Effect of Acupuncture at “Zhibian （BL 54）-to-Shuidao （ST 28）” on Key Factors of Endogenous Exogenous Apoptotic Pathways in Asthenospermia Model Mice / 中医杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of acupuncture “Zhibian （BL 54）-to-Shuidao （ST 28）” on the reproductive function of asthenospermia model mice and to explore the possible mechanism. MethodsForty-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， and acupuncture group， with 14 mice in each group. Cyclophosphamide 30 mg/（kg·d） was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days to establish model of asthenospermia for the model group and the acupuncture group， while 0.9% sodium chloride solution 10 ml/（kg·d） was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days in the blank group. After successful modeling， mice in the acupuncture group received acupuncture at “Zhibian （BL 54）-to-Shuidao （ST 28）” once a day for 20 minutes， 6 times a week for 3 weeks； the remaining two groups were fixed without acupuncture. Daily observations were made on the general conditions of mice in all groups， and changes in body weight after intervention were recorded. On the next day after completing the treatment， 6 male mice selected randomly from each group to test the sperm quality as well as testicular and epididymal weights， and calculate the corresponding indices； ELISA was used to test the levels of testosterone （T）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， and luteinizing hormone （LH） in serum； HE staining and TUNEL staining were performed to observe the pathological morphology and apoptosis of testicular and epididymal tissues； fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot were used to detect changes in the expression of apoptosis-related factors （Fas）， Fas-associated death domain protein （FADD）， B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and cysteine-aspartic acid protease （caspase）-3 mRNA and protein in testicular tissue. The remaining 8 male mice in each group were housed with estrus-cycling mice of the same strain at 1∶1 ratio， and the pregnancy rate and number of embryos per litter in each group were determined after mating. ResultsIn comparison with the blank group， mice in the model group exhibited reduced body weight， decreased testicular mass， testicular index， epididymal mass， and epididymal index. Additionally， there was a decrease in total sperm count， sperm motility， and sperm viability. Serum levels of T， FSH， and LH were reduced. The apoptosis rate increased， and the expression levels of Fas， FADD， Bax， and Caspase-3 mRNA and proteins were elevated， while Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression levels decreased （P＜0.01）. Pathological abnormalities were observed in testicular and epididymal tissues， with disrupted arrangement of seminiferous tubules and a decreased number of spermatogenic cells within the tubular lumen. Furthermore， the pregnancy rate and the number of embryos per litter decreased significantly after mating （P＜0.01）. In comparison with the model group， mice in the acupuncture group showed improvements in testicular mass， testicular index， epididymal mass， epididymal index， total sperm count， sperm motility， and sperm viability. Serum levels of T， FSH， and LH increased. The apoptosis rate decreased， and the expression levels of Fas， FADD， Bax， and Caspase-3 mRNA and proteins decreased， while Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression levels increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Morphological improvements were observed in testicular and epididymal tissues， with a compact arrangement of seminiferous tubules and an increased number of spermatogenic cells within the tubular lumen. Furthermore， the pregnancy rate and the number of embryos per litter increased significantly after mating （P＜0.01）. ConclusionAcupuncture “Zhibian （BL 54）-to-Shuidao （ST 28）” can improve testicular tissue apoptosis and enhance reproductive function in a mouse model of asthenospermia. Its mechanism may be associated with the modulation of key factors in the extrinsic membrane receptor pathway （Fas-mediated pathway） and the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway （Bcl-2/Bax-regulated pathway） in testicular tissue.

Acupuncture at Zhibian (BL 54) through Shuidao (ST 28) for polycystic ovary syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy differences between acupuncture at Zhibian (BL 54) through Shuidao (ST 28) and regular acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and one patients, by using random digital table, were randomly divided into an observation group (49 cases) and a control group (52 cases). Patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Zhibian (BL 54) through Shuidao (ST 28) as main acupoints, and accompanied acupoints were selected according to syndrome differentiation. Elongated needles (175 mm in length) were inserted at Zhibian (BL 54) with an angle of 200 with sagittal plane. The insertion depth was 100-115 mm, reaching Shuidao (ST 28) and making acupuncture sensation arrive at diseased location. Patients in the control group were treated at the same acupoints with regular acupuncture technique. The menstruation condition was ignored for patients in both groups. The treatment was given once a day, 15 times as one session, and 5 consecutive sessions were given. The basic temperature and level of sex hormone were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and clinical efficacy was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate was 65.3% (32/49) and the effective rate was 91.8% (45/49) in the observation group after treatment, which was significantly superior to 48.1% (25/52) and 63.5% (33/52) in the control group (both P<0.01). The number of patients with typical biphasic fever and patients with atypical biphasic fever in the observation group was higher, than that in the control group, but that of unidirectional temperature was less than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/FSH, testos terone (T) were significantly reduced in the observation group (P<0.01, P<0.05); the LH and T were also apparently reduced in the control group (P<.01, P<0.05). The reduction of FSH, LH, LH/FSH and T in the observation group after treatment was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acuouncture at Zhibian (BL 54) through Shuidao (ST 28) could significantly improve the basic temperature of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, and regulate hormone level of reproductive endocrine, which is superior to regular acupuncture.</p>

Advance in Treatment of Post-stroke Cognitive Function Impairment with Acupuncture(review) / 中国康复理论与实践

@#There are three major ways of for the treatments of post-stroke cognitive impairment.Medicine,acupuncture and the cognitive training is the most popular.Both clinical reports and experimental studies proved positive effect of acupuncture to post-stroke cognitive function impairment.There are more clinical reports and comprehensive mechanism studies on the Brain-activating and Orifice-opening Acupuncture than the other two popular treatments of acupuncture for cognitive function impairment.Acupuncture show positive effect on post-stroke cognitive function impairment.Further studies are required to validate whether acupuncture has better curative effect than cognitive training.