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Tuina, as one of the characteristic external therapies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used to treat the disease caused by peripheral nerve injury (PNI) for thousands of years. An increasing number of clinical trials and animal experiments have demonstrated that tuina can improve the symptoms and promote the recovery of damaged nerves. This review focuses on the mechanistic studies of tuina in promoting the recovery of PNI, which might provide a neurobiological foundation for the effects of tuina. Although many mechanisms underlying the effects of tuina on nerve repair have been identified, there are still many unknown problems, such as the key substance or way for tuina to work, so further investigation is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective By observing the effects of "three methods and three points" tuina technique on the expression of interleukin-17F(IL-17F), interleukin-17 receptor C(IL-17RC), activator 1 of nuclear transcription factor-?B(Act1), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6) and M1 microglial cell expression in the spinal dorsal horn of rats with mild chronic compressive injury(minor CCI) model, we explored the immediate analgesic mechanism of tuina on peripheral neuropathic pain(pNP). Methods Thirty-six SD rats were divided into the sham group, the model group and the tuina group according to the random number method, twelve rats in each group, and the minor CCI model was replicated by ligating the right sciatic nerve. The rats in the tuina group were subjected to pointing, plucking and kneading at the BL37, BL57 and GB34 points on the affected side using a tuina simulator, while the sham group and the model group were only grasped and restrained, and were intervened for one time. The mechanical pain test and cold plate test were used to evaluate the response of rats to mechanical stimulation and cold stimulation after immediate intervention. The protein expression of IL-17F and TRAF6 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of IL-17F, IL-17RC, Act1 and TRAF6 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by real-time PCR. The average fluorescence intensity of M1 microglia in the spinal dorsal horn of rats in each group was detected by immunofluorescence. Results Behavioral results showed that before intervention, compared with the sham group, paw mechanical withdraw threshold(PMWT) decreased and cold sensitivity threshold(CST) increased in the model group and the tuina group; after tuina intervention, PMWT in the tuina group was increased, and CST was decreased compared with the model group; after intervention, PMWT in the tuina group was increased, while CST was decreased(P<0.05). RT-PCR results showed that compared with the sham group, mRNA expression levels of IL-17F, IL-17RC, TRAF6 and Act1 in the spinal dorsal horn of the model group were increased; compared with model group, the mRNA expression levels of above indexes in the tuina group were decreased(P<0.05). Western boltting results showed that compared with the sham group, the expression levels of IL-17F and TRAF6 protein in the spinal dorsal horn of the model group were increased; compared with the model group, the expression levels of IL-17F and TRAF6 protein in the tuina group decreased(P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results showed that the mean fluorescence intensity of CD40 in the spinal dorsal horn of model group was enhanced compared with the sham group; compared with the model group, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD40 in the tuina group was decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion The "three methods and three points" tuina technique can produce immediate analgesia by inhibiting the expression of IL-17F, IL-17RC, Act1, TRAF6 and the activation of M1 microglia in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord after one intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence and canceration rate. The immune disorder is one of the recognized mechanisms. Acupuncture is widely used to treat patients with IBD. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of IBD, and some progress has been made in the mechanism. In this paper, we reviewed the studies related to acupuncture for IBD and focused on the immunomodulatory mechanism. We found that acupuncture could regulate the innate and adaptive immunity of IBD patients in many ways. Acupuncture exerts innate immunomodulatory effects by regulating intestinal epithelial barrier, toll-like receptors, NLRP3 inflammasomes, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress and exerts adaptive immunomodulation by regulating the balance of Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 cells. In addition, acupuncture can also regulate intestinal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]