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Objective To explore whether early treatment with integrated Chinese and western medicine can prolong the survival time of patients with advanced digestive tract malignant tumors using a new statistical analysis method and real-world data. Methods Based on the left truncated data, the Copula model was used to construct a joint model of the time from stage IV diagnosis to treatment and the time to overall survival. The estimated value and significance of the Copula dependence parameter, η, were obtained to evaluate the dependence strength between the two event times of interest. Results The numerical simulation showed that this method performed well when the left truncation rate was 20%. The estimated Copula dependence parameter η), in the real data analysis was 0.279 (P<0.05), indicating that there was a significant correlation between times to treatment and overall survival. Gender, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, targeted treatment, and metastatic site 1 were significant factors associated with overall survival. Conclusion The new statistical method provided valuable insights and analytical tools for the effectiveness of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in treating patients with advanced digestive tract malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Chinese herbal medicine has been increasingly used for patients with postmenopausal hypertension in China. A comprehensive literature search was performed in 7 electronic databases from their inception up to December 17, 2017 to examine the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for postmenopausal hypertension. Thirty-nine randomized controlled trials involving 3, 823 participants were included. Meta-analyses favored Chinese herbal medicine plus antihypertensive drugs on blood pressure, blood pressure variability, postmenopausal symptoms, quality of life, and hormone levels compared with antihypertensive drugs. No severe adverse effects were identified. Er-xian decoction was the most frequently prescribed herbal formula, while Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. was the most commonly used single herb. Chinese herbal medicine as complementary therapy maybe beneficial for postmenopausal hypertension. However, the effectiveness and safety of the decoction are still uncertain due to methodological shortcomings. Well-conducted trials are warranted to resolve the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically assess the current clinical evidence of Gualouxiebaibanxia (GLXBBX) decoction for the treatment of angina pectoris (AP). We included RCTs testing GLXBBX against conventional drugs and GLXBBX combined with conventional drugs versus conventional drugs. 19 RCTs involving 1730 patients were finally identified, and the methodological quality was evaluated as generally low. The results of the meta-analysis showed that GLXBBX alone had significant effect on improving angina symptoms (RR: 1.24, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.35; P<0.00001), ECG (RR: 1.28 [1.13,1.44]; P<0.0001), and HDL-C (MD: 0.56 [0.54,0.58]; P<0.00001) compared with anti-arrhythmic drugs. A significant improvement in angina symptoms (RR: 1.17 [1.12,1.22]; P<0.00001) and ECG (RR = 1.22; 95% CI = [1.14,1.30]; P<0.00001) was observed for GLXBBX plus conventional drugs when compared with conventional drugs. Eight trials reported adverse events without serious adverse effects. GLXBBX appears to have beneficial effects on improvement of ECG and reduction of angina symptoms in participants with AP. However, the evidence remains weak due to the poor methodological quality of the included studies. More rigorous trials are needed to confirm the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External therapy of traditional Chinese medicine and paraffin therapy are both traditional Chinese forms of treatment. In recent years, external use of traditional Chinese medicine combined with paraffin therapy, which involves combining meridians, acupoints, drugs, and hyperthermia, has demonstrated great effectiveness in treating certain conditions. An overview of traditional Chinese medicine paraffin therapy (TCMPT) is provided by this article. Additionally, this article describes a new classification of TCMPT, mechanism of action, clinical treatment, indications contraindications and adverse events reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]