Received Electroacupuncture Treatment Research Articles

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundWhether electroacupuncture is effective for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome is still inconclusive. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the add-on effects of electroacupuncture to conventional drugs for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods/designThis study is a two-center, open-labeled, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 116 eligible patients with polycystic ovary syndrome will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the electroacupuncture plus clomiphene citrate group or to the clomiphene citrate group. Participants in the electroacupuncture plus clomiphene citrate group will receive electroacupuncture treatment in addition to clomiphene citrate capsules, whereas participants in the clomiphene citrate group will be prescribed clomiphene citrate capsules only. Electroacupuncture treatment will be performed from the fifth day of menstruation or withdrawal bleeding until the next menstruation, in three sessions per week for three menstrual cycles. The primary outcome is the ovulation rate. The secondary outcomes include the dominant follicle rate, mean number of dominant follicles, endometrial thickness, time point of ovulation, follicular size before ovulation, luteinizing hormone, estradiol level, and pregnancy rate. The measuring points for outcomes will be baseline and the completion of treatment. Any adverse events occurring during the trial process will be recorded. In addition, a quality-monitoring group independent from the research team will be set up to control the quality of the trial.DiscussionThe design and methodological rigor of this trial will allow for the collection of valuable data to evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for treating polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, this trial will contribute reliable evidence for use in clinical decision-making in acupuncture therapy of polycystic ovary syndrome as well as to future research in acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-15007358, registered on 26 October 2015

Electroacupuncture Treatment Alleviates Central Poststroke Pain by Inhibiting Brain Neuronal Apoptosis and Aberrant Astrocyte Activation.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is reported to effectively relieve the central poststroke pain (CPSP). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study investigated the detailed mechanisms of action of EA treatment at different frequencies for CPSP. A CPSP model was established with a single collagenase injection to the left ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus. The EA-treated groups then received EA treatment at frequency of 2, 2/15, or 15 Hz for 30 min daily for five days. The pain-related behavioral responses, neuronal apoptosis, glial activation, and the expression of pain signal transmission-related factors (β-catenin, COX-2, and NK-1R) were assessed using behavioral tests, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. The low-frequency EA treatment significantly (1) reduced brain tissue damage and hematoma sizes and (2) inhibited neuronal apoptosis, thereby exerting abirritative effects. Meanwhile, the high-frequency EA treatment induced a greater inhibition of the aberrant astrocyte activation, accompanied by the downregulation of the expressions of COX-2, β-catenin, and subsequently NK-1R, thereby alleviating inflammation and producing strong analgesic effects. Together, these findings suggest that CPSP is closely related to pathological changes of the neocortex and hippocampus. EA treatments at different frequencies may exert abirritative effects by inhibiting brain neuronal apoptosis and aberrant astrocyte activation in the brain.

Effects of Electroacupuncture at Gb Points on Markers of Osteoporosis and Bodyweight in Ovariectomised Rats

BackgroundBased on a description of acupuncture to treat a bone disease resembling osteoporosis in the ancient text of Huangdi Neijing, we aimed to assess the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at GB points in ovariectomised (OVX) rats.Methods40 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10 each): ovariectomised model group (OVX); ovariectomised group treated with EA at GB points (OVX+GB); ovariectomised group treated with EA at non-GB points (OVX+N) in the hindlimb; and a sham surgery group (Sham). Three months after ovariectomy, rats in the OVX+GB and OVX+N groups received EA treatment for 3 months. Urine, blood and femur samples were collected from each animal for analysis.ResultsBodyweight (BW) in the OVX+GB group decreased after EA treatment, reaching a minimum of ∼12% below the OVX and OVX+N groups at 1 month. Concentrations of urine deoxypyridinoline, a bone resorption marker, were significantly elevated in the OVX and OVX+N groups but not the OVX+GB group. Concentrations of serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase, a bone formation marker, were significantly higher in the OVX+GB group versus the Sham and OVX groups. Bone mineral density (BMD) did not differ between the OVX, OVX+GB and OVX+N groups, but was ∼10% lower than the Sham group. However, BMD/BW in the OVX+GB group was significantly higher than in the OVX and OVX+N groups and similar to the Sham group. Histological assessment of the femur showed that EA at GB points improved the bone architecture.ConclusionsEA treatment at GB points had anti-osteoporotic effects in a rat model of osteoporosis.

Electroacupuncture Suppressed Neuronal Apoptosis and Improved Cognitive Impairment in the AD Model Rats Possibly via Downregulation of Notch Signaling Pathway.

Acupuncture is a potential strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the possible mechanisms worth to be explored. In this study, we proposed and tested the hypothesis that whether Notch signaling pathway is involved in the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment. Rats that received EA treatment on the acupoints of Baihui (Du 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) had shorter latency and remained in the original platform quadrant longer and crossed the former platform contained quadrant more frequently compared to the Aβ injection rats without EA treatment. EA obviously alleviated the cell apoptosis resulted by Aβ infusion in hippocampus CA1 regions through upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and downregulating the expression of Bax. EA could further obviously promote the expression of synapsin-1 and synaptophysin in hippocampus. Aβ injection significantly increased the expression of Notch1, Jag1, and Hes1 mRNA, while EA treatment downregulated the level of Notch1 and Hes1 mRNA in hippocampus, but not Jag1 mRNA. Our data suggested that EA treatment improved learning and memory function in the AD rat model partially through downregulating Notch signaling pathway.

Electroacupuncture inhibits annulus fibrosis cell apoptosis in vivo via TNF-α-TNFR1-caspase-8 and integrin β1/Akt signaling pathways

ObjectiveTo examine whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment inhibited cell apoptosis of intervertebral annulus fibrosis (AF) via tumor necrosis factor-α (NF-α-tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)-caspase-8 and integrin β1/Akt signaling pathways in a rat model of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration caused by unbalanced dynamic and static forces. MethodsThirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were included in this study, of which 24 rats underwent surgery to induce cervical intervertebral disc degeneration, while eight rats received EA treatment at Dazhui (GV 14). Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect TNF-α, TNFR1, and caspase-8. Apoptosis of AF cells was examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of integrin β1 and Akt were evaluated with real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. ResultsTreatment with EA decreased TUNEL-positive AF cells and lowered TNF-α, TNFR1 and caspase-8 positive cells compared with control groups. EA treatment also increased integrin β1 and Akt mRNA and protein levels compared with controls. ConclusionTreatment with EA inhibits AF cell apoptosis through suppression of the TNF-α-TNFR1-caspase-8 signal pathway and increases the expression of integrin β1 and Akt. EA may be a good alternative therapy for treating cervical spondylosis.

Electrical response grading versus House-Brackmann scale for evaluation of facial nerve injury after Bell's palsy: a comparative study

There are no convenient techniques to evaluate the degree of facial nerve injury during a course of acupuncture treatment for Bell's palsy. Our previous studies found that observing the electrical response of specific facial muscles provided reasonable correlation with the prognosis of electroacupuncture treatment. Hence, we used the new method to evaluate the degree of facial nerve injury in patients with Bell's palsy in comparison with the House-Brackmann scale. The relationship between therapeutic effects and prognosis was analyzed to explore an objective method for evaluating Bell's palsy. The facial nerve function of 68 patients with Bell's palsy was assessed with both electrical response grading and the House-Brackmann scale before treatment. Then differences in evaluation results of the two methods were compared. All enrolled patients received electroacupuncture treatment with disperse-dense wave at 1/100 Hz for 4 weeks. After treatment, correlation analysis was conducted to find the relationship between electrical response and therapeutic effects or prognosis. Checking consistency between electrical response grading and House-Brackmann scale: Kappa value 0.028 (P = 0.578). Correlation analysis: the two methods were correlated with the prognosis, and electrical response grading (rER = 0.789) was better than the House-Brackmann scale (rHB = 0.423). Electrical response grading is superior to the House-Brackmann scale in efficacy and reliability, and can conveniently assess the degree of facial nerve injury. The House-Brackmann scale is suitable for the patients with mild facial nerve injury, but its evaluation quality for severe facial nerve injury is poor.

The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Neuronal Apoptosis and Related Functions in Rats with Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: To investigate the effect and significance of electroacupuncture (EA) on neuronal apoptosis and hindlimb motor and bladder functional improvement in rats with acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Sixty healthy Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham, model, EA, and EA control groups (n = 15 each). EA group rats received EA treatment at Zhibian and Shuidao acupoints seven times daily, whereas EA control group rats received EA at two points, 0.5 cm away from Zhibian and Shuidao, respectively. Histomorphological changes in spinal cord tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. Bcl-2, Bax, and Bad protein levels were detected using immunohistochemistry. Additionally, hindlimb motor function, residual urine volume and maximum bladder capacity were measured. Results: HE staining revealed a morphologically and structurally intact spinal cord in the EA group, and the tissue contained scattered blood cells without edema. In the EA control group, there were small morphological defects in the spinal cord, and the tissue contained fewer blood cells with local edema. Compared with the EA control and model groups, Bax and Bad levels were significantly decreased in the EA group and Bcl-2 expression was increased (P < 0.05). After SCI, hindlimb function scores, residual urine volume, and maximum bladder capacity in rats of the EA group significantly differed from those of the EA control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: EA may induce SCI-induced improvements in hindlimb motor and bladder functions by affecting neuronal apoptosis and relevant gene expression changes.

Electroacupuncture to treat painful diabetic neuropathy: study protocol for a three-armed, randomized, controlled pilot trial

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to conduct a basic analysis of the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) as compared to placebo and usual care and to evaluate the feasibility of large-scale clinical research.Methods/designThis study is a protocol for a three-armed, randomized, patient-assessor-blinded (to the type of treatment), controlled pilot trial. Forty-five participants with a ≥ six month history of PDN and a mean weekly pain score of ≥ 4 on the 11-point Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (PI-NRS) will be assigned to the electroacupuncture group (n = 15), sham group (n = 15) or usual care group (n = 15). The participants assigned to the electroacupuncture group will receive electroacupuncture (remaining for 30 minutes with a mixed current of 2 Hz/120 Hz and 80% of the bearable intensity) at 12 standard acupuncture points (bilateral ST36, GB39, SP9, SP6, LR3 and GB41) twice per week for eight weeks (a total of 16 sessions) as well as the usual care. The participants in the sham group will receive sham electroacupuncture (no electrical current will be passed to the needle, but the light will be seen, and the sound of the pulse generator will be heard by the participants) at non-acupuncture points as well as the usual care. The participants in the usual care group will not receive electroacupuncture treatment during the study period and will receive only the usual care. The follow-up will be in the 5th, 9th and 17th weeks after random allocation. The PI-NRS score assessed at the ninth week will be the primary outcome measurement used in this study. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), a sleep disturbance score (11-point Likert scale), the Short-Form 36v2 Health Survey (SF-36), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) will be used as outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of the acupuncture. Safety will be assessed at every visit.DiscussionThe result of this trial will provide a basis for the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for PDN.Trial registrationClinical Research information Service. Unique identifier: KCT0000466.

Electroacupuncture promotes chondrocyte proliferation via accelerated G1/S transition in the cell cycle

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the proliferation of chondrocytes and the molecular mechanism(s) involved. Passage 2chondrocytes were randomly divided into four groups and treated with EA or nocodazole. After treatment, cell proliferation was determined using an MTT assay and DNA staining followed by FACS. The mRNA expression levels of cyclinD1, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4, CDK6, phosphorylated retinoblastoma (pRb) and P16 were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein levels of cyclinD1, CDK4, CDK6, pRb and P16 were detected by western blotting. EA treatment significantly increased cell viability in a time-dependent manner and decreased the number of G0/G1 and G2/M phase chondrocytes and increased the number of Sphase cells. The mRNA and protein levels of cyclinD1, CDK4, CDK6, (p)Rb and P16 consistently demonstrated a reverse trend with the levels in the chondrocytes treated with nocodazole. The expression levels of cyclinD1, CDK4, CDK6 and Rb were higher in chondrocytes receiving EA treatment when compared to levels in the untreated cells while expression of P16 was lower. In conclusion, EA treatment promotes chondrocyte proliferation via promotion of G1/S checkpoint transition in the cell cycle dependent on the activity of the P16-cyclinD1-CDK4/6-pRb pathway and this may, in part, explain its clinical effect in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Electroacupuncture and Lumbar Transplant of GDNF-Secreting Fibroblasts Synergistically Attenuate Hyperalgesia after Sciatic Nerve Constriction

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to induce potent analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in both patients and rodents. Cell therapy to release antinociceptive agents near the pain processing centers of the spinal cord is a promising next step in the development of treatment modalities. This study investigated the effects of the combination of EA and cell therapy by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on neuropathic pain in rats. The hyperalgesic state was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve and fibroblasts genetically modified to secrete bioactive GDNF (FBs-GDNF) were used for cell therapy. Fifty-eight rats with neuropathic pain were randomly divided into five groups (CCI+PBS, n = 11; CCI+FBs-GDNF, n = 12; CCI+EA+PBS, n = 11; CCI+EA+FBs-pLNCX2, n = 12; CCI+EA+FBs-GDNF, n = 12). On the 7th day after CCI, the rats received intrathecal transplantation of FBs-GDNF or control fibroblasts (FBs-pLNCX2). In the meantime, EA was administered once every other day from the 7th day after CCI surgery for 21 days. The paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to radiant heat was measured every other day. The results showed that the ipsilateral PWL of the rats from all three EA treatment groups significantly increased starting on the 12th day compared with the PBS control group. Strikingly, the group which received EA treatment and FBs-GDNF transplantation (CCI+EA+FBs-GDNF) showed a significantly decreased thermal hyperalgesia after 2 weeks post CCI surgery compared with the groups which received EA treatment and FBs-pLNCX2 transplantation (CCI+EA+FBs-pLNCX2) or PBS (CCI+EA+PBS) as well as the FBs-GDNF transplantation group without EA treatment (CCI+FBs-GDNF). Our data suggest that EA and cell therapy can synergistically attenuate hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain rats.

Electroacupuncture Treatment in Osteoarthritis Pain of the Knee for Geriatric Patients

Background: Joint pain or discomfort from osteoarthritis (OA) affects a large percentage of middle age and elderly persons in all countries. The frequency of OA-related physical disability makes OA one of the leading causes of disability in the elderly. Objective: To assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture in providing pain relief by 10 sessions of therapy to geriatric patients with OA pain of the knee. Patients: A case series of 42 patients with OA pain of the knee in Indonesia were treated using electroacupuncture from January 2009 to August 2009. Intervention: All patients received electroacupuncture treatment on bilateral Heding, Xiyan, and ST 36 Zusanli for 10 consecutive days. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was change in pain measured using the Numeric Analogue Scale (0–10) at the end of the study (day 10). Results: At the end of the treatment, a paired t-test showed significant improvement in the pain scores after 10 treatments compared to baseline (P<0.05). Conclusions: Adjunctive electroacupuncture treatment seems to provide added improvement to standard care in elderly patients with OA of the knee.

A 1H NMR-based metabonomic study on the SAMP8 and SAMR1 mice and the effect of electro-acupuncture

A 1H NMR-based metabonomic method was used to investigate the metabolic change of plasma in senescence-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice before and after electro-acupuncture (EA). Sixteen SAMP8 male mice (aged 8 months) were randomly divided into model group and acupuncture treatment group while the later group received EA treatment for 21 days. Eight senescence-resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice were used as the control group. Morris water maze was used to evaluate the effects of EA. All mice plasma samples obtained from different groups were analyzed by using 600 MHz 1H nuclear magnetic resonances ( 1H NMR) spectroscopy. The data sets were analyzed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) to discriminate the key plasma metabolites among different groups. Results indicated that both the escape and probe tasks of SAMP8 could be improved by EA treatment. Metabonomic study showed that SAMR1 and SAMP8 were separated clearly in both CPMG_OSC_PLS and LED _OSC_PLS score plots. Interestingly, samples obtained from EA group were distributed closely to SAMR1 group in CPMG_OSC_PLS score plot, but away from SAMP8 group in LED_OSC_PLS score plot. Corresponding loading plots showed that much less lactate was seen in SAMP8 mice plasma. Other changes including higher levels of dimethylamine (DMA) Choline and α-glucose but lower levels of leucine/isoleucine, HDL, LDL/VLDL, 3-Hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), and Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) were observed in the SAMP8 mice plasma than in the SAMR1. After EA treatment, the levels of lactate, DMA, choline and TMAO were improved. Results of this work can provide valuable clues to the understanding of the metabolic changes in the senile impairment of mice. It is also hoped that the methodology can be used in evaluating the effects of EA and understanding the underlying acupuncture mechanism in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Avaliação da eletroacupuntura na consolidação óssea em cães com fratura de rádio-ulna

Acupuntura promove estimulação sensorial periférica e liberação de neuropeptídeos, podendo influenciar a consolidação óssea. O objetivo deste estudo clínico prospectivo foi avaliar os efeitos da eletroacupuntura (EA) na consolidação óssea e densidade mineral óssea em cães com fratura de rádio-ulna (FRU) após redução fechada e imobilização externa. Dez cães com FRU foram aleatoriamente destinados em dois grupos. Grupo 1 (n=5) recebeu EA percutânea imediatamente após a redução fechada e imobilização externa; após este primeiro momento, foram feitas aplicações duas vezes por semana durante 4 semanas. Grupo 2 (n=5) não recebeu EA. Um sistema de escore radiográfico (ER) e densitometria óptica radiográfica (DOR) foram utilizados para avaliar a consolidação da fratura no primeiro dia de avaliação clínica no hospital (M1), 30 dias (M30) e 45 dias (M45) após tratamento. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Valores (média ±DP) de DOR (mmAl) entre os grupos 1 e 2 não tiveram diferença significativa (P=0.15) em todos os momentos, respectivamente valores de M1 (4.94±0.94; 4.3±1.14), M30 (5.19±1,24; 4,91±1.45) e M45 (5.16±1.12; 5.31±1.71). Média±DP de ER do grupo 1 no M30 (2.8±0.83) foi significativamente diferente (P=0.003) do M45 (4.6±0.54). Entretanto, média±DP de ER do grupo 2 no M30 (4.4±1.51) não teve diferença significativa (P=0.30) do M45 (5.16±0.75). Comparações dos valores de ER entre os grupos 1 e 2 não tiveram diferença significativa no M30 (P=0.07) e M45 (P=0.19). Conclui-se que a EA não acelerou a consolidação óssea e não aumentou a densidade mineral óssea em cães com FRU durante os 45 dias avaliados após o tratamento.

Effect of electro-acupuncture on relapse to heroin-seeking in the heroin self-administrating rats

To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture on the relapse to heroin-seeking induced by heroin-related cues after withdrawal from heroin self-administration in rats. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomized into physiological saline group, withdrawal group A, withdrawal group B, electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment group A and EA treatment group B, with 12 rats in each group. The rats were trained by nose-poke response to self administer heroin (50 μg/kg/per infusion) or saline with one daily 4-h session for 14 consecutive days, the session ended after 25 infusions were earned or 4 hours had passed, the reinforcement schedule was a progressive ratio. Then rats in withdrawal group A and withdrawal group B were withdrawn from heroin for 1 week and 2 weeks respectively, and then they were reintroduced to their training chambers for 4-h relapse testing which was induced by heroin-related environmental cues; And rats in EA treatment group A and EA treatment group B were also withdrawn from heroin for 1 week and 2 weeks respectively, during which they were given EA treatment for 20 min daily, then they received relapse testing; In the meantime, rats in saline group were trained with saline instead of heroin for 14 days as control, after 7 days of withdrawal from saline, they received relapse testing. Following 7–8 days of drug training, the rats began to establish the stable intravenous heroin self-administration behavior; For the stable heroin self-administrating rats that received EA treatment, when they were reintroduced to their training chambers, their heroin-seeking behaviors were obviously inhibited, and this inhibitory effect related to the cumulativeness of EA stimulation. The results suggested that EA could prevent relapse to heroin-seeking to a certain extent.

Isolation of Genes Involved in the Preventive Effect of Electroacupuncture at Fenglong Acupoint (ST40) on Hypercholesterolemia Mice by Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) Combined with Negative Subtraction Chain (NSC) Technology

We have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) at Fenglong acupoint (ST40) has the cholesterol-lowering effect in hypercholesterolemia mice. The present study was designed to study preventive effect of EA at ST40 on hypercholesterolemia. C57BL/6j mice were randomly divided into normal group (NG), hypercholesterolemia group (HG) and EA prevention group (EPG). NG were fed chow, HG a hypercholesterolemic diet (HD), and EPG the same HD and received EA treatment simultaneously. Lipid profile of both the plasma and liver indicated that EA at ST40 had preventive effect on hypercholesterolemia. Compared with corresponding values in the HG mice, the levels of the hepatic total cholesterol and total triglyceride in the EPG mice lowered 45% and 23% respectively, and the levels of plasma total-, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol in the EPG mice lowered 39%, 37% and 39% respectively. Eleven genes whose expressions were up-regulated in EPG mice compared with HG were isolated using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) combined with negative subtraction chain (NSC) technology, and then confirmed by dot-blot assay. Except two genes whose functions were still unknown, the others were mainly involved in cholesterol metabolism, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism and immune response. The potential molecular mechanism of preventive effect was discussed.

Effects of electroacupuncture in reducing weight and waist circumference in obese women: a randomized crossover trial

To compare the effects of weight control on simple obese women between electroacupuncture and sit-up exercise. Randomized and crossover trial conducted from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002. The subjects were randomly divided into groups A and B. Group A received electroacupuncture treatment first while group B received sit-up exercise treatment first. After 6 weeks of treatment and 7 days of washout, group A switched to sit-up exercise treatment and group B received electroacupuncture treatment for another 6 weeks. In total, 54 simple obese women, with waist circumference (WC)>90 cm and body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m(2), and who had not received any other weight control maneuver within the last 3 months. The measurements of body weight (BW), BMI and WC were performed at the beginning, 6, 8 and 13 weeks. The data at different time periods were compared and expressed as % reductions. Electroacupuncture (n=46) showed significant differences in the % reductions in BW (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.003) and WC (P=0.005) compared with sit-up exercise. At the end of 13 weeks, there were no significant difference between groups A (n=24) and B (n=22) in all the measurements. At the end of the study, groups A and B showed significant differences in the % reductions in BW (P=0.004; 0.001), BMI (P=0.003; 0.021) and WC (P< or =0.001; 0.001) compared with the initial values. Electroacupuncture treatment is more effective than sit-up exercise in reducing weight and WC, making it an alternative treatment option for weight and WC control on obese women.

Effects of electroacupuncture and gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatments on hormonal changes in anoestrous sows.

The therapeutic effects of acupuncture in treating reproductive disturbances of man and animals have been proven in the past and is used clinically already. However, the mechanism of such therapy is not known yet. In this study, anoestrous sows were used to investigate the mechanism. Anoestrous sows with luteal ovaries were allocated to three groups. Four sows received electroacupuncture treatment at Pai-Hui and Wei-Ken (acupuncture treated group; group 1). Three sows received electroacupuncture treatment at Chiang-Feng and Chou-Shu (acupuncture control group; group 2). Four received 50 micrograms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) intravenously (drug control group; group 3). The concentrations of luteinizing hormone, progesterone, oestradiol and cortisol in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay. Oestrus return was monitored during 14 days after treatment. At the end of this observation period, the number of animals returned to oestrus were 3, 1 and 1 in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. It suggests that only treatment with acupuncture at Pai-Hui and Wei-Ken had therapeutic effects in inducing oestrus. This finding is further supported by the changes of serum sex hormone concentrations. Serum LH concentrations decreased for about 2 hours after electro-acupuncture treatment both in groups 1 and 2, whereas those in group 3 increased sharply at 10 minutes, reached to a peak at 20 minutes and returned gradually to basal level between 4 and 6 hours after GnRH injection. Serum progesterone concentrations rose between 4 to 6 hours after treatment in groups 1 and 3 but not in group 2. Five sows become oestrus, showed a decreased progesterone level 2 days after treatments whereas the other six anoestrous sows did not. Oestradiol levels did not have meaningful changes during the blood sampling period of 5 to 7 days in these 3 groups. Cortisol levels elevated in 15 minutes after the electroacupuncture in groups 1 and 2. However, the increment of cortisol induced by the electroacupuncture was less than that induced by the first bleeding, indicating that the adrenal stimulation may not be the main reason of the therapeutic action. The results indicated that the electroacupuncture treatment and GnRH injection could alter the release of LH from the pituitary in different ways but only electroacupuncture at Pai-Hui and Wei-Ken has a specific action on ovary and a significant therapeutic effect. Therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture on reproductive disturbance may involve a synergism of somatic-ovary and uterus reflex and central nervous-endocrine system (the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovary axis).