Summary of the clinical and mechanism research progress of acupuncture intervention for atrial fibrillation in the past decade

Atrial fibrillation(AF)is one of the most common types of arrhythmia diagnosed in clinical practice.Due to its negative effects on people’s physical and mental health,it is necessary to prevent and treat AF.In recent years,there has been growing interest in exploring alternative treatments for patients with atrial fibrillation.Acupuncture,a traditional Chinese medicine practice,has gained attention as a potential means of intervention for AF.This essay aims to discuss the clinical and mechanism research progress made on acupuncture as an intervention for patients with AF in the past decade.

Comparison of the analgesic effects between electro-acupuncture and moxibustion with visceral hypersensitivity rats in irritable bowel syndrome

AIM To observe whether there are differences in the effects of electro-acupuncture(EA) and moxibustion(Mox) in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. METHODS EA at 1 m A and 3 m A and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ were applied to the Shangjuxu(ST37, bilateral) acupoints in model rats with visceral hypersensitivity. Responses of wide dynamic range neurons in dorsal horns of the spinal cord were observed through the extracellular recordings. Mast cells(MC) activity in the colons of rats were assessed, and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor(5-HT3R) and 5-HT4Rexpressions in the colons were measured.RESULTS Compared with normal control group, responses of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were increased in the EA at 1 m A and 3 m A groups(1 m A: 0.84 ± 0.74 vs 2.73 ± 0.65, P < 0.001; 3 m A: 1.91 ± 1.48 vs 6.44 ± 1.26, P < 0.001) and Mox at 43?℃ and 46?℃ groups(43?℃: 1.76 ± 0.81 vs 4.14 ± 1.83, P = 0.001; 46?℃: 5.19 ± 2.03 vs 7.91 ± 2.27, P = 0.01). MC degranulation rates and the expression of 5-HT, 5-HT3 R and 5-HT4 R in the colon of Mox 46?℃ group were decreased compared with model group(MC degranulation rates: 0.47 ± 0.56 vs 0.28 ± 0.78, P < 0.001; 5-HT: 1.42 ± 0.65 vs 7.38 ± 1.12, P < 0.001; 5-HT3R: 6.62 ± 0.77 vs 2.86 ± 0.88, P < 0.001; 5-HT4R: 4.62 ± 0.65 vs 2.22 ± 0.97, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The analgesic effects of Mox at 46?℃ are greater than those of Mox at 43?℃, EA 1 m A and EA 3 m A.

ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION TREATMENT OF HICCUP

From the conception of Traditional ChineseMedicine (TCM),pathogenic causes of hiccup(diaphragmatic spasm) are:(1) improper diet,such as ingestion of excessive cold and raw foods,resulting in failure of descent of the stomach-qi,and adverse rising of qi;(2) emotional disturban-

HOW TO TREAT SIMULTANEOUS OCCURRENCE OF COLD AND HEAT SYNDROMES WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION?

By simultaneous occurrences of cold and heat syndromes we mean the presence of cold-syndrome and heat-syndrome in the body of a same person such as heat-syndrome in the upper part with cold-syndrome in the lower part of the body or vice versa. In our acupuncture treatment, heat-clearing method and warming method are usually used

An Investigation of Moxibustion Treatment for Abscesses in the Song Dynasty:Focusing on the“Jiu Ai Tu”

Jiu Ai Tu(The Moxa Treatment)from the Song dynasty is the earliest surviving painting that focuses on the subject of acupuncture and moxibustion.This paper takes the medical activities depicted in the artwork as its research object and systematically analyzes the external treatment methods for abscesses during the Song dynasty reflected in Jiu Ai Tu.By examining the understanding of abscesses during that period,the paper explores the level of development in external medicine techniques.By analyzing the medical awareness and behaviors of patients when facing such severe illnesses,it aims to explore the societal cognition and experiences regarding health and disease.The paper attempts to present the folk medical ecology of the Song dynasty represented by Jiu Ai Tu.

Curved Spine:The Shape of Spine in Taoist Body Diagrams and Its Influence on Medical Body Diagrams

From the early Taoist diagrams of the human body to the end of the Qing dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China,Taoists exaggerated and deformed the human spine in a shape-shifting manner.It is likely that medical practitioners were influenced by this style of representation,and there are also numerous diagrams of the human body with the curved spine in the lateral-view diagrams of viscera and Ming Tang Tu(明堂图Acupuncture and Moxibustion Chart),which constantly show the human torso in an elliptical“egg shape”.No later than the Ming dynasty,medical practitioners began to depict the actual physiological spinal curve of the human body.By the Qing dynasty,the depiction of the spinal curve in medical diagrams of the human figure showed a tendency to part ways with the Taoist freehand style of the previous generation.Although the representation of the curve of the spine was very crude,later medical images of the human body at least gradually straightened the spine and no longer depicted it in a shape-shifting manner.However,the curved spine in Taoist diagrams of the human body continued to exist,and the presentation of the curved spine never changed.This way of depicting its appearance,which is very different from reality,is shaped by Taoism's special way of perceiving and viewing the body,and may also contain another form of truth.

Acupuncture improves dendritic structure and spatial learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's disease mice

Acupuncture can improve the cognitive state of Alzheimer＇s disease, but its mechanism is not clear. Dendritic atrophy and synaptic loss in Alzheimer＇s disease brain are positively correlated with cognitive damage. Therefore, we speculated that the effect of acupuncture on improving cognitive function may be associated with reduced dendritic damage in the brain. Acupuncture at Qihai（CV6）, Zhongwan（CV12）, Danzhong（CV17）, bilateral Zusanli（ST36）, and bilateral Xuehai（SP10） acupoints was performed once a day（1-day rest after 6-day treatment） for 14 consecutive days. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8（SAMP8） mice without acupuncture and senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1（SAMR1） mice were used as normal controls. After 14 days of treatment, spatial learning and memory ability of mice was assessed in each group using the Morris water maze. Dendritic changes of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region were analyzed by quantitative Golgi staining. Our results showed that acupuncture shortened escape latency and lengthened retention time of the former platform quadrant in SAMP8 mice. Further, SAMP8 mice exhibited a significant increase in the number of apical and basal dendritic branches and total length of apical and basal dendrites after acupuncture. These results suggest that acupuncture improves spatial learning and memory ability of middle-aged SAMP8 mice by ameliorating dendritic structure.Acupuncture can improve the cognitive state of Alzheimer＇s disease, but its mechanism is not clear. Dendritic atrophy and synaptic loss in Alzheimer＇s disease brain are positively correlated with cognitive damage. Therefore, we speculated that the effect of acupuncture on im- proving cognitive function may be associated with reduced dendritic damage in the brain. Acupuncture at Qihai （CV6）, Zhongwan （CV 12）, Danzhong （CV17）, bilateral Zusanli （ST36）, and bilateral Xuehai （SP10） acupoints was performed once a day （1-day rest after 6-day treat- ment） for 14 consecutive days. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 （SAMP8） mice without acupuncture and senescence-accelerated mouse resistant 1 （SAMR1） mice were used as normal controls. After 14 days of treatment, spatial learning and memory ability of mice was assessed in each group using the Morris water maze. Dendritic changes of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region were analyzed by quantitative Golgi staining. Our results showed that acupuncture shortened escape latency and lengthened retention time of the former platform quadrant in SAMP8 mice. Further, SAMP8 mice exhibited a significant increase in the number of apical and basal dendritic branches and total length of apical and basal dendrites after acupuncture. These results suggest that acupuncture improves spatial learning and memory ability of middle-aged SAMP8 mice by ameliorating dendritic structure.

Electroacupuncture at ST25 inhibits jejunal motility:Role ofsympathetic pathways and TRPV1

AIM: To investigate whether electroacupuncture(EA) at ST25 affects jejunal motility in vivo and if so, whether a sympathetic pathway is involved.METHODS: Jejunal motility was assessed using a manometric balloon placed in the jejunum approximately about 3-5 cm away from the suspensory ligament of the duodenum in anesthetized animals. The effects of EA at ST25 were measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats, some of which were treated with propranolol or clenbuterol(EA intensities: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 m A), and in male transient receptor potential vanilloid-1(TRPV1)(capsaicin receptor) knockout mice(EA intensities: 1, 2, and 4 m A).RESULTS: Anesthetized rats exhibited three types of fasting jejunal motor patterns(types A, B, and C), and only type C rats responded to EA stimulation. In type C rats, EA at ST25 significantly suppressed the motor activity of the jejunum in an intensity-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of EA was weakened by propranolol(β adrenoceptor antagonist) and disappeared with clenbuterol(β adrenoceptor agonist) induced inhibition of motility, suggesting that the effect of EA on motility is mediated via a sympathetic pathway. Compared with wild-type mice, EA at ST25 was less effective in TRPV1 knockout mice, suggesting that this multi-modal sensor channel participates in the mechanism. CONCLUSION: EA at ST25 was found to inhibit jejunal motility in an intensity-dependent manner, via a mechanism in which sympathetic nerves and TRPV1 receptors play an important role.

Effects of injection of anti-corticotropin release hormone serum in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture analgesia on pain threshold in rats with adjuvant arthritis

Rat models of adjuvant arthritis were established, and anti-corticotropin release hormone serum injection in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture at right Jiaji （EX-B2） were performed. The pain threshold was decreased at 45 and 60 minutes after injection of the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. Electroacupuncture at Jiaji can resist this effect. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the expression of corticotropin release hormone in the hypothalamic paraventdcular nucleus was greater in the electroacupuncture ＋ anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group compared with the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group. The expression of corticotropin release hormone was correlated with the pain threshold. The effect of endogenous corticotropin release hormone in pain modulation can be obstructed by anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesia of electroacupuncture can partially resist the depressed pain threshold caused by injection of anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesic effect of electroacupuncture is associated with the corticotropin release hormone content in the hypothalamus.

Integration of traditional,complementary,and alternative medicine with modern biomedicine:the scientization,evidence,and challenges for integration of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional medicine has garnered significant global recognition,with an estimated 80%of the global population using it.Therefore,it is essential to fully understand the integration of traditional medicines into current healthcare systems.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the standard process to modernize traditional medicine scientifically in the context of modern biomedicine,further termed here as“scientization”.Specifically,we aim to summarize the advancements made in understanding the efficacy,effectiveness,and underlying mechanisms of herbal medicine.We also examined the transition from experience-to evidence-based medicine during acupuncture.Furthermore,we explore the development of universal safety and quality control standards.Finally,we discuss international trade and export markets for Chinese medical products.The development and integration of traditional medicine have allowed it to further improve human health,resulting in a more comprehensive health solution for the global population.

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION,MICROCIRCULATION,BLOOD RHEOLOGY AND CYCLICNUCLEOTIDES IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustionof China Academy of TCM in cooperation withBeijing No.4 Hospital in 1981-1982 and BeijingNo.6 Hospital in 1984-1986,using left ventricularfunction,microcirculation,blood rheology andcAMP and cGMP as indexes,observed 91 in-patients with acute myocardial infarction。

RELATION BETWEEN THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF MOXIBUSTION IN TREATING ARTHRALGIA AND SP AND ENKEPHALIN IN NERVOUS TISSUES

Moxibustion can accelerate the relief of arthralgisof rats suffering from adjuvant arthritis.At the sametime,it promotes the recovery of SP in the sciaticnerve,and maintains SP and leu-enkephalin at ahigher level in the lumbar spinal cord.The resultsshow that the therapeutic effect of moxibustion intreating arthralgia bears some relation to activatingthe spinal enkephalin system and modulating thefunction of primary afferent neurons.

TREATMENT OF ACUTE CEREBRO-VASCULAR DISEASES AND SEQUELAE WITH ACUPUNCTURE

Acute cerebro-vascular diseases orcerebro-vascular accidents are common dis-eases of the nervous system,including tran-sient cerebro-ischemic attacks,atherosclerotic cerebral infarction,cerebralembolism,hypertensive cerebropathy,subarachnoid hemorrhage,hypertensive cer-ebral hemorrhage,etc.

EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON PAIN THRESHOLD AND PLASMA CORTICOSTERONE LEVEL AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY

It is held by traditional Chinese medi-cine that human body is an organismadapting to the environment very well in thenature,and the circulation of“Qi”and“Blood”inside the human body is in har-mony with the outside world.The tradition-

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS BETWEEN THE CONVENTIONAL AND ELECTRICAL ACUPUNCTURE ON SOME CYTOCHEMICAL COMPONENTS OF MEDIAN EMINENTIA AND SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS

Owing to the significant effectiveness onmany indications treated by puncturing,acupunc-ture has been widely adopted as a medical treat-ment in Europe,American and Japan etc.Electro-acupuncture(E.A.)was applied for su-

STUDIES ON REDUCING AND REINFORCING MANIPULATION OF ACUPUNCTURE DURING THE PAST 4 YEARS (Continued)

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES1. Different effects on physiological in-dices were produced by the different mani-pulations of thrusting--lifting and rotating-twisting. By embedding a probe into theZhusanli point (St 36) of normal male rab-bits for observing the effect of different ma-nipulations, including retention of needle,thrusting--lifting, rapid twisting and slowtwisting on the movements and electricity ofstomach, Liu et al. found that: 1) all

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO

Case HistoryName: Xia; Sex: male, Age: 62; Occu-Pation: worker (retired); Date of first visit:May 27, 1985.Chief ComplaintsDizziness and vertigo with nausea for20 days. Since the afternoon of May 8

STUDIES ON REDUCING AND REINFORCING MANIPULATION OF ACUPUNCTURE DURING THE PAST 4 YEARS

Acupuncture manipulation, the pro-cesses from insertion to withdrawal of theneedle, is an important factor in upgradingtherapeutic effect, especially the manipula-tion of reducing and reinforcing when theneedling sensation is obtained. In 1986 LuShoukang et al. made a systemic summaryon acupuncture manipulation in their

Effect of electroacupuncture "Shenmen" on the expression of cAMP and cGMP in the myocardium, hippocampus and serum of rats with acute myocardial ischemia

Objective:Discussion on the protectiion of electroacupuncture"Shenmen"on heart and brain injury induced by acute myocardial ischemia in rats from the perspective of the expression of cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)and cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP).Methods:Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,and electroacupuncture group.The electrocardiogram was recorded by the Powerlab 8-lead physiological recording system.The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to replicate the rat myocardial ischemia model.The acupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture on the second day after the model was replicated.After the last electroacupuncture treatment,rat myocardium,hippocampus tissue and abdominal aortic blood were collected,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of cAMP and cGMP in myocardium,hippocampus tissue and serum content.Results:Compared with the normal group,the cAMP content in the myocardial tissue of the model group was significantly increased,and the cAMP content in the hippocampus tissue and serum was significantly reduced;compared with the model group,the cAMP content in the myocardial tissue of the electroacupuncture group was decreased,and the hippocampus tissue Compared with the normal group,the content of cGMP in the myocardial tissue and serum of the model group increased,and the content of cGMP in the hippocampus decreased.Compared with the model group,the content of cGMP in the hippocampus of the electroacupuncture group was increased.The cGMP content increased,the serum cGMP content was significantly reduced,and the difference in the cGMP content in myocardial tissue was not statistically significant.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at"Shenmen"acupoint can significantly improve the expression of cAMP,cGMP and myocardial cAMP in the serum and hippocampus of model rats with acute myocardial ischemia-induced heart and brain injury,but has a lower effect on myocardial cGMP content.

EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON DISCHARGES OF PAIN-REACTION NEURONS IN CAUDATE NUCLEUS AND PARAFACICULAR NUCLEUS IN RATS WITH CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE

Objective: To study the bidirectional adjustment effe ct of ele ctroacupuncture (E A) on the electrical activities of neurons in caudate nucleus (CN) and parafasci cular nucleus (PFN) in rats with acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH). Methods: ① 32 male Wistar rats were evenly randomize d into normal, EA+normal, model and model +EA groups for observing the effect of EA on pain reaction; ② another 40 male Wi star rats were equally randomized into control, saline, model and EA groups for comparing the effects of EA on discharges of pain-reaction neurons in CN and P FN . ACH model was established by intracerebral injection of the rat’s own arteria l blood sample (30μL) into CN and PFN. Pain reaction was tested by using tail -flicking (TF) reflex induced by radiation-heat irradiation. Extra-cellular d ischarges of neurons of CN and PFN were recorded by using glass micropipettes. E A (1 V, 15 Hz and duration of 10 min) was applied to "Baihui"(百会 GV 20) and "Taiyang" (太阳 EX-HN 5). Frequency of discharges of CN and PFN neurons was calculated be fore and after intracerebral injection of blood sample, heat nociceptive stimula tion and EA respectively. Results: Compared with con trol group and pre-EA in the same group, TF latency (TFL) values of normal rats increased significantly; compared w ith pre-injection of blood, TFL of model group also increased pronouncedly ( P<0.0 1). In comparison with model group, TFL values of EA group decreased significant ly (P<0.01), indicating that EA of GV 20 and EX-HN 5 could suppress ACH induced increase of TFL. In ACH rats, the latency of pain-excitement response of disch ar ges of CN and PFN neurons increased significantly, while the net increase values of pain-excitement response decreased significantly in model group (P< 0.05～0.01 ), the duration of pain-inhibitory response and the net decrease values of dis ch arges of CN and PFN neurons increased clearly. Comparison between model and EA groups showed that the latency values of the pain-excitement reaction of disch ar ges of CN and PFN neurons in EA group were significantly lower than those in mod el group (P<0.01), while the net increase values of discharges of CN and PFN neu rons in EA group were considerable higher than those in model group (P< 0.01); th e latency and net decrease values of pain-inhibitory CN and PFN neurons in EA gr oup were clearly lower than those in model group. It indicated that EA could pro l ong the latency of pain-excitatory reaction and shorten the duration of pain-i nhi bitory reactions of the neurons induced by cerebral hemorrhage and raise the exc itement degree of CN and PFN neurons. Conclusion: EA can reduce the excitability of pain-excitement neurons (PEN) and lower the inhibitory degree of pain -inhibitory neurons (PIN) in both CN and PFN, an d thus possesses a bidirectional regulation effect on cerebral hemorrhage-induced c hanges of the electrical activities of neurons in both CN and PFN.