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جستوجوی دقیقطب سنتی و مکمل
طب ایرانی، مکمل، گیاهان دارویی و مداخلات غیردارویی
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طب مکمل
مقالهها، منابع و پژوهشهای تازه حوزه طب مکمل
ورود به زیرشاخهطب سوزنی
مقالهها، منابع و پژوهشهای تازه حوزه طب سوزنی
ورود به زیرشاخهگیاهان دارویی
مقالهها، منابع و پژوهشهای تازه حوزه گیاهان دارویی
ورود به زیرشاخهطب تلفیقی
مقالهها، منابع و پژوهشهای تازه حوزه طب تلفیقی
ورود به زیرشاخهتازهترین رکوردها
شواهد طب سنتی و مکمل
PubMed2026
[THE RESERVES ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH].
In Russia, the population preservation and health promotion are defined as national development goal, and within its framework life expectancy is to increase up to 78 years by 2030. In national normative legal acts considerable attention is paid not only to issues of medical care support but also to importance of making system to maintain and to promote health. In 2025, the WHO adopted the Global strategy of traditional medicine for the period up to 2034. The strategy defines concepts of traditional medicine, complementary medicine and integrative medicine. When considering integrative medicine exactly as comprehensive approach supporting health it is essential to understand whether there are opportunities to improve and to maintain population health. The study permitted to comprehensively analyze indicators both characterizing performance of health care system (financial support and infrastructure conditions) and public health (index of universal health care services coverage; non-communicable disease mortality rate; probability to die at the age from 30 to 70 years from any cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases; and life expectancy at birth) in countries with no application of regulated methods of integrative medicine and in countries with implemented system of integrative medicine. The obtained data testify availability of potential to enhance public health under application of methods of integrative medicine.
PubMed2026
[THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION: ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE BASE AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF INTEGRATION].
The article considers placement of methods of traditional and complementary medicine in the public health system of the Russian Federation, focusing on prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases. The analysis of the evidence base on key methods of traditional and complementary medicine (acupuncture, phytotherapy, homeopathy, manual therapy, osteopathy) was carried out, including differentiated estimate of level of evidence for forms of homeopathy based on the latest systematic review of meta-analyses. The legal framework of its application in Russia are explored. The corresponding collisions and barriers are identified. The following proposals concerning integrative health care model are formulated: differentiated register of methods, clinical guidelines, pilot integration into compulsory health insurance system and enhancement of research.
PubMed2026
Site-specific transdermal delivery of Qingteng Waifu San in a rheumatoid arthritis rabbit model.
BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint swelling, pain, cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Qingteng Waifu San is an external sinomenine-containing preparation, but its site-specific transdermal response requires disease-relevant evaluation. OBJECTIVES: To compare Zusanli (ST36)-site and adjacent non-acupoint transdermal application of Qingteng Waifu San in an ovalbumin/complete Freund's adjuvant-induced RA rabbit model and to evaluate formulation, neuropeptide, inflammatory, behavioural and histopathological outcomes. METHODS: Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into six groups (n=8 each): normal control, vehicle-only transdermal control, acupuncture, acupoint injection, ST36-site transdermal Qingteng Waifu San and adjacent non-acupoint transdermal Qingteng Waifu San. Gel appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, sinomenine content and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint similarity were assessed. Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SP and CGRP messenger RNA (mRNA) were analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Arthritis score, paw volume, mechanical withdrawal threshold and histopathological scores were assessed. RESULTS: The vehicle-only group showed RA-related changes compared with normal controls. ST36-site Qingteng Waifu San reduced arthritis score, paw volume, serum cytokines and histopathological injury scores and improved mechanical withdrawal threshold compared with vehicle-only control. SP and CGRP levels were higher after ST36 application than after adjacent non-acupoint application, indicating site-dependent neurocutaneous modulation. CONCLUSION: ST36-site transdermal Qingteng Waifu San produced stronger neuropeptide modulation and more favourable RA-related outcome profiles than adjacent non-acupoint application.
PubMed2026
Early Emergence of Cultural Differences in Audiovisual Speech Perception.
Integrating auditory and visual cues is a hallmark of human speech perception, yet adults from East Asian backgrounds show less reliance on visual speech than their Western counterparts. The origins of this cultural difference, however, remain unknown. To investigate whether this divergence is established early in infancy, we examined audiovisual integration in 6- to 12-month-old White Canadian (n = 111) and Chinese (n = 115) infants using a novel paradigm measuring their perception of the McGurk effect. Across four experiments, we found a clear developmental divergence: Canadian infants showed a stable McGurk effect from 6 months onward, whereas Chinese infants showed a more protracted developmental trajectory, a cultural pattern that was further highlighted when their integration was challenged by other-race faces. These findings provide the first direct evidence that cultural differences in multisensory speech perception are established within the first year of life, suggesting that the brain's strategy for binding sight and sound is shaped by early experience, with broad implications for theories of language acquisition and developmental science.
PubMed2026
Effects of Aromatherapy on Stress and Anxiety Among Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Systematic Review.
BACKGROUND: Nurses working in intensive care units (ICU) are at high risk for stress and anxiety. Aromatherapy stands out as a non-pharmacological and easily implementable complementary approach for alleviating these symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review specifically examining the effects of aromatherapy on stress and anxiety among ICU nurses. AIMS: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy on stress and anxiety among ICU nurses and to assess the methodological quality of the evidence. STUDY DESIGN: In this systematic review, a literature search was conducted in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases without any time restrictions. The review includes randomised controlled, experimental and quasi-experimental studies evaluating the effects of aromatherapy interventions on stress and/or anxiety among ICU nurses. The selection of studies, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality were conducted independently by two researchers. RESULTS: This systematic review included five studies involving a total of 254 participants. Two of these studies are randomised controlled trials, and three are quasi-experimental studies. The studies included in the review demonstrate that aromatherapy is administered using various essential oils and application methods (inhalation, topical application, etc.). The findings suggest that aromatherapy interventions may reduce stress among ICU nurses, whereas evidence regarding anxiety reduction is mixed and less consistent across studies. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy may have potential benefits for reducing stress among ICU nurses, whereas evidence for anxiety reduction remains limited and inconsistent. Further high-quality studies are needed before firm conclusions or routine clinical implementation can be recommended. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Aromatherapy may be considered as an optional supportive intervention within staff well-being programs, provided that safety, scent sensitivity, infection-control procedures and individual preferences are taken into account. However, standardised protocols and further high-quality evidence are required to support its routine clinical use.
PubMed2026
Real-Time Neurofeedback Training to Modulate Glutamate-Glutamine Concentration Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.
Neurofeedback training is a procedure in which participants learn to modulate brain activity through their own efforts. Here, we designed a real-time neurofeedback training using functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) to modulate the concentration of glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter, and its precursor glutamine (collectively referred to as Glx) in a volume-of-interest (VOI) located in the occipital lobes. During an induction phase participants employed a self-selected strategy to increase or decrease Glx concentration relative to a reference concentration measured prior to neurofeedback training. Participants were informed about their performance after the induction phase by displaying a disk in green for success or red for failure. The disk size indicated the magnitude of success or failure. The procedure was repeated over the course of 30 trials. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants per group). The experimental group received veridical feedback about their success or failure in the induction phase. The control group received random feedback. Glx concentration in the VOI was measured using 2-s-long consecutive Point RESolved Spectroscopy (PRESS) scans in a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. The results showed that depending on group assignment, participants in the experimental group learned to increase or decrease Glx concentration over the course of training. No significant changes in Glx concentration were observed in the control group. These findings suggest that, with the help of veridical performance feedback, participants learned to modulate Glx concentration in the VOI in the desired direction over a relatively short period of time. fMRS-based neurofeedback training may complement existing neurofeedback approaches by targeting neurotransmitter-related processes.
PubMed2026
The 2027 BCPT Perspectives on Studies Involving Natural Products, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Systems Pharmacology.
Natural products, including isolated compounds, complex extracts, traditional medicinal preparations and marine, microbial, fungal and animal-derived materials, remain important sources of therapeutic agents and pharmacological discovery. However, variation in biological source materials, preparation methods, chemical composition and experimental design may compromise reproducibility and interpretation. This guideline presents the requirements of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology for studies involving natural products and their semisynthetic or biotransformed derivatives. It provides recommendations for documenting scientific and ethnopharmacological rationale, taxonomy, authentication, provenance, sustainable and lawful sourcing, extraction, chemical characterisation, dosing, bioactivity, safety and data accessibility. Particular emphasis is placed on studying the preparation actually administered, using pharmacologically relevant concentrations and doses, controlling vehicle effects and assay interference and aligning mechanistic and therapeutic claims with the supporting evidence. Complex mixtures do not necessarily need to be reduced to a single active constituent; however, their composition must be adequately characterised, and claims concerning individual constituents, additivity, synergy or antagonism require experimental substantiation. Computational, network and systems-pharmacology analyses should be transparent and reproducible, with experimental validation of central predictions. These recommendations apply equivalent standards to natural products and other interventions while recognising the additional information required to define complex biological materials and improve overall translational relevance.
PubMed2026
EEG correlates of auditory rise time processing: A systematic review.
Rise time (RT) is a critical acoustic feature of speech, implicated in typical and atypical language development. While a substantial amount of data has been accumulated on the neurophysiological evidence of RT processing across different conditions and groups of people, these data have not been systematized. This systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Web of Science and APA PsychInfo databases, focuses on studies that have investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) markers of RT sensitivity in humans. A total of 37 studies were identified that manipulated RT and examined different components of event-related potentials (ERPs), brainstem responses, and cortical rhythmic activity. The core finding is consistent across studies: RT prolongation reduces the amplitudes of brain responses and increases their latencies. However, the sensitivity of the EEG markers varied along the auditory hierarchy with the earliest components tracking subtle differences (a few tens of microseconds), while the later components coding the larger changes (up to 500 ms). Effects are further modulated by the experimental parameters, participant age, and speech-related problems, while limited pediatric research, considerable methodological heterogeneity and predominantly small sample sizes limit the clear conclusions on these modulations. Future research should prioritize understudied clinical populations and developmental ERP components such as P1 and N2, which are dominant in children.
PubMed2026
Multimodal Assessment of Electroacupuncture Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis in Mice.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease that commonly affects the knee and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and functional limitation. Synovial inflammation and changes in periarticular muscles contribute to disease initiation and progression. Clinical evidence suggests that electroacupuncture may alleviate local inflammation and modulate cartilage metabolism. In this study, knee osteoarthritis was induced in mice by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus. Outcomes were assessed using a multimodal protocol comprising the rotarod test, ultrasound, infrared thermography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histological staining. Joint cavity volume and skin temperature were monitored longitudinally, and endpoint magnetic resonance imaging and Safranin O-Fast Green staining were used to assess periarticular muscle signal changes and cartilage pathology. Electroacupuncture was associated with improved motor performance, reduced joint swelling, higher local skin temperature, less pronounced periarticular muscle signal changes on magnetic resonance images, and lower cartilage degeneration scores. These findings support the use of this multimodal protocol to assess electroacupuncture-associated outcomes in a preclinical mouse model.
PubMed2026
Standardized Acupuncture Plus Modified Xiaoxuming Decoction for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Acute ischemic stroke is accompanied by systemic inflammation and intestinal microbial disturbance. This single-center, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial tested whether standardized acupuncture plus modified Xiaoxuming Decoction, added to standard care, improved early neurological recovery and was associated with predefined gut and inflammatory biomarkers. Adults with imaging-confirmed acute ischemic stroke within 72 h and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 4-15 were randomized 1:1 to standard care or the combined intervention for 28 days, with 64 participants per group. The primary endpoint was day-28 NIHSS adjusted for baseline NIHSS, age, sex, reperfusion therapy, and onset-to-randomization time, with missing outcomes handled by 30-fold multiple imputation. Secondary and exploratory outcomes included the Barthel Index, day-90 modified Rankin Scale (mRS), adverse events, inflammatory markers, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), fecal microbial diversity, selected genera, and short-chain fatty acids. Multiple imputation analysis estimated a lower day-28 NIHSS score in the intervention group (adjusted difference: -1.30 points; 95% confidence interval: -2.36 to -0.24; P = 0.017). Day-28 Barthel Index was higher, whereas day-90 NIHSS, Barthel Index, and observed mRS 0-2 did not differ significantly. At day 28, the intervention group had higher Shannon diversity and fecal butyrate and lower interleukin-6 and LPS. Participant-level changes in butyrate, interleukin-6, LPS, and Shannon diversity were not significantly associated with NIHSS change; therefore, mediation analysis was not performed. No intervention-related serious adverse event was identified. The combined intervention was associated with modest early neurological improvement and selected biomarker differences, but the biological findings are exploratory and do not establish a causal brain-gut pathway.
PubMed2026
Effects of rosehip (Rosa canina) supplementation on orthostatic intolerance symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) and related symptoms are common complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Antioxidant compounds, such as those found in rosehip fruit, may have the potential to alleviate orthostatic symptom burden. This study evaluated the effects of rosehip fruit extract on orthostatic symptoms in adults with T2DM. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted over four weeks among 60 adults with T2DM and OH referred to the Yazd Center for Diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either rosehip fruit extract (two capsules daily, each containing 500 mg) or placebo. Orthostatic symptoms were assessed using the Orthostatic Intolerance Questionnaire (OIQ). Clinical relevance was evaluated using predefined minimal clinically important difference thresholds. RESULTS: Of the 60 randomized participants, 57 completed the 4-week intervention. At the end of the study, a greater proportion of participants in the rosehip group no longer met diagnostic criteria for orthostatic hypotension compared with the placebo group (prevalence ratio = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.18-5.62). The rosehip group experienced significantly greater reductions in OIQ scores compared with placebo, and these differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for baseline values and age (P = 0.001). The magnitude of symptom improvement in the rosehip group exceeded the predefined thresholds for clinical relevance. CONCLUSION: Rosehip extract significantly reduced orthostatic symptom burden and the prevalence of OH in patients with T2DM. Benefits were primarily reflected in symptomatic scores and systolic blood pressure. While promising and well-tolerated, these preliminary results require confirmation in larger, multicenter trials incorporating long-term objective hemodynamic monitoring.
PubMed2026
Electroacupuncture Targeting the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Senescence‑associated Cognitive Impairment: Mechanistic Synthesis and Meta‑analysis of Clinical Randomized Controlled Trials.
Global population aging leads to a growing clinical demand for interventions against age-related cognitive decline (ARCD), including mild cognitive impairment (MCI, termed senescence-associated cognitive impairment [SACI] in this review)-a prodromal pathological stage preceding Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia. Chronic microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, predominantly triggered by excessive NLRP3 inflammasome activation, acts as a key upstream mediator of hippocampal neuronal injury and gradual cognitive decline in preclinical aging models.Manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) exert reproducible neuroprotective effects against cognitive deficits, yet a comprehensive, multi-layered regulatory framework unifying NLRP3-centered molecular mechanisms of acupuncture remains absent from current literature. This review systematically summarizes NLRP3‑dependent pathological cascades in SACI and outlines four synergistic signaling axes through which acupuncture may modulate excessive NLRP3‑dependent inflammatory responses to potentially alleviate neurotoxic inflammatory injury.Persistent overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome triggers self-amplifying inflammatory feedback cycles in hippocampal tissue through four interrelated pathological processes: impaired autophagic clearance, disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis, persistent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated neuronal pyroptosis.Acupuncture counteracts NLRP3-dependent neural injury through synergistic multi-target modulation: (1) activation of AMPK/mTOR signaling to restore defective autophagy; (2) suppression of the ROS-TXNIP cascade to block NLRP3 transcriptional priming and protein oligomerization; (3) phenotypic reprogramming of microglia from pro-inflammatory M1 toward anti-inflammatory M2 states; (4) inhibition of pyroptotic execution by blunting caspase-1 maturation and GSDMD proteolytic cleavage. Collectively, available pre‑clinical evidence suggests these signaling axes constitute a bidirectionally‑interconnected hypothetical protective network that may mitigate chronic neuroinflammation.A meta analysis integrating nine eligible randomized controlled trials (published 2015-2025) involving 614 participants was performed. After subject dropout, 599 participants completed the studies. Pooled analyses of heterogeneous acupuncture/electroacupuncture RCTs revealed that intervention was associated with short‑term improvements in MoCA and MMSE scores and reduction in peripheral pro‑inflammatory cytokine IL‑6. Pooled effect sizes were moderately larger in MCI subgroups compared with patients with early AD. Nevertheless, substantial methodological heterogeneity existed across included trials, and these short term observational findings cannot confirm durable disease modifying benefits.Severe methodological heterogeneity across existing trials-including inconsistent acupoint prescriptions, divergent EA stimulation parameters, and variable treatment cycles-impairs cross-study comparability and translational reproducibility. Herein, we synthesize high‑quality preclinical and clinical evidence to propose a provisional consensus‑oriented translational reference protocol for electroacupuncture, intended for standardized mechanistic research rather than routine clinical intervention.Collectively, the NLRP3 inflammasome constitutes a tractable therapeutic target for acupuncture-mediated SACI intervention. Acupuncture exerts pleiotropic neuroprotection by dampening NLRP3-dependent neuroinflammation, alongside complementary NLRP3-independent regulatory pathways. This review‑meta‑analysis provides preliminary translational theoretical evidence for a provisional electroacupuncture intervention framework targeting NLRP3‑mediated neuroinflammation in MCI and early‑AD. Future high‑quality, multi‑center RCTs are warranted to validate these preliminary findings.
PubMed2026
Metagenomic analysis of rhizosphere soil microbiota in wild and cultivated Notopterygium incisum, an umbelliferae medicinal herb.
Notopterygium incisum is not only a traditional Chinese medicine but also an endemic herb. Artificial domestication and large-scale cultivation are crucial for resolving the crisis of wild resources and the supply-demand imbalance of N. incisum, yet current techniques have failed to stably provide the herb medicine in good quality. Metagenomic analyses revealed significant differences in the rhizomicrobiota between wild and cultivated N. incisum, particularly in microbial composition, gene functions, and community assembly. The rhizomicrobiota of the wild N. incisum from 3 different sites with an altitude drop over 1400 m had a similar composition when being compared with the cultivated samples. The wild N. incisum had higher abundances of beneficial microbes, particularly Hyphomicrobiales (Rhizobiales) (21.27% on average). In contrast, the rhizosphere microbial communities of the cultivated N. incisum showed a high prevalence of functional genes involved in the pathways of DNA repair and recombination proteins, replication and repair, peptidases and inhibitors, DNA replication proteins, and transfer RNA biogenesis. The co-occurrence networks analysis indicated that the stability of the wild samples' network remained significantly more robust when nodes were proportionally removed, as the wild samples' network had approximately the same positive and negative links while the cultivated samples' network had nearly all positive links and many fewer connectors. This is related to the conclusion that wild N. incisum exhibits superior efficacy, as reported in previous studies. Additionally, it can be observed from the sampling images that the root surface of wild N. incisum has more pronounced tiny protrusions, which may be associated with rhizobial attachment, thereby enhancing the nitrogen fixation process. Importantly, the observed shifts in rhizosphere microbial communities, particularly the enrichment of beneficial rhizobia in wild plants, are closely linked to enhanced accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites such as coumarins and volatile oils. These microbiome-driven differences are likely associated with the superior medicinal quality of wild N. incisum compared to cultivated counterparts, highlighting the pivotal role of rhizosphere microbes in shaping therapeutic efficacy.
PubMed2026
Music-STAR trial: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of live and recorded music-based interventions on preoperative stress, mood, pain and biomarkers in neurosurgical patients.
INTRODUCTION: Neurosurgical patients commonly experience significant preoperative anxiety, which can negatively impact surgical outcomes and recovery trajectories. Music, as a powerful neurophysiological modulator of the human stress response, offers a non-pharmacological, non-invasive and cost-effective approach to anxiolysis by stabilising the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of live and recorded music on preoperative stress, serum-level and plasma-level biomarkers, perceived pain, anxiety and mood states in neurosurgical cancer patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Enrolled neurosurgical patients (n=132) will be equally randomised to one of three groups: (1) simulated live music intervention using a Steinway Spirio M recording/player piano, (2) recorded music played through ambient speakers, or (3) control (no music). The musical selections will all incorporate 16 validated Compositional Elements of Relaxation (CERs). The intervention period will last 30 min.Endpoints will be assessed using validated pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State subscale (STAI-S), the Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF), and the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VASP), as well as serum biomarkers (eg, interleukin-6, cortisol and epinephrine) analysed using broad-spectrum proteomic and metabolomic approaches.The study will be conducted from January 2025 to January 2028. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol was approved by the review board at MD Anderson Cancer Center on 12 May 2025. The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06536504.
PubMed2026
Effect of a project achievement-oriented Quality Control Circle on traditional Chinese medicine nursing outcomes in elderly patients with distal radius fractures: A retrospective comparative study.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a project achievement-oriented Quality Control Circle (QCC) model in improving traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nursing outcomes for elderly patients with conservatively treated distal radius fractures (DRFs). This retrospective comparative study included 112 elderly DRF patients admitted between June 2022 and December 2023. Based on the admission period, 56 patients (June 2022-March 2023) received routine care (control group), and 56 patients (March-December 2023) received a comprehensive TCM nursing model driven by a project-oriented QCC. Outcomes included complication rate, TCM intervention delivery rate, pain (Visual Analog Scale), swelling score, wrist function (Cooney score), and patient/staff satisfaction. Both groups received identical Menghe School bone-setting and small splint fixation. The intervention group additionally received a QCC-driven comprehensive TCM nursing model. The intervention group showed significantly lower total complication rates (3.6% vs 19.6%, relative risk = 0.18, P = .008), a higher TCM delivery rate (100% vs 64%, P < .05), greater reductions in pain and swelling, and higher Cooney scores (95 vs 75, P < .05) compared with the control group. All 9 quality indicators met or exceeded targets. Staff competency and team cohesion also improved. This retrospective study suggests that a project-oriented QCC model may enhance TCM nursing quality and short-term clinical outcomes in elderly DRF patients. However, given the study's observational design and single-center setting, these preliminary findings require validation through multicenter prospective trials with validated instruments and long-term follow-up. Robustness analysis using a propensity score-matched concurrent control group yielded consistent findings, supporting the validity of the primary results.
PubMed2026
Impact of acupuncture on lower limb motor function recovery after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND: Lower-extremity motor impairment after stroke is a major determinant of mobility limitation and persistent disability. Acupuncture is frequently used as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation, but the magnitude and consistency of its effects on lower-limb recovery remain uncertain. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to December 31, 2025, without language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials evaluating needle-based acupuncture for poststroke lower-limb recovery were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials version 2.0, and the certainty of evidence for the main outcomes was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Meta-analyses were conducted in Stata 18.0 using random-effects models, and treatment effects for continuous outcomes were pooled as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with Hedges g correction and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Because fewer than 10 studies contributed to each outcome, formal funnel-plot asymmetry tests, including Egger test, were not performed; publication bias was considered qualitatively. RESULTS: Six trials met the inclusion criteria. Acupuncture was associated with improved lower-extremity motor function, as measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Lower Extremity (SMD = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.32-0.71; I2 = 53.9%; low certainty). Balance assessed by the Berg Balance Scale also favored acupuncture but showed substantial heterogeneity (SMD = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.35-1.56; I2 = 91.5%; very low certainty). The Modified Barthel Index did not demonstrate a statistically significant benefit (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.16-0.68; I2 = 86.3%; very low certainty). The high heterogeneity for Berg Balance Scale and Modified Barthel Index indicates that these pooled estimates should be interpreted cautiously. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may provide low-certainty incremental improvements in poststroke lower-extremity motor impairment. Evidence for balance and activities of daily living remains very uncertain because of substantial heterogeneity, limited sample size, and variability in acupuncture protocols and control conditions. Larger, prospectively registered, methodologically rigorous trials with standardized protocols, comparable rehabilitation dose, and clinically interpretable outcome reporting are needed.
PubMed2026
Long-term integrative personalized medicine care in massive brainstem hemorrhage: A CARE-compliant case report.
RATIONALE: Brainstem hemorrhage is a rare but devastating subtype of intracerebral hemorrhage that frequently presents with impaired consciousness, quadriplegia, and recurrent infections. Integrative personalized medicine care (IPMC), which combines essential conventional treatments with personalized traditional Korean medicine interventions, has been suggested to improve functional outcomes and support immune regulation. By closely monitoring a patient with massive brainstem hemorrhage treated with IPMC, we observed neurological improvement, effective control of recurrent infections and inflammation, and sustained safety of long-term herbal medications. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 48-year-old female patient with a brainstem hemorrhage was managed at Kyung Hee University Hospital with IPMC for posthemorrhagic functional impairment and recurrent infection. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with a massive pontine hemorrhage with posthemorrhagic functional impairment and recurrent infection. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received conventional treatment and integrative personalized traditional Korean medicine interventions, including herbal medications and acupuncture. OUTCOMES: We retrospectively analyzed the 2-year clinical course of the patient who received IPMC to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment. Functional outcomes and inflammation control were assessed using standardized scales (modified Barthel index, Korean mini-mental state examination, Glasgow Coma Scale, global deterioration scale, level of consciousness, manual muscle testing, and Fugl-Meyer assessment) and hematological markers (C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic inflammation response index). Liver and renal functions were monitored through laboratory tests (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltransferase, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate). Regarding the efficacy of IPMC, functional improvements in neurological and motor outcomes were observed throughout the treatment period. Dependence on antibiotics progressively decreased, whereas the proportion of herbal medication-centered treatments increased. Infections with C-reactive protein levels <2.0 mg/dL were effectively managed with herbal medications alone. Furthermore, despite the long-term use of combined treatments, no hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity was observed, confirming the safety of IPMC. LESSONS: This case demonstrates the efficacy and safety of IPMC, which integrates herbal medications with conventional treatment, for managing posthemorrhagic functional impairment and recurrent infections. These findings provide a foundation for future prospective studies. Further research is required to strengthen this evidence and validate the effectiveness of IPMC.
PubMed2026
Add-on Moxibustion and Detoxification Enema Alleviates Symptoms and Improves Renal Function in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated the clinical efficacy of adjunctive moxibustion combined with detoxification enema in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Clinical data were retrospectively collected from patients with CKD treated between January 2020 and May 2024. All patients received losartan potassium (50 mg once daily) and general supportive care. The treatment group additionally received moxibustion combined with detoxification enema. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 60 days. The primary outcome was the change in measured creatinine clearance (Ccr), with renal function parameters and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores also evaluated. Ccr increased from 24.38 ± 7.21 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 32.16 ± 5.68 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the treatment group and from 26.15 ± 8.04 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 29.86 ± 6.29 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the comparison group. The baseline-adjusted between-group difference in post-treatment Ccr was 2.29 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, 0.31-4.27; p = 0.024), favoring the treatment group. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, and TCM symptom scores also decreased after treatment. Adjunctive moxibustion, combined with a detoxification enema, was associated with improved short-term renal function and reduced TCM symptom scores. Prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.
PubMed2026
Adding Rib Mobilization to Diaphragm Release Techniques in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial.
BACKGROUND: Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a frequent issue that can negatively affect both mobility and function. Recently, there has been growing interest in newer therapeutic approaches, including rib mobilization and diaphragm release techniques, as potential ways to address NSNP and support better outcomes for those affected. PURPOSE: To find out the immediate effects of how (DRT) combined with (RMT) affects the level of pain and the extent to which patients' functional abilities are improved in cases of NSNP. METHODS: For this prospective RCT, 96 participants aged 20 to 45 years were randomly assigned to one of three equal groups based on their pain score (VAS). Group B engaged in (DRT) for 40 minutes, three times weekly for 8 weeks, in contrast to Group A, which got both RMT combined with DRT. Group C (active control) received advice and some exercises. Measurements were collected before and after the intervention; the primary outcomes included pain severity, evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS); active neck range of motion (ROM), measured with a cervical range of motion (CROM) device; and neck flexion endurance. Additionally, the secondary outcome of neck-related disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was identified among the three groups at baseline; nevertheless, a treatment effect emerged after 8 weeks (p = 0.001 and f-value = 4.15, ƞ2 = 0.306). A statistically significant time-treatment interaction was seen when comparing the pre- and post-treatment periods in groups A and B (p = 0.001, f-value = 3.16, ƞ2 = 0.251). CONCLUSION: The addition of rib mobilization to diaphragm release techniques in patients with non-specific neck pain resulted in statistically significant improvements in pain intensity, cervical flexion, right lateral rotation, left lateral rotation, right rotation, and neck flexor endurance, with moderate to large effect sizes for pain reduction and cervical motion. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups for cervical extension, left rotation, or the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and only a marginal clinical improvement in NDI was noted in Group A. The observed benefits in the combined intervention group may not be attributable solely to rib mobilization. The increased treatment complexity and greater therapist interaction inherent in the combined approach could also have influenced the outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07133646.
PubMed2026
Application of the TCM inheritance computing platform to summarize clinical practice patterns in recurrent urinary tract infections: A systematic review.
BACKGROUND: The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Inheritance Computing Platform (V3.0) provides advanced data-mining capabilities for analyzing large-scale clinical data, enabling systematic extraction of prescription patterns and therapeutic principles. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review applied the TCM Inheritance Computing Platform to summarize clinical practice patterns in rUTIs, focusing on the clinical experience of Professor Qu Wei and evidence from clinical trials conducted between 2022 and 2025. METHODS: Clinical trials were systematically retrieved from international registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP, ChiCTR, PubMed). Variables, including demographics, syndrome classification, interventions and outcomes, were standardized and encoded for analysis. Frequency analysis, association rule mining and hierarchical clustering were conducted to identify high-frequency symptoms, core prescriptions, herb compatibility patterns and therapeutic clusters. RESULTS: Thirty-eight clinical trials (3,462 patients) were analyzed, predominantly female (72.4%), aged 28-57 years, with 3-6 recurrent episodes annually. Damp-heat in the lower jiao (62.1%) was the most frequent TCM syndrome, followed by spleen-kidney qi deficiency (38.6%) and yin deficiency with heat (21.3%). Key herbs included Huang Bai (71%), Fu Ling (69%), Che Qian Zi (65%) and Bai Zhu (58%). Association rule mining highlighted core herb pairs such as Huang Bai-Fu Ling (support 61%, confidence 0.82). Cluster analysis revealed three therapeutic groups: (A) damp-heat clearing formulas, (B) damp-heat with qi stagnation and (C) kidney-tonifying prescriptions. Interventions reduced recurrence by 30-45%, improved symptoms, quality of life and showed immunomodulatory and microbiota-regulating effects. CONCLUSION: The TCM Inheritance Computing Platform effectively summarized rUTI practice patterns, validating damp-heat clearing and kidney-tonifying as core strategies. Herb pair associations strengthen evidence-based integration of TCM, offering a replicable, data-driven model for recurrent infection management.
PubMed2026
Clinical and Electromyographic Effect of Tui-Na Massage Versus Positional Release on Postpartum Neck Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neck pain is prevalent in postpartum women due to postural stress and muscle dysfunction. Although postural correction exercises are widely used, adding manual therapy techniques such as positional release and Tui-Na may enhance outcomes. However, comparative evidence, particularly using surface electromyography (sEMG), remains limited. This study examined the effects of Tui-Na (TN) versus positional release techniques (PRT) added to postural correction exercises (PCEs) on postpartum neck pain. METHODS: Sixty women with postpartum neck pain were randomly assigned to three groups for 4 weeks of prescribed treatment. Group A (control) received PCEs, while either PRT or Tui-Na were added to PCEs for Groups B and C, respectively. The primary outcome was neck pain intensity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and upper trapezius electromyographic characteristics (normalized root mean square [RMS] and median frequency [MDF]). A two-way repeated-measures MANOVA was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Significant multivariate effects were observed for group effects (F = 4.798, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.147), time (F = 851.51, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.968), and group-by-time interaction (F = 3.87, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.122). Pain intensity was significantly reduced in both groups B (p = 0.035) and C (p = 0.003) when compared to group A. UT-MDF was significantly increased in group C when compared to groups A (p < 0.001) or B (p = 0.02). All groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements in all outcome measures. DISCUSSION: Both Tui-Na and PRT combined with PCEs improved pain and disability in postpartum women with neck pain. Compared with PRT, Tui-Na demonstrated greater improvements in pain intensity and upper trapezius EMG frequency characteristics. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the short intervention period and lack of long-term follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT07261605.
PubMed2026
Combined Respiratory and Kegel Exercises for Postoperative Recovery After Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Retrospective Controlled Study.
This study presents a structured protocol combining respiratory and Kegel exercises for postoperative rehabilitation following laparoscopic hysterectomy and retrospectively evaluates the protocol's association with recovery outcomes. Ninety-four patients treated between January 2022 and August 2023 were retrospectively evaluated according to the postoperative rehabilitation documented in their medical records: 47 received combined respiratory and Kegel exercises in addition to routine rehabilitation (observation group), and 47 received routine rehabilitation alone (control group). The combined program was initiated on postoperative day 1 after clinical stabilization and continued during hospitalization and after discharge for 2 months; the exact postoperative hour of the first rehabilitation session was not consistently documented in the retrospective records. Because the study was retrospective, random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and prospective blinding were not performed. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics showed no evident between-group imbalance. The observation group had earlier first flatus, earlier resumption of oral intake, and a shorter postoperative hospital stay. At the 2-month follow-up, the observation group showed fewer pelvic floor symptom indicators and better sustained- and rapid-contraction pelvic floor muscle performance. Acute postoperative pain at 12 h and 24 h was lower in the observation group. Because oral intake, first flatus, and the 12 h pain assessment occurred before or around rehabilitation initiation, these early postoperative findings were interpreted as descriptive between-group differences rather than effects attributable to the rehabilitation intervention. The observation group also had higher Incontinence Quality of Life scores and lower Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 scores, indicating a more favorable quality-of-life profile. Receipt of combined respiratory and Kegel exercise rehabilitation was associated with more favorable postoperative recovery, although the retrospective single-center design requires cautious interpretation and prospective confirmation.
PubMed2026
Comparison of therapeutic results with/without additional electroacupuncture therapy in sudden sensorineural hearing loss with anxiety or depression: A randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a medical emergency that can significantly impact patients' quality of life, often accompanied by anxiety and depression. Although pharmacotherapy is a common treatment, its effectiveness in improving both auditory and psychological outcomes remains limited. Acupuncture, especially electroacupuncture (EA), has shown potential in treating SSNHL and related affective disorders, but its adjunctive role with pharmacotherapy needs further investigation. OBJECTIVES: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the incremental benefits of adding EA to standard pharmacotherapy on audiological and psychological outcomes in patients with SSNHL accompanied by anxiety or depression. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 78 SSNHL patients, divided equally into two groups: P group (n=39) and EA+P group (n=39). The EA+P group received additional EA therapy for 7 days besides the pharmacological treatments. Baseline demographics, pure tone audiometric thresholds (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 kHz) and psychological scores (HAMD, HAMA) were recorded. Pre-treatment and post-treatment assessments were performed to evaluate changes in hearing thresholds and mental health outcomes. RESULTS: The EA+P group showed significant improvements at all frequencies (p < 0.001). Hearing gain was significantly greater in the EA+P group across all frequencies (p ≤ 0.044). Besides, the EA+P group demonstrated significant reductions in HAMD and HAMA scores (p < 0.001), whereas the P group showed no significant changes (p ≥ 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: Combined EA+P therapy significantly improves hearing recovery and reduces psychological symptom in SSNHL patients with anxiety and depression compared to drug treatment alone. This suggests a synergistic benefit of integrating acupuncture with conventional treatment.
PubMed2026
Data mining and multi-omics profiling to reveal the mechanisms of cold/hot property of traditional Chinese medicine in Alzheimer's disease treatment.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severely debilitating condition that significantly hampers independent living, with no effective treatments currently available. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown substantial promise in both preventing and alleviating AD symptoms. The medicinal properties-specifically hot, warm, cool, and cold-serve as a critical link between TCM theory and clinical application. However, the majority of research has concentrated on individual herbs for AD, with relatively few comprehensive studies exploring the biological mechanisms through which these herbs exert their medicinal properties. In this context, data mining, network pharmacology, and multi-omics approaches, including metabolomics, gut microbiota analysis, and proteomics, were employed to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of action of three hot/warm property herbs (THPH) and three cold/cool property herbs (TCPH) in the treatment of AD. Findings indicated that the herbs effective against AD primarily possess warm properties. THPH demonstrated a significant enhancement in cognitive, learning, and memory functions in AD rat models when compared to TCPH, potentially achieving therapeutic effects by boosting the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Furthermore, THPH modulated energy metabolism, corrected metabolic imbalances in both brain and serum within AD rat models, inhibited oxidative stress, restored synaptic plasticity-related proteins and signaling pathways, and maintained intestinal microbiota homeostasis. Consequently, this study offers valuable insights into the therapeutic implications of the hot (warm) and cold (cool) properties of TCM in the management of Alzheimer's disease.
PubMed2026
Development and evaluation of pk-Ctone: A computationally efficient strategy for enhanced Mandarin tone perception in cochlear implants.
Conventional cochlear implant (CI) strategies convey limited tonal information. Although fundamental frequency (F0)-based strategies, such as C-tone, which combines F0 extraction with amplitude envelope modulation, improve Mandarin tone perception, their high computational demands hinder integration into power- and resource-constrained devices. This study evaluates a lexical tone enhancement CI strategy, pk-Ctone, that employs a computationally efficient local extrema-based F0 detection algorithm. Acoustic evaluations on two Mandarin monosyllabic corpora assessed both the coarse-scale robustness and fine-scale fidelity of F0 detection. Computational operations required for F0 extraction were quantified, and a clinical trial with 62 participants compared Mandarin speech recognition using pk-Ctone versus a standard envelope-based baseline. Results showed that pk-Ctone reduced the computational operations for F0 extraction by more than 30-fold compared with C-tone. Although this efficiency gain incurred a penalty in fine-scale precision, pk-Ctone achieved improved coarse-scale robustness, as quantified by Accuracy and F1-score. Clinically, pk-Ctone yielded significant improvements in recognition of monosyllabic tones (+10.1% points, pp), monosyllabic words (+19.2 pp), and disyllabic words (+13.0 pp). These findings indicate that pk-Ctone, by preserving coarse-scale F0 tracking robustness while reducing computational cost, maintains clinical effectiveness despite some loss in fine-scale precision, offering a practical solution for power- and resource-constrained CI processors.
PubMed2026
Developmental Trajectory of Auditory Brainstem Deficits in a Mouse Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders exhibit impaired auditory processing and atypical auditory behaviors across the disorder's spectrum. Although low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a prevalent type of exposure, the developmental trajectory of auditory processing deficits resulting from this level of exposure remains unknown. To examine the effects of PAE in the auditory system, we utilized the maternal voluntary alcohol consumption paradigm to model chronic low to moderate PAE throughout gestation. We measured auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) in juvenile mice (postnatal day 16-19) and longitudinally across early adolescence (4-5 weeks), late adolescence (7-8 weeks), and young adulthood (12-14 weeks). ABR abnormalities were first observed in juvenile PAE mice. The effects of PAE on brainstem auditory processing were most prominent in early adolescence, largely dissipated in late adolescence, and showed a reemergence in early adulthood. PAE mice showed elevated ABR thresholds, prolonged wave latencies, and reduced wave amplitudes. Ratios of ABR peak 3 relative to the first ABR peak indicated that the auditory brainstem pathways were hyperactive in PAE mice. The amplitude ratio was found to be elevated from early adolescence to early adulthood, suggesting that PAE has a persistent effect on auditory processing. We found a significant correlation between the amplitude ratios in early adolescent PAE mice and dam ethanol consumption, which point toward dose-dependent brainstem gain dysregulation. Our study shows multilevel auditory alterations highlighting the vulnerability of central auditory pathways to PAE and fills an important gap in understanding auditory processing deficits in a clinically relevant exposure model.
PubMed2026
Effects of Dynamic Neck Sensorimotor Biofeedback Training in Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is commonly accompanied by pain-related functional limitations, sensorimotor disturbances, and fear of movement, which together may contribute to persistent disability. This preliminary randomized controlled trial study investigated the short-term effects of dynamic neck sensorimotor-based biofeedback training in individuals with MNP. 20 MNP patients from outpatient clinics were assigned to a biofeedback training group or a control group. The training group underwent dynamic biofeedback exercises twice weekly for 2 weeks, whereas the control group performed repeated cervical movements without biofeedback. Outcomes included cervical kinematics as repositioning errors (RPE), movement units (MU), maximal range of motion (ROM), and subjective measures, including pain intensity, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). All participants completed post-intervention assessments; adherence in the training group was 100%, with no missing data and no adverse events reported. Within the biofeedback training group, participants receiving biofeedback training demonstrated greater improvements in cervical repositioning accuracy during flexion (51.95%, p = 0.04) and extension (46.67%, p = 0.02), along with reductions in fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity and work (p < 0.05); these changes were less apparent in the active control group. Exploratory regression analyses suggested associations between improvements in repositioning accuracy and pain reduction, and between increased cervical range of motion and improvements in fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity. These pilot findings suggest that dynamic sensorimotor biofeedback training may improve proprioceptive acuity and fear-avoidance beliefs in individuals with MNP, supporting further evaluation in an adequately powered randomized trial.
PubMed2026
Effects of Progressive Inspiratory Muscle Training on Lung Volume and Respiratory Strength in Patients With Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease.
INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease can present changes in thoracic cavity volume and respiratory muscle weakness, even in the pre-dialysis stage. However, there is little evidence on the effects of inspiratory muscle training in these patients. METHODS: This was a randomized clinical trial which comprised patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in stages 3, 4, and 5 undergoing conservative treatment, allocated experimental group (EG) with progressive loading (up to 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure [MIP]) and control group (CG) with a fixed load (5 cmH2O) and no load progression performed daily for 8 weeks. The outcomes assessed were thoracic cavity volumes, as measured by optoelectronic plethysmography, and inspiratory and expiratory respiratory muscle strength. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients completed the study. All volumes significantly increased at the end of the protocol with a large effect size, but only the pulmonary thoracic cavity volume showed a significant interaction (F = 3.698; p = 0.042). There was an increase in inspiratory muscle strength in the EG (73.88-90.35 cmH2O; p < 0.001) and in the CG (70.85-86.92 cmH2O; p = 0.001), as well as in expiratory muscle strength in the EG (97.71-108.53 cmH2O; p = 0.001) and in the CG (80.69-94.77 cmH2O; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Daily IMT increased thoracoabdominal volumes, particularly pulmonary rib cage volume in the progressive-load group, as well as respiratory muscle strength in patients with pre-dialysis CKD. However, progressive-load IMT was not superior to minimal-load training.
PubMed2026
Effects of Yoga on Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
BACKGROUND: Yoga, a holistic mind-body practice used to improve physical function and psychological well-being in chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of yoga in reducing psychological function and inflammation in individuals with RA. METHODS: A thorough literature search was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed) for studies published between January 1994 and June 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating the impact of yoga on RA were selected. Data extraction was carried out independently by two reviewers. The outcomes evaluated included both subjective and objective indicators of Disease Activity Score (DAS), Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ-DI) and inflammatory markers. RESULT: Eight RCT involving 651 participants were eligible for this study. Yoga interventions significantly improved psychological outcomes, with reductions in DAS 28 (SMD = -0.44; 95% CI = [-0.56 to -0.31]; p < 0.0001) compared to the control group. However, no significant changes were found in HAQ-DI (SMD = -0.23; 95% CI = [-0.81 to 0.36]; p = 0.30). Regarding inflammatory biomarkers, yoga significantly reduced serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (SMD = -0.65; 95% CI = [-1.17 to -0.13]; p = 0.03), while changes in Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) were not statistically significant (SMD = -0.71; 95% CI = [-1.74 to 0.33]; p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that yoga significantly improves mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, depression & lowers inflammation through reduced IL-6 levels. However, its effect on physical health and TNF-α was not consistent, suggesting more research is needed. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate and standardize its use.
PubMed2026
Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This comprehensive meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an adjunctive therapy to conventional treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with osteoporosis (OP) aimed to provide evidence and guidance for clinical practice. We systematically searched four international databases and four Chinese databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to November 2025. Meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed in R using the meta and gemtc packages. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (ROB2) was employed to assess the quality of included studies to ensure their rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 eligible studies involving 944 patients were identified. The results indicated that compared with conventional Western medical therapy (CWMT) alone, CWMT plus TCM demonstrated a certain degree of improvement in the primary outcomes, namely bone mineral density (BMD) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-1.07, I2 = 83.8%, PHEW < 0.001) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.17-0.90, I2 = 76.5%, PHEW = 0.007). Statistically significant improvements were observed in some secondary outcomes. The original studies did not adequately report adverse events. The available data only suggested short-term tolerability. According to network meta-analysis results, among the three treatment approaches, the TLKRBS (tonifying the lung and kidney and resolving blood stasis) approach had the highest probability of being ranked first for increasing BMD (surface under the cumulative ranking curve [SUCRA] = 98.82%) and FEV1 (SUCRA = 99.99%), indicating a substantial effect on improvement. The combination of CWMT and TCM may yield more favorable outcomes compared to CWMT alone for treating COPD with OP. The meta-analysis results indicate that the therapeutic efficacy of TCM combined with CWMT may be improved to a certain extent compared with CWMT alone. However, the certainty of the evidence is limited due to small sample sizes, high heterogeneity, and risks of bias. Future high-quality RCTs with rigorous designs, larger sample sizes, and standardized outcome measures are warranted to strengthen the evidence base for the application of TCM in patients with COPD and comorbid OP and to further confirm its efficacy.