[Manual Acupuncture Stimulation Regulates Expression of Receptor Activity-modifying Protein 1 and 5-HT 1 D Receptor Proteins and Genes in Migraine Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of liver-soothing and mental-activity-regulating (LSMAR) needling on the expression of receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP 1, receptor of calcitonin gene-related peptide), 5-hydroxytryptamine 1 D receptor(5-HT 1 DR) in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) and midbrain in migraine rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanism in relieving migraine. METHODS: A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, model, LSMAR and conventional needling groups (n=10 rats in each). The migraine model was established by subcutaneous injection of nitroglycerin at the posterior neck. LSMAR was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), bilateral "Fengchi" (GB 20), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Taichong" (LR 3) in the LSMAR group and conventional needling was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and bilateral "Fengchi" (GB 20) in the conventional acupuncture group for 30 min, once a day for 8 days before modeling. The expression levels of RAMP 1 and 5-HT 1 DR proteins and mRNAs in the STN and mesencephalon were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot, separately. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the expression levels of RAMP 1 protein and mRNA in STN and mesencephalon were significantly increased (P<0.05) and those of 5-HT 1 DR protein and mRNA considerably decreased (P<0.05) in the model group. After the acupuncture treatment, the increased levels of RAMP 1 protein and mRNA and the decreased levels of 5-HT 1 DR protein and mRNA in the STN and midbrain were obviously reversed in the LSMAR and conventional needling groups relevant to the model group (P<0.05). The effect of LSMAR needling was significantly superior to that of conventional needling in down-regulating the expression levels of RAMP 1 mRNA and protein in the STN and mesencephalon (P<0.05) and in up-regulating the expression levels of 5-HT 1 DR mRNA and protein in the two brain regions (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Manual acupuncture stimulation of GV 20, GB 20, etc. can inhibit the expression of RAMP 1 protein and mRNA in the STN and midbrain, and up-regulate the expression of 5-HT 1 DR in the two brain regions of migraine rats, which may be related to its effect in relieving migraine.

[Effect of Manual Acupuncture Preconditioning on Behavior and Contents of Serum CGRP, SP, IL-1 ß and TNF-α Levels in Migraine Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of liver-soothing and mental-activity-regulating (LSMAR) needling on behavior reactions and contents of serum calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1 ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in migraine rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying relief of migraine. METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, model, LSMAR needling and conventional needling groups (n=8 rats in each). The migraine model was established by hypodermic injection of glyceryl trinitrate (5 mg/kg) at the napex. Acupuncture preconditioning was conducted once daily for 8 days before modeling. Acupuncture needles were inserted into "Baihui" (GV 20), and bilateral "Fengchi" (GB 20), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Taichong" (LR 3), manipulated for a while and retained for 30 min. The rats' behavioral changes (times of head scratching, tail-biting, cage-crawling, and to- and fro-movement in 30 min) were scored (one symptom = one point) before modeling, after modeling, and after intervention. The concentrations of CGRP, SP, IL-1 ß, TNF-α in serum were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: After modeling, the behavioral scores were significantly increased in the migraine model rats relevant to the control group (P<0.05). Whereas after the treatment, the behavior scores were considerably decreased during 60-90 min and 120-150 min of the measuring period in both LSMAR and conventional needling groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). The concentrations of CGRP, SP, IL-1 ß and TNF-α were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05), and notably lower in both LSMAR and conventional needling groups than in the model group (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect of LSMAR was markedly superior to that of conventional needling in down-regulating the concentrations of CGRP, SP, IL-1 ß and TNF-α (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture preconditioning can effectively relieve pain in migraine rats possibly by decreasing the concentrations of CGRP, SP, IL-1 ß and TNF-α in the peripheral blood, and the therapeutic effect of LSMAR is evidently superior to that of conventional needling.

[Spatial distribution characteristics and correlation analysis of organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in topsoil around Chaohu Lake].

Sixty topsoil composite samples (0-20 cm) have been collected in 3 258 km2 surrounding area of Chaohu Lake. The concentrations of organic material (OM), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were determined, and their spatial distribution characteristics were studied by geo-statistics software named GS 7.0 +, Surfer 8.0 and Mapinfo 8.5. The correlations of these 3 kinds of nutrient were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 at the same time. Results showed that the average omega (OM), omega (TN) and omega (TP) in topsoil around Chaohu Lake were 19 500 mg x kg(-1), 1 027 mg x kg(-1) and 483 mg x kg(-1). The omega (OM) and omega (TN) in topsoil in the east of Chaohu Lake were both higher than those in the west of the lake, while omega (TP) was reverse. The omega (TP) in topsoil around Hangbu-Fengle River and Baishitianhe River which located in the southwest of Chaohu Lake was higher than that in any other rivers and with the serious soil erosion. Hence, to control the TP released by nonpoint pollution, attention should be paid on these two rivers. Furthermore, the semivariogram models of omega (OM), omega (TN) and omega (TP) followed linear model and they all had a strong spatial autocorrelation, the ratios of nugget to sill were 0.015, 0.202 and 0.128, respectively. The characteristics of spatial distribution of omega (OM), omega (TN) and omega (TP) were similar. Moreover, the Pearson correlation analysis showed that omega (OM), omega (TN) and omega (TP) were significantly correlated. The omega (TN) and omega (TP) can be calculated by two recommended formulas, and the results were acceptable in daily non-pint pollution management.

[Discussion on the control of treatment amount of acupuncture and moxibustion for peripheral facial paralysis].

To explore the control principles of treatment amount of acupuncture and moxibustion for peripheral facial paralysis. (1) Early stage: in this period, the selected acupoints should be few, therapy should be easy and simple, and the treatment amount should be small and basically constant, which is called constant acupoints and amount. (2) Middle stage: the treatment of this stage should be given with more acupoints and various therapies, the treatment amount should be gradually increasing and reach the peak within a certain time and keep it for an appropriate time, which is called increasing acuponts and amount. (3) Late stage: the treatment at this stage should be given with more acupoints, lesser therapies, and the treatment amount should be gradually decreasding and get the valley point within a certain time, which is called more acupoints and less amount. (4) Sequelae stage: the selection of acupoints at this stage should be focus on areas which there are the obvious symptoms, and solo type of therapy and little treatment amount is required, which is called changing acupoints and little amount. In a word, the best therapeutic effect could be achieved on condition that the control principles of treatment amount for peripheral facial paralysis are followed during the clinical practice.