[Effects of acupuncture treatment on natural killer cell activity, pulse rate, and pain reduction for older adults: an uncontrolled, observational study].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity, pulse rate, and pain intensity among older adults before and after acupuncture treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six individuals (16 males and 40 females), age 60 to 82 years (mean age 72.4 ± 5.0), who were experiencing pain in the shoulder, low back, or knee, participated in the study. NK cell activity, leukocyte differentiation (granulocytes and lymphocytes), pulse rate, and blood pressure values obtained. Pain intensity was used to analyze NK cell activity, leukocytes (granulocyte counts and granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio), and the VAS score in accordance with the location of pain complaints before and after acupuncture treatment. RESULTS: NK cell activity decreased after acupuncture treatment for pain in the shoulder-pain and knee-pain groups. Further, the lymphocyte and granulocyte counts increased after acupuncture treatment for the shoulder-pain group. Pulse rate decreased for the shoulder-pain, low-back-pain, and knee-pain groups after acupuncture treatment. The VAS score decreased after acupuncture treatment for the shoulder-pain, low-back-pain, and knee-pain groups. CONCLUSION: This study showed that in older adults, acupuncture treatment decreases pulse rate, relieves pain in the shoulder, low back, and knee, and reduces NK-cell activity.

[Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of balance acupuncture on experimental scapulohumeral periarthritis in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate therapeutic effects of balance acupuncture on scapulohumeral periarthritis (SP)and the mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group (group B), a model group (group M) and a balance acupuncture group (group BA) with 10 rabbits in each group. SP model was established by using persistent mechanical strain and ice compress. Balance acupuncture at "Jiantong" point was applied in the animals in group BA, but not in the rabbits of the other two groups. Joint movement and pathological changes in tissues around the affected shoulder joint were observed, and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in plasma and the affected surrounding tissues, and DNA contents in tendon of supraspinatus muscle were measured. RESULTS: The content of plasma 5-HT in group BA [(18.16 +/- 4.44) ng/mL] was significantly lower than that in group M [(23.28 +/- 5.89) ng/mL] (P < 0.05), but without obvious difference in IL-1beta content between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with group M, the contents of IL-1beta, 5-HT in affected surrounding tissues, and DNA expression in tendon of supraspinatus muscle were significantly lowered to va rious extent in group BA (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Balance acupuncture can effectively improve local and systemic pathological situation induced by SP by way of reducing pain-producing factors, inflammatory factors and DNA expression to alleviate local organization and adhesions in rabbits with experimental SP.