Real-World Risk and Outcome of Liver Cirrhosis in Patients with Hyperlipidemia Treated with Red Yeast Rice: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Sustained hyperlipidemia contributes to fatty liver and liver cirrhosis. Red yeast rice (RYR) effectively improved the lipid profile; however, the effects of RYR on the risk of incident liver cirrhosis remain to be elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of RYR use on the risk and outcome of liver cirrhosis.

Acupuncture Decreases Risk of Hypertension in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria in Taiwan: A Nationwide Study.

Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) have a higher risk of developing hypertension. This study aimed to determine whether acupuncture could decrease the risk of hypertension in patients with CSU. We enrolled patients newly diagnosed with CSU between 1 January 2008, and 31 December 2018, from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database.

Rapid Improvement in Neck Disability, Mobility, and Sleep Quality with Chronic Neck Pain Treated by Fu's Subcutaneous Needling: A Randomized Control Study.

Background: Chronic neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder caused by overuse of neck and upper back muscles or poor posture, and it is commonly combined with a limited range of motion in the neck and shoulders. Most cases will recover within a few days; however, the symptoms often recur easily. Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) is a new therapeutic approach used to treat patients with chronic neck pain.

Decreased Risk of Stroke in People Using Red Yeast Rice Prescriptions (LipoCol Forte®): a Total Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

The influence of red yeast rice (RYR) on the risk of incident stroke remains underexplored. We aimed to compare the risk of stroke between people with and without use of RYR prescriptions. We used research data from the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan and identified 34,723 adults (aged ≥20 years) who first received the RYR prescription from 2010 to 2014.

Efficacy of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling on Myofascial Trigger Points for Lateral Epicondylalgia: A Randomized Control Trial.

Lateral epicondylalgia (LE), a common overuse syndrome of the extensor muscle and tendons on the lateral epicondyle, causes persistent severe musculoskeletal pain on the outer part of the elbow. Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN), a newly invented subtype of acupuncture and dry needling, is a new trend and potential treatment of LE by targeting the myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). However, no scientific evidence is available to support this method.

Acupuncture Relieved Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a disabling side effect caused by neurotoxic chemotherapy. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture on CIPN. Twenty eligible breast cancer patients receiving taxane chemotherapy treatment were recruited and randomly divided into verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups.

Role of Coptis chinensis in antibiotic susceptibility of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Background: The incidence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has rapidly increased. This study aimed to assess the effect of Coptis chinensis and its compounds on the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of eight antibiotics against CRKP.

Methods: Cell cultures were used to investigate the effects of C.

Acupuncture Treatment Reduced the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Depression: A Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Major depressive disorder is a significant public health concern, which often leads to loss of productivity, functional decline, and various complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the risk reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with depression.

Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with depression between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2010, through the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Effect of on Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Susceptibility in .

infections are notoriously difficult to be treated and newer treatment options are required. () and its main compound berberine are frequently used to treat bacterial and viral infections. In this study, the susceptibility of to extract and berberine was assessed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) evaluation.

Acupuncture decreased the risk of stroke among patients with fibromyalgia in Taiwan: A nationwide matched cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in decreasing the risk of stroke in patients with fibromyalgia.

Methods: We enrolled patients who was newly diagnosed as having fibromyalgia between 1 January, 2000 and 31 December, 2010 from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. The claim data for both the acupuncture cohort and non-acupuncture cohort were assessed from the index date to 31 December, 2013.

Integrating Chinese and Western medicines reduced the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with diabetes mellitus: A Taiwanese population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Much epidemiological evidence links diabetes mellitus (DM) to the development of multiple cancers and, in particular, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) reduces the incidence of HCC in patients receiving Western antidiabetic drugs.

Interventions And Main Outcome Measures: This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database involving 81,105 diabetic patients, including 5122 CHM users and 25,966 non-CHM users.

Trends in the utilization of acupuncture among children in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: In recent years, acupuncture has been increasingly integrated into pediatric care worldwide. However, recent epidemiological studies about pediatric users of acupuncture are lacking. The current study aimed to fill the gap and carry out the large-scale investigation on the basis of the pediatric population in Taiwan.

Acupuncture treatment is associated with a decreased risk of developing stroke in patients with depression: A propensity-score matched cohort study.

Background: Depression had a significantly increased risk of stroke. Some patients with depression seek acupuncture treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between acupuncture treatment and risk of developing stroke in patients with depression.

Conventional Western Treatment Associated With Chinese Herbal Medicine Ameliorates the Incidence of Head and Neck Cancer Among Patients With Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Because of advances in medical treatment, the survival of cancer patients is prolonged. In line with the prolonged survival time of cancer the incidence of second primary cancer has increased. There is currently no effective way to prevent the occurrence of secondary primary cancer (SPC).

Acupuncture decreased the risk of coronary heart disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan: a Nationwide propensity score-matched study.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Acupuncture, a commonly used treatment for patients with RA, has not been reported to prevent CHD in patients with RA. We aimed to assess the risk of developing CHD in acupuncture users and non-users of patients with RA.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Improves the Long-Term Survival Rate of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in Taiwan: A Nationwide Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is frequently applied in conjunction with western pharmacotherapy to relieve symptoms in patients with CKD. However, evidence-based research into the effectiveness of CHM use as applied to treat CKD is limited and warrants further investigation. The aim of this study is to assess whether adjunctive treatment with CHM affected survival rate of CKD patients undergoing conventional western medical management.

Trends in use of acupuncture among adults in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011: A nationwide population-based study.

In recent years, acupuncture has gained in popularity worldwide. However, recent epidemiological studies are lacking. We conducted this study to investigate the trends in acupuncture utilization among adults in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011.

Chinese Herbal Medicine as an Adjunctive Therapy Ameliorated the Incidence of Chronic Hepatitis in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

We conducted a National Health Insurance Research Database-based Taiwanese nationwide population-based cohort study to evaluate whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) treatment decreased the incidence of chronic hepatitis in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. A total of 81171 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer within the defined study period. After randomly equal matching, data from 13856 patients were analyzed.

Complementary Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapy Improves Survival of Patients With Pancreatic Cancer in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a difficult-to-treat cancer with a late presentation and poor prognosis. Some patients seek traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) consultation. We aimed to investigate the benefits of complementary Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) among patients with pancreatic cancer in Taiwan.

Use of Complementary Traditional Chinese Medicines by Adult Cancer Patients in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Many patients with cancer seek complementary and alternative medicine treatments. We investigated the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by adult cancer patients in Taiwan.

Methods: We reviewed the Registry for Catastrophic Illness Patients Database of Taiwan, and included all adult patients diagnosed cancer, based on the International Classification of Diseases (ninth revision), from 2001 to 2009 and followed until 2011.