ABSTRACT
Laser used to stimulate acupoints is called laser acupuncture (LA). It is generally believed that similar clinical responses to manual acupuncture can be achieved. Here we analysed the effects of the laser (904 nm) at the ‘Zusanli’ acupoint (ST.36) of the stomach meridian on the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical Na99mTcO4. Wistar rats were divided into control (CG) and experimental groups (EG). The EG were exposed daily to the laser (904 nm) at ST.36 with 1 joule/min (40 mW/cm2) for 1 min. The animals of the CG were not exposed to laser at all. On the 8th day after LA, the animals were sedated and Na99mTcO4 was administered. After 10 min, the animals were all sacrificed and the organs removed. The radioactivity was counted in each organ to calculate the percentage of radioactivity of the injected dose per gram (%ATI/ g). Comparison of the %ATI/g in EG and CG was performed by Mann-Whitney test. The %ATI/g was significantly increased in the thyroid due to the stimulation of the ST.36 by laser. It is possible to conclude that the stimulation of ST.36 does lead to biological phenomena that interfere with the metabolism of the thyroid.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effects of mirabilite external application and neostigmine injection at Zusanli acupoint combined with Xuebijing intravenous injection on patients with severe sepsis.Methods A history-prospective controlled study was conducted. Patients with severe sepsis admitted to the Fourth People's Hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2012 to November 2015 were enrolled. Twenty-one cases admitted from January 2014 to November 2015 were assigned as a research group and treated with application of mirabilite external application, Zusanli acupoint injection of neostigmine combined with intravenous Xuebijing injection; 22 patients with Xubijing treatment from January 2012 to November 2015 were included in a Xubijing group; 21 patients with routine therapy from January 2012 to November 2013 were included in a control group. The changes of white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygenation index (OI), serum creatinine (SCr), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), gastrointestinal function score, blood platelet count (PLT), plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and D-dimmer in three groups before and after treatment were observed; the length of stay in ICU and the 28-day mortality were compared among the three groups. Results Compared with those before treatment, WBC, PCT, CRP, SCr, APACHE Ⅱ score, SOFA score, gastrointestinal function score, APTT, PT, and D-dimer were all obviously lower after treatment for 7 days in various groups; OI, MAP, PLT were significantly higher, and the improvement degree of WBC, PCT, CRP, SCr, APACHE Ⅱ score, SOFA score, gastrointestinal function score, OI in research group was more significant than those of control group and Xubijing group [WBC (×109/L): 7.52±0.75 vs. 12.87±4.13, 10.88±0.66, PCT (μg/L): 1.14±0.55 vs. 6.32±1.39, 3.47±1.94, CRP (mg/L): 21.0±9.2 vs. 65.0±13.6, 35.0±13.9, OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 357.0±20.4 vs. 295.0±20.4, 309.0±21.4, SCr (μmol/L): 7.89±2.35 vs. 14.33±9.17, 11.27±4.65, APACHE Ⅱ score: 10.38±0.75 vs. 18.27±2.57, 13.09±4.10, SOFA score: 1.05±0.66 vs. 6.01±2.33, 3.26±1.03, gastrointestinal function score: 0.31±0.11 vs. 2.01±0.46, 1.85±0.29, all P 0.05]. Conclusions The treatment of mirabilite external application and neostigmine injection at Zusanli acupoint combined with Xuebijing intravenous injection can obviously improve the clinical symptoms, blood coagulation indexes and organ functions, reduce the levels of inflammatory indexes, shorten the time of the length of stay in ICU and elevate the survival rate of patients with severe sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the protective effects of elctroacupuncture(EA)at Zusanli(ST36) points on intestinal villas damage and mucosal permeability induced by small intestine pro-inflammatory factors in rats with intestinal ischemia/reperfusion(I/R). Methods 30 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into three groups(each,n=10):intestinal I/R group(model group),intestinal I/R+EA ST36 group(EA group)and intestinal I/R+sham EA group(SEA group). Rats were subjected to superior mesenteric artery(SMA)clamping at its root part to occlude the vessel for 30 minutes,followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes to form intestinal I/R models. Rats in EA group received EA at the bilateral ST36 points(2-3 mA,2-100 Hz)for 30 minutes immediately after ischemia,those in SEA group received EA at bilateral sham points(the point was located at 0.5 cm away from ST36 point in its lateral side)with the same frequency and intensity of stimulation as EA group for 30 minutes,and those in model group received no treatment. Animals were sacrificed 60 minutes after reperfusion and segments of distal part of ileum were harvested,then the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in intestinal tissue were measured. Histopathologic changes were viewed and graded via light microscopy. A solution of fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-dextran was injected into the lumen of the segment of intestine 30 minutes after reperfusion,systemic blood was drawn via abdominal aorta puncture at 60 minutes after reperfusion,and then the level of FITC-dextran in blood was measured to determine the changes in intestinal permeability. Results Compared to the model group and SEA group,EA ST36 significantly attenuated intestine TNF-α(pg/mg:3.01±0.50 vs. 8.65±1.02,8.42±1.41,both P0.05). Sections of distal ileum from animals in the model group and SEA group showed no obvious difference histologically,and the pathological manifestations were villous tip necrosis, blunt-shaped and collapse. Compared to the model group and SEA group,the intestinal villous injury in animals of EA group was much milder. Conclusion In rats with intestinal I/R injury,EA ST36 points has protective effect on the gut that is possibly due to the fact it may obviously lower the levels of the pro-inflammatory factors of small intestinal tissue,alleviate mucosal insult of gut and reduce the mucosal permeability.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of atropine and N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the pressure of lower esophageal sphincter (LESP) regulated by electro-acupuncturing (EA) at Zusanli acupoint (He-Sea, st 36) of stomach meridian and explore the neural mechanism of EA. Methods Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups:control group, EA group, atropine group, atropine+EA group, L-NAME group and L-NAME+EA group. LESP was observed and recorded by using three-channel perfusion manometric measurement system. Results LESP increased significantly under or after EA at Zusanli acupoint. Cholinergic M receptor blocker partly abolished the influence of EA on LESP, but EA could restore the decreased pressure of cholinergic M receptor blocked rats. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor increased LESP, and EA could make it higher. Conclusions The main efferent pathway of regulating effect of EA at Zusanli acupoint on LESP is via the chlinergic nerve of vagus, and other mechanism possibly exits.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effects of restrain stress on the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase ~MAPK) in rat hypothalamus and the regulation effects of electroacupuncture on the phosphorylated-p38 MAPK. Methods Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into a control group, a restrain stress group and a restrain stress plus electroacupuncture group. The Western blot was employed to observe the changes of phosphorylated-p38MAPK in the three groups. Results Western blot analysis demonstrated a higher level of phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in the hypothalamus from restrain stress group than that from control. The higher level of phosphorylated-p38 MAPK could last for 3 hours after stress was relieved. The level of phosphorylated-p38MAPK could be decreased to some extent when the Zusanli acupoint of the restrained rat was acupunctured. The effects of electroacupuncture of Zusanli on phosphorylated-p38MAPK in hypothalamus could still be retained although the electroacupuncture was ended for 3 hours. Conclusion The results suggested that restrain stress can lead to a higher level of phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in hypothalamus, which might be an important event in the response of hypothalamic-pitutary-adrenal ~HPA) axis. The mechanism underlying the regulation of HPA by electroacupuncture might be (related) to the regulation of phosphorylated-p38 MAPK in hypothalamus.