Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim最新文献

Objective: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in assisted reproduction, but the outcomes have been inconsistent. This study evaluated the impact of sequential TCM treatment on pregnancy outcomes among patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included female patients who underwent IUI with their husband's sperm at the Reproductive Center of Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine between November 2019 and June 2022. Patients were divided into sequential TCM (TCM was administered for at least 14 consecutive days during the treatment cycle) and non-sequential TCM (TCM was administered for fewer than 14 days or not administered) groups according to the duration of TCM administration. The primary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate.

Results: A total of 396 cycles were analyzed, with 160 cycles undergoing sequential TCM treatment. The sequential TCM group exhibited a higher clinical pregnancy rate (26.3% vs 14.0%, P = 0.002) and live birth rate (20.0% vs 10.2%, P = 0.006) compared to the non-sequential TCM group. After adjusting for endometrial pattern and dominant follicle diameter, the odds ratios for pregnancy and live birth in the sequential TCM group were 2.289 (95% CI [1.335, 3.923], P = 0.003) and 2.241 (95% CI [1.226, 4.096], P = 0.009), respectively.

Conclusion: In this retrospective cohort, sequential TCM treatment was associated with higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in patients undergoing IUI treatment. Please cite this article as: Li N, Yan XL, Wang LJ, Zhang H, Chen M, Bai J, Ji N, Zhang YD, Pang Y, Wang HJ. Impact of sequential traditional Chinese medicine intervention on pregnancy outcomes of intrauterine insemination: A retrospective cohort study J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

As an alternative medicine approach, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is mainly built on an ancient understanding of the world. In order to translate the promises of TCM into modern therapies, rigorous scientific techniques are applied, which generates big data from experiments, clinical practices and medical literature. Recently, deep learning (DL) has attracted the attention of TCM researchers due to its application in data mining. In this review, we summarized recent examples of DL application in the study of TCM, including medical image processing, medicinal substances investigation, data fusion and natural language processing. We find that DL methods have considerable potential to extract valuable information from TCM data, but high-quality TCM data are still needed for further development of DL techniques. Please cite this article as: Liu LP, Yang C, Cen SX, Suo TC. Deep learning in traditional Chinese medicine. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

Objective: Lily bulb, derived from the root of Lilium lancifolium Thunb. (Liliaceae), is a commonly used medicinal material and dietary supplement for climacteric syndrome. This study investigated the effects of total saponins from lily bulbs (TSLB), one of the main biologically active ingredients, on cognitive and mood disorders during menopause, as well as the underlying mechanisms of these effects.

Methods: C57BL/6N mice underwent either ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery. After a recovery period of 2 weeks, these mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for the subsequent 2 weeks, followed by multiple behavioral tests. Immediately after OVX, TSLB were administered at doses of 12, 24 and 48 mg/(kg∙d) by oral gavage for 36 d. Western blotting was used to assess the effects of TSLB on neurotransmitter modulators, neurotrophins and estrogen receptors (ERs).

Results: At the dose of 24 mg/(kg∙d), TSLB exhibited anxiolytic activity evidenced by an increase in the duration in the elevated plus maze test (P = 0.003), antidepressant activity demonstrated by a decrease in immobility time in the tail suspension test (P = 0.047), and cognition-improving activity demonstrated by an increase in time spent in the target zone in the Morris water maze test (P = 0.039). These results were attributed to the predominant activation of ERs through direct binding of TSLB, with a higher affinity to ERβ than to ERα, as well as the regulation of neurotransmitters and neurotrophins in the brain.

Conclusion: TSLB alleviated cognitive deficits and anxiety-like and depression-like behavior in OVX mice exposed to CUMS, suggesting the potential of TSLB as a novel treatment for menopause-related neuropsychological disorders. Please cite this article as: Zhou XD, Qin ZS, Shi DD, Chiang CY, Z.J. Zhang. Anxiolytic, anti-depressive and cognition-enhancing effects of total saponins from lily bulbs in ovariectomized mice: A potential therapy for menopause-associated emotional disorders. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

Objective: Electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6) acupoint confers protection against myocardial injury, though its precise neuroimmune mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigates whether EA-mediated attenuation of cardiac inflammation occurs through localized sympathetic and splenic regulation.

Methods: Acute myocardial infarction was induced in mice by coronary artery ligation. Preoperative EA was administered bilaterally at PC6 (2/15 Hz, 1 mA, 20 min/d for 3 d). Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Myocardial inflammation was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and infarct size was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Macrophage recruitment and polarization (toward M2) were analyzed using flow cytometry. Serum norepinephrine, acetylcholine and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas myocardial cytokines were evaluated using immunohistochemistry staining. Splenic sympathetic activity was indexed through tyrosine hydroxylase expression via immunofluorescence staining. The neural pathways were dissected through chemical sympathectomy, splenic denervation, and adoptive splenocyte transfer.

Results: EA at PC6 significantly attenuated myocardial inflammation by suppressing cardiac sympathetic activity, downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, and promoting M2 macrophage polarization. These effects correlated with reduced infarct size, diminished immune cell infiltration, and improved cardiac function. Chemical sympathectomy mimicked EA's cardioprotective profile. Splenic denervation exacerbated systemic inflammation but did not impair EA-driven macrophage phenotypic switching. Adoptive splenocyte transfer, regardless of donor EA pretreatment, facilitated cardiac repair, arguing against a splenocyte-mediated mechanism for EA-induced cardioprotection.

Conclusion: EA at PC6 exerts its cardioprotective effect primarily through modulating local cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity, which rebalances macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype and mitigates inflammation-induced injury. While the spleen contributes to systemic immunity, it plays a minimal role in EA-driven myocardial repair. Please cite this article as: Jiang MJ, Peng R, Lu XH, Yan YH, Qian DY, Zou LY, Liu XE, Chen LY, Bai H, Zhuang Y, M.L. Yu, S.F. Lu. Cardiac-specific sympathetic modulation, not splenic innervation, mediates PC6 electroacupuncture-induced cardioprotection via M2 macrophage polarization in mice with acute myocardial infarction. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture for improving pregnancy outcomes, endometrial receptivity (ER), and embryo transfer success in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the medical records of 609 RIF patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer between January 2019 and June 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving acupuncture combined with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or delayed HRT (d-HRT) and those receiving only HRT/d-HRT. Propensity score matching (PSM) ensured comparability between the groups. Clinical outcomes, including live birth rate (LBR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) and biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), were analyzed. Endometrial thickness, hormonal levels and uterine blood flow were also assessed.

Results: After PSM, 166 patients were included in each group. The acupuncture group demonstrated significantly higher CPR (36.5%), LBR (28.0%), OPR and BPR compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Endometrial thickness, and estradiol and progesterone levels were also significantly higher, while uterine resistance and pulsatility indices were lower in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). Predictors of live birth included patient age (< 35 years, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.933, P = 0.002), body mass index (BMI) (< 24 kg/m², HR = 0.974, P = 0.046), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level (> 2 ng/mL, HR = 1.021, P = 0.043), high-quality embryo transfers (HR = 1.670, P < 0.05), and transferring two embryos (HR = 1.181, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture significantly enhanced ER and improved LBR in RIF patients. Younger patients with lower BMI, higher AMH level, and high-quality or dual embryo transfers benefited most from this complementary therapy. Please cite this article as: Li HZ, Wu YJ, Li XR, Deng B, Pang YX, Lin SY, Lu LM, Li YM. Enhancing pregnancy outcomes in recurrent implantation failure: The role of acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

Objective: This study investigated the association between abdominal organ diseases and corresponding auricular regions in patients with acute abdominal pain, seeking to assess the diagnostic utility of auricular assessment.

Methods: This prospective, double-blind, observational pilot study was conducted from May 2022 to August 2023. Patients presenting with abdominal pain in the emergency department and meeting specific inclusion criteria were recruited. The auricular examination involved palpating the concha and helix areas for tender points corresponding to abdominal organs based on Nogier and Bahr's auricular map. To assess diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were calculated by comparing the presence of auricular tender points with the patients' confirmed clinical diagnoses.

Results: Of the 152 screened patients, 104 (68%) received a specific diagnosis related to abdominal organs. For all organs diagnosed with dysfunction in more than five patients, the correlated locations on the auricle, identified by Nogier and Bahr, were either among the most common or the most sensitive points. High sensitivities were observed for conditions affecting the stomach (93%), small intestine (91%) and liver (71%). Specificities were high for certain organs, such as the ureter (86%) and gallbladder (70%), with relevant positive and negative likelihood ratios for the stomach and appendix. Negative predictive values were particularly strong for the stomach (98%), appendix (94.4%), small intestine (93.4%) and bladder (96.6%).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a possible association between abdominal organ diseases and specific auricular regions defined by Nogier and Bahr. Auricular assessment could potentially be added as a non-invasive complementary diagnostic tool. However, further studies with larger cohorts are needed to assess the correlation.

Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (https://drks.de); Trial ID: DRKS00030318. Please cite this article as: Ghanad E, Twenhoeven JS, Chu Y, Weiß C, Finze A, Hetjens M, Siegel F, Jakob J, Reissfelder C, Yang C. Auricular assessment for abdominal pain: A prospective double-blind pilot study on diagnostic potential of auricular somatotopy. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

Chinese herbal traditions, with a history of over 2000 years, emphasise the harmony between spirit, body and nature. Integrating these principles with machine learning (ML) offers transformative potential for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). By leveraging technologies and data-driven models, TCM can evolve while preserving its accumulated wisdom. Knowledge graphs combined with deep learning can enhance diagnosis, treatment planning and prognosis evaluation. This paper reviews current ML applications in TCM and strategies for integration with conventional practices. It categorises key challenges and proposed solutions, focusing on deep learning-based algorithms. ML has demonstrated success in automating personalised herbal prescriptions, predicting diagnostic outcomes and identifying acupoints. However, major obstacles include data standardisation, ethical and legal frameworks, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The development of high-quality, ethical artificial intelligence requires regulatory support and cooperation with TCM practitioners. This study supports the notion that a learning platform is essential for the education of TCM practitioners. ML and TCM may adopt this implementation approach, and the emergence of convex ML can substantially enhance testing algorithms in TCM, hence improving the effectiveness of future healthcare systems. Please cite this article as: Huang X, Goh HH, He TT, Zhang DD, Dai W, Kurniawan TA, Goh KC, Wong HY, Islam MT, Liang X. Integration of traditional Chinese medicine and machine learning: Opportunities, obstacles, and implications for future of healthcare. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.

Biomedical science has long been based on a reductionist approach, attributing diseases to specific molecular or pathway abnormalities. However, for complex diseases caused by multiple interrelated biological dysfunctions, the static, localized and linear approach struggles to fully capture the biological essence of diseases, which makes it challenging to form effective therapeutic strategies. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory offers distinct advantages. TCM identifies the comprehensive pathological state of the human body centered on the concept of syndrome differentiation; it employs systematic regulatory methods, and emphasizes the prevention of syndrome progression. This approach embodies both systemic and dynamic perspectives, thereby achieving great therapeutic outcomes for complex diseases. Nevertheless, current research on TCM syndromes has predominantly relied on a reductionist framework, interpreting syndromes merely as abnormalities in molecular expression levels; this limits the appreciation of their inherent systemic and dynamic characteristics. To address this issue, we propose an integrative perspective that is grounded in TCM syndrome theory while employing a nonlinear dynamical systems approach to disease understanding. In this paper, we first elucidate the state-medicine characteristics that are inherent in TCM theory; then we discuss how TCM syndromes align with the properties of an attractor in complex dynamical systems, proposing that TCM syndromes represent pathological attractor states of the human system; finally, we conceptualize a syndrome attractor in the system of the human body and elaborate on its value in modern medicine. This concept introduces the analytical methods of nonlinear dynamics into the study of TCM syndromes, enabling a more comprehensive elucidation of their systemic and dynamic biological basis. It bridges TCM syndrome differentiation and intervention methods with complexity science, thereby offering a new approach for integrating the holistic and systematic views of TCM with biomedical research. This study aimed to promote a dynamic systems-level understanding of diseases in modern medicine, while providing a reference for addressing current challenges for complex and refractory diseases. Please cite this article as: Zhao ZW, Li WY, Li WZ, Wang Y. Syndrome attractors: Providing a system dynamics view of disease from the integrative medicine perspective. J Integr Med. 2026; Epub ahead of print.