ABSTRACT
@#Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on Caspase-9, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) protein in rats with neurogenic bladder after complete spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats were involved, in which 36 rats were randomly selected to establish the neurogenic bladder model with T10 spinal cord transected. 24 successful models selected were randomly divided into model group (n=12) and electroacupuncture group (n=12). The other 24 rats were also randomly divided into sham group (n=12) and blank group (n=12). The electroacupuncture group was electroacupunctured on Ciliao (BL32), Zhongji (RN3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Dazhui (GV14) for seven days. All of them were assessed with urodynamic test, TUNEL method was used to determine the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord, and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein. Results Compared with the blank group and the sham group, the maximum bladder capacity and compliance decreased (P<0.01), the urinary bladder pressure and leakage point pressure increased (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord increased (P<0.001); the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein increased (P<0.05) in the model group and the electroacupuncture group. Compared with the model group, the maximum bladder capacity and compliance increased (P<0.01), the urinary bladder pressure and leakage point pressure decreased (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord decreased (P<0.05); the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein decreased (P<0.05) in the electroacupuncture group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture on Ciliao, Zhongji, Sanyinjiao and Dazhui could improve the bladder function after spinal cord injury in rats. The mechanisms may be related with the down-regulation of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein to reduce apoptosis.
ABSTRACT
Investigating the influence of acupuncture on cellular signal transduction is an efficient pathway to reveal the action mechanism of acupuncture on spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, the experiment research literature regarding acupuncture for SCI during past 10 years was reviewed and analyzed. As a result, it was found that acupuncture could regulate the expression of the first intercellular messenger as well as the second signal molecules including cyclic adenosine monophosphate, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, Ca2+, nitric oxide to intervene the apoptotic signaling pathway, Rho/Rock signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, etc., which could improve regeneration and repair of SCI. In conclusion, in future researches more attention should be paid to the cellular signal transduction networks and different effects among various acupoint combinations and acupuncture modalities on cellular signal transduction, which have an essential role for revelation of clinical application rules and optimization of clinical treatment protocol.
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A new-type digital electric plum-blossom needle instrument of controllable and adjustable parameters was developed to achieve an automatic tapping instead of manual tapping technique and integrate the function of plum-blossom needle with that of micropulse electrical phase. The alternating current of periodic variation changes the direction of magnetic field around, induces the vibration of the cone head and tapping movement, outputs the micropulse current and acts on the affected area in treatment. The new-type digital electric plum-blossom needle instrument achieves the automatic tapping movement, precisely adjusts the stimulating strength and frequency according to diseases and integrates the tapping stimulation with pulse current to form circulation loop on the skin and intensify the therapeutic effects. This instrument is the big innovation of traditional plum-blossom needle. It is not only applicable for clinical treatment or family healthcare, but also for scientific research with the adoptable digital therapeutic parameters, which benefits the application and development of plum-blossom needle therapy.
ABSTRACT
Objective To establish the rat model for neurogenic bladder after complete suprasacral spinal cord injury, and analyze the urodynamics. Methods Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (n=10) and experimental group (n=30). The spinal cord injury model on T10 was made with modified spinal cord transaction. The Crede's method was used to urinate assistantly af-ter modeling. The amounts of urine and successful rat model everyday were recorded. The urodynamics was measured in both groups, and the morphology was observed with HE staining. Results Four rats died in the experimental group. The amount of urine was the least and sta-ble on the 18th day, and 24 rats were successfully modeled on the 21st day. Compared with the control group, maximum bladder capacity de-creased (t=3.150, P=0.021), bladder base pressure, maximum bladder pressure and leak point pressure increased (t>3.125, P<0.01), and blad-der compliancy decreased (t=5.330, P=0.002) in the experimental group. Conclusion The complete suprasacral after spinal cord injury of neurogenic bladder in a rat model of manufacturing method is of high reliability, good repeatability, and low coefficient of variable character-istics for spastistic neurogenic bladder basic experimental studies.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) at lower-sea points of stomach, large intestine, small intestine and gallbladder on interleukin-1β (IL-1β), high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB 1) and alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR α7) in rats with acute gastric mucosal lesion (AGML), so as to explore whether there is relative specificity in treating gastric viscera disease by stimulating Zusanli (ST 36).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty healthy SD rats were randomly assigned into a blank group, a model group, a Zusanli group, a Shangjuxu group, a Xiajuxu group and a Yanglingquan group, ten rats in each one (half male and half female). The WRS method was applied to induce the AGML model except the rats in the blank group. The rats in the blank group were treated with routine diet; the rats in the model group were treated with immobilization at rat platform, 30 min per time; the rats in the Zusanli group, Shangjuxu group, Xiajuxu group and Yanglingquan group were treated with acupuncture and connected with EA device (dilatational wave 10 Hz/50 Hz, positive electrode on the left side and negative electrode on the right side, intensity was appropriate when rat hind leg slightly shook), 30 min per time. The treatment was given once a day. After consecutive 10-day treatment, the gastric tissue was collected and the damage of gastric mucosa was evaluated; ELISA method was applied to measure the content of serum IL-1β and tissue HMGB 1; the Western blot method was applied to measure the expression of nAchR α7 receptor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the model group, the ulcer index (UI) of gastric mucosa, serum IL-1β and tissue HMGB 1 were lower, and the expression of nAchR α7 was increased in the remaining groups (<0.05,<0.01). (2) Compared with the Zusanli group, the UI of gastric tissue, serum IL-1β and tissue HMGB 1 were higher in the Shangjuxu group, Xiajuxu group and Yanglingquan group (<0.05,<0.01), and the expression of nAchRα7 was reduced in the Yanglingquan group (<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) EA at digestive system-related lower-sea points, through IL-1β, HMGB 1 and nAchR α7, could regulate immune response, lighten inflammatory reaction and reduce mucosal injury, which could realize the intervention effect on AGML rats. (2) From the comparison, it is concluded the intervention effect of Zusanli group is superior to the other groups, partly indicating the relative specificity between Zusanli and stomach.</p>