Efficacy of Acupuncture-Mesalazine Combination Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis.

Inclusion criteria

• documented diagnosis of UC；
• age 18-75 years, regardless of gender;
• mildly to moderately active UC, defined as a baseline total Mayo score between 3 and 10；
• willing to receive the complete protocol of intradermal thumbtack needle embedding therapy (12 sessions across three treatment courses)；
• Willing to undergo two colonoscopies (pre-treatment and post-treatment)；
• complete all baseline assessments;
• capable of understanding and voluntarily sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• diagnosed with or suspected to have other type of inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease;
• patients in clinical remission or with severe disease activity ( baseline total Mayo score \< 3, or \> 10 );
• having severe gastrointestinal complications or a recent surgical history, including but not limited to: short bowel syndrome, toxic megacolon, intestinal perforation, complete intestinal obstruction, active massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, or having undergone major abdominal or intestinal surgery within the past 6 months.
• patients unwilling to undergo colonoscopy;
• significant or unstable comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, or renal diseases);
• patients with malignant tumors (including but not limited to colorectal cancer);
• patients with a history of intradermal thumbtack needle embedding;
• pregnant or lactating women;
• patients with mental illness;
• patients with either coagulation disorders or skin conditions (such as diseases, infections, ulcers, scars, or tumors at the acupuncture sites) that would preclude acupuncture；
• strong needle phobia or unwillingness to receive acupuncture treatment;
• any other condition (e.g., geographical remoteness, history of poor adherence) that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the patient unsuitable for the study or likely to be non-compliant with the protocol.