Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim最新文献

{"title":"Effectiveness and safety of adjunctive non-drug measures in improving respiratory symptoms among patients with severe COVID-19: A multicenter randomized controlled trial","authors":"Xuan Yin , Zhu Jin , Feng Li , Li Huang , Yan-mei Hu , Bo-chang Zhu , Zu-qing Wang , Xi-ying Li , Jian-ping Li , Lixing Lao , Yi-qun Mi , Shi-fen Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection posed a huge threat and burden to public healthcare in late 2022. Non-drug measures of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion, are commonly used as adjuncts in China to help in severe cases, but their effects remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To observe the clinical effect of TCM non-drug measures in improving respiratory function and symptoms among patients with severe COVID-19.</div></div><div><h3>Design, setting, participants and interventions</h3><div>This study was designed as a multicenter, assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial. Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. The treatment group received individualized TCM non-drug measures in combination with prone position ventilation, while the control group received prone position ventilation only for 5 consecutive days.</div></div><div><h3>Main outcome measures</h3><div>The primary outcome measures were the percentage of patients with improved oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2</sub>) at the end of the 5-day intervention, as well as changes of patients’ respiratory rates. The secondary outcome measures included changes in SpO<sub>2</sub> and total score on the self-made respiratory symptom scale. The improvement rate, defined as a 3-day consecutive increase in SpO<sub>2</sub>, the duration of prone positioning, and adverse events were recorded as well.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the 198 patients included in the intention-to-treat analysis, 159 (80.3%) completed all assessments on day 5, and 39 (19.7%) patients withdrew from the study. At the end of the intervention, 71 (91%) patients in the treatment group had SpO<sub>2</sub> above 93%, while 61 (75.3%) in the control group reached this level. The proportion of participant with improved SpO<sub>2</sub> was significantly greater in the intervention group (mean difference [MD] = 15.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.4, 27.1; <em>P</em> = 0.008). Compared to the baseline, with daily treatment there were significant daily decreases in respiratory rates in both groups, but no statistical differences between groups were found (all <em>P</em> ≥ 0.05). Compared to the control group, the respiratory-related symptoms score was lower among patients in the treatment group (MD = −1.7; 95% CI: −2.8, −0.5; <em>P</em> = 0.008) after day 3 of treatment. A gradual decrease in the total scores of both groups was also observed. Thirty-one adverse events occurred during the intervention, and 2 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit due to deterioration of their illness.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>TCM non-drug measures combined with prone positioning can effectively treat patients with severe COVID-19. The combined therapy significantly increased SpO<sub>2</sub> and improved symptom scores compared to prone positionin","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 6","pages":"Pages 637-644"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142367073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep via inhibition of orexin neurons of the lateral hypothalamus and corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus","authors":"Yi-yuan Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Wu ,&nbsp;Ke-wei Yu ,&nbsp;Hong-yu Xie ,&nbsp;Yi Gui ,&nbsp;Chang-rui Chen ,&nbsp;Nian-hong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study investigates the sleep-modulating effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1, C₄₂H₇₂O₁₄), a key bioactive component of ginseng, and elucidates its underlying mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally administered doses of Rg1 ranging from 12.5 to 100 mg/kg. Sleep parameters were assessed to determine the average duration of each sleep stage by monitoring the electrical activity of the brain and muscles. Further, orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) were ablated using viral vector surgery and electrode embedding. The excitability of LH^orexin and PVH^CRH neurons was evaluated through the measurement of cellular Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (c-Fos) expression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Rg1 (12.5–100 mg/kg) augmented the duration of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep phases, while reducing the duration of wakefulness, in a dose dependent manner. The reduced latency from wakefulness to NREM sleep indicates an accelerated sleep initiation time. We found that these sleep-promoting effects were weakened in the LH^orexin and PVH^CRH neuron ablation groups, and disappeared in the orexin and CRH double-ablation group. Decreased c-Fos protein expression in the LH and PVH confirmed that Rg1 promoted NREM sleep by inhibiting orexin and CRH neurons.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Rg1 increases the duration of NREM sleep, underscoring the essential roles of LH^orexin and PVH^CRH neurons in facilitating the sleep-promoting effects of Rg1.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Wang YY, Wu Y, Yu KW, Xie HY, Gui Y, Chen CR, Wang NH. Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep via inhibition of orexin neurons of the lateral hypothalamus and corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(6): 721–730.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 6","pages":"Pages 719-728"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142639934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morin, a matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor, attenuates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in atherosclerosis by downregulating Notch-1 signaling","authors":"Yuan He ,&nbsp;Xiao-xuan Qin ,&nbsp;Ming-wei Liu ,&nbsp;Wei Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease poses a significant health challenge globally. Recent findings highlight the pivotal role of the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in atherosclerosis. Morin is a bioflavonoid mainly extracted from white mulberry, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study examines whether morin can alleviate atherosclerosis by suppressing EndMT and seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanism.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We induced an in vitro EndMT model in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by stimulating the cells with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (10 ng/mL) for 48 h. The in vivo experiments were performed in an atherosclerosis model using apolipoprotein E (<em>ApoE</em>)^–/– mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice in the intervention group were given morin (50 mg/kg) orally for 4 weeks. Molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis were assayed to understand the interactions between morin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Morin inhibited the expression of EndMT markers in a dose-dependent manner in TGF-β1-treated HUVECs. Administering 50 μmol/L morin suppressed the upregulation of MMP-9 and Notch-1 signaling in TGF-β1-induced EndMT. Moreover, the overexpression of MMP-9 activated Notch-1 signaling, thereby reversing morin’s inhibitory effect on EndMT. In the HFD-induced atherosclerotic <em>ApoE</em>^–/– mice, morin notably reduced aortic intimal hyperplasia and plaque formation by suppressing EndMT. Furthermore, morin demonstrated a strong binding affinity for MMP-9.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Morin acts as an MMP-9 inhibitor to disrupt EndMT in atherosclerosis by limiting the activation of Notch-1 signaling. This study underscores morin’s potential utility in the development of anti-atherosclerotic medication.</div><div>Please cite this article as: He Y, Qin XX, Liu MW, Sun W. Morin, a matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor, attenuates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in atherosclerosis by downregulating Notch-1 Signaling. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(6): 684–696.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 6","pages":"Pages 683-695"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142689354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delphi study for developing a checklist of adverse events associated with acupotomy","authors":"Hyungsun Jun ,&nbsp;Haebeom Lee ,&nbsp;Sang-Hoon Yoon ,&nbsp;Chan-Young Kwon ,&nbsp;Damin Jeon ,&nbsp;Jun-Hwan Lee ,&nbsp;Jungtae Leem","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acupotomy, a more invasive procedure than acupuncture, involves the use of a thicker needle with an integrated knife at the tip, necessitating safety research. We aimed to define relevant adverse events (AEs) and create a standardized form of the ACUPOtomy-related AEs CHECKlist (ACUPOCHECK).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Before conducting the Delphi process, a systematic review and pilot prospective study were conducted to gather information on previously reported AEs. Using these data, pilot versions of the ACUPOCHECK and Delphi questionnaires were developed. The Delphi questionnaire involved selecting types of AE for inclusion, establishing separate criteria for acupotomy-related AEs, and achieving a consensus on AE assessment. Thirteen Korean doctors with experience in acupotomy or AE research were recruited to participate in each Delphi round. Consensus was considered to have been reached if the critical value for the content validity ratio met or exceeded 0.538.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The final ACUPOCHECK was developed using four rounds of the Delphi method and one face-to-face consensus meeting. It included 12 local AEs (pain, hemorrhage, bruise, hematoma, edema, pruritus, rash, infection, nerve damage, dysesthesia, movement impairment, and pneumothorax) and 14 systemic AEs (disease aggravation, needle fatigue, sleepiness, procedural nausea, procedural vomiting, procedural headache, procedural dizziness, sweating, procedural shock, syncope, dyspnea, procedural pain, sleep disorder, and postprocedural infection). Separate criteria were established for pain, hemorrhage and bruising: pain was defined as pain that occurrs during daily activities and persists for longer than 72 h, hemorrhage as bleeding that continues for ≥ 3 min despite pressure application, and bruising as having a bruise with a diameter of ≥ 3 cm. Open-ended descriptions were allowed for AEs not covered by the checklist, and severity and causality were assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and modified World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center criteria.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ACUPOCHECK provides a standardization framework that can help research on traditional practices as well as new tools and techniques that are more invasive and may cause more severe AEs. Subsequent studies will use ACUPOCHECK to develop rational safety guidelines for acupotomy techniques.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Jun H, Lee H, Yoon SH, Kwon CY, Jeon D, Lee JH, Leem J. Delphi study for developing a checklist of adverse events associated with acupotomy. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(5): 579–587.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 579-587"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142056958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroacupuncture activates AMPKα1 to improve learning and memory in the APP/PS1 mouse model of early Alzheimer’s disease by regulating hippocampal mitochondrial dynamics","authors":"Wei-wei Jia ,&nbsp;Hua-wei Lin ,&nbsp;Min-guang Yang ,&nbsp;Ya-ling Dai ,&nbsp;Yan-yi Ding ,&nbsp;Wen-shan Xu ,&nbsp;Si-nuo Wang ,&nbsp;Ya-jun Cao ,&nbsp;Sheng-xiang Liang ,&nbsp;Zhi-fu Wang ,&nbsp;Cong Chen ,&nbsp;Wei-lin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate cognitive impairments from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by regulating the expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), but the specific mechanism involved remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this study explores the potential mechanism by which EA improves cognitive function from the perspective of mitochondrial dynamics.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The four-month-old transgenic mice with amyloid precursor protein (<em>APP</em>)/presenilin 1 (<em>PS1</em>) and <em>AMPKα1</em>-subunit conditional knockout (<em>AMPKα1</em>-cKO) were used for experiments. To evaluate the effects of EA treatment on cognitive function, the T-maze and Morris water maze were used. In addition, chemical exchange saturation transfer, thioflavin staining, transmission electron microscopy, mitochondrial membrane potential, and Western blotting were used to examine the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of EA on <em>APP/PS1</em> mice.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both <em>APP/PS1</em> mice and <em>AMPKα1</em>-cKO mice exhibited dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics accompanied by learning and memory impairment. Inactivation of the AMPK/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathway increased pathological amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and aggravated the dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics. In addition, EA rescued learning and memory deficits in <em>APP/PS1</em> mice by activating the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway, specifically by reducing pathological Aβ deposition, normalizing energy metabolism, protecting the structure and function of mitochondria, increasing the levels of mitochondrial fusion proteins, and downregulating the expression of fission proteins. However, the therapeutic effect of EA on cognition in <em>APP/PS1</em> mice was hindered by <em>AMPKα1</em> knockout.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The regulation of hippocampal mitochondrial dynamics and reduction in Aβ deposition via the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway are critical for the ability of EA to ameliorate cognitive impairment in <em>APP/PS1</em> mice.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Jia WW, Lin HW, Yang MG, Dai YL, Ding YY, Xu WS, Wang SN, Cao YJ, Liang SX, Wang ZF, Chen C, Liu WL. Electroacupuncture activates <em>AMPKα1</em> to improve learning and memory in the <em>APP/PS1</em> mouse model of early Alzheimer’s disease by regulating hippocampal mitochondrial dynamics. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(5): 588–599.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 588-599"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142056997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the potential: How acupuncture reshapes the liver-centered lipid metabolism pattern to fight obesity","authors":"Shu-rui Yang ,&nbsp;Li Chen ,&nbsp;Dan Luo ,&nbsp;Ya-yuan Wang ,&nbsp;Feng-xia Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obesity, a widespread global health issue, is frequently linked to disrupted lipid metabolism, resulting in excessive accumulation of adipose tissue and associated health complications. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical modality, has exhibited potential as a viable intervention for addressing obesity. The underlying mechanism proposed involves the stimulation of specific acupoints to exert a regulatory influence on hepatic function. The liver has a central role in lipid metabolism, including processes such as lipid synthesis, storage and distribution. Acupuncture is believed to enhance the liver’s efficiency in processing lipids, thereby reducing lipid accumulation and improving metabolic functions. Research indicates that acupuncture can influence the expression of certain genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism in the liver. This includes upregulating genes that promote lipid breakdown and oxidation, and downregulating those involved in lipid synthesis. Additionally, acupuncture has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for the regulation of lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture may play a significant role in its efficacy for the treatment of obesity. The presence of chronic inflammation has been strongly associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity. Through its ability to mitigate inflammation, acupuncture can potentially aid in the restoration of lipid metabolism and the reduction of body weight. Moreover, the amelioration of hepatic oxidative stress represents another mechanism by which acupuncture may contribute to the reduction of lipid deposition. Notably, the liver, being the primary site of lipid metabolism, maintains communication with various organs including the brain, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and intestines. This perspective opens new avenues for the treatment of obesity, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches in managing complex metabolic disorders.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Yang SR, Chen L, Luo D, Wang YY, Liang FX. Unlocking the potential: How acupuncture reshapes the liver-centered lipid metabolism pattern to fight obesity. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(5): 523–532.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 523-532"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142113652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hongjin Xiaojie Capsule, a Chinese patent medicine, for treating moderate to severe cyclical breast pain: A single-blind randomized controlled trial","authors":"Qiong Zhang ,&nbsp;Ying-yi Fan ,&nbsp;Xue-qing Wu ,&nbsp;Yan-dan Huo ,&nbsp;Chun-hui Wang ,&nbsp;Shi-bing Liang ,&nbsp;Ting Wang ,&nbsp;Rong Zhong ,&nbsp;Xuan Wang ,&nbsp;Bao-yong Lai ,&nbsp;Xiao-hua Pei ,&nbsp;Jian-ping Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Moderate to severe breast pain has major effects on the quality of life for patients. Patent Chinese medicines are widely used in the treatment of breast pain due to their stable dosage form and good efficacy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To evaluate the beneficial effects and safety of Hongjin Xiaojie Capsule (HJXJC), a Chinese patent medicine, for the treatment of cyclical breast pain.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Design, setting, participants and intervention&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is a multicenter, single-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 3 medical centers in China from 2019 to 2021. Patients with moderate to severe cyclic breast pain were randomly divided into the intervention group (who took HJXJC, four capsules per dose, three times a day for 12 weeks) and the control group (waiting for the treatment) in a 1:1 ratio.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Main outcome measures&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The primary outcome was pain duration, and the patients recorded measurements at baseline and at the end of weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 on a patient log card.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The full analysis set (FAS) population included 298 participants (intervention group, &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 150; control group, &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 148), while the per-protocol analysis set (PPS) included 274 participants. After 12 weeks, the duration of breast pain was significantly shorter in the intervention group (FAS: mean difference, –6.69; 95% CI, –7.58 to –5.80; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01, &lt;em&gt;vs&lt;/em&gt; control. PPS: mean difference, –7.09; 95% CI, –8.01 to –6.16; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01, &lt;em&gt;vs&lt;/em&gt; control). The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (FAS: mean difference, –12.55; 95% CI, –13.90 to –11.21; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01, &lt;em&gt;vs&lt;/em&gt; control. PPS: mean difference, –13.07; 95% CI, –14.48 to –11.66; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01, &lt;em&gt;vs&lt;/em&gt; control). The above indicators continued to be significantly different through week 16. Moreover, in the intervention group, breast lumps shrank after 12 weeks and the size of breast lumps was statistically smaller than that in the control group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05), whereas the sizes of breast nodules and uterine fibroid showed no statistically significant difference compared with the control group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &gt; 0.05). At weeks 8 and 12, the dysmenorrhea scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;HJXJC can significantly shorten the duration of breast pain, reduce breast pain, reduce the size of breast lumps, and relieve dysmenorrhea. However, it has no significant effect on the size of breast nodules or uterine fibroid.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Trial registration&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This trial has been registered at the ISRCTN Registry. Number: ISRCTN44184398.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Please cite this article as&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Zhang Q, Fan YY, Wu ","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 552-560"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142134248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A survey on the real-world clinical utilization of a traditional acupuncture in Republic of Korea: Sa-am acupuncture","authors":"Ji-Yeun Park ,&nbsp;Ye-Seul Lee ,&nbsp;Hi-Joon Park ,&nbsp;Seungmin Kathy Lee ,&nbsp;Ji-Won Lee ,&nbsp;Song-Yi Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study investigated the clinical details and usage of Sa-am acupuncture in Korean medicine clinics and explored how practicing Korean medicine doctors (KMDs) think about Sa-am acupuncture.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of KMDs who utilize Sa-am acupuncture in their practice. The study comprehensively investigated issues related to clinical application of Sa-am acupuncture, needling techniques used during treatment, training methods, and directions for its future improvement.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We analyzed 572 responses. An average of 50% of the patients visiting Korean medicine clinics were receiving Sa-am acupuncture. The most prevalent indication for Sa-am acupuncture use was digestive disorders. The patients’ appetite level and digestive function were most frequently used indicators for selecting acupuncture points. Regarding prescription compositions, Jung-Gyuk formulas were more frequently used than Seung-Gyuk formulas. Inserting the needle along the flow of the channel or against the flow of the channel was most popular. The acupuncture style most frequently used in combination with Sa-am acupuncture was Ashi point acupuncture. Strengths of Sa-am acupuncture included its versatility, easy application, and good outcomes. Limitations included the lack of rigorous education and training programs, difficulty in applying the principles for beginners, and insufficient clinical research evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In clinics where Sa-am acupuncture is available, KMDs were providing Sa-am acupuncture to about half of their patients. Practitioners were not using all of the tonification and sedation techniques which may be due to time constraints or simply a lack of necessity. Sa-am acupuncture demonstrated high utility in clinical practice and high satisfaction based on the efficacy and safety. More training programs and high-quality research are needed to help expand the use of Sa-am acupuncture.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Park JY, Lee YS, Park HJ, Lee SK, Lee JW, Kim SY. A survey on the real-world clinical utilization of a traditional acupuncture in Republic of Korea: Sa-am acupuncture. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(5): 570–578.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 570-578"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141996723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stimuli-evoked NOergic molecules and neuropeptides at acupuncture points and the gracile nucleus contribute to signal transduction of propagated sensation along the meridian through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways","authors":"Sheng-xing Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Numerous studies from different international groups have demonstrated that sensations can be propagated along acupuncture channel pathways. The propagated sensation along the channel pathway (PSCP) can be elicited by electroacupuncture (EA), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), manual acupuncture (MA), and heat applied to distal acupuncture points (acupoints). Nitric oxide (NO) levels were reported to be elevated in the gracile nucleus and skin regions near to the EA sites, with higher levels at acupoints associated with an enhanced expression of NO synthase and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1. The stimuli, EA, MA, TENS, and heat, have been used to elicit axonal reflexes, which increase local release of NO and neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene related peptide. Furthermore, the sensation of PSCP along the body surface occurs only ipsilaterally to the stimulated acupoints in various human studies, which does not support the involvement of the spinal-thalamic pathway, which would involve cross over transmission of the signals. The gracile nucleus receives ascending input from the sciatic nerve and responds to somatosensory stimulation mainly on the ipsilateral side via the dorsal column pathway. EA at Zusanli (ST36) increases NO release and expression of NO synthase mainly in the ipsilateral side of the gracile nucleus, while the cardiovascular effects and analgesic responses to EA at ST36 are changed by influences of &lt;span&gt;l&lt;/span&gt;-arginine-derived NO synthesis in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus in rats. The stimuli-induced release of NOergic molecules and neuropeptides exist high levels in the acupoints, which contain rich neuronal components and blood vessels. Enhanced NOergic molecules at acupoints cause axon reflexes during the stimuli, which elevate cutaneous blood flow. Elevated NOergic molecules and local blood flow may spread over acupoints one after another along the meridian lines differing from nerve pathways following the stimuli to induce PSCP. The same types of stimulation also elicit NO release in the gracile nucleus, which contributes to the somatosensory signal transduction of PSCP through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways. Other substances such as serotonin and catecholamines are proposed to mediate responses and certain effects of acupuncture-like stimulation but their mechanisms are poorly-understood. In this review we summarize the current understanding of the neurobiological processes of PSCP research with an emphasis on recent developments of NO mediating stimulation-evoked axon reflexes and somatosensory signal transduction for PSCP perceptions through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Please cite this article as: Ma SX. Stimuli-evoked NOergic molecules and neuropeptides at acupuncture points and gracile nucleus contribute to signal transduction of propagated sensation along the meridian through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways. &lt;em&gt;J Integr Med&lt;/em&gt;. 2024; 22(","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 515-522"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141707187","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture ameliorates atopic dermatitis by modulating gut barrier function in a gut microbiota-dependent manner in mice","authors":"Mijung Yeom ,&nbsp;Sora Ahn ,&nbsp;Dae-Hyun Hahm ,&nbsp;Sun-Young Jang ,&nbsp;Se Hoon Jang ,&nbsp;Su-Yang Park ,&nbsp;Jae-Hwan Jang ,&nbsp;Jihan Park ,&nbsp;Ju-Young Oh ,&nbsp;In-Seon Lee ,&nbsp;Kyuseok Kim ,&nbsp;Soon-Kyeong Kwon ,&nbsp;Hi-Joon Park","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2024.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that may be linked to changes in the gut microbiome. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective in reducing AD symptoms without serious adverse events, but its underlying mechanism is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the potential effect of acupuncture on AD is gut microbiota-dependent.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>AD-like skin lesions were induced by applying MC903 topically to the cheek of the mouse. Acupuncture was done at the Gok-Ji (LI11) acupoints. AD-like symptoms were assessed by lesion scores, scratching behavior, and histopathological changes; intestinal barrier function was measured by fecal output, serum lipopolysaccharide levels, histopathological changes, and mRNA expression of markers involved in intestinal permeability and inflammation. Gut microbiota was profiled using 16S rRNA gene sequencing from fecal samples.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Acupuncture effectively improved chronic itch as well as the AD-like skin lesions with epidermal thickening, and also significantly altered gut microbiota structure as revealed by β-diversity indices and analysis of similarities. These beneficial effects were eliminated by antibiotic depletion of gut microbiota, but were reproduced in gut microbiota-depleted mice that received a fecal microbiota transplant from acupuncture-treated mice. Interestingly, AD mice had intestinal barrier dysfunction as indicated by increased intestinal permeability, atrophy of the mucosal structure (reduced villus height and crypt depth), decreased expression of tight junctions and mucus synthesis genes, and increased expression of inflammatory mediators in the ileum. Acupuncture attenuated these abnormalities, which was gut microbiota-dependent.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Acupuncture ameliorates AD-like phenotypes in a gut microbiota-dependent manner and some of these positive benefits are explained by modulation of the intestinal barrier, providing new perspective for non-pharmacological strategies for modulating gut microbiota to prevent and treat AD.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Yeom M, Ahn S, Hahm DH, Jang SY, Jang SH, Park SY, Jang JH, Park J, Oh JY, Lee IS, Kim K, Kwon SK, Park HJ. Acupuncture ameliorates atopic dermatitis by modulating gut barrier function in a gut microbiota-dependent manner in mice. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2024; 22(5): 600–613.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"22 5","pages":"Pages 600-613"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141847332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}