The joint guidelines of the Society for Integrative Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend acupuncture for pain symptoms in some patients with cancer. This study assessed whether adding acupuncture to usual palliative care alleviates the subjective symptoms of hospitalized patients with cancer in Japan, at least in the short term.
Methods
Between 2015 and 2019, we conducted a prospective case series study at a regional core hospital in Osaka. Acupuncture was included in the usual care of patients with cancer. The primary outcome was immediate changes in each patient’s subjective symptoms measured by a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). A 20 % reduction in VAS was set as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).
Results
A total of 83 cancer patients (mean age: 66.1) were treated with acupuncture. A significant reduction was observed in the VAS scores for pain, edema, nausea, neck/shoulder/back stiffness, and breathlessness during at least one treatment session. The percentage of patients that improved beyond the MCID was as follows: 67 % for pain, 75 % for edema, 60 % for paresthesia, 80 % for nausea, 88 % for stiffness, 38 % for malaise, and 83 % for breathlessness, based on the maximum improvement recorded per session.
Conclusion
Japanese-style acupuncture, with relatively finer needles and gentler stimulation, has shown promise as a palliative treatment for patients with cancer, potentially offering temporary relief from pain, edema, nausea, stiffness, and breathlessness. Based on our findings, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with an appropriate control group is recommended.
背景:综合肿瘤学会和美国临床肿瘤学会的联合指南推荐针灸治疗一些癌症患者的疼痛症状。本研究评估在常规姑息治疗中加入针灸是否至少在短期内缓解了日本住院癌症患者的主观症状。方法2015 - 2019年,在大阪某区域核心医院开展前瞻性病例系列研究。针灸被包括在癌症患者的常规护理中。主要结果是通过10cm视觉模拟量表(VAS)测量每位患者主观症状的立即变化。VAS评分降低20%作为最小临床重要差异(minimum clinical important difference, MCID)。结果共治疗83例肿瘤患者,平均年龄66.1岁。在至少一次治疗期间,疼痛、水肿、恶心、颈/肩/背部僵硬和呼吸困难的VAS评分显著降低。超过MCID改善的患者比例如下:67%为疼痛,75%为水肿,60%为感觉异常,80%为恶心,88%为僵硬,38%为不适,83%为呼吸困难,基于每次记录的最大改善。结论:日式针灸针刺相对细,刺激温和,有望作为癌症患者的姑息治疗,可能暂时缓解疼痛、水肿、恶心、僵硬和呼吸困难。根据我们的研究结果,建议进行一项实用的随机对照试验,并选择合适的对照组。
{"title":"Acupuncture for patients with Cancer in a Japanese palliative care team: A prospective case series study","authors":"Shoko Masuyama , Hitoshi Yamashita , Tamami Amino , Ryouko Kawamoto , Ryota Tsuji , Hiromoto Nakanishi , Hiroshi Yoshida","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The joint guidelines of the Society for Integrative Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend acupuncture for pain symptoms in some patients with cancer. This study assessed whether adding acupuncture to usual palliative care alleviates the subjective symptoms of hospitalized patients with cancer in Japan, at least in the short term.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Between 2015 and 2019, we conducted a prospective case series study at a regional core hospital in Osaka. Acupuncture was included in the usual care of patients with cancer. The primary outcome was immediate changes in each patient’s subjective symptoms measured by a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). A 20 % reduction in VAS was set as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 83 cancer patients (mean age: 66.1) were treated with acupuncture. A significant reduction was observed in the VAS scores for pain, edema, nausea, neck/shoulder/back stiffness, and breathlessness during at least one treatment session. The percentage of patients that improved beyond the MCID was as follows: 67 % for pain, 75 % for edema, 60 % for paresthesia, 80 % for nausea, 88 % for stiffness, 38 % for malaise, and 83 % for breathlessness, based on the maximum improvement recorded per session.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Japanese-style acupuncture, with relatively finer needles and gentler stimulation, has shown promise as a palliative treatment for patients with cancer, potentially offering temporary relief from pain, edema, nausea, stiffness, and breathlessness. Based on our findings, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with an appropriate control group is recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101212"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144918078","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 : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101210
Ye-Seul Lee , Soo Jin Kim , Kyung Sun Park , Yoon Jae Lee , Changsop Yang , Chang-Hyun Han , In-Hyuk Ha
Background
Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a significant global health issue, contributing to disability and economic strain. Nonpharmacological treatments, such as acupuncture and integrative approaches like pharmacopuncture (PPT), have shown potential in alleviating the burden of cLBP. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PPT compared to physical therapy (PT) for managing cLBP from both healthcare system and societal perspectives.
Methods
A multicenter, two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted, involving 100 patients with cLBP. Patients were randomized into either the PPT group or the PT group, receiving 10 treatment sessions over five weeks. Utility was measured using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level scale (EQ-5D-5L) to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs were evaluated from healthcare and societal perspectives, including medical costs and productivity loss. Productivity loss was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated by dividing the differences in costs by the differences in QALYs between the two groups. Bootstrapping and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness.
Results
PPT was more cost-effective than PT, particularly from a societal perspective where it demonstrated lower overall costs and improved QALY. From a healthcare system perspective, the ICER of PPT was 16,575 USD per QALY, indicating cost-effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.
Conclusion
This study highlights PPT as a potentially cost-effective alternative to conventional PT for cLBP, though further research with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up is recommended to validate these results.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04833309), Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0006088).
{"title":"A cost-utility analysis of pharmacopuncture versus physiotherapy for chronic low back pain: A multicenter, pragmatic randomized controlled trial","authors":"Ye-Seul Lee , Soo Jin Kim , Kyung Sun Park , Yoon Jae Lee , Changsop Yang , Chang-Hyun Han , In-Hyuk Ha","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a significant global health issue, contributing to disability and economic strain. Nonpharmacological treatments, such as acupuncture and integrative approaches like pharmacopuncture (PPT), have shown potential in alleviating the burden of cLBP. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PPT compared to physical therapy (PT) for managing cLBP from both healthcare system and societal perspectives.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A multicenter, two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted, involving 100 patients with cLBP. Patients were randomized into either the PPT group or the PT group, receiving 10 treatment sessions over five weeks. Utility was measured using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level scale (EQ-5D-5L) to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs were evaluated from healthcare and societal perspectives, including medical costs and productivity loss. Productivity loss was assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated by dividing the differences in costs by the differences in QALYs between the two groups. Bootstrapping and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PPT was more cost-effective than PT, particularly from a societal perspective where it demonstrated lower overall costs and improved QALY. From a healthcare system perspective, the ICER of PPT was 16,575 USD per QALY, indicating cost-effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights PPT as a potentially cost-effective alternative to conventional PT for cLBP, though further research with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up is recommended to validate these results.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04833309), Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0006088).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101210"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866398","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 : 2025-07-31DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101209
Se-In Cho , Hyo-Jeong Jung , Minjung Park , Dong-Il Kim
Background
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of individually prescribed decoction herbal medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Herbal decoction was compared to other herbal formulations and combined treatment modalities, focusing on reductions in menstrual pain intensity, duration, and analgesic use. Personalized herbal treatments were hypothesized to alleviate symptoms more effectively by addressing individual constitutional imbalances.
Methods
This prospective observational study was conducted at 33 Korean medicine clinics and one Korean medicine hospital in South Korea, enrolling 135 participants. Based on the treatment they received, participants were categorized into three groups: herbal decoction only group (Decoction only Group, n = 82), herbal decoction with adjunctive therapies such as acupuncture or moxibustion (Combination Group, n = 37), and non-herbal decoction formulations (Non-decoction Group, n = 16). Treatments were administered over at least one menstrual cycle, and outcomes were assessed after each cycle. Primary outcomes included changes in pain intensity (numerical rating scale), duration of menstrual pain, and frequency of analgesic use. Safety was assessed through adverse event monitoring during clinic visits.
Results
Herbal decoction only showed significant reductions in menstrual pain intensity, pain duration, and analgesic use compared to those receiving other herbal formulations. Most adverse events were mild gastrointestinal symptoms related to oral intake, which resolved without intervention. No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusions
Herbal decoction group significantly decreased the intensity and duration of menstrual pain and analgesic dosage. These findings suggest that herbal decoction may be a safe and effective personalized treatment option for dysmenorrhea.
{"title":"Effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine on treatment of dysmenorrhea: An analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational study","authors":"Se-In Cho , Hyo-Jeong Jung , Minjung Park , Dong-Il Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101209","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of individually prescribed decoction herbal medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Herbal decoction was compared to other herbal formulations and combined treatment modalities, focusing on reductions in menstrual pain intensity, duration, and analgesic use. Personalized herbal treatments were hypothesized to alleviate symptoms more effectively by addressing individual constitutional imbalances.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective observational study was conducted at 33 Korean medicine clinics and one Korean medicine hospital in South Korea, enrolling 135 participants. Based on the treatment they received, participants were categorized into three groups: herbal decoction only group (Decoction only Group, <em>n</em> = 82), herbal decoction with adjunctive therapies such as acupuncture or moxibustion (Combination Group, <em>n</em> = 37), and non-herbal decoction formulations (Non-decoction Group, <em>n</em> = 16). Treatments were administered over at least one menstrual cycle, and outcomes were assessed after each cycle. Primary outcomes included changes in pain intensity (numerical rating scale), duration of menstrual pain, and frequency of analgesic use. Safety was assessed through adverse event monitoring during clinic visits.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Herbal decoction only showed significant reductions in menstrual pain intensity, pain duration, and analgesic use compared to those receiving other herbal formulations. Most adverse events were mild gastrointestinal symptoms related to oral intake, which resolved without intervention. No serious adverse events were reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Herbal decoction group significantly decreased the intensity and duration of menstrual pain and analgesic dosage. These findings suggest that herbal decoction may be a safe and effective personalized treatment option for dysmenorrhea.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101209"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908439","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 : 2025-07-31DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101211
Junhua Zhang , Boli Zhang , Alice J. Fauci , Myeong Soo Lee , L. Susan Wieland , Iman Majd , Terje Alræk , Linda Zhong , Sergio Bangrazi , Aldo Liguori , Jingqing Hu , Yanming Xie , Jianyuan Tang , Zhongqi Yang , Paolo Landini , Annalisa Bucchi , Weian Yuan , Kam Wa Chan , Filomena Petti , Carlo Maria Giovanardi , Bo Pang
{"title":"The Rome consensus: Good clinical trials for traditional medicine","authors":"Junhua Zhang , Boli Zhang , Alice J. Fauci , Myeong Soo Lee , L. Susan Wieland , Iman Majd , Terje Alræk , Linda Zhong , Sergio Bangrazi , Aldo Liguori , Jingqing Hu , Yanming Xie , Jianyuan Tang , Zhongqi Yang , Paolo Landini , Annalisa Bucchi , Weian Yuan , Kam Wa Chan , Filomena Petti , Carlo Maria Giovanardi , Bo Pang","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101211","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101211"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144826601","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 : 2025-07-29DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101208
Yan Ling Kwok , Ran Wang , Hiu To Tang , Siyu Chen , Albert Yeung , Zhaoxiang Bian , Danny J. Yu
Background
Over 20 % of adults with insomnia disorder also experience chronic pain, termed insomnia disorder comorbid with chronic pain (ICCP), increasing risks for physical and mental diseases. Current treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia show inconsistent pain relief, and non-opioid analgesics may exacerbate insomnia, underscoring the need for alternative approaches. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and acupuncture, guided by traditional Chinese medicine, may offer transdiagnostic benefits for ICCP, but a comprehensive review is lacking. This scoping review evaluates their therapeutic effects and mechanisms for ICCP.
Methods
PubMed, Wanfang, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google Scholar were searched up to December 31, 2024, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults (≥18 years) with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition-defined insomnia and the International Association for the Study of Pain-defined chronic pain, treated with CHM or acupuncture. Effect sizes (modified Cohen’s d) assessed efficacy of interventions, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool evaluated the risk of bias.
Results
Six RCTs (487 participants) were included. CHM (modified Guipi decoction) showed medium to large effects for insomnia (d = 0.70–1.17) and pain (d = 0.67–1.42) versus diazepam/estazolam. Acupuncture had medium to large effects for insomnia (d = 0.64–0.99) and pain (d = 0.80–1.33) compared to treatment as usual. Combined CHM (Da Huoluo capsules) and acupuncture showed medium effects (d = 0.72 for insomnia; d = 0.57 for pain) versus multi-medications/traction. Most studies (83.33 %) had high risk of bias.
Conclusion
CHM and acupuncture show promise for ICCP management, but high risk of bias warrants cautious interpretation and further high-quality RCTs.
{"title":"Exploring the potential transdiagnostic treatment effects of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture on insomnia disorder comorbid with chronic pain: A scoping review","authors":"Yan Ling Kwok , Ran Wang , Hiu To Tang , Siyu Chen , Albert Yeung , Zhaoxiang Bian , Danny J. Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Over 20 % of adults with insomnia disorder also experience chronic pain, termed insomnia disorder comorbid with chronic pain (ICCP), increasing risks for physical and mental diseases. Current treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia show inconsistent pain relief, and non-opioid analgesics may exacerbate insomnia, underscoring the need for alternative approaches. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and acupuncture, guided by traditional Chinese medicine, may offer transdiagnostic benefits for ICCP, but a comprehensive review is lacking. This scoping review evaluates their therapeutic effects and mechanisms for ICCP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PubMed, Wanfang, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google Scholar were searched up to December 31, 2024, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults (≥18 years) with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition-defined insomnia and the International Association for the Study of Pain-defined chronic pain, treated with CHM or acupuncture. Effect sizes (modified Cohen’s d) assessed efficacy of interventions, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool evaluated the risk of bias.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Six RCTs (487 participants) were included. CHM (modified Guipi decoction) showed medium to large effects for insomnia (<em>d</em> = 0.70–1.17) and pain (<em>d</em> = 0.67–1.42) versus diazepam/estazolam. Acupuncture had medium to large effects for insomnia (<em>d</em> = 0.64–0.99) and pain (<em>d</em> = 0.80–1.33) compared to treatment as usual. Combined CHM (Da Huoluo capsules) and acupuncture showed medium effects (<em>d</em> = 0.72 for insomnia; <em>d</em> = 0.57 for pain) versus multi-medications/traction. Most studies (83.33 %) had high risk of bias.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CHM and acupuncture show promise for ICCP management, but high risk of bias warrants cautious interpretation and further high-quality RCTs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101208"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866465","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 : 2025-07-26DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101207
Young Mi Seok , Hye-Lin Kim , Hyo In Kim , Hobin Moon , Yohan Han , Eun Sang Cho , Hyun Hee Leem , Hyo Jung Kim , Sujin Shin , Se-Jin Kim , Jin Ki Jung , Wei Huang , Kyung Oh Jung , Doo Suk Lee , Sung Giu Jin , Hyunwoo Kim , Changsop Yang , Kyungjin Lee , Jinbong Park
Background
Saengmaeksan is a traditional herbal formula used in Korean medicine. We composed a modified formula based on Saengmaeksan (mSMS) with Puerariae Radix, Platycodonis Radix, Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Schisandrae Fructus, Coicis Semen, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma to investigate its in vivo and ex vivo antihypertensive effects and underlying mechanisms.
Methods
The antihypertensive efficacy of mSMS was assessed using l-NAME-induced hypertensive mice and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The animals were treated with mSMS, and blood pressure was monitored weekly. Vascular effects were evaluated through organ bath studies and aortic histology, while oxidative stress was assessed using DCF-DA staining. Renal protection was examined via H&E and immunofluorescence staining for AT1R expression. The molecular mechanisms were explored through Western blot analysis and GTP-RhoA assays.
Results
mSMS significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both hypertensive models, with the ethanol extract demonstrating superior efficacy. mSMS inhibited the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, leading to reduced phosphorylation of MYPT1 and CPI17, and improved vascular relaxation. Additionally, mSMS attenuated aortic wall thickening, oxidative stress, and renal damage, with a marked decrease in AT1R expression in the kidneys.
Conclusions
mSMS exhibits potent antihypertensive effects through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway, reduction of vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, and renal protection. These findings support the potential of mSMS as a novel therapeutic agent for hypertension, offering a multi-targeted approach with fewer side effects compared to conventional therapies. Further clinical studies are required to confirm its clinical efficacy.
{"title":"Modified Saengmaeksan, an herbal formula containing six herbs, improves hypertension through RhoA/Rho kinase-mediated vasorelaxation","authors":"Young Mi Seok , Hye-Lin Kim , Hyo In Kim , Hobin Moon , Yohan Han , Eun Sang Cho , Hyun Hee Leem , Hyo Jung Kim , Sujin Shin , Se-Jin Kim , Jin Ki Jung , Wei Huang , Kyung Oh Jung , Doo Suk Lee , Sung Giu Jin , Hyunwoo Kim , Changsop Yang , Kyungjin Lee , Jinbong Park","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Saengmaeksan is a traditional herbal formula used in Korean medicine. We composed a modified formula based on Saengmaeksan (mSMS) with Puerariae Radix, Platycodonis Radix, Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Schisandrae Fructus, Coicis Semen, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma to investigate its in vivo and ex vivo antihypertensive effects and underlying mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The antihypertensive efficacy of mSMS was assessed using <span>l</span>-NAME-induced hypertensive mice and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The animals were treated with mSMS, and blood pressure was monitored weekly. Vascular effects were evaluated through organ bath studies and aortic histology, while oxidative stress was assessed using DCF-DA staining. Renal protection was examined via H&E and immunofluorescence staining for AT1R expression. The molecular mechanisms were explored through Western blot analysis and GTP-RhoA assays.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>mSMS significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both hypertensive models, with the ethanol extract demonstrating superior efficacy. mSMS inhibited the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, leading to reduced phosphorylation of MYPT1 and CPI17, and improved vascular relaxation. Additionally, mSMS attenuated aortic wall thickening, oxidative stress, and renal damage, with a marked decrease in AT1R expression in the kidneys.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>mSMS exhibits potent antihypertensive effects through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway, reduction of vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, and renal protection. These findings support the potential of mSMS as a novel therapeutic agent for hypertension, offering a multi-targeted approach with fewer side effects compared to conventional therapies. Further clinical studies are required to confirm its clinical efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101207"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866392","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 : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101206
Liguo Liu , Yiming Chen , Minne Tian , Zhennan Wu , Peiming Zhang , Tiankang Zhang , Jinsong Yang , Haotian Qu , Zhiyong Fan , Shan Wu , Liming Lu , Yu Kui
Background
Acupuncture (AT) therapy is an effective treatment for primary insomnia. However, no comprehensive study has compared and evaluated the efficacy and safety of multiple AT therapies and hypnotics.
Methods
We searched eight databases from inception to July 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of AT treatment for primary insomnia, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and VIP Chinese Science and Technique Journals database. After screening, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and clinical effectiveness rate were extracted from the included RCTs as outcome measures. We performed network meta-analysis using the Stata and R software.
Results
Sixty-four RCTs involving 4443 patients were included in this study. Multiple AT therapies had better efficacy in improving PSQI scores than hypnotics, with AT combined with moxibustion (MOX) and AT combined with auriculotherapy (AU) as the best interventions. Regarding clinical effectiveness, acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) had the greatest potential of being the best intervention, and no serious adverse events related to AT therapies were observed in any of the studies.
Conclusion
This review suggests that most AT therapies improve sleep indicators and have good clinical efficacy compared to hypnotics, especially AT combined with AU, AT combined with MOX, and ACE. The safety of AT therapies is reliable; however, the overall quality of the included trials was low, and higher-quality RCTs are required to provide sufficient evidence.
Protocol registration
PROSPERO, CRD42017067402.
背景:针灸治疗是治疗原发性失眠的有效方法。然而,目前还没有全面的研究对多种AT疗法和催眠药物的疗效和安全性进行比较和评估。方法检索PubMed、Web of Science、Embase、Cochrane图书馆、万方数据库、中国国家知识基础设施数据库、VIP中国科技期刊数据库等8个数据库,检索自成立以来至2024年7月AT治疗原发性失眠的随机对照试验(rct)。筛选后,从纳入的随机对照试验中提取匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)评分和临床有效率作为结局指标。我们使用Stata和R软件进行网络meta分析。结果共纳入64项随机对照试验,共4443例患者。多种AT治疗对PSQI评分的改善效果优于催眠治疗,其中AT联合艾灸(MOX)和AT联合耳穴治疗(AU)是最佳干预措施。在临床效果方面,穴位埋线(ACE)最有可能成为最佳干预措施,所有研究均未观察到与AT治疗相关的严重不良事件。结论与催眠药相比,大多数AT治疗均能改善睡眠指标,临床疗效较好,尤其是AT联合AU、AT联合MOX和ACE。AT疗法的安全性是可靠的;然而,纳入试验的总体质量较低,需要更高质量的随机对照试验来提供足够的证据。协议注册号prospero, CRD42017067402。
{"title":"The efficacy and safety of multiple acupuncture therapies in primary insomnia: A Bayesian network meta-analysis","authors":"Liguo Liu , Yiming Chen , Minne Tian , Zhennan Wu , Peiming Zhang , Tiankang Zhang , Jinsong Yang , Haotian Qu , Zhiyong Fan , Shan Wu , Liming Lu , Yu Kui","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acupuncture (AT) therapy is an effective treatment for primary insomnia. However, no comprehensive study has compared and evaluated the efficacy and safety of multiple AT therapies and hypnotics.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We searched eight databases from inception to July 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of AT treatment for primary insomnia, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and VIP Chinese Science and Technique Journals database. After screening, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and clinical effectiveness rate were extracted from the included RCTs as outcome measures. We performed network meta-analysis using the Stata and R software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Sixty-four RCTs involving 4443 patients were included in this study. Multiple AT therapies had better efficacy in improving PSQI scores than hypnotics, with AT combined with moxibustion (MOX) and AT combined with auriculotherapy (AU) as the best interventions. Regarding clinical effectiveness, acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) had the greatest potential of being the best intervention, and no serious adverse events related to AT therapies were observed in any of the studies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This review suggests that most AT therapies improve sleep indicators and have good clinical efficacy compared to hypnotics, especially AT combined with AU, AT combined with MOX, and ACE. The safety of AT therapies is reliable; however, the overall quality of the included trials was low, and higher-quality RCTs are required to provide sufficient evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Protocol registration</h3><div>PROSPERO, CRD42017067402.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101206"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019895","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 : 2025-07-19DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101205
Soobin Jang , Hyein Jeong , Jungi Park , Mi Mi Ko , Jeeyoun Jung
Background
Healthy aging is a global public health priority, with increasing interest in the promotion of functional ability and well-being among older adults. South Korea’s rapidly aging population highlights the need for standardized evaluation tools for interventions. This study aimed to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) for healthy aging treatment in primary care.
Methods
The COS was developed following the COS-STAD guidelines and through a multiphase process, including a literature review and a modified Delphi consensus. A project management group (PMG) reviewed studies related to health promotion programs and generated an initial list of outcomes. This list was refined through two rounds of Delphi surveys involving 16 experts. Consensus was assessed using content validity ratio, degree of consensus, and convergence.
Results
Twenty-six studies informed the initial outcome list, resulting in 24 outcomes for the Delphi evaluation. Two Delphi rounds and a final review by the PMG established a COS comprising 12 outcomes. These included EQ-5D, Geriatric Depression Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, liver function, kidney function, Korean Frailty Index, Self-rated Health, and Kidney-Deficiency Score.
Conclusions
The COS provides a standardized set of outcomes for evaluating healthy aging interventions in primary care. Its application in primary care and health promotion programs may enhance comparability across studies and support evidence-based decision making. Future revisions are recommended based on clinical applications and emerging research findings.
{"title":"Development of core outcome set for healthy aging treatment in primary care settings","authors":"Soobin Jang , Hyein Jeong , Jungi Park , Mi Mi Ko , Jeeyoun Jung","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Healthy aging is a global public health priority, with increasing interest in the promotion of functional ability and well-being among older adults. South Korea’s rapidly aging population highlights the need for standardized evaluation tools for interventions. This study aimed to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) for healthy aging treatment in primary care.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The COS was developed following the COS-STAD guidelines and through a multiphase process, including a literature review and a modified Delphi consensus. A project management group (PMG) reviewed studies related to health promotion programs and generated an initial list of outcomes. This list was refined through two rounds of Delphi surveys involving 16 experts. Consensus was assessed using content validity ratio, degree of consensus, and convergence.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-six studies informed the initial outcome list, resulting in 24 outcomes for the Delphi evaluation. Two Delphi rounds and a final review by the PMG established a COS comprising 12 outcomes. These included EQ-5D, Geriatric Depression Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, liver function, kidney function, Korean Frailty Index, Self-rated Health, and Kidney-Deficiency Score.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The COS provides a standardized set of outcomes for evaluating healthy aging interventions in primary care. Its application in primary care and health promotion programs may enhance comparability across studies and support evidence-based decision making. Future revisions are recommended based on clinical applications and emerging research findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 4","pages":"Article 101205"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860466","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 : 2025-07-18DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204
Jihun Kim , Chang-Hyun Han , Taewook Lee , Sookwang An , Changsop Yang , Young Eun Choi , Byoung-Kab Kang , Yoona Oh , Kun Hyung Kim , Gi Young Yang , Eunseok Kim
Background
In the clinical practice of Korean Medicine, pharmacopuncture therapy and acupotomy (PA) are being increasingly explored as potential treatment options for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combining PA with conventional Korean Medicine treatment (CKMT) in patients with degenerative LSS.
Methods
A pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 104 participants aged 40–75 years diagnosed with degenerative LSS. The participants were randomly assigned to either the CKMT+PA or CKMT alone groups over a 6-week period. The primary outcome was the mean change in the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain/discomfort. Secondary outcomes included clinically important differences (CID), Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, self-reported maximum walking distance, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level questionnaire, and patients’ global impression of change. The adverse events (AEs) were assessed at each visit.
Results
The CKMT+PA group showed significant improvements in VAS scores compared to the CKMT group at 6 weeks (adjusted mean difference: 20.26; 95 % confidence interval: 13.79–26.72, p < 0.0001), and a higher proportion of patients in the CKMT+PA group achieved the minimal CID in pain reduction. These improvements persisted at weeks 10 and 14. Superior results were also observed with respect to secondary outcomes in the CKMT+PA group compared to the CKMT group across all time points. CKMT showed no AEs, while mild AEs occurred in 1.7 % of bee venom and 2.2 % of acupotomy sessions.
Conclusion
Compared to CKMT alone, CKMT+PA offers significant improvements in pain relief, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with degenerative LSS.
Trial registration
Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) registry, KCT0008557.
{"title":"Effectiveness and safety of combining pharmacopuncture therapy and acupotomy for treating patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: A pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial","authors":"Jihun Kim , Chang-Hyun Han , Taewook Lee , Sookwang An , Changsop Yang , Young Eun Choi , Byoung-Kab Kang , Yoona Oh , Kun Hyung Kim , Gi Young Yang , Eunseok Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In the clinical practice of Korean Medicine, pharmacopuncture therapy and acupotomy (PA) are being increasingly explored as potential treatment options for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combining PA with conventional Korean Medicine treatment (CKMT) in patients with degenerative LSS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 104 participants aged 40–75 years diagnosed with degenerative LSS. The participants were randomly assigned to either the CKMT+PA or CKMT alone groups over a 6-week period. The primary outcome was the mean change in the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain/discomfort. Secondary outcomes included clinically important differences (CID), Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, self-reported maximum walking distance, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level questionnaire, and patients’ global impression of change. The adverse events (AEs) were assessed at each visit.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The CKMT+PA group showed significant improvements in VAS scores compared to the CKMT group at 6 weeks (adjusted mean difference: 20.26; 95 % confidence interval: 13.79–26.72, <em>p</em> < 0.0001), and a higher proportion of patients in the CKMT+PA group achieved the minimal CID in pain reduction. These improvements persisted at weeks 10 and 14. Superior results were also observed with respect to secondary outcomes in the CKMT+PA group compared to the CKMT group across all time points. CKMT showed no AEs, while mild AEs occurred in 1.7 % of bee venom and 2.2 % of acupotomy sessions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Compared to CKMT alone, CKMT+PA offers significant improvements in pain relief, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with degenerative LSS.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) registry, KCT0008557.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"15 1","pages":"Article 101204"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903993","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 : 2025-07-17DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2025.101203
Hyun Ju Chong
{"title":"From sound to science: Enhancing transparency in music-based therapeutic research","authors":"Hyun Ju Chong","doi":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.imr.2025.101203","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13644,"journal":{"name":"Integrative Medicine Research","volume":"14 3","pages":"Article 101203"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810287","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}