SynthesisFrontiers in endocrinology2025
Acupoint stimulation methods for premature ovarian insufficiency: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Ovarian aging: maintenance and activation of the primordial follicle pool.Journal of ovarian research · 2026Review
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate and rank the efficacy of different acupoint stimulation (AS) therapies in the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) by network meta-analysis (NMA) and to explore the optimal AS regimen for improving sex hormone levels and clinical symptoms. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English and Chinese up to November 2024 were searched in eight databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Included studies were patients with POI diagnosed according to established international or Chinese guidelines. The intervention compared AS therapies (e.g., acupuncture, moxibustion, and electroacupuncture) with conventional treatments (oral herbs or hormone replacement therapy) or/and placebo. Outcome indicators included antral follicle count (AFC), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, estradiol (E Results: A total of 51 RCTs were retrieved, including 3,754 patients. A methodological assessment of 51 RCTs revealed generalized risks: 9.8% of RCTs used incorrect randomization methods; 29% of RCTs did not describe explicit randomization; all RCTs did not have explicit allocation concealment; 98% of RCTs did not mention blinding; all RCTs reported complete outcome data; and 98% of RCTs had unclear risks. Therapies combining multiple AS therapies (especially moxibustion-related therapies) improved ovarian function significantly. Acupuncture combined with moxibustion (Acu + Moxi) was effective in increasing AFC [mean difference (MD) = 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.31, 2.77); SUCRA = 75.1%]. Auricular seed therapy (AST) was most effective in reducing FSH [MD = 3.03, 95% CI (0.45, 5.60); SUCRA = 83.7%]. Acupuncture (Acu) was effective in reducing LH levels [MD = 1.52, 95% CI (0.27, 2.77); SUCRA = 58.3%]. Moxibustion combined with tuina (Moxi + MT) [MD = 11.92, 95% CI (8.19, 15.65); SUCRA = 100%] and moxibustion combined with acupressure [MD = 3.20, 95% CI (0.16, 6.24); SUCRA = 81.4%] significantly increased E Conclusion: AS therapies (especially those combined with moxibustion) can safely and effectively improve hormone levels and clinical symptoms in patients with POI, supporting their clinical application as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024612169.
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