Journal of Pharmacopuncture最新文献

Background: Conventional treatments for seborrheic dermatitis often lead to a recurring cycle of symptom improvement and worsening, resulting in chronic conditions. Thus, safer and more effective alternatives are needed. In Korean medicine, Hwangryunhaedok-tang tablets, targeted at treating the fire-heat syndrome, offer a more fundamental approach to manage seborrheic dermatitis.

Clinical features and outcomes: In this study, we monitored the changes in the symptoms of two patients with seborrheic dermatitis who were treated with Hwangryunhaedok-tang tablets. The patients were administered this medication during the treatment period. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed by visually recording changes in the affected skin areas using photographs and evaluating symptoms such as heat, itching, and stinging in these areas using a visual analog scale (VAS). Visible improvements in the patients' skin conditions were observed after taking Hwangryunhaedok-tang tablets. Following treatment, VAS scores for subjective symptoms such as heat sensation, itching, and stinging in the affected areas decreased.

Conclusion: This study offers evidence of a potential alternative approach for treating seborrheic dermatitis using Kyungbang Hwangryunhaedok-tang tablets. However, it highlights the necessity for further research on the appropriate dosage, side effects, and long-term effectiveness of this treatment.

Objectives: Methotrexate (MTX), an immunosuppressant and anti-cancer medication, can harm the heart. The goal of the current investigation was to assess the cardiotoxicity caused by MTX and the potential cardioprotective properties of silymarin, citral, and thymoquinone as antioxidants.

Methods: Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups, which included control, MTX, cosolvent, citral, thymoquinone, and silymarin groups. At the end of the study, the rats were anesthetized (ketamine and xylazine) and killed using CO2. Their blood samples were collected to measure the enzymatic activities of creatine kinase-myoglobin binding (CK-MB), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Also, the heart tissue was sampled to determine the antioxidant capacity and examine the histopathology.

Results: The findings revealed that the activity of CPK, CK-MB, and LDH enzymes significantly reduced in the thymoquinone treatment group compared to the MTX group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased in the thymoquinone group compared to the MTX group (p < 0.05). The pathological modifications (i.e. severe congestion, edema fluid, the presence of inflammatory cells around the blood vessels, mild to moderate hemorrhaging between cardiac muscle fibers) were seen in the MTX group. The treatment groups, particularly thymoquinone, did not experience any appreciable pathological changes.

Conclusion: The thymoquinone was found to have the strongest protective effect against the heart damage caused by MTX.

Objectives: Cupping therapy is a widely used complementary medicine for the treatment of migraine headaches globally. However, conflicting evidence exists on its effectiveness. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cupping therapy in treating migraine headache disorder.

Methods: Seven databases were systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, SinoMed, and the National Science and Technology Library. The primary endpoints are the treatment success and the pain intensity reduction. The secondary endpoints were adverse events (AEs) risk and improvement in quality of life (QoL), which was based on the Migraine Disability Scale (MIDAS). Subgroup analyses were performed based on the cupping techniques (wet and dry cupping) and adjunctive complementary treatments (i.e. acupuncture and/or collateral pricking).

Results: Eighteen trials out of 348 records were included, pooling 1,446 participants (n = 797 received cupping therapy). Treatment success was significantly higher among those with cupping therapy (risk ratio [RR] [95% CI] = 1.83 [1.52-2.21]); with significant improvement observed only with wet cupping (RR [95% CI] = 1.88 [1.53-2.30]). The adjunctive complementary therapy did not achieve a greater amplitude of treatment success compared to cupping therapy alone. Furthermore, cupping therapy showed significant pain reduction compared to baseline (standardized mean difference [SMD] [95% CI] = 0.55 [0.39-0.70]) and achieved fewer risks of AEs (RR [95% CI] = 1.88 [1.53-2.30]). However, cupping did not improve the overall QoL (MIDAS SMD [95% CI] = -0.79 [-3.55-1.98]).

Conclusion: Cupping therapy was an effective complementary modality to treat migraine headaches. However, it did not demonstrate improvement in QoL (PROSPERO CRD42024514509).

Objectives: Nurses face mental health issues like emotional labor, stress, and depression, increasing the risk of medical errors. This study assesses the mental health and medical errors among nurses in Korean medicine clinics in South Korea.

Methods: The cross-sectional analysis involved 83 nurses, examining relationships between emotional labor, stress, depression, cognitive failure, Hwa-byung (HB) (a syndrome of suppressed anger in Korean culture), and medical errors. It identified factors associated with HB and medical errors using multiple regression analysis, presenting their odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: The findings revealed a current HB prevalence of 19.28% and a 6-month medical error prevalence of 16.87% among participants. The regression analysis showed that higher levels of depression (OR = 1.368, 95% CI = 1.098 to 1.703, p = 0.005), cognitive failure (OR = 1.072, 95% CI = 1.011 to 1.136, p = 0.020), and HB trait (OR = 1.136, 95% CI = 1.005 to 1.284, p = 0.041) significantly correlated with HB presence.

Conclusion: This groundbreaking study on this previously under-researched nurse workforce highlights the critical need for comprehensive mental health care, with the objective of significantly enhancing their mental well-being and improving their overall work environment.

Objectives: This study aimed to present a government-led accreditation system for upgrading the quality control of herbal medicine by introducing the process and evaluation standard of external herbal dispensaries (EHDs) of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) clinics in South Korea 2018 to refer to other countries where herbal medicine were used similarly in Korea.

Development process: We organized an EHD accreditation committee for the establishment of an accreditation system. The committee consisted of 9 experts an official of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), a professor expert of TKM, a good manufacturing practice expert, a hazard analysis and critical control point expert, and an accreditation system expert. After 3 meetings, a draft of the evaluation standard and evaluation system was established in 2017. Based on the draft, a pilot test was conducted to determine the applicability of the evaluation standards in 2017. Two additional meeting was held to confirm the accreditation standards and was finalized in 2018.

Results: The evaluation standard for EHDs was developed. In the case of herbal medicine EHDs, the evaluation standard consisted of 9 evaluation categories, 25 evaluation parts, and 81 evaluation items were developed. The results of the evaluation of the pilot tests are as follows, and the results show that there is a deviation between the EHDs.

Conclusion: As a world's first, Korea MoHW successfully launched the accreditation system for upgrading the quality control system of herbal medicine not approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2018. Our report hope to provide a good reference to other countries where having similar herbal medicine system in South Korea hoping to make better quality control of herbal medicines.

Objectives: The objective of this manuscript was to carry out a comprehensive review of the published information on the use of Biopuncture in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: A scientific search was performed using online databases following the terms (Biopuncture) and (Knee Osteoarthritis) to identify scientific manuscripts that were related to the use of Biopuncture in the treatment of individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Results: With the information found, a theoretical framework was integrated that describes the components of Biopuncture, its mechanism of action and practical topics for the application of the technique.

Conclusion: Biopuncture appears to be a potential, simple and low-risk therapeutic strategy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, which is applied through periarticular subcutaneous injections, with multitarget mechanisms of action at various physiopathological levels such as the modulation of the inflammatory process, decreased peripheral sensitization, and stimulation of antidegenerative and trophic mechanisms. Perhaps it can be part of the integrative treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome manifests through a range of symptoms, including anxiety and anhedonia, significantly affecting the quality of life of those affected. This study investigates the potential therapeutic effects of the methanolic extract of Psidium guajava leaves (MPG) on anxiety and anhedonia in Swiss albino female mice undergoing alcohol withdrawal.

Methods: Four groups of mice underwent alcohol withdrawal, with one group undergoing saline withdrawal as a control. On the test day, behavioral assessments were conducted to evaluate anxiety and anhedonia. Groups I and II received sodium carboxymethylcellulose, Group III received diazepam, and Groups IV and V received varying oral doses of MPG.

Results: The results indicate significant anti-anhedonic and anxiolytic effects of MPG. These effects were observed through changes in parameters measured in the Open Field test, Elevated Plus Maze test, Marble Burying test, and Sucrose Preference test. Mice treated with MPG displayed reduced anxiety-like behaviors and increased sucrose preference compared to untreated mice undergoing alcohol withdrawal.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that Psidium guajava leaf extract may have therapeutic potential in alleviating anxiety and anhedonia associated with alcohol withdrawal. The observed effects indicate that MPG could serve as a promising adjunct therapy for managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, thereby enhancing the overall well-being of individuals undergoing alcohol cessation.

Objectives: Few studies have examined the impact of healthy sleep among general workers on individuals and society. Therefore, the status and risk factors of sleep disturbances among general workers were investigated. In addition, this study assessed the degree to which cold and heat symptoms are associated with sleep disturbances.

Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire focused on sleep disturbances of the general public in 2021. The degree of cold-heat pattern Identification (CHPI) of the general public was also surveyed. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to derive the study results.

Results: Data from 2,822 workers out of 3,900 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Approximately half of the respondents (49.93%) had sleep disturbances. Among the types of work, self-employed, two-shift work, and working more than 53 hours were associated with sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances were positively associated with six cold and heat symptoms three cold symptoms (coldness of the abdomen, coldness of body, and pale face) and three heat symptoms (body feverishness, feverishness of the limbs, and drinking cold water).

Conclusion: Customized policies to maintain healthy work are needed for self-employed work, two-shift work, and long working hours, which are risk factors for workers' sleep disturbances. In addition, medical personnel can effectively diagnose and treat sleep disturbances considering the worker's cold and heat symptoms.

Objectives: The phytochemicals in the aerial parts of Euphorbia paralias (also known as Sea Spurge) and their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities were investigated.

Methods: The methanolic extract was characterized using GC-MS and HPLC techniques. The anti-inflammatory feature was estimated through a Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization technique, while the antimicrobial feature was evaluated by the disc diffusion agar technique, minimum bactericidal concentration, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) via micro-broth dilution method.

Results: The GC/MS results demonstrated the existence of various phytochemicals, such as n-hexadecenoic acid, cis-11-eicosenoic acid, and methyl stearate, recognized for their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial features. The similarity of the phytochemical composition with other Euphorbia species emphasizes the genus-wide similarity. The anti-inflammatory activity exhibited a noteworthy inhibitory effect comparable to the reference drug indomethacin. The extract's antimicrobial potential was tested against a range of microorganisms, demonstrating significant action against Gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans. The quantification of total phenolics and flavonoids further supported the therapeutic potential of the extract.

Conclusion: The methanolic extract from E. paralias emerges as a successful natural source of important active constituents with potential applications as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents. This research provides a first step to valorize Euphorbia paralias insights as a source of worthwhile phytochemicals that have potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Objectives: Tilia viridis (Bayer) Simonk. (Malvaceae) is widely distributed in Argentina and employed for its tranquilizing properties. Other species of the genus (Tilia europaea L., Tilia cordata Mill., Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) have been traditionally used for the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy affects approximately 65 million people worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory processes in the brain, leading to unpredictable, unprovoked, recurrent seizures. Current pharmacological interventions often present mild to moderately severe side effects. Epilepsy has been associated with oxidative and nitrative stress as well as neuroinflammation. Herbal medicine therapies may offer new treatment options with multi-target antioxidant and anticonvulsant effects for patients whose seizures remain uncontrolled, potentially providing cost-effective solutions for individuals worldwide suffering from uncontrolled epilepsy.The aim of this study was to demonstrate the anticonvulsant activity of a standardized T. viridis aqueous extract (TE).

Methods: Study of the constituents of TE, TE's antioxidant and anticonvulsant activities and toxicity, and analysis of the possible relation between the potential activities and the compounds present in the extract. In order to demonstrate TE's anticonvulsant activity a zebrafish model was used. The study also assessed TE's toxicity and antioxidant activity. To standardize the extract, total polyphenols and flavonoids were quantified and specific flavonoids were identified and quantified using HPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-UV.

Results: TE exhibited anticonvulsant activity at low concentrations and demonstrated antioxidant effects by scavenging free radicals, exhibiting superoxide dismutase and peroxidase-like activities, as well as inhibiting lipoperoxidation. These actions can be attributed to the presence of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids.

Conclusion: TE holds promise as a complementary herbal medicine in the treatment of epilepsy and may also offer benefits for other neuropathies associated with oxidative stress, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.