OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) on liver furiction and morphology in rat with precancerous lesion of hepatic cellular cancer MCC).

METHODSA total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group (10 rats), a model group (20 rats), a 20-day treatment group (15 rats) and a 40-day treatment group (15 rats). HCC model was established by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats in the normal group received no treatment. Rats in the model group were treated with fixation. Rats in the 20-day treatment group and 40-day treatment group were treated by moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18), once every other day, for 20 days and 40 days, respectively. Blood sample in each group was collected 1 d before model establishment, 20 d, 40 d and 84 d after model establishment. Chemical method was applied to test the activity of ALT (alamine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate transaminase) and GGT (glutamyl transpeptidase); at the end of model establishment, all the rats were sacrificed to observe the liver morphology changes.

RESULTSAfter the first therapeutic course, the. content of ALT and AST in the 20-day treatment group was significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0. 05); after the second therapeutic course, the content of ALT, AST and GGT in the 40-day treatment group was insignificantly lower than that in the model group (all P>0. 05). Under light microscope, the slice of liver tissue indicated that primary tumor was induced in the model group, and the tumor cells were stained and irregular; the cytoplasm in the 20-day treatment group was even, and the tumor cells were few with several nodules alone. In the 40-day treatment group the liver morphology was normal and the staining was even; the tumor cells were few without nodules or a few. Conclusion Moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at "Ganshu" (BL 18) could reduce the serum content of ALT, AST and GGT in rats with HCC, which could protect the liver and: delay the DEN-induced precancerous lesion on some levels.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSA total of 40 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each group. PD rat model was duplicated by micro injection of 6-hydroxyl dopamine into right striatum of rats, and the rats in the sham operation group were treated with micro injection of 0. 9% NaCl. Rats in the normal group, model group and the sham operation group received no treatment; rats in the EA group were treated by EA at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in intensity for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day for total 2 weeks. Behavioral test was used to evaluate rotational behavior changes of PD rats. RT-PCR method was applied to detect the expression of GFAP (glial fiber acidic protein) mRNA and Cx43 (connexin 43) mRNA in the striatum.

RESULTSThe difference of rotational behavior was not significant before and after treatment in the model group (P>0. 05), while that in the EA group was significant (P<0. 01). The expression of GFAP mRNA and Cx43 mRNA in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group and sham operation group (all P<0. 01); after EA treatment, the expression of GFAP mRNA and Cx43 mRNA in the EA group was lower significantly than that in the model group (both P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONThe action mechanism of EA for prevention and treatment of Parkinson' s disease may be associated with inhibiting the activation of astrocytes.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Corpus Striatum ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Burning Mouth Syndrome ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tongue ; anatomy & histology ; immunology

To discuss the standardization of the practitioner's posture in acupuncture operation. Based on the relevant discussion on 'way to holding needle' recorded in Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot) and in association with the clinical acupuncture practice, it was required to standardize the practitioner's posture in acupuncture operation in reference to Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot). The standard standing posture of the practitioner is the precondition of acupuncture operation; the standard holding needle with the puncture hand is the key to the exercise of acupuncture technique and the regular standing orientation is the need of acupuncture operation. The three aspects are complemented each other, which is the coordinative procedure in acupuncture operation and enable the practitioner's high concentration with the body, qi and mind involved.
Acupuncture ; manpower ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; standards ; Health Personnel ; standards ; Humans ; Posture

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of intervention of moxa smoke with different concentrations on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and lung of male rats, so as to explore the safety concentration of moxa smoke.

METHODSA total of 32 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into a control group, a low-concentration group, a moderate-concentration group and a high-concentration group, 8 rats in each one. All the rats were exposed in the full-automatic toxicant exposure cabinet, and the overshadow of moxa smoke was set at 0%, 10%, 40% and 70%, respectively. Each rat was exposed for 20 min per day. After 26 weeks, the activities of SOD and content of MDA in serum, lung organ and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were tested.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the activities of serum SOD in the high-concentration group were reduced (P< 0. 05), but those in the low-concentration group and moderate-concentration group were not significantly different (both P>0. 05). Compared with the control group, the content of serum MDA in the low-concentration group, moderate-concentration group and high-concentration group was increased insignificantly (all P>0. 05). There were no significant differences regarding activities of SOD and content of MDA in lung organ and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid among each moxa smoke group (all P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThere is no obvious toxic reaction in the low-concentration group and moderate-concentration group; in the high-concentration group the antioxidant ability is damaged due to long-term exposure.

Animals ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Lung ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smoke ; analysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Stroke ; complications ; Urinary Incontinence ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Urination

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of Erlong Xizhu acupuncture for retinitis pigmentosa. Methods Sixty patients with retinitis pigmentosa were randomly divided into an Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. In the conventional acupuncture group, Tongziliao (GB 1), Sizhukong (TE 23), Taiyang (EX-HN 5) were acupunctured as the main acupoints by uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulation; acupoints based on syndrome differentiation were coordinated by acupuncture manipulation of reinforcing deficiency and reducing excess. The treatment in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group was the same as that in the conventional group, except acupuncture manipulation at the main acupoints replaced by Erlong Xizhu acupuncture. In the two groups, treatment was given once a day, 10 days as one session and there were 2 days at the interval between sessions. The change of the vision and visual field and the efficacy were observed after 3 sessions in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate on enhancing the vision of patients in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group was 93. 10% (54/58), which was superior to 81. 36% (48/59) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0. 01). And the effective rate on improving the visual field was 91. 38% (53/58) in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group, which was better than 83. 05% (49/59) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0. 01). On the comprehensive effect, the effective rate was 90. 00% (27/30) in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group, which was better than 63. 34% (19/30) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Erlong Xizhu acupuncture is superior to that of conventional acupuncture for retinitis pigmentosa and it is worthy of promoting.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vision, Ocular ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of acupuncture on pain after replantation of severed finger.

METHODSA total of 80 patients who underwent replantation of severed finger were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with postoperative routine care of hand surgery, while patients in the observation group, based on the regular treatment, were treated with acupuncture within first 72 h of surgery. The health side of Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Hegu (LI 4), Houxi (SI 3) were selected and the needles were retained for 30 min. The acupuncture was given for 6 times. The evaluation was performed by using visual analogue scale (VAS) 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after surgery. The use of analgesics after surgery was recorded in the two groups, and the blood supply and survival rate of severed finger were evaluated.

RESULTSCompared between the two groups, the VAS 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0. 05); the use frequency of analgesics in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05); the abnormality rate of blood supply in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can significantly relieve postoperative pain of replantation of severed finger, and reduce the occurrence rate of abnormal blood supply, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative ; etiology ; therapy ; Replantation

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Defecation ; Diarrhea ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; therapy