Modulatory effect of International Standard Scalp Acupuncture on brain activation in the elderly as revealed by resting-state fMRI.

The specific mechanisms by which acupuncture affects the central nervous system are unclear. In the International Standard Scalp Acupuncture system, acupuncture needles are applied at the middle line of the vertex, anterior parietal-temporal oblique line, and the posterior parietal-temporal oblique line. We conducted a single-arm prospective clinical trial in which seven healthy elderly volunteers (three men and four women; 50-70 years old) received International Standard Scalp Acupuncture at MS5 (the mid-sagittal line between Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)), the left MS6 (line joining Sishencong (EX-HN1) and Xuanli (GB6)), and the left MS7 (line joining DU20 and Qubin (GB7)).

MicroRNA-21 Promotes Proliferation of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes through Mediation of NF-κB Nuclear Translocation in a Rat Model of Collagen-Induced Rheumatoid Arthritis.

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is overexpressed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was designed to investigate the effect and mechanism of miR-21 on cell proliferation in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) of RA. FLS were primary-cultured from a rat RA model.

[Effect of bee venom injection on TrkA and TRPV1 expression in the dorsal root ganglion of rats with collagen-induced arthritis].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of acupoint injection of bee venom on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and explore the mechanism of bee venom therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Fifteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into bee venom treatment group (BV group), CIA model group, and control group. In the former two groups, CIA was induced by injections of collagen II+IFA (0.

[Clinical randomized controlled trials of acupoint catgut-embedding for simple obesity: a meta-analysis].

The clinical therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut-embedding for simple obesity was systemically analyzed to provide reference and assistance for its clinical treatment and research. By searching in the CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, Pubmed, Springer and Medline databases, clinical randomized controlled trials (RCT) of acupoint catgut-embedding for simple obesity published from Jan, 2009 to July, 2013 were collected while Revman 5. 2 software was applied to perform the Meta-analysis.

[Global improvement in agitated depression treated with the alliance therapy of acupuncture and seroxat and the observation of the quality of life].

Objective: To compare the differences in the efficacy on agitated depression among the alliance therapy of acupuncture and seroxat, the alliance therapy of electroacupuncture and seroxat and the simple application of seroxat.

Methods: One hundred and two cases were randomized into a medication group, a conventional acupuncture + medication group and an electroacupuncture + medication group, 34 cases in each one. In the medication group, seroxat was prescribed for oral administration, once per day.

[Clinical comparative study on the influence of acupoint sticking therapy in dog days and in non-dog days to the quality of life of allergic rhinitis patients].

Objective: To observe and compare the influence of acupoint sticking therapy in dog days and in non-dog days to the quality of life of allergic rhinitis patients.

Methods: Fifty-five cases were divided into group A (the acupoint sticking therapy in dog days group, 28 cases) and group B (the acupoint sticking therapy in non-dog day group, 27 cases) randomly. The acupoint sticking therapy description (Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13) etc.

[Effect of electro-scalp acupuncture on cerebral dopamine transporter in the striatum area of the patient of Parkinson's disease by means of single photon emission computer tomography].

Objective: To probe the mechanism of electro-scalp acupuncture in treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) by single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT).

Methods: Five cases of PD received electro-scalp acupuncture at Dingnie Qianxiexian (MS 6), Epangxian III (MS 4), Dingpangxian I (MS 8), Dingpangxian II (MS 9) and Zhenxia Pangxian (MS 14). Contralateral points were selected for pathologic change on one side and bilateral points were selected for pathologic lesion on both sides.

Effects of sleep deprivation on gamma-amino-butyric acid and glutamate contents in rat brain.

Objective: To investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on the contents of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GLU) in rat brain.

Methods: Thirty rats were assigned into sleep-deprivation (SD, n=10) group (subjected to treatment on small platforms 6.5 cm of diameter), tank control (TC, n=10) group (treated on large platforms 14 cm of diameter) and control group kept in cages (CC, n=10).