Brief discussion of the differences in the acupoint location between Meridians and Acupoints and Acupuncture and Moxibustion. / æµ è®®ã€Šç»ç»œè §ç©´å­¦ã€‹å’Œã€Šé’ˆç¸å­¦ã€‹"十四五"规划教材经穴定位差异.

There are the differences in the location of some acupoints between textbooks Meridians and Acupoints and Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Both of the textbooks are in the category of the "14th Five-Year Plan". The differences in acupoint location have brought some confusion for students, full-time teachers and researchers in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. In the paper, based on GB/T 12346-2021： Nomenclature and Location of Meridian Points, published in2021, and in reference with GB/T 12346-2006： Nomenclature and Location of Acupuncture Points, published in 2006, the discrepancy in the acupoint location was systematically collated in the aspects of the expression style and layout, text expression and potential difference of location between these two textbooks, published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People's Medical Publishing House and China Science Publishing. Based on the historical evolution and the academic controversy of acupoint positioning, the reasons of the differences in acupoint location were analyzed, the potential influences on the teaching, examination, competition and research of Chinese medicine acupuncture were explored, and the suggestions for solution were proposed.

Supplements for cognitive ability in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease: a protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) worldwide, there is an urgent need to identify efficacious, safe and convenient treatments. Numerous investigations have been conducted on the use of supplements in this domain, with oral supplementation emerging as a viable therapeutic approach for AD or MCI. Nevertheless, given the multitude of available supplements, it becomes imperative to identify the optimal treatment regimen. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Eight academic databases and three clinical trial registries will be searched from their inception to 1 June 2023. To identify randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of supplements on patients with AD or MCI, two independent reviewers (X-YZ and Y-QL) will extract relevant information from eligible articles, while the risk of bias in the included studies will be assessed using the Rob 2.0 tool developed by the Cochrane Collaboration. The primary outcome of interest is the overall cognitive function. Pair-wise meta-analysis will be conducted using RevMan V.5.3, while network meta-analysis will be carried out using Stata 17.0 and ADDIS 1.16.8. Heterogeneity test, data synthesis and subgroup analysis will be performed if necessary. The GRADE system will be employed to assess the quality of evidence. This study is scheduled to commence on 1 June 2023 and conclude on 1 October 2023. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for systematic review and network meta-analysis. The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal or at a conference. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO (CRD42023414700).

Research status and trends of physical activity on depression or anxiety: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Anxiety and depression are prevalent mental disorders. As modern society continues to face mounting pressures, the incidence of anxiety and depression is on the rise. In recent years, there has been an increasing breadth of research exploring the relationship between anxiety, depression, and physical activity (PA). However, the current research progress and future development trends are unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the research hotspots and development trends in this field, and to provide guidance for future studies and to provide some reference for clinicians. Methods: We searched the relevant literature of Web of Science Core Collection from the establishment of the database to August 15, 2023. CiteSpace, VOSviewer and Bibliometrix Packages based on the R language were used to analyze the number of publications, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords. Results: A total of 1,591 studies were included in the analysis, and the research in the field of PA on anxiety or depression has consistently expanded. The USA (304 publications), Harvard University (93 publications), and the journal of affective disorders (97 publications) were the countries, institutions, and journals that published the highest number of articles, respectively. According to the keywords, students and pregnant women, adult neurogenesis, and Tai Chi were the groups of concern, physiological and pathological mechanisms, and the type of PA of interest, respectively. Conclusion: The study of PA on anxiety or depression is experiencing ongoing expansion. Clinicians can consider advising patients to take mind-body exercise to improve mood. In addition, future researchers can explore the mind-body exercise and its impact on anxiety or depression, PA and anxiety or depression in specific populations, and adult neurogenesis of various exercise in anxiety or depression.

Immediate Effect of Electro-acupuncture on Endometrial Blood Flow in Patients with Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on endometrial blood flow among recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients. METHODS: Eighty RIF patients, enrolled from March 2022 to December 2022, were randomly allocated into either the EA group (40 cases) or the waiting-list (WL) group (40 cases) by using a random number table. The EA group underwent acupuncture at points of Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 4), Benshen (GB 13), bilateral Zigong (EX-CA 1), Huangshu (KI 16), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Xuehai (SP10), and electric acupuncture apparatus was connected to EX-CA 1, KI 16, SP 6, and SP 10 with disperse-dense waves at 4/20 Hz frequencies for 30 min after transvaginal ultrasound, while the WL group received no intervention. The primary outcome measured was the endometrial volume blood flow. The secondary outcomes included the bilateral uterine artery index, endometrial volume, endometrial blood flow type, vascular distribution index (VIMV) for endometrial and ovary, clinical pregnancy rate, and embryo implantation rate. RESULTS: In the EA group, there was a notable decrease in the bilateral pulsatility index and a significant improvement in the endometrial blood flow type post-EA (P<0.05). Both the endometrial blood flow type and VIMV for the endometrium and right ovary were markedly higher in the EA group compared to the WL group post-treatment (P<0.05). Conversely, no significant disparities were observed in vascular index, flow index, vascular blood flow index, uterine arterial blood flow indices, endometrial volume, clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). Besides, no adverse events related to EA were observed. CONCLUSIONS: EA can promptly ameliorate VIMV for the endometrial and right ovary, and endometrial blood flow type. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted to investigate the long-term effects of EA on blood flow of RIF patients and its implications for pregnancy outcomes. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2200057377).

Hydroxy-Safflower Yellow A Mitigates Vascular Remodeling in Rat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Purpose: The underlying causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) often remain obscure. Addressing PAH with effective treatments presents a formidable challenge. Studies have shown that Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) has a potential role in PAH, While the mechanism underlies its protective role is still unclear. The study was conducted to investigate the potential mechanisms of the protective effects of HSYA. Methods: Using databases such as PharmMapper and GeneCards, we identified active components of HSYA and associated PAH targets, pinpointed intersecting genes, and constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Core targets were singled out using Cytoscape for the development of a model illustrating drug-component-target-disease interactions. Intersection targets underwent analysis for Gene Ontology (GO) functions and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Selected components were then modeled for target interaction using Autodock and Pymol. In vivo validation in a monocrotaline-induced PAH (MCT-PAH) animal model was utilized to substantiate the predictions made by network pharmacology. Results: We associated HSYA with 113 targets, and PAH with 1737 targets, identifying 34 mutual targets for treatment by HSYA. HSYA predominantly affects 9 core targets. Molecular docking unveiled hydrogen bond interactions between HSYA and several PAH-related proteins such as ANXA5, EGFR, SRC, PPARG, PGR, and ESR1. Conclusion: Utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches, we investigated potential targets and relevant human disease pathways implicating HSYA in PAH therapy, such as the chemical carcinogenesis receptor activation pathway and the cancer pathway. Our findings were corroborated by the efficacious use of HSYA in an MCT-induced rat PAH model, confirming its therapeutic potential.

The effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress in animal models of vascular dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence showed that acupuncture may improve cognitive function by reducing oxidative stress, key to the pathogenesis in vascular dementia (VaD), but this is yet to be systematically analysed. This study aimed to summarize and evaluate the effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress in animal models of VaD. METHOD: Eight databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, CNKI, Wan Fang, CBM, and VIP were searched since their establishment until April 2023, for studies that reported the effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress in VaD animal models. Relevant literature was screened, and information was extracted by two reviewers. The primary outcomes were the levels of oxidative stress indicators. The methodological quality was assessed via the SYRCLE Risk of Bias Tool. Statistical analyses were performed using the RevMan and Stata software. RESULTS: In total, 22 studies with 747 animals were included. The methodology of most studies had flaws or uncertainties. The meta-analysis indicated that, overall, acupuncture significantly reduced the expression of pro-oxidants including reactive oxygen species (standardized mean differences [SMDs] = -4.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.26, -2.31), malondialdehyde (SMD = -2.27, 95% CI: -3.07, -1.47), nitric oxide (SMD = -0.85, 95% CI: -1.50, -0.20), and nitric oxide synthase (SMD = -1.01, 95% CI: -1.69, -0.34) and enhanced the levels of anti-oxidants including super oxide dismutase (SMD = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.98, 3.61), glutathione peroxidase (SMD = 1.32, 95% CI: -0.11, 2.76), and catalase (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.05, 2.58) in VaD animal models. In subgroup analyses, acupuncture showed significant effects on most variables. Only partial modelling methods and treatment duration could interpret the heterogeneity of some outcomes. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may inhibit oxidative stress to improve cognitive deficits in animal models of VaD. Nevertheless, the methodological quality is unsatisfactory. More high-quality research with a rigorous design and further experimental researches and clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023411720).

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation benefits postoperative pain relief of oocyte retrieval: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Transvaginal oocyte retrieval is frequently followed by adverse events related to anesthesia and the procedure. Some research showed that transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) can relieve intraoperative pain and postoperative nausea. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether TEAS can alleviate pain and relieve adverse symptoms after oocyte retrieval. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Altogether 128 patients were randomly divided into the TEAS group and the mock TEAS group. The two groups received a 30-minute-long TEAS or mock TEAS treatment that began 30 min after oocyte retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score. Secondary outcomes were pressure pain threshold, McGill score, pain rating index (PRI), present pain intensity (PPI), VAS stress score, VAS anxiety score, and postoperative adverse symptoms. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable (P > 0.05). The VAS pain scores of the TEAS group were lower than those of the mock TEAS group at 60 and 90 min after oocyte retrieval (P < 0.05). The McGill score, PRI and PPI in the TEAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 60 min after oocyte retrieval (P < 0.05). However, the two groups had equivalent beneficial effects regarding the negative emotions, such as nervousness and anxiety (P > 0.05). The TEAS group was superior to the mock TEAS group for relieving postoperative adverse symptoms (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TEAS treatment can relieve postoperative pain and postoperative adverse symptoms for patients undergoing oocyte retrieval. Please cite this article as: Liu LY, Su Y, Wang RR, Lai YY, Huang L, Li YT, Tao XY, Su MH, Zheng XY, Huang SC, Wu YN, Yu SY, Liang FR, Yang J. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation benefits postoperative pain relief of oocyte retrieval: A randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(1): 32-38.

Targeted inhibition of the HNF1A/SHH axis by triptolide overcomes paclitaxel resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Paclitaxel resistance is associated with a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and currently, there is no promising drug for paclitaxel resistance. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemoresistance in human NSCLC-derived cell lines. We constructed paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cell lines (A549/PR and H460/PR) by long-term exposure to paclitaxel. We found that triptolide, a diterpenoid epoxide isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, effectively enhanced the sensitivity of paclitaxel-resistant cells to paclitaxel by reducing ABCB1 expression in vivo and in vitro. Through high-throughput sequencing, we identified the SHH-initiated Hedgehog signaling pathway playing an important role in this process. We demonstrated that triptolide directly bound to HNF1A, one of the transcription factors of SHH, and inhibited HNF1A/SHH expression, ensuing in attenuation of Hedgehog signaling. In NSCLC tumor tissue microarrays and cancer network databases, we found a positive correlation between HNF1A and SHH expression. Our results illuminate a novel molecular mechanism through which triptolide targets and inhibits HNF1A, thereby impeding the activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway and reducing the expression of ABCB1. This study suggests the potential clinical application of triptolide and provides promising prospects in targeting the HNF1A/SHH pathway as a therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with paclitaxel resistance. Schematic diagram showing that triptolide overcomes paclitaxel resistance by mediating inhibition of the HNF1A/SHH/ABCB1 axis.

Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), reported in a few small-scale studies, is not convincing. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether acupuncture leads to better effects on CSU than sham acupuncture or waitlist control. DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900022994). SETTING: Three teaching hospitals in China from 27 May 2019 to 30 July 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 330 participants diagnosed with CSU. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist control over an 8-week study period (4 weeks for treatment and another 4 weeks for follow-up). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the mean change from baseline in the Weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) at week 4. Secondary outcomes included itch severity scores, self-rated improvement, and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores. RESULTS: The mean change in UAS7 (range, 0 to 42) for acupuncture from baseline (mean score, 23.5 [95% CI, 21.8 to 25.2]) to week 4 (mean score, 15.3 [CI, 13.6 to 16.9]) was -8.2 (CI, -9.9 to -6.6). The mean changes in UAS7 for sham acupuncture and waitlist control from baseline (mean scores, 21.9 [CI, 20.2 to 23.6] and 22.1 [CI, 20.4 to 23.8], respectively) to week 4 (mean scores, 17.8 [CI, 16.1 to 19.5] and 20.0 [CI, 18.3 to 21.6], respectively) were -4.1 (CI, -5.8 to -2.4) and -2.2 (CI, -3.8 to -0.5), respectively. The mean differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture and waitlist control were -4.1 (CI, -6.5 to -1.8) and -6.1 (CI, -8.4 to -3.7), respectively, which did not meet the threshold for minimal clinically important difference. Fifteen participants (13.6%) in the acupuncture group and none in the other groups reported adverse events. Adverse events were mild or transient. LIMITATION: Lack of complete blinding, self-reported outcomes, limited generalizability because antihistamine use was disallowed, and short follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Compared with sham acupuncture and waitlist control, acupuncture produced a greater improvement in UAS7, although the difference from control was not clinically significant. Increased adverse events were mild or transient. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: The National Key R&D Program of China and the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province.

Dose-response relationship between acupuncture time parameters and the effects on chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) is a major global public health problem and the majority (nearly 90%) of patients with LBP suffer from non-specific LBP (NSLBP). Acupuncture has been widely used for relieving pain and is recommended as a first-line treatment in LBP guidelines. However, the guidelines do not recommend a specific acupuncture temporal dosage. A Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis (MBNMA) will be conducted to optimise the dosages of time parameters (session, frequency and duration). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The following databases will be searched from their inception until 1 July 2023: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), alternative health research database (Alt HealthWatch), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO's International Clinical Trial and Chinese Clinical Registry. RCTs assessing the effects of acupuncture on chronic NSLBP will be selected. The primary outcome measure will be the improvement in pain intensity at different acupuncture time points. The MBNMA will be performed using R V.4.2.1 with related R packages. Risk of Bias V.2.0 and Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis will be used to assess the evidence quality. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for literature-based studies. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals or conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022336056.

Immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture intervention within 10 min during acute migraine attacks: protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a widespread neurological disorder characterised by recurrent moderate-to-severe headaches. These headaches can seriously affect patients' daily life and work, especially during acute attacks when patients often need immediate pain relief. This study aims to assess the immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture for 10 min during acute migraine attacks. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study will randomly divide 80 participants into either the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Each group will receive 10 min of treatment, and the post-treatment evaluation will be performed after 0, 0-2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 min of acupuncture. The primary outcome is the pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score assessed before and after treatment at 10 min. Additionally, secondary outcomes include the pain VAS score assessed at 0-2, 4, 6 and 8 min, blinding assessment and treatment effectiveness expectations scale. Data will be collected at baseline time and the end of treatment (after 10 min). Adverse events during each treatment period will be collected and recorded. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (2022-008). All participants will provide written informed consent before randomisation. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registration Center (ChiCTR2200066976).

Acupuncture benefits to women with recurrent implantation failure: A propensity score-matched cohort study.

Objectives: The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving the live birth rate (LBR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), and pregnancy loss (early abortion rate, late abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy rate) in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Design: This retrospective study compares the outcomes of patients with RIF who underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) with or without acupuncture. Setting: The medical records of patients diagnosed with RIF and visiting Chengdu Xi'nan Gynecological Hospital between January 2018 and June 2021 were reviewed. The Chengdu Xi'nan Gynecological Hospital Ethics Committee approved this retrospective study (No. 2021-029). Participants: A total of 923 patients with RIF who underwent FET were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: the Acupuncture (n = 303) and the Non-acupuncture groups (n = 620). Exposure: The Acupuncture group consisted of 303 RIF patients who received acupuncture therapy in addition to standard hormone replacement therapy (HRT)/delayed hormone replacement therapy (d-HRT) for FET. The Non-acupuncture group consisted of 620 RIF patients who received only standard HRT/d-HRT for FET. Primary and secondary outcome measures: The primary outcome was the LBR. The secondary outcome referred to OPR, CPR, BPR, and pregnancy loss. Results: The Acupuncture group had significantly higher BPR (P = 0.08) and CPR (P = 0.049) than the Non-acupuncture group. A potentially higher LBR (P = 0.16) and OPR (P = 0.248) were observed in the Acupuncture group than in the Non-acupuncture group. However, the survival analysis did not show that acupuncture significantly promoted live birth. Conclusions: Acupuncture is an appropriate adjunctive technique in the in vitro fertilization process as it improves biochemical and clinical pregnancies. Therefore, it is necessary to be cautious about the role of acupuncture throughout the whole pregnancy cycle.

Dauciform roots affect functional traits of Carex filispica under nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization in alpine meadow.

Over recent decades, there has been a severe nitrogen-deposition in alpine meadows which often leads to phosphorus limitation of plant productivity. In these high-altitude localities, Cyperaceae have an increasing biomass while other functional groups decrease. Meanwhile, Cyperaceae are known to have the ability of producing dauciform roots, which are formed under phosphorus limitation, but in China, are only described in these high-altitude places. So, is the superiority of Cyperaceae and the formation of dauciform roots in high-altitude localities related to the accumulation of nitrogen? And is there a link between them? A Carex filispica dominated community in Baima Snow Mountain was selected and quantitative fertilization with four levels of nitrogen and three levels of phosphorus was performed. After 2 weeks, Carex filispica individuals with and without dauciform roots were separated and analyzed for their regular root properties, dauciform root properties, biomass and chemical traits of above- and belowground parts. The total cover of the community declined under phosphorus limitation with increasing nitrogen supply, while the relative cover difference of Carex filispica increased with increasing nitrogen supply and decreased with increasing phosphorus supply. Dauciform roots had a more significant response to nitrogen supply than to phosphorus supply and they were formed the most at a low supply of nitrogen. The biomass and root properties of individuals with dauciform roots were enhanced by nitrogen supply and inhibited by phosphorus supply, while those of individuals without dauciform roots were often enhanced by phosphorus supply. Individuals with and without dauciform roots showed two different mechanisms, and were limited by significantly different factors, which can explain the opposite performance of Cyperaceae after nitrogen and phosphorus supply in previous studies.

[CiteSpace knowledge map of research status and trends of Croci Stigma].

This study retrieved Croci Stigma related literature from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and Web of Science database, and used bibliometrics and CiteSpace 6.1.R2 software to analyze the published Croci Stigma related articles in Chinese and English from 2000 to 2022. The authors, research institutions, and keywords were visualized and analyzed, and the current status and development trend of Croci Stigma research was summarized by combining the information extraction methods. A total of 1 846 Chinese articles and 2 703 English articles were screened out and included. The results showed a generally steady increase in the number of Croci Stigma related articles. The results of the visualization analysis showed that there were more collaborations between researcher teams and major research institutions in English articles than Chinese articles. The Chinese articles was mainly published by China Pharmaceutical University, and most of the inter-institutional collaborations occurred in neighboring regions. The English articles was mainly published by Iranian institutions, and most of the cooperation occurred within the country, with less transnational cooperation. Keywords analysis showed that the research on Croci Stigma was mainly focused on chemical compositions, pharmacological effects, mechanisms, quality control, etc. It was predicted that the future research hotspots of Croci Stigma would mainly focus on pharmacological mechanism and clinical efficacy. The current research related to Croci Stigma still needs to be developed, cooperation should be strengthened, and more in-depth research should be conducted.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum hypogalactia: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Breast milk is recognised as the best natural food for neonates, but many women experience postpartum hypogalactia (PH). Randomised trials have found that acupuncture exert therapeutic effect on women with PH. However, systematic reviews on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture are still lacking; therefore, this systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PH. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Six English databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science) and four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-Fang, Chinese Biomedical Literature and Chinese Scientific Journal) will be systematically searched from their establishment to 1 September 2022. Randomised controlled trials of the efficacy of acupuncture for PH will be reviewed. The study selection, data extraction and research quality evaluation will be conducted independently by two reviewers. The primary outcome is the change in serum prolactin level from baseline to the end of treatment. Secondary results include milk secretion volume, total effectiveness rate, degree of mammary fullness, rate of exclusive breast feeding, and adverse events. A meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4 statistical software. Otherwise, a descriptive analysis will be conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review protocol does not require ethical approval because it does not include private information/data of the participants. This article will be published in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022351849.

[Progress of researches on anti-inflammatory mechanism of acupuncture underlying amelioration of chronic respiratory diseases].

In recent years, acupuncture has gained great progress in the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), and the clinical effect is remarkable, but its underlying mechanisms are relatively complex, with the anti-inflammatory effect being the primary aspect. Based on the literature both at home and abroad, we found that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of acupuncture mainly involves chemokines, kinase-related pathways, helper T cells, epigenetic modification, autophagy, vagal-mediated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, etc. The researches on some anti-inflammatory mechanisms are still in the initial stage, the relationship among various pathways, and the key factors affecting the effect of acupuncture, such as acupoint selection, stimulation intensity and needling depth, etc. warrant further exploration in the future.

Systematic review of acupuncture to improve ovarian function in women with poor ovarian response.

Objective: To determine the effect of acupuncture in treating poor ovarian response (POR). Methods: We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, CNKI, CBM, VIP database, Wanfang Database, and relevant registration databases from inception to January 30, 2023. In this review, both Chinese and English peer-reviewed literature were included. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture as an intervention for POR patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were considered. Results: Seven clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eventually included for comparison (516 women). The quality of included studies was generally low or very low. For the meta-analysis, seven studies showed that compared with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) therapy, acupuncture combined with COH therapy could significantly increase the implantation rate (RR=2.13, 95%CI [1.08, 4.21], p=0.03), the number of oocytes retrieved (MD=1.02, 95%CI [0.72, 1.32], p<0.00001), the thickness of endometrium (MD=0.54, 95%CI [0.13, 0.96], p=0.01), and the antral follicle count (MD=1.52, 95%CI [1.08, 1.95], p<0.00001), reduce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (MD=-1.52, 95%CI [-2.41, -0.62], p=0.0009) and improve estradiol (E2) levels (MD=1667.80, 95%CI [1578.29, 1757.31], p<0.00001). Besides, there were significant differences in the duration of Gn (MD=0.47, 95%CI [-0.00, 0.94], p=0.05) between the two groups. However, no statistical variation was observed in improving clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), fertilization rate, high-quality embryo rate, luteinizing hormone (LH) value, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) value, or reducing the dose of gonadotropin (Gn) values between the acupuncture plus COH therapy group and the COH therapy group. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with COH therapy is doubtful in improving the pregnancy outcome of POR patients. Secondly, acupuncture can also improve the sex hormone level of POR women, and improve ovarian function. Furthermore, more RCTs of acupuncture in POR are needed to be incorporated into future meta-analyses. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020169560.

Hypothetical Protein VDAG_07742 Is Required for Verticillium dahliae Pathogenicity in Potato.

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne pathogenic fungus that causes Verticillium wilt in host plants, a particularly serious problem in potato cultivation. Several pathogenicity-related proteins play important roles in the host infection process, hence, identifying such proteins, especially those with unknown functions, will surely aid in understanding the mechanism responsible for the pathogenesis of the fungus. Here, tandem mass tag (TMT) was used to quantitatively analyze the differentially expressed proteins in V. dahliae during the infection of the susceptible potato cultivar "Favorita". Potato seedlings were infected with V. dahliae and incubated for 36 h, after which 181 proteins were found to be significantly upregulated. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses showed that most of these proteins were involved in early growth and cell wall degradation. The hypothetical, secretory protein with an unknown function, VDAG_07742, was significantly upregulated during infection. The functional analysis with knockout and complementation mutants revealed that the associated gene was not involved in mycelial growth, conidial production, or germination; however, the penetration ability and pathogenicity of VDAG_07742 deletion mutants were significantly reduced. Therefore, our results strongly indicate that VDAG_07742 is essential in the early stage of potato infection by V. dahliae.

[Current status and our consideration on clinical transformation of acupuncture research].

It has become one of the major strategic directions to develop translational medicine and realize the stride leap from basic research to clinical application in the national biomedical field. In recent years, both basic and clinical researches of acupuncture and moxibustion have made landmark progress. However, the transformation of acupuncture and moxibustion techniques still faced with many difficulties, such as low conversion rate and high difficulty of transformation. In this article, we mainly made a preliminary discussion on the current situations of acupuncture and moxibustion transformation from the aspects of basic research content, evidence-based medicine and clinical trials, evaluation criteria for the conclusion of scientific research projects and transformation mode, put forward some existing problems in the transformation process, and proposed some corresponding countermeasures to the problems.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome: An overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the primary cause of anovulatory infertility, bringing serious harm to women's physical and mental health. Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for PCOS. However, systematic reviews (SRs) on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS have reported inconsistent results, and the quality of these studies has not been adequately assessed. OBJECTIVE: To summarize and evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS, as well as to assess the quality and risks of bias of the available SRs. SEARCH STRATEGY: Nine electronic databases (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and China Biology Medicine disc) were searched from their establishment to July 27, 2022. Based on the principle of combining subject words with text words, the search strategy was constructed around search terms for "acupuncture," "polycystic ovary syndrome," and "systematic review." INCLUSION CRITERIA: SRs of randomized controlled trials that explored the efficacy and (or) safety of acupuncture for treating patients with PCOS were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently extracted study data according to a predesigned form. Tools for evaluating the methodological quality, risk of bias, reporting quality, and confidence in study outcomes, including A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Acupuncture (PRISMA-A), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), were used to score the included SRs. RESULTS: A total of 885 studies were retrieved, and 11 eligible SRs were finally included in this review. The methodological quality of 2 SRs (18.18%) was low, while the other 9 SRs (81.82%) were scored as extremely low. Four SRs (36.36%) were considered to be of low risk of bias. As for reporting quality, the reporting completeness of 9 SRs (81.82%) was more than 70%. Concerning the confidence in study results, 2 study results were considered to have a high quality of evidence (3.13%), 14 (21.88%) a "moderate" quality, 28 (43.75%) a "low" quality, and 20 (31.24%) considered a "very low" quality. Descriptive analyses suggested that combining acupuncture with other medicines can effectively improve the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and ovulation rate, and reduce luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and body mass index (BMI). When compared with medicine alone, acupuncture alone also can improve CPR. Further, when compared with no intervention, acupuncture had a better effect in promoting the recovery of menstrual cycle and reducing BMI. Acupuncture was reported to cause no adverse events or some adverse events without serious harm. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PCOS remains uncertain due to the limitations and inconsistencies of current evidence. More high-quality studies are needed to support the use of acupuncture in PCOS.