Palliative Care for Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review aimed to explore the characteristics of neonatal palliative care in the neonatal intensive care unit, including the features, contents, and experiences of infants, parents, and nurses during palliative care. Five databases (PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, Research Information Sharing Service, and Korean Studies Information Service System) were searched to identify relevant articles published between 2011 and 2020. From the systematic search and review process, 13 studies that met the eligibility criteria were selected for the analysis. From the literature review, 2 key principles were found to facilitate neonatal palliative care: family-centered care and integrative care in the neonatal intensive care unit. In addition, the themes found in this review included (1) providing comfortable care to dying infants with respect to infants and offering parents choices, (2) therapeutic communication, (3) support with respect, and (4) bereavement care for parents of dying infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Caregivers require effective communication, manpower support, emotional support, educational programs, and well-defined protocols. The evidence mapped and synthesized in this review indicates the need to facilitate the provision of palliative care in the neonatal intensive care unit in line with the unique needs of infants, parents, and nurses.

Korean Red Ginseng prevents posttraumatic stress disorder-triggered depression-like behaviors in rats via activation of the serotonergic system.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental disorder induced by traumatic stress and often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety, may involve an imbalance in the neurotransmitters associated with the fear response. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has long been used as a traditional medicine and is known to be involved in a variety of pharmacological activities. We used the open field test and forced swimming test to examine the effects of KRG on the depression-like response of rats after exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS), leading to activation of the serotonergic system. METHODS: Male rats received KRG (30, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) once daily for 14 days after exposure to SPS. RESULTS: Daily KRG administration significantly improved depression-like behaviors in the forced swimming test, increased the number of lines crossed and time spent in the central zone in the open field test, and decreased freezing behavior in contextual and cued fear conditioning. KRG treatment attenuated SPS-induced decreases in serotonin (5-HT) tissue concentrations in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. The increased 5-HT concentration during KRG treatment may be partially attributable to the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT ratio in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These effects may be caused by the activation of hippocampal genes encoding tryptophan hydroxylase-1 and 2 mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that KRG has an antidepressant effect in rats subjected to SPS and may represent an effective use of traditional medicine for the treatment of PTSD.

Protective Effects of Quercetin on Anxiety-Like Symptoms and Neuroinflammation Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Rats.

Recently, neuroinflammation is thought to be one of the important causes of many neuropsychiatric diseases. Quercetin (QUER) is a natural flavonoid, and it is well known that QUER has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In our study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into the lateral ventricle of rats to induce anxiety-like behaviors and neuroinflammation, and it was confirmed that chronic administration of QUER could improve anxiety-like symptoms. We also investigated the effects of QUER on inflammatory markers and its major mechanisms associated with inflammation in the hippocampus. Daily administration of QUER (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg) daily for 21 days significantly improved anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze test and open field test. QUER administration significantly reduced inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1ß, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear factor-kappaB levels in the brain. In addition, QUER significantly increased the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level and decreased the nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA level. Therefore, our results have shown that QUER can improve anxiety-like behaviors caused by chronic neuroinflammation. This anxiolytic effect of QUER has been shown to be due to its anti-inflammatory effects and appropriate regulation of BDNF and iNOS expression. Thus, QUER provides the potential as a therapeutic agent to inhibit anxiety-like symptoms in neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety.

Genistein Prevents Single Prolonged Stress-Induced Cognitive Impairment in a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rat Model via Activation of the Serotonergic System.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-associated mental disorder characterized by an imbalance of neurotransmitters in response to traumatic events or fear. Genistein (GEN), a natural isoflavone, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects. Here, we used the Morris water maze (MWM) and object recognition task (ORT) tests to examine the effects of GEN on cognitive impairment in rats after exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS), and its interaction with the serotonergic system. After exposure to SPS, male rats received GEN (2, 4, and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days. Daily GEN administration significantly improved cognitive function in the ORT and MWM tests. GEN treatment also inhibited SPS-induced decreases in serotonin (5-HT) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These increased 5-HT concentrations in response to GEN treatment could be partially attributed to the ratio of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT in the hippocampus. Our findings suggest that GEN significantly attenuates SPS-induced memory deficits in rats and may represent an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of PTSD.

Umbelliferone modulates depression-like symptoms by altering monoamines in a rat post-traumatic stress disorder model.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological disease that is triggered by traumatic events. It is known to cause various complications, including anxiety and depression. Umbelliferone (UMB) is a natural product of the coumarin family. This substance has been reported to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and other biological effects. We used the open field test (OFT) and the forced swimming test (FST) to examine the effects of UMB on depression-like symptoms in rats after exposure to a single prolonged stress (SPS), which led to dysregulated activation of the serotonergic system. Male rats were given UMB (20, 40, or 60 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) once daily for 14 days after exposure to an SPS. Daily UMB administration significantly improved depression-like behaviors on the FST, increased the number of lines crossed in the central zone of the OFT, and reduced freezing behavior in both contextual and cued fear conditioning. UMB treatment attenuated the SPS-induced decrease in serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in the hippocampus and amygdala. The increased 5-HT concentration during UMB treatment was partially due to a decrease in the ratio of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. According to our results, UMB has an antidepressant effect in rats exposed to an SPS, suggesting that this natural product of the coumarin family can be used to effectively treat PTSD.

Psychophysical and psychophysiological effects of heat stimulation by electric moxibustion.

OBJECTIVES: Traditional moxibustion might be not safe due to the excessive heat stimulation or toxic chemical components involved. Electric moxibustion (EM), which has been recently developed as an alternative, offers adjustable and constant heat stimulation. This study aimed to investigate the psychophysical and psychophysiological responses to EM heat stimulation. METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy volunteers received two different levels of heat stimulation using EM. High-temperature (HT) and medium-temperature (MT) heat stimulations were randomly delivered at the TE5 acupoint on the left or right arm. Participants rated the intensity and the spatial information of the heat sensations immediately after each EM stimulation. Local blood flow around the acupoint was measured with Laser Doppler perfusion imaging before and after heat stimulation. RESULTS: Both HT-EM and MT-EM induced considerable heat sensations and enhanced local blood flow around the acupoints. HT-EM resulted in greater heat sensation compared to MT-EM. HT-EM induced a higher increase in local blood flow around the stimulation site compared to MT-EM. No remarkable adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Two different levels of EM heat stimulation induced two different levels of heat sensations and enhanced local blood flow. This preliminary study suggests that the newly developed EM can be further applied to examine the effectiveness of moxibustion in clinical trials.

The ethanolic extract of Aralia continentalis ameliorates cognitive deficits via modifications of BDNF expression and anti-inflammatory effects in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disease associated with that the experience of traumatic stress. The traumatic experience results in the development of a prolonged stress response that causes impaired memory function and increased inflammation in the hippocampus. Currently, antidepressants are the only approved therapy for PTSD. However, the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of PTSD is marginal. The ethanol extract of Aralia continentalis (AC) is traditionally used in oriental medicine, and has been showed to possess pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-diabetic effects. Nevertheless, the effects of AC on cognitive memory and its mechanism of action in PTSD remain unclear. Given the necessity of further treatment options for PTSD, we investigated the effect of AC on the spatial cognitive impairment caused by single prolonged stress (SPS) in a rat model of PTSD. METHODS: Male rats were treated with various intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of AC for 21 consecutive days after inducing chronic stress with the SPS procedure. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment caused by SPS were inhibited after treatment with 100 mg/kg AC, as measured by the Morris water maze test and an object recognition test. Additionally, AC treatment significantly alleviated memory-related decreases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that AC significantly inhibited the cognitive deficits caused by SPS via increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, in the rat brain. CONCLUSIONS: AC reversed the behavioral impairments and inflammation triggered by SPS-derived traumatic stress and should be further evaluated as a potential therapeutic drug for PTSD.

Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Behavioral and Cognitive Impairments, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction, and Alternations in Hippocampal BDNF Expression Under Single Prolonged Stress.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a traumatic stress-related psychiatric disorder stimulated by experience. Green tea has potent antioxidative properties, due, in part, to the catechin (-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is an important polyphenol with advantageous effects on anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, the mechanism about the inhibition of PTSD-like symptoms of EGCG is still unidentified. We examined whether EGCG improved learning and memory deficit stimulated in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS). Rats were administrated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with EGCG for 14 successive days after the SPS process. The SPS procedure stimulated cognitive deficit in the Morris water maze test and the object recognition task, and this impairment was improved by EGCG (25 mg/kg, i.p.). Daily EGCG administration significantly decreased the freezing response to contextual fear conditioning. The administration of EGCG also significantly moderated memory-related decreases in the alternation of cAMP-response element-binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that EGCG alleviated SPS-stimulated learning and memory deficit by inhibiting the increase of neuroinflammation in the rat brain. In addition, EGCG reversed the alternation of allopregnanolone and progesterone in the brain, and diminished simultaneously the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. Thus, EGCG reversed learning and memory-related behavioral dysfunction and molecular alternation accelerated by traumatic stress and may be a useful therapeutic material for PTSD.

Gypenosides Attenuate Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation and Memory Impairment in Rats.

Neuroinflammation is deliberated a major factor in various neurodegenerative diseases. Gypenosides (GPS) have pharmacological properties with multiple beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and protective properties. In the present study, whether GPS could improve cognitive dysfunction and chronic inflammation caused by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the hippocampus was investigated. Effects of GPS on inflammatory factors in the hippocampus and the downstream mechanisms of these effects were also examined. Induction of LPS into the lateral ventricle caused inflammatory reactions and memory impairment on the rats. Every day treatment of GPS (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) for 21 consecutive days attenuated spatial recognition, discrimination, and memory deficits. GPS treatment significantly decreased proinflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) levels in the brain. Furthermore, GPS reduced LPS-induced elevated levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and inhibition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA level. Collectively, these results showed that GPS may improve cognitive function and provide a potential therapy for memory impairment caused by neuroinflammation. Based on these, GPS may be effective in inhibiting the progress of neurodegenerative diseases by improving memory functions due to its anti-inflammatory activities and appropriate modulation of NF-κB/iNOS/TLR4/BDNF.

Systemic Administration of Curcumin Affect Anxiety-Related Behaviors in a Rat Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder via Activation of Serotonergic Systems.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disease characterized by impaired hyperarousal, fear extermination, depression, anxiety, and amnesic symptoms that may include the release of monoamines in the dread circuit. Curcumin (CUR), a major diarylheptanoid and polyphenolic component of Curcuma longa, reportedly possesses several pharmacological features, including antidiabetic, antiatherosclerotic, anticancer, and neuropsychiatric actions. But the anxiolytic-like effects of CUR and its mechanism of action in PTSD are unclear. The current research measured some anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of CUR on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure by reversing the serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction. Rats received CUR (20, 50, or 100 mg/kg, i.p., once daily) for 14 days after SPS exposure. Administration of CUR significantly increased the number of central zone crossings in the open field test and reduced grooming behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test and increased the number of open-arm visits on the EPM test. CUR administration significantly reduced freezing response to contextual fear conditioning. CUR recovered neurochemical abnormalities and SPS-induced decreased 5-HT tissue levels in the hippocampus, amygdala, and striatum. These results suggested that CUR has anxiolytic-like effects on biochemical and behavioral symptoms associated with anxiety. Thus, CUR may be a useful agent to alleviate or treat psychiatric disorders similar to those observed in patients with PTSD.

Anti-stress effects of human placenta extract: possible involvement of the oxidative stress system in rats.

BACKGROUND: Human placenta hydrolysate (hPH) has been utilized to improve menopausal, fatigue, liver function. Its high concentration of bioactive substances is known to produce including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. However, its mechanisms of stress-induced depression remain unknown. METHODS: The present study examined the effect of hPH on stress-induced depressive behaviors and biochemical parameters in rats. hPH (0.02 ml, 0.2 ml or 1 ml/rat) was injected intravenously 30 min before the daily stress session in male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to repeated immobilization stress (4 h/day for 7 days). The depressive-like behaviors of all groups were measured by elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST). After the behavior tests, brain samples of all groups were collected for the analysis of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) staining. RESULTS: Treatment with hPH produced a significant decrease of immobility time in the FST compared to the controls. Additionally, hPH treatment elicited a slightly decreasing trend in anxiety behavior on the EPM. Furthermore, hPH increased the level of GPx protein in the hippocampus, and decreased the expression of NADPH-d in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that hPH has anti-stress effects via the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and antioxidant activity in the brain. These results suggest that hPH may be useful in the treatment of stress-related diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Electroacupuncture ameliorates poloxamer 407-induced hyperlipidemia through suppressing hepatic SREBP-2 expression in rats.

AIMS: Acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to have the lipid-lowering effects, but not completely investigated. The present study was aimed to examine whether EA could attenuate poloxamer-407 (P-407)-induced hyperlipidemia in the rats and to investigate its potential mechanisms. MAIN METHODS: Rats received P-407 (0.4 g/kg, i.p.) to induce hyperlipidemia. EA was performed at ST36 and ST40 acupoints a total of three times with 12 h-interval starting 1 h before the P-407 injection at 0.6 mA intensity and 2 Hz frequency for 10 min. KEY FINDINGS: In P-407-induced hyperlipidemic rats, EA stimulation at ST36 and ST40 acupoints significantly lowered the serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, while markedly increasing the serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Meanwhile, hyperlipidemic rats had significantly higher expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2, without any difference in SREBP-1 expression in the liver, as compared with normal ones. EA significantly attenuated the expression of SREBP-2 with a subsequent decrease in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and an increase in low-density lipoprotein receptor at both mRNA and protein levels in the liver of hyperlipidemic rats. These changes did not occur after electrical stimulation at a non-acupoint. SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, our findings indicate that EA stimulation to P-407-induced hyperlipidemic rats improves the lipid abnormalities, which may be associated with regulation of the expression of key enzymes of cholesterol synthesis in the liver through modulation of SREBP-2.

Turo (Qi Dance) Program for Parkinson's Disease Patients: Randomized, Assessor Blind, Waiting-List Control, Partial Crossover Study.

CONTEXT: Qigong, Tai-chi and dancing have all been proven effective for Parkinson's disease (PD); however, no study has yet assessed the efficacy of Turo, a hybrid qigong dancing program developed to relieve symptoms in PD patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Turo may provide benefit in addressing the symptoms of PD patients. DESIGN: Randomized, assessor blind, waiting-list control, partial crossover study. SETTING: Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 32 PD patients (mean age 65.7 ± 6.8). INTERVENTION: Participants were assigned to the Turo group or the waiting-list control group. The Turo group participated in an 8-week Turo training program (60-minute sessions twice a week). The waiting-list control group received no additional treatment during the same period; then underwent the same 8-week Turo training. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was a score on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the secondary outcomes included the perceived health status assessed using the Parkinson's disease Quality of Life questionnaire (PDQL), balance function as assessed by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the results of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: The Turo group showed statistically significant improvements in the UPDRS (P < 0.01) and PDQL (P < 0.05) as compared to the control group. The changes in BBS scores displayed a tendency toward improvement, but was not statistically significant (P = 0.051). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Turo PD training might improve the symptoms of PD patients.

Effect of oleuropein on cognitive deficits and changes in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cytokine expression in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops after an individual has experienced a major trauma. This psychopathological response to traumatic stressors induces learning and memory deficits in rats. Oleuropein (OLE), a major compound in olive leaves, has been reported to possess several pharmacological properties, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic and neuroprotective activities. However, the cognitive effects of OLE and its mechanism of action have remained unclear in PTSD. In this study, we examined whether OLE improved spatial cognitive impairment induced in rats following single prolonged stress (SPS), an animal model of PTSD. Male rats were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with vehicle or various doses of OLE for 14 consecutive days after the SPS procedure. The SPS procedure resulted in cognitive impairment in the object recognition task and the Morris water maze test, which was reversed by OLE (100 mg/kg, i.p). Additionally, as assessed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, the administration of OLE significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cAMP response element-binding protein and mRNA in the hippocampus. Together, these findings suggest that OLE attenuated SPS-induced cognitive impairment significantly by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in the rat brain. Thus, OLE reversed several behavioral impairments triggered by the traumatic stress of SPS and might be a potential useful therapeutic intervention for PTSD.

Pediatric nurse practitioners' clinical competencies and knowing patterns in nursing: Focus group interviews.

BACKGROUND: The generic competency domains of advanced nursing practice have been reported on in numerous countries, but rather few studies have examined competencies specific to pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs). OBJECTIVES: We identified the core clinical competencies of PNPs in South Korea and related these identified competencies to the five patterns of knowing in nursing. DESIGN: Focus group interviews were conducted with five PNP students and four PNPs using two thematic questions, one on clinical competencies required for PNPs and the other on competencies specific to Korean PNPs. A purposive sampling method was used to choose nurses with varying work experience and age from different hospital units. The inclusion criterion for PNP students was having at least two years of clinical experience and that for PNPs was having at least two years of clinical experience as a PNP in pediatric units in tertiary hospitals. The verbatim transcriptions of these interviews were analysed by two researchers using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Six clinical competency domains were identified including advanced pediatric-specific knowledge and clinical skills, education and counseling, utilization and engagement in research, professional identity development, clinical and professional leadership, and holistic care. Some competencies identified were related to empirical and ethical knowledge that could be taught in nursing, whereas others were based on esthetic and personal knowledge, which can be mastered through professional experience. CONCLUSIONS: To provide holistic care for children and families, PNPs must acquire all necessary patterns of knowing through continuing education and individual reflection on personal practice.

Extract of Polygala tenuifolia Alleviates Stress-Exacerbated Atopy-Like Skin Dermatitis through the Modulation of Protein Kinase A and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and stress create a vicious cycle: stress exacerbates atopic symptoms, and atopic disease elicits stress and anxiety. Targeting multiple pathways including stress and allergic inflammation is, therefore, important for treating AD. In this study, we investigated the remedial value of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (PTW) for treating immobilization (IMO) stress-exacerbated atopy-like skin dermatitis and its underlying mechanism. Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was applied to dorsal skin for sensitization and subsequently both ears for eliciting T-cell-dependent contact hypersensitivity in mice, which underwent 2 h-IMO stress and PTW administration for the latter 6 and 9 days in the ear exposure period of TMA, respectively. To elicit in vitro degranulation of human mast cell line-1 (HMC-1), 10 µM substance P (SP) and 200 nM corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) were sequentially added with 48 h-interval. PTW extract (500 µg/mL) was added 30 min before CRF treatment. IMO stress exacerbated TMA-induced scratching behavior by 252%, and increased their blood corticosterone levels by two-fold. Treatment with 250 mg/kg PTW significantly restored IMO stress-exacerbated scratching behavior and other indicators such as skin inflammation and water content, lymph node weights, and serum histamine and immunoglobulin E (lgE) levels. Furthermore, it also reversed TMA-stimulated expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-4 mRNAs in ear tissues. PTW significantly inhibited SP/CRF-stimulated degranulation of HMC-1 cells, subsequent tryptase secretion, and protein kinase A (PKA) activity. PTW also selectively inhibited p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in SP/CRF-treated HMC-1 cells. PTW significantly inhibited HMC-1 cell degranulation and alleviated IMO stress-exacerbated atopic dermatitis symptoms by modulating the PKA/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Changes in small intestinal motility and related hormones by acupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST 36) in mice.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the effects of acupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST 36) on the hormonal changes. METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice received acupuncture stimulation at acupoint ST 36 or Quchi (LI 11) once a day for 3 or 5 days in the acupuncture-stimulated groups, but not received in the normal group (n=6 in each group). On day 3 or 5, animals were given 0.1 mL of charcoal orally with a bulbed steel needle, 30 min after the last acupuncture stimulation. Ten minutes later, mice were anesthetized, and the intestinal transit and the concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin, ghrelin and gastrin in the serum were measured. RESULTS: Compared to no acupuncture stimulation, acupuncture stimulation at ST 36 for 5 days increased the intestinal transit and down-regulated the concentration of VIP and up-regulated the concentrations of motilin, ghrelin and gastrin (P<0.05 or 0.01), whereas acupuncture stimulation at LI 11 did not change them signifificantly (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation at ST 36 for 5 days enhances the small intestinal motility and regulates the secretion of hormones related to small intestinal motility.

Individualized Acupuncture for Symptom Relief in Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study was implemented to evaluate the effect of individualized acupuncture treatment (AT) on functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: A randomized, waitlist-controlled, two-center trial was performed. Seventy-six patients with FD were enrolled in the trial with partially individualized AT in a more realistic clinical setting performed twice a week for 15 minutes a session over 4 weeks. The participants were randomly allocated to a group receiving 8 sessions of AT for 4 weeks or a waitlist control group. After 4 consecutive weeks, the AT group was followed up without AT and the control group received the identical AT. The proportion of responders with adequate symptom relief, Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI), FD-related quality of life, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Acupuncture Belief Scale, and acupuncture credibility test were assessed. RESULTS: After the first 4 weeks, the proportion of responders significantly improved (59% in AT group [n = 37] versus 3% in control group [n = 39]; p < 0.001). The difference was no longer significant at 8 weeks, at which point the waitlist control group showed similar improvement after receiving AT (68% in the AT group versus 79% in the control group). Total NDI scores were significantly reduced in the AT group compared with the waitlist group (p = 0.03). Among NDI items, discomfort (p = 0.01), burning (p = 0.02), fullness after eating (p = 0.02), and burping (p = 0.02) were significantly improved in the AT group compared with the control group. No significant differences were observed between groups in other secondary variables. CONCLUSION: Individualized AT adequately relieves symptoms in patients with FD, and this effect may persist up to 8 weeks.

Gastrodin reversed the traumatic stress-induced depressed-like symptoms in rats.

Exposure to severe stress can lead to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in at-risk individuals. Gastrodin (GAS), a primary constituent of an Oriental herbal medicine, has been shown to effectively treat various mood disorders. Thus, the present study aimed to determine whether GAS would ameliorate stress-associated depression-like behaviors in a rat model of single prolonged stress (SPS)-induced PTSD. Following the SPS procedure, rats received intraperitoneal administration of GAS (20, 50, or 100 mg/kg) once daily for 2 weeks. Subsequently, the rats performed the forced swimming test, and norepinephrine (NE) levels in the hippocampus were measured. Daily GAS (100 mg/kg) significantly reversed depression-like behaviors and restored SPS-induced increases in hippocampal NE concentrations as well as tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the locus coeruleus. Furthermore, the administration of GAS attenuated SPS-induced decreases in the hypothalamic expression of neuropeptide Y and the hippocampal mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These findings indicate that GAS possesses antidepressant effects in the PTSD and may be an effective herbal preparation for the treatment of PTSD.

Bee venom acupuncture alleviates trimellitic anhydride-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice.

BACKGROUND: Bee venom acupuncture (BVA), a novel type of acupuncture therapy in which purified bee venom is injected into the specific acupuncture point on the diseased part of the body, is used primarily for relieving pain and other musculoskeletal symptoms. In the present study, therapeutic potential of BVA to improve atopic dermatitis, a representative allergic dysfunction, was evaluated in the mouse model of trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced skin impairment. METHODS: Mice were treated with 5% TMA on the dorsal flank for sensitization and subsequently treated with 2% TMA on the dorsum of both ears for an additional 12 days after a 3-day interval. From the 7(th) day of 2% TMA treatment, bilateral subcutaneous injection of BV (BV, 0.3 mg/kg) was performed daily at BL40 acupuncture points (located behind the knee) 1 h before 2% TMA treatment for 5 days. RESULTS: BVA treatment markedly inhibited the expression levels of both T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines in ear skin and lymph nodes of TMA-treated mice. Clinical features of AD-like symptoms such as ear skin symptom severity and thickness, inflammation, and lymph node weight were significantly alleviated by BV treatment. BV treatment also inhibited the proliferation and infiltration of T cells, the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and the synthesis of interleukin (IL)-4 and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-typical allergic Th2 responses in blood. The inhibitory effect of BVA was more pronounced at BL40 acupoint than non-acupuncture point located at the base of the tail. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that BV injection at specific acupuncture points effectively alleviates AD-like skin lesions by inhibiting inflammatory and allergic responses in a TMA-induced contact hypersensitivity mouse model.