The Comorbidities, CHA2DS2-Vasc Scores, and Complications between the TCM and Non-TCM Groups.

The Comorbidities, CHA2DS2-Vasc Scores, and Complications between the TCM and Non-TCM Groups.</p

Possible mechanisms of frequently used CHPs for AF from 2000 to 2010 in Taiwan.

<p>Possible mechanisms of frequently used CHPs for AF from 2000 to 2010 in Taiwan.</p

The Incidence and Hazard Ratios for Ischemic Stroke in the TCM Cohort, Compared to the Non-TCM Cohort.

The Incidence and Hazard Ratios for Ischemic Stroke in the TCM Cohort, Compared to the Non-TCM Cohort.</p

Adjuvant Chinese Herbal Products for Preventing Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Chinese herbal products (CHPs) are widely used for atrial fibrillation (AF) in Taiwan. We investigated the effect of adjuvant CHPs in preventing ischemic stroke in patients with AF.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Taiwanese patients in the Health Insurance Database newly diagnosed with AF during 2000–2011 were enrolled. Medication treatment with/without CHPs was administered within 7 days after the AF diagnosis. The clinical endpoint was an ischemic stroke. The Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Student <i>t</i> test were used to examine differences between the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and non-TCM cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess the risk for ischemic stroke between two cohorts.</p><p>Results</p><p>Three hundred and eleven patients underwent TCM treatment and 1715 patients did not. Compared to non-TCM users, TCM users had a lower incidence of stroke (12.59% vs. 1.93%, respectively) and lower risk of stroke [CHA₂DS₂-VASc score = 0–2 (hazard ratio = 0.20; 95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.65)]. Compared to non-TCM users, the stroke risk was significantly lower in TCM users with AF who were female or younger than 65 years, but not in males, people more than 65 years old, or people with comorbidities. Compared to TCM users, non-TCM users who received conventional treatment had a higher ischemic stroke risk. The risk for AF-related hospitalization was significantly lower in TCM users (0.64%) than in non-TCM users (38.1%).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Users of TCM with AF have a lower risk of new-onset ischemic stroke. Therefore, adjuvant CHP therapy may have a protective effect and may be used in AF patients to prevent ischemic stroke.</p></div

Flow chart of the study participants.

<p>AF, atrial fibrillation; LHID, Longitudinal Health Insurance Database; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine.</p

The top 5 single and formula CHPs prescribed by TCM physicians for treating patients with AF from 2000 to 2010 in Taiwan.

<p>The top 5 single and formula CHPs prescribed by TCM physicians for treating patients with AF from 2000 to 2010 in Taiwan.</p

The Odds Ratio for Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalization due to Atrial Fibrillation within 1 Year after the Index Date in the TCM Cohort, Compared to the Non-TCM Cohort.

<p>The Odds Ratio for Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalization due to Atrial Fibrillation within 1 Year after the Index Date in the TCM Cohort, Compared to the Non-TCM Cohort.</p

Additional file 1 of Effectiveness and acceptability of noninvasive brain and nerve stimulation techniques for migraine prophylaxis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Additional file 1

Compact 200 kHz HHG source driven by a few-cycle OPCPA

We present efficient high-order harmonic generation (HHG) based on a high-repetition rate, few-cycle, near infrared (NIR), carrier-envelope phase stable, optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA), emitting 6fs pulses with 9{\mu}J pulse energy at 200kHz repetition rate. In krypton, we reach conversion efficiencies from the NIR to the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation pulse energy on the order of ~10^{-6} with less than 3{\mu}J driving pulse energy. This is achieved by optimizing the OPCPA for a spatially and temporally clean pulse and by a specially designed high-pressure gas target. In the future, the high efficiency of the HHG source will be beneficial for high-repetition rate two-colour (NIR-XUV) pumpprobe experiments, where the available pulse energy from the laser has to be distributed economically between pump and probe pulses

Additional file 2 of Effectiveness and acceptability of noninvasive brain and nerve stimulation techniques for migraine prophylaxis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Additional file 2