PMID: 

Am J Chin Med. 2019 ;47(8):1755-1780. Epub 2019 Dec 4. PMID: 31801357

Abstract Title: 

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture in Migraine Treatment: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Abstract: 

Considering the heavy burden of migraine, it is essential to update insufficient and/or outdated clinical evidence supporting electroacupuncture (EA) in migraine therapy. In this study, a literature search of seven medical databases was performed. After data extraction and quality evaluation, 13 randomized controlled trials, including 1559 patients, were assessed in this analysis. Results demonstrated that EA was superior to control treatment (Western medicine, sham-EA, blank control, acupuncture, and acupoint catgut embedding) according to the visual analog scale (VAS) score, frequency of headache attack (Western medicine, sham-EA, blank control), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS [blank control]), self-rating depression score (SDS [Western medicine and blank control]), and clinical efficiency (Western medicine and sham-EA) after treatment (). Results of network meta-analysis (for VAS, SAS, and SDS) demonstrated statistically significant differences in VAS scores for EA compared with sham-EA, acupuncture with sham-EA, acupoint catgut embedding with sham-EA, and acupoint catgut embedding with blank control. Rank probability analysis of VAS, SAS, and SDS scores all demonstrated that EA ranked first. Most studies were symmetrically distributed on both sides of the midline in funnel plots for VAS, SAS, and SDS, which indicated a low likelihood of small sample effects. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the studies included in this research. EA is one of several effective treatments for migraine pain symptoms, and, to some extent, anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, multi-center studies with large sample sizes and/or well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) will be needed in the future.

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PMID: 

Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2019 Sep ;22(9):1085-1090. PMID: 31807253

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture attenuates chronic fibromyalgia pain through the phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway in the mouse brain.

Abstract: 

Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a central nervous system disorder characterized by widespread mechanical hyperalgesia due to unknown mechanisms. Several inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor, are increased in the serum of FM patients. Although medications including pregabalin, duloxetine, and milnacipran are used to treat FM, the results are unsatisfying. In the present study we assessed whether electroacupuncture (EA) can reduce chronic FM pain and then proposed an underlying mechanism for this effect.Materials and Methods: Chronic FM pain was induced in mice by dual acid saline injection lasting up to 4 weeks.Results: Chronic FM pain was treated by EA manipulation, but not in the sham operated group. Phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (pPI3K), protein kinase B, mechanistic target of rapamycin, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells were unaltered in the mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord (SC) after inducing FM and administering EA treatment. The pPI3K-associated nociceptive signaling pathway was increased in the thalamus of FM mice, but reversed by EA. Similar results were observed in the mouse somatosensory cortex.Conclusion: These data suggest that EA has a significant effect on a signaling pathway in brain areas of FM mice. These findings suggest the value of EA for clinical practice.

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PMID: 

J Neuroinflammation. 2019 Dec 13 ;16(1):264. Epub 2019 Dec 13. PMID: 31836020

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture attenuates cognition impairment via anti-neuroinflammation in an Alzheimer's disease animal model.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of cognitive abilities and memory leading to dementia. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a complementary alternative medicine approach, applying an electrical current to acupuncture points. In clinical and animal studies, EA causes cognitive improvements in AD and vascular dementia. However, EA-induced changes in cognition and microglia-mediated amyloidβ (Aβ) degradation have not been determined yet in AD animals. Therefore, this study investigated the EA-induced molecular mechanisms causing cognitive improvement and anti-inflammatory activity in five familial mutation (5XFAD) mice, an animal model of AD.METHODS: 5XFAD mice were bilaterally treated with EA at the Taegye (KI3) acupoints three times per week for 2 weeks. To evaluate the effects of EA treatment on cognitive functions, novel object recognition and Y-maze tests were performed with non-Tg, 5XFAD (Tg), and EA-treated 5XFAD (Tg + KI3) mice. To examine the molecular mechanisms underlying EA effects, western blots, immunohistochemistry, and micro-positron emission tomography scans were performed. Furthermore, we studied synapse ultrastructures with transmission electron microscopy and used electrophysiology to investigate EA effects on synaptic plasticity in 5XFAD mice.RESULTS: EA treatment significantly improved working memory and synaptic plasticity, alleviated neuroinflammation, and reduced ultrastructural degradation of synapses via upregulation of synaptophysin and postsynaptic density-95 protein in 5XFAD mice. Furthermore, microglia-mediated Aβ deposition was reduced after EA treatment and coincided with a reduction in amyloid precursor protein.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that EA treatment ameliorates cognitive impairment via inhibition of synaptic degeneration and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of AD.

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PMID: 

Int J Med Sci. 2019 ;16(12):1642-1651. Epub 2019 Nov 9. PMID: 31839752

Abstract Title: 

Inhibition of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Tumor Growth by Electroacupuncture with Encircled Needling and Its Mechanisms in a Mice Xenograft Model.

Abstract: 

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer without effective targeted drugs. While breast cancer patients often use acupuncture for the relief of cancer-induced pain or the side effects of chemo- or radiation therapy, little information is known regarding the direct effects of electroacupuncture on TNBC tumor and its potential mechanisms. Here, we created a mice model of TNBC and electroacupuncture with encircled needling around the tumors was given to the animals daily for 3 weeks at 15-20 Hz (3 min, each time). For sham electroacupuncture control, the skin was punctured to a depth of 5 mm and then the needle was quickly withdrawn without electrical stimulation or manual needle manipulation. We found that electroacupuncture significantly inhibited TNBC tumor growth and the inhibitory rate increased gradually overtime. Mechanistic analysis showed that electroacupuncture inhibited tumor angiogenesis by reducing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), its receptor VEGF-R and neuropilin 1 (NRP-1). Electroacupuncture also led to a significant decrease of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and an increase of tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP-2) expression. Additionally, the expression of semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) p75 in TNBC tissue was significantly upregulated in response to electroacupuncture. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha level in the serum was dramatically reduced after electroacupuncture. These results showed that electroacupuncture could directly inhibit TNBC tumor growth through the inhibition of proteins related to tumor angiogenesis and extracellular matrix, the suppression of TNBC-induced inflammation and the upregulation of nerve growth factor receptors.

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PMID: 

Dig Dis Sci. 2019 Dec 21. Epub 2019 Dec 21. PMID: 31863340

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture Upregulated Ghrelin in Rats with Functional Dyspepsia via AMPK/TSC2/Rheb-Mediated mTOR Inhibition.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal motility disorder is an important pathological basis for functional dyspepsia (FD). Epigastric ache and discomfort are the main symptoms of FD, and ghrelin deficiency is closely related to the occurrence and development of FD. While electroacupuncture (EA) alleviated the symptoms of FD patients and improved their quality of life, there is a lack of sufficient mechanistic evidence to support these beneficial effects.METHODS: An in vivo FD model was established in wild-type and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) knockout (-/-) rats. FD rats were subjected to EA with or without mTOR agonists or inhibitors. Gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion were assessed, and pathological changes in the hypothalamus, gastric antrum, and small intestine were examined histologically. In addition, ghrelin expression and AMPK/TSC2/Rheb/mTOR activation were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot.RESULTS: EA alone or in combination with mTOR inhibitors improved gastrointestinal function in FD rats by increasing the rates of intestinal propulsion and gastric emptying, and pathological changes in the hypothalamus, gastric antrum, and small intestine were alleviated. This may be related to the significant upregulation of ghrelin expression and the effective activation of the AMPK/TSC2/Rheb/mTOR signaling pathway. Interestingly, EA also improved gastrointestinal function and ghrelin expression in mTOR (-/-) KO FD rats.CONCLUSION: Altering the level of ghrelin by regulating AMPK/TSC2/Rheb-mediated mTOR inhibition is an important way through which EA treats FD. The complex EA-mediated regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis still require further exploration.

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PMID: 

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Dec 25 ;44(12):867-72. PMID: 31867904

Abstract Title: 

[Electroacupuncture pretreatment alleviated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via suppressing autophagy in cerebral cortex tissue in rats].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning on autophagy in cerebral cortex tissues of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CIRI.METHODS: Thirty-three male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and EA groups (=11 in each group). EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to"Baihui"(GV20),"Quchi"(LI11) and"Zusanli"(ST36) for 30 min, once daily for 5 days, followed by establishment of CIRI model by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) for 1.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h. The neurological deficit score was assessed in reference to Longa's methods, and the infarct volume assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The density of dendrite spines of neurons in the ischemic cerebral cortex tissue was detected by Golgi's staining, the autophagosome observed by electron microscopy, and the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and p62 (a selective autophagy substrate) were detected by Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological deficit score and infarct volume were significantly increased (

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PMID: 

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2019 Dec ;26(8):2030-2036. Epub 2019 Aug 9. PMID: 31885488

Abstract Title: 

Effect of electroacupuncture on mice model of permenopausal depressive disorder.

Abstract: 

Objective: Study the effect of electroacupuncture on permenopausal depressive disorder (PDD) model through the peri-menopausal depression model mice.Methods: KM female mice were selected. Except for the blank group (BG), the other groups of mice were removed by castration method. The mice of PDD was prepared by combining chronic unpredictable stimulation. Mice in the model group (MG) were not treated and fed normally. The western medicine group (WG) was given the corresponding drug for treatment. The electroacupuncture group (EAG) was given the electroacupuncture for treatment, and consecutive for 28 days. The levels of T, E, FSH and LH in serum of mice were measured, and the brain tissue of 5-HT, DA and NE level were measured. Through the HE staining observed the morphological changes of mice hypothalamus.Results: Compared with MG, EAG could increase the number of spontaneous activities of PDD model mice, the level of T, Ein serum and the level of 5-HT, DA, NE in brain tissue was improved, and the level of FSH, LH in serum was reduced, and the hypothalamic lesions was improved.Conclusion: Electroacupuncture could improve the activity and memory of PDD mice, adjust the disorder of sex hormone, and increased the levels of monoamine transmitters (5-HT, NE, DA), and it could effectively improve the behavior and related biochemical indexes of PDD, and thus play an important therapeutic role.

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PMID: 

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Dec 25 ;44(12):911-5. PMID: 31867912

Abstract Title: 

[Effect of electroacupuncture on renal fibrosis in spontaneously hypertension rats and its related mechanisms].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on blood pressure, renal fibrosis and expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improving hypertensive renal damage.METHODS: Forty male SHR (15 weeks in age) were randomly divided into 5 groups: model, medication (Losartan), Shenshu, Geshu, and ShenshuGeshu groups(8 rats in each group), and the same age-old male 8 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the normal control group. Rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of Losartan potassium solution (3 mg/mL, 30 mg·kg·d, once a day for 12 weeks), and those of the 3 EA groups treated by EA stimulation of bilateral"Shenshu"(BL23),"Geshu"(BL17) or both BL23 and BL17 (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1 mA, 15 min each time, once every other day for 12 weeks). The systolic blood pressure of the tail artery was measured before, and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the intervention. The expression of TIMP-1, PAI-1 andα-SMA proteins of the right kidney tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. Histopathological changes of the right renal tissue were observed under light microscope after H.E. stain.RESULTS: The blood pressure was significantly higher in the mo-del group than those in the normal control group (0.01), and considerably decreased at the 4, 8, and 12week of the interventions in the medication and 3 EA groups (0.01). The expression levels of renal TIMP-1, PAI-1 andα-SMA proteins were notably higher in the model group than those in the normal control group and considerably decreased at the 12week of the interventions in the medication and 3 EA groups than in the model group (0.01). H.E. staining of the renal tissue showed disordered arrangement of the renal cells, congestion and dilation of capillaries with thickened vascular wall, renal tubule atrophy and lumen stenosis with some necrosis of renal tubules, protein tubule and cell tubules, increase of some glomerular mesangial matrix and hyperplasia of fibrous tissue in the model group, which was re-latively milder in the medication and 3 EA groups.CONCLUSION: EA of BL23 and BL17 can reduce the blood pressure in SHR, which may be related to its function in down-regulating expression of TIMP-1, PAI-1 andα-SMA proteins.

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PMID: 

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Dec 25 ;44(12):898-905. PMID: 31867910

Abstract Title: 

[Electroacupuncture improves inflammatory reaction and insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant obese rats].

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on inflammatory reaction and insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant obese (OIR) rats.METHODS: Thirteen male Wistar rats were randomly selected as the control group and fed with common diet. The other 39 rats were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish OIR model and then randomized into model, EA and sham EA groups. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to unilateral"Zusanli"(ST36),"Fenglong"(ST40),"Zhongwan"(CV12) and"Guanyuan"(CV4) for 15 min, once every other day for 8 weeks, and sham EA was applied to unilateral 4 control spots about 5 mm lateral to the aforementioned 4 acupoints after shallowly inserting acupuncture needles, but without electric current output. After 8 weeks' intervention, the body weight was recorded and the glucose infusion rate (GIR) measured using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. At the 6week of intervention, glucose contents of intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin tole-rance test (IPITT) were measured. The levels of serum insulin (INS) and inflammatory factors as C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by using ELISA at the end of the treatment. The expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1), IL-10 and IL-1β proteins and mRNAs in the abdominal adipose tissues were detected by Western blot and quantitative real time-PCR, separately. The CD68 expression (displaying infiltration of macrophages) of adipose tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: After modeling, the contents of glucose of IPGTT at 30, 60 and 120 min and those of IPITT at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min, serum INS, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and MCP-1 proteins and mRNAs and CD68 protein were significantly increased (0.01,0.05), while the levels of GIR and IL-10 protein and mRNA were obviously decreased in the model group in comparison with those of the control group (0.01), suggesting an increase of inflammation and a decline of INS sensitivity. Following the interventions, the increased contents of glucose of IPGTT and IPITT, serum INS, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α, expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and MCP-1 proteins and mRNAs and CD68 protein, and the decreased levels of GIR and IL-10 protein and mRNA were evidently reversed in the EA group compared with the model group (0.01,0.05) rather than those in the sham EA group (0.05).CONCLUSION: EA can reduce the level of inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity in OIR rats.

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PMID: 

Med Acupunct. 2019 Dec 1 ;31(6):379-383. Epub 2019 Dec 13. PMID: 31871526

Abstract Title: 

Electroacupuncture Effect on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome to Improve Oocytes' Growth.

Abstract: 

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition of anovulation causing infertility. Many kinds of therapy have been used to treat PCOS. However, the results have not been satisfactory. Acupuncture is a trusted way to repair the reproductive system. Yet, there is not enough evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture to induce ovulation or to treat infertility in patients who have PCOS. The objectives of this study were to find out how successfully electroacupuncture (EA) could complete conventional therapy for patients with PCOS-related infertility, to analyze the effect of EA on these patients, and if EA could repair folliculogenesis to create quality oocytes so that these patients could become pregnant.A case controlled study was conducted in Sekar Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. There were 44 patients with PCOS who were included according to Rotterdam criteria and exclusion criteria. The patients' characteristics studied were age, height, weight, and duration of infertility. Subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups (22 subjects in a PCOS+Lifestyle Management as a control group and 22 subjects in a PCOS Lifestyle Management+EA case group. EA was performed for 15 minutes twice per week for a total of 12 sessions. The main outcome measure was transvaginal ultrasonographic detection of follicle size in ovulation on days 2, 6, 8, 10 and 12, starting from the first day of each patient's last menstruation.There were significant differences in follicle growth on days 2, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Follicle growth in the PCOS+Lifestyle Management group versus the PCOS Lifestyle Management+EA group was, respectively, on day 2: 5.59 ± 0.73 versus 6.45 ± 1.22, = 0.012; on day 6: 7.40 ± 1.14 versus 9.45 ± 1.94, = 0.012; on day 8: 9.50 ± 1.40, versus 11.63 ± 2.25, = 0.002; on day 10: 11.59 ± 1.36, versus 13.77 ± 2.22, = 0.001, and on day 12: 13.72 ± 1.20; versus 16.13 ± 2.43; = 0.001.EA improves oocytes' growth in patients with PCOS.

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