[Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture on refractory insomnia: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture, conventional acupuncture and oral estazolam tablet on refractory insomnia. METHODS: A total of 180 patients with refractory insomnia were randomized into a Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture group, a conventional acupuncture group and a medication group, 60 cases in each group. In the Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture group, Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Waiguan (TE 5), Neiguan (PC 6), Weishu (BL 21), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Taixi (KI 3); in the conventional acupuncture group, conventional acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zhaohai (KI 6), Shenmai (BL 62) and Anmian (Extra). Supplementary acupoints were added according to different patterns in the two acupuncture groups, and the treatment was given once a day, 7 times as one course and 4 courses were required. In the medication groups, estazolam was taken orally 1 h before sleep, 1 mg each time, once a day for 4 weeks. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score was observed before and after treatment and the therapeutic effect was evaluated in the 3 groups. RESULTS: The total effective rates in the Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture group and the conventional acupuncture group were 90.0% (54/60) and 83.3% (50/60), which were superior to 30.0% (18/60) in the medication group (both P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the PSQI scores were significantly reduced in the two acupuncture groups (all P<0.05), the sleep efficiency and the total score of PSQI were reduced in the medication group (both P<0.05). After treatment, the changes of sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, daytime function and total score of PSQI in the Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture group were significantly larger than those in the conventional acupuncture group (all P<0.05). The changes of PSQI scores in the Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture group were significantly larger than the medication group (all P<0.05). The changes of sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep time, sleep disorder, daytime function and total score of PSQI in the conventional acupuncture group were significantly larger than the medication group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of Yinyang Ruyin acupuncture on refractory insomnia is superior to estazolam and conventional acupuncture.

[Professor HE Tian-you's experience of acupuncture and moxibustion on postpartum wind].

Professor HE Tian-you's experience of acupuncture and moxibustion for postpartum wind is introduced. With more than 40 years of experience, professor HE has developed a systematic theoretical basis and technical operation. He points out that postpartum wind, caused by weakened body resistance after delivery, is characterized by intermingled deficiency and excess; the treatment focuses on dispelling wind, and the wind-related acupoints are essential; nourishing blood is important for dispelling wind. He emphasizes that if the cold in uterus would hinder the dispelling of wind and dampness. He has highly valued the manipulation, advocating the treatment of "treating three spirits", especially the spirits after the treatment of acupuncture; he also values the physical and mental health of the puerpera, and runs this principle through the treatment. With the He's herbal long-snake moxibustion, the dual therapeutic effect of medicine and moxibustion can be brought into play, and the therapeutic effect can be enhanced.

Electroacupuncture alleviates cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury via modulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory actions, but whether the neuroprotective effect of EA against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury involves modulation of the extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is unclear. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 hours followed by reperfusion for 24 hours. A 30-minute period of EA stimulation was applied to both Baihui (DU20) and Dazhui (DU14) acupoints in each rat (10 mm EA penetration depth, continuous wave with a frequency of 3 Hz, and a current intensity of 1-3 mA) when reperfusion was initiated. EA significantly reduced infarct volume, alleviated neuronal injury, and improved neurological function in rats with MCAO. Furthermore, high mRNA expression of Bax and low mRNA expression of Bcl-2 induced by MCAO was prevented by EA. EA substantially restored total glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels. Additionally, Nrf2 and glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS) expression levels were markedly increased by EA. Interestingly, the neuroprotective effects of EA were attenuated when ERK1/2 activity was blocked by PD98059 (a specific MEK inhibitor). Collectively, our findings indicate that activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway contributes to the neuroprotective effects of EA. Our study provides a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of EA.