Effects of needle-knife therapy on iNOS activity and NO content in skeletal muscles in the L3 transverse process syndrome model rat.

OBJECTIVE: To study on relationship of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content in the injured local soft tissue with injured degrees of the soft tissue in the third lumbar vertebrae (L3) transverse process syndrome model rat and to observe the effect of needle-knife therapy. METHODS: One hundred and sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, aminoguanidine (AG) group, needle-knife group, 40 rats in each group. The L3 transverse process syndrome rat model was established, and after treatment of needle-knife and AG iNOS activities and NO contents and histomorpholocal changes in the soft tissues around L3 transverse process on 1, 3, 7 and 14 days were observed in the groups. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, iNOS activity and NO content in the model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01); Compared with the model group, iNOS activities and NO contents were significantly decreased in both the needle-knife group and the AG group (both P < 0.01); And both iNOS activities and NO contents were identical with both local inflammation response and injured degrees of the injured tissue in the groups. CONCLUSION: Needle-knife therapy can significantly inhibit generation of NO, alleviate inflammatory response and injured degree of the injured soft tissue, improve microcirculation, prevent formation of pathological scar tissue, and promote repair of the chronic soft tissue injury.

[Effects of acupotomy lysis on local soft tissue tension in patients with the third lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of acupotomy lysis in treatment of the third lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome. METHODS: One hundred and eighty patients were randomly assigned into an acupotomy group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 90 cases in each group. The acupotomy group was treated with acupotomy on the tip of the 3rd lumbar vertebrae transverse process (tender point) combination with massage manipulation of hyperflexion and hyperextension on the waist, once a week for 3 weeks. The EA group was treated with EA at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Ashi point (local tender point) and ipsilateral Weizhong (BL 40), 3 times a week for 3 weeks. The 500 g pressure displacement and the energy absorption ratio were measured by JZL-II soft tissue tension meter and the clinical effect was evaluated by JOA low back pain scale before treatment, after treatment and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment and at follow-up visit, the 500 g pressure displacement in the acupotomy group increased significantly (both P < 0.01), but it was decreased significantly in the EA group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The energy absorption ratio in the acupotomy group after treatment and at follow-up visit increased significantly (both P < 0.01), and in the EA group, there was no significant difference after treatment as compared with that before treatment (P > 0.05), but it was increased significantly at follow-up visit (P < 0.01). The total therapeutic level distribution in the acupotomy group was better than that in the EA group after treatment and 6 months after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupotomy therapy can significantly increase the 500 g pressure displacement and the energy absorption ratio of the local soft tissue around the third lumbar vertebrae transverse process, decrease the local soft tissue tension so as to alleviate pain. The clinical effect of the acupotomy is superior to that of electroacupuncture.

[Effect of acupotomy lysis on hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PPE mRNA expression in rats with 3rd lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupotomy lysis (AL) on hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMO) mRNA and preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA expression in rats with the third lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome (TLVTPS) so as to study its underlying mechanism in relieving symptoms of lumbar muscle strain. METHODS: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, AL group and electroacupunture (EA) group. The TLVTPS model was established by inserting a piece of gelatin sponge into the posterior of the left 3rd lumbar vertebrae transverse process. AL and EA were applied to the left "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Yaoyangguan" (GV 3) respectively. The POMC mRNA and PPE mRNA expression levels in the hypothalamus were detected by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal group, the integrated optical density (IOD) values of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PPE mRNA positive cells in the model group were increased significantly (P < 0.01); while compared with the model group, those of POMC mRNA and PPE mRNA positive cells in both left and right hypothalamus were increased further considerably in both AL and EA groups (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between AL and EA groups in POMC mRNA and PPE mRNA expression levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: AL and EA therapies can increase the expression of POMC mRNA and PPE mRNA in hypothalamus in rats with TLVTPS, which may contribute to its effect in relieving pain in the treatment of lumbar muscle strain.

[Multi-central randomized controlled study on electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40) for regulating blood lipids].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Fenglong (ST 40) on blood lipids. METHODS: Two hundred and four patients of hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into a Fenglong group and a Xuezhikang group, 102 cases in each group. The patients in the Fenglong group were treated with electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40). After arrival of qi, the needles were connected with acupoint nerve stimulator (LH 202 H type, HANS). The primary parameters of EA: for high triglycerides (TG) type, AM 50 Hz, intensity 1 mA, needle-retained time 20 min, twice per week; for high cholesterol (CHO) type, AM 100 Hz, intensity 1 mA, needle-retained time 30 min, thrice per week; for high low-density-lipoprotein (LDL-C) type, the same parameters as the high CHO type except the tolerable and comfortable intensity; for the mixing type, corresponding methods were alternatively used. The patients in the Xuezhikang group received Xuezhikang capsule orally, 2 capsules each time and twice daily, for total 11 weeks. RESULTS: The total effective rates of the Fenglong group and the Xuezhi-kang group were 83.0% and 85.9%, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there was no significant differences in the function of regulating blood lipids between the two groups (all P > 0.05). After one month follow-up survey, the total CHO, TG and LDL-C decreased and high-density-lipoprotein (HDL-C) increased, of which there was a significant difference in TG reduction (P < 0.05). There were no relapses in both groups. CONCLUSION: EA at Fenglong (ST 40) can effectively regulate blood lipids with a better after-effect, which can be applied as a safe and effective method to replace medication for regulating blood lipids.

[Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) content in the skeletal muscles in transverse process syndrome of the 3rd lumbar vertebra of model rats treated with acupotomology therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) content in the skeletal muscles and the injury condition of soft tissue in the 3rd lumbar vertebrae syndrome model rats, and to observe the effect of acupotomology therapy. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight adult SD rats were allocated to 4 groups randomly: normal group, model group, aminoguanidin group and acupotomology treatment group, 32 rats in each group. NOS expression, NO content and injury of the soft tissue in the 3rd lumbar vertebra were observed on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after the acupotomology treatment and aminoguanidine intervention. RESULTS: 1) Inducible NOS (iNos) activity and NO content in model group was significantly higher (F = 522.860, P < 0.01), in acupotomology group and aminoguanidine group was significantly lower than the model group (FiNOS = 28.894, P < 0.01), and iNOS activity and NO content in all groups was in competence with the condition of soft tissue injuries. 2) Endothelium NOS (eNOS) expression raised in model group and acupotomology group, and achieve peak on the 7th day. There was significant difference between the eNOS expression in acupotomology group and the model group (FeNOS = 3.454, P < 0.05). 3) The expression of neuron NOS (nNOS) in the model group, aminoguanidine group and acupotomology group had no significant (FnNOS = 0.962, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupotomology treatment can restrain the development of high content NO, release the inflammatory reaction and injury condition, improve microcirculation, prevent the development of scar tissue of the injured soft tissue, and has significant recovering effectiveness in the soft tissue injured model rats.

[Study on optimization parameters of electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40) for adjusting blood lipids].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different parameters (frequency, intensity, needle-retained time and treatment interval) of electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40) for adjusting blood lipids, so as to find out the optimization parameter. METHODS: Fifty-four cases meeting the criteria for hyperlipoidemia were randomly divided into 27 groups with orthogonal design L27 (3(13) ). According to the orthogonal design program they were treated with electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40). Ten sessions constituted one course with a one week's interval between two course. The treatment was given for 2 courses. RESULTS: (1) The parameters of EA at Fenglong (ST 40) for regulating blood lipids in primary and secondary orders are: frequency, needle-retained time, interval of treatment, intensity. (2) The parameters of EA at Fenglong (ST 40) for various programs in regulating various blood lipids are: for TG, frequency AM 50 Hz, needle-retained time 20 ain, intensity 1 mA, twice each week; for TC, frequency AM 100 Hz, needle-retained time 30 min, intensity 1 mA, once every other day; for LDL-C, frequency Am 100 Hz, needle-retained time 30 min, intensity tolerable and comfortable, once every other day.

[Evaluation on clinical therapeutic effect of needle-knife therapy on cervical spondylosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of needle-knife therapy and acupuncture on cervical spondylosis. METHODS: Multi-central clinical randomized controlled trial was adopted. The patients were divided into a needle-knife treatment group treated with needle-knife therapy at the upper and lower interspinal ligaments of the affected vertebral body and bilateral posterior joint capsules; and the acupuncture control group were treated with acupuncture at Laozhen, Ashi points and cervical Jiaji points, etc. The short-term and the long-term therapeutic effects were observed at the end of the therapeutic course and 6 months after the end of the therapeutic course. RESULTS: The short-term therapeutic effect and the long-term therapeutic effect were 91.3% and 94.7% in the needle-knife treatment group and 59.4% and 56.6% in the acupuncture control group, respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The needle-knife treatment in the therapeutic effect on cervical spondylosis is superior to acupuncture treatment.