Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on headache and the present status quo / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on headache in clinical trials were reviewed. First, the effects of Western medicine on headache for patients with primary headache and secondary headache were systematically reviewed based on online data, and possible mechanisms were discussed. Second, the role and potential use of acupuncture and moxibustion on headache were considered based on a review of research literature. Finally, the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion on migraine and tension type headache was systematically examined based on online data. These results suggest that acupuncture and moxibustion may be most effective on recurring headache.

Frequency distribution function of red blood cell velocities in single capillaries of the rat cerebral cortex using intravital laser-scanning confocal microscopy with high-speed camera

Background: Brain metabolism depends largely on oxygen and therefore constant delivery of oxygen to the brain is more important than to any other organ. Previously we reported a newly developed method to automatically calculate red blood cell (RBC) flow and its temporal modulations at the layer 1 of the rat cerebral cortex. Objective: To examine a general tendency of frame-rate dependency of RBC velocities and heterogeneity of RBC movements in single capillaries identified by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran staining. Methods: In urethane-anesthetized rats with a closed cranial window, intravenously administered FITC-labeled RBCs were traced at 125, 250 or 500 frames/s (fps) with a laser-scanning confocal fluorescence microscope and their velocities were automatically calculated with home-made software KEIO-IS2. Results: RBC velocities in single capillaries were not constant but variable, and were dependent on frame rate, with average values of 0.85 ± 0.43 mm/s at 125 fps, 1.34 ± 0.73 mm/s at 250 fps, and 2.05¬1.59 mm/s at 500 fps. When all capillary RBCs were plotted against their velocities (frequency distribution function of RBC velocities), RBC velocities were clustered at around 1.0 mm/s, smearing at higher velocities up to 9.4 mm/s. High RBC velocity was only detected from frame analysis with high frame rates since such high-flow RBCs were uncounted at low frame rates. RBC velocities higher than 6.5 mm/s were statistically significantly outlined from the main population (p \< 0.01). Such a group of capillaries was considered to belong to thoroughfare channels, although their diameter was almost the same as that of ordinary ones. Conclusion: Extra-high flow capillaries are confirmed in the cerebral cortex and these may be thoroughfare channels or non-nutritional capillaries carrying 42% of the blood in reserve.