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Objective: To investigate the effect of acupuncture plus mild hypothermia on neurological function impairment score, cerebral infarct size and apoptosis-related factors in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) rats.Methods: Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were routinely reared for 1 week. Ten rats were randomly selected as the sham operation group and 10 rats as the blank control group, while the remaining 40 rats were subjected to preparing the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model by modified filament occlusion method. The 40 MCAO rats were further randomly divided into a model group, an acupuncture group, a mild hypothermia group and an acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the sham operation group, the blank control group and the model group did not accept treatment except binding; rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment; rats in the mild hypothermia group received mild hypothermia treatment; rats in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group received acupuncture and mild hypothermia treatment. 72 h after the treatment, neurological function impairment score was performed; the infarct area ratio was determined by 2,3,5-tripheyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining; apoptosis of brain cells was observed by TUNEL method; the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results: Compared with the blank control group and the sham operation group, the neurological function impairment score, cerebral infarct area ratio, apoptosis, and the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 in the model group were significantly increased, while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased, and there were significant between-group differences (allP<0.05). After the treatment, there were statistically significant differences among the treatment groups in the neurological function impairment score, cerebral infarct area ratio and apoptosis in the ischemic side of rats, as well as the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 (allP<0.05), and from the figures, tables and statistical analysis, it was found that a better tendency in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group than the acupuncture group or mild hypothermia group.Conclusion: Acupuncture plus mild hypothermia can protect the brain cells by improving neurological function impairment, decreasing cerebral infarct area ratio, reducing the number of apoptotic cells in the ischemic area and regulating the expressions of apoptosis related proteins to inhibit apoptosis.
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The contents about the central action mechanisms of needling Zusanli (ST 36) were sorted by summarizing the relevant literatures published in the past 10 years, and it was found that: by comparing acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), other acupoints or sham points, most studies showed that Zusanli (ST 36) had relatively specific characteristics in the brain function response; studies on the central action mechanisms of Zusanli (ST 36) were mainly focused on sequelae of cerebral apoplexy, pain, gastrointestinal diseases, weight loss and drug addiction withdrawal and so on; acupuncture manipulations, stimulation methods, individual differences, stimulation quantity, and stimulation duration, etc. could also induce different brain function responses; acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) had an after-working effect, also called long-term effect, but with poor repeatability. So, it was suggested that the future studies should focus on the factors that affect the clinical efficacies and experimental results, including the compatibility effects of the acupoints, reproducibility of research results, sample size, acupuncture methods, long-term effects and disease entities.
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Objective:To observe effect of acupuncture combined with hypothermia therapy on MAPK/ERK pathway and apoptosis related factorsin rats suffered cerebral ischemia reperfusion and to explore underlying mechanisms.Methods:Middle cerebral artery ischemia model were established.Ninety SD rats were randomly assigned into a blank group,a control group,a model group,an acupuncture group,a mild hypothermia group,and an acupuncture with hypothermia group.After 72 h treatment,nervefunction defect scores were observed,and infarction area percent was detected by 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining;expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by immunohistochemistry;apoptotic cells were detected by TUNEL assay;and expression levels of phospho-mitogen-activated protein kinase(p-MEK2) and phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the rats' hippocampus ischemic side were determined by Western blot.Results:In the rats of the model group,the neural function defect scores,the infarction area percent,the expression level of Bax,and apoptotic cells increased,while the level of Bcl-2 decreased significantly.The level of p-MEK2 and p-ERK1/2 increased obviously compared with the blank and control groups (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).After treatment with acupuncture and hypothermia,the neural function defect scores,infarction area percent,and the level ofBax,apoptotic cells and the levels of p-MEK2 and p-ERK1/2 were significantly decreased,while the level of Bcl-2 in the treatment group was significantly elevated (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) compared with the model group.Compared with the acupuncture group or the hypothermia group,the neural function defect scores and the levels of p-MEK2 and p-ERK1/2 in the acupuncture combined with hypothermia group were significantly reduced (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion:Acupuncture and hypothermia therapy can improve cerebral function,and reduce the cerebral injury through down-regulation of Bax level,and up-regulation of Bcl-2 level,which is related to reducing the levels of p-MEK2 and p-ERK1/2.The therapeutic effects on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury for combination of acupuncture with hypothermia are better than those with single application of acupuncture or hypothermia.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect difference between acupuncture and moxibustion for functional dyspepsia (FD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with FD were randomized into an acupuncture group (29 cases with 1 rejecting) and a moxibustion group (27 cases with 3 dropping). The corresponding manipulations for 4 courses were applied at Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36) in the two groups, continuous 5 times as 1 course with 2 days between two courses, once a day and total 20 times. Leed's dyspepsia questionnaire (LDQ) and Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) were tested before and after treatment, and safety was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the total LDQ scores decreased in the two groups (both<0.01), with statistical different value between the two groups (<0.05). Upper abdominal pain, early satiety, epigastric burning in the acupuncture group were improved more obviously compared with those in the moxibustion group (all<0.01). The NDI scores in the two groups increased after treatment (both<0.01), without statistical different value before and after treatment (>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion are effective for FD and acupuncture shows superiority.</p>
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Objective:To observe the protective effect of acupuncture plus mild hypothermia on brain tissues in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), and the influence on protein expression levels of phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) pathway, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture plus mild hypothermia therapy for the ischemic stroke. Methods:Ninety Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a sham operation group, a model group, an acupuncture group, a mild hypothermia group and an acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group, 15 rats in each group. Except the rats in the blank control group, the remaining rats were used to prepare the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models according to the modified occlusion method using lines, while only the occlusion lines were inserted without blocking the brain arteries of rats in the sham operation group. When the vital signs of rats were stable, rats in the blank control group did not receive any intervention; rats in the sham operation group and the model group received fastening without treatment; rats in the acupuncture group, the mild hypothermia group, and the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group were treated with the corresponding therapeutic methods. 72 h later, observed neurologic injury score, evaluated infarction area ratio by 2,3,5-tripheyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, determined apoptosis by TUNEL assay, and measured the phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 protein expression levels in rat ischemic hippocampal tissues by Western blot assay. Results: Compared with the blank control group and the sham operation group, after modeling, the neurologic injury score, infarction area ratio and apoptotic cells were increased, and phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 orP<0.01). Compared with the model group, after acupuncture or mild hypothermia therapy, neurologic injury score and infarction area ratio were decreased; apoptotic cells and phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 protein expression levels were significantly decreased; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05 orP<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture group, neurologic injury score and phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 protein expression levels were decreased in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group; differences between the groups were statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the mild hypothermia group, phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 protein expression levels decreased in the acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group, and differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion:Acupuncture or mild hypothermia therapy can improve neurologic injury, reduce infarction area and apoptosis, which brought about protective effect on the brain tissues, in the MCAO model. The protective effect of acupuncture plus mild hypothermia group is the strongest. The mechanism may involve the MAPK/ERK pathway, by reducing the phosphorylated Raf-1, MEK-2 and ERK1/2 protein expression levels.
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Objective: To observe the influence of Nie-pinching the spine manipulation on the excretory rate of urine D-xylose in the infants with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, and to assess the clinical effects. Methods:Sixty infants in conformity with the diagnostic criteria of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group by the random digital table, 30 cases in each group. The infants in the treatment group were treated by Nie-pinching the spine manipulation and traditional infantile tuina, in addition to the routine basic treatment. The infants in the control group were treated by the same traditional infantile tuina in addition to the routine basic treatment. The infants in the two groups were treated once every day, 4 weeks as a course. Totally, the treatment was given for a course. The symptom integrals of spleen deficiency were used to assess the improvement in the symptoms. The colorimetry was used to determine the excretory rate of urine D-xylose. Results:In the comparison of the same group before and after the treatment, the differences in the global score of spleen deficiency symptoms and the excretory rate of urine D-xylose in the two groups were statistically significant (allP<0.01). After the treatment, the differences in the global score of spleen deficiency symptoms and the excretory rate of urine D-xylose between the two groups were all statistically significant (bothP<0.01). Conclusion:Chiropractics can reduce the integrals of spleen deficiency symptoms and elevate the excretory rate of urine D-xylose in the infants with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, so as to enhance the therapeutic effects by alleviating the symptoms of spleen deficiency and the absorptive function of the small intestine.
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The "flipped classroom" teaching model practiced in the teaching ofcurriculum was introduced. Firstly, the roles and responsibilities of teachers were clarified, indicating teachers provided examples and lectures, and a comprehensive assessment system was established. Secondly, the "flipped classroom" teaching model was split into online learning, classroom learning and offline learning. Online learning aimed at forming a study report by a wide search of relevant information, which was submitted to teachers for review and assessment. Classroom learning was designed to communicate study ideas among students and teachers. Offline learning was intended to revise and improve the study report and refined learning methods. Lastly, the teaching practice effects of "flip classroom" were evaluated by comprehensive rating and questionnaire assessment, which assessed the overall performance of students and overall levels of paper; the learning ability was enhanced, and the interest and motivation of learning were also improved. Therefore, "flipped classroom" teaching mode was suitable for the curriculum of, and could be recommended into the teaching practice of related curriculum of acupuncture and tuina.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of acupuncture-moxibustion on chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and explore the methods of acupoint selection along meridian for transplanted-kidney-related diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 180 patients of CAN were randomized into a syndrome differentiation group, a spleen-meridian group, a kidney-meridian group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. A total of 33 cases dropped out before the end of the study, including 8 cases in the syndrome differentiation group, 12 cases in the spleen-meridian group, 13 cases in the kidney-meridian group and no case in the control group. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine; based on this, patients in other three groups were treated with acupuncture-moxibustion. In the syndrome differentiation group, Qihai (CV 6), Hegu (LI 4), Guanyuan (CV 4), Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. were selected for qi deficiency of lung and kidney; Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. were selected for deficiency of qi and yin; Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Ququan (LR 8), etc. were selected for yin deficiency of liver and kidney; Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Mingmen (GV 4), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), etc. were selected for yang deficiency of spleen and kidney. In addition, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), etc. were added in the spleen-meridian group; Taixi (KI 3), Zhaohai (KI 6), Fuliu (KI 7), Ciliao (BL 32), etc: were added in the kidney-meridian group. Serum creatinine (Scr), creatinine clearance (Ccr) and 24-hour urinary protein before and after the treatment were com- pared among the four groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, 24-hour urinary protein in the acupuncture-moxibustion groups and control group were all reduced (all P < 0.05); compared before treatment, the Scr in the spleen-meridian group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05); the difference of Ccr before and after treatment was insignificant in all the groups (all P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, 24-hour urinary protein in spleen-meridian group could relieve or recover the damage of transplant kidney induced by CAN. A new interlink may be established between the transplanted kidneys and the spleen meridians, indicating that transplanted kidney-related diseases can be treated by selecting acupoints of spleen meridian.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Allografts , Graft Rejection , Kidney Transplantation , Meridians , Moxibustion , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic , Therapeutics , Transplantation, HomologousABSTRACT
Objective This article introduced the concrete methods and benefits of promoting and holding competition of acupuncture and moxibustion in TCM universities or colleges. A regular skill competition will not only stimulate students' passion for TCM study and expand teaching methods, but also serve as a effective way to enhance practical skills of students.