Experimental study on the effect of An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30) on certain brain nuclei of pleasure circuits in rats with chronic neuralgia

Objective

To explore the central neurobiological mechanisms of pleasure effect on rats with neuralgia treated by tuina manipulations of An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30).

Methods

A total of 64 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. Eighteen rats were randomly selected as a normal group, and the other 46 rats were used to duplicate the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model. Ten rats failed in modeling and 36 rats succeeded. These 36 rats were then randomly divided into a model group and a tuina group, with 18 rats in each group. The rats in the normal group and the model group did not receive any interventions, while those in the tuina group received An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30), 1 min for each time, once a day, 3 weeks in total. Heating tests were evaluated to observe the change of pain-sensitivity score before intervention, 1 week after intervention, 2 weeks after intervention, and 3 weeks after intervention. After 1 week of intervention, 2 weeks of intervention, and 3 weeks of intervention, 6 rats were randomly selected from each group respectively for brain extraction. The change of Nissl’s body and β-endorphin in the accumbens nucleus as well as amygdaloid nucleus of pleasure circuits, and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the arcuate nucleus were analyzed by methods of histochemistry and molecular biology.

Results

After modeling, the pain-sensitivity scores of the tuina group and the model group were statistically different from the score of the normal group (both P<0.05). After An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30) for one week, the pain-sensitivity score of the tuina group had statistical difference compared with that of the model group (P<0.05). At each different time point: the amounts of Nissl’s body in accumbens nucleus and amygdaloid nucleus of the tuina group were significantly more than those of the model group (all P<0.01). Besides, the numbers of β-endorphin immunoreactive cells in the accumbens nucleus and amygdaloid nucleus of the rats in the tuina group were significantly higher than those in the model group (all P<0.01), and so was the expression of POMC in arcuate nucleus (all P<0.01).

Conclusion

An-pressing and Rou-kneading Huantiao (GB 30), where the sciatic nerve is ligated, can reduce pain-sensitivity score and increase pain tolerance value of rats with chronic neuralgia. It can increase the activity of neurons in accumbens nucleus and amygdaloid nucleus of pleasure circuits, which indicates that the analgesia effect of tuina therapy may correlate with pleasure effect, and also reveals a part of neurobiological mechanisms of neuralgia.

     

秦氏头八针治疗肾虚火旺型慢性单纯性咽炎临床观察

目的观察秦氏头八针针刺加拔罐治疗肾虚火旺型慢性单纯性咽炎的临床疗效。方法将60例肾虚火旺型单纯性咽炎患者随机分为两组,治疗组30例,采用秦氏头八针结合常规的针罐治疗;对照组30例,采用常规的针罐治疗。两组患者均每日针刺1次,每次留针30 min,针后留罐10 min,10次为1个疗程。观察2个疗程后两组的临床疗效和咽部症状。结果治疗组总有效率为93.3%,对照组总有效率为70.0%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗组患者咽部痛痒感、咽部异物感、咽部干燥感、刺激性咳嗽、咽黏膜充血、咽滤泡增生的症状改善总有效率分别为93.3%、84.8%、83.3%、76.7%、86.7%、80.0%;对照组患者咽部痛痒感、咽部异物感、咽部干燥感、刺激性咳嗽、咽黏膜充血、咽滤泡增生的症状改善总有效率分别为66.7%、56.7%、56.7%、50.0%、53.6%、33.3%。两组间相应咽部症状改善总有效率比较差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01)。结论秦氏头八针针罐治疗肾虚火旺型单纯性咽炎优于常规针罐治疗,可有效改善咽部症状。     

冬春季失眠症患者肝经症状及情绪变化规律研究

目的探讨冬春季失眠症患者情绪及肝经症状的变化规律。方法分别于冬春两季选择失眠症患者各150例,采用中医肝脏象情绪量表、HAMA(焦虑)量表、HAMD(抑郁)量表测定情绪情况,同时观察肝经症状。结果春季组中医肝脏象情绪量表积分≥31者占54.67%,明显高于冬季组的43.33%(χ2=3.855,P=0.032)。春季组与冬季组比较,肝经因子(Z=2.322,P=0.003)、焦虑因子(Z=1.576,P=0.016)、总积分(Z=-2.022,P=0.043)及HAMA积分(Z=-2.406,P=0.016)差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论季节对失眠症患者的情绪问题及肝经症状具有显著的影响,春季发病患者焦虑情绪及肝经症状均较冬季发病患者明显;提示失眠症患者春季的肝脏疏泄功能强于冬季,冬季发病患者治疗应以温肝疏肝为主,而春季发病患者则应注重平肝抑肝。