Pub Date : 2023-12-15DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04280-6
Hao-ru Guan, Bo Li, Ze-hua Zhang, Han-song Wu, Xing-lishang He, Ying-jie Dong, Jie Su, Gui-yuan Lv, Su-hong Chen
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder that is common in women of reproductive age. The clinical features of PCOS include hyperandrogenemia and polycystic ovarian changes. Bailing capsule (BL), a proprietary Chinese medicine that contains fermented Cordyceps sinensis powder, has been applied to treat PCOS. However, the specific active ingredients of BL and its mechanisms of action are yet to be elucidated. Initially, the effectiveness of BL on PCOS model mice was evaluated. Subsequently, the active ingredients of BL were searched in the TCMSP and TCM Systems Pharmacology databases, and their targets were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction and SEA databases. Furthermore, the GEO gene database was used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to PCOS. Data from Gene Card, OMIM, DDT, and Drugbank databases were then combined to establish a PCOS disease gene library. Cross targets were imported into the STRING database to construct a protein–protein interaction network. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using Metascape and DAVID databases and visualized using Cytoscape software and R 4.2.3. The core targets were docked with SYBYL-X software, and their expressions in PCOS mice were further verified using qPCR. The core active ingredients of BL were identified to be linoleyl acetate, cholesteryl palmitate, arachidonic acid, among others. Microarray data sets from four groups containing disease and normal samples were obtained from the GEO database. A total of 491 DEGs and 106 drug–disease cross genes were selected. Estrous cycle and ovarian lesions were found to be improved in PCOS model mice following BL treatment. While the levels of testosterone, progesterone, and prolactin decreased, that of estradiol increased. qPCR findings indicated that the expressions of JAK2, PPARG, PI3K, and AKT1 were upregulated, whereas those of ESR1 and IRS1 were downregulated in PCOS model mice. After the administration of BL, the expressions of associated genes were regulated. This study demonstrated that BL exerted anti-PCOS effects via PIK3CA, ESR1, AKT, PPARG, and IRS1 targets affecting PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. This research clarified the multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel action of BL and provided a theoretical reference for further investigations on its pharmacological basis and molecular mechanisms against PCOS.
{"title":"Integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology to explore the therapeutic target and molecular mechanisms of Bailing capsule on polycystic ovary syndrome","authors":"Hao-ru Guan, Bo Li, Ze-hua Zhang, Han-song Wu, Xing-lishang He, Ying-jie Dong, Jie Su, Gui-yuan Lv, Su-hong Chen","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04280-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04280-6","url":null,"abstract":"Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder that is common in women of reproductive age. The clinical features of PCOS include hyperandrogenemia and polycystic ovarian changes. Bailing capsule (BL), a proprietary Chinese medicine that contains fermented Cordyceps sinensis powder, has been applied to treat PCOS. However, the specific active ingredients of BL and its mechanisms of action are yet to be elucidated. Initially, the effectiveness of BL on PCOS model mice was evaluated. Subsequently, the active ingredients of BL were searched in the TCMSP and TCM Systems Pharmacology databases, and their targets were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction and SEA databases. Furthermore, the GEO gene database was used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to PCOS. Data from Gene Card, OMIM, DDT, and Drugbank databases were then combined to establish a PCOS disease gene library. Cross targets were imported into the STRING database to construct a protein–protein interaction network. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using Metascape and DAVID databases and visualized using Cytoscape software and R 4.2.3. The core targets were docked with SYBYL-X software, and their expressions in PCOS mice were further verified using qPCR. The core active ingredients of BL were identified to be linoleyl acetate, cholesteryl palmitate, arachidonic acid, among others. Microarray data sets from four groups containing disease and normal samples were obtained from the GEO database. A total of 491 DEGs and 106 drug–disease cross genes were selected. Estrous cycle and ovarian lesions were found to be improved in PCOS model mice following BL treatment. While the levels of testosterone, progesterone, and prolactin decreased, that of estradiol increased. qPCR findings indicated that the expressions of JAK2, PPARG, PI3K, and AKT1 were upregulated, whereas those of ESR1 and IRS1 were downregulated in PCOS model mice. After the administration of BL, the expressions of associated genes were regulated. This study demonstrated that BL exerted anti-PCOS effects via PIK3CA, ESR1, AKT, PPARG, and IRS1 targets affecting PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. This research clarified the multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel action of BL and provided a theoretical reference for further investigations on its pharmacological basis and molecular mechanisms against PCOS.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138681325","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}
Astragaloside III (AS III), a saponin-like metabolite derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragali Radix, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cancer and heart failure, and a variety of digestive disorders. However, its molecular mechanism in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. Human lung cancer A549 cells and NCI-H460 cells and a normal human lung epithelial cell BEAS-2B were treated with different concentrations of AS III. CCK-8 and EdU staining were used to determine the anti-proliferative effects of AS III in vitro. Quantitative proteomic analysis was performed on A549 cells treated with the indicated concentrations of AS III, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were examined by Western blotting. AS III treatment significantly inhibited proliferation and increased apoptosis in A549 and H460 cells and modulated functional signaling pathways associated with apoptosis and metabolism. At the molecular level, AS III promoted a reduction in the expression of ANXA1 (p < 0.01), with increased levels of cleaved Caspase 3 and PARP 1. In addition, AS III treatment significantly decreased the LC3-I/LC3-II ratio. The results of experiment in vitro showed that AS III promoted NSCLC apoptosis by down-regulating the phosphorylation levels of P38, JNK, and AKT (p < 0.01), inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2 (p < 0.01), and up-regulating the expression of Bax (p < 0.01). These findings provide a mechanism whereby AS III treatment induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells, which may be achieved in part via modulation of the P38, ERK and mTOR signaling pathways.
黄芪皂苷 III(AS III)是从传统中药黄芪中提取的一种皂苷类代谢物,已被证明可有效治疗癌症、心力衰竭和多种消化系统疾病。然而,它治疗非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)的分子机制尚不清楚。用不同浓度的 AS III 处理人类肺癌 A549 细胞、NCI-H460 细胞和正常人肺上皮细胞 BEAS-2B。CCK-8和EdU染色用于确定AS III在体外的抗增殖作用。对用指定浓度的 AS III 处理的 A549 细胞进行定量蛋白质组分析,并通过 Western 印迹检测凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平。AS III处理可明显抑制A549和H460细胞的增殖,增加其凋亡,并调节与凋亡和代谢相关的功能信号通路。在分子水平上,AS III促进了ANXA1表达的减少(p < 0.01),并增加了Caspase 3和PARP 1的裂解水平;此外,AS III还显著降低了LC3-I/LC3-II的比率。体外实验结果表明,AS III可通过下调P38、JNK和AKT的磷酸化水平(p < 0.01)、抑制Bcl-2的表达(p < 0.01)和上调Bax的表达(p < 0.01)来促进NSCLC细胞凋亡。这些发现提供了 AS III 治疗诱导 NSCLC 细胞凋亡的机制,该机制可能部分是通过调节 P38、ERK 和 mTOR 信号通路实现的。
{"title":"Proteomic analysis reveals the molecular mechanism of Astragaloside in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer by inducing apoptosis","authors":"Jiaqi Liu, Yan Sun, Wenjing Chen, Lingling Deng, Mengmeng Chen, Jingcheng Dong","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04305-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04305-0","url":null,"abstract":"Astragaloside III (AS III), a saponin-like metabolite derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragali Radix, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cancer and heart failure, and a variety of digestive disorders. However, its molecular mechanism in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. Human lung cancer A549 cells and NCI-H460 cells and a normal human lung epithelial cell BEAS-2B were treated with different concentrations of AS III. CCK-8 and EdU staining were used to determine the anti-proliferative effects of AS III in vitro. Quantitative proteomic analysis was performed on A549 cells treated with the indicated concentrations of AS III, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were examined by Western blotting. AS III treatment significantly inhibited proliferation and increased apoptosis in A549 and H460 cells and modulated functional signaling pathways associated with apoptosis and metabolism. At the molecular level, AS III promoted a reduction in the expression of ANXA1 (p < 0.01), with increased levels of cleaved Caspase 3 and PARP 1. In addition, AS III treatment significantly decreased the LC3-I/LC3-II ratio. The results of experiment in vitro showed that AS III promoted NSCLC apoptosis by down-regulating the phosphorylation levels of P38, JNK, and AKT (p < 0.01), inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2 (p < 0.01), and up-regulating the expression of Bax (p < 0.01). These findings provide a mechanism whereby AS III treatment induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells, which may be achieved in part via modulation of the P38, ERK and mTOR signaling pathways.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138681450","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}
Pub Date : 2023-12-14DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04279-z
Tahany Saleh Aldayel, Heba N. Gad El Hak, Mohamed S. Nafie, Raneem Saad, Heba M. A. Abdelrazek, Omnia E. Kilany
The current research intended to evaluate the antitumor properties of Moringa oleifera oil extract (MOE). Fifty-six female Swiss albino mice were employed in this study. Animals were assigned into four groups: control (C) group, moringa oil extract (MOE) group administered (500 mg/kg b. wt) MOE daily via gavage, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) group and EAC group administered daily with (500 mg/kg b.wt) MOE for two weeks (EAC/MOE). The results showed that MOE significantly ameliorated the EAC increase in body weight and reduced the EAC cell viability. In addition, they upgraded the levels of hepatic and renal functions, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers and EAC-induced hepatic and renal histopathological changes. Treatment of EAC with MOE induced antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and normalized most of the tested parameters besides the histopathological alterations in both renal and hepatic tissues. HPLC for the MOE identified Cinnamic acid, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, Gallic acid, Vanillin and Hesperidin as major compounds. The molecular docking study highlighted the virtual binding of the identified compounds inside the GSH and SOD proteins, especially for Quercetin which exhibited promising binding affinity with good interactive binding mode with the key amino acids. These results demonstrate that the antitumor constituents of MOE against EAC induced oxidative stress and inflammation by preventing oxidative damage and controlling EAC increase.
{"title":"Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activities and molecular docking of Moringa oleifera seed oil extract against experimental model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss female albino mice","authors":"Tahany Saleh Aldayel, Heba N. Gad El Hak, Mohamed S. Nafie, Raneem Saad, Heba M. A. Abdelrazek, Omnia E. Kilany","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04279-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04279-z","url":null,"abstract":"The current research intended to evaluate the antitumor properties of Moringa oleifera oil extract (MOE). Fifty-six female Swiss albino mice were employed in this study. Animals were assigned into four groups: control (C) group, moringa oil extract (MOE) group administered (500 mg/kg b. wt) MOE daily via gavage, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) group and EAC group administered daily with (500 mg/kg b.wt) MOE for two weeks (EAC/MOE). The results showed that MOE significantly ameliorated the EAC increase in body weight and reduced the EAC cell viability. In addition, they upgraded the levels of hepatic and renal functions, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers and EAC-induced hepatic and renal histopathological changes. Treatment of EAC with MOE induced antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and normalized most of the tested parameters besides the histopathological alterations in both renal and hepatic tissues. HPLC for the MOE identified Cinnamic acid, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, Gallic acid, Vanillin and Hesperidin as major compounds. The molecular docking study highlighted the virtual binding of the identified compounds inside the GSH and SOD proteins, especially for Quercetin which exhibited promising binding affinity with good interactive binding mode with the key amino acids. These results demonstrate that the antitumor constituents of MOE against EAC induced oxidative stress and inflammation by preventing oxidative damage and controlling EAC increase.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138628573","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}
The values of plant-based products have taken on an expanding relevance in dentistry. Salvadora persica chewing stick (miswak) has been practiced for centuries and is recommended by the World Health Organization as a customary oral hygiene tool. The therapeutic effects of S. persica chewing stick are contributed by its mechanical cleansing action, active chemicals released, or the combination of these two actions. However, the S. persica chewing stick in its natural form can be difficult to maneuver in certain parts of the mouth. This concern has inspired the innovation of the S. persica toothbrush that is designed to merge the ease of use of a toothbrush with the beneficial natural properties of S. persica preserved in its bristle. The present study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness between S. persica toothbrush, S. persica chewing stick and the standard toothbrush in plaque and gingivitis control. In this single-blinded and parallel randomized controlled trial, 78 participants were randomly divided into three groups to either use (i) S. persica toothbrush (MTB); (ii) S. persica chewing stick (MCS); or (iii) standard toothbrush (STB) in a standardized manner for three weeks. Plaque Index (PI) and Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) values, measuring plaque levels and severity of gingivitis, respectively, were evaluated at baseline, one- and three-week post-interventions. The MCS group showed a significant improvement in the mean PISA values of the anterior teeth compared to the MTB and STB groups (MCS: from 16.35 ± 10.03 to 3.41 ± 1.14; MTB: from 25.20 ± 14.01 to 3.57 ± 1.19; STB: from 26.54 ± 8.64 to 6.17 ± 0.86; p < .050). All three groups reported significant improvements (p < .001) in the plaque levels and the severity of gingivitis from baseline to three weeks after the intervention. Following correct techniques, S. persica toothbrush and chewing sticks are as effective as the standard toothbrush in plaque control and gingival health, which represent the reputed anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis properties of S. persica. This clinical trial was prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with registration NCT04650685 (25/11/2020).
{"title":"Effectiveness of Salvadora persica toothbrush and Salvadora persica chewing stick in plaque and gingivitis control: a randomized control trial","authors":"Nurul Fatin Azizan, Nurulhuda Mohd, Nik Madihah Nik Azis, Badiah Baharin","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04295-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04295-z","url":null,"abstract":"The values of plant-based products have taken on an expanding relevance in dentistry. Salvadora persica chewing stick (miswak) has been practiced for centuries and is recommended by the World Health Organization as a customary oral hygiene tool. The therapeutic effects of S. persica chewing stick are contributed by its mechanical cleansing action, active chemicals released, or the combination of these two actions. However, the S. persica chewing stick in its natural form can be difficult to maneuver in certain parts of the mouth. This concern has inspired the innovation of the S. persica toothbrush that is designed to merge the ease of use of a toothbrush with the beneficial natural properties of S. persica preserved in its bristle. The present study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness between S. persica toothbrush, S. persica chewing stick and the standard toothbrush in plaque and gingivitis control. In this single-blinded and parallel randomized controlled trial, 78 participants were randomly divided into three groups to either use (i) S. persica toothbrush (MTB); (ii) S. persica chewing stick (MCS); or (iii) standard toothbrush (STB) in a standardized manner for three weeks. Plaque Index (PI) and Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) values, measuring plaque levels and severity of gingivitis, respectively, were evaluated at baseline, one- and three-week post-interventions. The MCS group showed a significant improvement in the mean PISA values of the anterior teeth compared to the MTB and STB groups (MCS: from 16.35 ± 10.03 to 3.41 ± 1.14; MTB: from 25.20 ± 14.01 to 3.57 ± 1.19; STB: from 26.54 ± 8.64 to 6.17 ± 0.86; p < .050). All three groups reported significant improvements (p < .001) in the plaque levels and the severity of gingivitis from baseline to three weeks after the intervention. Following correct techniques, S. persica toothbrush and chewing sticks are as effective as the standard toothbrush in plaque control and gingival health, which represent the reputed anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis properties of S. persica. This clinical trial was prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with registration NCT04650685 (25/11/2020).","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138628638","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}
Pub Date : 2023-12-13DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04293-1
Ghaidaa F. Khalifa, Bakriah Y. Alzubaidi, Dina A. Bamarouf, Yazeed B. Alsaedi, Omar H. Alayyafi, Majed M. Ramadan
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a high-prevalence neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communicational, social, and behavioral challenges. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of practices and products that fall outside the realm of conventional medicine practiced worldwide. Traditional CAM is a health practice that comes from a particular culture, such as the use of Zamzam water and black seeds in Saudi Arabia. CAM comprises widely utilized practices in Saudi Arabia for children of various ages and adults. In many cases, CAM is used to treat ASD. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of adults in Saudi Arabia toward CAM for treating ASD. A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing an online questionnaire to adults in different regions of Saudi Arabia. A total of 4,311 adults participated in this study; 66.8% were females and 33.2% were male. Half of the participants reported that they knew about ASD (54.7%). More than half of the participants indicated that CAM—including art therapy (69.0%), physical exercise (67.0%), and limiting the use of electronic (55.4%)—could help in ASD management. Around half of the respondents indicated a belief that traditional treatment cannot help in treating ASD (53.9%). Only 20.0% of the respondents thought that ASD could be entirely treated using CAM therapies. The most common source of knowledge about CAM was social media and the internet (58.6%). The majority of participants in this study did not believe that ASD could be treated entirely using CAM. In addition, fewer than half of the participants believed that CAM therapies could improve different aspects of ASD, such as behavioral issues. The study highlighted the need for awareness among residents of Saudi Arabia regarding specific treatments for ASD.
{"title":"Perspective of adults in Saudi Arabia toward complementary and alternative medicine use for autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study","authors":"Ghaidaa F. Khalifa, Bakriah Y. Alzubaidi, Dina A. Bamarouf, Yazeed B. Alsaedi, Omar H. Alayyafi, Majed M. Ramadan","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04293-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04293-1","url":null,"abstract":"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a high-prevalence neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communicational, social, and behavioral challenges. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of practices and products that fall outside the realm of conventional medicine practiced worldwide. Traditional CAM is a health practice that comes from a particular culture, such as the use of Zamzam water and black seeds in Saudi Arabia. CAM comprises widely utilized practices in Saudi Arabia for children of various ages and adults. In many cases, CAM is used to treat ASD. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of adults in Saudi Arabia toward CAM for treating ASD. A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing an online questionnaire to adults in different regions of Saudi Arabia. A total of 4,311 adults participated in this study; 66.8% were females and 33.2% were male. Half of the participants reported that they knew about ASD (54.7%). More than half of the participants indicated that CAM—including art therapy (69.0%), physical exercise (67.0%), and limiting the use of electronic (55.4%)—could help in ASD management. Around half of the respondents indicated a belief that traditional treatment cannot help in treating ASD (53.9%). Only 20.0% of the respondents thought that ASD could be entirely treated using CAM therapies. The most common source of knowledge about CAM was social media and the internet (58.6%). The majority of participants in this study did not believe that ASD could be treated entirely using CAM. In addition, fewer than half of the participants believed that CAM therapies could improve different aspects of ASD, such as behavioral issues. The study highlighted the need for awareness among residents of Saudi Arabia regarding specific treatments for ASD.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138579497","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}
Pub Date : 2023-12-13DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04297-x
Bingyu Wang, Guanfa Peng, Li Chen, Mingling Guo, Jianshun Zhou, Yingying Liu, Zhen Chen, Lifeng Wang
Craniotomy aneurysm clipping is one of the main treatments for intracranial aneurysm (IA). Endotracheal intubation and intraoperative operation may induce dramatic hemodynamic fluctuations and increase the risk of aneurysm rupture. Intraoperative high-dose opioid use is the main measure to reduce the intraoperative stress response, but it increases the incidence of complications such as postoperative vomiting and delayed awakening. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) stimulates β-endorphin expression levels and reduces opioid requirements. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of TEAS on remifentanil dosage and oxidative stress (OS) in craniotomy aneurysm clipping. Forty-two patients with craniotomy aneurysm clipping were randomized into two groups: the TEAS group (T group) and the sham TEAS group (S group). “Hegu” (LI4), “Neiguan” (PC6) and “Zusanli” points (ST36) were selected, and a “HANS” percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulator was used for intervention 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of the operation. The primary outcome was intraoperative remifentanil dosage. The secondary outcomes were intraoperative propofol dosage, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) 5 min before the TEAS intervention (T0), 5 min before head holder pinning (T1), immediately after pinning (T2), 5 min before craniotomy (T3), immediately after craniotomy (T4), at craniotomy (T5), and at the end of surgery (T6), as well as serum β-endorphin levels at T1, T2 and T6 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100β, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels at T1, T2 and 24 h after surgery (T7). The dosage of remifentanil in the T group was reduced compared to that in the S group (P < 0.05). At T2, T4 and T5, the MAP and HR in the T group were lower than those in the S group (P < 0.05). At T2 and T7, the levels of NSE, S100β and MDA in group T were lower than those in group S (P < 0.05), while the SOD levels in group T were higher than those in group S (P < 0.05). The use of TEAS can reduce the dosage of remifentanil and reduce hemodynamic fluctuations during craniotomy aneurysm clipping. It reduces the occurrence of OS and central nervous system damage during surgery and has a certain brain protective effect. ChiCTR2100052353. https://www.chictr.org.cn/about.html .
{"title":"Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on remifentanil dosage during craniotomy aneurysm clipping: a prospective, randomized controlled study","authors":"Bingyu Wang, Guanfa Peng, Li Chen, Mingling Guo, Jianshun Zhou, Yingying Liu, Zhen Chen, Lifeng Wang","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04297-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04297-x","url":null,"abstract":"Craniotomy aneurysm clipping is one of the main treatments for intracranial aneurysm (IA). Endotracheal intubation and intraoperative operation may induce dramatic hemodynamic fluctuations and increase the risk of aneurysm rupture. Intraoperative high-dose opioid use is the main measure to reduce the intraoperative stress response, but it increases the incidence of complications such as postoperative vomiting and delayed awakening. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) stimulates β-endorphin expression levels and reduces opioid requirements. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of TEAS on remifentanil dosage and oxidative stress (OS) in craniotomy aneurysm clipping. Forty-two patients with craniotomy aneurysm clipping were randomized into two groups: the TEAS group (T group) and the sham TEAS group (S group). “Hegu” (LI4), “Neiguan” (PC6) and “Zusanli” points (ST36) were selected, and a “HANS” percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulator was used for intervention 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of the operation. The primary outcome was intraoperative remifentanil dosage. The secondary outcomes were intraoperative propofol dosage, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) 5 min before the TEAS intervention (T0), 5 min before head holder pinning (T1), immediately after pinning (T2), 5 min before craniotomy (T3), immediately after craniotomy (T4), at craniotomy (T5), and at the end of surgery (T6), as well as serum β-endorphin levels at T1, T2 and T6 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100β, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels at T1, T2 and 24 h after surgery (T7). The dosage of remifentanil in the T group was reduced compared to that in the S group (P < 0.05). At T2, T4 and T5, the MAP and HR in the T group were lower than those in the S group (P < 0.05). At T2 and T7, the levels of NSE, S100β and MDA in group T were lower than those in group S (P < 0.05), while the SOD levels in group T were higher than those in group S (P < 0.05). The use of TEAS can reduce the dosage of remifentanil and reduce hemodynamic fluctuations during craniotomy aneurysm clipping. It reduces the occurrence of OS and central nervous system damage during surgery and has a certain brain protective effect. ChiCTR2100052353. https://www.chictr.org.cn/about.html .","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"195 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138579096","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}
Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease characterized by airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, airway hyper-reactivity. Sanzi Yangqin Decoction (SZYQD) is widely prescribed for asthma treatment. Its anti-asthma activities have been reported in animal model, but the exact mechanism and targets of SZYQD in asthma treatment have not been fully elucidated. A network pharmacological approach was used to predict the active components, targets, and signalling pathways of SZYQD in asthma, including potential target prediction, protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network construction and analysis, and Gene Ont (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The active ingredients were identified from the SZYQD, and were molecular docked according to the results of network pharmacology. A mouse model of asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was constructed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SZYQD. Furthermore, the effects of SZYQD and its active ingredients were tested in vitro for regulating inflammation and MUC5AC expression (two main pathophysiologic abnormalities of asthma) in macrophages and airway epithelial cells by using Real-time PCR and western blotting. A total of 28 active ingredients and 111 HUB genes were screened in the relevant databases, including three key ingredients (luteolin, β-carotene, and Sinapine) and nine core target genes (JUN, CTNNB1, IL10, TP53, AKT1, STAT3, TNF, IL6 and EGFR). KEGG and GO analysis indicated that the potential anti-asthmatic mechanisms of SZYQD were related to PI3K-Akt signalling pathway and response to lipopolysaccharide, etc. In the in vivo asthmatic model, our findings demonstrated that SZYQD exerted a protective effect against asthmatic mice induced by OVA and LPS through the inhibition of inflammation and mucus overproduction. Consistently, cell experiments showed that the SZYQD extract or the key active ingredients luteolin significantly decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-6 expression and activation of the NF-κB pathway in macrophages. In addition, SZYQD extract or luteolin inhibited activation of the AKT pathway and expression of MUC5AC induced by EGF in airway epithelial cells. The anti-asthmatic mechanism of SZYQD might be associated with inhibiting inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion by regulating the NF-κB and AKT signalling pathways as predicted by network pharmacology, which provides more evidence for the application of SZYQD in asthma treatment.
{"title":"The mechanism of Sanzi Yangqin decoction for asthma treatment based on network pharmacology and experimental verification","authors":"Yue Wu, Zhenhua Ni, Shiqiang Wang, Yipeng Sun, Xuming Luo, Xiongbiao Wang, Jinjin Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04272-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04272-6","url":null,"abstract":"Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease characterized by airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, airway hyper-reactivity. Sanzi Yangqin Decoction (SZYQD) is widely prescribed for asthma treatment. Its anti-asthma activities have been reported in animal model, but the exact mechanism and targets of SZYQD in asthma treatment have not been fully elucidated. A network pharmacological approach was used to predict the active components, targets, and signalling pathways of SZYQD in asthma, including potential target prediction, protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network construction and analysis, and Gene Ont (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The active ingredients were identified from the SZYQD, and were molecular docked according to the results of network pharmacology. A mouse model of asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was constructed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SZYQD. Furthermore, the effects of SZYQD and its active ingredients were tested in vitro for regulating inflammation and MUC5AC expression (two main pathophysiologic abnormalities of asthma) in macrophages and airway epithelial cells by using Real-time PCR and western blotting. A total of 28 active ingredients and 111 HUB genes were screened in the relevant databases, including three key ingredients (luteolin, β-carotene, and Sinapine) and nine core target genes (JUN, CTNNB1, IL10, TP53, AKT1, STAT3, TNF, IL6 and EGFR). KEGG and GO analysis indicated that the potential anti-asthmatic mechanisms of SZYQD were related to PI3K-Akt signalling pathway and response to lipopolysaccharide, etc. In the in vivo asthmatic model, our findings demonstrated that SZYQD exerted a protective effect against asthmatic mice induced by OVA and LPS through the inhibition of inflammation and mucus overproduction. Consistently, cell experiments showed that the SZYQD extract or the key active ingredients luteolin significantly decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-6 expression and activation of the NF-κB pathway in macrophages. In addition, SZYQD extract or luteolin inhibited activation of the AKT pathway and expression of MUC5AC induced by EGF in airway epithelial cells. The anti-asthmatic mechanism of SZYQD might be associated with inhibiting inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion by regulating the NF-κB and AKT signalling pathways as predicted by network pharmacology, which provides more evidence for the application of SZYQD in asthma treatment.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138578911","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}
Pub Date : 2023-12-13DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04299-9
Hsiao-Yun Chang, Yu-Yao Huang, Chin-Jung Chung, Feng-Hsuan Liu
We conducted a comparative study to examine the differences in the use of complementary therapies (CT) among patients who attended diabetic clinics for follow-up treatment between 2007 and 2023 in Taiwan. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to recruit individuals with diabetes from two regions (northern and southern) of Taiwan. A total of 183 and 307 participants were included in the surveys of 2007 and 2023, respectively. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0 to compare the survey results between the two time periods. Among the various CTs, nutritional supplements remained the most prevalent, with a significant increase in usage from 68.3% in 2007 to 89.9% in 2023. Conversely, other therapies, such as Chinese herbal medicines, manipulative-based therapies, supernatural healings, and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies, demonstrated a significant decrease in usage between the two time periods. Furthermore, the disclosure rate of CT use to healthcare professionals remained persistently low, with only 24.6% in 2007 and a slight increase to 30.3% in 2023. The significant rise in the use of nutritional supplements in conjunction with conventional medicine, without adequate monitoring and guidance from healthcare professionals, poses a substantial risk of unregulated blood sugar control, compromised diabetes management, and potential harm to health outcomes.
{"title":"A comparative analysis of complementary therapies use among patients attending diabetic clinics in Taiwan: 2007 vs. 2023","authors":"Hsiao-Yun Chang, Yu-Yao Huang, Chin-Jung Chung, Feng-Hsuan Liu","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04299-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04299-9","url":null,"abstract":"We conducted a comparative study to examine the differences in the use of complementary therapies (CT) among patients who attended diabetic clinics for follow-up treatment between 2007 and 2023 in Taiwan. This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to recruit individuals with diabetes from two regions (northern and southern) of Taiwan. A total of 183 and 307 participants were included in the surveys of 2007 and 2023, respectively. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0 to compare the survey results between the two time periods. Among the various CTs, nutritional supplements remained the most prevalent, with a significant increase in usage from 68.3% in 2007 to 89.9% in 2023. Conversely, other therapies, such as Chinese herbal medicines, manipulative-based therapies, supernatural healings, and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies, demonstrated a significant decrease in usage between the two time periods. Furthermore, the disclosure rate of CT use to healthcare professionals remained persistently low, with only 24.6% in 2007 and a slight increase to 30.3% in 2023. The significant rise in the use of nutritional supplements in conjunction with conventional medicine, without adequate monitoring and guidance from healthcare professionals, poses a substantial risk of unregulated blood sugar control, compromised diabetes management, and potential harm to health outcomes.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138578913","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}
Pub Date : 2023-12-12DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04277-1
Sahar S. Salem, Heba E. Elsayed, Samah Shabana, Mohamed T. Khazaal, Fatma A. Moharram
The genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) comprises several essential oil-rich species that are utilized traditionally for treating tooth infections and toothache. The current study aimed to extract essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Syzygium samarangense and Syzygium malaccense cultivated in Egypt for the first time and screen their antimicrobial potential against oral-related pathogens. The intended EOs were extracted using hydrodistillation (HD) by boiling fresh leaves with distilled water; supercritical fluid (SF) by extracting the dried leaves using supercritical CO2 at 40 °C and 150 bar; and the headspace (HS) in which the fresh leaves were heated in a glass vial and the vaporized aroma were analyzed. The volatile constituents were analyzed using GC/MS and identified by comparing the experimental Kovats' retention indices with the literature. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using agar diffusion, microwell dilution, and biofilm formation assays. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was determined by applying one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc test. The yield of the extracted EOs differs between the applied methods, and the SF approach harvested the maximum (0.52–0.46%). The GC–MS analysis of SF EOs revealed a discrepancy between the two species. Since S. malaccense showed an abundance of hydrocarbons represented mainly by squalene (60.60%), S. samarangense was deemed to have oxygenated sesquiterpenes exemplified in globulol (52.09%). On the other side, the HD and HS EOs were sequentially comparable, while differed in the percentage of their majors. γ-terpinene (33.06%) pioneered the HS-derived aroma of S. malaccense, while S. samarangense was abundant with α-pinene (30.18%). Concurrently, the HD EOs of S. malaccense and S. samarangense were commonly denoted by caryophyllene oxide (8.19%-18.48%), p-cymene (16.02%- 19.50%), and γ-terpinene (12.20%-17.84). Ultimately, both species EOs exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, although the HD EO was more potent than the SF EO. The HD EOs of both species potently inhibited the growth of E. coli (MIC 3.75 µL/mL) and suppressed C. albicans biofilm formation by 83.43 and 87.27%, respectively. The SF-EOs efficiently suppressed the biofilm formation of Gram-positive bacteria by 76.45%-82.95%. EOs extracted from both species by different methods possessed a unique blend of volatile components with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. They were promoted as bioactive hits for controlling oral infections, however further investigations concerning their safety in clinical settings are needed.
桃金娘科(Myrtaceae)茜草属(Syzygium)包括几个富含精油的品种,传统上用于治疗牙齿感染和牙痛。本研究旨在首次从埃及栽培的Syzygium samarangense和Syzygium malaccense的叶子中提取精油(EOs),并筛选其对口腔相关病原体的抗菌潜力。萃取环氧乙烷的方法有:水蒸馏法(HD),即用蒸馏水煮沸新鲜叶子;超临界流体法(SF),即在 40 °C 和 150 巴的条件下,用超临界二氧化碳萃取干燥叶子;顶空法(HS),即在玻璃瓶中加热新鲜叶子,分析蒸发的香气。挥发性成分采用气相色谱/质谱仪进行分析,并通过比较实验中的科瓦茨保留指数和文献资料进行鉴定。使用琼脂扩散、微孔稀释和生物膜形成试验评估了金黄色葡萄球菌、粪肠球菌、大肠杆菌和白色念珠菌的抗菌活性。统计意义(p < 0.05)通过单因素方差分析和邓肯事后检验来确定。不同方法提取的环氧乙烷产量不同,SF 方法提取的环氧乙烷产量最高(0.52%-0.46%)。对 SF 环氧乙烷的气相色谱-质谱分析表明,这两个物种之间存在差异。由于 S. malaccense 表现出以角鲨烯(60.60%)为主要代表的丰富碳氢化合物,S. samarangense 被认为具有以球蛋白醇(52.09%)为代表的含氧倍半萜。另一方面,HD 和 HS 环氧乙烷在顺序上相似,但在主要成分的比例上有所不同。γ-萜品烯(33.06%)开创了马缨丹HS衍生香气的先河,而沙马兰香则富含α-蒎烯(30.18%)。同时,马缨丹属和沙马兰属的高密度环氧乙烷通常以氧化叶绿素(8.19%-18.48%)、对伞花烯(16.02%-19.50%)和γ-萜品烯(12.20%-17.84)表示。最终,两种环氧乙烷都具有广谱抗菌潜力,但 HD 环氧乙烷比 SF 环氧乙烷更有效。两种环氧乙烷的 HD 环氧乙烷都能有效抑制大肠杆菌的生长(MIC 3.75 µL/mL),并能抑制白僵菌生物膜的形成,抑制率分别为 83.43% 和 87.27%。SF-EOs 能有效抑制革兰氏阳性菌生物膜的形成,抑制率为 76.45%-82.95% 。用不同方法从这两种植物中提取的环氧乙烷具有独特的混合挥发性成分,具有广谱抗菌活性。它们作为控制口腔感染的生物活性成分得到了推广,但还需要进一步研究它们在临床环境中的安全性。
{"title":"Phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from two Syzygium species against selected oral pathogens","authors":"Sahar S. Salem, Heba E. Elsayed, Samah Shabana, Mohamed T. Khazaal, Fatma A. Moharram","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04277-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04277-1","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) comprises several essential oil-rich species that are utilized traditionally for treating tooth infections and toothache. The current study aimed to extract essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of Syzygium samarangense and Syzygium malaccense cultivated in Egypt for the first time and screen their antimicrobial potential against oral-related pathogens. The intended EOs were extracted using hydrodistillation (HD) by boiling fresh leaves with distilled water; supercritical fluid (SF) by extracting the dried leaves using supercritical CO2 at 40 °C and 150 bar; and the headspace (HS) in which the fresh leaves were heated in a glass vial and the vaporized aroma were analyzed. The volatile constituents were analyzed using GC/MS and identified by comparing the experimental Kovats' retention indices with the literature. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using agar diffusion, microwell dilution, and biofilm formation assays. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was determined by applying one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc test. The yield of the extracted EOs differs between the applied methods, and the SF approach harvested the maximum (0.52–0.46%). The GC–MS analysis of SF EOs revealed a discrepancy between the two species. Since S. malaccense showed an abundance of hydrocarbons represented mainly by squalene (60.60%), S. samarangense was deemed to have oxygenated sesquiterpenes exemplified in globulol (52.09%). On the other side, the HD and HS EOs were sequentially comparable, while differed in the percentage of their majors. γ-terpinene (33.06%) pioneered the HS-derived aroma of S. malaccense, while S. samarangense was abundant with α-pinene (30.18%). Concurrently, the HD EOs of S. malaccense and S. samarangense were commonly denoted by caryophyllene oxide (8.19%-18.48%), p-cymene (16.02%- 19.50%), and γ-terpinene (12.20%-17.84). Ultimately, both species EOs exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, although the HD EO was more potent than the SF EO. The HD EOs of both species potently inhibited the growth of E. coli (MIC 3.75 µL/mL) and suppressed C. albicans biofilm formation by 83.43 and 87.27%, respectively. The SF-EOs efficiently suppressed the biofilm formation of Gram-positive bacteria by 76.45%-82.95%. EOs extracted from both species by different methods possessed a unique blend of volatile components with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. They were promoted as bioactive hits for controlling oral infections, however further investigations concerning their safety in clinical settings are needed.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138576102","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}
Pub Date : 2023-12-12DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04270-8
Lindiwe Gumede, Pauline B. Nkosi, Maureen N. Sibiya
Traditional medicine (TM) plays a key role in maintaining health in many societies. Given the requirement for TM disclosure, Allopathic Medicine Practitioners (AMPs) must encourage open communication with patients to persuade those who use TM to disclose. Addressing patient non-disclosure of TM requires this dialogue to be facilitated. We sought to understand and describe how South African AMPs facilitate disclosure of TM use during a consultation with patients who use both TM and allopathic medicine (AM) and how it influences the patients’ willingness to disclose TM use. This qualitative exploratory descriptive study on AMPs at Gauteng district public hospitals in South Africa was conducted between 2021 and 2022. Non-probability purposive sampling was employed to select a sample of 14 AMPs. Individual participants were encouraged to share their unique experiences and interpretations of the phenomenon concerning TM use disclosure. The raw transcribed textual data were processed using ATLAS.ti, and inductive content analysis was undertaken following the coding of the content to identify categories. The data revealed four major categories: ‘providing a suitable atmosphere for disclosure,’ ‘encouraging patients to disclose TM usage to AMPs,’ ‘patient autonomy,’ and ‘AMP training’. During a consultation with patients who use both TM and AM, participants expressed their experiences and perceptions of TM nondisclosure. They also discussed several methods for encouraging patients to disclose their TM usage, particularly when TM is used concurrently with AM. This study expands on previously reported findings by describing how South African AMPs facilitate the disclosure of TM use during consultation. Many AMPs struggle to initiate TM conversations with their patients which results in non-disclosure. This study revealed that integrating TM into AM training programmes, promoting cross-practice, and creating a safe environment is necessary for the development and application of the most appropriate approaches that would assist in facilitating disclosure.
{"title":"Allopathic Medicine Practitioners’ perspectives on facilitating disclosure of traditional medicine use in Gauteng, South Africa: a qualitative study","authors":"Lindiwe Gumede, Pauline B. Nkosi, Maureen N. Sibiya","doi":"10.1186/s12906-023-04270-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-04270-8","url":null,"abstract":"Traditional medicine (TM) plays a key role in maintaining health in many societies. Given the requirement for TM disclosure, Allopathic Medicine Practitioners (AMPs) must encourage open communication with patients to persuade those who use TM to disclose. Addressing patient non-disclosure of TM requires this dialogue to be facilitated. We sought to understand and describe how South African AMPs facilitate disclosure of TM use during a consultation with patients who use both TM and allopathic medicine (AM) and how it influences the patients’ willingness to disclose TM use. This qualitative exploratory descriptive study on AMPs at Gauteng district public hospitals in South Africa was conducted between 2021 and 2022. Non-probability purposive sampling was employed to select a sample of 14 AMPs. Individual participants were encouraged to share their unique experiences and interpretations of the phenomenon concerning TM use disclosure. The raw transcribed textual data were processed using ATLAS.ti, and inductive content analysis was undertaken following the coding of the content to identify categories. The data revealed four major categories: ‘providing a suitable atmosphere for disclosure,’ ‘encouraging patients to disclose TM usage to AMPs,’ ‘patient autonomy,’ and ‘AMP training’. During a consultation with patients who use both TM and AM, participants expressed their experiences and perceptions of TM nondisclosure. They also discussed several methods for encouraging patients to disclose their TM usage, particularly when TM is used concurrently with AM. This study expands on previously reported findings by describing how South African AMPs facilitate the disclosure of TM use during consultation. Many AMPs struggle to initiate TM conversations with their patients which results in non-disclosure. This study revealed that integrating TM into AM training programmes, promoting cross-practice, and creating a safe environment is necessary for the development and application of the most appropriate approaches that would assist in facilitating disclosure.","PeriodicalId":9132,"journal":{"name":"BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138576329","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}