Research trends of acupuncture therapy on facial paralysis in a decade spanning 2013-2023: A bibliometric analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to employ bibliometric approaches to assess the worldwide scientific achievements in acupuncture for facial paralysis research from 2013 to 2023, and explore the hotspots and frontiers.

METHODS

Articles related to acupuncture facial paralysis were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). CiteSpace was utilized to examine journals, publication year, country, institution, cited authors, as well as authors.Research hotspots and trends were analyzed by mapping co-citation networks and keywords.

RESULTS

The period from January 1, 2013, to July 31, 2023, yielded nearly 145 research records on acupuncture treatment for facial paralysis, with a steady increase in the number of annual publications.In terms of the number of publications, OTOLARYNGOLOGY HEAD NECK had the highest publication count, while AM J CHINESE MED exhibited the highest centrality and citation frequency among the cited journals. Further, 54.4 % of publications originated from China, followed by USA (8.2 %) and Germany (8.2 %). Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine stood out with the highest publication volume among institutions. Guntinas-lichius, Orlando was the most prolific author, and PEITERSEN E was the most cited author. The keywords "Randomized controlled trials" and "multicenter" displayed high frequency and centrality, indicating that clinical trials with a randomized controlled design and multicenter studies were prevalent research methods, likely to remain a future trend.

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture's potential in the treatment of facial paralysis merits further research. Authors from different countries/regions and organizations need to eliminate language and academic barriers and strengthen collaboration and communication. Current research hotspots focus on "brain", "nerve", "electrical stimulation", "RCT" and "guidelines". The study of acupuncture mechanisms, especially based on the central nervous system mechanism, may be the future research hotspot.

A Meta-Analysis on the Efficacy of Acupuncture as an Adjuvant Therapy for Schizophrenia

Objective

To systematically evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Methods

We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), China Biology Medicine Database (CBM), PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library for relevant literature on the acupuncture treatment of schizophrenia published from database inception to May 17, 2023. The evaluation criteria included total effective rate, incidence of adverse reactions, TESS scale, PANSS scale, BPRS scale, SANA scale, SAPS scale. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. The RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis, risk of bias (ROB) evaluation tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of the studies, and the GRADE evaluation tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. The study was registered on PROSPERO, CRD42023416438.

Results

A total of 38 RCTs involving 3143 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that acupuncture can improve the total effective rate [OR=3.43 (95% CI: 2.71, 4.35), moderate credibility], reduce the incidence of adverse reactions [OR=0.45 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.63), moderate credibility], reduce the TESS score (side effect scale) [MD=-1.83 (95% CI: -2.94, -0.71), very low credibility]. Acupuncture also reduced the PANSS total score [MD=-5.75 (95% CI: -8.08, -3.42), very low credibility], SANA score [MD=-2.66 (95% CI: -6.84, 1.51), very low credibility], SAPS score [MD=-1.26 (95% CI: -2.55, -0.02), very low credibility], and BPRS score [MD=-7.02 (95% CI: -10.59, -3.46), very low credibility].

Conclusion

Existing evidence indicates that acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy can improve the total effective rate of SZ patients, reduce the incidence of adverse reactions, improve clinical symptoms, and alleviate depression and anxiety in SZ patients. However, more high-quality clinical research evidence is still needed to support these findings.

Acupuncture treatment of a pregnant patient with Bell's palsy in the third trimester: Case report

At present, the optimal treatment for Bell's palsy remains controversial, and the combination of corticosteroids and antiviral medication is usually recommended in the early stage. However, treatment is often delayed because the effects of these drugs on pregnant women and fetuses are still unclear. As a safe and effective complementary alternative therapy, acupuncture can alleviate Bell's palsy symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patient. Herein, we report the clinical presentation of a 27-year-old woman with Bell's palsy who was 26 weeks pregnant at the time of diagnosis. After five courses of treatment, the patient made a complete recovery.

Electroacupuncture Mitigates Skeletal Muscular Lipid Metabolism Disorder Related to High-Fat-Diet Induced Insulin Resistance through the AMPK/ACC Signaling Pathway

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet (HFD) induced insulin resistance (IR) rats and to evaluate expression of AMPK/ACC signaling components. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into control group, HFD group, HFD+Pi (oral gavage of pioglitazone) group, and HFD+EA group. Acupuncture was subcutaneously applied to Zusanli (ST40) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). For Zusanli (ST40) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), needles were connected to an electroacupuncture (EA) apparatus. Fasting plasma glucose was measured by glucose oxidase method. Plasma fasting insulin (FINS) and adiponectin (ADP) were determined by ELISA. Triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC) were determined by Gpo-pap. Proteins of adiponectin receptor 1 (adipoR1), AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were determined by Western blot, respectively. Compared with the control group, HFD group exhibits increased levels of FPG, FINS, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and decreased level of ADP and insulin sensitivity index (ISI). These changes were reversed by both EA and pioglitazone. Proteins of adipoR1 and AMPK were decreased, while ACC were increased in HFD group compared to control group. Proteins of these molecules were restored back to normal levels upon EA and pioglitazone. EA can improve the insulin sensitivity of insulin resistance rats; the positive regulation of the AMPK/ACC pathway in the skeletal muscle may be a possible mechanism of EA in the treatment of IR.

Electroacupuncture mitigates endothelial dysfunction via effects on the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in high fat diet-induced insulin-resistant rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on endothelial dysfunction related to high fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signalling pathway.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a regular diet (Control group, n=8) or a HFD (n=16) for 12 weeks to induce an insulin resistance model. HFD-fed rats were divided into two groups that remained untreated (HFD group, n=8) or received electroacupuncture (HFD+EA group, n=8). EA was applied at PC6, ST36, SP6 and BL23. At the end of the experiment, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin (FINS), serum C-peptide (C-P) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) indices were determined. Pancreatic islet samples were subjected to histopathological examination. The thoracic aorta was immunostained with anti-rat insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) antibodies. mRNA and protein expression of IRS-1, PI3K, Akt2 and eNOS in the vascular endothelium were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

The bodyweight increase of the HFD+EA group was smaller than that of the untreated HFD group. Compared with the HFD group, the levels of FBG, FINS, C-P and HOMA-IR in the HFD+EA group decreased significantly (P<0.01). Histopathological evaluation indicated that EA improved pancreatic islet inflammation. The expression of endothelial markers, such as IRS-1, PI3K, Akt2 and eNOS, decreased in the HFD group, while EA treatment appeared to ameliorate the negative impact of diet.

CONCLUSION

EA may improve insulin resistance and attenuate endothelial dysfunction, and therefore could play a potential role in the prevention or treatment of diabetic complications and cardiovascular disease through the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

Effect of diets with different energy and lipase levels on performance, digestibility and carcass trait in broilers

Objective

A 28-d trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of diets with different energy and lipase levels on performance, nutrient digestibility, serum profiles, gut health, and carcass quality in broilers.

Methods

A total of 720 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers (45.4±0.5 g) were randomly assigned to one of the following four treatments: i) RET, reduced energy treatment (metabolizable energy = 2,950 and 3,100 kcal/kg for starter and finisher diet), ii) BDT, basal diet treatment (metabolizable energy = 3,050 and 3,200 kcal/kg for starter and finisher diet, iii) RET015, RET+0.15 g/kg lipase, and iv) RET03, RET+0.3 g/kg lipase. There were 10 replications (cages) per treatment with 18 birds per cage.

Results

During d 1 to 14, broilers fed BDT, RET015, and RET03 diets had higher (p<0.05) body weight gain than those fed RET diet. During d 1 to 14, 15 to 28 and the overall experiment, feed conversion ratio in RET03 treatment was lower (p<0.05) compared with RET treatment. On d 14, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), and gross energy in RET03 treatment was higher (p<0.05) than those in RET treatment, while the ATTD of N was increased (p<0.05) by RET03 treatment. On d 28, broilers fed RET03 diet had higher (p<0.05) ATTD of DM than those fed RET and RET015 diets, while the ATTD of EE in BDT and RET03 treatments was increased (p<0.05) compared with RET and RET015 treatments. Broilers fed RET03 diet had higher villus height (VH) and VH:crypt depth (CD) ratio than those fed RET and BDT diets. The activity of pancreatic lipase in BDT and RET03 treatments was higher (p<0.05) than that in RET treatment.

Conclusion

Taken together, lipase supplementation (3,000 U/kg feed) increased growth performance, nutrient digestibility, VH, VH:CD ratio and lipase activity, but decreased triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the abdominal fat percentage in broilers fed reduced energy diet.

Analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX2) gene in giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca

The giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (Ursidae), has a unique bamboo-based diet; however, this low-energy intake has been sufficient to maintain the metabolic processes of this species since the fourth ice age. As mitochondria are the main sites for energy metabolism in animals, the protein-coding genes involved in mitochondrial respiratory chains, particularly cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX2), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in electron transfer, could play an important role in giant panda metabolism. Therefore, the present study aimed to isolate, sequence, and analyze the COX2 DNA from individuals kept at the Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, China, and compare these sequences with those of the other Ursidae family members. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the COX2 gene had three point mutations that defined three haplotypes, with 60% of the sequences corresponding to haplotype I. The neutrality tests revealed that the COX2 gene was conserved throughout evolution, and the maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, using homologous sequences from other Ursidae species, showed clustering of the COX2 sequences of giant pandas, suggesting that this gene evolved differently in them.

Autophagy facilitates multidrug resistance development through inhibition of apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) is the main mechanism of chemotherapeutic drugs resistance. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of MDR are complex and still not very clear. Recently, including our previous study, several studies have revealed that macroautophagy (here referred to as autophagy) induced by anti-cancer drugs in breast cancer cells may facilitate the development of resistance to epirubicin (EPI), paclitaxel (PTX), tamoxifen or herceptin. Whereas there are a few studies on the relationship between autophagy and MDR, especially the studies designed directly employing induced resistant breast cancer cells. Based on previous study, we explored the relationship between autophagy and MDR. The results showed that induced EPI-resistant MCF-7er and SK-BR-3er cells were simultaneously resistant to PTX and vinorelbine (NVB), which demonstrated that the cells obtained MDR phenotype. Furthermore, PTX and NVB could also induce autophagy in MCF-7er and SK-BR-3er cells, and the induced autophagy protected the cells from apoptosis, which facilitated the development of resistance to PTX and NVB. Thus, autophagy promoted the development of MDR in breast cancer cells through inhibition of apoptosis. In addition, we found that P-glycoprotein (Pgp) was overexpressed in MCF-7er and SK-Br-3er cells. And we preliminarily investigated the relationship between autophagy and P-glycoprotein (Pgp). The results showed that the expression of the protein did not obviously change despite the inhibition of autophagy. Therefore, the role of Pgp in the development of MDR might be independent of autophahy. Also this finding implies that autophagy might be a target to overcome MDR in breast cancer cells, and clinical use autophagy inhibitors might be one of the important strategies for overcoming MDR in breast cancer therapy.

KEYWORDS

Autophagy, apoptosis, multidrug resistance, breast cancer, chemotherapy.

Impaired reproductive fitness in mothers of children with juvenile autoimmune arthropathies

OBJECTIVE

To assess the reproductive fitness of mothers of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

METHODS

A mail survey assessing pregnancy outcome was carried out among mothers of children with JIA (JIA mothers) treated at a tertiary paediatric rheumatology centre. The best friends of the JIA mothers served as controls. Besides family history, sociodemographics and reproductive outcomes were measured, including the number of pregnancies, pregnancy complications and gestational age at the time of delivery.

RESULTS

JIA mothers (n = 227) and controls (n = 235) had similar sociodemographics and racial backgrounds. On average, JIA mothers reported a greater number of conceptions than controls (3.5 vs 3.1; P = 0.01) but had significantly higher rates of pregnancy complications (25% vs 15%; P<0.001). Corrected for differences in the absolute number of pregnancies between groups, the chances of having a miscarriage [mean (s.d.), 0.12 (0.18) vs 0.09 (0.16); P = 0.02] or preterm delivery [0.08 (0.21) vs 0.04 (0.15); P<0.02] were significantly greater among JIA mothers than controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers of children with JIA have impaired reproductive fitness. This phenomenon is unlikely to be the result of difficulty with conception but rather to be due to higher rates of pregnancy loss and premature delivery.

Attitudes about human papillomavirus vaccine among family physicians

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines will soon be available for clinical use, and the effectiveness of vaccine delivery programs will depend largely upon whether providers recommend the vaccine. The objectives of this study were to examine family physicians' attitudes about HPV immunization and to identify predictors of intention to recommend immunization.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey instrument assessing provider and practice characteristics, knowledge about HPV, attitudes about HPV vaccination, and intention to administer two hypothetical HPV vaccines.

PARTICIPANTS

Surveys were mailed to a national random sample of 1,000 American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) members.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Intention to administer two hypothetical HPV vaccines (a cervical cancer/genital wart vaccine and a cervical cancer vaccine) to boys and girls of different ages.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-five surveys (15.5%) were returned and 145 were used in the final sample. Participants reported higher intention to recommend both hypothetical HPV vaccines to girls vs. boys (P < 0.0001) and to older vs. younger adolescents (P < 0.0001). They were more likely to recommend a cervical cancer/genital wart vaccine than a cervical cancer vaccine to boys and girls (P < 0.001). Variables independently associated with intention (P < 0.05) included: female gender of provider, knowledge about HPV, belief that organizations such as the AAFP would endorse vaccination, and fewer perceived barriers to vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Female gender, knowledge about HPV, and attitudes about vaccination were independently associated with family physicians' intention to recommend HPV vaccines. Vaccination initiatives directed toward family physicians should focus on modifiable predictors of intention to vaccinate, such as HPV knowledge and attitudes about vaccination.

[Effect of human plasma HDL on the HDL receptors of plasma membranes of cholesterol-fed rabbit]

Atherosclerosis(As) rabbit model was developed by high-cholesterol feeding for 12 weeks. The rabbits were injected intravenously with human plasma HDL preparation per week, and then the effects of HDL on the lipids contents of serum, liver and bile nd the activity of HDL receptors on liver plasma membranes of cholesterol-fed rabbit were investigated. The results showed that HDL preparation had no effect on decreasing the lipids contents of serum, but it could low down the lipid depositions in liver, and promote the excretion of lipids from bile. The value of Bmax of HDL receptor showed decreasing trendy and the value of Kd showed increasing trendy in cholesterol-fed rabbits. In HDL-treated rabbits, the value of Bmax increased significantly as compared with that of normal group(P < 0.05), but the value of Kd showed no difference. The results suggested that human plasma HDL could enhance the activity of HDL receptors on the liver plasma membranes of cholesterol-fed rabbit.