Gene control of acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning on apoptosis in ischemic cardiac muscle of rats with re-perfusion

In order to explore the effect of acupuncture preconditioning on rats' cell apoptosis with cardiac muscle re-perfusion damage and bcl-2mRNA genes, we used differentiating acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning among groups, then compared acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning with ischemic preconditioning. The experimental results show that acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning makes more bcl-2mRNA genes expressed and produces less cell apoptosis, furthermore, groups of acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning for twice a day are more effective than those of ischemic preconditioning.

Specific cerebral activation following true and sham Waiguan(SJ 5) needling Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence

Positive activation and negative activation of glucose metabolism can be detected in different brain regions under acupuncture conditions using functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） which reveals acupoint function and location-acupoint specificity. This study observed the regional cerebral activation of the Waiguan （SJ 5） acupoint following true needling at the true Waiguan acupoint, sham needling at the true Waiguan acupoint and true needling at a sham point using fMRI. The fMRI results demonstrated that compared with sham needling, true needling at Waiguan activated the BA8 area and left cerebellum. Compared with needling at the sham point, needling at Waiguan activated the BA2 area, the left cerebellum and the right inferior semilunar lobule. Thus the activated brain areas caused by needling Waiguan may be the basis for treatment of certain diseases.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture stimulating Zusanli(ST36)and Xuanzhong(GB39)on synovial angiogenesis in rats with adjuvant arthritis

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA)stimulating Zusanli(ST36)and Xuanzhong(GB39)on synovial angiogenesis in rats with adjuvant arthritis(AA).METHODS:AA models were established by bilateral injection of Freund's complete adjuvant(FCA)in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Three days after injection,rats were given EA at Zusanli(ST36)and Xuanzhong(GB39)acupoints,once every other day,for 16 d.The arthritis index score,paw volume,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was performed for each animal.Angiogenesis marker cluster of differentiation 34(CD34)expression and synovial cell apoptosis in synovial tissue were observed.The levels of Notch1,hairy and enhancer of split homolog-1(Hes1),transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-β)and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)were subsequently detected.RESULTS:We found that EA significantly decreased arthritis index scores,paw volume,and HE staining scores.EA could significantly inhibit the expression of CD34,promoting apoptosis of synovial cells in the joint synovial tissue of AA rats.The expression of Notch1 signaling pathway proteins and mR NAs(Notch1,Hes1,TGF-β,and bFGF)were markedly downregulated by EA treatment.CONCLUSIONS:These results prove that EA attenuates synovial angiogenesis by inhibiting the Notch1 signaling pathway in AA rat models.Based on our findings,we propose that EA is a promising complementary and alternative therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Acupoints combination correlates with activation of cerebral areas A functional MRI study

Acupoint combination is a method used for acupoint treatment of patients. Traditionally, acupoints are matched along the meridian distribution, which is a common rule in clinical practice, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Cerebral scans with functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） have been used in the study of acupuncture and acupoint specifically. In this study, fMRI was used to detect the activation of the brain areas under different acupoints, matched along different meridians, to elucidate the acupoint combination via a modern medical approach. Forty healthy volunteers were randomly divided into the following groups： Waiguan point （SJ 5）, Waiguan （SJ 5） ＋ Zhigou （SJ 6） （2 acupoints come from the same meridian）, Waiguan （SJ 5） ＋ Neiguan （PC 6） （2 acupoints come from 2 meridians with the relationship of interior-exterior）, Waiguan （SJ 5） ＋ Yanglingquan （GB 34） （2 acupoints come from 2 meridians with the same name-Shaoyang Meridian）, and sham point groups （needling in different points on the right hand）. A real-time cerebral fMRI scan was simultaneously performed. The cerebral activation rate, and the number and strength of different regions of interest were compared among the groups. The fMRI cerebral imaging confirmed that there were some differences in the activation of cerebral areas by the needlings in SJ 5, and in combination with other acupoints. Needling at SJ 5 alone greatly activated the right cerebellum, while needling at both SJ 5 and different co-needling points activated different cerebral functional areas.

Disease-Related Factors Associated with Acupuncture Response in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache:A Secondary Analysis of A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To explore the demographic and disease-related factors associated with acupuncture response in patients with chronic tension-type headache(CTTH).Methods Using data from a randomized clinical trial(218 cases)consisting of 4 weeks of baseline assessment,8 weeks of treatment,and 24 weeks of follow-up,participants were regrouped into responders(at least a 50%reduction in monthly headache days at week 16 compared with baseline)and non-responders.Twenty-three demographic and disease-related factors associated with acupuncture response in 183 participants were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression.Results One hundred and nineteen(65.0%)participants were classified as responders.Four factors were significantly independently associated with acupuncture response,including treatment assignment,headache intensity at baseline,and 2 domains[general health(GH)and social functioning(SF)]from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey quality of life questionnaire.Treatment assignment was associated with non-response:participants receiving true acupuncture were 3-time more likely to achieve a CTTH response than those receiving superficial acupuncture[odds ratio(OR)0.322,95%confidence interval(CI)0.162 to 0.625,P=0.001].Compared with patients with mild-intensity headache,patients with moderate-intensity headache were twice as likely to respond to acupuncture(OR 2.001,95%CI 1.020 to 4.011,P=0.046).The likelihood of non-response increased by 4.5%with each unit increase in the GH grade(OR 0.955,95%CI 0.917 to 0.993,P=0.024)while decreased by 3.8%with each unit increase in the SF grade(OR 1.038,95%CI 1.009 to 1.069,P=0.011).Conclusions Greater headache intensity,lower GH score,and higher SF score were associated with better acupuncture responses in CTTH patients.These 3 factors require independent validation as predictors of acupuncture effectiveness in CTTH.

Guidelines on common cold for Traditional Chinese Medicine based on pattern differentiation

OBJECTIVE: To establish the guidelines on common cold treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in terms of pattern identification. METHODS: The guidelines were formulated by using the basic patterns of common cold in ChinaPharmacopeia integrated with findings from systematic literature review and the experts' consensus on the issue in question. RESULTS: Common cold was divided into four patterns in the guidelines. The medications were recommended respectively: Ganmaoqingre granule for wind-cold exterior syndrome,Yinqiaojiedu granule for wind-heat exterior syndrome, Huoxiangzhengqi Wan for summer-heat dampness exterior syndrome and Shensu Wan for wind-cold exterior syndrome accompanied with Qi deficiency. CONCLUSION: The guidelines were primarily derived from the practice experience of TCM and the experts' consensus. The process was not strictly evidence-based because of lacking enough clinical studies. Further refinement of the guidelines should be needed as more studies are available.