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Background. Fatigue is a common symptom in adults that may cause physical and psychological problems and reduce quality of life. Aromatherapy could possibly provide relief for those suffering from fatigue. Here, we evaluated the effect of aromatherapy on fatigue in adults. Methods. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature, SinoMed, Wanfang, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database databases for randomized controlled trials of aromatherapy treatment for fatigue in adults from their inception to June 2021. Two reviewers searched independently, extracted the characteristics of the studies, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Stata v. 14.0. Results. Nineteen studies were included in this systematic review. Aromatherapy had a significant effect on fatigue (standardized mean difference −0.64, 95% confidence interval−1.14, −0.15, I2 94.4%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis according to aromatic type, substance, frequency, treatment duration, intervention, outcomes measurement, and population type showed that aromatherapy had a significantly greater effect in the intervention group, compared to the control group. Funnel plots and Egger's test indicated no significant publication bias. Conclusion. Our results suggest that aromatherapy ameliorates fatigue in adults who suffer from chronic diseases. A rigorous intervention program and larger randomized controlled trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes psychological distress and can have a negative impact on the general mental health and rehabilitation in affected patients under currently implemented isolation guidelines. Auricular point pressure (APP) as well-established technique in traditional Chinese medicine may help to relieve sleep disturbance and anxiety in COVID-19 patients. Methods. During the early phase of the epidemic/pandemic, patients were enrolled in this study (02/2020 until 03/2020 n = 84). They were strictly isolated on specific wards at the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine in Hubei. The retrospective cohort study design included two groups. Group A patients were treated with an auricular point pressure (APP) in addition to standard intensive care medicine while Group B participants (No-APP) received routine nursing measures alone. Treatment outcome was measured using the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire (SMH) Score and the 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Both scores were measured in each patient at baseline and on the discharge day. Results. The SMH score and sleep status changed in APP patients at the end of the treatment period when compared with No-APP patients (P < 0.01). APP-treated patients demonstrated lower GAD-7 scores than No-APP controls (P < 0.01). Further, no significant differences in safety or adverse events between the APP and No-APP groups were observed. Conclusion. The results from our snapshot study during the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic/pandemic suggest that auricular point pressure could be a simple and effective tool to relieve insomnia and situational anxiety in hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19 and kept under disconcerting conditions of isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are no standard therapeutic strategies for local lymph node (LN) recurrence after radical resection of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and prognostic risk factors remain controversial. We assessed clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or radiotherapy (RT) for LN recurrence of ESCC after curative resection. Methods: A total of 117 ESCC patients with LN recurrence after radical resection receiving salvage treatment at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed from 2014 to 2017. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method; clinical characteristics were assessed using the Log rank test in the univariate analysis. Multivariate prognostic analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: With a median follow-up of 19 months, the 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates were 75.2%, 40.2% and 27.4%, respectively. The median survival time (MST) was 19.0 months. On univariate analysis for OS, pathological TNM stage, number of LN metastasis, LN maximum (Max) diameter, salvage treatment mode and tumor response were significantly associated with OS (P = 0.0074, P = 0.015, P = 0.0011, P = 0.028, P < 0.000, respectively). On multivariate analysis, tumor response [Response vs No-response hazard ratio (HR), 2.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.53– 3.90, P < 0.000] and LN Max diameter (≤ 28 mm vs > 28 mm HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.33– 3.32, P = 0.012) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: Salvage CRT or RT was safe and effective for treating LN recurrence after radical resection in ESCC. Patients with the small LN Max diameter (≤ 28 mm) and obtained response after salvage therapy appeared to achieve long-term OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constipation is a functional gastrointestinal disorder and one of the most prevalent conditions encountered in primary care settings. Rhubarb navel dressings have been used for more than 2,000 years in Chinese medicine to treat constipation. However, the effect of topical rhubarb administration has still not been well recognized and this strategy is not yet established as an evidence-based approach. Aim of the study : In this study, we performed a prospective multicentric randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhubarb navel plasters for patients with chronic constipation. A total of 374 patients from six teaching hospitals were prospectively included between 09/2016 and 10/2017 in the study based on Rome III criteria. All participants were randomly assigned (1:1) into verum/placebo group and given either Rheum officinale rhubarb powder or a placebo flour stick on the navel for 6 h/day/8 days. Primary outcome measures were the Cleveland Constipation Score (CCS) for the feces condition and Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) for stool consistency and 24 h defecation frequency. The groups demonstrated no statistical differences in demographic data, clinical diagnoses and concomitant medication at baseline. In patients treated with the verum CCS was 5.61 (day 8, 95% CI 5.15–6.07) compared to 8.62 (95% CI 8.07–9.18) in placebo-treated controls (P < 0.001). The mean change of CCS at the end of treatment (day 8 versus [vs] day 0) was 6.04 in verum-treated vs 2.73 in placebo-treated controls (P < 0.001). Also 24 h defecation frequency (BSS) showed superior results (day 5: 0.84 vs 0.62, 95% CI 0.67–0.80, P < 0.001; day 6: 0.82 vs 0.60, 95% CI 0.64–0.78, P < 0.01 and day 8: 0.82 vs 0.60, 95% CI 0.64–0.78, P < 0.01) and better BSS type classification during treatment than controls (P < 0.05). No significant differences in adverse events between both groups became obvious. Rhubarb navel plaster administration over an 8-day-treatment period resulted in significantly improved bowel function as demonstrated by the CCS, 24 h defecating frequency and BSS. Our results suggest that rhubarb navel plasters represent a feasible, safe and efficient application route for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic constipation. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]