Acupuncture versus tricyclic antidepressants in the prophylactic treatment of tension-type headaches: an indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis.

Background: Acupuncture showed better improvement than sham acupuncture in reducing attack frequency of tension-type headache (TTH), but its effectiveness relative to first-line drugs for TTH is unknown, which impedes the recommendation of acupuncture for patients who are intolerant to drugs for TTH. We aimed to estimate the relative effectiveness between acupuncture and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) through indirect treatment comparison (ITC) meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library from database inception until April 13, 2023.

Edaravone for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: The effectiveness and long-term efficacy of edaravone, a recommended treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has not been examined in real-world settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and long-term efficacy of edaravone.

Methods: The OVID Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published between January 1, 2000, and May 1, 2023.

Therapeutic effects of a novel venom abstract (ZK002) solution in an alkali-burned corneal wound-healing model.

Purpose: Corneal alkali burns can progress to corneal epithelial defects, inflammation, scarring, and angiogenesis, potentially leading to blindness. Therefore, we examined the therapeutic effects of a novel ophthalmic solution (ZK002) on wound healing in alkali-burned rat corneas.

Methods: In this study, we attempted to treat alkali-exposed rat corneas using topical application of either an ophthalmic solution with ZK002 or an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent for 14 days.

Successful regression of newly formed corneal neovascularization by subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab in patients with chemical burns.

Purpose: To investigate the effect and timing of subconjunctival bevacizumab injection on inhibiting corneal neovascularization (CorNV) in patients after chemical burns.

Methods: Patients with CorNV secondary to chemical burns were involved. Two subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab (2.

Searching for a Definition of Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The pathological mechanism of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unclarified, which commonly leads to unresponsiveness to conventional treatments. The diagnostic criteria for refractory IBS are not clearly defined. We performed a systematic review to summarize the key points of the definition of refractory IBS in different studies.

Differential Sleep Traits Have No Causal Effect on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Previous studies suggested an association of sleep disorders with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and indicated that using pharmacological treatments for the modulation of circadian rhythms might prevent IBD pathogenesis or aggravation, but whether the effect of sleep traits on IBD was causal is inconclusive and, therefore, prevents drug repurposing based on the previous studies. We aimed to examine the causal effect of different sleep traits on the pathogenesis of IBD. Genetic instruments for sleep traits were selected from the largest GWAS studies available in the UK Biobank ( = 449,734) and the 23andMe Research ( = 541,333).

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is an important complementary and alternative therapy for the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Previous meta-analyses suggested that CHM is effective for IBS; nonetheless, its effectiveness is inconclusive owing to repeated significance testing. We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of CHM for IBS through a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA).

Comparing the efficacy and safety of femtosecond laser-assisted vs conventional penetrating keratoplasty: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (FLAK) versus conventional penetrating keratoplasty (CPK).

Methods: A literature search of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov was conducted for comparative studies published from January 2007 to October 2019.

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of a Novel Cyclosporine, a Formulation for Dry Eye Disease: A Multicenter Phase II Clinical Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a novel cyclosporine formulation for dry eye disease (DED).

Methods: This is an exploratory, multicenter, single-blind, randomized, positive-controlled Phase II clinical trial between cyclosporine ophthalmic gel (CyclAGel) and an open-label comparator (Restasis, positive control). A total of 240 eligible patients with moderate to severe DED were randomized to 4 study groups: CyclAGel 0.

Tenonplasty Combined With Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Patients With Severe Ocular Burns Induced Anterior Segment Necrosis.

This article describes a novel surgical technique for successful repair of intractable corneoscleral necrosis caused by severe ocular burns. In this prospective case series, 19 eyes of 15 consecutive patients with sectional scleral necrosis and persistent corneal epithelial defects were treated with tenonplasty and amniotic membrane transplantation. The main outcome measure was the stability of the ocular surface after reepithelialization and repair of defects.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of rice bifunctional alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor from Oryza sativa.

Rice bifunctional alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor (RASI) can inhibit both alpha-amylase from larvae of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis. The synthesis of RASI is up-regulated during the late milky stage in developing seeds. The 8.