Acupuncture research increasingly involves heterogeneous and multimodal data that are difficult to analyze using conventional methods. This review summarizes data-driven approaches in acupuncture research within a framework encompassing intervention, response, and contextual data. We discuss causal inference, artificial intelligence, text mining, and integrative analysis, along with their applications in efficacy evaluation, outcome prediction, mechanistic investigation, and clinical decision support. These approaches shift the focus of acupuncture research from population-level average effects toward individualized clinical decision-making by enabling the analysis of treatment heterogeneity and underlying mechanisms. However, current research remains limited by inadequate data standardization, insufficient external validation, and limited model interpretability. Despite these challenges, data-driven approaches offer substantial promise for advancing more rigorous and personalized acupuncture research.

Natural products with vasodilatory properties are increasingly recognized for treating hypertension, angina, and heart failure owing to their efficacy, accessibility, and favorable safety profiles, rendering them viable therapeutic alternatives. Following a systematic search of the NCBI PubMed and CNKI databases, 227 natural compounds with potent vasodilatory activity were identified. This review delineates the vasodilatory effects of major phytochemical classes—specifically flavonoids, saponins, phenols, and alkaloids—and evaluates preclinical evidence supporting their therapeutic application. Furthermore, potential vasodilatory mechanisms are elucidated, encompassing endothelium-dependent regulation of smooth muscle tone, fluid homeostasis, oxidative stress mitigation, and antagonism of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. These mechanisms clarify the pharmacological basis of natural vasodilators, offering researchers and clinicians enhanced strategies for managing cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular sequela of diabetes mellitus. Chronic hyperglycemia contributes to progressive retinal microvascular damage, thereby increasing the risk of visual impairment and irreversible blindness. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has historically been effective against diabetes and related diseases such as retinopathy. It treats DR based on syndrome differentiation, with individualized regimens tailored to patients’ specific conditions and physical constitutions. This review discusses the pathogenesis of DR in modern medicine and TCM. It also summarizes four therapies for DR, including formulas, Chinese herbs, active components, and acupuncture. We systematically gathered and arranged the pertinent literature on DR from various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. We analyzed and summarized research advances in TCM for the treatment of DR. Moreover, the GSE60436 dataset was chosen to dissect the variations in gene expression and signaling pathways connected to DR, employing Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database. Bioinformatics studies have indicated a potential link between the development of DR and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) and advanced glycation end products (AGE)-receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) pathways. At the same time, we emphasized the cutting-edge targets and strategies for DR treatment interventions. TCM exhibits a distinctive therapeutic efficacy in preventing and treating ocular conditions and mitigating DR via various mechanisms and routes. According to the principle of holistic treatment based on syndrome differentiation in TCM, choosing appropriate TCM treatments has the advantage of improving the clinical efficacy and mitigating adverse effects of Western medications.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of the Ginseng and Rhubarb combination (GRC) on sepsis-induced persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS). Methods: The mouse model of sepsis-induced PICS was established using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Mice were randomly assigned to five groups: sham, model, model + GRC, model + GRC + oleic acid (OA), and model + GRC + celastrol (CELA). GRC was administered by oral gavage once daily for 7 days, whereas the agonists were injected intraperitoneally for 3 days. Additionally, KN-93 (a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II [CaMKII] inhibitor; 5 mg/kg) was used to verify the inhibitory regulation of CaMKII signaling. Seventy-two hours after surgery, serum and tissue samples were collected to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRC. Outcome measures included survival, body weight, splenic immune cell distribution, histopathology, inflammatory cytokine levels, and ferroptosis-related indicators. Targeted metabolomics and data-independent acquisition (DIA)–based proteomics were performed to identify differential molecules and pathways associated with GRC treatment. Results: Compared to the model group, GRC markedly improved the survival rate and mitigated body weight loss in septic PICS mice. GRC reduced splenic neutrophil and macrophage infiltration and increased the proportions of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Histopathological examination revealed attenuation of organ damage. Levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-13) were significantly decreased, and metabolic disturbances were ameliorated. Biochemical assays showed that GRC reduced Fe 2+ and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while increasing glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and GPX4, indicating inhibition of ferroptosis. Western blot (WB) analysis demonstrated that GRC downregulated the CaMKII/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway, and this regulatory effect was reversed by CaMKII and HO-1 agonists. Multi-omics analysis further revealed that GRC modulated metabolic and proteomic networks associated with immune regulation and ferroptosis, confirming that its therapeutic benefits were mediated through suppression of the CaMKII/HO-1/GPX4 axis. Conclusions: GRC exhibited significant anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and organ-protective effects in the murine model of sepsis-induced PICS. These benefits were mediated through the suppression of ferroptosis via modulation of the CaMKII/HO-1 pathway, providing a novel experimental foundation and a potential therapeutic strategy for managing sepsis-associated PICS.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a gut microbiota-derived metabolite that contributes to atherogenesis. Formononetin is an isoflavonoid compound that exhibits potential anti-atherogenic properties, but there are no reports of its role in mitigating atherosclerosis by modulating gut microbiota to reduce TMAO production. In this study, formononetin demonstrated anti-atherosclerotic effects by modulating the gut microbiota to reduce TMAO production. Methods: Eight-week-old male low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) −/− mice were fed on a high-fat diet to induce atherosclerosis. Oil Red O staining was used to assess whether formononetin attenuated atherosclerosis. Fecal transplantation was used to determine whether the anti-atherosclerotic effect of formononetin was mediated by modulation of the gut microbiota. Metagenomic sequencing of the mouse gut microbiota and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate whether formononetin reduced TMAO production by modulating gut microbiota. Results: Formononetin significantly reduced the plaque area in the entire aorta and aortic root and increased plaque stability. Fecal transplantation confirmed that the anti-atherosclerotic effect of formononetin was associated with modulation of the gut microbiota. Metagenomic sequencing of the mouse gut microbiota showed that formononetin reduced the relative abundance of Firmicutes, increased the relative abundance of bifidobacteria, and reduced serum TMAO levels. Moreover, formononetin reduced the expression of the cutC gene in the mouse gut microbiota. Conclusions: Formononetin reduced TMAO production by modulating the gut microbiota, thus contributing to its anti-atherosclerotic effects. Modulation of the gut microbiota to reduce TMAO production may represent one of the mechanisms by which formononetin mitigates atherosclerosis.

Objective: To explore the effects of astragalus injection (AI) in patients with diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI). Methods: First, to screen for effective chemical components of astragalus, we searched Traditional Chinese Medicines Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and Analysis Platform databases. We then predicted the corresponding potential target genes using Swiss Target Prediction, searched and filtered three disease databases to identify DCI targets, and constructed a drug-component-target-disease interaction network and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. The core targets and pathways of AI against DCI were predicted using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses. In vivo experiments demonstrated the efficacy of AI in alleviating diabetes-associated cognitive impairment, whereas in vitro studies verified its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant stress mechanisms. Finally, western blot analysis identified key regulatory proteins involved in inflammation and oxidative stress, proposing a potential mechanism by which AI mitigates DCI through modulation of these proteins. Results: We screened 25 active components of astragalus and 251 drug targets and obtained 220 common targets after intersecting 8,036 DCI targets. GO enrichment analysis showed that astragalus mainly treats DCI by regulating the response to external stimuli, lipopolysaccharide, hypoxia, and oxygen levels. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that it was mainly involved in cancer, calcium signaling, p53 signaling, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. Experimental results demonstrated that AI alleviates diabetes-associated cognitive impairment through dual mechanisms: activating the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein (Keap1)/nuclear factor-erythroid-derived related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to exert antioxidant effects, and inhibiting the TLR-4/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway to mitigate neuroinflammation, thereby improving cognitive dysfunction and hyperglycemia. Conclusions: Network pharmacology identified potential AI interventions for DCI, and experiments were conducted to confirm some of the major targets in the predictive signaling pathway. Our study offers new insights into the mechanisms of AI treatment for DCI.

Objective: This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for osteoarthritis and its influencing factors. It compared the effects of different types of acupuncture with sham acupuncture, as well as sham acupuncture with oral placebos, to elucidate the efficacy characteristics of acupuncture and provide quantitative data to support its use in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Methods: Randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for osteoarthritis were retrieved from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, and CNKI databases, including studies published up to October 31, 2025. Using time-course and covariate models, we quantitatively assessed the clinical efficacy and influencing factors of warm acupuncture, traditional acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and sham acupuncture. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore trends related to potential factors affecting acupuncture efficacy. Furthermore, the effects of sham acupuncture were compared with previously established oral placebo responses to evaluate whether sham acupuncture confers therapeutic benefits. Results: A total of 72 articles involving 4,919 participants were included. The findings indicated that warm acupuncture significantly outperformed sham acupuncture in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, WOMAC stiffness, and WOMAC function scores. Electroacupuncture and traditional acupuncture exhibited similar efficacy, with both treatments showing numerical improvements over sham acupuncture; however, these improvements were not statistically significant. Comparisons with oral placebo responses suggested that sham acupuncture was effective, with nonacupoint sham acupuncture slightly outperforming nonpenetrating sham acupuncture. Subgroup analyses indicated that higher baseline values of outcome measures, a lower proportion of female participants, shorter disease duration, and higher acupuncture frequency were associated with greater efficacy of acupuncture for osteoarthritis. Conclusion: This study establishes a time-course model for acupuncture in the treatment of osteoarthritis, clarifying its efficacy characteristics and clinical advantages while providing essential quantitative data for clinical practice and future trials.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk) Sacc. ( O. sinensis; Family: Clavicipitaceae; synonym: Cordyceps sinensis) is a fungus that is revered in ancient Tibetan folklore as a “miraculous species that becomes a worm in winter and a grass in summer” and renowned as the “elixir of life gifted” by the snow-capped region. Its evolutional awareness and utilization span both traditional Chinese medicine practices and modern biomedical research, rendering it a quintessential example of symbiotic entomo-fungal biological resource development. Extensive research on the biological characteristics, active constituents, pharmacological effects, and underlying mechanisms of O. sinensis has generated significant breakthroughs in recent years. From “heavenly elixir” to a vital tonic in imperial cuisine, and from its symbiotic life cycle to its current prominence in modern pharmacological research and clinical applications, this fungus has nurtured both the cultural legends and survival wisdom of the Plateau ancestors and reflected the long journey of contemporary scientific exploration and industrialization. This review traces the journey of O. sinensis from traditional empirical applications to scientific validation, focusing on its biological characteristics, extraction and separation techniques for key bioactive constituents, and its pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms in antitumor activity, immunomodulation, renoprotection, antioxidant properties, and anti-aging effects, and summarizes the current status of its clinical applications. Furthermore, this review examines the challenges confronting current research on O. sinensis, including resource conservation and sustainable utilization, quality control and standardization, differences between artificially cultivated and wild-harvested specimens, further elucidating its mechanisms of action and outlining prospects for future research directions.