Effect and mechanism of acupuncture on airway smooth muscle relaxation during acute asthma attack in rats. / é’ˆåˆºæ¾å¼›å“®å–˜æ€¥æ€§å‘ä½œå¤§é¼ æ°”é“å¹³æ»‘è‚Œçš„ä½œç”¨æœºåˆ¶.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect and mechanism of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1), and "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) for relaxing the airway smooth muscle in the rats during acute asthma attack and compare the effect among the two pairs of acupoints and the acupoints combination. METHODS: Forty SD male rats with SPF grade were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a pair-point A group (acupuncture at "Feishu" [BL 13] and "Dingchuan" [EX-B 1]), a pair-point B group (acupuncture at "Kongzui" [LU 6] and "Yuji" [LU 10]) and a point combination group (acupuncture at "Feishu" [BL 13] , "Dingchuan" [EX-B 1], "Kongzui" [LU 6] and "Yuji" [LU 10]), with 8 rats in each group. Except the rats in the blank group, the model of acute asthma attack was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) combined with aluminum hydroxide gel in the rest groups. Started on the 15th day of modeling, except in the blank group and the model group, acupuncture was delivered in the other groups, 30 min in each intervention, once daily, for 14 days. In each group, the latent period of asthma inducing was measured; the lung resistance (LR) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) were determined using lung function detector; the levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA; with Masson staining and electron microscopy adopted, the morphology and ultrastructure of airway smooth muscle of the rats were observed; the mRNA and protein expressions of ET-1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR) were detected by quantitative real-time fluorescence and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the latent period of asthma inducing was shortened (P<0.05), RL increased and Cdyn decreased (P<0.05) with the different concentrations of methacholine (0.025 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg) in the model group. In the pair-point A group, the pair-point B group and the point combination group, the latent period of asthma inducing was prolonged (P<0.05), RL decreased and Cdyn increased (P<0.05) with different concentrations of methacholine when compared with those in the model group; and the latent period of asthma inducing in the point combination group was longer than that in the pair-point A group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the levels of ET-1, TNF-α and cGMP in the serum and BALF were elevated (P<0.05), and those of cAMP reduced (P<0.05) in the model group. The levels of ET-1, TNF-α and cGMP in the serum and BALF were reduced (P<0.05), and those of cAMP elevated (P<0.05) in the pair-point A group, the pair-point B group and the point combination group when compared with those in the model group. In the blank group, the lung tissue was normal structurally. In the model group, the collagen fibers were proliferated increasingly, the smooth muscle was thickened, the mitochondria were swollen, and their cristae disrupted and reduced massively. In the pair-point B group, the collagen fibers were proliferated, the smooth muscle was thicker compared with that in the blank group, the mitochondria were mildly swollen and their cristae disrupted partially. In the pair-point A group and the point combination group, the lung tissue changes were obviously alleviated in comparison with the model group, the mitochondria were slightly swollen and their cristae disrupted occasionally. Compared with the blank group, the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 increased and that of ß2-AR decreased in the lung tissue of the model group (P<0.05). In the pair-point A group, the pair-point B group and the point combination group, the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was reduced and that of ß2-AR elevated in the lung tissue when compared with those in the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the pair-point A group, the mRNA expression of ß2-AR was elevated in the point combination group (P<0.05). When compared with the pair-point B group, the mRNA expression of ß2-AR increased, the protein expression of ET-1 decreased (P<0.05) in the point combination group. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1), "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10), two pairs of acupoints relieves the airway smooth muscle spasm in the rats during acute asthma attack, which may be related to inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 to reduce the excretion of ET-1 and TNF-α; while enhancing the mRNA and protein expression of ß2-AR to balance the levels of cAMP and cGMP. The effect is optimal when acupuncture is delivered at two pairs of acupoints simultaneously.

[Effects of acupuncture on pulmonary function and airway smooth muscle spasm in asthma rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) on the latent period of inducing asthma, pulmonary function and the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and metallothionein-2 (MT-2) in asthma rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in alleviating airway smooth muscle spasm and improving the acute attack of asthma. METHODS: A total of 40 male SD rats of SPF-grade were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, ovalbumin sensitization method was used to establish the asthma model in the other 3 groups. Salbutamol nebulization was adopted in the medication group, while acupuncture was applied at bilateral "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) in the acupuncture group. The intervention was given once a day for 14 days in the two groups. The latent period of inducing asthma and pulmonary function were observed, the levels of ET-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA method, the morphology of the airway was observed by Masson staining, the ultrastructure of the airway smooth muscle was observed by transmission electron microscopy, the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 and MT-2 in lung tissue was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot methods. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the latent period of inducing asthma was shortened (P<0.01); the airway resistance (RL) was increased while the dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); the levels of ET-1 and TNF-α in serum and BALF were increased (P<0.01); collagen fibers and collagen depositions were found around the bronchi, airway smooth muscle was thickened, the cell damage was severe and mitochondria were swollen; the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was increased while the mRNA and protein expression of MT-2 was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the latent period of inducing asthma was prolonged (P<0.05), the RL was decreased while the Cdyn was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the medication group and the acupuncture group, the levels of ET-1 and TNF-α in serum and BALF were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); collagen fibers and collagen depositions around the bronchi were reduced, the thickened airway smooth muscle was lightened, the cell damage was improved; the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was decreased while the mRNA and protein expression of MT-2 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the mRNA expression of MT-2 was increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) can improve the pulmonary function and alleviate the airway smooth muscle spasm in rats with asthma. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of ET-1 expression and up-regulation of MT-2 expression.

Internet-Based Healthcare Knowledge Service for Improvement of Chinese Medicine Healthcare Service Quality.

With the development of new-generation information technology and increasing health needs, the requirements for Chinese medicine (CM) services have shifted toward the 5P medical mode, which emphasizes preventive, predictive, personalized, participatory, and precision medicine. This implies that CM knowledge services need to be smarter and more sophisticated. This study adopted a bibliometric approach to investigate the current state of development of CM knowledge services, and points out that accurate knowledge service is an inevitable requirement for the modernization of CM. We summarized the concept of smart CM knowledge services and highlighted its main features, including medical homogeneity, knowledge service intelligence, integration of education and research, and precision medicine. Additionally, we explored the intelligent service method of traditional Chinese medicine under the 5P medical mode to support CM automatic knowledge organization and safe sharing, human-machine collaborative knowledge discovery and personalized dynamic knowledge recommendation. Finally, we summarized the innovative modes of CM knowledge services. Our research will guide the quality assurance and innovative development of the traditional Chinese medicine knowledge service model in the era of digital intelligence.

Current status of neuroimaging research on the effects of acupuncture: a bibliometric and visual analyses.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an inductive analysis of neuroimaging studies following the global popularity surrounding the effects of acupuncture. METHODS: The relevant works of literature on acupuncture effects-related neuroimaging studies were retrieved from the web of science core collection database from the date of its establishment to 2022. Bibexcel software was used to extract information, such as article numbers, countries, journals, agencies, funding sources and keywords. The VOSviewer software's co-occurrence and clustering module was used for the co-occurrence and cluster analysis of collaborative networks and high frequency keywords, such as authors, institutions and countries. RESULTS: Neuroimaging research on the effects of acupuncture began in the 1960 s and has since received the extensive attention of scholars. China, The United States and South Korea conduct more neuroimaging research on the effects of acupuncture than other countries. Academic journals such as Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Neural Regeneration Research and Acupuncture in Medicine have published the highest number of acupuncture-related neuroimaging articles. Moreover, cluster analysis differentiates high-frequency keywords into six clusters. Furthermore, the use of the keyword 'density atlas' reveals that neuroimaging research on the effects of acupuncture surrounding pain and neurofunctional rehabilitation is currently the research focus. CONCLUSIONS: This bibliometric study identifies six important research hot spots: Static brain functional connectivity analysis of acupuncture analgesic effects, key theories on the scientific problems of acupuncture, acupuncture analgesic effect of the placebo effect, the neuroimaging of acupoint ST-36, the value of acupuncture in regulating the autonomic nerves and acupuncture therapy as complementary medicine.

The effects of Jin's three-needle acupuncture therapy on EEG alpha rhythm of stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: In China, Jin's three-needle acupuncture therapy has been widely used for stroke treatment. However, its mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Jin's three-needle acupuncture therapy on stroke patients using multi-channel EEGs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty stroke patients participated and their EEG signals were recorded before, during, and after acupuncture. RESULTS: Comparing with baseline before acupuncture, the alpha rhythm was significantly increased during the acupuncture needle retention stage and became stronger after removing the needles. The increase of alpha rhythm occurred when inserting and removing the needles, with its high amplitude remaining during retention and after removal of the needles. As the alpha rhythm was significantly correlated with patients' movement and daily-living abilities, the alteration of alpha rhythm during and after acupuncture suggests a possible electrophysiological mechanism of the curative effect of acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: From the electrophysiological study, Jin's three-needle acupuncture therapy is efficient in stroke patients.

Optimal electroacupuncture frequency for maintaining astrocyte structural integrity in cerebral ischemia.

The astrocyte is a critical regulator of neuronal survival after ischemic brain injury. Electroacupuncture may be an effective therapy for cerebral ischemia, as electroacupuncture frequency can affect the structural integrity of astrocytes. In this study, a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion established using the modified thread embolism method was treated with electroacupuncture of the bilateral Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) at 15, 30, and 100 Hz frequencies. Behavioral testing, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to explore the effect of these electroacupuncture frequencies used on maintaining the structural integrity of ischemic brain tissue. Compared with the model and 100 Hz electroacupuncture groups, the 15 and 30 Hz electroacupuncture groups displayed decreased neurological deficit scores, as evaluated by the "Longa" method, significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, and alleviated ultrastructural damage of astrocytes at the edge of the infarct. Our experimental findings indicate that 15 and 30 Hz electroacupuncture intervention can favorably maintain the structural integrity of astrocytes and play a protective role in cerebral ischemic injury. Astrocyte structural integrity may be the mechanism underlying acupuncture production of ischemic tolerance.