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.

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.

Background: Peripheral sensitization mediated by the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4‐Calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (TRPV4‐CaMKII) signaling pathway plays a fundamental role in the generation and maintenance of neuropathic pain (NP). Tuina, a safe and effective therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, shows analgesic effects; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether Tuina alleviates pain by modulating the TRPV4‐CaMKII/CREB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Methods: The Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) model of the sciatic nerve was used to simulate clinical NP. Tuina was applied to the Yinmen (BL37), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Chengshan (BL57) acupoints once daily for 14 days. Mechanical Withdrawal Threshold (MWT) and Thermal Withdrawal Latency (TWL) were assessed to evaluate the analgesic effect of Tuina. Its protective effects on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were evaluated using Nissl staining. The whole‐cell patch clamp technique recorded excitability changes in DRG neurons and assess the effects of Tuina on peripheral sensitization. Western blot (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) helped detect changes in the TRPV4‐CaMKII/CREB/NLRP3 pathway and expression of inflammation‐related cytokines in DRG neurons. Results: Tuina significantly alleviated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in CCI rats and exerted a protective effect on DRG neurons. Patch clamp recordings showed that Tuina inhibited hyperexcitability in DRG neurons. Mechanistically, Tuina downregulated the expression of the TRPV4‐CaMKII/CREB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and reduced the secretion of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐18. Conclusion: The analgesic effect of Tuina in CCI rats is associated with reduced peripheral sensitization via modulation of the TRPV4‐calcium signaling cascade.

Tuina is a treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine which has analgesic effects and effectively alleviates the symptoms of neuropathic pain (NP). Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential ankyrin type 1 (TRPA1) play major roles in transmitting nociceptive sensory signals in the nociceptive primary sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) nerve. The nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate(cGMP) pathway exerts both nociceptive and antinociceptive effects in various chronic pain models. TRPV1 and TRPA1 mediate the influx of calcium, which stimulates the generation of NO. Subsequently, NO activates the NO/cGMP/protein kinase G (PKG) signaling pathway, thereby improving hyperalgesia. In the present study, oa rat model of NP with minor chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the right sciatic nerve of NP was established. The results of behavioral testing showed that, after a one‐time tuina intervention, the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were prolonged to varying degrees in the tuina group compared with the model group. Similarly, the expression of TRPV1, TRPA1, NO, soluble guanylate cyclase β (sGCβ), cGMP, and PKG1 was significantly decreased in the DRG of the tuina and tuina + TRPV1/TRPA1 antagonist group was significantly decreased. These findings suggest that the tuina intervention can effectively improve the symptoms of thermal and mechanical allodynia caused by peripheral nerve injuries. Tuina exerts immediate analgesic effects through the TRPV1/TRPA1‐NO‐cGMP‐PKG signaling pathway.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, poses significant global health challenges. Analyzing its burden across Group of Twenty (G20) nations helps identify region-specific priorities and guide health policy. This study aims to evaluate temporal trends in IBD incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across G20 countries from 1990 to 2021 and project future burdens through 2050. Data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study were analyzed. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) of IBD metrics were assessed by sex, region, and sociodemographic index. Temporal trends were quantified using annual percentage change, and predictive modeling was performed using autoregressive integrated moving average, exponential smoothing, and Bayesian age–period–cohort models, validated by root mean square error, mean absolute error, and R ² statistics. Between 1990 and 2021, G20 nations experienced declining ASRs for prevalence (48.02 → 44.88/100,000) and mortality (0.60 → 0.52/100,000) but rising incidence (4.22 → 4.45/100,000) and DALYs (17.79 → 18.07/100,000). Absolute cases and deaths nearly doubled. Females had higher prevalence and disability burden, whereas males exhibited higher incidence and mortality. Canada and Germany recorded the highest DALY rates. Projections to 2050 suggest continued growth in absolute burden but declining ASRs, largely driven by population aging and epidemiologic transition. Despite reductions in standardized rates, IBD’s absolute burden continues to increase among G20 countries. Persistent sex and regional disparities highlight the need for equitable, sociodemographic index-specific prevention, and management strategies.