{"title":"Investigation of attitudes of hypertension patients toward holistic complementary and alternative medicine","authors":"Zeliha Buyukbayram Genc , Seyhan Citlik Saritas","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study was conducted to examine the attitudes of patients diagnosed with hypertension toward holistic complementary and alternative medicine.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with 230 adult patients diagnosed with hypertension who applied to the internal medicine and cardiology outpatient clinics of a Training and Research Hospital. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Attitude Scale towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent groups t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and ANOVA tests. In addition, the Dunn-Bonferroni test was used to determine the difference between groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study revealed that the mean age of the patients was 54.36 ± 13.09, while 59.1 % were women, 81.3 % were married, 27.4 % were literate, and 61.3 % were unemployed. Also, it was observed that 41.3 % of the patients were diagnosed with hypertension between 1 and 5 years, 58.7 % had no other chronic illnesses, and 60.0 % had a family hypertension history. Additionally, 77.0 % of the patients used CAM, 24.9 % got information from the Internet/media via CAM, 27.1 % used CAM in addition to medical treatment, 56.5 % found CAM methods safe, 38.4 % used herbal agents, 76.3 % It has been determined that ten of them benefit from the use of CAM. The patients’ total mean score participating in the study in HCAMQ was 28.80 ± 6.73.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>It was determined that the patients' attitudes toward CAM were positive and moderate. Additionally, the findings disclosed that the education level of the patients affected their use of CAM, their benefit from CAM, and their attitudes towards CAM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100534"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144518769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"AI-driven clinical decision support systems: Revolutionizing medication selection and personalized drug therapy","authors":"Hrishikesh Khude , Pravin Shende","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100529","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100529","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificial Intelligence (AI) analyzes complex medical data records using Machine learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Deep Learning (DL) algorithms. These algorithms assist physicians in the optimization of therapeutic decisions that allow for the integration and interpretation of individual biological data, including genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics. By identifying complex patterns in these data records, AI-driven systems facilitate the development of personalized treatment strategies that align with individual patient profiles. Furthermore, AI enhances pharmacovigilance by predicting potential drug interactions and conducting in-silico toxicity risk assessments through advanced molecular composition analysis. Moreover, AI accelerates the drug discovery process by screening and identifying novel drugs, thereby facilitating the development of targeted treatment. AI empowers physicians to prescribe medications, perform real-time formulary checks, and recommend therapeutic equivalent, economically viable alternatives to patient-specific factors. AI-driven clinical decision support systems (CDSS) further assist physicians in improving drug compliance and optimizing population health strategies by identifying pharmacologically cost-effective therapies. Additionally, AI enhances real-time clinical decision-making by improving diagnostic precision, refining therapeutic choices, and patient outcomes. The evolution of AI technologies offers immense potential for seamless integration into healthcare systems despite challenges such as data bias, limited model interpretability, and regulatory complexities. This integration revolutionizes personalized medicines, accelerates the drug discovery process, and improves the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of drug therapy. In summary, AI plays a significant role in modern medicine, promoting data-based clinical decisions and enhancing the overall quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100529"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effectiveness of herbal remedies in preventing striae gravidarum: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Masoumeh Razavi , Mojgan Mirghafourvand , Mahnaz Shahnazi , Khadije Hajizadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100530","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100530","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Striae gravidarum is a common skin condition that affects approximately 60–90 % of pregnant women. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal remedies in preventing stretch marks during pregnancy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and SID databases for studies published between January 1972 and May 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the preventive effects of herbal remedies—including oils, creams, and plant-based extracts—on pregnant women were included. Data were analyzed using RevMan software, and meta-analysis was performed using fixed-effect or random-effects models based on the degree of heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the type of herbal remedies on incidence (primary outcome) and itching and erythema (secondary outcomes).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1956 pregnant women were included. Herbal treatments such as Aloe vera gel, sweet almond oil, and sesame oil showed a significant reduction in the incidence of stretch marks compared to placebo (12 studies, n = 1956; OR = 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.28–0.79, p = 0.004). In addition, four subgroup analyses from four distinct studies (n = 601) demonstrated that herbal products significantly reduced the incidence of itching compared to controls (OR = 0.09, 95 % CI: 0.03–0.30, p < 0.00001), while two studies (n = 139) showed a significant reduction in erythema incidence in the intervention groups (OR = 0.17, 95 % CI: 0.07–0.38, p < 0.0001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Although some herbal remedies, especially Aloe vera, Sweet Almond oil and Sesame oil have high potential for the prevention and management of stretch marks, the heterogeneity in the studies' design and results indicates the need for more high-quality research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100530"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amir Mehdi Iranshahi , Mahdi Amirpour , Soraya Babaie , Azizeh Farshbaf-Khalili , Alireza Ostadrahimi
{"title":"Inflammatory biomarkers modulation in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial of the superiority of Co-supplementing curcumin nano-micelles and Nigella sativa","authors":"Amir Mehdi Iranshahi , Mahdi Amirpour , Soraya Babaie , Azizeh Farshbaf-Khalili , Alireza Ostadrahimi","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Lasting inflammation, whether directly mediated by hormonal changes or induced by oxidative stress, has significant negative effects on bone health, potentially contributing to the development of postmenopausal osteopenia and osteoporosis. Anti-inflammatory herbal products, known for cost-effectiveness and safety, support bone remodeling. This study evaluates the efficacy of Curcumin Nano-micelles (CUR), Nigella sativa (NS), and their co-supplementation (NS-CUR) on serum inflammatory factors in postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A triple-blind randomized trial was conducted on 120 postmenopausal women. Patients were allocated to four groups stratified by bone density. During the 6-month intervention, the NS group took an NS oil capsule and a CUR placebo capsule daily. The CUR group consumed a CUR capsule and an NS placebo capsule daily. The NS-CUR group received a CUR capsule and an NS oil capsule daily. The placebo group received two microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) capsules daily. The serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and hs-CRP significantly declined in the NS group (<em>p</em> < 0.001), CUR (<em>p</em> < 0.001, <em>p</em> < 0.001, <em>p</em> = 0.001, res<em>p</em>ectively), and NS-CUR (<em>p</em> < 0.001) groups compared to baseline. Between-group analyses revealed that IL-6 and TNF-α showed significant reductions in the NS, CUR, and NS-CUR groups (<em>p</em> < 0.001) compared to placebo. Despite significant reductions in hs-CRP in the NS and NS-CUR groups (<em>p</em> = 0.001, <em>p</em> < 0.001, respectively), no significant differences were identified between the CUR and placebo groups (<em>p</em> = 0.096).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The supplementation of CUR, NS, and NS-CUR modulated IL-6, TNF-α, and hs-CRP levels. Moreover, the co-supplementation of NS and CUR significantly influenced inflammatory biomarkers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100528"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manuel Millán-Hernández , Daniela F. Albarrán-Pérez
{"title":"Promoting emotional resilience through laughter yoga in health professions education","authors":"Manuel Millán-Hernández , Daniela F. Albarrán-Pérez","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100527","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100527"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ending the exploitation of wild animals in traditional medicine: An urgent call for global conservation action","authors":"Emad M. Abdallah","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100525","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100525","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100525"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144516978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A new paradigmatic framework for integrative medicine, and its implications for medicine and politics","authors":"Josef M. Schmidt","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100526","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100526","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>One of the major shortcomings of the discussion concerning integrative medicine is often an insufficient awareness of the peculiarity and multi-dimensionality of the object in question, on the part of critics and advocates alike.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Focusing on homeopathy as an example, this paper points out that the essence of this unique concept of healing cannot be wholly understood without a basic knowledge of the dimensions that constitute it.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The three traditions of thinking on which it is based date back to antiquity, namely: <em>lógos</em>-thinking, <em>hómoion</em>-thinking and <em>iásthai</em>-thinking, i.e. thinking in terms of rationality, similarity and healing.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>While modern medicine is, for the most part, driven by reasoning in terms of quantification and generalisation, this at the cost of neglecting the remaining two dimensions, – homeopathy, due to its methodology, finds itself constantly searching to find a balance for all of its constituents.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This model of a three-dimensional art of healing may serve as a paradigm for integrative medicine to recollect an awareness of its own strength and multi-dimensionality, and, finally, also for medicine and politics in general.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 3","pages":"Article 100526"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An altmetric analysis of the research literature about traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine","authors":"Jeremy Y. Ng , Alep Judge , Holger Cramer","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The use of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) is known to be popular worldwide; there have been over 200,000 research articles published on this topic as of 2024. For decades, traditional citation-based metrics have been the assumed norm when assessing the impact of research, but in the digital age, alternative metrics (altmetrics) have also become a valuable proxy. By analyzing trends associated with the altmetrics of scholarly outputs relating to TCIM, patterns of social engagement were identified to obtain a better understanding of the factors that drive social impact in this field online.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study was conducted using Altmetric.com, whereby this database was searched by the subject area “Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine”. The subsequent data obtained was further analyzed to discern social trends within TCIM scholarly outputs at the article level.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>62,278 research outputs, from 1925 to 2024, with +497,000 online mentions were analyzed. Outputs from the Journal of Natural Products were mentioned the most frequently online (n = 5314, 10.56 %). The highest average Altmetric attention scores were associated with news outputs (M = 203.67), and outputs published under a bronze OA type (M = 17.54). The most mentions were contributed by X (n = 350,630, 70.41 %), Facebook (n = 57,540, 11.55 %), and news outlets (n = 39,941, 8.02 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Using the features found in this study to be linked with higher online attention, and sharing research through well-used online platforms, may help make TCIM research more visible to the public and more relevant to policy discussions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100506"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fatma Keskin Töre , Cansu Ağralı , Gülçin Nacar , Özlem Özel Özcan
{"title":"The effects of the pregnant woman’s mental visualization of her baby during the non-stress test on maternal anxiety and fetal parameters: A randomized controlled clinical trial","authors":"Fatma Keskin Töre , Cansu Ağralı , Gülçin Nacar , Özlem Özel Özcan","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim of this study is to examine the effects of pregnant women’s mental visualization of their babies during the non-stress test on maternal anxiety and fetal parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This randomized controlled clinical trial was completed with 64 pregnant women (32 experimental, 32 control). It was conducted in a public hospital located in eastern Turkey. Data were collected using a personal information form, a non-stress test findings form, a baby picture evaluation form, and the State Anxiety Inventory.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>It was determined that during NST (Non-Stress Test), pregnant women’s visualization of their babies reduced the fetal heart rate (t = 2.083, p = 0.041) and fetal movements (t = 2.110, p = 0.039) while increasing the number of accelerations (t = 4.845, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the maternal anxiety levels in the experimental group and those in the control group (t = 1.184, p = 0.241). The maternal anxiety levels of the participants in the experimental increased in the posttest compared to the pretest (t = 3.371, p = 0.002).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>It was determined that the pregnant woman’s mental visualization of her baby during the non-stress test reduced the fetal heart rate and fetal movements, increased the number of accelerations, and did not significantly affect maternal anxiety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100508"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jun Wang , Xueyan Li , Wei Shi , Bingpei Shi , Xiaojuan Shi , Dandan Luo , Xiushu Shen , Chun Zhai , Lei Xu , Meirong Li , Nan Su , Rencai Deng , Huayu Huang , Jian Li , Yin Wang , Hong Yang
{"title":"Effects of scalp acupuncture treatment on motor dysfunction in children with spastic cerebral palsy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial","authors":"Jun Wang , Xueyan Li , Wei Shi , Bingpei Shi , Xiaojuan Shi , Dandan Luo , Xiushu Shen , Chun Zhai , Lei Xu , Meirong Li , Nan Su , Rencai Deng , Huayu Huang , Jian Li , Yin Wang , Hong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.100505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Scalp acupuncture has been widely used as a treatment for motor dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Previous studies have not provided high-quality evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of this treatment in children with CP. To date, no high-quality randomized controlled trials on scalp acupuncture have been reported. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Jiao's scalp acupuncture for the treatment of motor dysfunction in children with spastic CP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a randomized controlled trial. One hundred CP patients were randomly allocated to either the treatment or control group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation treatment, while the treatment group received both conventional rehabilitation treatment and Jiao’s scalp acupuncture. Thirty-six treatment sessions were conducted over a 12-week period. Outcomes were assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 and the Fine Motor Function Measure (FMFM) at baseline, week 4, 8, 12 (post-treatment) and week 24 (follow-up).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both groups showed significant improvements in motor function (p < 0.01), as assessed by the GMFM-66 and the FMFM. Compared to the control, the treatment group demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in both gross and fine motor function (p < 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Acupuncture in the motor area of Jiao's scalp acupuncture significantly improved motor function in children with spastic CP. Scalp acupuncture treatment may serve as a beneficial adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for motor dysfunction in this population.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03921281.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 4","pages":"Article 100505"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}