Latest Issue
      2020 Year 26 Vol. 1 Issue

        Perspective

      • Chang-zhen GONG,Wei LIU
        2020, 26(1): 3-7. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3177-5
        Abstract：Modern clinical trials have produced controversial data interpretation which refutes conventional standard teachings and practices. Acupuncture scholars and practitioners have been stimulated to scrutinize these trials and analyze conventional practices. This paper presents two acupuncture models which address these issues. One rationalizes the clinical trial results with newer understanding of acupuncture points and techniques, while the other reconciles these results with rediscovered techniques of palpating points and performing needling. These two models indicate that acupuncture is in transition from classical model to evidence-based models.  
        Keywords：acupuncture model;evidence-based;LI Yong-ming's Balloon model;LENG San-hua's C-Nerve Network Counter-Stimulation model   
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        Published：2021-08-27

        Commentary

      • Xiang WANG,Yan-gang WANG
        2020, 26(1): 8-13. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3058-y
        Abstract：Gout is a crystal-related arthropathy resulting from the deposition of monosodium urate. Identifying appropriate treatments and novel drugs to decrease serum uric acid (SUA) levels and gout risk has been a major focus. By performing extensive literature review on the pathogenesis and Chinese and Western medicine treatment of gout, this paper aimed to identify novel targets for effective control of acute gout attacks and long-term reduction of SUA. In addition, we aimed to provide new directions for the improvement of therapeutic measures and the development of drugs. Although Western medicine can significantly contribute to the treatment of gout, Chinese herbal medicine has unique advantages, including reduced adverse reactions and higher patient compliance. It may also fill in the shortcomings of Western medicine in the intermittent period treatment of gout. In addition to constantly exploring pathogenesis and drug targets, research on Chinese herbal medicine is equally important. The combination of Chinese and Western medicine has proven to become an important direction for gout treatment.  
        Keywords：gout therapy;research progress;Chinese medicine;Western medicine   
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        Original Article

      • Li-li WANG,Ling SHAN,Lin DU,Yu ZHANG,Fei-yong JIA
        2020, 26(1): 14-19. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3082-y
        Abstract：Objective:To compare the immediate effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and body acupuncture (BA) on gastrocnemius muscle tone in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).Methods:Children with spastic CP, age from 24 to 60 months, who all received rehabilitation treatment in the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the First Hospital of Jilin University from April 2016 to May 2017 were enrolled in this trial and assigned to EA group and BA group through a random number table. Both EA and BA therapies were performed on acupoints of Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and Xuanzhong (GB 39) for 30 min once. The root mean square (RMS), integrated electromyogram (iEMG) of the gastrocnemius of surface electromyography (sEMG), and Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) of the two groups were evaluated before and after treatment. All adverse events were accurately recorded.Results:Thirty-six children with spastic CP completed the study (18 cases and 32 legs in the EA group; 18 cases and 31 legs in the BA group). There was no significant difference in RMS, iEMG and MTS between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, compared with before treatment, RMS and iEMG significantly reduced and MTS (R2–R1) significantly increased in both EA and BA groups (P<0.05), and EA was more effective than BA in RMS and MTS (P<0.05). However, the iEMG between the two groups were not statistically significant after treatment (P>0.05). There was no serious adverse event during this clinical trial.Conclusion:Both EA and BA could significantly relieve the gastrocnemius muscle tone in spastic CP, and EA was more effective than BA. (Registration No. ChiCTRONC-15007633)  
        Keywords：spastic cerebral palsy;electroacupuncture;surface electromyography;gastrocnemius muscle tone;randomized controlled trial   
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        Published：2021-08-27
      • Shu-qi CHEN,De-chun CAI,Ji-xin CHEN,Han YANG,Lian-sheng LIU
        2020, 26(1): 20-25. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3079-6
        Abstract：Objective:To study the effect of contralateral acupuncture (CAT) at acupoints of Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the unaffected limbs of ischemic stroke patients with left hemiplegia based on regional homogeneity (ReHo) indices.Methods:Ten ischemic stroke patients with left hemiplegia received CAT on right side at LI 11 and ST 36. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed before and after acupuncture. A ReHo analytical method was used to compare brain responses of patients before and after CAT operated by REST software.Results:The stimulation at both LI 11 and ST 36 on the unaffected limbs produced significantly different neural activities. CAT elicited increased ReHo values at the right precentral gyrus and superior frontal gyrus, decreased ReHo value at right superior parietal lobule, left fusiform gyrus and left supplementary motor area.Conclusions:Acupuncture at one side could stimulate bilateral regions. CAT could evoke the gyrus which was possibly related to motor recovery from stroke. A promising indicator of neurobiological deficiencies could be represented by ReHo values in post-stroke patients.  
        Keywords：contralateral acupuncture;ischemic stroke;functional magnetic resonance imaging;regional homogeneity   
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      • Hiroshi Kawanami,Hirohisa Kawahata,Hiroko-Miyuki Mori,Motokuni Aoki
        2020, 26(1): 26-32. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3083-x
        Abstract：Objective:To examine the effect of moxibustion on the wound healing process and its mechanism using a rat wound model.Methods:Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-treated group (n=30, wound surgery only) and a moxibustion group (n=30, wound treated with moxibustion). Circular fullthickness skin wounds were produced in rats. Moxibustion was applied to the edge of wound and was continued on alternating days till 14 days after surgery, followed by measurement of wound size. Expression of collagens, prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4H) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were evaluated by histochemical study and real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results:The size of the wound lesion was significantly reduced in rats treated with moxibustion as compared to that in sham-treated rats at 4–10 days after wounding (P<0.01). Moxibustion stimulated mRNA expression of collagens at 4 days (P<0.01), but not at 7 days, accompanied by enhanced proliferation of P4H-positive fibroblasts. Of importance, expression of TGF-β in tissue from the wound lesion treated with moxibustion was significantly increased as compared to that in sham-treated rats at 4 days (P<0.01 or P<0.05), but not at 7 days.Conclusions:The treatment with moxibustion promoted the wound healing process in the early phase through proliferation of fibroblasts and rapid formation of granulation, possibly mediated by induction of TGF-β which is a key molecule in the physiological process of wound healing. Moxibustion can be expected to be effective as complementary treatment for intractable ulcers.  
        Keywords：complementary and alternative medicine;moxibustion;wound healing;granulation;transforming growth factor-β;collagen   
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        Published：2021-08-27
      • Yuan LI,Zhi-yi QIAN,Ke CHENG,Ling ZHAO,Xue-yong SHEN,Hai-ping DENG
        2020, 26(1): 33-38. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3084-9
        Abstract：Objective:To investigate the effect of compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion on blood glucose, fasting insulin and blood lipids levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.Methods:Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including the normal group, model control group, laser group and sham laser group (n=10 per group). The rats in the normal group were fed with a standard diet. Rats in other groups were fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet for 4 weeks, then intraperitoneally injected with 1% streptozotocin to induce T2DM model. The laser group was irradiated by 10.6 μm and 650 nm compound laser on bilateral Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) for 5 min, 6 times a week for 5 weeks. The sham laser group received the same treatment as the laser group, but without laser output. The model control group and normal group were not treated. Blood glucose levels were measured before and after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks of treatment. The serum levels of fasting insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were analyzed after the last treatment.Results:The blood glucose levels in the model control group increased during the 5 weeks of treatment compared with the normal group (P<0.05), while those in the laser group were significantly lower than the model control group after weekly treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). After 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment, the blood glucose levels in the laser group decreased obviously compared with the sham laser group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the levels of fasting insulin, TC and LDL in the model control group notably increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while their levels in the laser group were significantly lower than the model control group after 5 weeks of treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in TG or HDL levels among the 4 groups (P>0.05).Conclusion:The compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion of 10.6 μm and 650 nm had positive effects on the regulation of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in T2DM rats, which may be a potential treatment for T2DM, and also provide an alternative to the traditional acupuncture and moxibustion therapy.  
        Keywords：type 2 diabetes mellitus;compound laser acupuncture-moxibustion;hyperglycemia;insulin resistance;blood lipids   
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        Published：2021-08-27
      • Wei-li SHI,Peng-fei LU,Dong GAO,Jun SONG,Ke-ji CHEN
        2020, 26(1): 39-45. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3059-x
        Abstract：Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule (血府逐瘀胶囊, XZC) on pro-angiogenesis in the hindlimb ischemic model rats.Methods:A total of 100 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a model group, a regular-dose XZC group (0.48 g•kg-1•d-1) and a high-dose XZC group (0.96 g•kg-1•d-1) using random number table method. The model of hindlimb ischemic rats were made through femoral artery embolization with Bletilla microsphere agent. XZC were given on the first day after embolization surgery and lasted 5 days. Finally 72 models were obtained with 12 in each group for each time point. The lower ischemic limb was amputated on the third day after embolization surgery. Histopathological characters and the number of blood vessels of granulation tissues were observed at 36 and 48 h after amputation, respectively. The main genes were obtained from microarray analysis and were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:The vascular number of granulation tissues at both 36 and 48 h were characterized by new and fresh vessels. The number of angiogenesis in the high-dose XZC group at 36 and 48 h was greater compared with that in the regular-dose XZC and model groups (P<0.01), and high-dose XZC at 36 h increased more vessels than that at 48 h (P<0.01). Consequently, granulation tissues from the high-dose XZC group at 36 h were chosen for microarray analysis. In all, 2,085 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected and 25 DEGs were determined to be directly related to angiogenesis. Four biological process terms were found including angiogenesis, regulation of angiogenesis, positive regulation of angiogenesis, and positive regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling pathway (P<0.05). Microarray analysis also showed 49 pathways including 11 pathways related to angiogenesis.Conclusion:XZC promoted angiogenesis moderately and the mechanism involved multiple DEGs and multiple pathways.  
        Keywords：Xuefu Zhuyu Capsule;microarray analysis;angiogenesis;hindlimb ischemic model;Chinese medicine   
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      • Wei LI,Yue-hua JIANG,Yan WANG,Meng ZHAO,Guang-jian HOU,Hong-zhen HU,Le ZHOU
        2020, 26(1): 46-53. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3071-1
        Abstract：Objective:To evaluate the effects of combination of Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RS) on kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and renal intrinsic cells.Methods:SHRs were intragastrically administrated with RA (5.09 g/kg) and RS (2.55 g/kg) either alone or with combination for 4 weeks; valsartan (13.35 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Blood pressure and renal ultrasonography were monitored periodically. The biomarkers [microalbumin (mALB), cystatin C, angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and β2-microglobulin (β2-Mg), etc.] in serum and urine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expressions [phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase-α1 (p-AMPKα1), sestrin-β, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-β (CaMKK-β), phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), serine-threonine protein kinase 1 (AKT1), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)] in renal cortex were determined by Western blot. In vitro, the hypertensive cellular model was established by applying 2×10-6 mol/L Ang Ⅱ. The primary human podocytes, human glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs), and human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2s) were pre-incubated with sulfotanshinone sodium (Tan, 10 μg/mL) and/or calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (Cal, 5 μg/mL). The cellular viability and apoptosis were assayed by 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Annexin V/PI staining, respectively. The level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in culture supernatant was determined by ELISA.Results:RA+RS significantly decreased the diastolic blood pressure, renal vascular resistance index, and parenchymal thickness, increased 24 h urinary volume as well as lowered the levels of urine mALB and serum cystatin C, IL-1β and β2-Mg of SHRs (P<0.05 vs. SHRs). The decreased protein levels of p-AMPKα1, sestrinβ and CaMKK-β and the increased protein levels of PI3K, AKT1 and VEGFR2 in renal cortex of SHRs were normalized after RA+RS treatment (P<0.05). In vitro, Tan and Cal attenuated the Ang Ⅱ-induced abnormal proliferation and increased the apoptosis of HRGECs and HK-2s and improved the level of eNOS in culture supernatant. Whereas, neither of them showed powerful effect on podocyte.Conclusion:The combination of RA and RS had potential effects on alleviating the renal damages of SHRs and the renoprotection was independent of blood pressure level.  
        Keywords：hypertensive renal damage;angiotensin Ⅱ;human glomerular endothelial cells;HK-2;Chinese medicine   
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        Clinical Experience

      • Zhi-ying LIN,Tian-wen HUANG,Jun-shang HUANG,Guan-yi ZHENG
        2020, 26(1): 54-58. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3073-z
        Abstract：Objective:To observe the intervention effects of Tiaobu Xinshen Recipe (调补心肾方, TXR) on patients with mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD).Methods:Totally 88 MCI-AD patients with syndrome of Xin (Heart) and Shen (Kidney) deficiency were assigned to the experimental group (47 cases, treated with TXR) and the control group (41 cases, treated with donepezil hydrochloride) using a random number table. Final recruited qualified patients were 44 cases in the experimental group and 39 cases in the control group. The therapeutic course was 12 weeks. Neuropsychological scales [mini mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA)], and Chinese medicine (CM) dementia syndromes scales were performed in all patients, and results were compared between groups or intra-group before and after treatment.Results:MMSE and MoCA scores of the two groups were increased after treatment compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). But there was no statistical difference in MMSE or MOCA scores after treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). CM dementia syndrome score was significantly decreased after treatment in the experimental group compared with the control group (P<0.01). Visual spatial and executive function scores and delayed recall scores of the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01).Conclusion:TXR could effectively improve cognitive impairment of MCI-AD patients with syndrome of Xin and Shen deficiency.  
        Keywords：Tiaobu Xinshen Recipe;mild cognitive impairment;Alzheimer's disease;mini mental state examination;Montreal cognitive assessment;Chinese medicine   
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        Review

      • Xian-pei HENG,Xiu-jun LI,Liang LI,Liu-qing YANG,Zi-ta WANG,Su-ping HUANG
        2020, 26(1): 62-71. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-018-3053-8
        Abstract：Traditional glucose-lowering chemical agents, including various types of insulin and insulin secretagogues, insulin sensitizers, gliptins, etc., are based on diabetic pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and islet insufficiency. Numerous evidence-based medical studies have shown that these traditional hypoglycemic chemical agents do not provide cardiovascular benefit to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may even increase the risk of all-cause mortality. Based on research evidence published to date, these studies show that overload of energy could increase the incidence and prevalence of T2DM, and reduction in the heat load can significantly reduce the incidence of T2DM. Therefore, the essence of T2DM is heat overload, meaning heat overload is the etiology of obese T2DM. At the same time, results of numerous studies show that heat overloading is the cause of IR. IR and islet dysfunction are protective factors in intervening with heat overload. These drugs, which are based on the mechanisms of IR and islet insufficiency, increase caloric reserve and cause or worsen obesity, which is equivalent to exacerbating the basic etiology and the cardiovascular risk factor of T2DM. Thus, a reasonable strategy for prevention and treatment of obese T2DM appears to promote the negative balance of calories and the elimination of caloric reserves. Chinese herbal medicines can promote negative balance of heat in many aspects, which can bring new hope for prevention and treatment of T2DM.  
        Keywords：obese type 2 diabetes mellitus;etiology;prevention and treatment;Chinese herbal medicine   
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      • Ting-ting LUO,Yuan LU,Shi-kai YAN,Xue XIAO,Xiang-lu RONG,Jiao GUO
        2020, 26(1): 72-80. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-019-3064-0
        Abstract：Chinese medicine (CM) is usually prescribed as CM formula to treat disease. The lack of effective research approach makes it difficult to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of CM formula owing to its complicated chemical compounds. Network pharmacology is increasingly applied in CM formula research in recent years, which is identified suitable for the study of CM formula. In this review, we summarized the methodology of network pharmacology, including network construction, network analysis and network verification. The aim of constructing a network is to achieve the interaction between the bioactive compounds and targets and the interaction between various targets, and then find out and validate the key nodes via network analysis and network verification. Besides, we reviewed the application in CM formula research, mainly including targets discovery, bioactive compounds screening, toxicity evaluation, mechanism research and quality control research. Finally, we proposed prospective in the future and limitations of network pharmacology, expecting to provide new strategy and thinking on study for CM formula.  
        Keywords：network pharmacology;Chinese medicine formula;targets discovery;mechanism research;quality control research   
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