Acupoint catgut-embedding therapy ameliorates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice by regulating Th2 type immune response and reducing infiltration of CD4^(+)and CD8^(+)cells

Background:This study aimed to assess how acupoint catgut-embedding therapy influences Th2-type immune response and the infiltration of CD4^(+)and CD8^(+)cells in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice.It also conducted an initial examination of the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods:Seventy-two mice were randomly divided into four groups:normal control,DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis model(AD),AD with acupoint catgut-embedding treatment(ADA),and AD with sham-acupoint catgut-embedding treatment.After DNCB challenge to induce AD,the ADA group received acupoint catgut-embedding therapy treatment at Zusanli(ST 36)and Quchi(LI 11)acupoints every other week from day 8.Mice in the AD with sham-acupoint catgut-embedding treatment group underwent the same procedure as the ADA group but without catgut implantation.Severity was assessed using SCORAD on treatment days 1,10,and 20.On day 18,nine mice per group were euthanized,and the remaining on day 28.Histopathological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemistry staining.TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6,and IL-13 levels were analyzed by ELISA,and GATA3 and STAT6 protein levels by western blot.Results:After 20 days of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy treatment,mice showed reduced dermatitis scores compared to DNCB-induced AD-like mice.Significant decreases occurred in serum IL-4,IL-6,IL-13,and TNF-αlevels.Skin analysis revealed marked reductions in CD4^(+)and CD8^(+)cell infiltration,as well as GATA3 and STAT6 protein levels.Conclusion:Acupoint catgut-embedding therapy may effectively alleviate atopic dermatitis by suppressing Th2 immune responses via the STAT6-GATA3 pathway and reducing CD4^(+)and CD8^(+)T cell infiltration in skin lesions.

AN OBSERVATION ON THE CURATIVE EFFECT OF CATGUT-EMBEDDING AT ACUPOINTS FOR TREATMENT OF 80 CASES OF LUMBAR MUSCLE STRAIN

In the present paper,the clinical curative effects of catgut embedding therapyand traditional acupuncture therapy for treatment of lumbar muscle strain were compared.The sameacupoints were used in both groups.Results showed that the effective rates were 100% and 92.5%respectively in 80 cases of the catgut embedding group and 40 cases of the acupuncture group.Therewas a significant difference between the two groups(P【0.005).It indicates that the catgut embed-ding therapy is an effective method for treatment of lumbar muscle strain.

Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy With Catgut-Embedding in Acupoints

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Effect of Acupoint Catgut-Embedding on the Quality of Life,Reproductive Endocrine and Bone Metabolism of Postmenopausal Women

Objective： To observe the influence of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy on the quality of life （QOL）,the reproductive endocrine and bone metabolism of postmenopausal women.Methods：AA ttoottaall of 65 women with climacteric syndrome were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups,thirty-three in the treatment group on whom acupoint catgut-embedding was performed with Shenshu （BL23）,Sanyinjiao （SP6） and Guanyuan （CV4） as main acupoints,and thirty-two in the control group who were only medicated with Fufuchun Capsule （妇复春胶囊））..The treatment course for both groups was 3 months.Before and aafftteerr treatment,the clinical symptoms,the QOL score,serum follicle stimulating hormone （FSH）,luteinizing hormone （LH）,eessttrraaddiiooll （（EE 2 ）,testosterone （T）,osteocalcin （BGP）,parathyroid hormone （PTH）,,ccaallcciittoonniinn （CT） aaannnddd alkaline phosphatase （AKP） were measured.In addition,another 28 women with childbearing potential and normal regular menstrual cycle were selected and the reproductive endocrine hormone were tested in the ovulatory period as controls.Results： The levels of serum FSH and LH of postmenopausal women were higher,and serum E 2 and T were lower than those of normal women （P〈00..0011））..After treatment,the levels of serum EE 2 in both groups and T in the treatment group were increased,while in the control group the serum E 2 increase was more significant than that in the treatment group （P〈0.05）,and serum T showed no statistical difference.The levels of serum FSH,LH,BGP,CT,PTH and AKP were reduced significantly in both groups after treatment （P〈00..0055））..The QOL scores were increased remarkably in both groups on physiological functioning,bbooddiillyy pain,general health,vitality,and mental health after treatment （P〈00..0055））,,but the improvement of bodily ppaaiinn and mental health in the treatment group were better than those in the control group （P〈0.01）.There was no significant difference in the therapeutic effect between the two groups after treatment （P〉00..0055））..Conclusions： Acupoint catgut-embedding showed an obvious effect on climacteric syndrome,and enhanced the QOL in postmenopausal women.The therapy could regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to raise the serum E 2 level which may be significant in preventing and curing the osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.