Effect of the acupoints ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) on intestinal myoelectric activity of Wistar rats

Despite its ancient use as a therapeutic tool to treat several ailments, acupuncture still faces the challenge of scrutiny by Western science both in terms of its efficacy and in terms of the characterization of its effects and mechanisms of actions underlying these effects. We investigated under well-controlled and carefully characterized conditions the influence of electrical stimulation of acupuncture points ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) on the myoelectric activity of the small intestine of 38 adult male Wistar rats. Electrical recordings obtained by means of four electrodes chronically implanted in the small intestine were used to assess the effects of acupuncture (electroacupuncture stimulation set at 2 Hz, intermittent stimulation, 1 V, for 30 min). Immobilization of the animals was associated with a consistent decrease (-8 ± 7 percent) in the myoelectric activity of the small intestine as measured by means of the root mean square. Conversely, acupuncture was able to significantly increase (overshoot) this activity compared to baseline (+44 ± 7 percent). In contrast, immobilized animals subjected to sham acupuncture had only modest (nonsignificant) increases in myoelectric activity (+9 ± 6 percent). Using carefully controlled conditions we confirmed previous noncontrolled studies on the ability of acupuncture to alter intestinal motility. The characterization of the topographic and temporal profiles of the effects observed here represents a basis for future dissection of the physiological and pharmacological systems underlying these effects

Anti-fungal and cytokine producing activities of CD8 + T lymphocytes from HIV-1 infected individuals

Lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells are capable of killing not only malignant cells but also hyphal form of Candida albicans in vitro. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal healthy donors were cultured for 72-96 hrs with 1,500 international unit (IU)/ml interleukin-2 (IL-2), marked LAK activity was induced. However, even prior to IL-2 activation, PBMC isolated from some normal subjects and those from almost all individuals who are infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exhibited significant levels of anti-fungal activity. Such pre-activation in situ antifungal activity of PBMC decreased during the initial 48 hrs of IL-2 activation. PBMC from HIV-1 seropositive subjects showed higher levels of in situ anti-fungal activity than normal PBMC did. After a decline of in situ activity during the initial 48 hours, LAK activity gradually increased and reached near maximal levels by day 4 and remained more or less constant until day 6. No significant difference was observed between the LAK activity of normal and HIV-1(+) PBMCs on days 4-6. In IL-2 activated normal and HIV-1(+) PBMC cultures, both CD4 and CD8 T cells produced IL-2, INF-gamma as well as TNF-alpha. Production of IL-2 by both CD4 and CD8 T cells was suppressed in HIV-1(+) PBMC cultures, but no significant suppression of INF-gamma production was noted. Meanwhile, TNF-alpha production by CD4 was very much suppressed but no significant changes in TNF-alpha production by CD8 T cells was noted in HIV-1(+) PBMC cultures

RT-PCR comparative study of viral load levels in the HIV positive population in Puerto Rico before and after protease inhibitor regimen implanted

Ponce School of Medicine AIDS Research Program conducted a large scale viral load assessment of Puerto Ricans who are infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during the summer of 1996 through the Roche ACCESS program before general implementation of combination therapy. Since January 1997, it has monitored those HIV-1 patients who are under treatments at most HIV-1 health care clinics, including both public and private. The present study was conducted to evaluate how the new treatment has generally impacted on the HIV-1 disease status of HIV-1 infected population in the eight Immunology Clinics. Assessment was made by consecutively monitoring the changes in HIV-1 viral load profiles of the population from January to September, 1997. A large majority of samples were delivered for viral load assessment without information of their treatment status, and only a small number of samples were identifiable either as baseline or followup. Despite the paucity of individual information, remarkable improvements of HIV-1 (+) population at large were evident. For example, in the summer of 1996 (ACCESS), population median viral load was 51,842; only 9% of the population had viral load less than 500 viral RNA copies/ml plasma and 72% had over 10,000 copies/ml. By July-September, 1997, the population median dropped to 8,679 (83%); 23% were below 500 copies/ml (+156%) and the proportion of patients who had over 10,000 copies/ml was reduced to 48% (-33%). The group of individuals who were positively identified as [quot ]follow-up[quot ] (i.e., under active treatment) had a median of 37128 copies/ml (-94%); 28% were below 500 copies/ml (+211%) and only 40% had more than 10,000 copies/ml (-44%). It is obvious that the implementation of triple combination therapy by PASET in 1997, has very markedly improve the HIV-1 disease status of HIV-1 (+) population in Puerto Rico

CCR5 chemokine receptor genotype frequencies among Puerto Rican HIV-1-seropositive individuals

Some individuals remain uninfected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), despite multiple sexual contacts with subjects with confirmed HIV-1 infection. Several studies have confirmed that individuals who are homozygous for a 32 base pair (bp) deletion mutation in the chemokine receptor gene CCR5, designated as delta 32/ delta 32, are protected against HIV-1 infection. Heterozygotes of the same chemokine receptor deletion mutation are, however, not protected from acquiring HIV-1 infection but seemingly have slower progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndromes (AIDS). Genotype frequencies of the delta 32 CCR5 mutation vary markedly among different ethnic groups; heterozygosity is found in approximately 15% of Caucasians, about 5-7% of Hispanics and African Americans and 1% or less of Asians. The ethnic background of Puerto Ricans is highly complex and usually includes admixture of Caucasian, Caribbean Indian and African traits to a varying extent. This study was conducted to examine the frequencies of the delta 32 CCR5 mutation among Puerto Ricans who are infected with HIV-1. Samples were received from different geographical regions of the island. Of 377 samples tested, 94.2% were wild type (non-deletion mutant) homozygotes, 5.8% were delta 32 CCR5 heterozygotes, and none were delta 32 CCR5 homozygotes. The incidence of CCR5 delta 32/w heterozygous mutation among Puerto Ricans seems to be somewhat lower than what was reported with US Hispanics. Some age and gender associated bias of the mutation frequency were observed with the study population, the reason for which is unclear at present

Effects of acupuncture on behavioral, cardiovascular and hormonal responses in restraint-stressed Wistar rats

Stress is a well-known entity and may be defined as a threat to the homeostasis of a being. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of acupuncture on the physiological responses induced by retraint stress. Acupunture is an ancient therapeutic technique which is used in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Its proposed mechanisms of action are based on the principle of homeostasis. Adult male Wistar EPM-1 rats were divided into four groups: group I (N=12), unrestrained rats with cannulas previously implanted into their femoral arteries for blood pressure and heart rate measurements; group II (N=12), rats that were also cannulated and were submitted to 60-min immobilization; group III (N=12), same as group II but with acupuncture needles implanted at points SP6, S36, REN17, P6 and DU20 during the immobilization period; group IV (N=14), same as group III but with needles implanted at points not related to acupuncture (non-acupoints). During the 60-min immobilization period animals were assessed for stress-related behaviors, heart rate, blood pressure and plasma corticosterone, noradrenaline and adrenaline levels. Group III animals showed a significant reduction (60 percent on average, P<0.02) in restraint-induced behaviors when compared to groups II and IV. Data from cardiovascular and hormonal assessments indicated no differences between group III and group II and IV animals, but tended to be lower (50 percent reduction on average) in group I animals. We hypothesize that acupuncture at points SP6, S36, REN17, P6 and DU20 has an anxiolytic effect on restraint-induced stress that is not due to a sedative action.

Effect of electroacupuncture on physical performance of young men and responses to exercise

Chinese Medicine uses acupuncture points K-3 (Taixi), Li-3 (taichong), S-36 (Zusanli), Ren-4 (Guanyuan)and Ren-6 (Qihai) to enhance the individual's general energy, improving capacity to physical efforts, and the body threshold to fadigue. We studied the influence of these specific points on physical performance capacity (PPC) and physiological responses to excercise (PRE). Material - We assigned 27 healthy men at random to three groups: acupuncture (A), acupuncture sham (S) and control group (no acupuncture (N). Methods - Performance was determined through of a spiroergometric test was carried out at the beginning and at the end of five sucessive daily sessions, consisting of 20 minutes of electroacupuncture (EA) of the selected points. They performed a continuous incremental (25 watts/min) test until exhaunstion in bicycle ergometer (Cibex the Bike). Respiratory and metabolic variables were calculated every 20s during excercise by a computerized spiroergometric system (Vista CX). The heart was obtained by telemetry (Polar), The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured by the Borg's revised scale. Results - The results before and after treatment were compared in these conditions: rest (R); moderate exercise (M); at the anaerobic threshold (AT); intense exercise (I); maximal exercise (MX) and recovery (RC). The subjects from group A didn't increase the maximal performance capacity neither the PPC at AT. Respiratory, cardiovascular responses and movement economy in M, AT, I and MX didn't improve in these group. We detected a positive effect of EA only in RPE during M. There was no differences between tests in groups S an N. Conclusion - These results suggest that the EA in studied conditions isn't effective to increase PPC or improve PRE.