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Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture at Quchi (LI11) on the serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) level and the severity of uremic pruritus (UP) in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Sixty hemodialysis patients with UP were randomized into an acupuncture group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, patients were treated with acupuncture at Quchi (LI11) twice a week for six weeks. In the control group, each patient received a placebo treatment (sham acupuncture). Before and after the intervention, the pruritis severity was examined using a 5-D scale, and the serum IL-2 level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic or clinical factors between the control group and the acupuncture group at baseline. The reduction in pruritus severity in patients was more significant in the acupuncture group (P=0.027). Acupuncture therapy also significantly decreased the serum IL-2 level in the patients (P=0.011). Throughout the acupuncture procedures, the incidence of pain and mild bleeding was 3.6％ and 2.5％, respectively. Conclusion: Six-week acupuncture treatment at Quchi (LI11) can effectively decrease the severity of UP and the serum IL-2 level. Large-scale, long-duration, and multi-center studies are needed to fully understand the role of IL-2 in inflammation and neuroimmune stimulation during acupuncture.
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Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on renal CaM-eNOS-NO signal pathway in Dahl salt-sensitive rats with prehypertension.Methods Thirty 7-week-old male Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DS) were allocated,using a random number table,to model,acupuncture and non-meridian-acupoint groups.Ten 7-week-old male Dahl salt-resistant rats (DR) were used as a blank group.The rats were fed in a SPF animal experiment center.An 8％ NaC1 high salt diet was provided after 1-week adaptive feeding.During the period,rat blood pressure was monitored using an intelligent noninvasive sphygmomanometer.A rat model of prehypertension was successfully made if rat blood pressure rose to 120～ 139/80～89 mmHg after 12 days.At that time,a high salt diet was stopped and a normal diet was provided.The blank and model groups received 15-minute regular fixation and no treatment.The acupuncture group received electroacupuncture at bilateral Quchi and Zusanli.The non-meridianacupoint group received electroacupuncture at fixed control points selected between 10 and 15 mm above bilateral iliac crests 20 mm lateral to the midline.Treatment was given once daily,6 times a week,for five consecutive weeks.The left rat kidney was taken.CaM and eNOS mRNA expressions were determined by quantitative fluorescence PCR.eNOS was quantified and located by western blot and immunohistochemical method.NO content was measured by ELISA.Results As compared with the blank group,CaM and eNOS mRNA expressions,eNOS protein content and NO content decreased significantly in the model group (all P＜0.05).As compared with the model group,CaM and eNOS mRNA expressions,eNOS protein content and NO content increased significantly in the acupuncture group (all P＜0.05).As compared with the model group,CaM expression increased significantly (P＜0.05) but eNOS mRNA expression and NO content had no statistically significant differences (P＞0.05) in the non-meridian-acupoint group.Conclusion The renoprotective effect of electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli may be related to upregulating renal CaM-eNOS-NO signal pathway in DS rats with prehypertension.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating primary hypertension and the effect of twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulations on the treatment of primary hypertension. Methods Totally 126 patients with primary hypertension were randomized into treatment group 1 of 40 cases, treatment group 2 of 44 cases, and a control group of 42 cases. The treatment groups were both intervened by acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), while twirling reinforcing-reducing manipulations (twirling towards left) were applied in treatment group 1, while the manipulations (twirling towards right) were applied in treatment group 2;the control group was intervened by medication. The change of blood pressure after 10 min treatment was observed, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Results The total effective rate was 85.0%in treatment group 1, versus 88.6%in treatment group 2 and 61.9% in the control group, and the total effective rates in the two treatment groups were significantly different from that in the control group (P0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) is an effective approach in treating primary hypertension, and the reinforcing manipulation and reducing manipulation are both effective.
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Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at bilateral points Quchi on blood pressure variability in hypertensive disease patients.Methods One hundred and two patients were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 51 cases each. Methods The treatment group received electroacupuncture at bilateral points Quchi and the control group, no treatment as a blank control. Twenty-four-hour dynamic blood pressure and blood pressure variability were observed in the two groups of patients. Results There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in 24-hour systolic pressure standard deviation (24 hSSD), daytime systolic pressure standard deviation (dSSD) and night systolic pressure standard deviation (nSSD) between the treatment and control groups (P0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at bilateral points Quchi can reduce systolic pressure variability in hypertensive disease patients.