Correction
Medicine, General & Internal
Yu-Qing Zhang, Rui-Min Jiao, Claudia M. Witt, Lixing Lao, Jian-Ping Liu, Lehana Thabane, Karen J. Sherman, Mike Cummings, Dawn P. Richards, Eun-Kyung Anna Kim, Tae-Hun Kim, Myeong Soo Lee, Michael E. Wechsler, Benno Brinkhaus, Jun J. Mao, Caroline A. Smith, Wei-Juan Gang, Bao-Yan Liu, Zhi-Shun Liu, Yan Liu, Hui Zheng, Jia-Ni Wu, Alonso Carrasco-Labra, Mohit Bhandari, Philip J. Devereaux, Xiang-Hong Jing, Gordon Guyatt
Summary: An international panel has developed new guidance for randomized controlled trials in acupuncture, addressing the most prevalent concerns in current acupuncture trials and providing assistance in evaluating the relevance and quality of trial proposals and completed trials.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
David P. French, Lisa M. Miles, Diana Elbourne, Andrew Farmer, Martin Gulliford, Louise Locock, Stephen Sutton, Jim McCambridge
Summary: The study aimed to provide recommendations on minimizing bias from measurement reactivity in randomized controlled trials for health interventions. Through systematic reviews and expert workshops, 14 recommendations were produced, focusing on identifying bias, collecting relevant data, and designing trials to reduce bias likelihood.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yuanming Yang, Kehan Rao, Kai Zhan, Min Shen, Huan Zheng, Shumin Qin, Haomeng Wu, Zhaoxiang Bian, Shaogang Huang
Summary: Acupuncture and moxibustion have shown benefits for symptom severity, abdominal pain, and quality of life in patients with IBS, but more rigorous sham control trials are needed to confirm the efficacy.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Yang Lu, Longji Zeng
Summary: The opening of high-speed railways can significantly promote the level of high-quality urban development, with a population agglomeration effect enhancing the quality of urban development, while capital agglomeration has a masking effect.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yue Luo, Jiale Chen, Le Kuai, Ying Zhang, Xiaojie Ding, Ying Luo, Yi Ru, Meng Xing, Hongjin Li, Xiaoying Sun, Bin Li, Xin Li
Summary: The study demonstrates that Chinese herbal medicine is effective and safe in treating psoriasis, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. However, it cannot completely eliminate skin lesions, improve pruritus severity, or reduce the recurrence rate.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingrui Li, Jin Hu, Pengzhen Liu, Jiayu Chen
Summary: As a new industry based on the traditional financial system and enhanced by emerging technologies, digital finance plays a significant role in the development of microenterprises. By analyzing the Digital Inclusive Finance Index of Peking University from 2011 to 2018, this study focused on inventory optimization and incremental innovation mechanisms. The research findings demonstrate that digital financing greatly contributes to the high-quality development of enterprises. Furthermore, it was revealed that digital finance effectively corrects mismatches in scale, attribute, phase, and industry, thus addressing financing constraints and promoting deleveraging of enterprises in the economic development process. However, there are still limitations for companies with high financing constraints and leverage, and financial regulation can enhance the economic performance of digital finance. These findings provide empirical evidence and policy insights for promoting the development of digital finance, deepening the supply-side structural reform of finance, serving the real economy more effectively, and achieving high-quality economic development.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Fulvio De Santis, Stefania Gubbiotti
Summary: This article focuses on developing new sample size criteria for superiority trials in Bayesian inference to ensure consistency of posterior information when multiple priors are available. The study aims to control the achievement of both minimal evidence and consensus by appropriate functions of the posterior distributions, with methods developed and illustrated for trials involving binary outcomes and a real clinical trial example presented on Covid-19 vaccine data.
BIOMETRICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pengcheng Jiao, Zhong Lin Wang, Amir H. Alavi
Summary: Triboelectric nanogenerators are a promising approach to harvesting energy from mechanical excitations. However, developing nanogenerators with specific output remains a challenge due to the uncertainties associated with their complex designs. This paper reviews the analysis of triboelectricity, discusses the current challenges of designing and optimizing nanogenerators, and highlights the potential of physics-informed artificial intelligence inverse design strategies to tackle these challenges. The paper also explores the potential of physics-informed inverse design to propel nanogenerators to intelligent systems for real-life applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Abhijit Pal, Sarah Stapleton, Christina Yap, Julia Lai-Kwon, Robert Daly, Dimitrios Magkos, Bindumalini Rao Baikady, Anna Minchom, Udai Banerji, Johann De Bono, Deme Karikios, Frances Boyle, Juanita Lopez
Summary: This study aims to improve patient understanding of clinical trials by enhancing informed consent, and will test the effectiveness through a randomized controlled trial.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cheng-Han Li, Daniel P. Tabor
Summary: This study develops a framework that combines reinforcement learning and quantum chemistry to discover organic molecules with specified molecular excited state energy levels. By using a two-step curriculum strategy, the framework is able to find diverse promising molecules and improve the balance between targeted properties and synthesizability.
Review
Environmental Studies
Sheila K. Schueller, Zhelin Li, Zoe Bliss, Rachelle Roake, Beth Weiler
Summary: Pollinators play a crucial role in the reproduction of plant and crop species, providing diverse food webs and cultural value. However, due to human activities causing habitat loss, there has been a rapid decline in pollinators. Urban green space has the potential to support pollination ecosystem services, but there is a lack of evidence-based guidance on how to effectively design green spaces to accommodate a diverse range of pollinators. This paper examines existing research on urban pollinators and provides management and planning recommendations to enhance the value of pollinator ecosystems in urban settings.
Review
Biology
Steven K. Nordeen, Lih-Jen Su, Gregory A. Osborne, Perry M. Hayman, David J. Orlicky, Veronica M. Wessells, Adrie van Bokhoven, Thomas W. Flaig
Summary: Prostate cancer cells titrate androgen signaling to optimize growth, adapting to low levels of androgen which may render the cancer sensitive to restoration of androgens. High-dose testosterone therapy shows potential clinical benefits in a subset of castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.
Review
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Lan-jun Shi, Zi-yu Tian, Xiao-yi Hu, Wen-cui Xiu, Rui-min Jiao, Xiang-yu Hu, Nicola Robinson, Wei-juan Gang, Xiang-hong Jing
Summary: The objective of this study is to summarize and identify the available instruments/methods to assess the adequacy of acupuncture in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and propose a new improved instrument. A systematic literature search was conducted, and 40 studies were included in this systematic review. The findings indicate that there is no consensus on the assessment contents for adequacy or quality of acupuncture in RCTs, and no widely used assessment tools have emerged. It is recommended to develop a new instrument to assess the adequacy of acupuncture using a formal method.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Maurizio Fava
Summary: The emergence of new molecular targets and the development of new approaches to neuropsychiatric diseases, including psychedelics and gene and cell therapies, have highlighted the need to improve the efficiency of mechanistic and/or efficacy clinical trials. This review article discusses the challenges in detecting therapeutic signals, such as high placebo response rates and imprecision in assessments. It also presents methodological approaches that may enhance the overall performance of neuropsychiatric trials, including novel study designs and improved subject enrollment confirmation.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhigao Luo, Li Qi, Xiao Du, Jirui Yang, Chuanhao Wen
Summary: Authoritarian environmentalism in China is influenced by the history of political centralization, but its effectiveness lacks empirical evidence. This study constructs a will index of provincial and central governments’ environmental governance using the cognitive motivation theory and corpus linguistics. The results show that there is a negative correlation between the central government's will and environmental quality, indicating that top-down authoritarian environmentalism is less effective in China. However, the interaction between the central and provincial governments has a significantly positive impact on environmental governance.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Matthias Mueller-Schrader, Jakob Heinzle, Alfred Mueller, Christian Lanz, Oliver Haeussler, Martin Sutter, Andreas Eggspuehler, Stefania Mare, Birte Toussaint, Ines Pereira, Frederike H. Petzschner, Katja Wiech, Juergen Barth, Claudia M. Witt, Klaas Enno Stephan, Zina-Mary Manjaly
Summary: Subjective expectations are associated with clinical outcomes, but few studies have focused on expectations about specific treatments. This study aimed to investigate treatment expectations and their impact on clinical outcome in patients receiving lumbar steroid injections for low back pain. The results showed that pain intensity significantly decreased 2 weeks after injections, and expectations at the initial assessment were able to explain treatment outcome and predict outcome in out-of-sample predictions. These findings highlight the importance of treatment expectations and suggest that simple questionnaires can be used to support treatment selection.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Hongchao Li, Xuejing Jin, Patricia M. Herman, Claudia M. Witt, Yingyao Chen, Weijuan Gang, Xianghong Jing, Ping Song, Longhui Yang, Dan Ollendorf, Yuan Zhang, Gordon Guyatt, Luqi Huang, Yu-Qing Zhang
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Christian S. Kessler, Michael Jeitler, Kartar S. Dhiman, Abhimanyu Kumar, Thomas Ostermann, Shivenarain Gupta, Antonio Morandi, Martin Mittwede, Elmar Stapelfeldt, Michaela Spoo, Katja Icke, Andreas Michalsen, Claudia M. Witt, Manfred B. Wischnewsky
Summary: This study analyzed the differences between Ayurvedic therapy and conventional therapy in knee osteoarthritis patients in South Asia, as well as the relevant variables for treatment response. The results suggested that the therapy arm and baseline values of the WOMAC Index may be the most important variables affecting the treatment outcomes.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Anita V. Thomae, Alize A. Rogge, Stefanie M. Helmer, Katja Icke, Claudia M. Witt
Summary: In this project, a systematically developed e-Learning program about complementary and integrative medicine in oncology was evaluated using mixed methods. The program led to a significant increase in knowledge and received positive feedback from physicians and students.
JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jesus Lopez-Alcalde, Ninib Yakoub, Markus Wolf, Thomas Munder, Erik von Elm, Christoph Flueckiger, Christiane Steinert, Sarah Liebherz, Jenny Rosendahl, Claudia M. Witt, Jurgen Barth
Summary: This article introduces the development methods of the RIPI-f checklist and highlights its importance in improving the reporting of face-to-face psychological interventions.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Alize A. Rogge, Claudia M. Witt
Summary: This study investigated the applicability of international core competencies for Integrative Oncology (IO) physicians in Germany. The results showed that the developed core competencies seemed to be suitable for IO physicians in Germany according to different stakeholder groups. The implementation of these competencies can support the development of training programs for physicians.
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Barbara Stoeckigt, Florian Besch, Claudia M. Witt, Michael Teut
Summary: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic process between contemporary spiritual healers and their clients in Germany. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were conducted with clients and healers over a period of six months. The results showed that the therapeutic process is multi-layered, with the effects of spiritual healing sessions building up gradually. Trust and connection were identified as key elements of the healing process, and clients' spiritual attitudes were regarded as fundamental resources.
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Claudia Canella, Martin Inderbitzin, Manuela Oehler, Claudia M. Witt, Juergen Barth
Summary: By using a co-creative citizen science approach, we investigated the perceptions and potential benefits of cancer patient narratives in improving coping with cancer. The research found that cancer survival stories were considered understandable and beneficial, supporting positive emotions and coping. Certain characteristics in these stories were identified as particularly helpful, such as positive attitudes towards life, encouraging cancer journeys, individual coping strategies, and openly shared vulnerabilities. This approach may contribute to the development of educational and peer support resources for cancer patients.
HEALTH EXPECTATIONS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sara Colomer-Lahiguera, Claudia Canella, Stellio Giacomini, Kim Le Van, Carla Pedrazzani, Matthias Naegele, Laure Thouvenin, Alix O'Meara Stern, Rosaria Condorelli, Tourane Corbiere, Claudia M. Witt, Manuela Eicher, Karin Ribi
Summary: This study aims to describe the experience of Swiss oncological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that Swiss cancer patients did not express major needs or disruptions in their care during this period and exhibited high levels of resilience.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Yuqian Yan, Jesus Lopez-Alcalde, Linxin Zhang, Alexander R. Siebenhuener, Claudia M. Witt, Jurgen Barth
Summary: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). By comparing acupuncture to sham acupuncture or usual care in randomized controlled trials, it was found that acupuncture in addition to usual care can increase the complete control of acute vomiting and delayed vomiting. However, the certainty of evidence was generally low, suggesting a need for well-designed RCTs with larger sample sizes, standardized treatment regimens, and core outcome measures.
Article
Neurosciences
Till Nierhaus, Sara Wesolek, Daniel Pach, Claudia M. Witt, Felix Blankenburg, Timo T. Schmidt
Summary: Using fMRI and multivariate pattern analysis, this study investigates the activation patterns in the brain during tactile mental imagery. The findings suggest that the recruitment of sensory regions during mental tactile imagery involves content-specific activation patterns, particularly in the S1.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Anita V. Thomae, Lotte Verweij, Claudia M. Witt, David Blum, Emanuel Feusi, Andre Fringer, Marion Huber, Melanie Roos, Jasmin Anita Lal, Rahel Naef
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of a new mandatory course on interprofessional collaboration for medical students. The results showed that the course was effective in teaching students about interprofessional collaboration and developing their interprofessional competencies and identity.
MEDICAL EDUCATION ONLINE
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Raphael Scullion, Katja Icke, Tatjana Tissen-Diabate, Daniela Adam, Miriam Ortiz, Claudia M. Witt, Benno Brinkhaus, Barbara Stoeckigt
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of a Mind-Body-Medicine course on students at Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany. Results showed that the course reduced perceived stress, increased self-efficacy, mindfulness, and empathy, leading to better stress management, personal growth, and a broader understanding of integrative medicine among students.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Jun J. J. Mao, Claudia M. M. Witt
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
(2023)
