Hasil untuk "Miscellaneous systems and treatments"

A. Wanhainen, I. van Herzeele, F. B. Bastos Gonçalves et al.

OBJECTIVE The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries in succession to the 2011 and 2019 versions, with the aim of assisting physicians and patients in selecting the best management strategy. METHODS The guideline is based on scientific evidence completed with expert opinion on the matter. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to a modified European Society of Cardiology grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III and the letters A to C mark the level of evidence. RESULTS A total of 160 recommendations have been issued on the following topics: Service standards, including surgical volume and training; Epidemiology, diagnosis, and screening; Management of patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), including surveillance, cardiovascular risk reduction, and indication for repair; Elective AAA repair, including operative risk assessment, open and endovascular repair, and early complications; Ruptured and symptomatic AAA, including peri-operative management, such as permissive hypotension and use of aortic occlusion balloon, open and endovascular repair, and early complications, such as abdominal compartment syndrome and colonic ischaemia; Long term outcome and follow up after AAA repair, including graft infection, endoleaks and follow up routines; Management of complex AAA, including open and endovascular repair; Management of iliac artery aneurysm, including indication for repair and open and endovascular repair; and Miscellaneous aortic problems, including mycotic, inflammatory, and saccular aortic aneurysm. In addition, Shared decision making is being addressed, with supporting information for patients, and Unresolved issues are discussed. CONCLUSION The ESVS Clinical Practice Guidelines provide the most comprehensive, up to date, and unbiased advice to clinicians and patients on the management of abdominal aorto-iliac artery aneurysms.

C. Wahlgren, Christopher Aylwin, Ross Davenport et al.

OBJECTIVE The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with vascular trauma with the aim of assisting physicians in selecting the optimal management strategy. METHODS The guidelines are based on scientific evidence completed with expert opinion. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to the ESVS evidence grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III, and the letters A to C mark the level of evidence. RESULTS A total of 105 recommendations have been issued on the following topics: general principles for vascular trauma care and resuscitation including technical skill sets, bleeding control and restoration of perfusion, graft materials, and imaging; management of vascular trauma in the neck, thoracic aorta and thoracic outlet, abdomen, and upper and lower extremities; post-operative considerations after vascular trauma; and paediatric vascular trauma. In addition, unresolved vascular trauma issues and the patients' perspectives are discussed. CONCLUSION The ESVS clinical practice guidelines provide the most comprehensive, up to date, evidence based advice to clinicians on the management of vascular trauma.

Lilly Josephine Bindel, Roland Seifert

M. Koelemay, R. H. Geelkerken, Jussi Kärkkäinen et al.

OBJECTIVE The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) has developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with diseases of the mesenteric and renal arteries and veins, in succession to the first 2017 guidelines, with the aim of assisting physicians and patients in selecting the best management strategy. METHODS These guidelines are based on scientific evidence and expert opinion. By summarising and evaluating the best available evidence, recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients have been formulated. The recommendations are graded according to the new ESVS clinical practice guidelines class of recommendation grading system, where the strength (class) of each recommendation is graded from I to III, and the letter A to C marks the level of evidence. RESULTS A total of 102 recommendations have been issued on the management of chronic arterial mesenteric ischaemia, median arcuate ligament syndrome, acute arterial mesenteric ischaemia, non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia, venous mesenteric thrombosis and ischaemia, occlusive disease of the renal arteries and veins, visceral artery aneurysms, and spontaneous isolated dissection of the visceral arteries. CONCLUSION These 2025 ESVS clinical practice guidelines provide comprehensive and up to date advice to physicians and patients on the management of diseases of the mesenteric and renal arteries and veins.

G. Alsaleh, Abdulaziz S. Alhomod, A. Khan et al.

Background The Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia poses significant healthcare challenges due to overcrowding and high demand. Stroke, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, necessitates timely management, with telemedicine providing crucial remote access to specialized care. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of pilgrims who experienced strokes and utilized telemedicine during the Hajj seasons of 2023 and 2024, focusing on identifying changes in patient profiles and treatment patterns over time. Methods and materials A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from SEHA Virtual Hospital (SVH) during the Hajj seasons of 2023 and 2024. The study included 459 adult stroke patients (207 in 2023 and 252 in 2024) who completed telemedicine consultations. Demographic and clinical data, including stroke types and treatment details, were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical comparisons were performed using chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results The mean age of patients was 64.13 years in 2023 and 62.43 years in 2024. Non-Saudi patients constituted 69% in 2023, decreasing to 62% in 2024, while Saudi patients increased from 31 to 38%. Male patients rose from 57% in 2023 to 62% in 2024. Diagnoses showed significant variation: ischemic strokes increased from 46% in 2023 to 73% in 2024, while hemorrhagic strokes and other miscellaneous conditions decreased, and TIAs showed a slight increase. TPA administration remained stable at 23% in both years, and the median time to TPA administration showed no significant difference. Conclusion The consistent application of a centralized telestroke service during the Hajj demonstrates that telemedicine is a viable and scalable strategy for delivering specialized stroke care in mass gathering settings. This model successfully managed a large, diverse patient cohort and maintained stable acute treatment rates, underscoring its potential to enhance health system resilience and equity during the most logistically challenging events.

Shuangshuang He, Lan Zhang, Fang Zhang et al.

Objective: To identify the active components in Maimendong decoction (MMDD) against pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and validate their molecular effects in vitro, while focusing on the role of methylophiopogonanone B in regulating fibrosis. Methods: Data on MMDD components and targets were gathered from databases including BATMAN-TCM and PubMed, whereas the PF gene data were sourced from GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD. Shared targets were determined using the STRING database, and molecular docking was used to analyze the essential molecules associated with fibrosis. To simulate PF conditions, human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HPF) and A549 cells were exposed to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Various assays were used to determine the effects of MMDD and methylophiopogonanone B on signaling pathways, apoptosis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Results: We identified 11 active components from MMDD extracts that targeted 511 shared proteins associated with PF, revealing 10 key targets in network analysis. Gene ontology analysis indicated that processes and pathways such as apoptosis regulation and PI3K/Akt signaling were involved. In vitro experiments revealed that MMDD downregulated the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I (COL-I), and collagen type III and regulated Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways to promote apoptosis. The flow cytometry apoptosis assay revealed that MMDD promoted the TGF-β1-induced apoptosis of myofibroblasts. The primary active ingredient in MMDD, methylophiopogonanone B, reduced α-SMA, COL-I, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related protein levels in TGF-β1-treated HPF cells, decreased Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase 3, and increased Bax. Moreover, methylophiopogonanone B increased E-cadherin levels and reduced α-SMA, fibronectin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and snail in TGF-β1-treated A549 cells. Conclusion: Methylophiopogonanone B demonstrated the potential to treat PF by inducing myofibroblast apoptosis and inhibiting EMT. However, despite encouraging initial results, further clinical research is warranted to verify the safety and efficacy of methylophiopogonanone B in the management of PF.

Shivaprasad Shetty, Nandi Krishnamurthy Manjunath, Prashanth Shetty et al.

Background: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a complex neural network responsible for maintaining homeostasis through its sympathetic and parasympathetic components. Yoga, an ancient mind–body practice, has been shown to modulate autonomic function, promoting homeostasis. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the differential impact of spinal flexion and extension-based yoga postures on autonomic modulation in practitioners with at least 2 years of consistent yoga practice. Methods: This randomized crossover trial included 40 participants of both genders who had practiced yoga for at least 2 years, averaging 3–5 sessions per week. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1) into two groups: Group 1 (n = 20) practiced a set of three spinal flexion-based postures (SFP: Halasana, Padahastasana, Shashankasana) on day 1 and three spinal extension-based postures (SEP: Ardhachakrasana, Ushtrasana, Chakrasana) on day 2; Group 2 (N = 20) practiced SEP on day 1 and SFP on day 2. Autonomic function was assessed using heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate (RR), galvanic skin resistance (GSR), and electrogastrogram (EGG), which were measured for 5 min at baseline and 5 min postintervention on both days. The data were analyzed based on linear mixed models. Results: Both SFP and SEP interventions resulted in a significant increase in the high-frequency (HF) component of HRV (P < 0.001), indicating parasympathetic predominance immediately postintervention. RR showed a significant increase postintervention (P < 0.001), likely due to the higher energy demands of the postures. No significant changes were observed in GSR for either intervention. EGG recordings indicated a nonsignificant decrease in overall gastric motility postintervention, potentially due to vagal nerve stimulation. Conclusion: Both spinal flexion and extension-based yoga postures enhance parasympathetic activity in moderately experienced practitioners, as evidenced by increased HF HRV. Future research should focus on long-term impact of different yoga postures and employ advanced measurement techniques for greater methodological rigor.

Arnima Sharma, Ankur Kapil, Abhishek Pandey et al.

Nanoemulsion gel, a novel method of delivering medication through the skin, is gaining popularity in the pharmaceutical industry. Phytoconstituents derived from plants possess diverse therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. The problem with delivering bioactive phytoconstituents lies in their poor solubility, limited permeability, reduced bioavailability, and instability. Nanoemulgel addresses these challenges by enhancing solubility, increasing bioavailability through improved absorption, offering targeted delivery to specific sites, and providing protection against degradation, ultimately improving the efficacy and therapeutic potential of phytoconstituents. Nanoemulsions are nano-sized emulsions with droplet sizes ranging from 20 to 500 nm, offering an innovative platform for delivering phytoconstituents. Nanoemulsions have great potential applications in the treatment of various diseases, the food industry, and cosmetics due to their properties, which enhance the solubility and absorption of phytoconstituents. This review highlights the major research on various phytoconstituent-based nanoemulgel for their multidimensional applications. Here, we review methods for preparing nanoemulsions, including the high-energy approach and the low-energy approach, and also discuss the stability of nanoemulsions. Furthermore, we discuss 33 bioactive phytoconstituents loaded nanoemulgel for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, inflammation, wound healing, and skin disorders. Additionally, 11 bioactive phytoconstituent-based nanoemulgels were reported for their miscellaneous benefits in numerous disease conditions, confirming that nanoemulsions enhance solubility, absorption, and bioavailability.

Dr. Arun Dayal, Dr. Mukesh Kumar

This systematic and complete work carefully examines the holomorphic extensions of complex probability measures through the perceptive lens of Fourier-Stieltjes transforms and their crucial and deep applications to the complex theory of Riemann surfaces. We derive a system of rigorous theoretical results that are vital for extending complex-valued probability measures from their natural and originally specified domains using the analytic structure that resides intrinsically with their characteristic functions. Our complete and careful treatment covers fundamental existence and uniqueness theorems, also certain convergence results and explicit construction techniques that are needed for the effective creation of holomorphic extensions. We illustrate the intimate and significant relations that exist among complex probability theory and the geometry of Riemann surfaces and show how multi-valued probability functions may actually produce single-valued functions considered on properly crafted Riemann surfaces. Complete and careful proofs of all of our significant results are shown in the paper, including certain extension theorems of a new and original nature and complete and definitive characterizations of singularity structures as well as numerous and miscellaneous applications to quantum probability theory. Using specific and illustrative computational algorithms and careful and specific illustrative examples, we outline the intricate and real-world utility of said extensions across a wide variety of disciplines ranging from mathematical physics and signal processing and demonstrate the compelling research promise of our findings towards unlocking breakthroughs and innovations in pure and applied mathematics.

A. kodzo-grey venyo

Sarcoidosis is stated to be a terminology that is used for a multi-system disease which is most commonly manifested within the pulmonary system. Nevertheless, cases of extrapulmonary manifestations of sarcoidosis had been sporadically reported frequently. Isolated occurrence of sarcoidosis within the uro-genital system is rare and has tended to pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Uterine sarcoidosis could manifest with cervical erosions, endometrial polypoid lesions, and recurrent serometra. In majority of cases, it is diagnosed by endometrial curettage, but it had also been detected by examination of hysterectomy, polypectomy, and autopsy specimens. Cases of sarcoidosis of the ovary and sarcoidosis of the fallopian tube do manifest with symptoms and signs to simulate the manifestations of more common afflictions of the ovary and fallopian tubes. Non-necrotizing granulomas are the characteristic pathology examination finding of sarcoidosis. Nevertheless, many infectious and non-infectious etiologies including certain neoplasms could produce similar granulomatous reactions within the female genital tract. These conditions afflict the female genital tract more commonly than sarcoidosis, and therefore it is important to exclude these conditions first before making a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Treatment of sarcoidosis is different from treating these other conditions and the most commonly utilized systemic or local corticosteroids could be hazardous if the underlying cause is infection. Sarcoidosis afflicting the ovary, fallopian tube and the uterus had not been extensively covered in most books of Medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and surgery perhaps due to the rarity of sarcoidosis in the aforementioned female genital organs when compared with the more common afflictions of the female genital tract. The ensuing chapter contains an updated information related to sarcoidosis including an overview and miscellaneous narrations from some case reports, case series, and studies related to sarcoidosis of the ovary, fallopian tube, and uterus.

Vidyadhar G. Vaidya, Amol Gothwad, Gayatri Ganu et al.

Background: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, known as Ashwagandha, is an adaptogen with significant importance in Ayurveda for its potential health benefits in strength ('balavardhan') and muscle growth ('mamsavardhan'). Despite numerous studies on its efficacy, limited research is reported on its clinical safety and tolerability in healthy individuals. Objective: This research evaluated the tolerability and safety of standardized Withania somnifera root extract (WSE) capsules (AgeVel®/Witholytin®) at 1000 mg/day dose upon oral administration in healthy male participants. Method: A non-randomized, open-label, single-treatment clinical study included eighteen healthy male participants aged 18 to 60. The participants were administered a dose of 500 mg of the WSE capsules twice daily for four weeks. Each capsule contained not less than 7.50 mg of total withanolides. The study evaluated various indicators in a cohort of healthy participants throughout the trial, including vital signs, organ function tests, urine analysis, X-ray and ECG, cardiorespiratory endurance, body fat percentage, lean body weight, adverse events profile, and tolerability of the WSE capsules. Results: The participant's physical, hematological, and biochemical characteristics were normal, and no significant alterations or irregularities were observed in safety metrics like liver, kidney, and thyroid functions after administering AgeVel®/Witholytin®. Conclusion: This study found that healthy male participants could consume a standardized WSE at a daily dosage of 1000 mg for four weeks without any adverse effects. Future research should focus on long-term safety assessments in male and female participants.

Gabriel Luiz Nascimento Fioramonte, Maria Jose Sanches Marin, Adriana Avanzi Marques Pinto

Este estudo teve por objetivo verificar as evidências científicas sobre os avanços e os desafios na formação do técnico de enfermagem. Como metodologia, utilizou a Revisão Integrativa da Literatura. A busca foi realizada nas bases de dados da Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Base de Dados de Enfermagem (BDENF), Scientifc Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Web of Science (WOS), SCOPUS e Embase. Foram utilizados os descritores controlados pelo Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS) e Medical Subject Headings Section (MeSH) e seus entry terms, em português e inglês: ‘Técnicos de Enfermagem’, ‘Assistentes de Enfermagem’, ‘Educação Técnica em Enfermagem’,’Enfermagem’, ‘Ensino’, ‘Formação’. A seleção dos artigos foi apresentada de acordo com o fluxograma PRISMA. Dos 1.505 artigos identificados, 10 foram selecionados para análise. A maioria dos artigos analisados (n=9) foi publicado no Brasil nos últimos dez anos, nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol e apresentou baixo nível de evidência científica (Grau de Evidência VI – estudos descritivos ou qualitativos únicos). Os resultados destacaram avanços e desafios relacionados às categorias de análise: estratégias de ensino inovadoras, busca por uma formação abrangente e gestão institucional. Os estudos demonstraram que esforços vêm sendo realizados visando a adoção de novas estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem, com vistas à formação de um profissional da saúde mais ativo e participativo e com olhar integral e humanizado do cuidado. Para tanto, o apoio institucional mostra-se como uma condição essencial. Desafios precisam ser superados, destacando-se a integração da teoria com a prática, a formação docente, bem como a melhoria nas condições do trabalho docente.

Viviane Durigon, Maria Gabriela Borges Hermes, Nathalia Gonçalves de Almeida et al.

O uso racional de medicamentos (URM) está previsto na Política Nacional de Assistência Farmacêutica (PNAF) e na Política Nacional de Medicamentos (PNM), na garantia de produtos seguros, eficazes e com qualidade. Para promover o URM são necessárias ações com a população e profissionais de saúde da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) que possam repercutir positivamente na compreensão destas políticas públicas de saúde. Este estudo analisou práticas e demandas de educação em saúde dos profissionais da APS voltadas à promoção do URM. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de aplicação de questionário autoaplicável a profissionais de nível superior que atuam na APS em 12 municípios pertencentes à 27ª Região de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul. Participaram do estudo 67 de um total de 288 profissionais de nível superior, no período de abril a julho de dois mil e vinte e dois. Houve identificação da realização de ações exitosas voltadas à automedicação, guarda, descarte correto de medicamentos e inserção do farmacêutico no cuidado na APS. Como fragilidades identificou-se o não reconhecimento da PNAF e da PNM por 39% dos respondentes, todos de áreas distintas da farmácia. Os profissionais de saúde participantes deste estudo recebem demandas relacionadas a medicamentos em sua rotina de trabalho, o que requer o reconhecimento dessas políticas públicas de saúde. Dos participantes da pesquisa, 57% declararam nunca ter participado de ações de Educação Permante em Saúde (EPS) sobre a promoção do URM. O estudo mostrou a necessidade da inserção do tema do URM na agenda de EPS dos municípios pesquisados, objetivando a construção da qualificação do cuidado em saúde para implantação da PNAF e da PNM e de forma transversal o URM. Sugere-se a continuidade das investigações em outros locais, considerando diferentes atores sociais para ampliar as análises sobre esta temática.

Jeong Seong Heon, Kwon-Jun Jang, Hyang-Ran Moon et al.

This study examined the effectiveness of Korean-Western cooperative treatment for patients with plantar fasciitis. Fifty patients received Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine) and Western medicine treatments (polydeoxyribonucleotide, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy). Evaluation methods used were comparison before and after ultrasound (P9), and numeric rating scale scores. Results revealed a significant improvement in the level of pain and evaluation of improvement using ultrasound. Moreover, it was suggested that Korean-Western cooperative medicine treatment may be effective for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Komal K. Bajaj, Vishal Chavhan, Nishikant A. Raut et al.

Panchgavya represents milk, urine, dung, ghee, and curd, derived from cow and serves irreplaceable medicinal importance in Ayurveda and traditional Indian clinical practices. In Ayurveda, Panchgavya treatment is termed as ‘Cowpathy’. In India, the cow is worshipped as a god called ‘Gaumata,’ indicating its nourishing nature like a mother. Ayurveda recommends Panchagavya to treat diseases of multiple systems, including severe conditions, with almost no side-effects. It can help build a healthy population, alternative sources of energy, complete nutritional requirements, eradicate poverty, pollution-free environment, organic farming, etc. Panchgavya can also give back to mother nature by promoting soil fertility, earthworm production, protecting crops from bacterial and fungal infections, etc. Scientific efforts shall be taken to build evidence for the clinical application of Cowpathy. The present review aims to summarize the health and medicinal benefits of Panchgavya.

Kaitan Yang, Yushan Gao, Yongdong Yang et al.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with oriented conductive bioprotein hydrogel (OCBH) on the recovery of nerve function in rats with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) and to explore its effect and mechanism on the formation and changes of glial scars. Methods: A total of 72 female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups according to the treatment received. A rat model of complete SCI was constructed using a spinal cord transection. Behavioral assessments, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blotting were performed at a fixed period after the operation. Results: The material group and the material + EA group obtained better results in the behavioral assessments (all P < .05) and the H&E staining. In the immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting, the GFAP protein was expressed more and denser in the material group and the material + EA group than in the model group, and the density of the GFAP expression in the material + EA group was lower at week 12 than in the material group (all P < .05). The expression of complement C3 in the model, material, and material + EA groups decreased in turn. Some inflammatory factors and the NF-κB signaling pathway showed similar results in the Western blotting (all P < .05). The expression of the GDNF protein in the material + EA group was significantly higher than that in the model group and the material group (both P < .01). Conclusion: EA combined with OCBH can promote the recovery of motor functions after SCI by facilitating the formation of glial scars in the early stage, preventing the further spread of an inflammatory response that would affect the activation of A1/A2 astrocytes and change the morphology of glial scars at the spinal cord–material interface in its late stage.

Satyendra Kumar, Padmanabha Rugvedi, Kamaraj Mani et al.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) is the major component of air pollution, which includes emissions from both anthropogenic and natural sources. PM, with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 ± 10 μm can remain in the air for a long time and be deposited in the lungs through inhalation and hence, is a major threat to human health. Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the protective effect of Chyawanprash (CP) on PM-induced pulmonary disease through estimation of cytokines and immunoglobulins. Materials and methods: CP, standard drug, and vehicle (Group G1 to Group G7) were administered orally at the dose volume of 10 ml/kg, for 28 consecutive days (Prophylactic treatment; i.e., Day 1 to Day 28) and next 10 days (i.e., Day 29 to Day 38) of co-treatment with inducing agent PM2.5 intratracheally. Animals of group G6 (Inhalation + control) and G7 (Inhalation + CP) were exposed group-wise to PM2.5 aerosol (2 mg/5 ml, 15 min) via inhalation in histamine chamber on Days 29, 31, 33, 35, and 37. On Day 38, animals were anesthetised and blood and broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. Animals were sacrificed and lungs were collected for histology. Results: Prophylactic benefit of CP against pulmonary pathology was evidenced by the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines (BALF: TNF a, IFN-g, IL-7, IL-6 and lung: TNFa, Histamine and IL-6), chemokines (Lung: MMP-9), inflammatory cell infiltration (cell counts in BALF), and histopatholoy in experimental mice model. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CP has potential benefit in protecting from harmful effects caused by air pollutants such as PM2.5.

Seok Hee Jeon, Ji Min Choi, Jae Hee Yoo et al.

The purpose of this review was to investigate acupotomy treatment for peripheral facial palsy. By reviewing recent clinical trends, this may contribute to standardizing acupotomy treatment methods. There were 7 randomized controlled trials and 6 case series using acupotomy treatment for peripheral facial palsy published between January 01, 2014 and April 05, 2021, which were retrieved from 9 online databases. The number and characteristics of participants, main treatment sites, combination treatments, size of acupotomy needle, frequency and total period of treatment, evaluation indices, efficacy, and adverse events were analyzed. “Tender point or induration,” “infraorbical foramen,” and “buccal mucosa” were the most used treatment sites. The sizes of acupotomy needles varied from 20 mm to 80 mm in length, and 0.35 mm to 1.0 mm in diameter. One treatment cycle was performed every 3 to 5–7 days, and the number of treatments per treatment session ranged from 3 to 5–9 cycles. The results were evaluated using 1 to 4 evaluation indices and 9 different evaluation indices were used overall. The efficacy rate was the most used index, followed by the House-Brackmann grade, and electrocardiography. The “Risk of Bias 2,” categorized most studies as having “some concerns.” There were few adverse events reported.

Yinghua Huang, Yongxuan Liang

GiYoung Yang