Progress in Researches on the Effect of Acupuncture in Antagonizing Oxygen Stress

Oxidation and free radicals participate in the pathological process of multiple diseases in organisms, and acupuncture shows good effect in antagonizing oxygen stress (OS). This article reviews the effect of acupuncture in antagonizing oxygen stress and the mechanism of its anti-free radical effect in various diseases. The authors hold that acupuncture not only has a chain-blocking effect, but also has preventive and repairing effects of anti-oxidation. And anti-OS action is one of the important mechanisms of acupuncture.

Study on the Regulation of ROS by Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Relieve Inflammation in the Treatment of Sciatica

Objective: To observe the analgesic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on chronic constriction injury (CCI) pain model rats, and to investigate the mechanism of constriction constriction injury. Methods: 32 SPF SD rats were divided into Control Group, Sham Surgery Group, Model Group and Acupuncture and moxibustion Group, with 8 rats in each group. The Model Group, Acupuncture and moxibustion Group and sciatic nerve ligation were used to establish the CCI pain rat model. The sham operation group only separated the nerve, and the control group did not do any treatment. After modeling, the Acupuncture and moxibustion Group was given acupuncture treatment, while the control group and the Model Group did not do any intervention. 7 days for 1 course of treatment, continuous treatment for 3 courses of sampling and detection. Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and Paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) were observed. Biochemical detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH);Serum, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were detected by ELISA. Results: Compared with the control group, PWMT and PWTL in the Model Group were decreased (P α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels or contents were increased (P α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels or contents were decreased (P Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion can reduce the ROS level, enhance the antioxidant capacity of the body, reduce the damage of sciatic nerve caused by inflammation, and relieve sciatic pain.

Response of Nitrate Metabolism in Seedlings of Oilseed Rape(Brassica napus L.) to Low Oxygen Stress

In order to understand the response of nitrate metabolism in seedlings of oilseed rape （Brassica napus L.） to low oxygen stress （LOS）, two cultivars were studied at different light, LOS time and exogenous nitrate concentrations under hydroponic stress. Results show that N-uptake and dry matter of rape seedlings were decreased after LOS stress while nitrate accumulation （NA） under LOS was induced by darkness. Nitrate accumulation peaked at 3 d while root activity （RA, deifned as dehydrogenase activity） decreased with prolonged waterlogging exposure. Exogenous nitrate signiifcantly elevated NA and RA. Tungstate （TS） and LOS inhibited nitrate reductase （NR） activity while NR transcription and activity were enhanced by exogenous nitrate. Low oxygen stress stimulated the activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and peroxidase （POD） slightly, but inhibited that of catalase （CAT）. B. napus L. Zhongshuang 10 （ZS10）, a LOS tolerant cultivar, displayed smaller decrease upon dry matter under LOS, higher NA in darkness and lower NA in light than B. napus L. Ganlan CC （GAC）, a LOS sensitive variety. ZS10 had lower NA and higher RA after waterlogging and exogenous nitrate treatment, and higher NR activity under TS inhibition than GAC, but the activity of antioxidant enzymes did not change under LOS. The results indicate that nitrate metabolism involved tolerance of rape seedlings to LOS, with lower accumulation and higher reduction of nitrate being related to higher LOS tolerance of rape seedlings exposed to waterlogging.

Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy inhibits oxyradical injury and improves microcirculation following brain injury

BACKGROUND： Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy combines acupoint theory in traditional Chinese medicine and modern oxygen therapy. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy results in favorable outcomes for brain injury. However, the mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To determine pathological changes and malondialdehyde （MDA） content, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and nitric oxide synthase （NOS） activity, as well as hemorheological brain alterations following acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy, and to explore possible mechanisms of acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy on brain injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Animal Experimental Center of Xi＇an Medical University from January 2006 to April 2009. MATERIALS： An oxygen delivery device, through the use of acupuncture （oxygen delivery machine ＋ silver hollowed needle, 0.5 mm inner diameter）, was purchased from Research Center ol Machine, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology in China. METHODS： A total of 180 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups （n = 30）： normal, sham-surgery （dura mater exposure）, model （brain injury induced by free-falling of heavy object to head）, Xiantaimixture （0.417 mL/100 g following brain injury）, electroacupuncture [acupuncture at Baihui （DU 20）, Housanfi （ST 36）, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, and Sanyinjiao （SP 6） following brain injury], and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy （oxygen delivery through hollowed needle to Baihui （DU 20）, Housanfi （ST 36）, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, and Sanyinjiao （SP 6） following brain injury, 0.01 mL/minute）. Group intervention was performed once a day for 14 consecutive days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Pathological changes, MDA content, SOD and NOS activity, and hemorheological alterations in the brain. RESULTS： Obvious pathological changes were observed, such as hemorrhage, edema, and cell necrosis, following brain injury. These alterations were significantly improved following 14 days of treatment with Xiantai mixture, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy. In particular, acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy resulted in recovery to normal conditions. In the Xiantai mixture, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy groups, MDA content was significantly reduced （P 〈 0.01）, SOD activity was significantly increased （P 〈 0.01）, NOS activity was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.01）, and hemorheological indices were reduced, compared with the model group, in particular, acupunture-induced oxygen therapy resulted in the most obvious changes （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy improved pathological changes following brain injury by possibly improving blood supply, ameliorating ischemia/hypoxia, and inhibiting peroxidation and free radicals.

Review of Action Mechanisms of Acupuncture on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)is a kind of mental disorder caused by severe traumatic events.It has a high incidence,a serious of impacts on the physical and mental health of patients.Especially in the current situation of COVID-19,the researches on PTSD are particularly important,but the choice of drugs available for PTSD is limited and it is often accompanied by adverse reactions.In the field of acupuncture,there are many clinical research evidences suggested that PTSD is a predominant disease of acupuncture.However,its action mechanisms have not been fully elucidated,so the possible mechanisms of acupuncture in treating PTSD were discussed.

TREATMENT OF 50 CASES OF SENILE DEMENTIA BY ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH INHALATION OF HERBAL DRUGS AND OXYGEN

Clinical DataCase selection: 100 cases who met thediagnostic criteria of senile dementiaformulated by American Association ofPsychiatry in Handbook of Diagnosis andStatistics (DSM-Ⅲ-R, 3rd revised edition)

CLINICAL APPLICATION OF ACUPUNCTURE ON ALLEVIATION OF STRESS REACTION INDUCED BY TRACHEAL INTUBATION IN GENERAL ANESTHESIA

By summarizing the formation of stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation and method of medicinal control, the recognition of Chinese medicine in treatment of cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension with acupuncture and the clinical application of acupuncture on stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation, it is concluded that the side effects of tracheal intubation are inevitable, even though there are many methods presented for the prevention and treatment for it. In recent years, the functions of acupuncture in anesthesia, especially in regulation of circulatory properties have been developed gradually and have been applied by many physicians in controlling the stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation in general anesthesia. Being a kind of dual-directional and positive regulation and stimulation, acupuncture provides definite and safe effects on controlling the stress reaction induced by tracheal intubation.

Effects of acupuncture combined with drug anesthesia on stress reaction and cognitive function in senior patients with total hip arthroplasty

Objective: To investigate the effects of acupuncture combined with anesthesia on stress and cognitive function in senior patients with total hip arthroplasty. Methods: A total of 89 patients who underwent total hip replacement between January 2016 and May 2018 were collected. According to whether acupuncture anesthesia was applied during total hip replacement, the patients were divided into acupuncture combined anesthesia group and drug anesthesia group. Fasting venous blood (3mL) was collected before the operation without electrical stimulation and after the operation. Cortisol (Cor) and β-endorphin (β-EP) were detected by radioimmunoassay, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was detected by electrochemical luminescence immunoassay. The levels of s-100β protein (s-100β), c-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to determine the ratio of T cell subsets (CD3+) and natural killer cells (NK cells) in the blood. Results: The levels of Cor, β-EP, NSE, S-100β, CRP, TNF-α and the ratio of NK cell, CD3+ between the two groups have no significant differences before operation (P>0.05). Serum levels of Cor, β-EP, NSE, S-100β, CRP and TNF-α in patients in the acupuncture combined with drug anesthesia group and the single drug anesthesia group were significantly higher than those before surgery (P<0.05). In addition, serum levels of Cor, β-EP, NSE, S-100β, CRP, TNF-α in the acupuncture combined with anesthesia group were significantly lower than those in the drug group alone (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in NK cell and CD3+ ratio between postoperative and preoperative in the acupuncture combined with drug anesthesia group (P>0.05). The ratio of NK cells and CD3+ in the pure drug anesthesia group was significantly lower than that before surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with drug anesthesia can effectively reduce the inflammatory stress response of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, relieve the immune suppression caused by surgery and anesthesia, reduce the damage to the nervous system, and have a good influence in the cognitive function of the senior patients.

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON BLOOD OXYGEN FREE RADICAL AND NO LEVELS IN TREATMENT OF APOPLECTIC SEQUELAE

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen free radical (OFR) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the treatment of apoplectic sequelae. Methods: A total of 61 cases of apoplectic patients were subjected into this study and randomly divided into "JIN San Zhen" group (n=30) and control group (n=31). Blood lipid peroxidase (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH Px) and nitric oxide (NO) contents before and after acupuncture treatment were determined with radioimmunoassay. In both groups, acupuncture was given once daily, six times a week, with 4 weeks being a therapeutic course and with the interval between two weeks being a week, 3 courses all together. In "JIN San Zhen" group, acupoints of "JIN San Zhen" were used predominately, while in control group, scalp point Motor Sensory Area (MS 8) was used as the main point. Results: Self comparison showed that after 3 courses of treatment, in both groups, LPO and NO levels decreased significantly (P<0.05-0.01), SOD and GST Px values increased considerably (P<0.05-0.01). Comparison between two groups indicated that the effects of "JIN San Zhen" group are significantly superior to those of control group in raising blood SOD and GST Px levels (P<0.05-0.01) and in lowering blood NO content (P<0.01). Analysis on the correlation between the restoration of neural function and the changes of LPO, SOD and GST Px levels suggested that the effect of acupuncture in improving neural function may be related to changes of the aforementioned indexes. Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy can significantly lower blood LPO and NO levels and evidently raise blood SOD and GST Px levels in stroke patients.

Effect of acupuncture combined with drug therapy on the nerve cytokine secretion and oxidative stress in convalescence of cerebral infarction

Objective: To explore the effect of acupuncture combined with drug therapy on the nerve cytokine secretion and oxidative stress in convalescence of cerebral infarction. Methods: A total of 118 patients in convalescence of cerebral infarction who were treated in the affiliated hospital of our school between August 2014 and December 2016 were divided into control group (n=59) and observation group (n=59) according to the random number table method. Control group received routine drug therapy, and the observation group received acupuncture combined with drug therapy. The differences in serum levels of neurotrophic factors, nerve injury factors and oxidative stress indexes were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results: The differences in serum levels of neurotrophic factors, nerve injury factors and oxidative stress indexes were not statistically significant between the two groups before treatment. After treatment, serum neurotrophic factors IGF-1, BDNF and NGF levels of observation group were higher than those of control group;nerve injury factors S-100β, NSE, GFAP and UCH-L1 levels were lower than those of control group;oxidative stress indexes MDA, AOPPs and LHP levels were lower than those of control group while SOD and GSH-Px levels were higher than those of control group. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with drug therapy can effectively optimize the nerve function, reduce the nerve injury and suppress the systemic oxidative stress response of patients in convalescence of cerebral infarction.

Effect of acupuncture combined with transforaminal endoscopic therapy on pain mediators,neural function and stress response in patients with lumbar disc herniationn

Objective: To study the effect of acupuncture combined with transforaminal endoscopic therapy on pain mediators, neural function and stress response in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A total of 118 patients with lumbar disc herniation who were treated in the hospital between January 2015 and January 2017 were collected and divided into control group (n=59) and observation group (n=59) by random number table method. The control group received transforaminal endoscopic therapy, and the observation group received acupuncture combined with transforaminal endoscopic therapy. The differences in the pain mediators, neural function and stress response were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results: Before treatment, the differences in serum pain mediator contents, lower limb nerve conduction velocity and serum stress hormone contents were not statistically significant between the two groups. After treatment, serum PGE2, 5-HT, NO, Cor, INS and NE contents of both groups of patients were lower than those before treatment while serum β-EP contents as well as tibial nerve MCV, common peroneal nerve MCV, superficial peroneal nerve SCV and sural nerve SCV levels were higher than those before treatment, and serum PGE2, 5-HT, NO, Cor, INS and NE contents of observation group were lower than those of control group while serum β-EP content as well as tibial nerve MCV, common peroneal nerve MCV, superficial peroneal nerve SCV and sural nerve SCV levels was higher than those of control group. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with transforaminal endoscopic therapy can effectively alleviate the pain, inhibit the stress response and optimize the neural function of lower limbs in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Hippocampal gene expression in a rat model of depression after electroacupuncture at the Baihui and Yintang acupoints

Preliminary basic research and clinical findings have demonstrated that electroacupuncture ther- apy exhibits positive effects in ameliorating depression. However, most studies of the underlying mechanism are at the single gene level; there are few reports regarding the mechanism at the whole-genome level. Using a rat genomic gene-chip, we profiled hippocampal gene expression changes in rats after electroacupuncture therapy. Electroacupuncture therapy alleviated depres- sion-related manifestations in the model rats. Using gene-chip analysis, we demonstrated that electroacupuncture at Baihui （DU20） and Yintang （EX-HN3） regulates the expression of 21 genes. Real-time PCR showed that the genes Vgf, lgf2, Trnp32, Loc500373, Hifla, Folrl, Nrnb, and Rtn were upregulated or downregulated in depression and that their expression tended to nor- malize after electroacupuncture therapy. These results indicate that electroacupuncture at Baihui and Yintang modulates depression by regulating the expression of particular genes.

Case report: Treating postpartum SUI with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine

Background:Stress urinary incontinence(SUI),is the most common type of urinary incontinence affecting women.SUI has a significant impact on psychosocial functioning and quality of life.Biomedical treatments,such as surgery,often result in post-operative complications.In China,traditional Chinese medicine tends to be the treatment of choice for SUI.Case presentation:We present a 35-year-old patient who developed SUI following forceps delivery and was treated successfully with acupuncture and Chinese herbs.Traditional Chinese diagnosis,including channel and acupoint palpation revealed the patient had a syndrome pattern of liver/kidney deficiency,disordered bladder qi transformation,all of which lead to enuresis.Acupuncture,both body and scalp needling,were performed.Herbs were prescribed adjunctively.Conclusion:Traditional Chinese medicine modalities may be considered for treatment of SUI based on appropriate syndrome pattern assessment.

Clinical observation of body acupuncture combined with FANG’s scalp acupuncture for limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of body acupuncture combined with FANG’s scalp acupuncture in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke and explore the mechanism.Methods:Sixty patients in the remission stage of stroke with limb dysfunction were divided into a control group and a treatment group using the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,and the treatment group was additionally offered FANG’s scalp acupuncture.The interventions were conducted once daily with 10 sessions as 1 course.The Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)and Barthel index(BI)scores and serum malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were compared after 2 treatment courses,and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:After treatment,the FMA and BI scores increased in both groups(P<0.05)and were higher in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05).Both groups showed a decreased MDA level and an increased SOD level after the intervention,all showing statistical significance(P<0.05);there were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:Based on the conventional rehabilitation treatment,ordinary acupuncture used alone or in combination with FANG’s scalp acupuncture can lower the oxidative stress level and improve limb function in treating limb dysfunction in the remission stage of stroke;body acupuncture plus FANG’s scalp acupuncture can produce better results.

Reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis:Pathogenesis and new therapeutic interventions

Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a common acute gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 20%of patients with systemic inflammatory responses that may cause pancreatic and peripancreatic fat necrosis.This condition often progresses to multiple organ failure,significantly increasing morbidity and mortality.Oxidative stress,characterized by an imbalance between the body’s reactive oxygen species(ROS)and antioxidants,activates the inflammatory signaling pathways.Although the pathogenesis of AP is not fully understood,ROS are increasingly recognized as critical in the disease's progression and development.Modulating the oxidative stress pathway has shown efficacy in mitigating the progression of AP.Despite numerous basic studies examining this pathway,comprehensive reviews of recent research remain sparse.This systematic review offers an in-depth examination of the critical role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of AP and evaluates the therapeutic potential of antioxidant interventions in its management.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON COMBINED TREATMENT OF VASCULAR DEMENTIA WITH ACUPUNCTURE, MOXIBUSTION AND CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS

In the present study, the clinical effect of acupuncture, moxibustion plus Chinese medicinal herbs for treatment of 30 cases of vascular dementia (VD) was observed and their mechanisms were analyzed by determining the activity of SOD, LPO and GSH-Px. Results showed that after 2 months’combined treatment, of the 30 cases, 12 had marked improvement, 15 had improvement and 3 had not any improvement, with an effective rate of 90%; the activity of SOD and GSH-Px increased considerably while the content of LPO lowered strikingly. There were significant differences between pre-and post-treatment in the activity of SOD and GSH-Px and the content of LPO (P<0. 01). It reveals that this method is capable of improving VD patients’ clinical symptoms and signs such as headache, dizziness, hemi-paralysis or hemianesthesia, forced crying and laughing, etc.and also raising the ability of the body in removing oxygen free radical, and suppressing peroxidization of free radical to reduce its products, thereby alleviating the toxic effect of oxygen free radical on the brain tissues.

Effects of electroacupuncture plus drug anesthesia on pain and stress response in patients after radical surgery for stomach cancer

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture plus drug anesthesia on pain and stress response in patients after radical surgery for stomach cancer.Methods:A total of 60 patients were randomized into a control group and an observation group by the random number table,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional drug anesthesia.The observation group was given additional electroacupuncture intervention.Before anesthesia and 2 h,12 h and 24 h after surgery,the visual analog scale(VAS)was scored,the heart rate,the mean arterial pressure,and the levels of serumβ-endorphin(β-EP)and adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH)were measured.Results:Two hours,12 h and 24 h after surgery,the VAS scores of both groups were higher than those before anesthesia(all P<0.05),and the VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group at the same time points(all P<0.05).Two hours,12 h and 24 h after surgery,the heart rates and mean arterial pressures in the control group were significantly higher than those before anesthesia(all P<0.05),while there were no significant intra-group differences in the observation group(all P>0.05),and the indicators were lower than those in the control group at the same time points(all P<0.05).Two hours,12 h and 24 h after surgery,the serumβ-EP levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those before anesthesia(all P<0.05),and significantly higher than those in the control group at the same time points(all P<0.05).Two hours,12 h and 24 h after surgery,the serum ACTH levels in the control group were significantly higher than those before anesthesia(all P<0.05),and were significantly higher than those in the observation group at the same time points(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Electroacupuncture plus drug anesthesia can significantly relieve pain and stress response in patients after radical surgery for stomach cancer.

Effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen concentration in brain of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen concentration in the brain of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), thus to reveal the mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening the brain function of PTSD rats. Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a grasping group, a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group, with 12 rats in each group. Except the blank group, rats in the other groups all received incarceration plus electric shock for 7 d to prepare the PTSD animal model. One hour before the stress model was established, rats in each group received the desig nated in tervention: rats in the blank group and the model group did not receive any intervention;rats in the grasping group received grasping and fixation;rats in the paroxetine group received paroxetine hydrochloride solution by intragastric administration;and rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture. Six-day treatme nt was a course, with 2 courses of treatme nt con ducted for a total of 12 d. After the modeli ng, rats in each treatment group received intervention for 5 dz and the fNIRS system was used to collect and record the changes in the concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), deoxygenated hemoglobin (d-Hb) and total hemoglobin (t-Hb) of the involved rat's brain regions, and also to assess the brain function. Results: Compared with the blank group, the con centrati on of HbO2 was significa ntly in creased, the concen trati on of d-Hb was significa ntly decreased, and the concen tration of t-Hb was sign ifica ntly in creased in the model group and the graspi ng group after the in tervention, and the differ en ces were statistically significant (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the concentrations of HbO2, d-Hb and t-Hb in the grasping group did not change significantly (all P>0.05). Compared with the grasping group, the concentration of HbC^was significantly decreased, the concentration of d-Hb was significantly in creased, and the concen trati on of t-Hb was sign ifica ntly decreased in the paroxeti ne group and the acup un cture group, and the differences were statistically sigrdficant (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the concentrations of HbO2, d-Hb and t-Hb between the paroxetine group and the acupuncture group (all P>0.05). Con elusion: Acup un cture can regulate the blood oxyge n conce ntrati on in the brain of PTSD model rats, which may be an important mechanism of acupuncture in intervening the brain function in PTSD rats.

Clinical observation of deep electroacupuncture at Baliao points for female stress urinary incontinence

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of deep electroacupuncture(EA)at Baliao points in treating stress urinary incontinence(SUI).Methods:A total of 60 female patients with SUI were divided into two groups according to the order of consultation,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with pelvic floor muscle training.The treatment group was treated with deep EA at Baliao points[Shangliao(BL 31),Ciliao(BL 32),Zhongliao(BL 33)and Xialiao(BL 34)].Results:The total effective rate was 93.3%in the treatment group,versus 33.3%in the control group,and the total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the scores of international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-short form(ICIQ-SF)and the volume of urinary leakage in both groups were lower than those before treatment(all P<0.05),and the ICIQ-SF score and the volume of urinary leakage in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Deep EA at Baliao points with long needles can improve the clinical symptoms in female patients with SUI,and it has a better curative effect than pelvic floor muscle training.

Heat stress affects dairy cow health status through blood oxygen availability

Background Rises in global warming and extreme weather occurrence make the risk of heat stress(HS)induced by high ambient temperatures more likely in high-yielding dairy cows,resulting in low milk quality and yield.In ani-mals,oxygen is involved in many physiological and metabolic processes,but the effects of HS on oxygen metabolism remain unclear.Thus,the current study aimed to investigate how oxygen metabolism plays a role in health status of dairy cows by measuring the milk yield,milk composition,and blood biochemical variables of cows under different levels of HS:none(No-HS),mild(Mild-HS),and moderate HS(Mod-HS).Results The HS significantly increased rectal temperature(Ptreat<0.01)and respiration rate(Ptreat<0.01).Under Mod-HS,greater Na+(P<0.05)and lower total CO_(2),and pH(P<0.05)were observed relative to those under No-HS and Mild-HS.Oxygen concentrations in both coccygeal artery and mammary vein(Ptreat<0.01)were lower under Mod-HS than under No-HS.Coccygeal vein concentrations of heat shock protein 90(HSP90)(P<0.05)increased during Mod-HS compared with those in cows under No-HS.Malondialdehyde increased during Mod-HS,and glu-tathione peroxidase(P<0.01)increased during Mild-HS.Coccygeal vein concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(P<0.01),heme oxygenase-1(P<0.01),and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(P<0.01)were greater in cows under Mod-HS than those under No-HS.Red blood cell count(P<0.01)and hemoglobin concentration(P<0.01)were lower in the coccygeal vein of dairy cows under Mild-and Mod-HS than those of cows under No-HS.Conclusions Exposure to HS negatively impacts the health status and lactation performance of dairy cows by limit-ing oxygen metabolism and transportation.However,the specific mechanism by which HS affects mammary function in cows remains unclear and requires further exploration.