Acupuncture in Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Electroacupuncture inhibits the NLRP3/caspase-1/ASC signaling pathway in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease.","authors":"Lv Jia, Sihui Cao, Lin Chen, Zuqiang Li, Penghui Lu, Qiong Liu, Mi Liu","doi":"10.1177/09645284261423205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261423205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Intestinal inflammatory responses are a key pathological feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3/cysteine aspartate protease-1/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (NLRP3/caspase-1/ASC) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating these responses. The aim of this study was to investigate how electroacupuncture (EA) affects inflammation-related protein levels, including NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC, in a mouse model of IBD and explore the underlying mechanisms of action.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty-eight mice were randomly assigned to control, model, EA and NLRP3 inhibitor groups. IBD was induced using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). After 1 week of EA treatment, fecal occult blood tests were performed and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded. In addition, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to evaluate the histopathological changes in the colon. Serum interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, gasdermin D (GSDMD), N-terminal GSDMD (N-GSDMD), IL-1β and IL-18 in colonic tissues was assessed using Western blotting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IBD resulted in alterations in general condition and colonic morphology, a significant increase in serum IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α levels, and a significant increase in protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, GSDMD, N-GSDMD, IL-1β and IL-18 in the colonic tissues (<i>p</i> < 0.01 or <i>p</i> < 0.001). EA and NLRP3 inhibition reversed these pathological changes and reduced the expression of inflammatory proteins induced by intestinal inflammatory responses (<i>p</i> < 0.05 or <i>p</i> < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The NLRP3/caspase-1/ASC signaling pathway appears to play a role in mediating the therapeutic effects of EA in IBD.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261423205"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147484291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electroacupuncture mitigates lung injury, increases endogenous antioxidant levels and modulates Nrf2 signaling in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.","authors":"Yange Tian, Lanxi Zhang, Peng Zhao, Xuefang Liu, Fanli Jin, Yang Liu, Jiansheng Li","doi":"10.1177/09645284261424261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261424261","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Electroacupuncture (EA) has shown efficacy in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Oxidative stress is a main pathological process in COPD. This aim of this study was to explore the anti-oxidant effect of EA in a COPD rat model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Rats were divided into control, model, EA, sham acupuncture (SA) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) groups. All rats except those in the control group were exposed to cigarette smoke combined with repeated bacterial infection to induce a COPD rat model. Rats in the EA group received EA at GV14 and bilateral BL13/BL23 for a further 8 weeks, while rats in SA group were given manual acupuncture at sites 5 mm from the traditional acupuncture point locations (without electrical stimulation) as a negative control. NAC (54 mg/kg/d) was used in the NAC group as a positive control. Lung function was assessed by whole body plethysmography, and tissue structure was assessed by histology. mRNA and protein levels of oxidative indicators and nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling were measured by qPCR and immunohistochemistry or Western blotting, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After EA treatment, lung function and pathological features were improved. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in serum, as well as SOD1 and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in lung tissue, were increased, while markers of oxidative stress-lipid peroxidation (LPO) and malonaldehyde activity (MDA)-were decreased. Nrf2 protein in the nucleus of lung tissue, as well as HO-1 and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) mRNA and protein, were improved. NAC, as an antioxidant, was better than EA at increasing the expression of HO-1 protein and γ-GCS mRNA.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>EA was beneficial for the treatment of COPD in this rat model and exerted antioxidant effects via mechanisms potentially related to Nrf2 signaling.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261424261"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147466627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cholinergic neurons in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve are involved in the mechanism of action of electroacupuncture at HT7 in a mouse model of chronic heart failure.","authors":"Shi-Yue Wang, Hao-Sheng Wu, Sheng-Bing Wu, Meiqi Zhou","doi":"10.1177/09645284261424260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261424260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the role and mechanism of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) in the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at HT7 in a mouse model of chronic heart failure (CHF).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A CHF model was established in male C57 mice by ligating the anterior descended branch of the left coronary artery. In part I of the experiment, mice were randomly divided into Control, untreated model (CHF) and EA-treated model (CHF + EA) groups (n = 6 each). In part II, mice were randomly divided into the following groups (n = 6 each): EA-treated model group (CHF + EA); EA-treated model group receiving cholinergic neuron promoter chemogenetic activating virus encoding human M4 muscarinic (hM4) receptor (hM4D) and clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) (CHF + hM4D + CNO + EA); EA-treated model group additionally receiving \"empty\" virus encoding enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and CNO (CHF + EFGP + CNO + EA); EA-treated model group receiving hM4D only (CHF + hM4D + EA); and EA-treated model group receiving CNO only (CHF + CNO + EA). All mice except those in the Control and CHF groups were treated with bilateral EA at HT7 (frequency 2 Hz, intensity 2mA, pulse width 0.2 ms ± 20%) once a day (20 min each time) for 7 days. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), scar area and serum inflammatory factor levels were evaluated using a Doppler ultrasound imaging system, Masson staining, ELISA and other methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the Control group, LVEF/LVFS in the CHF group decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.001), the scar area was larger, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and interleukin (IL)-6 levels increased significantly, and acetylcholine (ACh) decreased significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the CHF group. Compared with the CHF group, LVEF/LVFS increased (<i>p</i> < 0.001), scar area was smaller, ANP, BNP and IL-6 decreased significantly and ACh increased significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in the CHF + EA group. Compared with the CHF + EA group, the CHF + hM4D + CNO + EA group exhibited a decrease in LVEF/LVFS (<i>p</i> < 0.001), a larger scar area, a significant increase in ANP, BNP and IL-6, and a significant decrease in ACh (<i>p</i> < 0.001),while there was no significant difference in each index between the CHF + CNO + EA and CHF + hM4D + EA groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Compared with the CHF + hM4D + CNO + EA group, the CHF + EGFP + CNO + EA exhibited an increase in LVEF/LVFS (<i>p</i> < 0.001), a smaller scar area, a significant decrease in ANP, BNP and IL-6, and a significant increase in ACh (<i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Electroacupuncture at (HT7) may activate DMV^Ach and reduce myocardial fibrosis, thereby improving CHF, in a mouse model.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261424260"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147430232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture for persistent hiccups after radical gastrectomy: a case report.","authors":"Zhaolin Du, Yun Lu, Juan Sun, Rizhi Zhao, Yuan Gao","doi":"10.1177/09645284261424266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261424266","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261424266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147300665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapidly progressive spinal epidural abscess with purulent meningitis following acupuncture: a case report.","authors":"Tao Cong, Zhihao Han, Yuanyuan Liu","doi":"10.1177/09645284261421948","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261421948","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261421948"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146199960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture for post-stroke equinovarus: a case report.","authors":"Jinyuan Shi, Rui Lv, Yongqing Pan, Fuyan Chen","doi":"10.1177/09645284261421951","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261421951","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261421951"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146199977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture for diminished ovarian reserve: a case report.","authors":"Han Zhang, Shuai Yu Ying, YiJie Hu","doi":"10.1177/09645284261421950","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261421950","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261421950"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146199912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acupuncture for erectile dysfunction in multiple system atrophy: a case report.","authors":"L Zhang, Pan ZhongQiang, Y Zou","doi":"10.1177/09645284261421947","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284261421947","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"9645284261421947"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146199902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of needle selection on battlefield acupuncture tolerance and pain reduction: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Samuel J Burton, David A Moss, Paul F Crawford","doi":"10.1177/09645284251400386","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251400386","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There has been limited research comparing the different types of needles used for auricular battlefield acupuncture (BFA). The aim of this exploratory study was to determine the feasibility of examining whether there are differences in needle tolerance and/or pain reduction between different needle types.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an unblinded, exploratory, randomized controlled trial in human subjects with complaints of acute or chronic pain. We randomized 30 patients to receive BFA with ASP needles, disposable needles of 15 mm length or Pyonex needles (n = 10 per group). Differences in Defense and Veteran Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) scores and needle tolerance questionnaire responses by treatment group and follow-up time point (baseline, 10 min, 24 h and 1 week) were assessed using random effects regression and ordinal logistics models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A difference in needle tolerance by treatment group was observed for pain at the site(s) of needling (p = 0.002), which was lower for 15-mm needles (odds ratio (OR) = 0.12, p = 0.005) than for ASP needles, but not significantly different for Pyonex versus ASP (OR = 1.45, p = 0.525). There were no difference in overall patient satisfaction, dizziness, bruising, fatigue or headaches between the three BFA needle groups (p = 0.190). No statistically significant associations were observed between treatment group and clinical characteristics (all p > 0.05). DVPRS scores significantly declined after treatment (interaction beta coefficient (β) = -1.40, p < 0.001) across all treatment groups. Declines were also observed post treatment for DVPRS questions 1 (β = -1.23, p = 0.003), 3 (β = -1.23, p < 0.002) and 4 (β = -1.10, p = 0.002). A decline over time after treatment was also observed for DVPRS question 1 (β = -0.15, p = 0.014), 3 (β = -0.12, 0.049) and 4 (β = -0.13, p = 0.016) but was not DVPRS overall score. No significant interactions by treatment group were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Testing BFA needle types against each other was feasible and the interventions were acceptable to subjects. Through a post hoc power calculation, this study provides a greater understanding of the number of patients that would be needed to more definitively assess for potential differences in effectiveness (pain reduction) between various types of needles in BFA.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>NCT04464954 (ClinicalTrials.gov).</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"25-35"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145627773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modulatory mechanisms of electroacupuncture in fascial tissue repair: a pilot study using a rat model of thoracolumbar fasciitis.","authors":"Xiubing Tong, Debiao Yu, Jiayan Chen, Linyao Zheng, Yanping Fang, Jingyu Zhang, Tianyu Rao, Kezhi Liu, Jia Lin, Yu Kan, Yuye Lin, Chufan Zeng, Guojun Zhang, Xia Zhang, Xianghong Jing, Yuting Huang, Jun Liao","doi":"10.1177/09645284251410580","DOIUrl":"10.1177/09645284251410580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Myofasciitis, a prevalent cause of musculoskeletal pain, is associated with thoracolumbar fascial changes. Acupuncture is effective for pain relief, but its role in fascial repair remains unclear. This study examined the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at BL23 (<i>Shenshu</i>) and BL40 (<i>Weizhong</i>) on fascial tissue repair in a rat model of thoracolumbar fasciitis (TLF).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study involved 42 six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats divided into control (<i>n</i> = 15) and modeling (<i>n</i> = 27) groups. TLF was induced by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant into the thoracolumbar fascia. Three rats in the control and modeling groups were used for model validation. The remaining 24 modeled rats were split into model and EA groups (<i>n</i> = 12 each). EA was administered at BL23 and BL40 to rats in the EA group for 20 min daily for 9 days. Assessments included skin pain sensitivity, musculoskeletal ultrasound, histological evaluation of fascial thickness, and measurement of inflammatory markers and fibroblast activity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>EA-treated rats showed significant improvements, including reduced mechanical pain sensitivity, decreased fascial thickness and lower expression of pro-inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1β) and fibroblast activity markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, α-smooth muscle actin, and vimentin). There was also a favorable balance in extracellular matrix components (increased type I/III collagen and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1/tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 ratios), which was linked to reduced activity of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/suppressor of mother against decapentaplegic (Smad)2 pathway.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EA at BL23 and BL40 reduces inflammation, inhibits fibroblast proliferation and activation, and promotes fascial repair, likely via modulation of the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway. These findings support the therapeutic potential of EA for the treatment of myofasciitis, potentially aiding in chronic musculoskeletal pain management and fascial tissue repair.</p>","PeriodicalId":7257,"journal":{"name":"Acupuncture in Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"49-61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146008122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}