Fifty-one cases of menopause syndrome were randomly divided into three groups, 21 cases in the acupuncture and cupping group, 10 cases in the acupuncture group, and 20 cases in the ear acupuncture group, and were respectively treated by acupuncture plus cupping therapy, acupuncture,and ear acupuncture. The total effective rate was respectively 80.9%, 20.0% and 80.0%. The therapeutic effect was better in the treatment of menopause syndrome by acupuncture plus cupping therapy than by single acupuncture treatment or ear acupuncture (P＜0.05).

Treating from liver is an important thought to treat esophageal cancer.Regulating the liver has very important significance in the process of treating esophageal carcinoma,which embodies at regulating liver is the key of soothing emotional injuries of esophageal carcinoma,removing esophageal pathology product and coordinating rising-descending function of spleen and stomach,and improving accompainedg symptoms of esophageal cancer.The thought of treating from liver should be used throughout the whole process of the treatment.So we must pay morn attention to regulate the liver and prevent liver injury during the differentiation and treatment of esophageal carcinoma.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of electroacupuncture on acute hypertension in rats. Methods 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n=8), model group (n=8), drug group (n=10) and electroacupuncture group (n=10). The acute hypertension rat model was induced with injecting adrenalin into abdomen. Blood pressure was measured and blood adrenalin and noradrenalin levels were tested after electroacupuncture in points Baihui DU-20 and Zusanli ST36. Results The systolic and diastolic pressures were lower in the drug group and the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.05), and there was no difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The adrenalin and noradrenalin levels were higher in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05), but they were lower in the drug group and the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion The electroacupuncture could reduce the blood pressure of acute hypertension rats by decreasing blood adrenalin and noradrenalin levels.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture on IL-1β in brain tissue of rats after total cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.MethodsThirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, model group and acupuncture group, in each group. In acupuncture group and model group, 4-vessel-occlusion method was used to make a rat model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Acupuncture group used electroacupuncture on points Quchi and Zusanli, 6 hours after reperfusion. The rats of each group were killed and ELISA was used for the measurement of IL-1β in brain tissues.ResultsIL-1β in brain tissue in model group increased significantly compared with sham operation group and acupuncture group(P<0-001). No significant differences were found between sham operation group and acupuncture group (P>0-05).ConclusionAcupuncture can lower IL-1β content of brain tissue of rats with brain ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: The neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity of bupivacaine have been reported frequently. However, the studies on bupivacaine-induced muscle toxicity are few.
OBJECTIVE: To establish and evaluate local intramuscular injection of bupivacaine on the changes in histomorphology and ultrastructure of rat multifidus muscle at various time points.
METHODS: A total of 54 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 280-320 g were randomly divided into black group (n=18), model group (n=18) and model control group (n=18). Each group was then equal y subdivided into three subgroups according to time points (4, 7 and 14 days) (n=6). Both sides of multifidus muscle of the rats (L4 and L5) were injected with 0.5% bupivacaine. The morphological and ultrastructural changes of multifidus muscle were observed and analyzed with light microscope and transmission electron microscope at 4, 7 and 14 days after model establishment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) A single intramuscular injection of 0.5% bupivacaine induced muscular damage. (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed fiber necrosis, inflammatory cel infiltration, and a smal amount of macrophages in local skeletal muscle. (3) Under the transmission electron microscope, the structure of myofibrils was destroyed or disintegrated; kinds of bands and lines were indistinct, disrupted or disappeared; the structure of mitochondria was abnormal, the mitochondrial cristae were reduced or disappeared. In the 7- and 14-day groups, multifidus muscle proliferated and repaired. (4) Ultrastructural change scores in skeletal muscle were significantly higher in the model group than in the blank and model control groups (P < 0.05). Above scores were significantly greater in the 4-day group than in the 7- and 14-day groups (P < 0.05), and higher in the 7-day group than in the 14-day group (P < 0.05). (5) Results suggest that a single intramuscular injection of 0.5% bupivacaine can result in pathological changes of skeletal muscle from morphology and ultrastructure. This method can establish a suitable model of skeletal muscle injury.

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on blood lipids of hyperlipidemia mice, and explore the mechanism of acupuncture against endothelial dysfunction. Methods 40 ApoE (-/- ) mice were randomly divided into control group (C), acupuncture at non-acupoint group (D), acupuncture at acupoint group (E), and simvastatin group (F) with 10 cases in each group. After 8 weeks, total cholesterol (TC), the plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). The mice myocardial angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), and endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETAR) protein were detected with Western blotting. Results The blood lipid, the content of plasma Ang II and ET-1, and the level of AT1R and ETAR in the heart tissue were significantly lower, and the content of NO was significantly higher in groups E and F than in group C (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture can inhibit the level of blood lipids in ApoE(-/-) mice, reduce the levels of Ang II and ET-1, increase the level of NO in peripheral blood, and inhibit the expression of AT1R, ETAR in heart tissue.

Reactive perforating collagenosis is a rare skin disease characterized by the expulsion of denatured collagen fibers through the epidermis. The specific pathogenesis of the disease is not clear, and according to the etiology it can be divided into hereditary and acquired. Hereditary is relatively rare, usually seen in infants, and acquired is usually seen in adults, often associated with other systemic diseases, such as diabetes, chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, tuberculosis, pulmonary aspergillosis, thyroid disease, scabies, hepatitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), malignant tumors and so on. There is no standard treatment for the disease.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Weizhong" (BL 40) on morphology and expression of creatine kinase (CK) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in rats with bupivacaine-induced multifidus muscle injury.

METHODSA total of 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a Weizhong group and a Shenshu group, 8 rats in each one. The rats in the model group, Weizhong group and Shenshu group were treated with intramuscular injection of 0.5% bupivacaine to establish the model of multifidus muscle injury; the rats in the control group were injected with 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The rats in the Weizhong group and Shenshu group were treated with EA (2 Hz/10 Hz in frequency, 1~2 mA in intensity) at "Weizhong" (BL 40) and "Shenshu" (BL 23), 20 min per treatment. No treatment was given in the control group and model group. After 14-day treatment of EA, the inflammatory cell count, scar tissues area and muscle fiber cross sectional area of multifidus muscle were observed with HE and Masson staining method. The activity of CK and serum content of IL-17 were test with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method; the expression of IL-17 in multifidus muscle was measured with immunohistochcmical method.

RESULTSAfter intervention, the inflammatory cell count and scar tissues area in the model group, Weizhong group and Shenshu group were higher than those in the control group (all<0.01), but the muscle fiber cross sectional area was significantly reduced (all<0.01); the inflammatory cell count and scar tissues area in the Weizhong group and Shenshu group were lower than those in the model group (all<0.01), and the muscle fiber cross sectional area was significantly increased (<0.01,<0.05). After intervention, the expression of IL-17 in multifidus muscle, serum content of IL-7 and activity of CK in the model group, Weizhong group and Shenshu group were higher than those in the control group (all<0.01); the expression of IL-17 in multifidus muscle, serum content of IL-7 and activity of CK in the Weizhong group and Shenshu group were lower than those in the model group (<0.01,<0.05); compared with the Shenshu group, the down-regulation of IL-17 was more obvisous in the Weizhong group (<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA at "Weizhong" (BL 40) can down-regulate the overexpression of serum CK and IL-17, alleviate inflammation reaction and improve the repair of multifidus muscle.