Objectives: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Baihui"(GV20) and"Shenshu"(BL23) on the morphological changes of aging kidney and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase /protein kinases B (PI3K/Akt) signaling in SAMP8 mice, so as to explore its mechanisms of delaying renal aging.
Methods: A total of 20 seven-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model group and EA group, with 10 mice in each group. The normal group consisted of 10 male SAMR1 mice with the same age. In the EA group, acupuncture was performed at GV20 and bilateral BL23 respectively. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral BL23 for 15 min every time, once a day, 10 days as a course for a total of 4 courses, the interval between courses was one day. The general condition of the mice in each group was observed during the intervention period. After the intervention, H.E. staining was used to observe the morphological changes of aging kidney. Masson staining was used to evaluate the degree of renal fibrosis. The relative protein expression levels of alpha smooth musle action (α-SMA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), PI3K and Akt in renal tissue were detected by Western blot.
Results: Compared with the normal group, mice in the model group showed dull hair, reduced daily activity and food and water intake, and poor response to external stimulation, and the relative protein expression levels of α-SMA, IL-1β, PI3K and Akt in renal tissue were significantly increased (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01), while the protein expression level of IL-4 was significantly decreased (P<0.01). After EA intervention, compared with the model group, the general condition of rats in the EA group was significantly improved, and the relative protein expression levels of α-SMA, IL-1β, PI3K and Akt were obviously decreased (P<0.05), while the level of IL-4 was significantly increased (P<0.05). H.E. staining and Masson staining showed that the glomeruli of the mice in the model group were atrophied and sclerotic, the renal tubules were hypertrophied and disorganized, the inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious, and the collagen fibers of the renal interstitium were obviously increased, which was relatively milder in the EA group.
Conclusions: "Kidney-reinforcing and Govenor Vessel-regulating" EA can inhibit the over-expressions of IL-1β and α-SMA and increase the expression of IL-4 in aging renal tissue, which may contribute to its effects in delaying renal aging. Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling may be one of the possible mechanisms of EA anti-renal fibrosis.
Objectives: To observe the effect of acupuncture on the oxeiptosis Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5)/mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIFM1) signaling pathway in rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), so as to explore the possible mechanisms by which acupuncture improves ovarian reserve function in DOR rats.
Methods: Female SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, and acupuncture group, with 6 rats in each group. The DOR model was established by one-time intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. After modeling, the acupuncture group received acupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV4), "Zhongji" (CV3), "Qihai" (CV6), and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6), "Zigong" (EX-CA1) acupoints for 20 min each time, every other day, for a total of 15 sessions. During the experiment, the estrous cycles of the rats were observed and recorded daily. After the intervention, the body mass and ovarian mass were measured, and the ovarian index was calculated. Serum contents of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were detected by ELISA. HE staining was used to observe ovarian tissue morphology, follicle development, and ovulation. The contents of local reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ovarian tissue were measured by flow cytometry, and the protein expression levels of KEAP1, PGAM5, and AIFM1 were detected by Western blot.
Results: Compared with the control group, the model group exhibited irregular estrous cycles, increased contents of FSH and LH (P<0.05), and decreased contents of E2 and AMH (P<0.05). There was a reduction in the number of follicles at all stages and an increase in atretic follicles, with significantly elevated protein expression levels of PGAM5 and AIFM1 in ovarian tissue (P<0.05). After acupuncture intervention, compared to the model group, the acupuncture group showed slight improvement in the disruption of the estrous cycle, decreased contents of FSH and LH (P<0.05), increased contents of E2 and AMH (P<0.05), an increase in the number of follicles at all stages, and a decrease in the expression level of PGAM5 in ovarian tissue (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ovanian index and ROS content in ovarian tissue among the 3 groups.
Conclusions: Acupuncture can improve ovarian reserve function, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the oxeiptosis pathway.
Acupuncture anesthesia is an innovative anesthesia technique which combines acupuncture therapy of traditional Chinese medicine with western anesthesia and surgery. Modern acupuncture anesthesia technology involves comprehensive preoperative evaluation and application, intraoperative assistance in anesthesia, and enhanced recovery after surgery, forming a set of perioperative management models with Chinese characteristics. In the present paper, we comprehensively summarized the application scenarios (including craniocerebral operations, neck surgery, cardiac and thoracic surgery, abdominal operation, obstetrical and gynecological operations, anorectal operation, and orthopedic operation) and values (such as analgesia, reduction in nausea and vomiting, accelerating recovery of gastrointestinal function, regulating immune function, etc.) of modern acupuncture anesthesia technology in the perioperative period, and also analyzed its advantages ［(1) fewer physiological interference to the patient, reducing operation-induced organ damage, and accelerating postoperative recovery； (2) no obvious adverse reactions and high safety； (3) significant social and economic benefits］, current challenges and opportunities of modern acupuncture anesthesia techniques. We think that it is urgent to formulate a set of consensus guidelines and reference for modern acupuncture anesthesia for each type of relevant operations based on evidence-based medicine, actively draw on, absorb and introduce the latest evidence-based concepts and research methodologies and technologies, strive to create new theories, new methods and new technologies, carry out standardized sustainable research, enrich and improve its own system and to expand its application scope through exchanges and mutual learning with cutting-edge technologies of modern medicine.
Objectives: To observe the clinical effect on perimenopausal dry eye disease treated with He's fire needle therapy combined with walnut-shell moxibustion.
Methods: A total of 60 patients with perimenopausal dry eye disease were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). In the observation group, the pricking technique with fire needle was operated at bilateral Naokong (GB19), Feishu (BL13), Xinshu (BL15), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), 3 times a week, for 4 weeks, and the walnut-shell moxibustion was combined, 30 minutes each time, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks. In the control group, hyaluronic acid sodium eye drops were used, one drop each time, 3 times a day, for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of the questionnaire for dry eye disease in China, the result of lacrimal secretion test (Schimer Ⅰ test, SⅠT) and tear film break-up time(BUT), as well as the modified Kupperman score were evaluated in the two groups. The clinical effect was compared between the two groups.
Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, the results of SⅠT and BUT increased (P<0.001), while the scores of the questionnaire for dry eye disease in China, the modified Kupperman score decreased (P<0.001) in the two groups when compared with the baseline. In the observation group, the result of SⅠT and BUT were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), while the scores of the questionnaire for dry eye disease in China, and the modified Kupperman score was lower (P<0.05). The marked effective rate (30/60, 50.0%) in the observation group was better than that (10/60, 16.7%) of the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: In treatment of perimenopausal dry eye disease, the combined therapy of fire needling and walnut-shell moxibustion obtains the superior effect to hyaluronic acid sodium eye drops. This combined therapy can effectively relieve the eye symptoms, increase the secretion of tears, prolong BUT, and ameliorate systemic symptoms.
Objectives: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on sleep quality and electroencephalogram (EEG) signal in the patients with chronic insomnia and to explore its mechanism.
Methods: Sixty patients with chronic insomnia were randomized into an EA group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a health learning group (30 cases, 3 cases dropped out). In the health learning group, the sleep health education was provided. In the EA group, besides the health education as the health learning group, EA was delivered at Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24+), bilateral Shenmen (HT7), bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP6), with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, once every other day, and 3 interventions a week. EA was given for 4 weeks successi-vely, composed of 12 treatments. The score of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The EEG signals were collected and the relative power and entropy of EEG before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.
Results: After treatment, the scores of PSQI, HAMA and PHQ-9, the relevant power of β wave in F8 and T3 channels, and that of α wave in T4 channel, and the entropy in T3 channel under the eyes-open (EO) resting state, as well as the relevant power and the entropy of γ wave in F8 channel under the eyes-closed (EC) resting state in the EA group were lower (P<0.05) than those before the treatment. All of the above results were lower than those of the health learning group at the same time points (P<0.05). Under the EO resting state, the relevant power of the θ and δ waves of T3 channel and θ wave of T4, O2 and Pz channels of patients in the EA group after the treatment were increased (P<0.05) than those before the treatment, and higher (P<0.05) than those of the health learning group at the same time points.
Conclusions: Acupuncture is effective on chronic insomnia, which may be related to the regulation EEG signals.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：