Medline Abstracts on Acupuncture

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Bai L, Qin W, Tian J, Dong M, Pan X, Chen P, Dai J, Yang W, Liu Y.

Acupuncture modulates spontaneous activities in the anticorrelated resting

brain networks. Brain Res. 2009 May 7. [Epub ahead of print]. Life Science

Research Center, School of Electronic Engineering, Xidian University, Xi'an

710071, China. Neuroimaging studies of AP have shown extensive signal

attenuations in the core regions of a " default mode " network as well as

signal potentiations in the regions of a " central-executive " network. We

proposed that this AP-related dichotomy may represent the anticorrelation

in these intrinsic brain networks showing spontaneous fluctuations during

rest. According to a plentiful clinical report, AP can provide pain relief

beyond the time it is being administrated; therefore, imaging its sustained

effect (rather than acute effect) on the brain networks may further help

elucidate the mechanisms by which AP achieves its therapeutic effects. As

an interface, the anterior insula (AI) has recently been shown to be a

network hub, which initiates dynamic switching between these intrinsic

networks. Here, we attempt to explore how AP can modulate spontaneous

coherences of these resting networks anchored by the AI. Using a

spontaneous activity detection approach, we identified an AI-related

dichotomy showing spontaneous activations in the CEN along with wide

spontaneous deactivations located exclusively in the DMN. Following

verum AP, but not sham control, there was prominently enhanced

dichotomy in the CEN and DMN networks. More importantly, a long-lasting

effect of AP could further modulate intrinsic coherences of the wide

interoceptive-autonomic areas, including the paralimbic regions and

brainstem nuclei. These findings suggested that AP may not only enhance

the dichotomy of the anticorrelated resting networks, but also modulate a

larger spatio-temporal extent of spontaneous activities in the salient

interoceptive-autonomic network, contributing to potential actions in the

endogenous pain modulation circuits and homeostatic control mechanisms.

PMID: 19427842 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, Erro JH, Ichikawa L, Barlow WE,

Delaney K, Hawkes R, Hamilton L, Pressman A, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. A

randomized trial comparing AP, simulated AP, and usual care for chronic

low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009 May 11;169(9):858-66. Center for

Health Studies, 1730 Minor Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.

cherkin.d BACKGROUND: AP is a popular complementary and

alternative treatment for chronic back pain. Recent European trials suggest

similar short-term benefits from real and sham AP needling. This trial

addresses the importance of needle placement and skin penetration in

eliciting AP effects for patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: A

total of 638 adults with chronic mechanical low back pain were randomized

to individualized AP, standardized AP, simulated AP, or usual care. Ten

treatments were provided over 7 weeks by experienced acupuncturists. The

primary outcomes were back-related dysfunction (Roland-Morris Disability

Questionnaire score; range, 0-23) and symptom bothersomeness (0-10

scale). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 8, 26, and 52 weeks.

RESULTS: At 8 weeks, mean dysfunction scores for the individualized,

standardized, and simulated AP groups improved by 4.4, 4.5, and 4.4

points, respectively, compared with 2.1 points for those receiving usual

care (P < .001). Participants receiving real or simulated AP were more

likely than those receiving usual care to experience clinically meaningful

improvements on the dysfunction scale (60% vs 39%; P < .001).

Symptoms improved by 1.6 to 1.9 points in the treatment groups compared

with 0.7 points in the usual care group (P < .001). After 1 year, participants

in the treatment groups were more likely than those receiving usual care to

experience clinically meaningful improvements in dysfunction (59% to 65%

vs 50%, respectively; P = .02) but not in symptoms (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Although AP was found effective for chronic low back

pain, tailoring needling sites to each patient and penetration of the skin

appear to be unimportant in eliciting therapeutic benefits. These findings

raise questions about AP's purported mechanisms of action. It remains

unclear whether AP or our simulated method of AP provide physiologically

important stimulation or represent placebo or nonspecific effects.

Publication Types: * Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural PMID:

19433697 [PubMed - in process]

 

Citkovitz C, Klimenko E, Bolyai M, Applewhite L, Julliard K, Weiner Z.

Effects of Acupuncture During Labor and Delivery in a U.S. Hospital

Setting: A Case-Control Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 May

11. [Epub ahead of print]. Lutheran Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY. Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess clinical effects and

logistical feasibility of AP given during labor and delivery in a U.S. hospital

setting. Design: A case-control pilot study was conducted with 45

parturients receiving AP during labor and delivery alongside standard care.

Primary outcome endpoints were incidence of cesarean section, amount of

parenteral opioids used, use of epidural anesthesia, and duration of labor.

Secondary endpoints included patient satisfaction and nursing staff

acceptance as assessed by postpartum questionnaire, maximum flow rate

of oxytocin, incidence of instrumental delivery, Apgar score, and incidence

of adverse event. Results: Forty-five (45) patients receiving AP were

compared to 127 historical controls matched for maternal age, gestational

age, parity, and use of oxytocin (augmentation and induction were matched

separately). AP patients underwent significantly fewer cesarean sections

(7% versus 20%, p=.004). No significant differences were noted in other

clinical endpoints. 78% of nurses reported a subjective perception of

improvement in patients' comfort with AP, while 83% reported that the

acupuncturists' presence never interfered with their work. 87% of patients

reported that AP had helped them. Conclusions: AP during labor and

delivery is well tolerated by patients and medical staff. It should be further

evaluated for its promise in potentially reducing the incidence of cesarean

section. PMID: 19432512 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

Dos Santos Jr JG, Filev R, Coelho CT, Yamamura Y, Mello LE, Tabosa A.

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Ethanol-Induced Locomotor Sensitization and

Alters homer1A mRNA Expression in Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009

May 4. [Epub ahead of print]. Dept of Physiological Sciences, Faculdade de

Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP São Paulo,

Brazil. Background: We investigated the effects of EAP over locomotor

sensitization induced by ethanol in mice. Methods: Adult male Swiss mice

were daily injected with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p.) or saline for 21 days

(acquisition phase). After 4 days of withdrawal, all animals were challenged

with ethanol (1.4 g/kg, i.p.). The locomotor activity during 30 minutes was

accessed just after the ethanol challenge. EAP at acquisition, expression,

or maintenance phases of locomotor sensitization was provided over ST36

(Zusanli) or PC06 (Neiguan) as well as concomitantly over these 2

acupoints. One hour after the challenge with ethanol, the animals were

decapitated, the hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex were

dissected, and the expression of homer1A mRNA assessed by PCR.

Results: EAP provided simultaneously over ST36 and PC06 (but not to

ST36 or PC06 alone) inhibited the acquisition, expression, and

maintenance of ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization. In addition, EAP

blocked the diminution of homer1A mRNA expression triggered by ethanol

in the acquisition (striatum and prefrontal cortex), expression

(hippocampus), and in the maintenance (hippocampus and prefrontal

cortex) phases. Conclusion: EAP at ST36 and PC06 prevents the

sensitization of the mesocorticolimbic pathway induced by ethanol in mice.

In addition, these effects were accompanied by changes in the expression

of homer1A. We suggest that EAP effects over ethanol-induced locomotor

sensitization are associated to its ability to modulate homer1A expression

and glutamatergic plasticity. PMID: 19426165 [PubMed - as supplied by

publisher]

 

Kim H, Park HJ, Han SM, Hahm DH, Lee HJ, Kim KS, Shim I. The Effects

of Acupuncture Stimulation at PC06 (Neiguan) on Chronic Mild Stress-

induced Biochemical and Behavioral Responses.Neurosci Lett. 2009 May

6. [Epub ahead of print]. Division of Brain Disease, Center for Biomedical

Science, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Korea. In the present study,

the effects of AP on the behavioral and physiological responses induced by

chronic mild stress (CMS) were evaluated. Sprague-Dawley rats were

exposed to a variety of chronic unpredictable, mild stressors for 8 weeks.

The effects of AP on stress-induced anxiety and anhedonia were

investigated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and sucrose intake test.

In addition, c-fos expression, as an early neuronal marker in the brain was

also examined utilizing Fos-like immunohistochemistry (FLI). CMS rats

significantly reduced the consumption of sucrose intake and latency in the

open arms of the EPM, and gained body weight more slowly, compared to

non-stressed normal rats. Exposure to CMS also significantly increased FLI

in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). AP stimulation

at point PC06 on the pericardium channels (3min), but not at other point

(TE5), restored stress-induced decrease in the latency in the open arms

and significantly attenuated FLI in the PVN produced by CMS. AP

stimulation also tended to restore stress-induced decrease in the sucrose

intake. The present results demonstrated that AP was effective in restoring

CMS-related biochemical and behavioral impairments such as anxiety and

anhedonia and that AP point was more effective than non-AP point. These

results suggest that AP has a therapeutic effect on chronic stress-related

diseases such as depression and anxiety. PMID: 19427367 [PubMed - as

supplied by publisher]

 

Lee B, Shim I, Lee HJ, Yang Y, Hahm DH. Effects of acupuncture on

chronic corticosterone-induced depression-like behavior and expression of

neuropeptide Y in the rats. Neurosci Lett. 2009 Apr 10;453(3):151-6. Epub

2009 Feb 4. AP and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee

University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Repeated injection of corticosterone

(CORT) induces dysregulation in the HPA axis, resulting in depression and

anxiety. Many studies have shown that AP, which is widely used for the

treatment of stress and mental illness, in East Asian countries, is an

effective therapeutic intervention for psychosomatic disorders. We

investigated the influence of AP therapy on chronic CORT-induced

behavioral responses to the forced swimming test (FST) and elevated plus

maze (EPM) and expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the rat brain using

immunohistochemistry. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with

CORT (40 mg/kg, i.p.) once daily for 19 consecutive days. The

dysregulation of HPA axis by external injection of CORT was confirmed by

measuring the CORT concentration in plasma and the expression level of

CRF in hypothalamus. AP was performed at the PC06 acupoint for 5 min

before CORT injection. AP significantly reduced depression- and anxiety-

like behavior and increased NPY expression in the hypothalamus.

Stimulation of PC06 suppressed the symptopathology of the hypoactivated

HPA axis in chronic CORT-induced rat model of depression. Publication

Types: * Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 19429024 [PubMed - in

process]

 

Zeng F, Song WZ, Liu XG, Xie HJ, Tang Y, Shan BC, Liu ZH, Yu SG,

Liang FR. Brain areas involved in acupuncture treatment on functional

dyspepsia patients: a PET-CT study. Neurosci Lett. 2009 May 29;456(1):6-

10. Epub 2009 Mar 28. AP and Tuina School, Chengdu University of

Traditional , Chengdu 610075, China. telepathy-

zf Neuroimaging studies on brain responses to AP

stimulations have received considerable attention recently. The majority of

these studies are centered on healthy controls (HC) and neuropathy, while

little work has addressed other disorders. This study aimed to investigate

the influence of AP stimulations on brain activities in functional dyspepsia

(FD) patients. Eight FD patients and eight healthy controls (HC) were

involved in this study. Each HC received an 18F-FDG PET-CT scan at

baseline, while each patient received scans at baseline and after AP

stimulations. Manual AP stimulations were performed at ST34 (Liangqiu),

ST36 (Zusanli), ST40 (Fenglong) and ST42 (Chongyang) in FD patients.

The images were analyzed with the Statistical Parametric Mapping

software 2.0. Compared to HC, the FD patients showed a lower

glycometabolism in the right orbital gyrus, the left caudate tail and the

cingulate gyrus, and a higher glycometabolism in the left inferior temporal

gyrus (p<.005). After AP stimulations, the FD patients showed a

glycometabolism decrease in the postcentral gyrus and the cerebella, and

an increase in the visual-related cortices p<.005). The results suggest that

the anterior cingulate cortex, the prefrontal cortices and the caudate tail

involve in processing gastric perceptions in FD patients and that the

deactivation of the primary somatosensory area and the cerebella is

contributable to AP stimulation, while activation of the visual-related cortex

is a response to pain or acupoint actions. Publication Types: * Research

Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PMID: 19429123 [PubMed - in process]

 

Best regards,