Journal of Pharmacopuncture最新文献

{"title":"Sustainable Utilization of Agricultural By-Products: <i>in vivo</i> investigation of the antidiarrheal potential of <i>Litchi chinensis</i> seed extract.","authors":"Mustakin Ahmed Shohel, Md Humayan Kabir, Ivvala Anand Shaker, Sumaiya Siddika, Sheikh Arafat Rahman, Sumaiya Siddiquea, Nirmal Chandra Mahat, Tarique Muhammad Tawabul Islam, Md Abul Kashem Tang","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.127","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.127","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Diarrheal diseases remain a significant global health concern, with rising resistance to traditional pharmaceutical treatments. <i>Litchi chinensis</i>, a tropical fruit, is known for its medicinal properties, but its seed, which is often discarded as waste, has not been extensively studied for its potential health benefits. This study investigates the antidiarrheal effects of <i>L. chinensis</i> seed extract (LCSE).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ethanolic extract was prepared from dried, powdered <i>L. chinensis</i> seeds. Acute oral toxicity was conducted by administering a single 2,000 mg/kg dose to female Swiss albino mice. Mice were divided into five groups (control, positive control with Loperamide, and test groups receiving 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of LCSE) for the antidiarrheal assay. Diarrhea was induced with castor oil, and parameters such as onset of diarrhea, fecal output, gastrointestinal motility, and enteropooling were measured. The statistical analysis was conducted in GraphPad Prism version 10.1.2 using one-way ANOVA followed by a Dunnett multiple comparison test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>L. chinensis</i> seed extract (LCSE) significantly (p < 0.001) delayed the onset of diarrhea, reduced the frequency of defecation, and decreased fecal weight in the castor oil-induced diarrhea model at all doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). Additionally, LCSE significantly (p < 0.001) reduced total and wet fecal output, inhibited gastrointestinal motility (p < 0.001) in the charcoal meal test, and notably (p < 0.001) decreased the volume and weight of intestinal contents in the enteropooling assay. The <i>in vivo</i> antidiarrheal index (ADI) showed a dose-dependent increase, with the highest ADI recorded at 400 mg/kg (189.42%), slightly surpassing the standard drug, loperamide (160.14%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The finding supports the antidiarrheal potential of LCSE holds potent antidiarrheal properties, positioning it as a promising, sustainable alternative to modern medications.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"127-137"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of <i>In Vitro</i> Pharmacological Activities and HRLC-MS Based Profiling of <i>Phlogacanthus jenkinsii</i> C. B. Clarke.","authors":"Sajidul Hoque Ansari, Saikat Sen","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.116","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong><i>Phlogacanthus jenkinsii</i> is an ethnomedicinal plant used by the people of the North East Region of India to manage various health issues including diabetes and rheumatism. The present study examines the total phenolic and flavonoid content, <i>in vitro</i> pharmacological evaluation of the plant extract/fractions, and phytochemical characterization using HRLC-MS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ethanol extract of <i>Phlogacanthus jenkinsii</i> leaves (PJEE) and its fractions were estimated for total phenolic and flavonoid content following the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride method. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and NO (nitric oxide) scavenging methods were utilized for evaluating antioxidant properties; albumin denaturation and proteinase inhibitory assay methods for assessing antiinflammatory potential. Additionally, extract/fractions were evaluated for their antidiabetic potential using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. HRLC-MS was employed for phytochemical profiling of the ethyl acetate fraction (PJEAF).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PJEAF contains the highest total phenolic (48.3 ± 0.64 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid (22.6 ± 0.09 mg QE/g) content. PJEAF scavenges DPPH radical (IC₅₀ = 29.1 ± 0.25 µg/mL) and NO radical (IC₅₀ = 46.6 ± 0.20 µg/mL) potently. PJEAF also exhibited potent antiinflammatory potential with IC₅₀ of 220.8 ± 1.33 and 231.5 ± 1.25 µg/mL against albumin denaturation and protease inhibition assay, respectively. PJEAF had potent inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, with IC₅₀ values of 205.9 ± 1.12 and 132.2 ± 0.65 µg/mL, respectively. The HRLC-MS profiling of PJEAF indicated the presence of forty-three phytoconstituents, including 2'-Apo-beta-carotenal, Sinensetin, Kaempferol-3-o-(6\"-malonyl-glucoside), Heliannone B, Rhoifolin, Quercetin-3-o-rutinoside.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicated that <i>Phlogacanthus jenkinsii</i> possesses significant antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antidiabetic potential, and presence of possible metabolites also makes the plant an important source of drug development and therapeutic applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"116-126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Management of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis Complicated by Rhinosinusitis Using Ultrasound-Guided Sphenopalatine Ganglion Acupuncture and Modified Socheongryong-tang: two CARE-compliant case reports.","authors":"Jihyun Moon, Juhwan Song, Jiwoo Kim, Youngjo So, Hyeon-Gyu Cho, Sangho Ji, Myungjin Oh, Sangkwan Lee, Taeseok Ahn, Cheol-Hyun Kim","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.154","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are common upper respiratory tract diseases that frequently coexist. While not life-threatening, these conditions significantly diminish quality of life, impose substantial socioeconomic burdens due to their chronic and recurrent nature, and negatively impact mental health. In some cases, AR and CRS have been associated with severe outcomes, including suicidal tendencies. This report presents two cases of women aged 42 and 37 years who experienced recurrent AR and CRS symptoms, such as persistent nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, which led to difficulties in conversation during meals and sleep disturbances, for over 20 years, despite undergoing conventional treatments. Both patients received an 8-12 week treatment regimen consisting of Socheongryong-tang (SCRT) and ultrasound-guided acupuncture targeting the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG). Treatment efficacy was assessed using nasal endoscopic findings, Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire scores, and Total Nasal Symptom Scores. Significant post-treatment improvements were observed, and these effects persisted for 3 months after treatment cessation, with no significant adverse events reported. While Intranasal corticosteroids are the standard treatment for AR and CRS, approximately 30% of patients either experience insufficient symptom relief or discontinue their use due to adverse effects, often leading to symptom relapse. In contrast, the combination of SCRT and SPG-targeted ultrasound-guided acupuncture may offer a promising alternative treatment option, demonstrating sustained symptom improvement without significant adverse effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"154-163"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Piper Longum</i>'s Neuroprotective Role Against Amyloid-β and Okadaic Acid-Induced Toxicity in U87MG Cells Through the Lipocalin-2 Pathway.","authors":"Seok-Hwan Sung, Seung-Min Shin, Yunna Kim, Seung-Hun Cho","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.92","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.92","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder that causes symptoms such as cognitive impairment and memory loss. The number of AD patients keeps escalating throughout the world leading to various social problems, meanwhile no practical treatment for the disease has been proposed. Some of the well-known causes of AD are excessive amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a proinflammatory mediator in astrocytes that increases Aβ aggregation and tau pathology accumulation. However, Piperine, a plant-derived siderophore found in <i>Piper longum</i> disrupts the function of LCN2. This study aimed to investigate the effect of <i>P. longum</i> on U87MG cell line under administration of Aβ and Okadaic acid (OKA) with LCN2-related mechanism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Aβ and OKA were administered to the U87MG cell lines. PLE (<i>Piper Longum</i> Extract) was administered to see the therapeutic affect against the toxins. WST assay and Western blot were used to compare cell viability and relative intensity of p-Tau (AT8), p-Tau (AT180), and LCN2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PLE showed neuroprotective effects in U87MG cells on Aβ and OKA each. The group treated with PLE showed increased cell viability and the decreased level of LCN2 compared to the Aβ group. Also, the group treated with PLE recovered cell viability and showed significantly decreased p-Tau (AT8)/p-Tau (AT180) levels compared to the group treated with OKA. Upon administration of PLE, there was a considerable decrease in the relative level of LCN2 compared to the OKA treated group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings demonstrate that <i>P. longum</i> exerts neuroprotective effects against Aβ- and tau-induced toxicity in an astrocyte cell model by alleviating the damage from Aβ and OKA that induce neuroinflammation and decreasing LCN2 levels in astrocyte cells. Additionally, there is need to investigate other underlying mechanisms for novel use of <i>P. longum</i> that may contribute to AD recovery in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"92-99"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Filiform Needle Acupuncture and Long Needle Acupuncture in Managing Periarthritis of the Shoulder: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Dong Phuong Tran, Thai Viet Nguyen","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.100","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Periarthritis of the shoulder (PAS) affects 2-5% of the population and results in significant morbidity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of long needle acupuncture compared to filiform needle acupuncture in managing PAS, with a focus on pain relief and improved range of motion (ROM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 PAS patients who were randomly assigned to receive either long-needle acupuncture (treatment group) or filiform needle acupuncture (control group). Patients in the treatment group received long-needle acupuncture, while those in the control group received filiform needle acupuncture. Both groups underwent 14 treatment sessions over two weeks. The primary outcome was pain reduction measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included improvements in shoulder abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Post-treatment comparative analysis showed no improvement difference in pain scores between the two groups (p = 0.02) after the Bonferroni adjustment. Specifically, the treatment group exhibited a decrease from 5.9 to 0.9 (p < 0.001), while the control group decreased from 5.5 to 2.2 (p < 0.001). The treatment group experienced more significant improvements in ROM compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for all).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Long-needle acupuncture is as effective as filiform needle acupuncture in managing pain from PAS, but long-needle acupuncture offers better improvements in ROM compared to filiform needle acupuncture. These findings support its integration into PAS treatment regimens, particularly for enhancing functional mobility.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"100-107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Satisfaction with Clinical Clerkship and Its Determinants Among Korean Medicine Students.","authors":"Inseong Lee, Eui-Hyoung Hwang, Kang Kwon, Hye-Yoon Lee","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.108","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.108","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Clinical clerkship is essential for medical education and provides students with hands-on experience and practical skills. Beyond monitoring, understanding the factors influencing satisfaction with clerkship can help improve educational quality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A satisfaction survey was administered to two cohorts of third- and fourth-year Korean medicine students who completed a 1-year clinical clerkship across 10 specialized departments. The survey consisted of nine items evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis and backward stepwise elimination were used to identify the key determinants of satisfaction with clinical clerkship.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>\"Opportunities for interaction with patients\" received the lowest average score and showed the greatest variation. In contrast, \"enthusiastic guidance from the faculty\" had the most significant impact on satisfaction, with students reporting the highest average score. Sufficient opportunities for patient interaction and hands-on clinical skill practice also significantly influenced students' satisfaction, along with appropriate difficulty and time management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Improving student satisfaction with clinical clerkship requires enthusiastic guidance from the faculty, development of effective satisfaction survey tools, strengthening of outpatient department-based training, and efforts to diversify patient groups. Collaborative efforts across the Korean medicine community are essential to enhance the quality of clinical clerkship.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"108-115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suppression of Macrophage Migration and M2 Polarization by an Ethanolic Extract of <i>Scutellaria baicalensis</i> Root.","authors":"Hyun-Ji Park, Shin-Hyung Park","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.144","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The root of <i>Scutellaria baicalensis</i> (SB) exhibits various pharmacological activities, including anticancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of the ethanolic extract of SB root (ESB), with a particular focus on its regulatory influence on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The effect of ESB on macrophage migration was evaluated using a transwell migration assay. Conditioned medium (CM) derived from lung cancer cells was used as a chemoattractant. M2 macrophage polarization was assessed by measuring the IL-4- or IL-6-induced expression of M2 macrophage markers (CD206, arginase-1, and IL-10) via real-time PCR. The phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was analyzed by Western blotting. The effect of ESB-regulated M2 polarization on lung cancer cell migration was evaluated using a transwell migration assay with CM from macrophages.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ESB significantly inhibited the migration of both RAW 264.7 and THP-1 macrophages. In addition, ESB suppressed IL-4- and IL-6-induced M2 macrophage marker expression and reduced STAT3 phosphorylation, indicating the inhibition of macrophage polarization into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, CM from M2-polarized RAW 264.7 cells enhanced Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell migration, whereas CM from RAW 264.7 cells co-treated with ESB and IL-6 markedly reversed this effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that ESB attenuates macrophage migration and prevents M2 macrophage polarization, leading to the suppression of lung cancer cell migration. These results highlight the potential of ESB as an anticancer agent targeting TAMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"144-153"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177566/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Clinical Study for the Development of a Bee Venom Allergy Diagnostic Kit.","authors":"Jun-Sang Yu, Min-Jeong Kim, Chang-Woo Seon, Hee-Jun Na, Jae-Wan Jung, Yun-Suk Lee","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.138","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>In South Korea, bee venom pharmacopuncture (BVP) is used for various conditions, such as pain, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. However, there is a risk of side effects. To determine whether there are systemic allergic side effects of BVP, we compared the total IgE level before and after BVP injection with skin test results as a fundamental study for the safe use of BVP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty volunteers, who were informed about the study, agreed to participate; one had an adverse reaction to the skin test. Blood was collected before and after injecting 0.3 cc of 10% (1 mg/mL) bee venom (melittin) for joint pain, and the corresponding total IgE levels were measured for comparison.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The total IgE level did not significantly change one hour after BVP injection. Ten subjects had an IgE level greater than the threshold of 100 kU/L, while 19 had an IgE level < 100 kU/L. Total IgE and wheal size were partially correlated. Moreover, the correlation coefficients between total IgE and the Mada Total IgE kit were as high as r = 0.99 in plasma, and r = 0.98 in blood.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To develop a Venom Allergy Diagnostic Kit for the safe use of BVP therapy, we compared the wheal size and redness size from a skin test, before and after BVP injection. In addition, the correlations between total IgE level and the Mada total IgE kit level in plasma and blood were significantly high, indicating that measuring the total IgE level in blood might be clinically valid. In the future, it is necessary to develop a diagnostic device that can detect melittin antibodies to determine the presence of systemic allergic reactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"138-143"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Western and Korean Medicine Combination Treatment on Physical Activity in Elderly Arthropathy Patients.","authors":"Tae-Hyeon Lee, Su-Hyun Kwon, Ji-A Ryu, Sang-Ji Han, Il-Su Park, Chan-Young Kwon","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.81","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.2.81","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study analyzed data from the Korean Health Panel Survey (2015-2018) to determine the effects of combined Western and Korean medicine treatments on physical activity (PA) in elderly patients with arthropathy. PA was assessed using the total PA score from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 2,518 unique elderly patients, generating 8,003 annual outpatient service cases over the 4-year period. Of these annual cases, 5,384 cases (67.3%) were classified as Western medicine (WM) treatment alone, and 2,619 cases (32.7%) were classified as combined treatment (WM&KM). Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to identify changes in PA in the WM and WM&KM groups and KM medical utilization in the WM&KM group. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with control variables were used to determine the effects of the WM&KM combination treatments on PA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both the WM and WM&KM groups showed a decline in PA over four years. However, the rate of PA decline was lower in the WM&KM group compared to the WM group. In the WM&KM group, acupuncture (50.42%) was the most utilized KM modality, followed by physiotherapy (44.17%), herbal medicine (2.51%), moxibustion (0.84%), and cupping (0.69%). The GEE analysis revealed that the total physical activity of the WM&KM group was 84.29 significantly higher than the WM group (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While PA decreased continuously in elderly patients with arthropathy, the WM&KM group exhibited a slower decline, suggesting the effectiveness of KM treatment in mitigating PA reduction. To slow the progression of arthropathy and alleviate pain, it is crucial to provide comprehensive and proactive medical services through collaborative efforts between WM and KM.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 2","pages":"81-91"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12177562/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144528456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awareness of Apitherapy: a study of healthcare professionals in Türkiye.","authors":"İçim Gökkaya, Gülin Renda, Fatma Ayhan, Nurdan Yazici","doi":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.1.35","DOIUrl":"10.3831/KPI.2025.28.1.35","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Apitherapy is a part of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) in Türkiye. It is defined as using bees and bee products as supplementation in the cure of several diseases. This study was conducted between 05.05.2023 and 05.06.2023 throughout Türkiye using an online survey to examine healthcare professionals' levels of knowledge concerning apitherapy and the factors affecting these.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seven hundred-three questionnaires of suitable data quality were included. SPSS 23.0 software was used in the data analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed using the Backward LR elimination method to determine the factors with the most impact on awareness of apitherapy. Statistical significance was considered to be p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis showed that 55.9% of healthcare professionals were aware of apitherapy. Educational attainment (p = 0.023), profession (p = 0.000), work experience (p = 0.017), and the presence of chronic disease (p = 0.012) all had an effect on awareness of the concept of apitherapy. It was determined that 60.8% of the participants were unaware that apitherapy is subject to certain regulation in Türkiye. Although apitherapy is practiced by a certified physician, 49.9% of respondents were unaware of this information. On the other hand, 87.5% of healthcare professionals thought that apitherapy should be applied by a physician. Social media was the main source of knowledge regarding apitherapy for healthcare professionals. Only 30.5% chose undergraduate courses as a source of information.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results highlighted that healthcare professionals had insufficient knowledge regarding apitherapy practices. Incorporating compulsory and/or elective courses on apitherapy into the curriculum of health education universities could improve knowledge and awareness of this topic.</p>","PeriodicalId":16769,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pharmacopuncture","volume":"28 1","pages":"35-46"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933912/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143753151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}