针刺对海洛因成瘾戒断大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺系统的影响

目的研究旨在观察针刺对海洛因成瘾戒断大鼠焦虑相关行为是否有作用,并分析其可能机制。方法按逐日递增的原则皮下注射海洛因建立成瘾模型,停止给药后纳洛酮催瘾,建立海洛因成瘾戒断动物模型;连续7 d针刺"神门"穴;通过高架十字迷宫实验观察戒断大鼠焦虑程度及针刺的抗焦虑作用;以放射免疫分析技术(RIA)测定大鼠血浆中皮质醇(corticosterone,CORT)、促肾上腺皮质激素(adrenocor-ticotropin hormone,ACTH)和精氨酸加压素(arginine vaso-pressin,AVP)水平。应用免疫组织化学检测下丘脑室旁核(paraventricular nucleus,PVN)反应神经元活动度Fos蛋白表达。结果针刺明显增加海洛因成瘾戒断大鼠进入开臂的次数百分率及在开臂滞留时间百分率(P<0.01或P<0.05);放免结果显示针刺降低海洛因成瘾戒断大鼠血浆CORT、ACTH和AVP水平(P<0.01或P<0.05);免疫组化结果显示针刺降低戒断大鼠下丘脑室旁核Fos蛋白表达(P<0.01或P<0.05)。结论针刺降低海洛因成瘾戒断大鼠焦虑程度和调节下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(hypothalamic-pitui-tary-adrenal,HPA)系统活动,提示针刺可以缓解海洛因成瘾戒断期间所致的情绪异常,其机制可能与调节下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺系统功能有关。

Effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen concentration in brain of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen concentration in the brain of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), thus to reveal the mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening the brain function of PTSD rats. Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a grasping group, a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group, with 12 rats in each group. Except the blank group, rats in the other groups all received incarceration plus electric shock for 7 d to prepare the PTSD animal model. One hour before the stress model was established, rats in each group received the desig nated in tervention: rats in the blank group and the model group did not receive any intervention;rats in the grasping group received grasping and fixation;rats in the paroxetine group received paroxetine hydrochloride solution by intragastric administration;and rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture. Six-day treatme nt was a course, with 2 courses of treatme nt con ducted for a total of 12 d. After the modeli ng, rats in each treatment group received intervention for 5 dz and the fNIRS system was used to collect and record the changes in the concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), deoxygenated hemoglobin (d-Hb) and total hemoglobin (t-Hb) of the involved rat's brain regions, and also to assess the brain function. Results: Compared with the blank group, the con centrati on of HbO2 was significa ntly in creased, the concen trati on of d-Hb was significa ntly decreased, and the concen tration of t-Hb was sign ifica ntly in creased in the model group and the graspi ng group after the in tervention, and the differ en ces were statistically significant (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the concentrations of HbO2, d-Hb and t-Hb in the grasping group did not change significantly (all P>0.05). Compared with the grasping group, the concentration of HbC^was significantly decreased, the concentration of d-Hb was significantly in creased, and the concen trati on of t-Hb was sign ifica ntly decreased in the paroxeti ne group and the acup un cture group, and the differences were statistically sigrdficant (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the concentrations of HbO2, d-Hb and t-Hb between the paroxetine group and the acupuncture group (all P>0.05). Con elusion: Acup un cture can regulate the blood oxyge n conce ntrati on in the brain of PTSD model rats, which may be an important mechanism of acupuncture in intervening the brain function in PTSD rats.

Effects of acupuncture on neuro-electrophysiological activities in hippocampal CAI and CA3 areas of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture on the characteristics of neuro-electrophysiological activity in hippocampal CAI and CA3 areas of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a grasping group, a Western medicine group and an acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, rats in the other 4 groups all received the combined stress modeling method. Rats in the Western medicine group were intragastrically administrated with paroxetine hydrochloride, those in the acupuncture group received acupuncture intervention, those in the grasping group received grasping fixation, and those in the model group and the blank group did not receive any in terve ntions. After 14 d of in terve ntion, the interspike in terval (ISI) and power spectral den sities (PSD) were an a lyzed and mapped by in vivo multiple channels to record the neuron clusters discharge in the hippocampal CAI and CA3 areas. Results: Compared with the blank group, ISI was proIonged in the CAI and CA3 areas of the model group and the grasping group, and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved down (Pv0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the grasping group, the ISI of the CAI and CA3 areas in the Western medicine group and the acupuncture group was shortened, and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved up (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The ISI and PSD distributions in the CAI and CA3 areas of the acupuncture group were not statistically different from those in the Western medicine group (both P>0.05). Conclusion: Both acupuncture and paroxetine hydrochloride can significantly regulate the neuro-electrophysiology activity of hippocampal CAI and CA3 areas in PTSD rats, which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture intervention to promote PTSD recovery.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study on Acupuncturing Shenmen (HT 7) and Sham Acupoint

Objective： To observe the conditions of the activating areas in the brain evoked by needling Shenmen （HT 7） acupoint. Methods： Twelve healthy young volunteers were needled at Shenmen （HT 7） acupoint with rotating and twisting techniques. Functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） was adopted to detect the brain activating areas, TR/TE/FA=3560 ms/50 ms/90°. After scanning, the images were dealt with SPM2. Results： Needling Shenmen （HT 7） primarily activated BA2 and BA1 of the gyrus postcentralis in right-sided frontal lobe, BA47 of left-sided inferior frontal gyrus and BA43 of left-sided gyrus postcentralis, and also activated BA40 of inferior parietal lobule in right-sided parietal lobe, BA22 of gyrus temporalis superior in left-sided lobus temporalis, and BA40 of right-sided insula; however, the sham acupoints could not activate these nucleus. Conclusion： Needling Shenmen （HT 7） can activate the relevant functional areas in the brain.

Effect of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture on resting-state electroencephalographic signals in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective:To observe the effect of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method on the resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),and to provide evidence for the effect mechanism study and clinical application of acupuncture intervention for PTSD.Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group,a model group,a grasping group,a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group,with 12 rats in each group.Except for rats in the blank control group,rats in the other groups were subjected to preparing the PTSD models using 'incarceration plus electric shock' method.After interventions,changes in rat behavior of each group were observed;changes in resting-state EEG were collected and analyzed with multichannel EEG acquisition and analysis system,and image analysis and statistical processing were performed.Results:Compared with the blank control group,the average escape latency in the model group was significantly longer (P＜0.05),and the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas were all significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Compared with the grasping group,the average escape latencies in the paroxetine group and acupuncture group were significantly shortened (P＜0.05),and the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas were all significantly increased (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the average escape latency,the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas between the acupuncture group and paroxetine group (all P＞0.05).Compared with the blank control group,the α-wave power spectrum value in the model group was significantly decreased,and the power spectrum values of β-wave,δ-wave and a-wave were significantly increased (all P＜0.01);compared with the grasping group,α-wave power spectrum values in the paroxetine group and acupuncture group were significantly increased (both P＜0.01),and the power spectrum values of β-wave,δ-wave and a-wave were decreased significantly (all P＜0.01).The power spectrum values of α-wave,β-wave,δ-wave and (e)-wave of rats in the acupuncture group were not significantly different from those in the paroxetine group (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method can significantly improve the abnormal EEG activity in PTSD rats,which may be one mechanism of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method in effectively affecting the brain function in PTSD rats.

Treatment of acne vulgaris with auricular acupoint pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy: a randomized controlled study

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy for acne vulgaris. Methods: A total of 66 patients with acne vulgaris were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table, with 33 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking therapy, and the control group was treated only with auricular point sticking therapy. The treatments of both groups were performed twice a week, 4 weeks as a course of treatment, for 3 courses in total. The scores of skin lesions and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) scores were recorded before and after treatment to assess the clinical efficacy. Results: During the trial, there were 3 cases of drop-out both in the observation group and the control group. After 3 courses of treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 96.7%, while that of the control group was 76.7%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The intra-group comparison showed that the scores of skin lesion and DLQI were both decreased with the increase of treatment times, that was, the scores were lower than those at the previous time point (allP<0.05). After 1, 2, and 3 courses of treatment, the scores of skin lesion and DLQI of both groups were statistically different from those of the same group before treatment (allP<0.05). At every time point during the treatment, the scores of skin lesion and DLQI of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point pricking-bloodletting plus auricular point sticking has a better curative effect than auricular point sticking therapy alone in the treatment of acne vulgaris, and has a time-effect correlation.

Clinical study on auricular point sticking plus Western medicine for moderate gastric cancer pain

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and mechanism of auricular point sticking plus Western medicine for moderate gastric cancer pain.Methods:A total of 80 patients were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.Patients in the control group received Western medicine treatment,while patients in the observation group received additional auricular point sticking.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks.Numeric rating scale(NRS)and Karnofsky performance status(KPS)were adopted before and after treatment.The total time and times of flare-up pain in 24 h were recorded.The cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)levels were detected.The clinical efficacy of both groups was evaluated after treatment.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);after treatment,NRS scores of both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(both P<0.05),and the score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05);KPS scores of both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment(both P<0.05),and the score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the total time and flare-up times of pain during 24 h of both groups were significantly reduced(all P<0.05),and those of the observation group were significantly less than those of the control group(both P<0.05).After treatment,the COX-2 and TNF-αlevels of both groups were significantly reduced(all P<0.05),and were lower in the observation group than in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:The clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking plus Western medicine for moderate gastric cancer pain is valid.This combined treatment can alleviate cancer pain and improve patients'quality of life,which may be related to its ability to reduce COX-2 and TNF-αlevels.

Auricular point sticking for relieving pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking at different points to relieve the pain in arteriovenous fistula puncture.Methods:A total of 42 patients with arteriovenous fistula were randomized into a Shenmen(TF4)group and an Elbow(SF3)group by the random number table method,with 21 cases in each group.After enrolled into different groups,before the dialysis,patients were given auricular point sticking with Wang Bu Liu Xing(Semen Vaccariae)seeds at Shenmen(TF4)and Elbow(SF3),respectively.Patients were asked to press the seeds themselves for 2 min each time,four times a day,and an additional 5-15 min before the arteriovenous fistula puncture.Intensive pressing was offered duri ng the pun cture,15・20 presses for each time,and the plasters were cha nged every 2-3 d.The nu merical rati ng scale(NRS)was used to score the pain level one week before and after auricular point sticking.The NRS score was then compared and analyzed.Results:The intra-group comparison showed that the changes of NRS score in both groups were statistically sigrdficant after auricular point sticking(both P<0.05).After the treatment,there was no sigrdficant differenee in NRS score between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Auricular point sticking at Shenmen(TF4)or Elbow(SF3)can effectively relieve the pain of arteriovenous fistula puncture,and these two points have equivale nt an algesic effect.