Effects of moxibustion at shenque (CV 8) on serum IL-12 level and NK cell activities in mice with transplanted tumor.
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The study was to investigate the effect of moxibustion on the serum IL-2, IL-12 levels and NK cell and ascitic tumor cell activities in H-22 mice with tumor and its mechanisms. The method used in the study was that the IL-2 and IL-12 levels were determined by the double antibody method with ELISA, and the NK cell activities by the MTT measure. The results showed that moxibustion elevated the serum IL-2 and IL-12 levels and the NK cell activities of the mice with tumor, and the elevations were of significance as compared with the controls (P < 0.05). It is concluded that moxibustion can inhibit the growth of tumor, which is related to the increase of the serum IL-2 and IL-12 levels and the strengthening of NK cell activities. (+info)
Bee venom acupoint stimulation increases Fos expression in catecholaminergic neurons in the rat brain.
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Fos immunocytochemistry was combined with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) immunolabeling to examine brainstem catecholaminergic neuronal activation resulting from bee venom (BV) stimulation of the Zusanli acupoint (ST36) in Sprague-Dawley rats. BV injection into the Zusanli acupoint caused increased Fos expression in catecholaminergic neurons located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc), the dorsal raphe (DR), the A5 cell group (A5) and the locus coeruleus (LC). BV acupoint stimulation significantly increased Fos-TH double-labeled neurons in the Arc, LC and DR. Fos-DBH positive neurons were also increased by BV acupoint stimulation in the LC and A5. In contrast BV stimulation of a non-acupoint only increased Fos expression and Fos-TH double-labeled neurons in the Arc. These data indicate that BV acupoint stimulation activates brainstem catecholaminergic neurons and that this activation underlies BV acupoint-induced antinociception. (+info)
An active electrode for biopotential recording from small localized bio-sources.
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BACKGROUND: Laser bio-stimulation is a well-established procedure in Medical Acupuncture. Nevertheless there is still a confusion as to whether it works or the effect is just placebo. Although a plethora of scientific papers published, showing positive clinical results, there is still a lack of objective scientific proofs about the bio-stimulation effect of lasers used in Acupuncture. The objective of this work was to design and build a body surface electrode and an amplifier for biopotential recording from acupuncture points, considered here as small localized bio-sources (SLB). The design is aimed for studying SLB potentials provoked by laser stimulus, in search for objective proofs of the bio-stimulation effect of lasers used in Medical Acupuncture. METHODS: The active electrode presented features a new adjustable anchoring system and fractionation of the biopotential amplifier between the electrode and the cabinet's location. The new adjustable electrode anchoring system is designed to reduce the electrode-skin contact impedance, its variation and motion artifacts. That is achieved by increasing the electrode-skin tension and decreasing its relative movement. Additionally the sensing element provides local constant skin stretching thus eliminating the contribution of the skin potential artifact. The electrode is attached to the skin by a double-sided adhesive pad, where the sensing element is a stainless steel, 4 mm in diameter. The fractionation of the biopotential amplifier is done by incorporating the amplifier's front-end op-amps at the electrodes, thus avoiding the use of extra buffers. The biopotential amplifier features two selectable modes of operation: semi-AC-mode with a -3 dB bandwidth of 0.32-1000 Hz and AC-mode with a bandwidth of 0.16-1000 Hz. RESULTS: The average measured DC electrode-skin contact impedance of the proposed electrode was 450 kOmega, with electrode tension of 0.3 kg/cm2 on an unprepared skin of the inner forearm. The peak-to-peak noise voltage measured at the amplifier output, with input terminals connected to common, was 10 mVp-p, or 2 microVp-p referred to the input. The common-mode rejection ratio of the amplifier was 96 dB at 50 Hz, measured with imbalanced electrodes' impedances. The prototype was also tested practically and sample records were obtained after a low intensity SLB laser stimulation. All measurements showed almost a complete absence of 50 Hz interference, although no electrolyte gel or skin preparation was applied. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the new active electrode presented significantly reduced the electrode-skin impedance, its variation and motion artifact influences. This allowed SLB signals with relatively high quality to be recorded without skin preparation. The design offers low noise and major reduction in parts, size and power consumption. The active electrode specifications were found to be better or at least comparable to those of other existing designs. (+info)
Medullary ventrolateral nitric oxide mediates the cardiac effect of electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" acupoint on acute myocardial ischemia in rats.
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Experiments were performed on male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats anesthetized with a mixture of urethane and chloralose. A rat model of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) was made by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery (LAD). After the LAD ligation, the ischemia area of the left ventricular wall became somewhat pale immediately. Under a light microscope, the pathological examination revealed that all the cells were swollen and in red color when the cardiac section was stained with hematoxylin basic fuchsin picric acid (HBFP), which indicated a typical change in the myocardial ischemia. In the AMI model, it was found that cardiac functions were markedly attenuated, such as decreases in the heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximal rate for left ventricular pressure rising and declining (+/-dp/dt(max)), velocity of contractile element (V(CE)) and total area of cardiac force loop (L(0)), and an increase in the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). In such AMI rats, application of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Neiguan" acupoints (Pe 6) for 20 min could obviously improve the above-mentioned cardiac functions. After microinjection of nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was made into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), the curative effect of EA on myocardial ischemia was reduced significantly or abolished, while after microinjection of normal saline of the same volume was made into the RVLM, the improving effect of EA remained. These results suggest that the effect of EA on myocardial ischemia is possibly mediated by the nitric oxide (NO) in the RVLM. (+info)
Review article: therapeutic roles of acupuncture in functional gastrointestinal disorders.
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Acupuncture has been practiced empirically in China for several millennia, and is being increasingly accepted by practitioners and patients worldwide. Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common in clinical gastroenterology. The prevalence of one or more functional gastrointestinal disorders is estimated to be as high as 70% in general population using Rome diagnostic criteria. Since functional gastrointestinal disorders are diagnosed based on symptoms and the exact aetiologies for most of functional gastrointestinal disorders are not completely known, it is not unusual that the treatment for these disorders is unsatisfactory and alternative therapies are attractive to both patients and practitioners. During the latest decades, a considerable number of studies have been performed on acupuncture for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders and underlying mechanisms. In this article, we reviewed available data in the literature on the applications and mechanisms of acupuncture for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders, including functional oesophageal disorders, nausea and vomiting, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, etc. A summary is provided based on the quality and quantity of published studies regarding the efficacy of acupuncture in treating these various disorders. In addition, the methodology of acupuncture is also introduced. (+info)
Two hundred and fifty-eight cases of hemoptysis treated by injection of vitamin K3 into Chize point.
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Injection of vitamin K3 into Chize (LU 5) was used from 1980 to 1992 in 258 inpatients suffering from diseases of the respiratory system accompanied with hemoptysis. As a result, the effective rate was 83% for mild hemoptysis and 72.1% for moderate hemoptysis in the treatment group, as compared to 48.5% and 45.2% respectively in control group A, and to 83.8% and 75% in control group B. There was a significant difference between the treatment group and control group A (P < 0.01). However, the effective rate was only 31.8% for severe hemoptysis in the treatment group, as compared to 81.3% in control group B with a significant difference. It is therefor concluded that injection of vitamin K3 into Chize is a good therapy for mild or moderate hemoptysis but not for severe cases. (+info)
The needling technique and clinical application of point Zhibian.
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Point Zhibian (BL 54) is often used for treatment of lumbago and scelalgia, flaccidity and arthralgia of the lower limb, constipation and dysuria, and hemorrhoid. As for the needling, the direction of the needle tip may vary, generally in three directions: 1) along the channel itself, 2) pointing to the genitals, and 3) pointing to the anus, the purpose of which is "leading qi to the diseased area" so as to obtain "effectiveness upon the arrival of qi". This point can also be used in combination with moxa stick, cupping, and point injection according to the individual conditions. However, only by differential application, can this point produce better therapeutic effects. (+info)
Fifty cases of external humeral epicondylitis treated by moxibustion and point-injection.
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OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of moxibustion and point-injection on external humeral epicondylitis. METHOD: The disease is treated with the combined method of moxibustion and point-injection of the Compound Dan Shen Injectio and Ye Mu Gua Injectio RESULTS: 30 of the total 50 cases were cured, 18 cases were improved, and 2 cases were with no effect. The total effective rate was 96%. CONCLUSION: The combined method of moxibustion and point-injection is a cure indicated for external humeral epicondylitis. (+info)