OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture. METHODS: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation. The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells (MCs) or blocking tibial nerve. RESULTS: Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex (M1), periaquaductal gray matter (PAG), and pontine micturition center (PMC). It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC. Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes. Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, and histamine in the tissues around BL40. Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats. CONCLUSION Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve, thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract. Please cite this article as: Liu X, Zhang CY, Du XY, Li SS, Wang YQ, Zheng Y, Deng HZ, Fang XQ, Li JY, Wang ZQ, Xu SF, Mi YQ. Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 46-55.
Animals ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive/physiopathology* ; Mast Cells/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Rats ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Tibial Nerve/physiopathology* ; Acetic Acid ; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the therapeutic effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and acupoint injection and the simple acupoint injection.

METHODSUnder the satisfactory control of blood glucose, 60 cases of diabetic peripheral neuropathy were divided randomly into two groups, 30 cases in each one. In electroacupuncture plus acupoint injection group (group A), electroacupuncture and acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin were administered. Penetrating acupuncture was applied from Gongsun (SP 4) to Quanzhong (Extra) and from Yongquan (KI 1) to Taichong (LR 3) mainly. Acupoint injection was administered on Sanyinjiao (SP 6). In acupoint injection group (group B), only acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin was provided on Sanyinjiao (SP 6). After 2 sessions of treatment, the conduction velocity of ulnar nerve and tibial nerve was measured. The scores of Chinese medicine syndrome and diabetic peripheral neuropathy were recorded before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSThe effective rates were 90.0% (27/30) and 63.3% (19/30) in group A and group B respectively, presenting significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) of ulnar nerve and tibial nerve in group A were higher than those in group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After treatment, the score of Chinese medicine syndrome in group A was lower than that in group B (14.36 +/- 1.88 vs 26.58 +/- 3.52, P < 0.01), the score of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in group A was lower than that in group B (12.86 +/- 4.28 vs 17.89 +/- 4.35, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture and acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin achieve a significant clinical efficacy on diabetic neuropathy and its efficacy is superior to that of simple acupoint injection with Methylcobalamin. This therapy can effectively increase nerve conduction velocity, control and relieve the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Vitamin B 12 ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo explore the dose-effect relationship between 1-bromopropane (1-BP) exposure and health effects in workers.

METHODSOccupational field investigations were conducted in 1-BP factories. Ambient 1-BP concentrations were detected with detection tube, and the 8 h time-weighted average individual exposure levels (TWA-8 h) were measured by passive sampler. Workers underwent questionnaire survey, neurological examination, nerve conduction velocity examination, vibration sensation test. routine blood test as well as blood biochemical test. According to TWA values or TWA x duration values, workers were divided into three dose groups for dose-effect relationship analysis. USEPA BMDS 2.1 software was applied to calculate 1-BP benchmark dose (BMD) and its 95% lower limit (BMDL).

RESULTSThe TWA-8h concentrations ranged from 0.35 to 535.19 mg/m3 (geo-mean 14.08 mg/m3). Dose-dependent analysis showed that the motor nerve distal latency (linear regression coefficient was 0.066 6), vibration sensation of toes (linear regression coefficient were 0.157 2 and 0.193 9), creatine kinase (linear regression coefficient was -1.05) and thyroid stimulating hormone levels (linear regression coefficient was 0.1024) of 1-BP exposed workers changed in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). BMD calculation based on DL as 1-BP toxic effect endpoint showed that TWA-8h of the BMD values and BMDL values were 50.55 mg/m3 and 30.78 mg/m3, respectively.

CONCLUSION1-BP causes dose-dependent changes in tibial nerve DL, vibration sensation, CK and TSH levels.

Adult ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Brominated ; analysis ; toxicity ; Maximum Tolerated Dose ; Neural Conduction ; drug effects ; Occupational Exposure ; Tibial Nerve ; physiopathology ; Workplace

Neuropathic pain can be divided into sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) and sympathetically independent pain (SIP). Rats with tibial and sural nerve transection (TST) produce neuropathic pain behaviors, including spontaneous pain, tactile allodynia, and cold allodynia. The present study was undertaken to examine whether rats with TST would represent SMP- or SIP-dominant neuropathic pain by lumbar surgical sympathectomy. The TST model was generated by transecting the tibial and sural nerves, leaving the common peroneal nerve intact. Animals were divided into the sympathectomy group and the sham group. For the sympathectomy group, the sympathetic chain was removed bilaterally from L2 to L6 one week after nerve transection. The success of the sympathectomy was verified by measuring skin temperature on the hind paw and by infra red thermography. Tactile allodynia was assessed using von Frey filaments, and cold allodynia was assessed using acetone drops. A majority of the rats exhibited withdrawal behaviors in response to tactile and cold stimulations after nerve stimulation. Neither tactile allodynia nor cold allodynia improved after successful sympathectomy, and there were no differences in the threshold of tactile and cold allodynia between the sympathectomy and sham groups. Tactile allodynia and cold allodynia in the neuropathic pain model of TST are not dependent on the sympathetic nervous system, and this model can be used to investigate SIP syndromes.
Tibial Neuropathy/*classification/physiopathology ; Tibial Nerve/*injuries ; Sympathectomy ; Sural Nerve/*injuries ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Neuralgia/*classification/diagnosis ; *Models, Animal ; Male ; Animals

Neuropathic pain can be divided into sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) and sympathetically independent pain (SIP). Rats with tibial and sural nerve transection (TST) produce neuropathic pain behaviors, including spontaneous pain, tactile allodynia, and cold allodynia. The present study was undertaken to examine whether rats with TST would represent SMP- or SIP-dominant neuropathic pain by lumbar surgical sympathectomy. The TST model was generated by transecting the tibial and sural nerves, leaving the common peroneal nerve intact. Animals were divided into the sympathectomy group and the sham group. For the sympathectomy group, the sympathetic chain was removed bilaterally from L2 to L6 one week after nerve transection. The success of the sympathectomy was verified by measuring skin temperature on the hind paw and by infra red thermography. Tactile allodynia was assessed using von Frey filaments, and cold allodynia was assessed using acetone drops. A majority of the rats exhibited withdrawal behaviors in response to tactile and cold stimulations after nerve stimulation. Neither tactile allodynia nor cold allodynia improved after successful sympathectomy, and there were no differences in the threshold of tactile and cold allodynia between the sympathectomy and sham groups. Tactile allodynia and cold allodynia in the neuropathic pain model of TST are not dependent on the sympathetic nervous system, and this model can be used to investigate SIP syndromes.
Tibial Neuropathy/*classification/physiopathology ; Tibial Nerve/*injuries ; Sympathectomy ; Sural Nerve/*injuries ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Neuralgia/*classification/diagnosis ; *Models, Animal ; Male ; Animals

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of the muscle strength after the selective tibial neurotomy and the relationship between the changes and the quantities of neurotomy, and to discuss the clinical significances.

METHODSTwenty-four normal SD rats were divided into 4 groups with 6 in each. In group A, the left tibia nerve were cut off by 80%. 60% in group B, 40% in group C, 20% in group D, with the right as the control side. After 6 weeks measure the strength of the crural triceps and the weight of them.

RESULTSIn all the groups muscle weight and muscle strength decreased. 88.2% strength decreased on the average in group A, 54.2% in group B, 19.5% in group C, 4.7% in group D.

CONCLUSIONIt will not damage strength of the crural triceps to cut off below 40% tibial nerve in SD rats.

Animals ; Female ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle Denervation ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibial Nerve ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of somatosensory evoked potential(SEP) in lumbosacral disc herniation(LDH). METHODS: Posterior tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potential(PTNSEP) and dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential (DSEP) were recorded from 60 patients with radiculopathy caused by LDH and 30 healthy subjects. RESULTS: DSEP was abnormal in 56 cases (93.3%) and PTNSEP was abnormal in 26 cases (43.3%). The significant difference was observed (P<0.001). The abnormality of DSEP from L4 dermatome was detected mainly in patients with L3-4 LDH, the abnormality of DSEP from L5 dermatome was detected mainly in patients with L4-5 LDH, the abnormality of DSEP from L5S1 dermatome was detected mainly in patients with S1 LDH. DSEP can reflect the compressed extent of nerve root. CONCLUSIONS There was a good correlation of DSEP with lumbosacral nerve root injury,which supplement the information that can not be provided by imaging examingation. DSEP is a sensitive electrophysic method that not only is used to evaluate single nerve root function, but also is helpful in the location of the lesion.
Adult ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodiagnosis/methods* ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/physiopathology* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spinal Nerve Roots/physiopathology* ; Tibial Nerve/physiology*

Ankle spasticity following brain injury leads to abnormal posture and joint contracture; making standing or walking impossible. This study investigates the efficacy of selective tibial neurotomy (STN) and intensive rehabilitation in a patient who suffered ankle spasticity after brain injury. This case describes a 37-year-old man whose traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulted in severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. He was unable to stand due to severe right ankle spasticity and contracture. Intensive rehabilitation and STN allowed him to walk without brace at 6 months and run at 12 months after STN. STN is an effective procedure to resolve localized spasticity of the ankle and it may be considered as a management strategy after local injection to alleviate ankle spasticity and/or contracture prior to orthopaedic surgery.
Adult ; Ankle Joint/innervation ; Brain Injuries/*complications ; Contracture/etiology/rehabilitation/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity/etiology/*rehabilitation/*surgery ; Quadriplegia/*complications/*rehabilitation/surgery ; Recovery of Function ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tibial Nerve/physiopathology/*surgery ; Walking