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Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) proteins in ankle joints of rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of RA.Methods: Adjuvant arthritis (AA) rat models were induced and used as rat models of RA. Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a saline group. Rats in the normal and model groups were not treated; rats in the moxibustion group accepted treatment by moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenshu (BL 23) after modeling; rats in the saline group were injected with 0.15 mL saline to the bottom of the left hind paw and had no other treatments. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of rats' ankle joints under light microscope. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB in ankle joints of rats.Results: Compared with the normal group, the rats' ankle joints in the model group showed disorganization, joint surface defect, and significantly increased mean optical density (MOD) of TNF-α and NF-κB (allP<0.05). After moxibustion treatment, rats in the moxibustion group showed repaired ankle tissues, smooth joint surface without defects, decreased MOD of TNF-α and NF-κB than those in the model group (allP<0.05). Rats in the saline group had no damage to ankle joints, while TNF-α and NF-κB were significantly different from those in the model group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Moxibustion could down-regulate the expressions of NF-κB and TNF-α protein in ankle joints of RA rats, and produce an anti-inflammatory effect to promote tissue repair.
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Background: Postoperative gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) is a common complication after abdominal surgery in patients with primary liver cancer. However, surgeons usually do not have effective treatment for them. Objective: To explore the effects of acupuncture applied to Zusanli and other acupoints on PGS in patients after abdominal surgery. Design, setting, participants and interventions: Sixty-three PGS patients of abdominal surgery, from Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital, were randomized into acupuncture group (32 cases) and metoclopramide group (31 cases). The patients in acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture applied to Zusanli and other acupoints once a day, while the patients in metoclopramide group were intramuscularly injected 20 mg metoclopramide three times a day. Main outcome measures: Volume of gastric drainage, number of treatment and cure rate in the two groups were measured and evaluated. Results: Acupuncture and metoclopramide could significantly reduce gastric drainage volume. In acupuncture group, the cure rate was 90.6% and the number of treatment was 6.58+/-4.26, while in metoclopramide group, the cure rate and the number of treatment were 32.3% and 10.13+/-3.60 respectively. There were significant differences in gastric drainage volume, cure rate and number of treatment between the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture is a good treatment for PGS, with fewer treatments, high cure rate and rapid effect.
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AIM: To investigate the effects of Yiqi Huoxue prescription and Bushen Shengsui prescription on the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged1 protein in ischemic penumbra after local cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in intraluminal thread occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) rats. METHODS: The local cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model was established by intraluminal thread occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The animals were randomly divided into pseudo surgery group (sham group), model (MCAO) group, Yiqi Huoxue prescription (MCAO+Yiqi Huoxue) and Bushen Shengsui prescription (MCAO+Bushen Shengsui) groups. Using the techniques of immuno-histochemical staining, the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged1 was observed at 1, 2 and 3 weeks in ischemic penumbra of the cortex of frontal and parietal lobe. RESULTS: A value and positive unit of Notch-1 and Jagged1 protein expression in model group were higher than those in sham in ischemic penumbra of the cortex of frontal or parietal lobe after local cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in MCAO rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). A value and/or positive unit of the expression in Yiqi Huoxue prescription and Bushen Shengsui prescription groups were lower than those in model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Yiqi Huoxue prescription and Bushen Shengsui prescription affect the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, depress Notch signal transduction after local cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in MCAO rats by inhibiting the expression of Notch-1and Jagged1 protein.
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OBJECTIVE: To find out some evidence that may indicate the theory of voice pitch of the five tones being correlated with the five zang viscera in Huangdi Neijing, which was lost 2 000 years. METHODS: Eight-four healthy females were divided into younger group ( or =34 years old) according to their ages. The pronunciations of these females were examined by sono-frequency analysis facility. RESULTS: The frequency of Jiao tone was much higher than those of the other tones in both groups (P<0.01) and the frequency of Jiao tone increased as aging. The frequency of Zhi tone in the younger group was higher than that in the older group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of higher frequency of Jiao tone in females is in accordance with the theory put forward by Ye Gui (a famous doctor in Qing Dynasty of China) that the liver is the congenital base of female life. In traditional Chinese medicine, Jiao tone is correlated with the liver, and Zhi tone is correlated with the heart. The high frequency of Zhi tone in younger females implies that regulating the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang and Heart Meridian of Hand-Shaoyin may be beneficial to the health maintenance of younger female.
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The scientificalness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often doubted and criticized for the record in Huangdi Neijing that the liver is located in the left of the human body. The most popular explanation of this criticism is that the conception of zang-fu viscera in TCM is quite different from which defined in Western medicine. It means that the zang-fu viscera in TCM are not exactly the corresponding anatomical organs in modern human anatomy but reflect the functions of some systems in human body. According to the classical theories of TCM in Huangdi Neijing, we consider that the record of liver located in the left of the human body is based on the Ba Gua (Eight Diagrams) of traditional Chinese philosophy, not the human anatomy. In brief, the conception of zang-fu viscera is initially a gross anatomical conception, and in a sense the anatomic sites and functions of which are mostly similar to those described in Western medicine.