World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion最新文献

{"title":"Acupoint sensitization theory in dynamic treatment for ulcerative colitis","authors":"Hong-yi CHENG (程泓怡) ,&nbsp;Zhi WANG (王智) ,&nbsp;Jia-mian ZHANG (张家绵) ,&nbsp;Heng ZHANG (张恒) ,&nbsp;Kun LIU (刘坤)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent chronic inflammatory bowel disease and its clinical assessment relies mainly on invasive examinations with a delayed response. The acupoint sensitization theory proposes that visceral pathological states can dynamically manifest at specific body surface sites through segmental neural connections, presenting as functional or morphological changes in acupoints. This article outlines the pathological progression of UC, and then systematically reviews the clinical manifestations and neurobiological mechanisms of acupoint sensitization, covering multiple layers including viscero-somatic afferent convergence and spinal segmental sensitization, cutaneous neurogenic inflammation and peripheral sensitization amplification, sympathetic-sensory coupling and bidirectional somato-visceral modulation. On this basis, combined with limited existing clinical outcomes of acupoint sensitization in UC patients, the potential application value of this theory in UC disease assessment and acupuncture intervention is tentatively discussed. Finally, this paper points out the shortcomings of current research on acupoint sensitization in UC and proposes that future studies should focus on sensitization characterization of UC at different stages and lesion locations, as well as their correlations with disease activity. It also suggests that the development of multimodal and quantitative detection devices will advance the translational application of the acupoint sensitization theory in precise acupuncture treatment for UC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 118-123"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147751885","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":"Broad-spectrum and eicosanoid-targeted serum lipidomics reveal the therapeutic mechanism of moxibustion in a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis☆","authors":"Ying QIU (仇营) ,&nbsp;Jia-tian MA (马佳田) ,&nbsp;Yun FENG (冯韵) ,&nbsp;Jia-min WEN (文嘉旻) ,&nbsp;Zhi-ling SUN (孙志岭)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.007","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive joint destruction and high disability rates. Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine therapy with a long history of use in RA management, has attracted increasing clinical attention. Although previous studies have explored the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of moxibustion in RA, its lipidomic mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the lipidomic mechanisms of moxibustion by integrating broad-spectrum targeted lipidomics and eicosanoid-targeted lipidomics to identify key lipid metabolites associated with its therapeutic effects.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thirty-two male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups (&lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt; = 8 per group): control, model, moxibustion control, and moxibustion model groups. The collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was established by two rounds of immunization. Moxibustion was applied bilaterally at “Zusanli (ST 36)” and “Shenshu (BL23)” for 10 min per acupoint (40 min per session). Treatment was administered once daily for 6 consecutive days per cycle, for three cycles, with a 1-day interval between cycles. After 3 weeks of treatment, therapeutic effects were evaluated based on body weight, paw volume, arthritis index (AI) score, visceral indices, and histopathological examination. Serum lipid profiles were analyzed to identify differential metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with moxibustion.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Compared with the control group, rats in the model group exhibited poor general condition, significant body weight loss, and marked increases in paw volume and AI score (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05), as well as significantly elevated visceral indices (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). In contrast, moxibustion treatment significantly improved general condition, restored body weight, and reduced paw volume, AI score, and visceral indices compared with the model group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed marked synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cartilage destruction in the ankle joints of the model group, whereas these pathological changes were significantly alleviated by moxibustion. Lipidomic analysis identified 81 differential metabolites between the model and control groups, and moxibustion ameliorated disruptions in the arachidonic acid (ARA) and linoleic acid (LA) pathways. Broad-spectrum targeted lipidomics showed that moxibustion regulated 19 lipid species. Eicosanoid-targeted profiling further demonstrated that, under pathological conditions, moxibustion modulated eight of these lipids to attenuate proinflammatory mediators, whereas under physiological conditions, it adjusted six lipids to maintain lipid homeostasis.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;CIA rats exhibited significant disturbances in lipid metabolism, mainly involving the ARA and LA pathways. Moxibu","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 215-230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147751883","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 biomechanics: From mechanical stimulation to biological effects","authors":"Yun-shan LIANG (梁允善) ,&nbsp;Jin-chong LI (李晋冲) ,&nbsp;Pei-jing RONG (荣培晶) ,&nbsp;Jing-chun ZENG (曾婧纯) ,&nbsp;Dun LI (李盾) ,&nbsp;Yi-ming CHEN (陈一鸣) ,&nbsp;Bao-chao FAN (范宝超) ,&nbsp;Zheng ZHONG (仲政) ,&nbsp;Hao-cheng QUAN (权浩诚) ,&nbsp;Xu-dong LIANG (梁旭东) ,&nbsp;Li-ming LU (陆丽明)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How acupuncture works is of significant scientific value and strategic importance in life sciences. The efficacy of acupuncture has been validated in clinic for millennia and has been widely recognized globally. The effects of acupuncture involve complex, multilevel, and multi target biological processes, including the regulation of neural reflex pathways, release of endogenous substances, and remodeling of immune regulatory networks. However, previous research has predominantly focused on the molecular basis of signal transduction, neural coding principles, and systemic effects on bodily homeostasis, while overlooking a core element of the mechanical signals generated by acupuncture. Accordingly, we propose establishing acupuncture bomechanics as a new interdisciplinary discipline. This paper aims to systematically elucidate how acupuncture-induced mechanical stimuli propagate through biological tissues, how distinct cell populations mechanotransduce these signals, and the resulting systemic biological effects. Focusing on the mechanical signals generated by acupuncture manipulation, we analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of mechanical parameters as the basis for investigation. To this end, we seek to establish a quantitative characterization system and a cross-scale integration model to rigorously analyze acupuncture mechanics. This mode of investigation includes the standardization of parameters for mechanical action, the modeling of acupuncture dose-effect relationships, and the mechanistic analysis of individual variability. By employing the characteristic spectrum of mechanical signals to predict therapeutic efficacy and refine manipulation strategies, the overarching goal is to establish acupuncture treatment protocols that are quantifiable, and verifiable. The development of acupuncture biomechanics as a discipline would offer a novel mechanical perspective on the mechanisms underlying acupuncture effects, catalyzing theoretical advancements that modernize acupuncture, and then pave the way for innovative theoretical frameworks in medicine and transformative shifts in clinical treatment paradigms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 169-177"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147752092","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":"Contributions of Jin’s three-needle therapy to the inheritance and development of Lingnan acupuncture-moxibustion academic school: A bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2025","authors":"De-hui NIE (聂德慧) ,&nbsp;Mei-ling ZHANG (张美玲) ,&nbsp;Jin LI (李琎) ,&nbsp;Jian-long HUANG (黄建龙) ,&nbsp;Bin HAN (韩斌) ,&nbsp;Dan JIN (金丹) ,&nbsp;Li-ming LU (陆丽明)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2026.03.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To analyze the research status and hotspots, and evolutionary trend of publications on <em>Jin’s</em> three-needle therapy from 2000 to 2025, and to provide bibliometric evidence for the theoretical development and clinical expansion of this distinctive Lingnan (the area south of the Nanling Mountains in China) acupuncture-moxibustion therapy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Relevant publications on <em>Jin’s</em> three-needle therapy were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from January 1, 2000 to July 9, 2025. Two researchers independently screened and extracted data. Microsoft Excel was used for data management and disease spectrum analysis based on ICD-11 classification. CiteSpace software was employed to analyze publication trend, collaboration network, co-occurrence network, and keyword evolution.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 1295 publications were included, showing an overall upward trend in annual output. Research mainly focused on diseases of the nervous system (45.17%), those of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue (28.88%), and mental, behavioral or neurodevelopmental disorders (9.11%), accounting for over 80% in total. The study types were predominantly clinical research, the proportion of mechanistic research was relatively low, and mechanistic research was weak across all core fields. Collaboration network analysis revealed low density between authors and institutions, exhibiting a “core-edge” structure with Professor Rui JIN’ s inheritance team (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and its affiliated hospitals) as the core and widespread in periphery, demonstrating a distinct geographical clustering characteristic in the Lingnan region. Keyword evolution indicated that the research focus had expanded from neurological rehabilitation to multisystem diseases, and the attention had been drawn in multidimensional outcomes such as quality of life and motor function.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The research scale of <em>Jin’s</em> three-needle therapy has significantly expanded, demonstrating a relatively concentrated application distribution across three major domains: neurological disorders, musculoskeletal or connective tissue diseases, and mental, behavioral, or neurodevelopmental disorders. However, there are some shortcomings in the research of diseases, such as insufficient exploration of mechanisms and limited cooperation between teams and institutions. Future efforts should focus on strengthening mechanism research, conducting multicenter trials, and expanding inter-institutional collaboration to establish a more comprehensive evidence-based foundation, thereby enhancing the clinical reproducibility and academic influence of <em>Jin’s</em> three-needle therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 2","pages":"Pages 131-140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147751887","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":"Application and exploration of fNIRS in brain function mechanism of acupuncture against insomnia","authors":"Yu-juan YE (叶钰娟),&nbsp;Bao-jin WANG (王宝金),&nbsp;LI CHEN (陈莉),&nbsp;Xing-ke YAN (严兴科)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is predominantly employed to investigate the atypical response characteristics of the cerebral cortex in neurological disorders. Recently, this technology has been applied to examine the neural mechanisms underlying the use of acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia. This article provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the current applications of fNIRS in the contexts of sleep-wake cycles, insomnia, and acupuncture-based interventions for insomnia. The findings indicate that existing research predominantly focuses on the prefrontal cortex, with limited studies addressing the temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes. fNIRS can be integrated with various data analysis methodologies or multimodal brain functional imaging techniques to investigate the regulatory effects of acupuncture on functional connectivity both among and within brain regions, as well as on the efficiency of information transmission. This approach may elucidate the neural mechanisms of acupuncture in combating insomnia from diverse perspectives and offer an enhanced framework for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 1","pages":"Pages 84-88"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154135","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":"Acupoint stimulation for pain management in patients after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Wen-yi WANG (王文艺) ,&nbsp;Xiao-min QUAN (全晓敏) ,&nbsp;Ze-yu HE (何泽钰) ,&nbsp;Hong-yang CHEN (陈洪炀) ,&nbsp;Xun LI (李迅) ,&nbsp;Guan-hu YANG (杨观虎) ,&nbsp;Chao AN (安超)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupoint stimulation for managing post-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) pain and to provide a reliable evidence-based foundation for its clinical application in post-TACE pain management.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Clinical randomized controlled trials evaluating acupoint stimulation for post-TACE pain were retrieved from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, VIP Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, China Biology Medicine disc, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov, covering all records from database inception to July 28, 2025. Articles were screened and data were extracted according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1 and Stata 15.0. The certainty of evidence for each outcome was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251108966).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A total of 17 studies involving 1525 patients with liver cancer who experienced acute postoperative pain following TACE were included. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that acupoint stimulation significantly reduced pain intensity scores (Numerical rating scale: mean difference [MD] = −0.83, 95 % confidence interval [CI] [−0.96, −0.71], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.00001; Visual analog scale: MD = −1.15, 95 % CI [−1.67, −0.63], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.0001), increased the complete pain remission rate (Risk ratio [RR] = 1.74, 95 % CI [1.35, 2.23], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.0001), shortened the onset time of analgesia (MD = −25.39 min, 95 % CI [−27.53, −23.26], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.00001), prolonged the duration of analgesia (MD = 3.03 h, 95 % CI [0.40, 5.66], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.02), and reduced the need for rescue analgesics (RR = 0.43, 95 % CI [0.28, 0.64], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.0001). Furthermore, acupoint stimulation improved liver function indicators (Alanine aminotransferase: MD = −5.27 U/L, 95 % CI [−6.90, −3.63], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.00001; Aspartate aminotransferase: MD = −6.76 U/L, 95 % CI [−8.39, −5.12], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.00001), lowered plasma substance P levels (MD = −18.28 ng/L, 95 % CI [−30.97, −5.60], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.005), and enhanced patient satisfaction (RR = 1.33, 95 % CI [1.05, 1.69], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.02). Regarding safety, acupoint stimulation significantly reduced the risk of adverse events compared with blank controls (RR = 0.24, 95 % CI [0.10, 0.56], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.001). However, no statistically significant differences in the risk of adverse events were observed when acupoint stimulation was combined with analgesics (RR = 0.91, 95 % CI [0.39, 2.13], &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; = 0.82) or compared directly to analgesics alone (RR","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 1","pages":"Pages 29-43"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154137","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":"Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation: Clinical applications and innovative development","authors":"Ling-li QIN (秦玲利) ,&nbsp;Yue GAO (高越) ,&nbsp;Jian-wu SHEN (沈建武) ,&nbsp;Ran LUO (罗然) ,&nbsp;Dian CHEN (陈典) ,&nbsp;Wan-ying XIA (夏万颖) ,&nbsp;Jin-sheng YANG (杨金生) ,&nbsp;Lu ZHANG (张路)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) is a critical parasympathetic ganglion located beneath the maxillary nerves. Its anatomical structure and function play key roles in the regulation of cerebral blood vessels, the autonomic nervous system, and various headache-related disorders. In recent years, SPG stimulation (SPGS) has been widely applied in both invasive and acupuncture-mediated clinical practice. This paper outlines the current clinical applications of SPGS in treating conditions such as headaches, strokes, and rhinitis, and explores how innovative technologies, including ultrasound-guided techniques and single-use sterile electrode acupuncture needles, may enhance therapeutic efficacy. The potential future development of SPGS in the field of neuromodulation is also discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 1","pages":"Pages 61-66"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154131","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":"Overall reporting quality of acupuncture treatment for cancer-related symptoms and adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy","authors":"Xin-yan LIU (刘昕艳),&nbsp;Chao-feng WANG (王超峰),&nbsp;Jian-zi WEI (魏建子),&nbsp;Hui-juan MAO (毛慧娟)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the reporting quality of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the potential of acupuncture for the management of cancer-related symptoms and chemotherapy-induced adverse effects.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>RCTs evaluating acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms and treatment-related adverse effects were retrieved from PubMed through December 31, 2024. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted using Excel spreadsheets, and the analysis was based on the CONSORT, STRICTA, and TIDieR-Placebo international reporting guidelines.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In total, 129 studies were included, of which 126 were indexed in the Science Citation Index, encompassing 10,798 patients. Most studies were conducted in the United States and China and covered various types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancer. The most commonly studied symptoms were pain, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and vomiting. Although most studies provided sufficient background information and clearly stated their research objectives and hypotheses, notable reporting deficiencies were observed in the randomization process, blinding implementation, sample size calculation, adverse events, acupuncture intervention details (e.g., needle depth and <em>deqi</em> response), adherence to placebo acupuncture, and environmental conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study underscores deficiencies in the reporting quality of RCTs evaluating acupuncture for managing cancer-related symptoms, particularly regarding randomization, blinding, sample size calculations, and intervention details. Future investigations should adhere rigorously to international reporting guidelines, optimize study designs, and promote the standardization of acupuncture therapies to improve the transparency, reliability, and reproducibility of acupuncture RCTs, thereby supporting the evidence-based integration of acupuncture in cancer care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 1","pages":"Pages 10-17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154138","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":"Advances in molecular mechanisms of acupuncture in chronic pain with depression","authors":"Cui MA (马 翠),&nbsp;Yu-ting WEI (魏玉婷),&nbsp;An-guo LIU (刘安国),&nbsp;Yu-juan YE (叶钰娟),&nbsp;Hong-yu LU (卢宏玉),&nbsp;Xing-ke YAN (严兴科)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic pain is often accompanied by depressive emotions, and they are interacted with each other, which is one of the crucial factors to affect the clinical efficacy on pain. Acupuncture therapy has the advantages of multi-dimensional and multi-target regulation, and it is remarkably effective on chronic pain and pain-related depressive emotions. This paper reviews the mechanism researches of acupuncture in treatment of chronic pain with depression. Research indicates that the primary molecular mechanism by which acupuncture exerts analgesic and anti-depressive effects involves the regulation of central nervous system neurotransmitters, including 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and dopamine. Additionally, acupuncture inhibits inflammatory responses within the central nervous system, modulates the expression of neurotrophic factors, enhances neuronal synaptic plasticity, and regulates the BDNF/TrkB/CREB and ERK signaling pathways. These findings underscore the multifaceted and multi-targeted regulatory advantages of acupuncture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 1","pages":"Pages 67-72"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154132","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":"Hotspots and emerging trends in acupuncture ophthalmology research: A bibliometric analysis","authors":"Yue LI (李悦),&nbsp;Ying WANG (王影),&nbsp;Wen-xin JIAO (焦文鑫),&nbsp;Ji-lu LIN (林冀鲁),&nbsp;Jia-ning WANG (王家宁)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.12.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To systematically analyze the research hotspots and developmental trajectory of acupuncture ophthalmology using bibliometric methods, with the aim of clarifying research trends, collaborative networks, the evolution of thematic focuses, and predicting future directions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Literature on acupuncture ophthalmology published between January 1, 1985, and May 31, 2025, was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using CiteSpace 6.2.R3, VOSviewer 1.6.20, and SCImago Graphics to visualize publication characteristics, country and regional contributions, authorship patterns, journals, institutions, keywords, and cited references.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 349 publications were included. (1) Annual publications: The number of studies on acupuncture in ophthalmology showed a generally increasing trend from 1985 to 2025. (2) Countries/regions: Research in this field spanned 33 countries and regions, with China (203 papers), the United States (55 papers), and South Korea (25 papers) as the top three contributors. (3) Institutions and authors: A total of 321 institutions and 621 authors were involved. Authors with more than three publications formed seven collaborative research teams, comprising three major collaboration networks. Xiao-peng MA was the most prolific author (12 papers), whereas Tae-Hun Kim was the most influential author (41 citations). (4) Journals: The 349 articles appeared in 152 journals, with <em>Medicine</em> (32 articles) and <em>Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine</em> (18 articles) being the most common publication venues. (5) Keyword and reference analyses identified several major thematic areas, including dry eye syndrome, systematic reviews, etiology identification, secondary glaucoma, visual symptoms, retinal pigment research, and myopia control.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This bibliometric analysis demonstrates that current research in acupuncture ophthalmology is primarily focused on disorders in which acupuncture shows notable clinical benefits, incorporating multimodal therapies and multidisciplinary approaches. The field is progressing toward greater protocol standardization and clearer visualization of underlying mechanisms. Acupuncture has become an important complementary and alternative therapeutic modality within ophthalmic care, offering unique advantages in symptom improvement, enhancement of quality of life, and reduction of medication dependence for conditions such as dry eye disease, asthenopia, and myopia. Future research priorities include: (1) deepening mechanistic research on acupuncture for ophthalmic diseases; (2) advancing integration with modern ophthalmology in chronic disease management and prevention; and (3) generating high-level clinical evidence to establish standardized acupuncture regimens for eye health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"36 1","pages":"Pages 73-83"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146154177","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}