针刺研究最新文献

{"title":"[The long-term follow-up clinical research of ultrasound-guided warm needle knife in treatment of advanced knee osteoarthritis].","authors":"Jing Yin, Shi-Ru Ju, Xiao-Juan Luo, Yi-Xuan Duan, Zhao-Qing Zhang, Hui-Jun Chen","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided warm needle knife therapy for patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis (KOA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 70 advanced KOA patients were recruited from the Department of Pain and Rehabilitation of the Third Hospital of Wuhan from June 2020 to June 2022. They were randomized to a treatment group or a control group in a 1∶1 ratio. Patients in the treatment group received ultrasound guided warm needle knife treatment, while patients in the control group received ultrasound guided radiofrequency treatment of the knee sensory plexus, both for 1 time. The primary outcome was the changes in Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. Other outcomes included the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS) scores, value of Young's modulus of A-shi points, proportion of patients achieving improvement, and adverse events related to study interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with baseline, the WOMAC and VAS scores in the two groups were significantly decreased at each timepoints(<i>P</i><0.05), and the value of Young's modulus was significantly decreased at 12 months after treatment. Compared with the control group, the treatment group reported a significantly greater reduction in WOMAC and VAS scores at 6 months and 12 months after treatment(<i>P</i><0.05). The proportion of patients achieving improvement in the treatment group were significantly higher than the control group at 12 months after treatment(<i>P</i><0.05). The value of Young's modulus in the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group at 12 months after treatment(<i>P</i><0.05). No adverse events were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Ultrasound guided warm needle knife is effective in improving the function of knee joint and relieving pain in patients with advanced KOA. Further, the long-term efficacy of ultrasound guided warm needle knife for advanced KOA was superior to the ultrasound guided radiofrequency therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 4","pages":"433-438"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144050910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Research progress on the \"neuro-endocrine-immune\" regulatory mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of simple obesity].","authors":"Wen-Ting Xie, Yu-Juan Ye, Cui Ma, Yu-Ting Wei, Xing-Ke Yan","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acupuncture has a definite effect on the treatment of simple obesity. Acupuncture can effectively reduce the weight of patients and improve the body metabolism. Studies have shown that acupuncture in the treatment of simple obesity is closely related to the regulation of neuro-endocrine-immune function. This article reviews the neuro-endocrine-immune regulatory mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of simple obesity from the aspects of regulating key nuclei of the central nervous system, improving insulin and leptin resistance, regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, intestinal flora disorders, and regulating related immune inflammatory molecules and inflammatory signaling pathways. This review aims to provide a basis for the mechanism and application research of acupuncture in the treatment of simple obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 4","pages":"459-466"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144022317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Research progress of acupuncture in attenuating depression via regulating hippocampal neuroplasticity].","authors":"Ji-Yu Zhao, Gong-Ming Yuan, Pei-Yun Li, Yuan Xu, Yong-Ming Guo, Yi-Nan Gong","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231134","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acupuncture has a significant effect on depression. The paper reviews the mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of depression based on hippocampal neuroplasticity from the relevant articles published in recent years from 3 aspects, i.e. promoting neuronal regeneration, improving synaptic plasticity efficiency, and repairing astrocytes structure and function. Acupuncture can regulate neural plasticity at multiple levels. It can not only directly repair the structure of neurons and glial cells through acupoint stimulation, but also indirectly participate in the regulation of neural plasticity through monoamine neurotransmitters, glutamate receptors, and related protein-mediated signaling pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 4","pages":"439-447"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144039069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Effect of electroacupuncture of \"Jiaji\"(EX-B2) on autophagy and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in degenerative intervertebral disc rabbits based on PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway].","authors":"Min Wang, Yan-Lin Zahng, Jing Zou, Guo-Fu Huang, Tuo Zhang, Xiao-Han Ding, Lin-Hao Xia","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of bilateral \"Jiaji\" (EX-B2) on autophagy, apoptosis and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway of nucleus pulposus cells in rabbits with intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD), so as to explore its possible mechanisms underlying improvement of IVDD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 18 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into sham operation, model and EA groups. The IVDD model was established by axial disc compression, and the modeling effect was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral \"Jiaji\" (EX-B2) of L4-L5 for 20 min, once daily, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The general condition and body weight change in each group were recorded. The morphology of nucleus pulposus was observed after H.E. staining. The ultrastructure of nucleus pulposus cells was observed by using transmission electron microscope. The apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, Beclin1, light chain 3 (LC3), autophagy-related protein 5 (Atg5), p62 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway proteins were detected by Western blot.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the sham operation group, the general condition of IVDD rabbits was poorer, with decreased MRI signal of intervertebral disc, destruction and necrosis of nucleus pulposus cells, damage of nucleus pulposus cell matrix, and blurred organelles, and the apoptosis rate, expression levels of Bax, Beclin1 and Atg5 proteins and the ratio of LC3- Ⅱ/LC3- Ⅰ were significantly increased (<i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i><0.05), while the body weight, expressions of Bcl-2 and p62, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR /mTOR considerably decreased (<i>P</i><0.01) in the model group. In contrast to the model group, the general condition of the rabbits was improved after EA, with enhanced MRI signal of intervertebral disc, fewer mitochondrial autophagosomes, slightly normal mitochondrial construction, etc., and modeling-induced increase of apoptosis rate, the expression levels of Bax, Beclin1 and Atg5 proteins and the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3- Ⅰ , and decrease of body weight, the expression levels of Bcl-2, p62, and p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR /mTOR were all reversed in the EA group (<i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i><0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>EA stimulation of EX-B2 can delay IVDD by regulating apoptosis and autophagy of nucleus pulposus cells in the intervertebral disc in IVDD rabbits, which may be related to its function in activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 4","pages":"411-418"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144051229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Effect of electroacupuncture on the primary input level of dorsal root ganglion neurons under different stimuli observed by <i>in vivo</i> calcium imaging].","authors":"Ni-Nan Zhang, Xin-Yan Gao, Kun Liu, Qing-Quan Yu, Yang-Shuai Su, Xiao-Yu Wang, Zhi-Yun Zhang, Xiang-Hong Jing","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the neuronal activity of primary afferent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) caused by different mechanical stimuli such as brush, clamp [clamping hind paw or \"Zusanli\" (ST36) acupoint] or stimulation at different temperatures (43 ℃, 51 ℃, 4 ℃), so as to explore the interaction between EA signals and different primary afferent signals at the DRG level.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The strength threshold of activated A fiber was determined by electrophysiological technique. DRG neurons were labeled by intrathecal injection of AAV9 virus, and the response of DRG neurons to different primary afferent stimuli was observed and recorded by calcium imaging. EA (0.5 mA, 0.2 ms, 2 Hz) was applied to \"Zusanli\" (ST36) on the right side for 10 min. The changes of the number, percentage of neurons of different sizes and fluorescence intensity of DRG neurons activated under different stimulation before and after EA were compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Clamping stimulation, brush stimulation, or different temperature stimulation could all activate DRG neurons of large, medium, and small classes. EA at ST36 could significantly decrease the percentage of activated small neurons and large neurons in DRG induced by clamping the hind paw (<i>P</i><0.05), and reduce the fluorescence intensity of neurons with different diameters (<i>P</i><0.000 1), suggesting that EA could suppress the neuronal activity induced by noxious mechanical stimulation of the hind paw. However, EA at ST36 had no significant effect on the percentage of activated DRG neurons and fluorescence intensity caused by clamping the anterior tibial muscle. Meanwhile, EA at ST36 could significantly reduce the percentage of activated neuron in DRG induced by brush stimulation (<i>P</i><0.05), and reduce the fluorescence intensity of neurons with different diameters (<i>P</i><0.000 1). In temperature stimulation, EA could significantly inhibit the fluorescence intensity of DRG neurons under 4 °C cold stimulation (<i>P</i><0.01), but had no significant effect on the percentage and fluorescence intensity of DRG neurons activated by 43 °C and 51 °C.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>EA at ST36 can inhibit the nociceptive mechanical input of the hind paw and the input of 4 °C cold stimulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 4","pages":"357-365"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144027461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Effect of mild moxibustion at Jiuwei (CV15) on the diaphragm and postural control ability of patients after recovery from stroke complicated with pulmonary infection: a randomized controlled trial].","authors":"Jia-Xin Cai, Mei-Qing Huang, Wen-Qiang Zhou, Yu-Ping Liu, Zhen-Mei Ling","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240659","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To observe the effect of mild moxibustion at Jiuwei (CV15) on the ultrasonic parameters of the diaphragm and postural control ability of patients after recovery from stroke complicated with pulmonary infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty patients were randomly divided into control group (40 cases, with 5 cases dropped out) and experimental group (40 cases, with 4 cases dropped out). The control group was given rehabilitation training, routine internal medicine and acupuncture treatments, while the experimental group was given mild moxibustion at CV15 with moxa sticks on the basis of the control group, 15 minutes each time, once a day, 5 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the diaphragm thickness (DT), the diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF), the diaphragm excursion (DE) and the diaphragm contraction velocity (DCV) during quiet breathing and deep breathing were measured by musculoskeletal ultrasound, respectively. The trunk impairment scale (TIS) and the postural assessment scale for stroke survivors (PASS) scores of the patients were evaluated before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the same group before treatment, the DTF was increased (<i>P</i><0.05), the DE during quiet breathing and deep breathing both increased (<i>P</i><0.05), the DCV during deep breathing increased (<i>P</i><0.05) after treatment, and the TIS and PASS scores increased (<i>P</i><0.05) 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment of patients in both groups;the DT increased (<i>P</i><0.05), and the DCV during quiet breathing increased (<i>P</i><0.05) of patients in the experimental group. Compared with the control group at the same time point, the DTF increased (<i>P</i><0.05), the DCV during quiet breathing increased (<i>P</i><0.05), the DE and DCV during deep breathing both increased (<i>P</i><0.05) after treatment, and the TIS and PASS scores increased (<i>P</i><0.05) 4 weeks after treatment of patients in the experimental group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mild moxibustion at CV15 can effectively improve the DTF, DE during deep breathing, and DCV during quiet breathing and deep breathing of patients recovered from stroke complicated with pulmonary infection, and improve the postural control ability of patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 4","pages":"426-432"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144013908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Joss-stick moxibustion reduces inflammatory response of acute eczema by inhibiting IL-6/STAT3 signaling, and balancing Th17/Treg to normalize filaggrin and Caspase-14 levels in rats].","authors":"Xin-Ying Li, Ying-Ying Zhao, Zhi-Jie Li, Hui-Xin Long, Xiao-Yan Tang, Hao-Tian Li, Zi-Yang Zhou, Xing-Jun Han","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231124","DOIUrl":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20231124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate the effect of joss-stick moxibustion on the balance of helper T cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) through interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 3 (STAT3) pathway in acute eczema (AE) rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, AE model, boric acid solution (BAS) washing, and moxibustion groups, with 6 rats in each group. The AE model was established by external application of 7% dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB, 100 μL) to the abdominal skin once for the first day, 3 days later, the 5% DNCB to the right back sin, every three days for 3 times. Rats of the blank control group received external application of distilled water at the skin and those of the BAS washing group received external application of 3% BAS solution wet packing. Rats of the moxibustion group received local heat stimulation of joss-stick moxibustion at the injured skin locus for 30 min, once a day, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks. At the end of the experiments, the injured skin (on the right side of the back) and the healthy skin on the left side of the back were sampled using a round puncher (6 mm in diameter) for calculating the skin swelling degree. The inhibition rate equals to the skin swelling degree /weight of the healthy skin×100%. The content of serum IL-6 was detected using ELISA , the expression levels of STAT3 and ROR-γt mRNAs in the injured skin tissue were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the expression levels of p-STAT3, ROR-γt, and Foxp3 protein were detected using Western blot. The immunoactivities of filaggrin (FLG) and Caspase-14 in the injured skin tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the blank control group, the topical skin swelling degree, inhibition rate, serum IL-6 content, expression levels of STAT3 and ROR-γt mRNAs, and p-STAT3, ROR-γt protein expression levels were significantly increased (<i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i><0.05), while the expression level of Foxp3 protein and the immunoactivities of FLG and Caspase-14 were markedly down-regulated (<i>P</i><0.01) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, both the increase and decrease of the aforementioned 10 indexes after the modeling were reversed in the BAS washing and moxibustion groups (<i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i><0.05). No significant differences were found between the BAS washing and moxibustion groups in the abovementioned 10 indexes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Joss-stick moxibustion can reduce the inflammatory response in AE rats, which may be related to its functions in suppressing the overexpression of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway to promote the restoration of Th17/Treg balance, thus normalizing the levels of FLG and Caspase-14.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 3","pages":"295-301"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143658815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Research progress on the mechanisms of acupuncture in improving neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury].","authors":"Jing Huang, Ya-Feng Ren, Bing Li, Zhi-Lan Zhang, Xiao-Meng Huang, Wen-Ya Shang","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230650","DOIUrl":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230650","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The neurogenic bladder is a common manifestation of spinal cord injury. The occurrence and development of neurogenic bladder involves a variety of complex pathological mechanisms, including destruction of the structure and function of the detrusor muscles in the bladder tissue, abnormal excitatory conduction of bladder interstitial cells of Cajal, overactivation of the afferent C-fibers of the bladder, and loss of spinal cord neurons. It has been found that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of neurogenic bladder, and its underlying mechanisms are related to its functions in activating the bladder autophagy signaling pathway, modulating the expression of bladder fibroblasts molecules, regulating expression of proteins related to the contractile function of the detrusor muscles, stimulating excitatory conduction channel proteins on the Cajal interstitial cells of bladder, activating afferent C fibers within the bladder regulating spinal neuron regeneration, promoting the production of apoptotic factors in the spinal cord and bladder. In the present article, we summarized the research progress of the mechanism of neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury and the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions, so as to provide reference for elucidating the pathogenesis of neurogenic bladder and the role of acupuncture treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 3","pages":"341-348"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143658874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Effects of fermented white mustard seed plaster on airway immune balance and its inflammatory response mechanism in bronchial asthma rats].","authors":"Jin-Xia Mu, Qing Zhang, Yu-Ming Qu, Tian-Sheng Zhang, Chong-Yao Hao, Kai-Nan Xiao","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230975","DOIUrl":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20230975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To observe the effects of fermented white mustard seed plaster on the balance of T helper cell (Th) 1/Th2, Th17/T regulatory cell (Treg) immune balance in bronchial asthma (BA) rats, so as to explore the possible mechanism of fermented white mustard seed plaster in the treatment of BA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into blank, model, medication and acupoint application groups, with 10 rats in each group. BA model was prepared using ovalbumin sensitization and atomization. Rats in the acupoint application group were treated with fermented white mustard seed plaster at \"Dazhui\" (GV14), bilateral \"Feishu\" (BL13) and \"Fengmen\" (BL12) for 4 h;rats in the medication group were given intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg dexamethasone sodium phosphate;both groups were treated once daily for 14 consecutive days. Behavioral observations and scoring were conducted on rats in each group before and after intervention. HE staining was performed to observe the pathological morphological changes of lung tissue. ELISA was used to detect the contents of interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum. real-time quantitive PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of T-box transcription factor (T-bet), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), and forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) in lung tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, and Foxp3 in lung tissue.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After treatment, compared with the blank group, the behavioral score was significantly increased (<i>P</i><0.01);the thickness of bronchial wall muscle layer increased with a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration, thickening of alveolar wall, abnormal lung tissue structure, and severe lung consolidation;the contents of serum IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, and IgE were significantly increased (<i>P</i><0.01), while the contents of serum IFN-γ and IL-10 were significantly decreased (<i>P</i><0.01);the mRNA and protein expression levels of GATA-3 and RORγt in lung tissue were increased (<i>P</i><0.01), while the mRNA and protein expression levels of T-bet and Foxp3 in lung tissue were decreased (<i>P</i><0.01) of rats in the model group. Compared with the model group, the behavioral score was significantly decreased (<i>P</i><0.01);the pathological morphological damage of lung tissue was significantly improved;the contents of serum IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, and IgE were significantly decreased (<i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i><0.05), while the contents of serum IFN-γ and IL-10 were significantly increased (<i>P</i><0.01, <i>P</i><0.05);the mRNA and protein expression levels of T-bet and Foxp3 in lung tissue were increased (<i>P</i><0.01), while the mRNA and protein expression levels of GATA-3 and RORγt in lung tissue were decreased (<i>P</i><0.01) of rats in the medicat","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 3","pages":"287-294"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143658244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Effect of moxibustion combined with chemotherapy on immune checkpoints in tumor tissue of breast cancer-bearing mice].","authors":"Fei-Cheng Zhang, Tian-Yu Gao, Chen-Xi Zhang, Ji-Juan Li, Xin-Yue Liang, Xiao-Qi Zhang, Chun-Sheng Jia, Li-Jia Pan","doi":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240144","DOIUrl":"10.13702/j.1000-0607.20240144","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;To observe the effects of moxibustion combined with chemotherapy on immune checkpoints including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain (TIM-3) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) in the tumor tissue of breast cancer-bearing mice, so as to explore the effect and mechanisms of moxibustion combined with chemotherapy on breast cancer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Forty BALB/c female mice were randomly divided into model, chemotherapy, moxibustion and combination groups, with 10 mice in each group. 4T1 tumor cells were inoculated into the fat pad under the left fourth nipple of the mice to establish the breast cancer-bearing mice model. The chemotherapy group was injected intraperitoneally with doxorubicin (DOX) solution at 2.5 mg/kg once every 3 days;the moxibustion group received bilateral \"Zusanli\" (ST36) moxibustion with 2 moxa cones per point, treated every 2 days;the combination group received both DOX injection and moxibustion intervention. The above interventions lasted for 21 days. The body weight and tumor volume of the mice were recorded daily. HE staining was used to observe tumor tissue pathological morphology. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the positive expression and protein expression levels of PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 in the tumor tissue.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Compared with the model group after intervention, the body weight was increased (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05), the tumor volume was decreased (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01), the pathological morphology of tumor tissue showed varying degrees of tumor cells degeneration, and the positive expression and protein expression levels of PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 in tumor tissue were decreased (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05) of mice in the chemotherapy, moxibustion and combination groups. Compared with the chemotherapy group, the body weight of mice in the moxibustion group was higher (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01);the tumor volume of mice in the combination group was smaller (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01);the positive expression and protein expression levels of PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 were further reduced (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01, &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05) of mice in the moxibustion and combination groups. Compared with the moxibustion group, the body weight was decreased (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01), the tumor volume was smaller (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01), the degree of tumor cell degeneration was higher, and the positive expression and protein expression levels of PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 were decreased (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.01) of mice in the combination group.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Moxibustion combined with chemotherapy shows more significant effects in inhibiting tumor growth in breast cancer-bearing mice compared to moxibustion or chemotherapy alone. It reduces the expression of PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 in tumor tissues, suggesting that lowering immune checkpoint expression levels may be one of the mechanisms by which moxibustion c","PeriodicalId":34919,"journal":{"name":"针刺研究","volume":"50 3","pages":"319-326"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143657914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}