Effect of
Acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on Glucose Metabolism in a Patient with
Dysmenorrhea
Gong P, et al. Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine,
The Affiliated Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of
Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the central modulating mechanism of
acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) in treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. 18F-FDG
positron emission tomograph imaging of whole brain was performed in six patients
with primary dysmenorrhea during two stimulation: pseudo acupuncture and real
acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The areas of cerebral glycometabolism change
were obtained by using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Meanwhile the pain
intensity before and after pseudo-acupuncture and real acupuncture was assessed
with 0-10 numerical pain intensity scale. No differences in the values of pain
before and after pseudo-acupuncture (P > 0.05). The value of pain after
acupuncture was significantly lower than that before acupuncture (P < 0.01).
Most of the activated brain areas were shared with the areas activated by pain
as described in the literature. The brain areas of increasing glycometabolism
were ipsilateral lentiformn nucleus (globus pallidus, putamen), cerebellum and
insula, bilateral thalamus, ipsilateral paracentral lobule, bilateral amygdala,
contralateral midbrain, bilateral second somatosensory cortex, ipsilateral
hippocampus and anterior cingulate, contralateral mammillary body. The brain
areas of decreasing glycometabolism were limited in small cerebral cortex.
Acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can relieve significantly the pain of the
patient. Primary dysmenorrhea is cured mainly by activating the area involved in
pain. It is indicated that acupuncture can relieve pain and balancing the
pain-related central networks. Also neuroendocrine may play a role in the
therapy.
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2006 Jan;26(1):51-5. Related Articles, Links
Source PubMed
The Treatment
of Obesity by Acupuncture
Cabyoglu MT, et al. Department of Physiology, Selcuk University,
Faculty of Meram Medical, Konya, Turkey. tugcab@yahoo.com
The present study is an investigation of the results of the studies on the
effects of acupuncture application therapy on obesity. It has been reported that
acupuncture application in obesity treatment is effective in procuring weight
loss. It can affect appetite, intestinal motility, and metabolism, as well as
emotional factors such as stress. Increases in neural activity in the
ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, in tone in the smooth muscle of the
stomach and in levels of enkephalin, beta endorphin, and serotonin in plasma and
brain tissue have also been observed with the application of acupuncture. It has
been observed that acupuncture application to obese people increases
excitability of the satiety center in the ventromedial nuclei of the
hypothalamus. Acupuncture stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and
raises serotonin levels. Both of these activities have been shown to increase
tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite. Among other
things, serotonin enhances intestinal motility. It also controls stress and
depression via endorphin and dopamine production. In addition to these effects,
it is thought that the increase in plasma levels of beta endorphin after
acupuncture application can contribute to the body weight loss in obese people
by mobilizing the body energy depots through lipolithic effect.
Int J Neurosci. 2006 Feb;116(2):165-75. Related Articles, Links
Source: PubMed
Cosmetic
Applications of Selected Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicines
Wang KH, et al. Department of Dermatology, Taipei Medical
University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Taipei
Municipal Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei 116, Taiwan.
Because tyrosinase catalyzes melanin synthesis, tyrosinase inhibitors are
important in cosmetic skin-whitening. Oxidative stress contributes to skin aging
and can adversely affect skin health, which means antioxidants active in skin
cells may support skin health. We examined 25 traditional Chinese herbal
medicines that might be useful for skin-whitening and skin health. Extracts
(100mug/mL) were tested for cytotoxicity on human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn);
12 exhibited low cytotoxicity. Their effects on tyrosinase and melanin
inhibitory activities and free radical scavenging activities were further
assessed. Phenolic contents were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Four
herbs, Pharbitis nil, Sophora japonica, Spatholobus suberectus, and Morus alba,
exhibited potent inhibitory effects on tyrosinase (IC(50) values 24.9, 95.6,
83.9, and 78.3mug/mL, respectively). Melanin inhibition was not dose-dependent.
Sophora japonica (IC(50): 14.46mug/mL, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH);
1.95mug/mL, hydroxyl radical) and Spatholobus suberectus (IC(50): 10.51mug/mL,
DPPH; 4.36mug/mL, hydroxyl radical) showed good antioxidative activities and
high phenolic contents (255 and 189mg of gallic acid/g extract, respectively).
Among active anti-tyrosinase extracts, Sophora japonica and Spatholobus
suberectus were especially potent in HEMn cells in terms of free radical
scavenging effects and high phenolic contents, making them the strongest
candidates for cosmetic application found in the current study.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Feb 21; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links
Source: PubMed
[TOP] |
Advanced Search 
Acupuncture.Com accepts article contributions. Email
submissions to 
