Traditional Medicine For Treatment Research Articles

NSAID PRESCRIPTION SURVEY IN INTEGRATED TRADITIONAL AND WESTERN MEDICINE TREATMENT: ASSESSING GASTROINTESTINAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS

Introduction: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) usage should be carefully considered based on gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) risks. In light of restricted evidence, this study aims to assess the prescription of NSAIDs concerning the GI and CV risks in the integrated treatment of Traditional medicine (TM) and Western medicine (WM). Materials and method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 393 medical records of inpatients using NSAIDs in 2022 at the Traditional Medicine Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City. GI and CV risks, as well as information regarding NSAID prescriptions, were recorded. A multivariable regression model was employed to identify factors associated with the prescription of NSAID groups. Results: NSAIDs were primarily prescribed for musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders (87.28%). Approximately half of the cases exhibited moderate to high GI risk (47.59%), while for CV risk, there were 68.95% with moderate to very high risk. COX-2 inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed (94.66%), even when considering GI and CV risks separately. In the majority, NSAID prescriptions aligned with both risks according to American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines (73.79%). The prescription of NSAID groups was significantly influenced by patient gender, ailment type, and physician education (p<0.05), but not by GI and CV risks (p>0.05). Conclusion: Patients receiving NSAIDs in integrated TM and WM treatment often faced an increased GI and CV risk, with the majority adhering to ACG guidelines. However, GI and CV risks were not significantly considered for NSAID group selections. Multi-center studies should be conducted.

The Practice and Modalities of African Traditional Medicine in Tuberculosis Treatment - A Traditional Medical Practitioners’ Perspective

Aims: This study sought to explore the role of the traditional medical practitioner (TMP) and document the modalities of tuberculosis (TB) treatment in traditional medicine (TM) in Harare, Zimbabwe. Study design: An ethnographic research survey of TMPs in Harare urban. Place and Duration of Study: Harare’s southern suburbs of Warren Park, Mufakose, Budiriro, Belvedere, Mbare (Mupedzanhamo) and Harare central business district, between April and June 2021. Methodology: Fourteen (14) experienced TB practitioners, registered with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) were recruited for the study. These included exclusive herbalists (36%), spiritualists (14%) and those who used a combination of spiritualism and herbalism (50%) in their practice. Data was collected through semi-structured in-person interviews. The practices and treatment modalities in the traditional treatment of TB were documented; and any linkages with the conventional medical system were identified. Results: Forty-six (46) plant species from 28 families were prescribed in various polyherbal combinations for a maximum of 6 months in difficult cases. TMPs were found to be relevant and knowledgeable in the treatment of TB. In addition to offering alternative or complementary treatment options to patients, TMPs were also agents of health education promotion, and collaborated to some extent with allopathic healthcare providers across the service delivery system from diagnosis to treatment of patients. Conclusion: If formalized, TMPs have the potential to make considerable contributions to TB treatment strategies and help improve treatment outcome in TB patients.

Pharmacoacupuncture for the Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Frozen shoulder (FS) is one of the most challenging shoulder disorders for patients and clinicians. Its symptoms mainly include any combination of stiffness, nocturnal pain, and limitation of active and passive glenohumeral joint movement. Conventional treatment options for FS are physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injection therapy, and arthroscopic capsular release, but adverse and limited effects continue to present problems. As a result, pharmacoacupuncture (PA) is getting attention as an alternative therapy for patients with FS. PA is a new form of acupuncture treatment in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) that is mainly used for musculoskeletal diseases. It has similarity and specificity compared to corticosteroid injection and hydrodilatation, making it a potential alternative injection therapy for FS. However, no systematic reviews investigating the utilization of PA for FS have been published. Therefore, this review aims to standardize the clinical use of PA for FS and validate its therapeutic effect. The protocol was registered in Prospero (CRD42023445708) on 18 July 2023. Until Aug. 31, 2023, seven electronic databases will be searched for randomized controlled trials of PA for FS. Authors will be contacted, and manual searches will also be performed. Two reviewers will independently screen and collect data from retrieved articles according to predefined criteria. The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and secondary outcomes will be effective rate, Constant-Murley Score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, range of motion, quality of life, and adverse events. Bias and quality of the included trials will be assessed using the Cochrane handbook's risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Meta analyses will be conducted using Review Manager V.5.3 software. GRADE will be used to evaluate the level of evidence for each outcome. This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following PRISMA statement. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This review will provide scientific evidence to support health insurance policy as well as the standardization of PA in clinical practice.

Ethnobotanical survey and biological activities of plants used for cancer treatment in traditional Senegalese medicine

Female breast cancer is known to be one of the leading causes of death in Senegal. In Senegal, the absence of a national cancer control program, the lack of specialized infrastructure and qualified human resources and the exorbitant cost of care have contributed to the extensive use of traditional medecine, particularly in rural areas. This study aims to inventory the medicinal plants used by these healers and to assess the cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of the most widely used one. Data on healers and their use practices and information on plants were collected through the administration of a structured questionnaire. Based on their citation frequencies during the survey, Antiaris Africana Engler, Hymenocardia Acida Tul. and Halouf Halal (local name) were selected for chemical and biological studies. Their hydroalcoholic extracts were analyzed in terms of antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic effects, again, in the human cancer cell line. The study revealed a total of 65 medicinal plants belonging to 35 different families. The plant parts used by traditional healers are leaves (63.89%), roots (11.11%), bark (15.28%), fruits (2.78%), and others (6.94%). Generally, herbal medicine is prepared as a powder and mixed with water by maceration (55.38%) and administered orally. A. Africana ranked first with a citation frequency of 5.7% and its hydroalcoholic extract had the highest antioxidant activity in TEAC (6533.64±7 μmol ET/g dry plant) and in ORAC (3745.17±4.8 μmol ET/g dry plant) followed by H. Acida in TEAC (3115.6±145 μmol ET/g dry plant) and in ORAC (4105.29±872 μmol ET/g dry plant). The hydroalcoholic extract of A. Africana exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity in MCF-7 (Human mammary) and THP-1 (Human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) but had low activity against HTC-116 (Human carcinoma colorectal) and A-375 (Human skin malignant melanoma). The percentages of proapoptotic cells were, respectively, 68.85±6.22, 58.1±1.90 and 48.58±1.4%. These results provide scientific support for the traditional use of medicinal plants in cancer treatment and constitute a database for biological screening to isolate cytotoxic plant-based molecules.

Design, Production and Evaluation of Digital Educational Content Based on DDD-E Model: Depression Treatment in Traditional Persian Medicine

Multimedia conveys educational concepts and materials in an easier, wider, and more attractive way, along with text, sound, image, and video, to overcome the limitations caused by educational methods. The aim of the current research is to produce and evaluate digital multimedia based on the decide, design, develop, and-evaluate (DDD-E) model in the field of teaching depression treatment in traditional Persian medicine. The study was quantitative, and the professors and doctoral students of the two fields of medical education and traditional Persian medicine were the subjects of the present study. In this research, the DDD-E model was used to produce a training package for the treatment of depression in traditional Persian medicine. This study was conducted in four phases: decision-making, planning, development, and evaluation. The final evaluation was done in two stages. First, it was evaluated by preparing a checklist of educational multimedia production stages based on the original DDD-E model, and in the second stage, a QAMLM questionnaire was used to evaluate the final product. The results of the evaluation showed that, according to the evaluators, quality components were generally observed in multimedia production. There was a complete consensus among the experts regarding the quality of content matching the goal and attention to learning results (Kappa coefficient = 1). Regarding the quality of media selection components (Kappa coefficient = 0.383), Paying attention to cultural and social factors (Kappa coefficient = 0.395) There was the least consensus. The overall score of the multimedia produced was equal to 58.4, according to experts. The multimedia was produced in terms of content, education, and technology to provide training to general practitioners in order to improve practical knowledge and use the recommendations of traditional Persian medicine to adjust the treatment patterns of patients with depression.

Appearance and Chemical Characteristics of Seeds of Radish with Different Skin Colors

Background: Different parts of radish, such as the roots, leaves, and seeds, can be used in culinary and traditional medicine treatments in East Asia. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the difference of Raphani Semen (RS) which is sourced from radishes (R) with red skin (RRS), green skin (GRS), and white skin (WRS) through their appearance and chemical characteristics. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 batches of RRS, GRS, and WRS products were collected. The length, width, thickness, shape, flavor, and skin color of RS were carried out using vernier caliper and flavor rating assessment, respectively. The HPLC-DAD method was used to establish fingerprint analysis and measure the contents of sinapine thiocyanate and 3,6’-disinapoyl sucrose. Results: It was shown that the appearance and content varied in RRS, GRS, and WRS. In addition, the method of PLS-DA and LDA can differentiate RRS, GRS, and WRS. Conclusion: RS is diverse, and the appearance and chemical characteristics can be used to differentiate RRS, WRS, and GRS.

Review of epilepsy care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Epilepsy imposes a substantial burden on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These challenges encompass the lack of comprehensive disease surveillance, an unresolved understanding of its pathophysiology, economic barriers limiting access to essential care, the absence of epilepsy surgical capabilities, and deeply ingrained societal stigmas. Notably, the national prevalence of epilepsy remains undetermined, with research primarily concentrating on infectious factors like Onchocerca volvulus, leaving other potential causes underexplored. Most patients lack insurance, incurring out-of-pocket expenses that often lead them to opt for traditional medicine rather than clinical care. Social stigma, perpetuated by common misconceptions, intensifies the social isolation experienced by individuals living with epilepsy. Additionally, surgical interventions are unavailable, and the accessibility of anti-seizure medications and healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate. Effectively tackling these interrelated challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including conducting research into region-specific factors contributing to epilepsy, increasing healthcare funding, subsidizing the costs of treatment, deploying mobile tools for extensive screening, launching awareness campaigns to dispel myths and reduce stigma, and promoting collaborations between traditional healers and medical practitioners to enhance local understanding and epilepsy management. Despite the difficulties, significant progress can be achieved through sustained and compassionate efforts to understand and eliminate the barriers faced by epilepsy patients in the region. This review outlines essential steps for alleviating the epilepsy burden in the DRC. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: There are not enough resources to treat epilepsy in the DRC. PWEs struggle with stigma and the lack of money. Many of them still use traditional medicine for treatment and hold wrong beliefs about epilepsy. That is why there is a need for more resources to make the lives of PWEs better in the DRC.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the indigenous community of the western region of Mizoram, India

BackgroundPlants have long been utilized as traditional medicines by the inhabitants. However, until recently, the traditional knowledge had not been extensively documented from the hilly state of Mizoram, India. The present study was designed to perform a quantitative analysis of ethnomedicinal plants used by Mizo tribes using quantitative ethnobotanical indices. The study attempts to find new ethnomedicinal plant species that could be a source for the discovery of new drug formulations.MethodsThe information was obtained through extensive and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative indices such as informant consensus factor (ICF), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and relative importance index (RI) were used to quantify the advantages, significance, and coverage of ethnomedicine. All the collected data were analyzed using the ethnobotanyR package in R.ResultsA total of 124 ethnomedicinal plant species, distributed in 112 genera under 60 families, were documented from 206 informants. Herbs (49.19%) were the most dominant growth form, and leaves (49.19%) were the most common plant parts used for the preparation of herbal medicine while decoction (61.21%) was the most popular formulation. Asteraceae (11) were the most common families among the documented species. Digestive disease, burns, cuts, and wounds had the highest ICF value (0.94), and Lepionurus sylvestris had the highest FL (91%). Oroxylum indicum (6.25) was the most commonly utilized ethnomedicinal plant based on UV, RI had the highest value in Blumea lanceolaria (1.12), and O. indicum (0.29) had the highest RFC value. According to the findings, the traditional medicinal plant treatment is still widely used in the research area.ConclusionDocumentation of new ethnomedicinal species and their therapeutic usage will encourage further phytochemical and pharmacological research, potentially leading to the discovery of new drug formulations.

Investigation of the potential anti-urolithiatic activity of Alhagi maurorum (Boiss.) grown wild in Al-Ahsa (Eastern Province), Saudi Arabia.

The potential of Alhagi maurorum (Boiss.) aqueous extract (AME), used in traditional medicine for treatment or prevention of urolithiasis, to dissolve calcium oxalate stones in vitro was evaluated. In order to determine the litholytic potential of the extract, Calcium oxalate urinary stones were incubated during 12 weeks under continuous shaking in the presence of AME, Rowanix or NaCl 9 g/mL solution were used as controls. After the incubation period, the residual weight of the treated calculi was determined and the rate of dissolution was calculated. The medium pH variation was measured and changes in the calcium oxalate crystals at the stone surface were assessed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed a significant dissolution effect for the extract on the kidney calculi during the experimentation period. At the end of the experiment, the percentages of calculi weight decrease were 41.23, 4.97 and 55.67% for the extract, NaCl solution and Rowanix, respectively. Gas Chromatography analysis revealed mainly the presence of the following phyto-compounds: Cyclopropenone, 2,3-diphenyl; 1-Nonadecanol; methyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside; cis-9-Hexadecenal. These compounds unarguably play crucial roles in the health care system especially in cancer treatment and many other diseases including urolithiasis. The urinary stone dissolution, independent of medium pH, could be attributed to formation of complexes between the phytochemical compounds in the extract and the calculi.

Unleashing the potential: integrating nano-delivery systems with traditional Chinese medicine.

This review explores the potential of integrating nano-delivery systems with traditional Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese medical theory. It highlights the intersections and potential of nano-delivery systems in enhancing the effectiveness of traditional herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments. In addition, it discusses how the integration of nano-delivery systems with Chinese medical theory can modernize herbal medicine and make it more readily accessible on a global scale. Finally, it analyzes the challenges and future directions in this field.

Treatment-seeking behavior for malaria among communities in Indonesia: A systematic review.

Indonesia stands as one of the nine malaria-endemic countries in Southeast Asia with a total of 443,530 cases in 2022. Eastern Indonesia is listed as an area with high malaria endemicity and the Indonesian government has set a target of eliminating malaria by 2030. From 2010 to 2014, the number of malaria cases decreased but stagnated until 2020 and have continued to increase. Stagnation may occur as a result of many non-medical treatment-seeking behaviors. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a summary and overview of malaria treatment-seeking behavior among communities in several regions in Indonesia. The searches were conducted through four databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect) using medical subject headings (MeSH) "treatment-seeking behavior" OR "health-seeking behavior" AND "malaria" AND "Indonesia". This systematic review was limited to studies conducted in Indonesia that were published between 2013 and 2023 using either a quantitative or qualitative approach. Out of 2831 studies, a total of thirteen studies were included. The pattern of seeking malaria treatment varied between doing nothing or no action, self-treatment (purchasing drugs at pharmacies and consuming leftover medicines), traditional medicine, and medical treatment (public health facilities or malaria control clinics). Those behaviors are attributed to education level, socioeconomic level, occupation, distance from home to health facilities, geographical conditions, and people's perceptions of malaria and antimalarial medicines. There is still a range of malaria treatment-seeking behavior outside of recommended medical treatment in communities in several regions in Indonesia. The phenomenon of medical pluralism and syncretism requires approaches from various sectors in order to achieve a malaria-free Indonesia by 2030.

Surveying the problem of insomnia and the need for traditional medicine treatment of regular students at the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Background: Good sleep is important for health and overall quality of life. However, sleep disorders are currently widespread and have particularly serious consequences, especially for students. Objectives: Surveying sleep quality according to the Pittsburgh scale (PSQI) and find out some related factors according to traditional medicine of regular students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study on 421 regular students from 10 majors of the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Results: The percentage of students having poor sleep quality according to the PSQI scale was 57%. According to traditional medicine, heart blood deficiency accounted for the highest proportion with 30.4%, next are the deficiency of heart and spleen (22.1%), kidney yin deficiency (20.8%), qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder (14.6%) and stomach disharmony has the lowest rate with 12.1%. The percentage of students who need treatment with traditional medicine was 52.9%, acupress massage and herbal medicine were the two methods with the highest demand for treatment. Conclusion: Assessing sleep quality according to the PSQI scale the percentage of students with poor sleep quality was 57%. Heart blood deficiency accounted for the highest proportion. The demand for treatment of insomnia by traditional medicine was relatively high. Key words: sleep quality, medical student, Pittsburgh sleep quality scale (PSQI), the need for treatment, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Utilization and Effectiveness of Herbal Medicine in Treatment of Malaria in Osun State

Concern among health professionals has been raised by the ongoing rise in the prevalence of malaria in recent years. Herbal treatments have been deemed the most popular form of traditional medicine in Africa and a high percentage used it for malaria treatment. Poor health care services with unaffordable malaria have been a major barrier to malaria control. This study investigated the use and effectiveness of traditional medicine in treatment of malaria in Osun State, Nigeria. 15 people with malaria across the three senatorial districts of Osun State were selected, using snow balling sampling techniques. Experimental design was utilised to assess the level of knowledge on malaria. Descriptive survey was used to assess the use of traditional medicine, and true experiments to test efficacy of herbal medicine. This study found that respondents have inadequate knowledge of traditional medicine for treatment of malaria and lack adequate knowledge that anopheles mosquito cause malaria. However, use of traditional medicine is high among respondents, with most of the listed herbs achieving a significant point for mean (2.5). Majority of respondents either have malaria parasites hibernated and experience malaria relapse later or the herbal medicine used were ineffective in the first place. The effectiveness of these combined herbs is also dependent on the intensity of the malaria infection. The study concluded that traditional medicine is effective among just in a few of the respondents, who combined, prepared herbs appropriately and took it as prescribed by experienced herbs experts. Keywords; Malaria, Treatment of malaria, Herbal medicine.

The nephrotoxicity of Aristolochia rotunda L. in rats: Mitochondrion as a target for renal toxicity of Aristolochic acids-containing plants

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in the usage of traditional medicine and herbal treatments. However, the misconception that they are completely safe resulted in irreversible complications and damages. The present study was conducted to investigate the potential renal toxicity of a commonly used drug in Iran's traditional medicine and pharmacy, known as Zaravand Gerd or Nokhod Alvand (Aristolochia rotunda L.). In Iranian traditional medicine, Zaravand Gerd is used as a remedy for respiratory system ailments, back pain, anxiety, headache and septic wounds. Fifty-six male rats were divided into seven groups (n = 8). The first group served as the control and received normal saline, while the second to seventh groups were administered varying doses of the aqueous extract of Zaravand Gerd (0.1, 0.5, 1.25, 2.5, and 5 g/kg) for a period of three weeks. Various parameters were measured to evaluate the potential kidney damage caused by the extract, including serum creatinine and BUN levels, as well as urine protein and glucose levels, which were analyzed using an autoanalyzer. Additionally, kidney tissue samples were examined pathologically, and mitochondria from the kidney tissue were isolated to assess mitochondrial parameters. The results of this study revealed that high doses of Zaravand Gerd extract led to a significant increase in urinary glucose and protein excretion compared to the control group. Pathological examination of the isolated kidney tissues indicated that the concentrations of 2.5 and 5 g/kg of Zaravand Gerd extract resulted in kidney damage and dilation of proximal convoluted tubules. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that high doses of the extract (2.5 and 5 g/kg) caused damage to the mitochondria. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the administration of high doses of Zaravand Gerd extract, which are not commonly used in traditional medicine, can have toxic effects on the kidneys in rats as an animal model. These results highlight the importance of considering the potential risks associated with herbal medicines and the necessity of usage based on scientific evidence.

Investigating the Rate of the Use of Persian Traditional Medicine Services in Tehran.

Despite all the advancements and publicity made in regard to classical medicine, every day more and more people are interested in complementary medicine. This study was designed and conducted to determine the relative frequency of the use of Persian traditional medicine services by the people of Tehran. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the telephone survey method in Tehran. A total of 1824 samples were included in the study based on Cochran's formula. At first, by searching databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and internal sources, including the Iran Medex database, numerous medical texts and articles were reviewed in the field of using traditional medicine services. Then, interview guide questions were designed and asked over the phone. Finally, the data were extracted and subjected to quantitative analysis. Frequency and percentage of relative frequency were used to describe the study data. In the study, 62% (n = 1131) of the participants were women, and 60.5% (n = 1103) of the participants have turned to modern medicine for treatment and have also used traditional medical treatments. Also, 43.5% (n = 864) of the participants have used herbal medicines and their products; 43% (n = 616) of the participants have used Persian traditional medicine treatments as self-treatment based on their personal information; and only 46.5% (n = 666) have evaluated the therapeutic effect of Persian traditional medicine methods as "good." The results of the study indicate the need for more emphasis on Persian traditional medicine alongside modern medicine, more organization and supervision of traditional medicine service providers in the country, and the creation of coherent and integrated management in this field.

A NOVEL APPROACH TO MODELLING A DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF TRADITIONAL VIETNAMESE MEDICINE

Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (TVM) is based on the experiences of thousands of years of Vietnamese people in the struggle against diseases; therefore, TVM is very important in the medical system of Vietnam. In this paper, we propose a novel model of an expert system for diagnosing disease syndromes and treating traditional Vietnamese medicine. In this model, the knowledge base consists of IF-THEN rules, in which the antecedent of a rule is an elementary conjunction of propositions and negated propositions. The inference mechanism for the diagnosis of disease syndromes and treatment of traditional Vietnamese medicine applies Abelian group operations. A comparison of the inference of our model with the fuzzy max-min inferences shows that our model can have very similar rules whose contributions sum up to high weight. On the other hand, in our model, a rule with a negative weight may diminish an effect of a rule with a good weight. This feature is absent in the systems with fuzzy max-min inferences. We have built rule patterns for the diagnosis of about 50 disease syndromes and their treatment by Herbs and Acupuncture with the cooperation of practitioners of Oriental Traditional Medicine in Vietnam. Some examples of databases and the rules for disease syndrome differentiation and treatment by herbal medicine and Acupuncture are shown. Finally, some conclusions and future works are given.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Treatment of Vertebral Body Fracture and Paralysis in a Young Cat

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Treatment of Vertebral Body Fracture and Paralysis in a Young Cat

Thread-embedding acupuncture may improve symptom resolution in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundVarious traditional medicine treatments have been investigated to treat GERD. Among those, thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) has the advantage that patients need to undergo the procedure infrequently; however, its efficacy is unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy of TEA in treating GERD. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted with 66 participants with GERD: 33 received two sessions of TEA + standard therapy (proton-pump inhibitor [PPI]) (TEA+PPI group) and 33 received PPI alone (PPI group). Primary outcomes included GerdQ score and heartburn and regurgitation resolution. Secondary outcomes were antacids requirement, the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD (FSSG) score, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Health Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) score. The safety outcome was adverse events (AEs). ResultsAfter four weeks of treatment, the TEA+PPI group significantly reduced the GerdQ score (mean difference [MD] and 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.8 [-2.4, -1.1]) and increased the rate of heartburn and regurgitation resolution compared to PPI (54.5% versus 9.1%, respectively) compared to PPI. The TEA+PPI group also significantly reduced the number of antacid packs used (MD [95%-CI]: -9.4 [-12.1, -6.7]), FSSG score (MD [95%-CI]: -9.4 [-11.0, -7.8]), and GERD-HRQL score (MD [95%-CI]: -5.6 [-7.7, -3.5]) compared to PPI. Five patients experienced AEs, which were mild local complications at the acupoints. ConclusionTEA combined with PPI is more effective than PPI alone in treating GERD. Further studies with longer follow-ups are required to confirm these findings. Clinical trials registration informationThis study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05353933.

The traditional medicine patterns in GERD patients at University Medical Center HCMC: a cross-sectional survey

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent condition with growing interest in traditional medicine (TM) treatment. However, there is a dearth of TM epidemiological data on GERD in Vietnam. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of TM patterns and evaluate their association with the severity of GERD to lay the groundwork for clinical practice. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, from December 2021 to May 2022. GERD patients diagnosed by gastroenterologists were enrolled in the survey. The PIGERD tool was used to classify patients into TM patterns. Demographic characteristics and GERD questionnaire (GERDQ) scores were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the proportion of each TM pattern and the distribution of GERDQ scores within each pattern. Among the 384 surveyed GERD patients, the Liver qi invading Stomach (LQIS) pattern had the highest proportion (49.2%), followed by Spleen-Stomach weakness (24.7%), Spleen-Stomach dampness-heat (13.3%), and Stomach yin deficiency (12.8%). The LQIS pattern also exhibited the highest GERDQ score (median [interquartile range] of 9 [7, 10]), which significantly differed from the other patterns (p=0.0001). The remaining three patterns had lower GERDQ scores, and the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). LQIS pattern was the most prevalent among GERD patients and had the highest severity. Further multicenter studies are recommended to confirm these findings.

The Comparison between the Effect of the Brain-Gut Axis and Traditional Medicine Treatment on Anxiety and Depression

Depression and Anxiety disorders are the two most prevail mental health conditions, and their proportion among people is growing year by year. Majority Anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder (SAD). The gut-brain-micro biome (BGM) axis is an emerging area of research that studies two-way communication between the gut micro-biome and the brain. Studies have shown that the BGM axis can affect stress response, anxiety and depression. Interventions in the BGM axis, through probiotics such as Lactobacillus, have some benefits for anxiety and related disorders such as Hyperuricemia. This article briefly describes the different types of anxiety disorders, and discusses the diagnostic criteria, symptoms, morbidity and treatment options for each disorder. It highlights the current state of research on anxiety disorders, with emphasis on genetics, neuroimaging, and the gut-brain-microbiome (BGM) axis. Potential areas for further research and development of new therapeutic approaches were highlighted.