PMID: 

Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jun ;98(26):e16144. PMID: 31261540

Abstract Title: 

Auricular acupressure for overweight and obese individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Auricular acupressure has been used for treating obesity, but inconsistent outcomes have been reported. Moreover, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have seldom addressed the effects of auricular acupressure and duration of treatment in overweight/obese individuals. This study reviewed research articles on auricular acupressure for weight reduction, analyzed the related effects on obesity, and explored the relationships between weight reduction and treatment duration, as well as outcome variables.METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE with Full Text, National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertation in Taiwan, and Airiti Library for articles up to July 4, 2018. Eight eligible trials were identified for qualitative synthesis, and one of them was excluded from quantitative synthesis. Inclusion criteria were as follows: intervention contained auricular acupressure, study subjects were overweight and/or obese, as defined by published authors, and the study design had 2 or more arms for comparison.RESULTS: Pooled analysis of the 7 remaining studies revealed that auricular acupressure alone, or with diet and/or exercise, was effective for weight reduction, particularly for decreasing body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat mass (BFM), and body fat percentage (BFP), compared with no treatment, sham treatment, or use of surgical tape with diet and/or exercise. However, there was no effect on hip circumference. A 12-week acupressure intervention was associated with a larger effect on lowering BW and BMI compared with 4-, 6-, and 8-week interventions. The methodologic quality of trials included in the quantitative synthesis ranged from scores 2 to 6 based on the modified Jadad scale. Additionally, this meta-analysis combined studies that used different acupoints and outcomes evaluated at different timepoints, which may have been potential sources of bias.CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that auricular acupressure is effective for weight reduction. However, further vigorous studies that use double-blind randomized controlled design are needed to verify these findings. WC, WHR, BFP, or BFM should be used as obesity-related parameters in weight reduction studies to detect changes in fat, muscle, and skeletal weight.

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PMID: 

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2020 Jan ;19(1):20-30. Epub 2019 Oct 4. PMID: 31583887

Abstract Title: 

The effect of auricular therapy on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Although a number of clinical studies have investigated the effectiveness and safety of auricular therapy for treating hypertension, the overall evidence remains uncertain.AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the evidence for the effect of auricular therapy on blood pressure using meta-analysis methodology.METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, Clinicalkey, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Scientific Journal Database and Wanfang Database and Chinese Biomedicine for trials that compared the effects of auricular therapy to that of sham auricular therapy, antihypertensive drugs, or no intervention on blood pressure. Blood pressure values before and after treatment, magnitude of blood pressure change between baseline and post-intervention, and the efficacy rate, as outcomes, were synthesized by RevMan 5.3. Continuous outcomes were expressed as weighted mean differences, and dichotomous data were expressed as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.RESULTS: We systematically reviewed 44 randomized controlled trials (involving 5022 patients through June 2018). Auricular acupressure plus antihypertensive drugs might be more effective than antihypertensive drugs alone in both reducing systolic blood pressure value after treatment (=464 patients; mean difference, -5.06 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, -6.76- -3.36,

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PMID: 

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Oct 24:101067. Epub 2019 Oct 24. PMID: 31672461

Abstract Title: 

Auricular acupressure for myopia in children and adolescents: A systematic review.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: To identify and assess the evidence showing the efficacy of auricular acupressure alone for myopia in children and adolescents.METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were published until March 2019 in Pubmed, Web of Science, OVID, Foreign Medical Literature Retrieval Service, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, The Chinese Biological Medicine Database, Wanfang Database, and Chongqing VIP Information were searched. The quality of RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool.RESULTS: Ten RCTs were included to be qualitatively summarized, of which 5 studies qualified for the meta-analysis of the efficacy rate in treating myopia. This review demonstrated that auricular acupressure alone was more effective than eye-drops treatment, eye exercise, and was the just as effective as needle acupuncture.CONCLUSIONS: Auricular acupressure could slow the progression of myopia in children and adolescents. However, there is a need for further studies with higher methodological quality and sufficient follow-up.

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PMID: 

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2019 Nov 12 ;39(11):1199-204. PMID: 31724357

Abstract Title: 

[Effects of electroacupuncture on inflammatory response and intestinal mucosal barrier in obese rats with insulin resistance].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on inflammatory response and intestinal mucosal barrier in obese rats with insulin resistance, and to explore the mechanism of EA on improving insulin resistance in rats.METHODS: Among 45 Wistar male rats, 15 rats were randomly selected and fed with common diet. After eight weeks, 10 rats were randomly selected and divided into the normal group. The remaining 30 rats were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish obesity model of rat, among 28 rats with successful model of obesity, 20 rats were randomly selected and divided into the model group and EA group, 10 rats in each one. At the same time, 3 rats in the model group and the EA group were randomly selected for hyperinsulinemia-euglycemic clamp operation to determine whether the insulin resistance model was successful. After model establishment, the rats in the EA group were intervented with EA at"Zhongwan"(CV 12),"Guanyuan"(CV 4),"Zusanli"(ST 36) and"Fenglong"(ST 40) with continuous wave, frequency of 2 Hz and intensity of 1 mA;"Zusanli"(ST 36) and"Fenglong"(ST 40) were used alternately on both sides; the needles were sustained for 10 min; EA was given once every other day, three times a week for a total of 8 weeks. During the intervention, the rats in the normal group and the model group were fixed but not intervented. The body mass and postprandial blood sugar were measured in each group before and after 8-week intervention. After 6-week intervention, 3 rats in each group were clamped to detect systemic insulin sensitivity. Before the rats were killed, blood was taken from the apex of the heart to detect the serum insulin content. After the rats were killed, the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in liver and adipose tissue and occlidin and ZO-1 in colon tissue were detected by Real time-PCR; the protein expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in colon tissue were detected by Western blot method.RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the body mass, postprandial blood sugar and serum insulin content in the model group were increased significantly, the glucose infusion rate (GIR) was decreased significantly (all

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PMID: 

Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 ;13:537. Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31866829

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Alleviates Cerebral Ischemic Injury Throughα7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Mediated Phenotypic Conversion of Microglia.

Abstract: 

Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment alleviates cerebral ischemic injury throughα7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). We attempted to investigate whether the phenotypic conversion of microglia was involved in the therapeutic effect of EA pretreatment in cerebral ischemia through α7nAChR. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) after EA or α7nAChR agonist-(3)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl-furo[2,3-]pyridine-5-carboxamide hydrochloride (PHA-543,613 hydrochloride) and antagonistα-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) pretreatment. Primary microglia were subjected to drug pretreatment and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The expressions of the classical activated phenotype (M1) microglia markers induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86); the alternative activated phenotype (M2) microglia markers arginase-1 (Arg-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and cluster of differentiation 206 (CD206); and the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the ischemic penumbra or in the supernatant of primary microglia were analyzed. The infarction volume and neurological scores were assessed 72 h after reperfusion. The cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release of neurons co-cultured with microglia were analyzed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and LDH release assays. EA pretreatment decreased the expressions of M1 markers (iNOS, IL-1β, and CD86) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), whereas it increased the expressions of M2 markers (Arg-1, TGF-β1, and CD206) andanti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) by activating α7nAChR. EA pretreatment also significantly reduced the infarction volume and improved the neurological deficit. The activation of α7nAChR in microglia relieved the inflammatory response of primary microglia subjected to OGD and attenuatedthe injury of neurons co-cultured with microglia. In conclusion, EA pretreatment alleviates cerebral ischemic injury through α7nAChR-mediated phenotypic conversion of microglia, which may be a new mechanism for the EA pretreatment-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia.

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PMID: 

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Dec 25 ;44(12):873-7. PMID: 31867905

Abstract Title: 

[Effect of electroacupuncture of"Fengfu"(GV16) and"Taichong"(LR3) on EIF2α-ATF4-GRP78/Bip signaling in substantia nigra of rats with Parkinson's disease].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (EIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), glucose regulator protein-78 / immunoglobulin heavy-chain-binding protein (GRP78/Bip) in the substantia nigra (SN) in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of PD.METHODS: Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into control, sham-operation, model and EA groups (=12 in each group). The PD model was established by 28-day consecutive subcutaneous injection of rotenone (1 mg/kg dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and normal saline) at the back shoulder. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to"Fengfu"(GV16) and"Taichong"(LR3) for 30 min, once daily for 2 weeks. The behavio-ral changes of rats in each group were measured and scored at 28day and 44day, respectively. The expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) andα-synuclein (α-syn) in the SN were observed by immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of EIF2α, ATF4 and GRP78/Bip were detected by Western blot.RESULTS: Following modeling and compared with the control and sham-operation groups, the behavioral scores of rats in the model group were elevated (

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PMID: 

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Dec 25 ;44(12):893-7. PMID: 31867909

Abstract Title: 

[Electroacupuncture relieved neuropathic pain by suppressing L-Arg/NO/cGMP pathway in the lumbar spinal cord in rats with spared nerve injury].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on changes of expression of L-Arg transporter 2 (CAT-2) mRNA and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein and contents of NO and cGMP of L-Lsegments of spinal cord in rats with spared nerve injury (SNI), so as to reveal its mechanism underlying reducing neuropathic painMETHODS: A total of 120 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, EA and NOS inhibitor (N omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, L-NAME) groups, with 30 rats in each group. The neuropathic pain model was established by ligating and cutting the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve. EA (2 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to"Weizhong"(BL40) and"Huantiao"(GB30)on the damaged hindlimb for 30 min, once daily from day 11 to 17 after SNI. Rats of the L-NAME group received i.p. of L-NAME (60 mg·kg·d) for 7 consecutive days. The mechanical pain threshold (PT) was determined before and 10 and 16 d after SNI, respectively. The expression le-vels of CAT-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA, and iNOS protein in the L-Lsegments of the spinal cord were detected by using reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively, and the contents of NO and cGMP of L-Lassayed using nitrate/nitrite reductase method and radioimmunoassay, respectivelyRESULTS: After modeling, the PT was significantly decreased on day 10 and 16 after SNI in comparison with the sham operation group and their own baseline data of pre-operation in each group (0.01), and remarkably increased in the EA and L-NAME groups relevant to the model group on day 16 (0.01,0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the expression levels of CAT-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA and protein, as well as the contents of NO/NOand cGMP were signi-ficantly up-regulated in the model group (0.05,0.01). Following EA intervention, the levels of CAT-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein, and NO/NOand cGMP contents were all reversed in both EA and L-NAME groups (0.05,0.01). The effect of EA was significantly superior to that of L-NAME in raising the PT on day 16 after SNI (0.05), but obviously inferior to that of L-NAME in down-regulating the expression of CAT-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA and protein (0.05). No significant differences were found between the EA and L-NAME groups in down-regulating NO/NOandcGMP contents (0.05).CONCLUSION: EA intervention can effectively relieve neuropathic pain in SNI rats, which may be closely related to its function in suppressing L-Arg/NO/cGMP pathway in the lumbar spinal cord.

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PMID: 

Am J Chin Med. 2020 Jan 10:1-14. Epub 2020 Jan 10. PMID: 31918565

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture Relieves Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Regulating IL-18 and Gut Microbial Dysbiosis in a Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Post-Inflammatory Animal Model.

Abstract: 

Post inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS), a subset of IBS, is characterized by symptoms of visceral pain, bloating, and changed bowel habits that occur post initial episode of intestinal infection. Gut microbial dysbiosis or inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of abdominal hypersensitivity of PI-IBS. Electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation results in an alleviated PI-IBS-associated symptom. This study investigated the effect of EA on IL-18 and gut microbial dysbiosis in one visceral hypersensitive rat models with PI-IBS. A trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced visceral hypersensitivity rat model was developed. EA stimulation was applied to the ST25 and ST36 acupoints. Animals were assessed using abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores to determine the development of colonic visceral hypersensitivity. The 16S rRNA was used to correlate microbial diversity. IL-18 expression in colon was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. We identified that model rats had an increased visceral hypersensitivity to colorectal distention at different distention pressures compared with the normal group. Sensitivity to colorectal distention decreased after EA stimulation. The composition of the fecal microbiota was different between groups. Specifically, in the model groupwere more abundant affected genera, whereaswas enriched in normal rats. EA stimulation was correlated with significant decrease in the phyla of. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-18 were higher in the model group. Meanwhile, EA stimulation attenuated this response. In a word, our findings suggest that PI-IBS is associated with significant increase in IL-18 levels as well as an alteration in microbiome diversity. These changes can be reversed with EA treatment. EA stimulation has a positive effect in alleviating symptoms of visceral hypersensitivity and protecting the gastrointestinal tract.

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PMID: 

Acupunct Med. 2020 Jan 16:acupmed2017011395. Epub 2020 Jan 16. PMID: 31941349

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture reduces fibromyalgia pain by downregulating the TRPV1-pERK signalling pathway in the mouse brain.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been clinically recommended as a method of pain relief by the World Health Organization and is widely used by medical doctors. Fibromyalgia (FM) pain has a complex physiological and psychological origin and can be pharmacologically treated with duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin. However, these drugs produce undesirable side effects, such as headaches, nausea and diarrhoea. Acupuncture may serve as an effective alternative treatment for pain relief with few side effects.AIMS: We hypothesised that acupuncture would reduce FM pain by influencing transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) and the downstream phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK), which are located in the central thalamus, amygdala and cortex.METHODS: A FM mouse model was established by injecting two doses of acid saline into 32 female C57/B6 mice. The mice were then assigned to different subgroups (n=8 each) and treated with electroacupuncture (EA) or EA sham control. TRPV1 and pERK expression levels were measured using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the expression of TRPV1 and pERK in the thalamus, amygdala and somatosensory cortex was normal in the control mice, but significantly increased in FM mice; these FM-induced changes in expression were attenuated by EA.CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that EA can reverse the central sensitisation of the TRPV1-ERK signalling pathway in the mouse brain. Thus, our findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting the potential therapeutic efficacy of EA for treating FM pain.

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PMID: 

Brain Res. 2020 Jan 24:146680. Epub 2020 Jan 24. PMID: 31987731

Abstract Title: 

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Relieving Central Post-Stroke Pain by Inhibiting Autophagy in the Hippocampus.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: To explore the underlying mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on central post-stroke pain (CPSP), and provide basic evidence for the EA treatment on CPSP.METHODS: Firstly, 40 male SD rats were successfully established with a model of CPSP, under the intervention of different EA frequencies (2 Hz and 15 Hz) and fluoxetine (5 ml/kg and 0.4 mg/ml), whose brain tissue was then removed for paraffin-embedded sectioning; secondly, LPS induced the primary brain cells in the hippocampus to cause inflammation model which were added NS398 (inhibitor of COX-2) and DKK-1 (inhibitor ofβ-catenin) later. The lesion sites of brain tissue were observed by Nissl staining and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and autophagy-related proteins (LC3B, p62, LAMP-1), COX-2 and β-catenin were detected by Western Blot and immunohistochemical staining. Finally, the correlation between LC3B, COX-2, and β-catenin was calculated by multispectral quantification.RESULTS: (1) In the EA group (15 Hz), the number of Nissl bodies increased, autophagy-related protein LC3B-Ⅱ/Ⅰ, LAMP-1, COX-2, and β-catenin was lowly expressed, p62 was highly expressed; (2) COX-2, β-catenin and LC3B are positively correlated with each other (COX-2&β-catenin: r=0.923; COX-2&LC3B: r=0.818;β-catenin&LC3B: r=0.801); (3) Nissl bodies of primary brain cells of the hippocampus under LPS were like animal experiments; after addition of DKK-1, high expression ofβ-catenin and COX-2 induced by LPS was significantly down-regulated, and LC3B-II/I was significantly down-regulated, and p62 protein only had up-regulation trend; after addition of NS398, COX-2 and LC3B-II/I was significantly down-regulated.CONCLUSION: EA may inhibit autophagy in the hippocampus by reducingβ-catenin/COX-2 protein expression and effectively alleviating CPSP.SIGNIFICANCE: Statement Previous studies have found that EA can reduce the expression of NK-1R in damaged rats by inhibition of COX-2 andβ-catenin loops, which controls the activation of glial cells in the damaged area and the apoptosis of neuronal cells, and alleviated pain. In the male SD rat model, we evaluated this effect that EA inhibits autophagy in the hippocampus by reducing β-catenin/COX-2 protein expression in the brain tissue. In addition, we assessed expression levels of autophagy-related proteins and genes on the inflammatory primary brain cells model. From the experiment, we found EA may inhibit autophagy in the hippocampus by reducing β-catenin/COX-2 protein expression. These findings provide a foundation forthe interpretation of the mechanism of EA on relieving CPSP in clinical practice.

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