Study on “liver-soothing and mind-regulating” acupuncture manipulation in regulating the blood-oxygen concentration in cerebral cortex of PTSD rats

Objective： To explore the brain function mechanism of ＂liver-soothing and mind-regulating＂ acupuncture manipulation in intervening post-traumatic stress disorder（PTSD）.Methods： According to random number table method, 60 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, grabbing group, paroxetine group and acupuncture group. Except for the blank group, all the rats were established into PTSD models through electric shock and incarceration, with model replication for 7 days in total. The rats were given gavage, acupuncture intervention and grabbing fixation 1 h before modeling, with 6 days as 1 course of treatment. Grabbing treatment was performed for 2 courses, with 12 days in total. After modeling, functional near-infrared spectroscopy（fNIRS） system was adopted to collect and record the changes of concentration of Oxy-Hb, Deoxy-Hb and Total-Hb during 3 min in related brain regions of rats in each group after treatment for 5 consecutive days, and the brain function was evaluated.Results： According to the comparison of the time series of blood-oxygen concentration, there were significant differences between model group and blank group as well as grabbing group and blank group（P〈0.01, P〈0.01）, no significant difference was found between model group and grabbing group（P〈0.05）; there were significant differences between paroxetine group and grabbing group as well as acupuncture group and grabbing group（P〈0.05, P〈0.05）, no significant difference was found between paroxetine group and acupuncture group（P〈0.05）.Conclusion： ＂Liver-soothing and mind-regulating＂ acupuncture manipulation has a benign regulatory effect on the blood-oxygen concentration in cerebral cortex of PTSD rats, which may be the important brain function mechanism of ＂liver-soothing and mind-regulating＂ acupuncture manipulation in intervening PTSD.

Liver-stomach disharmony pattern:theoretical basis, identification and treatment

The pattern of disharmony between the liver and stomach is widely observed in patients with digestive diseases,such as gastroesophageal reflux disease,chronic gastritis,and functional dyspepsia,etc.In order to gain a full and systematic understanding of this pattern,we reviewed the functions and physiological characteristics of the liver and stomach and the liver-stomach relationship.In this review,we discuss the pathogenesis and identification of the pattern,as well as the commonly used classical formulas for its treatment,including Left Metal Pill (Zuojin Wan) and Bupleurum Liver-Soothing Powder (Chaihu Shugan San).Besides,we provide two examples of clinical modifications of these formulas in the treatment of chronic gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease in this article.It should be noted that in clinical practice,these formulas should be used flexibly,and modified in accordance to the specific condition of the patient.