Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease that has been clinically divided into three main subtypes: estrogen receptor (ER)- and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER 2)-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). With its high metastatic potential and resistance to endocrine therapy, HER 2-targeted therapy, and chemotherapy, TNBC represents an enormous clinical challenge. The genus Taraxacum is used to treat breast cancer in traditional medicine. Here, we applied aqueous extracts from two Taraxacum species, T. mongolicum and T. formosanum, to compare their potential antitumor effects against three human breast cancer cell lines: MDA-MB-231 (ER⁻, PR⁻, and HER2⁻), ZR-75-1 (ER⁺, PR^+/−, and HER2⁻), and MCF-7 (ER⁺, PR⁺, and HER2⁻). Our results show that T. mongolicum exerted cytotoxic effects against MDA-MB-231 cells, including the induction of apoptosis, the reduction of cell proliferation, the disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and/or the downregulation of the oxygen consumption rate. Both T. mongolicum and T. formosanum decreased cell migration and colony formation in the three cell-lines and exerted suppressive effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation based on metabolic activity and BrdU incorporation, but an enhanced proliferation of ZR-75-1 cells based on BrdU incorporation. T. formosanum induced ribotoxic stress in MDA-MB-231and ZR-75-1 cells; T. mongolicum did not. In summary, these findings suggest that T. mongolicum showed greater cytotoxicity against all three tested breast cancer cell lines, especially the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cell line.

Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become increasingly popular as an adjuvant treatment for patients with chronic diseases, and some studies have identified its beneficial effect in diabetic patients with cancer. The purpoes of this study was to outline the potential of TCM to attenuate hospitalization and mortality rates in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). A total of 6,987 diabetic subjects with CIS under TCM therapy were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, along with 38,800 of 1:1 sex-, age-, and index year-matched controls without TCM therapy. Cox proportional hazard analysis was conducted to compare hospitalization and mortality rates during an average of 15 years of follow-up. A total of 3,999/1,393 enrolled-subjects (28.62%/9.97%) had hospitalization/mortality, including 1,777/661 in the TCM group (25.43%/9.46%) and 2,222/732 in the control group (31.80%/10.48%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of hospitalization and mortality for subjects in the TCM group (adjusted HR=0.536; 95% CI=0.367–0.780, P<0.001; adjusted HR=0.783; 95% CI=0.574–0.974, P = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of hospitalization and mortality in the case and control groups was significantly different (log rank, P<0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Diabetic patients with CIS under TCM therapy were associated with lower hospitalization and mortality rates compared to those without TCM therapy. Thus, TCM application may reduce the burden of national medical resources.

Demonstrating a positive impact of educational programs on clinical care outcomes is challenging. We assess students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors as short-term outcomes of integrating a structured Traditional Chinese Medicine course within a Western medical school. A prospective questionnaire survey was conducted among first-year and second-year undergraduate medical students who participated in the “Introduction to Chinese Medicine” course in 2020. The survey assessed their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors before and after completing the 32-hour course. In total, 89 participants who completed both pre- and post-course questionnaires exhibited significantly higher scores in Chinese medicine knowledge after the course (3.82 ± 0.67 vs. 4.05 ± 0.73, p = 0.002). The majority of medical students displayed positive attitudes towards traditional Chinese medicine (80.9% vs. 83.3%, p = 0.392), particularly regarding the statement, “Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes holistic considerations and whole person health to a greater extent than Western medicine does” (75.3% vs. 88.8%, p = 0.017). Additionally, most medical students reported proactive behaviors related to integrative care with Chinese medicine, including inquiring about Chinese medicine therapy history (76.4%), the concurrent use of Western and Chinese medications (78.7%) and participating in academic exchanges with Chinese medicine physicians (78.7%) after the course. More medical students expressed an intention to proactively learn more about Chinese medicine after the course (40.4% vs. 51.7%, p = 0.031). The elective “Introduction to Chinese Medicine” course enhanced Taiwanese Western medical students’ knowledge of Chinese medicine, fostered positive attitudes towards integrative healthcare involving Chinese medicine, and increased their willingness to learn more about Chinese medicine for future clinical practice. Registration prior to patient enrollment was not applicable because participants were not assigned to treatment groups in this study.

Previous studies have confirmed that hyperthyroidism is one of the common causes of secondary osteoporosis and can aggravate the disease severity in patients with osteoporosis. This study is mainly based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database and through big data analysis shows that combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment can help the health of patients with hyperthyroidism and osteoporosis. There were 4980 patients who received TCM treatment and 19,920 controls who did not receive TCM treatment selected from Taiwan National Health Insurance Database in a 4:1 ratio of gender, age, and index year. Cox proportional hazards analyzes were performed to compare fracture, inpatient, and all-cause mortality over an average follow-up period of 15 years. A total of 4745/5823/3487 enrolled subjects (19.06%/23.39%/14.00%) suffered fractures/hospitalization/all-cause death which TCM group was 452/987/511 (15.10%/19.82%/10.26%); control group was 3993/4836/2976 (20.05%/24.28%/14.94%). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that subjects in the TCM group had lower fractures, hospital mortality, and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR = 0.563; 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.392–0.680, P < .001; adjusted HR = 0.614; 95% CI = 0.474–0.714, P < .001; adjusted HR = 0.691; 95% CI = 0.569–0.792, P < .001). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of fracture, hospitalization and death were lower in TCM group with significant differences (all log-rank P < .001). The analysis of this study shows that patients with hyperthyroidism and osteoporosis even with comorbidity of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or heart failure combined with TCM treatment are associated with a lower risk of fractures, hospitalization, or all-cause death, providing clinicians with a treatment option.

Studies have confirmed that the health hazards of patients with lower limb injuries combined with osteoporosis are more obvious. This study is mainly based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, and through big data analysis, it shows that the combined treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is helpful to the health of patients with lower limb injuries combined with osteoporosis. A total of 9989 combined TCM-treated patients and 19,978 2:1 sex-, age-, and index-year-matched controls who did not receive TCM treatment were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Cox proportional hazards analyzes were performed to compare fracture surgery, inpatient, and all-cause mortality during a mean follow-up period of 17 years. A total of 5406/8601/2564 enrolled-subjects (14.11%/25.46%/5.53%) had fracture surgery/inpatient/all-cause mortality, including 1409/2543/552 in the combined TCM group (14.11%/25.46%/5.53%) and 3997/6058/2012 in the control group (20.01%/30.32%/10.07%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of fracture surgery, inpatient and all-cause mortality for subjects in the combined TCM group (adjusted hazard ratios [HR] = 0.723; 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.604–0.810, P < .001; adjusted hazard ratios [HR] = 0.803; 95% CI = 0.712–0.950, P = .001; adjusted HR = 0.842; 95% CI = 0.731–0.953, P = .007, respectively). After 10 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of fracture surgery in patients combining TCM treatment seems to be half of that without combining TCM treatment those are shown in Kaplan–Meier analysis with statistically significant (log rank, P < .001, P < .001, and P = .010, respectively). This study hopes to provide clinicians with the option of combined TCM treatment for patients of lower limbs injuries combined with osteoporosis, so that such patients will be associate with a lower risk of fracture surgery, inpatient or all-cause mortality.

Background: Numerous patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) receive integrative treatment of Western and traditional Chinese medicine in Taiwan. Aim: The aim of this study was to survey the body constitutions of Chinese medicine in patients with PCOS and the correlation with their lifestyles, dietary habits, and mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Taiwanese gynecological outpatients at a medical center from November 2015 to December 2017. The questionnaire included assessments of Chinese body constitutions, depression status, and various lifestyle factors, such as the frequency of staying up late and dietary preferences. Results: In total, 90 outpatients diagnosed with PCOS by the gynecologists completed the questionnaires. They exhibited higher scores of Chinese medicine body constitutions, including Yang-Xu (陽虛), Yin-Xu (陰虛), and Stasis (血瘀) (all P < 0.001) compared with 90 female outpatients without ovary problems. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed sweet food preference (odds ratio OR 4.131, 95% confidence interval CI 1.674–10.192; P = 0.002), and Stasis (OR 1.118, 95% CI 1.018–1.228; P = 0.019) were positively associated with PCOS after adjusting confounders of age, body mass index (BMI), and current smoking habit. Conclusion: Stasis body constitution of Chinese medicine was observed in Taiwanese outpatients with PCOS. BMI and lifestyle modifications, including food preference, should be considered for whole-person health care in these patients.