ognizant Communication Corporation

Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Res., Int. J., Vol. 31, pp. 201-212, 2006
0360-1293/07 $20.00 + .00
Copyright © 2007 Cognizant Communication Corp.
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Abstract: The spectral edge frequency (SEF) 95 is one of the electroencephalographic (EEG) parameters, which is a relatively simple and effective method to evaluate a sedative status.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on electroencephalographic SEF 95 in dogs (4.2 – 6.1 kg, 1-2 years old) sedated by a sedative.  The acupoints used were the GV20 point and Yintang point.  The sedatives used were acepromazine, butorphanol, diazepam, medetomidine, and phenobarbital, each using a different mechanism.  The sedation level was assessed by a SEF 95 value under normal conditions, sedation being induced by a sedative, a combination of a sedative and acupuncture, and acupuncture release.  Although this result was just based on the changes of the brain it is suggested that acupuncture, combined with opioids, would be a useful method to produce a safe and deep sedation in clinics.

Key words: Acupuncture; Dog; GV20 point; Yintang point; Sedation; Spectral edge frequency 95

Correspondence: Dr. Min-Su Kim, Biomedical Physics Laboratory, School of Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea; Phone: +82-2-880-7697; Fax: + 82-2-878-9172: E-mail: k7519@snu.ac.kr

Abstract: We studied whether auricular acupuncture reduces analgesic requirement during total hip arthroplasty.  Sixty-four patients were enrolled in this patient/anesthesiologist-blinded study according to inclusion criteria.  They were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture with indwelling fixed needles (points lung, shenmen, forehead and hip) or sham procedure (4 non-acupuncture points on the helix).  Surgery was performed under standardized general anesthesia with volatile anesthetic isoflurane and opioid analgesic fentanyl, whereby isoflurane concentration was kept constant.  Demographics, fentanyl requirements, duration of general anesthesia and success of patients’ blinding were registered.  Patients from the acupuncture group required 21% less fentanyl during surgery than those who received sham procedure.  Other outcome measures were similar in both groups.  Auricular acupuncture reduced fentanyl requirement compared to sham procedure during hip arthroplasty.

Key words: Auricular acupuncture; Opioid analgesic requirement; General anesthesia; Intraoperative fentanyl; Randomized trial

Correspondence: Dr. T.I. Usichenko, Dept. of  Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, University of Greifswald, Friedrich Loeffler Str. 23b, 17487 Greifswald, Germany; Tel: 0049 3832 86 5803; Fax: 0049 3834 86 5802; E-mail: taras@uni-greifswald.de

Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine) Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, P.R. China

Abstract: The present study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with chlorimipramine on the sucrose preference of depressive rats induced by chronic mild stress (CMS).  Rats were exposed chronically (1st – 4th week) to a variety of mild unpredictable stresses.  The tricyclic antidepressant chlorimipramine and EA were administrated on these depressive rats for 6 weeks (5th – 11th week).  EA was applied at points of “Bai-Hui” (Du 20) and “An-Mian” (EX 17) (right side), by EA apparatus (Model 6905-2, Shanghai).  Dense (60Hz/5sec)-sparse (4Hz/2.5sec) frequency of the wave was selected and the current intensity (<1mA) was adjusted to provoke slight twitches of the rat’s ear.  The preference for 1% sucrose solution and the immobility time in the forced swimming test were measured as the symptoms of anhedonia and depressed mood, which were central features of major depression.  The preference for 1% sucrose solution was reduced by CMS, but could be restored to normal level after 6 weeks treatment with chlorimipramine at 5mg/kg or EA combined with chlorimipramine at 2.5mg/kg.  In the forced swimming test, the immobility time of depressive rats was decreased in both groups.  However, the preference for sucrose and the immobility time in the depressive rats were not significantly changed by the treatment with only EA or chlorimipramine at 2.5mg/kg.  The results suggested that EA could potentiate the antidepressant effect of chlorimipramine in low dose, and EA combined with antidepressant might be a better method in treating depression.

Key words: Depression; Antidepressant; Chlorimipramine, Electroacupuncture

Correspondence: Gen Cheng Wu, Institue of Acupuncture Research, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, P.R. China, Tel: 86-21-54237526; E-mail: gcwu@shmu.edu.cn

College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Chengdu, 610064, P.R. China

Abstract: We have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) at Fenglong acupoint (ST40) has the cholesterol-lowering effect in hypercholesterolemia mice.  The present study was designed to study preventive effect of EA at ST40 on hypercholesterolemia.  C57BL/6j mice were randomly divided into normal group (NG), hypercholesterolemia group (HG) and EA prevention group (EPG).  NG were fed chow, HG a hypercholesterolemic diet (HD), and EPG the same HD and received EA treatment simultaneously.  Lipid profile of both the plasma and liver indicated that EA at ST40 had preventive effect on hypercholesterolemia.  Compared with corresponding values in the HG mice, the levels of the hepatic total cholesterol and total triglyceride in the EPG mice lowered 45% and 23% respectively, and the levels of plasma total-, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol in the EPG mice lowered 39%, 37%, and 39% respectively.  Eleven genes whose expressions were up-regulated in EPG mice compared with HG were isolated using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) combined with negative subtraction chain (NSC) technology, an the confirmed by dot-blot assay.  Except two genes whose functions were still unknown, the others were mainly involved in cholesterol metabolism, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and immune response.  The potential molecular mechanism of preventive effect was discussed.

Key words: Electroacupuncture; Fenglong acupoint; Gene expression; Hypercholesterolemia; Suppression subtractive hybridization; Negative subtraction chain

Correspondence: Min Li, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, CHengdu, 610064, P.R. China; Tel: 0086-028-85412738; Fax: 0086-28-85412738; E-mail; thecityofmoon@gmail.com

Abstract: PET Scans are most often used for detecting cancer and other malignant tumors because for most of them, glucose uptake is higher than in normal tissues.  However, in mesothelioma, our study showed excessive deposits of Asbestos of 0.5mg BDORT units, and markedly reduced Glucose uptake of less than 1/30 of normal tissue.  As a consequence, the authors found that, in the location where there is a mesothelioma, distinctive dark lack areas much darker than any normal tissue appear in the PET Scan.  Therefore, a PET Scan taken parallel to the front & back of the chest wall often shows pitch-black areas on the chest wall of the patient, located on the ribs in the case of large black areas and between the ribs in the case of small black areas.  If the amount of Asbestos in these areas is found to be very high in the same location where the glucose uptake is very low, one can suspect the presence of mesothelioma, which is often found at the inner wall of the chest cavity or the peritoneum in the abdomen with significantly increased Osteopontine (about 350-400 times that of normal tissue) and very significant increase in Gastrin Releasing Peptides (more than 1200 times that of normal tissue).  In some patients, the only abnormal blood chemistry detected was abnormally increased Pro-Gastrin Releasing Peptide.  This dark black area on the PET Scan image taken parallel to front and back of chest wall (with marked increase in Asbestos, Gastrin-Releasing Peptide, & Osteopontine and marked decrease in glucose uptake in the pathological tissue) can be considered a characteristic finding for the diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Key words: PET Scan with radioactive flurodeoxyglucose; Mesothelioma; Asbestos; Glucose uptake; Osteopontine; Gastrin Releasing Peptide; Blood Pro-Gastrin Releasing Peptide; Malignant tumor; Cancer; Telomere; Integrin a₅b₁; Oncogene C-fos Ab₂; Acetylcholine

Correspondence: Yoshiaki Omura, M.D., Sc.D., 800 Riverside Dr. (8-1) New York, NY 10032; Tel: 212-781-6262; Fax: 212-923-2279

National Laboratory of Medial Neurobiology; Institute of Acupuncture Research (WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine), Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032

Abstract: It is known that electro-acupuncture (EA) has neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia, however, whether insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as a potent nerve regeneration agent involved is unknown.  Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of EA against cerebral ischemia whether influence IGF-1 expression following the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in monkeys.  The results indicated that after occlusion of MCA, the IGF-1mRNA and protein expression was down-regulated.  EA, given 15 minutes after occlusion of MCA and lasted for 1h between the acupuncture points Baihui Point (GV. 20) and Renzhong Point (GV. 26) with a dense-sparse waveforms, which can be transformed into each other when dense or sparse wave is terminated, attenuated brain edema, decreased the infarct area, up-regulated IGF-1mRNA and protein expression.  These results implied that EA is effective to extenuate cerebral ischemic injuries and up-regulating the endogenous IGF-1 expression following MCA occlusion in monkeys, which might be an important mechanism of neuroprotective effects of EA against cerebral ischemia.

Key words: Electroacupuncture (EA); cDNA microarray; Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO); Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1); Monkey; Rat

Correspondence: J.S. Cheng, Shanghai Medical College of Fundan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China; Tel: +86-21-54237900; E-mail; jscheng@shmu.edu.cn