“Warming yang and invigorating qi” acupuncture alters acetylcholine receptor expression in the neuromuscular junction of rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies have been shown to form against the nicotinic acetylcholine nicotinic postsynaptic receptors located at the neuromuscular junction.＂Warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture treatment has been shown to reduce serum inflammatory cytokine expression and increase transforming growth factor beta expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.However,few studies have addressed the effects of this type of acupuncture on the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.Here,we used confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the area and density of immunoreactivity for an antibody to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction in the phrenic nerve of rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis following ＂warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture therapy.Needles were inserted at acupressure points Shousanli（LI10）,Zusanli（ST36）,Pishu（BL20）,and Shenshu（BL23） once daily for 7 consecutive days.The treatment was repeated after 1 day of rest.We found that area and the integrated optical density of the immunoreactivity for the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction of the phrenic nerve was significantly increased following acupuncture treatment.This outcome of the acupuncture therapy was similar to that of the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine bromide.These findings suggest that ＂warming yang and invigorating qi＂ acupuncture treatment increases acetylcholine receptor expression at the neuromuscular junction in a rat model of autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

Mechanism of'Invigorating Qi and Promoting Blood Circulation'Drug Pair Ginseng-Danshen on Treatment of Ischemic Heart Disease Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective:Using network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of the'invigorating qi and promoting blood circulation'drug pair Ginseng-Danshen(Salvia miltiorrhiza)on treatment of ischemic heart disease(IHD).Methods:The chemical constituents of ginseng and Danshen drug pair were identified by searching the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),and the potential targets of the pair were identified.The pharmacodynamics of the pair was analyzed using network pharmacology.The targets of IHD were identified by database screening.Using protein-protein interaction network,the interaction targets of Ginseng-Danshen on IHD were constructed.A"constituent-target-disease"interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape software,Gene Ontology(GO)term enrichment analysis and biological pathway enrichment analysis were carried out,and the mechanism of improving myocardial ischemia by the Ginseng-Danshen drug pair was investigated.Results:Seventeen active constituents and 53 targets were identified from ginseng,53 active constituents and 61 targets were identified from Danshen,and 32 protein targets were shared by ginseng and Danshen.Twenty GO terms were analyzed,including cytokine receptor binding,cytokine activity,heme binding,and antioxidant activity.Sixty Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathways were analyzed,including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-serine-threonine kinase(PI3 K-AKT)signaling pathway,p53 signaling pathway,interleukin 17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway,and the advanced glycation end product(AGE)-the receptor for AGE(RAGE)signaling pathway in diabetic complications.Conclusion:The specific mechanism of Ginseng-Danshen drug pair in treating IHD may be associated with improving the changes of metabolites inbody,inhibiting the production of peroxides,removing the endogenous oxygen free radicals,regulating the expression of inflammatory factors,reducing myocardial cell apoptosis and promoting vascular regeneration.

Invigorating Qi and Promoting Blood Circulation in Treatmentof Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Twenty patients of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were treated with suchkind of Chinese herbal medicine as invigorating Qi and promoting blood circulation for 4-8 weeks. The ther-apeutic effect was observed and compared with that of the two control groups treated with prednisone and co-enzyme A respectively. In the TCM group, the number of patients with marked effect, good effect and im-provement were 2, 4 and 7, the total effective rate being 65% . This efficacy was higher than that of the co-enzyme group and lower than that of the prednisone group. The changes of antiplatelet IgG antibody and hap-toglobin were also observed in the meantime, and results showed that after TOM treatment, both of themwere decreased as disease improved.

Effect of Danggui Shaoyao San with Huangqi on adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats

Objective:To determine the therapeutic effect of Danggui Shaoyao San with Huangqi on rats with nephrotic syndrome(NS)was discussed,and the scientific connotation of TCM treatment principle was elaborated,so as to provide experimental basis for its clinical application.Methods:The NS rat model was established by iv administration of adriamycin;The rats were divided into model group,Danggui Shaoyao San group,Danggui Shaoyao San with Huangqi group,Huangqi group and positive drug group,with 10 rats in control group;The best dosage ratio of Danggui Shaoyao San and Huangqi was screened by Excel;24 h urine protein was measured by BCA method;The electrolyte level was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer;In serum Urea nitrogen(BUN),Creatinine(SCr),Total cholesterol(TC),Triglyceride(TG),Total protein(TP),Albumin(ALB),Immunoglobulin M(Ig-M)and Immunoglobulin G(Ig-G)were detected by the kit;hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the renal morphology;The Total water content(TBW),Extracellular water content(ECF)and Intracellular water content(ICF)were measured by experimental animal body composition analyzer.Results:Compared with the model group,the urine protein in the modified Astragalus group of Danggui Shaoyao Powder was significantly decreased(P<0.01);Urine electrolytes were significantly decreased and serum electrolytes were significantly increased(P<0.01);Serum BUN,SCR,TC and TG were significantly decreased(P<0.01),while TP,ALB,TBW and ICF were significantly increased(P<0.01);The levels of Ig-M and Ig-G were significantly increased(P<0.01),TBW and ICF were significantly increased,and ECF was significantly decreased(P<0.01);Histopathology showed that the pathological changes of renal tissue were obviously alleviated;The improvement of each index was better than that of Danggui Shaoyao San group and Huangqi group.Conclusion:Danggui Shaoyao San with Huangqi group can significantly improve the edema,proteinuria,blood lipid and immune function of NS rats,and the effect is better than that of Danggui Shaoyao San group and Huangqi group.It has the best therapeutic effect on NS,which indicates that Huangqi plays a key synergistic effect on Danggui Shaoyao San,which verifies the scientific connotation of"Yiqi Huoxue Lishui"in the treatment of NS.

Professor JIA Chun-sheng's case report and his academic thought of invigorating spleen to nourish original qi

Under the influence of academic theories of numerous physicians of TCM such as Li Gao and Li Zhong-zi in antient China, Professor Jia Chun-sheng proposed the academic thought of tonifying spleen and kidney in combination with acupuncture based on his clinical experience for decades. In clinical practice of acupuncture, Zhongwan （中脘 CV 12）, bilateral Tianshu （天枢 ST 25）, Qihai （气海 CV 6）, Guanyuan （关元 CV4） are often selected to invigorate spleen so as to nourish original qi and to treat both spleen and kidney. The above-mentioned five acupoints form a pattern similar to a star according to their location distribution, so it is called the starlike selection method of acupoints, which attaches importance to spleen and kidney （original qi）. Many diseases, especially internal injuries, are often treated with the starlike acupuncture manipulation combined with acupuncture at other acupoints, which achieves good clinical efficacy.

Preventive Administration of Juanbi Capsules (蠲痹胶囊) for Knee Osteoarthritis: Effects on Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and Cartilage Repair

Objective: To explore the mechanism of action of Juanbi Capsules (蠲痹胶囊), a Chinese medicine for invigorating the kidney and replenishing qi, in preventing osteoarthritis of the knee in rabbits. Methods: Seventy-two 4-month-old, Japanese long-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: control (group A), model (group B), Chinese drug; high-dose (group C), Chinese drug; mid-dose (group D), Chinese drug; low-dose (group E), and drug control (group F). With the exception of the rabbits in group A, each rabbit was subjected to plaster cast fixation for 6 weeks to induce osteoarthritis. In addition, rabbits were administrated with an intragastric injection of the Chinese drug (groups C, D and E) or an aminoglucose hydrochloride capsule (group F) for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from the central ear artery for serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations, and the knee joint cartilage was harvested for gross observation and light microscopy. Results: There were significant differences in serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations between group B and groups C, D and E (P<0.05), with no significant differences between groups D and F. Histological results showed various changes in tissue staining with treatment, with osteophyte and bone cyst formation, and superficial erosion in the articular surface of the cartilage; in some cases, the defect reached the mid-layer of the cartilage, and these changes were lower than those in the model group. Conclusion: Juanbi Capsules assist in preventing osteoarthritis in the rabbit, possibly by decreasing serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels.