Background: Longxuetongluo capsule (LTC), derived from the total phenolic compounds of Chinese dragon’s blood, is now used in the treatment of ischemic stroke in convalescence. The aim of this study is to explore the neuroprotective effect of LTC from the perspective of neuroinflammation. Methods: Cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) and LDH assay kit. Proinflammatory mediators and cytokines production including Nitric Oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2, (PGE2), interleukin (IL-β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. In addition, western blot was used to detect the expression of inflammatory proteins associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of tranions (JAK/STAT), nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB), and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related actor 2/heme oxygenase 1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signaling pathways. Moreover, immunofluorescence assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) were performed to determine the Nrf2 translocation and the binding-DNA activity of NF-κB, respectively. Results: LTC at 0.5 to 2 μg/mL significantly increased cell viability and decreased LDH, NO, PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α production in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 microglia cells. Meanwhile, LTC not only decreased the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) but also down-regulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p38, and up-regulated HO-1 expression via nuclear translocation of Nrf2. LTC can significantly inhibit the phosphorylation of JAK1/STAT3 and reduce the translocation of NF-κB from cytosol to nucleus as well as the binding-DNA activity. PC12 cell pretreated with LTC-condition medium (CM) significantly alleviated LPS-induced neurotoxicity and increased PC12 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The present study showed that LTC exhibited a strong antineuroinflammatory activity and neuroprotective effects on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and PC12 cells.

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Objective. To analyse the operational stability of basic acupuncture manipulation (AM) based on three-dimensional (3D) motion tracking. Method. Two quantitative indicators (spatial and temporal dispersions) and corresponding algorithms of operation stability were established based on the coordinate-time data derived from 3D motion tracking of basic AM. The differences in stability were compared between 20 acupuncture teachers and 20 acupuncture students. Results. The teachers and students had similar temporal stability, but the teachers were more stable in their spatial control, perhaps because of the teachers’ better fingertip force and more practice with feedback. Conclusion. The spatial and temporal dispersions can be used to evaluate operational stability in basic AM. Repetitive training and finger force enhancement with more accurate feedback and rhythmic auditory stimulation are recommended for improving operation stability in basic AM.

As a minimally invasive method of physical stimulation, manual acupuncture (MA) is used globally as a sort of therapy for neuromusculoskeletal disorders. In addition to selecting appropriate acupoints, acupuncturists should also determine the stimulation parameters of needling, such as the manipulation (lifting-thrusting or twirling), needling amplitude, velocity, and stimulation time. At present, most studies focus on acupoint combination and mechanism of MA, the relationship between stimulation parameters and their therapeutic effects, as well as the influence on mechanism of action are relatively scattered, and lack of systematic summary and analysis. This paper reviewed the three types of stimulation parameters of MA, their common options and values, corresponding effects and potential mechanisms of action. The purpose of such efforts is to provide a useful reference for the dose-effect relationship of MA and the quantification and standardization of its clinical treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders to further promote the application of acupuncture in the world.

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