Background: Many studies have shown that exercise can effectively reduce the non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) level, one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, in different sex and age groups. However, there are very few studies conducted in older women, who are in a group having a higher mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, there has been no recent meta-analysis focusing on the effect of exercise on non-HDL-C level in older women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise on non-HDL-C level in older women (≥50 years old) by means of systematic review and meta-analysis of previous randomised controlled trials. Methods: Searches were conducted from 9 electronic databases by applying specific eligibility criteria of the review. Data regarding changes in non-HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol levels, were extracted as primary outcomes. Random-effect meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes. Results: Ten studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected for meta-analysis. Random-effect meta-analysis showed statistically significant reduction in non-HDL-C level (= -9.69 mg/dL; 95%CI= -17.09 to -2.29 mg/dL; p<0.05) and increase in HDL-C level (= 3.0mg/dL; 95%CI= 0.61 to 5.4; p<0.05), but no significant change in total cholesterol level (= -5.99 mg/dL; 95%CI= -12.64 to 0.66; p>0.05) in the exercise group compared to the control group. Subgroup analysis of data from different continents showed significant subgroup differences in the non-HDL-C level after exercise (Q= 12.39; p<0.005; I2= 83.9%). Conclusion Exercise decreases non-HDL-C level and increases HDL-C level in older women and might be efficacious in preventing dyslipidemia and associated diseases in older women.
Exercise ; Meta-Analysis [Publication Type]

Introduction: Chinese medicine (CM) external therapy is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in combination with conventional drug. This study aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis on the efficacy of CM external therapy combined with conventional drug treatment in RA. Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) experimenting the efficacy of CM external therapy (acupuncture, moxibustion and CM fumigation) combined with conventional drug in comparison with conventional drug only in RA patients were collected from PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Central of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ClinicalTrials.gov, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The outcome measures which include Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Swollen Joint Count (SJC), Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), serum levels of C-reactive Protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) were analysed using Review Manager 5.4.1 and GRADEpro GDT online software. Results: Fifty RCTs fulfilling the criteria were included. Although some level of efficacy was statistically noted on the use of CM external therapies, their certainty levels are mixed, ranging only in between moderate and low. Conclusions Mixed levels of certainty has hindered the drawing of conclusion. The addition of CM external therapies to conventional drug treatment may provide some benefits in RA. Further clinical trials with considerations in minimising the risk of bias are recommended to provide more high-quality evidence in the effect of CM external therapies as a complementary treatment in RA.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Fumigation ; Meta-Analysis [Publication Type] ; Moxibustion ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Systematic Review [Publication Type]