BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies最新文献

Background: The integration of herbal and orthodox medicines has gained momentum in global health, ensuring improved management of infectious diseases like malaria. This study explored the experiences of medical herbalists working in Ghana's diverse ecological zones to understand the contributions of integrated healthcare to malaria control.

Methods: A phenomenological design was employed to conduct in-depth interviews with 19 purposively sampled medical herbalists. Framework analytical approach and Donabedian's conceptual framework for quality of care were utilised in analysing the data.

Results: Findings revealed high awareness of integrated healthcare practices among participants. Medical herbalists perceived integrated care as instrumental in enhancing malaria management through factors such as improved quality assurance, increased accessibility to integrated health facilities, patient-centred care, follow-up practices, and opportunities for continuous professional development. However, structural and process-related challenges were identified, including inadequate healthcare personnel, medicines, and equipment. Additionally, limited promotional activities, non-comprehensive National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and ineffective referral systems were recognised as barriers hindering the effectiveness of the integrated system and its potential contribution to malaria control.

Conclusion: Although national and health system-based challenges have thwarted the importance of integration on malaria control, medical herbalists feel optimistic about the intervention. To optimise the effectiveness of integrated healthcare in controlling malaria in Ghana would require policy modification and implementation. Future research could focus on developing healthcare frameworks, particularly for malaria, that prioritise quality service delivery within an integrated system.

Background: The demand for health management services has grown among individuals with physical disabilities. It is noteworthy that a significant proportion of this demographic has sought the services of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the characteristics of TKM utilization within this population. Therefore, this study aims to explore the characteristics of individuals with physical disabilities who utilize TKM services, to support future policy development in TKM for enhancing the health and quality of life for individuals with physical disabilities.

Methods: The study utilized a dataset from the Korea Health Panel (KHP) version 1.7, from the years 2008 to 2018. A panel analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between the characteristics of participants and their influence of the TKM utilization.

Results: Based on the panel logistic regression analysis, the probability of TKM utilization was higher for individuals with physical disabilities who were female (p < 0.001), had a chronic musculoskeletal disorder (p < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1 (p = 0.025), and multiple chronic conditions (p = 0.025). Based on the panel hybrid regression analysis, those covered with Medical Aid spent less on TKM than those covered with National Health Insurance (p < 0.001), while those who were female (p < 0.001), had chronic musculoskeletal disorders (p = 0.007), or multiple chronic conditions (p = 0.007) had higher medical expenses for TKM utilization.

Conclusions: Individuals with physical disabilities accompanying nonfatal chronic musculoskeletal disorders or other chronic conditions frequently utilized TKM services. Those covered by Medical Aid spent less on TKM, while females and individuals with chronic musculoskeletal disorders or multiple chronic conditions incurred higher medical expenses for TKM. These results suggest the need for targeted interventions and policy changes to improve TKM access and address financial burdens for people with disabilities.

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by damage and inflammation of hepatocytes. Some medicinal plants have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on liver cells. We aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Heptex® capsules containing 200 mg of Dukung Anak (a powdered extract from aerial parts of Phyllanthus niruri) and 100 mg of Milk Thistle (a powdered extract from fruits of Silybum marianum) in patients with an apparent risk factor for NASH.

Methods: This was a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-arm, interventional clinical trial. Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive placebo, low dose (one capsule) of Heptex®, or high dose (two capsules) of Heptex®. After 36 weeks, liver enzymes, Fib-4 score, lipid profile, CAP score, and kPa score were evaluated. Patients were monitored for safety throughout the treatment duration.

Results: A total of 146 patients were enrolled in the study. A significant decrease was observed in ALT levels in the low-dose group (57 IU/L to 40 IU/L, p = 0.026) and the high-dose group (61 IU/L to 47.5 IU/L, p < 0.0001) and in AST levels in the high-dose group (43.5 IU/L to 32 IU/L, p = 0.001), with no significant difference between the relative percent change in ALT (p = 0.465) or AST (p = 0.632) between the three groups. No significant difference was revealed between the three groups regarding the median change in Fib-4 score at the end of treatment (p = 0.985). No significant change in the lipid profile was observed in any of the three groups except for the total cholesterol level, which significantly decreased from 210 IU/L to 187 IU/L, p = 0.031 in the low-dose group.

Conclusion: Heptex® capsules were safe and well tolerated over a treatment period of 36 weeks. However, the hepatoprotective effect in patients at risk of NASH still needs further assessment using more accurate investigation tools, a larger sample size, and/ or higher doses of the combination.

Trial registration: Retrospectively registered (registration date: 25/04/2022; trial registration number: NCT05343780).

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen belonging to the γ-proteobacteria family, known to cause pneumonia linked with ventilator use and nosocomial infections. With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is a pressing need to identify alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Plant-derived substances (PDSs) offer potential not only as antibacterial agents but also as modulators of antibiotic resistance. In this study, diffusion assay using disc agar, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay of each imipenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and clove extract was determined. The clove extract was analyzed via the UHPLC/MS, and the checkerboard assay was employed to evaluate the potential synergistic effects of combining clove extract with both antibiotics. The combination of clove extract to each antibiotic led to a significant reduction in their respective MICs. Moreover, each antibiotic exhibited synergistic effects on the fractional inhibitory concentration value (FIC) of clove extract. The analysis identified seventeen components in the clove extract, predominantly flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The antibacterial efficacy of the Syzygium aromaticum Myrtaceae extract against P. aeruginosa indicated its potential as a promising antibacterial agent capable of enhancing the effectiveness of existing medications.

Objectives: This study intended to explore whether the protective effect safflower yellow injection (SYI) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats mediated of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Methods: The I/R model was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 min and then releasing the blood flow for 150 min. 96 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham group, I/R group, Hebeishuang group (HBS), SYI high-dose group (I/R + SYI-H), SYI medium-dose group (I/R + SYI-M) and SYI low-dose group (I/R + SYI-L). Cell experiments were divided into normal control group (NC), Oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation group (OGD/R), OGD/R + SYI group, OGD/R + SYI + Chloroquine group (OGD/R + SYI + CQ). The area of myocardial ischemia infarction and pathological changes were observed by the Tetrazolium method (TTC) and HE staining. Myocardial enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured by chemiluminescence (CL) method. The inflammatory factors levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. The expressions of inflammatory-related proteins (Caspase-1, NLRP3, TLR4, NF-κB), autophagosome-related proteins (LC3-I, LC3-II,LC3-II/LC3-I), apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Bcl-2/Bax) and autophagy-related proteins (p62/SQSTM1, PI3K, p-Akt, mTOR) were detected by Western-Blot. Cell morphology and cell viability were detected by transmission electron microscopy and CCK-8.

Results: In vivo, compared with sham group, the percentage of myocardial infarction area was increased and myocardial tissue arrangement was disordered in I/R group. In addition, the activities of myocardial enzymes, the contents of inflammatory factors, the expressions of inflammatory-related proteins, autophagy-related proteins, autophagosome-related proteins, Bax and Caspase-3 were increased, while Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax were decreased. SYI treatment reversed these trends, except for the expression of autophagosome-related proteins. In vitro, SYI decreased the contents of inflammatory factors and the expressions of inflammatory-related proteins, autophagy-related proteins and autophagosome-related proteins caused by OGD/R. However, the contents of inflammatory factors and the expression of inflammatory-related proteins, p62/SQSTM1 and mTOR were increased, while PI3K, p-AKT, LC3-II/LC3-I were significantly decreased in OGD/R + SYI + CQ group.

Conclusions: SYI can promote myocardial tissue autophagy by regulating NLRP3, thereby attenuating the myocardial inflammatory response and protecting damaged myocardium in I/R rats.

Background: The integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into emergency health systems in China serves as a model for global policy development and refining the inclusion of traditional medicine in health emergencies.

Methods: This study investigated 13 public health emergency policies related to TCM released by the Chinese central government from 2003-2023. A PMC(Policy Modeling Consistency) index model was developed combining ROSTCM text mining analysis software. The contents of these policy documents were quantitatively assessed using 10 first- and 40 s-level indicators.

Results: The content analysis results showed that current policies focus on emergency treatment, and that the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the issuing authority of the main policies, most of which are issued in the form of a notice. The scoring results for the 13 policies showed that two, five, three, and three policies were rated as excellent, good, qualified, and unqualified, respectively. This indicates that the policy quality related to TCM use in emergency response was normally distributed and generally qualified, although room for further improvement exists; policies should follow the principles of science, reasonableness, and operability, and should be updated in a timely manner with continuous development of the governance period while focusing on the policy content, safeguards, and role measures.

Conclusion: Effective integration of traditional medicine into health emergency policies backed by state institutions is vital. This includes enforcing relevant laws and regulations, establishing multidisciplinary medical teams, and developing integrated medicine strategies that support clinical research and maximize the unique benefits of traditional medicine.

Gastrointestinal diseases in children and adolescents lead to a considerable impairment of the quality of life of children and parents. Accordingly, there are considerable socio-economic consequences for the family and society. Parents concerned about their children may seek alternative treatments and opt for traditional herbal supplements. This study aimed to determine the utilization status and variety of herbal supplements by parents of children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. 216 study participants were given a socio-demographic questionnaire, a diagnostic questionnaire based on the ROME-IV criteria and a questionnaire with 20 herb names used in traditional treatments. 33.3% of parents reported using "ginger; Zingiber officinale" for their children who were infants and suffered from infantile regurgitation. The herb most preferred by parents for their children with functional gastrointestinal disorders in childhood and adolescence was "spearmint; Mentha spicata" (28.9%). 57.9% of the parents participating in the study stated that they preferred herbal supplements for their children. In addition, 40% of the participants stated that they use the herbs with the advice of the referral. As a result, it has been shown that parents tend to use herbs or herbal supplements, that they need to be educated in the use of these supplements, and that they need access to the right herb and to reliable supplements derived from the right herb.