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 inv...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.展开更多
According to Chinese medicine theory, Yang/Qi plays a pivotal role in driving physiological functions in the body, these being highly dependent on mitochondrial ATP production. Consistent with this, Yang/Qi-invigorati...According to Chinese medicine theory, Yang/Qi plays a pivotal role in driving physiological functions in the body, these being highly dependent on mitochondrial ATP production. Consistent with this, Yang/Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs have been found to stimulate mitochondrial ATP generation capacity (ATP-GC) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In the present study, we have demonstrated that Yang-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs (namely, Eucommiae Cortex, Cibotii Rhizoma, Dipsaci Radix, Cynomorii Herba, Cistanches Herba, Cuscutae Semen, EpimediiHerba and Morindae Radix) and Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs (namely, Ginseng Radix, Pseudostellariae Radix, Quinquefolii Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Juiubae Fructus, Fici Simplicissimae Radix and Dioscoreae Oppositae Radix) act by different mechanisms to stimulate mitochondrial ATP-GC. While Yang-invigorating herbs fluidize mitochondrial membranes and thus stimulate ATP-GC, Qi-invigorating herbs can enhance cellular glutathione status and increase ATP-GC. The different mechanisms by which Yang-invigorating herbs and Qi-invigorating herbs stimulate mitochondrial ATP-GC may serve as the basis for establishing biomarkers for Yang/Qi-invigorating herbs and herbal health products in general.展开更多
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 combinat...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.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81173344
文摘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.
文摘According to Chinese medicine theory, Yang/Qi plays a pivotal role in driving physiological functions in the body, these being highly dependent on mitochondrial ATP production. Consistent with this, Yang/Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs have been found to stimulate mitochondrial ATP generation capacity (ATP-GC) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In the present study, we have demonstrated that Yang-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs (namely, Eucommiae Cortex, Cibotii Rhizoma, Dipsaci Radix, Cynomorii Herba, Cistanches Herba, Cuscutae Semen, EpimediiHerba and Morindae Radix) and Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs (namely, Ginseng Radix, Pseudostellariae Radix, Quinquefolii Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Juiubae Fructus, Fici Simplicissimae Radix and Dioscoreae Oppositae Radix) act by different mechanisms to stimulate mitochondrial ATP-GC. While Yang-invigorating herbs fluidize mitochondrial membranes and thus stimulate ATP-GC, Qi-invigorating herbs can enhance cellular glutathione status and increase ATP-GC. The different mechanisms by which Yang-invigorating herbs and Qi-invigorating herbs stimulate mitochondrial ATP-GC may serve as the basis for establishing biomarkers for Yang/Qi-invigorating herbs and herbal health products in general.
文摘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.
