ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen concentration in the brain of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS),thus to reveal the mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening the brain function of PTSD rats.Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a grasping group,a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group,with 12 rats in each group.Except the blank group,rats in the other groups all received incarceration plus electric shock for 7 d to prepare the PTSD animal model.One hour before the stress model was established,rats in each group received the designated intervention:rats in the blank group and the model group did not receive any intervention;rats in the grasping group received grasping and fixation;rats in the paroxetine group received paroxetine hydrochloride solution by intragastric administration;and rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture.Six-day treatment was a course,with 2 courses of treatment conducted for a total of 12 d.After the modeling,rats in each treatment group received intervention for 5 d,and the fNIRS system was used to collect and record the changes in the concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2),deoxygenated hemoglobin (d-Hb) and total hemoglobin (t-Hb) of the involved rat's brain regions,and also to assess the brain function.Results:Compared with the blank group,the concentration of HbO2 was significantly increased,the concentration of d-Hb was significantly decreased,and the concentration of t-Hb was significantly increased in the model group and the grasping group after the intervention,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the concentrations of HbO2,d-Hb and t-Hb in the grasping group did not change significantly (all P＞0.05).Compared with the grasping group,the concentration of HbO2 was significantly decreased,the concentration of d-Hb was significantly increased,and the concentration of t-Hb was significantly decreased in the paroxetine group and the acupuncture group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the concentrations of HbO2,d-Hb and t-Hb between the paroxetine group and the acupuncture group (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture can regulate the blood oxygen concentration in the brain of PTSD model rats,which may be an important mechanism of acupuncture in intervening the brain function in PTSD rats.
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Objective:To compare the antihypertensive effects of tuina at Taichong (LR 3),Neiguan (PC 6) and Qiaogong (Extra) to screen the best tuina protocol for primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up.Methods:A total of 102 patients with primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up were randomly divided into a Taichong (LR 3) group,a Neiguan (PC 6) group and a Qiaogong (Extra) group according to the random number table,with 34 cases in each group.Patients in the three groups received 4-week tuina treatment with the corresponding acupoint respectively.The blood pressure was recorded by benchtop mercury sphygmomanometer before tuina,immediately after tuina treatment,30 min and 60 min after tuina treatment with the patient in a supine position in a quiet treatment room.The total effective rate was observed.Results:The systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the three groups all decreased after treatment (all P＜0.05).The decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at different time points after treatment in the Qiaogong (Extra) group and the Taichong (LR 3) group were better than those in the Neiguan (PC 6) group (all P＜0.05).Qiaogong (Extra) group had the highest total effective rate though there was no statistical difference in the total effective rate among the three groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Treating primary hypertension due to liver-fire flaming-up with tuina at Taichong (LR 3),Neiguan (PC 6) and Qiaogong (Extra) can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively,among which Qiaogong (Extra) has the highest total effective rate.
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Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture on the characteristics of neuro-electrophysiological activity in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods:Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a grasping group,a Western medicine group and an acupuncture group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,rats in the other 4 groups all received the combined stress modeling method.Rats in the Western medicine group were intragastrically administrated with paroxetine hydrochloride,those in the acupuncture group received acupuncture intervention,those in the grasping group received grasping fixation,and those in the model group and the blank group did not receive any interventions.After 14 d of intervention,the interspike interval (ISI) and power spectral densities (PSD) were analyzed and mapped by in vivo multiple channels to record the neuron clusters discharge in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas.Results:Compared with the blank group,ISI was prolonged in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the model group and the grasping group,and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved down (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with the grasping group,the ISI of the CA1 and CA3 areas in the Western medicine group and the acupuncture group was shortened,and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved up (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The ISI and PSD distributions in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the acupuncture group were not statistically different from those in the Western medicine group (both P＞0.05).Conclusion:Both acupuncture and paroxetine hydrochloride can significantly regulate the neuro-electrophysiology activity of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas in PTSD rats,which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture intervention to promote PTSD recovery.
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Objective:To observe the effect of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method on the resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),and to provide evidence for the effect mechanism study and clinical application of acupuncture intervention for PTSD.Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group,a model group,a grasping group,a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group,with 12 rats in each group.Except for rats in the blank control group,rats in the other groups were subjected to preparing the PTSD models using 'incarceration plus electric shock' method.After interventions,changes in rat behavior of each group were observed;changes in resting-state EEG were collected and analyzed with multichannel EEG acquisition and analysis system,and image analysis and statistical processing were performed.Results:Compared with the blank control group,the average escape latency in the model group was significantly longer (P＜0.05),and the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas were all significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Compared with the grasping group,the average escape latencies in the paroxetine group and acupuncture group were significantly shortened (P＜0.05),and the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas were all significantly increased (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the average escape latency,the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas between the acupuncture group and paroxetine group (all P＞0.05).Compared with the blank control group,the α-wave power spectrum value in the model group was significantly decreased,and the power spectrum values of β-wave,δ-wave and a-wave were significantly increased (all P＜0.01);compared with the grasping group,α-wave power spectrum values in the paroxetine group and acupuncture group were significantly increased (both P＜0.01),and the power spectrum values of β-wave,δ-wave and a-wave were decreased significantly (all P＜0.01).The power spectrum values of α-wave,β-wave,δ-wave and (e)-wave of rats in the acupuncture group were not significantly different from those in the paroxetine group (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method can significantly improve the abnormal EEG activity in PTSD rats,which may be one mechanism of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method in effectively affecting the brain function in PTSD rats.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points in treating migraine.Method Totally 128 eligible migraine patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 64 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points, while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), headache attack frequency, headache duration, headache intensity, complicated symptoms, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were observed before and after treatment and in the follow-up study.Result The NRS scores and the headache symptoms and functions scores were significantly changed respectively after 2-week and 4-week treatment in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). The NRS score, headache duration, and headache intensity in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group after 4-week treatment and in the follow-up study (P<0.05,P<0.01). The SDS and SAS scores were significantly changed after 2-week and 4-week treatments as well as in the follow-up study in the treatment group (P<0.01). The SDS and SAS scores were significantly changed after 4-week treatment in the control group (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the SDS and SAS scores between the two groups after 2-week and 4-week treatment as well as in the follow-up study (P<0.05,P<0.01). In the treatment group, the SDS and SAS scores in the follow-up study were significantly different from that after 2-week treatment (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points is an effective method in treating migraine, and it can reduce headache intensity, and improve the anxiety and depression state.
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Objective: To compare the different therapeutic effects of acupuncture and Phenolphthalein for constipation due to intestinal qi stagnation. Methods:A total of 50 patients with constipation due to intestinal qi stagnation were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group by the random digital table, 25 cases in each group. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated by puncturing Gongsun (SP 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Hegu (LI 4), Lieque (LU 7), and Tianshu (ST 25), once every day, and 7 d as one course, for continuous 3 courses; while the patients in the medication group were given Phenolphthalein, 7 d as one course, for continuous 3 courses. Compared the Cleveland clinic constipation score (CCS) between the two groups after one course, 3 courses and 3 months after the treatment, as well as the frequency of defecation within one week. Results:After one week of treatment, CCS scores and frequency of defecation per week were significantly changed in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and CCS scores and frequency of defecation per week were improved more significantly in the patients of the medication group than in those of the acupuncture group (P<0.01). After 3 weeks of treatment, CCS scores and frequency of defecation per week were significantly changed in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and CCS scores and frequency of defecation per week were improved more significant in the patients of the acupuncture group than in those of the medication group (P<0.05). Three months after the end of treatment, CCS scores and frequency of defecation per week were significantly changed in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and CCS scores and frequency of defecation per week were improved more significantly in the patients of the acupuncture group than in those of the medication group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture and medication are effective in the treatment of constipation due to intestinal qi stagnation. Their short-term therapeutic effect is similar, but the long-term therapeutic effect is better in the acupuncture group than in the medication group.