Optimal stimulation parameters for Renzhong (DU 26) electro-acupuncture for improving motor function in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion

The selection of electro-acupuncture parameters remains poorly unified between clinical studies. The present study observed the effects of electro-acupuncturing Renzhong （DU 26） with different stimulation parameters on motor function recovery following middle artery occlusion injury in rats. Results showed an optimal stimulation parameter for Renzhong electro-acupuncture that was low frequency and mild current （2 Hz, 1 mA） significantly improved cortical excitability and conductive function, and promoted recovery in a rat model of motor function in middle artery occlusion. Frequency had a greater impact than current or interaction, and played a critical role in electro-acupuncture therapy.

Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Immune Function After Chemotherapy in 28 Cases

PURPOSE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture therapy on T cells and activity of NK cell in the patient of Chemotherapy. METHOD: Electro-acupuncture therapy was simultaneously applied during chemotherapy, T cells and activity of NK cell of patients were determined before electroacupuncture treatment (before chemotherapy) and after 4-course electro-acupuncture treatments. RESULTS: Before chemotherapy, CD3 was low within the normal range, CD4 was much lower than the normal range, and CD8, CD4/CD8 and activity of NK cell were within the normal range. After one month of chemotherapy combined with electro-acupuncture, no decline of all the indices was found (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture can really increase the immune function of patients of chemotherapy.

A SURVEY OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR PERIPHERAL FACIAL PARALYSIS

Peripheral facial paralysis,a commondisease referring mainly to Bell’s palsy,iscaused by peripheral nerve malfunction dueto the effect of cold and wind,the exactcause of which still remains unascertained.

Changes in corticocerebral morphology in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury following “Xingnao Kaiqiao” acupuncture

BACKGROUND： Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury has been shown to induce inflammatory reactions, including white blood cell activation and adhesion molecule expression. These reactions often lead to aggravated neuronal injury. OBJECTIVE： To observe corticocerebral pathology, as well as ultrastructural changes, in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through optical and electron microscopy, and to investigate interventional effects of ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ acupuncture （a brain-activating and orifice-opening acupuncture method）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, neuropathology, animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between April and June 2004. MATERIALS： A total of 50 healthy, male, Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups, with 10 rats per group： control, sham-operated, model, non-acupoint, and ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao ＂. Transmission electron microscope （TEM 400ST） was provided by Philips, Netherlands. Electro-acupuncture treatment apparatus （KWD-8082） was provided by Changzhou Wujin Great Wall Medical Instrument, China. METHODS： Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in the model, non-acupoint, and ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ groups. Rats from the control group did not undergo any treatment. The sham-operated group received identical experimental procedures as the model group, except that the nylon suture was not inserted into the right internal carotid artery. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 hours following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury induction, rats from the Xingnao Kaiqiao group underwent 1-minute acupuncture at the bilateral ＂Neiguan＂ （PC 6） acupoint, using a reducing method of lifting-thrusting and twirling-rotating. Subsequently, the rats were subjected to acupuncture at the ＂Renzhong＂ （DU26） acupoint 10 times by a heavy bird-pecking method. The non-acupoint group received acupuncture administration at the bilateral costal region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： After ischemia for 1 hour and reperfusion for 24 hours, corticocerebral morphology and ultrastructural changes were observed on the injured side through the use of optical and electron microscopy. RESULTS： Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion resulted in damage to neurons, glial cells, and capillary vessels in the rat brain. ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ acupuncture produced superior curative effects when it was performed 3 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induction, resulting in slightly recovered neuronal structures, alleviated cellular interstitial edema, and more capillary vessels. At each corresponding time point, the ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ group exhibited improved neuronal structure and cellular interstitial edema, compared with the non-acupoint group. CONCLUSION： ＂Xingnao Kaiqiao＂ acupuncture results in protective effects on corticocerebral neuronal morphology and ultrastructure in rats following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Clinical Observation on the Effect of Earlobe-Bleeding plus Body Acupuncture in 85 Cases of Common Acne

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of earlobe-bleeding plus body acupuncture for common acne. Methods: The earlobe-bleeding plus local and body acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation was adopted for 85 cases of common acne. Results: Of the 85 cases treated, 61 were cured, 12 markedly effective, 9 improved, and 3 failed. The total effective rate was 96.47%. Conclusions: The therapy can treat both the Biao-symptom and Ben-root of common acne, short in course and effective in result.

Progress of ISO Standards Development onAcupuncture Needles

Based on the decision to set up a work group at the second plenary meeting of ISO/ TC 249 in Hague, the Netherlands from Nay 2 to 4, 2011, ISO/TC 249/WG 3 was created by ISO/CS on May 30, which would mainly develop standards on acupuncture needles. Registered as the convener of WG 3 in the ISO Global Directory by ISO/CS on July 5, Huang Longxiang, research fellow in the Institute of Acupuncture of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences （CACMS） chaired the first meeting of the work group from October 20 to 21.

Book Review on“Ancient Herbs, Modern Medicine”

Ever since Chinese medicine came onto the health care scene, it has had an uneasy and at times contentious relationship with mainstream Western biomedicine. For the first two twenty years or so there was nothing of the significance to speak of in the way of collaboration or integration between the two medical systems. Western medical literature often cast

Acupuncture Anesthesia in China:Retrospect and Prospect

Acupuncture treatment is a great creation of ancient physicians in China, and acupuncture analgesia is the most influential therapy. After the founding of the People＇s Republic of China in 1949, the acupuncture analgesia of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has obtained great development.

Blinding Effect of Non-penetrating Sham Needle in the Randomized Controlled Trials of Acupuncture:A Systematic Review

The aim of this article was to assess the clinical evidence for or against the blinding effect of non-penetrating sham needle as placebo needle. This systematic review included randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of acupuncture taking non-penetrating sham acupuncture as placebo needle. Systematic searches were conducted in 13 electronic databases up to July 2012: Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, a Chinese medical database. All parallel or cross-over RCTs of acupuncture for the blinding effect of non-penetrating needle were chosen without language restrictions. Finally, totally 7 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. In conclusion, our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that the non-penetrating needle is an effective instrument for placebo control in the acupuncture RCTs.

Effect of Zishenpingchan granule prepared from Chinese medicinal substances on the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase pathway in mice with Parkinson's disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the regulatory mechanism of the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase(JNK)signaling pathway in substantia nigra(SN) dopaminergic neurons inflammation and apoptosis, and the neuroprotective effect of Zishenpingchan granules in mice with Parkinson's disease(PD) induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP).METHODS:PD model mice were established by intraperitoneally injecting MPTP.Sixty mice were divided into a model group, Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) group and control group.The mice of the TCM group were administered Zishenpingchan granules 7 days before PD induction.Seven days after PD induction, we examined locomotor activity,and performed the rotarod test and swimming test,to evaluate limb movement function.Furthermore,we used immunohistochemistry and western blotting to examine the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), cyclooxygenase-2(Cox-2), caspase-3 and p-JNK.The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) method was used to examine neuron apoptosis in the SN.RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the mean score of locomotor activity, rotarod test and swimming test was significantly lower in the model group(P < 0.05); the TH-positive neuron expression was significantly decreased in the SN pars compacta(SNpc); the protein expression levels of Cox-2,caspase-3 and p-JNK was obviously increased; and the number of TUNEL-positive neurons in the SN was increased(P < 0.01).Compared with the model group, the mean score of neurobehavioral tests in the TCM group was obviously higher, the loss of TH-positive neurons ignificantly decreased, the protein expression levels of Cox-2, caspase-3 and p-JNK obviously decreased, and the number of TUNEL-positive neurons in the SN clearly decreased(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The JNK pathway plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis in nigral cells in PD mice.TCM can suppress the over-activation of the JNK pathway in the SN, and alleviate the inflammatory response in nigral cells and dopaminergic neuron apoptosis in PD mice.

Clinical research of acupoint application for "treatment of winterdisease in summer" used to prevent and treat bronchial asthma inchildren

OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily analyze key factors influencing curative effect through clinical observations of acupoint application for "treatment of win-ter disease in summer" used to prevent and treat bronchial asthma in children.METHODS:In an observational study and prospective cohort study,we observed children in remission of asthma at three class Ⅲ grade A TCM hospitals in Liaoning,Hubei,and Chengdu.RESULTS:A total of 609 children conformed to diagnostic and inclusive standards for remission of bronchial asthma.Through follow-up visits,we observed their skin reactions and the time and chance of treatment with different therapies in the three hospitals;we also compared and analyzed different drugs,acupoints,and preparations.We found that the key Chinese drugs were Bai Jie Zi(Semen Sinapis Albae) and Yian Hu Suo(Rhizoma Corydalis);the key acupoints were Feishu(BL 13),Gaohuang(BL 43),Dingchuan(EX-B1),Tiantu(CV 22),and Shanzhong(CV 17);and the best preparation was a mixture of drugs,ginger juice,and musk.Acupoint application was practiced on the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter for 0.5 to 2 h with the lowest rate of asthma relapse.CONCLUSIONS:The present data analysis shows that the curative effect of acupoint application for "treatment of winter disease in summer" may be influenced by recipes of Chinese drugs,preparations,prescriptions of acupoints,chance,time,and skin reactions.A curative effect is the result of the comprehensive action of these factors.

Randomized Controlled Trial on Mind-refreshing and Orifice-opening Needling Method and Cerebral Infarction

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of treating remission-stage cerebral infarction with mind-refreshing and orifice-opening needling method. Method： Six hundred cases of cerebral infraction were randomized on the basis of disease phase. The 234 cases in remission stage were randomized into treatment group （116 cases） and control group （118 cases） Besides routine Western therapies, the cases in the treatment group were combined mind-refreshing and orifice-opening needling method and the cases in the control group were combined with conventional needling method. The treatment was done once every day for 4 weeks. The follow-up was done for six months. Result： the baseline material in the two groups has good compatibility （P〉0.05） and the treatment group is better than the control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： the mind-refreshing and orifice-opening method is safe and act to improve symptoms of patients during remission stage, reduce disability, prevent disease progression and improve quality of life.