Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing最新文献

{"title":"Massage and electroacupuncture as a combined method versus epidural analgesia for chronic low back pain management","authors":"Fotini Papanikolaou ,&nbsp;Metaxia Bareka ,&nbsp;Christina Karatzaferi ,&nbsp;Giorgos K. Sakkas ,&nbsp;Violeta Roka ,&nbsp;Ioannis Liampas ,&nbsp;Mairy Gouva ,&nbsp;Eleni Arnaoutoglou","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a widespread issue, affecting 21 % to 68 % of adults, and holistic management with individualized treatments are recommended.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The aim was to compare the effectiveness of two combined methods, massage and electroacupuncture (MA), versus epidural analgesia (EP) in managing pain, functionality, mood, and quality of life in patients with CLBP.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>This study is a prospective randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, interventional clinical trial. One Hundred and ten (110) participants (age 48.5 ± 2.9, 45M/65F) were randomly divided into two groups: 1) Massage – Electroacupuncture (MA) receiving 8 weekly sessions once a week and 2) Epidural analgesia (EP) receiving 3 epidural injections, every 15 days. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing pain, mood, functionality, and quality of life for four (4) intervals, before and after treatment, 24- and 48-weeks’ follow-up respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant improvements in pain relief for the MA group compared to EP, as measured by the NRS scale (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) were observed. However, both groups exhibited similar outcomes regarding mood, functionality, and quality of life, with the MA group showing slight superiority, especially at the 24-week follow-up. Between-group adjustments over time represented relatively greater or earlier improvements in the MA group, as observed by the negative values obtained by the sample in the measurements.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The MA method could offer a comprehensive and potentially effective approach to pain management in CLBP patients compared to EP. The findings support the integration of combined treatments as part of a holistic approach for the management of CLBP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103279"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465190","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":"Comparison of the effect of ice sucking containing peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) with cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) extract on nausea, vomiting, and drug request after laparoscopic cholecystectomy","authors":"Nahid Kamalvand ,&nbsp;Morteza Shamsizadeh ,&nbsp;Leili Tapak ,&nbsp;Azim Azizi","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common and distressing complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study evaluated the efficacy of sublingual peppermint (Mentha piperita L., <em>M. piperita</em>) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum<em>, E. cardamomum</em>) extract ice cubes in alleviating these symptoms and reducing the requirement for rescue antiemetics.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this triple-blinded randomized controlled trial, 105 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: <em>M. piperita, E. cardamomum</em>, or placebo. Following baseline assessment, the intervention consisted of four sublingual administrations (every 15 min) of a 1-cm ice cube. For the active groups, each ice cube was impregnated with six drops of 10 % essential oil extract. The primary outcome was nausea severity, measured by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline, 1 hour, and 3 h post-intervention. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of vomiting episodes and requests for antiemetic medication, recorded over a 4-hour postoperative period.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>While trends indicated a greater reduction in nausea severity, vomiting frequency, and antiemetic demand in the <em>M. piperita</em> group compared to the <em>E. cardamomum</em> group, the intergroup differences were not statistically significant (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). Both intervention groups reported improved outcomes over the placebo group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The sublingual application of <em>M. piperita</em> or <em>E. cardamomum</em> extract ice cubes presents a simple, safe, and effective non-pharmacological adjunct for managing PONV in patients recovering from laparoscopic cholecystectomy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103261"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087814","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":"Reinterpreting the code: A resonance loop model for destigmatizing the mind","authors":"Doha Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional psychiatric frameworks often reduce mental disorders to neurochemical imbalances or structural abnormalities. While informative, such reductionist models may overlook the dynamic interplay among perception, emotion, memory, and cognition—and may inadvertently reinforce stigma. Here, we propose that mental symptoms can instead be understood as emergent states of phase incoherence within interconnected bioelectromagnetic resonance loops that span multiple sensory, affective, and regulatory domains. These loops are proposed to integrate sensory input, cardiovascular-affective feedback, emotional encoding, memory retrieval, and cognitive control, such that distinct mental states may reflect specific forms of phase misalignment across these systems. For example, autism spectrum conditions may involve hypercoherence in sensory pathways alongside desynchronized regulatory modulation, while schizophrenia may reflect resonance interference between trauma-encoded memory and emotional processing loops. Likewise, panic and dissociative states may arise from transient maladaptive realignments across these networks. Rather than viewing such conditions as fixed impairments, this model conceptualizes them as dynamic, temporarily adaptive configurations of a nonlinear sensory system. On this basis, it opens the door to non-pharmacological interventions—such as heart-rate-variability (HRV) feedback, frequency-based loop modulation, and environmental resonance tuning—and supports a neuroecological perspective on mental diversity. To clarify its scope, we also propose several testable predictions. Specifically, mental symptom severity may correlate with phase incoherence across loop-synchronized EEG-HRV signals; targeted frequency stimulation could induce measurable resonance realignment in specific mental states; individuals with dissociative tendencies may show greater instability in cross-loop phase synchrony during memory recall; and loop-coherence interventions might reduce symptom intensity without pharmacological input. Taken together, this Model aims to foster both theoretical advancement and stigma reduction by reframing mental phenomena as resonance-based adaptations rather than structural deficits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103268"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362057","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":"Bridging the gap: Methodological refinements to clarify the role of acupressure in the management of preoperative anxiety","authors":"Fei-Yi Zhao ,&nbsp;Wen-Jing Zhang ,&nbsp;Ting Jiang ,&nbsp;Qiang-Qiang Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103267","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103267"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145349879","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":"Traditional Chinese medicine as an adjunctive strategy in long-term management of colorectal cancer liver metastasis: A case report","authors":"Nan Li,&nbsp;Shulan Hao,&nbsp;Likun Liu,&nbsp;Xixing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) is one of the leading causes of death among patients with colorectal cancer, characterized by poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Although multidisciplinary treatments, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, can prolong survival, some patients fail to tolerate or sustain these therapies due to drug resistance or adverse effects. In recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has attracted increasing attention as an adjunctive approach for improving symptoms, enhancing treatment tolerance, and potentially extending survival.</div></div><div><h3>Case Summary</h3><div>We report a 52-year-old male patient with CRLM who underwent two hepatic resections, radiotherapy, multiple lines of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, as well as radiofrequency ablation. Guided by TCM, he received long-term oral decoctions based on the therapeutic principle of gong-bu jian-shi (simultaneous reinforcement and elimination), which aims to strengthen vital Qi while removing pathogenic factors. Despite limited tolerance to systemic therapies, the patient maintained prolonged disease stability and achieved an overall survival of 11 years after the initial diagnosis of liver metastasis in 2013. In 2024, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, he developed duodenal ulceration and multiorgan progression, eventually succumbing to disease deterioration.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This case highlights the potential role of TCM as an adjunct in the long-term integrative management of CRLM. Through reinforcing vital Qi, eliminating pathogenic factors, and harmonizing Yin and Yang, TCM may improve systemic function, enhance treatment tolerance, and delay disease progression. When conventional treatments are limited, TCM may serve as a valuable complementary strategy, providing new insights into individualized and long-term management of colorectal cancer liver metastasis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103281"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465732","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":"Integrative therapy with moxibustion and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances outcomes in patients with post-stroke depression","authors":"Yating Song ,&nbsp;Rui Chu ,&nbsp;Yajing Ren ,&nbsp;Miao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Post-stroke depression (PSD) affects 30–60 % of stroke survivors and significantly impairs rehabilitation outcomes. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors remain standard treatment, they often have limited efficacy and notable side effects. This study investigated whether combining Governor Vessel-regulating and depression-relieving moxibustion with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could enhance treatment outcomes compared to escitalopram alone.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this prospective comparative study, 120 PSD patients treated at our hospital from December 2021 to December 2023 were enrolled and assigned to control (<em>n</em> = 60) or study groups (<em>n</em> = 60) based on treatment allocation. The control group received escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro) 10 mg daily. The study group received escitalopram plus Governor Vessel-regulating and depression-relieving moxibustion (30 min daily) and 1 Hz rTMS (20 min, 5 times weekly) for 4 weeks. Primary outcomes included Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores and treatment effectiveness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than controls across all measures: lower post-treatment HAMD scores (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), higher total effectiveness rate (96.67 % vs 80.00 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), reduced inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-6, both <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), improved neurological function (lower NIHSS scores, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), better daily living activities (higher Barthel Index, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), and fewer adverse reactions (3.33 % vs 15.00 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The combination of Governor Vessel-regulating and depression-relieving moxibustion with rTMS and escitalopram significantly outperformed escitalopram monotherapy for PSD, offering enhanced antidepressant effects, reduced inflammation, improved neurological recovery, and better tolerability. This integrative approach represents a promising therapeutic strategy for post-stroke depression management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103280"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465189","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 inhalation of peppermint essential oil aromatherapy on postoperative delirium in old patients following major lower limb joint arthroplasty surgery: A randomized controlled trial","authors":"Mengyu Liu ,&nbsp;Hai Tang ,&nbsp;Zijian Zhou ,&nbsp;Min Yang ,&nbsp;Jinfeng Shen ,&nbsp;Zhijie Ji ,&nbsp;Maoyin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Postoperative delirium (POD), a serious complication in elderly patients following major surgery, is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While peppermint essential oil (PEO) demonstrates cognitive-enhancing and neuroprotective properties, its efficacy in reducing POD incidence remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of inhaled PEO aromatherapy on POD incidence within 3 days after major lower limb arthroplasty (THA/TKA) in patients aged ≥65 years.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 178 elderly patients scheduled for THA/TKA were randomized to either the PEO group (<em>n</em> = 89) or normal saline (NS) group (<em>n</em> = 89). The primary endpoint was POD incidence within 3 days postoperatively. Secondary endpoints included: delirium severity, duration, and subtype; pain scores at rest and during activity within postoperative 3 days; anxiety scores within 2 days post-surgery; adverse event incidence; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); and hospital length of stay.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All 178 patients completed the trial (median age 70 years; 98 women [55.1 %]). The PEO group showed significantly lower POD incidence within 3 days postoperatively (7.9 % vs 19.1 %; risk ratio 0.412, 95 % confidence interval [CI] [0.179, 0.944], risk difference -0.112, 95 % CI [-0.215, -0.014], <em>P</em> = 0.048), with reduced pain scores (rest/activity) within the first 3 postoperative days and lower anxiety scores within the first 2 postoperative days (all <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) compared to the NS group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Inhalation of PEO aromatherapy significantly reduces POD incidence within 3 days post-surgery and alleviates postoperative pain and anxiety in elderly patients undergoing major lower limb arthroplasty.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145416170","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":"Unraveling cassia oil's efficacy in alleviating winter-triggered mood disorders in Parkinson's disease patients via aromatherapy-mediated pathways","authors":"Qiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Peilu Zhang ,&nbsp;Dongwei Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Cassia Oil (CO)-based fragrance therapy in alleviating winter-aggravated mood disorders (including depression and anxiety) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, specifically assessing its effects on improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue-key comorbid symptoms often exacerbated in winter. Additionally, it sought to verify whether this non-pharmacological intervention could serve as a viable complementary strategy for managing seasonal symptom fluctuations in PD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Eighty PD patients were randomized to receive CO inhalation therapy (2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks; <em>n</em> = 40) or standard care (<em>n</em> = 40). Outcomes included mood (Hamilton Depression Scale [HAMD], Hamilton Anxiety Scale [HAMA]), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), fatigue (Fatigue Scale-14 [FS-14]). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The intervention group demonstrated significant reductions in HAMD (22.08±5.43 vs. 13.65±2.73, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) and HAMA scores (17.63±4.50 vs. 12.23±0.53, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), with no changes in controls (HAMD: 22.87±6.03 to 23.38±5.66, <em>p</em> = 0.72; HAMA: 16.93±3.87 to 15.95±4.55, <em>p</em> = 0.31). PSQI total scores improved significantly in the intervention group (12.20±3.09 to 0.83±0.96, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), particularly in subjective sleep quality (<em>t</em> = 6.55, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) and sleep latency (<em>t</em> = 5.46, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CO-based fragrance therapy effectively improved mood, sleep quality, and fatigue in PD patients during winter, offering a novel non-pharmacological approach for seasonal symptom management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103240"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144880357","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":"Osteopathic manipulative treatment improves mobility restrictions and statics in a patient with a pectus excavatum after a sternochondroplasty. A case report","authors":"Kelly Jeandey ,&nbsp;Aymerick Le Nohaïc ,&nbsp;Laurence Solovei ,&nbsp;Géraud Gourjon","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Pectus excavatum (PE) is characterized by abnormal development of the sternum and costal cartilages resulting in a posterior depression of the rib cage. Sternochondroplasty is a surgical technique used to correct severe PE and restore anatomical and functional integrity. However, post-operative musculoskeletal disorders may persist. To date, the potential of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) after sternochondroplasty has not been investigated.</div></div><div><h3>Case description</h3><div>A 23-year-old female presented with musculoskeletal pain, reduced mobility, and persistent chest paresthesias following corrective surgery for severe PE.</div></div><div><h3>Intervention and outcomes</h3><div>The patient underwent OMT over the course of one year (18 sessions). Posture, stabilometric parameters, respiratory function, and somatic dysfunctions were assessed during this period.</div><div>Clinical outcomes included improvements in mobility, posture (4° in the sagittal plane and 3° in the frontal plane), reduction of somatic dysfunctions (from 41 to 4), and decreased pain. Respiratory reassessment also demonstrated significant improvements (VO2max increased from 16 to 22.2mL/kg.min (+38 %)).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This case highlights the potential clinical benefits of OMT as an adjunct to usual postoperative care in the recovery from sternochondroplasty. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362055","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":"Enhancing the comprehensive management strategies for attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in pediatric patients with concurrent sleep–disordered breathing: Integrating effective therapeutic approaches","authors":"Fang Chen ,&nbsp;Amin Khorshidsavar ,&nbsp;Weibin Chen ,&nbsp;Soheil Mohtaram","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the general relevance of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and sleep–disordered breathing (SDB) in pediatric patients, focusing on etiology, prevalence, clinical features, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment options while synthesizing the findings from the existing literature to provide a comprehensive and objective understanding. A systematic review was conducted to examine the association between ADHD and SDB in children, investigating the potential role of TCM in managing this comorbidity. A comprehensive search in multiple databases was conducted from inception to May 2024 using a predefined search strategy. For assessing the quality, we used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist adapted for case–control studies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) quality assessment tool for before–after studies. Literature data were extracted and analyzed through a critical appraisal of the included studies. Seven studies were selected, with exclusion criteria defined to ensure methodological quality. While included studies demonstrated clarity and relevance in defining eligibility criteria, heterogeneity was observed in participant selection, outcome measures, safety assessment, and follow–up duration, indicating a need for more rigorous research designs in future studies. This report highlights the association between SDB and ADHD in children and underscores the significant potential of integrated treatment modalities for this comorbidity. Careful implementation and validation are essential to establish their role in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 6","pages":"Article 103241"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902808","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}