World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion最新文献

{"title":"Advancing statistical methodologies in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture research: Enhancing transparency and analytical sophistication","authors":"Remy MACDONALD ,&nbsp;Dong-han BAI (白栋汉) ,&nbsp;Zi-hao ZHANG (张紫浩) ,&nbsp;Nan-xi HUANG (黄南曦) ,&nbsp;Jing-yue GAO (高靖越) ,&nbsp;Xu ZHANG (张旭) ,&nbsp;Lei FAN (樊蕾) ,&nbsp;Shu-min CHEN (陈淑敏) ,&nbsp;Lu LUO (骆璐)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with over 5000 years of empirical practice, increasingly employs modern scientific frameworks such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to validate therapeutic claims, yet its research reliability hinges critically on robust statistical rigor.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>By systematically analyzing articles from <em>Phytomedicine</em> and <em>Journal of Ethnopharmacology</em>, this study evaluates statistical methodologies in TCM research, focusing on the adoption of advanced analytical techniques (e.g., multivariate modeling) versus reliance on basic methods (e.g., ANOVA) and identifies reporting gaps in trial design (e.g., sample size estimation).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Key findings indicate that foundational statistical methods, such as one-way ANOVA, were predominantly used (83.4% of articles), whereas more advanced approaches appeared in only 34.6% of studies. However, methodological rigor should not be equated with statistical complexity. The selection of analytical techniques must be driven by the research objectives, data structure, study design, and the complexity of the scientific questions under investigation. Advanced methods are not inherently superior; rather, the most appropriate approach is the one that is methodologically justified and aligned with underlying assumptions. Notably, substantial deficiencies in trial design and reporting were observed. A striking 81.5% of studies lacked pre-specified power calculations or sample size justifications, raising concerns about statistical validity. Reporting transparency was similarly limited: 48.3% of articles did not adequately describe statistical procedures, and 69.8% failed to provide confidence intervals for primary effect estimates. Collectively, these limitations increase the risk of biased interpretation and undermine the robustness, reproducibility, and credibility of the findings.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Strengthening statistical rigor—through improved trial design transparency and adoption of advanced methods—is essential to enhance the credibility of TCM research, mitigate biases, and foster its integration into evidence-based medicine, ultimately ensuring clinically meaningful and actionable therapeutic insights.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 141-148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-stroke electroacupuncture promotes cerebrovascular repair in the peri‑infarct cortex of ischemic stroke mice","authors":"Yun-shi LIN (林涢诗) ,&nbsp;Rui ZHANG (张瑞) ,&nbsp;Ji-qin XIANG (向继琴) ,&nbsp;Xin LI (李馨) ,&nbsp;An-xin ZHANG (张安欣) ,&nbsp;Xiao-rong TANG (汤小荣) ,&nbsp;Lin WANG (王琳) ,&nbsp;Neng-gui XU (许能贵) ,&nbsp;Rong-rong TAO (陶蓉蓉)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cerebrovascular repair plays a crucial role in promoting post-stroke neurological recovery. However, effective strategies to enhance cerebrovascular repair and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated whether post-stroke electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could promote cerebrovascular repair and thereby improve neurological function, as well as the potential mechanisms involved.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to photothrombosis-induced brain ischemia. Following successful model induction, the mice were randomly assigned to the model group, the EA continuous wave group (EA[Co]), and the EA dense-sparse wave group (EA[SD]), with 10 animals in each group. A sham-operated group (&lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 10) served as the control. The EA groups received a 4-week EA intervention targeting the acupoints “Neiguan(PC6)” and “Sanyinjiao(SP6)”. EA was administered five times per week with bilateral stimulation, and the affected side was connected to the EA device. The EA(SD) group received stimulation at 2/10 Hz, whereas the EA(Co) group received continuous wave stimulation at 2 Hz or 50 Hz; both were delivered at an intensity of 1 mA for 20 min per session. Twenty-four hours after photothrombosis induction, laser speckle contrast imaging and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining were performed to confirm model establishment and cerebral ischemic injury. Neurological function was evaluated using behavioral tests, including the adhesive removal test, hanging wire test, and elevated plus maze test. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess neuronal viability, cerebral microvascular structure, endothelial cell proliferation, and vascular repair markers in the peri‑infarct cortex.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Significant reductions in cerebral blood perfusion (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05) and non-infarct volume (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05) were observed in the ipsilateral hemisphere of model mice compared with the contralateral hemisphere, confirming successful establishment of the photothrombosis-induced ischemia model. (1) In the adhesive removal test, the model group exhibited significantly prolonged adhesive removal latency compared with the control group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). EA treatment shortened latency compared with the model group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05), with no statistically significant difference between the EA(Co) and EA(SD) groups (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &gt; 0.05). (2) In the wire hanging test, the model group exhibited significantly lower muscle strength scores than the sham group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). EA treatment significantly enhanced muscle strength performance (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05), and the improvement was greater in the EA(Co) group than in the EA(SD) group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). (3) In the elevated plus maze test, the model group showed significant decreases in total distance traveled, percentage of open-arm entries, and time spent in open ","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 197-207"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147748905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-target synergism and integration: Mechanism of acupuncture for post-stroke cognitive impairment","authors":"Ming-yuan ZHOU (周明园) ,&nbsp;Dong-xu ZHANG (张东旭) ,&nbsp;Peng-fei QI (齐鹏飞) ,&nbsp;Huan-ying JIANG (蒋焕莹) ,&nbsp;Xue-feng JIAO (焦雪峰) ,&nbsp;Xin-yuan CAO (曹馨元) ,&nbsp;Yun-chuan SU (苏运川) ,&nbsp;Zhong-ren SUN (孙忠人) ,&nbsp;Hong-na YIN (尹洪娜)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common disabling complication after stroke. Acupuncture can effectively improve learning and memory function in patients with PSCI and enhance their quality of life in long term. Research on its effect mechanisms has evolved from phenomenological observation to multidimensional exploration progressively. In this paper, recent studies on effect mechanisms of acupuncture for PSCI were collected, which revealed that acupuncture can alleviate PSCI through multi-target synergism. The therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture primarily involves reducing immune damage in the brain by suppressing neuroinflammation, and promoting synaptic and memory circuit reconstruction through enhancing neural plasticity, egulating autophagy and maintaining the stability of neurovascular units as the critical auxiliary pathways, which can synergistically remove the damage products and preserve the neuronal microenvironment. Furthermore, emerging research directions such as modulating gut microbiota, influencing epigenetics, and improving brain metabolism expand the mechanistic understanding. However, existing studies predominantly isolate and describe individual mechanisms without integrating their intrinsic correlations, nor do they adequately elucidate the corresponding relationships between different acupuncture techniques and their therapeutic advantages. Therefore, this review integrates the fragmented mechanistic evidences, and emphasizes that future research need multi-omics approaches, so as to explore the synergistic relationships among mechanisms, and to strengthen the correlative research between the specificity of acupuncture regimens and clinical effect, in order to facilitate bench-to-bedside translation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 89-98"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147751884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy in protecting against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury☆","authors":"Si-fang CHEN (陈四芳) ,&nbsp;Wei HAN (韩为) ,&nbsp;Chong CHEN (陈冲) ,&nbsp;Xiao-li SUN (孙晓丽) ,&nbsp;Wen ZHANG (张文) ,&nbsp;Shan-bin SUN (孙善斌)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Objective:</em> To observe the potential mechanisms of <em>Tongdu Tiaoshen</em> (unblocking the governor vessel and regulating the mind) acupuncture therapy in protecting against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI).</div><div><em>Methods:</em> SD rats were divided into a sham-operated group, a model group, and a <em>Tongdu Tiaoshen</em> acupuncture group (acupuncture group) randomly, with 12 rats in each group. Middle cerebral artery occlusion models were prepared using the Longa suture-occluded method. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was operated at “Dazhu (GV14)”, “Shenting (GV24)” and “Baihui (GV20)” for 20 min in each intervention, once daily and for 12 consecutive days. In the sham-operated group and the model group, the rats were grasped and fixed for the same duration as those in the acupuncture group, but without acupuncture intervention. The degree of neurological impairment in rats after intervention was assessed using the Zea Longa method. HE staining was employed to observe the pathological changes in the rat cerebral cortex. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), pro-caspase-1, and P2 × 7 receptor (P2 × 7R) in the rat cerebral cortex. ELISA was performed to measure the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in the rat cerebral cortex. Immunofluorescence was utilized to observe the positive expression of ASC, pro-caspase-1, and P2 × 7R in the rat cerebral cortex.</div><div><em>Results:</em> Compared to the sham-operated group, the model group showed the increase in neurological deficit score (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), the cells surrounding the ischemic foci were sparse and loosely distributed under the microscope; the protein expression of ASC, pro-caspase-1 and P2 × 7R were elevated (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), their positive expression increased; and the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 rose (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). Compared to the model group, in the acupuncture group, the neurological deficit score decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and cellular morphological changes were mild around the ischemic foci observed under microscopy; the protein expression of ASC, pro-caspase-1 and P2 × 7R was reduced (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and their positive expression was declined; and the expression of IL-1β and IL-18 decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01).</div><div>Conclusion: The mechanisms of <em>Tongdu Tiaoshen</em> acupuncture in protecting against CIRI may be associated with down-regulating the expression of P2 × 7R and attenuating inflammatory response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 208-214"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture and mitochondrial homeostasis in central nervous system diseases: A multi-target perspective","authors":"Dong WANG (王东) ,&nbsp;Guan-ran WANG (王冠然) ,&nbsp;Wen-yi GE (葛文逸) ,&nbsp;Yu-xuan LI (李昱萱) ,&nbsp;Qi-hui LIANG (梁启惠) ,&nbsp;Bo-han LIU (刘博涵) ,&nbsp;Run-chen ZHANG (张润琛)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Mitochondrial dysfunction has been considered as a central pathological contributor to neuronal injury, impaired energy metabolism, and limited functional recovery in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Acupuncture has been widely employed in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of CNS diseases. However, its regulatory effects on mitochondrial homeostasis have not yet been systematically reviewed.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive search of major English and Chinese databases was performed. Using a narrative review approach, relevant studies examining the effects of acupuncture on mitochondrial homeostasis in CNS diseases were analyzed to summarize key outcomes, underlying mechanisms, and current limitations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Acupuncture may modulate mitochondrial homeostasis in CNS diseases through multiple mechanisms, including increased mitochondrial abundance, preservation of mitochondrial ultrastructure, enhanced oxidative phosphorylation, elevated adenosine triphosphate production, reduced oxidative stress, and regulation of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) processes. Mechanistic studies implicate pathways such as Sirtuin 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α/NRF1/mitochondrial transcription factor A pathway, PTEN-induced kinase 1/Parkin-related signaling, and Nrf2/Keap1- mediated redox regulation.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Acupuncture appears to confer neuroprotection and promote neural repair through the coordinated regulation of these targets and processes. However, significant limitations persist, including insufficient assessment of dynamic mitochondrial function and flux, limited cell type-specific and time-resolved validation, insufficient evidence from genetic or pharmacological intervention studies, and substantial heterogeneity in stimulation parameters and outcome measures. These issues restrict cross-study comparisons and clinical translation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Future research should focus on rigorous validation of the mechanisms by which acupuncture regulates mitochondrial homeostasis, emphasizing dynamic functional assessments, cell type-specific analyses, and causal mechanistic investigations. Integrating mechanistic markers with functional outcomes and clinically relevant biomarkers may facilitate translational applications. Overall, the modulation of mitochondrial homeostasis represents a promising pathway through which acupuncture exerts neuroprotective and restorative effects in CNS diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 109-117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution characteristics of somatic hyperalgesic acupoints in patients with functional dyspepsia: A case-control study","authors":"Yuan-bo GAO (高渊博) ,&nbsp;Xue-song WANG (王雪松) ,&nbsp;Xu-xin LI (李旭欣) ,&nbsp;Peng-an XIANG (向鹏安) ,&nbsp;Jing-yi JIAO (焦竞谊) ,&nbsp;Bing-xian LI (李炳贤) ,&nbsp;Jun-cha ZHANG (张俊茶) ,&nbsp;Jun LIU (刘君) ,&nbsp;Xi-sheng FAN (范玺胜) ,&nbsp;Yan-fen SHE (佘延芬)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To investigate the distribution characteristics of somatic hyperalgesic acupoints in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), at the same time, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used with healthy subjects to evaluate the distribution characteristics of hyperalgesic acupoints, and summarize the objective rule of acupoint hyperalgesia in patients with FD, aiming to provide objective evidence for the acupoint sensitization theory and the scientific basis for optimizing acupoint selection strategies of acupuncture for FD.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A case-control study design was adopted with 40 patients with FD (FD group) and 38 healthy subjects (control group). The pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pain tolerance threshold (PTT) of acupoints on the abdomen, lumbar region, and lower limbs were measured by a pressure pain tester in both groups. The differences between the two groups were analyzed by statistical analysis, and the diagnostic efficacy of the sensitized acupoints was evaluated by ROC curve.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;(1) The PPT in the FD group was lower than that in the control group at Tianshu (ST25) (Right: 10.8 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 12.6, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.049) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) (Right: 16.3 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 19.1, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.023), respectively. (2) Compared with the control group, the PTT in the FD group was lower at Zhongwan (CV12) (22.8 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 28.6, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.002), Tianshu (ST25) (Left: 22.0 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 28.2, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.001. Right: 22.6 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 27.3, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.016), Zusanli (ST36) (Left: 21.3 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 26.6, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.007. Right: 51.8 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 57.6, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.030), Shangjuxu (ST37) (Left: 46.0 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 52.7, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.034. Right: 46.6 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 58.4, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.009), Xiajuxu (ST39) (Left: 44.9 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 54.1, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.021. Right: 44.8 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 55.6, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.006), Yinlingquan (SP9) (Left: 31.6 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 44.1, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.001. Right: 33.5 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 42.8, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.003), Sanyinjiao (SP6) (Left: 33.8 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 43.7, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.015. Right: 33.6 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 41.5, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.013), and Xiaochangshu (BL27) (Left: 41.9 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 52.8, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.007. Right: 46.5 &lt;em&gt;v.s.&lt;/em&gt; 55.2, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.038) separately. (3) The diagnostic efficacy of left Yinlingquan (SP9) was the best (AUC = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.61 to 0.83, &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.001), and the optimal cutoff value was &lt; 44. Zhongwan (CV12) (AUC = 0.68) on the abdomen and left Tianshu (ST25) (AUC = 0.69) and right Xiajuxu (ST39) (AUC = 0.67) on the lower limbs, and the left Xiaochangshu (BL27) (AUC = 0.68) on the back all demonstrated the moderate diagnostic efficacy (AUC: 0.67 to 0.69). Furthermore, except for the PPT at the right Tianshu (ST25) (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.17) and the PTT at the right Xiaochangshu (BL27) (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.05), the results of ROC analysis for all the other acupoints showed statistical s","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 178-188"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on the hippocampal TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress","authors":"Qi ZOU (邹琦) ,&nbsp;Yu-long LIANG (梁玉龙) ,&nbsp;Xin-jiang ZHANG (张新江) ,&nbsp;Jin-ling ZHANG (张金铃) ,&nbsp;Pei-jing RONG (荣培晶) ,&nbsp;Yu WANG (王瑜)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, has been demonstrated to effectively treat depression and is associated with modulating stress-induced neuroinflammation, while its specific antidepressant mechanism remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate whether taVNS can exert antidepressant effects by regulating the hippocampal TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibiting neuroinflammation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 36 SD rats were randomized into 4 groups, a control group, a model group, a taVNS group and a transcutaneous auricular non-vagus nerve stimulation (tnVNS) group, 9 rats in each one. Except the control group, all other groups were subjected to a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) with single-cage housing to formulate depression model, lasting for 35 days. After the successful modeling, 1 h prior to the stress test, the rats in the taVNS group and tnVNS group were subjected to electrical stimulation at the bilateral auricular concha/auricular margin rim for 30 min daily at an intensity of 2 mA and a frequency of 2/15 Hz, for 21 days. The body weight gain and the immobility time in forced swimming test (FST) were recorded before and after the intervention. After experiment, the samples were collected and the relative protein expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κB p65), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the hippocampus of rats were detected by using Western blot. The expression and co-localization of TLR4 in hippocampal microglia (Iba1) were examined by using immunofluorescence.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CUMS could induce depression-like behavior and hippocampal neuroinflammation in rats. Compared with the control group, the model group exhibited a prolonged forced swimming immobility time (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and increased protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65, IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). On Day 35 (21 days after intervention), compared with the model group, the taVNS group exhibited an increased body weight (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and shortened forced swimming immobility time (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). Additionally, the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65, IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus was decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), and the expression of TLR4 also decreased in microglia.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>TaVNS could alleviate depression-like behaviors in CUMS rats, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of the hippocampal TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and the suppression of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 189-196"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic eczema: A systematic review","authors":"Yi-xi ZHAO (赵怡茜) ,&nbsp;Can ZHANG (张璨) ,&nbsp;Yan-yan ZHAO (赵妍妍) ,&nbsp;Sheng CHEN (陈晟)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To systemically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic eczema, and to provide evidence for acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of chronic eczema.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP database, Wanfang database and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), from the inception of the database to April 23, 2025. The control group were sham acupuncture and moxibustion, no treatment, or conventional western medication. The intervention group were acupuncture and moxibustion therapy or acupuncture and moxibustion on the basis of the interventions as the control group. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan5.4.0 software according to Cochrane systematic evaluation method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ultimately, 53 RCTs were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared with sham acupuncture and moxibustion, no treatment, or conventional western medication, acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for eczema area and severity index (EASI) score (mean difference [MD] = −2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] −2.61 to −1.85; <em>P</em>&lt;0.00001), visual analogue scale (VAS) score (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −1.45, 95% CI −2.04 to −0.87; <em>P</em>&lt;0.00001), dermatology life quality index (DLQI) score (MD = −2.36, 95% CI −3.25 to −1.48; <em>P</em>&lt;0.00001), immunoglobulin E (IgE) (SMD = −1.26, 95% CI −2.46 to −0.05; <em>P</em> = 0.04), the overall response rate (odds ratio [OR] = 4.58, 95% CI 3.84 to 5.46; <em>P</em>&lt;0.00001) and the recurrence rate (OR = 0.14, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.21; <em>P</em>&lt;0.00001) were all better than those in the control group, and there were no severe adverse events reported.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Acupuncture and moxibustion can reduce the lesion area and severity of the patients with chronic eczema, effectively alleviate pruritus, improve the quality of life and decrease serum IgE. This therapy owns high overall response rate with low recurrence rate, and without severe adverse events, which is associated with a favorable long-term prognosis.</div></div><div><h3>PROSPERO registration number</h3><div>CRD42024621431.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 149-168"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147748904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research progress on the mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of ischemic stroke","authors":"Zheng-rong XIE (谢峥嵘),&nbsp;Zhuo ZHOU (周卓),&nbsp;Ze-li HU (胡泽澧),&nbsp;Wen-ying SHI (石文英),&nbsp;Chao KE (柯超),&nbsp;Cheng CHEN (陈成),&nbsp;Wei ZHANG (章薇),&nbsp;Jiang PAN (潘江)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acupuncture treatment for ischemic stroke is characterized by multi-target and multi-pathway effects, involving various pathological processes of stroke. This article discusses the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating ischemic stroke from the perspectives of inflammatory response, programmed cell death (apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis), oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, aiming to provide insights and suggestions for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 124-130"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147748828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moxibustion therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: A narrative review","authors":"Wyesen KWAN (管伟胜) ,&nbsp;Hai-xin YAN (严海新) ,&nbsp;Zun-yuan LI (李尊元) ,&nbsp;Qing-ru HU (胡卿茹) ,&nbsp;Zhi-dan LIU (刘志丹)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Moxibustion occupies a significant position in the comprehensive management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moxibustion demonstrates unique efficacy in ameliorating both local joint and systemic symptoms, as well as in immunomodulation. Clinically, it offers operational convenience and is devoid of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Furthermore, when employed as an adjunct to conventional western medicine, it facilitates dose reduction of pharmacological agents while enhancing therapeutic efficacy and mitigating toxicity. To systematically evaluate this domain, we reviewed 193 domestic and international publications spanning the past 25 years. Our analysis indicates that moxibustion yields significant clinical benefits, including the improvement of morning stiffness, joint pain, and joint swelling indices, alongside an enhancement in overall quality of life for RA patients. Mechanistically, moxibustion has been shown to downregulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β; inhibit synovial angiogenesis and cellular proliferation; attenuate pannus formation; mitigate cartilage and bone destruction; and increase the content of collagen and proteoglycans. These therapeutic effects are mediated through multiple pathways: suppressing T cell activation and rectifying imbalances in immune cells and molecules; regulating autophagy and apoptosis via signaling cascades, including the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in synovial tissue and the HPA axis-mediated NMDA-NO-cGMP pathway; modulating the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts to delay cartilage degradation; and inhibiting ferroptosis. Beyond these local and immunological effects, this review highlights extra-articular mechanisms whereby moxibustion modulates immunity and ameliorates arthritic pathology. These include the regulation of cytokine levels through circadian rhythm oscillations and the modulation of gut microbiota to attenuate systemic inflammatory responses. Consequently, this review provides a more systematic and comprehensive elucidation of the clinical effects of moxibustion in RA treatment. This paper further deepens the understanding of its underlying mechanisms, specifically regarding the improvement of osteocyte differentiation, inhibition of ferroptosis, modulation of gut microbiota, and regulation of centrally secreted chemical mediators. Nevertheless, this review also identifies existing limitations within the field. Notably, the selection of acupoints remains relatively homogeneous, necessitating further investigation into the clinical efficacy of distinct acupoints and their combinations. Additionally, the establishment of standardized treatment protocols requires further implementation. With advancements in technology and deepening research endeavors, it is anticipated that additional clinical effects and therapeutic mechanisms of moxibustion will be further elucidated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 99-108"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}