Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim最新文献

{"title":"Electroacupuncture alleviates behaviors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder by modulating lipocalin-2-mediated neuroinflammation and neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex","authors":"Yu-die Yang ,&nbsp;Wen Zhong ,&nbsp;Ming Chen ,&nbsp;Qing-chen Tang ,&nbsp;Yan Li ,&nbsp;Lu-lu Yao ,&nbsp;Mei-qi Zhou ,&nbsp;Neng-gui Xu ,&nbsp;Shuai Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To elucidate the specific mechanisms by which electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates anxiety and fear behaviors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), focusing on the role of lipocalin-2 (Lcn2).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The PTSD mouse model was subjected to single prolonged stress and shock (SPS&amp;S), and the animals received 15 min sessions of EA at Shenmen acupoint (HT7). Behavioral tests were used to investigate the effects of EA at HT7 on anxiety and fear. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantify Lcn2 and inflammatory cytokine levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Additionally, the activity of PFC neurons was evaluated by immunofluorescence and in vivo electrophysiology.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mice subjected to SPS&amp;S presented increased anxiety- and fear-like behaviors. Lcn2 expression in the PFC was significantly upregulated following SPS&amp;S, leading to increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 and suppression of PFC neuronal activity. However, EA at HT7 inhibited Lcn2 release, reducing neuroinflammation and hypoexcitability in the PFC. Lcn2 overexpression mitigated the effects of EA at HT7, resulting in anxiety- and fear-like behaviors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>EA at HT7 can ameliorate PTSD-associated anxiety and fear, and its mechanism of action appears to involve the inhibition of Lcn2-mediated neural activity and inflammation in the PFC.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Yang YD, Zhong W, Chen M, Tang QC, Li Y, Yao LL, et al. Electroacupuncture alleviates behaviors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder by modulating lipocalin-2-mediated neuroinflammation and neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):537–547.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 537-547"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Salvia miltiorrhiza components and gut microbiota interactions in Helicobacter pylori infection","authors":"Shao-jian Li ,&nbsp;Jin-xin Miao ,&nbsp;Fei Wang ,&nbsp;Hao-yu Wang ,&nbsp;Yao-wu Ma ,&nbsp;Ying Jiang ,&nbsp;Xia Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salvia miltiorrhiza</em> (Danshen) is a traditional Chinese herb that is commonly known for its cardiovascular and hepatoprotective benefits. Recent studies have confirmed that Danshen and its bioactive components can influence gut microbial homeostasis, thereby affecting <em>Helicobacter pylori</em> (HP) colonization in the human stomach. HP is a bacterial pathogen associated with various gastrointestinal diseases. Current HP treatments mainly involve antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors. However, their efficacy is strongly compromised by the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in HP and genetic heterogeneity among patients. The interaction between Danshen and gut microbial status provides a novel perspective for HP treatment. Understanding the medical properties of Danshen in altering gut microbiota and eliminating HP, as well as the underlying mechanisms, is important for improving human gastrointestinal healthcare. This review investigates the interaction between Danshen and gut microbiota and its impact on HP infection using databases including Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We explored the unconventional intersection between Danshen, gut microbiota, and HP infection, shedding light on their intricate interplay and potential therapeutic implications. A comprehensive understanding of this interaction provides valuable insights into developing novel therapeutic strategies that target the gut microbiota to mitigate HP-associated gastrointestinal disorders.</div><div><br>Please cite this article as: Li SJ, Miao JX, Wang F, Wang HY, Ma YW, Jiang Y, Xue X. <em>Salvia miltiorrhiza</em> components and gut microbiota interactions in <em>Helicobacter pylori</em> infection. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):462–470.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 462-470"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144765660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroacupuncture at ST36 improves gastrointestinal motility disorders by promoting enteric nervous system regeneration through GDNF/Ret signaling in diabetic mice","authors":"Jin-lu Guo,&nbsp;Shi Liu,&nbsp;Sheng-jie Ding,&nbsp;Xin Yang,&nbsp;Fan Du","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Diabetes-induced gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders are increasingly prevalent. Damage to the enteric nervous system (ENS), composed primarily of enteric neurons and glial cells, is an essential mechanism involved in these disorders. Although electroacupuncture (EA) has shown the potential to mitigate enteric neuronal loss, its mechanism is not fully understood. Additionally, the effects of EA on enteric glial cells have not been investigated. Enteric neural precursor cells (ENPCs) contribute to the structural and functional integrity of the ENS, yet whether EA enhances their differentiation into enteric neurons and glial cells remains unexplored. This study investigates whether EA promotes ENS repair through enhancing ENPC-derived neurogenesis and gliogenesis and elucidates the potential molecular mechanisms involved.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Transgenic mice were used to trace Nestin⁺/nerve growth factor receptor (Ngfr)⁺ ENPCs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in vivo. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, diabetes mellitus (DM), DM + sham EA, and DM + EA. The effects of EA on diabetic mice were evaluated by GI motility, ENS structure, and ENPC differentiation. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)/Ret signaling was detected to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>EA alleviated diabetes-induced GI motility disorders, as indicated by reduced whole gut transit time, shortened colonic bead expulsion time, and enhanced smooth muscle contractility. Furthermore, EA attenuated diabetes-induced losses of enteric neurons and glial cells, thereby restoring ENS integrity. Notably, EA reversed the diabetes-induced decrease in ENPCs and significantly increased the absolute number and the proportion of ENPC-derived enteric neurons. However, immunofluorescence analyses revealed no colocalization between EA-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein⁺ glial cells and GFP-labeled ENPCs. Mechanistically, GDNF/Ret signaling was elevated in intestinal tissues and upregulated in ENPCs in EA-treated diabetic mice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>EA facilitates ENS repair by promoting Nestin⁺/Ngfr⁺ ENPC differentiation into enteric neurons via upregulation of GDNF/Ret signaling, and driving enteric gliogenesis from non-Nestin⁺/Ngfr⁺ ENPCs. These findings highlight EA’s role in ameliorating diabetes-induced GI dysmotility through ENPC-derived ENS restoration.</div><div><br>Please cite this article as: Guo JL, Liu S, Ding SJ, Yang X, Du F. Electroacupuncture at ST36 improves gastrointestinal motility disorders by promoting enteric nervous system regeneration through GDNF/Ret signaling in diabetic mice. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):548–559.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 548-559"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144975110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hypno-cardiac physiology: Aiming for an organised study of the physiological effects of hypnosis on the cardiovascular system","authors":"Donato Giuseppe Leo ,&nbsp;Simon S. Keller ,&nbsp;Riccardo Proietti","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypnosis is a promising tool in the management of various conditions, such as anxiety and chronic pain. Preliminary studies have shown that hypnosis can directly affect the cardiovascular system, as it increases parasympathetic activation and reduces sympathetic activity. However, the literature related to the effects of hypnosis on cardiovascular health is scarce, mainly due to misconceptions about hypnosis among researchers and medical professionals. This opinion paper examines the role that hypnosis may play in cardiovascular health, highlighting the physiological mechanisms behind it. The evidence suggests that hypnosis has both direct (e.g., changes in the activity of the autonomic nervous system) and indirect (e.g., changes in healthy behaviours) effects on the cardiovascular system; however, further studies are needed to properly define its mechanisms of action and its applicability in improving cardiovascular health. Thus, this opinion paper advocates the adoption of the term “hypno-cardiac physiology” to identify a new research area that gathers experts from neuroscience and cardiovascular science with the joint aim of seeking further understanding of the effects of hypnosis on the cardiovascular system. The adoption of a dedicated term to identify the study of the cardiovascular response to hypnosis will encourage its implementation in cardiovascular health interventions, promoting awareness of its effects among the public and the healthcare community, and promoting the formation of dedicated multidisciplinary research groups and dedicated educational training for healthcare professional interested in its applications.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Leo DG, Keller SS, Proietti R. Hypno-cardiac physiology: Aiming for an organised study of the physiological effects of hypnosis on the cardiovascular system. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):457–461.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 457-461"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144761820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies for adult patients with mild and moderate major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Hong-jun Kuang ,&nbsp;Hui-sheng Yang ,&nbsp;Yi-xuan Feng ,&nbsp;Han Tang ,&nbsp;Qi Fan ,&nbsp;Yu-qin Xu ,&nbsp;Shuo Cui ,&nbsp;Richard Musil ,&nbsp;Hedi Luxenburger ,&nbsp;Yi-xuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Hong Zhao ,&nbsp;Yu-qing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.008","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Acupuncture therapy provides a complementary and alternative approach to treating major depressive disorder (MDD), but its efficacy and safety have still not been comprehensively assessed. Recently published systematic reviews remain confusing and inconclusive.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy alone or combined with antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Search strategy&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from their inceptions to March 2025.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Inclusion criteria&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture therapy with antidepressants, or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants with acupuncture therapy or antidepressants for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD were included.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Data extraction and analysis&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Five reviewers independently extracted data from original literature using a standardized form, and the data were verified by two reviewers to ensure accuracy. Statistical meta-analyses, publication bias analyses, and subgroup analyses were performed by using Review Manager 5.3 software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A total of 60 eligible studies including 4675 participants were included. Low-certainty evidence showed that compared with antidepressants, acupuncture therapy (standardized mean difference [SMD] = –0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [–0.87, –0.27]; &lt;em&gt;I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; = 86%; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.006) or acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants (SMD = –1.00; 95% CI = [–1.18, –0.81]; &lt;em&gt;I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; = 77%; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.00001) may reduce the severity of depression at the end of treatment. Low-certainty evidence indicated that compared with acupuncture therapy alone, acupuncture therapy plus antidepressants slightly reduced the severity of depression at the end of treatment (SMD = –0.38; 95% CI = [–0.61, –0.14]; &lt;em&gt;I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt; = 18%; &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.002). Similar results were also found for acupuncture’s relief of insomnia. The reported adverse effects of acupuncture therapy were mild and transient. For most of the subgroup analyses, acupuncture type, scale type, and the course of treatment did not show a significant relative effect.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Acupuncture therapy may provide antidepressant effects and relieve insomnia with mild adverse effects for adult patients with mild and moderate MDD. But the certainty of evidence was very low. More high-quality, well designed, large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are needed in the future.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Pleas","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 471-491"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144761871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Baicalein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via miR-299b-5p/HIF1-α pathway","authors":"Wen-yan Zhou ,&nbsp;Jian-kui Du ,&nbsp;Hong-hong Liu ,&nbsp;Lei Deng ,&nbsp;Kai Ma ,&nbsp;Jian Xiao ,&nbsp;Sheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Chang-nan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Baicalein has been reported to have wide therapeutic effects that act through its anti-inflammatory activity. This study examines the effect and mechanism of baicalein on sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A thorough screening of a small library of natural products, comprising 100 diverse compounds, was conducted to identify the most effective drug against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The core target proteins and their associated signaling pathways involved in baicalein’s efficacy against LPS-induced myocardial injury were predicted by network pharmacology.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Baicalein was identified as the most potent protective agent in LPS-exposed H9C2 cardiomyocytes. It exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell injury and inflammation. In the LPS-induced septic mouse model, baicalein demonstrated a significant capacity to mitigate LPS-triggered myocardial deficits, inflammatory responses, and ferroptosis. Network pharmacological analysis and experimental confirmation suggested that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit α (HIF1-α) is likely to be the crucial factor in mediating the impact of baicalein against LPS-induced myocardial ferroptosis and injury. By combining microRNA (miRNA) screening in LPS-treated myocardium with miRNA prediction targeting <em>HIF1-α</em>, we found that miR-299b-5p may serve as a regulator of HIF1-α. The reduction in miR-299b-5p levels in LPS-treated myocardium, compared to the control group, was reversed by baicalein treatment. The reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and dual-luciferase reporter gene analyses together identified <em>HIF1-α</em> as the target of miR-299b-5p in cardiomyocytes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Baicalein mitigates SIC at the miRNA level, suggesting the therapeutic potential of it in treating SIC through the regulation of miR-299b-5p/HIF1-α/ferroptosis pathway.</div><div><br> Please cite this article as: Zhou WY, Du JK, Liu HH, Deng L, Ma K, Xiao J, Zhang S, Wang CN. Baicalein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via miR-299b-5p/HIF1-α pathway. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):560–575.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 560-575"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods","authors":"Xiao-yan Zheng ,&nbsp;Zi-yi Jiang ,&nbsp;Yi-ting Li ,&nbsp;Chao-liang Li ,&nbsp;Hao Zhu ,&nbsp;Zheng Yu ,&nbsp;Si-yi Yu ,&nbsp;Li-li Yang ,&nbsp;Song-yuan Tang ,&nbsp;Xing-yu Lü ,&nbsp;Fan-rong Liang ,&nbsp;Jie Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To explore the association between acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the live birth rate (LBR) using different propensity score methods.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this retrospective cohort study, eligible women who underwent a COH were divided into acupuncture and non-acupuncture groups. The primary outcome was LBR, as determined by propensity score matching (PSM). LBR was defined as the delivery of one or more living infants that reached a gestational age over 28 weeks after embryo transfer. The propensity score model encompassed 16 confounding variables. To validate the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted using three additional propensity score methods: propensity score adjustment, inverse probability weighting (IPW), and IPW with a “doubly robust” estimator.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The primary cohort encompassed 9751 patients (1830 [18.76%] in the acupuncture group and 7921 [81.23%] in the non-acupuncture group). Following 1:1 PSM, a higher LBR was found in the acupuncture cohort (41.4% [755/1824] <em>vs</em> 36.4% [664/1824], with an odds ratio of 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.41]). Three additional propensity score methods produced essentially similar results. The risk of serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This retrospective study revealed an association between acupuncture and an increased LBR among patients undergoing COH, and that acupuncture is a safe and valuable treatment option.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Zheng XY, Jiang ZY, Li YT, Li CL, Zhu H, Yu Z, Yu SY, Yang LL, Tang SY, Lü XY, Liang FR, Yang J. Association between acupuncture and live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer: A cohort study based on different propensity score methods. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):528–536.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 528-536"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Huachansu injection enhances anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of irinotecan and alleviates its induced intestinal toxicity through upregulating UGT1A1-OATP1B3 expression in vitro and in vivo","authors":"Bo Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhao-yang Meng ,&nbsp;Yu-jie Hu ,&nbsp;Jun-jun Chen ,&nbsp;Ling Zong ,&nbsp;Ling-yan Xu ,&nbsp;Xiang-qi Zhang ,&nbsp;Jing-xian Zhang ,&nbsp;Yong-long Han","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div><span>Huachansu injection (HCSI), a promising anti-cancer Chinese medicine injection, has been reported to have the potential for reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy and improving the quality of life for </span>colorectal cancer<span> (CRC) patients. The objective of this study is to explore the synergistic and detoxifying effects of HCSI when used in combination with irinotecan (CPT-11).</span></div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><span><span>To investigate the effect of HCSI on anti-CRC efficacy and intestinal toxicity of CPT-11, we measured changes in the biological behavior of LoVo cells in vitro, and anti-tumor effects in LoVo cell xenograft </span>nude mice<span> models in vivo. Meanwhile, the effect of HCSI on intestinal toxicity and the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) expression was investigated in the CPT-11-induced colitis mouse model. Subsequently, we measured the effect of HCSI and its 13 constituent </span></span>bufadienolides<span> on the expression of UGT1A1 and organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B3 (OATP1B3) in HepG2 cells.</span></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The combination index (CI) results showed that the combination of HCSI and CPT-11 exhibited a synergistic effect (CI &lt; 1), which significantly suppressing the LoVo cell migration, enhancing G2/M and S phase arrest, and inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, the damage to intestinal tissues was attenuated by HCSI in CPT-11-induced colitis model, while the increased expression of UGT1A1 in HepG2 cells and in mouse was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The co-therapy with HCSI alleviated the intestinal toxicity induced by CPT-11 and exerted an enhanced anti-CRC effect. The detoxifying mechanism may be related to the increased expression of UGT1A1 and OATP1B3 by HCSI and its bufadienolides components. The findings of this study may serve as a theoretical insights and strategies to improve CRC patient outcomes. Please cite this article as: Jiang B, Meng ZY, Hu YJ, Chen JJ, Zong L, Xu LY, Zhang XQ, Zhang JX, Han YL. Huachansu injection enhances anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of irinotecan and alleviates its induced intestinal toxicity through upregulating UGT1A1-OATP1B3 expression in vitro and in vivo. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):576–590.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 576-590"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144576636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroacupuncture for hot flashes in early menopause: A randomized sham-controlled trial","authors":"Hui-xian Wang ,&nbsp;Xin-tong Yu ,&nbsp;Jing Hu ,&nbsp;Jin-jia Chen ,&nbsp;Yu-ting Mei ,&nbsp;Yun-fei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.008","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Electroacupuncture (EA) may affect the severity of hot flashes (HFs) associated with natural menopause and provide additional benefits for postmenopausal women. However, the evidence for its effectiveness in the management of early postmenopausal HFs remains inadequately understood.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We designed this trial to assess the efficacy and safety of EA for relieving early postmenopausal HFs.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Design, setting, participants and interventions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This randomized sham-controlled trial involved 72 women with HFs. The participants were divided equally into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group was treated with EA, while the control group was treated with sham acupuncture. The main acupoints used were Hegu (LI4), Guanyuan (RN4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taixi (KI3), Fuliu (KI7) and Shenshu (BL23). All participants received 18 treatment sessions, distributed across a 6-week period. The treatment was administered on three occasions per week, adhering to a fixed weekday schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) with a minimum interval of one day between sessions. Each patient received a 12-week follow-up.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Main outcome measures&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The HF score was the primary outcome. Participants documented the frequency and severity of HFs in a 7-day symptom diary, which provided data for calculating the HF score. Secondary outcomes were the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Score Scale (TCMSSS), as well as estradiol (E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in HF scores after the treatment and during the follow-up (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.001). Immediately after completion of the 6-week treatment cycle and at 12 weeks post-intervention, the HF scores were similar in both groups. At week 6, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in MRS, MENQOL (vasomotor, psychosocial, and physical), PSQI and TCMSSS scores (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). The improvements in the MENQOL (vasomotor, and psychosocial) and PSQI total scores persisted through the follow-up (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). However, the results showed no significant inter- or intragroup differences in sexual scores on the MENQOL (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &gt; 0.05). EA did not significantly decrease E&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, LH or FSH levels compared to placebo. The incidence of adverse events was similar in both groups.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;EA does not significantly improve HFs in early postmenopausal patients. However, it enhances the quality of sleep and decreases menopausal symptoms across vasomotor, psychosocial and physical domains.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Trial registration&lt;/em&gt;: Chinese Clinical Trial Regist","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 519-527"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144975091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methodological quality of systematic reviews on orally administered Chinese herbal medicine published in Chinese between 2021 and 2022: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Yue Jiang ,&nbsp;Claire Chenwen Zhong ,&nbsp;Betty Huan Wang ,&nbsp;Shan-shan Xu ,&nbsp;Fai Fai Ho ,&nbsp;Ming Hong Kwong ,&nbsp;Leonard Ho ,&nbsp;Joson Hao-Shen Zhou ,&nbsp;K.C. Lam ,&nbsp;Jian-ping Liu ,&nbsp;Bao-ting Zhang ,&nbsp;Vincent Chi Ho Chung","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This cross-sectional study assessed the methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) published in Chinese between Jan 2021 and Sep 2022.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Chinese language CHM SRs were identified through literature searches across 3 international and 4 Chinese databases. Methodological quality was appraised using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2. Logistic regressions were used to explore associations between bibliographical characteristics and quality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Analyses of methodological quality found that among the 213 sampled SRs, 69.5% were of critically low quality, 30.5% were of low quality, and none achieved high or moderate quality. Common shortcomings included the failure to identify the studies excluded from the analysis, failure to disclose funding sources, and limited evaluation of the potential impact of bias on conclusions. Logistic regressions revealed that SRs led by corresponding authors affiliated with universities or academic institutions tended to be of lower quality than SRs led by authors affiliated with hospitals or clinical facilities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Recent Chinese language CHM SRs exhibited limited methodological quality, making them unlikely to support the development of clinical practice guidelines. Urgent initiatives are needed to enhance training for researchers, peer-reviewers and editors involved in the preparation and publication of SRs. Adoption of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines in Chinese language journals is crucial to improve the relevance of SRs for Chinese medicine development. Addressing deficiencies in methodology and reporting is essential for promoting evidence-based practices and informed clinical decisions in Chinese medicine.</div><div><br>Please cite this article as: Jiang Y, Zhong CC, Wang BH, Xu SS, Ho FF, Kwong MH, Ho L, Zhou JHS, Lam KC, Liu JP, Zhang BT, Chung VCH. Methodological quality of systematic reviews on orally administered Chinese herbal medicine published in Chinese between 2021 and 2022: A cross-sectional study. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(5):492–501.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 5","pages":"Pages 492-501"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144975104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}