Acupuncture-moxibustion therapy has been known to ameliorate the symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), although its mechanism remains unclear. The paper reviews the articles on acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for FGIDs in recent 5 years, and it is revealed that acupuncture-moxibustion therapy can alleviate FGIDs symptoms through regulating gastrointestinal motility, modulating visceral hypersensitivity, improving the impaired gastric-duodenal mucosal barrier and inflammation, balancing intestinal microbiota, and adjusting the gut-brain axis. Currently, the molecular mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy remains unknown for FGIDs, the specific disease target is not identified, and the interaction among various molecules is not elucidated adequately. The researches in the future should employ advanced technologies and methodologies to comprehensively and deeply explore and clarify the mechanism of acupuncture- moxibustion therapy for FGIDs.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/microbiology* ; Animals

Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase (PPAD), an isoenzyme of animal endogenous peptidylarginine deaminase, is secreted by the Por system and catalyzes the citrullination of arginine. Recent studies have found that PPAD can affect the formation of Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilm and reduce the body′s immune defense function, which is related to the occurrence and development of many diseases such as periodontal diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. In this paper, we reviewed the molecular characteristics of PPAD, including the genetic and functional characteristics, as well as the mechanisms related to the inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We also pointed some issues that should be pay attention to in the further study.