Integrative Medicine Research最新文献

{"title":"Effects of Asparagus officinalis for burning mouth syndrome: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials","authors":"Chen Shen ,&nbsp;Xue-Feng Wang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Ti Wu ,&nbsp;Xin-Xin Liu ,&nbsp;Nicola Robinson ,&nbsp;Jian-Ping Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) lacks optimal treatments. This systematic review assessed <em>Asparagus officinalis</em>, a natural product with anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties, for managing this chronic pain disorder.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and four Chinese databases were searched until February, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with BMS. <em>Asparagus officinalis</em> products alone or in combination with conventional medications were included. Outcomes included pain, symptoms, psychological outcomes and salivary function. The GRADE approach was used to assess evidence certainty.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Six RCTs with 336 participants were included. Compared to vitamin B complex alone, <em>Asparagus officinalis</em> capsules alone significantly improved the pain-intensity-based effective rate (RR 6.00, 95 % CI [1.61, 22.34]). Compared to conventional medicines, <em>Asparagus officinalis</em> capsules with conventional medicines significantly increased subjective pain scores (MD 1.51, 95 % CI [1.19, 1.83]), symptom-based effective rate (RR 1.27, 95 % CI [1.14, 1.42]), daily water intake score (MD 1.32, 95 % CI [1.00, 1.64]), sleep duration score (MD 1.88, 95 % CI [1.61, 2.15]), and decreased anxiety and depression scores, while <em>Asparagus officinalis</em> oral liquid combined with mecobalamin significantly reduced 10-point VAS (MD -1.40, 95 % CI [-2.19, -0.61]) and increased the unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR).The certainty of evidence was all graded as low.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div><em>Asparagus officinalis</em> products may improve pain intensity, symptoms, psychological outcomes, and salivary function in patients with BMS. However, the low certainty of evidence due to study limitations and small sample sizes suggests the need for well-designed, large-scale real-world studies to confirm these findings and establish their clinical applicability.</div></div><div><h3>Protocol registration</h3><div>PROSPERO (CRD420250651920).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101223"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926315","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":"Acupuncture for patients with Cancer in a Japanese palliative care team: A prospective case series study","authors":"Shoko Masuyama ,&nbsp;Hitoshi Yamashita ,&nbsp;Tamami Amino ,&nbsp;Ryouko Kawamoto ,&nbsp;Ryota Tsuji ,&nbsp;Hiromoto Nakanishi ,&nbsp;Hiroshi Yoshida","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The joint guidelines of the Society for Integrative Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend acupuncture for pain symptoms in some patients with cancer. This study assessed whether adding acupuncture to usual palliative care alleviates the subjective symptoms of hospitalized patients with cancer in Japan, at least in the short term.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Between 2015 and 2019, we conducted a prospective case series study at a regional core hospital in Osaka. Acupuncture was included in the usual care of patients with cancer. The primary outcome was immediate changes in each patient’s subjective symptoms measured by a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). A 20 % reduction in VAS was set as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 83 cancer patients (mean age: 66.1) were treated with acupuncture. A significant reduction was observed in the VAS scores for pain, edema, nausea, neck/shoulder/back stiffness, and breathlessness during at least one treatment session. The percentage of patients that improved beyond the MCID was as follows: 67 % for pain, 75 % for edema, 60 % for paresthesia, 80 % for nausea, 88 % for stiffness, 38 % for malaise, and 83 % for breathlessness, based on the maximum improvement recorded per session.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Japanese-style acupuncture, with relatively finer needles and gentler stimulation, has shown promise as a palliative treatment for patients with cancer, potentially offering temporary relief from pain, edema, nausea, stiffness, and breathlessness. Based on our findings, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with an appropriate control group is recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101212"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144918078","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":"Brain functional changes in chronic partial sleep-deprivation population by electroacupuncture at shenmen(HT7) and neiguan (PC6) acupoints: A BOLD-fMRI study","authors":"Hui Zeng ,&nbsp;Ganbin Qiu ,&nbsp;Chunyan Wang ,&nbsp;Peifan Liu ,&nbsp;Chunxing Liu ,&nbsp;Mouyuan Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaotong Xie ,&nbsp;Liheng Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The aim of this study is to explore how electroacupuncture at the Shenmen (HT7) and Neiguan (PC6) acupoints can improve chronic partial sleep deprivation(CPSD) by regulating brain function, and to elucidate its potential neural mechanisms using resting state Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>43 CPSD participants and 48 healthy controls (HC) were recruited and underwent neuropsychological assessments before electroacupuncture. 3.0T BOLD-fMRI scans were conducted before and after receiving bilateral electroacupuncture at HT7 and PC6. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) regional homogeneity (ReHo) values and functional connectivity were analyzed between two groups before and after electroacupuncture.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CPSD participants showed prolonged reaction time (RT), increased omission rate (OR), and decreased accuracy (ACC) compared to HC. Significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) in ALFF, ReHo, and functional connectivity were observed between groups before and after electroacupuncture, particularly in the default mode network (DMN) and limbic system. ALFF in the right parahippocampal gyrus positively correlated with ACC (r = 0.637, P = 0.001) and negatively with OR (r = -0.427, P = 0.047). ReHo in the left superior frontal gyrus negatively correlated with RT (r = -0.514, P = 0.014).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CPSD disrupts functional brain activity, while electroacupuncture at HT7 and PC6 modulates resting-state brain function, offering neuroimaging insights into its potential mechanisms for treating emotional and cognitive impairments in CPSD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101250"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045632","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":"Effectiveness of herbal medicine as an add-on to antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders accompanied by depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Chan-Young Kwon ,&nbsp;Kyoung-Eun Lee ,&nbsp;Min-Jae Kim ,&nbsp;Ji-Won Kim ,&nbsp;Ji-Won Oh ,&nbsp;Hye-Li Jeon ,&nbsp;Boram Lee ,&nbsp;Pyung-Wha Kim ,&nbsp;Yujin Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Depression is a common comorbidity of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSDs) that affects functional outcomes and quality of life. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of herbal medicine as an adjunct therapy to antipsychotics in patients with SSDs and comorbid depression.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Eight databases were searched from inception to January 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating herbal medicine combined with antipsychotics vs antipsychotics alone in patients with SSDs and comorbid depression. The primary outcome measure was a depression-specific assessment instrument. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool, and evidence certainty was assessed using GRADE.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, of 12 RCTs, 884 participants were included. Compared to antipsychotics, combination therapy significantly improved depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] –0.91, 95 % confidence interval (CI) –1.05 to -0.76, p&lt;0.00001, N=10, n=768, moderate certainty), enhanced efficacy for schizophrenia symptoms (SMD –0.60, 95 % CI –0.89 to -0.31, p=0.0014, N=9, n=666, moderate certainty), and showed higher response rates (relative risk [RR] 1.26, 95 % CI 1.04 to 1.52, p=0.0277, N=5, n=372, low certainty). Adverse event rates showed no significant difference between groups (RR 1.18, 95 % CI 0.69 to 2.01, p=0.1609, N=2, n=136, low certainty).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This review provides evidence that herbal medicine, as an adjunct to antipsychotics, may improve both depressive and psychotic symptoms in patients with SSDs and comorbid depression. Although promising, methodological limitations and the exclusive Chinese origin of the studies indicate the need for more rigorous and diverse trials to establish definitive clinical recommendations.</div></div><div><h3>Protocol registration</h3><div>PROSPERO, CRD42025643148.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101224"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903994","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":"Effects of chewing gum and LI4 acupressure on gastrointestinal recovery after cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Hossein Bagheri ,&nbsp;Seyedeh Solmaz Talebi ,&nbsp;Bahar Shahri ,&nbsp;Mobin Mottahedi","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction is a frequent complication after cesarean section (CS), delaying recovery and causing discomfort. This study assessed the effects of chewing gum (CG) and LI4 acupressure—each compared with routine care—on gastrointestinal recovery after elective CS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this three-arm randomized controlled trial, 105 women undergoing elective CS were randomly allocated to CG plus routine care, acupressure plus routine care, or routine care alone (n = 35 each). Interventions were applied three times daily for two days. Primary outcomes were time to first gas passage and defecation; secondary outcomes included time to mobilization, postoperative abdominal pain (measured at six time points), and nausea/vomiting incidence. Analyses employed Kaplan–Meier survival curves, repeated-measures ANOVA, and chi-square tests.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both CG and acupressure groups showed significantly faster recovery than routine care, with shorter times to first gas passage, defecation, and mobilization (all p &lt; 0.001). No significant differences were observed between CG and acupressure for these measures. A significant time × group interaction for pain (p = 0.025) indicated greater and more sustained relief in the acupressure group (all p &lt; 0.05 vs. other groups). Nausea and vomiting rates were lower in intervention groups, though differences were not statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Chewing gum and LI4 acupressure each significantly enhanced postoperative gastrointestinal recovery after CS compared with routine care, while acupressure provided superior pain control. These simple, non-pharmacological methods may improve maternal recovery and comfort.</div><div><strong><em>Trial registration</em>:</strong> Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials,</div><div>IRCT20200206046395N3 (<span><span>https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101227"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144921992","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":"Identification of auricular acupoints using a convolutional neural network","authors":"Junsuk Kim ,&nbsp;Youngseok Kim ,&nbsp;Da-Eun Yoon ,&nbsp;In-Seon Lee ,&nbsp;Younbyoung Chae","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The accurate identification of acupoints is an essential task in acupuncture therapy. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the exploration of automated landmark detection systems, which may provide more accurate and reliable acupoint detection. This study investigated the efficiency of an AI model in predicting the shenmen, lung, and mouth auricular acupoints and compared its performance to placements made by a practitioner of traditional Korean medicine.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ear images from 39 individuals were captured from three different angles. The mask region-based convolutional neural network (Mask R-CNN) model was utilized to isolate the ear region, followed by landmark detection using a CNN model trained on resized images to predict three auricular acupoints. Model reliability was enhanced by treating each acupoint as a separate prediction coordinate. Acupoint distribution was also estimated using a kernel density estimation method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Centroids of auricular acupoints predicted by the CNN model showed deviations of &lt; 3 pixels from traditional placements by the practitioner. Kernel density estimation showed that CNN predictions led to narrower acupoint distributions compared with those placed by the practitioner, suggesting higher consistency in CNN model predictions across different images.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The AI-driven approach showed significant potential in improving both the accuracy and consistency of auricular acupoint identification. These findings support the integration of AI into acupuncture practice as a reliable tool for enhancing clinical accuracy and precision of acupoint location.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101226"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145004864","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":"Effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine on treatment of dysmenorrhea: An analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational study","authors":"Se-In Cho ,&nbsp;Hyo-Jeong Jung ,&nbsp;Minjung Park ,&nbsp;Dong-Il Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101209","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of individually prescribed decoction herbal medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Herbal decoction was compared to other herbal formulations and combined treatment modalities, focusing on reductions in menstrual pain intensity, duration, and analgesic use. Personalized herbal treatments were hypothesized to alleviate symptoms more effectively by addressing individual constitutional imbalances.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective observational study was conducted at 33 Korean medicine clinics and one Korean medicine hospital in South Korea, enrolling 135 participants. Based on the treatment they received, participants were categorized into three groups: herbal decoction only group (Decoction only Group, <em>n</em> = 82), herbal decoction with adjunctive therapies such as acupuncture or moxibustion (Combination Group, <em>n</em> = 37), and non-herbal decoction formulations (Non-decoction Group, <em>n</em> = 16). Treatments were administered over at least one menstrual cycle, and outcomes were assessed after each cycle. Primary outcomes included changes in pain intensity (numerical rating scale), duration of menstrual pain, and frequency of analgesic use. Safety was assessed through adverse event monitoring during clinic visits.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Herbal decoction only showed significant reductions in menstrual pain intensity, pain duration, and analgesic use compared to those receiving other herbal formulations. Most adverse events were mild gastrointestinal symptoms related to oral intake, which resolved without intervention. No serious adverse events were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Herbal decoction group significantly decreased the intensity and duration of menstrual pain and analgesic dosage. These findings suggest that herbal decoction may be a safe and effective personalized treatment option for dysmenorrhea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101209"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908439","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":"Effect of electroacupuncture versus prucalopride for ultra-severe chronic constipation: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial","authors":"Shuai Gao ,&nbsp;Lili Zhu ,&nbsp;Hao Yao ,&nbsp;Jiufei Fang ,&nbsp;Zhishun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To explore the effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) compared to prucalopride in patients with ultra-severe chronic constipation (USCC), a condition defined by the absence of weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study was a secondary analysis using data from a multicenter, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial, involving patients with USCC. Participants received either EA or prucalopride treatment. The primary outcome was the mean weekly CSBMs from weeks 1 to 8. Secondary outcomes included the mean weekly CSBMs, the proportion of overall and weekly responders, changes in straining and stool consistency scores, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) scores, and the proportion of patients using rescue medication.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 317 participants with USCC were included (151 in the EA group and 166 in the prucalopride group). From weeks 1 to 8, both groups showed similar increases in the CSBMs (difference: -0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.34 to 0.30, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001 for noninferiority). However, during weeks 1 to 2, the prucalopride group showed greater effects than the EA group in increasing CSBMs, alleviating defecation difficulties, and improving stool consistency. The EA group experienced fewer adverse events (AEs) than the prucalopride group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In participants with USCC, EA showed improvements in CSBMs, defecation-related symptoms, and quality of life that were comparable to those observed with prucalopride. The effects of EA might persist for 24 weeks, and EA exhibited a superior safety profile.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration number</h3><div>NCT02047045 (ClinicalTrials.gov).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101253"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145216942","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":"Data sharing in acupuncture meta-analyses: Associations with journal policies and practical considerations","authors":"Jaerang Park ,&nbsp;Inhu Bae ,&nbsp;Seaun Ryu ,&nbsp;Myungsun Kim ,&nbsp;Heejung Bang ,&nbsp;Jiyoon Won ,&nbsp;Hyangsook Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Data sharing can reduce research waste, enable researchers to avoid duplicating efforts, and allow resources to be effectively directed towards addressing new clinical questions. This study aimed to evaluate data sharing practices and identify associated factors in acupuncture meta-analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A PubMed search identified meta-analyses of any type of acupuncture (April 2022 to December 2023). Journal guidelines were classified by data sharing policies, and their associations with data availability statements (DASs) and data availability, were examined using chi-squared tests or generalised estimating equations analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 3713 studies, 300 were included. Articles published in journals with data sharing policies were more likely to include DASs compared to those without (75.8 % vs. 21.7 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). DASs were more frequently present when journals mandated sharing rather than merely recommended it (94.6 % vs. 59.2 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). While no significant association was found between the presence of DASs or sharing policies and data availability, articles from mandating journals had higher odds of data provision than those from recommending journals (OR 1.58, 95 % CI [1.11, 2.25]). Non-Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) journal articles outperformed those in CAM journals in DAS inclusion (79.1 % vs. 49.3 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), though data accessibility was comparable (71.6 % vs. 69.3 %, <em>p</em> = 0.826). Impact factor was not significantly associated with any aspects of data sharing practices (all <em>p</em> &gt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Mandatory journal data sharing policies were associated with more frequent inclusion of DASs and provision of raw data, but neither a policy nor a DAS alone ensured reusable datasets. Mandatory policies paired with adequate training and supports may help improve transparency, promote reusability and reproducibility of results, and reduce research waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101229"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926316","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":"Modified Saengmaeksan, an herbal formula containing six herbs, improves hypertension through RhoA/Rho kinase-mediated vasorelaxation","authors":"Young Mi Seok ,&nbsp;Hye-Lin Kim ,&nbsp;Hyo In Kim ,&nbsp;Hobin Moon ,&nbsp;Yohan Han ,&nbsp;Eun Sang Cho ,&nbsp;Hyun Hee Leem ,&nbsp;Hyo Jung Kim ,&nbsp;Sujin Shin ,&nbsp;Se-Jin Kim ,&nbsp;Jin Ki Jung ,&nbsp;Wei Huang ,&nbsp;Kyung Oh Jung ,&nbsp;Doo Suk Lee ,&nbsp;Sung Giu Jin ,&nbsp;Hyunwoo Kim ,&nbsp;Changsop Yang ,&nbsp;Kyungjin Lee ,&nbsp;Jinbong Park","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Saengmaeksan is a traditional herbal formula used in Korean medicine. We composed a modified formula based on Saengmaeksan (mSMS) with Puerariae Radix, Platycodonis Radix, Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Schisandrae Fructus, Coicis Semen, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma to investigate its in vivo and ex vivo antihypertensive effects and underlying mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The antihypertensive efficacy of mSMS was assessed using <span>l</span>-NAME-induced hypertensive mice and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The animals were treated with mSMS, and blood pressure was monitored weekly. Vascular effects were evaluated through organ bath studies and aortic histology, while oxidative stress was assessed using DCF-DA staining. Renal protection was examined via H&amp;E and immunofluorescence staining for AT1R expression. The molecular mechanisms were explored through Western blot analysis and GTP-RhoA assays.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>mSMS significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both hypertensive models, with the ethanol extract demonstrating superior efficacy. mSMS inhibited the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, leading to reduced phosphorylation of MYPT1 and CPI17, and improved vascular relaxation. Additionally, mSMS attenuated aortic wall thickening, oxidative stress, and renal damage, with a marked decrease in AT1R expression in the kidneys.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>mSMS exhibits potent antihypertensive effects through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway, reduction of vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, and renal protection. These findings support the potential of mSMS as a novel therapeutic agent for hypertension, offering a multi-targeted approach with fewer side effects compared to conventional therapies. Further clinical studies are required to confirm its clinical efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101207"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866392","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}