Connective
Tissue Fibroblast Response to Acupuncture
Langevin HM, et al. Department of Neurology, University of
Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Helene.langevin@uvm.edu
BACKGROUND: Although acupuncture-needle manipulation is an important component
of acupuncture therapy, little information is currently available on whether or
not specific types of needle manipulation produce different effects on the body.
Bidirectional (back-and-forth) rotation is one of the most common forms of
needle manipulation used in acupuncture practice. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we
hypothesized that bidirectional acupuncture needle rotation causes
dose-dependent active cytoskeletal remodeling in connective tissue fibroblasts
similar to that previously demonstrated with unidirectional rotation.
INTERVENTIONS: Subcutaneous tissue explants from 18 mice were randomized to
varying amounts of bidirectional rotation cycles (8-64) and rotation-cycle
amplitude (180 degrees -720 degrees ) ex vivo for 30 minutes, followed by tissue
fixation, confocal microscopy, and measurement of fibroblast cell body
cross-sectional area. RESULTS: As with unidirectional rotation, fibroblasts
responded to bidirectional rotation with extensive cell spreading and
lamellipodia formation. Bidirectional needle rotation had a significant overall
effect on fibroblast cell body cross sectional area (analysis of variance, p <
0.001). The cellular response to bidirectional rotation was nonmonotonic with
maximal responses occurring within specific stimulus windows with regard to
cycle amplitude and cycle number. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that
subtle differences in acupuncture-needle manipulation techniques can affect
cellular responses in mouse subcutaneous connective tissue. Further studies will
be needed to determine whether these connective-tissue responses are related to
therapeutic effects.
J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Apr;13(3):355-60.
Source PubMed
[TOP]
Additional
Therapeutic Effects of Electroacupuncture in Conjunction with Conventional
Rehabilitation for Patients with First-ever Ischemic Stroke
Hsieh RL, et al. Department of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation, Shin Kong Wo Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the additional therapeutic effects of
electroacupuncture for patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke. DESIGN:
Randomized controlled study. SUBJECTS: A total of 63 patients with first-ever
ischaemic stroke. METHODS: The study and control groups underwent a conventional
rehabilitation program, with the former receiving an additional 8 courses of
electroacupuncture over a period of one month. Therapeutic effects were assessed
by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for motor performance and the Functional
Independence Measure (FIM) for the independence of functional performance at 2
and 4 weeks after treatment, and 3 months and 6 months after stroke. RESULTS:
For total Fugl-Meyer Assessment score, improvement was more significant for the
study group relative to the control group at 2 weeks (16.2 vs 10.6; p = 0.047)
and 4 weeks after treatment (27.4 vs 17.1; p = 0.005), and at 3 months after the
stroke (34.7 vs 21.8; p = 0.009). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores improved
significantly, especially in upper-limb motor function for the study group.
There was no statistically significant between-group difference in total FIM
score improvement. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can improve motor function,
especially in upper-limb motor function, for patients with first-ever ischaemic
stroke.
J Rehabil Med. 2007 Apr;39(3):205-11
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Efficacy and
Tolerability of a Chinese Herbal Medicine Concoction for Treatment of Atopic
Dermatitis
Hon KL, et al. Department of Paediatrics, Chinese University
of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Background: There has been considerable interest in traditional Chinese herbal
medicine (TCHM) as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). A twice-daily
concoction of an ancestral formula containing five herbs has been found to be
beneficial in an open study. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and tolerability
of the concoction in children with AD. Methods Following a 2-week run-in period,
children with long-standing moderate-to-severe AD were randomized to receive a
12-week treatment with twice-daily dosing of three capsules of either TCHM or
placebo. The SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score, Children's Dermatology
Life Quality Index (CDLQI), allergic rhinitis score, and requirement for topical
corticosteroid and oral antihistamine were assessed before and at weeks 4, 8, 12
and 16 after treatment. Adverse events, tolerability, haematological and
biochemical parameters were monitored during the study. Results: Eighty-five
children with AD were recruited. Over 12 weeks, the mean SCORAD score fell from
58.3 to 49.7 in the TCHM group (n = 42; P = 0.003) and from 56.9 to 46.9 in the
placebo group (n = 43; P = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference
in the scores at the corresponding time points between the two groups. The CDLQI
in TCHM-treated patients was significantly improved compared with patients
receiving placebo at the end of the 3-month treatment and 4 weeks after stopping
therapy (P = 0.008 and 0.059, respectively). The total amount of topical
corticosteroid used was also significantly reduced by one-third in the TCHM
group (P = 0.024). No serious adverse effects were observed between the groups.
Conclusions: The TCHM concoction is efficacious in improving quality of life and
reducing topical corticosteroid use in children with moderate-to-severe AD. The
formulation was palatable and well tolerated.
Br J Dermatol. 2007 May 14
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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