RECENT RESEARCH
Results : Nine RCTs were included in this meta-analysis . Compared with AD , SJC showed significant differences in the improvement of depression ( SMD : 3.82 , 95 % CI : 3.25 , 4.39 ) and reduction in seizure frequency ( MD : 0.39 times / month , 95 % CI : 0.28 , 0.50 ). SJC showed more beneficial results than antiepileptic drugs ( AED ) in terms of antidepressant effects ( SMD : 1.10 , 95 % CI : 0.69 , 1.51 ) and QoL ( MD : 11.75 , 95 % CI : 10.55 , 12.95 ). When patients were prescribed AED , the additional administration of SJC improved depression symptoms ( SMD : 0.96 , 95 % CI : 0.28 , 1.63 ). The SJC treatment group had a lower incidence of side effects than the control group . However , the difference was not statistically significant .
Conclusions : Our results suggest that SJC may be effective in treating depression in patients with epilepsy . Additionally , SJC has the potential to help reduce seizure frequency in epilepsy patients with depression .
Su H , Yan Q , Du W . et al . Calycosin ameliorates osteoarthritis by regulating the imbalance between chondrocyte synthesis and catabolism . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2024 ; 24 , 48 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-023-04314-z
Osteoarthritis ( OA ) is a severe chronic inflammatory disease . As the main active component of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge , a classic traditional ethnic herb , calycosin exhibits anti-inflammatory action and its mechanism of exact targets for OA have yet to be determined . In this study , we established an anterior cruciate ligament transection ( ACLT ) mouse model . Mice were randomized to sham , OA , and calycosin groups . Cartilage synthesis markers type II collagen ( Col- 2 ) and SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 ( Sox-9 ) increased significantly after calycosin gavage . While cartilage matrix degradation index cyclooxygenase-2 ( COX-2 ), phosphor-epidermal growth factor receptor ( p-EGFR ), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP9 ) expression were decreased . With the help of network pharmacology and molecular docking , these results were confirmed in chondrocyte ADTC5 cells . Our results indicated that the calycosin treatment significantly improved cartilage damage , this was probably attributed to reversing the imbalance between chondrocyte synthesis and catabolism .
Elhawary EA , Moussa AY . & Singab ANB . Genus Curcuma : chemical and ethnopharmacological role in aging process . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2024 ; 24 , 31 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-023- 04317-w
Aging or senescence is part of human life development with many effects on the physical , mental , and physiological aspects which may lead to age-related deterioration in many organs . Genus Curcuma family Zingieraceae represents one of the wellstudied and medically important genera with more than eighty species . The genus is reported to contain different classes of biologically active compounds that are mainly presented in diphenylheptanoids , diphenylpentanoids , diphenylalkanoids , phenylpropene derivatives , alkaloids , flavonoids , chromones , terpenoids , phenolic acids and volatile constituents . Rhizomes and roots of such species are rich with main phytoconstituents viz . curcumin , demethoxycurcumin and bis-demethoxycurcumin . A wide variety of biological activities were demonstrated for different extracts and essential oils of genus Curcuma members including antioxidant , anti-inflammatory , cytotoxic and neuroprotective . Thus , making them as an excellent safe source for nutraceutical products and as a continuous promising area of research on lead compounds that may help in the slowing down of the aging process especially the neurologic and mental deterioration that are usually experienced upon aging . In this review different species of the genus Curcuma were summarized with their phytochemical and biological activities highlighting their role as antiaging agents . The data were collected from different search engines viz . Pubmed ®, Google Scholar ®, Scopus ® and Web of Science ® limiting the search to the period between 2003 up till now .
Lifestyle medicine
Laskosky NA ., Huston P , Lam WC . et al . Are Tai Chi and Qigong effective in the treatment of traumatic brain injury ? A systematic review . BMC Complement Med Ther . 2024 ; 24 , 78 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-024-04350-3
Background : Traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) adversely affects both young and old and is a growing public health concern . The common functional , psychological , and cognitive changes associated with TBI and recent trends in its management , such as recommending sub-threshold aerobic activity , and multi-modal treatment strategies including vestibular rehabilitation , suggest that Tai Chi / Qigong could be beneficial for TBI . Tai Chi and Qigong are aerobic mindbody practices with known benefits for maintaining health and mitigating chronic disease . To date , no systematic review has been published assessing the safety and effectiveness of Tai Chi / Qigong for traumatic injury .
Methods : The following databases were searched : MEDLINE , CINAHL Cochrane Library , Embase , China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database , Wanfang Database , Chinese Scientific Journal Database , and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database . All people with mild , moderate , or severe TBI who were inpatients or outpatients were included . All Types of Tai Chi and Qigong , and all comparators , were included . All measured outcomes were included . A priori , we chose “ return to usual activities ” as the primary outcome measure as it was patient-oriented . Cochrane-based risk of bias assessments were conducted on all included trials . Quality of evidence was assessed using the grading of recommendation , assessment , development , and evaluation ( GRADE ) system .
Results : Five trials were assessed ; three randomized controlled trials ( RCTs ) and two non-RCTs ; only two trials were conducted in the last 5 years . No trial measured “ return to normal activities ” or vestibular status as an outcome . Four trials - two RCTs and two non-RCTS - all found Tai Chi improved functional , psychological and / or cognitive outcomes . One RCT had a low risk of bias and a high level of certainty ; one had some concerns . One non-RCTs had a moderate risk of
46 | vol30 | no1 | JATMS