“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.

Discussion on the Application of Warm Yang to Promote Qi Transformation in Acne Mastitis from“Yang Promotes Qi Transformation and Yin Promotes Forming”

“Yang promotes Qi transformation and Yin promotes forming”maintains the normal progress of human life activities,which is an important embodiment of human vitality.The dysfunction of“Yang promotes Qi transformation and Yin promotes forming”leads to the coagulation of pathological products such as phlegm and blood stasis in the breast meridian,resulting in the occurrence of acne mastitis.In clinical treatment,we should take“warm Yang to promote Qi transformation”as the treatment principle,and add or subtract according to the specific situation.

Medicinals with properties of warming Yang and tonifying Qi in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine: their effects on left ventricular ejection fraction and aldosterone in rats with induced failure heart

OBJECTIVE: To investigate on Left ventricular ejection fraction value and aldosterone of two medicinals of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) with the properties of warming Yang and tonifying Qi in terms of TCM theory.METHODS: An animal model of coronary ligation of heart failure after myocardial infarction was employed to study the influence of these two kinds of drugs on three batches of rats. On the basis of the average score of left ventricle ejection fraction during the investigation, there were some different groups, including Wen Yang(the warming Yang)group, Yi Qi(tonifying Qi) group, Wen Yang and Yi Qi group, captopril group, digoxin group. In additional, an artificial operation group was set for compari-son. The systemic intervention using these medicinal and drugs was taken effects on the 2nd day after the operation of myocardial infraction(MI) with once a day. At week one, two, and four after the MI treatment, evaluated were EF values, and ferritin,angiotensin-II and aldosterone in the rats' plasma.RESULTS: At week one and week two, the medicinal of Wen Yang, Yi Qi, Wen Yang pluse Yi Qi, and digoxin could improve left ventricular ejection fraction in rats with heart failure; Compared to the model group, captopril Left ventricular EF value increased, but there was not significant. At week four,heart failure and left ventricular EF values was improved in the intervention group and the other four captopril drug intervention. At week one in the rats with drug intervention, the medicinals of Yi Qi, Wen Yang plus Yi Qi, and captopril could inhibit activation in vivo hormone aldosterone in heart failure rats; aldosterone in Wen Yang group and digoxin group were not different from that in the model group at week two and four.CONCLUSION: Chinese medicinals with properties of Wen Yang, Yi Qi have significant effect on improving left ventricular EF in rats with heart failure; compared to Yi Qi medicinals, Wen Yang medicinals that inhibit the effectiveness of the time required for the activation of the role of aldosterone. The medicinals of Wen Yang and Yi Qi seems better by inhibiting the activation of the hormone aldosterone after failing to inhibit ventricular remodeling to improve heart failure.