Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim最新文献

{"title":"Placebo response in sham acupuncture therapy trials for simple obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Ke-jia Liu ,&nbsp;Rui-min Jiao ,&nbsp;Jing Ji ,&nbsp;Wei-wei Yao ,&nbsp;Chao-ru Han ,&nbsp;Xin-yu Zhao ,&nbsp;Jing-jie Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acupuncture has shown potential therapeutic benefits for individuals with simple obesity. However, some researchers argue that some of the effectiveness of acupuncture may be due to the placebo response.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To understand the placebo response of acupuncture treatment in simple obesity, a systematic review and meta-analysis was designed based on the comparison between sham acupuncture before and after treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Search strategy</h3><div>Eight databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biology Medicine Database, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database) were searched from inception to August 1, 2023. The MeSH search terms comprised obesity and acupuncture.</div></div><div><h3>Inclusion criteria</h3><div>Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using sham or placebo acupuncture as a control in treating obesity were enrolled.</div></div><div><h3>Data extraction and analysis</h3><div>Two researchers independently extracted data, and the results were cross-checked after completion. Each RCT’s detailed sham/placebo acupuncture treatment protocol was assessed according to the SHam Acupuncture REporting guidelines. The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system were used to determine the risk of bias and quality of evidence, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was defined as the primary outcome. Anthropometric parameters and laboratory test parameters related to obesity were defined as secondary outcomes. We used standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to calculate treatment effects of outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Fifteen RCTs with a total of 1250 patients were included. The BMI significantly decreased after treatment in the sham acupuncture group compared to baseline (SMD 0.37, 95% CI 0.09–0.66; <em>I</em>² = 81%, random model; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). Treatment duration (<em>P</em> = 0.02) and other interventions significantly impacted the placebo response rate (<em>P</em> = 0.00).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The placebo response of sham acupuncture was strong in the RCTs for simple obesity, and the effect sizes differed between various outcomes. The treatment duration and other interventions emerged as potential influencing factors for the placebo response of sham acupuncture.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Liu KJ, Jiao RM, Ji J, Yao WW, Han CR, Zhao XY, Zhao JJ. Placebo response in sham acupuncture therapy trials for simple obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 264–273.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 264-273"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144086604","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":"Cynanchum atratum Bunge and Cynanchum versicolor Bunge for Baiwei: An updated review of their botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological activities","authors":"Wei Xie ,&nbsp;Xin-yang Liu ,&nbsp;Xia Li ,&nbsp;Yong-sheng Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cynanchum atratum</em> Bunge (<em>C. atratum</em>) and <em>Cynanchum versicolor</em> Bunge (<em>C. versicolor</em>) are two related species that have been used as “Baiwei” (Cynanchi Atrati Radix Et Rhizoma) in traditional medicine in China and other Asian countries for a long time. However, to date, no comprehensive review of <em>C. atratum</em> and <em>C. versicolor</em> has been published. This review provides a comprehensive summary on the botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of Baiwei; The authors focus especially on the revision of errors in previous articles and reviews, updating information and providing a comparison of <em>C. atratum</em> and <em>C. versicolor</em>. Furthermore, current research reveals significant disparities in the chemical composition and pharmacological effects between <em>C. atratum</em> and <em>C. versicolor</em>. Up to November 2023, 178 compounds have been isolated from <em>C. atratum</em> and <em>C. versicolor</em>, including C₂₁ steroids, acetophenones, alkaloids and volatile oils. These compounds and extracts have been proven to exhibit significant pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-fungal, memory-enhancing and anti-pyretic action, immune modulatory effects, reducing blood lipid, inhibition of melanin production, and anti-parasitic effects. Therefore, this review presents new insights into these two herbs used as “Baiwei” and further study is warranted to enhance their clinical application.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Xie W, Liu XY, Li X, Jin YS. <em>Cynanchum atratum</em> Bunge and <em>Cynanchum versicolor</em> Bunge for Baiwei: An updated review of their botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological activities. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 230–255.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 230-255"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144080600","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":"Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study","authors":"Jian-feng Tu ,&nbsp;Xue-zhou Wang ,&nbsp;Shi-yan Yan ,&nbsp;Yi-ran Wang ,&nbsp;Jing-wen Yang ,&nbsp;Guang-xia Shi ,&nbsp;Wen-zheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Li-na Jin ,&nbsp;Li-sha Yang ,&nbsp;Dong-hua Liu ,&nbsp;Li-qiong Wang ,&nbsp;Bao-hong Mi","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Varied acupoint selections represent a potential cause of the uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Skin temperature, a guiding factor for acupoint selection, may help to address this issue. This study explored thermal sensitization of acupoints used for the treatment of knee OA.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled cases aged 45–75 years with symptomatic knee OA and age- and gender-matched non-knee OA controls in a 1:1 ratio. All participants underwent infrared thermographic imaging. The primary outcome was the relative skin temperature of acupoint (STA), and the secondary outcome was the absolute STA of 11 acupoints. The <em>Z</em> test was used to compare the relative and absolute STAs between the groups. Principal component analysis was used to extract the common factors (CFs, acupoint cluster) in the STAs. A general linear model was used to identify factors affecting the STA in the knee OA cases. For the group comparisons of relative STA, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.0045 (adjusted for 11 acupoints through Bonferroni correction) was considered to indicate statistical significance. For other analyses, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05 was used as the threshold for statistical significance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis included 308 participants, consisting of 151 cases (mean age: [64.58 ± 6.67] years; male: 25.83%; mean body mass index: [25.70 ± 3.16] kg/m²) and 157 controls (mean age: [63.37 ± 5.96] years; male: 26.11%; mean body mass index: [24.47 ± 2.84] kg/m²). The relative STAs of ST34 (<em>P</em> = 0.0001), EX-LE2 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001), EX-LE5 (<em>P</em> = 0.0006), SP10 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001), BL40 (<em>P</em> = 0.0012) and GB39 (<em>P</em> = 0.0037) were higher in the knee OA group. No difference was found in the STAs of ST35, ST36, SP9, GB33 and GB34. Four CFs were identified for relative STA in both groups. The acupoints within each CF were consistent between the groups. The mean values of the relative STAs across each CF were higher in the knee OA group. In the knee OA cases, no factors were observed to affect the relative STA, while age and gender were found to affect the absolute STA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Among patients with knee OA, thermal sensitization occurs in the acupoints of the lower extremity, exhibiting localized and regional thermal consistencies. The thermally sensitized acupoints that we identified in this study, ST34, SP10, EX-LE2, EX-LE5, GB39 and BL40, may be good choices for the acupuncture treatment of knee OA.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Tu JF, Wang XZ, Yan SY, Wang YR, Yang JW, Shi GX, Zhang WZ, Jing LN, Yang LS, Liu DH, Wang LQ, Mi BH. Thermal sensitization of acupoints in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional case-control study. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 289–296.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 289-296"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144023381","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":"Potential of Cinnamomum zeylanicum for metabolic syndrome management: insights from in vivo and human studies","authors":"Saikrupa Adarthaiya ,&nbsp;Vishnu Kirthi Arivarasan","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors that significantly increase the chances of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications. Since current anti-MetS medications like statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, insulin sensitizers and diuretics have been reported to cause unwanted side effects, researchers are exploring promising alternatives. One such alternative relies on the potential of spices and condiments, which have a long history of use in traditional medicine. Among them, <em>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</em> Blume stands out as a popular spice worldwide for its unique taste, aroma, and delicate sweetness compared to other cinnamon varieties. This narrative review aims to summarize the in vivo and clinical evidence concerning the efficacy of <em>C. zeylanicum</em> against MetS indices. Relevant articles from PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar databases were reviewed. In vivo results suggested that <em>C. zeylanicum</em> preparations (extracts, essential oil, crude powder, bioactive compounds, and biosynthesized nanoparticles) were remarkably efficient in ameliorating MetS indices, while the clinical data were less and with several methodological limitations. Further robust clinical studies are warranted to definitively establish <em>C. zeylanicum</em> as a promising functional food for mitigating MetS, potentially leading to its dietary integration as a natural approach to improve metabolic health.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Adarthaiya S, Arivarasan VK. Potential of <em>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</em> for metabolic syndrome management: insights from in vivo and human studies. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 218–229.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 218-229"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054661","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":"Current situation of clinical trial registration in acupuncture anesthesia: A scoping review","authors":"Yue Li ,&nbsp;You-ning Liu ,&nbsp;Zhen Guo ,&nbsp;Mu-en Gu ,&nbsp;Wen-jia Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiao-jun Zhuang ,&nbsp;Li-ming Chen ,&nbsp;Jia Zhou ,&nbsp;Jing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Modern acupuncture anesthesia is a combination of Chinese and Western medicine that integrates the theories of acupuncture with anesthesia. However, some clinical studies of acupuncture anesthesia lack specific descriptions of randomization, allocation concealment, and blinding processes, with subsequent systematic reviews indicating a risk of bias.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Clinical trial registration is essential for the enhancement of the quality of clinical trials. This study aims to summarize the status of clinical trial registrations for acupuncture anesthesia listed on the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).</div></div><div><h3>Search strategy</h3><div>We searched the ICTRP for clinical trials related to acupuncture anesthesia registered between January 1, 2001 and May 31, 2023. Additionally, related publications were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang Data. Registrations and publications were analyzed for consistency in trial design characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Inclusion criteria</h3><div>Clinical trials that utilized one of several acupuncture-related therapies in combination with pharmacological anesthesia during the perioperative period were eligible for this review.</div></div><div><h3>Data extraction and analysis</h3><div>Data extracted from articles included type of surgical procedure, perioperative symptoms, study methodology, type of intervention, trial recruitment information, and publication information related to clinical enrollment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 166 trials related to acupuncture anesthesia from 21 countries were included in the analysis. The commonly reported symptoms in the included studies were postoperative nausea and vomiting (19.9%) and postoperative pain (13.3%). The concordance between the publications and the trial protocols in the clinical registry records was poor, with only 31.7% of the studies being fully compatible. Inconsistency rates were high for sample size (39.0%, 16/41), blinding (36.6%, 15/41), and secondary outcome indicators (24.4%, 10/41).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The volume of acupuncture anesthesia clinical trials registered in international trial registries over the last 20 years is low, with insufficient disclosure of results. Postoperative nausea and vomiting as well as postoperative pain, are the most investigated for acupuncture intervention.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Li Y, Liu YN, Guo Z, Gu ME, Wang WJ, Zhu Y, Zhuang XJ, Chen LM, Zhou J, Li J. Current situation of clinical trial registration in acupuncture anesthesia: A scoping review. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 256–263.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 256-263"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143988712","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":"Balancing tradition and conservation: Exploring plant part substitution in traditional medicine","authors":"Bhavana Srivastava ,&nbsp;Himanshu Sharma ,&nbsp;Ajay Kumar Meena ,&nbsp;Vandana Bharthi","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional medicine, deeply rooted in cultural practices and historical wisdom, has faced surging challenges due to the escalating demand for plant-based remedies. This comprehensive review critically emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable practices within traditional medicine, with a special focus on the potential of plant part substitution. Case studies that illuminate successful instances of substituting plant parts and providing a deep insight into viable alternatives to conventional practices are presented. Opportunities and challenges inherent in plant part substitution are discussed by addressing key considerations such as phytochemical and pharmacological aspects, safety and toxicity profiles, cultural insights, standardization, clinical validation, and regulatory compliance. This review serves as a guide for navigating the delicate balance between tradition and conservation within indigenous medicine practices. It underscores the importance of embracing sustainable approaches through plant part substitution, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage while meeting the evolving healthcare needs of society.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Srivastava B, Sharma H, Meena AK, Bharthi V. Balancing tradition and conservation: exploring plant part substitution in traditional medicine. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 209–217.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 209-217"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144039787","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":"Xuebijing injection reduces COVID-19 patients’ mortality as influenced by the neutrophil to lymphocyte platelet ratio","authors":"Man Liao ,&nbsp;Li-ting Zhang ,&nbsp;Li-juan Bai,&nbsp;Rui-yun Wang,&nbsp;Yun Liu,&nbsp;Jing Han,&nbsp;Li-hua Liu,&nbsp;Ben-ling Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Xuebijing injection has been recommended as a therapeutic approach for individuals with severe and critical COVID-19. This study aims to explore the correlation of neutrophil to lymphocyte platelet ratio (NLPR) with the severity and prognosis of COVID-19, and the effect of XBJ on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 in different inflammatory states.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a retrospective study conducted at Wuhan Union Hospital in China. COVID-19 patients admitted between November 1, 2022 and February 1, 2023 were included. In predicting prognosis for individuals with COVID-19, new inflammatory indicators were used, and their prognostic value was assessed by using Cox regression models and receiver operating characteristic curves. Furthermore, a calculation was made to determine the cutoff value for NLPR. Relative risk and Cox regression models were used to examine the effects of Xuebijing injection on prognosis in patient cohorts that had been stratified by the NLPR cutoff.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This research included 455 participants with COVID-19, with a mean age of 72 years. Several inflammatory indicators were found to be strongly correlated with prognosis, and NLPR shows the greatest predictive power. Patients with NLPR &gt; 3.29 exhibited a mortality rate of 17.3%, which was 6.2 times higher than in patients with NLPR ≤ 3.29. Importantly, providing Xuebijing injection to patients with NLPR &gt; 3.29 was associated with a lower risk of 60-day all-cause mortality. However, there was no discernible improvement in survival among patients with NLPR ≤ 3.29 who received Xuebijing injection.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>NLPR is the most reliable inflammatory marker for predicting prognosis among individuals with COVID-19, and can accurately identify individuals who may benefit from Xuebijing injection.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Liao M, Zhang LT, Bai LJ, Wang RY, Liu Y, Han J, Liu LH, Qi BL. Xuebijing injection reduces COVID-19 patients mortality as influenced by the neutrophil to lymphocyte platelet ratio. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 282–288.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 282-288"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144039827","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":"Early improvement to electroacupuncture at week 3 predicts ultimate response in patients with chronic severe functional constipation","authors":"Zhi-yi Xiong ,&nbsp;Shi-yan Yan ,&nbsp;Si-xing Liu ,&nbsp;Zhi-shun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate whether the presence or absence of improvement in chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC) at the early stage of treatment with electroacupuncture predicts subsequent response or non-response, and to determine the optimal treatment duration for assessing subsequent responses to electroacupuncture.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This is a post hoc analysis using data pooled from two large-scale randomized controlled trials. Patients with CSFC were recruited, and those in the electroacupuncture groups were included in the present study. Early improvement was defined as a weekly increase of ≥1 complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) compared to baseline. Three treatment response criteria were evaluated: ≥ 3 CSBMs per week, overall CSBM response, and sustained CSBM response. Predictive statistics, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value, were calculated at weeks 1–4. Receiver operating characteristic curves and accuracy rates were used to determine the optimal timepoint for differentiation between responders and non-responders.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Cases from a total of 813 participants who received electroacupuncture were analyzed. The proportion of improvers was 40.34% by week 1, increasing to 52.52% by week 4. After 8 weeks of treatment, the response rates were 30.14%, 25.83% and 25.58% according to the three aforementioned criteria, respectively. Early improvement was a strong predictor of treatment response, with week 3 demonstrating the highest predictive accuracy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Early improvement with electroacupuncture, especially at week 3, can predict subsequent outcomes. Our findings suggest that acupuncturists may identify non-responders who might require adjustments to therapeutic strategies early in treatment.</div><div><br>Please cite this article as: Xiong ZY, Yan SY, Liu SX, Liu ZS. Early improvement to electroacupuncture at week 3 predicts ultimate response in patients with chronic severe functional constipation. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 274–281.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 274-281"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054658","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":"Morin inhibits ubiquitination degradation of BCL-2 associated agonist of cell death and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibitor in gastric cancer cells","authors":"Yi Wang ,&nbsp;Xiao-yu Sun ,&nbsp;Fang-qi Ma ,&nbsp;Ming-ming Ren ,&nbsp;Ruo-han Zhao ,&nbsp;Meng-meng Qin ,&nbsp;Xiao-hong Zhu ,&nbsp;Yan Xu ,&nbsp;Ni-da Cao ,&nbsp;Yuan-yuan Chen ,&nbsp;Tian-geng Dong ,&nbsp;Yong-fu Pan ,&nbsp;Ai-guang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies seen in clinic and requires novel treatment options. Morin is a natural flavonoid extracted from the flower stalk of a highly valuable medicinal plant &lt;em&gt;Prunella vulgaris&lt;/em&gt; L., which exhibits an anti-cancer effect in multiple types of tumors. However, the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of morin in treating GC remains elusive. The study aims to explore the therapeutic effect and underlying molecular mechanisms of morin in GC.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;For in vitro experiments, the proliferation inhibition of morin was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation assay in human GC cell line MKN45, human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS, and human gastric epithelial cell line GES-1; for apoptosis analysis, microscopic photography, Western blotting, ubiquitination analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, flow cytometry, and RNA interference technology were employed. For in vivo studies, immunohistochemistry, biomedical analysis, and Western blotting were used to assess the efficacy and safety of morin in a xenograft mouse model of GC.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Morin significantly inhibited the proliferation of GC cells MKN45 and AGS in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but did not inhibit human gastric epithelial cells GES-1. Only the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was able to significantly reverse the inhibition of proliferation by morin in both GC cells, suggesting that apoptosis was the main type of cell death during the treatment. Morin induced intrinsic apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in GC cells, which mainly relied on B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) associated agonist of cell death (BAD) but not phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced protein 1. The upregulation of BAD by morin was due to blocking the ubiquitination degradation of BAD, rather than the transcription regulation and the phosphorylation of BAD. Furthermore, the combination of morin and BCL-2 inhibitor navitoclax (also known as ABT-737) produced a synergistic inhibitory effect in GC cells through amplifying apoptotic signals. In addition, morin treatment significantly suppressed the growth of GC in vivo by upregulating BAD and the subsequent activation of its downstream apoptosis pathway.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Morin suppressed GC by inducing apoptosis, which was mainly due to blocking the ubiquitination-based degradation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD. The combination of morin and the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-737 synergistically amplified apoptotic signals in GC cells, which may overcome the drug resistance of the BCL-2 inhibitor. These findings indicated that morin was a potent and promising agent for GC treatment.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Please cite this article as: Wang Y, Sun XY, Ma FQ, Ren MM, Zhao RH, Qin MM, Zhu XH, Xu Y, Cao ND, Chen YY, Dong TG, Pan YF, Zhao AG. Morin inhibits ubiquitination degradation of","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 320-332"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144051341","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":"Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin mitigates atopic dermatitis by inhibiting Th2 differentiation through LCK phosphorylation modulation","authors":"Hang Zhao ,&nbsp;Xin Ma ,&nbsp;Hao Wang ,&nbsp;Xiao-jie Ding ,&nbsp;Le Kuai ,&nbsp;Jian-kun Song ,&nbsp;Zhan Zhang ,&nbsp;Dan Yang ,&nbsp;Chun-jie Gao ,&nbsp;Bin Li ,&nbsp;Mi Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.03.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.joim.2025.03.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To assess the safety and topical efficacy of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (POG) and investigate the molecular mechanisms of its therapeutic effects in atopic dermatitis (AD).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The effects of POG on human keratinocyte cell viability and its anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Subsequently, the impact of POG on the differentiation of cluster of differentiation (CD) 4⁺ T cell subsets, including T-helper type (Th) 1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T (Treg), was examined through in vitro experiments. Network pharmacology analysis was used to elucidate POG’s therapeutic mechanisms. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of topically applied POG was further evaluated in a calcipotriol-induced mouse model of AD. The protein and transcript levels of inflammatory markers, including cytokines, lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (<em>Lck</em>) mRNA, and LCK phosphorylation (p-LCK), were quantified using immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>POG was able to suppress cell proliferation and downregulate the transcription of interleukin 4 (<em>Il4</em>) and <em>Il13</em> mRNA. In vitro experiments indicated that POG significantly inhibited the differentiation of Th2 cells, whereas it exerted negligible influence on the differentiation of Th1, Th17 and Treg cells. Network pharmacology identified LCK as a key therapeutic target of POG. Moreover, the topical application of POG effectively alleviated skin lesions in the calcipotriol-induced AD mouse models without causing pathological changes in the liver, kidney or spleen tissues. POG significantly reduced the levels of <em>Il4</em>, <em>Il5</em>, <em>Il13,</em> and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (<em>Tslp</em>) mRNA in the AD mice. Concurrently, POG enhanced the expression of p-LCK protein and <em>Lck</em> mRNA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our research revealed that POG inhibits Th2 cell differentiation by promoting p-LCK protein expression and hence effectively alleviates AD-related skin inflammation.</div><div>Please cite this article as: Zhao H, Ma X, Wang H, Ding XJ, Kuai L, Song JK, Zhang Z, Yang D, Gao CJ, Li B, Zhou M. Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin mitigates atopic dermatitis by inhibiting Th2 differentiation through LCK phosphorylation modulation. <em>J Integr Med</em>. 2025; 23(3): 309–319.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48599,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Integrative Medicine-Jim","volume":"23 3","pages":"Pages 309-319"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144064965","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}