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Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of acupuncture on symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients with endometriosis. Methods: Nine biomedical databases were searched to April 2022 to identify randomized controlled trials of acupuncture and/or moxibustion used alone or as adjunct to guideline-recommended pharmacotherapy for the treatment of endometriosis. One reviewer extracted data and another verified the data. A random effects model was used to calculate mean differences. Results: Fifteen trials involving 1018 patients met the inclusion criteria, but diversity in comparisons and outcome measures prevented meta-analysis. Compared to sham acupuncture, manual acupuncture was more effective at reducing dysmenorrhea VAS pain score (mean difference [MD] − 2.40, 95 % CI [− 2.80, − 2.00]; moderate certainty evidence), pelvic pain VAS score (MD − 2.65, 95 % CI [− 3.40, − 1.90]; high certainty evidence) and dyspareunia VAS scores (MD − 2.88, [− 3.83, − 1.93]), lessened the size of ovarian cyst (MD − 3.88, 95 % CI [− 7.06, − 0.70]), and improved quality of life. Compared to conventional therapy, manual acupuncture plus conventional therapy and warm needle alone resulted in greater improvements in quality of life than conventional therapy. Among the six studies that reported safety, fewer adverse events were reported in participants who received acupuncture or moxibustion. Conclusions: Low to moderate certainty evidence from single studies showed that manual acupuncture may improve pain-related symptoms and quality of life; however, there is insufficient evidence on the overall effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for endometriosis.

Total tanshinones are lipophilic active constituents extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. Tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone are the major components in total tanshinones. However, the bioavailability of both compounds is low due to poor water solubility. To enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone and total tanshinones, three common used hydrophilic carriers including PEG 6000, poloxamer 188 and PVP K30 were used to prepare the solid dispersions at different ratios, respectively. The solid dispersions were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the microcrystal state of total tanshinones in solid dispersions and no chemical interaction between total tanshinones and carriers was observed in FTIR spectra. The solubility and dissolution rate of tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone were significantly increased in all solid dispersions. Regarding tanshinone IIA, the solubility and dissolution rate of in solid dispersions prepared with poloxamer 188 were significantly higher than that with PEG 6000 and PVP K30. The higher solubility and dissolution rate of cryptotanshinone were obtained in solid dispersion of PVP K30 than that of PEG 6000 solid dispersions but no significant difference from poloxamer 188 solid dispersions. The results indicate that the superior carrier for preparation of tanshinone IIA and total tanshinones solid dispersions is poloxamer 188, and that for cryptotanshinone is PVP K30.

Context · Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used to treat seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), however, evidence of efficacy is lacking. Objective · To evaluate the efficacy of a Chinese herbal formulation for the treatment of SAR. Design · Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial. Setting · RMIT Chinese Medicine Clinic. Patients · 55 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (active 28, placebo 27). Interventions · CHM extract capsule (containing 18 herbs) or placebo, given daily for 8 weeks. Main Outcome Measures · The primary measure of efficacy were changes in severity of nasal and non-nasal symptoms using a Five Point Scale (FPS) measured by both patients and the practitioner. The secondary measure was the change in score for the domains measured in the Rhinoconjunctivitis and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) assessed by patients. Results · Forty-nine patients completed the study (active 24; placebo 25). After eight weeks, the severity of nasal symptoms and non-nasal symptoms were significantly less in the active treatment group than in the control group, both for measurements made by patients and those by the practitioner. Comparison of active and placebo treatment groups RQLQ scores also indicated significant beneficial effects of treatment (end point Section 1: P<0.05; Section 2: P<0.01). Intention-to-treat analyses of categorical items showed moderate to marked improvement rates were 60.7% and 29.6% for active and placebo respectively. Eleven patients reported mild adverse events including I withdrawn from the trial. Conclusions · This CHM formulation appears to offer symptomatic relief and improvement of quality of life for some patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]