Objective To investigate the effect of “Shuangguyitong acupuncture therapy on serum interleukin-6 of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods Among seventy-three 180～220 g Wistar rats, thirteen were assigned as normal control group (group A) and sixty were induced diabetes by injecting STZ into celiac cavity. The diabetic rats were randomly divided into model group(group B), “Yitong” treatment group (group C), “Shuangguyitong” acupuncture group (group D) and common acupuncture group (group E). After two courses of treatment, serum IL-6 was tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA) . The blood glucose was measured by sugar equipment. Results The high blood glucose of the diabetic rats were lowered significantly in group D and E (P

The amount of acupuncture treatment refers to the sum of acupuncture effects during the treatment. From the factors that constitutes the amount of acupuncture treatment, including the numbers of needling, the size of acupuncture instruments, the depth of acupuncture, the manipulation, the retained time of needle, etc., and combined with teaching and clinical experience, it is believed that the amount of acupuncture treatment is closely related with clinical efficacy, besides, moderate amount of acupuncture treatment is a key factor to improve acupuncture efficacy and guarantee the safety of acupuncture. The basic principles of regular treatment amount are arrival of qi and being moderate, indicating the retained time of needle, treatment frequency and course should be based on individual condition, time, location and disease.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Meridians ; Needles ; Qi

BACKGROUND: According to the thought "prevention of diseases", a conception of "strengthening the vital by acupuncture preconditioning (AP)" is suggested recently.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of brain tissue extract after AP on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.DESIGN: Random control experiment.SETTING: Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Massage, and Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: Totally 102 adult Wistar rats were selected during the experiment, which was completed in the Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Massage of Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2003 to July 2004. Among them, 20 rats were used to prepare cerebral tissue extract, and another 82 were used in the subsequent experiment.METHODS: The brain tissue extract was obtained from the rats which were given electroacupuncture at Shenshu (BL-23) and Baihui (DU-20).Totally 82 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Five rats in blank control group were taken as blank control, 15 in sham-operation control group were performed with sham operation, 16 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion control group with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, 16 in saline control group with the injection of saline intravenously firstly and then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion modeling, 15 in normal cerebral tissue extract control group with the injection of normal cerebral tissue extract intravenously firstly and then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion modeling, and 15 in AP cerebral tissue extract group with the injection of cerebral tissue extract intravenously firstly and then cerebral ischemia-reperfusion modeling.Intravenous injection was performed 2 hours and 1 hour before cerebral ischemic modeling, and each rat was injected twice with 1 mL/time. Brain tissue of the rats was taken ont 1, 3, 7 days after reperfusion respectively (or each group was divided into 3 subgroups with 5 rats in each) except those in blank control group. The blain tissue of rat in each group was selected at the relevant time points, and embedded with paraffin and cut into pieces. Cerebral histopathology was observed under the light scope (× 400)and the survival neurons were counted whose area was layer y of region Ⅰ in parietal cortex (inner cone).cortex.RESULTS: Two rats died during the experiment in cerebral ischemiareperfusion control group and saline control group respectively. Another Except blank control group and sham operation group, the brain sections of different time points in other groups showed scattering ischemic anoxic Count of survival neurons in layer Ⅴ of area I in parietal cortex: One day after reperfusion, survival nerve density of the brain ischemic reperfusion model group [(338.8±31.2)/mm2] was significantly lower than that of blank control group [(753.4±60.8)/mm2] (F=129.36, P ＜ 0.05); degeneration of the nerves became worse after reperfusion for 3 days and 7 days, but with no significant difference (F=1.76, P ＞ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the saline control group, normal brain tissue extract group and brain ischemic reperfusion model group at different time points (F=1.76, P ＞ 0.05). Survival neuron density in group of brain tissue extract after AP at the three time points was significantly higher than that in brain ischemic reperfusion model group [(438.1±41.0), (338.8±31.2)/mm2,(296.4±27.1), (124.8±13.4)/mm2; (269.5±30.4), (1.324±0.157)/mm2;F=129.36, P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Injection of the brain tissue extract after AP at Shenshu (BL-23) and Baihui (DU-20) into the celiac cavity of rats could obviously reduce the subsequent neuron loss induced by brain isehemia-reperfusion and protect brain from ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objective:To study the mechanisms that acupuncture therapy of "Shuanggu Yitong" in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMO).Methods:60female SD rats aged 6 months were resected bilateral ovaries and feeded for 90 days in order to make the model of experimental osteoporosis.Then,they were divided into 5 groups such as control group,regular acupoints treated group,"Shuanggu" group,"Yitong" group,"Shuanggu Yitong" group,with 12 rats each group,and the control group without any treatment;Pishu(BL 20),Weishu(BL 21),Shenshu(BL 23),Qihaishu(BL 24) was selected for the regular acupoints treated group;Guanyuan(RN 4),Zusanli(ST 36) for the "Shuanggu" group;and Shenshu(BL 23),Geshu(BL 17),Dazhu(BL 11) for the "Yitong" group;Guanyuan(RN 4),Zusanli(ST 36),Shenshu(BL 23),Geshu(BL 17),Dazhu(BL 11)for the "Shuanggu Yitong" group.Electroacupuncture therapy was given once a day,15 minutes each time,the needles were retained for 10 minutes.Then these rats rested for 1 day after consecutive therapy for 6 days.The therapy lasted for 12 weeks.RT-PCR was used to examine the expression level of interleukin-6(IL-6)mRNA in bone tissue.Results:Compared with control group,the expression level of IL-6mRNA in all acupuncture therapy groups decreased(P0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture can reduce the expression level of IL-6mRNA in osteoporosis model rats without ovaries and "Shuanggu Yitong" acupuncture therapy is superior to other regular acupuncture therapy.

Objective To establish an early cognitive disorder model in rats and investigate the early cognitive functioning after ischemic hypoxic brain injury during the neonatal period. Methods Forty-six newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a 21-d-old group and a 31-d-old group. These 2 groups were then subdivided into model and sham-operated subgroups (M21, n=12; SH21, n=11; M31, n=12; SH31, n=11). A model of neonatal early cognitive disorder was established in the rats of the M21 and M31 groups using a modification of Rice's method. Rats in the SH21 and SH31 groups received skin incisions and common carotid artery separation without ligation or hypoxia. Each group was tested with a Morris water maze. The rats were sacrificed after testing, and brain tissue was examined under the electron microscope. Nissl staining allowed Nissl body quantification and neurocyte acin the M21 group was significantly longer than in the SH21 group. The 31-d-old subgroups had shorter average escaping latencies than the corresponding 21-d-old subgroups. (b) Spatial memory: The average platform times, Ⅰ region times and Ⅰ region distances showed no significant differences among groups. ②Brain pathology (a) Gross appearance: Obvious ischemic hemisphere atrophy was observed in the M group, and no abnormality was observed in the SH group. (b) Electron microscopic observation: In the SH group cell ultrastructures in the ischemic hippocampus were normal. Karyopyknosis and dilated endoplasmic reticulums were found in the M group. More mitochondria were found in the presynaptic membranes of the ischemic hippocampus in the M group than that in the SH group. (c) Nissl body quantification and neurocyte activity analysis: Significantly less activity in the ischemic cortex was found in the M21 group compared to the SH21 group. More activity was observed in the 31-d-old subgroups than in the corresponding 21-d-old subgroups. Conclusions ①The neonatal rats with ischemic hypoxic brain injury had prolonged average escaping latency and depressed neuronal activity. ②The 31-d-old rats had better spatial localization learning ability than the 21-d-old rats.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects between ginger-partition moxibustion combined with glucocorticoid and simple oral glucocorticoid for thyreoitis at subacute stage.

METHODSEighty-one patients were randomly divided into an observation group (41 cases) and a control group (40 cases). In the observation group, ginger-partition moxibustion and hormone were applied. Moxa cones were used at local ashi points, Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Qihai (CV 6), six cones every point, once every other day and three times a week. Besides, 24 mg methylprednisolone tablets were adopted orally every day, and in two weeks the dose was 16 mg/d, in four weeks 8 mg/d, in six weeks 4 mg/d; all the patients were observed for 8 week. In the control group, simple methylprednisolone was prescribed orally, and the dose, the usage and treatment time were the same as those in the observation group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4) and ultra-sensitive thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) before and after treatment were observed in the two groups, as well as fever, the pain of thyroid gland, the regression time of swelling and adverse reaction.

RESULTSThe time of thyroid gland pain relieved of the observation group was earlier than that of the control group [(3.07 ± 0.78) days vs (3.62 ± 0.92) days, P < 0.05]. After treatment, T3, T4 and ESR were declined apparently (all P < 0.01), and TSH was obviously increased in the two groups (both P < 0.01). After 2-week treatment, ESR in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After 4-week treatment, T3, T4, TSH and ESR in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). After 8 weeks, all indices in the observation group were superior to those in the control group, without statistical significance between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The effects of the observation group in 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks were better than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The cured course was shorter in the observation group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The adverse reaction rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group [4.9% (2/41) vs 22.5% (9/40), P < 0.05]. Three months later after treatment, the cured patients were followed. There was no recrudescence in the observation group and three patients caught the disease again in the control group, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGinger-partition moxibustion combined with glucocorticoid achieves better effect than simple oral glucocorticoid for thyreoitis at subacute stage, and the adverse reaction is less, which presents the clinical advantages of the integration of Chinese and western medicine.

Adult ; Female ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Thyroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Thyroiditis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; therapy ; Thyrotropin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture therapy on triglyceride (TG) content of quadriceps femoris in the high fat diet feeding-induced insulin resistance rats; To discuss acupuncture mechanisms to improve the insulin sensitivity. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats at the age of eight weeks were randomly divided into normal group, model group, electro-acupuncture group, and sham electro-acupuncture group. The normal group was given basic diet, and model group, electro-acupuncture group and sham electro-acupuncture group were given high fat diet for 8 weeks, after which, the model of insulin resistance was successfully obtained. Electro-acupuncture group was given acupuncture therapy with “Guanyuan (GV4)”, “Zhognwan (GV12)”, “Zusanli (ST36)”, and “Fenglong (ST40)” for 8 weeks. Sham electro-acupuncture group was given stimulation at non-acupuncture points which were not on the meridians and near the acupoints but not at the area of the acupoints. In addition, food intake and body weight of each group were recorded, blood glucose was tested, TG content of quadriceps femoris was measured by enzymatic method after the treatment. Results The weight of the rats and TG levels of quadriceps femoris in electro-acupuncture group and sham electro-acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in model group, with significant statistical difference (P<0.05), especially in electro-acupuncture group. Conclusion Acupuncture therapy could improve insulin sensitivity to prevent and its related diseases.

Objective To study the characteristic findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) induced by chronic kernicterus.Methods The MR imagings in 13 CP cases induced by chronic kernicterus were retrospectively studied, which were compared with 6 healthy and age-matched controls. 13 cases were finally diagnosed as dyskinetic cerebral palsy (athetoid subtype).Results In 13 cases, all showed symmetric high signals in the the globus pallidus on T2-weighted imaging. There were not apparent abnormality on T1-weighted imaging.Conclusion The bilateral high intensity signals in the globus pallidus on T2-weighted imaging are the characteristic findings on MRI in CP children induced by chronic kernicterus. Paying attention to the globus pallidus on MRI may be useful in determining the type of cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of principal-subordinate acupoints combination on improving myocardial ischemia, and the gene regulatory pathways for the protection of myocardial ischemia.

METHODSAccording to the random number table method, 70 SPF Wistar male rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, a LY294002 group, an insulin-like growth factors-1(IGF-1) group, a Neiguan group, an acupoint combination group and an acupoint combination + LY294002 group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the normal group were injected with 0.9% NaCl solution, while rats in the remaining groups were treated with abdominal subcutaneous injection of isoroterenol hydrochloride to establish the rat model of myocardial ischemia. Rats in the LY294002 group and IGF-1 group were treated with injection of LY294002 solution and IGF-1 solution for 14 days. Rats in the Neiguan group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" (PC 6) by using Han-200 EA apparatus for 10 min per treatment. Rats in the acupoint combination group were treated with EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) by using Han-200 EA apparatus for 10 min per treatment. Rats in the acupoint combination + LY294002 group were treated with LY294002 solution for 14 days, and EA at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) was given before model establishment, once a day for 21 days. EA pretreatment was given before model establishment in all acupuncture groups. The heart rate (HR) and ST segment voltage were detected before and after treatment; the myocardial pathological morphology was observed by HE staining; the expressions of P13K mRNA and Akt mRNA were tested.

RESULTSAfter modeling, HR and ST segment voltage in all intervention groups were higher than those in the normal group (all P < 0.01); after the intervention, the HR and the ST segment voltage in the acupoint combination group, IGF-1 group and IGF-1 group were improved (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which was more significant in the acupoint combination group and Neiguan group (all P < 0.01). As for the myocardial pathological morphology, obvious myocardial ischemia was observed in the model group, and that in the LY294002 group was the most serious, and that in the acupoint combination+ LY294002 group was moderate. After intervention, the myocardial pathological damage in the IGF-1 group, Neiguan group and acupoint combination group was significant improved, which was more significant in the IGF-1 group and acupoint combination group. As for the expression of PI3K mRNA and Akt mRNA, compared with normal group, the expression of PI3K mRNA was increased in the remaining groups after modeling (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which was more significant in the IGF-1 group and acupoint combination group (all P < 0. 01). The expression of Akt mRNA in the LY294002 group and acupoint combination + LY294002 group was reduced (P < 0. 01, P < 0.05), while that in the remaining groups was increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), which was more significant in the IGF-1 group and acupoint combination group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe principal-subordinate acupoints combination could improve heart rate and ST segment voltage in rats with chronic myocardial ischemia, reduce myocardial pathological damage, which is superior to single selection of "Neiguan" (PC 6). The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may be involved in the regulation mechanism of principal-subordinate acupoints combination for the protection of chronic myocardial ischemia.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To develop a rapid,reliable and convenient approach for diagnosing the homozygous deletion of SMN1 gene.Methods SMN1 gene was amplified specifically with double allele-specific PCR(AS-PCR).Meanwhile,one inrelevant gene was amplified as internal control by PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis to determine whether the sick children were with homozygous deletion of SMN1 genes.Results The homozygous deletion of exon7 in SMN1 gene was identified by agarose gel electrophoresis or PAGE accurately.Conclusion Compared to PCR-RFLP and DHPLC used in the past,this approach can diagnose homozygous deletion of SMA much more accurate,easier and more convenient without completed following analyses.