Background: Tenosynovitis of the long head of the biceps (LHB) brachii is a common disease in patients over 40 years old. It can always result in chronic anterior shoulder pain and limited function. Acupuncture is one of most popular conservative treatment methods, and increasing studies indicate that it has remarkable therapeutic effects on the tenosynovitis of LHB brachii. However, the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating tenosynovitis of LHB brachii remain largely uncertain. In our study, we will perform the first systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on the tenosynovitis of LHB brachii. Methods: We will search the randomized controlled trial (RCT) literatures involving acupuncture for treating tenosynovitis of LHB brachii in eight electric databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Database, and Technology Periodical Database (VIP). We will define the visual analog scale (VAS), the Melle score of shoulder joint functional activity, and the ability assessment of daily living activities (ADL) as the primary outcomes. Besides quality of life, adverse events caused by acupuncture will be regarded as the secondary outcomes. Quality assessment of the included studies will be independently performed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meanwhile, the level of evidence for results will be assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method. All analyses will be conducted by using the RevMan software V5.3. Results: From the study, we will ascertain the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment on tenosynovitis of LHB brachii. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study will confirm the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of tenosynovitis of LHB brachii, which can provide new evidence to guide appropriate interventions on tenosynovitis of LHB brachii with acupuncture in the future. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required because no individual patient data are collected. This review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at an international academic conference for dissemination. Trial registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42020167434. Registered on April 28, 2020.

Purpose: To map the knowledge structure of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) research from 2010 to 2024 and to identify emerging trends that are reshaping measurement, risk stratification, and intervention paradigms. Methods: Publications and reviews were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (downloaded April 27, 2025). We quantified output and impact (citations, citations per publication, H-index) and visualized collaboration and intellectual structure using CiteSpace and Bibliometric.com. Networks were interpreted using centrality (bridging influence), co-citation clustering (knowledge base), and keyword burst/cluster analyses (emerging trends). Results: A total of 4924 records were included, with accelerated growth after 2017 and peak output in 2024. The USA led in impact and network connectivity, while China showed rapid expansion in volume with lower per-paper influence. Co-citation mapping revealed a transition from instrumentation- and mechanism-oriented foundations toward contemporary fronts in conservative management, growth modulation, genetic susceptibility, and data-driven assessment. Keyword bursts highlighted recent momentum in gene expression, intraoperative navigation, and machine learning, consistent with a broader shift toward precision-oriented and less invasive, decision-supportive care pathways. Conclusion: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis research is undergoing a measurable thematic transition, in which emerging trends increasingly concentrate on quantification, prediction, and individualized management. These findings provide a field-level framework to prioritize multicenter collaboration, standardize outcomes, and accelerate translational evaluation of artificial intelligence–enabled assessment and risk models.

Bell’s palsy is a peripheral facial nerve neuropathy of the facial nerve of unknown origin that primarily causes unilateral facial muscle weakness or paresis. Electroacupuncture (EA) is used clinically to treat patients with Bell’s palsy in the post-acute phase; however, high-quality evidence supporting its effect remains insufficient. This study will investigate the effects of two commonly used EA pulse patterns and explore the electromyographic characteristics of Bell’s palsy using surface electromyography as an objective assessment method. A total of 111 patients with Bell’s palsy will be recruited from two hospitals and randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio to the sham EA, continuous-pulse EA or intermittent-pulse EA group. This patient- and assessor-blinded, parallel-group trial will include a 4-week treatment period, with assessments conducted at baseline (day 0), at the end of week 2 and at the end of week 4. An additional follow-up assessment will also be conducted at 6 months after the disease onset. The primary outcome will be the Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0 score. Secondary outcomes will include the root mean square ratio between the affected and unaffected sides, median frequency ratio between the affected and unaffected sides, Sunnybrook Grading Scale score and Facial Disability Index score. All adverse events during the trial will be evaluated. Recruitment has not started yet. Ethic approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (55) and the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (ZSLL-KY-2025-134). The findings of the study will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals. NCT07514117.