Effects of electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) combined with neurodynamic mobilization on gastrocnemius muscle atrophy and expression of NF-κB and MuRF1 in rabbits after sciatic nerve injury / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) combined with neurodynamic mobilization (NM) on the cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle fibers after sciatic nerve injury in rabbits, and the expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and muscle-specific ring-finger protein 1 (MuRF1).@*METHODS@#A total of 180 common-grade New Zealand rabbits (half male and half female) were randomly divided into five groups, i.e. a normal control group, a model control group, a NM group, an EA group and a combined intervention group, 36 rabbits in each group. Except in the normal control group, clipping method was used to prepare the model of sciatic nerve injury in the rest groups. On the 3rd day of successful modeling, NM was delivered in the NM group. In the EA group, EA was exerted at bilateral "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) of L4 to L6, stimulated with disperse-dense wave and the frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz. In the combined intervention group, after EA delivered at bilateral "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) of L4 to L6 , NM was operated. The intervention in each group was delivered once daily, for 6 days a week, and lasted 1, 2 or 4 weeks according to the collection time of sample tissue. After 1, 2 and 4 weeks of intervention, in each group, the toe tension reflex score and the modified Tarlov test score were observed; the morphology of the gastrocnemius muscle was observed by HE staining and the cross-sectional area of muscular fiber was measured; using Western blot method, the expression of NF-κB and MuRF1 of the gastrocnemius muscle was detected.@*RESULTS@#After 1, 2 and 4 weeks of intervention, the toe tension reflex scores and the modified Tarlov scores in the model control group were lower than those of the normal control group (P<0.05), and these two scores in the NM group, the EA group and the combined intervention group were all higher than those of the model control group (P<0.05); the scores in the combined intervention group were higher than those in the EA group and the NM group (P<0.05). The gastrocnemius fibers were well arranged and the myocyte morphology was normal in the normal control group. In the model control group, the gastrocnemius fibers were disarranged, the myocytes were irregular in morphology and the inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the local. In the NM group, the EA group and the combined intervention group, the muscle fibers were regularly arranged when compared with the model control group. After 1, 2 and 4 weeks of intervention, the cross-sectional areas of the gastrocnemius muscle fibers in the model control group were smaller than those of the normal control group (P<0.05). The cross-sectional areas in the NM group, the EA group and the combined intervention group were larger than those of the model control group (P<0.05), and the cross-sectional areas in the combined intervention group were larger than those in the NM group and the EA group (P<0.05). After intervention for 1, 2 and 4 weeks, the protein expressions of NF-κB and MuRF1 in the gastrocnemius muscle were higher in the model control group in comparison of those in the normal control group (P<0.05). In the NM group, the EA group and the combined intervention group, the expressions of NF-κB after intervention for 1, 2 and 4 weeks and the expressions of MuRF1 after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention were lower when compared with those in the model control group (P<0.05). In the combined intervention group, the protein expressions of NF-κB after intervention for 1, 2 and 4 weeks and the expressions of MuRF1 after 2 and 4 weeks of intervention were decreased when compared with those in the NM group and the EA group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Electroacupuncture at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) combined with NM may increase the muscle strength and sciatic function and alleviate gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in the rabbits with sciatic nerve injury. The underlying mechanism is related to the inhibition of NF-κB and MuRF1 expression.

Effect of early neurodynamic mobilization on the recurrence of sciatica after the minimally invasive surgery-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective·To investigate the effect of early neurodynamic mobilization on the recurrence of sciatica after the minimally invasive surgery-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods·Fifty-four patients who underwent MIS-TLIF were divided into treatment group (n=28) and control group (n=26). The control group received conventional rehabilitation treatment, while the treatment group received neurodynamic mobilization every day after the first post-operative day. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were evaluated before and after the treatment. Results·There was no significant difference in the score of VAS or JOA between two groups before the treatment or three months after surgery (P>0.05). The score of VAS was significantly lower (P<0.05), and the JOA score was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the treatment group than in the control group four days after surgery. Conclusion·The early neurodynamic mobilization is effective to decrease the recurrence rate of sciatica in patients underwent MIS-TLIF.

Effects of Jiaji Electroacupuncture and Neurodynamic Mobilization Technique on Axon Regeneration and Content of Neurotrophic Factors in Rabbits with Sciatic Nerve Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To observe the effects of Jiaji electroacupuncture and neurodynamic mobilization technique on axon regeneration and content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in rabbits with sciatic nerve injury. Methods 30 male adult rabbits were assigned to sham (A, n=6), model (B, n=6), neurodynamic mobilization (C, n=6), Jiaji electroacupuncture (D, n=6), and Jiaji electroacupuncture combine with neurodynamic mobilization (E, n=6) groups. The group C was treated with neurodynamic mobilization, the group D with Jiaji electroacupuncture, and the group D with both 3 days after modeling of clamping at sciatic nerve, while the groups A and B with no treatment. The axon regeneration was observed with HE staining, and the content of BDNF and CNTF in serum was measured with ELISA 4 weeks after treatment. Results The axons regeneration was observed better in the groups C, D and E than in the group B. The content of BDNF and CNTF was more in the groups C, D and E than in the group B (P<0.05). Conclusion Both Jiaji electroacupuncture and neurodynamic mobilization can improve axon regeneration with synergistic action, which may associate with the increase of BDNF and CNTF in serum.

Effects of Jiaji Electroacupuncture and Neurodynamic Mobilization Technique on Axon Regeneration and Con-tent of Neurotrophic Factors in Rabbits with Sciatic Nerve Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To observe the effects of Jiaji electroacupuncture and neurodynamic mobilization technique on axon regeneration and content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in rabbits with sciatic nerve injury. Meth-ods 30 male adult rabbits were assigned to sham (A, n=6), model (B, n=6), neurodynamic mobilization (C, n=6), Jiaji electroacupuncture (D, n=6), and Jiaji electroacupuncture combine with neurodynamic mobilization (E, n=6) groups. The group C was treated with neurodynam-ic mobilization, the group D with Jiaji electroacupuncture, and the group D with both 3 days after modeling of clamping at sciatic nerve, while the groups A and B with no treatment. The axon regeneration was observed with HE staining, and the content of BDNF and CNTF in serum was measured with ELISA 4 weeks after treatment. Results The axons regeneration was observed better in the groups C, D and E than in the group B. The content of BDNF and CNTF was more in the groups C, D and E than in the group B (P<0.05). Conclusion Both Ji-aji electroacupuncture and neurodynamic mobilization can improve axon regeneration with synergistic action, which may associate with the increase of BDNF and CNTF in serum.