Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on cellular immune function in the patients undergoing thyroid surgery.Methods:Sixty-six patients of either sex, aged 30-55 yr, with body mass index of 18.5-23.9 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification ⅠorⅡ, were selected and divided into electroacupuncture preconditioning group (group D) and control group (group C) by a random number table method, with 33 cases in each group. Patients in both groups received combined intravenous-inhalational anesthesia. Before anesthesia induction, both Hegu and Neiguan acupoints were stimulated for 30 min using a continuous wave at a frequency of 2/100 Hz, and the stimulation intensity was subjected to patient tolerance in group D. Group C received sham electroacupuncture for 30 min without stimulation. Venous blood samples were collected at 30 min before anesthesia induction (T 0) and 12, 24 and 48 h after anesthesia (T 1-3). The percentages of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +, CD4 + /CD8 + ) and natural killer cells and concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the serum were measured by flow cytometry. Results:Compared with group C, the percentage of CD3 +, CD4 + and natural killer cells and ratio of CD4 + /CD8 + were significantly increased at T 1, 2, and the concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the serum were decreased at T 1-3 in group D ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Electroacupuncture preconditioning can improve cellular immune function in the patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on emergence agitation in the patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods:This was a randomized controlled trial. Ninety American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients, aged 40-60 yr, with a body mass index of 50-70 kg, scheduled for elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy, were divided into control group (C group) and electroacupuncture preconditioning group (E group) using a random number table method, with 45 patients in each group. At 30 min before anesthesia induction, Zusanli and Neiguan acupoints were stimulated for 30 min with disperse-dense waves at a frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz, an intensity of 3 mA, in group E. Group C did not receive electroacupuncture treatment. The occurrence of emergence agitation, usage of vasoactive drugs and rescue analgesia were recorded in two groups. Peripheral venous blood samples from the upper extremity were obtained before electroacupuncture stimulation (T 0) and at 2 h after operation (T 1) for determination of the plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:The plasma CRP and TNF-α concentrations in group C and plasma IL-10 concentrations in group E were significantly higher at T 1 than at T 0 ( P<0.05). Compared with group C, the usage rate of vasoactive drugs, rate of rescue analgesia, and incidence of emergence agitation were significantly decreased, and the plasma concentrations of CRP and TNF-α were decreased and the plasma IL-10 concentrations were increased at T 1 in group E ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Electroacupuncture preconditioning can decrease the occurrence of emergence agitation in the patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy, which may be related to inhibiting inflammatory responses.