ABSTRACT
[Objective] The effects of acupuncture on muscular blood flow, muscular weight, and muscular dynamics were investigated in the rat hindlimb with induced hypoemia. In addition, the optimal conditions for acupuncture in the model were investigated.<BR>[Methods] In male SD rats, the right femoral artery was cut, and a No. 20 40-mm stainless needle was inserted about 3-5 mm into the anterior tibial muscle of the ischemic hindlimb for acupuncture. During acupuncture, the needle was indwelled or electric current was passed, and various stimulations (5h/day, 1 h × 5 times/day, 15 min × 5 times/day, 1 h/day, and 15 min/day) were applied for 5 consecutive days. Seven days after cutting the artery, blood flow was measured by the radioactive microsphere method, and the degree of muscular atrophy was investigated by the weight ratio of the ischemic hindlimb to the contralateral healthy limb, and findings in the intact, hypoemia, hypoemia + indwelled needle, and hypoemia + various current groups were compared. In addition, the anterior tibial muscle was stained to observe the condition of muscular fibers.<BR>[Results and Discussion] In the ischemic group, muscular blood flow was decreased. In the hypoemia+current groups, blood flow was increased. In the groups that received electric current for a prolonged period, 5 h/day and 1 h ×5 times/day, the blood flow was increased but the muscular weight ratio was decreased. However, in the group that received stimulation for 15min×5 times/day, the muscular blood flow was markedly higher that those in the other groups, and the muscular weight ratio was not changed, showing that muscular atrophy did not occur. On staining, capillary neovascularization and VEGF production were greater than those in the hypoemia group, suggesting that these factors were closely involved in the increase in blood flow.
ABSTRACT
There have been many studies of electro-acupuncture analgesia (EAA), but whether EAA develops mainly on the stimulated meridians or irrespective of these meridians has not yet been clarified. We evaluated the association between endogenous analgesia (plasma β-endorphin), and meridians in electro-acupuncture of the large intestine meridian of the hand-yangming LI4 (Hegu, Gokoku) point. LI4 electro-acupuncture resulted in EAA on the meridians associated with LI4, other meridians, and acupuncture points in the forehead glabella (Yintang, Indou), abdomen CV 12 (Chungwan, Chukan), and crus ST36 (Zsusanli, Ashi no Sanri) point. Simultaneously, LI4 electro-acupuncture significantly increased plasma β-endorphin level. These results suggest that analgesia observed after LI4 electroacupuncture is not associated with meridians, and is caused by the increases in the plasma β-endorphin level.
ABSTRACT
Objective : To investigate the effect of acupuncture stimulation at PC6 (Neiguan, Naikan) on optokinetic motion sickness, motion sickness scores were evaluated and changes in electrogastrograms (EGG) were analyzed in each subject.<BR>Methods : Thirty-six normal volunteers were randomly divided into three groups : electrical acupuncture group, retaining needle group, and no treatment group.<BR>Subjects were exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum to induce vection. EGG was recorded continuously before, during, and after the rotation exposure, each period being fifteen minutes in length. To evaluate the severity of motion sickness in each subject, subjective symptoms of motion sickness (SSMS) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were obtained.<BR>Results : The severity of nausea which is one of main symptom of motion sickness was suppressed, and the percentage of normal 2?4 cpm band of EGG activity was increased earlier after drum rotation exposure in the retaining needle group than in the no treatment group.<BR>Conclusion : From these results, we conclude that the retaining needle stimulation of the PC6 acupoints was effective for optokinetic motion sickness possibly by suppressing abnormal gastric myoelectric activities.
ABSTRACT
A patient with uterine cervical cancer underwent radical operation and radiotherapy in 1956 and subsequently began to suffer from impaired bowel movements. For the next 40 years, a large amount of cathartics was used to induce defecation, a urination was induced by applying abdominal pressure, but a large volume of urine remained. In this patient, the effects of acupuncture treatment were evaluated using the vesical residual urine volume as measured by abdominal ultrasonography. After acupuncture treatment, defecation became easily, and the amount of cathartics could be reduced. Simultaneously, spontaneous urination became possible, and residual urine disappeared.
ABSTRACT
We studied the effect of acupuncture on a case of neurogenic impotence caused by surgery for ano-rectal cancer. Acupuncture needles (length: 60mm, diameter: 0.3mm) were inserted into bilateral Zhongliao (BL33) and were stimulated erectrically or rotated manually for 10 minutes. The effectiveness of acupuncture was evaluated by IMP DIARY, which was consisted of the rate of increase on Erectometer, and the changes of the subjective symptoms. We also investigated the effects of acupuncture stimulation on microcirculation of the glans penis. After the treatmeent, IMP DIARY showed improvement of nocturnal penile tumescence, morning erection and erection by masturbation. The microcirculation at the glans penis was increased significantly immediately after acupuncture therapy. From these results, acupuncture treatment to the BL-33 points for neurogenic impotence after surgery for ano-rectal cancer was considered to be useful.
ABSTRACT
The author had reported that laser irradiation with energy density 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> at every other days was most effective for wound healing.<br>But there is a report which described that laser irradiation with energy density under 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> was effective for wound healing too.<br>Then, the effect of irradiation with under 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> He-Ne laser on wound healing was studied. Twenty-four wister rats were subjected to this experiment.<br>A open wound, 20mm in diameter as deep as muscle layer were made on the back of anesthetized animals.<br>To find the suitable energy density of laser irradiation, the wound was irradiated with He-Ne laser by energy density of 4J/cm<sup>2</sup>, 2J/cm<sup>2</sup> and 1J/cm2 every other day until the wound completely healed.<br>The wound healing was much more accelerated by irradiation with energy density of 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> than the other group.<br>This result suggested that laser irradiation with energy density 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> at every other days is most effective for wound healing.
ABSTRACT
For the purpose to increase peripheral blood flow of lower leg, low frequency electrical acupuncture was applied to the various meridian points such as Ciliao (B-32), Sanyinjiao (Sp-6), Xuehai (Sp-10), Zusanli (S-36), Jiexi (S-41) and Xuanzhong (G-39) on the patients of Burger's disease and intractable ulcer of lower leg. Peripheral blood flow was measu ed by a laser doppler flow meter. The results show that blood circulation of lower legs was increased by electrical acupuncture stimulation on bilateral Ciliao more than the other points and it was suggested that electrical acupuncture for bilateral Ciliao was helpful adjuncts to the treatment of ischemic disease such as Burger's disease and intractable ulcer.
ABSTRACT
The effect of irradiation with low power He-Ne laser on wound healing was studied. 42 wister rats were subjected to this experiment.<br>A open wound, 20mm in diameter as deep as muscle layer were made on the back of anesthetized animals.<br>To find the suitable energy density of laser irradiation, the wound was irradiated with He-Ne laser by energy density of 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> or 10J/cm<sup>2</sup> every other day until the wound completely healed. The wound healing was much more accelerated by irradiation with energy density of 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> than that of 10J/cm<sup>2</sup> and none-irradiated contorol group.<br>To find the suitable interval of laser irradiation, the wound was irradiated every other days, every 4 days or every other days in early stage until the wound completely healed. From this study, the wound healing was much more acceralated by irradiation at every other days than the others.<br>This result suggested that laser irradiation with energy density 4J/cm<sup>2</sup> at every other days is most effective for wound healing.
ABSTRACT
The specificity of Jin-yu needling for urinary secretion was studied.<br>1); 15 healthy adult men were subjected to this experiment. After drinking water (500ml), acupuncture needles (No. 2 Seirin Co. Limited) were perpendiculary inserted to the jin-yu point depth of about 2cm, and left there for 10 minutes. The blood samples were collected at 60 minutes after drinking water, and urine volume and amount of Na, K, Cl, BUN, UA and Cre were measured.<br>As a result, a marked increase was observed in excretion of urine, UA, Cre, K and creatinine clearance. An upward tendency of Na, Cl and BUN excretion were found and it is correlated with urine volume.<br>2); Subjects were 11 healthy adult men. The group of acupuncture stimulation was divided as follows; a) a group, acupuncture needles were inserted at Jin-yu point [B-23], b) kyouseki point, c) sisitu point [B-52], d) daityou-yu point [B-25], e) I-yu point [B-21] and f) untreated contorol group. Urine were collected at 60 minutes after drinking water (500ml).<br>As a result, a significant increase of urine volume was observed in the group of stimulation at Jin-yu, Kyouseki, and Sisitu point (p<0.05).<br>Finally, it was suggested that the increase of urine volume was caused by a somato-visceral reflex.