Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30866920›Full record

SynthesisBMC complementary and alternative medicine2019

Acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yajing Zhong, Fanzhu Zeng, Wanjun Liu, Jing Ma, Yongge Guan, Yang Song

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
7.1field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.

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  16. The Application of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Infertility.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2022
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Yajing ZhongSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No.232 Waihuan East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Postal code:510006, Guangdong, China.
Fanzhu ZengZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Wanjun LiuSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No.232 Waihuan East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Postal code:510006, Guangdong, China.
Jing MaSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No.232 Waihuan East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Postal code:510006, Guangdong, China.
Yongge GuanThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Yang SongSchool of Nursing, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No.232 Waihuan East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Postal code:510006, Guangdong, China. songyang3211@hotmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4492-9116
Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine · CNSun Yat-sen University · CN

Funding

Guangdong Provincial University's Characteristic Innovation Project Fund of China (Natural Science) 2017KTSCX041
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis systematic review aimed at summarizing and evaluating the evidence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture to improve endometrial receptivity (ER).

methodsWe searched 12 databases electronically through August 2018 without language restrictions. We included RCTs of women of infertility due to low ER, and excluded infertility caused by other reasons or non-RCTs. Two independent reviewers extracted the characteristics of studies and resolved the differences through consensus. Data were pooled and expressed as standard mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes, with 95% confidence interval (CI).

resultsWe found very low to moderate level of evidence that acupuncture may improve pregnancy rate (RR = 1.23 95%CI[1.13, 1.34] P < 0.00001) and embryo transfer rate (RR = 2.04 95%CI[1.13, 3.70] P = 0.02), increase trilinear endometrium (RR = 1.47 95%CI [1.27, 1.70] P < 0.00001), thicken endometrium (SMD = 0.41 95% CI [0.11, 0.72] P = 0.008), reduce resistive index (RI) (MD = -0.08 95% CI [- 0.15, - 0.02] P = 0.01), pulse index (PI) (SMD = -2.39 95% CI [- 3.85, - 0.93] P = 0.001) and peak systolic velocity/ end-diastolic blood velocity (S/D) (SMD = -0.60 95% CI [- 0.89, - 0.30] P < 0.0001), compared with medication, sham acupuncture or physiotherapy. Acupuncture was statistically significant as a treatment approach.

conclusionThe efficacy and safety of acupuncture on key outcomes in women with low ER is statistically significant, but the level of most evidence was very low or low. More large-scale, long-term RCTs with rigorous methodologies are needed.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyEndometriumPregnancyFemaleHumansInfertility, FemaleAcupunctureEndometrial receptivityMeta-analysisRandomized controlled trialSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID30866920
PMCPMC6417024
OpenAlexW2942714685

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.