Electroacupuncture improves microcirculation and neuronal morphology in the spinal cord of a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion

Most studies on spinal cord neuronal injury have focused on spinal cord tissue histology and the expression of nerve cell damage and repair-related genes. The importance of the microcirculation is often ignored in spinal cord injury and repair research. Therefore, in this study, we established a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion by inserting a silica gel pad into the left ventral sur-face of T13. Electroacupuncture was used to stimulate the bilateralZusanlipoint （ST36） and Neiting point （ST44） for 14 days. Compared with control animals, blood lfow in the ifrst lumbar vertebra （L1） was noticeably increased in rats given electroacupuncture. Microvessel density in the T13 segment of the spinal cord was increased significantly as well. The number of normal neurons was higher in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In addition, vacuolation in the white matter was lessened. No obvious glial cell proliferation was visible. Furthermore, hindlimb motor function was improved signiifcantly. Collectively, our results suggest that electroacupuncture can improve neuronal morphology and microcirculation, and promote the recovery of neurological functions in a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion.

Green's functions of two-dimensional piezoelectric quasicrystal in half-space and bimaterials

In this paper,we obtain Green’s functions of two-dimensional(2D)piezoelectric quasicrystal(PQC)in half-space and bimaterials.Based on the elastic theory of QCs,the Stroh formalism is used to derive the general solutions of displacements and stresses.Then,we obtain the analytical solutions of half-space and bimaterial Green’s functions.Besides,the interfacial Green’s function for bimaterials is also obtained in the analytical form.Before numerical studies,a comparative study is carried out to validate the present solutions.Typical numerical examples are performed to investigate the effects of multi-physics loadings such as the line force,the line dislocation,the line charge,and the phason line force.As a result,the coupling effect among the phonon field,the phason field,and the electric field is prominent,and the butterfly-shaped contours are characteristic in 2D PQCs.In addition,the changes of material parameters cause variations in physical quantities to a certain degree.

Fundamental solutions of critical wedge angles for one-dimensional piezoelectric quasicrystal wedge

Two problems of a one-dimensional(1D)piezoelectric quasicrystal(QC)wedge are investigated,i.e.,the two sides of the wedge subject to uniform tractions and the wedge apex subject to the concentrated force.By virtue of the Stroh formalism and Barnett-Lothe matrices,the analytical expressions of the displacements and stresses are derived,and the generalized solutions for the critical wedge angles are discussed.Numerical examples are given to present the mechanical behaviors of the wedge in each field.The results indicate that the effects of the uniform tractions and the concentrated force on the phonon field displacement are larger than those on the phason field.

Effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 Babu Agent on the Amplitude of Microvascular Vasomotion

[Objectives] To study the effects of ginsenoside Rbl Babu agent on the amplitude of microvascular vasomotion. [Methods]The in vitro transdermal permeation of ginsenoside Rbl Babu agent was performed by using intelligent transdermal apparatus,and the percutaneous fluid was collected and analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography( HPLC). The Babu agent was stuck on the skin of acupoint area,determined by Laser Doppler Flowmeter,and amplitude of microvascular vasomotion of acupoint area was recorded. [Results] With the extension of transdermal time,the cumulative permeation rate of ginsenoside Rbl increased. The amplitude of microvascular vasomotion could be significantly increased with the application of ginsenoside Rbl Babu agent( P < 0. 01). [Conclusions]The drug delivery system of ginsenoside Rbl Babu agent can release the drug into the acupoint,increase the amplitude of microvascular vasomotion,and achieve the effect of acupuncture. Therefore,ginsenoside Rbl Babu agent can replace the acupuncture clinically to treat diseases.

Capillary blood flow in patients with dysmenorrhea treated with acupuncture

OBJECTIVE: To observe capillary blood flow at acupoints during acupuncture treatment of primary dysmenorrhea and gain new insights into its analgesic mechanism. METHODS: Patients with primary dysmenorrhea were enrolled and randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Subjects' symptoms were differentiated into variousTraditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) syndromes and treated for 10 sessions with puncturing acupuncture or self-pressing right-hand Hegu(LI 4), adding other acupoints based on syndrome. Laser speckle was used to compare the change in the vasomotor amplitude and perfusion of the capillaries in Hegu(LI 4) before and during the treatment. Each subject was required to finish the period pain symptoms observation form, verbal rating scales, numerical rating scale, pain rating index, face rating scale, Zung self-rating depression scale, Zung self-rating anxiety scale, and numerical rating scale before and after treatments. RESULTS: After 10 sessions, the symptom scores, pain index(PI), and visual analog scale(VAS) decreased significantly in treatment group. The volume of blood flow in Hegu(LI 4) declined slightly. No significant evidence supported that needling caused capillary contraction, but the capillary vasomotor amplitude at Hegu(LI 4) increased remarkably. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can increase the capillary blood flow, thus promoting the flow of Qi and blood in terms of TCM theory, which facilitates pain relief.

Singularities of Three-Dimensional Cubic Piezoelectric Quasicrystal Composite Wedges and Spaces

In this paper,the planar problems of three-dimensional(3D)cubic piezoelectric quasicrystal composite wedges and spaces are investigated.The study focuses on the singular behaviors of interface corner and interface crack of composite wedges and spaces.To research the stress singularities,the stress function is assumed to have the exponential form.Based on the Stroh formalism and Barnett–Lothe matrices,we derive a crucial matrix concerned with material properties and wedge angle and obtain the transcendental equation determining the singular orders by simple multiplication of the crucial matrix.Numerical examples of the singular orders are given for some general cases including single,bi-material,and tri-material wedges and spaces under different boundary conditions.The correctness of numerical results is verified by comparison with the existing results of piezoelectric material.Numerical results show that the phonon field,phason field,electric field,material properties,and boundary conditions have great influences on singularities.