Diarrhea is a common and consequential gastrointestinal disorder in children aged <5 years and remains a major global public health concern. Viral pathogens account for most cases of pediatric diarrhea; however, no specific antiviral treatment is available. Xiyanping injection, a traditional Chinese medicine with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, has been increasingly adopted in clinical practice. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiyanping injection as an adjunct to conventional treatment for viral diarrhea in children aged <5 years.

A comprehensive search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and SinoMed was conducted from database inception to October 1, 2025 (updated to July 15, 2026), to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using R software, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Twenty-seven RCTs involving 3721 children were included. Compared with control interventions, adjunctive Xiyanping injection significantly improved the 3-day cure rate (relative risk [RR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32, 1.75) and 3-day efficacy rate (RR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.19). It also shortened diarrhea duration (mean difference [MD] = −1.54 days, 95% CI: −1.87, −1.20) and hospital stay (MD = −1.60 days, 95% CI: −2.35, −0.844), although substantial heterogeneity was observed. No statistically significant difference in adverse reactions was found between the groups. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the results, with evidence certainty ranging from low to very low.

Xiyanping injection may improve short-term clinical outcomes in children with viral diarrhea. However, overall certainty of evidence is limited, and the available safety evidence remains insufficient. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.

This study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD420251238691).

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ruyi Zhenbao tablet (RYZBT), a traditional Tibetan medicinal formula, for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), that is frequently associated with lower back pain (LBP), through rigorous randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

This multicenter, randomized, positive-controlled trial study will include 400 participants diagnosed with LDH, and include an enrollment period, a 4-week treatment period, and a 4-week follow-up period. Participants will be randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio for treatment with either RYZBT or diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablet (DSSRT) for 4 weeks. The time points of visits are set at baseline, during treatment (weeks 1, 2, and 4), and during follow-up (weeks 2 and 4 post-treatment). The relevant outcome will be recorded at each timepoint. The primary outcomes include the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for LBP and leg pain, as well as the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores for functional assessment. Secondary outcomes comprise the VAS scores for numbness, Oswestry Disability Index, rescue treatments, patient health education, and safety assessments.

This study has been designed to provide robust and reliable evidence of the efficacy and safety of RYZBT in alleviating LDH symptoms, with the goal of supporting evidence-based clinical applications. By using DSSRT as a positive control, the placebo effect will be effectively minimized, enabling a more accurate assessment of RYZBT efficacy.

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) encompass a spectrum of over 150 distinct conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system, affecting people all over the world. Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is an integrated healthcare concept that combines conventional therapies with complementary health care. There has been a lack of overarching study to systematically demonstrate the scope of research on TCIM for MSDs. The study aims to explore the patterns and trends in TCIM for MSDs over the last 20 years.

The Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was selected as the data source to identify relevant publications. We included research and review articles published in English from January 1, 2004, to July 29, 2024. The CiteSpace 6.1.R1 software package was used to conduct bibliometric and visual analysis about the number of publications and the distributions of countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, and their co-occurrence. Microsoft Excel was used to collect information on numbers and frequencies.

A total of 6345 publications were retrieved, including 5559 research articles and 786 review articles. The annual number of publications exhibited an overall upward trend in 20 years. Vitamin D and osteoporosis were the most frequently studied TCIM and MSD, respectively. Research hotspots have gradually shifted from epidemiological investigations of and diagnostic techniques for MSDs to studies of specific populations and disease risk factors and management strategies. Future studies should be conducted to monitor changes in research topics and focus on the prevention and risk recognition of MSDs.

This bibliometric study lays the foundation for further studies in the fields of TCIM and MSDs. Despite the local and indigenous characteristics of TCIM, we encourage international cooperation and interaction. At a time when healthcare needs are shifting toward safety, prevention, and wellness, the role of TCIM should be considered.

To provide high-quality clinical evidence of the efficacy of Tibetan medicine Honghua Ruyi (HHRY) pills for endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea.

This study constitutes a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial encompassing a three-menstrual cycle intervention followed by a three-menstrual cycle follow-up period. A total of 164 eligible females with endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into HHRY pills and placebo groups in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome included dysmenorrhea symptoms assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and quality of life, whereas the secondary outcome measures included the maximum VAS for non-menstrual pelvic pain, duration of pain episodes (in days), frequency and quantity of the consumption of ibuprofen sustained-release capsules (or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and days off work/study for staff/student due to dysmenorrhea, ovarian cyst, and/or pelvic nodule size. The safety was monitored throughout the treatment period. All the analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle. For continuous outcomes, simple or multiple linear regressions were used to estimate the differences between the HHRY pills and placebo groups, with categorical data expressed as the number and percentage of occurrences. Differences were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. The predefined analysis was adjusted for concomitant treatment, a variable considered to be associated with outcomes but unaffected by treatment allocation. Estimates of treatment effects were reported with 95% confidence intervals. Two-tailed P values ≤ .05 were considered statistically significant.

Positive results from this trial, upon completion would provide robust evidence for the efficacy and safety of HHRY pills in treating dysmenorrhea in patients with endometriosis.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Baimai ointment in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

This study presents a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial protocol. A total of 194 cases will be employed, with a 1:1 allocation ratio for each group. Patients will receive either Baimai ointment or placebo over a 14-day treatment period, which will be followed by a 1-week follow-up period. Visual analogue scale scores will be used for the level of pain, the Japanese Orthopedic Association score will be measured primarily to determine the functional status, the Likert scale will be graded for the level of numbness, and rescue therapy use and compliance with health education will be recorded. Laboratory tests and adverse event records will also be applied for safety assessments.

In summary, this trial will assess the clinical efficacy and safety of Baimai ointment for LDH for the first time. The use of a placebo has the advantage of precluding anticipatory biases resulting from inadequate blinding. Outcome assessors, data managers, statisticians, and all related study staff will be blinded to avoid any bias caused by subjective factors in the study subjects and investigators. Valuable information for clinical LDH treatment and future research on Baimai ointment will be generated from the findings.