Effects of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on the expression of erythrocyte CD58 in different ages of healthy people / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on the expression of erythrocyte CD58 in different ages of healthy people and explore the differences of the therapeutic effect in different ages and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 82 health participants were divided into a young age group and a middle-old age group according to the ages. They were treated with herbal cake-separated moxibustion on Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) with cake made by Shudihuang (Radiz Re hmanniae Preparata), Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni ), etc. The treatment was given for 10 sessions once other day and each acupoint for 3 successive dosages. The mean fluorescence intensities of erythrocyte CD58 were measured by flow cytometry before and after moxibustion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After moxibustion, erythrocyte CD58 expression were significantly higher than that before moxibustion in two groups (both P < 0.01), particularly in young age group, which was significantly higher than that in middle-old age group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effect of moxibustion in youth is evidently superior to that in middle-old age. Its mechanism is connected with that moxibustion can enhance the expression of erythrocyte CD58.</p>

Effects of acupuncture at the points of the Pericardium Meridian on the activity of myocardial Ca2+-ATPase and gene expression in the rat of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of acupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Ximen" (PC 4) of the Pericardium Meridian in treatment of myocardial ischemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, sham-operation group, ischemia-reperfusion model group, Neiguan acupuncture group, Ximen acupuncture group and Zhigou acupuncture group. Electroacupuncture (EA) was given at corresponding acupoints for 20 min in the later 3 groups, followed by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery and 40 min later, acupuncture was given at the points for another 20 min, reperfusion for 60 min, with ECG monitoring. Then the myocardial tissue sample (below the ligation site) of the left cardiac ventricle was taken for preparation of sarcoplasmic reticulum, and determination of Ca2+-ATPase activity according to quantitative analysis of phosphorum. The relative mRNA levels were determined by Northerm Bolt analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the acupuncture groups, both the activities of Ca2+-ATPase and the gene expressions increased significantly as compared with the model group (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The points of the Pericardium Meridian can obviously improve the Ca2+-ATPase activity and the gene expressions, reduce the degree of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, and strength myocardial functions.</p>