Primary osteoporosis (POP) has a serious impact on quality of life for middle-aged and elderly, which particularly increase the risk of fracture. We conducted the systematic review to evaluate the effects of moxibustion for POP in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Eight databases were searched from their inception to July 30, 2016. The RCTs reporting the moxibustion as a monotherapy or in combination with conventional therapy for POP were enrolled. The outcomes might be fracture incidence, quality of life, clinical symptoms, death attributed to osteoporosis, adverse effect, bone mineral density (BMD), and biochemical indicators. Literature selection, data abstraction, quality evaluation, and data analysis were in accordance with Cochrane standards.Thirteen trials including 808 patients were included. Meta-analysis was not conducted because of the obvious clinical or statistical heterogeneity. Limited evidence suggested that moxibustion plus anti-osteoporosis medicine might be more effective in relieving the pain (visual analogue scale scores average changed 2 scores between groups, 4 trials), increasing the BMD of femoral neck (average changed 0.4 g/cm2 between groups, 3 trials), and improving the level of bone gla protein, osteoprotegerin and bone alkaline phosphatase (2 trials) compared with anti-osteoporosis medicine alone. However, the quality of previous studies was evaluated as generally poor. The safety evidence of moxibustion was still insufficient. Due to the paucity of high-quality studies, there was no definite conclusion about the efficacy and safety of moxibustion treating POP although parts of positive results were presented. Future research should pay attention to the dose-response relation and fracture incidence of moxibustion for POP.
BACKGROUND Nickel (Ni) may accumulate in the human body and has biological toxicity and carcinogenicity. Ni has an extensive impact on the health of pregnant women and fetuses during gestation. AIM To evaluate Ni exposure in pregnant women in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China; to describe the distribution of Ni in the maternal-fetal system and placental barrier function; and to investigate the effect of Ni exposure on fetal health in mothers with pregnancy complications. METHODS Seventy-two pregnant women were selected using a case-control design. The women were divided into two groups: The control group (no disease; n = 29) and the disease group [gestational diabetes (GDM), hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP), or both; n = 43]. The pregnant women in the disease group were further divided as follows: 14 cases with GDM (GDM group), 13 cases with HDCP (HDCP group) and 16 cases with both GDM and HDCP (disease combination group). Basic information on the pregnant women was collected by questionnaire survey. Maternal blood, placenta blood and cord blood were collected immediately after delivery. The Ni content in paired samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS Compared to the control group, age was higher and body mass index was greater in pregnant women in the disease groups (28.14 ± 2.54 vs 28.42 ± 13.89, P < 0.05; 25.90 ± 3.86 vs 31.49 ± 5.30, P < 0.05). The birth weights of newborns in the HDCP group and the control group were significantly different (2.52 ± 0.74 vs 3.18 ± 0.41, P < 0.05). The content of Ni in umbilical cord blood in the entire disease group was higher than that in the control group (0.10 ± 0.16 vs 0.05 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION In the maternal-fetal system of women with pregnancy complications, the barrier effect of the placenta against Ni is weakened, thus affecting healthy growth of the fetus in the uterus.
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