Transcranial doppler (TCD) is an important ultrasound technology for non-invasive cerebrovascular dynamic monitoring. It has been widely used in the evaluation of acupuncture efficacy and the mechanism studies of acupuncture effect. Based on the TCD measuring participants in the physiological or pathological conditions, acupuncture at different single points or groups of points, or different acupuncture methods, can cause overall benign regulatory effectoncerebral hemodynamics. The TCD can provide visual basis for clinical acupuncture scheme optimization. However, there are still some deficiencies in the setting of cerebral blood flow parameters, clinical design, and technical operation. We should start with the intereted diseases, conduct large sample RCT, pay attention to cross contrast with other cerebral blood flow detection technologies, and carry out standardized research on the influencing factors of Acupuncture manipulation, acupuncture Deqi, and stimulation parameters.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis of cardiomyocytes is speeded up during ischemic reperfused injury. Acupuncture on the points of hand- Jueyin meridian can inhibit the progression of reperfused injury and reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes so as to provide the protection on the heart.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of acupuncture on the points of hand-Jueyin meridian on apoptosis of cardiomyocytes during ischemic reperfused injury.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Department of acupuncture and massage in a university of traditional Chinese medicine.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Central Laboratory of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April to December 2001. Forty Wistar male rats were employed, and were randomized into 5 groups, named as blank group, model group, "Neiguan(PC 6)" group,"Ximen(PC 4)" group and "Zhigou(TE 6)" group.METHODS: After electric acupuncture on the points of pericardium meridian for 20 minutes, the ligature was done on the anterior-descending branch of the left coronary artery for 40 minutes. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring was followed. The ligature was released after electric acupuncture on the points for another 20 minutes and perfusion was restored for 60 minutes. Afterward, the heart was extracted, the cellular suspension was prepared and the determination with flow-type cell apparatus was applied.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effects of acupuncture on the changes in apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes.RESULTS: In the model group, the typical apoptosis peak presented, the apoptosis rate was remarkably increased. The comparison between the points of pericardium meridian groups and the model group indicated very significant difference(P < 0.01) .The apoptosis rates in "Neiguan(PC 6)" group, "Ximen(PC 4)" group and "Zhigou(TE 6)" group as well as the model groupwere(4.29±0.76)%, (5. 17±0.88)%, (13.96 ±2.77)% and (16.01 ± 1.04)% respectively.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture on the points of hand-Jueyin meridian inhibits myocardial apoptosis effectively so as to reduce myocardial injury caused by cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of active fraction A (TXR-A) extracted from Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on inhibition of corticosterone on long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by high frequency stimulation (HFS) in rat hippocampal slices. Methods The slices were divided into control, corticosterone, corticosterone+TXR, and corticosterone+different concentration of TXR-A groups, then were incubated with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) added by drugs for 1 h before recording and were perfused with the same ACSF during recording. Population spike (PS) was recorded from stratum pyramidale of area CA1 using extracellular recording following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals in rat hippocampal slices. Then a 100 Hz, 100 pulses HFS was used to induce LTP. Results PS amplitude was decreased significantly vs that in the control group, when the slices were pre-incubated in ACSF added by corticosterone (2 ?mol/L) over 1.5 h, meaning that LTP was inhibited by corticosterone. However, PS amplitude of the slices pre-incubated in ACSF added by corticosterone (2 ?mol/L) and high concentration TXR-A was increased significantly vs that of corticosterone pre-treating slices, meaning that high concentration TXR-A enhanced LTP inhibited by corticosterone. Furthermore, increased LTP amplitude in high concentration TXR-A was much more than that in TXR. Conclusion TXR-A is one of main TXR active ingredients which facilitate LTP inhibited by corticosterone in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices. The antagonist (effect) on corticosterone inhibition on LTP is one of the mechanisms to benefit the intelligence.