OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) on urodynamics indices in rats with overactive bladder (OAB) after cystostomy, and to explore its regulation mechanism on bladder function.

METHODSForty-eight Sprague-Dawley female rats which received cystostomy were randomly divided into a blank group (group A), a blank Sanyinjiao group (group B), a blank non-acupoint group (group C), a model group (group D), a model Sanyinjiao group (group E) and a model non-acupoint group (group F), 8 rats in each one. The model of OAB was established with 1% acetic acid solution perfused into the bladder in the group D, group E and group F. No treatment was given to the group A and group D. Acupuncture was applied at bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) in the group B and group E, followed by EA after the arrival of qi. Acupuncture was applied at bilateral non-acupoint in the group C and group F, followed by EA with continuous wave, 2 Hz of frequency for 30 min. The treatment was given for continuous 5 urination cycles. The BL-420 E+ biological function experiment system was used to measure and record the changes of indices of bladder pressure and urodynamics.

RESULTSCompared with the group A, the bladder capacity and urine output in the group B were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and the urination rate was increased in the group C (P<0.05); the differences of each index between group C and group B were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Compared with the group D, the capacity pressure, bladder capacity, detrusor pressure, urinary output and urination rate in the group E were all increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the group F, the capacity pressure and detrusor pressure in the group E were increased (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe EA at "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) could significantly improve urine function in rats with OAB after cystostomy, but its regulation effect on urination is not obvious in rats with non-OAB.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cystostomy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe relative effects of acupuncture at Guangming (GB 37) and Taichong (LR 3) in central different regions.

METHODSNineteen healthy volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups: group I (n=7) received visual stimulation and acupuncture at one side; group II (n=6) received visual stimulation and acupuncture at both sides; and group III (n=6) received acupuncture at both sides. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate reactions of the different visual cortexes and relative cerebral regions in acupuncture at Guangming (GB 37) and Taichong (LR 3).

RESULTSThere was no significant change in blood oxygen saturation levels in the visual cortex at visual stimulation and insertion of the needle, but there were changes in blood oxygen saturation level in relative cerebral regions when continuous stimulation was given to one-side or both sides.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at one-side or both sides can improve blood oxygen saturation level in relative cerebral regions, which is not related with manipulation method and visual stimulation.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Needles

OBJECTIVETo provide reliable evidence for acupuncture treatment of vascular dementia (VD).

METHODSMulti-central randomized controlled trial method was adopted and 270 cases enrolled were randomly assigned to an acupuncture-medicine group, an electroacupuncture group and a medication group. The acupuncture-medicine group were treated by scalp electroacupuncture on Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Fengchi (GB 20) and oral administration of Nimodipine; the electroacupuncture group were treated with scalp electroacupuncture; the medication group were treated with simple oral administration of Nimodipine. They were treated for 6 weeks. Mini-mental state scale (MMSE), ability of daily life-rating scale (ADL-R) and P300 were detected before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate for cognition improvement was 86.59% in the acupuncture-medicine group, 82.05% in the electroacupuncture group and 43.21% in the medication group, the electroacupuncture group and the acupuncture-medicine group being better than the medication group; and their total effective rates for improvement of ability of daily life were 59.76%, 65.38% and 32.10%, respectively, the electroacupuncture group and the acupuncture-medicine group being better than the medication group. Scores for MMSE and ADL-R and P300 examination indicated that there were significant differences as the acupuncture-medicine group and the electroacupuncture group compared with the medication group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONScalp electroacupuncture or scalp electroacupuncture combined with oral administration of Nimodipine has a better therapeutic effect in improvement of recognition function and the ability of life activity than simple oral administration of Nimodipine with a higher safety.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo probe the theoretical basis of acupuncture by investigating the relationship of 'true' acupuncture and 'sham' acupuncture, with the cerebral functions observed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

METHODSEighteen healthy volunteers with normal vision were randomly divided into group A and B. Firstly, all the volunteers received 'sham' acupuncture, and then acupuncture was given at Guangming (GB 37) and Taichong (LR 3) in the group A, and Fenglong (ST 40) and Xiangu (ST 43) were given in the group Activation in the thalamus, B.A 1.5 Tesla Vision Scanner (Siemens, Erlangen) was used for imaging.

RESULTSActivation in the thalamus, the red nucleus, the sulcus lateralis and the parieto-temporal cortex proved that there was a significant difference between true acupuncture and sham acupuncture in the GLM test.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture does not have effects on the visual cortex, but it has active action on the insula sulcus lateralis and the parieto-temporal cortex, which are involved in painful and somatosensory stimulation.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo explore the best intervention time of acupuncture and moxibustion for peripheral facial palsy (Bell's palsy) and the clinical advantage program of selective treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSMulti-central large-sample randomized controlled trial was carried out. Nine hundreds cases of Bell's palsy were randomized into 5 treatment groups, named selective filiform needle group (group A), selective acupuncture + moxibustion group (group B), selective acupuncture + electroacupuncture (group C), selective acupuncture + line-up needling on muscle region of meridian group (group D) and non-selective filiform needle group (group E). Four sessions of treatment were required in each group. Separately, during the enrollment, after 4 sessions of treatment, in 1 month and 3 months of follow-up after treatment, House-Brackmann Scale, Facial Disability Index Scale and Degree of Facial Nerve Paralysis (NFNP) were adopted for efficacy assessment. And the efficacy systematic analysis was provided in view of the intervention time and nerve localization of disease separately.

RESULTSThe curative rates of intervention in acute stage and resting stage were 50.1% (223/445) and 52.1% (162/311), which were superior to recovery stage (25.9%, 35/135) separately. There were no statistical significant differences in efficacy in comparison among 5 treatment programs at the same stage (all P > 0.05). The efficacy of intervention of group A and group E in acute stage was superior to that in recovery stage (both P < 0.01). The difference was significant statistically between the efficacy on the localization above chorda tympani nerve and that on the localization below the nerve in group D (P < 0.01). The efficacy on the localization below chorda tympani nerve was superior to the localization above the nerve.

CONCLUSIONThe best intervention time for the treatment of Bell's palsy is in acute stage and resting stage, meaning 1 to 3 weeks after occurrence. All of the 5 treatment programs are advantageous to Bell's palsy. In the condition of the limited medical sources, the simple filiform needle therapy is recommended in acute stage. For the patients with the disorder above chorda tympani nerve, the line-up needling on muscle region of meridian is not recommended.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease Progression ; Facial Paralysis ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Background:PM(aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) is a dominant and ubiquitous air pollutant that has become a global concern as PMexposure has been linked to many adverse health effects including cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Emerging evidence supports a correlation between increased air PMlevels and skin disorders although reports on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are limited. Oxidative stress is the most common mechanism of PM-induced adverse health effects. This study aimed to investigate PM-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in immortalized human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells.

Methods:HaCaT cells were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 μg/ml PMfor 24 h. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation products, antioxidant activity, DNA damage, apoptotic protein expression, and cell apoptosis were measured.

Results:PMexposure (0-200 μg/ml) for 24 h resulted in increased ROS levels (arbitrary unit: 201.00 ± 19.28, 264.50 ± 17.91, 305.05 ± 19.57, 427.95 ± 18.32, and 436.70 ± 17.77) and malondialdehyde production (0.54 ± 0.05 nmol/mg prot, 0.61 ± 0.06 nmol/mg prot, 0.68 ± 0.05 nmol/mg prot, 0.70 ± 0.05 nmol/mg prot, and 0.76 ± 0.05 nmol/mg prot), diminished superoxide dismutase activity (6.47 ± 0.28 NU/mg prot, 5.97 ± 0.30 NU/mg prot, 5.15 ± 0.42 NU/mg prot, 4.08 ± 0.20 NU/mg prot, and 3.76 ± 0.37 NU/mg prot), and increased DNA damage and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in HaCaT cells. Moreover, cytochrome-c, caspase-3, and caspase-9 expression also increased proportionately with PMdosing.

Conclusion:PMmight elicit oxidative stress and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis that likely manifests as skin irritation and damage.

The manufacturing process of Chinese medicines is the significant link to achieve "effect-enhancing and toxicity-reducing", including an interaction between "toxicity and effect". This paper would elucidate the effects of Chinese herbal compound decoction, preparation, dosage forms, route of administration and quality of pharmaceutical excipients on "toxicity-effect" theory from the formulation approaches. The article pointed out that the comprehensive analysis on "toxicity-effect" theory should be strengthened from the aspects of overall manufacturing, fundamental research and modern Chinese preparation, to explore the mechanism of "effect-enhancing and toxicity-reducing" in the manufacturing process, clarify the core status of Chinese preparation in "toxicity-effect" theory, and ensure the security and effectiveness in traditional Chinese medicine clinical application.

Mitochondria as a signaling platform play crucial roles in deciding cell fate. Many classic anticancer agents are known to trigger cell death through induction of mitochondrial damage. Mitophagy, one selective autophagy, is the key mitochondrial quality control that effectively removes damaged mitochondria. However, the precise roles of mitophagy in tumorigenesis and anticancer agent treatment remain largely unclear. Here, we examined the functional implication of mitophagy in the anticancer properties of magnolol, a natural product isolated from herbal