BACKGROUND:Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by a cramping pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation. Acupuncture-related therapy is frequently used to treat patients with PD. We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of acupuncture-related therapies based on Korean and Chinese clinical practice guidelines. METHODS:We searched 10 databases from their inception to November 1, 2024, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, SinoMed, KoreaMed, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Oriental Medicine Advanced Search Integrated System. The Cochrane Handbook was used to assess the risk of bias, and analyses were performed using the RevMan and Netmeta packages in R (4.4.2). RESULTS:A total of 120 studies (9,571 participants with PD) were included, reporting 29 types of acupuncture-related therapies aligned with the Korean and Chinese guidelines. Overall, risk of bias was low. Based on a network meta-analysis, the most effective treatments were acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) + moxibustion, warm acupuncture + acupressure, and warm acupuncture + Western medicine. At 3-month follow-up, the highest visual analog scale (VAS) improvements were observed with ACE + moxibustion, ACE + cupping, and acupressure + manual acupuncture (MA). For prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the most effective therapies were ACE, MA + western medicine, and MA + moxibustion. For prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), ACE + Western medicine, MA + moxibustion, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ranked highest. CONCLUSIONS:Acupuncture-related therapies appear more effective than Western medicine for improving VAS scores during treatment, at 3 months, and for regulating PGE2 and PGF2α levels. Among these, ACE + moxibustion may be the optimal approach for reducing pain intensity, whereas ACE and ACE + Western medicine exhibit the greatest benefits in modulating prostaglandin levels in PD.
BACKGROUND:Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a master negative regulator of insulin and leptin receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, and its chronic overactivation is strongly implicated in metabolic dysfunction. However, natural compounds capable of simultaneously inhibiting PTP1B and stimulating AMPK-the two major metabolic control nodes-remain scarce. METHODS:Two phenylpropionamide lignanamides, Cannabisin A (CA) and Cannabisin B (CB), were isolated from hemp seed hulls and their functions were evaluated using a multimodal workflow integrating molecular docking (AutoDock 4.2), mixed-type Lineweaver-Burk kinetic modeling, and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations (CHARMM36/TIP3P). Functional assays included in vitro models such as enzyme inhibition, insulin- and leptin-stimulated glucose uptake assays in C2C12 myotubes and hepatocytes (Hepa1C1C7 and primary hepatocytes from high-fat diet mice), and in vivo models such as a multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model (C57BL/6J). In silico analyses of human transcriptomic and GWAS data (GEO, HuGeAMP) were conducted to assess translational relevance. BioTransformer-based metabolic predictions were used to explore absorption feasibility. RESULTS:CA and CB inhibited PTP1B with IC₅₀ values of 0.37 and 0.84 μM, respectively. Kinetic analysis demonstrated competitive-dominant (CA) and mixed-type (CB) inhibition, while MD simulations confirmed stable binding via catalytic-site residues (Asp48, Asp181, Arg221, Phe182). In PA-challenged C2C12 cells, both compounds restored glucose uptake and reactivated p-IRS-1, p-AKT, p-AMPK, and p-JAK2/STAT3. Similar recovery was observed in hepatocyte models, including suppression of SREBP-1c and enhancement of GLUT2 in primary HFD hepatocytes. In vivo, oral administration of CA/CB (1.5 and 3 mg/kg) in MLD-STZ diabetic mice improved fasting glucose in a dose-dependent manner, restored OGTT and ITT responses, and reactivated IRS-1/AKT/JAK2 signaling in skeletal muscle and AMPK/AKT/GLUT2 signaling in liver. Human transcriptome data and BioTransformer PK modeling showed that orally administered CA and CB can acquire sufficient polarity through O-demethylation and hydroxylation to exert PTP1B inhibitory effects in obesity and type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION:CA and CB are natural dual-target antidiabetic agents that inhibit PTP1B while activating AMPK, enabling coordinated re-engagement of insulin, leptin, and metabolic signaling. Their multi-tissue efficacy in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo, combined with human-dataset alignment, highlights their translational potential as first-in-class insulin/leptin sensitizers derived from hemp seed hulls.
We report a systematic study of excitonic resonance and valley polarization in monolayer Mo1-xWxS2 alloys with compositions x = 0, 0.4, 0.6, and 1.0. Monolayers prepared by mechanical exfoliation were characterized by microscopy, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Unpolarized photoluminescence (PL) spectra show a progressive blueshift of the A-exciton peak with increasing W content, consistent with bandgap evolution. Circularly polarized PL measurements reveal valley-selective emission, with the degree of valley polarization (DVP) defined as DVP = (Ico - Icross)/(Ico + Icross). The DVP exhibits a maximum near the A-exciton resonance and increases from 3.0 % at x = 0-20.4 % at x = 1.0, accompanied by a blueshift in peak position. The enhancement is attributed to stronger spin-orbit coupling, reduced exciton-phonon scattering, and alloymodulated relaxation. These findings demonstrate alloy composition as a practical tuning parameter for valley polarization in 2D semiconductors, offering guidance for valleytronic and chiroptical devices.
PTP1B is a key negative regulator of insulin and leptin signalling and a promising therapeutic target for metabolic dysfunction, yet no clinically approved inhibitor exists due to selectivity and bioavailability challenges. To identify novel natural PTP1B inhibitors from Elsholtzia ciliata and evaluate their efficacy in reversing hormonal resistance and redox imbalances in skeletal muscle and hepatic models. Four flavonoids (EC2-EC5) were assessed via PTP1B inhibition assays, molecular docking, glucose uptake, qRT-PCR, and NAD(H)/NADP(H) quantification in palmitate-treated C2C12 myotubes and Hepa1c1c7 hepatocytes. All compounds potently inhibited PTP1B (IC50 < 5.4 µM). EC2 showed the strongest activity and normalised redox imbalances, while EC5 exhibited the highest binding affinity and restored multi-hormone responsiveness, potentially through PTP1B inhibition combined with AMPK pathway engagement. EC2 and EC5 represent promising natural PTP1B inhibitors partially restoring metabolic homeostasis and multi-hormone responsiveness in vitro, highlighting their potential for insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Objectives: Hwa-byung (HB) is a Korean culture-bound syndrome characterized by suppressed anger and somatic symptoms, which affects a substantial proportion of the population and significantly impairs quality of life. While the Korean medicine clinical practice guideline for HB recommends mind-body therapies and psychotherapy as key interventions, their implementation in conventional clinical settings is limited by time, spatial barriers, and challenges in maintaining treatment continuity. Digital health technologies, particularly smartphone applications, offer accessible, personalized, and sustainable therapeutic solutions to address these challenges. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the user experience and preliminary clinical utility of a smartphone-based stress management application in patients with HB through a single-center, single-arm, prospective intervention study. Methods: Based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles and HB clinical practice guidelines, the Hwa-free application integrates four primary components: ACTbased educational videos, daily three-line journaling, diaphragmatic breathing training, and guided meditation audio content. Using the Hwa-Byung Diagnostic Interview Schedule, thirty participants aged 19-80 years, diagnosed with HB, will be recruited. After baseline assessments, participants will use the application daily for 4 weeks while continuing their existing stable treatments. The primary outcome is user experience, assessed using a structured questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include changes in HB symptoms, depression, anxiety, anger, psychological flexibility, quality of life, and heart rate variability, measured at multiple time points over 8 weeks. Safety will be monitored through adverse event reporting. In this exploratory study, preliminary data on the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical benefits of digitally delivered Korean medicine interventions for HB will be provided. Conclusion: The findings will guide the design of future definitive randomized controlled trials and promote the broader integration of evidence-based digital therapeutics into Korean medicine practice.
