Mechanism of electroacupuncture and herb-partitioned moxibustion on ulcerative colitis animal model:A study based on proteomics

BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic,nonspecific intestinal inflammatory disease.Acupuncture and moxibustion is proved effective in treating UC,but the mechanism has not been clarified.Proteomic technology has revealed a variety of biological markers related to immunity and inflammation in UC,which provide new insights and directions for the study of mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of UC.AIM To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA)and herb-partitioned moxibustion(HM)on UC rats by using proteomics technology.METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal(N)group,the dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced UC model(M)group,the HM group,and the EA group.UC rat model was prepared with 3%DSS,and HM and EA interventions at the bilateral Tianshu and Qihai acupoints were performed in HM or EA group.Haematoxylin and eosin staining was used for morphological evaluation of colon tissues.Isotope-labeled relative and absolute quantification(iTRAQ)and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were performed for proteome analysis of the colon tissues,followed by bioinformatics analysis and protein-protein interaction networks establishment of differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)between groups.Then western blot was used for verification of selected DEPs.RESULTS The macroscopic colon injury scores and histopathology scores in the HM and EA groups were significantly decreased compared to the rats in the M group(P<0.01).Compared with the N group,a total of 202 DEPs were identified in the M group,including 111 up-regulated proteins and 91 down-regulated proteins,of which 25 and 15 proteins were reversed after HM and EA interventions,respectively.The DEPs were involved in various biological processes such as biological regulation,immune system progression and in multiple pathways including natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity,intestinal immune network for immunoglobulin A(IgA)production,and FcγR-mediated phagocytosis.The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways of DEPs between HM and M groups,EA and M groups both included immuneassociated and oxidative phosphorylation.Network analysis revealed that multiple pathways for the DEPs of each group were involved in protein-protein interactions,and the expression of oxidative phosphorylation pathway-related proteins,including ATP synthase subunit g(ATP5L),ATP synthase beta subunit precursor(Atp5f),cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 1(Cox4i1)were down-regulated after HM and EA interventions.Subsequent verification of selected DEPs(Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A;nuclear cap binding protein subunit 1;carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1;Cox4i1;ATP synthase subunit b,Atp5f1;doublecortin like kinase 3)by western blot confirmed the reliability of the iTRAQ data,HM and EA interventions can significantly downregulate the expression of oxidative phosphorylation-associated proteins(Cox4i1,Atp5f1)(P<0.01).CONCLUSION EA and HM could regulate the expression of ATP5L,Atp5f1,Cox4i1 that associated with oxidative phosphorylation,then might regulate immune-related pathways of intestinal immune network for IgA production,FcγR-mediated phagocytosis,thereby alleviating colonic inflammation of DSSinduced UC rats.

Talking about Hot Flashes (潮热)

Women worldwide are dealing with hot flashes (潮热), a perimenopausal feature that is often tiring,embarrassing, and energeticallydraining. Conventionally, Chinese medicine defines hot flashes as Kidney-yin deficiency and its clinical manifestations include red face,sweating, hot sensations in the palms and soles, mouth and nose dryness, constipation, insomnia, lumbar soreness, knee weakness, redtongue, etc. To obtain a broader perspective and understand the dynamics of hot flashes, we examined the mechanisms behind hot flashesbased on both the knowledge from ancient Chinese medicinal texts, as well as novel research findings of Chinese and Western medicine.This perspective was the foundation for the acupuncture study of our traditional Chinese medicine conducted in 2018-2019 in Shanghai.This study, designed as a pragmatic randomized control trial with two parallel groups, focused on regulating and unblocking conceptionand governor vessels. The results confirmed that our acupuncture method could effectively reduce both the frequency and severity of hotflashes and improve life quality of middle-aged women.

Extract and Simple Explanation on the Principles of Taiji Studies

Taiji studies are a field of study that has its roots in the philosophical thought of the Yi Jing or Book of changes.It integrates the self‑cultivation traditions of Confucianism,Buddhism,and Daoism,and centers its academic system mostly on the perspective of the“states view”(jing jie guan).From the standpoint of its philosophical theory,Taiji studies divide the understanding of Dao into three theoretical states:the state of existence(you jie),the state of existence‑nonexistence(you wu jie),and the state of nonexistence(wu jie).It also establishes a theoretical structure that mainly includes“three states and nine axioms,”“One Dao and Nine theory sections,”and“Three practice levels and Nine secrets.”Based on traditional Chinese culture and philosophy,Taiji studies are continuously integrating the essence of them for better understanding and raising,and finally set up a rational school of Taiji Da Dao。

Electroencephalogram Brain Connectome:An Approach in Research to Identify the Effect of Acupuncture on Human Brain Wave

Acupuncture has been used for 1000 years, but how it gives therapeutic effect is not completely understood. Integration of brain wave as the central nervous system plays an important role in acupuncture efficacy. To explore the effect of acupuncture stimulation in the central nervous system, it is imperative to decide the adjustments in brain waves that produced because of acupuncture stimulation. Electroencephalogram(EEG) is often used in the acupuncture research area. EEG records spontaneous cerebral activity after some time by positioning electrodes on scalp surface. Using EEG, we can observe the brain connectivity regarding the acupuncture stimulation. An overview regarding the effect of manual acupuncture on human brain wave through EEG observation will be discussed in this review.

针刺治疗儿童调节性近视的临床观察

目的:观察针刺治疗儿童调节性近视的疗效。方法:将76例符合入组标准的调节性近视儿童根据随机数字表法分为对照组和试验组,每组38例。对照组予以健康用眼宣教,试验组在对照组干预基础上加用针刺治疗,每周2次,共治疗2个月。于治疗开始前、治疗1个月及治疗2个月后检测患者的裸眼远视力(UCVA)、屈光度及眼轴长度(AL)。结果:治疗1个月后,两组UCVA比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗2个月后,试验组UCVA优于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗1个月和2个月后,两组屈光度与治疗前比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗1个月和2个月后,对照组AL较治疗前增加(P<0.05),试验组无明显变化(P>0.05),组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:针刺治疗能提高调节性近视儿童UCVA。

Effect of Essential Oil on Patients with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of essential oil treatment for type Ⅲ chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2014 to October 2015. Seventy type Ⅲ CP/CPPS patients were assigned to the essential oil group(35 cases) or almond placebo oil control group(35 cases) by a random number table. The oil was smeared by self-massage on the suprapubic and sacral region once a day for 4 weeks. The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Syndrome Index(NIH-CPSI) and expressed prostatic secretions(EPS) were examined. The primary outcome was NIH-CPSI pain domain. The secondary outcomes included other NIH-CPSI domains and laboratory examinations of EPS. Adverse events were also observed. Results: Sixty-six subjects completed the full 4-week treatment. There was no significant difference between almond oil control and essential oil groups in terms of the total score of NIH-CPSI, pain, quality of life and urination domain scores of NIH-CPSI and EPS examinations(P>0.05). In the essential oil group, pain between rectum and testicles(perineum) in the domain of pain or discomfort was significantly reduced at week 2 and week 4 compared with almond oil control group(P<0.01). No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion: The essential oil may reduce the pain or discomfort in the perineum region in patients with CP/CPPS.

Effect of moxibustion at Shenshu(BL 23) on the ethology,corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor in aging rats

Objective：To observe the effect of moxibustion on learning and memory abilities,corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor（GR） in subacute aging rats.Methods：Twenty four Sprague-Dawley（SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group and a moxibustion group,8 rats in each group.Rats in the model group and the moxibustion group were subcutaneously injected with 25% D-galactose [125 mg/（kg·bw）] for 40 d continuous;rats in the normal group were injected with saline at the same position for 40 d continuous.Rats in the moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion at bilateral Shenshu（BL 23） at the same time of modeling;rats in the normal group and the model group were only identically grabbed without moxibustion for 40 d.The learning and memory abilities of rats were observed using the Morris water maze at the end of the experiment.Abdominal aorta blood and thymus were collected after water maze experiment.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone level,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of thymus GR.Results：Compared with the normal group,rats in the model group showed that a significantly longer escape latency time（P〈0.01） on the third and the fourth days;number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly reduced（P〈0.01）;activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly decreased（P〈0.05）;serum corticosterone levels increased（P〈0.01）;thymus GR expression decreased（P〈0.05）.Compared with the model group,rats in the moxibustion group showed that the escape latency times were significantly shorter on the third,the fourth and the fifth days（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）;number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly increased（P〈0.05）;activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly increased（P〈0.05）;serum corticosterone levels decreased（P〈0.05）;thymus GR expression increased（P〈0.05）.Conclusion：Moxibustion could improve the learning and memory abilities of subacute aging rats,down-regulate serum corticosterone levels,and increase thymus GR content.

Regulatory effects of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on the expressions of IL-17,IL-23 and their mR NAs in the colon of rats with Crohn's disease

Objective： To observe the regulatory effects of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on Crohn＇s disease （CD） rat＇s colon inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 （IL-17）, IL-23 and their mRNAs, and to investigate the action mechanism of moxibustion in treating CD. Methods： Forty SPF grade Sprague-Dauley （SD） male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and a Western medicine group, with 20 rats in each group. Except the normal group, rats in the other three groups were used to make CD model by giving an enema in colon with Trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid （TNBS）. When the models were successful made, rats in the model group had no therapeutic intervention; rats in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group were subjected to herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion treatment at bilateral Tianshu （ST 25） plus O.ihai （CV 6）; and rats in the Western medicine group were given oral Mesalazine. After treatment, the histopathological changes and inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IL-23 and their mRNAs expressions were observed in descending colon by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining, immunohistochemistry （IHC） and real-time polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） methods. Results： Colon tissues of TNBS enema rat models showed cracks-like ulcers accompanied by mucous layer inflammation, granulomas, and inflammatory cytokines IL-27, IL-23 and their mRNAs expressions were all higher than those in the normal group （P〈O.01）; after intervention, colon tissue cracks-like ulcers and inflammation degree reduced, inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IL-23 and their mRNAs expressions were all significantly decreased （P〈0.01） in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the Western medicine group. Conclusion： Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion may improve colon tissue ulcers and relieve intestinal inflammation by down-regulation of IL-17, IL-23 and their mRNAs expressions in CD model rats＇ colonic mucosa.

Effect of electroacupuncture and herbal cakepartitioned moxibustion on anxiety and depression in patients with Crohn's disease in remission

Objective： To observe the effect of electroacupuncture （EA） and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on anxiety and depression in patients with Crohn＇s disease （CD） in remission. Methods： Sixty CD cases were randomly allocated into an EA group （n=30） and an herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group （n=30） using the random number table by the ratio of 1：1. In addition, 30 healthy subjects were included in a control group. Bilateral Tianshu （ST 25）, Qihai （CV 6） and Zhongwan （CV 12） were used in the EA and herbal cake- partitioned moxibustion groups. The treatment was done 3 times a week, for a total of 12 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated using self-rating anxiety scale （SAS）, self-rating depression scale （SDS） and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom scores. Results： Before treatment, the SAS and SDS scores in CD patients were remarkably higher than those in healthy subjects. After EA or herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion treatment, the SAS and SDS scores were significantly decreased in both groups, showing significant intra-group differences （P〈0.05）; the symptom scores of abdominal pain （severity, frequency and duration）, bowel sounds/flatus and general fatigue were significantly decreased, showing significant intra-group differences （P〈0.05）; however, there were no between-group statistical differences （P〉0.05）. Conclusion： Both EA and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can significantly decrease abnormally high SAS and SDS scores in CD patients as well as TCM symptom scores. The two therapies share similar effects in alleviating common symptoms and improving anxiety and depression.

Observation on the effects of different partitioned moxibustion in treating ulcerative colitis

Objective：To observe the clinical effect and syndrome scores improvements of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion（HPM） and ginger-partitioned moxibustion（GPM） in treating ulcerative colitis（UC）.Methods：A total of 65 eligible cases were randomly divided into a HPM group（n=32） and a GPM group（n=33） according to their visiting order.Bilateral Tianshu（ST 25） and Dachangshu（BL 25） were selected for the HPM or the GPM treatment once daily,12 d as a treatment course with a 3-day interval,6 courses in all.The clinical effect,syndrome scale and Mayo scale were evaluated and compared between the two groups.Results：Of the 65 cases enrolled,2 cases dropped out in the HPM group and 3 cases dropped out in the GPM group,30 cases of each group finished the treatment courses.The total effective rate is 93.3% in HPM group and 86.7% in the GPM group,there was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups（P〉0.05）;there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in score evaluation of lasting time of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea,HPM is prior to GPM（P=0.032,P=0.044）.There are no statistical significant differences between the two groups in scores evaluation of general symptom,three main symptoms,quality of life（QOL）,frequency and severity of abdominal pain,times,and pattern of diarrhea（all P〉0.05）.There was a statistical significant difference in the improvement of Mayo score between the two groups,and HPM was superior to GPM（P=0.048）.Conclusion：HPM and GPM are both promising ways to treat UC,and the total effect is quite similar.HPM is superior to GPM in the improvement of lasting time of abdominal pain and frequency of diarrhea,and also the Mayo score.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture for Pain Caused by Liver Cancer

Objective:The objective of this study is to systematically review and analyze the efficacy of acupuncture for pain caused by primary liver cancer(PLC).Materials and Methods:We searched databases,including PubMed,Medline,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database(VIP),Wanfang,and SinoMed/Chinese Biomedical Database(CBM),and retrieved randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that used acupuncture as the primary intervention to treat pain caused by PLC.Two investigators then screened the articles,extracted and pooled data,and evaluated the risk of bias of the included articles according to the Cochrane Handbook.RevMan5.3 was used for the meta-analysis of eligible RCTs.Results:A total of 145 articles were retrieved;after screening,8 RCTs involving 496 patients were eventually included in this meta-analysis.The results showed that acupuncture effectively improved cancer pain and was superior to Western medicine.Moreover,acupuncture was fast-acting for pain relief,prolonged the relief,and prevented relapse.Its adverse reaction rate was also significantly lower than that of Western medicine.No significant difference was observed in Visual Analog Scale score between acupuncture and Western medicine.Conclusion:Acupuncture relieves pain caused by liver cancer and can be used as an adjunct and alternative therapy for drug treatment.The existing research evidence is not yet objective or comprehensive,and more rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate the results.

Therapeutic Idea and Approaches to Obesity with Acupuncture

Combining the personal clinical practice, the authors of this article illustrated the basic principle of treating obesity with acupuncture, studied its therapeutic effect evaluation, and demonstrated the idea and approaches in clinical application. In addition, the authors concluded that syndrome differentiation was the treatment principle and correct approach was crucial to the final result.

Clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in controlling myopia in children and its influence on retinal blood flow

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA)in controlling myopia in children and its effect on retinal blood flow.Methods:Sixty-eight myopic children were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 34 cases in each group.The control group was given auricular acupressure treatment alone,and the observation group was treated with EA once a week in addition to the treatment used in the control group.The spherical equivalent refraction(SER)and axial length(AL)were measured at baseline,and after 3 months and 6 months of treatment.Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to measure the vessel density(VD)and perfusion density(PD)in the surface layer of the retina.Results:After 3 months and 6 months of treatment,the changes in SER between the two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).After 3 months of treatment,the changes in AL between the two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05);after 6 months of treatment,the change amount of AL in the observation group was smaller than that in the control group(P<0.05);after 3 months and 6 months of treatment,the changes in VD and PD in the surface layer of the retina in the observation group were significantly greater than those in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion:EA treatment once a week for 6 months can delay the increase of AL and improve the retinal surface blood flow in myopic children.

Effectiveness and Safety of Umbilicus Treatment with Modified Dinggui Powder(加味丁桂散)in Patients with Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis:A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal external umbilicus treatment with Modified Dinggui Powder(加味丁桂散,MDGP)in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis(CNP).Methods:A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among 72 patients with CNP.Participants were randomly allocated to a treatment group and a placebo group using computer software in a 1:1 ratio,and received either MDGP external umbilicus treatment(MDGP group,36 cases)or placebo(control group,36 cases)at acupoints Shenque(CV 8),twice a week for 4 weeks.In addtion,patients all received herbal medicine treatment twice a day for 4 weeks.The primary outcome was the US National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Scores Index(NIH-CPSI)with a questionnaire at weeks 2 and 4.The secondary outcomes including prostatic fluid examination(white blood cells and lecithin bodies),the clinical efficacy evaluation,and the adverse events were also assessed during the entire trial.Results:The NIH-CPSI scores regarding pain or discomfort scores showed greater improvement in the MDGP group than placebo control group at weeks 2(P=0.001)and week 4(P=0.004),respectively.NIH-CPSI scores of symptom severity,total scores and leukocytes number in the prostatic fluid in the MDGP group were significantly improved(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the urinary symptoms,quality of life,lecithin and other scores between two groups(P>0.05).The clinical effective rate was 73.53%(25/34)in the MDGP group,which was significally higher than the placebo control group with 48.39%(25/31,P<0.05).Patients were blinded successfully,and no serious adverse effects were found during the trial.Conclusion:A 4-week course of umbilicus treatment with modified Dinggui Powder seems to relieve pain and symptom severity effectively and increase the amount of leukocytes number in patients with CNP(Trial registration No.ChiCTRI 800014687).

Clinical study of acupuncture plus Dang Gui Bu Xue Qu Feng Tang for benign essential blepharospasm

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus Dang Gui Bu Xue Qu Feng Tang for benign essential blepharospasm(BEB).Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed.A total of 105 participants were randomized 1:1:1 into an acupuncture group,a herbal medicine group and an acupuncture plus herbal medicine group.Participants in the acupuncture group received manual acupuncture treatment,twice a week.Participants in the herbal medicine group received Dang Gui Bu Xue Qu Feng Tang,oral administration,once a day.Participants in the acupuncture plus herbal medicine group received both treatments.The therapeutic effects of the three groups were evaluated after four weeks of treatment.The primary outcome was the Jankovic rating scale(JRS)score,and the secondary outcome was the blepharospasm disability index(BSDI)score.Results:After four weeks of treatment,the JRS total scores significantly decreased in all three groups versus baseline(P<0.05).A greater reduction in the JRS total score was reported in participants in the acupuncture plus herbal medicine group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the herbal medicine group(P>0.05).The acupuncture plus herbal medicine group had a greater decrease in the JRS severity score than the herbal medicine group(P<0.05).The reduction in the JRS frequency score was not significantly different among the three groups(P>0.05).The BSDI scores significantly decreased in all three groups versus baseline(P<0.05),but the reduction in the BSDI score was insignificantly different among the three groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:It is effective in the treatment of BEB either to use acupuncture and Dang Gui Bu Xue Qu Feng Tang alone or in combination.The combination therapy shows a more significant effect than either of the treatment alone.

Present situation and prospects about application of microelectrode array in study on acupuncture efficacy

As a component of traditional Chinese medical therapies, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for some nervous system diseases have been proven by a large number of clinical and experimental studies. But, the electrophysiological techniques of the commonly used EEG and evoked potentials are still not sufficient to reveal the functional mechanism of acupuncture therapy. The recording technique of microelectrode array （MEA）, a kind of electrophysiological technique originated from the overseas biological electrical signal monitoring technique, can be used to record multiple electrical signals of the nervous cells in vivo or in vitro, and maintain the accuracy and stability of the recorded information at the same time, which greatly enriches the means of electrophysiological study. This technique has been already applied in the basic study and clinical treatment abroad, but it is very seldom used in the study of acupuncture field. In order to guide the application of MEA in the research field of acupuncture science, a general survey about the application of MEA technique in vivo was done, and the present situation and prospects of the application of the technique in acupuncture science was briefly analyzed.

Acupuncture Therapy for 130 Cases of Simple Obesity

One hundred and thirty cases of simple obesity were treated by acupuncture plus auricular point sticking, after a course of treatments, 49 cases got marked effect, 73 cases got effect and 8 cases got no effect, the total effective rate was 93.8%, especially the patients with severe obesity got the best effect.