External Application of Chinese Drugs on Acupoint Shenque Combined with Salpingostomy for Treatment of Sterility Caused by Obstruction of the Fallopian Tube—A Clinical Report of 45 Cases

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of external application of Chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque (CV 8) combined with salpingostomy for treatment of sterility caused by obstruction of the fallopian tube.Method: 75 cases were randomly divided into the following 2 groups. Forty-five patients in the treatment group were treated with external application of Chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque (CV 8) combined with salpingostomy, while 30 patients in the control group were treated with salpingostomy only. Results: The results showed that in the treatment group, 26 cases were cured, 11 cases improved, and 8 cases failed, with a total effective rate of 82.22%; while in the control group, 14 cases were cured, 7 cases improved, and 9 cases failed, with a total effective rate of 70.00%. There is a significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of external application of Chinese drugs on acupoint Shenque combined with salpingostomy is better than that of salpingostomy only.

Influence of Ren and Du meridian electro-acupuncture on neural stem cell proliferation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia injury

BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that electro-acupuncture at the Ren meridian could improve proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells in cerebral-ischemic rats. However, there are few reports on the influence of electro-acupuncture at the Du meridian on neural stem cell proliferation. OBJECTIVE： To observe the influence of electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians on neural stem cell proliferation in the subventricular zone and altered signal transduction in cerebral ischemia rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University from May 2006 to February 2008. MATERIALS： Mouse anti-rat bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） monoclonal antibody was provided by Sigma, USA; mouse anti-rat nestin monoclonal antibody and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase （ERK） specific inhibitor PD98059 were provided by Calbiochem, Germany; acupuncture needle was provided by Suzhou Acupuncture Supplies, China. METHODS： A total of 126 rats were randomly assigned to four groups： model （n = 36）, Du meridian （n = 36）, Ren/Du meridian （n = 36）, and Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 （n = 18）. Rats in the Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 group were observed on days 7 （n = 6） and 14 （n = 12） after cerebral ischemia injury. Rats in the model, Du meridian, and Ren/Du meridian groups were observed on days 7, 14, and 28 after cerebral ischemia injury, with 12 rats per group at each time point. Thread occlusion was used to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion models. Electro-acupuncture was performed at Renzhong （DU 26） and Baihui （DU 20） acupoints in the Du meridian group, as well as Chengjiang （RN 24）, Guanyuan （RN 4）, Renzhong, and Baihuiacupoints in the Ren/Du meridian and Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 groups 2 days after model establishment. In addition, electro-acupuncture stimulation with disperse-dense waves was performed, with 30 Hz disperse wave, 100 Hz dense wave, and 5 V intensity for 20 minutes. Rats in the Ren/Du meridian ＋ PD98059 group were treated with 0.2 pg PD98059 injection into the subventricular zone, 2 pL per rat. Rats in the model group were not treated with electro-acupuncture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： BrdU/nestin immunofluorescent staining was used to detect proliferating neural stem cells in the subventricular zone of cerebral ischemia rats; Western blot was used to determine phosphorylated ERK1 and 2 （pERK1/2） expression in the subventricular zone. RESULTS： On days 14 and 28 after cerebral ischemia, there were significantly more BrdU-positive and BrdU/nestin-positive cells in the Ren/Du meridian group compared with the Du meridian group （P 〈 0.05）. PD98059 decreased the number of BrdU-positive and BrdU/nestin-positive cells induced by electro-acupuncture at the/：ten and Du meridians （P 〈 0.05）. On days 7, 14, and 28 after treatment, pERK1/2 expression was significantly greater in the Du meridian and Ren/Du meridian groups compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05）. The promoting effect of electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians on ERK1/2 phosphorylation was superior to electro-acupuncture at the Du meridian alone on day 14 after model induction （P 〈 0.05）. However, PD98059 completely abolished the promoting effect of electro-acupuncture at Ren/Du meridians on pERK1/2 expression （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Electro-acupuncture at Ren and Du meridians increased proliferation of subventricular zone neural stem cells, which was related to activation of the ERK pathway in a rat model of cerebral ischemia injury.

Effects of Electroacupuncture at the Conception Vessel on Proliferation and Differentiation of Nerve Stem Cells in the Inferior Zone of the Lateral Ventricle in Cerebral Ischemia Rats

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Conception Vessel on proliferation and differentiation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia rats. Methods: The model rats were prepared by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and then by reperfusion. They were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an EA group. Changes in differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells were observed 7, 14 and 28 days after successful modeling. Results: As compared with the 7-day control group (C-7d group), there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the numbers of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) positive cells, Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the EA group 7 days after modeling. However, in the 14-day EA group (R-14d group) and the 28-day EA group (R-28d group), the numbers of Brdu positive cells and Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin, Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells significantly increased as compared respectively with the 14-day control (C-14d group) and the 28-day control (C-28d) group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: EA at the Conception Vessel promotes differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral ischemia rats, and may stimulate differentiation of the proliferous nerve stem cells towards the astrocytes.

Clinical Observation on Acupuncture Treatment in 35 Cases of Diabetic Gastroparesis

In order to observe the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on diabetic gastroparesis, 80 cases were divided randomly into 3 groups. In addition to the routine treatment for diabetes, 35 cases in the treatment group were additionally treated with acupuncture, and 25 cases in the control group 1 with domperidone, while 20 cases in the control group 2 with nothing. The three groups were all observed for 25 days. The results turned out to be that the total effective rate in the treatment group reached 94.2%, that in the control group 1, 72%, and in the control group 2, 40%, the treatment group showing a better therapeutic effect than the other two control groups (P<0.05, P<0.01 ). It can be concluded that in addition to the routine treatment for controlling blood sugar, acupuncture can give quite good therapeutic effects on diabetic gastroparesis.

Acupuncture and Cupping for Treatment of Hiccup in Cases of Cerebrovascular Accident

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and cupping for hiccup in cases of cerebrovascular accident. Method: 80 cases of hiccup due to cerebrovascular accident were randomly divided into the treatment group of 40 cases treated by acupuncture and cupping and the control group of 40 cases treated with Ritaline. Result: In the treatment group, 24 cases were cured, 8 cases markedly effective, 5 cases improved, and 3 cases failed, with a total effective rate of 92.5%. In the control group, 9 cases were cured, 12 cases markedly effective, 8 cases improved, and 11 cases failed, with a total effective rate of 72.5%. There was a statistically significant difference in the therapeutic effects between the two groups (μ=3.3259, P=0.0009). Conclusion: The effect of acupuncture and cupping for hiccup due to cerebrovascular accident was noticeably superior to Ritaline.

Clinical Observations on Treatment of Lupus Nephritis with Kidney-nourishing and Toxin-removing Method——A Report of 60 Cases

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Si Cao Tang (四草汤), a TCM decoction for nourishing kidney and removing toxin, on lupus nephritis. Method: 60 patients with lupus nephritis were divided into a treatment group and a control group with 30 cases in each group. Hormonotherapy with standard course of treatment plus CTX shock was used not only in the control group, but also in the treatment group. However, Si Cao Tang was added in the treatment group. Result: Edema, swelling pain in the joints, skin rash and hematuria were obviously alleviated in the treatment group as compared to the control group with significant difference (P<0.05). Complement C3 level was very obviously enhanced, and blood sedimentation, antinuclear antibody, ds-DNA antibody and IgG were very obviously reduced in the treatment group as compared to the control group with very significant difference (P<0.01). Furthermore, the incidences of hepatic damage, baldness, menstrual disorder and secondary infection in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group with significant difference (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the two groups in reducing proteinuria, blood creatinine, urea nitrogen and antinuclear antibody titer as well as enhancing albumin. Conclusion: Si Cao Tang can effectively treat lupus nephritis with its therapeutic effect being better than that of hormonotherapy with standard course of treatment plus CTX shock and the incidence of its side effects obviously reduced. The decoction can effectively control lupus activity and treat and prevent glomerulosclerosis caused by lupus nephritis.

The Effect of Zhu Yu Hua Tan Tang on IntracranialPressure in Case of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage

The therapeutic effect of Zhu Yu Hua Tan Tang (逐瘀化痰汤Decoction for removing blood stasis and resolving phlegm) plus general and modern treatment on acute cerebral hemorrhage in 44 cases, and the pressure-lowering effect of Zhu Yu Hua Tan Tang and mannitol in 20 cases of acute cerebral hemorrhage in the basilar region, and in rabbits with experimental encephaledema induced by injection of olive oil into the common carotid artery were observed in this study. The results showed that Zhu Yu Hua Tan Tang plus general treatment can better improved the conscious state of the patients than western medicine, and it can make the intracranial pressure drop clinically by 40.44%. The intracranial pressure-lowering effect of Zhu Yu Hua Tan Tang, though slow, is smooth and long-lasting without any rebound phenomenon, as compared to those of mannitol. Similar results were found in animal experiments, but the intracranial pressure-lowering amplitude of Zhu Yu Hua Tan Tang was stronger than that of mannitol. The difference between the clinical and experimental results needs to be further studied.

Brief Introduction to Digital Acupoint Pressure Therapy

The Concept of Digital Acupoint PressureTherapyThe digital acupoint pressure therapy means thataccording to different diseases and the illnesscondition,the physician strikes,presses or taps theacupoints with hands on the patient's body surfaceto promote the circulation of qi and blood,thusmaking dysfunctions of certain organs or theaffected areas return to normal.The therapy,a Chinese medical heritage unique inmethod,reliable in therapeutic effects and easy tolearn,is well accepted by the majority patients fordisease prevention and hearth care.The Mechanism of Digital Acupoint