Electroacupuncture inhibits ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization and alters homer1A mRNA expression in mice.

BACKGROUND: Here we investigated the effects of electroacupuncture over locomotor sensitization induced by ethanol in mice. METHODS: Adult male Swiss mice were daily injected with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p.) or saline for 21 days (acquisition phase). After 4 days of withdrawal, all animals were challenged with ethanol (1.4 g/kg, i.p.). The locomotor activity during 30 minutes was accessed just after the ethanol challenge. Electroacupuncture at acquisition, expression, or maintenance phases of locomotor sensitization was provided over ST-36 (Zusanli) or PC-6 (Neiguan) as well as concomitantly over these 2 acupoints. One hour after the challenge with ethanol, the animals were decapitated, the hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex were dissected, and the expression of homer1A mRNA assessed by PCR. RESULTS: Electroacupuncture provided simultaneously over ST-36 and PC-6 (but not to ST-36 or PC-6 alone) inhibited the acquisition, expression, and maintenance of ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization. In addition, electroacupuncture blocked the diminution of homer1A mRNA expression triggered by ethanol in the acquisition (striatum and prefrontal cortex), expression (hippocampus), and in the maintenance (hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) phases. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture provided concomitantly over ST-36 and PC-6 prevents the sensitization of the mesocorticolimbic pathway induced by ethanol in mice. In addition, these effects were accompanied by changes in the expression of homer1A. We suggest that electroacupuncture effects over ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization are associated to its ability to modulate homer1A expression and glutamatergic plasticity.

Antidepressive-like effects of electroacupuncture in rats.

Here, we investigate the effects of electroacupunture on the depressive-like symptoms in learned helplessness and forced swim tests in rats. Electroacupuncture stimulation (EA) was provided at ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoints. A positive control group was treated with imipramine. To verify the effects of EA over serotonergic system, other additional groups received daily, for three days, p-chlorophenylalanine and after two days, were submitted to behavioral tests. EA, like imipramine, enhanced the successful active avoidance in the learned helplessness and diminished the time spent in immobility position in the forced swim test, without affecting the number of squares crossed in the open field test. The administration of p-chlorophenylalanine abolished the antidepressive-like effect of EA. EA generates a clear antidepressant effect in two different animal models of depression, and this effect is related, at least in part, to the serotonergic system.

Treatment of moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with acupuncture: a randomised, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), assessed by polysomnography (PSG) and questionnaires of functional quality of life (SF-36) and excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blinded study, with blinded evaluation on 36 patients presenting an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 15-30/h, assessed by PSG. The study took place at the Public Hospital of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil, in the Division of Sleep Disorders of the Department of Psychobiology, between January, 2002 and August, 2004. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: the acupuncture group (n=12); the sham group, submitted to needle insertion in non-acupoints (n=12); and the control group, receiving no treatment (n=12). Patients received acupuncture or sham acupuncture once a week for 10 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients completed the study. The AHI (P=0.005), the apnea index (AI) (P=0.008) and the number of respiratory events (P=0.005) decreased significantly in the acupuncture group but not in the sham group. On the other hand, the control group displayed significant deterioration in some of the polysomnographic parameters, with a significant increase in the number of respiratory events (P=0.025). Acupuncture treatment significantly improved (before vs. after treatment) several dimensions of the SF-36 and Epworth questionnaires. There was no significant association between changes in the body mass index (BMI) and AHI. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture in ameliorating the respiratory events of patients presenting with moderate OSAS.

Effect of electroacupuncture on bronchial asthma induced by ovalbumin in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a worldwide disabling chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by an intense eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrate on bronchial mucous membranes. Among the complementary therapeutic approaches to asthma, acupuncture has been widely used. OBJECTIVE: Here we used a rat pulmonary hypersensitivity experimental model that mimics human asthma in order to address whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could reduce the inflammatory process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental animals were divided in four groups: control (C), immobilized (I), sham-acupuncture (SA), and acupuncture (A). All rats were sensitized with heat-solidified hen egg white implant. Using clinical acupuncture points, EA treatment began 2 days after antigen priming and was repeated on alternate days for 2 weeks. Subsequently, animals were challenged by inhalation with aggregated ovalbumin and sacrificed 24 hours later when blood samples, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and lungs were collected. RESULTS: Histopathologic analyses showed that peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates were significantly lower in group A compared to groups SA and I (shown to be similar to group C). Furthermore, BAL total cell count and percentage of polymorphonuclears (as well as the differential counts of neutrophils and eosinophils) were significantly reduced in group A compared to group I. Corsticosterone plasma levels were similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together these results show that EA efficiently diminishes the bronchial immune-mediated inflammation induced in rats and that this effect is dependent on the choice of specific acupoints.

Serotonin involvement in the electroacupuncture- and moxibustion-induced gastric emptying in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Electroacupuncture (EA) as well as moxibustion stimulation has been reported to produce an excitatory effect on the gastrointestinal motility of the rat. Serotonergic neurons of the mioenteric and submucous plexus are major participants in the gastrointestinal physiology. Here, we compared the outcomes of the stimulation of a specific set of acupoints with either acupuncture or moxibustion on the gastrointestinal motility and the role of serotonin (5-HT) in this effect. METHODS: To analyze the role of 5-HT on the gastrointestinal motility of the rat, we studied the flow of 25 glass beads administered to the stomach, after treatment of the animals with a serotonin inhibitor (para-chlorophenylalanine [pCPA]). Acupuncture stimulation was performed on acupoints St-36 (Zusanli) and Sp-6 (Sanyinjiao), with electrical stimulation, or on acupoints Ren-10 (Xiawan), Ren-12 (Zhongwan) and St-25 (Tianshu), with moxibustion. Animals subjected to sham stimulation were used as controls in addition to naive, unstimulated animals. RESULTS: Stimulation of the hind limb (St-36 and Sp-6) and abdominal (Ren-10, Ren-12, St-25) acupoints resulted in effective gastric emptying, as compared with sham-stimulated animals. Pretreatment of animals with pCPA abolished either the response provided by acupuncture stimulation in animal groups subjected to hind limb acupoints or the response provided by moxibustion stimulation in abdominal acupoints. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that moxibustion in the abdominal points and EA in the hind limb require an intact serotonergic pathway. In addition, we suggest that this involvement of serotonin is a general feature of the mediated effects of acupuncture on gastric emptying of the rat.

Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine, acupuncture and moxa treatment, on the semen quality in patients with semen abnormalities. METHODS: In a prospective, controlled and blind study, nineteen patients, aged 24 years approximately 42 years and married for 3 years approximately 11 years without children with semen abnormalities in concentration, morphology and/or progressive motility without apparent cause, were randomized into two groups and submitted to acupuncture and moxa treatment at the therapeutic (Study Group) and the indifferent points (Control Group), respectively, for 10 weeks. Semen analyses were performed before and after the treatment course. RESULTS: The patients of the Study Group presented a significant increase in the percentage of normal-form sperm compared to the Control Group (calculated U=16.0, critical U=17.0). CONCLUSION: The Chinese Traditional Medicine acupuncture and moxa techniques significantly increase the percentage of normal-form sperm in infertile patients with oligoastenoteratozoospermia without apparent cause.

Acupuncture reduces immune-mediated pulmonary inflammatory lesions induced in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this report was to experimen-tally demonstrate the biological actions of acupuncture in an animal model of immune-mediated inflammation associated with a deposition of collagen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats were sensitized by a subcu-taneous implant of heat-solidified hen egg-white and divided into 4 groups: acupuncture, sham acupuncture, immobilized, and control. Acupuncture was initiated the day after sensitization and repeated twice a week for 3 weeks. The dorsal acupoints chosen were GV-14 and BL-13, the ventral acupuncture points were LU-1, CV-17, ST-36 and SP-6. The dorsal points were stimulated manually and the ventral ones by electroacupuncture. On day 14, animals were challenged through the tail vein with Sepharose(R)beads coupled with ovalbumin. One week later, animals were bled, plasma corticoster-one concentrations were measured and the lungs were removed for histological evaluation. RESULTS: Measurement of the areas of pulmonary lesion on hematoxylin-eosin stained slides showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the inflammatory infiltrate in the acupuncture group, compared to the other 3 groups. Utilization of Litt and Picrosirius staining methods, in order to better visualize the infiltrate of eosinophils and the deposition of collagen, respectively, showed that both were much less intense in the acupuncture group. Corticosterone plasma levels were similar in all groups. CONCLUSION: Point-specific acupuncture treatment effectively reduced the inflammatory process and the deposition of collagen around ovalbumin-Sepharose beads intravenously embolized to the lungs of rats previously sensitized with the same protein that was administered subcutaneously.

Effect of eletroacupuncture on DU-14 (Dazhui), DU-2 (Yaoshu), and Liv-13 (Zhangmen) on the survival of Wistar rats' dorsal skin flaps.

The survival of skin flaps has great interest in many areas of Medicine. In practice, one of the most important complications in the use of skin flaps is the tissue ischemia, which frequently results in widespread necrosis and failure of the proposed treatments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible benefits of eletroacupuncture stimulation of the points DU-14 (Dazhui), DU-2 (Yaoshu), and Liv-13 (Zhangmen) over the skin flap survival of Wistar rats after 8 days of treatment. Forty male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups with 10 animals each. They were submitted to a surgical procedure in which a dorsal skin flap measuring 10 x 4 cm was elevated and then sutured back with a plastic barrier between the flap and the donor site. During the following 8 days, one group received electro stimulation in two "nonaccupoints" whereas the other one had the accupoints DU-14 (Dazhui), DU-2 (Yaoshu), and Liv-13 (Zhangmen) stimulated. After this period, the rats were killed and flaps were appraised qualitative and quantitatively. Data were evaluated with analysis of variance and to establish significance Fisher's PLSD test was used when analysis of variance showed P < .05. It was observed that electroacupuncture group presented a skin flap survival index remarkably larger than the others. It has also shown a better evolution during the 8 days PO, confirmed by the lowest rate of necrosis and absent area. In this experimental model, eletroacupuncture was an efficient method to preserve vitality and decrease dorsal skin flap necrosis on Wistar rats.

Acupuntura: motivações de médicos para a procura de especialização / Physicians' reasons for specializing in acupuncture

Este estudo quanti-qualitativo objetivou identificar concepções sobre Medicina Convencional e Acu puntura que contribuem para entender os motivos que levam médicos a procurarem conhecer ou se especializar em Acupuntura. Foram pesquisados 175 médicos do Curso de Desenvolvimento em Me dicina Chinesa − Acupuntura, do Center-AO − Centro de Pesquisa e Estudo da Medicina Chinesa e Universidade Federal de São Paulo − Escola Paulista de Medicina (Unifesp - EPM), com questio nário composto por perguntas abertas e fechadas. Os dados obtidos foram analisados estatisticamente, e as respostas foram analisadas com a técnica de análise de conteúdo, buscando desvelar unidades de significado. A partir disso, foram estabelecidas categorias gerais e específicas, que passaram a dar significado aos discursos. Dessa forma, foram obtidos três grupos categoriais: "aprimoramento profis sional", "ampliar seu próprio horizonte de vida" e "compreender o paciente em uma dimensão mais abrangente". Nossos dados revelaram que os médicos desejam exercer a Acupuntura de forma inte grada à Medicina Convencional, no bojo da qual a Acupuntura vem se firmando como especialidade médica.

This aim of this quantitative and qualitative study was to identify concepts of conventional medicine and acupuncture that contribute to the understanding of motives leading physicians to learn about or specialize in acupuncture. We interviewed 175 physicians from the Course in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture administered by the Research Center on Chinese Medicine at the School of Medicine of the Federal University in São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), using questionnaires consisting of open and closed questions. The resulting data were submitted to statistical analysis, and the answers were analyzed using the content analysis technique, seeking to unveil units of meaning. This process ena bled establishing general and specific categories that lent meaning to the discourses. Three categorical groups were obtained: "professional enhancement", "expanding one's life horizons", and "understan ding the patient in a more comprehensive dimension". Our data also showed that physicians wish to integrate acupuncture with their practice of conventional medicine, within which acupuncture has been consolidated as a medical specialty.

Effect of moxibustion at acupoints Ren-12 (Zhongwan), St-25 (Tianshu), and St-36 (Zuzanli) in the prevention of gastric lesions induced by indomethacin in Wistar rats.

This study was aimed at assessing the physical characteristics underlying the action of moxibustion at acupoints Ren-12 (Zhongwan), St-25 (Tianshu), and St-36 (Zuzanli) in preventing acute injuries of the gastric mucous membrane induced by indomethacin in Wistar rats. Induction of gastric lesions, by means of intragastric administration of indomethacin (100 mg/kg), in adult male Wistar rats was followed by treatment with moxibustion using Artemisia vulgaris dried leaves at 60 or 45 degrees C, heating with Artemisia vulgaris charcoal at 50 degrees C, heating with a regular tobacco cigar at 50 degrees C, and heating with a regular water pad at 50 degrees C, The effects of the different heating protocols over the gastric lesions were then compared. In addition, another group of animals was pretreated with capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.), in order to lesion C fibers and, 15 days later, subjected to indomethacin administration and moxibustion treatment. Moxibustion was significantly more efficient at 60 degrees C than at 45 degrees C in preventing gastric lesions triggered by indomethacin. Moxibustion applied in acupoints provided a significant reduction of the lesion area, which was two times less than that of animals stimulated in a nonacupoint (sham group). Comparing the therapeutic effects provided by different forms of heating over the gastric lesions, the burning of dry leaves of Artemisia vulgaris was significantly more efficient in preventing gastric lesions than moxibustion made with Artemisia charcoal or tobacco (cigar) or by heating the animal with a water pad. Desensitization of the afferent sensory C fibers by capsaicin significantly diminished the ability of moxibustion to block the lesions in the gastric mucous membrane. Moxibustion can efficiently prevent indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats and this effect is dependent on the temperature, the material used for moxibustion, the use of acupuncture points, and the integrity of C fibers.

A comparative study of the effects of electroacupuncture and moxibustion in the gastrointestinal motility of the rat.

We compared the outcomes of the stimulation of specific sets of acupoints with either acupuncture or moxibustion over peristalsis. Twenty-five plastic beads were orally administered in the stomach of the rats and 90 min later animals were sacrificed, the stomach and small intestine were opened, and the number of beads remaining in each segment was counted. Forty rats were immobilized for 20 min and stimulated at either abdominal or hindlimbs acupoints, with either electroacupuncture or moxibustion. Under this restraint (stress) condition electroacupuncture at hindlimb points or moxibustion at abdominal points significantly enhanced gastric emptying (P < 0.02) as well as intestinal motility compared with animals subjected only to immobilization and not stimulated with electroacupuncture or moxibustion. We conclude that the effects of different acupoints and modes of stimulation (electrical vs. moxibustion) over gastrointestinal motility in rats subjected to restraint-induced stress is not uniform and discuss the different neural pathways underlying these differences.

Acupuntura no Currículo Médico: Visão de Estudantes de Graduação em Medicina / Acupuncture in the Medical School Curriculum from Undergraduated Medical Students Perspective

Resumo: Sendo o aluno de graduação em Medicina pertencente a uma sociedade que valoriza a prática médica tecnológica e especializada, que pode afastar o médico de uma visão humanizada do paciente, este trabalho objetivou caracterizar os discursos sobre formação e prática médica dos estudantes de Medicina que frequentaram cursos curriculares e extracurriculares de Acupuntura na Unifesp-EPM, assim como idenflficar visões desses alunos sobre o ensino de Acupuntura na graduação médica. A pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, foi realizada entrevistando-se em profundidade 12 estudantes do curso de graduação em Medicina da Unifesp-EPM que tiveram aulas de Acupuntura na universidade, a partir de um roteiro temático. As entrevistas foram interpretadas com a técnica de análise de conteúdo, buscando desvelar unidades de significado que foram analisadas a partir de uma perspectiva socioantropológica da Medicina. Na visão dos alunos, Acupuntura e medicina convencional são uma só Medicina, com diferentes abordagens do paciente, sendo a visão holística do doente um pressuposto da medicina chinesa motivador para os nossos sujeitos procurarem e valorizarem o ensino de Acupuntura no currículo médico.

Abstract: Since medical students belong to a society that values specialized and technological medical practice, sometimes shifting physicians away from a more humamstic interpretation of patients, the purpose of this study was to characterize the discourse of undergraduate medical students who had attended curricular and extra-curricular Acupuncture courses at Unifesp-EPM, as well as to identify their perspectives toward Acupuncture education in undergraduate medical studies. The qualitative research included in-depth interviews with twelve medicine students at the Unifesp-EPM using a thematic script. The interviews were interpreted using the content analysis research technique, aiming to reveal significant unit, that were analyzed according to a social-anthropological view of Medicine. From the student's point of view, Acupuncture and Conventional Medicine merely comprise one single field of Medicine, corresponding to different approaches to the patient, with Acupuncture taking a more holistic approach, thus motivating them to attend Acupuncture classes.

Funçäo psíquica na Medicina Tropical Chinesa: teoria dos 7 espíritos (Shen), 7 sentimentos e 5 emoçöes / Psychic function in Traditional Chinese Medicine: the theory of the 7 spirits, the 7 feelings and 5 emotions

Os Zang Fu (Orgaos/Vísceras), na concepçao da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, possuem os "sete espíritos" (Shen), que compoem a parte imaterial do ser humano e constituem as sete funçoes psíquicas ligadas a cinco Zang (Orgaos). Assim, cada Zang (Orgao) é local de armazenamento de determinada funçao psíquica, que no conjunto constitui o Shen. As funçoes psíquicas do ser humano, seja os sentimentos ou as emoçoes, dependem do Qi emanado dos Zang (Orgaos) e, destes, o Xin (Coraçao) ocupa papel de destaque na elaboraçao e na resposta das funçoes psíquicas. Os Sete Sentimentos representam as manifestaçoes do Shen (espírito-deus), em resposta à presença dos estímulos sensoriais emocionais transmitidos pelo meio ambiente. Estas respostas refletem a capacidade de sentir, a faculdade de perceber, a disposiçao efetiva e que, em conseqüência, manifestam-se por afeto, entusiasmo, emoçao, tristeza, pesar, mágoa, medo e pressentimento. Quando os Zang Fu nao estao em harmonia energética, os estímulos promotores dos Sete Sentimentos tornam-se excessivos, agindo de maneira danosa e lesando o Yin Qi dos Zang Fu e estes manifestam-se, em nível psíquico, pelas Emoçoes.

Aspectos integrativos das medicinas ocidental e chinesa / Integratins aspects of western and Chinese medicine

Os princípios da medicina tradicional chinesa, tais como uniao exterior(interior, alto(baixo, corpo(mente, podem ser explicadas à luz da neuranatomia e da neurofisiologia, através dos arcos reflexos medulares somatovisceral, viscerosomático e vias ascendentes e descendentes da medula espinal. Essa correlaçao dos diferentes arcos reflexos medulares, bem como as grandes vias neuroanatômicas ascendentes e descendentes, com os conceitos básicos da medicina tradicional chinesa, demonstra que as evidências, elaboradas a partir de manifestaçoes clínicas e dos efeitos da inserçao de agulha em diferentes partes do corpo, têm respaldo científico.

Aspectos neuroanatômicos e neurofisiológicos dos "Zang Fu" sob o enfoque dos 5 movimentos / Neuroanatomic and neurophysiologic aspects of \"Zang fu\" under the 5 movements focus

A teoria do Zang Fu, da medicina tradicional chinesa, considera que os órgaos internos apresentam funçoes inerentes ao órgao anatômico, além de seus aspectos mentais. As consideraçoes propostas neste artigo representam esforço para tentar compreender a complexidade da teoria dos Zang Fu, alicerce da fisiologia, fisiopatologia e do tratamento da medicina tradicional chinesa, de modo a permitir entendimento racional embasado na neuroanatomia e na neurofisiologia, fornecendo dados para que a medicina ocidental passe a reconhecer a validade dos preceitos dos antigos chineses.

Correlaçöes neuranatômicas e neurofisiológicas entre essência sexual, energia vital e triplo aquecedor / Neuroanatomic and neurophysiological correlation among the sexual essence, vital energy and triple burner

Os autores fazem correlaçoes entre as concepçoes da essência sexual, energia vital e triplo aquecedor estudadas na medicina tradicional chinesa com estruturas neuranatômicas e com atividades neurofisiológicas. Propoem que as funçoes do triplo aquecedor estao relacionadas com as do sistema nervoso autônomo.

Tratamento da cervicalgia, cervicobraquialgia e dorsalgia pelo canal de energia distinto do Xin Bao Luo (circulaçäo-sexo) e do Sanjiao (triplo aquecedor) no pronto atendimento de acupuntura / Treatment of cervicalgia, cervicobrachiaalgia and dorsalgia by the distinct energy channel of Xin Bao Luo (circulation-sex)and Sanjiao (triple heater) in acupuncture emergency service

0 propósito deste trabalho é analisar o efeito do trata-mento pelos Canais de Energia Distintos do Xin Bao Luo (Circulaçäo-Sexo) e do Sanjiao (Triplo Aquecedor) na cervicalgia, cervicobraquialgia e dorsalgia alta. Material e método: Foram estudados 93 pacientes com queixas de cervicalgia, cervicobraquialgia e dorsalgia alta, sem tratamento prévio com acupuntura, com o diagnóstico de acometimento de Canais de Energia Distintos do Xin Bao Luo (Circulaçäo-Sexo) e do Sanjiao (Triplo Aquecedor). 0 diagnóstico foi baseado na queixa clínica de emoçöes reprimidas diversas, de cervicalgia, cervicobraquialgia e dorsalgia alta e pela palpaçäo dos pontos de confluência CS-1 (Tianchi), TA-16 (Tianyou) e VG-20 (Baihui). Resultado: Dos 93 pacientes tratados, 38 (40,9 por cento) melhoraram 100 por cento das dores relatadas, 55 (59,1 por cento) tiveram melhora superior a 50 por cento, dos quais 45 (48,4 por cento) entre 80 e 90 por cento de melhora.

Concepçöes energéticas do Gan (fígado), relacionadas à fisiologia hepática humana / Energy conceptions of the Gan (liver), related to human liver physiology

A Medicina Tradicional Chinesa atribui ao Gan (Fígado), juntamente com o Shen (Rins), grande importância no crescimento do corpo humano. O Gan (Fígado) é relacionado, ao nível da esfera psíquica, ao Hun, a alma vegetativa, ao sentimento ficar com raiva, à emoçao raiva e ao nível somático, com a vesícula biliar, músculos, tendöes, nervos, atividade encefálica, olhos e visäo, sistema reprodutor feminino, hormônios e unhas. Os distúrbios do Gan (Fígado) podem manifestar-se no encéfalo, causando cefaléias, enxaquecas, vertigens, acúfenos, convulsöes, movimentos musculares tônico-clônicos, epilepsia, loucura, etc; no pescoço, por hipertireoidismo; no tronco, por asma-Plenitude, mastite, intercostalgia, hipocondralgia, hepatobiliopatias, gastralgia-Plenitude (gastrite e úlcera gástrica), diabetes insulino-dependente, constipaçäo intestinal, colite, distúrbios ginecológicos, infecçäo urinária e, no sistema músculo-esquelético, por dores agudas e crônicas migratórias, articulares e de partes moles. A fisiologia do fígado, dentro dos conhecimentos científicos ocidentais, vem fornecer substratos que, claramente, evidenciam a relaçäo deste órgao, tanto com as funçöes, quanto com os distúrbios clínicos acima descritos.

O shen (rins) e as orelhas / The shen (kidneys) and ears

Segundo as concepçöes da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, o Jing Shen (Rins) relaciona-se com as orelhas, portanto com a audiçäo e o equilíbrio. Estas concepçöes podem ser associadas com a embriologia moderna, tornando as antigas concepçöes chinesas mais compreensíveis e lógicas. A orelha interna tem origem exclusivamente da cordamesoderma, responsável pela audiçäo e equilíbrio, enquanto as orelhas externa e média, da crista neural e dos arcos branquias, responsáveis pela audiçäo. Estas relaçöes do Jing Shen (Rins) com as orelhas externa, média e interna sugerem a existência de conexöes energéticas do Shen (Rins) com o sistema de audiçäo e de equilíbrio.

Efeito do laser nos pontos de acupuntura E-25 (Tianshu), E-36 (Zusanli) e VC-12 (Zhongwan) na prevenção de lesões agudas da mucosa gástrica em ratos wistar / Effect of laser on acupoints S-25 (Tianshu), S-36 (Zusanli) and REN-12 (Zhongwan) in the prevention of acute gastric mucosa injuries in wistar rats

0 laser é um moderno recurso terapêutico que freqüentemente tem sido utilizado em substituiçäo às agulhas na clínica diária de acupuntura. Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito do laser em baixa (5Hz) e alta (140Hz) freqüências aplicado sobre os pontos de acupuntura E-25 (Tianshu), E-36 (Zusanli) e VC-12 (Zhongwan) na prevençäo de lesöes agudas induzidas pela indometacina na mucosa gástrica de ratas Wistar. Material: Foram utilizadas 70 ratas Wistar com três meses (137 a 220g). Método: Este trabalho foi efetuado em duas etapas: na primeira, aplicaram-se estímulos de laser na freqüência de 5Hz em quatro grupos de dez animais cada, em jejum de 24h. A todos os animais foi administrada indometacina (20mg/kg) por sonda orogástrica. Grupo I (INDO) - apenas recebeu indometacina. Grupo II (INDO/An) - as ratas permaneceram anestesiadas com éter sulfúrico durante 15 minutos, após a administraçäo da indometacina. Grupo III (INDO/Laser/5) procedimentos idênticos aos do grupo II, tendo as ratas recebido estímulos com laser nos pontos de acupuntura VC-12 (Zhongwan) E-25 (Tianshu) e E-36 (Zusanli) durante o período em que estiveram anestesiadas. Grupo IV (INDO/Sham/5) mesmos procedimentos do grupo III, exceto que o laser foi aplicado em näo-pontos de acupuntura. Na segunda etapa foi estudado o efeito do laser em alta freqüência (140Hz) em três grupos de ratas Wistar: grupos I (INDO), II (INDO/Laser/140) e III (INDO/Sham/140), cujos procedimentos, exceto pela alta frequência do laser (140Hz), foram idênticos, respectivamente, aos dos grupos I, III, IV da primeira etapa. Os animais de todos os grupos foram sacrificados seis horas após a administraçäo da indometacina para retirada cirúrgica do estômago, a fim de efetuar contagem e avaliar aspecto das lesöes na mucosa. Resultados: O teste estatístico de Kruskal-Wallis näo mostrou diferença significante entre os grupos estudados, tanto na primeira etapa (5Hz), quanto na segunda (140Hz). Na primeira etapa os animais que foram estimulados pelo laser nos pontos de acupuntura verdadeiros apresentaram um número de petéquias e pequenas lesöes significantemente maior que lesöes superiores a 1mm, quando analisados pelo teste de Friedman. Conclusäo: a aplicaçäo de laser nos pontos de acupuntura E-25 (Tianshu), E-36 (Zuzanli) e VC-12 (Zhongwan) näo se mostrou eficaz na prevençäo de lesöes agudas da mucosa gástrica produzidas por indometacina, em ratas Wistar, tanto em baixa frequência (5Hz) quanto em alta frequência (140Hz).