The specificity of body surface temperature of relevant back-shu points in patients with chronic persistent asthma based on infrared thermal imaging technology / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To detect the body surface temperature of the relevant back-shu points in patients with chronic persistent asthma by infrared thermal imaging technology, and observe the specific changes of the body surface temperature of the relevant back-shu points under the condition of lung disease.@*METHODS@#Forty-five patients with chronic persistent asthma (observation group) and 45 healthy subjects (control group) were selected. The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were measured by BK-MT02A medical infrared thermography.@*RESULTS@#The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17) was higher than that of ipsilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in body surface temperature between ipsilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), between ipsilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The pathological increase of body surface temperature of Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in patients with chronic persistent asthma indicates that above acupoints have specificity in reflecting lung diseases. The Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), which have significantly increased body surface temperature, not only provide objective basis for the pathological pathogenesis of "deficiency in origin and excess in symptom" in patients with chronic persistent asthma, but also reflect the different expressions of different acupoints on the same meridian for the lung diseases.

Relationship between the inserting sites of Fu's subcutaneous needling and traditional acupoints: revelation to acupuncture and moxibustion / 中国针灸

Focusing on the phenomenon of "de-acupoints" of the needle insertion sites in Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN), the authors allocated the evolution and characteristics of the needle insertion sites of FSN. From six aspects, named morphology and structure, location, nomenclature, numbers and meridian tropism, indications and acupuncture manipulations, the comparison was made between the insertion sites of FSN and traditional acupoints. It is believed: ①The needle insertion sites of FSN has the basic attributes of acupoint, which not only refers to the operation site, but also indicates the reaction of disease; moreover, it is the treatment site with significant therapeutic effect. ②The optimized sites of insertion in FSN should be named differently and their locations and numbers should be specified relatively. ③The insertion sites of FSN should be further intersected and integrated with traditional acupoints, and a part of traditional acupoints should become the insertion sites of FSN. ④Accepting and integrating the insertion sites of FSN, and expanding the scope of traditional acupoints may be the new project in the research of traditional acupoints.

The skin surface microcirculation of conception vessel, governor vessel and thoroughfare vessel in patients with primary dysmenorrhea / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the skin surface microcirculation of acupoints of conception vessel, governor vessel and thoroughfare vessel in patients with primary dysmenorrhea using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), and provide acupoint selection basis of acupuncture-moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea.@*METHODS@#Ninety-nine healthy female college students with regular menstrual cycles (normal group) and 94 female college students with primary dysmenorrhea (dysmenorrhea group) were recruited. Before menstrual period, on the first day of menstruation, and on the third day after menstruation, LSCI was used to observe the surface microcirculation at the abdominal acupoints of conception vessel, i. e. Yinjiao (CV 7), Qihai (CV 6), Shimen (CV 5), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3) and Qugou (CV 2), acupoints of thoroughfare vessel, i. e. Huangshu (KI 16), Zhongzhu (KI 15), Siman (KI 14), Qixue (KI 13), Dahe (KI 12), Henggu (KI 11) and acupoints of lumbosacral region of governor vessel, i. e. Xuanshu (GV 5), Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Yaoshu (GV 2) as well as two non-acupoints.@*RESULTS@#Before menstrual period, there was no significant difference in the surface blood perfusion of the acupoints between the dysmenorrhea group and the normal group (P>0.05). On the first day of menstruation, the surface blood perfusion of Xuanshu (GV 5), Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3) and right Huangshu (KI 16) in the dysmenorrhea group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05, P<0.01). On the third day after menstruation, the surface blood perfusion of the right Henggu (KI 11) in the dysmenorrhea group was lower than that in the normal group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#In patients with primary dysmenorrhea, on the first day of menstruation, the surface blood perfusion of Xuanshu (GV 5), Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3) of governor vessel, and the right Huangshu (KI 16) of thoroughfare vessel is increased, while on the third day after menstruation, the surface blood perfusion of the right Henggu (KI 11) of thoroughfare vessel is decreased. These findings might provide a basis for acupoint selection in the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

On the acupoint and its specificity / 中国针灸

Although acupuncture has spanned thousands of years in the history of traditional medicine, still some basic questions are not clarified. Acupuncture is the theory based on long time medical practice of the ancient sage, combined with objectivesymptom and medical expertise from diseases, and being applied for the instruction in clinic. In this way, acupoint is discovered by doctors in the practice of disease treatment other than a natural occurrence in the healthy population. And acupoint specificity is attached to the target organ involved in pathological condition. In our opinion, acupoint originates from somatic referred area reactive to visceral disorders. And accordingly, referred hyperesthesia of the somatic area is phenomenon of acupoint sensitization. Acupoint is the situ having health code formed in the biological evolution. Corresponding acupoint of a given organ is the alarmer for the state of health, and also is the trigger for self-healing where acupuncture can work as a gating-button. Therefore, acupoint must be accompanied with diseases in that it is reinforced by, relayed on, responsive to and neutralize by the pathological course. In conclusion, acupoint cannot exist without the disease. In another word, acupoint will be unshown, or be functionally hidden, under physiological condition.

Electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Chize" (LU5) of mother rats exposed to nicotine during pregnancy and lactation has a protective effect on development of lung function and morphology in neonatal rats / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To compare the different effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Chize" (LU5) of mother rats exposed to Nicotine during pregnancy and lactation on lung function and morphological changes in offspring rats, so as to explore the most effective acupoint for improving the development of lung in neonatal rats. METHODS: A total of 24 female pregnancy SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control, model, EA-ST36 and EA-LU5 (n＝6 rats in each group). Rats of the normal group were treated by subcutaneous injection of normal saline, and those of the other 3 groups treated by subcutaneous injection of nicotine (1 mg•kg－1•d－1) beginning from the 6th day to about the 21st day of pregnancy (childbirth day) for nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation. The daily EA treatment (2 Hz /15 Hz，1 mA) was applied to bilateral ST36 and LU5 for 20 min, beginning from the 6th day of pregnancy to the 21st day (childbirth day). The lung function of the offspring rats including the peak inspiratory flow (PIF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), lung resistance (RL), exhalation resistance (RE)and lung dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was detected by using a lung function analysis system. Histopathological changes (severity of alveolarization) of the offspring rats' lung tissue were observed under microscope after H．E. stain. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the PIF, RL and RE values were significantly increased (P0.05)．. CONCLUSION: EA of ST36 and LU5 of mother rats experiencing nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation can improve the lung function and morphological changes in neonatal rats, and the effect of ST36 is relatively better.

Effects of Acupuncture on Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from Neuroimaging Studies / 中国结合医学杂志

As the worldwide population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) increases. However, the results of promising medications have been unsatisfactory. Chinese acupuncture has a long history of treating dementia, but lack of evidence from well-designed randomized controlled trials that validate its efficacy and safety, as well as its lack of clear underlying mechanisms, contribute to its limited application in clinical practice. In recent years, brain imaging technologies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, have been used to assess brain responses to acupuncture in a dynamic, visual, and objective way. These techniques are frequently used to explore neurological mechanisms of responses to acupuncture in AD and provide neuroimaging evidence as well as starting points to elucidate the possible mechanisms. This review summarizes the existing brain imaging evidence that explains the effects of acupuncture for AD and analyzes brain responses to acupuncture at cognitive-related acupoints [Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), and Taixi (KI 3)] from perspectives of acupoint specificity and acupoint combinations. Key issues and directions to consider in future studies are also put forward. This review should deepen our understanding of how brain imaging studies can be used to explore the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in AD.

Mechanism of acupoint selection along meridians to improve adenosine receptor of myocardial ischemia based on acupoint specificity / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the action mechanism of acupoint selection along meridians to improve adenosine receptor in myocardial ischemia (MI) rats by comparing the effects of acupoint selection along meridians, acupoint selection at other meridians and non-acupoint on expression of adenosine receptor.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a sham operation group, a model group, an acupoint-selection-along-meridians (ASAM) group, an acupoint-selection-at-other-meridians (ASAOM) group and a non-acupoint group, 20 rats in each group. The model of MI was not made in the blank group; the left anterior descending coronary artery was not ligated after thoracotomy in the sham operation group; the model of MI was made but acupuncture was not given in the model group. After the model of MI was made, electroacupuncture (EA) was applied at "Neiguan" (PC 6) in the ASAM group, at "Hegu" (LI 4) in the ASAOM group, and at the area between the third and fourth metatarsal bone in the non-acupoint group. EA was given 20 min per treatment, once a day for 5 days. After treatment, the TTC staining was used to detect myocardial infarction, the Tunel method was used to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and the immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of adenosine receptors A1, A2a and A2b.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the blank group and the sham operation group, the percentage of myocardial infarction and apoptotic rate of myocardial cells in the model group were increased significantly (<0.01). After EA treatment, compared with the model group, the percentage of myocardial infarction and apoptotic rate of myocardial cells in the ASAM group were decreased significantly (<0.01), and the expression levels of adenosine receptors A1, A2a and A2b were increased significantly (<0.01). The percentage of myocardial infarction and apoptotic rate of myocardial cells in the ASAM group were significantly lower than those in the ASAOM group and the non-acupoint group (<0.01), and the expression levels of adenosine receptors A1, A2a and A2b in the ASAM group were significantly higher than those in the ASAOM group and non-acupoint group (<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with acupoint selection at other meridians or non-acupoints, acupoint selection along meridians can effectively regulate the expression of adenosine receptors A1, A2a and A2b, improve the condition of myocardial infarction, inhibit myocardial cell apoptosis, and consequently protect ischemic myocardium.

Infrared Thermogram of Yangming Meridian Acupoints in Patients with Idiopathic Facial Paralysis in Acute Stage / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe changes in the infrared thermogram of Yangming meridian acupoints in patients with idiopathic facial paralysis in acute stage. Method High-performance uncooled infrared focal plane array (M7800 Thermal Imager, LumaSense, USA) was used to detect the infrared thermogram of Yangming meridian acupoints[Kouheliao (LI19), Yingxiang (LI20), Hegu (LI4), Shangyang (LI1), Chengqi (ST1), Sibai (ST2), Juliao (ST3), Dicang (ST4), Daying (ST5), Jiache (ST6), Xiaguan (ST7), Tianshu (ST25), and Zusanli (ST36) ]of 80 patients with idiopathic facial paralysis in acute stage and 75 healthy subjects. The temperature data of the meridian acupoints obtained from the analysis software were statistically processed. Result Compared with the healthy subjects, the temperature differencesΔT of the Hand Yangming Meridian acupoints including Kouheliao, Yingxiang and Hegu, and Foot Yangming Meridian acupoints including Chengqi, Sibai, Juliao, Dicang, Daying, Jiache and Xiaguan were more significant in the patients with idiopathic facial paralysis in acute stage, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); the temperature differences ΔT of the Hand Yangming Meridian acupoint Shangyang, and the Foot Yangming Meridian acupoints including Tianshu and Zusanli in the facial paralysis patients showed insignificant differences compared with those in the healthy subjects (P>0.05). Conclusion There are changes in the infrared thermogram at Yangming meridian acupoints located on face (Kouheliao, Yingxiang, Shangyang, Chengqi, Sibai, Juliao, Dicang, Daying, Jiache and Xiaguan) and the distant acupoint Hegu in idiopathic facial paralysis patients in acute stage, while Shangyang, Tianshu and Zusanli do not present the above phenomenon, indicating the specificity of acupoint effect from the perspective of infrared.

Effects of acupoint specificity on claustrophobia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effectiveness of acupuncture on claustrophobia, and to explore the effects of acupoint specificity on claustrophobia.@*METHODS@#This was an evaluator-blinded randomized controlled trial. One hundred and sixty patients who presented with claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging examination were randomized into an acupoint group, a non-acupoint group, a sham-acupoint group and a blank group, 40 cases in each one. The patients in the acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at Zhaohai (KI 6), Taichong (LR 3), Lingdao (HT 4), Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Danzhong (CV 17), Baihui (GV 20) and Fengchi (GB 20). The patients in the non-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at points 0.5 next to the acupoints above. The patients in the sham-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at acupoints not closely correlated to claustrophobia in corresponding segment. All the acupuncture was given once. No treatment was used in the blank group. The state anxiety questionnaire (S-AI) was observed in all the patients at the end of MRI examination before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among four groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the S-AI score was reduced in the acupoint group, non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group after treatment (0.05). After treatment, the S-AI scores in the acupoint group, non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group was lower than that in the blank group (<0.05, <0.01), and the differences of S-AI score were higher than that in the blank group (<0.01). The S-AI score in the acupoint group was lower than that in the non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group (<0.05), and the difference of S-AI score was higher than those in the non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group (<0.05). The difference of S-AI score in the non-acupoint group was higher than that in sham-acupoint group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in the acupoint group, which was significantly superior to 25.0% (10/40) in the non- acupoint group, 17.5% (7/40) in the sham-acupoint group and 5.0% (2/40) in the blank group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture showes superior effect on claustrophobia, and its tranquilizing effect may be related with acupoint specificity.

Study on the Voltage-current Characteristics and Blood Flow Perfusion of Sanyinjiao (SP6) in Healthy Female Subjects / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the changing rules of the voltage-current characteristics and blood flow perfusion of Sanyinjiao (SP6) at different time points of a menstrual cycle in healthy female subjects, and provide evidence for acupoint specificity.Method Fifty-one healthy college students were observed for the voltage-current characteristics and blood flow of Sanyinjiao and its control point before, during and after menstruation.Result The increasing volt-ampere area, decreasing volt-ampere area and inertial area of left Sanyinjiao were significantly smaller than those of the control point during and at the end of menstruation (P<0.05), and the inertial area of right Sanyinjiao was significantly smaller than that of the control point during menstruation (P<0.05); during non-menstruation period and at the end of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of bilateral Sanyinjiao was significantly larger than that of the control point (P<0.05), and the blood flow of left Sanyinjiao was significantly larger than that of the control point (P<0.05) during menstruation period; the blood flow perfusion of right Sanyinjiao showed a significant negative correlation with the increasing volt-ampere area and inertial area (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupoint can sensitively reflect the qi-blood change of human body, and the rich blood flow in acupoint area should be a crucial reason causing the low resistance.

Review on skin temperature of acupoints / 中国针灸

We retrieve and analyze the articles on body surface temperature of acupoints in the recent 50 years. Surface temperatures have been compared between acupoints and nonacupoints, and among acupoints in different states. The impacts of interventions for acupoint temperature are explored, including acupuncture,moxibustion and cupping, etc. We summarize the features and the rules of acupoint skin temperature. It is considered that there exists distribution rule for healthy people's acupoint skin temperature. That means acupoints have higher surface temperature than nonacupoints. In the same meridian the nearer acupoints close to the head and trunk, the higher the temperature is. The difference in symmetrical acupoints temperatures between the left and right side is about 0.5℃. In the different meridians the skin temperatures of adjacent acpoints are similar. The changes of acupoint's skin temperature in illness can be used as the auxiliary diagnosis. Acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping can produce acupoints stimulating, metabolism improving,balance, acupoint temperature regulating. Thus,diseases are relieved. The specificity and regularity that acupoint's skin temperature presents may be one of the manifestations of the acupoint specificity, also it is an important starting point of the research on acupoint sensitization. The further studies should consider different diseases and modern biological engineering techniques, so that more rules of acupoints temperature can be found by more sensitive and objective temperature measurements as well as experimental and the mathematical models.

Study on the Voltage-current Characteristics and Blood Flow Perfusion of Sanyinjiao (SP6) in Healthy Female Subjects / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the changing rules of the voltage-current characteristics and blood flow perfusion of Sanyinjiao (SP6) at different time points of a menstrual cycle in healthy female subjects, and provide evidence for acupoint specificity.Method Fifty-one healthy college students were observed for the voltage-current characteristics and blood flow of Sanyinjiao and its control point before, during and after menstruation.Result The increasing volt-ampere area, decreasing volt-ampere area and inertial area of left Sanyinjiao were significantly smaller than those of the control point during and at the end of menstruation (P<0.05), and the inertial area of right Sanyinjiao was significantly smaller than that of the control point during menstruation (P<0.05); during non-menstruation period and at the end of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of bilateral Sanyinjiao was significantly larger than that of the control point (P<0.05), and the blood flow of left Sanyinjiao was significantly larger than that of the control point (P<0.05) during menstruation period; the blood flow perfusion of right Sanyinjiao showed a significant negative correlation with the increasing volt-ampere area and inertial area (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupoint can sensitively reflect the qi-blood change of human body, and the rich blood flow in acupoint area should be a crucial reason causing the low resistance.