Molecular Mechanism of Electroacupuncture Regulating Cerebral Arterial Contractile Protein in Rats with Cerebral Infarction Based on MLCK Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on the vasoconstriction of cerebral artery smooth muscle cells after cerebral infarction.@*METHODS@#Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups by a random number table: the model group (n=24), the EA group (n=24), and the normal group (n=6). The model and the EA groups were divided into different time subgroups at 0.5, 1, 3, and 6 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), with 6 rats in each subgroup. MCAO model was established using intraluminal suture occlusion method. The EA group was given EA treatment at acupoint Shuigou (GV 26) instantly after MCAO for 20 min. The contents of cerebrovascular smooth muscle MLCK, the 3 subunits of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) MYPT1, PP1c-δ and M20, as well as myosin-ATPase activity were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#The overall expression level of the MYPT1 and PP1c-δ in the model group was significantly higher (P<0.01). After EA intervention, the 0.5 h group expression level was close to that of the normal group (P>0.05), and the other subgroups were still significantly higher than the normal group (P<0.01). After EA intervention, the expression level of each subgroup was significantly lower than the corresponding model group. There was a significant difference between the 0.5 and 1 h subgroups (P<0.01), while a difference was also observed between the 3 and 6 h subgroups (P<0.05). The dynamic change rule gradually increased with the prolongation of infarction time within 6 h after infarction.@*CONCLUSION@#EA intervention can inhibit contraction of cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells and regulate smooth muscle relaxation by regulating MLCK pathway.

Research Progress on the Application of Goel Technique in Craniovertebral Junction Anomalies / 中国医学科学院学报

Craniovertebral junction anomalies are a group of diseases characterized by the pathological changes of occipital bone,atlantoaxial bone,cerebellar tonsil,surrounding soft tissue,and nervous system,which are caused by a variety of factors.Chiari malformation is a common type of craniovertebral junction anomalies,the conventional surgical therapy of which is posterior fossa decompression.Currently,scholars represented by Goel have proposed a new theory on the classification,pathogenesis,and treatment of Chiari malformation based on posterior atlantoaxial fixation (Goel technique).This article introduces the progress in Goel technique,aiming to provide reference for the clinical work.

Observation on the clinical efficacy of spasmodic torticollis treated with matrix needling technique and acupuncture at "Wuxin points" mainly / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the efficacy on spasmodic torticollis between matrix needling technique combined with puncturing "Wuxin points" and the local injection of botox type A.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two cases were randomized into an acupuncture group and a botox group, 21 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, the matrix needling technique was used and acupuncture was adopted at Fengchi (GB 20), "Wuxin points" [Shuigou (GV 26), bilateral Laogong (PC 8) and bilateral Yongquan (KI 1)] and local Ashi points. In the botox group, botox type A was injected at several spots of local region. The treatment course was 1 month in the two groups. The efficacy in each weekend and the results of follow-up visit in half a year after treatment were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 1st weekend, the markedly effective rate was 42.8% (9/21) and the total effective rate was 90.5% (19/21) in the botox group, which were better than those of 4.8% (1/21) and 28.6% (6/21) respectively in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.01). In the 2nd weekend, the markedly effective rate was 71.4% (15/21) and the total effective rate was 95.2% (20/21) in the botox group, which were better than those of 19.1% (4/21) and 61.9% (13/21) respectively in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.01). In the 3rd weekend, the markedly effective rate was 66.7% (14/21) and the total effective rate was 95.2% (20/21) in the botox group, which were better than those of 38.1% (8/21) and 71.4% (15/21) respectively in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.05). The markedly effective rate and the total effective rate were not different significantly between the two groups in the treatment of 1 month and the follow-up visit in half a year (all P > 0.05). There was no adverse reaction in the acupuncture group. There were 14 cases of adverse reactions in the botox group, in which 9 cases of neck muscular weakness and 5 cases of neck muscular pain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The treatment of matrix needling technique and combined with acupuncture at "Wuxin points" achieves the significant efficacy on spasmodic torticollis. Although the effect is not obtained as quickly as the local injection of botox, the efficacy of matrix needling technique is similar to that of botox in the treatment of 1 month and the follow-up visit in half a year. Moreover, this therapy has no adverse reaction.</p>

Study on the efficacy graded-disease-spectrum of acupuncture and moxibustion by the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation techniques: musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases / 中国针灸

The descriptive cross sectional surveys were carried out among the outstanding clinical physicians in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion by using the survey sampling. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation techniques was applied to evaluate the opinions of clinical experts in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion in order to classify the spectrum of diseases related to the musculoskeletal and connective tissue. After the statistical analysis on sixty-four diseases with 104 subtypes, the spectrum of diseases were determined as grade I spectrum of diseases with 13 subtypes of diseases, grade II spectrum of diseases with 51 subtypes of diseases, grade III spectrum of diseases with 10 subtypes of diseases, and grade IV spectrum of diseases with 30 subtypes of diseases. The outcomes reveal that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy have been applied widely for musculoskeletal diseases and connective tissue related diseases.

Classification basis and train of thought of functional dyspepsia in disease menu of acupuncture / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the classification basis of functional dyspepsia in disease menu of acupuncture, and to provide regular analyzing process for classification of other diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Taking the control group as the classification basis, and the 5-level literature classification of evidence based medicine as the estimation basis, literatures which complied with the inclusion criteria were examined according to the sequence from high level to low. Evidences of low levels were given up if support can be acquired from documents of high level.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acupuncture is approved to be effective for intervention on functional dyspepsia. Compared to the international accepted medicines such as Cisapride and Motilium, regular acupuncture has better therapeutic effects and less side effects in improving the gastro-power and relieving discomfort sensations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Functional dyspepsia pertains to grade I of disease menu of acupuncture.</p>

Indications of acupuncture outpatient based on clinical investigation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present situation of clinical indications of acupuncture in China is investigated in this article which provides clinical evidence for the establishment of acupuncture indications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Out-patients of acupuncture departments of 31 Chinese provinces in the year 2008 were investigated through the method of cluster random sampling. And the analysis was made on diseases sorting and distribution based on Pareto principle and with EpiMap software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Information of 31 858 out-patients of the first treatment from 36 hospitals were collected which referred to 368 diseases of 16 disease systems. Among them, there were 57 most commonly-encountered diseases, 60 commonly-encountered diseases and 251 rare diseases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are totally 368 acupuncture clinical indications at present according to the investigation with disproportional distribution in administrative districts. It is held that indications of acupuncture have high centralization degree. Thus, the populariza tion and promotion on application of acupuncture indications should be strengthened.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion for treatment of chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion and western medicine on chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases were randomly divided into a spread moxibustion group (n = 28) and a western medicine group (n = 32). The spread moxibustion group was treated with herb-partitioned spread moxibustion at lower limb around stomach meridian, abdomen region around Guanyuan (CV 4) and lower Jiaji (EX B 2) points; and the western medicine group was treated with oral administration of Sulfasalazine. Their therapeutic effects were observed after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured-markedly effective rate was 71.4% (20/ 28) in the spread moxibustion group, and 25.0% (8/32) in the western medicine group, the former was better than the latter (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The therapeutic effect of herb-partitioned spread moxibustion for treatment of chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis is better than that of the oral administration of Sulfasalazine with less adverse reaction, and is worth popularizing in clinic.</p>