Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicinal therapy, which is used for the amelioration of cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and relevancy mechanisms of ‘governor vessel-unblocking and mind-regulating’ acupuncture therapy for cognitive dysfunction in rats with ischemia. For this purpose, we used the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method to induce cognitive dysfunction in rats. The behavioral changes in the rats were examined using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. The effects of the treatment on oxidative stress response and the function of the mitochondria in brain tissues were also assessed. The results revealed that ‘governor vessel-unblocking and mind-regulating’ acupuncture therapy markedly improved the cognitive ability of the rats with cognitive dysfunction. The production of pro-oxidative stress factors, including nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), was also blocked along with the amelioration of cognitive function, while the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cyclooxygenase (COX) was restored. At the molecular level, the accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) in the mitochondria was suppressed by ‘governor vessel-unblocking and mind-regulating’ acupuncture therapy, which may be attributed to the inhibition of the function of translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 (TOMM40) and translocase of inner mitochondrial membrane 17A (TIMM17A). On the whole, the findings of the present study confirm the effects of ‘governor vessel-unblocking and mind-regulating’ acupuncture therapy on cognitive dysfunction induced by brain ischemia in rats, and that the mechanisms underlying the effects of this treatment might be mediated through the inhibition of TOMM40 and TIMM17A synthesis, which can relieve mitochondrial dysfunction from the accumulation of Aβ.

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Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) is a natural plant resource widely used as a food and herbal medication in China. Glycycoumarin (GCM) is a major coumarin in licorice that possesses several biological activities. However, little is known about its pharmacokinetic profile. The present study aimed to describe the oral absorption, tissue distribution, and excretion of GCM in rats. Free (parent drug) and/or total (parent drug plus the glucuronidated metabolite) GCM in biological samples was quantified before and after the hydrolysis reaction with β-glucuronidase using a reliable LC-MS/MS method. The results indicated that GCM was rapidly absorbed and transformed into its conjugated metabolites after administration. Free GCM plasma concentrations after i. v. (10 mg/kg) administration quickly decreased with an average t1/2,λz of 0.71 h, whereas the total GCM concentration reduced slowly with a t1/2, λz of 2.46 h. The area under the curve of glucuronidated metabolites was approximately four-times higher than that of free GCM. Presumably, because of hepatic and/or intestinal tract first-pass metabolism, GCM exhibited a poor bioavailability of 9.22%, as estimated from its total plasma concentration. Additionally, GCM was distributed rapidly and widely in various tissues except the brain. The liver had the highest concentration; further, GCM was promptly eliminated from test tissues after intraperitoneal (20 mg/kg) administration, but only a small amount of GCM was excreted via bile and urine. Overall, GCM is absorbed and rapidly transformed into its conjugated metabolites with low bioavailability; further, it is distributed in various tissues, except the brain. These pharmacokinetic results are helpful for better understanding the characteristics and pharmacological effects of GCM.

【Abstract】Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of combined acupuncture and electrophoresis in treating trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group received acupuncture plus electrophoresis, and the control group took Carbamazepine and Methylcobalamin. The therapeutic effects would be evaluated after 30 d. Results: The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group versus 70.0% in the control group. During the follow-up study (6 months to 1 year), 3 cases got relapsed in the treatment group, occupying 11.1%, and 6 got relapsed in the control group, occupying 28.6%. Conclusion: Combined acupuncture and electrophoresis has a precise effect in treating trigeminal neuralgia, and it bears an advantage of simple operation and maintaining cutaneous sensation. 【Key Words】Acupuncture Therapy; Trigeminal Neuralgia; Acupuncture Point Therapy; Electrophoresis 【摘要】目的：观察针刺配合药物离子导入治疗三叉神经痛的临床疗效。方法：将 60 例患者随机分为治 疗组和对照组，治疗组予针刺配合药物离子导入治疗,对照组给予口服卡马西平、甲钴胺片治疗,两组均连 续治疗 30 d后,进行疗效分析。结果：治疗组总有效率为 93.3%,对照组为 70.0%；在 6 个月至 1 年的随访 期间，治疗组复发 3 例,复发率为 11.1%,对照组复发 6 例,复发率为 28.6%。结论：针刺配合药物离子导入 治疗三叉神经痛具有疗效确切、操作简单、能保留患者面部皮肤感觉的优点。 【关键词】针刺疗法；三叉神经痛；穴位疗法；离子透入法 【中图分类号】R246.6 【文献标志码】A Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common disease characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face. It yet remains a sigma to many health professionals. The author has adopted acupuncture plus electrophoresis in treating TN, and compared its effect with medication treatment. The report is now given as follows.