OBJECTIVE:Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in assisted reproduction, but the outcomes have been inconsistent. This study evaluated the impact of sequential TCM treatment on pregnancy outcomes among patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI). METHODS:This retrospective cohort study included female patients who underwent IUI with their husband's sperm at the Reproductive Center of Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine between November 2019 and June 2022. Patients were divided into sequential TCM (TCM was administered for at least 14 consecutive days during the treatment cycle) and non-sequential TCM (TCM was administered for fewer than 14 days or not administered) groups according to the duration of TCM administration. The primary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. RESULTS:A total of 396 cycles were analyzed, with 160 cycles undergoing sequential TCM treatment. The sequential TCM group exhibited a higher clinical pregnancy rate (26.3% vs 14.0%, P = 0.002) and live birth rate (20.0% vs 10.2%, P = 0.006) compared to the non-sequential TCM group. After adjusting for endometrial pattern and dominant follicle diameter, the odds ratios for pregnancy and live birth in the sequential TCM group were 2.289 (95% confidence interval [1.335, 3.923], P = 0.003) and 2.241 (95% confidence interval [1.226, 4.096], P = 0.009), respectively. CONCLUSION:In this retrospective cohort, sequential TCM treatment was associated with higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in patients undergoing IUI treatment. Please cite this article as: Li N, Yan XL, Wang LJ, Zhang H, Chen M, Bai J, Ji N, Zhang YD, Pang Y, Wang HJ. Impact of sequential traditional Chinese medicine intervention on pregnancy outcomes of intrauterine insemination: A retrospective cohort study. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(3):387-393.
Background:The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is increasing.Yinchenhao Decoction(YCHD)has been well studied for its uses in treating NAFLD.Moreover,the metabolism of bile acids(BAs)and eicosanoids have influence on NAFLD.YCHD is a classic prescription for damp-heat syn-drome,and can regulate BA metabolism and alleviate inflammation in NAFLD. Objective:This study evaluated the effects of YCHD on NAFLD and explored the effect of YCHD on eico-sanoids and BAs. Design,setting,participants and interventions:This randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial enrolled 130 NAFLD participants.The participants were randomly assigned to YCHD group or placebo group in a 1:1 ratio,receiving YCHD granules or the placebo for 24 weeks. Outcome measures:Primary outcome was absolute change in liver magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction(MRI-PDFF)from the baseline to week 24.Secondary outcomes included absolute changes in controlled attenuation parameter(CAP),metabolic parameters,and liver injury and function parameters. Results:After 24 weeks of treatment,MRI-PDFF(average),CAP,alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP)and body mass index(BMI)decreased significantly in the YCHD group compared to placebo group(all P<0.05).Moreover,no serious adverse events were observed.Further,YCHD did not significantly regulate eicosanoids(all P>0.05);however it did regulate taurodeoxycholic acid(TDCA),glycodeoxycholic acid(GDCA),deoxycholic acid(DCA),glycolithocholic acid(GLCA),and the ratio of GDCA to total BAs,compared to the placebo at week 24(P<0.05). Conclusion:YCHD can reduce the MRI-PDFF,CAP,ALT,AST,ALP and BMI without significant adverse events.YCHD can also regulate the metabolism of TDCA,GDCA and DCA,and the ratio of GDCA to total BAs.
OBJECTIVE:Lily bulb, derived from the root of Lilium lancifolium Thunb. (Liliaceae), is a commonly used medicinal material and dietary supplement for climacteric syndrome. This study investigated the effects of total saponins from lily bulbs (TSLB), one of the main biologically active ingredients, on cognitive and mood disorders during menopause, as well as the underlying mechanisms of these effects. METHODS:C57BL/6N mice underwent either ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery. After a recovery period of 2 weeks, these mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for the subsequent 2 weeks, followed by multiple behavioral tests. Immediately after OVX, TSLB were administered at doses of 12, 24 and 48 mg/(kg∙d) by oral gavage for 36 d. Western blotting was used to assess the effects of TSLB on neurotransmitter modulators, neurotrophins and estrogen receptors (ERs). RESULTS:At the dose of 24 mg/(kg∙d), TSLB exhibited anxiolytic activity evidenced by an increase in the duration in the elevated plus maze test (P = 0.003), antidepressant activity demonstrated by a decrease in immobility time in the tail suspension test (P = 0.047), and cognition-improving activity demonstrated by an increase in time spent in the target zone in the Morris water maze test (P = 0.039). These results were attributed to the predominant activation of ERs through direct binding of TSLB, with a higher affinity to ERβ than to ERα, as well as the regulation of neurotransmitters and neurotrophins in the brain. CONCLUSION:TSLB alleviated cognitive deficits and anxiety-like and depression-like behavior in OVX mice exposed to CUMS, suggesting the potential of TSLB as a novel treatment for menopause-related neuropsychological disorders. Please cite this article as: Zhou XD, Qin ZS, Shi DD, Chiang CY, Zhang ZJ. Anxiolytic, anti-depressive and cognition-enhancing effects of total saponins from lily bulbs in ovariectomized mice: A potential therapy for menopause-associated emotional disorders. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(3):403-414.
OBJECTIVE:This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture for improving pregnancy outcomes, endometrial receptivity (ER), and embryo transfer success in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the medical records of 609 RIF patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer between January 2019 and June 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving acupuncture combined with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or delayed HRT (d-HRT) and those receiving only HRT/d-HRT. Propensity score matching (PSM) ensured comparability between the groups. Clinical outcomes, including live birth rate (LBR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) and biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), were analyzed. Endometrial thickness, hormonal levels and uterine blood flow were also assessed. RESULTS:After PSM, 166 patients were included in each group. The acupuncture group demonstrated significantly higher CPR (36.5%), LBR (28.0%), OPR and BPR compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Endometrial thickness, and estradiol and progesterone levels were also significantly higher, while uterine resistance and pulsatility indices were lower in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). Predictors of live birth included patient age (< 35 years, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.933, P = 0.002), body mass index (BMI) (< 24 kg/m2, HR = 0.974, P = 0.046), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level (> 2 ng/mL, HR = 1.021, P = 0.043), high-quality embryo transfers (HR = 1.670, P < 0.05), and transferring two embryos (HR = 1.181, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Acupuncture significantly enhanced ER and improved LBR in RIF patients. Younger patients with lower BMI, higher AMH level, and high-quality or dual embryo transfers benefited most from this complementary therapy. Please cite this article as: Li HZ, Wu YJ, Li XR, Deng B, Pang YX, Lin SY, Lu LM, Li YM. Enhancing pregnancy outcomes in recurrent implantation failure: The role of acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(3):394-402.
Chinese herbal traditions, with a history of over 2000 years, emphasise the harmony between spirit, body and nature. Integrating these principles with machine learning (ML) offers transformative potential for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). By leveraging technologies and data-driven models, TCM can evolve while preserving its accumulated wisdom. Knowledge graphs combined with deep learning can enhance diagnosis, treatment planning and prognosis evaluation. This paper reviews current ML applications in TCM and strategies for integration with conventional practices. It categorises key challenges and proposed solutions, focusing on deep learning-based algorithms. ML has demonstrated success in automating personalised herbal prescriptions, predicting diagnostic outcomes and identifying acupoints. However, major obstacles include data standardisation, ethical and legal frameworks, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The development of high-quality, ethical artificial intelligence requires regulatory support and cooperation with TCM practitioners. This study supports the notion that a learning platform is essential for the education of TCM practitioners. ML and TCM may adopt this implementation approach, and the emergence of convex ML can substantially enhance testing algorithms in TCM, hence improving the effectiveness of future healthcare systems. Please cite this article as: Huang X, Goh HH, He TT, Zhang DD, Dai W, Kurniawan TA, Goh KC, Wong HY, Islam MT, Liang X. Integration of traditional Chinese medicine and machine learning: Opportunities, obstacles, and implications for future of healthcare. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(3):295-309.
