[Observation on therapeutic effect of "Tiaoren Tongdu acupuncture" on premature ovarian insufficiency of kidney deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of "Tiaoren Tongdu acupuncture" and oral estradiol and dydrogesterone tablets (femoston) on premature ovarian insufficiency of kidney deficiency. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with premature ovarian insufficiency of kidney deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one.In the observation group, "Tiaoren Tongdu acupuncture" was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Yaoshu (GV 2), Mingmen (GV 4), etc. once every 2 days, 1 month as a course. In the control group, femoston was prescribed for oral administration, one tablet per time, once a day, 1 month as a course. Both of the two groups were given consecutive treatment for 3 courses. Before and after treatment, the clinical symptoms, menstrual improvement as well as the changes of estradiol (E2), luteotrophic hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the clinical symptoms and menstrual conditions were improved (P<0.01), the levels of FSH and LH were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the levels of E2 were significantly increased in the two groups (P<0.01). There were no significant difference in menstrual improvement rate and menstrual improvement time between the observation group and the control group (P<0.05), the recurrence rate of menopause and clinical symptom score improvement in the observation group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). In the observation group, the level of E2 in serum was lower and the levels of FSH and LH in serum were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the observation group, the rate of adverse reaction was 4.0% (1/25), which was lower than 36.0% (9/25) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: "Tiaoren Tongdu acupuncture" has better therapeutic effect for premature ovarian insufficiency of kidney deficiency. It is superior to femoston in improving clinical symptoms and recurrence rate of menopause as well as reducing the levels of FSH and LH.

[The "regulating conception-governor vessel" acupuncture method for infertility of polycystic ovarian syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical efficacy differences between"regulating conception-governor vessel" acupuncture method and clomiphene for infertility of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: One hundred patients of PCOS were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with"regulating Conception-Governor Vessel" acupuncture method at Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3) and Yaoshu (GV 2). The acupuncture treatment started at the end of menstruation, once every other day; after four treatments, the follicle was tested with B ultrasound; when follicle was longer than 18 mm or above, the acupuncture treatment was given once a day until follicle was discharged and acupuncture treatment finished. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of clomiphene from 5 days into menstruation, 50 mg per day for 5 consecutive days. Both groups were treated for three menstruation cycle. The menstrual cycles, endometrial thickness, endometrium types (A, B and C), cervical mucus scores, basal body temperature (BBT), cases of ovulation, cases of pregnancy were observed.The levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) in serum were detected before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, the menstrual cycles were shortened (both P<0.05),the endometrial thickness and cervical mucus scores were increased in the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); the improvement of endometrial thickness and cervical mucus score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (both P<0.01). The percentages of type-A endometrium in both groups were higher than those before the treatment (both P<0.05); the number of type-A endometrium in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The ovulation rate was 88.0% (44/50) in the observation group, which was superior to 70.0% (35/50) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of LH were reduced in the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), which was more significant in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The"regulating Conception-Governor Vessel" acupuncture method could improve menstrual cycles, increase endomet-rial thickness and promote the development of follicles in PCOS patient; in addition, it could decrease serum LH level, improve the ovarian functions and increase ovulation rate, which is superior to oral administration of clomiphene.

Electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels and transplantation of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a novel means of treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and can promote angiogenesis and neurological functional recovery. Acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels also has positive effects as a treatment for cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Therefore, we hypothesized that electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels plus mesenchymal stem cell transplantation may have better therapeutic effects on the promotion of angiogenesis and recovery of neurological function than either treatment alone. In the present study, human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, cultured, identified and intracranially transplanted into the striatum and subcortex of rats at 24 hours following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Subsequently, rats were electro-acupunctured at Conception and Governor vessels at 24 hours after transplantation. Modified neurological severity scores and immunohistochemistry findings revealed that the combined interventions of electro-acupuncture and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation clearly improved neurological impairment and up-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor expression around the ischemic focus. The combined intervention provided a better outcome than mesenchymal stem cell transplantation alone. These findings demonstrate that electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation have synergetic effects on promoting neurological function recovery and angiogenesis in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Combinatorial effects of conception and governor vessel electroacupuncture and human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells on pathomorphologic lesion and cellular apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combinatorial effects of conception and governor vessel electroacupuncture (EA) and human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCB-MSCs) on pathomorphologic lesion and cellular apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS: With the HUCB-MSCs isolated, cultured and identified and the models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion established, the HUCB-MSCs of passage three were intracranially transplanted and the EA at conception and governor vessels was applied. The pathomorphologic lesion by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the cellular apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling method around the ischemic focus were observed. RESULTS: The cultured adherent HUCB-MSCs exhibited a spindle shape and expressed MSC-specific markers, with the cell purity and proliferation rate significantly increasing after the primary passage. HE staining showed that there were no pathological changes observed in the sham surgery group. However, in the PBS transplantation group, degeneration and necrosis of a great number of nerve cells were seen. In both the HUCB-MSCs transplantation group and the HUCB-MSCs transplantation + EA group, reparative changes of the pathomorphism of the tissue were found. Both combination treatment and simple MSCs treatment were able to improve the pathomorphorlogic lesion following cerebral ischemia and reduce the abnormal TUNEL-positive numbers, with former better than latter. CONCLUSION: HUCB-MSCs improve pathological lesions and inhibit the cellular apoptosis around the cerebral ischemic area. EA at conception and governor vessels also improve pathological lesion and inhibit the cellular apoptosis in rats treated with HUCB-MSCs transplantation, which effects were superior to that of simple HUCB-MSCs transplantation.

Study strategies for acupuncture treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

By retrospectively reviewing the current status of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine treatments of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP), the TCM understanding of its etiologies and pathogenesis, the therapeutic principles and the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment of CNP, the clinical study strategies of acupuncture treatment for CNP were further proposed, which could provide more scientific basis and support for the definite longer-term therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture treatment of CNP. Breakthrough in the treatment of CNP will be achieved with the application of acupuncture therapy both in clinical practice and experimental research.

Research advances in treatment of cerebral ischemic injury by acupuncture of conception and governor vessels to promote nerve regeneration.

Cerebral ischemia is one of the most common diseases treated by acupuncture therapeutics. Recent studies indicated that acupuncture treatment by needling the conception and governor vessels had positive effects in promoting neural regeneration in patients after cerebral ischemia injury. Acupuncture intervention could continuously promote the proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells in the brain, obviously up-regulate expression of growth factors, accelerate angiogenesis and inhibit apoptosis. Hence, it is necessary to present an exhaustive review on the mechanisms. The present review gives a detailed description of pathological changes of cerebral ischemia and acupuncture intervention applied to the conception and governor vessels, and proposes research prospects in the future.

Study strategies for bloodletting therapy in treatment of acute soft tissue injuries.

Bloodletting therapy is one of the typical treatment modes of traditional Chinese medicine, and acute soft tissue injury (ASTI) is one of the most common indications for acupuncture therapeutics. In this paper, the current situation of treatments and pathological mechanisms of ASTIs, the existing problems of bloodletting therapy in the treatment of ASTIs and the study strategies are systematically analyzed, indicating that bloodletting therapy is significantly effective in the treatment of ASTIs. Breakthroughs in the treatment of ASTIs will be achieved with the application of bloodletting therapy both in clinical practice and experimental research.