Electroacupuncture stimulating Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6) in mice with collagen-induced arthritis leads to adenosine A2A receptor-mediated alteration of p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulating Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6) on inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and the role of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) and the p38α Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in mediating this effect. METHODS: Mice with collagen induced arthritis (CIA) received different treatments. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to determine the levels of multiple signaling molecules in these joints [receptor activator of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL), receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), p38α, NF-κB, and nuclear factor of activated T cells C1 (NFATc1)]. Osteoclasts were identified using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. RESULTS: The immunohistochemistry results indicated upregulation of p38α, NF-κB, and NFATc1 in the CIA-control and CIA-EA-SCH58261 groups, but reduced levels in the CIA-EA group. Western blotting indicated upregulation of RANKL, RANK, TRAF6, p38α, NF-κB, and NFATc1 in the CIA-control and CIA-EA-SCH58261 groups, but reduced expression in the CIA-EA group. Osteoclasts were more abundant in the CIA-control and CIA-EA-SCH58261 groups than in the CIA-EA group. CONCLUSIONS: EA treatment enhanced the A2AR activity and inhibited osteoclast formation by inhibition of RANKL, RANK, TRAF6, p38α, NF-κB, and NFATc1. SCH58261 reversed the effect of EA. These results suggest that EA regulated p38α-MAPK signaling by increasing A2AR activity, which inhibited osteoclastogenesis.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Application in Canicular Days for Allergic Rhinitis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the effect of application in canicular days on the quality of life and immune substances in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and its therapeutic efficacy for AR. Method Sixty-four AR patients were divided into a treatment group of 34 cases and a control group of 30 cases by using the random number table. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint application in canicular days, while the control group was by placebo adhered to the same points. The Short-Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) and Self-rating Rhinitis Scale (RS) were evaluated before and after the intervention; the serum total immunoglobulin E (T-IgE) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were detected before and after each treatment session, and the changes of the parameters were compared. Result The global scores of SF-36 and RS, and the level of serum ECP were significantly changed after intervention (P0.05). Conclusion Application in canicular days can promote the quality of life, improve rhinitis symptoms, and down-regulate the level of serum ECP, indicating that application in canicular days can produce a satisfactory efficacy in treating allergic rhinitis.