Autonomic and subjective responses to real and sham acupuncture stimulation

This study compared verum acupuncture (VA) and sham acupuncture (SA) stimulation by assessing autonomic and subjective responses. Autonomic responses such as skin conductance response (SCR) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Subjective pain ratings were collected and evaluated. A correlation analysis was performed for SCR and HR changes and subjective pain ratings. In both VA and SA sessions, SCR increased, and HR decreased. Subjective responses were different for VA and SA. The SCR changes correlated with subjective responses for VA, but not SA. The present results suggest that VA and SA do not fundamentally differ in their autonomic response patterns.     

力学刺激对软骨细胞整合素亚单位的调控

骨关节炎（osteoarthritis,OA）是以关节软骨退变、关节缘骨质增生为主要改变的疾病。机械应力可以调节细胞的多种功能,而整合素作为细胞表面应力受体之一,主要介导细胞与细胞外基质（extracellularmatrix,ECM）间的黏附,在传导力学信号从而调节细胞的生理功能方面起着重要作用。因此,在软骨病变早中期选择适当的良性刺激（如推拿手法）作用于软骨,调控整合素的表达影响软骨细胞的功能,修复损伤的软骨细胞,延缓关节软骨退变,这对于骨关节炎的治疗有重要意义。