P2X7 receptor is essential for ST36-attenuated cardiac fibrosis upon beta-adrenergic insult.

P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) plays an important role in modulating inflammation and fibrosis, but information is limited whether Zusanli (ST36) can inhibit inflammation and fibrosis by regulating P2X7R. Isoprenaline at 5 mg/kg was subcutaneously injected to wild-type and P2X7R knockout mice for 7 days, while treatment groups received electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at ST36 for 7 sessions. Following 7-session treatment, Masson's trichrome staining was performed to assess the fibrosis. Morphology, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography were carried out to evaluate the cardiac function and structure. Western blotting, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis of inflammatory cytokine and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to characterize the effect of ST36 on inflammation. P2X7R was overexpressed in ISO-treated mice. EA at ST36, but not at non-points, reduced ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis, increases in HW/BW, R+S wave relative to mice in ISO groups. In addition, EA at ST36 downregulated ISO-upregulated P2X7R and NLRP3 in ventricle. Moreover, EA reduced cytokines of IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-18 in serum, and inhibited foam cell gathering, inflammatory cell infiltration, and autophagy. However, EA at ST36 failed to attenuate the cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy in P2X7R knockout mice. In conclusion, EA at ST36 attenuated ISO-induced fibrosis possibly via P2X7R.

Acupuncture Deqi Intensity and Propagated Sensation along Channels May, Respectively, Differ due to Different Body Positions of Subjects.

Acupuncture as an essential component of complementary and alternative medicine is gradually recognized and accepted by the mainstream of contemporary medicine. For obtaining preferable clinical effectiveness, Deqi is commonly regarded as efficacy predictor and parameter which is necessary to be achieved. Influential factors for acupuncture efficacy, like Deqi sensation as well as propagated sensation along channels (PSCs), enjoyed a long history in acupuncture basic research. Concerning this study, taking into account different positions on acupuncture Deqi sensation and PSCs, we would like to attest whether different body positions for subjects during needling procedure yield differed acupuncture Deqi sensation, particularly in terms of intensity, and PSCs. Methods. We used self-controlled method and selected 30 healthy subjects to perform needle insertion at Futu point (ST32) bilaterally. Then they were instructed to record the value of intensity of acupuncture sensation and the length and width of PSCs after removing the needle. Results. In regard to intensity of Deqi, kneeling seat position is stronger than supine position, accounting for 90% of the total number of subjects. In length of PSCs, kneeling seat position is greater than supine position, accounting for 56.7%. In width of PSCs, kneeling seat position is greater than supine position, accounting for 66.7%. Conclusion. Our findings show that needle inserting at Futu point (ST32) in kneeling seat position achieve better needle sensation and provide reference for clinical.

Economic evaluation of treating herpes zoster with various methods of acupuncture and moxibustion.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cost effect of surrounding acupuncture plus electric acupuncture, cotton-sheet moxibustion, puncturing with red-hot needles, tapping plus cupping on herpes zoster. METHODS: Five hundred patients with herpes zoster were randomly divided into group A (surrounding acupuncture plus electric acupuncture), group B (cotton-sheet moxibustion), group C (puncturing with red-hot needles), group D (tapping plus cupping), and group E (Western medicine). The treatment was carried out twice a day in group E and once a day in the other four groups. The curative effect was observed on the 10th day of treatment; the cost was calculated for the five therapies, and the cost-effect ratio (C/E) and increment ratio (delta C/delta E) were analyzed. RESULTS: After the 10-day treatment, there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the curative effect among the five groups. Pain being alleviated one day faster than in group E amounted to a saving of RMB 21.90 yuan in group A, a saving of RMB 21.87 yuan in group B, a saving of RMB 26.00 yuan in group C, and a saving of RMB 20.23 yuan in group D. Compared with group C, the values of delta C/delta E were RMB 1.55, 2.81, and 0.21 yuan in groups A, B, and D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The curative effect in groups A, B, C, and D was similar to that in group E, but the C/E was better than in group E.

[Operating rules of cotton-pave moxibustion and its samples for clinical application in dermatopathy].

In clinical researches, the authors find that cotton-pave moxibustion has obvious effect for treatment of common dermatopathy, such as herpes zoster. This therapy has some advantages such as easy operation, obvious clinical effect, slight and short burning pain and easy to be accepted by patients. The purpose of this paper is to make the operation of cotton-pave moxibustion standardized, spread and popularize the application of this therapy in dermatopathy through detailed description to the operation method and points for attention of cotton-pave moxibustion and its typical cases.

[Effects of moxibustion on erectile function and NO-cGMP pathway in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and the mechanism of moxibustion for treatment of diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: Diabetes mellitus (DM) rat model was induced by streptozotozin (STZ) and then penis erectile experiment of apomorphine (APO) was used to select diabetic ED rats model, which were divided into 2 groups: a model group and a moxibustion group, with another normal control group set up. The moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) with small moxa cone about the size of a wheat grain. The effects on penis erectile, blood sugar and total NOS, cNOS, iNOS, and cGMP were investigated. RESULTS: Moxibustion had a certain improving action on blood sugar, improved significantly erectile function, and more significantly increased NOS, cNOS, iNOS activities and cGMP contents in the penis. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion has a certain action on the erectile function in the diabetic ED rats, which is related with improvement of blood sugar and promoting NO-cGMP pathway.

[Observation on clinical therapeutic effect of Yang's cotton moxibustion on neurodermatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of the therapeutic effects between Yang's cotton moxibustion and hormonotherapy on neurodermatitis. METHODS: Sixty cases of neurodermatitis were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to random number table. The treatment group were treated with Yang's cotton moxibustion and the control group with triamcinolone and urea cream. After treatment for one week, the therapeutic effect was start to be observed. After the treatment was given for 4 weeks, the therapeutic effect was evaluated. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group and 80.0% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Yang's cotton moxibustion has an obvious therapeutic effect on neurodermatitis with a good safety.

[Discussion of some problems in the new centurial planning material the therapeutics of acupuncture and moxibustion].

Some problems were found for argument in the teaching of The Therapeutics of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, the new centurial national advanced Chinese medical school's planning material, including errors in compiling, some concepts lacking definition, and some acupuncture treatment methods in the material deviating off clinical practice, etc.. Study on these problems so as to make the teaching material more perfect, more scientific, accurate and authoritative.