ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
According to the etiology, allergic diseases are related to wind and heat; according to the pathogenesis, most of allergic diseases are
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Hot Temperature , Hypersensitivity/therapy , MeridiansABSTRACT
Objective@#To observe the temperature changes of skin on patients with cold and dampness syndrome by using the non-contact infrared human body thermometer and infrared thermal imager to treat the patients with cold and dampness syndrome by Jin-Bohua national famous Chinese medicine practitioners using the "Mountain Burning Manipulation by Jin-Shi" method to clarify the clinical thermal effects of the "Heat-producing Needling" method.@*Methods@#This study included sixty patients with cold and dampness syndrome who met the enrollment conditionsfrom November 2015 to October 2017. In a room with fixed temperature, the patients were treated by "Heat-producing Needling" method. By using a non-contact infrared human body thermometer and infrared thermal imaging technology, this study observed the skin temperature changes in Quchi and Hegu, Zusanli and Chongyang before needling, immediately afterneedling, 15 minutes after needling, and 30 minutes after needling.@*Results@#After the "Mountain Burning Manipulation by Jin-Shi" treatment, the temperature of local skin surface at acupoints of upper and lower limbs increased with different degrees and the skin temperature reached the highest level when the needle was kept for 15 minutes. The upper limbs' result indicated that skin temperature increased with significant differences in acupuncture of Quchi point for immediately, 15 minutes and 30 minutes as compared with that before acupuncture. It was found that the skin temperature at Hegu point for 15 minutes have a significant increase than before and immediately after acupuncture. The skin temperature of Hegu point lasted 30 minutes, which was significantly higher than before and immediately after acupuncture. Compared with Hegu point, Quchi point has higher skin temperature immediately after acupuncture (t=3.793, P=0.034). The lower limbss' results indicated that skin temperature at Zusanli point increased with significant differences in Zusanli point for immediately needling, 15 minutes and 30 minutes as compared respectively with that beforeneedling. It was found that the skin temperature at Chongyang point for 15 minutes had a significant increase than before and immediately after acupuncture. The skin temperature at Chongyang point for 15 mins had a significant increase than before and immediately afterneedling. The skin temperature of Zusanli point was higher than that of Chongyang point (t=3.794, P=0.034) immediately afterneedling.@*Conclusions@#This study demonstrates that the "Mountain Burning Manipulation by Jin-Shi" method has a clear clinical thermal effect on both local and peripheral longitude of patients with cold dampness syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Objective The mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of neurological dysfunction caused by ischemic stroke remains to be further explored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA at the Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) points on the expressions of Nrg-1 and ErbB4 proteins and their correlation with the expressions of cell apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and Bax in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) rats.Methods Totally 160 male adult SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups of equal number: sham operation, middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO-R) model, acupoint, and non-acupoint. After MCAO/R modeling, EA was applied at Quchi and Zusanli in the acupoint group and at ipsilateral non-acupoints below the axillary striation and apex of the coccyx in the non-acupoint group. At 3 days after treatment, the protein and mRNA expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Nrg-1 and ErbB4 were determined by TTC, TUNEL, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and RT-PCR.Results The neurological deficit score was significantly increased after cerebral I/R injury in the MCAO-R model, acupoint and non-acupoint groups compared with that in the sham operation group (P<0.01). EA therapy markedly reduced the neurological deficit scores (P<0.05), cerebral infarct area (P<0.05) and the number of apoptotic cells (P<0.05), up-regulated the protein expressions of Nrg-1, ErbB4 and Bcl-2 (P<0.05), and down-regulated that of Bax (P<0.05). There was a pronounced increase in the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrg-1 and ErbB4 in the acupoint group compared with the MCAO-R model and non-acupoint groups after cerebral I-R injury (P<0.01).Conclusion EA at the Quchi and Zusanli points has a neuroprotective effect in ischemic brain injury by up-regulating the expressions of endogenous Nrg-1 and its receptor ErbB4 and down-regulating those of Bcl-2 and Bax. The underlying mechanism is probably associated with the Nrg-1/ErbB4 signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
0.05),and was superior in group C than that in groups A and B(P0.05),and was superior in group C than that in groups A and B(P
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the intervention of acupuncture on guinea pig models of allergic reaction type Ⅳ.Methods Thirty-six albino guinea pigs were randomized into blank control group,model group,and acupuncture group.The guinea pig models of allergic reaction type Ⅳ were established by external application of dinitrochlorobenzene.The acupuncture group received acupuncture on acupoints of Quchi and Xuehai for 10 days.After treatment,the auricular thickness and weight,the number of intradermal inflammatory cells,and the auricular pathological changes in guinea pigs were observed.Results In the model group,the auricular thickness and weight were increased,and the number of intradermal monocytes,lymphocytes,neutrophils,and fibrocytes was also increased(P0.05),and the pathological changes of chronic eczema were relieved.Conclusion Acupuncture exerts an intervention on allergic reaction type Ⅳ.