High-Tech Acupuncture for Prevention of Lifestyle Diseases-A Sino-Austrian Cooperation Research Protocol on Heart Rate Variability / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Acupuncture can not only be used for well-known diseases, but also for so-called modern lifestyle-related diseases. Using innovative methods like e.g. new analyses of heart rate variability (HRV), it is also possible to investigate diseases like burnout syndrome, ie., qi deficiency in Chinese medicine (CM).</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The main object of this research protocol is to perform research on the relationship of burnout syndrome and heart rate (HR) and HRV.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 175 patients with burnout syndrome (qi deficiency syndrome) in five groups and 35 healthy volunteers will be investigated. Based on random numbers generated by computer and concealed in opaque envelops, the patients will be assigned to four acupuncture groups using Zusanli (ST 36) acupuncture stimulation, Guanyuan (CV4) acupuncture stimulation, both points, and both points with Streitberger device respectively, and a moxibustion group using both points mentioned above, with 35 cases in each group. Altogether four different experiments are planned. Experiment 1 includes 70 subjects and is a comparison between a burnout group and a control group (healthy volunteers). The evaluation parameters are different scores and indices of HR and HRV. Experiment 2 includes 140 subjects and compares the efficacy of different acupuncture points. In experiment 3 (105 subjects), acupuncture and moxibustion should be compared to healthy volunteers. Experiment 4 (70 subjects) investigates the long-term therapeutic effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on the scores of qi deficiency and HR/HRV in qi deficiency patients. In both the acupuncture and moxibustion groups, a total of 10 treatments will be performed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The joint research aims at the scientific evaluation of CM, mainly in the field of HRV. This parameter could be a very good indicator of the state of health and can be inflfluenced by different acupuncture methods, as shown in the past.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on p38 MAPK signaling pathway in rats with cardiac hypertrophy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the mechanisms of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on p38 MAPK signaling pathway in rats with cardiac hypertrophy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: a normal group, a model group, a model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group, a model plus electroacupuncture group, ten rats in each group. The model rats were established by subcutaneous injection 3 mg/(kg x d) of Isoprenaline Hydrochloride; model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group were injected 0.3 mg/(kg x d) of specific inhibitor SB 203580; model plus electroacupuncture group was treated by electroacupuncture at "Neiguan"(PC 6) with continuous-wave, 2 Hz and 1 mA for 20 minutes, once a day for 14 days. There was no treatment in other two groups. The contents of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in heart tissue were detected by radioimmunoassay and the p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK by western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with normal group, the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK were significantly increased in model group (all P < 0.01). The contents of TNFalpha, IL-1beta, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK were significantly decreased in model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group and model plus electroacupuncture group, compared with model group, all P < 0.05; compared with normal group, P < 0.05, P < 0.01; but no significant difference between model plus p38 MAPK inhibitor group and model plus electroacupuncture group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6) can prevent the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK of myocardial hypertrophy, and the mechanism maybe adjust p38 MAPK signaling pathway by inhibiting the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.</p>

Effect of acupuncture on expression of neurology-related genes in the brain tissue of the rat / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze and explore the molecular mechanism of acupuncture precondition (AP) in improving brain ischemia reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six male Wistar rats were divided into a normal group of 3 rats and an acupuncture group of 3 rats. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture precondition was first given at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Baihui" (GV 20). The brain of the rat was removed 0.5 hour after the needle was withdrawn, and then gene differential expression was analyzed by genechip method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After acupuncture precondition for 0.5 h, expression of 265 genes showed changes of more than 2 times, and that of 20 genes had a significant difference as compared with that of the normal rat (P<0.05). Among the genes, expression of 8 was upregulated and 12 downregulated; 11 were related with neuron signal conduction (ion channel, transmitter, receptor, second message), 5 with gene transcription and control, 2 with metabolism enzyme, 1 with heat shock reaction and 1 with cell skeleton.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Some gene expression substances induced by acupuncture play an important role in AP resisting brain ischemia reperfusion injury; and functional changes of neurons after AP are possibly the important basis of its subsequent action in resisting brain ischemia reperfusion injury.</p>