OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tiaoshu Anshen (regulating the hinge and calming the mind) acupuncture on sleep quality and serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in patients with chronic insomnia. METHODS: A total of 58 patients with chronic insomnia were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 29 cases in each group. Tiaoshu Anshen acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV20) and bilateral Shenmen (HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Benshen (GB13) in the acupuncture group, once a day, 1-day interval was taken after 6 consecutive days of treatment. Estazolam tablet was given orally before bed in the medication group, 1 mg each time. The 4-week treatment was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG), the serum levels of 5-HT and DA were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: After treatment, the item scores and total scores of PSQI were decreased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05); in the acupuncture group, the scores of sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep disorders and total score of PSQI were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the total sleep time (TST) was prolonged (P<0.05), the sleep latency (SL) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were shortened (P<0.05), the sleep efficiency (SE%), percentage of non-rapid eye movement stage 3 (N3%), percentage of rapid eye movement stage (REM%) and serum levels of 5-HT were increased (P<0.05) compared with those before treatment; the percentage of non-rapid eye movement stage 1 (N1%), percentage of non-rapid eye movement stage 2 (N2%) and serum levels of DA were decreased (P<0.05) compared with those before treatment in the two groups. After treatment, in the acupuncture group, TST was longer, while SL and WASO were shorter than those in the medication group (P<0.05), SE%, N3%, REM% and serum level of 5-HT were higher, while N1%, N2% and serum level of DA were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Tiaoshu Anshen acupuncture may improve the sleep quality by regulating the serum neurotransmitter levels i.e. 5-HT and DA in patients with chronic insomnia.
Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Serotonin/blood* ; Sleep Quality ; Acupuncture Points ; Dopamine/blood* ; Aged ; Neurotransmitter Agents/blood* ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at"Neiguan"and"Gongsun"on autophagy and apoptosis related indexes of interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC)in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD);To explore its possible mechanism on improving gastrointestinal motility of FD.Methods Totally 32 SPF grade SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,electroacupuncture group and Western medicine group,with 8 rats in each group.An FD model was constructed using a composite etiology modeling method.The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at"Neiguan"and"Gongsun",while the Western medicine group received oral administration of mosapride once a day for 7 consecutive days.The general condition,body mass and average daily intake of rats were observed every week,and gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate were detected,transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the structure of gastric antrum ICC,Western blot was used to observe the expressions of c-kit,Beclin1,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ,p62,Caspase-3 protein in gastric antrum tissue,qPCR was used to observe the mRNA expressions of Beclin1,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ,p62 and c-kit in gastric antrum tissue,TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells in gastric antrum tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group rats were mentally lethargic,clustered and curled up,with reduced activity,rough and dull hair,loose and unformed feces,reduced body mass and daily food intake(P<0.05),and gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate decreased(P<0.01),ICC mitochondria swelled and dissolved,with varying degrees of vacuolar formation,rough endoplasmic reticulum dilation and destruction,and a large number of autophagosomes,the expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein and mRNA in gastric antrum tissue increased(P<0.01),the expressions of p62,c-kit protein and mRNA decreased(P<0.01),while Caspase-3 protein expression increased(P<0.01),and the apoptosis rate of gastric antral tissue cells increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the condition of rats in electroacupuncture group and the Western medicine group were improved,with increased responsiveness,increased mobility,neat hair,formed feces,increased body mass and daily food intake(P<0.01),and gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate increase(P<0.01),a normal ICC structure,and a small amount of autophagosomes were still visible,the expressions of Beclin1,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein and mRNA in gastric antrum tissue decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of p62,c-kit protein and mRNA increased(P<0.01),while Caspase-3 protein expression decreased(P<0.01),and the apoptosis rate of gastric antral tissue cells decreased(P<0.01).There was no statistically significant difference in various indicators between electroacupuncture group and Western medicine group(P>0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at"Neiguan"and"Gongsun"can restore the number and structure of ICC and improve gastrointestinal motility,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of autophagy and apoptosis levels.

Based on the concept of"two-stage,four-phase,and three-phase treatments"of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET)assisted the whole-course management of TCM by national TCM master You Zhaoling,this article analyzed the treatment strategy assisted by acupuncture in five aspects:principle,method,prescription,acupoint,and technique.Principle:syndrome differentiation and treatment follow different cases;method establish guiding methods based on principles,while following stage diagnoses and treatments;prescription:determine the prescriptions based on therapeutic principles within the context of overall regulation;acupoint:precise acupoint taking and rational acupoint matching;technique:the primary method is acupuncture,supported by various therapeutic modalities,providing a comprehensive framework and evidence-based support for the clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion in IVF-ET.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) during the perioperative period and early postoperative recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer.Methods:In this prospective study, 188 American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 18-75 yr, with a body mass index of 20-30 kg/m 2, with radiological staging of T 2-4N xM 0, underwent elective gastric cancer radical surgery under general anesthesia at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2018 to April 2022, were selected. The NLR was measured at 1 day before operation and postoperative days 1, 3 and 5. The difference between postoperative and preoperative NLR (ΔNLR) was calculated. Based on the presence or absence of tumor recurrence and/or metastasis within 2 yr after surgery, the patients were divided into recurrence group and non-recurrence group. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to evaluate the early postoperative recurrence and perioperative NLR in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Results:A total of 171 patients ultimately completed the follow-up. There were 77 cases in recurrence group and 94 in non-recurrence group. Compared to non-recurrence group, NLR and ΔNLR were significantly increased on the 5th day after operation in recurrence group ( P<0.05). The elevated NLR and ΔNLR at postoperative day 5 were independent risk factors for recurrence within 2 yr in patients with advanced gastric cancer ( HR=1.026, P<0.05). Conclusions:NLR may not be associated with the risk of early postoperative recurrence in the patients with advanced gastric cancer, and further evaluation with large-scale studies is needed.

Objective:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints of Shaoyang meridian on mechanical and thermal pain threshold, TRPV1, CGRP mRNA and TRPV1, p-TRPV1, CGRP protein expressions in TG of CM rats; To explore its mechanism.Methods:Totally 24 SD rats were divided into blank group, model group and EA group according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. The blank group did not do any treatment; the model group and the EA group were given intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin (10 mg/kg) on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th day, once a day, for 5 times to prepare migraine rat model; after modeling, the model group was given binding and restraint for 30 min, and the EA group was given binding and restraint for 30 min treatment; the changes of basic mechanical and thermal pain thresholds of rats before and after modeling and intervention were observed, the mRNA expression levels of TRPV1 and CGRP in TG rats were detected by qPCR, and the protein expression levels of TRPV1, p-TRPV1 and CGRP in TG rats were detected by Western blot method.Results:After intervention, compared with the model group, the periorbital and plantar mechanical pain thresholds and plantar thermal pain thresholds in EA group increased ( P<0.05), the TRPV1 and CGRP mRNA expressions in trigeminal ganglion decreased ( P<0.01), the protein expressions of TRPV1, p-TRPV1 and CGRP decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:EA at acupoints of Shaoyang meridian can obviously increase the mechanical and thermal pain threshold and improve pain sensitization in CM rats. The mechanism would be related to down-regulating the expression levels of TRPV1 and CGRP mRNA and TRPV1, p-TRPV1 and CGRP protein in the TG of CM rats.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) during the perioperative period and early postoperative recurrence in patients with advanced gastric cancer.Methods:In this prospective study, 188 American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 18-75 yr, with a body mass index of 20-30 kg/m 2, with radiological staging of T 2-4N xM 0, underwent elective gastric cancer radical surgery under general anesthesia at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2018 to April 2022, were selected. The NLR was measured at 1 day before operation and postoperative days 1, 3 and 5. The difference between postoperative and preoperative NLR (ΔNLR) was calculated. Based on the presence or absence of tumor recurrence and/or metastasis within 2 yr after surgery, the patients were divided into recurrence group and non-recurrence group. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to evaluate the early postoperative recurrence and perioperative NLR in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Results:A total of 171 patients ultimately completed the follow-up. There were 77 cases in recurrence group and 94 in non-recurrence group. Compared to non-recurrence group, NLR and ΔNLR were significantly increased on the 5th day after operation in recurrence group ( P<0.05). The elevated NLR and ΔNLR at postoperative day 5 were independent risk factors for recurrence within 2 yr in patients with advanced gastric cancer ( HR=1.026, P<0.05). Conclusions:NLR may not be associated with the risk of early postoperative recurrence in the patients with advanced gastric cancer, and further evaluation with large-scale studies is needed.

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at"Neiguan"and"Gongsun"on autophagy and apoptosis related indexes of interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC)in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD);To explore its possible mechanism on improving gastrointestinal motility of FD.Methods Totally 32 SPF grade SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,electroacupuncture group and Western medicine group,with 8 rats in each group.An FD model was constructed using a composite etiology modeling method.The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at"Neiguan"and"Gongsun",while the Western medicine group received oral administration of mosapride once a day for 7 consecutive days.The general condition,body mass and average daily intake of rats were observed every week,and gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate were detected,transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the structure of gastric antrum ICC,Western blot was used to observe the expressions of c-kit,Beclin1,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ,p62,Caspase-3 protein in gastric antrum tissue,qPCR was used to observe the mRNA expressions of Beclin1,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ,p62 and c-kit in gastric antrum tissue,TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells in gastric antrum tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group rats were mentally lethargic,clustered and curled up,with reduced activity,rough and dull hair,loose and unformed feces,reduced body mass and daily food intake(P<0.05),and gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate decreased(P<0.01),ICC mitochondria swelled and dissolved,with varying degrees of vacuolar formation,rough endoplasmic reticulum dilation and destruction,and a large number of autophagosomes,the expressions of Beclin1 and LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein and mRNA in gastric antrum tissue increased(P<0.01),the expressions of p62,c-kit protein and mRNA decreased(P<0.01),while Caspase-3 protein expression increased(P<0.01),and the apoptosis rate of gastric antral tissue cells increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the condition of rats in electroacupuncture group and the Western medicine group were improved,with increased responsiveness,increased mobility,neat hair,formed feces,increased body mass and daily food intake(P<0.01),and gastric emptying rate and small intestine propulsion rate increase(P<0.01),a normal ICC structure,and a small amount of autophagosomes were still visible,the expressions of Beclin1,LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein and mRNA in gastric antrum tissue decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of p62,c-kit protein and mRNA increased(P<0.01),while Caspase-3 protein expression decreased(P<0.01),and the apoptosis rate of gastric antral tissue cells decreased(P<0.01).There was no statistically significant difference in various indicators between electroacupuncture group and Western medicine group(P>0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at"Neiguan"and"Gongsun"can restore the number and structure of ICC and improve gastrointestinal motility,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of autophagy and apoptosis levels.

Based on the concept of"two-stage,four-phase,and three-phase treatments"of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET)assisted the whole-course management of TCM by national TCM master You Zhaoling,this article analyzed the treatment strategy assisted by acupuncture in five aspects:principle,method,prescription,acupoint,and technique.Principle:syndrome differentiation and treatment follow different cases;method establish guiding methods based on principles,while following stage diagnoses and treatments;prescription:determine the prescriptions based on therapeutic principles within the context of overall regulation;acupoint:precise acupoint taking and rational acupoint matching;technique:the primary method is acupuncture,supported by various therapeutic modalities,providing a comprehensive framework and evidence-based support for the clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion in IVF-ET.

The laws of time and space connect man with heaven and earth.For women,the monthly rhythm is particularly closely related to menstruation and reproductive cycles.Professor You Zhaoling,a nationally renowned TCM practitioner,proposes"space-time theory"argument on female reproductive diseases based on the spatiotemporal patterns and characteristics of the female uterus,especially the patterns and interrelationships of terminals of genital chain.Under the guidance of this theory,the four stage sequential assisted pregnancy method and two-step method for preventing miscarriage with TCM characteristics were proposed,as well as their application in guiding special medication and sexual intercourse time,in order to improve clinical efficacy.

This article mainly elaborated the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment scheme of"eighteen needles for reproduction"based on Professor You Zhaoling's reproductive axis theory of"heart-kidney-Chong Ren-uterus".The"eighteen needles for reproduction"aims to regulate the disordered reproductive axis in gynecological reproductive diseases.It selects the acupoints on the main viscera and meridians of the reproductive axis as the main acupoints,and the acupoints regulating the qi and blood of the related viscera as the matching acupoints.Through specific manipulation,it can regulate the qi and blood,dredge the meridians,and treat the viscera,so as to nourish the essence and help pregnancy,and provide ideas and reference for the treatment of gynecological reproductive diseases with acupuncture and moxibustion.