OBJECTIVE:To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of Asiaticoside (AC) against diabetic kidney disease (DKD) through network pharmacology combined with in vitro and in vivoexperiments. METHODS:Based on network pharmacology and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analyses, combined with molecular docking, the core targets and signaling pathways of AC in the treatment of DKD were predicted and screened. Subsequently, the therapeutic effect of AC on DKD was validated in db/db mice and SV40-MES-13 cells, and its molecular mechanism was evaluated. RESULTS:Network pharmacology and protein-protein interaction analyses identified 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD11B2) as a potential key target for AC treatment of DKD. Molecular docking indicated strong affinity between AC derivative and HSD11B2. RNA-Seq analysis showed that AC significantly regulated steroid metabolism under diabetic conditions. In db/db mice, AC reduced urinary protein excretion, improved renal morphology, and protected renal function. AC also dose-dependently inhibited excessive proliferation of SV40-MES-13 cells in a high-glucose environment. Further validation showed that AC upregulated Hsd11b2 mRNA expression and HSD11B2 protein levels. CONCLUSION:AC may alleviate DKD-related pathological processes by regulating Hsd11b2 gene expression and HSD11B2 protein levels.
OBJECTIVE:To develop a method for accurate identification and localization of facial acupoints based on geometric and topological relationships (GTRs) among facial key points and organ features. METHODS:A facial acupoint localization framework was constructed using the Google MediaPipe machine learning toolkit to extract 478 facial key points. Geometric and topological relationships between predefined acupoints and key facial landmarks were established. Based on these relationships, a rule-based mapping algorithm was designed to identify and localize facial acupoints. The method was applied to facial images collected from individuals undergoing acupuncture and physical therapy, and its localization performance was evaluated. RESULTS:The proposed method successfully identified and localized facial acupoints based on stable geometric and topological relationships. The approach demonstrated consistent performance across different facial structures, enabling accurate positioning of acupoints without the need for large-scale annotated datasets. The results indicate that the method is feasible and reliable for practical applications. CONCLUSION:The GTR-based approach provides an effective and efficient solution for facial acupoint identification and localization, reducing dependence on manual annotation and improving applicability in clinical and intelligent acupuncture systems.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the association between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in breast cancer survivors. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted among breast cancer patients at Guang'anmen Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China, during the period from April 9, 2023, to July 2, 2024. Data were collected on participants' common sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, scores on the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI), and TCM constitution classification. Statistical analyses employed independent samples t-test, χ 2 test, Fisher's exact test, one-way analysis of variance, Spearman's correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS:A total of 279 eligible breast cancer patients enrolled in this study. The most prevalent TCM constitutions were 'Qi-depression', 'Peaceful' and 'Yang-deficiency'. All nine TCM constitutions of breast cancer patients exhibited significant correlations with FCR scores. The strongest positive correlation was observed between 'Qi-stagnation' and FCR (r= 0.5576, P < 0.0001), followed by 'Qi-deficiency' (r = 0.4465, P < 0.0001). By contrast, the Peaceful correlation showed a significant negative correlation with FCR (r = －0.363, P < 0.0001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TCM constitution, lymph node metastasis, and endocrine therapy were influencing factors for FCR in breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with TCM constitution in breast cancer patients. After adjusting for potential confounding factors including age, disease stage, pathological type, immunohistochemical status, lymph node metastasis, disease duration, and treatment modality, FCR, disease stage, age, and surgical modality were found to be significantly associated with TCM constitution (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:This study demonstrates a significant association between TCM constitution and FCR in breast cancer patients, suggesting that FCR can potentially be interpreted within the theoretical framework of TCM. These findings thus provide a theoretical foundation for TCMC-informed management strategies targeting FCR in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine on chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in female patients. METHODS:Female patients with CPP treated with cheek acupuncture (CA) and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) from January 2018 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an observation group receiving CA combined with CHM and a control group receiving only CHM. Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the McCormack scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life assessment questionnaire. Prognostic differences were analyzed by comparing pain recurrence rates during follow-up. Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the VAS, the McCormack scale, and the SF-36 quality of life assessment questionnaire. Prognostic differences were analyzed by comparing pain recurrence rates during follow-up. RESULTS:A total of 255 patients with CPP were included, with 113 assigned to the observation group and 142 to the control group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, patients in the observation group showed significantly lower VAS scores and McCormack scale scores, as well as higher SF-36 scores, than the control group. Additionally, the treatment group had a lower recurrence rate during follow-up. CONCLUSION:The combination of CA therapy and CHM shows high safety and efficacy, and a low CPP recurrence rate in women.
Acupuncture, as a significant component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has attracted increased attention for its mechanism of controlling the physiological functions of the human body and promoting the recovery of diseases by stimulating specific acupoints. Despite its long history and wide clinical application, the mechanism of action of acupuncture is still not fully understood. More research needs to be done on how acupuncture affects molecular communication and cellular function. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles that rely on cellular multivesicular bodies (MVBs) fused with cell membranes to be released into the extracellular matrix. They are crucial for information transfer between cells and are currently a hot research topic in the world's cutting-edge life sciences. Previous research has demonstrated that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture may be related to stimulating certain cells to secrete exosomes, that exosomes released may contain "acupuncture information", and that manipulating the back-injection of exosomes to produces "acupuncture-like" effects. These findings suggest that exosomes could serve as a bridge between conventional acupuncture therapy and modern precision medicine. They also offer fresh prospects and difficulties for acupuncture translational medicine research. To better define the relationship between exosomes and acupuncture, we reviewed and systematized the literature on past studies related to exosomes and acupuncture. This paper provides a significant theoretical and experimental foundation for applying exosomes in precision medicine by summarizing and analyzing the relationship between acupuncture stimulation and exosome function. This is expected to promote the combination of traditional acupuncture therapy and modern biotechnology and bring innovation and progress to future medical practice.
