Infrared thermal imaging-based research on the intermediate structures of the lung and large intestine exterior-interior relationship in asthma patients / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>By observing body surface temperature variation of the intermediate structures of the Lung (Fei) and Large Intestine (Dachang) exterior-interior relationship in asthmatic patients, to investigate the pathological response on the pathway of channels and to substantiate the objective existence of the intermediary structures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study included 60 subjects meeting the bronchial asthma inclusion criteria (experimental group) and 60 healthy subjects (normal control group). ATIR-M301 infrared thermal imaging device was used for detecting body surface temperature of the subjects and collecting the infrared thermal images. The temperature values of the intermediate structures of Lung and Large Intestine exterior-interior relationship [throat, Quepen, elbow, nose, Lieque (LU 7), Pianli (LI 6)], control areas (0.2 cm lateral to the above structures) and Yintang (EX-HN 3) were measured on the infrared thermal image by infrared imaging system. Then, the above temperature values were compared and analyzed within and between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were insignificant differences between the temperature on the left and right sides of the intermediate structures (Quepen, elbow, LU 7, LI 6) in normal control group (P>0.05). Except for that of Quepen, there were insignifificant differences between the temperature of the intermediate structures and their corresponding control areas in normal control group (P>0.05). In the experimental group, the temperature on the left and right sides of the intermediate structures (Quepen, elbow, LU 7, LI 6) showed statistically signifificant differences (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the temperature difference between intermediate structure (throat, Quepen, elbow, nose, LI 6) and their respective control areas were also significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The temperature of the intermediate structures (throat, Quepen, elbow, LU7, LI 6) between the experimental group and normal control group showed signifificant differences (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study is an initial step to validate the objective existence of Lung and Large Intestine exterior-interior relationship intermediate structures, as described in the Chinese classical medical literatures, through the functional imaging angle. The intermediate structures are the pathological reaction areas of the bronchial asthmatic patients.</p>

Study on the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on the plasticity protein MAP-2 in rats with focal cerebral infarction / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the material base and underlying mechanism of the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on the neuronal plasticity in rats with focal cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The model rats with acute cerebral infarction were made by blocking the middle cerebral artery with monofilament. One hundred and thirty two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operation group (A), model group (B), point-to-point scalp acupuncture group (C) and cluster-needling of scalp acupunture group (D). Puncturing from "Baihui (GV 20)" to "Qubin (GB 7)" was used in group C. Cluster needling of scalp acupuncture was used in group D, in which needles were inserted forward and slantingly into "Baihui (GV 20)" and its left and right sides at 4 mm. In both groups, the treatment was carried out with rapid twirling reinforcing-reducing for 1 min then retaining needle for 30 min, once a day, 6 days in one course, for treating 4 courses. There was no treatment for group A and B. The change of neurological function was evaluated with Bederson score, while the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in the ischemic penumbra was examined with immunohistochemistry (streptavidin-peroxidase method).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In comparison,with group B, the score of neurological function in group D decreased on 7th day (P<0.05), while the scors in group C and D also decreased on 14th and 28th days (both P<0.05). As compared with group C, the score of neurological function in group D obviously decreased on 28th days (P<0. 05). Comparing with group B, the expression of MAP-2 on the ischemic cortex was significantly increased in group D and C on 7th, 14th and 28th days (all P<0. 05), however, this expression in group D was higher than that in group C on 14th and 28th days (P<0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cluster needling of scalp acupuncture can improve the neurological function of rats with focal cerebral infarction, and increase the expression of MAP-2 in the ischemic penumbra.</p>

Effects of rehabilitation training on behavior and sensory evoked potential of rats with acute cerebral infarction / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo observe effects of rehabilitation training on behavior and sensory evoked potential of rats with acute cerebral infarction.Methods30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation groups (group A), model group (group B), and rehabilitation group (group C). Animal model was made by blocking the middle cerebral artery (MCA). For each group, the Bederson Neural Function was scored and balancing wood, rotating bar, and net screen were tested at the 24 hours, 3rd day and 7th day after operation respectively. The sensory evoked potential (SEP) latency of each group was also tested right after operation and on the 7th day after operation.ResultsComparing with group A, Bederson Neural Function scores of groups B and C indicated significant differences at each time (P<0.01). The ability of grasping, walking and coordinating of all groups handicapped 24 hours after operation, however, with time continuing, every function of group A restored and that of group B or C improved partly, but showed significant difference compared with group A (P<0.01). On the 3rd day after operation, balancing wood test of group C was better than that of group B (P<0.05), on the 7th day after operation, except Bederson Neural Function scores, there were significant difference between groups C and B (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Right after operation, compared with group A, the SEP latency of group B and C showed significant difference (P<0.01), on the 7th day after operation, the SEP latency of group C improved significantly compared with itself right after operation (P<0.01).ConclusionThe rehabilitation training can improve the MCAO rats' ability of equilibrating,grasping and walking and adjust the abnormal latency of SEP after MCAO, and prevent the nerve cells from damage caused by ischemic trauma.