Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40019598›Full record

Trial reportClinical rheumatology2025

Electroacupuncture for juvenile idiopathic arthritis: clinical efficacy and its role in modulating pyroptosis and autophagy pathways.

Fater A Khadour, Younes A Khadour, Tao Xu

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Clinical rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Pediatric Acupuncture Safety: A Scoping Review.Global advances in integrative medicine and health
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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

3 authors.

Fater A KhadourDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Qiaokou District, 1095#, Jie-Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6049-0687
Younes A KhadourDepartment of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baath University, Homs, Syria.
Tao XuDepartment of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Qiaokou District, 1095#, Jie-Fang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China. xutao@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a common chronic inflammatory disorder in children, leading to significant physical and psychosocial challenges. Current treatments often fall short, prompting interest in complementary therapies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) on clinical outcomes in children with JIA, focusing on its impact on the pyroptosis pathway and autophagy function.

methodsA randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from 7 November 2023 to 12 January 2025. A total of 106 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to receive EA or sham acupuncture (SA) for 8 weeks. Clinical assessments, including functional ability, pain scores, and quality of life, were measured at baseline, week 4, week 8, month 3, and month 6. Serum levels of pyroptosis-related proteins and autophagy markers were analyzed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

resultsThe EA group showed significant improvements in functional ability and pain scores compared to the SA group at both week 4 and week 8. Notable reductions in serum levels of pyroptosis markers (caspase-1, GSDMD, NLRP3) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18) were observed in the EA group. Additionally, autophagy markers (LC3, Becline1) significantly decreased after EA treatment, suggesting enhanced autophagic activity.

conclusionThis study demonstrates that electroacupuncture is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for improving function and reducing pain in children with JIA. The observed biological changes indicate potential anti-inflammatory effects, supporting EA's role in comprehensive JIA management. Future research should explore long-term outcomes and mechanisms for these findings further. Key Points • The study demonstrates that electroacupuncture (EA) significantly improves functional ability and pain scores in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to sham acupuncture. • EA treatment led to notable reductions in serum levels of pyroptosis-related proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, indicating its potential role in modulating inflammatory pathways. • The research observed significant changes in autophagy markers post-EA treatment, suggesting that EA may enhance autophagic function in children with JIA. • EA is presented as a safe adjunctive therapy for JIA management, with implications for further research into its long-term effects and underlying mechanisms.

Indexed as

Arthritis, JuvenileAutophagyElectroacupuncturePyroptosisAdolescentBiomarkersChildChild, PreschoolCytokinesFemaleHumansMaleQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeBiomarkersCytokinesAutophagyComplementary therapyElectroacupunctureInflammationJuvenile idiopathic arthritisPyroptosis

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.