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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jan 2024(1) Background: Women in their middle years undergoing perimenopause encounter a range of physical and psychological alterations attributed to hormonal changes. The... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: Women in their middle years undergoing perimenopause encounter a range of physical and psychological alterations attributed to hormonal changes. The prominent symptoms among menopausal women are depressive symptoms and sleep-related problems. The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis examining the effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on women going through menopause, specifically focusing on depressive symptoms and sleep problems. We analyzed studies conducted both within the country and across international settings over the last decade. (2) Methods: A search of the literature was conducted-a targeted search, exclusively considering randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were published within the timeframe spanning from 15 June 2013 to 15 June 2023. (3) Findings: Upon reviewing nine studies that satisfied our inclusion criteria and involved a total of 923 participants, it was noted that four of these studies incorporated diverse cognitive-behavioral strategies. Among the nine studies, a total of four were included in the meta-analysis: two measured depressive symptoms, and two measured sleep quality. The combined effect size for depressive symptoms was found to be 3.55 (95% confidence interval: -5.48, -1.61; < 0.05), and for sleep quality, it was 0.78 (95% confidence interval: -1.32, -0.25; = 0.004). (4) Conclusions: Our review emphasizes the necessity for conducting larger-scale studies focused on the application of CBT for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Additionally, it is recommended to approach the interpretation of these results with caution due to discrepancies in methodology and the overall quality of the studies. Further clinical trials are necessary to establish the ideal number of CBT sessions needed for the effective treatment of depression in menopausal women. Future studies should cover a wider range of geographical locations, including more countries, and focus on various outcomes such as depressive symptoms and sleep quality.
PubMed: 38256545
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020412 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Ovarian endometriotic cysts (OEC) represent the primary manifestation of endometriosis, constituting a hormonally dependent inflammatory disorder in gynecology. It...
BACKGROUND
Ovarian endometriotic cysts (OEC) represent the primary manifestation of endometriosis, constituting a hormonally dependent inflammatory disorder in gynecology. It significantly affects the quality of life and reproductive health of women. It is worth noting that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), has been widely applied in mainland China due to its unique therapeutic system and commendable clinical efficacy, bringing new hope for preventing and managing OEC.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the management of postoperative OEC. Simultaneously, it seeks to explore the medication laws, therapeutic principles, and specific treatment mechanisms of CHM.
METHODS
Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception to 01 November 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the therapeutic effects and safety of CHM for postoperative OEC were included. The risk of bias for each trial was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE profiler 3.2. Additionally, we extracted formulation from the included studies, conducting a thorough analysis.
RESULTS
Twenty-two RCTs involving 1938 patients were included. In terms of the primary efficacy outcome, the CHM group demonstrated a potentially lower recurrence rate compared to both control (odds ratio (OR) = 0.25; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.10-0.64) and conventional western medicine (CWM) (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11-0.65) groups. Furthermore, the joint application of CHM and CWM resulted in a significant reduction in the recurrence rate (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.17-0.40). Regarding secondary efficacy outcomes, (a) Total clinical efficacy rate: CHM showcased an augmentation in clinical effectiveness compared to both the control (OR = 4.23; 95% CI: 1.12-15.99) and CWM (OR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.34-6.43) groups. The combined administration of CHM and CWM substantially enhanced overall clinical effectiveness (OR = 3.44; 95% CI: 2.37-5.00). (b) VAS Score: CHM exhibited the capacity to diminish the VAS score in comparison to surgery alone (Mean difference (MD) = -0.86; 95% CI: -1.01 to -0.71). Nevertheless, no substantial advantage was observed compared to CWM alone (MD = -0.16; 95% CI: -0.49 to 0.17). The integration of CHM with CWM effectively ameliorated pain symptoms (MD = -0.87; 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.65). (c) Serum Level of Cancer antigen 125 (CA125): the CHM group potentially exhibited lower CA125 levels in comparison to CWM alone (MD = -11.08; 95% CI: -21.75 to -0.42). The combined intervention of CHM and CWM significantly decreased CA125 levels (MD = -5.31; 95% CI: -7.27 to -3.36). (d) Pregnancy Rate: CHM exhibited superiority in enhancing the pregnancy rate compared to surgery (OR = 3.95; 95% CI: 1.60-9.74) or CWM alone (OR = 3.31; 95% CI: 1.40-7.83). The combined utilization of CHM and CWM demonstrated the potential to enhance pregnancy rates compared to CWM (OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.28-6.98). Concerning safety outcome indicators, CHM effectively decreased the overall incidence of adverse events and, to a certain extent, alleviated perimenopausal symptoms as well as liver function impairment. Most of CHMs were originated from classical Chinese herbal formulas. (L.) Batsch (Taoren), (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui), Bunge (Danshen), Pall. (Chishao), and W.T.Wang (Yanhusuo) were most frequently used CHM.
CONCLUSION
CHM may be a viable choice in the long-term management of postoperative OEC, with the potential to enhance clinical efficacy while decreasing recurrence and adverse effects.
PubMed: 38910886
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1376037