Treatment based on meridian differentiation is a characteristic method in clinical acupuncture diagnosis and treatment. Accurately defining and explaining its main content and core concepts is essential for effective clinical guidance. This paper reviews the historical and contemporary understanding, concepts, and primary content of treatment based on meridian differentiation. It proposes a four-step process for clinical application: meridian examination, treatment based on meridian differentiation, acupoint selection, and appropriate treatment methods, with TCM syndrome differentiation applied throughout. Constructing a diagnostic and treatment system which is based on meridian differentiation and suited to clinical acupuncture is significant for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and maximizing the benefits of acupuncture in disease treatment.
Humans ; Meridians ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is the most malignant thyroid cancer with a low incidence but high mortality. ATC is highly aggressive, rapidly progressing, and has poor prognosis. Current treatment options is not efficacious, so there is an urgent need to investigate its pathogenesis to update the treatment and improve the survival rate. Previous studies have found that most ATC can develop from well-differentiated thyroid cancer, and BRAF and RAS mutations are the key driving factors of ATC. TP53, PI3K pathway, PTEN, TERT, SWI/SNF complex Subunit, NF2 and other mutations also play an important role in the occurrence of ATC. Recent studies have found that single gene mutation is often not sufficient to drive the occurrence of ATC, and ATC is usually developed from the accumulation of multiple mutations in well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Therefore, this paper reviews the role of common combined mutations in ATC, deepens the understanding of the pathogenesis, and provides a basis for finding effective therapeutic targets.

Hashimoto thyroiditis(HT) is a classic autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), characterized by diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, destruction of thyroid structure, and positive autoantibodies. The pathogenesis of HT is complex and related to genetic susceptibility, immune system disorders, and environmental factors. The imbalance of T helper cell 1 (Th1)/ T helper cell 2 (Th2) is traditionally believed to be the main mechanism of HT. However, recent studies have shown that T helper cell 17 (Th17) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of HT through non-coding RNA regulation, autophagy-related pathway regulation, the balance with regulatory T cell (Treg). These mechanisms can enhance the release of inflammatory factors and aggravate HT by stimulating the differentiation of Th17, the inflammatory environment of HT also further stimulates the differentiation of Th17 and amplifies the inflammatory response. The regulatory mechanisms of Th17 are complex and have not yet been fully studied. Therefore, this article reviews the related mechanism of Th17 in HT to provide insights for novel therapeutic targets.