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ArticleCombinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening2025

Tuina Inhibits Chondrocyte Apoptosis by Regulating the FAK/PI3K/Akt Pathway in Rabbits with IVDD.

Jiayi Liu, Tong Liu, Xin Qian, Dongyang Ma, Lili Chen, Ailin Li, Xurong Liang, Zhe Hu, Chenxi Qi, Wei Qi

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Article in Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jiayi LiuDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.ORCID 0009-0002-6352-8112
Tong LiuDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Xin QianTuina Department, Shenzhen TCM Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Dongyang MaDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Lili ChenDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Ailin LiDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Xurong LiangDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.
Zhe HuTuina Department, Shaoxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Zhejiang, China.
Chenxi QiDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Liaoning University Of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China.
Wei QiTraditional Chinese Medicine Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Shenzhen Baoan Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Funding

Jilin Provincial Natural Science Fund 20210101193JCNational Natural Science Foundation of China 82074575
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), a key contributor to degenerative spinal diseases such as cervical spondylosis, significantly influences the quality of life of patients. Tuina, historically employed in the clinical management of cervical spondylosis, has demonstrated positive therapeutic outcomes; however, the mechanism of Tuina remains unclear.

objectiveThis study examined the efficacy of Tuina in correcting the imbalanced structure of the cervical spine and its impact on apoptotic chondrocytes within the cervical disc. The underlying mechanisms were explored using a rabbit model of IVDD induced by dynamic and static imbalances.

methodsThe IVDD rabbit model was established by restraining the head in a downward position for 12 weeks (Model group). In the Tuina1 group, treatment was performed on the posterior cervical trapezius muscle daily for 2 weeks, whereas in the Tuina2 group, treatment was performed on both the posterior cervical trapezius and anterior sternocleidomastoid muscles daily for 2 weeks. After treatment, X-ray, micro-computed tomography (CT), histological staining, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were used to evaluate the mechanism by which Tuina inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis.

resultsThe results demonstrated that Tuina treatment inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis in cervical discs by adjusting the neck structure balance, and a more significant therapeutic effect was observed in the Tuina2 group. Lateral cervical spine X-ray and CT scans in rabbits revealed notable improvements in cervical spine curvature and vertebral structure in the treatment groups compared with those in the Model group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TUNEL staining further confirmed the positive impact of Tuina treatment on intervertebral disc tissue morphology and chondrocyte apoptosis. Additionally, western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis showed that Tuina treatment suppressed chondrocyte apoptosis by downregulating Bax and caspase-3 while upregulating Bcl-2. Western blotting results further indicated that Tuina could activate the FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by mediating integrin-β1.

conclusionTuina treatment inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis in cervical discs by activating the FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, providing convincing evidence to support Tuina treatment as a promising method for IVDD.

Indexed as

ApoptosisChondrocytesIntervertebral Disc DegenerationAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFocal Adhesion Kinase 1MalePhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktRabbitsSignal TransductionFocal Adhesion Kinase 1Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktcervical discs.chondrocyte apoptosisFAK/PI3K/Akt pathwayintervertebral disc degenerationTuina treatment

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.