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Lu Z, Huo T, Deng J, Guo F, Liu K, Liu P, Wang Q, Xiong L. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation induced sedative effects in healthy volunteers: A resting-state fMRI study. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 16:843186. [PMID: 36741778 PMCID: PMC9893780 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.843186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies indicated the sedative effect of acupoint stimulation. However, its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the sedative effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and to explore the brain regions involved in this effect in healthy volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Methods In this randomized trial, 26 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the TEAS group (receiving 30 min of acupoint stimulation at HT7/PC4) and the control group. fMRI was conducted before and after the intervention. The primary outcome was the BIS value during the intervention. Secondary outcomes included the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and region of interest (ROI)-based functional connectivity (FC) showed by fMRI. Results In healthy volunteers, compared with the control group, ALFF values in the TEAS-treated volunteers decreased in the left thalamus, right putamen, and midbrain, while they increased in the left orbitofrontal cortex. More FC existed between the thalamus and the insula, middle cingulate cortex, somatosensory cortex, amygdala, and putamen in subjects after TEAS treatment compared with subjects that received non-stimulation. In addition, ALFF values of the thalamus positively correlated with BIS in both groups. Conclusion Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation could induce a sedative effect in healthy volunteers, and inhibition of the thalamus was among its possible mechanisms. Clinical trial registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier: NCT01896063.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Lu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China,*Correspondence: Lize Xiong ✉
| | - Tingting Huo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiao Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fan Guo
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kang Liu
- Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Life Sciences Research Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lize Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China,Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,Zhihong Lu ✉
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Li YW, Li W, Wang ST, Gong YN, Dou BM, Lyu ZX, Ulloa L, Wang SJ, Xu ZF, Guo Y. The autonomic nervous system: A potential link to the efficacy of acupuncture. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1038945. [PMID: 36570846 PMCID: PMC9772996 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a diffuse network that regulates physiological systems to maintain body homeostasis by integrating inputs from the internal and external environment, including the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems (ENS). Recent evidence suggests that ANS is one of the key neural pathways for acupuncture signal transduction, which has attracted worldwide attention in the acupuncture field. Here, we reviewed the basic and clinical research published in PubMed over the past 20 years on the effects of acupuncture on ANS regulation and homeostasis maintenance. It was found that acupuncture effectively alleviates ANS dysfunction-associated symptoms in its indications, such as migraine, depression, insomnia, functional dyspepsia, functional constipation. Acupuncture stimulation on some specific acupoints activates sensory nerve fibers, the spinal cord, and the brain. Using information integration and efferents from a complex network of autonomic nuclei of the brain, such as the insular cortex (IC), prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala (AMG), hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray (PAG), nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), ventrolateral medulla (VLM), nucleus ambiguus (AMB), acupuncture alleviates visceral dysfunction, inflammation via efferent autonomic nerves, and relieves pain and pain affect. The modulating pattern of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves is associated with acupuncture stimulation on specific acupoints, intervention parameters, and disease models, and the relationships among them require further exploration. In conclusion, ANS is one of the therapeutic targets for acupuncture and mediates acupuncture's actions, which restores homeostasis. A systemic study is needed to determine the rules and mechanisms underlying the effects of acupoint stimulation on corresponding organs mediated by specific central nervous networks and the efferent ANS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Wei Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Song-Tao Wang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi-Nan Gong
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Bao-Min Dou
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhong-Xi Lyu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Luis Ulloa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Perioperative Organ Protection, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shen-Jun Wang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China,Shen-Jun Wang,
| | - Zhi-Fang Xu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China,Zhi-Fang Xu,
| | - Yi Guo
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,School of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China,*Correspondence: Yi Guo,
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Wang X, Qian Y, Yao Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Zhao Q. Median nerve stimulation elevates ventricular fibrillation threshold via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in myocardial infarction canine model. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:904117. [DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.904117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundMedian nerve stimulation (MNS) diminishes regional myocardial ischemia and ventricular arrhythmia; however, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated.MethodsIn this study, we randomly categorized 22 adult mongrel dogs into a control group, MNS group 1, and MNS group 2. After a 4-week experimental myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular electrophysiology was measured in the MNS group 1 before and after 30 min of MNS. The same measurements were performed in the MNS group 2 dogs via bilateral vagotomy. Venous blood and ventricular tissue were collected to detect molecular indicators related to inflammation and cholinergic pathways by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot (WB).ResultsNo significant changes were reported in the ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) in the MNS group 1 and MNS group 2 dogs before and after MNS. The ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) in the MNS group 1 was significantly higher than that in the MNS group 2 (20.3 ± 3.7 V vs. 8.7 ± 2.9 V, P < 0.01). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) were lower (P < 0.01), whereas the levels of Ach were higher in the peri-infarct zone tissues in the MNS group 1 dogs than those in the MNS group 2 dogs (P < 0.01).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that MNS increases VFT in a canine model with MI. The effects of MNS on VFT are potentially associated with the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
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Maharjan A, Peng M, Russell B, Cakmak YO. Investigation of the Optimal Parameters of Median Nerve Stimulation, Using a Variety of Stimulation Methods, and Its Effects on Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review. Neuromodulation 2022; 25:1268-1279. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Maharjan A, Peng M, Cakmak YO. The effects of frequency-specific, non-invasive, median nerve stimulation on food-related attention and appetite. Appetite 2021; 169:105807. [PMID: 34798222 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Median nerve stimulation (MNS) in the existing literature has been used for treating gastrointestinal disorders and amelioration of nausea and vomiting. Recently, studies have shown that MNS can also exert effects on olfactory performances and corresponding anatomical regions through the activation of vagal pathways. This study aimed to test effects of specific frequencies of MNS on food-related attention and appetite. The experiment used an odourised, dot probe task for testing food-related attention and a combination of behavioural (i.e., visual analogue scales; VAS) and physiological approaches (i.e., electrocardiograph; ECG - root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats-RMSSD: parasympathetic nervous system activation (RMSSD), stress index-SI: sympathetic nervous system activation) for measuring hunger, appetite, and satiation. Twenty-four healthy, male adults completed a VAS and dot probe task before and after receiving either 40 Hz-, 80 Hz-, 120 Hz MNS or sham (control) across four different sessions with continuous ECG recording throughout each session. Data from the dot probe task were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA, while pair-wise tests were used for ECG recordings and VAS. Improvements on the dot probe task, not specific to odour-food congruence were found after 40 Hz MNS (p-value = 0.048; strong effect size (0.308 partial eta squared)) while increased ratings of hunger (VAS) (p-value = 0.03, small effect size (0.47 Cohen-D)) and RMSSD scores (p-value < 0.001; medium effect size (0.76 Cohen-D)) were found after 120 Hz MNS. These findings implore further testing of MNS frequency parameters on improving RMSSD, a characteristic marker of measuring parasympathetic/autonomic nervous system activation pertaining to the vagal network. Furthermore, improving sympathovagal balance is associated with cardiovascular benefits in numerous health-related conditions such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashim Maharjan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Mei Peng
- Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yusuf O Cakmak
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, Dunedin, New Zealand; Medical Technologies Centre of Research Excellence, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Kurek J, Myszkowski K, Okulicz-Kozaryn I, Kurant A, Kamińska E, Szulc M, Rubiś B, Kaczmarek M, Mikołajczak PŁ, Murias M. Cytotoxic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of colchicine and its C-10 sulfur containing derivatives. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9034. [PMID: 33907227 PMCID: PMC8079405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88260-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
10-Alkylthiocolchicines have been obtained and characterized by spectroscopic methods and their biological activities as: cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities have been tested. Cytotoxic activity against SKOV-3 ovarian cell line for 10-alkylthiocolchicine analogues was reported and tested compounds showed to be more active than commonly used doxorubicin. Some of tested C-10 alkylthiolated colchicines have been found to exhibit cytotoxicity at levels comparable to that of the natural product-colchicine. 10-Methylthiocolchicine has IC50 = 8 nM and 10-ethylthiocolchicine has IC50 = 47 nM in comparison to colchicine IC50 = 37 nM. Moreover for 10-alkylthioderivatives apoptosis test, cyclin B1 and cell cycle tests were performed. 10-n-Butylthiocolchicine was tested for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities it showed to produce analgesic rather than anti-inflammatory effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kurek
- Department of Bioactive Products, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Myszkowski
- Department of Toxicology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Dojazd 30, 60-631, Poznan, Poland
| | - Irena Okulicz-Kozaryn
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kurant
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ewa Kamińska
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
| | - Michał Szulc
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
| | - Błażej Rubiś
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariusz Kaczmarek
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Garbary 15 Str, 61-866, Poznan, Poland
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Department of Cancer Diagnostics and Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Garbary 15 Str, 61-866, Poznan, Poland
| | - Przemysław Ł Mikołajczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5a, 60-806, Poznan, Poland
| | - Marek Murias
- Department of Toxicology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Dojazd 30, 60-631, Poznan, Poland
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Maheshkumar K, Deenadayalan B, Akila A, Venugopal V, Poonguzhali S. Effectiveness of taichong (LR3) acupuncture point on blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A randomized sham control trial. ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aimed.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Qiao L, Guo M, Qian J, Xu B, Gu C, Yang Y. Research Advances on Acupuncture Analgesia. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2020; 48:245-258. [DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x20500135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pain is a widespread and complex symptom which causes serious emotional and social burdens to individuals and society. Most patients with pain rely heavily on over the counter (OTC) and prescription pain killers. However, there would be a number of issues that arise from the use of pain killers, in which safety and addiction are the most critical issues. For traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pain is a result of the meridians being blocked. This could occur as a symptom of or be caused by various diseases. In this case, the key to relieve pain depends on dredging the meridian or meridians. Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 2000 years to lessen pain. It is based on the “meridian theory”. Acupuncture is being used more widely and with a growing number of people in the treatment of pain because it is safer and has fewer side effects. Along with growing use and interest in acupuncture to treat pain, more attention has been paid to the mechanism underlying its analgesic effect, which is mainly associated with the changes of neurotransmitters. In this review, we summarize and analyze the range and mechanism of acupuncture analgesia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Qiao
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210001, P. R. China
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Mengjie Guo
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210001, P. R. China
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Jinjun Qian
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Bin Xu
- Key Laboratory for Combination of Acupuncture and Chinese Materia, Medica of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Chunyan Gu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Ye Yang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory for Combination of Acupuncture and Chinese Materia, Medica of Chinese Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
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Guo Z, Lin X, Samaniego T, Isreb A, Cao S, Malik S, Holmes TC, Xu X. Fos-CreER-based genetic mapping of forebrain regions activated by acupuncture. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:953-971. [PMID: 31600836 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acupuncture increasingly is accepted as a potential therapy for many diseases in the Western world. However, the mechanism of acupuncture is not well understood mechanistically. We have established that manual acupuncture (MA) at the Neiguan (P6) acupoint inhibits excitatory cardiovascular reflex responses through modulation of the autonomic nervous system in the brainstem. It is unclear whether P6 MA activates neurons in the brain regions beyond the brainstem. Thus, we mapped P6 specific neural activation by MA in the forebrain using the Fos-CreER; Ai9 mice model, which allows for enhanced sensitivity and efficiency compared to conventional immunohistochemical staining. Compared to sham-MA control without manual stimulation, we find that MA at P6 markedly increases c-Fos positive neurons in a number of the forebrain regions (n = 5 in each group). These activated regions include accumbens nucleus, caudate putamen, claustrum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, amygdaloid nucleus, ventral posterior division of the thalamic nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate hypothalamic nucleus, primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, ectorhinal cortex, and dorsolateral entorhinal cortex. As MA at P6 activates neurons in relatively broad brain networks beyond the brainstem, our data suggest that acupuncture at this acupoint has the potential to influence physiological functions associated with autonomic and non-autonomic nervous systems through its effects on multiple brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiling Guo
- Department of Medicine and Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Xiaoxiao Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Tracy Samaniego
- Department of Medicine and Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Alexander Isreb
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Stacey Cao
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Shaista Malik
- Department of Medicine and Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Todd C Holmes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
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Li J, Sun M, Ye J, Li Y, Jin R, Zheng H, Liang F. The Mechanism of Acupuncture in Treating Essential Hypertension: A Narrative Review. Int J Hypertens 2019; 2019:8676490. [PMID: 30984420 PMCID: PMC6431462 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8676490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Essential hypertension has a high incidence worldwide, and patients with essential hypertension endure a lifetime of medication, leading to a heavy economic burden on the patient's family and causing serious impacts on the patient's quality of life. Much evidence has demonstrated that acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy can lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, but the mechanism of its action is unclear. This article reviews the research from 2000 to 2018 regarding the mechanism of acupuncture for hypertension, and we summarize the current knowledge about using acupuncture for hypertension. We found that the mechanism whereby acupuncture lowers blood pressure is related to the regulation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, vascular endothelium, oxidative stress, neuroendocrine system, and so on. Besides, there may be cross-talk between multiple systems and multiple targets. We also investigate the influence factors of acupuncture for hypertension. These results may provide evidence and research ideas for the treatment of hypertension via acupuncture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- College of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Mingsheng Sun
- College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Jing Ye
- College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Yuxi Li
- College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Rongjiang Jin
- College of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Fanrong Liang
- College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
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Effects of Electroacupuncture on Methamphetamine-Induced Behavioral Changes in Mice. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 2017:5642708. [PMID: 28400844 PMCID: PMC5376430 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5642708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH) is a major drug of abuse worldwide, and no efficient therapeutic strategies for treating METH addiction are currently available. Continuous METH use can cause behavioral upregulation or psychosis. The dopaminergic pathways, particularly the neural circuitry from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), have a critical role in this behavioral stage. Acupuncture has been used for treating diseases in China for more than 2000 years. According to a World Health Organization report, acupuncture can be used to treat several functional disorders, including substance abuse. In addition, acupuncture is effective against opioids addiction. In this study, we used electroacupuncture (EA) for treating METH-induced behavioral changes and investigated the possible therapeutic mechanism. Results showed that EA at the unilateral Zhubin (KI9)–Taichong (LR3) significantly reduced METH-induced behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference. In addition, both dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels decreased but monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) levels increased in the NAc of the METH-treated mice receiving EA compared with those not receiving EA. EA may be a useful nonpharmacological approach for treating METH-induced behavioral changes, probably because it reduces the METH-induced TH expression and dopamine levels and raises MAO-A expression in the NAc.
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Cheng L, Li P, Tjen-A-Looi SC, Longhurst JC. What do we understand from clinical and mechanistic studies on acupuncture treatment for hypertension? Chin Med 2015; 10:36. [PMID: 26628909 PMCID: PMC4666174 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-015-0070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The outcome of acupuncture on hypertension treatment is inconclusive. This study aims to evaluate the influence of acupuncture on hypertension, based on findings from mechanistic studies over the course of decades particularly those conducted at the University of California, Irvine. Low-current and low-frequency electroacupuncture (EA) at P5-6 (overlying the median nerve) and S36-37 (overlying the deep peroneal nerve) reduced high blood pressure in a subset of patients (~70 %) with mild-to-moderate hypertension, in a slow-onset (4-8 weeks) but long-lasting (1-2 months) manner. EA inhibited cardiovascular sympathoexcitatory neurons through activation of neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray in the midbrain and the nucleus raphe pallidus in the medulla, through inhibiting the activity of premotor sympathetic neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM). Several neurotransmitters such as glutamate, acetylcholine, opioids, GABA, nociceptin, serotonin and endocannabinoids were involved in this EA-induced hypotensive response. The long-lasting inhibition of hypertension induced by EA was related to opioids and GABA in the rVLM, neural circuitry between the arcuate and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, and prolongation of the increase in preproenkephalin mRNA levels and enkephalin levels in the rVLM and arcuate. Moreover, the long-lasting inhibition of sympathetic activity by EA was confirmed in EA-treated hypertensive patients with decreased levels of norepinephrine, renin and aldosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Cheng
- />Department of Acupuncture, East Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Li
- />Susan-Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | | | - John Charles Longhurst
- />Susan-Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA
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14
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Actigraph evaluation of acupuncture for treating restless legs syndrome. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2015; 2015:343201. [PMID: 25763089 PMCID: PMC4339862 DOI: 10.1155/2015/343201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the effects of acupuncture in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) by actigraph recordings. Among the 38 patients with RLS enrolled, 31 (M = 12, F = 19; mean age, 47.2 ± 9.7 years old) completed the study. Patients were treated with either standard acupuncture (n = 15) or randomized acupuncture (n = 16) in a single-blind manner for 6 weeks. Changes in nocturnal activity (NA) and early sleep activity (ESA) between week 0 (baseline), week 2, week 4, and week 6 were assessed using leg actigraph recordings, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLSRS), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Standard but not randomized acupuncture reduced the abnormal leg activity of NA and ESA significantly in week 2, week 4, and week 6 based on the changes in the clinical scores for IRLSRS and ESS in week 4 and week 6 compared with the baseline. No side effects were observed. The results indicate that standard acupuncture might improve the abnormal leg activity in RLS patients and thus is a potentially suitable integrative treatment for long-term use.
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-fifth consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2012 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (Section 2), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (Section 3); stress and social status (Section 4); tolerance and dependence (Section 5); learning and memory (Section 6); eating and drinking (Section 7); alcohol and drugs of abuse (Section 8); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (Section 9); mental illness and mood (Section 10); seizures and neurologic disorders (Section 11); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (Section 12); general activity and locomotion (Section 13); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (Section 14); cardiovascular responses (Section 15); respiration and thermoregulation (Section 16); and immunological responses (Section 17).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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Acupuncture effect and central autonomic regulation. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:267959. [PMID: 23762116 PMCID: PMC3677642 DOI: 10.1155/2013/267959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique and part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupuncture has clinical efficacy on various autonomic nerve-related disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, anxiety and nervousness, circadian rhythm disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and subfertility. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can control autonomic nerve system (ANS) functions including blood pressure, pupil size, skin conductance, skin temperature, muscle sympathetic nerve activities, heart rate and/or pulse rate, and heart rate variability. Emerging evidence indicates that acupuncture treatment not only activates distinct brain regions in different kinds of diseases caused by imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, but also modulates adaptive neurotransmitter in related brain regions to alleviate autonomic response. This review focused on the central mechanism of acupuncture in modulating various autonomic responses, which might provide neurobiological foundations for acupuncture effects.
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Abstract
Over the last several decades, there has been an explosion of articles on acupuncture, including studies that have begun to explore mechanisms underlying its analgesic and cardiovascular actions. Modulation of cardiovascular function is most effective during manual and low-frequency, low-intensity electroacupuncture (EA) at a select set of acupoints situated along meridians located over deep somatic nerves on the upper and lower extremities. Stimulation at these acupoints activates underlying sensory neural pathways that project to a number of regions in the central nervous system (CNS) that ultimately regulate autonomic outflow and hence cardiovascular function. A long-loop pathway involving the hypothalamus, midbrain, and medulla underlies EA modulation of reflex increases in blood pressure (BP). Actions of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the supraspinal CNS underlie processing of the somatic input and adjustment of autonomic outflow during EA. Acupuncture also decreases elevated blood pressure through actions in the thoracic spinal cord. Reflexes that lower BP likewise are modulated by EA through its actions on sympathetic and parasympathetic nuclei in the medulla. The autonomic influence of acupuncture is slow in onset but prolonged in duration, typically lasting beyond the period of stimulation. Clinical studies suggest that acupuncture can be used to treat cardiac diseases, such as myocardial ischemia and hypertension, associated with overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Longhurst
- Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, Irvine , Irvine, CA
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Tjen-A-Looi SC, Guo ZL, Li M, Longhurst JC. Medullary GABAergic mechanisms contribute to electroacupuncture modulation of cardiovascular depressor responses during gastric distention in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2013; 304:R321-32. [PMID: 23302958 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00451.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) at P5-P6 acupoints overlying the median nerves typically reduces sympathoexcitatory blood pressure (BP) reflex responses in eucapnic rats. Gastric distention in hypercapnic acidotic rats, by activating both vagal and sympathetic afferents, decreases heart rate (HR) and BP through actions in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) and nucleus ambiguus (NAmb), leading to sympathetic withdrawal and parasympathetic activation, respectively. A GABAA mechanism in the rVLM mediates the decreased sympathetic outflow. The present study investigated the hypothesis that EA modulates gastric distention-induced hemodynamic depressor and bradycardia responses through nuclei that process parasympathetic and sympathetic outflow. Anesthetized hypercapnic acidotic rats manifested repeatable decreases in BP and HR with gastric distention every 10 min. Bilateral EA at P5-P6 for 30 min reversed the hypotensive response from -26 ± 3 to -6 ± 1 mmHg and the bradycardia from -35 ± 11 to -10 ± 3 beats/min for a period that lasted more than 70 min. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to detect c-Fos protein and GAD 67 mRNA expression showed that GABAergic caudal ventral lateral medulla (cVLM) neurons were activated by EA. Glutamatergic antagonism of cVLM neurons with kynurenic acid reversed the actions of EA. Gabazine used to block GABAA receptors microinjected into the rVLM or cVLM reversed EA's action on both the reflex depressor and bradycardia responses. EA modulation of the decreased HR was inhibited by microinjection of gabazine into the NAmb. Thus, EA through GABAA receptor mechanisms in the rVLM, cVLM, and NAmb modulates gastric distention-induced reflex sympathoinhibition and vagal excitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Tjen-A-Looi
- Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Longhurst JC, Tjen-A-Looi S. Acupuncture regulation of blood pressure: two decades of research. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2013; 111:257-71. [PMID: 24215927 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-411545-3.00013-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Although mechanisms underlying acupuncture regulation of pain have been studied by a number of laboratories in many countries, much less is known about its ability to modulate cardiovascular function. In the last two decades, our laboratory has systematically investigated the peripheral and central neural mechanisms underlying acupuncture regulation of blood pressure. These observations account for acupuncture's distant actions and, to some extent, its local actions, with respect to the site of needling. Four fundamental findings have advanced our knowledge. First, point-specific effects of acupuncture underlie its cardiovascular actions. Second, variable regions in the supraspinal and spinal central nervous system that receive input from somatic afferent stimulation account for acupuncture's ability to modulate blood pressure. Thus, depending on the underlying situation, for example, high or low blood pressure, acupuncture modifies autonomic outflow by reducing activity in brain stem nuclei that participate in the primary response. Third, repetitive acupuncture through a molecular mechanism can cause prolonged cardiovascular effects that far outlast acupuncture stimulation. Fourth, there is a range of cardiovascular responsiveness to acupuncture that depends, at least in part, on interactions between neural modulators that synaptically regulate autonomic function in the brain stem. Thus, acupuncture has the capability of profoundly regulating cardiovascular function in patients with disease, for example, hypertension, and the experimental laboratory is directing best approaches to study its actions in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Longhurst
- Department of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Medical Sciences, Irvine, California, USA.
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