Molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on neuropathic pain

Acupuncture has been used to treat neuropathic pain for a long time, but its mechanisms of action remain unknown. In this study, we observed the effects of electroacupuncture and manual acu-puncture on neuropathic pain and on ephrin-B/EphB signaling in rats models of chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain. The results showed that manual acupuncture and elec-puncture significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity following chronic constriction injury, es-pecially electroacupuncture treatment. Real-time PCR results revealed that ephrin-B1/B3 and EphB1/B2 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in the spinal dorsal horns of chronic constriction injury rats. Electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture suppressed the high sion of ephrin-B1 mRNA, and elevated EphB3/B4 mRNA expression. Electroacupuncture signifi-cantly enhanced the mRNA expression of ephrin-B3 and EphB3/B6 in the dorsal horns of neuro-pathic pain rats. Western blot results revealed that electroacupuncture in particular, and manual acupuncture, significantly up-regulated ephrin-B3 protein levels in rat spinal dorsal horns. The re-sults of this study suggest that acupuncture could activate ephrin-B/EphB signaling in neuropathic pain rats and improve neurological function.     

Ganglion cyst of the foot treated with electroacupuncture: A case report

Objective:

To present the clinical management of a ganglion cyst presenting on the dorsolateral aspect of the foot.

Clinical Features:

A 45-year-old female cyclist complaining of ganglion cyst following training period.

Intervention and Outcome:

Patient was treated with high-frequency electroacupuncture in four consecutive sessions over four weeks, and reported resolution of the cyst following therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

Ganglion cysts of the foot are relatively rare connective tissue tumours with variable treatment approaches. Electroacupuncture may be a novel and non-invasive conservative approach for the treatment of ganglion cysts. Further evaluation of the efficacy of such treatment is warranted.     

Acute shoulder infection following acupuncture—A report of three cases

Worldwide, acupuncture is a popular alternative medicine for releasing pain, treating diseases, or promoting health. Although it is generally considered safe, a few complications have been reported. These complications ranged from minor side effects, such as pain, local hematoma formation, or the aggravation of symptoms, to serious complications including mechanical injuries, such as pneumothorax and severe infection requiring surgical treatment. In orthopedic clinics, reports of complications caused by acupuncture are rare. We present three cases who developed severe infection following acupuncture, leading to irreversible osteoarthritic changes in their glenohumeral joints. All of them mentioned a history of acupuncture therapy before their shoulder became swollen and hot and no other infection source could be detected. Possible explanations included: (1) breakdown of the sterile technique; (2) no consensus of acupoint or how deep the needle should be inserted; (3) patient’s comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus or previous shoulder pathology, were not considered. Although these three patients underwent debridement and proper management with antibiotics according to the culture data, eventually, they still progressed to severe glenohumeral joint destruction. Strict infection control guidelines should be established to lower this type of life-threatening complication.     

祖传中医医疗特点介绍：导气住痛 针推并用——赵寿毛副主任医师临证经验

笔者为祖传中医世家子弟，根据中医经典著作《黄帝内经》的治疗原则，调整阴阳平衡，重视治神，继承古代医家和祖传针刺方法，无痛进针，针灸与按摩相结合。所附7例医案，略见疗效，如鼓应桴。     

Repetitive Treatment with Diluted Bee Venom Attenuates the Induction of Below-Level Neuropathic Pain Behaviors in a Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model

The administration of diluted bee venom (DBV) into an acupuncture point has been utilized traditionally in Eastern medicine to treat chronic pain. We demonstrated previously that DBV has a potent anti-nociceptive efficacy in several rodent pain models. The present study was designed to examine the potential anti-nociceptive effect of repetitive DBV treatment in the development of below-level neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats. DBV was applied into the Joksamli acupoint during the induction and maintenance phase following thoracic 13 (T13) spinal hemisection. We examined the effect of repetitive DBV stimulation on SCI-induced bilateral pain behaviors, glia expression and motor function recovery. Repetitive DBV stimulation during the induction period, but not the maintenance, suppressed pain behavior in the ipsilateral hind paw. Moreover, SCI-induced increase in spinal glia expression was also suppressed by repetitive DBV treatment in the ipsilateral dorsal spinal cord. Finally, DBV injection facilitated motor function recovery as indicated by the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan rating score. These results indicate that the repetitive application of DBV during the induction phase not only decreased neuropathic pain behavior and glia expression, but also enhanced locomotor functional recovery after SCI. This study suggests that DBV acupuncture can be a potential clinical therapy for SCI management.     

针麻复合靶控输注对腹腔镜宫外孕手术病人术中心脏泵功能的影响

目的采用无创方法对患者血流动力学进行监测,探讨腹腔镜宫外孕手术中针麻复合靶控输注(target-controlled infusion,TCI)对心脏泵功能的影响。方法选择20例行腹腔镜宫外孕手术的患者作为研究对象,随机分为两组,每组10例。对照组行单纯TCI;观察组行TCI联合针刺合谷、内关。在维持相同麻醉深度的条件下,通过无创血流动力学监测患者麻醉前、诱导后插管前、插管时、气腹时、气腹毕以及苏醒时、拔管时的血流动力学指标,包括心率(HR)、平均动脉压(MAP)、每搏输出量(SV)、心输出量(CO)、体循环血管阻力(SVR)、胸腔液体量(TFC)。记录患者术中所用异丙酚和瑞芬太尼的用量。结果 1组内比较:对照组与基础值相比,插管前的HR、MAP、CO、SVR明显降低;插管时的MAP明显升高;气腹时HR、MAP、SVR明显升高;气腹毕的HR、CO明显降低;苏醒时HR、MAP、CO明显升高;拔管时的HR、MAP、CO明显升高。观察组与基础值相比,插管前的HR、MAP明显降低;气腹毕的HR明显降低。2组间比较:观察组在插管前的HR、SVR高于对照组,气腹时的HR、MAP低于对照组,苏醒及拔管时的HR、MAP、CO低于对照组。3观察组异丙酚和瑞芬太尼的用量小于对照组。结论在控制麻醉深度相同的条件下,针麻复合TCI能明显减轻术中血流动力学的波动,使血流动力学趋于稳定,并且能减少麻醉药物的用量。     

Acupuncture in the treatment of fatigue in Parkinson's disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Fatigue is a commonly occurring nonmotor symptom among individuals of Parkinson''s disease (PD). Little is known about how to measure fatigue in PD. This study is aiming to investigate the safety and efficacy of acupuncture for PD-related fatigue.Methods:RCTs of acupuncture for PD-related fatigue will be retrieved from inception to July 2020 in 9 different databases such as Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE and so on. Search words will be used for the BC and acupuncture. The analysis would include randomised, controlled, clinical trials of PD patients with fatigue that were published in either Chinese or English. The primary outcome is the fatigue condition. Two or three reviewers should be in charge of study selection, data extraction and evaluating the risk of bias. RevMan software (V.5.3) will be used to perform the assessment of the risk of bias and data synthesis.Results:To provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treating PD-related fatigue.Conclusion:This study will be helpful for understanding the effect and safety of acupuncture for PD-related fatigue.Trial registration number:CRD42020160823