Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40860972›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in neurology2025

Electroacupuncture enhances mesenchymal stem cell therapy via improved perfusion and inflammation modulation in peripheral nerve injury: an IVIM-MRI study in rats.

Junfeng Li, Qiuyi Chen, Jintong Pan, Fanqi Meng, Wensheng Huang, Yingying Liang, Xuewen Yu, Ruirui Qi, Peiyin Luo, Haodong Qin and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

12 authors.

Junfeng Li *Department of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Qiuyi Chen *Department of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Jintong PanDepartment of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Fanqi MengDepartment of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Wensheng HuangDepartment of Radiology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
Yingying LiangDepartment of Pathology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Xuewen YuDepartment of Pathology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Ruirui QiDepartment of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Peiyin LuoDepartment of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Haodong QinMR Research Collaboration, Siemens Healthineers, Shanghai, China.
Yueyao ChenDepartment of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Shenzhen, China.
Xiaofeng LinDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Stem cells are widely applied in peripheral nerve repair; however, their therapeutic potential is constrained by immune rejection, inflammatory responses, and a poor regenerative microenvironment. Therefore, reducing the inflammatory response, improving the regenerative environment and dynamically monitoring these processes by imaging techniques are critical. This study examined the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on acute sciatic nerve injury in rats. By employing intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI, the study monitored perfusion and explored how EA improves the regenerative environment to optimize stem cell transplantation outcomes. Methods: Seventy-two rats were randomly assigned to four groups: EA, EA + BMSCs, BMSCs, and PBS. EA was applied at GB30 and ST36. IVIM-MRI (perfusion fraction f), T2WI, histological staining, immunostaining (CD31, IL-1α, IL-10, PPARγ), and SFI were used to evaluate treatment effects. Results: At 2-4 weeks, the nerve perfusion fraction f in the EA group recovered faster than in the BMSCs group ( Conclusion: EA is more effective than BMSCs alone in promoting nerve repair, enhancing blood flow, and reducing inflammation. Moreover, EA enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of BMSCs. The perfusion fraction (f) is a sensitive biomarker for evaluating nerve repair and perfusion restoration.

Indexed as

electroacupuncturemagnetic resonance imagingmesenchymal stem cellsmicrocirculationnerve regenerationperipheral nerve injuries

Identifiers

PMID40860972
PMCPMC12372622

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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 Socratic graph.