Complementary Medicine Research最新文献

{"title":"SmartEBM AI Agent: A Web-Based Platform for Streamlining Network Meta-Analysis via Human-AI Collaboration.","authors":"Jiayi Liu, Honghao Lai, Weilong Zhao, Bo Tong, Ning Ma, Bei Pan, Darong Wu, Long Ge","doi":"10.1159/000552717","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000552717","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Network meta-analysis (NMA) plays an important role in comparative effectiveness research, particularly in fields such as traditional and complementary medicine, where multiple interventions often need to be assessed within a single evidence framework. However, conducting NMA remains labor-intensive, methodologically demanding, and difficult to complete efficiently using conventional workflows. Although recent advances in large language models have created new opportunities for supporting evidence synthesis, their routine use in NMA is still constrained by limited transparency, prompt dependency, and difficulty integrating with structured analytical procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We developed SmartEBM, a web-based human-AI collaborative platform designed to support the full workflow of NMA. The platform is organized around a human-in-the-loop model, in which AI-assisted functions support repeated and labor-intensive tasks while researchers retain oversight of methodological judgment, verification, and final decision-making. SmartEBM integrates six functional modules: title and abstract screening, full-text screening, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, statistical analysis, and certainty of evidence assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SmartEBM provides low-code interfaces, structured outputs, and verification-oriented workspaces that connect the major steps of evidence synthesis within a single platform. The six modules collectively address the core analytical stages of NMA, enabling researchers to conduct screening, extraction, assessment, and analysis in an integrated environment rather than across disparate tools.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Rather than functioning as a stand-alone automation tool, SmartEBM is intended as a practical platform for end-to-end NMA support. This platform-oriented approach may help make evidence synthesis more manageable, traceable, and accessible in routine research practice, especially in complex review settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"279-292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148053137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Primary Care Physicians in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Zainab Abubakr Almusleh, Mohamed Ahmed Syed, Fatima Al Ali","doi":"10.1159/000552547","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000552547","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Introduction: Complementary medicine (CM), as defined by the World Health Organization, encompasses diverse health practices that are not fully integrated into conventional medical systems. Capturing physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward CM are fundamental for its safe and evidence-based incorporation into patient care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and utilization of CM among primary healthcare physicians in Qatar.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among physicians employed at the Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar. Data were collected between November 2023 and January 2024 using a validated, self-administered online questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, CM knowledge, attitudes, and utilization patterns.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 106 respondents, only 22.6% reported attending a formal CM educational activity, yet 79.2% expressed interest in receiving such training. Physicians reported the greatest comfort in advising on spiritual healing (20.8%), Hijama (17.9%), massage therapy (14.2%), and meditation (14.2%). Overall, 80.2% indicated discussing CM benefits with patients, reflecting generally positive attitudes toward CM integration despite limited formal education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Primary healthcare physicians in Qatar exhibit favorable attitudes toward CM and engage patients in related discussions; however, substantial knowledge gaps persist. The strong interest in CM training suggests the need for structured, culturally relevant, and evidence-based educational programs to ensure safe integration of CM into clinical practice. Future research should explore the impact of targeted CM education on physician decision-making and patient outcomes. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"349-358"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13363104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147986632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Acupuncture Therapy in a Patient with Long-Standing Alopecia Areata: A Case Report.","authors":"Xinru Wang, Songsen Lan, Qintao Yu, Lingqian Chen, Jiazhe He, Pin Zhu, Siyao He, Xiaoqi Ying, Dexiong Han, Ying Zhang","doi":"10.1159/000552417","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000552417","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Alopecia areata (AA), the second most common form of non-scarring hair loss, has an overall point prevalence of 0.1%-0.2% and a lifetime risk of 1.7-2.5%. This condition can seriously affect patients' self-esteem and body image. Here, we aimed to report a case of persistent AA which was successfully treated with acupuncture therapy after 6 years of disease duration.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 61-year-old male presented with chronic AA lasting over 6 years. Physical examination revealed three distinct areas of patchy hair loss on the scalp with well-defined borders. According to the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT), the assessment showed S1, B0, and N0, with a SALT score of 15. The patient had received no prior treatment for this condition, and the initial diagnosis at our hospital was as follows: AA, resting phase with migratory characteristics. A comprehensive acupuncture protocol was implemented, consisting of plum-blossom needle tapping, circumferential needling around affected areas, and systemic body acupuncture. Treatment was administered three times weekly. Significant improvement was observed within 2 months, with complete resolution achieved after 9 months of treatment (55 total sessions). The migratory pattern of hair loss gradually diminished during treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case demonstrates the potential efficacy of acupuncture therapy in managing long-standing AA without pharmacological intervention. The innovative use of alternating acupoint selection protocols may have contributed to the positive outcome. However, the lack of baseline laboratory assessments limits our ability to fully elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms. Future controlled studies with comprehensive biomarker analysis are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"359-367"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147971016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evolution of Research Frontiers and Hotspots in Acupuncture Therapy for Asthma: A Bibliometric Analysis (1975-2024).","authors":"Jipeng Zhou, Yu Wang, Lanying Liu, Li Liu","doi":"10.1159/000549990","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549990","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease with potential side effects from conventional treatments. This study analyzed research trends and collaborations in acupuncture as a complementary therapy for asthma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for English-language publications on acupuncture and asthma from 1975 to 2024. Data on publication counts, citations, authors, institutions, countries, and journals were collected. Bibliometric indicators were computed using Microsoft Excel, with visualization tools like VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R packages including bibliometrix.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>An analysis of 247 publications from 1,201 researchers across 909 institutions in 41 countries was conducted, prominently featuring work from China Medical University Taiwan and the University of California Los Angeles. China led with 83 articles, followed by the USA and Germany. Notable authors included Benno Brinkhaus and Wei Ying. Influential journals such as the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Acupuncture in Medicine highlighted their pivotal roles in clinical acupuncture research. The journal Allergy attained the highest citation impact. The predominant keywords were \"asthma,\" \"acupuncture,\" and \"prevalence,\" reflecting the increasing studies on acupuncture's mechanisms and its integration with conventional treatments.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This analysis emphasizes the growing global interest in acupuncture for asthma and the need for further research on its mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"11-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145707507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Off-Label-Anwendungen standardisierter Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte].","authors":"Andreas Schapowal","doi":"10.1159/000549638","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549638","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hintergrund: Standardisierte Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte werden häufig zur Behandlung von Demenz, Tinnitus, Schwindel und peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit eingesetzt. Darüber hinaus gibt es zahlreiche Off-Label-Anwendungen. Zusammenfassung: Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte weisen antioxidative, neuroprotektive und durchblutungsfördernde Eigenschaften auf. Studien deuten darauf hin, dass sie positive Effekte auf die kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit, die Stresshormonregulation und die Endothelfunktion haben. Erforscht wird ihre potenzielle Rolle bei Stressbewältigung, Angststörung, unipolarer Depression, Schlafstörungen, Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, Augenerkrankungen und erektiler Dysfunktion. Kernaussagen: Ginkgo-biloba-Extrakte könnten über ihre antioxidativen und neuroprotektiven Effekte therapeutische Vorteile bei Off-Label-Anwendungen bieten. Die vielversprechenden Ergebnisse klinischer Studien deuten auf eine potenzielle Wirksamkeit bei psychischen und kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Augenerkrankungen und erektiler Dysfunktion hin. Weitere randomisierte, kontrollierte Studien sind erforderlich, um die langfristige Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit in diesen Off-Label-Indikationen zu bestätigen.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilizing the DMN and DAN to Study the Effects of Acupuncture on Patients with Cognitive Impairment in Long COVID: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.","authors":"Jing Chen, Yanyu Wu, Ziang Zhang, Mengru Shen, Yang Zhou, Han Zhang, Zesen Zhuang, Shiqi Wang, Dan Wang, Lei Xu, Yingqi Lu, Shangjie Chen","doi":"10.1159/000549822","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549822","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the long COVID symptoms that many people experience after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many individuals report a decline in cognitive functions, such as reduced memory and brain fog. These symptoms not only directly affect the cognitive functions of the brain but also hinder daily living activities, thereby reducing the quality of life. Moreover, these symptoms are significant risk factors for long-term cognitive decline in the elderly and can have both short-term and long-term effects on brain function. Clinically, acupuncture is widely used to improve cognitive impairment in the elderly. Elucidating the brain network mechanisms underlying acupuncture therapy for long COVID-related cognitive impairment represents an urgently needed research focus. In this study, we employed acupuncture as an intervention to mitigate cognitive decline in long COVID patients and investigate the potential mechanisms by which acupuncture alleviates cognitive impairment. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 60 eligible participants are planned to be recruited and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the acupuncture group and the health education group, which will then receive acupuncture treatment and health education. The acupuncture group will participate in treatment three times per week for a total of 8 weeks. The health education group will receive health education once per week for a total of 8 weeks. The primary assessment index was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), and the secondary assessment indexes included Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Auditory Verbal Learning Test-Huashan Version (AVLT-H), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. These assessment indicators were all tested in 1 week each before and after the intervention was implemented. Discussion: This trial aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on cognitive impairment in patients with long COVID and to further explore the imaging mechanisms by which acupuncture alleviates cognitive dysfunction in these patients. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"31-41"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12826761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145707566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acknowledgement to Reviewers.","authors":"","doi":"10.1159/000549049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000549049","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145488120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of oral Candida infection: A meta-analysis.","authors":"Rong Tang, Fang Zhang, Xiaoyan Wang, Haiyue Long, Xiaoyi Hu","doi":"10.1159/000547106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000547106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This paper aims to assess the impact of probiotics on oral Candida infection using an evidence-based medicine approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of oral Candida infection were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP Database, Wanfang Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database, up until December 2022. Two researchers independently conducted data extraction and quality assessment. Meta-analysis of the extracted data was performed using the statistical software RevMan 5.4. The study included a total of 12 trials, comprising 4 in English and 8 in Chinese, with 1029 subjects (537 in the experimental group and 492 in the control group).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicated that probiotics effectively treated oral Candida infection [OR = 7.80, 95% CI (4.78, 12.75), P < 0.001], reduced the detection rate of oral Candida [OR = 0.06, 95% CI (0.01, 0.57), P = 0.01], and lowered the recurrence rate after cure [OR = 0.21, 95% CI (0.12, 0.35), P < 0.001]. These effects were observed in studies using probiotics both with and without antifungal agents, though a more consistent benefit was reported in studies using combination therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Probiotics demonstrated a significant impact on the treatment of oral Candida infection by reducing oral Candida colonization and minimizing recurrence rates post-cure.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144728457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Acupressure on Chemotherapy-Induced Anxiety and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Chunping Zhang, Jian Chen, Yiwen Zhang, Chuanzhu Yan","doi":"10.1159/000542022","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000542022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cancer patients are prone to experiencing negative emotions such as anxiety and depression after receiving chemotherapy. Research has shown that acupressure may be beneficial in relieving the anxiety and depression caused by chemotherapy, but high-quality evidence is lacking. This study was designed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of acupressure for relieving chemotherapy-induced anxiety and depression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA framework. Four English databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) and four Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM) were searched from inception to December 31, 2022, to identify randomized clinical trials examining the use of acupressure for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anxiety and depression. Cochrane Review Manager 5.4 and RStudio were used for the meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This meta-analysis included 1,119 patients from 12 randomized controlled trials. We mainly compared acupressure with sham acupressure and routine nursing. The results showed that acupressure alleviated chemotherapy-induced anxiety (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.15, -0.28], p = 0.001) and depression (SMD = -0.75, 95% CI [-1.36, -0.14], p = 0.02) more effectively than sham acupressure and routine nursing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This meta-analysis found that acupressure (body point) can relieve chemotherapy-induced anxiety and depression and improve the quality of life of patients. However, the current relevant literature has low quality and is highly heterogeneous, which reduces the credibility of the research results. Therefore, more rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are needed to verify these conclusions.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"55-66"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142459778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combination Therapy for Simple Obesity: Acupoint Needling and Auricular Acupressure Effects.","authors":"Yunxia Zhao, Min Wu, Bingan Zheng, Xiaoming Shao, Yi Zhao","doi":"10.1159/000547693","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000547693","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupoint-embedded needling combined with auricular acupressure in treating simple obesity associated with spleen deficiency and dampness accumulation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ninety-six patients with simple obesity were randomized into two groups. The intervention group received acupoint-embedded needling and auricular acupressure, while the control group received conventional acupuncture. After 30 days, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood lipid profiles, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, and metabolic markers were assessed. These included homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, serum leptin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate. Adverse events were monitored.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all p < 0.05). TCM scores and metabolic indicators also showed significant improvement. The overall adverse event rate was lower in the intervention group (8.33% vs. 29.17%, p = 0.019), although individual event types showed no statistically significant difference.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Acupoint-embedded needling combined with auricular acupressure is an effective and well-tolerated approach for managing simple obesity associated with spleen deficiency and dampness, with benefits in weight loss, improved metabolism, and symptom relief.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"419-431"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}