OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the activation of microglia cells in the Lto Lspinal cord in rats with neuropathic pain, so as to investigate whether EA could inhibit the activation of spinal microglial cells and regulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to achieve the analgesic effect.

METHODSForty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-model group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. The rats in the normal group received no treatment; the rats in sham-model group were treated with operation to exposure sciatic nerve for 2 to 3 min (no knot); the rats in the remaining groups were treated with model establishment of chronic constrictive injury (CCI). 7 days after model establishment, the rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34), 30 min per time, once a day for consecutive 7 days. Only immobilization was used in the remaining groups the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) of affected side feet were respectively measured before model establishment and 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 12 days and 14 days after model establishment; 14 days after model establishment, rats were sacrificed; the immunohistochemical method was used to measure the expression of Iba1 and BDNF in the sample of Lto Lspinal cord; real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to measure the expression BDNF mRNA.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-model group, the pain threshold was decreased significantly in the model group (<0.05), leading to hyperpathia. After EA treatment, compared with the model group, the pain threshold was increased significantly in the EA group (<0.05). 14 days after operation, the microglia cells in the Lto Lspinal cord, expression of BDNF and level of mRNA in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group and sham-model group (all<0.01); those in the EA group were significantly lower than those in the model group (all<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe analgesic effect on neuropathic pain is likely to be achieved by EA through inhibiting the activation of spinal microglia cells and down-regulating the expression of BDNF.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects and safety on moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis treated with acupoint application therapy of the different intensity during the dog days.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty patients of moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis were randomized into a No.1 treatment group, a No.2 treatment group, a No.3 treatment group and a placebo group, 40 cases in each one. The same acupoints were used in the four groups, named Dazhui (GV 14), Dingchuan (EX-B1), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Mingmen (GV 4), Gaohuang (BL 43), Shenshu (BL 23) and Qihai (CV 6). In the three treatment groups, the fine powder of the ingredients (,,,) of compoundformula was used. In the No.1 treatment group, the herbal paste (ginger-prepared paste) was prepared with ginger juice and the above herbal powder. In the No.2 and No.3 treatment groups, the herbal paste (honey-prepared paste) was prepared with honey with the above herbal powder. In the placebo group, the pseudo-herbal paste of the same appearance was prepared with millet powder and distilled water. The acupoint application was given for 2 h in the No.1 and No.2 groups and was for 6 h in the No.3 treatment group and the placebo group. The acupoint application therapy was given once every week during the dogdays, continuously for 5 weeks. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS), the score of the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the count of blood eosinophils (EOS) were observed in the patients of the 4 groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the 4 groups. The incidences of the skin adverse reactions were observed in each treatment group.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of TNSS and RQLQ were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the three treatment groups (<0.05,<0.01), in which, the improvements in the No.3 treatment group were better than those in the No.1 treatment group and the No.2 treatment group (both<0.05). After treatment, the count of EOS was all reduced as compared with that before treatment in the three treatment groups (all<0.05). The differences were not significant statistically among the three treatment groups (all>0.05). The total effective rate was 85.0% (34/40) in the No.3 treatment group, better than 76.3% (29/38) in the No.1 treatment group, 71.8% (28/39) in the No.2 treatment group and 5.0% (2/40) in the placebo group (<0.05,<0.01). The incidences of the skin adverse reaction in the No.3 treatment group and the No.2 treatment group were lower than those in the No.1 treatment group (both<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint application of the different intensity relieves the symptoms and improves the living quality in the patients of moderate and severe persistent allergic rhinitis. The stimulation of the ginger-prepared herbal paste is strong and induces skin blisters after 2 h herbal application. The stimulation of the honey-prepared herbal paste is moderate and does not induce blisters. The 6 h stimulation of the honey-prepared herbal paste is mild and the therapeutic effect is optimal.