBI-Lab), China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
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Huang CY, Huang MC, Liao HH, Lin CL, Lee YC, Zimmerman G, Wu MY, Yen HR. Effect of acupuncture on ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide propensity score-matched study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e075218. [PMID: 38351113 PMCID: PMC10868250 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To demonstrate that acupuncture is beneficial for decreasing the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). DESIGN A propensity score-matched cohort study. SETTING A nationwide population-based study. PARTICIPANTS Patients with RA diagnosed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2010, through the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. INTERVENTIONS Patients who were administered acupuncture therapy from the initial date of RA diagnosis to 31 December 2010 were included in the acupuncture cohort. Patients who did not receive acupuncture treatment during the same time interval constituted the no-acupuncture cohort. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES A Cox regression model was used to adjust for age, sex, comorbidities, and types of drugs used. We compared the subhazard ratios (SHRs) of ischaemic stroke between these two cohorts through competing-risks regression models. RESULTS After 1:1 propensity score matching, a total of 23 226 patients with newly diagnosed RA were equally subgrouped into acupuncture cohort or no-acupuncture cohort according to their use of acupuncture. The basic characteristics of these patients were similar. A lower cumulative incidence of ischaemic stroke was found in the acupuncture cohort (log-rank test, p<0.001; immortal time (period from initial diagnosis of RA to index date) 1065 days; mean number of acupuncture visits 9.83. In the end, 341 patients in the acupuncture cohort (5.95 per 1000 person-years) and 605 patients in the no-acupuncture cohort (12.4 per 1000 person-years) experienced ischaemic stroke (adjusted SHR 0.57, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.65). The advantage of lowering ischaemic stroke incidence through acupuncture therapy in RA patients was independent of sex, age, types of drugs used, and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS This study showed the beneficial effect of acupuncture in reducing the incidence of ischaemic stroke in patients with RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yu Huang
- Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Cheng Huang
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hou-Hsun Liao
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Gregory Zimmerman
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- International Master Program in Acupuncture, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yao Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- International Master Program in Acupuncture, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Pei JH, Gan F, Bai YH, Xing YL, Jia JJ, Wang H. Instant and short-term effects of acupuncture for depression and anxiety in unstable angina pectoris patients with percutaneous coronary interventions. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1173080. [PMID: 38312234 PMCID: PMC10834639 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1173080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim Patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) usually present anxiety or depression during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study sought to investigate the instant and short-term effects of acupuncture for anxiety and depression in UAP patients with PCI. Methods A total of 210 UAP patients who underwent PCI were recruited and randomly assigned (1:1:1) to acupuncture, placebo, or control groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), advanced oxidation protein products (AoPPs), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL). Serial questionnaires with the Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were evaluated, and heart rate variability indicators were obtained. Results Primary end-point: low frequency/high frequency (HF) was lower in the electroacupuncture group (p = 0.014), while standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, average standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, percentage of successive intervals that differ more than 50 ms, and HF were increased with acupuncture (p = 0.018, p = 0.043, p = 0.016, and p = 0.002, respectively). Secondary end-point: significant improvements in anxiety levels (HAMA) were observed in the three groups (p < 0.001). The fasting insulin and HOMA-IR levels were similar between the control group and the acupuncture group (p = 0.285 and p = 0.165, respectively). The levels of IL-6 and AoPPs differed among the three groups (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant differences were found in fasting plasma glucose, fasting c-peptide, Hs-CRP, and OX-LDL levels among the three groups (p = 0.585, p = 0.611, p = 0.902, and p = 0.756, respectively). Conclusions In this study, short-term acupuncture may potentially relieve clinical symptoms before PCI treatment. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT03789344).
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Hui Pei
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Gan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yun He Bai
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Lin Xing
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Beijing Aerospace General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Jun Jia
- Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Wang
- The Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Tou SI, Lin CL, Huang CY, Yen HR. Trends in Coprescription Among Taiwanese Children from 2002 to 2012. J Multidiscip Healthc 2023; 16:4307-4320. [PMID: 38169977 PMCID: PMC10759922 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s416892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Coprescription means that patients use different prescription medications at the same time, which can lead to polypharmacy and subsequent complications. In Taiwan, prescriptions can be ordered by Western physicians, traditional Chinese physicians and dentists. It is essential to disclose the trends in coprescription to prevent possible polypharmacy among children. Patients and Methods We used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 in Taiwan. Children <18 years old who had coprescription from 2002 to 2012 are included. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval are estimated by a logistic regression model to evaluate the correlation between basic characteristics and coprescription. Results A total of 44,801 children are included in the analysis. The numbers of children with coprescription and the numbers of coprescriptions ordered for children increased with calendar years. Children aged 3-5 year and 6-8 years constituted the majority of coprescriptions, while those aged <3 years constituted the minority of coprescriptions. Compared to those in the Western medication-alone group, aged 3-5 years and children who lived in central and southern Taiwan are more likely to have coprescription. Conclusion Coprescription among Taiwanese children is not uncommon. Healthcare providers, policymakers and parents should be aware of the real coprescription situation among the children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sio-Ian Tou
- Department of Pediatrics, Chung Kang Branch, Cheng-Ching General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yu Huang
- Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- International Master Program in Acupuncture, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Jiang Y, Man X, Shi X, Zhao L, Yang W, Cheng W. Who consumes curative care expenditure of medical institutions in Beijing: a case study based on System of Health Accounts 2011. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:548. [PMID: 37231464 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09564-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND China's health system is challenged by complex health problems experienced by different population groups and caused by multiple diseases. This study examined the distribution of curative care expenditure (CCE) of medical institutions in Beijing using beneficiary characteristics such as residency, gender, age, and disease. Suggestions are presented for the development of health policies. METHODS A total of 81 medical institutions with approximately 80 million patients in Beijing, China, were selected via a multistage stratified cluster random sampling approach. Based on this sample, the System of Health Accounts 2011 was used to estimate the CCE of medical institutions. RESULTS The CCE of medical institutions in Beijing was ¥246.93 billion in 2019. The consumption of patients from other provinces was ¥60.04 billion, accounting for 24.13% of the total CCE. The CCE of female consumption (52.01%/¥128.42 billion) exceeded that of male consumption (47.99%/¥118.51 billion). Almost half of the CCE (45.62%/¥112.64 billion) was consumed by patients aged 60 or above. Adolescent patients up to an age of 14 (including those aged 14) mainly chose secondary or tertiary hospitals for treatment. Chronic non-communicable diseases accounted for the largest share of CCE consumption, with circulatory diseases accounting for the highest proportion. CONCLUSIONS This study identified significant differences in CCE consumption in Beijing according to region, gender, age, and disease. Currently, the utilization of resources in medical institutions is not reasonable, and the hierarchical medical system is not sufficiently effective. Therefore, the government needs to optimize the allocation of resources according to the needs of different groups and rationalize the institutional process and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jiang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No.11 North 3Rd Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowei Man
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No.11 North 3Rd Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
- National Institute of Chinese Medicine Development and Strategy, Beijing, China
| | - Xuefeng Shi
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No.11 North 3Rd Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
- National Institute of Chinese Medicine Development and Strategy, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Zhao
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No.11 North 3Rd Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Wanjin Yang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No.11 North 3Rd Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No.11 North 3Rd Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
- National Institute of Chinese Medicine Development and Strategy, Beijing, China.
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Chang HW, Lin WD, Shih PJ, Peng SL, Hsu CY, Lin CL, Liao WL, Sun MF. Acupuncture Decreases Risk of Hypertension in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in Taiwan: A Nationwide Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11101510. [PMID: 37239796 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) have a higher risk of developing hypertension. This study aimed to determine whether acupuncture could decrease the risk of hypertension in patients with CSU. We enrolled patients newly diagnosed with CSU between 1 January 2008, and 31 December 2018, from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. The claims data were assessed from the index date to 31 December 2019. A Cox regression model was used to compare the hazard ratios (HRs) of the two cohorts. The cumulative incidence of hypertension was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. After propensity score matching with a 1:1 ratio, 43,547 patients with CSU who received acupuncture were matched with 43,547 patients with CSU who did not receive acupuncture in this study. After considering potential confounding factors, patients who received acupuncture had a significantly lower risk of hypertension than those in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% confidence interval = 0.54-0.58). Patients who received medications combined with acupuncture tended to have the lowest risk of hypertension. This study revealed that acupuncture decreases the risk of hypertension in patients with CSU in Taiwan. The detailed mechanisms can be further clarified through prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Wei Chang
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Wei-De Lin
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
| | - Pai-Jun Shih
- Erlin Four Seasons Dermatology Clinic, Erlin Township, Changhua County 526022, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Lei Peng
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Y Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ling Liao
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
- Center for Personalized Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
| | - Mao-Feng Sun
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, Taiwan
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Liu F, Zhan TY, Xu YQ, Lu XF, Zhou YM, Huang XX, Zhuo YY, Yang ZX. Practitioners' perspectives on acupuncture treatment for postpartum depression: A qualitative study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282661. [PMID: 36867647 PMCID: PMC9983845 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupuncture may become a treatment for postpartum depression (PPD). Currently, little is known about the use of acupuncture in the treatment of PPD from the point of view of practitioners. The aim of this study was to explore practitioners' perspectives on the treatment of PPD with acupuncture and provide suggestions for future improvement. METHODS This study employed a qualitative descriptive method. Semistructured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 14 acupuncture practitioners from 7 hospitals via face-to-face or telephone interviews. The data were collected using interview outline from March to May 2022 and analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS In general, the use of acupuncture for treating PPD was positively regarded by practitioners. They claimed that acupuncture is both safe and helpful for breastfeeding women who are experiencing emotional discomfort and that it can alleviate a variety of somatic symptoms. The following three themes were extracted: (a) patient acceptance and compliance; (b) acupuncture as a treatment for PPD; and (c) the advantages and drawbacks of acupuncture treatment. CONCLUSION Practitioners' optimistic outlooks demonstrated that acupuncture is a promising treatment option for PPD. However, the time cost was the most significant barrier to compliance. Future development will focus mostly on improving acupuncture equipment and the style of service.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Liu
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tian-yu Zhan
- Community Health Service Management Centre, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu-qin Xu
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-fei Lu
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu-mei Zhou
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing-xian Huang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuan-yuan Zhuo
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhuo-xin Yang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail:
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Kayo T, Suzuki M, Kato R, Ishizaki N, Mitsuma T, Fukuda F. Association between subjective health status and frequency of visits to acupuncture clinic: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277686. [PMID: 36395152 PMCID: PMC9671381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are few studies on the relationship between the frequency of acupuncture use and subjective health status. Therefore, we investigated this relationship using data of a previously performed cross-sectional survey of patients visiting Japanese acupuncture clinics. METHODS This study used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2011 on patients visiting 180 acupuncture clinics nationwide that were run by members of the alumni association of Meiji University of Integrative Medicine Faculty of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, and did not provide treatment other than acupuncture. We calculated the frequency of visits to acupuncture clinics (< 24 times, 24-47 times, 48-95 times, or ≥ 96 times per year) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) summary scores (physical, mental, role/social) based on the response of the questionnaire conducted at the time of the survey. Multiple linear regression analysis with multiple imputation was performed with three SF-36 summary scores as the dependent variables, and the frequency of visits to acupuncture clinics as the independent variable. RESULTS The questionnaire was distributed to 2,379 outpatients of acupuncture clinics, 1,409 of whom met the criteria and were included in the analysis. More frequent visits to acupuncture clinics were associated with lower scores on all three SF-36 summary scores. Compared to those who visited < 24 times a year, those who visited ≥ 96 times a year had unstandardized regression coefficients (95% confidence interval) of -5.6 (-7.8 to -3.3) for the physical, -2.0 (-3.9 to -0.1) for the mental, and -2.9 (-5.4 to -0.4) for the role/social SF-36. CONCLUSIONS Frequent visits to acupuncture clinics were associated with poor subjective health status, especially physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Kayo
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Integrative Medicine, Nantan, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Kampo Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan
- * E-mail: (TK); (FF)
| | - Masao Suzuki
- Department of Kampo Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kato
- Wallon Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinic, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoto Ishizaki
- Course of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tadamichi Mitsuma
- Department of Kampo Medicine, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Fukuda
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Faculty of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Integrative Medicine, Nantan, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail: (TK); (FF)
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9
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Ben-Arie E, Inprasit C, Lottering B, Yip HT, Ho WC, Lee YC, Kao PY. The Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Oral, Oropharynx, Nasopharynx, and Hypopharynx Cancers: A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study in Taiwan. Integr Cancer Ther 2022; 21:15347354221132790. [PMID: 36314371 PMCID: PMC9623381 DOI: 10.1177/15347354221132790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Given the prevalent use of tobacco and betel nut in the Taiwanese community,
an increase risk of oral, oropharynx, and hypopharynx cancers (head and neck
cancers) is apparent. The use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and
acupuncture is both common and conveniently accessible in Taiwan, with
treatments being financially supported by the National Health Insurance
(NHI). This study aims to investigate the use of TCM in head and neck
cancers in Taiwan through a longitudinal cohort study. Methods: The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was utilized
in order to conduct this study. The study populations consisted of oral,
oropharynx, nasopharynx, and hypopharynx cancers (head and neck cancer)
patients in 2002, which were then followed up until 2007 in regards to TCM
use, until 2013 in regards to acupuncture use and until 2014 for all-cause
mortality. Patients were divided into 4 groups. Common symptoms, Chinese
herbs and formula used, TCM visits and 5 and 12 years all-cause mortality
were analyzed. Results: The use of TCM was increased in the second to fourth-year post-diagnosis. TCM
use in nasopharynx cancer patients was higher compared to other cancers. The
number of TCM visits per patient was increased post-diagnosis. The findings
suggest a non-significant reduction in 5 and 12 years all-cause mortality
between TCM II and CON II groups. Conclusion: The use of TCM in new patients suffering from head and neck cancers was
increased in close proximity to the cancer diagnosis. The relation between
TCM use and mortality of head and neck cancer should be investigated through
larger scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hei-Tung Yip
- China Medical University, Taichung,
Taiwan
- China Medical University Hospital,
Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | - Yu-Chen Lee
- China Medical University, Taichung,
Taiwan
- China Medical University Hospital,
Taichung, Taiwan
- Yu-Chen Lee, Graduate Institute of
Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, 2 Yuh-Der Road, Taichung City,
40402.
| | - Pei-Yu Kao
- China Medical University Hospital,
Taichung, Taiwan
- Kao Pei-Yu, Division of Thoracic Surgery,
Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, 2 Yuh-Der Road,
Taichung City, 40402.
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10
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Ton G, Lee LW, Ho WC, Tu CH, Chen YH, Lee YC. Effects of Laser Acupuncture Therapy for Patients With Inadequate Recovery From Bell's Palsy: Preliminary Results From Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study. J Lasers Med Sci 2022; 12:e70. [PMID: 35155155 DOI: 10.34172/jlms.2021.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Inadequate recovery from Bell's palsy exists in a third of patients and results in physical and social impairments. The controversial nature of existing medical treatment options means that novel, alternative approaches are needed. In basic and clinical studies, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has proven successful in regenerating peripheral nerves. Laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) is a rapidly growing treatment modality; however, its effectiveness for treating chronic Bell's palsy is unknown. The feasibility of this innovative approach is the focus of this pilot study. Methods: A two-armed, parallel, randomized, investigator-subject-assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot study was conducted, and 17 eligible subjects were randomly allocated to either LAT (n=8) or sham LAT (n=9). The LAT group received three treatments each week for six weeks (18 sessions), while the sham LAT group received the same procedure but with a sham laser device. The change from baseline to week 6 in the social subscale of the Facial Disability Index (FDI) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were changes in the House-Brackmann facial paralysis scale (HB), the Sunnybrook facial grading system (SB) and a stiffness scale at weeks 3 and 6. Results: A significant difference was shown in the HB score (P=0.0438) between baseline and week 3 and borderline significance was observed in both SB and stiffness scores from baseline to week 6 (P=0.0598 and P=0.0980 respectively). There was no significant difference in the FDI score between baseline and week 6. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this clinical trial is the first such investigation on this topic. Our findings suggest that using LAT may have clinical effects on long-term complications of Bell's palsy and justify further large-scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Ton
- College of Chinese medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wen Lee
- Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402 Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chao Ho
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hao Tu
- College of Chinese medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hung Chen
- College of Chinese medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- College of Chinese medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.,Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402 Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung 40402 Taiwan
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11
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Huang CH, Lin MC, Chou IC, Hsieh CL. Acupuncture Treatment is Associated with Reduced Dementia Risk in Patients with Migraine: A Propensity-Score-Matched Cohort Study of Real-World Data. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2022; 18:1895-1906. [PMID: 36065385 PMCID: PMC9440707 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s372076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migraine is a recurrent headache disease that has been identified as a risk factor for subsequent dementia. The present study collected data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to investigate the incidence of dementia in patients with migraine who did or did not concurrently receive acupuncture treatment. METHODS A 1:1 propensity score method was used to match an equal number of patients (N = 4813) in the acupuncture and nonacupuncture cohorts based on sex, age, migraine diagnosis year, index year, insurance amount, urbanization level, baseline comorbidities, and medication usage. We employed Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the risk of dementia. RESULTS Patients with migraine who received acupuncture treatment were found to have a lower risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.40-0.65) than those who did not undergo acupuncture treatment. The cumulative incidence of dementia was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort than in the nonacupuncture cohort (Log rank test, p < 0.001). This propensity score-matched cohort study demonstrated an association between acupuncture treatment and dementia development in patients with migraine in Taiwan. CONCLUSION The results suggest that acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the development of dementia in patients with migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hao Huang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, 40402, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, 40447, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Chen Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan
| | - I-Ching Chou
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, 40402, Taiwan.,Division of Pediatric Neurology, China Medical University Children's Hospital, Taichung City, 40447, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Liang Hsieh
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, 40447, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung City, 40402, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung City, 40402, Taiwan
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12
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Ho L, Ke FYT, Wong CHL, Wu IXY, Cheung AKL, Mao C, Chung VCH. Low methodological quality of systematic reviews on acupuncture: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2021; 21:237. [PMID: 34717563 PMCID: PMC8557536 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-021-01437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While well-conducted systematic reviews (SRs) can provide the best evidence on the potential effectiveness of acupuncture, limitations on the methodological rigour of SRs may impact the trustworthiness of their conclusions. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the methodological quality of a representative sample of SRs on acupuncture effectiveness. METHODS Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched for SRs focusing on the treatment effect of manual acupuncture or electro-acupuncture published during January 2018 and March 2020. Eligible SRs must contain at least one meta-analysis and be published in English language. Two independent reviewers extracted the bibliographical characteristics of the included SRs with a pre-designed questionnaire and appraised the methodological quality of the studies with the validated AMSTAR 2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2). The associations between bibliographical characteristics and methodological quality ratings were explored using Kruskal-Wallis rank tests and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. RESULTS A total of 106 SRs were appraised. Only one (0.9%) SR was of high overall methodological quality, zero (0%) was of moderate-quality, six (5.7%) and 99 (93.4%) were of low-quality and critically low-quality respectively. Among appraised SRs, only ten (9.4%) provided an a priori protocol, four (3.8%) conducted a comprehensive literature search, five (4.7%) provided a list of excluded studies, and six (5.7%) performed meta-analysis appropriately. Cochrane SRs, updated SRs, and SRs that did not search non-English databases had relatively higher overall quality. CONCLUSIONS Methodological quality of SRs on acupuncture is unsatisfactory. Future reviewers should improve critical methodological aspects of publishing protocols, performing comprehensive search, providing a list of excluded studies with justifications for exclusion, and conducting appropriate meta-analyses. These recommendations can be implemented via enhancing the technical competency of reviewers in SR methodology through established education approaches as well as quality gatekeeping by journal editors and reviewers. Finally, for evidence users, skills in SR critical appraisal remain to be essential as relevant evidence may not be available in pre-appraised formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Ho
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Fiona Y T Ke
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Charlene H L Wong
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Irene X Y Wu
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 5/F, 238 Shang-Ma-Yuan-Ling Alley, Kai-Fu District, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Andy K L Cheung
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chen Mao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Vincent C H Chung
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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13
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Chen KY, Huang MC, Lin CL, Lee YC, Wu MY, Yen HR. Acupuncture Treatment is Associated with a Decreased Risk of Dementia in Patients with Depression: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:3255-3266. [PMID: 34764650 PMCID: PMC8575370 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s331026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is one of the most disabling disorders, which causes long-term complications such as neurodegenerative disorder and cerebrovascular disease. Some patients with depression seek acupuncture treatment. We aimed to investigate the association between acupuncture treatment and the risk of dementia in patients with depression from the perspective of real-world evidence. METHODS Patients over 18 years old and newly diagnosed with depression between 1997 and 2010 were selected from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database and followed up until the end of 2013. Propensity score was used to match equal numbers of patients 1:1 (N = 16,609 per group) into acupuncture and non-acupuncture cohorts based on characteristics including sex, age, baseline comorbidity and drug use. The outcome measurement was the comparison of dementia incidence in the two cohorts. RESULTS Compared with the non-acupuncture cohort, patients who received acupuncture treatment had a decreased risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.50-0.58, P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities and drug use. Compared with depression patients who did not receive acupuncture, the aHR of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease incidences for patients who had acupuncture therapy was 0.59 (95% CI 0.48-0.71) and 0.51 (95% CI 0.39-0.67), respectively. The cumulative incidence of dementia was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort than in the non-acupuncture cohort (Log rank test, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The present study from real-world data revealed that acupuncture reduced the risk of dementia in depression patients, which supports healthcare decisions in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Yu Chen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Yangming Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Cheng Huang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yao Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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14
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Huang CY, Huang MC, Sun MF, Lin CL, Wu MY, Lin WC, Yen HR. Acupuncture Treatment Reduced the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Depression: A Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:2315-2325. [PMID: 34285491 PMCID: PMC8286083 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s315572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder is a significant public health concern, which often leads to loss of productivity, functional decline, and various complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the risk reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with depression. METHODS We enrolled patients diagnosed with depression between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2010, through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Propensity score was used to match equal numbers (n=14,647) of acupuncture cohort and no-acupuncture cohort based on characteristics including sex, age, baseline comorbidity and medication. Patients were followed up until December 31, 2013, or withdrawn from the NHIRD. The Cox regression model was used to compare the hazard ratios (HRs) of CHD in the two cohorts. RESULTS The basic characteristics of the two groups were similar. A lower cumulative incidence of CHD was noted in the acupuncture cohort (Log rank test, p < 0.001). Over time, 1626 patients in the acupuncture cohort (21.05 per 1000 person-years) and 2412 patients in the no-acupuncture cohort (39.84 per 1000 person-years) developed CHD (adjusted HR=0.50, 95% CI 0.47-0.53). The decreased CHD incidence was independent of age, sex, comorbidities, and medications used. The cumulative incidence of CHD was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort than in the no-acupuncture cohort (Log rank test, p<0.001). CONCLUSION The results provided a real-world evidence that acupuncture may have beneficial effect on CHD risk reduction in patients with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yu Huang
- Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, 427, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Cheng Huang
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Mao-Feng Sun
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yao Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,School of Post-baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Wu-Chou Lin
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
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15
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Huang CH, Lin MC, Hsieh CL. Acupuncture Treatment Reduces Incidence of Parkinson's Disease in Patients With Depression: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:591640. [PMID: 33343332 PMCID: PMC7746549 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.591640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a risk factor for subsequent Parkinson's disease (PD). Some patients with depression undergo acupuncture treatment because of other diseases in Taiwan. Therefore, the present study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to investigate the incidence of PD in patients having depression with and without acupuncture treatment. We conducted a retrospective study of a matched cohort of 48,981 patients with newly diagnosed depression between 2000 and 2012 who were selected from the NHIRD. The 1:1 propensity score method was utilized to match an equal number of patients (N = 9,189) in the acupuncture and non-acupuncture cohorts. We employed Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate the risk of PD. The cumulative incidence of PD in both cohorts was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the difference was examined through a log-rank test. Patients with depression who received acupuncture treatment demonstrated a lower risk of PD [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.31–0.49] than those who did not undergo acupuncture treatment, after adjusting for age, sex, insurance amount, geographic region, urbanization levels, comorbidities, and drugs. The cumulative incidence of PD was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort than in the non-acupuncture cohort (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The database did not indicate the severity of depression and acupoints. The results suggest that acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the development of PD in patients with depression; however, a future study should be conducted to provide more objective evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hao Huang
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Chen Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Liang Hsieh
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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16
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Sui M, Xue L, Ying X. Association of Acupuncture Treatment with Mortality of Type 2 Diabetes in China: Evidence of a Real-World Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17217801. [PMID: 33113774 PMCID: PMC7663761 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and mortality rates of diabetes are increasing globally, posing severe challenges to health systems. Acupuncture is used worldwide as a non-drug treatment for diabetes. However, empirical evidence of the effect of combined acupuncture and drug treatments on diabetic-associated mortality is limited. This study aimed to examine this association of acupuncture treatment with mortality of type 2 diabetes based on real-world data. A four-year cohort study was conducted in Shanghai between 2015 and 2018, The database consisted of 37,718 patients (acupuncture group: 6865 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, non-acupuncture (control) group: 30,853 T2DM patients) in 2016. The objective was to analyze the impact of receiving acupuncture prescriptions for diabetes in 2016 on all-cause mortality in 2018 based on real-world data. An Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) were used to minimize the bias due to potential confounding variables to increase the reliability of differences in comparisons between the two groups. Our inverse probability weighted regression results suggest that the coefficient of the key dependent variable of accepted acupuncture in 2016 was negative (coefficient: -0.0002; 95% CI: -0.0024-0.0019, p = 0.857), but it is not statistically significant. In robustness check, PSM with the nearest-neighbor method with replacement at a 1:4 ratio and 1:3 ratio and kernel matching showed that the average treatment effect was negative. Therefore, there was a negative correlation between acupuncture combined with other drugs and the mortality of diabetic patients, but it was not statistically significant.
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17
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Ton G, Yang YC, Lee LW, Ho WC, Chen YH, Yen HR, Lee YC. Acupuncture Decreased the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Osteoarthritis in Taiwan: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study. J Altern Complement Med 2020; 27:S60-S70. [PMID: 32744906 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2020.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than the general population. Acupuncture is commonly used in OA patients; however, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the risk of CHD in patients with OA and the association between OA patients and their risk to develop CHD in Taiwan are unknown. We investigated the risk of CHD according to acupuncture use in OA patients and compared it with the general population. Design: Records obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database identified 84,773 patients with OA, which were compared with 727,359 patients without OA diagnosis. Five thousand forty-six of those who met study inclusion criteria had 1:1 frequency matching and were categorized as OA-acupuncture cohort (n = 1682), OA nonacupuncture cohort (n = 1682), and non-OA cohort (n = 1682). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis determined the risk of CHD, which was defined as the study main outcome. Therapeutic effects of acupuncture and medical expenditure were also analyzed. Results: OA nonacupuncture cohort had 3.04 higher risk to develop CHD compared with OA-acupuncture cohort (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.54-3.63, p < 0.001) and non-OA cohort had 1.88 higher risk to develop CHD compared with OA-acupuncture cohort (95% CI, 1.52-2.32, p < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, OA patients treated with both acupuncture and oral steroids were at significantly lower risk of CHD compared with those who used neither (adjusted hazard ratio 0.34; 95% CI, 0.22-0.53), and OA patients treated with acupuncture had the lowest medical expenditure in a follow-up time of 6 months, and 3 and 5 years. Conclusion: This is the first large-scale investigation in Taiwan that shows the association between OA and CHD and the beneficial effects of acupuncture in OA patients, and their associated risk to develop CHD. Our results may provide valuable information for health policy decision making. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observational findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Ton
- College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cih Yang
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wen Lee
- Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chao Ho
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hung Chen
- College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,College of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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18
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Chen HY, Huang WC, Lin CL, Kao CH. Association between topical beta-blockers and risks of cardiovascular and respiratory disease in patients with glaucoma: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e034361. [PMID: 32699162 PMCID: PMC7380834 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if topical beta-blocker use is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in patients with glaucoma. SETTING A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using the database from Taiwan's National Health Insurance programme. PARTICIPANTS In total, 12 336 newly diagnosed patients with glaucoma from January 2000 to December 2010 were included. The patients with glaucoma were subdivided into two cohorts according to whether they used topical beta-blockers or combination drugs (BBCDs). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES The study endpoints included pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, stroke and coronary artery disease (CAD). Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs for the endpoints of both cohorts. RESULTS The BBCD cohort had a slightly higher risk of acute respiratory failure (adjusted HRs=1.16, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.34) and lower risk of CAD (aHR=0.93, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.99) than the non-BBCD cohort. Additionally, the risk of stroke was significantly higher in BBCD cohort than in the non-BBCD cohort (aHR=1.39, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.58), especially the ischaemic stroke (aHR=1.44, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.64; aHR=1.44, 98.75% CI 1.21 to 1.71). After considering the multiplicative interaction of age and sex, the BBCD cohort do not have higher risk of all outcomes than the non-BBCD cohort. Further time-dependent regression analysis revealed BBCD cohort had higher risk of acute respiratory failure (aHR=1.17, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.35) and ischaemic stroke (aHR=1.44, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.65) than non-BBCD cohort. However, after considering the multiplicative interaction of age and sex, the BBCD cohort had no significantly higher risk of all outcomes than the non-BBCD cohort. CONCLUSION Topical beta-blocker is not associated with increased risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in patients with glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Yi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu-Jen University, New Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Cheng Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu-Jen University, New Taipei, Taiwan
- Min-Min Eye Clinic, Chang-Hwa, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hung Kao
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Center of Augmented Intelligence in Healthcare, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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19
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Chen CL, Chang MH, Lee WJ. A Case Report: An Acute Spinal Epidural Hematoma after Acupuncture Mimicking Stroke. J Emerg Med 2020; 58:e185-e188. [PMID: 32204999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after acupuncture is rare and may present with acute or subacute onset and varied symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. This condition can mimic acute stroke, so it is vital to establish a clear diagnosis before considering thrombolytic therapy, which could be disastrous if applied inappropriately. CASE REPORT We describe a 52-year-old man who presented to our emergency department (ED) with acute onset of unilateral weakness of the limbs for 3.5 h immediately after receiving acupuncture at the bilateral neck and back. The acute stroke team was activated. In the ED, computer tomography angiography from the aortic arch to the head revealed spinal epidural hematoma. The patient was admitted to the ward for conservative treatment and was discharged with subtle residual symptoms of arm soreness 5 days later. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Acute spinal epidural hematoma rarely presents with unilateral weakness of the limbs, mimicking a stroke. Because inappropriate thrombolysis can lead to devastating symptoms, spinal epidural hematoma should be excluded when evaluating an acute stroke patient with a history of acupuncture who is a possible candidate for thrombolytic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Ling Chen
- Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hong Chang
- Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ju Lee
- Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Dementia and Parkinson's Disease Integrated Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Liao CC, Lin CL, Liao KR, Li JM. Long-Term Beneficial Effects of Acupuncture with Reduced Risk of Depression Development Following Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020; 16:2961-2973. [PMID: 33311982 PMCID: PMC7725145 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s284857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing evidence has shown that patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) have a higher risk of developing depression than the normal population. Clinically, acupuncture has been widely used to alleviate pain in TN. However, few studies have explored the use of acupuncture to prevent depression in TN. Therefore, this study aimed to apply national real-world data to investigate the long-term effect of acupuncture on the risk of depression in patients with TN. METHODS We recruited participants with newly diagnosed TN from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010, and categorized them into either the acupuncture cohort or non-acupuncture cohort using the 1:1 propensity score-matched method. All patients in the two cohorts were followed up until the end of 2013. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to compare the incidence of depression between the two cohorts. RESULTS In total, 776 patients with newly diagnosed TN in each cohort with similar baseline characteristics were enrolled in the study. The acupuncture cohort had a reduced risk of depression compared to the non-acupuncture cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.70). Kaplan-Meier analysis also revealed that the cumulative incidence of depression was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort during the 13-year follow-up period (Log rank test, p < 0.001). In particular, the beneficial effect of acupuncture was a decrease in the risk of depression among TN patients aged 50-69 years who had also used carbamazepine. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that acupuncture is associated with a reduction in the risk of depression during long-term follow-up in patients with TN. The results provide new insights for clinical practitioners as well as for health resource allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Chih Liao
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Ke-Ru Liao
- Department of Neurology, Yuanlin Christian Hospital, Yuanlin 51052, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Miao Li
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.,Department of Chinese Medicine, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 50008, Taiwan
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21
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Wang C, Lee YC, Wu MY, Lin CL, Sun MF, Lin JG, Yen HR. Trends in the utilization of acupuncture among children in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011: a nationwide population-based study. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 19:328. [PMID: 31752791 PMCID: PMC6873541 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, acupuncture has been increasingly integrated into pediatric care worldwide. However, recent epidemiological studies about pediatric users of acupuncture are lacking. The current study aimed to fill the gap and carry out the large-scale investigation on the basis of the pediatric population in Taiwan. METHODS We conducted a nationwide population-based study to investigate the utilization of acupuncture in Taiwan. We analyzed data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID 2000). The datasets contained all original claims data for 1 million beneficiaries who were randomly sampled from the registry of all beneficiaries enrolled in the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Program from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2011. Children younger than 18 years old were enrolled into our study for analysis. The demographic data, treatment modalities and distributions by disease categories of the pediatric acupuncture users were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the trends in acupuncture use over time. RESULTS The one-year prevalence of pediatric acupuncture users increased from 1.78% in 2002 to 5.34% in 2011. Acupuncture use significantly increased each year (p-value< 0.0001). Patients who were male, of greater age, resided in highly urbanized areas and suffered from injury or disorders of the musculoskeletal system were more likely to accept acupuncture treatment. Infantile cerebral palsy and psychoses were the top two health issues among those receiving complex acupuncture treatment. Older (> 9 years old) children tended to receive acupuncture treatment due to injury and musculoskeletal system disorders more than younger (≤9 years old) children. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed that the utilization of acupuncture in pediatrics became increasingly popular year by year in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011. The results of this study may provide some valuable information for further clinical practice and acupuncture research, as well as to the government and societies concerning pediatric health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh Wang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Lee
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| | - Mei-Yao Wu
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- School of Post-baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| | - Mao-Feng Sun
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd, North District, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| | - Jaung-Geng Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd, North District, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
| | - Hung-Rong Yen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd, North District, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, 413 Taiwan
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22
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Condello G, Chen CY. Fostering the acupuncture practice for health outcomes research: The perspective from Taiwan. J Chin Med Assoc 2019; 82:603-604. [PMID: 31259834 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Condello
- Graduate Institute of Sports Training, Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Yen Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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23
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Litscher D, Litscher G. Abstracts and Commentaries on Key Articles in the Literature. Med Acupunct 2018; 30:219-221. [DOI: 10.1089/acu.2018.29091.lit] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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