To explore the underlying mechanism of “Tongdu Qishen” acupuncture (dredging the Govern Vessel and normalizing mental activities) in treating SAMP8 mice from the perspective of pyroptosis.

Six-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model and “Tongdu Qishen” acupuncture (EA) groups, with 12 mice in each group. SAMR1 mice of the same age (n=12) were used as the normal group. In the EA group, EA (2 Hz/50 Hz, 20 min) was applied to “Baihui”(GV20) and “Yintang”(GV24⁺), and pricking bleeding was applied to “Shuigou”(GV26). The treatment was performed once a day, for a total of 28 days. Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of mice, and HE staining was used to observe the morphology of cells in the hippocampus and cortex. Nissl staining was used to observe the number of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expressions of Aβ_1-40, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus and cortex. The co-staining of TUNEL and Caspase-1 was detected by immunofluorescence. Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR were used to observe the protein and mRNA expression levels of Nod-like receptor 3(NLRP3), Caspase-1 and Gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the hippocampus and cortex, respectively.

Behavioral results showed that compared with the normal group, the escape latency was prolonged (P＜0.001), the dwell time in the original platform quadrant and the times of crossing the original platform were considerably decreased (P＜0.001) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, the escape latency was shortened (P＜0.05, P＜0.001, P＜0.01), and the dwell time in the original platform quadrant was significantly increased (P＜0.01) in the EA group. Following modeling, the number of neurons was decreased (P＜0.001), the positive expression of Aβ_1-40, IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus and cortex, the co-expression of TUNEL and Caspase-1, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD were all increased (P＜0.001) in the model group relevant to the normal group. After EA intervention, modeling induced increase and decrease of indexes mentioned above were completely reversed (P＜0.01,P＜0.05,P＜0.001).

“Tongdu Qishen” acupuncture may improve the cognitive function of SAMP8 mice by regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, relieving the release of inflammatory factors and reducing the content of Aβ_1-40.

To explore the relation between acupoint sensitization and alterations of electrical signals of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from the perspective of ion channel dynamics in myocardial ischemia (MI) model mice.

Sixty-four male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to control and model groups (n=32/group). The MI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) of the coronary artery. The MI was monitored by observing changes of ST segment of the standard limb-lead Ⅱ of electrocardiogram (ECG-ST_Ⅱ). 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and H.E. staining were used to evaluate the infarct area and histopathological changes in the myocardial tissue. Evans blue (EB) staining was administered via tail vein injection to observe the location, distribution, and quantity of exudate points on the body surface in both groups. Nociceptive changes were evaluated by measuring mechanical pain and thermal pain thresholds. Subsequently, electrophysiological assessments were conducted in vitro to evaluate whole-cell membrane currents, intrinsic excitability, and Na⁺ channel current variations in different types of DRG neurons.

Compared with the control group, the ECG-ST_Ⅱ segment in the model group was significantly elevated (P＜0.0001), suggesting an induction of MI. TTC and H.E. staining showed a significant increase in the MI area (P＜0.001), accompanied by evident histopathological features such as myocardial fiber damage and inflammatory cell infiltration. The number of EB exudate points was significantly increased (P＜0.01), mainly distributing in the skin innervated by the T1—T5 spinal cord segments, as well as in the acupoints of “Feishu” (BL13), “Jueyinshu” (BL14) and“Xinshu” (BL15). Mechanical retraction reflex thresholds of the left upper and lower limbs of the model group significantly reduced (P＜0.0001), and the thermal retraction latency of the left upper and lower limbs were notably shortened in the model group (P＜0.01, P＜0.0001), and the mechanical pressure pain threshold on the left dorsal skin significantly reduced (P＜0.001). The DRG medium-sized neurons displayed an obvious decrease in rheobase (P＜0.05), along with a notable increase in whole-cell membrane current, spike number, and average instantaneous frequency (P＜0.05), reflecting enhanced intrinsic excitability. The activation curves of TTX-R/TTX-S sodium channels shifted towards hyperpolarization (P＜0.001), while the inactivation curves moved towards depolarization (P＜0.01).

DRG medium-sized neurons in the T1—T5 spinal cord segments may influence the acupoint sensitization of the body surface by modifying their Na⁺ channel kinetic properties.

To elucidate the differences in manual acupuncture effectiveness at sensitized points by investigating the mechanisms of local skin action at different sensitization points in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into control, model (1 mg of monoiodoacetate into the right knee joint cavity), sham operation, manual acupuncture at right Tianjing acupoint (MAR-SJ 10), and left SJ 10 groups. Safranine-O and fast green staining were used to assess the modeling. The morphological and functional changes in mast cells (MCs) were assessed during acupoint sensitization using toluidine blue and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of serotonin, histamine, substance P (SP), and tryptase at skin acupoints and serum levels of IL-β, IL-6, and TNF-α were detected using ELISA.

After 14 days of treatment, the number of MCs and their degranulation rates were statistically higher in the model group than in the control group (both P <.001). After applying acupuncture, the levels of 5-HT, HA, and SP at skin acupoints were lower than those in the model group (all P <.05), and tryptase level was higher (both P <.05). Tryptase level was higher on the skin at the MAL-SJ 10 acupoint than that on the MAR-SJ 10 acupoint (P =.004). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the MAR-SJ 10 and MAL-SJ 10 groups were lower (all P <.05).

Acupuncture at KOA-sensitized acupoints mitigates joint injury in KOA rats and may bidirectionally regulate local MCs of these acupoints. This finding not only enhances the reference value of sensitizing points in clinical diagnosis and treatment, but also contributes to the understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying acupuncture intervention at sensitizing points.

To critically evaluate and summarize the methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) and present objective and important outcomes on the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies, including Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), acupuncture, and moxibustion, for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

We conducted a comprehensive literature search for SRs in 7 databases until April 16, 2022. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the reviews according to the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic reviews (ROBIS) tool, and the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to rate the quality of evidence.

IBS-D patients included in 12 reviews were diagnosed in accordance with the Rome criteria, 9 reviews focused on CHM, 2 articles observed moxibustion and heat-sensitive moxibustion, 1 article studied acupuncture and CHM. The outcomes of the SRs were the effectiveness rate, the total effectiveness rate, global symptom improvement, and adverse effects. Based on AMSTAR-2, which measures the quality of methodology, all of the included studies were of low or critically low quality. According to the ROBIS tool, 10 SRs (83.33%) had a high risk of bias. With the PRISMA checklist, only 3 SRs reached over 90% compliance. Based on GRADE, most evidence was of low quality, and there was a moderate quality of evidence that the effectiveness rate of modified-Tongxie Yaofang was superior to Western medicine in the treatment of IBS-D.

Given the suboptimal reporting and methodological quality of existing SRs, more studies are needed to clarify whether TCM therapies are more effective or safe than pharmacological medicine. Future studies should combine evidence-based medicine with TCM research according to the characteristics of TCM.

To determine whether electro-acupuncture (EA) therapy could improve the cognitive functions of amyloid precursor protein Swedish mutation (APPswe)/presenilin 1 deleted in exon 9 (PS1dE9) mice and examine whether EA treatment could attenuate neuroinflammation by targeting the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response factor 88 (MyD88) signaling pathway.

Twenty-seven double transgenic APPswe/PS1dE9 mice were randomly allocated into three groups: an Alzheimer's disease model group (AD group), a medication group (M group) and an EA treatment group (EA group). Each group contained nine mice, and nine wild-type mice were used in a normal group (N group). The animals in the M group were treated with oral administrations of 0.92 mg/kg donepezil hydrochloride for 15 days. For animals in the EA group, EA treatments were used on the Yintang (GV 29) and Baihui (GV 20) acupoints for 20 minutes, and the Shuigou (GV 26) acupoint was pricked without needle retention following EA treatments. Following treatments, the spatial learning and memory of the mice were measured using the Morris water maze test. The expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and western blot.

The escape latencies of the M and EA groups were significantly lower than those of the AD group (vs M, P = .002; vs EA, P < .001). Moreover, compared with the AD group, the numbers of platform crossings was higher (vs M, P = .038; vs EA, P = .008) and the latency time for target quadrants was longer (vs M, P = .002; vs EA, P = .001) in the M and EA groups (P < .05). Furthermore, in the M and EA groups, the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB and iNOS decreased significantly compared with those of the AD group (all P < .01).

EA treatment enhanced the memory and learning abilities of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice by regulating the TLR4/MyD88 inflammatory signaling pathway.