We invented to clarify the influences of acupuncture on the regional skin electroconductivity on humans. An acupuncture needle in situ for a certain time or electroacupuncture using DC 12 volt, 200μA for 7 sec. was applied on the forearm.
Measurements of skin electroconductivity were done on several representative points which were distal or proximal to the acupuncture periodically.
A needle in situ and electroacupuncture on LI4 did not change the electroconductvity of the proximal skin area around the elbow level on the same extremity.
A needle in situ on LI11 increased electroconductivity of the regional skin on the distal area around Manus dorsalis.
Electroacupuncture on LI11 increased electroconductivity of the skin on LI5.
A needle in situ on LI7 did not change electroconductivity of the skin on the proximal elbow level, but significantly decreased electroconductivity of the skin on LU9.

A growing body of evidence, including studies using genetically engineered mouse models, has shown that Ca2+ cycling and Ca2+ -dependent signaling pathways play a pivotal role in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In addition, recent studies identified that mutations of the genes encoding sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) proteins cause human cardiomyopathies and lethal ventricular arrhythmias. The regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis via the SR proteins may have potential therapeutic value for heart diseases such as cardiomyopathy, heart failure and arrhythmias.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Arrhythmia/genetics ; Calcium/*metabolism ; Calcium Channels/genetics/*physiology ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/genetics/*physiology ; Cardiac Output, Low/genetics ; Cardiomyopathies/genetics ; Heart Diseases/*etiology/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Mutation/genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism

Although several cases of a dumbbell tumor of thoracic nerve roots have been reported, reports on the surgical procedures for a dumbbell tumor of the first thoracic (T1) nerve root are rare. Surgeons should be cautious, especially when performing a surgical procedure for a dumbbell tumor of the T1 nerve root because the tumor is anatomically located adjacent to important organs and because the T1 nerve root composes the lower trunk of the brachial plexus with the eighth cervical nerve root. We present cases with dumbbell tumors of the T1 nerve root that were treated with combined surgical treatment to remove the tumor. We first performed video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to release the organs anteriorly and then performed posterior spinal surgery in the prone position. The combined VATS and posterior spinal surgery may become a standard surgical procedure for the treatment of dumbbell tumors of the T1 nerve root.
Brachial Plexus ; Prone Position ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Thoracic Nerves* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted*