Objective To explore the feasibility of needle-embedding therapy in the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia using a miniature pig model established by placement of an Ameroid constrictor at the left anterior descending branch (LAD) of coronary artery in Bama miniature pigs during surgery. Methods The miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia was established by placement of an Ameroid constrictor at the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in Bama miniature pigs. The pig models were randomly divided into the treatment group (the"Neiguan " group) and the control group (the "Zusanli " group), and were treated with needle- embedding electroacupuncture at the"Neiguan" (PC6) and "Zusanli" (ST36) acupoints, respectively. Myocardial samples were taken at 6 weeks after surgery for light and electron microscopic examinations. Results Gross pathology showed that ischemic area in the myocardium appeared in both experimental groups. The ischemic area in the "Zusanli "group was larger than that of the"Neiguan"group. Histopathology showed that the acupuncture treatment at the"Neiguan"acupoint reduced the ischemic injury in the pig myocardial tissues. Ultrastructural observation of the myocardium showed mitochondrial vacuolization in cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibrosis in both groups. Conclusions Acupuncture therapy at the"Neiguan"acupoint of pericardial channel may exert protective effect on the myocardial ischemia by reducing the ischemia-injury of cardiomyocytes, but can not inhibit the already existed ischemia-induced cardiomyocytic injuries. Our findings suggest that the establishment of miniature pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia by surgically placing an Ameroid constrictor on the left anterior descending branch of left coronary artery and the needle-embedding in acupoints is feasible for the treatment of chronic myocardial ischemia in this pig model.

OBJECTIVETo perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin after cupping, so as to explore objective and quantitative methods for skin response of cupping.

METHODSSeven health subjects were included. By quantitative meridian cupping instrument, cupping methods with four types of pressures were respectively performed on subjects for 5 min.The spectrum of cupping mark before and after the cupping was collected by hyperspectral camera, and the color change was recorded by digital camera.

RESULTSBefore the cupping, the differences of back skin areas were not significant (>0.05), and its average spectrum indicated two peaks at 540-550 nm and 580-590 nm. After cupping with different pressures, spectrum changes of skin were observed. For -0.02 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 550 nm (-12.1%,<0.05); for -0.03 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 540 nm (-22.1%,<0.05); for -0.04 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at 610 nm (-26.7%,<0.05); for -0.05 MPa, the most significant reduction was observed at several spectrums (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAfter cupping with different negative pressures, significant changes of spectrum are observed on skin; for different pressures, the spectrums of the most significant changes are different; the hyperspectral camera could be applied to perform quantitative observation on the color change of local skin.

Objective To study the effect of the reinforcing and reducing method of acupuncture reported in first Chapter the Nine Needles and Twelve Yuan of the Miraculous Pivot on interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) in subcutaneous tissue of minipig, and to investigate its biomechanical mechanism of regulating the interstitial fluid. Methods Nine healthy minipigs were randomly selected for reinforcing method (pull or press) and reducing method (wave a big pinhole), and tested on soft skin tissues of the abdomen. The IFP in the normal state (NS), the low volume (LV) state (by extracting interstitial fluid) and the high volume (HV) state (by injecting saline solution) was measured before and after acupuncture. Results In the normal state, pulling and pressing the needle could obviously increase IFP, while reducing method could significantly decrease IFP, leading to a rapid decrease in 5 min after acupuncture. In the LV state, pulling and pressing the needle could increase IFP. However, in 10 min after acupuncture, the descend rates of IFP were relatively slower. In the HV state, the reducing method could significantly decrease IFP, and the changing trend in 5 min after acupuncture was different from that of the control group. Conclusions The reinforcing and reducing method of acupuncture could increase or decrease IFP, which proved that the acupuncture method could regulate IFP in the opposite direction. The research findings provide a new scientific basis for using reinforcing and reducing method of acupuncture in clinic.