World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion最新文献

{"title":"Mechanisms of tumor growth inhibition by electroacupuncture in breast cancer-bearing mice","authors":"Xue-chao HUANG (黄学超) , Jing-xuan LIU (刘敬萱) , Tian-yu LI (李天玉) , Rui ZHANG (张锐) , Qian MO (默倩) , Guo-wu LEI (雷国伍) , Ran-ran LIU (刘冉冉) , Chun-sheng JIA (贾春生) , Li-Jia PAN (潘丽佳)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on inhibiting tumor growth in breast cancer-bearing mice.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Thirty Bagg Albino (c) (BALB/c) mice were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a tumor group, a chemotherapy group, and an acupuncture group, and an EA group, with six mice in each one. Except in the sham-operation group, 4T1 cells were injected into the fourth mammary fat pad on the right side of each mouse in the rest groups to develop breast-cancer bearing models. In the sham-operation group, the sham operation was underwent by injecting normal saline with the same volume as 4T1 cell suspension. After successful modeling, the intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin solution was delivered in the chemotherapy group. In the acupuncture group, needles was inserted at “Zusanli” (ST36) and “Sanyinjiao” (SP6) perpendicularly, without manipulation, once daily and needles were retained for 15 min. In the EA group, on the basis of the operation as the acupuncture group, electric stimulation was attached to “ST36” (positive electrode) and “SP6” (negative electrode), once daily, 15 min each time. Starting on Day 1 of intervention, the changes of tumor volume was observed once every two days in each group photographed. The sample was collected on Day 21 of intervention. The tumors were photographed and weighed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of tumor tissue. Western blot, fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were adopted to detect the protein expression, mRNA expression, and positive expression of CYLD, BCL-3, and P50 in tumor tissue, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>(1) The tumor volume in the tumor group, chemotherapy group, acupuncture group, and EA group was (815.67 ± 275.61) mm<sup>3</sup>, (197.50 ± 66.11) mm<sup>3</sup>, (412.62 ± 58.96) mm³, and (327.51 ± 125.46) mm<sup>3</sup>, respectively, and the tumor mass was (1.21 ± 0.39) g, (0.39 ± 0.05) g, (0.66 ± 0.06) g, and (0.55 ± 0.11) g on Day 21 of intervention, respectively. Compared with the tumor group, the tumor volume and mass were lower in the chemotherapy group, acupuncture group, and EA group (<em>P</em> < 0.05). (2) Respectively, in the tumor group, chemotherapy group, acupuncture group, and EA group, the mRNA expression of CYLD in tumor tissue was 1.01 ± 0.19, 2.90 ± 0.24, 2.55 ± 0.03, and 4.01 ± 0.32; the protein expression was 1.00 ± 0.00, 1.88 ± 0.16, 1.64 ± 0.11, and 2.30 ± 0.29; and the positive expression was 0.06 ± 0.01, 0.11 ± 0.01, 0.11 ± 0.004, and 0.14 ± 0.003. Compared with the tumor group, the mRNA expression, protein expression, and positive expression of CYLD were higher in the intervention groups (<em>P</em> < 0.05), and each expression in the EA group was higher in comparison with the chemotherapy and acupuncture groups (<em>P</em> < 0.05). (3) The mRNA expression ","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 367-375"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145499884","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 for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Quan MIAO (苗荃),&nbsp;Qiu-yi CHEN (陈秋怡),&nbsp;Sheng-xian LI (李晟贤),&nbsp;Wo-yu WANG (王握瑜),&nbsp;Li-min NIE (聂利敏),&nbsp;Shu-ting LI (郦淑婷),&nbsp;Ying LIN (林颖),&nbsp;Yu-han LIU (刘昱含),&nbsp;Lu LIU (刘璐),&nbsp;Bin LI (李彬)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the leading cause of chronic orofacial pain, which significantly affects patients’ quality of life. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of TMD remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This systematic review aimed to conduct a PRISMA-compliant review to critically assess the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture as an intervention for patients with TMD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We searched nine electronic databases for randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for TMD published up to February 4, 2025. Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with TMD and compared acupuncture (manual, electroacupuncture, warm, auricular, thread-embedding, or laser) with conservative treatment (positive control) or sham acupuncture (negative control). Outcomes included pain intensity, mouth opening, pressure pain threshold, and adverse events. Risk of bias was assessed using ROB 2, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. All outcome data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software. Low heterogeneity was defined as <em>I</em>² ≤ 50% and <em>P</em> ≥ 0.1, in which case a fixed-effects model was applied. High heterogeneity (<em>I</em>² &gt; 50% or <em>P</em> &lt; 0.1) prompted further analysis to identify its source. After excluding the influence of evident heterogeneity, a random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 2664 screened records, 14 randomized controlled trials involving 476 participants met the inclusion criteria. Acupuncture significantly reduced pain intensity compared with that of negative controls (MD = −1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] −2.47 to −1.03; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.00001; I² = 60%) but showed no difference compared with that of positive controls (MD = −0.06, 95% CI −0.62 to 0.50; <em>P</em> = 0.83; I² = 0%). No significant differences were observed in pain-free jaw opening, whereas acupuncture improved maximum mouth opening relative to negative controls (MD = 1.80, 95% CI 1.62 to 1.97; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.00001; I² = 0%). For pressure pain threshold, two small studies suggested greater increases with acupuncture. Safety data were limited, with only one trial reporting mild adverse events in the acupuncture group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Based on limited evidence, acupuncture appears superior to negative controls in relieving pain associated with TMD but shows no significant advantage over positive controls. The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes, as assessed by GRADE, was low or very low. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Future high-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to further evaluate the role of acupuncture in the management of patients with TMD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 320-330"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500443","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 treatment for Bartholin’s abscesst: A case report and literature review","authors":"Xiao-xuan GENG (耿晓萱),&nbsp;Sheng CHEN (陈晟),&nbsp;Wen-yi YANG (杨文夷),&nbsp;Mei-lun HUANG (黄美伦),&nbsp;Jia-le KANG (康家乐)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A 30-year-old female patient with Bartholin’s abscess was treated by acupuncture. Before visit, she had taken <em>wuwei xiaodu yin</em> for 4 consecutive days, but the symptoms were not alleviated markedly and pain was worsening. According to the conditions of tongue and pulse, and physical signs, the case was differentiated as pathogenic heat invading blood phase; and the injury of <em>qi</em> and <em>yin</em> by the herbal decoction the patient took before. In treatment with acupuncture, the treatment principle focused on benefiting <em>qi</em>, nourishing <em>yin</em>, expelling pus from the interior and draining toxin, and promoting the circulations of meridians to stop pain. <em>He</em>-sea points were selected to clear heat and resolve damp, and replenish the liver and kidney; and the acupoints of bladder meridian were combined under the guidance of “<em>taiyang</em> dominating the openings,” aiming at elevating <em>qi</em> and expelling toxin from the interior. Acupuncture was given once daily. After treated for 4 days, abscess was ruptured, pain disappeared, and no recurrence was presented and no sequelae happened during over 2 years of follow-up. This case shows that acupuncture is effective on Bartholin’s abscess. By reviewing this case, it is put forward that there may by the signs before the onset of Bartholin’s abscess, and the treatment should focus on opening a way for eliminating pathogens. Moreover, the clinical trial is required to verify acupuncture effect on this disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 384-387"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500434","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":"Adrenergic agonist therapy and emerging acupuncture targets in asthma: A review of mechanisms and therapeutic implications","authors":"Jin LU (卢进) ,&nbsp;Jun-tao FENG (冯俊涛) ,&nbsp;Lei-miao YIN (尹磊淼) ,&nbsp;Yong-qing YANG (杨永清)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of adrenergic agonists (AAs) for asthma has provided important mechanistic insights into acupuncture-based target discovery and treatment strategies. This review describes the historical evolution of AA therapy, including the precise optimization of nonselective to β₂-selective agonists, improvement from short-acting to ultra-long-acting agents, shift from targeted monotherapy to combination regimens, and alterations in drug formulation. Additionally, this review summarizes recent advances in acupuncture treatment for asthma, including the development of novel targeted therapies, application of acupuncture-based combination regimens, and optimization of the mode of administration. Taken together, this article discusses key insights from research on AA that inform acupuncture approaches, with a focus on: (1) precision targeting: identifying acupuncture-specific targets to improve efficacy; (2) synergistic treatment: employing multi-target combination regimens to enhance therapeutic outcomes; (3) formulation innovation: advancing acupuncture delivery methods to improve patient compliance; and (4) evidence-based development: strengthening clinical research to generate high-quality evidence to inform the discovery of novel targets and treatment strategies for asthma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 269-275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500438","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":"Clinical utility of motion style acupuncture treatment in rehabilitation medicine","authors":"Ye-tong CHEN (陈烨彤) ,&nbsp;Feng-lin ZHU (朱凤林) ,&nbsp;Yang ZHU (朱洋) ,&nbsp;Yu-cheng DUAN (段玉丞) ,&nbsp;Zhen-min BAI (白震民)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.08.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review summarizes the clinical applications and mechanisms of action of motion-style acupuncture (MSAT) in rehabilitation medicine. Patients are required to perform active or passive movements while the acupuncture needles are inserted. Owing to its effectiveness, MSAT is progressively applied in clinical settings, including musculoskeletal and neurological diseases. Acupuncture and exercise generate synergistic effects through interactive mechanisms. From the perspective of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, needling with movement can trigger the propagation of the needling sensation, thereby enhancing its efficacy in dredging meridians and regulating <em>qi</em>-blood circulation. In modern medicine, these mechanisms include neural inhibition, ischemia/reperfusion, and fascial stimulation propagation. Although the clinical applications and mechanism research of MSAT in rehabilitation medicine have advanced, the mechanisms of MSAT in treating various diseases and the scope of applicable diseases warrant deeper exploration. This will provide novel therapeutic strategies for clinical applications, thereby advancing the integration and application of TCM therapies with exercise-based interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 303-311"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500441","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":"Neuroplasticicity mechanism of acupuncture for pain-induced emotions: From function to structure","authors":"Hong-yu LU (卢宏玉),&nbsp;Bao-jin WANG (王宝金),&nbsp;Cui MA (马翠),&nbsp;An-guo LIU (刘安国),&nbsp;Xing-ke YAN (严兴科)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pain-induced emotions are the negative moods caused by pain, such as depression and anxiety. Acupuncture can effectively relieve pain-induced emotions, and its mechanism is closely related to the regulation of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is composed of two types, functional neuroplasticity and structural neuroplasticity. (1) Acupuncture improves functional neuroplasticity by inhibiting the activation of microglia and astrocytes, regulating the expression of neurotransmitters and receptors, modulating cellular signal transduction pathways, and optimizing synaptic transmission efficiency. (2) Acupuncture improves structural neuroplasticity by modulating neuronal synaptic plasticity, inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, and up-regulating the expression of the BDNF/TrKB/CREB signaling pathway. Additionally, acupuncture up-regulates the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors to improve both the functional and structural neuroplasticity, thus relieves pain-induced emotions. The above discovery provides an approach to the mechanism research of acupuncture for pain-induced emotions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 276-282"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500435","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":"Inheritance and development of Lian ZHU’s acupuncture academic thought in the construction of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences","authors":"Yu ZHOU (周宇),&nbsp;Zhong-chao WU (吴中朝),&nbsp;Peng WU (吴鹏)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper exhibits the construction and development of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS), based on Lian ZHU’s acupuncture academic thought, focusing on the practice of the hospital development during the past 74 years, from 1951 to 2025, and by analyzing the development trajectory and elaborating the four-dimensional collaborative development mode guided by Lian ZHU’s thought, grounded in clinical evidence, driven by scientific innovation, guided by international standards, and rooted in educational inheritance. (1) After more than 70 years of development, Acupuncture and Moxibustion Hospital of CACMS has developed into the typical small-scaled general hospital of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with acupuncture-moxibustion as the main intervention, and has obtained a fruitful achievement in academic research. (2) The Hospital has led and participated in the formulation of a number of clinical practice guidelines of China Association of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, is entitled as the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for traditional medicine, and has been ranked among the top in the outpatient visits of acupuncture-moxibustion department of TCM hospitals in Beijing for years. (3) There is a well-known professional team of acupuncture-moxibustion of TCM in the Hospital, and with the characteristic modes of acupuncture-moxibustion diagnosis and treatment delivered, the remarkable curative effects have been obtained in treatment of diseases in neurological, gynecological diseases, orthopedic departments, as well as pain disorders, allergic diseases. (4) In the future, facing the opportunities and challenges in the development of global healthcare, it is necessary to deepen the research on “intelligent acupuncture and moxibustion”, integrating modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, exploring the potential value of acupuncture and moxibustion, discovering and innovating theoretical research on acupuncture and moxibustion, establishing scientific methods, standardizing clinical operation techniques, and driving the creative transformation of TCM. (5) The hospital lays the great consideration to the cultivation of acupuncture-moxibustion talents by means of multiple approaches, in order to deeply grasp the essence of TCM and improve the comprehensive quality of talents. (6) The hospital keeps on the leading role of international communication, advancing the international exchange and cooperation of acupuncture and moxibustion, and contributes more eastern wisdom to global health governance, and promote acupuncture and moxibustion of TCM, the treasure of the Chinese nation to display its importance in the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 388-392"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500436","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":"Potential mechanism of acupuncture on overeating and the significance in preventing and treating adiposity-based chronic disease: A new perspective based on the addiction model","authors":"Pei-ming ZHANG (张培铭) ,&nbsp;Dan-chun LAN (蓝丹纯) ,&nbsp;Ting-ting GU (谷婷婷) ,&nbsp;Jia-hua WU (吴佳华) ,&nbsp;Rui-rui TAO (陶睿睿) ,&nbsp;Chun-zhi TANG (唐纯志) ,&nbsp;Zi-yong LI (李子勇) ,&nbsp;Li-ming LU (陆丽明)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overeating is a risk factor and a management challenge in adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD). Acupuncture has shown high safety and reliable clinical evidence in addressing overeating, and it is the promising potential non-pharmacological intervention. However, the mechanism underlying its effects has not been sufficiently summarized. The addiction model offers a framework to elucidate the mechanism of this aberrant eating behavior and provides novel perspectives and breakthrough points for optimizing clinical acupuncture strategies in ABCD management. In the paper, through analyzing domestic and international relevant findings, the characteristics of overeating based on food addiction, the relationship between overeating and ABCD, and the potential effect mechanisms of acupuncture for FA have been reviewed and summarized. Including adaptive balance of transmitters and hormones, functional networks, periphery-central connection, and cross-system interaction. In future studies, the maturely-developed addiction research methods should be adopted to deepen the exploration on the mechanism of acupuncture effect, addiction medicine should be leveraged to shatter the cognitive barriers surrounding acupuncture's role in mind-body regulation for ABCD treatment, and the prevention and treatment of overeating via acupuncture should be organically integrated into multidisciplinary management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 312-319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500442","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":"Microneedle for weight loss: Most commonly used administration site and Chinese medicinal materials constituent","authors":"Lin-zhi WU (邬林芝) ,&nbsp;Shi-jia HAN (韩诗佳) ,&nbsp;Shuai-yan WANG (王帅研) ,&nbsp;Zi-wen ZHOU (周梓雯) ,&nbsp;Ke-ran CHEN (陈可然) ,&nbsp;Zhi-qiang JING (景志强) ,&nbsp;Bin XU (徐斌) ,&nbsp;Tian-cheng XU (徐天成)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Microneedles (MNs), as a key component of third-generation transdermal drug delivery systems, show strong potential for obesity treatment. This study aimed to integrate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies, including Chinese patent medicine (CPM) injections and patches, with MN technology to identify commonly used administration sites and Chinese medicinal material (CMM) constituents suitable for MN-based weight loss interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CNKI, and Google Patents. First, existing studies on MN-based weight loss were narratively reviewed. Then, studies on CPM injections or patches were analyzed to extract intervention elements, including administration sites, CMM constituents, and symptoms. Acupoint–symptom and CMM constituent–symptom pairs were compiled, and key nodes were identified through complex network analysis using eigenvector centrality, PageRank, and betweenness centrality.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Forty-four studies and thirteen patents were included. The review indicated that MN-based interventions demonstrated significant weight loss effects; however, current research remains limited by a focus on fat-deposition sites and insufficient development of CMM carriers. Network analysis identified Guanyuan (CV4) and <em>Poria cocos</em> (Fuling) as central nodes across all metrics, suggesting their strong potential as key elements in MN-based therapies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CV4 and <em>Poria cocos</em> represent promising candidates for delivery sites and CMM constituents in MN-mediated obesity treatment. By integrating TCM principles with modern MN technology, these findings provide a theoretical basis for developing more targeted, efficient, and integrative anti-obesity interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 283-289"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500439","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":"Manual acupuncture alleviates neuronal damage condition after traumatic brain injury by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway","authors":"Min-an CHEN (陈玟安) ,&nbsp;Jia-yan CHEN (陈家燕) ,&nbsp;Ke-ren ZHAO (赵可人) ,&nbsp;Hai ZENG (曾海) ,&nbsp;Lu-xi CAO (曹露西) ,&nbsp;Xiao-wen CHEN (陈晓文) ,&nbsp;Yi-min ZHANG (张毅敏) ,&nbsp;Peng QING (卿鹏) ,&nbsp;Yu GUO (郭郁) ,&nbsp;Ming-min ZHU (朱明敏)","doi":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wjam.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Acupuncture can effectively alleviate neuronal damage following traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the putative mechanisms of acupuncture by examining the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), inhibitor of κB kinase (IKK) complex, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, and microglial polarization.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal, TBI, and acupuncture groups, with 10 rats per group. Except for the normal group, the rat TBI model was established using Feeney's free-fall impact method. The acupuncture group received acupuncture intervention at the acupoints “Yamen (GV15)”, “Fengfu (GV16)”, “Baihui (GV20)”, “Shuigou (GV26)”, and “Hegu (LI4)”, once daily for 15 min per session for 5 days. The normal and TBI groups received no treatment, but were restrained for 15 min. Neurological dysfunction was assessed using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS) on Days 1 and 5. Nissl staining and immunohistochemical staining for microglial M1 (CD86) and M2 (CD206) markers were used to observe the histopathological changes in the cortical tissue of TBI rats. Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of TLR4, IKKα+IKKβ, p-IKKα/β, p-IκBα, and NF-κB p65.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;(1) Compared to the normal group, the TBI group showed a significant increase in the mNSS score (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01). Nissl staining revealed disorganized neuronal cells, pyknotic nuclei, and fragmented and significantly decreased Nissl bodies. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated significantly increased expression of both CD86+ and CD206+ cells in the injured area (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01). Protein expression of TLR4, IKKα+IKKβ, p-IKKα/β, and p-IκBα in the cerebral cortex was significantly upregulated (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05 or &lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01), and NF-κB p65 expression in the nuclear protein fraction was increased (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01). (2) Compared to the TBI group, the acupuncture group exhibited a significant decrease in the mNSS score (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01). Nissl staining revealed improved neuronal structure, reduced number of pyknotic nuclei, and a significant increase in Nissl bodies. Immunohistochemistry indicated significantly decreased CD86+ cell expression (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01) and significantly increased CD206+ cell expression (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01). Protein expression of TLR4, IKKα+IKKβ, p-IKKα, and p-IκBα in the cerebral cortex was significantly reduced (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05), and NF-κB p65 expression in the nuclear protein fraction was significantly decreased (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Acupuncture downregulates the expression of TLR4 and IKKα+IKKβ, inhibits the phosphorylation of IKKα/β and IκBα, reduces the nuclear expression of NF-κB p65, suppresses microglial M1 polarization, indirectly promotes M2 polarization, ","PeriodicalId":44648,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion","volume":"35 4","pages":"Pages 376-383"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145499883","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}