Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies have shown great improvement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, yet no bibliometric analysis on TCM therapies for COPD exists.
Summary: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on TCM therapies for COPD within the past decade, utilizing the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. To analyze collaborative patterns among countries/regions, institutions, and authors, as well as identify influential references and emerging research trends, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were employed. The dataset comprised 625 articles from WOS and 5,641 from CNKI, revealing a consistent growth in COPD-related TCM research over the past 10 years. China emerged as the leading contributor, with a predominant focus on TCM Universities. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine was the most cited journal, while Medicine published the highest number of articles. Li JS was the most prolific author, and Barnes PJ was the most frequently cited researcher. Key studies by Leung RWM [Eur Respir J. 2013;41(5):1051-7], Li SY [BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:197], and Polkey MI [Chest. 2018;153(5):1116-24] garnered significant attention. Keyword analysis highlighted the prominence of Tai Chi, Chinese herbal medicine, acupoint sticking, acupuncture, lung function, quality of life, and inflammation as core research themes.
Key messages: Research on TCM therapies for COPD has gained growing attention over the past decade. Among the most commonly studied TCM interventions are Tai Chi, Chinese herbal medicine, acupoint sticking, and acupuncture. Lung function, quality of life, and inflammation have emerged as key areas of investigation and are likely to remain focal points for future research endeavors.
背景:中药治疗对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者有显著改善作用,但目前尚无中医药治疗COPD的文献计量学分析。摘要:利用Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection和中国知网(CNKI)数据库,对近十年来中医治疗COPD的文献进行了全面检索。为了分析国家/地区、机构和作者之间的合作模式,识别有影响力的参考文献和新兴的研究趋势,使用了CiteSpace和VOSviewer软件。该数据集包括来自WOS的625篇文章和来自CNKI的5641篇文章,揭示了过去10年copd相关中医研究的持续增长。中国成为主要贡献者,中医药大学占据主导地位。《美国呼吸与重症监护医学杂志》是被引用次数最多的杂志,而《医学》发表的文章数量最多。Li, JS是最多产的作者,而Barnes, PJ是被引用次数最多的研究者。梁荣文:《欧洲呼吸杂志》,2013;41(5):1051-7,李世文:《BMC补体替代医学》,2012;12:197,Polkey MI:《Chest》,2018;153(5):1116-24。关键词分析突出了太极、中药、穴位贴敷、针灸、肺功能、生活质量和炎症作为核心研究主题的重要性。在过去的十年里,中医药治疗慢性阻塞性肺病的研究越来越受到关注。最常被研究的中医干预措施包括太极拳、中草药、穴位贴敷和针灸。肺功能、生活质量和炎症已成为研究的关键领域,并可能成为未来研究的重点。
{"title":"Research Trends of Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapies on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis.","authors":"Chunyan Yang, Qiying He, Liuyang Huang, Hao Tian, Qin Luo, Guixing Xu, Mingsheng Sun, Sha Yang, Fanrong Liang, Pan Litao","doi":"10.1159/000541020","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000541020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies have shown great improvement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, yet no bibliometric analysis on TCM therapies for COPD exists.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>A comprehensive literature search was conducted on TCM therapies for COPD within the past decade, utilizing the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. To analyze collaborative patterns among countries/regions, institutions, and authors, as well as identify influential references and emerging research trends, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were employed. The dataset comprised 625 articles from WOS and 5,641 from CNKI, revealing a consistent growth in COPD-related TCM research over the past 10 years. China emerged as the leading contributor, with a predominant focus on TCM Universities. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine was the most cited journal, while Medicine published the highest number of articles. Li JS was the most prolific author, and Barnes PJ was the most frequently cited researcher. Key studies by Leung RWM [Eur Respir J. 2013;41(5):1051-7], Li SY [BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:197], and Polkey MI [Chest. 2018;153(5):1116-24] garnered significant attention. Keyword analysis highlighted the prominence of Tai Chi, Chinese herbal medicine, acupoint sticking, acupuncture, lung function, quality of life, and inflammation as core research themes.</p><p><strong>Key messages: </strong>Research on TCM therapies for COPD has gained growing attention over the past decade. Among the most commonly studied TCM interventions are Tai Chi, Chinese herbal medicine, acupoint sticking, and acupuncture. Lung function, quality of life, and inflammation have emerged as key areas of investigation and are likely to remain focal points for future research endeavors.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"67-83"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143051708","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}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1159/000549416
Shashank Ghai, Ishan Ghai
Background: Pain, both acute and chronic, places a substantial burden on global healthcare systems. While conventional treatments may be limited in efficacy due to side effects, risk of dependency, or variable individual response, there is growing interest in mind-body complementary approaches. Yoga nidra (YGN) has emerged as a promising noninvasive intervention for pain management. However, a clear understanding of its efficacy remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of YGN on pain outcomes.
Methods: A literature search was conducted across seven databases and one trial database. Eligible studies included quantitative designs assessing the effects of YGN on pain. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the modified Downs and Black checklist for non-randomized studies. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled effect sizes.
Results: Twelve studies, comprising 1,176 participants, were included. Between-group analyses revealed that YGN significantly reduced pain compared to passive comparators (Hedge's g: -2.05, p = 0.01), while comparisons with active comparators (g: -0.31, p = 0.53) showed no statistically significant differences. Within-group analyses indicated significant pain reduction following YGN (g: -2.01, p < 0.001). Subgroup comparisons of single versus multiple training sessions, as well as meta-regression analyses, revealed no significant dose-response relationship across intervention durations.
Conclusion: YGN shows potential in reducing pain intensity compared to passive control conditions, with notable within-group improvements following intervention. However, given the low methodological quality across the included studies, these effects should be interpreted cautiously, as the observed effects may represent inflated estimates. Despite these limitations, YGN demonstrates potential as a complementary approach for pain management, underscoring the need for high-quality, standardized research to establish its efficacy as a viable clinical intervention.
{"title":"Yoga Nidra and Pain: A between-, within-Group Meta-Analysis and Dose Response Meta-Regression.","authors":"Shashank Ghai, Ishan Ghai","doi":"10.1159/000549416","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000549416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><p>Background: Pain, both acute and chronic, places a substantial burden on global healthcare systems. While conventional treatments may be limited in efficacy due to side effects, risk of dependency, or variable individual response, there is growing interest in mind-body complementary approaches. Yoga nidra (YGN) has emerged as a promising noninvasive intervention for pain management. However, a clear understanding of its efficacy remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of YGN on pain outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A literature search was conducted across seven databases and one trial database. Eligible studies included quantitative designs assessing the effects of YGN on pain. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the modified Downs and Black checklist for non-randomized studies. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled effect sizes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve studies, comprising 1,176 participants, were included. Between-group analyses revealed that YGN significantly reduced pain compared to passive comparators (Hedge's g: -2.05, p = 0.01), while comparisons with active comparators (g: -0.31, p = 0.53) showed no statistically significant differences. Within-group analyses indicated significant pain reduction following YGN (g: -2.01, p < 0.001). Subgroup comparisons of single versus multiple training sessions, as well as meta-regression analyses, revealed no significant dose-response relationship across intervention durations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>YGN shows potential in reducing pain intensity compared to passive control conditions, with notable within-group improvements following intervention. However, given the low methodological quality across the included studies, these effects should be interpreted cautiously, as the observed effects may represent inflated estimates. Despite these limitations, YGN demonstrates potential as a complementary approach for pain management, underscoring the need for high-quality, standardized research to establish its efficacy as a viable clinical intervention. </p>.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"495-521"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12707917/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145444268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1159/000544082
Saphira Kaesbach, Alexander Hintze, Swantje Engelbrecht, Martin Wartenberg, Arnoud J Templeton
Introduction: Many patients with breast cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) including mistletoe preparations (Viscum album extracts, VAE). CAM alone has been associated with poor outcomes. Few, if any, confirmed breast cancer remissions have been reported with CAM treatment alone.
Case presentations: Case 1: 60-year-old female with a histologically confirmed local recurrence of hormone receptor positive (HR+) Her2/neu negative (HER2-) breast cancer 3 years after the initial diagnosis and treatment. The patient declined conventional therapies and was treated with intratumoral VAE plus intratumoral influenza vaccine (IV) and concurrent VAE-induced hyperthermia. Lumpectomy 5 months later confirmed a near pathological complete remission (near pCR). Follow-up at 3 years confirms durable remission. Case 2: 57-year-old female with histologically confirmed HR+, HER2- right sided breast cancer with 2-[18F]FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) positive metastatic disease who declined conventional treatment. The patient was treated with 17 monthly cycles of VAE-induced hyperthermia, eight of which included intratumoral VAE, four of these eight including intratumoral IV. Almost 2 years after treatment start, a follow-up 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT showed marked morphological and metabolic reduction of breast tumor on the right side, stable local lymph node metastases in the right axilla, complete remission of pulmonary metastases, the single bone metastasis, and the majority of hilomediastinal lymph node metastases but a new metabolic highly active left adrenal lesion.
Conclusions: Clinical studies of intratumoral VAE-influenza vaccine with concurrent VAE-induced hyperthermia in ER positive HER2/neu negative breast cancer are warranted.
{"title":"ER+ HER2- Invasive Breast Cancer: Tumor Remission following Viscum Album Extract/Influenza Vaccine Treatment - A Report of 2 Cases.","authors":"Saphira Kaesbach, Alexander Hintze, Swantje Engelbrecht, Martin Wartenberg, Arnoud J Templeton","doi":"10.1159/000544082","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000544082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Many patients with breast cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) including mistletoe preparations (Viscum album extracts, VAE). CAM alone has been associated with poor outcomes. Few, if any, confirmed breast cancer remissions have been reported with CAM treatment alone.</p><p><strong>Case presentations: </strong>Case 1: 60-year-old female with a histologically confirmed local recurrence of hormone receptor positive (HR+) Her2/neu negative (HER2-) breast cancer 3 years after the initial diagnosis and treatment. The patient declined conventional therapies and was treated with intratumoral VAE plus intratumoral influenza vaccine (IV) and concurrent VAE-induced hyperthermia. Lumpectomy 5 months later confirmed a near pathological complete remission (near pCR). Follow-up at 3 years confirms durable remission. Case 2: 57-year-old female with histologically confirmed HR+, HER2- right sided breast cancer with 2-[18F]FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) positive metastatic disease who declined conventional treatment. The patient was treated with 17 monthly cycles of VAE-induced hyperthermia, eight of which included intratumoral VAE, four of these eight including intratumoral IV. Almost 2 years after treatment start, a follow-up 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT showed marked morphological and metabolic reduction of breast tumor on the right side, stable local lymph node metastases in the right axilla, complete remission of pulmonary metastases, the single bone metastasis, and the majority of hilomediastinal lymph node metastases but a new metabolic highly active left adrenal lesion.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinical studies of intratumoral VAE-influenza vaccine with concurrent VAE-induced hyperthermia in ER positive HER2/neu negative breast cancer are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"176-181"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11991746/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143406230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-03-21DOI: 10.1159/000543959
Giuseppe Di Lorenzo, Carlo Buonerba, Raffaele Baio, Eleonora Monteleone, Francesco Passaro, Antonio Tufano, Vittorino Montanaro, Vittorio Riccio, Ilaria Gallo, Francesca Cappuccio, Oriana Strianese, Roberta Zarrella, Anna Buonocore, Federica Monaco, Antonio Verde, Giovanni Riccio, Valentina Izzo, Federica Fortino, Ferdinando Costabile, Luca Scafuri
Background: The Mediterranean lifestyle is widely recognized for its role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. The PREVESMED questionnaire was developed to evaluate adherence to this lifestyle, integrating dietary and non-dietary behaviors. Unlike existing tools, PREVESMED incorporates underexplored elements such as eating pace, herbal tea consumption, and physical activity, providing a multidimensional approach to lifestyle assessment.
Methods: The validation of PREVESMED was carried out as part of a planned interim analysis using data collected from participants in the PREVES-ENERGY survey, a cross-sectional study targeting 1,000 adults aged 18 years and above. To assess the reliability of the PREVESMED scale, internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, ensuring an acceptable level of reliability. To investigate the relationships between lifestyle factors, individual questionnaire items, and adherence to Mediterranean lifestyle according to the PREVESMED scale, a correlation analysis was performed. Additionally, to identify significant predictors of better adherence, a multivariable linear regression model was utilized, highlighting key factors influencing adherence. Finally, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to reveal the underlying structure of the PREVESMED scale, identifying key dimensions and their contributions to the total variance.
Results: The cohort analyzed for the preliminary validation of the PREVESMED questionnaire consisted of 268 participants, in line with the protocol's planned sample size. Internal consistency analysis demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.628). In the correlation analysis, the strongest associations with the total PREVESMED score emerged for physical activity, extra virgin olive oil use, and fruit/vegetable consumption, whereas daily alcohol intake showed the weakest correlation. The multivariable linear regression highlighted higher education, lower BMI, nonsmoking status, higher WHO-5 scores, and older age as significant predictors of better adherence. Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors explaining 59.32% of the total variance.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the PREVESMED questionnaire is a promising, multidimensional tool for evaluating adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle, demonstrating acceptable reliability and significant associations with key health indicators. Further refinement and extended validation - encompassing test-retest reliability, weighted scoring, and biomarker correlations - will strengthen its applicability across diverse populations.
{"title":"Development and Validation of the PREVESMED Questionnaire: A Comprehensive Tool for Assessing Adherence to a Mediterranean Lifestyle.","authors":"Giuseppe Di Lorenzo, Carlo Buonerba, Raffaele Baio, Eleonora Monteleone, Francesco Passaro, Antonio Tufano, Vittorino Montanaro, Vittorio Riccio, Ilaria Gallo, Francesca Cappuccio, Oriana Strianese, Roberta Zarrella, Anna Buonocore, Federica Monaco, Antonio Verde, Giovanni Riccio, Valentina Izzo, Federica Fortino, Ferdinando Costabile, Luca Scafuri","doi":"10.1159/000543959","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000543959","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Mediterranean lifestyle is widely recognized for its role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. The PREVESMED questionnaire was developed to evaluate adherence to this lifestyle, integrating dietary and non-dietary behaviors. Unlike existing tools, PREVESMED incorporates underexplored elements such as eating pace, herbal tea consumption, and physical activity, providing a multidimensional approach to lifestyle assessment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The validation of PREVESMED was carried out as part of a planned interim analysis using data collected from participants in the PREVES-ENERGY survey, a cross-sectional study targeting 1,000 adults aged 18 years and above. To assess the reliability of the PREVESMED scale, internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, ensuring an acceptable level of reliability. To investigate the relationships between lifestyle factors, individual questionnaire items, and adherence to Mediterranean lifestyle according to the PREVESMED scale, a correlation analysis was performed. Additionally, to identify significant predictors of better adherence, a multivariable linear regression model was utilized, highlighting key factors influencing adherence. Finally, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to reveal the underlying structure of the PREVESMED scale, identifying key dimensions and their contributions to the total variance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort analyzed for the preliminary validation of the PREVESMED questionnaire consisted of 268 participants, in line with the protocol's planned sample size. Internal consistency analysis demonstrated acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.628). In the correlation analysis, the strongest associations with the total PREVESMED score emerged for physical activity, extra virgin olive oil use, and fruit/vegetable consumption, whereas daily alcohol intake showed the weakest correlation. The multivariable linear regression highlighted higher education, lower BMI, nonsmoking status, higher WHO-5 scores, and older age as significant predictors of better adherence. Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors explaining 59.32% of the total variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that the PREVESMED questionnaire is a promising, multidimensional tool for evaluating adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle, demonstrating acceptable reliability and significant associations with key health indicators. Further refinement and extended validation - encompassing test-retest reliability, weighted scoring, and biomarker correlations - will strengthen its applicability across diverse populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"138-150"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691204","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}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1159/000544956
Jinjin Yin, Ming Yin, Tianwen Liu, Shumin Qin
Introduction: The role of acupuncture in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been previously investigated; however, it is unclear whether manual acupuncture is effective for treating GERD. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of manual acupuncture in treating GERD.
Methods: Potentially eligible studies were identified from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Registry for Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (Sinomed). Sensitivity analysis was conducted through excluding low-quality studies. Subgroup analysis was performed according to different proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and treatment duration. Certainty of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework.
Results: Based on 504 records, 12 relevant studies were included in our meta-analysis. Trial sequential analysis confirmed that manual acupuncture improved symptom scores (mean difference [MD] = -3.43, 95% CI = -5.14 to -1.73, I2 = 88%, p < 0.001, very low evidence) and reduced recurrence rates (risk ratio [RR] = 0.32, 95% confidence interval = 0.16 to 0.64, I2 = 0%, p = 0.001, very low evidence). Although meta-analysis showed no difference in adverse events between manual acupuncture and PPIs (RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.09 to 1.58, I2 = 0%, p = 0.18, very low evidence), TSA revealed extremely insufficient statistical power. Furthermore, the global symptom improvement rate was lower with acupuncture compared to PPIs (RR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.30, I2 = 18%, p < 0.001, low evidence). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the robustness of the results. Subgroup analysis suggested the therapeutic effects of manual acupuncture alone irrespective of categories of PPIs and treatment duration.
Conclusion: Manual acupuncture has the potential to alleviate the severity of symptoms and decrease the recurrence rate in patients with GERD. However, considering the efficacy of PPI therapy in significantly improving overall symptoms, along with its established safety profile and extensive clinical utilization over the years, we do not recommend manual acupuncture alone as the primary treatment for patients with GERD.
{"title":"Does Manual Acupuncture Improve Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms? A Trial Sequential Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Jinjin Yin, Ming Yin, Tianwen Liu, Shumin Qin","doi":"10.1159/000544956","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000544956","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The role of acupuncture in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been previously investigated; however, it is unclear whether manual acupuncture is effective for treating GERD. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of manual acupuncture in treating GERD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Potentially eligible studies were identified from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Registry for Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (Sinomed). Sensitivity analysis was conducted through excluding low-quality studies. Subgroup analysis was performed according to different proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and treatment duration. Certainty of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on 504 records, 12 relevant studies were included in our meta-analysis. Trial sequential analysis confirmed that manual acupuncture improved symptom scores (mean difference [MD] = -3.43, 95% CI = -5.14 to -1.73, I2 = 88%, p < 0.001, very low evidence) and reduced recurrence rates (risk ratio [RR] = 0.32, 95% confidence interval = 0.16 to 0.64, I2 = 0%, p = 0.001, very low evidence). Although meta-analysis showed no difference in adverse events between manual acupuncture and PPIs (RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.09 to 1.58, I2 = 0%, p = 0.18, very low evidence), TSA revealed extremely insufficient statistical power. Furthermore, the global symptom improvement rate was lower with acupuncture compared to PPIs (RR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.30, I2 = 18%, p < 0.001, low evidence). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the robustness of the results. Subgroup analysis suggested the therapeutic effects of manual acupuncture alone irrespective of categories of PPIs and treatment duration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Manual acupuncture has the potential to alleviate the severity of symptoms and decrease the recurrence rate in patients with GERD. However, considering the efficacy of PPI therapy in significantly improving overall symptoms, along with its established safety profile and extensive clinical utilization over the years, we do not recommend manual acupuncture alone as the primary treatment for patients with GERD.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"233-243"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699874","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}
Introduction: Aromatherapy has not accrued enough evidence to be integrated into standardized clinical medicine. If high-quality evidence supports the effects of aromatherapy, it will be handled as a parallel option to standardized medical treatment. The aromatherapeutic impact of peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) essential oil has been researched to a certain extent, such as on pain, anxiety, fatigue, or depression. Considering the rising expenditure on dementia care, the potential effects of peppermint scents on cognition have become increasingly significant. Therefore, we performed a scoping review of the studies on the impact of peppermint scents on cognition and attention.
Methods: We focused on human research, and the effects of peppermint scents were required to be inhaled. According to the inclusion criteria, searching from PubMed, Scopus, and Gale Academic OneFile, we identified a total of 115 studies. Finally, eight references were selected for review. The risk of bias was analyzed according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria.
Results: Each reviewed reference had its own strength in investigating the effects of peppermint scents. However, as most studies have noted, the impact of peppermint scent should be assessed from multiple perspectives, including psychological, physiological, neurological, and pharmacological factors. The risk of bias was not found to be severe (high risk of bias rate: 35.7 ± 3.4%); our critical review elucidated the heterogeneity of the reviewed studies.
Conclusion: In summary, drawing a definitive conclusion at this stage is premature. Therefore, more carefully designed studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
{"title":"Heterogeneity in the Study of Peppermint in Aromatherapy on Cognition and Attention: A Critical Scoping Review.","authors":"Ryusei Nishi, Kenichiro Sagiyama, Takamasa Fukumoto, Haruka Amitani, Akihiro Asakawa","doi":"10.1159/000543974","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000543974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Aromatherapy has not accrued enough evidence to be integrated into standardized clinical medicine. If high-quality evidence supports the effects of aromatherapy, it will be handled as a parallel option to standardized medical treatment. The aromatherapeutic impact of peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) essential oil has been researched to a certain extent, such as on pain, anxiety, fatigue, or depression. Considering the rising expenditure on dementia care, the potential effects of peppermint scents on cognition have become increasingly significant. Therefore, we performed a scoping review of the studies on the impact of peppermint scents on cognition and attention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We focused on human research, and the effects of peppermint scents were required to be inhaled. According to the inclusion criteria, searching from PubMed, Scopus, and Gale Academic OneFile, we identified a total of 115 studies. Finally, eight references were selected for review. The risk of bias was analyzed according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Each reviewed reference had its own strength in investigating the effects of peppermint scents. However, as most studies have noted, the impact of peppermint scent should be assessed from multiple perspectives, including psychological, physiological, neurological, and pharmacological factors. The risk of bias was not found to be severe (high risk of bias rate: 35.7 ± 3.4%); our critical review elucidated the heterogeneity of the reviewed studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In summary, drawing a definitive conclusion at this stage is premature. Therefore, more carefully designed studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"224-232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143540422","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}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-04-04DOI: 10.1159/000545128
Reinhard Saller, Herbert Schwabl, Matthias Rostock, Maja Dal Cero
<p><p>Am Beispiel des in verschiedenen lokalen Traditionen genutzten Blutwurz, auch Tormentill (Potentilla erecta L.), wird exemplarisch eine offensichtliche Kluft zwischen üblichen indikationsgetriebenen Zulassungsverfahren und der empirischen Realität sowie dem Potential vieler Heilpflanzen aufgezeigt. Für Tormentillae rhizoma ist ein breites Spektrum an Inhaltsstoffen und das mit dem Vielstoffgemisch einhergehende Wirkprofil einer u.a. vielfältig antiinflammatorisch wirkenden systemischen Droge experimentell belegt. Die traditionelle Empirie der dämpfenden Effekte im Entzündungsgeschehen wird dadurch plausibilisiert. Die moderne Forschung liefert also Daten für einen sinnvollen Einsatz einer gut verträglichen Heilpflanze mit vielfältigen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten für Haut und Schleimhaut (innerlich und äusserlich). Auf dem Markt gibt es aber, abgesehen von vereinzelten topischen Spezialitäten und Arzneitees, kaum Zubereitungen als zugelassene Arzneispezialität. Denn die derzeitige Praxis der Arzneimittelzulassung bevorzugt die spezifischen und organbezogenen Wirkungen und übersieht dabei das systemische Potential, die Modulationsfähigkeit dieser natürlichen Stoffgemische, wie sie durch traditionelle und empirische Belege angezeigt wird. Systemische Wirkungen zeigen ihre Stärke gerade im Zusammenspiel mit anderen Therapien insbesondere beim additiven Einsatz mit Spezifika, indem sie bestimmte Wirkungen verstärken bzw. abschwächen oder die Verträglichkeit der Spezifika erhöhen bzw. deren Nebenwirkungen abmildern. Die Kombination von spezifisch wirkenden Arzneimitteln mit solchen Systemmitteln (wie z.B. Blutwurz/Tormentill) stellt damit eine weitere Therapieoption dar, die als sinnvolle Ergänzung, wenn nicht sogar als Grundlage bei Prävention, Therapie und Lebensgestaltung zu werten ist.</p><p><p>The example of tormentil (<italic>Potentilla erecta</italic> L.), which is used in various local traditions, is taken to illustrate an obvious gap between the common indication-driven authorization procedures and the empirical reality and potential of many medicinal plants. For <italic>Tormentillae rhizoma</italic>, a broad spectrum of active compounds and the active profile of a systemic drug with multiple anti-inflammatory effects have been experimentally proven. The traditional empiricism of the dampening effects in the inflammatory process is thus made plausible. Modern research, therefore, provides data for the effective use of a well-tolerated medicinal plant with a wide range of possible applications for the skin and mucous membranes (internally and externally). However, apart from a few topical specialties and medicinal teas, there are hardly any preparations on the market as authorized medicinal specialties. This is because the current practice of marketing authorization favors the specific and organ-related effects and overlooks the systemic potential, the modulation capacity of these natural substance mixtures, as indicated by traditional and em
{"title":"[Vom Spezifischen zum Systemischen - am Beispiel Tormentill/Blutwurz, der Heilpflanze des Jahres 2024].","authors":"Reinhard Saller, Herbert Schwabl, Matthias Rostock, Maja Dal Cero","doi":"10.1159/000545128","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000545128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Am Beispiel des in verschiedenen lokalen Traditionen genutzten Blutwurz, auch Tormentill (Potentilla erecta L.), wird exemplarisch eine offensichtliche Kluft zwischen üblichen indikationsgetriebenen Zulassungsverfahren und der empirischen Realität sowie dem Potential vieler Heilpflanzen aufgezeigt. Für Tormentillae rhizoma ist ein breites Spektrum an Inhaltsstoffen und das mit dem Vielstoffgemisch einhergehende Wirkprofil einer u.a. vielfältig antiinflammatorisch wirkenden systemischen Droge experimentell belegt. Die traditionelle Empirie der dämpfenden Effekte im Entzündungsgeschehen wird dadurch plausibilisiert. Die moderne Forschung liefert also Daten für einen sinnvollen Einsatz einer gut verträglichen Heilpflanze mit vielfältigen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten für Haut und Schleimhaut (innerlich und äusserlich). Auf dem Markt gibt es aber, abgesehen von vereinzelten topischen Spezialitäten und Arzneitees, kaum Zubereitungen als zugelassene Arzneispezialität. Denn die derzeitige Praxis der Arzneimittelzulassung bevorzugt die spezifischen und organbezogenen Wirkungen und übersieht dabei das systemische Potential, die Modulationsfähigkeit dieser natürlichen Stoffgemische, wie sie durch traditionelle und empirische Belege angezeigt wird. Systemische Wirkungen zeigen ihre Stärke gerade im Zusammenspiel mit anderen Therapien insbesondere beim additiven Einsatz mit Spezifika, indem sie bestimmte Wirkungen verstärken bzw. abschwächen oder die Verträglichkeit der Spezifika erhöhen bzw. deren Nebenwirkungen abmildern. Die Kombination von spezifisch wirkenden Arzneimitteln mit solchen Systemmitteln (wie z.B. Blutwurz/Tormentill) stellt damit eine weitere Therapieoption dar, die als sinnvolle Ergänzung, wenn nicht sogar als Grundlage bei Prävention, Therapie und Lebensgestaltung zu werten ist.</p><p><p>The example of tormentil (<italic>Potentilla erecta</italic> L.), which is used in various local traditions, is taken to illustrate an obvious gap between the common indication-driven authorization procedures and the empirical reality and potential of many medicinal plants. For <italic>Tormentillae rhizoma</italic>, a broad spectrum of active compounds and the active profile of a systemic drug with multiple anti-inflammatory effects have been experimentally proven. The traditional empiricism of the dampening effects in the inflammatory process is thus made plausible. Modern research, therefore, provides data for the effective use of a well-tolerated medicinal plant with a wide range of possible applications for the skin and mucous membranes (internally and externally). However, apart from a few topical specialties and medicinal teas, there are hardly any preparations on the market as authorized medicinal specialties. This is because the current practice of marketing authorization favors the specific and organ-related effects and overlooks the systemic potential, the modulation capacity of these natural substance mixtures, as indicated by traditional and em","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"260-263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794945","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}
Background: The escalating prevalence and severity of obesity and its associated comorbidities globally necessitate effective interventions. This randomized open-label clinical study aims to assess the efficacy of amla (Emblica officinalis) extract AMX-160 in adult individuals with obesity.
Trial design: This study is a randomized, open-label clinical study conducted at Rajalakshmi Hospital, Mangalore. The study adhered to the declaration of Helsinki and ICH-GCP guidelines, with protocol approval from institutional ethics committee and registration with the Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI/2019/01/017201). All participants provided written, signed, and dated informed consent before any study-related procedures.
Methods: Forty obese patients were enrolled and divided into two groups. AMX-160 capsules, at doses of 500 mg once daily (AMX-M1) and twice daily (AMX-M2), were administered. Patients were monitored as outpatients for 90 days. Efficacy assessments included anthropometric measurements, bioelectric impedance analysis, lipid profile analysis, and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) at scheduled visits.
Results: Supplementation with 1 g of AMX-160 (500 mg twice daily) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced visceral fat, increased skeletal muscle mass, and decreased subcutaneous fat. Additionally, it effectively decreased body age and various anthropometric parameters (e.g., waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) significantly (p < 0.05), along with reducing BMI, body weight, and improving lipid profile (p < 0.05). The 500 mg once daily dose also significantly (p < 0.05) impacted most parameters. Physical activity levels remained consistent in both groups throughout the study (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The amla extract AMX-160 (Tri-Low®) demonstrated efficacy in reducing subcutaneous and visceral fat, waist circumference, and body age, while increasing skeletal muscle mass. These findings suggest its potential as a supplement for managing obesity and its associated disorders.
{"title":"Effect of Amla Extract on Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Total Body Fat, Visceral Fat, Skeletal Muscle Mass, Body Age, and Related Parameters: A Randomized, Open-Label Clinical Study in Obese Participants.","authors":"Deepa Suhag, Raksha Rathore, Ankia Yadav, Avni Khatkar, Deepa Suhag, Giriraja Kanakapura Vrushabaiah, Suman Govindaraj","doi":"10.1159/000545247","DOIUrl":"10.1159/000545247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The escalating prevalence and severity of obesity and its associated comorbidities globally necessitate effective interventions. This randomized open-label clinical study aims to assess the efficacy of amla (Emblica officinalis) extract AMX-160 in adult individuals with obesity.</p><p><strong>Trial design: </strong>This study is a randomized, open-label clinical study conducted at Rajalakshmi Hospital, Mangalore. The study adhered to the declaration of Helsinki and ICH-GCP guidelines, with protocol approval from institutional ethics committee and registration with the Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI/2019/01/017201). All participants provided written, signed, and dated informed consent before any study-related procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty obese patients were enrolled and divided into two groups. AMX-160 capsules, at doses of 500 mg once daily (AMX-M1) and twice daily (AMX-M2), were administered. Patients were monitored as outpatients for 90 days. Efficacy assessments included anthropometric measurements, bioelectric impedance analysis, lipid profile analysis, and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) at scheduled visits.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Supplementation with 1 g of AMX-160 (500 mg twice daily) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced visceral fat, increased skeletal muscle mass, and decreased subcutaneous fat. Additionally, it effectively decreased body age and various anthropometric parameters (e.g., waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) significantly (p < 0.05), along with reducing BMI, body weight, and improving lipid profile (p < 0.05). The 500 mg once daily dose also significantly (p < 0.05) impacted most parameters. Physical activity levels remained consistent in both groups throughout the study (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The amla extract AMX-160 (Tri-Low®) demonstrated efficacy in reducing subcutaneous and visceral fat, waist circumference, and body age, while increasing skeletal muscle mass. These findings suggest its potential as a supplement for managing obesity and its associated disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":10541,"journal":{"name":"Complementary Medicine Research","volume":" ","pages":"326-340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143969099","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}