The Cellular Mechanism of Acupuncture for Ulcerative Colitis based on the Communication of Telocytes.

Acupuncture can ameliorate or treat diseases according to the meridian theory in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); however, its mechanism has not been scientifically clarified. On the other hand, telocytes (TCs) are morphologically in accordance with the meridian system, which needs further cytological investigations and acupuncture confirmation. The present study showed that acupuncture could activate TCs in several ways, alleviating rabbit ulcerative colitis. TCs could cytologically communicate the acupoints, the acupuncture sites in skin with their corresponding large intestine by TC homo-cellular junctions, exosomes around TCs, and TC-mediated nerves or blood vessels. TCs expressed transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4, the mechanosensitive channel protein that can transduce the mechanical stimulation of acupuncture into biochemical signals transferring along the extremely thin and long TCs. Collectively, a cellular mechanism diagram of acupuncture was concluded based on TC characteristics. Those results also confirmed the viewpoint that TCs were the key cells of meridian essence in TCM.

Cellular Evidence for Telocytes Mediating Electroacupuncture to Ameliorate Obesity in Mice.

Electroacupuncture has been generally applied to target obesity, the principle of which is based on the meridian in traditional Chinese medicine. Although Telocytes (TCs) have been reported as the potential essence of meridians, their specific role in the electroacupuncture treatment of obesity remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the cellular evidence for TC-mediated electroacupuncture to alleviate obesity. Mice were divided into three groups as follows: electroacupuncture group (EA), control group (CG), and normal group (NG). The present study showed that the weight of perirenal white adipose tissue (rWAT), the serum level of total cholesterol, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all significantly decreased after electroacupuncture. Ultrastructurally, the prolongations (telopodes, Tps) of TCs were in direct contact with adipocytes, and lipid droplets were distributed on the surface of Tps. The proportions of double-positive fluorescent areas of TCs (CD34 and PDGFRα) were significantly elevated with concomitant elongated Tps in EA mice, as compared to those in CG mice. The expression of Cx43 and CD63 (gap junction and exosome markers) was significantly enhanced. These characteristics facilitated the transmission of electroacupuncture stimulation from skin to rWAT. We conclude that electroacupuncture relieved obesity by activating TCs morphologically, upregulating the gap junctions between TCs, and increasing the exosomes around TCs.

Efficacy of Purtscher's Retinopathy Treatments: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of available Purtscher's Retinopathy treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to collect single-case reports, electronic searches were conducted in several databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, VIP, and WanFang in the Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. In VIP and Wanfang, we also traced the references of included articles. Risk of bias was evaluated using a tool adapted from the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS19.0. Evidence was evaluated and graded with GRADE system. RESULTS: In total, 76 studies were included involving 88 cases and 139 eyes. Serious bias existed in 90% of the included studies. Current treatments for Purtscher's retinopathy included glucocorticoid therapy (63.29%), traditional Chinese medicine therapy (10.13%), glucocorticoid integrative medicine therapy (7.60%), and integrative medicine therapy (6.33%). Patients' eyesight with (56.83%) or without (43.17%) treatment both improved in the follow-up within 1-3 months, 4-6 months, and more than 6 months; however, conditions without treatment became better compared to the treatment groups in after 4-6 months and more than 6 months. All results were "very low" in the GRADE system. None of the studies reported adverse reactions in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment and no treatment improve vision in Purtscher's retinopathy patients, but the difference between no treatment and glucocorticoid therapy had no statistical significance. The evidence quality for this conclusion was "very low" and had large bias. Further research is required to understand the safety of Purtscher's retinopathy treatment.