[Influence of electroacupuncture on the expression of AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 in the spinal injured area of the rats with acute spinal cord injury].

Objective: To explore the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 in the rats with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and explore the potential effect mechanism of EA in treatment of acute SCI.

Methods: A total of 80 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on angiopoietin-1 in spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the behavior, histomorphology and the expression of angiopoietin-1 (Angpt-1) in rats with spinal nerve injury, so as to explore its mechanism on neuropathic pain.

Methods: Forty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into sham, model and EA groups (=15 rats in each group). Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) of the L5 lumbar vertebra was performed to establish a rat model of neuropathic pain.

Effects of electroacupuncture at different acupoints on the histomorphology of neurogenic bladder and the expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in interstitial cells of Cajal in a rat model of suprasacral spinal cord injury.

Background: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at different acupoints on the histomorphology of neurogenic bladder and the expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in a rat model of suprasacral spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: A incomplete suprasacral SCI rat model was induced using a MASCIS impactor. Rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, SCI model group, Ciliao treatment group or Guanyuan treatment group.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on the morphological changes of the spinal dorsal horn and the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the injured spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain].

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture stimulation at "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Kunlun"(BL60) on the morphological changes of the spinal dorsal horn and the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in the injured spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham model group, model group, electroacupuncture group, and medication group, with 10 rats in each group. Spinal nerve ligation of the L5 lumbar vertebra was performed to establish a rat model of neuropathic pain.

A Bioinformatic Analysis of MicroRNAs' Role in Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Objectives The aim of our study was to ascertain the underlying role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Design Bioinformatic analysis from multiple databases. Methods Studies of the association of miRNAs and IDD were identified in multiple electronic databases.

[Influence of electroacupuncture of "Dazhui" (EX-B2) and "Mingmen" (GV4) on NR2B expression in anterior horns of spinal cord in rats with acute spinal cord injury].

Objective: To observe the influence of eletroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (EX-B2) and "Mingmen" (GV4) on expression of NR2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) in the injured anterior horn (AH) area of rats with acute spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of neural repair.

Methods: A total of 96 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: sham operation (sham), model, medication (Methyl-prednisone, MP) and EA (＝24 in each group). The acute SCI model was established by using a MASCIS spinal cord impactor.

KCC2-GABAA pathway correlates with the analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture in CCI rats.

Potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) has been indicated to serve a crucial role during chronic neuropathic pain (NP). Following the emergence of NP, γ‑aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor‑mediated signaling may be further impaired by the changes of KCC2 chloride anion gradient. In the present study, the authors investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the behavior and the expression of KCC2 and GABAA receptor γ2 subunit in the spinal cord of chronic constriction injury (CCI) model rats.

Effect of electro-acupuncture on the BDNF-TrkB pathway in the spinal cord of CCI rats.

Microglia, which comprise a sensor for pathological events in the central nervous system, may be triggered by nerve injury and transformed from a quiescent state into an activated state; ionised calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) is a sensitive marker associated with activated microglia. Accumulated evidence suggests that spinal activated microglia and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signalling pathway play major roles in the production and development of neuropathic pain. Electro-acupuncture (EA) has a positive effect on relieving chronic neuropathic pain; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Electro-acupuncture at Governor Vessel improves neurological function in rats with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Governor Vessel (GV) on the locomotor function in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats and explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Thirtytwo male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups namely: the sham group (with sham operation); the untreated group (without treatment after spinal cord impact); the EA-1 group [EA applied at Baihui (GV 20) and Fengfu (GV 16) after spinal cord impact] and the EA-2 group [with EA applied at Dazhui (GV 14) and Mingmen (GV 4) after spinal cord impact]. Real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blotting were used to assess changes in the mRNA and protein expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) at 7 weeks following EA administration.

The regulatory effect of electro-acupuncture on the expression of NMDA receptors in a SCI rat model.

Background: In early spinal cord injury (SCI), glutamate receptors, including N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs), are over-stimulated by excessively released glutamate. The enhanced activity of NMDARs may cause cell death by overloading calcium (Ca) into cells based on their high permeability to Ca. Studies in SCI animals have shown that treatment with electro-acupuncture (EA) is able to reduce cell death and to improve functional recovery.

[Involvement of Central Neuroglia Cells in Analgesic Effect of Electroacupuncture Therapy for Neuropathic Pain].

Neuropathic pain is one of the common chronic syndromes in clinical practice. It has been demonstrated that the chronic neuropathic pain and glial cells in the central nervous system are closely related to each other. When inducing analgesic effect in neuropathic pain, EA suppressed OX-42 labeled activation of microgliacytes in dorsal horns of the spinal cord, down-regulated release of nitric oxide (NO), expression of P 2 X receptor, intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 β, IL-6, TNF-α, interferon (IF)-γ and up-regulated neurotrophin-3 expression in neuropathic pain rats.

Combination treatment with Gua Sha and Blood-letting causes attenuation of systemic inflammation, activated coagulation, tissue ischemia and injury during heatstroke in rats.

Objective: Gua Sha and Blood-letting at the acupoints were Chinese traditional therapies for heatstroke. The purpose of present study was to assess the therapeutic effect of Gua Sha on the DU Meridian and Bladder Meridian combined with Blood-letting acupoints at Shixuan (EX-UE 11) and Weizhong (BL 40) on heatstroke.

Methods: Anesthetized rats, immediately after the onset of heatstroke, were divided into four major groups: Gua Sha group, Blood-letting group, Gua Sha combined with Blood-letting group and model group.

Electroacupuncture and A-317491 depress the transmission of pain on primary afferent mediated by the P2X3 receptor in rats with chronic neuropathic pain states.

P2X is a family of ligand-gated ion channels that act through adenosine ATP. The P2X3 receptor plays a key role in the transmission of neuropathic pain at peripheral and spinal sites. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat neuropathic pain effectively.

Neuroprotective effects of different modalities of acupuncture on traumatic spinal cord injury in rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can induce a series of histological, biochemical, and functional changes. Acupuncture is commonly used for SCI patients. Using male rats of spinal cord injury with the New York University (NYU) Impactor, we investigated the response of electroacupuncture (EA), manual acupuncture (MA), and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) at Shuigou (DU26) and Fengfu (DU16) acupoints to understand the effects and mechanisms of acupuncture in neuroprotection and neuronal function recovery after SCI.

Effect of electroacupuncture on the pathomorphology of the sciatic nerve and the sensitization of P2X₃ receptors in the dorsal root ganglion in rats with chronic constrictive injury.

Objective: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the pathomorphology of the sciatic nerve and the role of P2X3 receptors in EA analgesia.

Methods: The chronic constriction injury (CCI) model was adopted in this study. A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham CCI, CCI, CCI plus contralateral EA (CCI + conEA) and CCI plus ipsilateral EA (CCI + ipsEA).

Analgesic effect of electroacupuncture on chronic neuropathic pain mediated by P2X3 receptors in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate disodium (ATP) gated P2X receptors, especially the subtype P2X(3), play a key role in transmission of pain signals in neuropathic pain, ATP has been documented to play a significant role in the progression of pain signals, suggesting that control of these pathways through electroacupuncture (EA) is potentially an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. EA has been accepted to effectively manage chronic pain by applying the stimulating current to acupoints through acupuncture needles. To determine the significance of EA on neuropathic pain mediated by P2X(3) receptors in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were recorded, and the expression of P2X(3) receptors in the DRG neurons was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH).

[Effects of acupuncture on different acupoints in combination with rehabilitation on hemiplegic muscle spasticity in hemiplegia patients].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of hemiplegic muscle spasticity treated with acupuncture on different acupoints in combination with rehabilitation.

Methods: Ninety cases of post-stroke muscle spasticity were randomized into a corresponding and central axis acupuncture group (group A), a conventional acupuncture group (group B) and a rehabilitation group (group C), 30 cases in each one. In group A, the acupoints on the Governor Vessel were mainly selected, as well as those on Hand-Shaoyang meridian and Foot-Taiyang meridian.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of local plus distal acupoints in the same segments of spinal cord on spinal substance P expression in rats with chronic radicular pain].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of local plus distal acupoints on spinal substance P expression in chronic radicular pain (CRP) rats so as to investigate its underlying mechanism in the treatment of chronic radical pain.

Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats were randomized into control, model, local acupoints [LA, bilateral "Jiaji" (EX-B 2)], distal acupoints [DA, bilateral "Yanglingquan" (GB 34)], and LA+ DA groups, with 5 cases in each. CRP model was duplicated by implanting a gel-silicon wrapping the nerve root of L4 under anesthesia.

[Research of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine on regularity of clinical acupuncture].

In the present article, the authors, in the light of their research in recent a decade of years, make an overall summary on the regularities of clinical acupuncture from the stimulated points, the superficial and deep layers, the literature basis and the innovation points. These basic regularities include symmetry or corresponding, segmental innervation, center or central axis, superiority of distal limbs, ending-stimulation accelerating analgesia, periphery-stimulation accelerating easiness and smooth, local feed back, specific feed back, selection of the stimulated points, acupuncture of different layers, etc..