Anti-inflammatory mechanism of electroacupuncture involves the modulation of multiple systems, levels and targets and is not limited to "driving the vagus-adrenal axis" / 中西医结合学报

In October 2021, an international collaborative study on the use of electroacupuncture (EA) to treat inflammation was published in the journal Nature by Dr. Qiufu Ma's team. Based on the results of EA on inflammation in the mouse model of lipopolysaccharide inflammatory storm, the study showed that the distal effect of acupuncture can be achieved by "driving the vagus-adrenal axis (through the adrenal medulla, by releasing catecholamines)." PROKR2Cre-marked sensory neurons, which innervate the deep hindlimb fascia but not the abdominal fascia, are crucial for driving this axis. The study suggests the existence of specificity distribution of acupoints, that different EA stimulation intensities or different needle penetration depths have different therapeutic effects, that photosensitive stimulation may be a substitute for needle acupuncture, and that massage, stretching and body movements may also activate PROKR2Cre-markable dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons and elicit anti-inflammatory effects. However, results of some other studies are contrary to the conclusions of Ma's team. For examples: low-intensity EA at GB30 point significantly reduced the inflammation in the rat model of persistent inflammation, which is more relevant to the real daily acupuncture practice, and this effect was partly related to the adrenal cortex and associated with the stimulation of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone; manual acupuncture (similar to the low-intensity EA) at KI3, Zhichuan point (an extra point), etc. was effective in a severe COVID-19 patient with sepsis; stimulating ST25 with low-intensity EA or manual acupuncture was effective against gastrointestinal inflammations; the above mentioned points are not in an area enriched with PROKR2Cre-marked sensory nerve endings. Evidence shows that the mechanism of EA against inflammation includes modulating multi-systems, multi-levels and multi-targets, which does not limit to "driving the vagus-adrenal axis." Please cite this article as: Fan AY. Anti-inflammatory mechanism of electroacupuncture involves the modulation of multiple systems, levels and targets and is not limited to "driving the vagus-adrenal axis." J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):320-323.

Chinese expert consensus on nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy. Radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer could cause damage to pelvic autonomic nerves, leading to postoperative urination, defecation and sexual dysfunction. In order to improve the postoperative quality of life, the international Querleu-Morrow (Q-M) surgical classification system recommends the nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (type-C1) as the mainstay operation. The Gynecologic Oncology Group affiliated to Chinese Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association has invited a number of domestic specialists and conducted in-depth discussions on key issues such as anatomical basis, surgical indications, techniques, postoperative evaluation for nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy. Finally, the specialists reach a consensus to guide the standardized application of this procedure in China.

Anatomical basis and clinical research of pelvic autonomic nerve preservation with laparoscopic radical resection for rectal cancer / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The clinical effect of laparoscopic rectal cancer curative excision with pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (PANP) was investigated. This study evaluated the frequency of urinary and sexual dysfunction of 149 male patients with middle and low rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic or open total mesorectal excision with pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (PANP) from March 2011 to March 2013. Eighty-four patients were subjected to laparoscopic surgery, and 65 to open surgery respectively. The patients were followed up for 12 months, interviewed, and administered a standardized questionnaire about postoperative functional outcomes and quality of life. In the laparoscopic group, 13 patients (18.37%) presented transitory postoperative urinary dysfunction, and were medically treated. So did 12 patients (21.82%) in open group. Sexual desire was maintained by 52.86%, un-ability to engage in intercourse by 47.15%, and un-ability to achieve orgasm and ejaculation by 34.29% of the patients in the laparoscopic group. Sexual desire was maintained by 56.36%, un-ability to engage in intercourse by 43.63%, and un-ability to achieve orgasm and ejaculation by 33.73% of the patients in the open group. No significant differences in urinary and sexual dysfunction between the laparoscopic and open rectal resection groups were observed (P>0.05). It was concluded that laparoscopic rectal cancer radical excision with PANP did not aggravate or improve sexual and urinary dysfunction.

Three Gaseous Neurotransmitters, Nitric oxide, Carbon Monoxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide, Are Involved in the Neurogenic Relaxation Responses of the Porcine Internal Anal Sphincter

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The internal anal sphincter (IAS) plays an important role in maintaining continence and a number of neurotransmitters are known to regulate IAS tone. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of the neurotransmitters involved in the relaxant and contractile responses of the porcine IAS. METHODS: Responses of isolated strips of IAS to electrical field stimulation (EFS) were obtained in the absence and presence of inhibitors of neurotransmitter systems. RESULTS: Contractile responses of the sphincter to EFS were unaffected by the muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine (1 muM), but were almost completely abolished by the adrenergic neuron blocker guanethidine (10 muM). Contractile responses were also reduced (by 45% at 5 Hz, P carbon monoxide > hydrogen sulfide.

Surgical techniques of autonomic nerve preservation in lymph nodes dissection for gastric cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Resection of the automonic nervous system in the process of lymph nodes dissection is a major factor leading to postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction.The era of blind expansion of the wide excision has been questioned,and safety first,radical dissection of the metastatic lymph nodes,low invasive rate and organ function-saving surgery have been highly emphasized.Preserving the gastric autonomic nerve effectively reduces postoperative diarrhea,shortens the time for weight recovery,and prevents insulin secretion disorders and postoperative cholelithiasis.In the process of laparoscopic or open autonomic nerve preservation in lymph node dissection for gastric cancer,full understanding of the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system,recognizing the landmark of the nerves,proper designing the surgical space,dissecting according to the extracellular space in the membrane of the nerve fibers and nerve plexus are factors which ensures the quality and effects of the surgery.

Surgical techniques of pelvic autonomic nerves protection in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for the treatment of rectal neoplasms / 中华消化外科杂志

Laparoscopic radical resection of rectal neoplasms is still under clinical research currently due to the following 2 reasons. Firstly, compared with open surgery, the longterm efficacy of laparoscopic surgery remains unclear; secondly, the pelvic autonomic nerves are difficult to be exposed and easy to be damaged during the surgery under laparoscope. Till present time, our department has completed 800 cases of laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal neoplasms, in which rectal neoplasms accounted for 70%. For most cases, the pelvic autonomic nerves have been exposed and protected properly. This paper summarized the skills to protect the pelvic autonomic nerves in the laparoscopic total mesorectal excision used for the treatment of rectal neoplasms.

Short-Term Autonomic Denervation of the Atria Using Botulinum Toxin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Major epicardial fat pads contain cardiac ganglionated plexi (GP) of the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic denervation may improve the success rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. This study was designed to elucidate the acute effects of blocking the right atrium-pulmonary vein (RA-PV) and left atrium-inferior vena cava (LA-IVC) fat pads on the electrophysiologic characteristics of the atrium and AF inducibility with a botulinum toxin injection. Materials and Methods: Eight mongrel dogs were studied. The RA-PV and LA-IVC fat pads were exposed through a median thoracotomy. Botulinum toxin (BT, 50 U to each fat pad, n=6) or normal saline (NS, n=2) was injected in the entire area of two fat pads. The study protocol was applied before injection and repeated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours thereafter. The sinus rate, ventricular rate during rapid atrial pacing with a cycle length of 50 ms, and AF inducibility were measured with and without vagal stimulation (VS). Bilateral cervical VS was applied (20 Hz, 0.2 ms, 5.6+/-2.0 V). AF inducibility was evaluated with burst pacing with 200 impulses at a 50-ms cycle length. RESULTS: VS effects on the sinus node and AF inducibility were eliminated a few hours after injection of BT; these changes were not observed after injection of NS. CONCLUSION: Short-term autonomic denervation of the atria was achieved by blocking the major epicardial GP with BT.

The effect of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on the autonomic function / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]The effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the autonomic function was investigated in patients with various syndromes. <BR>[Methods]Heart rate, blood pressure, electric skin resistance, skin temperature and body temperature were measured before and after the treatments. The measurement was performed on 11 patients for 6 months.<BR>[Results]There were no significant changes in blood pressure and body temperature, but there were significant changes in heart rate, electric skin resistance. Skin temperature and body temperature were measured before and after the treatments. Heart rate tended to decrease. There were obvious differences in the change in skin temperature and electric skin resistance. <BR>[Conclusion]Some of autonomic functions changed after treatments and these autonomic changes in patients are suggested to be related to improving indefinite complaints of the patients.

Pharmacological evaluation on the different frequency domain of heart rate variability / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To observe the changes of the different frequency domain of heart rate variability after the partial block of the sympathetic and vagal activity and to prove the correctness of the analysis system.Methods:Six healthy volunteers were injected intravenously with metoprolol (5mg )and six with atropine (2mg).The heart electronic signals were collected 30 minutes before the injection and 30 minutes after the injection.The collection and analysis system were provided by the electrodynamic engineering college of the Chongqing University.The values of the HF,LF,VLF and ULF were assayed and the changes between two drugs and among the different time were compared.The time domain was calculated as well.Results:SDNN,rMSSD and pNN50 were increased while HRV triangle value was decreased after the injection of metoprolol.The comparative value of the HF increased from 34.45% to 50.03%(p