Electroacupuncture promotes synaptic plasticity in rats with chronic inflammatory pain-related depression by upregulating BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway.

Background: Chronic inflammatory pain (CIP) frequently coincides with depression among patients. The onset and development of pain and depression are associated with altered neural synaptic plasticity. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively relieve CIP and depression.

Electroacupuncture ameliorates pain in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy rat by inhibiting the CaMKII/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway and regulating spinal synaptic plasticity.

Background: Central sensitization is one of the important mechanisms underlying neuropathic and radicular pain due to cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). Recent studies have shown that the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway mediates central sensitization through its involvement in spinal cord synaptic plasticity. Our group has previously found that electroacupuncture (EA) has a good analgesic effect on CSR.

Electroacupuncture attenuates chronic inflammatory pain and depression comorbidity by inhibiting hippocampal neuronal apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

In chronic inflammatory pain (CIP) and depression, neuroapoptosis has been identified as a contributing factor. Electroacupuncture (EA) shows promise as an alternative therapy for this comorbidity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Electroacupuncture Attenuates Neuropathic Pain in a Rat Model of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy: Involvement of Spinal Cord Synaptic Plasticity.

Purpose: Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is a common neurologic condition that causes chronic neck pain and motor functions, with neuropathic pain (NP) being the primary symptom. Although it has been established that electroacupuncture (EA) can yield an analgesic effect in clinics and synaptic plasticity plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of NP, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the potential mechanisms underlying EA's effect on synaptic plasticity in CSR rat models.

[Progress of research on mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

In the present paper, we summarize the literature about mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion ［including ordinary acupuncture, electroacupuncture, fire needling, warm acupuncture (acupuncture with the needle warmed by burning moxa), cheek acupuncture, wheat-sized moxibustion, suspension moxibustion, etc.］ treatments of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) both domestically and abroad in recent years. Results indicate that the role of acupuncture and moxibustion therapies in improving RA involves multi-targets and multi-levels.

[Effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation at Neiguan (PC 6) on general anesthesia under preserving spontaneous breathing in thoracoscopic lobectomy].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TEAS) at Neiguan (PC 6) on general anesthesia under preserving spontaneous breathing in thoracoscopic lobectomy.

Methods: A total of 66 patients of primary lung cancer undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were divided to an observation group (33 cases, 1 case discontinued) and a control group (33 cases). In the observation group, TEAS at Neiguan (PC 6) was used 30 min before anesthesia induction till the end of surgery.

Screening key genes related to neuropathic pain-induced depression through an integrative bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is often accompanied by sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and other complications, and the pathogenesis is still unclear. Some drugs can relieve patients' pain, but the overall effect is not good. We screened for the key genes related to NP-induced depression based on bioinformatics.

Efficacy of the Integrative Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: The Study Protocol for a Multicenter, Single-Blinded, Randomized Trial in China.

Introduction: Antidepressants are the front-line treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), but remain unsatisfactory in outcome. An increasing number of patients are interested in acupuncture and moxibustion treatment as complementary therapies. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of integrative acupuncture and moxibustion (iAM) treatment in patients with MDD.

[Effect of mild moxibustion on pain and expression of LC3 and Bax in spinal cord in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of mild moxibustion (Moxi) at "Dazhui" (GV14) on neuropathic pain, expression of autophagy and apoptosis factor LC3 and Bax proteins and mRNAs in the spinal cord tissue in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), so as to explore its underlying mechanism underlying relief of CSR-induced pain.

Methods: Forty rats (half male half female) were randomly divided into blank control, model, Moxi, Moxi+autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA, Moxi+3-MA) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The CSR model was established by loose ligature of the local cervical nerve roots.

Direct moxibustion exerts an analgesic effect on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy by increasing autophagy via the Act A/Smads signaling pathway.

Background: Direct moxibustion (DM) is reported to be useful for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), but the analgesic mechanism remains unknown. Autophagy plays a protective role in neuronal apoptosis, Act A/Smads signaling pathway has been confirmed to be associated with the activation of autophagy. The study aimed to explore the effect of DM on autophagy in rats with CSR and the involvement of Act A/Smads signaling pathway.

[Observation on clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion for mild to moderate postpartum depression].

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion and oral sertraline hydrochloride dispersible tablets in the treatment of mild to moderate postpartum depression.

Methods: Sixty patients with mild to moderate postpartum depression were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with psychotherapy.

[Effect of auricular acupuncture on reduction of sertraline hydrochloride in patients with depression: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the effect of auricular acupuncture on reduction rate of sertraline hydrochloride, and to explore the long-term efficacy of auricular acupuncture in patients with depression.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with depression were randomly divided into an observation group (36 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional dosage reduction method, that is, the dosage of sertraline hydrochloride was reduced by 25% every week until the dosage was stopped completely on the premise of no aggravation of depressive symptoms.

[Clinical observation of acupuncture combined with moxibustion on college students with depression].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone in the treatment of depression in college students, and explore its effect on serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).

Methods: Sixty undergraduates with depression were divided into acupuncture-moxibustion group and medication group according to the random number table, with 30 patients in each group. The patients in acupuncture-moxibustion group received acupuncture and moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone at acupoints on Shaoyang meridian according to the method of "rotating the pivot and regulating the qi", one time every other day.

[Therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion on perimenopausal depression with kidney deficiency and liver depression].

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion and oral fluoxetine hydrochloride capsule on perimenopausal depression with kidney deficiency and liver depression.

Methods: A total of 60 patients of perimenopausal depression with kidney deficiency and liver depression were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Acupuncture combined with wheat-grain moxibustion were adopted in the observation group.

[Effects of mild moxibustion on Beclin-1/Bcl-2 expression in spinal cord of rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy].

Objective: To observe the effects of mild moxibustion on the expression of autophagy and apoptosis factors Beclin-1, Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in spinal cord (including nerve root tissues) of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) rats, so as to explore the analgesic mechanism of mild moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV14) on CSR.

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, mild moxibustion group and mild moxibustion+3-methyladenine(3-MA) group, with 10 rats in each group. CSR model was established by inserting the wire into the cervical nerve root.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Electroacupuncture for Perimenopause Women with Mild-Moderate Depression.

Objective: Up to 62% of perimenopausal women have depression symptoms. However, there is no efficacy treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of EA therapy and escitalopram on perimenopause women with mild-moderate depressive symptom.

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive Factor Attachment Receptor (SNARE) Protein Involved in the Remission of Depression by Acupuncture in Rats.

This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of acupuncture in the remission of depression. A depressive disorder model was induced by exposing Sprague-Dawley rats to chronic unpredictable stress. The rats were divided into five groups: healthy (blank group) and stressed rats (model group), and stressed rats treated with acupuncture (acupuncture group), riluzole (riluzole group), acupuncture combined with botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection (acupuncture+BTX-A group) or riluzole combined with BTX-A injection (riluzole+BTX-A group).

Curative effect of acupuncture on quality of life in patient with depression: a clinical randomized single-blind placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life in patients with depression by clinical randomized single-blind placebo-controlled study.

Methods: one hundred and sixty-three cases of depression according with the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a group of acupuncture dredging liver and regulating flow of theosophy (group 1), a group of acupoint shallow stab (group 2) and a group of non-acupoint shallow stab (group 3) at 1 : 1 : 1 ratio, and treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and intradermal embedding of needle, twice a week, for a total of 12 weeks. Scale of Quality of Life (SF-36) was used to measure the scores at four different time points and evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the quality of life of the patients with depression.

[Effects of different acupuncture treatment on mean blood flow velocity of middle cerebral artery on the affected side and rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction].

Objective: To observe the effects of two different acupuncture treatment on cerebral blood flow velocity and early rehabilitation of hemiparalysis caused by cerebral infarction.

Methods: Eighty patients were randomly divided into an alternate acupuncture group (n = 40) and a routine acupuncture group (n = 40). Both of the groups were treated with routine neurology medicine and application of good limb position combined with acupuncture.

[Analysis on the channel state in 45 patients with acute sport injury of external malleolus joint].

Objective: To observe the channel state in patients with acute sport injury of external malleolus joint from the cutaneous electrical conductance quantity (ECQ) of Jing (Well)-points, Yuan (Source)-points and Luo (Collateral)-points of the twelve regular channels.

Methods: Forty-five patients with acute sport injury of external malleolus joint were chosen to be used as the observation group, and 30 healthy people as the control group. The ECQ of the cutaneous tissue of Jing-points, Yuan-points and Luo-points of the twelve regular channels was detected by using HB-DET Acupoint Diagnosis-Therapeutic Apparatus under room temperature.