Background: There is a gap in understanding the effects of different acupoints and treatment methods (acupuncture and moxibustion) on microcirculatory changes in the lumbar region. Objective: This study aimed to assess the thermal effects of acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40), with acupuncture at Chize (LU5) and moxibustion at both acupoints as control interventions. Design, setting, participants and interventions: In this randomized controlled trial, 140 healthy participants were equally divided into four groups: acupuncture at BL40 (Acu-BL40), acupuncture at LU5 (Acu-LU5), moxibustion at BL40 (Mox-BL40) and moxibustion at LU5 (Mox-LU5). Participants underwent a 30-minute session of their assigned treatment. Infrared thermal imaging was used to collect temperature data on the areas of interest for analysis. Main outcome measures: The primary measure was the change in average temperature of the observed area after the intervention. The secondary measures included periodic temperature changes every 5 min and the temperature changes of the Governor Vessel and Bladder Meridian in the observed area after the intervention. Results: Significant interactions were observed between treatments and acupoints affecting temperature (P < 0.001). The Acu-BL40 group showed a notably higher increase in mean temperature after 30 min compared to the Acu-LU5 and Mox-BL40 groups, with increases of 0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17 to 0.41) and 0.24 (95% CI = 0.08 to 0.41) degrees C, respectively. Conclusion: Acupuncture at BL40 acupoint can significantly increase the mean temperature in the observed area, highlighting the specific thermal effect of acupuncture compared to moxibustion in the lumbar area. This suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of acupuncture at BL40 for managing lumbar conditions.

1目的通过比较循肺经取穴、循心经取穴对慢性持续期哮喘患者的临床疗效,探讨循经针刺对慢性持续期哮喘患者的有效性,以期为经脉循行“体表-内脏”联系提供客观的临床研究证据。2方法将符合纳入标准的36例哮喘（慢性持续期）患者随机分为肺经组（18例）、心经组（18例）。两组均在基础药物治疗的基础上进行针刺,循肺经取穴组:太渊、尺泽、列缺（均双侧）,循心经取穴组:神门、阴郗、少海（均双侧）,两组均接受4周共12次的针刺治疗。研究周期共14周（包括基线观察2周,治疗期4周及随访8周）。以哮喘生活质量调查问卷（Asthma Quality-of-life Questionnaire,AQLQ）、中医症状积分量表、血清免疫球蛋白E水平（Immunoglobulin E,Ig E）、呼气峰值流速（Peak Expiratory Flow,PEF）作为评价标准。其中AQLQ评分在入组0天、4周、8周、12周进行评价,中医症状积分、Ig E、PEF分别在入组0天、4周进行检测。选用恰当的统计学分析方法进行数据处理,并比较两组组间及组内差异,以评价循肺经取穴针刺治疗和循心经取穴针刺治疗对该病的临床疗效。3结果（1）AQLQ积分:肺经组与心经组在治疗后、第1次随访（治疗后4周）、第2次随访（治疗后8周）AQLQ评分与治疗前组内对比具有显著统计学差异（P＜0.01）;治疗后、第2次随访两组AQLQ评分组间对比均有统计学差异（P＜0.05）;第1次随访两组AQLQ评分组间对比无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。（2）中医症状积分:肺经组治疗前后组内对比有显著统计学意义（P＜0.01）;心经组治疗前后组内对比无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;治疗后两组组间对比无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。（3）Ig E评分:治疗前后两组组内对比均无统计学差异（P＞0.05）;治疗后两组组间对比无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。（4）PEF评分:治疗前后两组组内对比均无统计学差异（P＞0.05）;治疗后两组组间对比无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。4结论（1）针刺肺经组、心经组治疗慢性持续期哮喘患者,均能提高哮喘患者哮喘生活质量（AQLQ）评分,临床疗效明显。与心经组比较,肺经组疗效显著,且远期疗效优于心经组。（2）肺经组能显著降低慢性持续期哮喘患者的中医症状积分,改善患者临床症状。（3）针刺肺经组与心经组相比较,循肺经治疗慢性持续期支气管哮喘更具有优效性,为经脉循行“体表-内脏”联系提供客观的临床研究证据。

颈型颈椎病是临床常见的脊柱退行性疾病,属于经筋病的范畴。以经筋理论的内涵、经筋与颈型颈椎病的相关性为切入点,发现经筋损伤是造成颈型颈椎病的重要原因。阐释了基于经筋理论指导治疗颈型颈椎病的理论依据,以"在筋守筋"为原则,联合针刺的作用与优势,证实针刺"结筋病灶点"疗效确切,可以解除卡压、疏通气血、缓解疼痛,以期为颈型颈椎病提供新的治疗思路,发挥经筋理论的临床治疗作用。

BACKGROUND: Interhemispheric communication of olfactory information is crucial for accurate odor perception and odor source localization in animals. However, the underlying structural basis for this communication in mammals remains poorly understood. Using electrophysiological recordings and virus-mediated tracing, we systematically dissected the neural circuits involved in interhemispheric transmission between the bilateral olfactory bulbs (OBs).; RESULTS: We identified the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) as a central hub that facilitates direct communication between the OBs via three distinct pathways: the excitatory inter-bulbar pathway, the inhibitory inter-bulbar pathway, and the bi-bulbar co-innervation pathway. Notably, our results highlight the differential roles of AON subregions in these pathways: the pars externa (AONpE) primarily mediates the inhibitory pathway, while the pars principalis (AONpP) participates in all three pathways. These pathways recruit CaMKIIalpha-positive neurons in specific AON regions, which in turn project to distinct neuronal populations within the OBs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel anatomical insights into the neural circuits underlying interhemispheric olfactory communication. The differential connectivity patterns of AON subregions contribute to a better understanding of how bilateral olfactory information is processed and transferred between the two OBs. © 2025. The Author(s).

Objective: To determine the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on beta 1-adrenergic receptor (beta 1-AR) and post-receptor protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway after acute myocardial ischemia (MI).Methods: An MI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery of wild-type (WT) C57/BL and beta 1-AR+/- mice (heterozygous for beta 1-AR gene deletion). EA treatment was administered at HT5-HT7 or LU9-LU8. We evaluated cardiac function by measuring ST segment displacement, ischemic area and serum levels of creatine kinase (CK)-MB and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Pathological morphology/apoptosis of myocardial tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. Norepinephrine (NE) levels in myocardial tissue were detected by ELISA. Levels of beta 1 and post-receptor PKA signaling components were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.Results: EA stimulation at HT7-HT5 could better regulate the level of beta 1-AR in myocardial tissue than that at LU9-LU8. Following EA, the ST segment, serum CK-MB/ LDH and area of myocardial infarction were decreased in WT mice, and the degree of myocardial pathology/apoptosis and expression of cleaved caspase-3 were decreased. Myocardial levels of Gs protein (Gs), adenylate cyclase (AC), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), phosphorylated protein kinase A (p-PKA), L-type voltage-gated calcium channel alpha 1C (Cav1.2), serine phosphate 16-phospholamban (p-PLBs16) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase 2a (SERCA2a) increased after EA. However, these effects of EA were not replicated in beta 1-AR+/- mice. Interestingly, myocardial NE content decreased after EA in WT and beta 1-AR+/- mice.Conclusion: EA may enhance cardiac function and reduced MI area/apoptosis by restoring the activity of beta 1-AR and post-receptor PKA signaling.

Background: The association between the body surface and viscera remains obscure, but a better understanding of the body surface-viscera correlation will maximize its diagnostic and therapeutic values in clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the specificity of body surface-viscera correlation in the pathological state. Methods: The study subjects included 40 participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the COPD group and 40 age-matched healthy participants in the healthy control group. Laser Doppler flowmetry, infrared thermography, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy were respectively adopted to measure 1) the perfusion unit (PU), 2) temperature, and 3) regional oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) of four specific sites distributed in the heart and lung meridians. These three outcome measures reflected the microcirculatory, thermal, and metabolic characteristics, respectively. Results: Regarding the microcirculatory and thermal characteristics of the body surface, the PU and temperature of specific sites on the body surface [i.e., Taiyuan (LU9) and Chize (LU5) in the lung meridian] in the COPD group were significantly increased compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05), whereas PU and temperature of other sites in the heart meridian [i.e., Shenmen (HT7) and Shaohai (HT3)] did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Regarding the metabolic characteristics, rSO(2) of specific sites in the lung meridian [i.e., Taiyuan (LU9) and Chize (LU5)] and Shaohai (HT3) of the heart meridian in the COPD group was significantly decreased compared with healthy controls (p < 0.01), whereas rSO(2) of Shenmen (HT7) in the heart meridian did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In the disease state of COPD, the microcirculatory, thermal, and metabolic characteristics of specific sites on the body surface in the lung meridian generally manifest more significant changes than those in the heart meridian, thereby supporting relative specificity for the body surface-viscera correlation in the pathological state.

PURPOSE: The opioid crisis resulting from its use disorder and overdose poses additional challenges for cancer pain management. The American Society of Clinical Oncology Practice Guideline recommends acupuncture therapy for the management of adult cancer-related pain (CRP), but the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on CRP remains uncertain.; METHODS: This 5-week prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted at 2 hospitals in China, and participants with CRP receiving chronic opioid therapy were randomized 1:1 into two groups between December 2014 and June 2018. The true TEAS group underwent 15 sessions of TEAS treatments over 3 consecutive weeks, while the control group received sham stimulation. The primary outcome was the numerical rating scale (NRS) score in the past 24h at week 3. The secondary outcomes included morphine equivalent daily dose, quality of life and adverse events.; RESULTS: A total of 159 participants were included in the modified intention-to-treat population. The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The mean NRS scores were 0.98 points at week 3 in the true TEAS group and 1.41 points in the sham group, with the mean difference between groups of -0.43 points (P<0.001; OR=0.68, P<0.05). The proportion of patients with NRS reduction more than thirty percentage at week 3 was 50.00% in the true TEAS group and 35.44% in the sham group (RD=0.15, P>0.05; RR=1.41, P>0.05). No significant difference in pain intensity between the two groups was observed during the follow-up period without TEAS intervention (week 4, OR=0.83, P>0.05; week 5, OR=0.83, P>0.05). The Karnofsky Performance Status value suggested that patients in the true TEAS group experienced an improved quality of life (Between-group differences: week 3, 3.5%, P<0.05; week 4, 4.6%, P<0.001; week 5, 5.6%, P<0.001).; CONCLUSIONS: The 3-week application of TEAS in patients with CRP receiving chronic opioid therapy resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pain scores, but the observed reduction was of uncertain clinical significance. The prolonged analgesic effect of TEAS was not confirmed in this trial.; CLINICALTRIAL: GOV: ChiCTR-TRC-13003803. © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

基于对阿是穴内涵的认识，剖析阿是穴表型多样性、定位不确定性等特性，进而探究阿是穴探寻规律。认为阿是穴作为参照患者主观反馈来定位的穴位，其广义、狭义之别应考量患者的主观感受。狭义阿是穴可以理解为医者按、捏局部可引起疼痛激发、缓解、消失的点或区域，或由患者自发产生且表现为痛觉异常或痛觉过敏的点或区域；广义阿是穴可以理解为所有异常反应点的统称，包括除疼痛感外的酸、麻、胀、重、热、凉、蚁行感、触电感等感觉异常以及皮肤色泽的改变、局部隆起或凹陷及皮下结节等形态异常。基于现代检测技术革新和穴位敏化研究，将痛反应点（痛敏化点）、热敏化点、耳穴阳性反应点等穴位敏化现象归于阿是穴的典型具象表型；但阿是穴表型具有多样性，并不仅仅局限于此。阿是穴探寻需综合考虑疾病种类、穴位特有属性等因素，不同表型阿是穴的探寻规律亦存在一定差异，进一步揭示阿是穴探查规律依赖于更多临床客观研究实施和先进检测技术革新。

目的 观察循经取穴针刺对肱二头肌长头肌腱鞘炎患者压痛阈值及肩关节功能的影响。方法 将60例肱二头肌长头肌腱鞘炎患者随机分为治疗组（31例）和对照组（29例）。治疗组采用基础治疗点与患侧列缺或尺泽穴电针治疗,未电针刺激的列缺或尺泽穴采用手法行针;对照组采用基础治疗点与患侧灵道或少海穴电针治疗,未电针刺激的灵道或少海采用手法行针。观察治疗前后基础治疗点的压痛阈值及治疗前后、第1次随访（治疗后第4周）、第2次随访（治疗后第12周）的视觉模拟量表（visual analog scale, VAS）评分、肩关节功能评分（constant-murley score, CMS）和健康调查简表（36-item short-form health survey, SF-36）评分变化。结果两组治疗后基础治疗点的压痛阈值均升高（P＜0.05）。两组治疗后及随访VAS评分较治疗前降低（P＜0.05）;治疗组随访VAS评分低于对照组（P＜0.05）。两组治疗后及随访CMS和SF-36评分均升高（P＜0.05）。结论 针刺肺经穴和心经穴均能有效改善肱二头肌长头肌腱鞘炎疼痛、肩关节功能和生活质量;但在改善疼痛症状方面,针刺肺经穴优于心经穴。

肱二头肌长头肌腱鞘炎是导致肩关节功能障碍的主要疾病之一，归属于中医学“痹病”“肩痛”等范畴。治疗上以保守治疗为主，如口服非甾体消炎药、中药汤剂、推拿、针刺等，其中，针刺疗法因具有疗效显著、安全性高、经济性高等优点受到临床医师与患者的青睐。参考近年来文献，对临床治疗肱二头肌长头肌腱鞘炎的不同针刺疗法进行综述。