The Effect of Acupuncture on the Morphology and Neural Coding Damage of the Central Amygdala in Mice with Chronic Inflammatory Pain and Depression.

Purpose: Observing the effects and roles of acupuncture on the morphology and neural coding damage of central amygdala (CeA) neurons in chronic inflammatory pain with depression (CIPD) mice and exploring the central nervous mechanism of acupuncture intervention in CIPD.

Methods: A CIPD model was established by injecting Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the left hind foot. Using paw withdrawal latency (PWLs), forced swimming, and open field tests, 40 mice with successfully replicated models were selected and randomly divided into a model group, acupuncture group, and sham acupuncture group, with 12 mice in each group.

[Application of virus vector tools for acupuncture analgesia related brain circuits research].

The clinical efficacy of acupuncture analgesia is definite, but its mechanisms of the central nervous system have not yet been fully elucidated. The virus vector technique provides an effective means for the study of the central nervous system mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. We, in this article, briefly introduced the classification and characteristics of virus vectors, reviewed and analyzed their application and their functional components carried by and optical/chemical genetics technologies they carry in pain and acupuncture analgesia research in recent years.

[Effects of acupuncture on anxiety-like behavior and PKC/ERK/CREB pathway in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture (acupuncture for soothing the liver and regulating the spirit) on the protein kinase C/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/cAMP response element-binding protein (PKC/ERK/CREB) signaling pathway in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture on alleviating anxiety and fear in PTSD.

Methods: Fifty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats) and a PTSD model group (40 rats). The PTSD model was induced by using a combination of closed electric shock and forced exhaustive swimming.

[Research progress on the mechanism of acupuncture on depression based on signaling pathway regulation].

Depression is high in prevalence rate, recurrence rate and disability rate. Acupuncture is effective on depression. The paper reviewed the regulatory effect of acupuncture on five prominent signaling pathways, i.

[Research progress of acupuncture in improving pain emotion by regulating functions of anterior cingulate cortex].

Pain emotion is a negative emotion caused by pain, which seriously affects the patients' physical and psychological health. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a key brain region in the occurrence and regulation of pain and painful emotion. In this paper, we summed up the relevant progress of researches on acupuncture improvement of pain emotion from neurotransmitters and receptors, cellular signaling pathways and neural circuits of ACC, in order to provide a basis for further research.

Progress of researches on the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for Alzheimer's disease by modulating synaptic plasticity.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high incidence in the elderly population, and the synaptic changes in central neurons are the key pathological feature. The clinical effect of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of AD is positive, and the research on the mechanism of acupuncture intervention of AD from the perspective of central synaptic plasticity regulation has been conducted uninterruptedly. In the present paper, we made a summation about the relevant experimental studies in recent years, and analyzed its mechanisms underlying improvement of AD by regulating synaptic plasticity from 1) repairing synaptic structure (synaptic contact area ［total number of synapses, synaptic surface density, synaptic number density］, postsynaptic dense zone thickness, synaptic gap width, and interface curvature), 2) improving synaptic transmission efficiency (regulating long-term potentiation and long-term depression), 3) promoting the expression of synapse related proteins (synaptophysin, postsynaptic density protein 95, growth associated protein 43), 4) regulating the expression of neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, monoamines, amino acids, etc.

The role and mechanism of 5-HTDRN-BNST neural circuit in anxiety and fear lesions.

Central 5-hydroxytryptaminergic dorsal raphe nucleus (5-HTDRN)-bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) neural circuit dysfunction is one of the important neurobiological basis of anxiety and fear disorders. Under stress, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons act on BNST receptors to attenuate anxiety and fear responses or enhance anxiety and fear. In BNST, corticotropin releasing factor neurons play a role in regulating emotions by reversely regulating excitatory or inhibitory 5-HT neurons.

Research progress of acupuncture regulating ERK signaling pathway in the treatment of depression.

Acupuncture treatment for depression has definite therapeutic efficacy, and its mechanism has been extensively studied. The extracellular regulatory protein kinase(ERK) signaling pathway is involved in the development and progression of depression. This article reviewed and summarized the research progress on the regulation of the ERK signaling pathway by acupuncture in the treatment of depression in recent years, focusing on the physiological activation and regulatory mechanism of the ERK signaling pathway, its association with the occurrence of depression, and the mechanisms through which acupuncture activates the ERK signaling pathway to treat depression (including enhancing neuronal synaptic plasticity, promoting the release of neurotrophic factors, and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis).

Parallel needling technique for peripheral facial paralysis with deficiency and blood stasis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To observe the clinical efficacy of the parallel needling technique for peripheral facial paralysis with deficiency and blood stasis.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with peripheral facial paralysis of deficiency and blood stasis were randomly assigned to a parallel needling group and a conventional acupuncture group, with 31 patients in each group. The conventional acupuncture group received needling at Yangbai (GB 14), Quanliao (SI 18), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4), Yifeng (TE 17) on the affected side, Hegu (LI 4) on the healthy side, and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Qihai (CV 6) etc.

Effects of acupuncture on vision and visual function in children with anisometropic amblyopia.

Objectives: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating , unblocking meridians and brightening eyes) combined with conventional treatment for anisometropic amblyopia children.

Methods: A total of 76 children with monocular anisometropic amblyopia were randomized into an observation group (38 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (38 cases). The lens covering therapy was adopted in both groups.

Brain mechanism of acupuncture for children with anisometropic amblyopia: a resting functional magnetic resonance imaging study based on voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity.

Aim: To explore the brain mechanism of acupuncture for children with anisometropic amblyopia using the voxel-mirror homotopic connectivity (VMHC) analysis method of resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) technology based on clinical effectiveness.

Methods: Eighty children with anisometropic monocular amblyopia were randomly divided into two groups: control (40 cases, 1 case of shedding) and acupuncture (40 cases, 1 case of shedding) groups. The control group was treated with glasses, red flash, grating, and visual stimulations, with each procedure conducted for 5min per time.

Network pharmacology and experimental verification reveal the mechanism of Hedysari Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma with the optimal compatibility ratio against colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The herb pair Astragali Radix (AR) and Curcumae Rhizoma (vinegar-processed, VPCR), derived from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) text 'Yixuezhongzhongcanxilu', have long been used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, notably colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Hedysari Radix (HR), belonging to the same Leguminosae family as AR but from a different genus, is traditionally used as a substitute for AR when paired with VPCR in the treatment of CAC. However, the optimal compatibility ratio for HR-VPCR against CAC and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Identifications of metabolic differences between Hedysari Radix Praeparata Cum Melle and Astragali Radix Praeparata Cum Melle for spleen-qi deficiency rats: A comparative study.

Hedysari Radix Praeparata Cum Melle (HRPCM) and Astragali Radix Praeparata Cum Melle (ARPCM) are capable of improving spleen-qi deficiency (SQD) syndrome especially in the gastrointestinal dysfunction and decreased immunity in traditional Chinese medicine clinically. This study aims to compare and reveal the metabolic differences between HRPCM and ARPCM for SQD rats. Firstly, HRPCM (12.

[Effects of acupuncture on learning and memory function and the expression of phosphorylated tau protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease model rats].

Objective: To observe the effects of (benefiting mental health and regulating the spirit) acupuncture on learning and memory function, and the expression of phosphorylated tubulin-associated unit (tau) protein in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats, and explore the effect mechanism of this therapy on AD.

Methods: A blank group and a sham-operation group were randomly selected from 60 male SD rats, 10 rats in each one. AD models were established in the rest 40 rats by the intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and okadaic acid in the CA1 region of the bilateral hippocampus.

[Different operation sequences between acupuncture and cupping therapy for lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy on lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness between the different operation sequences of acupuncture and cupping therapy.

Methods: Seventy-six patients with lumbar muscle strain with cold and dampness were randomly divided into an acupuncture + cupping group (A + C group, 38 cases) and a cupping + acupuncture group (C + A group, 38 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the A + C group, cupping therapy was delivered 10 min after the end of treatment with acupuncture, while in the C + A group, acupuncture therapy was exerted 10 min after the end of treatment with cupping.

Efficacy of needling Baihui (GV20), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7) and Taichong (LR3) on cerebral cortical blood oxygen level in rats with insomnia.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of needling Baihui (GV20), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7) and Taichong (LR3) on cerebral cortical blood oxygen level in rats with insomnia identified as liver- stagnation pattern in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group ( 10), the rest of the rats were clamped tail as stimulation combined with injected intraperitoneally p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) to establish sleep deprivation model. After the successful replication of the model, they were randomly divided into model group, grabbing group, Western Medicine group, acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group, with 10 rats in each group.

Comparative study on the gastrointestinal- and immune- regulation functions of Hedysari Radix Paeparata Cum Melle and Astragali Radix Praeparata cum Melle in rats with spleen-qi deficiency, based on fuzzy matter-element analysis.

Context: Hedysari Radix Praeparata Cum Melle (HRPCM) and Astragali Radix Praeparata Cum Melle (ARPCM) are used interchangeably in clinics to treat spleen-qi deficiency (SQD) symptom mainly including gastrointestinal dysfunction and decreased immunity, which has unknown differences in efficacy.

Objective: To investigate the differences between HRPCM and ARPCM on intervening gastrointestinal- and immune-function with SQD syndrome.

Materials And Methods: After the SQD model was established, the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into nine groups ( = 10): normal; model; Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi Pills; 18.

[Discussion on moxibustion practice of the Han medical bamboo slips unearthed in Wuwei and Juyan regions of Gansu province].

Through collecting the relevant moxibustion records of Han medical bamboo slips unearthed in Wuwei and Juyan regions of Gansu province, the situation and characteristics of clinical practice of moxibustion were summarized. In Wuwei Han medical bamboo slips, the contraindications of moxibustion were recorded, with age and time involved. Juyan Han medical bamboo slips mainly recorded the methods of moxibustion at the acupoints located on the back of the body, with clear emphasis and requirement of acupoint selection, single acupoint moxibustion and moxibustion quantity (the numbers of moxa cone) included.

[Research progress on the mechanism of acupuncture intervention on Alzheimer's disease].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. Studies have shown that acupuncture can effectively alleviate the symptoms of AD and slow down the disease progression, and its mechanism has been intensively explored. This paper summarized the researches on the mechanism of acupuncture intervention on AD in the past 5 years.

[Observation of acupoint thread-embedding on refractive amblyopia in children].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupoint threadembedding on visual acuity and morphology of retina in children with refractive amblyopia.

Methods: A total of 60 children with refractive amblyopia were randomized into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the control group, comprehensive therapy of eye covering of intact side and family refined performance was adopted.

Comparison between Acupuncture and Nicotine Replacement Therapies for Smoking Cessation Based on Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and/or safety of acupuncture therapy (AT) in quitting smoking.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM). We used Cochrane Collaborative Quality Assessment to assess the risk of bias.

Actin-Binding Proteins as Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Inflammation-Induced Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy.

Actin-binding proteins (ABPs), by interacting with actin, regulate the polymerization, depolymerization, bundling, and cross-linking of actin filaments, directly or indirectly, thereby mediating the maintenance of cell morphology, cell movement, and many other biological functions. Consequently, these functions of ABPs help regulate cancer cell invasion and metastasis when cancer occurs. In recent years, a variety of ABPs have been found to be abnormally expressed in various cancers, indicating that the detection and interventions of unusual ABP expression to alter this are available for the treatment of cancer.