Key targets of signal transduction neural mechanisms in acupuncture treatment of cardiovascular diseases: Hypothalamus and autonomic nervous system.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. As a traditional Chinese treatment method, acupuncture has a unique role in restoring the balance of the human body environment. Due to its safety, non-invasive nature, and effectiveness in treating cardiovascular diseases, acupuncture has been widely welcomed and recognized among the world.

Effect of moxibustion on plasma amino acid metabolism in rats with knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Zusanli "(ST36) on the plasma amino acid metabolism in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore the amino acid metabolism mechanism of moxibustion in repairing cartilage injury in KOA.

Methods: A total of 30 SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model and moxibustion groups, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the model and moxibustion groups were injected with the mixture of L-cysteine and papain into bilateral knee joint cavity to make the KOA model.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment mediates sympathetic nerves to alleviate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Background: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion can further exacerbate myocardial injury and increase the risk of death. Our previous research found that the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus plays a crucial role in the improvement of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) by electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. CRH neurons exhibit periodic concentrated expression in PVN, but further research is needed to determine whether they are involved in the improvement of MIRI by EA pretreatment.

A New Target of Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Mediated Sympathetic Nervous to Improve MIRI: Glutamatergic Neurons in Fastigial Nucleus of the Cerebellum.

Ischemic heart disease is a fatal cardiovascular disease that irreversibly impairs the function of the heart, followed by reperfusion leading to a further increase in infarct size. Clinically, we call it myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). A growing number of clinical observations and experimental studies have found electroacupuncture (EA) to be effective in alleviating MIRI.

Electroacupuncture attenuates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting microglial engulfment of dendritic spines.

A major side effect of reperfusion therapy following myocardial infarction is myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). Electroacupuncture preconditioning (EA-pre) has a long history in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we demonstrate how EA-pre attenuates MIRI by affecting the phagocytosis of neuronal dendritic spines of microglia of the fastigial nucleus (FN).

[Effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on GABA receptor of fastigial nucleus and sympathetic nerve activity in rats with myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury].

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on cardiac function, sympathetic nerve activity, indexes of myocardial injury and GABA receptor in fastigial nucleus in rats with myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI), and to explore the neuroregulatory mechanism of EA pretreatment in improving MIRI.

Methods: A total of 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, an EA group, an agonist group and an agonist+EA group, 12 rats in each group. The MIRI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.

[Electroacupuncture improves ischemic myocardial injury by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to inhibit ferroptosis in rats].

Objective: To explore the role of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) / heme oxygenase (HO-1) signal pathway in electroacupuncture (EA) induced improvement of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) and its relationship with ferroptosis in rats.

Methods: Male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into sham operation, model, EA and EA+ML385 (inhibitor of Nrf2) groups (=8). The rat model of AMI was established by ligating the descending anterior branch of the left coronary artery.

A neural circuit for gastric motility disorders driven by gastric dilation in mice.

Introduction: Symptoms of gastric motility disorders are common clinical manifestations of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), and are triggered and exacerbated by stress, but the neural pathways underpinning them remain unclear.

Methods: We set-up a mouse model by gastric dilation (GD) in which the gastric dynamics were assessed by installing strain gauges on the surface of the stomach. The neural pathway associated with gastric motility disorders was investigated by behavioral tests, electrophysiology, neural circuit tracing, and optogenetics and chemogenetics involving projections of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) to acetylcholine (ChAT) neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV).

A central amygdala input to the dorsal vagal complex controls gastric motility in mice under restraint stress.

Psychological and physiological stress can cause gastrointestinal motility disorders. Acupuncture has a benign regulatory effect on gastrointestinal motility. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear.

Glutamatergic neurons in lateral hypothalamus play a vital role in acupuncture preconditioning to alleviate MIRI.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) has high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasing evidence has shown that electroacupuncture (EA) plays a critical role in alleviating MIRI. The aim of this study is to investigate whether glutamatergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) have vital effect on MIRI as well as the underlying mechanism during the EA pretreatment.

Study on the central neural pathway and the relationship between the heart and small intestine via a dual neural tracer.

Despite very different functions, studies increasingly report that there may be a potential central nervous anatomical connection between the heart and the small intestine. In this study, the central nervous anatomical relationship between the heart and small intestine was studied via a viral tracer. Pseudorabies virus (PRV) syngeneic strains with different fluorescent reporter genes (eGFP or mRFP) were microinjected into the heart walls and small intestinal walls of male C57BL/6J using glass microelectrode.

Mechanisms of Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Alleviating Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Interactions between the Cerebellar Fastigial Nucleus and Lateral Hypothalamic Area.

Background: Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) is an important mechanism of post-myocardial infarction injury and a main cause of death in patients with ischemic heart disease. Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment is effective for the prevention and treatment of MIRI, but mechanisms mediating the effects of cardiovascular disease EA treatments remain unclear.

Objectives: To determine whether the lateral hypothalamus (LHA) and the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) are involved in the protective effects of EA stimulation on MIRI.

[Effect of moxibustion on inflammatory pain and N-methyl-D aspartic acid receptor-nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway in spinal cord of adjuvant arthritis rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on pain and N-methyl-D aspartic acid receptor/nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NMDA-NO-cGMP) signaling pathway in the spinal cord of rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA), so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in relieving inflammatory pain of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, moxibustion (Moxi), Moxi +NMDA receptor antagonist AP-5 (Moxi+AP-5) and Moxi +NMDA receptor agonist (NMDA) groups, with 20 rats in each group. The AA model was established by placing the rats in a wind, cold and damp environment for 12 h, once daily for 20 days and by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the right hind paw.

Effect of moxibustion on autophagy and the inflammatory response of synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis model rat.

Objective: To investigate the effect of moxibustion on synovitis and the autophagy of synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, model group, moxibustion group, cigarette moxibustion group, and medicine group, with eight rats included in each group. The RA model was established by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the left posterior toe.

[Electroacupuncture of acupoints of heart meridian ameliorates acute myocardial ischemia via Akt/mTOR pathway].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of myocardial protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) rats.

Methods: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups (=10 in each group). The AMI model was established by occlusion of the descending anterior branch (DAB) of the left coronary artery.

[Effects of moxibustion on p53， SLC7A11， and GPX4 expression in synovial tissues of rats with adjuvant arthritis].

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion on p53, cystine/glutamate antiporter solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in synovial tissues of rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA), so as to explore the mechanism of moxibustion in alleviating rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Eighty rats were randomly divided into normal, model, moxibustion, and medication groups (=20 in each group). The AA model was established by exposure to wind, cold, and damp environmental factors combined with injection of complete Freund's adjuvant.

[Effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on neuronal activities in lateral hypothalamus area of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning of "Shenmen" (HT7)-"Tongli" (HT5) segment of the Heart Meridian on neuronal electrical activities of lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) in rats with myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI), so as to investigate its possible mechanism underlying improvement of MIRI.

Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into sham, model, EA and damage + EA (D+EA) groups, with 6 rats in each group. The MIRI model was established by occlusion of the anterior descending branch (ADB) of the left coronary artery for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 2 h.

Acupuncture for functional gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatments (AT) on functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is contentious. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for FGIDs.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PUBMED, Web of Science, Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP Database were searched through December 31, 2019 with no language restrictions.

[Exploration on the diagnosis and treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis with acupuncture and moxibustion based on the study of ancient medical works].

Through collecting the relevant provisions and medical cases of syndrome treated with acupuncture and moxibustion from ancient medical works, the diagnosis and acupoint selection in treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMC) with acupuncture and moxibustion were analyzed systematically from 3 aspects, i.e. meridian differentiation, disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation.

[Effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on the contents of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in lateral hypothalamus area and cerebellar fastigial nucleus of rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning at heart meridian acupoints on the contents of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) and cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) in the rats with acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), and explore the role and mechanism of LHA and FN in the effect of EA at heart meridian acupoints against acute MIRI.

Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, an EA heart meridian group and an EA lung meridian group, 12 rats in each group, as well as an LHA plus heart meridian group (damage of bilateral LHA) and an FN plus heart meridian group (damage of bilateral FN), 6 rats in each one. Three days after nucleus destruction, EA was applied to "Shenmen" (HT 7) and "Tongli" (HT 5) in the EA heart meridian group, the LHA plus heart meridian group and the FN plus heart meridian group and EA was applied to "Taiyuan" (LU 9) and "Lieque" (LU 7) in the EA lung meridian group, with 1 V in stimulating voltage and 2 Hz in frequency, lasting 20 minutes each time, once a day, for consecutively 7 days before model replication.

[Effect of moxibustion on PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in foot-pad synovium in rats with rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin protein (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway in the foot-pad synovial tissue in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore the mechanism of moxibustion for treating RA.

Methods: Forty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a cigarette-moxibustion group and a medication group, 8 rats in each group. The RA model was established with subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the left hind foot-pad under wind, cold and wet environment in the model group, the moxibustion group, the cigarette-moxibustion group and the medication group.

[Effect of moxibustion on expression of autophagy related molecules in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on expression of autophagy related gene(Atg), serine/threonine protein kinase-uncoordinated 51 like kinase-1 (ULK1), Beclin1 and microtubule associated proteins light chain 3 (LC3) and ultrastructure of synovium in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of RA.

Methods: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, RA model, moxibustion, cigarette-roasting and medication groups (=8 rats in each group). The RA model was established by keeping the rats in wind, cold and wet environment for 12 h, once a day for 20 days and subcutaneous injection of Freund's adjuvant complete into the sole of the left hind paw.

[Implication and implementation path of the ideological and political elements in acupuncture- moxibustion courses].

To explore the implementation path of the ideological and political education according to the characteristics of teaching sections in acupuncture-moxibustion courses. Excavating the traditional Chinese culture and medical ethics contained in acupuncture-moxibustion courses helps strengthening the ideological and political quality of medical students and noble medical ethics, strengthening self-confidence in both professions and culture, and also helps students establishing a correct outlook on life, world and value. The moral education integrated with the professional teaching will helps explore ideological and political education path in acupuncture-moxibustion courses, so as to solidify them into each teaching sections and improve the teaching effect.

[Development history of acupuncture and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment institutions since the founding of the People's Republic of China].

The development process of acupuncture and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment institutions since the founding of the People's Republic of China is summarized and analyzed. The main forms of acupuncture and moxibustion diagnosis and treatment institutions have shifted from the individual, joint clinic and outpatient department of acupuncture and moxibustion in the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China to the present acupuncture and moxibustion departments in Chinese medicine hospitals and general hospitals.The construction and development of public and private acupuncture and moxibustion hospital and key specialty of acupuncture and moxibustion fully expand the clinical application of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.