Electroacupuncture attenuates depressive-like behaviors in poststroke depression mice through promoting hippocampal neurogenesis and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact and underlying molecular mechanisms of electroacupuncture on mice with poststroke depression (PSD). Mice were randomly allocated into sham, PSD, and electroacupuncture groups. Mice in the PSD and electroacupuncture groups underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery following with sedentary behavior. Electroacupuncture targeting Zusanli (ST36) acupoint was performed 24 h after MCAO for 4 weeks in electroacupuncture group. The sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, open field test, tail suspension test, elevated plus maze, Catwalk analysis, RNA sequencing, Nissl staining, Golgi staining, TUNEL staining, Edu labeling, and doublecortin staining were performed. Lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood and the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and expression of Iba1/CD86, Iba1/NLRP3, TLR4/p38/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways in the hippocampus were detected. Electroacupuncture effectively protected against the development of depression-like symptoms. The number of granulosa cells and doublecortin-positive cells in the dentate gyrus (DG) were significantly decreased in PSD group, which were significantly upregulated ( P  < 0.01) by electroacupuncture. Electroacupuncture also significantly reduced ( P  < 0.05) TUNEL-positive cells in the DG and CA1. RNA-seq revealed that electroacupuncture may exert antidepressant effect by regulating the inflammation mediated by TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in hippocampus. Electroacupuncture remarkably elevated ( P  < 0.01) the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells and percentage of CD3-CD49b+ cells in CD45+CD49b+ cells in the peripheral blood. Electroacupuncture significantly reduced ( P  < 0.05) the high levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, iba1, TLR4, p-p38, p-NF-κB, and NLRP3 and sedentary behavior. Electroacupuncture was observed to mitigate depression symptoms and increase hippocampal neurogenesis in mice with PSD, possibly by inhibiting TLR4/p38/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and improving the microglia-mediated inflammatory microenvironment in the hippocampus.

Therapeutic potential of Angelica sinensis in addressing organ fibrosis: A comprehensive review.

Fibrosis-related diseases (FRD) include conditions like myocardial fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis, and others. The impact of fibrosis can be severe, causing organ dysfunction, reduced functionality, and even organ failure, leading to significant health issues. Currently, there is a lack of effective modern anti-fibrosis drugs in clinical practice. However, Chinese medicine has a certain beneficial effect on the treatment of such diseases. Angelica sinensis, with its considerable medicinal value, has garnered attention for its anti-fibrosis properties in recent investigations. In the past few years, there has been a growing number of experimental inquiries into the impact of angelica polysaccharide (ASP), angelica water extract, angelica injection, and angelica compound preparation on fibrosis-associated ailments, piquing the interest of researchers. This paper aims to consolidate recent advances in the study of Angelica sinensis for the treatment of fibrosis-related disorders, offering insights for prospective investigations. Literature retrieval included core electronic databases, including Baidu Literature, CNKI, Google-Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science. The applied search utilized specified keywords to extract relevant information on the pharmacological and phytochemical attributes of plants. The investigation revealed that Angelica sinensis has the potential to impede the advancement of fibrotic diseases by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and metabolism. ASP, Angelica sinensis extract, Angelica sinensis injection, and Angelica sinensis compound preparation were extensively examined and discussed. These constituents demonstrated significant anti-fibrosis activity. In essence, this review seeks to gain a profound understanding of the role of Angelica sinensis in treating fiber-related diseases. Organ fibrosis manifests in nearly all tissues and organs, posing a critical challenge to global public health due to its widespread occurrence, challenging early diagnosis, and unfavorable prognosis. Despite its prevalence, therapeutic options are limited, and their efficacy is constrained. Over the past few years, numerous studies have explored the protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine on organ fibrosis, with Angelica sinensis standing out as a multifunctional natural remedy. This paper provides a review of organ fibrosis pathogenesis and summarizes the recent two decades' progress in treating fibrosis in various organs such as the liver, lung, kidney, and heart. The review highlights the modulation of relevant signaling pathways through multiple targets and channels by the effective components of Angelica sinensis, whether used as a single medicine or in compound prescriptions.

Therapeutic effect of acupuncture combining standard swallowing training for post-stroke dysphagia: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combining standard swallowing training for patients with dysphagia after stroke. METHODS: A total of 105 consecutively admitted patients with post-stroke dysphagia in the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine were included: 50 patients from the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation received standard swallowing training and acupuncture treatment (acupuncture group); 55 patients from the Department of Neurology received standard swallowing training only (control group). Participants in both groups received 5-day therapy per week for a 4-week period. The primary outcome measures included the scores of Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) and the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA); the secondary outcome measure was the Royal Brisbane Hospital Outcome Measure for Swallowing (RBHOMS), all of which were assessed before and after the 4-week treatment. RESULTS: A total of 98 subjects completed the study (45 in the acupuncture group and 53 in the control group). Significant differences were seen in VFSS, SSA and RBHOMS scores in each group after 4-week treatment as compared with before treatment (P<0.01). Comparison between the groups after 4-week treatment showed that the VFSS P=0.007) and SSA scores (P=0.000) were more significantly improved in the acupuncture group than the control group. However, there was no statistical difference (P=0.710) between the acupuncture and the control groups in RBHOMS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with the standard swallowing training was an effective therapy for post-stroke dysphagia, and acupuncture therapy is worth further investigation in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.

[Discussion on acupuncture for cerebral apoplexy from the view of rehabilitation].

Abundant experiences have already been accumulated in treatment of stroke with acupuncture. Development of rehabilitation theory also brings unprecedented opportunity and challenge to acupuncture. Combined with the modern rehabilitation theory and practice, it is very helpful to deepen the understanding on treatment of acupuncture for cerebral apoplexy and enhance the therapeutic effect in clinic by studying the mechanism of acupuncture treatment, opportunity of intervention, selection of acupoints, needling manipulations and quantity of stimulations etc. Through analysis on the necessity and the way of combination of acupuncture and modern rehabilitation, it is concluded that rehabilitation evaluation, rehabilitation phases and obstacle analysis should be taken as references by acupuncturists to reinforce the therapeutic effect and creditability of acupuncture treatment on cerebral apoplexy.

[Clinical research of chloasma treated with the meridian cosmetology and the impacts on estrogen and progestin].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy difference between meridian cosmetology and western medicine in the treatment of chloasma and explore the impacts of meridian cosmetology on E2 and PRGE. METHODS: Three hundreds cases of chloasma were randomized into a meridian cosmetology group and a western medication group according to the visit sequence, 150 cases in each one. In the meridian cosmetology group, the meridian regulation, acupuncture based on pattern/syndrome differentiation [at the body acupoints such as Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23), etc.] and the local surrounding needling therapy on the chloasma skin lesion were adopted. In the western medication group, the oral administration of Vitamin C and E was prescribed for 3 months. The clinical efficacy was observed for the patients in the two groups. Additionally, 30 cases were collected from the meridian cosmetology group randomly for the detection of estrogen (E2) and progestin (PRGE) before and after treatment. RESULTS: The effective rate in the meridian cosmetology group was 92.6% (126/136), which was superior to 67.0% (75/112) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). For the patients collected from the meridian cosmetology group, as compared with that before treatment, E2 level was decreased (P < 0.01) and PRGE level was increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The meridian cosmetology achieves the superior efficacy as compared with the western medication group for the chloasma and it can regulate the levels of E2 and PRGE.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut-embedding combined western medicine for epilepsy of generalized seizures type].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy differences between acupoint catgut-embedding combined western medicine (ACCWM) and simple western medicine (WM) for treatment of epilepsy of generalized seizures type. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with epilepsy of generalized seizures type were randomly divided into an ACCWM group (n=30) and a WM group (n=22). Dazhui (GV 14), Yaoshu (GV 2), Jiuwei (CV 15), Qihai (CV 6) were selected in the ACCWM group as the main acupoints combined with routine antiepileptic drugs, Valpromide was taken orally, 2.0 g/d for adult, 50 mg/kg x d for child. The WM group was treated with routine antiepileptic drugs. The epilepsy score and the attack frequency one year before the treatment and one year during treatment were observed and the therapeutic effects in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The epilepsy score and the attack frequency were both decreased in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the epilepsy score in the ACCWM group decreased significantly (6.57 +/- 3.29 vs 10.73 +/- 2.54, P<0.05). The total effective rate of 90.0% (27/30) in the ACCWM group was superior to that of 68.2% (15/22) in the WM group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of ACCWM is superior to that of simple western medicine in treating epilepsy of generalized seizures type. It can improve significantly the attack symptoms so as to enhance life quality of the patients with epilepsy.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture on hyperemesis gravidarum].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a more effective therapy for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS: Ninety cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, a western medicine group and a Chinese medicine group, 30 cases in each group. They were treated with same supplement of water and electrolyte, with acupuncture at Dazhu (BL 11), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Neiguan (PC 6), Gongsun (SP 4), etc. added in the acupuncture group, with oral administration of Luminal 30 mg thrice each day added in the western medicine group and with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction according to syndrome differentiation of TCM added in the Chinese medicine group. The therapeutic effect, ketone bodies, carbon dioxide combining power (CO2-CP) and electrolyte imbalance situation in all the groups were observed. RESULTS: After treatment for 7 days, the total effective rate of 96.7% in the acupuncture group was better than 46.7% in the western medicine group and 60.0% in the Chinese medicine group (both P < 0.01). There were significant improvements in ketone bodies in the acupuncture group compared with those before treatment and those in the western medicine group (both P < 0.05), and improvements in CO2-CP and electrolyte imbalance in all the groups were following the recovery of disease. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has rapid and obvious therapeutic effect on hyperemesis gravidarum without adverse reactions.