As one of the conventional treatment methods, acupuncture is an indispensable component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Currently, acupuncture has been partly accepted throughout the world, but the mechanism of acupuncture is still unclear. Since the theory of the neuro-endocrine-immune network was put forward, new insights have been brought into the understanding of the mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have proven that acupuncture is a mechanical stimulus that can activate local cell functions and neuroreceptors. It also regulates the release of related biomolecules (peptide hormones, lipid hormones, neuromodulators and neurotransmitters, and other small and large biomolecules) in the microenvironment, where they can affect each other and further activate the neuroendocrine-immune network to achieve holistic regulation. Recently, growing efforts have been made in the research on the mechanism of acupuncture. Some researchers have transitioned from studying the mechanism of acupuncture as a single linear pathway to using systems approaches, including metabolomics, genomics, proteomics and biological pathway analysis. This review summarizes the research progress on the neuro-endocrine-immune network related mechanism of acupuncture and discusses its current challenges and future directions.

Dexmedetomidine is commonly used in small animal anesthesia for its potent sedative and analgesic properties; however, concerns regarding its cardiovascular effects prevent its full adoption into veterinary clinical practice. This meta-analysis was to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine on sedation, analgesia, cardiovascular and adverse reactions in dogs compared to other premedications. Following the study protocol based on the Cochrane Review Methods, thirteen studies were included in this meta-analysis ultimately, involving a total of 576 dogs. Dexmedetomidine administration probably improved in sedation and analgesia in comparison to acepromazine, ketamine and lidocaine (MD: 1.96, 95% CI: [−0.08, 4.00], p = 0.06; MD: −0.95, 95% CI: [−1.52, −0.37] p = 0.001; respectively). Hemodynamic outcomes showed that dogs probably experienced lower heart rate and higher systolic arterial blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure with dexmedetomidine at 30 min after premedication (MD: −13.25, 95% CI: [−19.67, −6.81], p < 0.0001; MD: 7.78, 95% CI: [1.83, 13.74], p = 0.01; MD: 8.32, 95% CI: [3.95, 12.70], p = 0.0002; respectively). The incidence of adverse effects was comparable between dexmedetomidine and other premedications (RR = 0.86, 95% CI [0.58, 1.29], p = 0.47). In summary, dexmedetomidine provides satisfactory sedative and analgesic effects, and its safety is proved despite its significant hemodynamic effects as part of balanced anesthesia of dogs.

Curcumin is a natural acidic polyphenol extracted from turmeric with a wide range of biological and pharmacological effects. However, the application of curcumin for animal production and human life is limited by a low oral bioavailability. In this study, natural curcumin was prepared for the curcumin β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (CUR-β-CD), curcumin solid dispersion (CUR-PEG-6000), and curcumin phospholipid complex (CUR-HSPC) using co-precipitation, melting, and solvent methods, respectively. Curcumin complex formations were monitored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques via the shifts in the microscopic structure, molecular structure, and crystalline state. Subsequently, twenty-four female beagle dogs were randomly divided into four groups to receive unmodified curcumin and three other curcumin preparations. The validated UPLC–MS assay was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of curcumin in beagle dog plasma, which were collected after dosing at 0 min (predose), 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 40 min, 50 min, 1.5 h, 3 h, 4.5 h, 5.5 h, 6 h, 6.5 h, 9 h, and 24 h. The relative bioavailabilities of CUR-β-CD, CUR-PEG-6000, and CUR-HSPC were 231.94%, 272.37%, and 196.42%, respectively. This confirmed that CUR-β-CD, CUR-HSPC, and especially CUR-PEG-6000 could effectively improve the bioavailability of curcumin.

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is a prevalent oral affliction in canines, with limited therapeutic options available. The potential transmission of oral bacteria from canines to humans through inter-species contact poses a risk of zoonotic infection. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the principal catechin in green tea polyphenols, exhibits antibacterial properties effective against human PD. Given the clinical parallels between canine and human PD, this study explores the feasibility of employing EGCG as a therapeutic agent for canine PD.Methods and results: Initially, a survey and statistical analysis of bacterial infection data related to canine PD in China were conducted. Subsequently, the primary pathogenic bacteria of canine PD were isolated and cultivated, and the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of EGCG was assessed. Furthermore, verify the therapeutic effect of EGCG on a mouse PD model in vivo. The high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified Porphyromonas, Fusobacterium, Treponema, Moraxella, and Capnocytophaga as the genera that distinguishing PD from healthy canines’ gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples in China. The anaerobic culture and drug susceptibility testing isolated a total of 92 clinical strains, representing 22 species, from 72 canine GCF samples, including Porphyromonas gulae, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas macacae, etc. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging of EGCG was from 0.019 to 1.25 mg/mL. Following a 7 days oral mucosal administration of medium-dose EGCG (0.625 mg/mL), the abundance of periodontal microorganisms in PD mice significantly decreased. This intervention ameliorated alveolar bone loss, reducing the average cementoenamel junction to the alveolar bone crest (CEJ-ABC) distance from 0.306 mm ± 0.050 mm to 0.161 mm ± 0.026 mm. Additionally, EGCG (0.3125 mg/mL) markedly down-regulated the expression of inflammatory factor IL-6 in the serum of PD mice.Conclusion: Our research demonstrates the significant antibacterial effects of EGCG against the prevalent bacterium P. gulae in canine PD. Moreover, EGCG exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and proves effective in addressing bone loss in a PD mouse model. These findings collectively suggest the therapeutic potential of EGCG in the treatment of canine PD. The outcomes of this study contribute valuable data, laying the foundation for further exploration and screening of alternative antibiotic drugs to advance the management of canine PD.

Porphyromonas gulae is a clinically prevalent, anaerobic, oral bacteria in canines, that may be a causative agent of canine periodontal disease, and a potential threat to human oral health. Research on P. gulae pathogenicity in canines, their owners, and veterinarians is lacking in China. This study aimed to determine the isolation and detection rates of P. gulae in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples from 101 canines in Beijing, using anaerobic culture techniques and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The main risk factors for the transmission of P. gulae from canines to humans were also analyzed through analyzing the statistical data on risk factor variables from 103 canine owners and 60 veterinarians in Beijing who tested positive for P. gulae detection in GCF samples. The isolation and detection rates of P. gulae in canines were 31.5% (29/92) and 92.1% (93/101), respectively, compared with detection rates of 24.3% (25/103) in canine owners, 43.3% (26/60) in veterinarians, and 52.0% (13/25) in dentists. The degree of contact with canines (P = 0.001, P < 0.01) and smoking (P = 0.021, P < 0.05) were significant risk factors for P. gulae detection in owners. Moreover, the degree of contact during ultrasonic scaling (P = 0.065, 0.05 < P < 0.1) was the most important risk factor for the positive detection of P. gulae in veterinarians. These findings suggest that P. gulae may colonize the human oral cavity through intimate contact with canines or participation in dental ultrasonic scaling operations. Graphical Abstract

Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) is an endemic infectious disease in China, causing visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and resulting in important public health problem. However, in the last 3 y, endemic trends have changed considerably and spatial–temporal aggregation areas have shifted from northwestern to central China. Although Beijing was an endemic area for CanL in the last century, this disease has not been reported in Beijing since control programs were implemented in the 1950s. In the present study, PCR and immunochromatographic (ICT) were used to estimate prevalence of Leishmania infection in domestic dogs living in Beijing, a VL re -emergencearea. In total, 4420 canine blood samples were collected at vet clinics in 14 districts of Beijing. Overall prevalence (percentage of dogs seropositive and/or PCR positive) of CanL infection in Beijing was 1.22% (54/4420). However, prevalence of CanL in the western mountain areas was 4.68% (45/961), significantly higher than that (0.26%, 9/3459) of the plains. In addition, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of seven enzyme-coding genes was used to examine phylogenetic relationships of CanL strains. Forty-one Leishmania infantum isolates were well separated from the other strains and divided into five major clades (A to E) by MLST analysis. All clades were closely related to strains from Sichuan Province and Gansu Province. A phylogenetic tree, based on the MLST, revealed that L. infantum in Beijing was genetically related to strains from western endemic of Mountain type VL in China. In conclusion, CanL has re-emerged in Beijing, and almost 5% of dogs living in Beijing’s mountain areas were infected with L. infantum. The phylogenetic tree based on MLST effectively distinguished species of Leishmania and reflected geographical origins. Because dogs are considered a natural reservoir, comprehensive control measures including surveillance, phylogenetic analyses and management should be implemented to mitigate or eliminate Leishmaniasis.