CONTROL OBSERVATION OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS ON SYNDROME OF THE 3^(rd) LUMBAR TRANSVERSE PROCESS WITH THICK SILVER WARMING NEEDLING AND ELECTRIC ACUPUNCTURE

Objective: To compare the clinical therapeutic effects on the syndrome of L3 transverse process between thick silver warming needling and electric acupuncture. Methods: One hundred and twenty cases of the syndrome of L3 transverse process were randomized into observation group and the control, 60 cases for each one. Thick silver warming needling was applied in observation group and electric acupuncture in the control. Results: The curative rate was 81.7% in observation group and 58.3% in the control, indicating significant difference （P<0.01）. The significant difference in the therapeutic effects between two groups had not been discovered yet for the cases within 3 months of sickness （P>0.05）, but, the therapeutic effect in observation group was superior to that in the control for the cases over 3 months of sickness （P<0.01）. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of thick silver warming needling and electric acupuncture were quite advantageous on the syndrome of L3 transverse process, but that of thick silver warming needling was superior to electric acupuncture.

IMPACTS OF PENETRATION THERAPY WITH HEAD ELECTRICAL ACUPUNCTURE ON PROLIFERATION OF NEURAL STEM CELLS IN SUBSTANTIA NIGRA OF RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Objective To probe into the function mechanism of penetration therapy with head electrical acupuncture on Parkinson＇s disease. Methods Microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamin （6-OHDA） on the left cor- pus striatum was adopted to prepare rotation model of Parkinson^s disease in rat. Penetration therapy with head electrical acupuncture was administered in treatment. Normal group, sham-operation group, model group and penetration therapy group were set up. （1）lmmunohistochemical （IHC） method was used to test the morphology and count of positive cell of tyrosine hydroxylase （TH）. （2）RT-PCR technology was used to detect the expression of nestin mRNA of neural stem cell （NSC）. Results （1）Compared with model group, in pene- tration therapy group, the expressions of TH-positive neurons in immune response were increased in areal density （AD）, numerical density （ND） and integrating optic density （P〈0.05）. （2）Compared with model group, in penetration therapy group, the expression of nestin mRNA was increased （P〈0. 05）. Conclusion Penetration therapy with head electrical acupuncture promotes the proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in substantia nigra of rat model of Parkinson＇s disease.

Effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture at"Baihui"and"Shenshu"on improving cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA)at"Baihui"(GV20)and"Shenshu"(BL23)on cognitive impairment in AD model mice,and to explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 24 model mice were randomly divided into EA,medication and model groups,8 mice in each group.Another 8 C57BL/6J mice were used as the normal control.The rats in the EA group were treated with electrical stimulation at Baihui(GV20)and Shenshu(BL23),and those in the medication group were treated with donepezil hydrochloride,once a day for 21 days.Adopting the Maorris water maze method to detect the behavior of mice and using HE staining to observe the morphological structure of neurons in the hippocampal region of mice.Finally the expression of GSK-3βandβ-catenin protein contents in the hippocampus of mice in each group was detected by Western blot.Results:Compared to the model group,the evasion latency of the electroacupuncture group and the western medicine group were significantly shorter,and the dwell time in the target quadrant and the number of crossing the plateau were increased(P<0.05),and the hippocampal neurons in each treatment group were closely arranged and complete,with a clearer hierarchy.Western blot assay results showed that the expression ofβ-catenin protein was significantly increased and GSK-3βprotein expression was decreased in the hippocampal region of mice in the electroacupuncture and western medicine groups compared with the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Ea at"Baihui"(GV20)and"Shenshu"(BL23)can significantly improve the cognitive function of APP/PS1 mice,which may be connected with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Rules of acupuncture point selection in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through data mining

Objective:To explore the rules of acupuncture point selection in thetreatment of rheumatoid arthritis by applying data mining and modern Statistical software.Methods:We retrieved literature from China hownet(CNKI),VIP database(VIP),Wanfang,PubMed,MEDLINE,Embase database from the founding of the database to February 1,2020.The main information of meridians and acupoints were entered into Excel,SPSS22.0 was used to extract data and do clustering analysis.Results:Quchi,Zusanli,Hegu,Yanglingquan,Xiyan were often chosen for electropuncture treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.Most of the acupoints are located in the large intestine channel of hand yangming bladder meridian or bladder channel of foot Taiyang,Shaoyang gallbladder channel of foot,stomachmeridian of foot Yangming,the energizer meridian and concentrated in the upper and lower extremities.The frequency of use of five Shu points,crossing point,source point,lowerconfluent and eight meeting points acupoints is higher.Cluster analysis can divide the included acupoints into 5 clusters.Conclusion:Quchi,Zusanli,Hegu,Yanglingquan,Xiyan are often chosen for electropuncture treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.Most of the selected acupoints aremostly distributed in the acupoints which are located in the large intestine channel of hand yangming bladder meridian or bladder channel of foot Taiyang,Shaoyang gallbladder channel of foot,Stomach meridian of foot Yangming,and the energizer meridian.

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA ON PLASMA CATECHOLAMINE CONTENT IN CHOLECYSTECTOMY PATIENTS

Objective: To observe changes of plasma catecholamine (CA) level in patients experiencing cholecystectomy under acupuncture anesthesia combined with epidural administration of small dose of anesthetics. Methods: 33 cholecystectomy patients were randomly divided into acupuncture combined with epidural anesthesia (A) group (n=11), acupoint skin electrical stimulation combined with epidural anesthesia (B) group (n=11) and simple epidural anesthesia (C) group (n=11). Acupoints used were bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) and stimulated with parameters of frequency 2/15 Hz, intermittent waves, electric current 2～3 mA for group A and 13mA for group B. Extradural anesthetic administered was 1.5% Lidocaine 5 mL. Venous blood samples were collected one day before, during and 3 days after operation for detecting plasma NE, E and DA contents. Results: ① During operation, plasma NE of group A and B lowered in comparison with pre operation, particularly group A (P<0.01), while in group C, plasma NE level increased slightly; plasma E of group A and B increased significantly compared with pre operation (P< 0.01). Plasma DA in the 3 groups all raised during operation. ② Three days after operation, plasma NE, E and DA levels recovered basically in comparison with those of one day before operation. It indicates that acupuncture or acupoint skin electrical stimulation is capable of regulating sympathetic activity during epidural anesthesia. The anesthetic effect has a closer relation with changes of plasma NE level rather than changes of plasma E or DA levels. Conclusion: Acupuncture or acupoint surface electrical stimulation combined with epidural anesthesia may be of reducing or releasing surgical operation generated stress response during cholecystectomy.

Anti-inflammatory mechanism of electroacupuncture involves the modulation of multiple systems,levels and targets and is not limited to“driving the vagus-adrenal axis”

In October 2021,an international collaborative study on the use of electroacupuncture(EA)to treat inflammation was published in the journal Nature by Dr.Qiufu Ma’s team.Based on the results of EA on inflammation in the mouse model of lipopolysaccharide inflammatory storm,the study showed that the distal effect of acupuncture can be achieved by“driving the vagus-adrenal axis(through the adrenal medulla,by releasing catecholamines).”PROKR2Cre-marked sensory neurons,which innervate the deep hindlimb fascia but not the abdominal fascia,are crucial for driving this axis.The study suggests the existence of specificity distribution of acupoints,that different EA stimulation intensities or different needle penetration depths have different therapeutic effects,that photosensitive stimulation may be a substitute for needle acupuncture,and that massage,stretching and body movements may also activate PROKR2Cremarkable dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons and elicit anti-inflammatory effects.However,results of some other studies are contrary to the conclusions of Ma’s team.For examples:low-intensity EA at GB30 point significantly reduced the inflammation in the rat model of persistent inflammation,which is more relevant to the real daily acupuncture practice,and this effect was partly related to the adrenal cortex and associated with the stimulation of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone;manual acupuncture(similar to the low-intensity EA)at KI3,Zhichuan point(an extra point),etc.was effective in a severe COVID-19 patient with sepsis;stimulating ST25 with low-intensity EA or manual acupuncture was effective against gastrointestinal inflammations;the above mentioned points are not in an area enriched with PROKR2Cre-marked sensory nerve endings.Evidence shows that the mechanism of EA against inflammation includes modulating multi-systems,multi-levels and multi-targets,which does not limit to“driving the vagus-adrenal axis.”

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at acupoints on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus:a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE:To examine whether transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation at acupoints(Acu-TENS)improved the biochemical and physical indices of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).METHODS:Ninety subjects with T2DM were divided randomly into a control group(n = 30),aerobic exercise group(n- 30),or Acu-TENS group(n = 30).In addition to conventional diabetes drug treatment,patients in the Acu-TENS group received acupoint stimulation,the aerobic exercise group engaged in walking exercises,and the control group was given sham electrical stimulation.All groups were treated for 30 min for each session and five times a week for 2 months.The indices of glycosylated hemoglobin,2 h postprandial glucose,fasting serum insulin,triglyceride,total cholesterol,and body mass index were assessed at pre-treatment,post-treatment,and follow-up,which was 2 months after treatment.RESULTS:The indices of the control group were not changed(P > 0.05) at the three time points.At the pre-treatment measurement,there were significant differences(P > 0.05) in indices among the three groups.At post-treatment,each index of the two groups was lower than that of the control group(P < 0.05),and improved in comparison with the pre-treatment measurement(P < 0.05).In follow-up,each index of the aerobic exercise group and Acu-TENS group increased,but was still decreased compared with the pre-treatment value(P < 0.05),excluding body mass index.CONCLUSION:Acu-TENS could improve the state of patients with T2 DM and be used as a therapy in clinical application.

Effect of electronic stimulation at Neiguan(PC 6) acupoint on gene expression of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel and protein kinases in rats with myocardial ischemia

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of electronic stimulation at acupoints Neiguan(PC 6) and Lieque(LU 7) on the gene expression of the adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-Sensitive potassium channel(KATP:Kir6.1,Kir6.2,SUR2 A,and SUR2B) and protein kinases(PKA,PKG,and PKCβ2) in myocardial cells of rats with myocardial ischemia(Ml) induced by isoproterenol(ISO).METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into a control,model,Neiguan(PC 6),Lieque(LU 7),and non-acupoint groups.The Ml model was established by injecting rats with ISO.Electro-acupuncture treatment was given to the acupuncture groups,once a day for 7 days.Gene expression was analyzed with real-time PCR.RESULTS:The gene expression of KATP and protein kinases in the model group was higher than those in the control group(P < 0.05).After acupuncture treatment,the KATP and protein kinase expression levels were significantly lower in the Neiguan(PC 6)and Lieque(LU 7) groups compared with the model group[P < 0.05).The Neiguan(PC 6) group lowered these levels significantly more than that of the Lieque(LU 7) group(P < 0.05).No significant differences were observed between the model and non-acupoint groups(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that electronic needling of Neiguan(PC 6) can both reduce the gene expression of KATP and protein kinases in rats with ISO-induced Ml.