Effect of traditional Chinese medicine emotional therapy on post-stroke depression: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Complementary Approach for Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are increasingly prevalent in clinical settings. With the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the gradual acceleration of the pace of life, and the deterioration of the living environment in recent years, the incidence of CVDs is increasing annually. The prevalence of CVDs among individuals aged 50 and above is notably elevated, posing a significant risk to patients' well-being and lives. At this juncture, numerous clinical treatment choices are available for managing CVDs, with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy standing out as a practical, safe, and reliable option. Over the recent years, there has been growing acknowledgement among both medical professionals and patients. With the expanding integration of TCM in the treatment of various clinical conditions, the use of TCM in managing CVDs has gained significant attention within the medical community, potentially emerging as an efficacious approach for addressing cardiovascular diseases. This article conducts a comprehensive review of the TCM approach, particularly acupuncture, as a supplementary treatment for CVDs, highlighting its ability to effectively lower blood pressure, decrease coronary artery events, mitigate arrhythmias, and enhance cardiac function when used alongside conventional medication. The review underscores the promise of acupuncture in enhancing cardiovascular health, although variations in research methodologies necessitate standardized applications.

Molecular basis of breast cancer with comorbid depression and the mechanistic insights of Xiaoyaosan in treating breast cancer-associated depression

Depression and breast cancer (BC) have been found to have a shared genetic basis, multiple loci of effect, and a presumed causal relationship. The treatment of BC combined with depression poses significant challenges. This study aims to use bioinformatics and network pharmacology to explore the molecular basis of BC combined with depression and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of Xiaoyaosan (XYS) in treating this disease. The molecular background of BC complicated with depression was discovered via data mining and bioinformatics. The molecular mechanism of XYS in the treatment of BC with depression was investigated by network pharmacology. The binding affinity between targets and active compounds was evaluated by molecular docking. The impact of XYS on the gene and protein expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) in microglial cells was assessed using RT-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Differential expression analysis was conducted to identify genes associated with BC, revealing that 2958 genes were involved, with 277 of these genes also being related to depression. XYS was found to contain 173 active compounds and 342 targets, with 44 of these targets being involved in regulating the progression of BC and depression. Enrichment analysis was performed to identify pathways associated with these targets, revealing that they were related to cell proliferation, catalytic activity, cell communication, and interleukin-18 signaling and LXR/RXR activation. Network analysis was conducted to identify key targets of Xiaoyaosan in treating BC combined with depression, with EGF, interleukin 6, epidermal growth factor receptor, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma being identified as important targets. Molecular docking was also performed to assess the binding affinity between key targets and active compounds, with puerarin showing the strongest affinity for MMP9. In microglial cells, XYS significantly enhances the gene and protein expression of MMP9. This study elucidated the pharmacological mechanism of co-treatment for BC patients complicated with depression and the pharmacological mechanism of XYS against BC plus depression.

Geniposide improves depression by promoting the expression of synapse-related proteins through the Creb1/Six3os1 axis

The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of Geniposide in the treatment of depression. By screening the effective components and targets of Zhi-zi-chi decoction, 140 candidate targets related to depression were identified. Further transcriptome sequencing was conducted to screen differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs; 7 candidate Geniposide treatment targets for depression were obtained. KEGG/GO enrichment analysis and molecular docking were performed to select the optimal drug target, revealing that Creb1 is an important target. Additionally, Six3os1 is the lncRNA with the smallest P-value among the differentially expressed lncRNAs, and the JASPAR database revealed a binding site between Creb1 and the Six3os1 promoter. The intersection of Synapse-related genes obtained from the GeneCards database and differentially expressed mRNAs produced 6 synaptic-related genes. RNA-protein interaction prediction revealed that Six3os1 interacts with the protein encoded by these genes. Geniposide upregulates the expression of Creb1 and Six3os1. Creb1 can transcriptionally activate Six3os1, thereby upregulating the expression of the synaptic-related proteins Htr3a and Htr2a, improving depression.

Creative Art Therapy for Improving Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Stroke: A Quasi-Interventional Study

Introduction

Creative art therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach used to enhance the mental health status of patients.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of creative art therapy on the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in Jordanian patients following stroke.

Methods

One-group pretest-posttest design was used; it included four sessions of creative art therapy which were conducted as two sessions for two weeks. This study recruited 85 participants who were within three months poststroke diagnosis. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale was used to assess the levels of psychological reactions pre and post creative art therapy intervention.

Results

The data showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in the levels of depression (t = 37.98; p < .001), anxiety (t = 20.59, p < .001), and stress (t = 35.52, p < .001) post-intervention. There was a statistically significant improvement in the study-related psychological aspects following creative art therapy.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that creative art therapy is a valuable method to complement other types of treatments among patients with stroke, resulting in positive patient mental health outcomes. Creative art therapy could be used as a psychotherapeutic approach to manage mental health complexities among patients with stroke. Health policymakers are invited to use the findings of this study to establish tailored counselor services using this new psychotherapeutic approach.

Influence of Evidence-Based Nursing on Psychological Status, Neurological Function, and Life Quality of Patients with Acute Poststroke Depression

Objective

This research sets out to elucidate the influence of evidence-based nursing (EBN) on psychological status (PSY), neurological function, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with acute poststroke depression (PSD).

Methods

One hundred and fifty stroke patients who received treatment in the Characteristic Medical Center of PLA Rocket Force between December 2019 and December 2021 were enrolled, including 100 cases (Group A) treated with comprehensive EBN and 50 patients (Group B) with routine nursing. Anxiety and depression (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale [SAS] and Self-Rating Depression Scale [SDS] scores), neurological function (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] and Scandinavian Stroke Scale [SSS] scores), QoL (Generic Quality Of Life Inventory-74 [GQOLI-74] score), and complication rate of both groups were evaluated, as well as total effective rate and nursing satisfaction.

Results

Group A outperformed Group B with lower scores of NIHSS, SSS, SAS, and SDS and higher GOOLI-74 scores. Besides, lower complication rate and higher total effective rate and nursing satisfaction were determined in Group A.

Conclusions

EBN can better improve the PSY of patients with acute PSD, restore their neurological function, and effectively improve their QoL.

Study on the Effect of Self-Made Lifei Dingchuan Decoction Combined with Western Medicine on Cough Variant Asthma

Aims

To observe the clinical efficacy of self-made Lifei Dingchuan decoction combined with western medicine in the treatment of cough variant asthma (phlegm-heat accumulation in the lung syndrome).

Materials and Methods

The clinical data of 90 patients with cough variant asthma who were hospitalized in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of our hospital from January 2020 to April 2022 were selected as the research objects, and they were equally divided into the observation group and the reference group according to different treatment methods, 45 cases in each group. The group was treated with traditional montelukast sodium chewable tablet and salmeterol fluticasone mixed powder inhalation, and the observation group was treated with self-made Lifei Dingchuan decoction on the basis of the control group, saturation, pH, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, length of stay, and hospitalization costs.

Results

After the patients underwent self-made Lifei Dingchuan decoction, there were significant differences between the observation group and the reference group in terms of heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, pH value, arterial blood oxygen partial pressure, carbon dioxide partial pressure, and within the group. There was a statistical difference (P < 0.05). The adverse reactions in patients with cough variant asthma after treatment showed that the red throat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and dry mouth in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (P < 0.05). After investigation, follow-up, and statistics, the hospitalization time, hospitalization cost, asthma exacerbation control time, effective rate, and recurrence rate were compared between the two groups, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study on the clinical efficacy and low hospitalization cost of the self-prepared lung and asthma-restorative soup in patients with cough variant asthma significantly improved the patients' arterial oxygen saturation, acid-base value, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide and effectively controlled the heart rate and respiratory rate with high safety, which is worth further promotion.

An Evidence-Based Nursing Intervention Decreases Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Quality and Somatic Symptoms of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the effects of evidence-based nursing (EBN) intervention on anxiety, depression, sleep quality and somatic symptoms of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

METHODS

The eligible AIS patients were randomized into the intervention group and control group in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in both groups received routine nursing care. On the basis of routine nursing, patients in the intervention group also received EBN. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) were used to assess patients' anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and somatic symptoms at baseline (T0) and 6 months after intervention (T1), respectively.

RESULTS

There was no difference in SAS, SDS, PSQI, and PHQ-15 scores at T0 between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). Comparing to the control group, the intervention group had significantly lower SAS and SDS scores at T1 (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, respectively). The SAS and SDS score changes (T1-T0) were more evident in the intervention group than in the control group (all P < 0.001). No difference of PSQI or PHQ-15 score between the 2 groups was observed at T1. However, the PSQI and PHQ-15 score changes were more evident in the intervention group than in the control group (P = 0.044 and P = 0.007, respectively).

CONCLUSION

EBN invention significantly improved anxiety, depression, sleep quality and somatic symptoms of patients with AIS.