ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of heart-regulating and mind-calming acupuncture on the expression of gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in myocardial cells in a rabbit model of ventricular arrhythmia.MethodA rabbit model of ventricular arrhythmia was made by injecting barium chloride into the marginal ear vein. Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomized into control, model, acupuncture and medication groups. The acupuncture group received heart-regulating and mind-calming acupuncture[at Lingtai(GV10), Shendao(GV11), bilateral Neiguan(PC6)and Baihui(GV20)]and the medication group, oral gavage of propafenone. Rabbit left ventricle was taken after the completion of the experiment. Cx43 expressions were compared and analyzed usingan immunohistochemical staining technique and a computer image processing system.ResultCx43 expression decreased significantly in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01) and increased in the acupuncture and medication groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Cx43 expression between the acupuncture and medication groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Adjusting Cx43 expression in myocardial cells may be one of the target points for this acupuncture treatment of arrhythmia.

Objective: To observe the effect of balancing yin-yang needling manipulation on post-stroke upper limb spasticity and changes of electromyography (EMG) after treatment.
Methods: A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 30 in each group. Based on routine medication, cases in the control group were treated with conventional needling manipulation, whereas cases in the observation group were treated with balancing yin-yang manipulation. After the courses of treatment were completed, the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using modified Ashworth scale and clinical spasticity index (CSI), coupled with the integrated electromyography (IEMG) and root mean square (RMS) value of biceps in passive flexion of the elbow joint during isokinetic testing recorded with the surface EMG.
Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7%, versus 53.3% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P < 0.05). After treatment, there was between-group statistical significance in severity of elbow spasticity (P<0.05); there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.05) statistical significances in CSI index;and there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) statistical significances in IEMG and RMS values.
Conclusion:Balancing yin-yang and conventional needling manipulations can both improve upper limb spasm and reduce CSI as well as IEMG and RMS values in stroke patients;however, balancing yin-yang manipulation is better than conventional manipulation in clinical effect.

In order to research the infrared radiation characteristics of the skin covering Traditional Chinese acupuncture points, which are NeiGuan in the forearm and LaoGong in the center of the palm, we detected continuously the infrared radiation spectra of the human body surface by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that firstly, the differences of the infrared radiation spectra of the human body surface were obvious between individuals. Secondly, the infrared radiation intensity of the human body surface changed with time changing. The infrared radiation intensity in two special wavelength ranges (wavelengths from 6. 79 microm to 6. 85 microm and from 13. 6 microm to 14. 0 microm) changed much more than that in other ranges obviously. Thirdly, the proportions of the infrared radiation spectra changed, which were calculated from the spectra of two different aupuncture points, were same in these two special wavelength ranges, but their magnitude changes were different. These results suggested that the infrared radiation of acupuncture points have the same biological basis, and the mechanism of the infrared radiation in these two special wavelength ranges is different from other tissue heat radiation.
Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Male ; Skin ; radiation effects ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of acupuncture preconditioning at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) on acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in the rats and explore the mechanism.

METHODSFifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a Jiaji group, a Neiguan group and a Quchi group, 10 rats in each one. In the Jiaji group, the Neiguan group and the Quchi group, electroacupuncture was given for preconditioning at "Jiaji" T4~T5 (EX-B 2), "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Quchi" (LI 11) for 7 days before modeling. In the control group and the model group, the regular feeding was given, without any acupuncture. At the end of acupuncture, except the control group, ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was adopted to duplicate MIRI models in the rest groups. Electrocardio-gram (ECG) was monitored and ST-segment shift was analyzed. HE staining method was adopted to observe the morphology of cardiac tissue in the rats of the groups. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe myocardial cell ultrastructure. WST-1 method was used to determine the activity of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), TBA method was used to determine the content of serum malondialehyde (MDA) and the real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR method to determine the expressions of Nrf 2 in ischemic myocardial tissue and downstream HO-1 gene.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, after LAD ligation, ST-segment was elevated and depressed in ECG apparently after reperfusion in the rest groups (all<0.05). The ST-segment elevation in the Jiaji group and the Neiguan group was less than that in the model group (both<0.05). Compared with the model group, SOD activity was increased apparently in the Jiaji group and the Neiguan group (both<0.05), and MDA content was reduced apparently (both<0.05). The effects in the Jiaji group were better than those in the Neiguan group (both<0.05). Pathologically, "Jiajia" (EX-B 2) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) all improved the morphology of cardiac tissue and cell ultrastructure. The effects in the Jiaji group were much more significant and the improvements in the Quchi group were not apparent. Compared with the control group, the expressions of Nrf 2 and HO-1 gene in myocardial tissue were down-regulated in the model group (both<0.05). Those were up-regulated apparently in the Jiaji group and the Neiguan group as compared with the model group (<0.05,<0.01). The up-regulation times of the expressions of Nrf 2 and HO-1 gene in the Jiajia group were the highest in comparison.

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture preconditioning at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2) has the protective effect on cardiac ischemia and reperfusion damage, which is probably relevant with the up-regulation of Nrf 2-ARE pathway expression, the activation of endogenous anti-oxidative pathway, the improvement of oxygen free radical scavenging capacity and the alleviation of lipid peroxide damage.

Objective: To describe the MICM (morphology, immunology, cytogenetics and molecular biology) characteristics of a case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia M 4C . Methods: The medical history data of the case of M 4C admitted to our hospital was reviewed. The results of bone marrow cell morphology, cytochemical stains, bone marrow biopsy, immunophenotype, cytogenetics, molecular test and NGS (next-generation sequencing) of the case were analyzed. Results: The bone marrow smear showed markedly active proliferation of bone marrow cells in which the myelomonocytic cells accounted for 85.6%. Cytochemical stains showed peroxidase (POX) stain partially and weakly positive; specific esterase AS-DCE partially positive; non-specific esterase α-NBE partially positive and smothered by sodium fluoride; non-specific esterase AS-DAE partially positive and smothered by sodium fluoride. Bone marrow biopsy showed hyperproliferative cells and diffused hyperplasia of blasts. Immunophenotype analysis showed that the abnormal cell population was positive for CD11B, CD64, CD56, cMPO, CD33, CD41, CD61, CD38 and CD58, but negative for CD13, CD34, CD117, CD7, CD123, HLA-DR, CD10, CD19, CD20, CD2, CD14, CD235, CD15, CD303, CD304, CD25, cCD79a, cCD3, cCD22, CD1a and TDT. Cytogenetic analysis showed 47, XY, t(9;11) (p22;q23),+mar. The molecular test for leukemia showed MLLT3/KMT2A gene rearrangement. NGS showed NRAS and TET2 mutation. The case was finally diagnosed as AML (acute myelomonocytic leukemia) M 4C with t(9;11)(p22;q23), MLLT3-KMT2A. Conclusion Leukemia M 4C may show the characteristics of both granulocytes and monocytes with complex morphological features. The combined examination of MICM should be necessary for the diagnosis of M 4C with great significance.