Dan Xu , Juxi Jiang , Tingting Chen , Junyi Wang , Lin Feng , Weizhong Chen , Wantai Dang
{"title":"Analysis of clinical characteristics and predictive factors in patients with gout caused by different traditional Chinese medicine syndromes: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Dan Xu , Juxi Jiang , Tingting Chen , Junyi Wang , Lin Feng , Weizhong Chen , Wantai Dang","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This study aimed to analyse the clinical characteristics and predictive factors of patients with gout caused by different traditional Chinese medicine syndromes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 1658 patients with gout who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College between 2019 and January 2022 were included in this study. The patients with gout were primarily categorized into four subtypes, namely, patients with obstruction of dampness and heat syndrome (ODHS), patients with intermingled phlegm blood stasis syndrome (IPBSS), patients with Pi (Spleen)-deficiency induced dampness syndrome (PDIDS), and patients with qi-blood deficiency syndrome (QBDS). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to identify biomarkers that contribute to the TCM syndrome classification, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of the model. Decision curve analysis (DCA) curves were employed for visual risk prediction of the clinical and column line models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>RBC, HGB, LY, HCT, MCHC, TP, ALB, BUN, CREA, URIC, CysC, LDL-C, LP-A, Hcy, and age of patients with gout differed significantly among the different TCM syndrome types (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The AUCs(95%CI) of the PDIDS, QBDS, ODHS, and IPBSS groups in the training set were: 0.546 (0.493, 0.598), 0.624 (0.565, 0.682), 0.569 (0.518, 0.621), and 0.559 (0.480, 0.637), respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>On the basis of the clinical experimental indicators of patients with gout, this study established four prediction models of TCM syndrome types. These models provide a basis for further research into the mechanism underlying TCM syndrome and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of gout in the subsequent stage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102491"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144177477","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}
Suzana Žunec , Marija Kuzmić , Andreja Jurič , Irena Brčić Karačonji , Ana Lucić Vrdoljak , Nevenka Kopjar
{"title":"The protective effect of chestnut honey against oxidative stress and cyto/genotoxicity produced by UVB irradiation established in vitro","authors":"Suzana Žunec , Marija Kuzmić , Andreja Jurič , Irena Brčić Karačonji , Ana Lucić Vrdoljak , Nevenka Kopjar","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is a physical agent ubiquitously present in the environment that triggers inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, and DNA instability, potentially leading to various pathological conditions and diseases. In this study, we assessed whether Croatian certified organic chestnut honey (CH), with high polyphenol content, has protective properties against UVB-induced oxidative and cyto/genotoxic effects and, if it could therefore be considered as a functional food or functional ingredient in cosmetic formulations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Whole human peripheral blood and isolated lymphocytes were treated with CH in an amount relevant for potential dietary use and 10-fold higher before (pre-treatment) and after (post-treatment) exposure to UVB radiation at 2 kJ/m<sup>2</sup>. Oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation] were measured in separated plasma. Cytotoxic effects in lymphocytes were studied using the fluorescent assay with acridine orange and ethidium bromide, including identification and quantification of apoptotic and necrotic cells. DNA damage in lymphocytes was evaluated using the alkaline comet assay.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The tested CH showed a tendency to reduce oxidative stress in plasma induced by UVB radiation and reduced DNA damage in UVB-irradiated lymphocytes protecting them from cell death. Overall, these observed beneficial effects of CH were achieved at 1 mg/mL, which corresponds to the average daily intake both when applied as pre-treatment and post-treatment following UVB exposure.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings of this study provide preliminary evidence on the <em>in vitro</em> protective effects of the tested organic CH; however, further confirmatory research is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102489"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167391","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":"Effective management of subclinical hypothyroidism using herbal medicines and lifestyle modifications: A case report","authors":"Faseeha Eram","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is characterized by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with normal free thyroid hormones, often remaining asymptomatic. The management of SCH remains controversial, particularly in patients who do not exhibit overt symptoms. This case report explores the effectiveness of an integrative approach combining herbal medicines and lifestyle modifications in managing SCH.</div></div><div><h3>Case Presentation</h3><div>A 35-year-old asymptomatic female patient presented with elevated TSH (11.25 µIU/mL) and normal T3 and T4 levels. The patient was treated with a combination of <em>Habbe Muqil</em> and <em>Majoon Falasafa</em>, along with dietary modifications, cinnamon and coriander tea, and regular brisk walking. After three months of treatment, the patient's TSH level decreased significantly to 3.034 µIU/mL, indicating a positive response to the treatment regimen.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This case highlights the potential benefits of Unani medicine and lifestyle interventions in managing subclinical hypothyroidism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102486"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144107407","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}
Jing-Yu (Benjamin) Tan , Lorna K.P. Suen , Tao Wang
{"title":"Auricular acupressure for nausea and vomiting in breast cancer: Feasibility outcomes from a Phase II trial with embedded qualitative insights","authors":"Jing-Yu (Benjamin) Tan , Lorna K.P. Suen , Tao Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102484","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102484","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Auricular acupressure (AA) has been a popular complementary health approach for managing cancer-related symptoms, including chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in breast cancer (BC) patients. Despite its growing use, clinical evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of AA remains limited and not yet fully established. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using an evidence-based AA intervention for managing CINV in BC patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This paper reports the feasibility outcomes from a Phase II randomised controlled trial (RCT) with embedded qualitative insights. The clinical trial equally assigned 114 participants to a true AA, placebo AA, or standard care group. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT), the Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). Study feasibility was evaluated through recruitment, implementation, outcome assessment, intervention feasibility and safety, and participants’ satisfaction. Upon RCT completion, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences with the RCT and the intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The RCT achieved a high completion with 110 participants. Most participants adhered strictly to the 5-day AA protocol. AA-related adverse events were mild and transient. Participants found the complementary healthcare approaches convenient and safe, reporting that the study questionnaires were easy to complete and effectively captured CINV symptoms using MAT. Most participants supported AA's benefits in managing CINV.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The RCT procedures for using AA to manage CINV in BC patients were feasible, with satisfactory recruitment and retention rates, good questionnaire acceptability, and adherence to the protocol. Qualitative findings enhanced understanding of RCT feasibility and protocol acceptability from patients' perspectives. Findings from the Phase II RCT and qualitative interviews supported AA as a safe and convenient intervention for a future Phase III RCT to evaluate its definite effects on CINV in BC patients.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical Trial Registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrial.Gov (NCT02403037).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102484"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090004","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":"Clinical feasibility of quantifying the force-time characteristics of spinal mobilizations in the preschool-age pediatric population","authors":"Marie-Hélène Vallières , Chantale Doucet , François Nougarou , Martha Funabashi , Isabelle Pagé","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102485","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102485","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Spinal mobilizations are commonly employed to address neuromusculoskeletal disorders in children. However, there is limited data on the biomechanics of these interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a fingertip force sensor to measure the force-time characteristics of spinal mobilizations delivered by chiropractors to children.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Chiropractors were recruited through purposive sampling via the research team’s network, targeting those with a pediatric-focused practice and contacted via professional email. A force sensor was attached to their fingertip while they performed spinal mobilizations on patients aged five years and younger. Feasibility was assessed through five elements: recruitment of participants (chiropractors and children), data collection, acceptability and suitability, resources, and data quality. A thematic analysis was performed to categorize information related to each feasibility element into barriers and facilitators.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 6 chiropractors and 43 children participated in the study. Recruitment was successful, with all invited chiropractors agreeing to participate and children being recruited through their legal guardians. Data collection was feasible, though challenges with children’s cooperation led to repeated trials. Both chiropractors and legal guardians expressed general satisfaction; the sensor did not impact the clinicians' tactile sensitivity, and treatment time was not extended. Resource management was efficient, with no equipment malfunctions. Issues with sensor calibration and difficulties in visually confirming sensor positioning were noted. Data quality indicated data loss, particularly during cervical mobilization.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study indicates that, while using a fingertip force sensor does not interfere with the treatment process, several challenges, including calibration issues, were identified. These insights provide a basis for improving methodologies in pediatric manual therapy research.</div></div><div><h3>Clinical trial registration</h3><div>This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05607355).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102485"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090003","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}
Shahnawaz Mohammad , Anjali Kariyarath Valappil , Md. Rezaul Karim , Safia Iqbal , Deok Chun Yang , Changbao Chen , Li Ling , Dong Uk Yang
{"title":"Protective roles of genistein and icaritin in skin barrier integrity and hydration in an atopic dermatitis model","authors":"Shahnawaz Mohammad , Anjali Kariyarath Valappil , Md. Rezaul Karim , Safia Iqbal , Deok Chun Yang , Changbao Chen , Li Ling , Dong Uk Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102483","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102483","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic skin condition that primarily affects children and is characterized by impaired skin barrier function. Factors such as immune dysregulation and filaggrin deficiency contribute to barrier dysfunction. This study investigates the protective effects of genistein and icaritin in an AD-like model, focusing on their impact on skin barrier integrity, hydration, tight junction stability, and antimicrobial peptide production.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCat cells) were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium with 10 % FBS and 1 % penicillin-streptomycin at 37 °C in 5 % CO<sub>2</sub> for 24 h. For the MTT assay, cells were plated at 1 × 10⁵ cells per well and treated with various concentrations of icaritin, genistein, their combinations, and dexamethasone. We established an AD-like inflammation model by treating the HaCat cells with TNF-α + IFN-γ (5 ng/ml), followed by extracting RNA and performing qRT-PCR using SYBR TOPreal, with GAPDH as the reference gene. The data are expressed as mean±<em>S</em>.D. (<em>n</em> = 3).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Icaritin (6.25 and 12.5 μg/ml) and genistein (6.25 and 12.5 μg/ml) demonstrated no cytotoxic effects on HaCaT cells. Treatment significantly upregulated the expression of barrier-related genes, including filaggrin (<em>FLG</em>) with a fold change of 1.17 (genistein, 6.25 μg/ml, <em>p</em> < 0.01) and 1.16 (12.5 μg/ml, <em>p</em> < 0.05), <em>Claudin-1</em> (0.75 (icaritin, 12.5 µg/ml, <em>p</em> < 0.001), and <em>ZO-1</em> expression was significantly upregulated (1.79-fold) following combined treatment (<em>p</em> < 0.001). Furthermore, hyaluronic acid synthases (<em>HAS-1</em>, 1.66; <em>HAS-2</em>, 1.23) and <em>hBD3</em> (1.98 at combined treatment) were notably increased.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Genistein and icaritin significantly enhance skin barrier integrity and hydration in HaCaT cells, upregulating key proteins including filaggrin and aquaporin 3, indicating their therapeutic potential in AD management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102483"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090005","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}
Pei Hui Sue , Foong Leng Ng , Chai Nien Foo , Jen-Sern Tham , Xiaoshu Zhu , Yang Mooi Lim
{"title":"A systematic review on the traditional Chinese medicine body constitution in different types of cancer","authors":"Pei Hui Sue , Foong Leng Ng , Chai Nien Foo , Jen-Sern Tham , Xiaoshu Zhu , Yang Mooi Lim","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Researchers in China have identified Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) body constitution in populations with a cancer diagnosis and integrated these findings into guidelines for cancer prevention. A balanced constitution indicates optimal health, lower susceptibility to and positive prognosis for illness, whereas an unbalanced constitution suggests an imbalance of core elements in TCM, with higher disease sensitivity. This review aimed to systematically analyze the distribution of TCM body constitutions according to different types of cancers in various geographic locations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The CNKI, SinoMed, Wan Fang, Science Direct, and PubMed databases were searched from January 2017 to November 2024. This review included cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. The quality assessment of all included studies was conducted using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the TCM body constitution in each cancer.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 5018 studies were retrieved and screened, and 28 studies involving 5581 patients in different geographical areas of China were included in this review. <em>Qi</em> deficiency constitution was prevalent in colorectal (26.1 % of patients with this cancer), esophageal (30.2 %), kidney (20.9 %), stomach (39.9 %), and soft tissue (30.9 %) cancers. The balanced constitution was prevalent in the lung (27.5 %) and nasopharyngeal (37.4 %) cancers and <em>Yin</em> deficiency constitution was prevalent in thyroid cancer (27.2 %). <em>Yang</em> deficiency constitution was prevalent in the liver (24.5 %) and ovarian cancer (20.6 %), Blood stasis constitution was prevalent in cervical cancer (19.3 %), and <em>Qi</em> stagnation constitution was prevalent in breast cancer (29.0 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The identification of TCM body constitution according to different cancer diagnoses in populations in China offers novel approaches for epidemiology studies. The TCM body constitutions of cancers in other countries are yet to be explored. Given the limited evidence due to the poor quality of the included studies, further research is needed to determine if the TCM body constitution could serve as a reference for the public in predicting susceptibility to cancer and raising public awareness of the need to maintain a balanced constitution in cancer prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102481"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143943470","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":"Boling Huazhuo Pill-medicated serum alleviates inflammation of RWPE-1 cells by regulating M1 macrophage-derived CCL3","authors":"Yuping Peng , Lu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102482","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102482","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) has a complex etiology and remains challenging to treat. Clinical studies have indicated that Boling Huazhuo Pill (BHP) is effective in managing CP/CPPS; however, its underlying mechanism remains unknown. Since increased macrophages and C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) release are closely associated with CP/CPPS pathogenesis, this study examined whether BHP-medicated serum reduces inflammation in RWPE-1 cells by regulating M1 macrophage-derived CCL3.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>M0 and M1 macrophages were generated through THP-1 cell differentiation. Following treatment with BHP-medicated serum, macrophage polarization and inflammatory cytokine levels were analyzed using flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The effects of BHP-medicated serum, alone or in combination with recombinant CCL3, on CCL3 production by M1 macrophages were investigated. Furthermore, the influence on proliferation, apoptosis, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 activation in RWPE-1 cells was examined within a macrophage-RWPE-1 co-culture system.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>BHP-medicated serum reduced the proportion of M1 macrophages and suppressed inflammation. In the co-culture system, M1 macrophages inhibited RWPE-1 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, whereas BHP-medicated serum reversed these effects. Notably, BHP-medicated serum reduced M1 macrophage-derived CCL3 production and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation in RWPE-1 cells. However, treatment with CCL3 counteracted these effects of BHP-medicated serum.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>BHP-medicated serum may suppress NF-κB pathway activation by inhibiting M1 macrophage-derived CCL3, thereby reducing inflammation in RWPE-1 cells. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using BHP in CP/CPPS treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102482"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090006","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}
Cedrick S. Mutombo , Salvius A. Bakari , Vianney N. Ntabaza , Amandine Nachtergael , Jean-Baptiste S. Lumbu , Pierre Duez , Joh B. Kahumba
{"title":"A cross-sectional study of mutual perceptions between conventional and traditional caregivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a step towards integrative medicine","authors":"Cedrick S. Mutombo , Salvius A. Bakari , Vianney N. Ntabaza , Amandine Nachtergael , Jean-Baptiste S. Lumbu , Pierre Duez , Joh B. Kahumba","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Although the Democratic Republic of Congo has been engaged for several years in the process of integrating traditional medicine (TM) into the official health system, to date, no study has reported on the interactions between caregivers from conventional medicine (CM) and TM. And so, the present work explores the perception of TM by CM caregivers, their collaboration with traditional healers (THs), and the opinions of caregivers of these two medicines on the integration of THs into CM structures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two semi-structured interview surveys were carried out between January 2018 and June 2019, among CM caregivers and THs in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 970 CM caregivers and 116 THs took part. More than 50.0 % of surveyed CM caregivers resorted to TM for various diseases and 78.7 % experienced treatment success. More than 80.0 % of THs wish to collaborate with CM caregivers and about 60.0 % of CM caregivers wish to collaborate with THs. Also, 30.5 % of CM caregivers desire the integration of THs in CM structures, while 77.6 % of THs want to work in said structures; moreover, 36.2 % and 16.0 % of TM and CM caregivers, respectively, mentioned having already experienced collaboration with traditional healers and their integration into CM structures.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>There are some positive, and somewhat encouraging, interactions between TM and CM caregivers in Lubumbashi. The integration of TM knowledge in CM caregiver training courses, the generation and dissemination of data supporting the uses of traditional products and practices, as well as the development of mutual awareness and respect of caregivers in the two sectors are necessary actions to attain integrative medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102480"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947066","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":"Yoga as a complementary therapy in older adults: A bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science database","authors":"Semiha Yenişehir","doi":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Yoga as a complementary therapy has an important biopsychosocial role in the active and successful ageing of the rapidly growing older population worldwide. The aim of this study is to analyse articles from a bibliometric perspective on yoga in older adults.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The Web of Science database was searched for the titles of English-language articles including “yoga” and (“geriatric” OR “aging” OR “older” OR “old age”) words. An R-based application (Biblioshiny-R), and VOSviewer software were used to analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 125 English-articles published between 2005 and 2024 were included. The average citation per document was 19.50. The years with the highest number of publications were 2017 and 2022. The most productive research field was “Gerontology”. The most relevant author was Park J. USA was the most productive and most cited country and the most relevant country. “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” was the most relevant journal followed by “Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice”. The most frequent author's keyword was “yoga”.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Most relevant countries’ findings about multiple-country publication indicate a significant lack of international collaboration. The number of most cited references should be increased for author network analysis to gain a deeper understanding of this field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Integrative Medicine","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 102478"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084716","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}