ALTERED SMALL-WORLD EFFICIENCY OF BRAIN FUNCTIONAL NETWORKS IN ACUPUNCTURE AT ST36:A FUNCTIONAL MRI STUDY

Objective: Acupuncture in human can produce clinical effects via the central nervous system.However, the neural mechanism of acupuncture's effects remains mostly unknown.Methods: We utilized functional MRI to investigate the topological efficiency of brain functional networks in eighteen healthy young adults who were scanned before and after acupuncture at the ST36 acupoints(ACUP) and the sham point(SHAM).Whole-brain functional networks were constructed by thresholding temporal correlation matrices of ninety brain regions, followed by a graph theory-based analysis.Results: We showed that brain functional networks exhibited small-world attributes(high local and global efficiency) regardless of the order of acupuncture and stimulus points, a finding compatible with previous studies of brain functional networks.Furthermore, the brain networks had increased local efficiency after ACUP stimulation, but there were no significant differences after SHAM, indicating a specificity of acupuncture point in coordinating local information flow over the whole brain.Moreover, significant(P0.05, corrected by false discovery rate approach) effects of only acupuncture point were detected on nodal degree of the left hippocampus(higher nodal degree at ACUP as compared to SHAM).Using an uncorrected P0.05, point-related effects were also observed in the anterior cingulate cortex, and the frontal and occipital regions, while stimulation-related effects were observed in various brain regions of frontal, parietal and occipital cortex regions.In addition, we found that several limbic and subcortical brain regions exhibitedpoint- and stimulation-related alterations in their regional homogeneity(P0.05, uncorrected).Conclusion: Our results suggest that acupuncture modulates topological organization of whole-brain functional brain networks and the modulation has point specificity.These findings provide new insights into neuronal mechanism of acupuncture from the perspective of functional integration.Further studies would be interesting to apply network analysis approaches to study the effects of acupuncture treatments on brain disorders.     

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LOCAL SOMATOTHERMAL STIMULI AT ST36 AND CV12 ON GASTRIC MOTILITY AND ITS UNDERLYING RECEPTOR MECHANISM

Objective: To explore the intensity-response relationship of local somatothermal stimuli(LSTS)-modulated gastric motility and its underlying receptor mechanism.Methods: Based on the thermal pain threshold(43 ℃), 41 ℃, 43 ℃ and 45 ℃ LSTS were separately applied to ST36 and CV12 for 180 s on Sprague-Dawley rats(n=18), as well as ASIC3 knockout(ASIC3-/-), and TRPV1 knockout(TRPV1-/-) mice and their homologous wild-type C57BL/6 mice(n=8).Gastric motility was continuously measured by an intrapyloric balloon, and the amplitude, integral and frequency of gastric motility during LSTS were compared with those in background activity.Results: Gastric motility was facilitated by LSTS at ST36 and inhibited by LSTS at CV12.Both 43 ℃ and 45 ℃ LSTS, rather than 41 ℃, produced significant regulatory effects on gastric motility.Compared with C57BL/6 mice, the facilitatory effect of ST36 and inhibitive effect of CV12 due to temperature stimulation were not changed markedly in ASIC3-/- mice(P0.05), but theseeffects decreased significantly in TRPV1-/- mice(P0.05).Conclusion: There existed an intensity-response relationship between temperature stimulation on LSTS and its effects on gastric motility; 43 ℃ LSTS-activated TRPV1 receptor was essential to the LSTS-modulated gastric motility.     

络合足三里穴Ca^2＋对针刺足三里抑制家兔亢进胃运动的影响

将应力传感器缝在家兔胃幽门部监测胃运动的变化，以肌肉注射新斯的明造成胃运动亢进，发现针刺足三里穴可抑制胃运动亢进，若足三里穴注射ＥＤＴＡ络合Ｃａ２＋后，针刺足三里抑制胃运动亢进的效应消失，提示Ｃａ２＋是针效产生、经络活动的重要生化基础。     

MOXIBUSTIOIN INDUCES DIFFERENT TRPV1 EXPRESSION AT ST36 UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS

Objective: To observe the expression of TRPV1 at ST36 location under physiological and pathological conditions.Methods: Male C57 BL mice receiving intraplantar injection of CFA(20 μL/paw) were used as adjuvant arthritis(AA) models.At the 4th day, moxibustion of three different temperatures(45, 40 and 36 ℃) was performed at Zusanli acupoint(ST36) for 15 min.Two hours after one moxibustion treatment was completed, the skin of ST36 was taken to prepare for detecting the expression of TRPV1 with Western-blot method.Results: Under physiological condition, no changes of TRPV1 expression were observed at ST36 of mice receiving 45 ℃ moxibustion; mice receiving 40 ℃ and 36 ℃ moxibustion showed lower expression of TRPV1.Under pathological condition induced by adjuvant arthritis(AA), mice receiving 45 ℃ and 40 ℃ moxibustion showed increased expression of TRPV1 at ST36.Conclusion: TRPV1 expression at ST36 was triggered by 40 ℃ moxibustion under both physiological and pathological conditions.     

INFLUENCE OF LOCAL INFILITRATION ANESTHESIA OF SCALP-POINT ON ACUPUNCTURE INDUCED CHANGES OF CEREBRAL BLOOD PERFUSION DETECTED BY SPECT

Manystudiesdemonstratethatpuncturingacupointsinduced“needlingsensations”iscloselyrelatedwiththeintegrityofthenervesystem .Whenthenervetrunkwascutofforblockedbyanesthetics,theeffectofacupunctureanalgesiadisappeared[1 ] .Inthepresentstudy ,singlepho tonemissioncomputedtomography (SPECT)wasusedtoobservetheinfluenceoflocalinfiltra tionanesthesiaofscalp pointonelec troacupuncture (EA)stimulationinducedre sponses.Becausethestructureandinnervationofthescalparerelativelysimplecomparedwiththoseoft…     

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON 104 CASES OF LOCAL NEURODERMATITIS TREATED BY CATGUT IMPLANTATION AT ACUPOINTS

Neurodermatitis is an intractable dermatosis, which is characterized by paroxysmal pru-ritus and lichenoid pathological changes in the skin. In this study, 104 cases of local neuredermatitiswere treated with catgut implantation at acupoints. Among them, 80 cases (76. 9 % ) were markedlyeffective, 14 cases (13. 5 % ) effective with the total effective rate of 90. 4 %. There were another 38cases used as a control group, who were treated with 10% Unguentum picis fabae nigrae or Triamci-nolone. The local area smeared with the ointment was blowed by an electric hot blower. If itching wassevere, it should be treated with sedative or using some antihistaminics. Of them, 18 cases (47. 4 % )were markedly effective, 11 cases (28. 9 % ) effective. The total effective rate was 76. 3 %. There wasa significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05 ). It shows that the effect of catgut implan-tation at acupoint is better than that of medicination group.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES OF RAT ACUPOINT ST36 IN RESPONSE TO MOXIBUSTION

Objective: Chinese moxibustion could treat patient's suffering, even if its principle is to date in an arguable situation.Here we conducted a microarray analysis of gene expression profiles so as to better characterize gene differences of acupoint subjected to moxibustion trials.Methods: In this work we performed cDNA arrays to monitor gene expression spectrometry and analyzed these data using hierarchical clustering, gene ontology(GO) analysis, and pathway analysis.Twelve male littermate rats were randomly divided into control and moxibustion groups.Both groups were housed at 25 ℃, also the moxibustion group was handled with burning moxa at the acupoint Zusanli(ST36) for 20 min each day for 10 successive days.The cutaneous temperature was monitored to around 45 ℃ by infrared thermometer.Rats were sacrificed after acupoint heat treatment in the 10 th day, and sections of their skin and muscles were excised for morphological examination and microarray analysis.The data were categorized by its double FC values or more, and gene annotated in KEGG database, Results: The results showed that 1 098 genes were differently expressed, of which 801 genes were related to molecular function.Subsequent bioinformatics analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly related to stress, immune regulation, and metabolism process.Conclusion: These indicated that Chinese moxibustion could not only be a thermal stimulation, but also evoke a series of acupoint biological process     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON MOXIBUSTION AT ZUSANLI （ST 36） AND LIANGMEN （ST 21） INDUCING HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 （HSP70） EXPRESSION TO RESIST OXIDATIVE INJURY OF GASTRIC MUCOSA

Agreatnumberofclinicalandexperimentalstudieshaveindicatedthatacupunctureandmoxibustionexertpro tectiveactionongastricmucosathroughinfluencingprostaglandingE,volumeofbloodflow,gastricjuiceand gastricmotionandgastrointestinalhormones[1-5],butthemechanismisn…     

INFLUENCE TO THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION CHANGE WITHIN A HUMAN BRAIN BY MERIDIAN POINTS STIMULUS

Objective: This research aims at investigating influence on the mental activity within a brain by acupuncture and moxibustion.Methods:(1) The oxygenated hemoglobin concentration change and the deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration change within a brain of the frontal region under the language fluent subject(HCC) were measured with NIRS(near-infrared spectroscopy equipment, Shimadzu).(2) The autonomic nerve balance was measured with a cardiowave analyzer(Tokyo Iken).(3) TCM oral consultation and SDS type depression oral consultation were performed for 158 healthy persons(Male: 49 person; female: 109 person.Average age: 46 years old).Results:(1) The integration value of HCC for male was larger than that for female and that for the younger-age was larger than that for the middle-aged and the elder-aged.This was in agreement with the report of the others.(2) Ten subjects who had a small integration value were asked the same chief complaint by TCM oral consultation.The chief complaint was There are fatigue and languor.It becomes immediately sleepy after food.There is a decline of thinking power or concentration.(3) There were those by whom change at this integration value is seen by meridian point stimulus.Conclusion: The meridian point stimulative effect to the humans who appeal against a certain chief complaint may be observable under the influence on HCC using NIRS.     

THE PROJECTIONS OF NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE (NOS) POSITIVE NEURONS TO CINGULATE CORTEX FROM SOME BRAIN AREAS RELATING PAIN IN THE RAT

Somebrainareashaverelationtothepainmodulation,andplayasignificantroleinana1ge-siawhenthesebrainareaswerestimulatedbyelectricity.Theanalgesiceffectproducedbyelectro-stimu1atingbrainareasiscalledthestim-ulation-producedanalgesia(SPA).TheSPAcanrelievechronic…     

放射自显影法探讨针刺镇痛时脑内细胞水平~3H-r-氨基丁酸定位变化

<正> 文献中曾报道当给机体预先在脑室内注射r-氨基丁酸,对几种典型的惊厥剂都呈现出一定的对抗作用。这是因为r-氨基丁酸作为一个中性氨基酸,具有对中枢神经系统的抑制作用,表现在癫痫病人的大脑皮层中r-氨基丁酸含量呈现降低。因此,我们考虑探讨r-氨基丁酸与针刺镇痛的关系,从而为针麻作用原理的阐明,提供必要的依椐。本研究工作的目的,是要用冰冻微型放射自显影和组织固定微型放射自显影平行的观察机体在头面部电针镇痛时,脑内不同部位细胞水平的~3H-r-氨基丁酸的含量定位动态变化。因为微型放射自显影具有可以显示