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Xu W, Xiao Y, Wang P, Meng H, Liu Q. Use of nano-enabled approaches to advance acupuncture therapy for disease management. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2024; 9:708-717. [PMID: 38466219 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00469d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Acupuncture is an ancient form of therapy, which has long been part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); however, its use has spread globally, to the point where it is currently practiced worldwide. Although metal needles continue to be used most commonly, through multidisciplinary research, novel technologies, including nanotechnology, have allowed acupuncture to evolve to the point of achieving greater efficiency and more sophisticated functions in clinical practice. We summarized recent advancements in the literature using nano-enabled strategies to create novel needles that enhance and expand their therapeutic effects and found that nanotechnology may help provide new evidence to verify acupuncture theory, improve the features of acupuncture needles and their clinical effects by combining with drug delivery, and even enable new therapeutic methods when combined with acupuncture needles. The use of nano-technology with acupuncture delivery looks very promising for potential clinical applications. We also envisage that with nanotechnology, innovations in acupuncture needles could generate a multi-functional toolbox for use in both diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. Such new types of acupuncture needles could be used at acupoints and data collected to guide the planning of clinical trials may be more consistent with acupuncture theory and traditional clinical applications of this therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Xu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China.
| | - Huan Meng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingquan Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China.
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Acupuncture Inhibits Morphine Induced-Immune Suppress via Antioxidant System. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:7971801. [PMID: 36317105 PMCID: PMC9617706 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7971801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objectives A powerful analgesic called Morphine causes addiction behaviors and immune suppression as a potential oxidative stressor. Acupuncture showed to inhibit oxidative stress-induced hepatic damage, regulate reactive oxygen species, and attenuate morphine addiction behaviors. Therefore, we investigated the potential effects of acupuncture on morphine-induced immune suppression. Materials and Methods Rats received morphine intravenously through implanted catheters for 3, 7, or 21 days to determine the optimal condition for morphine-induced immune suppression. Second, we examined whether intravenous (iv.) or intraperitoneal (ip.) administration produced different results. Third, the effects of acupuncture in rats who received morphine for 21 days were investigated. Spleen and submandibular lymph node (S-LN) weights and natural killer (NK) cell activity were measured, and the white pulp diameter, total and cortical spleen thicknesses, and the number of lymphoid follicles in S-LNs were examined. The number of immunoreactive cells was also measured. Results Decreased organ weights and increased atrophic changes were observed as morphine-induced immune suppression. However, dose-dependent increased immune suppression was not observed between 5.0 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg of morphine. And, 3-day withdrawal did not affect. Similar histopathological findings were observed in 5.0 and 10.0 ip. rats when compared to equal dosages of iv., respectively. The morphine induced-immune suppression evidenced by spleen and left S-LN weights, splenic NK cell activities, histopathological findings, and the immunoreactive cell number were normalized by acupuncture. Conclusion These results indicate that acupuncture inhibits morphine-induced immune suppression, maybe via antioxidative action.
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Li S, Zhao S, Guo Y, Yang Y, Huang J, Wang J, Lu S, Wang B, Chai C, Xu Z, Chin Y. Clinical Efficacy and Potential Mechanisms of Acupoint Stimulation Combined With Chemotherapy in Combating Cancer: A Review and Prospects. Front Oncol 2022; 12:864046. [PMID: 35547876 PMCID: PMC9082419 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.864046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although chemotherapy is the first-line treatment strategy for a variety of tumors, its side effects have limited its efficacy. This review summarizes the progress on the use of acupoint stimulation to combat chemotherapy-associated side effects, including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), cognitive impairment (CICI), and gastrointestinal toxicity (GI), as well as myelosuppression and immunosuppression. It was found that acupoint stimulation attenuated CIPN and GI by modulating the 5-hydroxytryptamine system in dorsal root ganglia, the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and the duodenum by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Acupoint stimulation also alleviated GI by activating vagal activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius and promoting the secretion of gastrointestinal neuropeptide hormones. Acupoint stimulation restored both bone marrow hematopoiesis and immune function to combat cancer. In addition, the combination of acupoint stimulation and chemotherapy could inhibit tumor growth by promoting tumor cell apoptosis and the enrichment of chemotherapeutic agents in tumor tissue and by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment and normalizing the vasculature. Multiple evidence also indicates that neuroimmune regulation may be involved in the effects of acupoint stimulation. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that acupoint stimulation can alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and can also assist chemotherapeutic agents in inhibiting tumor growth, which expands the clinical application of acupoint stimulation in cancer treatment. However, more high-quality clinical studies are needed to confirm the clinical value of acupoint stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Li
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Suhong Zhao
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanzhen Yang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jin Huang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shanshan Lu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Chao Chai
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Institute of Imaging Medicine, Tianjin First Central Hospital, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture Science, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China.,School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Tuina, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yenlie Chin
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
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Therapeutic Effect of Catgut Implantation at Acupoint in a Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Suppressing Immune Escape. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:5572869. [PMID: 35178106 PMCID: PMC8846981 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5572869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background The occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are closely related to immune function, as is the capacity of hepatoma cells to escape. Immunosurveillance is a key mechanism. Catgut implantation at acupoint (CIAA) is a promising acupuncture improvement method that can regulate immunity and has been widely used in the clinical treatment of a variety of diseases. The aim of this study is to observe the therapeutic effect of CIAA on HCC and to investigate the potential mechanism of immune escape. Materials and Methods A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into three groups: the HCC model group (n = 15), the CIAA treatment group (n = 15), and the control group (n = 10). HCC was chemically induced in 30 mice by the combination of DEN, carbon tetrachloride, and ethanol for 150 days. Among them, 15 were selected for CIAA treatment to ascertain the therapeutic effect. The mRNA expression levels of AFP, IL-10, PD-1, and CTLA-4 in three groups were examined by using RT-PCR. AFP and AKT expressions were measured by using western blotting. PD1, CTLA-4, IL-10, CD4+, and CD8+ protein expression levels were evaluated by using IHC. The mortality rate, body weight, and psychological conditions of three groups were also compared. Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of AFP, PD-1, CTLA-4, and IL-10 were significantly downregulated in the CIAA-treated mice in comparison with HCC mice. IHC assay shows that CD4+ and CD8+ expression levels were notably upregulated after CIAA treatment. Western blotting assay shows that AKT pathway was deactivated in CIAA-treated mice. CIAA notably reduced the mortality rate and inhibited weight loss caused by HCC and improved the overall psychological condition of the mice. Conclusions Taken together, our data corroborate the effective potency of CIAA in the treatment of HCC by and inhibiting immune escape and deactivating the AKT pathway.
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Zhu Y, Yu J, Zhang K, Feng Y, Guo K, Sun L, Ruan S. Network Pharmacology Analysis to Explore the Pharmacological Mechanism of Effective Chinese Medicines in Treating Metastatic Colorectal Cancer using Meta-Analysis Approach. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2022; 49:1839-1870. [PMID: 34781857 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x21500877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains controversial, and its active components and potential targets are still unclear. This study mainly aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of TCM in mCRC treatment through meta-analysis and explore the effective components and potential targets based on the network pharmacology method. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CBM, WanFang, and CNKI database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the treatment of mCRC patients with and without TCM. A meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4 was conducted. In total, 25 clinical trials were analyzed, and the result demonstrated that TCM was closely correlated with the improved OS (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.52-0.76; [Formula: see text] < 0.00001) and PFS (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61-0.88; [Formula: see text] = 0.0010). Then, high-frequency Chinese herbs from the prescriptions extracted from the trails included in the OS meta-analysis were counted to construct a core-effective prescription. The TCMSP database was used to retrieve the active chemical components and predict herb targets. The Genecards, OMIM, Disgenet, DrugBank, and TTD database were searched for colorectal cancer targets. R-package was used to construct the Component-Target (C-T) network based on the intersection genes. Further, we extracted hub genes from C-T network and performed functional enrichment and pathway analysis. Finally, the C-T network showed 120 herb and disease co-target genes, and the most important top 10 active components were: Quercetin, Luteolin, Wogonin, Kaempferol, Nobiletin, Baicalein, Licochalcone A, Naringenin, Isorhamnetin, and Acacetin. The first 20 hub genes were extracted: CDKN1A, CDK1, CDK2, E2F1, CDK4, PCNA, RB1, CCNA2, MAPK3, CCND1, CCNB1, JUN, MAPK1, RELA, FOS, MAPK8, STAT3, MAPK14, NR3C1, and MYC. Thus, effective Chinese herb components may inhibit the mCRC by targeting multiple biological processes of the above hub genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
| | - Jieru Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
| | - Yuqian Feng
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
| | - Kaibo Guo
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
| | - Leitao Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
| | - Shanming Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310053, P. R. China
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Surface Modification of Electrocatalyst for Optimal Adsorption of Reactants in Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Catalysts 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/catal11060717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Technological development after the industrial revolution has improved the quality of human life, but global energy consumption continues to increase due to population growth and the development of fossil fuels. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to develop sustainable long-term and renewable alternative energy sources. The anodic electrode, which is one of the two-electrode system components, is an essential element for effective energy production. In general, precious metal-based electrocatalysts show high OER reactions from the anodic electrode, but it is difficult to scale up due to their low abundance and high cost. To overcome these problems, transition metal-based anodic electrodes, which exhibit advantages with respect to their low cost and high catalytic activities, are in the spotlight nowadays. Among them, stainless steel is a material with a high ratio of transition metal components, i.e., Fe, Ni, and Cr, and has excellent corrosion resistance and low cost. However, stainless steel shows low electrochemical performance due to its slow sluggish kinetics and lack of active sites. In this study, we fabricated surface modified electrodes by two methods: (i) anodization and (ii) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) immersion treatments. As a result of comparing the two methods, the change of the electrode surface and the electrochemical properties were not confirmed in the H2O2 immersion method. On the other hand, the porous electrode (PE) fabricated through electrochemical anodization shows a low charge transfer resistance (Rct) and high OER activity due to its large surface area compared to the conventional electrode (CE). These results confirm that the synthesis process of H2O2 immersion is an unsuitable method for surface modification. In contrast, the PE fabricated by anodization can increase the OER activity by providing high adsorption of reactants through surface modification.
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Kim HS, Choi H, Flores MC, Razzaq A, Gwak YS, Ahn D, Kim MS, Gurel O, Lee BH, In SI. Noble metal sensitized invasive porous bioelectrodes: advanced medical device for enhanced neuronal activity and chronic alcohol treatment. RSC Adv 2020; 10:43514-43522. [PMID: 35519706 PMCID: PMC9058419 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra07922g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive bioelectrodes are widely used as an effective treatment for several acute and chronic diseases. In earlier work using high surface area invasive porous bioelectrodes evaluated in an animal model of alcoholism withdrawal, we demonstrated significantly improved electrophysiological and behavioral responses. In this study, we further modify the surface of these invasive porous bioelectrodes with noble metal (Ag, Au, Pt) nanoparticles. Compared to both conventional and porous bioelectrodes, noble metal sensitized invasive porous bioelectrodes show markedly increased low threshold (LT) and wide dynamic range (WDR) neuronal activity. In particular, Pt-sensitized invasive porous bioelectrodes show the highest WDR neuronal activity only upon insertion. In addition, Ag-sensitized invasive porous bioelectrodes, whose surface area is about 37 times greater than that of conventional bioelectrodes, show improved electrochemical properties with higher LT and WDR neuronal activity when stimulated. In an animal model of chronic alcoholism, using normal and alcohol-treated Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats evaluated with the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, the Ag-sensitized invasive porous bioelectrodes show about 20% higher open arms time. These results suggest that these noble metal-sensitized invasive bioelectrodes may offer improved therapeutic outcomes for the treatment of chronic alcoholism, and given these enhanced electrophysiological properties, for other conditions as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Soo Kim
- Department of Energy Science & Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-eup Dalseong-gun Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea
| | - Hansaem Choi
- Department of Energy Science & Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-eup Dalseong-gun Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea
| | - Monica Claire Flores
- Department of Energy Science & Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-eup Dalseong-gun Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea
| | - Abdul Razzaq
- Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus 1.5 km Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road Lahore 54000 Pakistan
| | - Young Seob Gwak
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University 136 Sincheondong-ro, Suseong-gu Daegu 42158 Republic of Korea
| | - Danbi Ahn
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University 136 Sincheondong-ro, Suseong-gu Daegu 42158 Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Seon Kim
- Clinical Trials Management Division, Pharmaceutical Safety Bureau, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Cheongju-si Chungcheongbuk-do Republic of Korea
| | - Ogan Gurel
- College of Transdisciplinary Studies, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-eup Dalseong-gun Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea
| | - Bong Hyo Lee
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University 136 Sincheondong-ro, Suseong-gu Daegu 42158 Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Il In
- Department of Energy Science & Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) 333 Techno Jungang-daero, Hyeonpung-eup Dalseong-gun Daegu 42988 Republic of Korea
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Physiological impact of nanoporous acupuncture needles: Laser Doppler perfusion imaging in healthy volunteers. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226304. [PMID: 31826009 PMCID: PMC6905535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, porous acupuncture (PA), which is anodized to increase its surface area for higher stimulation intensity, was developed and showed significantly improved therapeutic effects with more comfort as compared with original acupuncture (OA) in vivo. However, the impact of PA on the change of local blood flow as well as its efficacy and acceptability has not yet been confirmed in a clinical trial. In a randomized, controlled crossover clinical trial, we investigated the effects of PA on the change in local blood flow using laser Doppler perfusion imaging and considered the sensation of pain intensity and discomfort severity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to explore its physiological impact and the possibility of PA in clinical use. METHODS Twenty-one healthy participants were randomly treated with PA or OA on one side of Zusanli (ST36) and each participant served as his or her own control. Baseline local blood flow and galvanic skin response (GSR) were obtained for 5 min and acupuncture interventions were subsequently performed. Next, local blood flow and GSR were subsequently obtained for 10 min after insertion, 10 min after manipulation, and 5 min after the withdrawal of acupuncture. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to indicate the sensation of pain intensity at each session of insertion, retention, manipulation, and withdrawal as well as the overall pain intensity and discomfort severity. RESULTS PA significantly increased the local blood flow as compared with OA and there was no significant difference in GSR between patients treated with PA versus OA in each phase of insertion and manipulation. No significant difference in pain intensity or discomfort severity was found during manipulation, retention, or withdrawal of acupuncture. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that PA increases local blood flow, which can be closely related to the observed enhanced performance, without any associated discomfort or pain, suggesting its applicability in clinical practice.
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Bae SJ, Lim J, Lee S, Choi H, Jang JH, Kim YK, Oh JY, Park JH, Jung HS, Chae Y, In SI, Park HJ. Augmented Mechanical Forces of the Surface-Modified Nanoporous Acupuncture Needles Elicit Enhanced Analgesic Effects. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:652. [PMID: 31281240 PMCID: PMC6596406 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past several decades, clinical studies have shown significant analgesic effects of acupuncture. The efficacy of acupuncture treatment has improved with the recent development of nanoporous needles (PN), which are produced by modifying the needle surface using nanotechnology. Herein, we showed that PN at acupoint ST36 produces prolonged analgesic effects in an inflammatory pain model; the analgesic effects of PN acupuncture were sustained over 2 h, while those using a conventional needle (CN) lasted only 30 min. In addition, the PN showed greater therapeutic effects than CN after 10 acupuncture treatments once per day for 10 days. We explored how the porous surface of the PN contributes to changes in local tissue, which may in turn result in enhanced analgesic effects. We showed that the PN has greater rotational torque and pulling force than the CN, particularly at acupoints ST36 and LI11, situated on thick muscle layers. Additionally, in ex vivo experiments, the PN showed greater winding of subcutaneous connective tissues and muscle layers. Our results suggest that local mechanical forces are augmented by the PN and its nanoporous surface, contributing to the enhanced and prolonged analgesic effects of PN acupuncture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun-Jeong Bae
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Junsik Lim
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Semyung University, Jecheon, South Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Hansaem Choi
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, DGIST, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jae-Hwan Jang
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yu-Kang Kim
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ju-Young Oh
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong Hun Park
- Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyuk-Sang Jung
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Younbyung Chae
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Su-Il In
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, DGIST, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Hi-Joon Park
- Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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Litscher D, Litscher G. Abstracts and Commentaries on Key Articles in the Literature. Med Acupunct 2017. [DOI: 10.1089/acu.2017.29066.lit] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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