Electroacupuncture stimulates remodeling of extracellular matrix by inhibiting apoptosis in a rabbit model of disc degeneration.

The present study was designed to determine whether EA stimulates remodeling of extracellular matrix by inhibiting apoptosis in degenerated disc. 40 rabbits were randomly assigned to one of the four groups. Animal model was established by a loading device. Magnetic resonance imaging and Pfirrmann's classification were obtained to evaluate both the model and the EA treatment on disc degeneration. The ultrastructure of discs was observed by TEM. Apoptosis involvement was determined with TUNEL staining and western blot for the protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2. The results indicated that EA intervention decreased the MRI grades. TEM analysis showed an apparent remodeling and rearrangement of disc ECM after EA intervention for 28 days. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in the EA group was significantly lower than that in the compression group. The protein expression demonstrated an antiapoptosis effect mediated by EA. Increased expression of Bcl-2 proteins and reduced Bax protein expression were detected after 28 days treatment. It was concluded that antiapoptosis pathway probably participates in the mechanism of EA stimulating the remodeling of ECM in disc degeneration.

[Analysis of the distribution of diseases in 6435 inpatients from the department of acupuncture and moxibustion].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the distribution of diseases in inpatients from the department of acupuncture and moxibustion and to provide the references for the scientific research direction of acupuncture and moxibustion. METHODS: By use of information management system of the medical records, the first page of the medical record of 6435 cases from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2010 was extracted. RESULTS: It shows a clear upward trend in the department of acupuncture and moxibustion in 8 years. The vast majority are elderly patients in 6435 cases, involving in 309 kinds of diseases, the major cases focus on the diseases of motor system and cerebrovascular system. The top 10 ranking of diseases and the rates are lumbar spondylosis (17.73%), cerebral infarction (13.77%), cervical spondylosis (13.66%), sequelae of cerebral infarction (7.47%), lumbar disc herniaion (4. 41%), osteoarthropathia (3.40%), cerebral hemorrhage (2.91%), herpes zoster (2.33%), postherpetic neuralgia (2.33%), sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage (2.32%). CONCLUSION: The people's acceptance of acupuncture and moxibustion is increasing and the sufferers treated by acupuncture and moxibustion are mostly elderly patients. The research on the motor system diseases and cerebrovascular diseases should be strengthened.

[Comparative observation on therapeutic effect of chronic persistent bronchial asthma treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion and medication].

OBJECTIVE: To probe a better therapy for chronic persistent asthma. METHODS: Thirty-six cases of chronic persistent asthma were randomly divided into a beat-sensitive moxibustion group (17 cases) and a western medication group (19 cases). In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the sensitization points between Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17) were selected with heat-sensitive moxibustion; in western medication group, Seretide inhalant was applied. The patients of both groups were continuously treated for 3 months and the therapeutic effects were evaluated by clinical symptom scores and pulmonary ventilation function test. RESULTS: After treatment, the effective rate of 88.2% (15/17) in heat-sensitive moxibustion group was superior to that of 47.4% (9/19) in western medication group (P < 0.05); the clinical symptom scores and pulmonary ventilation function were obviously improved in the two groups, and the heat-sensitive moxibustion group was superior to the western medication group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For chronic persistent bronchial asthma, heat-sensitive moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms and the pulmonary ventilation function, and it is better than Seretide inhalant.

[Effects of scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy on motor function in the hemiplegic patient of cerebral thrombosis at convalescent period].

OBJECTIVE: To search for the best way to elevate the clinical therapeutic effect in the hemiplegic patient of cerebral thrombosis at convalescent period. METHODS: Adopting single-blind, randomized controlled method, 90 cases of cerebral thrombosis at convalescent period were assigned to 3 groups: a scalp acupuncture group (group A), a rehabilitation therapy group (group B) and a scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy group (group C). Group A were treated with scalp acupuncture at the anterior oblique line of vertex-temporal and the posterior oblique line of vertex-temporal on the healthy side; group B were treated with modern rehabilitation medical therapy, making limb function treatment; group C were treated with the scalp acupuncture in the group A combined with the rehabilitation therapy in the group B. Improvement of neural function defect and activity of daily life (ADL), and clinical therapeutic effect were observed. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of neural function defect of 6.14 +/- 0.36 in the group C was significantly lower than 8.94 +/- 0.56 in the group A and 8.64 +/- 0.49 in the group B (P<0.05); the score of ADL of 88.39 +/- 10.02 and clinical therapeutic effect of 90.0% in the group C were significantly higher than 74.19 +/- 12.12 and 76.7% in the group A and 72.29 +/- 11.52 and 73.3% in the group B (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The scalp acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy have synergistic action in improving motor function for the hemiplegic patient of cerebral thrombosis at convalescent period, and it is a better method for cerebral thrombosis at the convalescent stage.

[Clinical observation on acupoint-injection for treatment of lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of acupoint-injection and Chinese herbs for treatment of lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis. METHODS: Ninety cases of lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis were randomly divided into a Jiaji point group, a reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and a medication group, 30 cases in each group. For the Jiaji point group, bilateral Jiaji points T11, L1, L3, L5 and S2 were selected; for the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group, Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3), Taibai (SP 3), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuehai (SP 10) were selected and the medication group were treated with oral administration of Qianggu Capsules. Changes of bone mass density (BMD) and pain cumulative score after treatment were observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.3% in the Jiaji point group, 73.3% in the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and 60.0% in the medication group, the Jiaji point group being better than both the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and the medication group (P<0.01, P<0.05). In reduction of pain cumulative score and improvement of BMD, the Jiaji point group was better than both the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and the medication group (P<0.01), and the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group was better than the medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupoint-injection has a definite therapeutic effect on lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis, and the therapeutic effect of the Jiaji point group is better than the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group.

[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Fenglong" (ST 40) on NO, ET and CGRP levels in the rat with hyperlipidemia].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the regulative effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Fenglong" (ST 40) on blood lipids in hyperlipidemia (HLP) rats and the mechanism. METHODS: Eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group (fed with basal forage), a model group (fed with high fat forage), an EA group (fed with high fat forage + EA treatment), a western medicine group (fed with high fat forage + Pravastatin sodium). Contents of serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the body weight, levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and ET were significantly elevated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and the levels of HDL-C, NO and CGRP were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the model group; compared with the model group, the body weight, levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and the levels of NO and CGRP were significantly increased in the western medicine group and the EA group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); compared with the EA group, HDL-C level significantly increased in the western medicine group (P < 0.01), and ET level decreased in the EA group and the western medicine group with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both EA and Pravastatin sodium have better benign regulative effects on TC, TG, LDL-C, NO and CGRP and can decrease ET level to a certain extent in the rat of hyperlipidemia.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with acupoint-injection on acute gouty arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To search for a new method for treatment of acute gouty arthritis. METHODS: Sixty cases of acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture combined with point-injection, and the control group with western medicine. Their therapeutic effects were observed and serum uric acid contents were detected before and after treatment. RESULTS: There was a very significantly difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0. 01) and the analgesic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P<0. 01). The treatment group was superior to the control group in decrease of blood uric acid (P<0. 01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture combined with point-injection is an effective method for treatment of acute gouty arthritis, and it can decrease blood uric acid content.

[Therapeutic effects of acupoint injection at cervical Jiaji points and effects on ET and CGRP in the patient of ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of point injection at cervical Jiaji points on endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) in the patient of ischemic stroke (IS). METHODS: Seventy cases of IS were randomly divided into a treatment group of 35 cases and a control group of 35 cases. The treatment group were treated with acupoint injection at cervical Jiaji points and routine acupuncture, and the control group only with routine acupuncture. Two weeks constituted one course with an interval of one day between courses. After two courses and 4 courses, changes of ET and CGRP were detected, and after 4 courses, their clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Acupoint injection at cervical Jiaji points could significantly decrease ET and increase CGRP level; the cured and markedly effective rate was 88.6% in the treatment group and 68.6% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupoint injection at cervical Jiaji points has a very good clinical therapeutic effect and can improve ET and CGRP levels in the patient of IS.

Comparative study on treatment of acute gouty arthritis by electroacupuncture with different frequency.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of treatment of acute gouty arthritis (AGA) respectively by electroacupuncture (EA) with different frequency and oral intake of Western medicine. METHODS: Seventy-two patients of AGA were randomly assigned into three groups, 24 in each group. Group A was treated with EA 100 Hz; Group B with EA 2 Hz; and Group C with Western medicine. The analgesic effect, initiating time and sustaining time of analgesia were observed and the level of serum uric acid was measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: The initiating time of analgesia was shorter while the sustaining time of analgesia was longer in Group A and B than those in Group C (all P < 0.01). The efficacy of analgesia was higher in Group B than that in Group A, and a better effect was shown in Group B in reducing serum uric acid level than that in Group A (P < 0.01), which was near that in Group C (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA is an effective treatment for AGA, and low frequency (2 Hz) EA showed a better efficacy.

[Clinical observation on electroacupuncture combined with medicine for treatment of acute gouty arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture combined with medicine on acute gouty arthritis and effect on blood uric acid content. METHODS: One hundred cases of acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into 3 groups, an electroacupuncture group treated by acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40) and Ashi points, a Western medicine group by oral administration of indometacin and benzbromarone, and a combined electroacupuncture and medicine group by electroacupuncture combined with the Western medicine. The changes of their blood uric acid levels before and after treatment were detected and their therapeutic effects were compared. RESULTS: There was a significant difference among the three groups in clinical therapeutic effect (P < 0.05), and the effective rate was respectively 97.5%, 90.0% and 86.7% in the combined electroacupuncture and medicine group, the electroacupuncture group and the Western medicine group, the combined electroacupuncture and medicine group being significantly higher than the electroacupuncture group and the Western medicine group; after treatment, the blood uric acid level in all the 3 groups had significant change (P < 0.05), the blood uric acid in the combined electroacupuncture and medicine group had more obvious decrease as compared with those in the electroacupuncture group or the Western medicine group. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture combined with the Western medicine has a definite therapeutic effect on acute gouty arthritis.