Relationship between laser acupuncture analgesia and the function of mast cells / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the analgesic effects of single-and combined-laser irradiation with low-intensity applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats, and their relation to degranulation of mast cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group (Group NC), model control group (Group MC), sham irradiation group (Group SI), 10.6 microm laser irradiation group (Group 10.6 microm LI), 650 nm laser irradiation group (Group 650 nm LI) and combined (10.6 microm + 650 nm) laser irradiation group (Group CLI). Complete Freund's Adjuvant (0.05 mL) was injected into the left ankle joints of all the rats except those in Group NC to cause acute adjuvant-induced arthritis. In treatment, laser irradiation was applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 minutes in all the rats except those in Group NC and Group MC. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radian heat was used to compare analgesic effects among the groups. By means of toluidine blue, dyed slices of local tissues of "Zusanli" (ST 36) were used to observe changes of mast cell degranulation before and after laser irradiation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pain thresholds to irradiation of the rats in Group 650 nm LI and Group CLI were significantly higher than those in Group MC and Group SI (P < 0.01), and the mast cell degranulation rate in Group 650 nm LI and Group CLI were also significantly higher than that in Group MC and Group SI (P < 0.001). The pain threshold and mast cell degranulation rate in Group 10. 6 microm LI were not significantly different from those in Group MC and Group SI. There was a linear correlation between mast cell degranulation rate and PWL with 0. 737 in coefficient (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Single 650 nm laser and combined 650 nm + 10.6 microm laser with low intensity irradiated at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in acute adjuvant rats can provide remarkable analgesic effects, and there was a positive correlation between mast cell degranulation rate and analgesic effects, which plays an important part in laser irradiation-induced analgesia.</p>

Electroacupuncture alleviates complete Freund's adjuvant peripheral chronic inflammatory pain in mice / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the law of acupuncture analgesic effect and specificities of acupoint action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a model plus electroacupuncture (EA) group and a model plus sham EA group. Chronic inflammatory pain model was prepared by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into right posterior foot, and paw withdrawing latency (PWL) induced by radiation heat was used as pain threshold index, and changes of PWL in all the groups were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After modeling, PWL significantly shortened on the inflammatory side (P < 0.05); EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) could significantly reverse the shortened PWL (P < 0.05), and this effect was prolonged along with increase of EA times, but in the sham EA group PWL did not significantly change; EA at bilateral "Shousanli" (LI 10) and Neiguan" (PC 6) could not reverse the shortened PWL (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Analgesic effect of EA is strengthened along with increase of EA times and shows specificity of acupoints to a certain extent.</p>

The role of collagen fiber in "Zusanli" (ST 36) in acupuncture analgesia in the rat / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Type-I collagenase was injected to destroy the structure of collagen fibers in the acupoint. Paw withdrawing latency and mast cell degranulation rate in the acute adjuvant arthritis rat were investigated. Effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) with twirling or thrusting-lifting manipulation on acupuncture analgesia and mast cells were compared when the structures of collagen fibers in the acupoint were destroyed or not.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the structures of collagen fiber were destroyed, the analgesic effects of both acupuncture manipulations were attenuated and the degranulation rate of mast cells caused by acupuncture were significantly inhibited.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Collagen fibers and mast cells in the acupoint play an important role in acupuncture analgesia. Collagen fibers participate in transmission and transform process of acupuncture signs from the acupoint to the target organ, and the degranulation of mast cells is positively correlated with acupuncture analgesia.</p>

Study on surface infrared radiation spectrums of danzhong (CV 17) in the patient of hyperplasia of mammary glands / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare differences of surface infrared radiation spectrums between Danzhong (CV 17) A high-sensitive PHE and non-acupoint control point in the patient of hyperplasia of mammary glands.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>201 surface infrared spectrograph was used to detect infrared radiation spectrums of Danzhong (CV 17) and non-acupoint control point at 1.5-16.0 microm wave band in the patient of hyperplasia of mammary glands.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The shape of the infrared spectrums of Danzhong (CV 17) was similar to that of the non-acupoint control point, but with lower radiation intensity. Of the 59 wavelength spots detected, 13 (6.75-8.25 microm, 9.00 microm, 9.25 microm, 9.75 microm, 13.25-13.75 microm) had significant differences in infrared radiation intensity between Danzhong (CV 17) and non-acupoint control point (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The intensity of infrared radition of Danzhong (CV 17) is lower and Qimen (LR 14) is higher than that of the non-acupoint control point in the patient with hyperplasia of mammary glands, showing that different channels are at different states of deficiency and excess under pathological condition of hyperplasia of mammary glands.</p>

Investigation of pathway and mechanism of heat stimulating action of sandwiched moxibustion / 中国针灸

Based on the literature review and theories of biophysical theory, the pathway and mechanism of the heat of sandwiched moxibustion stimulating acupoints are analyzed. It is concluded that the heat of sandwiched moxibustion is transferred to the skin of acupoints by heat conduction and thermal radiation. The heat conduct from the skin to deep tissues and other parts was carried out through the biological heat conduction systems. The investigation combined with theories of biological heat conduction was benefit to the research on clinical mechanisms of indirect moxibustion. In addition to heat effect, the infrared resonance of indirect moxibustion and acupoints may be the base of clinical effects of indirect moxibustion.

Study on Volt-ampere (V-A) characteristics of human acupoints / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on basic Volt-ampere (V-A) characteristics of human acupoints and the changes with physiologic and pathologic changes, and probe their biophysical basis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The research works of this research group about V-A characteristics of acupoints in recent 10 years were systematized and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>V-A characteristic curve of human acupoints is of the both characteristics of non-linear and inertia. Compared with controlled point, the lower electric resistance characteristic of acupoints is not popular and the lower inertia is popular. V-A area of acupoints has no obvious circadian rhythms and the inertia area of a large part of acupoints has obvious circadian rhythms, with the phase of peak value corresponding to the phase of valley value of body temperature rhythms. V-A characteristics of acupoints in the patients of heart disease or stomach diseases changes obviously, and these changes have a certain specificities of acupoints. After remission of the lesion, the V-A characteristics of acupoints restore normal. The V-A area and the inertia area of acupoints in the corpse are obviously smaller than the normal person, with disappearance of the characteristics of both the non-linear and inertia of the normal person.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Human acupoints have characteristics of non-linear and inertia, and the non-linear characteristic reflects complexity of physiology and behavior, while the inertia characteristic is related with energy metabolism of acupoints. The inertia area can more sensitively reflect human physiologic and pathological changes as compared with the V-A area, so it is an important index for the studies on electric characteristics of acupoints in the future.</p>