Acupuncture, a traditional oriental intervention for chronic pain, has been gaining worldwide popularity. Transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) is a key factor mediating pain production and sensitization. According to multiple studies, TRPV1 is involved the acupuncture-induced relief of pathological pain. Herein, we systematically screened the experimental reports on TRPV1 involvement in acupuncture analgesia, and reviewed the role of TRPV1 in acupuncture in inhibiting different pathological pain and unresolved problems, including inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, visceral pain, fibromyalgia and cancer pain. At localized acupoints, TRPV1 was involved in the initiation of acupuncture signals. Acupuncture could inhibit the development of pathological pain as well as the transmission of pain signals by suppressing TRPV1 expression and opening activity from the peripheral dorsal root ganglia to the central spinal cord. Furthermore, acupuncture can not only inhibit the expression of TRPV1, but also promote the expression of TRPV1 in the brain to alleviate pain sensation and depression-like behavior. Moreover, the mechanism by which acupuncture regulates TRPV1 may involve neuro-immune crosstalk. In conclusion, the regulation of TRPV1 expression and function may be one of the primary mechanisms by which acupuncture relieves pathological pain, laying the groundwork for future basic research on acupuncture's pain-relieving effects.
To observe the effect of acupuncture and bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region for chronic prostatitis.
A total of 36 patients with chronic prostatitis were collected, and treated in the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and the External Treatment Center of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese medicine. The patients were treated with acupuncture, combined with bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region. The treatment for 4 weeks was as one course and 2 consecutive courses of treatment were required. The therapeutic effect, including the score of the National Institute of Health – Chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), was assessed.
After 1 and 2 courses of treatment, the symptom scores and NIH-CPSI total score were all reduced as compared with that before treatment , respectively (all P < 0.01). After 2 courses of treatment, the score of each symptom and NIH-CPSI total score were reduced as compared with that after 1 course of treatment, respectively (all P < 0.01). Regrading the 3 syndromes/patterns of chronic prostatitis in the patients, i.e. downward invasion of damp heat, qi and blood stagnation and liver qi stagnation, after 1 and 2 courses of treatment, NIH-CPSI total scores were all reduced as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.01). Additionally, after 2 courses of treatment, NIH-CPSI total score of each syndrome/pattern was reduced as compared with that after 1 course of treatment (all P < 0.01). For kidney yin deficiency, after 2 courses of treatment, NIH-CPSI total score was reduced as compared with that either before treatment or after 1 course of treatment (both P < 0.01). The total effective rate was 91.67% after 1 course of treatment and 97.22% after 2 courses of treatment. No obvious adverse events occurred during the treatment.
The combined treatment with acupuncture and bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region effectively relieves the symptoms of chronic prostatitis and improves the quality of life in the patients.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for a long time and doesn't alleviate with rest. The number of the cases has been increasing during the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Acupuncture may have some effect on chronic fatigue syndrome, but its mechanism remains unclear. This article was to summarize the specific manifestations of abnormal central mechanism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome through laboratory tests and neuroimaging. It was found from the laboratory evaluation that there were changes in the structure of the frontal cortex, thalamus and other brain tissues; factors, including IFN-α and IL-10 in cerebrospinal fluid were found abnormal; results of oxidative and nitrosative stress and changes in neurobiochemical substances, e.g. hypothalamus hormone levels and neurotransmitter concentrations, were observed. With magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, it was shown that the partial brain of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome had morphological changes with diminished grey matter and white; changes in cerebral blood flow velocity caused by decreased perfusion and functional activity with abnormal connectivity in brain were detected. In addition, there was significant decrease in glucose metabolism accompanied with neuroinflammatory response; metabolic disorders of serotonergic, cholinergic, glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid energy neurotransmitters were also discovered. The regulatory effect of acupuncture on the above central neurological abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome model animals was elaborated, and the direction for further research was analyzed in order to provide ideas for further research on the central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Renal microvascular injury, as the result of diabetic toxicity, plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) during diabetes progression. Here, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) could ameliorate renal microvascular impairment to prevent DKD and its underlying mechanism.
The male db/db mice with Leprdb mutation were used as the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus-induced DKD and treated with EA at “Zusanli (ST36)” and “Weiwanxiashu (EX-B3)” acupoints for 4 weeks. Age-matched wild-type mice were used as control group. Renal protection of EA was evaluated by mouse urine production, water consumption, renal index and tubules dilation. Two-photon microscope imaging was applied to visualize renal microvascular blood flow in vivo. Immunostaining and western blot analysis were used to detect the glomerular alternations and inflammatory signaling.
EA significantly attenuated renal dysfunction in db/db mice. The protective effect of EA on renal microvascular recovery was observed both in function and structure analysis. Firstly, EA restored the renal microvascular blood flow in db/db mice. Then, glomerular hypertrophy and glomerular barrier destruction were suppressed after EA, as respectively demonstrated by the reduction of glomerular dilation, Collagen Ⅳ and Claudin-1 deposits. In mechanism, EA suppressed the diabetes-induced inflammatory response in renal microvessels, presenting as the downregulation of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) activation, and macrophage infiltration after EA treatment.
These findings indicated the benefits of EA against renal microvascular impairment and DKD progression, which was associated with the action of anti-inflammation, and supported EA as a promising modality for DKD management.
This study summarizes Prof. Li-xing ZHUANG's experience in treating psycho-cardiological disease, which is characterized by cardiovascular somatic symptoms and emotional abnormalities. Psycho-cardiological disease is mainly caused by disorders of the brain and heart shen-mind, and related to the dysfunction of zangfu functions. In acupuncture treatment, attention should be paid to “regulation of the heart and brain, and taking zangfu organs in to account at the same time.” Sìshénzhēn (四神针) of JIN’s three-needle, Shéntíng (神庭GV 24) and Yìntáng (印堂GV29) are adopted to regulate the brain, Shénmén (神门HT7) or Nèiguān (内关PC6) are used to regulate the heart shen-mind, Hégǔ (合谷LI4), Tàichōng (太冲LR3), and Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP6) are used to regulate zangfu, and the Daoqi Tongjing method is applied to regulate the qi and blood, achieving good effects in the clinical setting.
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