Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative joint disease that causes significant pain and functional limitations in older adults. Traditionally, warm needle acupuncture is used for musculoskeletal pain, but the technique is associated with risks, such as burns and inconsistent thermal control. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrical warm needle acupuncture (EWNA). Methods: This is a pilot two-armed assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial that compares EWNA, which aims to provide precise and consistent thermal stimulation, with electrical moxibustion for patients diagnosed with KOA based on clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the EWNA or the electrical moxibustion group. Both treatments will be administered in 12 sessions over 6 weeks. Results: The primary outcome measure is the change in the pain score, measured via a numeric rating scale, from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes included measured changes in the visual analog scale, K-WOMAC score, Patient Global Impression of Change score, and 5-Level EuroQol-5 Dimension score. An independent blinded evaluator will assess all the outcomes. Adverse events will be monitored and recorded throughout the trial. Conclusions: This pilot trial provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and therapeutic potential of EWNA for KOA. Trial registration This protocol has been registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0010600) and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Dongguk University Bundang Oriental Hospital (DUBOH 2025-0002). Graphical

INPLASY202560096 Combined Effects of Herbal Medicine and Lifestyle Modification on Childhood Simple Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Keywords: childhood; simple obesity; lifestyle int…

INPLASY2023100077 Herbal medicine for feeding intolerance with preterm infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis Keywords: preterm infants; feeding intolerance; herbal medicine; Systematic rev…

Background/Objectives: Pertussis-like syndrome (PLS) presents symptoms similar to whooping cough but without Bordetella pertussis detection. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of combined treatment herbal and Western medicine (HM and WM, respectively) for PLS. Methods: Eleven English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese databases were searched until 1 December 2024. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared HM with WM versus WM alone in children with PLS were included. Independent searches and risk-of-bias analyses were conducted. Random-effects and fixed-effects models were utilized. Dichotomous outcomes are presented as the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), and continuous outcomes as either the standard mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. Results: A total of 23 RCTs (performed in China) with 1938 participants were included. The meta-analysis showed that HM with WM is more effective than WM in improving the total effective rate [n = 1888; RR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.16–1.24; p < 0.001], reducing the disappearance time of main symptoms (especially spastic cough) [n = 815; MD = −3.31; 95% CI: −3.51–−3.11; p < 0.001], shortening the recovery time of routine blood parameters to the normal range [n = 472; MD = −2.79; 95% CI: −3.06–−2.52; p < 0.001], and decreasing hospitalization duration [n = 703; MD = −2.61; 95% CI: −2.85–−2.38; p < 0.001]. Only mild adverse events were reported, with a lower occurrence rate in HM with WM cohorts than in WM cohorts. The quality of evidence ranged from moderate to very low. Conclusions: HM combined with WM is effective and safe for PLS in children, offering a potential alternative for symptom relief.