Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Bell's palsy or idiopathic facial palsy is an acute facial paralysis due to inflammation of the facial nerve. A number of studies published in China have suggested acupuncture is beneficial for facial palsy. ⋯ The quality of the included trials was inadequate to allow any conclusion about the efficacy of acupuncture. More research with high quality trials is needed.
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Cervical ectropion is considered as one of the most common types of chronic cervicitis in China. Topical treatments for cervical ectropion including microwave tissue coagulation, are widely used in many hospitals in China. Nowadays, the necessary intervention for inflammatory cervical ectopy is controversial. ⋯ There are no RCTs comparing microwave therapy with other treatments or no treatment in symptomatic women with cervical ectropion. Although microwave therapy improved the appearance of the cervix over both laser therapy and interferon-alpha suppository therapy it is not clear if there is any other benefit for women.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2007
ReviewIndigenous healthcare worker involvement for Indigenous adults and children with asthma.
Asthma education is regarded as an important step in the management of asthma in national guidelines. Racial and socio-economic factors are associated with markers of asthma severity, including recurrent acute presentations to emergency health facilities. Worldwide, indigenous groups are disproportionately represented in the severe end of the asthma spectrum. Appropriate models of care are important in the successful delivery of services, and are likely contributors to improved outcomes for people with asthma. ⋯ The involvement of IHW in asthma programs targeted for their own ethnic group in one small trial was beneficial for some but not all asthma outcomes. Thus there is insufficient data to be confident that the involvement of IHW is beneficial in all settings. Nevertheless, given the complexity of health outcomes and culture as well as the importance of self-determination for indigenous peoples, the practice of including IHW in asthma education programs for indigenous children and adults with asthma is justified, but should be subject to further randomised controlled trials.
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Influenza is an acute respiratory communicable disease which, during epidemics, can cause high morbidity and mortality. Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, often administered following a particular theory, may be a potential medicine of choice. ⋯ The present evidence is too weak to support or reject the use of Chinese medicinal herbs for preventing and treating influenza. More RCTs with good methodological quality, larger numbers of participants and clear reporting are needed in the future. We recommend that all the clinical trials registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register and Chinese journals join in the Joint Statement of Establishing Chinese Clinical Trial Registration and Publishing System.
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder of unknown aetiology. Current pharmacological treatments have limited value. Hypnotherapy has been reported to have beneficial effects for IBS symptoms. ⋯ The quality of the included trials was inadequate to allow any conclusion about the efficacy of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. More research with high quality trials is needed.