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- 摘要：ObjectiveTo observe the secondary temperature rise effect at Guanyuan （CV4） induced by moxibustion and its correlation with therapeutic efficacy in patients with primary dysmenorrhea （PD）.MethodsA total of 170 PD patients were divided into a non-deqi group （n=61） and a deqi group （n=109） according to the presence or absence of deqi sensation during moxibustion at CV4. After propensity score matching， 59 patients were included in each group. All patients received suspended moxibustion at CV4 for 30 min after matching. Skin temperature at CV4 was measured before and after moxibustion. The presence or absence of secondary temperature rise effect after cessation of moxibustion was observed in both groups. Differences in effective deqi time， deqi intensity， and deqi dimensions were compared between patients with and without secondary temperature rise effect in the deqi group. Subsequently， patients in the deqi group received moxibustion treatment for 2 menstrual cycles， with （7±2） days of treatment per menstrual cycle. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire （SF-MPQ） and COX menstrual symptom scale （CMSS） were used to evaluate the influence of secondary temperature rise effect on therapeutic efficacy.ResultsThe incidence of secondary temperature rise effect in the deqi group was 59.32% （35/59）， which was significantly higher than 3.39% （2/59） in the non-deqi group （P<0.01）. In patients with secondary temperature rise effect in the deqi group， the mean degree of secondary temperature rise was （0.54±0.13） ℃， and the peak of secondary temperature rise appeared at （22.06±1.66） min after cessation of moxibustion. The cooling trend after secondary temperature rise was slower than that immediately after moxibustion （P<0.01）. Compared with patients without secondary temperature rise effect， those with secondary temperature rise effect had longer effective deqi time （P<0.01）， stronger deqi intensity （P<0.01）， and higher incidence rates of general comfort emotional experience and autonomic response dimensions （P<0.01）. The degree of secondary temperature rise was positively correlated with effective deqi time and deqi intensity （P<0.001）. After treatment and at follow-up， SF-MPQ and CMSS scores in both patients with and without secondary temperature rise effect in the deqi group were lower than those before treatment （P<0.01）， and scores in patients with secondary temperature rise effect were lower than those in patients without secondary temperature rise effect （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The total effective rate was 95.83% （23/24） in patients with secondary temperature rise effect， which was higher than 75.00% （18/24） in patients without secondary temperature rise effect （P<0.05）. The degree of secondary temperature rise was positively correlated with therapeutic efficacy （P<0.001）.ConclusionMoxibustion at CV4 can induce a secondary temperature rise effect after deqi， which is closely related to effective deqi time， deqi intensity， and deqi dimensions. The secondary temperature rise effect at CV4 can further improve the clinical efficacy in PD patients， and a higher degree of secondary temperature rise is associated with better therapeutic effect.关键词：Moxibustion;Primary dysmenorrhea;Guanyuan （CV4）;Deqi;Secondary temperature rise effect;Therapeutic efficacy92|86|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder induced by multiple factors including genetics， environment， and lifestyle. The pathogenesis involves dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism， insulin and leptin resistance， chronic low-grade inflammation， oxidative stress， and abnormal fat accumulation. These alterations are closely associated with aberrant regulation of key signaling pathways such as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （JAK2/STAT3）， Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor κB （TLR4/NF-κB）， and silent information regulator 1 （SIRT1） signaling network. As a multi-target intervention method， acupuncture therapy has made significant progress in recent years in improving obesity-related pathological conditions and signaling pathway imbalances. This article reviews the regulatory effects of acupuncture on signaling pathways such as AMPK， JAK2/STAT3， TLR4/NF-κB， and SIRT1 signaling network， explores its molecular mechanism of action in improving obesity， and provides a scientific theoretical basis for the clinical application of acupuncture therapy and the optimization of individual weight-loss strategies.关键词：Acupuncture;Signaling pathway;Obesity;Molecular mechanism;Research progress106|80|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：It is held that “Deqi” is the key to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture， but its evaluation has long relied on subjective feelings and lacks objective biological indicators. In the present article， we systematically review the current research status of brain-computer interface （BCI） technology based on electroencephalogram （EEG） in analyzing the peripheral-cerebral neural mechanism of “Deqi”， and further explore how to utilize the closed-loop regulation ability of BCI to actively induce and maintain the “Deqi” state. By integrating domestic and foreign literature， we analyzed the peripheral initiation mechanism and central response characteristics of “Deqi”， and explored its application value of EEG-BCI in the objective identification and the construction of closed-loop feedback systems. Studies have demonstrated that EEG， with its millisecond-level time resolution， can capture the dynamic changes of neural oscillations during the “Deqi” process in real time. The feature decoding method based on machine learning further realizes the objective identification of the “Deqi” state， while the closed-loop feedback system constructed by BCI technology provides an innovative path for precise acupuncture treatment. However， this field still faces some challenges such as signal artifact interference， insufficient decoding accuracy， and inconsistent research paradigms. The deep integration of EEG-BCI with acupuncture medicine provides a key technical platform for decoding the scientific connotation of “Deqi” and active regulation. In the future， efforts should be made to develop dynamic network decoding technology， further deepen the research on peripheral-cerebral coupling mechanisms， and promote the transformation of the system towards intelligence and standardization.关键词：Acupuncture;“Deqi”;Brain-computer interface;Peripheral – central mechanism103|44|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo observe whether pricking blood therapy at the twelve Well points of the hand （Well-point bloodletting） can regulate the cortical phenotypic polarization of microglia and macrophages via the interleukin-10 （IL-10）/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1（STAT1） pathway， suppress excessive neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis， and thereby alleviate neurological deficits induced by traumatic brain injury （TBI） in mice.MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in the present study which is composed of 3 experiments. The TBI model was established by using an electronically controlled cortical impact device to perform cortical impact. Experiment 1： twelve mice randomly selected were used as the sham-operation group. Twenty-four TBI mice were randomly and equally divided into a model and a Well-point bloodletting group. Mice in the Well-point bloodletting group received interventions at 6 h， 24 h and 48 h after TBI respectirely. The modified neurological severity score （mNSS） and open field test were used to assess the mouse’s neurological deficits and locomotor function. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the apoptotic neurons （NeuN+TUNEL+） and the number of microglia （IBA1+） in the injured cerebral cortex tissues. Liquid chip assay was performed to measure the levels of inflammatory factors in the injured cortical tissues， and Western blot was used to detect the expression of cortical STAT1 protein. Experiment 2： The STAT1 agonist 2-NP was applied to activate STAT1 to verify whether STAT1 mediates the anti-inflammatory effect of Well-point bloodletting. Thirty-six TBI mice were randomly and equally divided into model， Well-point bloodletting and Well-point bloodletting+2-NP groups. Mice in the Well-point bloodletting+2-NP group received intraperitoneal injection of 2-NP 1 h before modeling and each bloodletting intervention. The mNSS was used to assess the neurological function， and flow cytometry was utilized to quantify the proportions of M1 microglia and macrophage in the injured cerebral cortex. Experiment 3： this part of the study is conducted to clarify the pivotal role of IL-10 in the anti-inflammatory effect of Well-point bloodletting. The successfully modeled TBI mice were randomly allocated to the model， Well-point bloodletting and Well-point bloodletting+IL-10 antagonist groups， with 10 mice in each group. Mice in the IL-10 antagonist group received injection of IL-10 neutralizing antibody into the lateral ventricle on the contralateral side of the injured cortex 1 h after each bloodletting intervention to block the endogenous IL-10. The neurological deficits were evaluated using mNSS. Western blot was used to detect STAT1 phosphorylation in the brain tissues， and the flow cytometry was applied to measure the nroportions of M1 microglia and macrophage in the injured cerebral cortex tissues.ResultsWell-point bloodletting significantly reduced the mNSS scores at 6 h and 48 h （P<0.01， P<0.05） after TBI， down-regulated the proportions of apoptotic neurons and microglia （P<0.05， P<0.01）， STAT1 phosphorylation （P<0.05） and IL-2 content （P<0.05）， and increased the total travel distance 48 h after TBI （P<0.01） and IL-10 content （P<0.01）. Well-point bloodletting+2-NP administration eliminated the effects of bloodletting in down-regulating the mNSS score after TBI （P<0.01） and the proportion of M1 microglia （P<0.01）. Well-point bloodletting+IL-10 antagonist administration abolished the effects of Well-point bloodletting in lowering the mNSS score at 6， 24 and 48 h after TBI （P<0.05， P<0.01）， suppressing STAT1 phosphorylation （P<0.05） and in reducing the proportions of M1 microglia and M1 macrophage in the injured cerebral cortex （P<0.05）.ConclusionWell-point bloodletting can improve the neurological deficits and motor function in TBI mice， which may be related to its functions in inhibiting M1 polarization of microglia and macrophage through the IL-10/STAT1 pathway， and mitigating cortical neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis.关键词：Traumatic brain injury;Well-point bloodletting;Cerebral cortex;Microglia;Macrophage;Neuroinflammation;STAT1;IL-105|1|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） is a functional intestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain， diarrhea and altered defecation habits. It is frequently comorbid with psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression， which greatly impairs the quality of life. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the core pathological links of IBS-D involve disrupted brain-gut interaction and dysregulation of the brain-gut “neuro-immune axis”， including visceral hypersensitivity， low-grade mucosal inflammation， impaired intestinal barrier function， gut microbiota dysbiosis and abnormal autonomic nerve modulation. Zusanli （ST36） is an essential acupoint for digestive disorders， and the ancient maxim “for abdominal-diseases， Zusanli is indicated” summarizes its prominent clinical value in abdominal ailments. Modern studies have verified that acupuncture at ST36 can remodel vagal-sympathetic balance via the peripheral afferent-central integration-autonomic efferent circuit， modulate central nociceptive and emotional processing， and exert regulatory effects on brain-gut peptide signals such as 5-hydroxytryptamine， suppress immune activation and release of inflammatory mediators， improve the expression of tight-junction proteins and intestinal mucosal permeability， as well as modulate microbiota-metabolite-related pathways. Thereby， it attenuates the neuro-immune feedback of “stress-inflammation-pain amplification”， alleviates visceral hypersensitivity and relieves symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea. Taking the classical maxim “for abdominal-diseases， Zusanli is indicated” as a clue， this paper reviews research advances regarding acupuncture at ST36 in treating IBS-D by regulating the brain-gut “neuro-immune axis”. Limitations of current evidence are also pointed out， including insufficient circuit verification， unclear stimulus parameter-effect relationship and non-standardized clinical protocols， so as to provide references for standardized application and mechanistic exploration of acupuncture at ST36 in treating functional gastrointestinal disorders.关键词：Acupuncture;Zusanli （ST36）;Autonomic nerve;Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome;Brain-gut axis3|1|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo investigate the role of tyrosine hydroxylase （TH）-positive neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla （RVLM） in the effects of electroacupuncture （EA） on intestinal dysmotility in mice with functional constipation （FC）.MethodsFirstly， Transsynaptic tracing virus was employed to identify brain regions projecting to the proximal colon. Secondly， eighteen C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the normal， model， and EA groups， with 6 mice in each group. FC model was established by oral administration of loperamide hydrochloride. Mice in the EA group received EA at “Tianshu” （ST25） and “Shangjuxu” （ST37）， 5 days per treatment course for 2 courses. After intervention， the defecation status of mice in each group was observed， and the fecal water content was determined， the time for the first black stool excretion was recorded， the small-intestinal propulsion rate was measured. Serum and colonic TH levels were determined by ELISA. TH/c-Fos co-expression in the RVLM was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Subsequently， 12 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control virus+clozapine-N-oxide （CNO） group and inhibitory-virus+CNO group， with 6 mice per group. Another 18 C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the control virus+CNO group， EA group， and excitatory-virus+CNO+EA group， with 6 mice per group. The corresponding viral vectors were injected into the RVLM， followed by intraperitoneal administration of CNO （1 mg/kg） 21 d after viral expression. Mice in the EA and excitatory-virus+CNO+EA groups received EA treatment as described above 30 min after the administration of CNO. Following completion of EA treatment， fecal parameters and intestinal motility were assessed as described above. Finally， rAAV-hSyn-GCaMP6s virus was injected into the RVLM of another 18 C57BL/6J mice. After 21 days of viral transduction， mice were randomly assigned to normal control， model control， and model+EA groups （6 mice per group）. Mice in the model+EA group received EA treatment as described above. Post-EA intervention， multichannel fiber photometry was employed to record calcium signal dynamics in RVLM neurons.ResultsNeuronal fibers in the RVLM formed synaptic connections with the proximal colon. Compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited prolonged first black stool expulsion time， reduced total fecal pellet counts， decreased fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate （P<0.001， P<0.01）， and elevated TH levels in serum and colon （P<0.01）. TH and c-Fos， as well as TH/c-Fos co-expression positive cell counts in the RVLM， were all significantly increased （P<0.001）. Compared with the model group， the EA group showed shortened first black stool expulsion time， increased total fecal pellet counts， elevated fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate （P<0.001， P<0.01）， and reduced TH levels in serum and colon （P<0.01）. TH and c-Fos expression， as well as TH/c-Fos positive cell counts in the RVLM， were all significantly decreased （P<0.001）. Compared with the control virus+CNO group， the inhibitory-virus+CNO group exhibited shortened first black stool expulsion time， increased total fecal pellet counts， and elevated fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate （P<0.001， P<0.01）. Compared with the control virus+CNO group， the EA group showed shortened first black stool expulsion time， increased total fecal pellet counts， elevated fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate （P<0.001， P<0.01）. Compared with the EA group， the excitatory-virus+CNO+EA group showed prolonged first black stool expulsion time， reduced total fecal pellet counts， and decreased fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate （P<0.001， P<0.01）. Compared with the normal control group， the model control group exhibited significantly increased Ca2+ activity in the RVLM （P<0.001）， whereas EA significantly reduced RVLM Ca2+ activity compared with the model control group （P<0.001）.ConclusionEA at ST25 and ST37 may improve intestinal dysmotility in FC mice by suppressing the activity of TH-positive neurons in the RVLM.关键词：Electroacupuncture;Rostral ventrolateral medulla;Tyrosine hydroxylase neurons;Intestinal motility disorder2|1|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture （EA） at “Hegu” （LI4） and “Taichong” （LR3） on depressive-like behaviors and corticotropin-releasing hormone （CRH） neuron-related activity in paraventricular nucleus （PVN） in mice exposed to chronic restraint stress （CRS）， so as to explore its possible mechanism.MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice and CRH-Cre mice were used in the separate experimental cohorts of this study. A CRS-induced depressive-like behavior model was established and treated with bilateral EA at LI4 and LR3 （2 Hz， 0.5 mA， 30 min in duration of stimulation， once daily for 7 d）. Behavioral changes were evaluated using forced swimming， tail suspension and open-field tests. Serum CRH， adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） and corticosterone （CORT） levels were measured using ELISA. The PVN neuronal activation and the proportion of c-Fos-positive cells among mCherry-labeled PVN CRH neurons were evaluated using immunofluorescence staining and c-Fos/mCherry co-labeling. Event-related PVN CRH neuron calcium activity was recorded by using fiber photometry. Chemogenetic activation with clozapine-N-oxide （CNO） was further used to observe the behavioral changes under subthreshold stress and EA intervention effect.ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed a significant increase in the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests （P<0.01， P<0.001）， distance traveled in the peripheral zone in the open-field test （P<0.001）， contents of serum CRH， ACTH and CORT （P<0.000 1， P<0.001）， number of c-Fos positive cell in the PVN （P<0.05）， and the percentage of c-Fos/mCherry double-positive cells among the mCherry-positive cells （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， EA shortened the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests （P<0.05）， decreased the distance traveled in the peripheral zone of the open-field test （P<0.001）， reduced the contents of serum ACTH and CORT （P<0.05， P<0.000 1）， and decreased the number of PVN c-Fos-positive cell and the percentage of c-Fos/mCherry double-positive cells among the mCherry-positive cells （P<0.05）， while serum CRH presented a lowering trend without statistically significant difference. The ΔF/F area under the curve and peak ΔF/F within the 0—5 s time window were considerably lower during and after EA than EA pre-treatment （P<0.001， P<0.05， P<0.000 1）. Under the subthreshold stress， chemogenetic activation of PVN CRH neurons prolonged the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests （P<0.000 1， P<0.001） and reduced the distance traveled in the peripheral zone in the open-field test （P<0.001）； after EA， these behavioral changes were reversed （P<0.001，P<0.05，P<0.000 1）.ConclusionEA at LI4 and LR3 can ameliorate CRS-induced depressiiv-like behavior by down-regulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-related hormone responses， reducing PVN neuronal activation， decreasing the proportion of c-Fos-positive cells among the mCherry-labeled PVN CRH neurons， and modulating event-related PVN CRH neuron calcium activity.关键词：Electroacupuncture;Chronic restraint stress;Depressive-like behavior;Paraventricular nucleus;Corticotropin-releasing hormone;Fiber photometry;Chemogenetics3|1|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：Acupuncture， as a typical representative of non-drug therapy， regulates central functions by activating the peripheral nervous system， and has become a leading hotspot in the field of neuromodulation. Focusing on the peripheral-cerebral mechanism of acupuncture effects， this article systematically reviews the cutting-edge interdisciplinary advancements in acupuncture research and modern life sciences from 3 dimensions： neuro-immune anti-inflammatory actions， target organ function regulation， and “one acupoint affecting multiple organs” intervention for comorbidities. To analyze the key issues， clarify academic viewpoints， and trigger thoughts and discussions， the following are the main points： 1） Based on the established understanding that acupuncture stimulation activates autonomic nerve pathways such as the brainstem vagus-adrenal and spinal cord sympathetic-splenic axes， to exert anti-inflammatory effects， it has also been revealed that some vagus nerves can directly traverse and form synaptic connections with catecholaminergic neurons in the celiac ganglion via collateral branches， rather than relaying through relay neurons. It further seeks to clarify the hierarchical relationship among the catecholamine anti-inflammatory， cholinergic anti-inflammatory， sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve pathways， particularly paying attention to the relationship between the concentration-dependent receptor affinity of norepinephrine in the inflammatory microenvironment and its association with acupuncture effects. 2） Current researches have demonstrated that acupuncture regulates the homeostasis of the body and internal organs by rebalancing the sympathetic-parasympathetic system at multiple levels， identifying the “off-target” phenomenon caused by the loss of response of tissue cells and receptors under pathological conditions is a key factor affecting the “last mile” of the acupuncture effect. 3） Taking the convergence of different visceral input information mediated by the intrinsic structures of the spinal cord， as well as the occurrence of comorbidity in the interactive sensitization of the pelvic and sacral organs as an example， results of modern research have provided possible explanations for the cross-segment’s and same-segment’s “one acupoint affecting multiple organs” and “multiple acupoints affecting one organ” effects of acupuncture. In summary， this article aims to clarify how acupuncture regulates the body’s homeostasis through different peripheral-cerebral autonomic nervous pathways and levels， and offers a review of existing research through 4 dimensions of thinking and inspiration to stimulate new insights and foster intellectual exchange.关键词：Acupuncture;Peripheral-cerebral;Neuro-immune regulation;Autonomic nerve balance;One acupoint affecting multiple organs2|1|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo compare the differences in interventional effects among three stimulation modalities：electroacupuncture （EA） at single acupoint “Zusanli” （ST36）， single acupoint “Sanyinjiao” （SP6）， and their combination （ST36 + SP6）， on behavioral and histological outcomes in a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome （IBS）， and to examine the differential neuronal responses in the peripheral and central nervous systems under these modalities， so as to provide experimental evidence for exploring the neural mechanisms underlying acupoint combination stimulation in IBS treatment.MethodsAn IBS model was established in male C57BL/6J mice by intrarectal instillation of Zymosan. The mice were randomly divided into blank control group， model group， ST36 group， SP6 group， and acupoint combination group （n=20 per group except n=18 for the model group）. After 7 consecutive days of EA stimulation （2 Hz/100 Hz， 1 mA， 15 min per session， once daily）， abdominal mechanical hyperalgesia （referred pain） was assessed using von Frey filaments， motor function by rotarod test， and 3D spontaneous fine behavioral characteristics by an AI-based unsupervised 3D behavioral analysis system. Colon tissue structure and inflammatory levels were observed by HE staining， and colonic inflammatory cytokines expressions were detected by Western blot， to evaluate the symptom-relieving effects of single versus combined acupoint stimulation. For neural tracing， retrograde viral tracers were injected into ST36 and SP6 to label dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons innervating these acupoints in C57BL/6J mice. In vivo two-photon calcium imaging was performed to record DRG neuronal responses to different EA modalities （1 mA， 1 min） in Thy1-GCaMP6s mice， and activity-dependent neuronal labeling was applied using transgenic TRAP2；Ai14 mice to identify central neurons activated by EA （2 Hz/100 Hz， 1 mA， 15 min per session）， aiming to reveal peripheral–central neuronal response differences between single and combined acupoint stimulation.ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased abdominal mechanical withdrawal frequency and area under the curve （P<0.001， P<0.05）， decreased motor function （latency to fall and rotarod speed at fall， P<0.01）， aggravated colonic tissue damage and inflammatory responses （P<0.001）， elevated expressions of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α） （P<0.001）， and altered spontaneous behavioral patterns （P<0.001， P<0.01， P<0.05）. All three EA modalities significantly alleviated abdominal mechanical hyperalgesia in IBS mice （P<0.001， P<0.05， P<0.01）， with the combined stimulation showing a larger effective interventional window than either single acupoint. Compared with single-acupoint stimulation， combined stimulation also more effectively restored colonic tissue damage， reduced TNF-α expression （P<0.05）， and shortened the duration of spontaneous arching episodes and altered the transition patterns among different spontaneous behavioral actions （P<0.01， P<0.05）. DRG neurons exhibited highly heterogeneous responses to the three stimulation modalities， which could be classified into 3 major categories and 7 subcategories based on their firing characteristics. Furthermore， combined stimulation activated a greater number of DRG neurons than single acupoint stimulation （P<0.05）， and the neuronal calcium signal intensity was also higher （P<0.05）. Finally， significant differences were observed in the number of responsive neurons across different brain regions under the three modalities. The activated neuronal populations evoked by ST36， SP6， and combined stimulation showed maximal overlap in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus （PVN）， whereas the overlap was minimal in the insular cortex （IC）， suggesting that IC neuronal activation requires the synergistic effect of combined acupoint stimulation.ConclusionCombined stimulation at ST36 and SP6 produces superior therapeutic effects over single acupoint stimulation in ameliorating abdominal mechanical hyperalgesia， colonic structural damage， inflammatory status， and spontaneous behavioral changes induced by visceral pain in IBS model mice， and this advantage may arise from the synergistic integration of peripheral and central neuronal responses to different EA signals.关键词：Acupoint combination;Electroacupuncture;Irritable bowel syndrome;Zusanli （ST36）;Sanyinjiao （SP6）2|2|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which electroacupuncture （EA） combined with antibiotics regulates the vagus-adrenal axis via the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus （DMV）， promotes catecholamine secretion， attenuates inflammatory storm， and improves survival rate in septic mice.MethodsExperiment 1： fifty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， antibiotic group， EA group， and EA + antibiotic group， with 10 mice in each group. Cecal ligation and puncture （CLP） was performed to establish the sepsis model. Mice in the EA group received 15 min EA （10 Hg，0.5 mA） at bilateral “Zusanli” （ST36）， once daily for 3 consecutive days. Mice in the antibiotic group were intraperitoneally injected with imipenem-cilastatin sodium （30 mg/kg） every 12 h for 3 consecutive days. Mice in the EA+ antibiotic group received EA and antibiotic treatment the same as the above， The 3-day survival rate and body weight changes of mice in each group were recorded. ELISA was adopted to detect serum levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes and the number of inflammatory cells in cecal tissues. Whole-brain optical clearing was performed to detect the expression of proto-oncogene c-Fos protein （c-Fos） in the DMV region. Experiment 2： fifty Chat-Cre mice were randomly assigned to sham operation + empty virus group， model + empty virus group， EA-antibiotic combination + empty virus group， EA-antibiotic combination + inhibitory virus group， and antibiotic + activating virus group， with 10 mice per group. Corresponding viruses were injected into the DMV 3 weeks before model establishment. CLP operation was conducted 3 weeks after virus injection， followed by daily intraperitoneal injection of clozapine N-oxide （CNO， 3 mg/kg）， combined with antibiotics or EA treatment （the same interventions and parameters as Experiment 1）. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA； cecal inflammatory infiltration was evaluated via HE staining. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （UPLC-MS/MS） was applied to detect serum catecholamines including dopamine （DA）， epinephrine （E）， norepinephrine （NE）， as well as their metabolites 3-methoxytyramine （3-MT）， normetanephrine （NMN）， and metanephrine （MN） levels. Immunofluorescence staining was used to quantify the counts of forkhead box protein P3 positive / cluster of differentiation 4 positive （FOXP3+/CD4+） cells in cecal tissues.ResultsExperiment 1： compared with the sham operation group， the model group exhibited markedly decreased 3-day survival rate and body weight （P<0.000 1）， elevated serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels （P<0.000 1）， and increased inflammatory cell infiltration in cecum （P<0.000 1）. Compared with the model group， the EA + antibiotic group showed improved survival rate （P<0.05）， alleviated body weight loss （P<0.000 1）， decreased serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels （P<0.000 1）， reduced inflammatory cell infiltration （P<0.000 1）， and elevated c-Fos positive cell density in DMV （P<0.000 1）. Moreover， all above indicators were superior to those in the single EA or single antibiotic group to varying degrees. Experiment 2： in comparison with the sham operation + empty virus group， the model + empty virus group had higher serum inflammatory factor levels and more cecal inflammatory infiltrates （P<0.0001）， and lower levels of catecholamines and their metabolites， as well as fewer FOXP3+/CD4+ cells in cecal tissues （P<0.000 1）. Compared with the model + empty virus group， the EA-antibiotic combination + empty virus group， EA-antibiotic combination + inhibitory virus group， and antibiotic + activating virus group displayed reduced serum inflammatory factors and relieved cecal inflammatory infiltration （P<0.000 1， P<0.01， P<0.05）， accompanied by increased levels of catecholamines and metabolites， and more FOXP3+/CD4+ cells in cecum （P<0.01， P<0.05， P<0.001， P<0.0001）. Relative to the EA-antibiotic combination + empty virus group， all the above indicators were reversed in the EA-antibiotic combination + inhibitory virus group （P<0.01， P<0.001， P<0.05）.ConclusionEA at ST36 combined with antibiotics exerts optimal therapeutic effects on CLP-induced septic mice. The underlying mechanism may involve activating cholinergic neurons in DMV， regulating the vagus-adrenal axis to facilitate catecholamine secretion， suppressing excessive inflammatory response， and consequently elevating survival rate.关键词：Sepsis;Electroacupuncture;Zusanli （ST36）;Vagus-adrenal axis;Inflammatory response;Immune regulation19|36|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo establish a mouse model of trigeminal neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve （CION）， screen the optimal frequency of electroacupuncture （EA） for trigeminal neuralgia （TN）， so as to explore the peripheral-central interaction mechanism of the “Hegu” （LI4）-ventral posterior nucleus （VP）-trigeminal ganglion （TG） pathway.MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice were used to establish the TN model via the CION method. EA （2 Hz or 100 Hz or 2 Hz/100 Hz） was applied to bilateral LI4 for 30 min each time， once every other day， for a total of 12 times. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds （MWTs） of the vibrissal pad were measured using von Frey filaments. Anxiety-like behaviors were assessed by the elevated plus maze （EPM） test， and depression-like behaviors by the tail suspension （TS） test and sucrose preference （SP） test. Neuronal activities in 8 brain regions， including the dorsal raphe nucleus （DRN）， VP， and spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis （Sp5C）， etc. were evaluated by c-Fos immunofluorescence. Double immunofluorescence labeling was used to detect co-expressions of c-Fos with 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）， glutamate （Glu）， or γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） in the DRN to identify activated neuron subtypes. Neural connectivities between “Hegu”-dorsal root ganglion （DRG）-spinal dorsal horn （DH）-VP and TG-Sp5C-VP were traced using chemical or viral tracers.ResultsAfter the treatment， compared with the sham group， the MWTs of mice were significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.0001）. The MWTs in the 2 Hz， 100 Hz， and 2 Hz/100 Hz EA groups were all increased （P<0.05， P<0.01， P<0.001）， and the analgesic effect of the 2 Hz/100 Hz EA was superior to those of the 2 Hz and 100 Hz EA groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the EPM test， the time spent in the open arms was significantly decreased in the model group （P<0.000 1）， while it was increased in the 100 Hz EA and 2 Hz/100 Hz EA groups （P<0.01， P<0.000 1）. Moreover， the time spent in the open arms was longer in the 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group than in the 2 Hz EA group （P<0.01）. In the TS test， the immobility time was increased in the model group （P<0.000 1）， whereas EA reversed this change （P<0.0001）. The 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group showed a more significant improvement in depression-like behavior than the 2 Hz and 100 Hz EA groups （P<0.05）. In the SP test， the sucrose preference was decreased in the model group （P<0.000 1）， whereas EA reversed this change （P<0.001， P<0.000 1）. The 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group showed a more significant improvement in depression-like behavior than the 2 Hz and 100 Hz EA groups （P<0.01， P<0.05）. Tracing results showed that after injection of a chemical tracer into LI4， tracer signals were observed in the C6 and C7 DRG. After injection of a retrograde trans-multisynaptic virus into the VP， viral expression was observed in the DH， Sp5C， and TG. Immunofluorescence results showed that neuronal activity in the Sp5C， VP， ventral posteromedial nucleus （VPM）， parafascicular nucleus （PaF）， and DRN was increased in the model group （P<0.01， P<0.000 1， P<0.05）， while EA reversed these changes （P<0.000 1， P<0.01， P<0.001）. Compared with the sham group， the model group showed decreased 5-HT neuronal activity （P<0.000 1） and increased Glu and GABA neuronal activities （P<0.000 1， P<0.05）， all of which were reversed by 2 Hz/100 Hz EA （P<0.001， P<0.000 1， P<0.05）.ConclusionThe 2 Hz/100 Hz EA is superior to single-frequency stimulation in improving mechanical hypersensitivity and associated negative affective behaviors in CION model mice. Under CION conditions， abnormal activation was observed in the Sp5C， VP， VPM， PaF， and DRN， accompanied by decreased activity of 5-HT neurons and increased activities of GABA and Glu neurons in the DRN， and 2 Hz/100 Hz EA can reverse these phenomena. The tracing results indicated the existence of neuroanatomical connections of the LI4-DRG-DH-VP and TG-Sp5C-VP pathways. These findings provide objective evidence for investigating the LI4-VP-TG response mechanism underlying EA intervention in TN.关键词：Trigeminal neuralgia;Electroacupuncture;Hegu（LI4）;Ventral posterior nucleus;Trigeminal ganglion;Dorsal raphe nucleus2|2|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：Monotherapy often falls short in treating complex diseases effectively， prompting the emergence of integrated treatment models such as acupuncture-medicine combination therapy， which has gained recognition as a significant strategy to improve clinical efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. This paper systematically examines the necessity of integrating acupuncture with pharmacotherapy. By constructing a theoretical framework centered on supplementation and regulation， it delineates the operational principles of acupuncture-medicine combination therapy. It explores the mechanisms underlying the enhanced efficacy of acupuncture-medicine combination therapy from the perspectives of synergy and complementarity， and analyzes its characteristics in toxicity reduction via counteracting mechanisms. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical foundation and future directions for research on acupuncture-medicine combination therapy.关键词：Acupuncture-medicine combination therapy;Enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity;Synergistic effects;Antagonistic effects109|74|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of warm needling moxibustion on chondrocyte senescence in rats with knee osteoarthritis （KOA）， and to compare its efficacy with that of mild moxibustion.MethodsForty-eight Wistar rats were randomly assigned to ４ groups （n=12）： normal， model， mild moxibustion， and warm needling. KOA was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate （MIA） into the right knee. Rats in the mild moxibustion and warm needling moxibustion groups received interventions at the acupoints “Futu” （ST32） and “Zusanli” （ST36）， 30 min per session， once every other day for 4 weeks. After intervention， Lequesne MG scores， the right knee joint horizontal diameter， and right hind paw pain threshold were assessed. Histopathological changes in the rat knee joints were observed by hematoxylin–eosin （HE） and safranin O staining， and were scored using the Mankin’s and OARSI systems. Serum contents of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and matrix metalloproteinase-13 （MMP-13） were measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expressions of P16INK4A， P21Waf1/Cip1， IL-6， MMP-13， and type Ⅱ collagen （Collagen-Ⅱ） in knee cartilage. Western blot was performed to detect the relative protein expression levels of P16INK4A， P21Waf1/Cip1， Collagen-Ⅱ， IL-6， and MMP-13 in cartilage tissue.ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a significantly higher Lequesne MG score （P<0.01）， an increased horizontal diameter of the right knee joint （P<0.01）， and a decreased pain threshold （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， both treatment groups exhibited significantly lower Lequesne MG scores （P<0.01）， reduced joint horizontal diameters （P<0.01）， and increased pain thresholds （P<0.01）. Compared with the mild moxibustion group， the warm needling group showed a lower Lequesne MG score （P<0.01） and a higher pain threshold （P<0.01）. Histopathological staining revealed degenerative features in the model group， including damage to the superficial cartilage layer and disappearance of the tidemark， while both treatment groups exhibited milder degeneration. Compared with the normal group， both the Mankin’s and OARSI scores were significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， both scores were decreased in the mild moxibustion and warm needling groups （P<0.01）， and the scores in the warm needling group were significantly lower than those in the mild moxibustion group （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the serum contents of IL-6， IL-18， and MMP-13 were significantly elevated in the model group （P<0.01）； in cartilage tissue， the expressions of P16INK4A， P21Waf1/Cip1， IL-6， and MMP-13 proteins were increased （P<0.01）， while Collagen-Ⅱ expression was reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， both treatment groups showed decreased serum IL-6， IL-18， and MMP-13 contents， and reduced expression of P16INK4A， P21Waf1/Cip1， IL-6， and MMP-13 proteins in cartilage tissue （P<0.01， P<0.05）， along with increased Collagen-Ⅱ expression （P<0.01）. Furthermore， compared with the mild moxibustion group， the warm needling group exhibited more significant changes in the above indicators except joint horizontal diameter （P<0.01， P<0.05）.ConclusionWarm needling moxibustion effectively improves knee osteoarthritis in rats and shows superior efficacy compared with mild moxibustion. Its therapeutic mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of chondrocyte senescence.关键词：Knee osteoarthritis;Articular cartilage;Cell senescence;Warm needling moxibustion;Mild moxibustion44|40|0更新时间：2026-09-17
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo observe the effect of electroacupuncture（EA） on lipid metabolism，oxidative stress status，pathological morphology of the thoracic aorta and the expression of silent information regulator 1（SIRT1）/hypoxia-inducible factor 1α（HIF-1α）/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2（Nrf2）signaling pathway in ApoE-/- atherosclerotic（AS）mice，in order to explore the potential mechanism of EA in the prevention and treatment of AS.MethodsTen C57BL/6J mice were assigned as the control group and fed with normal diet，while 42 SPF-grade male ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish an AS model. Following successful model induction，the ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into model，EA，EA+inhibitor，and agonist groups，with 10 mice per group. The EA group received EA at the acupoints “Neiguan”（PC6），“Tongli”（HT5），and “Zusanli”（ST36） using a sparse-dense wave（2 Hz/15 Hz），with a current intensity of 0.3 mA. Each session lasted for 20 min. The EA+inhibitor group received intraperitoneal injections of the SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527（10 mg/kg），with other treatment identical to that in the EA group. The agonist group received intragastric administration of the SIRT1 agonist resveratrol（50 mg/kg）. All interventions were administered every other day for 8 weeks. Body weight was measured once every 4 weeks. Serum levels of triglycerides（TG），total cholesterol（TC），high-density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C），and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C），as well as the oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase（SOD），malondialdehyde（MDA），and glutathione peroxidase（GSH-Px）were measured using colorimetric assays. Histopathological changes in the aorta were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. The protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1，HIF-1α，and Nrf2 in the aorta were analyzed by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR，respectively.ResultsAfter treatments， compared with the control group，the model group exhibited significantly decreased serum HDL-C， SOD and GSH-Px levels（P<0.01），increased body weight， and serum LDL-C， TC，TG and MDA levels（P<0.01）. HE staining showed pathological changes in the vessel wall， including thickened intima with an uneven surface， proliferated endothelial cells forming plaques， inflammatory cell infiltration on the plaque surface， elastic layer structure damage， disordered arrangement of the media smooth muscle layer， and localized foam cells and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Additionally，the protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and Nrf2 were significantly down-regulated（P<0.01），while those of HIF-1α were up-regulated（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，both the EA and agonist groups showed increased serum HDL-C， SOD and GSH-Px levels（P<0.01， P<0.05），decreased body weight， and serum LDL-C，TC， TG and MDA levels（P<0.01）. HE staining revealed improved endothelial morphology，with intact vascular wall， relatively smooth intima， a small amount of endothelial cells abscission， regular arrangement of the smooth muscle layer of the media， no obvious damage in the elastic layer structure， and a small amount of foam cells and smooth muscle cells proliferated.The protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and Nrf2 were significantly increased（P<0.01， P<0.05），while HIF-1α protein and mRNA expression levels were decreased（P<0.01）. Compared with the EA group，the EA+inhibitor group showed decreased serum HDL-C， SOD and GSH-Px levels（P<0.05），increased body weight， and serum LDL-C， TC，TG and MDA levels（P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining showed that the structural integrity of the vascular wall was damaged， with thickening and injury of the endometrium， endothelial cell proliferation plaques and infiltration of inflammatory cells on the plaque surface， disordered arrangement of smooth muscle layer， and obvious proliferation of smooth muscle cells. The protein and mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and Nrf2 were significantly reduced（P<0.01， P<0.05），while those of HIF-1α were increased（P<0.01， P<0.05）.ConclusionEA may regulate lipid metabolism，alleviate oxidative stress injury，promote vascular intimal repair，and delay the progression of AS in ApoE-/- mice through the activation of the SIRT1/HIF-1α/Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway.关键词：Electroacupuncture;Atherosclerosis;SIRT1;HIF-1α;Nrf265|265|0更新时间：2026-09-17
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Research progress on the autonomic-immune mechanism of acupuncture in regulating ovarian function AI导读
摘要：Ovarian dysfunction is an important cause of ovulatory disorders， infertility and endocrine disorders in women， which is commonly observed in conditions including polycystic ovary syndrome， primary ovarian insufficiency， diminished ovarian reserve and ovarian aging-related states. Recent studies have demonstrated that besides abnormalities in the classic hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis， autonomic nervous imbalance and immune-inflammatory disturbance also serve as critical mechanisms underlying impaired ovarian function. Central inflammatory responses， chronic stress and metabolic abnormalities can disrupt hypothalamic rhythmic regulation， augment sympathetic nerve output and induce local chronic low-grade ovarian inflammation， consequently contributing to follicular developmental disorders and aberrant steroidogenesis. As a neuromodulation therapy initiated by somatic sensory input， acupuncture can modulate central integration via the “spinal cord-brainstem-hypothalamus” pathway， thereby regulating autonomic nervous activity and immune-inflammatory responses and improving the local ovarian microenvironment. Existing evidence suggests that acupuncture may exert its effects by inhibiting sympathetic overactivation， recruiting vagus-related anti-inflammatory pathways， modulating immune cell polarization， and alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis. This paper reviews research progress from three aspects： the autonomic-immune regulatory basis of ovarian function， pathological imbalance characteristics， and intervention mechanisms of acupuncture， so as to provide references for neuroimmune-targeted intervention of ovarian dysfunction and acupuncture mechanism research.关键词：Ovarian dysfunction;Neuroimmune regulation;Autonomic nervous system;Polycystic ovary syndrome;Primary ovarian insufficiency;Diminished ovarian reserve1|1|0更新时间：2026-09-17 - 摘要：ObjectiveTo explore the response characteristics of whole-brain c-Fos signals in brain regions associated with acupuncture and moxibustion analgesia， and to identify potential targets for revealing differences in the central regulatory mechanisms underlying their analgesic effects.MethodsC57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into sham， model， acupuncture， and moxibustion groups， with 8 mice in each group. Neuropathic pain was induced by spared nerve injury （SNI） of the sciatic nerve. The acupuncture and moxibustion groups received electroacupuncture and moxibustion interventions respectively for 30 min each day at “Zusanli” （ST36） for 7 consecutive days. Mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were measured to assess analgesic efficacy. Whole-brain c-Fos expression was detected by immunofluorescence. Bioinformatics methods were employed to analyze the number of analgesia-responsive brain regions， shared and specific regions， functional brain networks， and hub nodes based on c-Fos expression levels.ResultsAfter the final treatment， compared with the sham group， the model group showed significantly decreased mechanical and thermal pain thresholds （P<0.001）. Compared with the model group， both acupuncture and moxibustion groups showed significantly increased thresholds （P<0.01， P<0.001）， with the acupuncture group exhibiting significantly higher thresholds than the moxibustion group （P<0.05）. Whole-brain c-Fos signals were significantly increased in the model group compared with the sham group， while both treatment groups showed significant reductions relative to the model group. A total of 48， 6 and 13 brain regions presented significant alterations in c-Fos signals in the SNI group， acupuncture group and moxibustion group， respectively. In the acupuncture group， the significantly altered brain regions mainly included the primary cingulate cortex area 1 （Cg1R，L）， paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus （PVNR）， primary somatosensory cortex hindlimb region （S1HLL）， basolateral amygdala （BLAL）， magnocellular part of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus （PaLML）， and left posterior paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus （PaPoL） （P<0.05， P<0.01）. For the moxibustion group， the prominent brain regions with changed c-Fos signals were the locus coeruleus （LCR，L）， lateral hypothalamus （LHR，L）， ventral part of the medial geniculate nucleus （MGVL）， right and left paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus （PVNR，L）， S1HLL， Cg1R，L， BLAR，L， basomedial amygdala （BMAL）， substantia nigra （SNR）， and mediolateral secondary visual cortex （V2MLR） （P<0.05， P<0.01， P<0.001）. Within the analgesic brain functional networks of acupuncture and moxibustion， the primary somatosensory cortex （S1R）， dorsomedial thalamic nucleus （DenL） and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus （DMR） served as common significantly responsive nodes. S1， Dorsal Endopiriform Nucleus （Den） and central amygdala （CeCL） were identified as nodes with strong functional connectivity in both networks. In addition， the cornu ammonis 2 region of the hippocampus （CA2R） and CeC represented the nodes with the highest connectivity degree in the acupuncture network and moxibustion network， respectively.ConclusionAcupuncture shows superior analgesic effects to moxibustion in the SNI model. Both interventions likely exert analgesia primarily through negative activation across multiple brain regions. Cg1， PVN， S1HL， and BLA may be shared response regions； PaPo and PaLM may be specific to acupuncture； and LC， LH， MGV， SN， BMA， and V2ML may be specific to moxibustion. S1， Den， and CeC may represent shared functional network pathways， while CA2 and CeC may serve as core hubs in the acupuncture and moxibustion analgesic brain networks， respectively.关键词：Acupuncture;Moxibustion;Neuropathic pain;c-fos2|1|0更新时间：2026-09-08
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of “soothing the liver and regulating the spirit acupuncture” in treating chronic migraine （CM） of liver depression and qi stagnation type accompanied by negative emotions， and its impact on serum neurotransmitter levels， and to preliminarily explore its potential mechanism.MethodsA total of 66 patients with CM of liver depression and qi stagnation type were randomly divided into an acupuncture group （33 cases， with 1 dropout） and a sham acupuncture group （33 cases， with 1 dropout）. The acupuncture group received treatment with “Soothing the Liver and Regulating the Spirit Acupuncture” ［at Baihui （GV20）， Sishencong （EX-HN1）， Yintang （GV29）， etc.］， while the sham acupuncture group received sham acupuncture at non-meridian， non-acupoint sites. Treatments were administered once every other day， three times per week， for a total of 6 weeks. Before treatment and after the 6-week treatment， the following were assessed： headache days， Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） for pain， headache symptom score， Migraine-Specific Quality of Life （MSQ） score， Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale （HADS） score， Positive and Negative Affect Schedule （PANAS） score， positivity ratio， TCM syndrome score， and serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） and human calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP）. Clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated.ResultsCompared with pre-treatment， both groups showed reductions in headache days， VAS scores， headache symptom scores， HADS scores， PANAS-negative affect scores， and TCM syndrome scores after treatment （P<0.05）， while MSQ scores （all dimensions）， PANAS-positive affect scores， and positivity ratio increased （P<0.05）. Serum 5-HT levels increased and CGRP levels decreased （P<0.05）. The changes in the acupuncture group were significantly greater than those in the sham acupuncture group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The total effective rate was 87.5% （28/32） in the acupuncture group， which was significantly higher than 40.62% （13/32） in the sham acupuncture group （P<0.01）. No adverse events affecting trial progress were reported in both groups.ConclusionThe “Soothing the Liver and Regulating the Spirit Acupuncture” can significantly reduce headache days， alleviate pain intensity and headache symptoms， and improve quality of life and emotional state in patients with CM of liver depression and qi stagnation type accompanied by negative emotions， with high safety. Its mechanism may involve regulating 5-HT to inhibit neurogenic inflammation and remodel pain modulation pathways， as well as reducing CGRP levels to suppress pain sensitization and transmission， thereby improving negative emotions.关键词：Chronic migraine;Soothing the liver and regulating the spirit acupuncture;Negative emotions;Clinical research0|1|0更新时间：2026-09-04
- 摘要：Skin pruritus is a core symptom of various dermatological and systemic diseases， and adversely affects the patient’s quality of life. Its occurrence and development are closely associated with dysfunction of the neuro-endocrine-immune （NEI） network. As a benign stress intervention， acupuncture alleviates itching by modulating the NEI network and initiating the body’s intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. Studies have shown that acupuncture has multi-target regulatory effects. At the nervous system level， it can regulate the balance of neurotransmitters and inhibit key signaling pathways such as transient receptor potential vanillic acid subtype 1（TRPV1）， brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB）. At the endocrine system level， it can correct the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and reduce the levels of stress hormones. At the immune system level， it can rebalance cytokines， inhibit mast cell activation and promote skin barrier repair. In the present article， we systematically elucidate the underlying mechanism of acupuncture in treating pruritus through holistic regulation of the NEI network， aiming at providing a reliable theoretical basis for the research on acupuncture treatment of cutaneous pruritus.关键词：Skin pruritus;Acupuncture;Neuro-endocrine-immune network;Review2|0|0更新时间：2026-09-04
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo observe the correlation between referred hyperaesthesia and acupoint sensitization in kidney diseases patients and to investigate the rule of regional sensitized point distribution in rats.MethodsA total of 158 kidney-related diseases patients from 5 hospitals in China were recruited in the present study. The tenderness was palpated along the chest， back， shoulder， upper limbs， lower limbs，etc. by specially-assigned researcher in each hospital. In animal experiments， experimental group rats（n=8） received an injection of 10% mustard oil into subcortical region of the right kidney to trigger renal inflammation， while the control group rats（n=9） received an injection of saline solution into subcortical region of the right kidney. All the rats accepted tail venous injection of 5% Evans blue for examining the distribution of the blue dye exudation spots at the body surface.ResultsThe tenderness spots were found at the abdomen， waist， buttock， lower limbs and primarily concentrated in the T9—L4 and S2 spinal segments. The location of referred pain overlaps with acupoints. In experimental rats， cutaneous exudation points were distributed across the abdomen， lumbar-dorsal region， and sacral area， corresponding to the dermatomal regions innervated by the T7—L5 spinal segments.ConclusionIn the case of kidney diseases， a regular “referred sensitization” response frequently occurs in the dermatomere area innervated by the corresponding T8—L1 segments and adjacent nerve distribution areas.关键词：Kidney diseases;Referred hyperaesthesia;Acupoint sensitization0|0|0更新时间：2026-09-04
- 摘要：ObjectiveTo explore the effects of acupoint catgut embedding on intestinal microbiota and inflammatory response in simple obese rats and its underlying mechanism.MethodsSD rats were fed with high‑fat diet to establish simple obesity models， and the model rats were randomly divided into model group， orlistat group， catgut embedding group， AMPK activator （AICAR） group， and catgut embedding + AMPK inhibitor （Compound C） group， with 8 rats in each group. Another 8 SD rats were set as the control group. In the catgut embedding group， catgut embedding was performed at acupoints “Zhongwan” （CV12）， “Guanyuan” （CV4）， “Zusanli” （ST36）， and “Fenglong” （ST40）， once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Rats in the orlistat group received intragastric administration of orlistat at 0.048 g/kg once daily for 4 weeks. Rats in the AICAR group were given tail‑vein injection of AICAR at 50 mg/kg once daily for 4 weeks. Rats in the catgut embedding + Compound C group received catgut embedding combined with tail‑vein injection of Compound C at 250 μg/kg. Body weight and body length were measured and Lee’s index was calculated. Fasting plasma glucose （FPG） and fasting insulin （FINS） were detected and the insulin resistance index was calculated. Serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， low‑density lipoprotein‑cholesterol （LDL‑C）， and high‑density lipoprotein‑cholesterol （HDL‑C） were determined by biochemical analyzer. Serum contents of tumor necrosis factor‑α （TNF‑α）， interleukin‑6 （IL‑6）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， and interleukin‑10 （IL‑10） were measured by ELISA. Pathological changes of colon tissues were observed by HE staining. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the positive expression of Occludin and Claudin‑1 in colon tissue. The abundance of intestinal bacterial genera was determined by PCR. Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of AMP‑activated protein kinase （AMPK）/sirtuin‑1 （SIRT1）/peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor‑γ coactivator‑1α （PGC‑1α） pathway in colon and adipose tissues.ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed significantly increased body weight， Lee’s index， serum TC， TG， LDL‑C， TNF‑α， IL‑6， LPS， FPG， FINS， insulin resistance index， as well as the abundances of Enterococcus and Desulfovibrio （P<0.05）； while serum IL‑10 and HDL‑C levels， the abundances of Bifidobacterium， Lactobacillus， and Akkermansia， the fluorescence intensity of Occludin and Claudin‑1 in colon tissues， the p‑AMPK/AMPK ratio， and the protein levels of SIRT1 and PGC‑1α in colon and adipose tissues were decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the orlistat group， catgut embedding group and AICAR group exhibited significantly decreased body weight， Lee’s index， serum TC， TG， LDL‑C， TNF‑α， IL‑6， LPS， FPG， FINS， insulin resistance index， and the abundances of Enterococcus and Desulfovibrio （P<0.05）； whereas serum IL‑10 and HDL‑C levels， the abundances of Bifidobacterium， Lactobacillus， Akkermansia， the fluorescence intensity of Occludin and Claudin‑1 in colon tissues， the p‑AMPK/AMPK ratio， and the protein levels of SIRT1 and PGC‑1α in colon and adipose tissues were elevated （P<0.05）. Compared with the catgut embedding group， the catgut embedding + Compound C group had significantly higher body weight， Lee’s index， serum TC， TG， LDL‑C， TNF‑α， IL‑6， LPS， FPG， FINS， insulin resistance index， and abundances of Enterococcus and Desulfovibrio （P<0.05）； while serum IL‑10 and HDL‑C levels， the abundances of Bifidobacterium， Lactobacillus， Akkermansia， colon Occludin and Claudin‑1 fluorescence intensity， p‑AMPK/AMPK ratio， and SIRT1 and PGC‑1α protein expression in colon and adipose tissues were reduced （P<0.05）.ConclusionAcupoint catgut embedding can alleviate systemic low‑grade inflammatory response， regulate blood lipid metabolism， modulate the abundance of beneficial intestinal bacteria， and repair intestinal barrier function in simple obese rats. Its mechanism may be related to the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC‑1α signaling pathway.关键词：Acupoint catgut embedding;Simple obese rats;Inflammatory response;Intestinal microbiota;AMPK/SIRT1/PGC‑1α signaling pathway0|2|0更新时间：2026-09-04
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