Am J Chinese Med
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We have investigated the effect of Zingiber offifinale Rosc. (ZOR) on macrophage-inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (macNOS) mRNA expression and NO production in RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line; 100 microg/ml ZOR can induce macNOS mRNA expression, but induction effects at a dose below 10 microg/ml were weak or negligible. Kinetic studies showed that macNOS mRNA can be detected from 4 hours to 24 hours after dosing, with a peak at 8 hours. In accordance with the induction of macNOS mRNA expression, NO concentrations increased from 3.4 microM at 2 hours to almost 150 microM at 24 hours, reflecting a longer period of macNOS mRNA expression. The activity of ZOR can be considered to contribute, at least in part, to the beneficial effects of ZOR through the macNOS-mediated activation of the biodefense mechanism.
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Shiunko is a traditional botanic formula (ointment) which is used clinically for the treatment of wounded skin caused by cuts, abrasions, frost or burn. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Shiunko on epithelization of wounded skin. Experimental cutting wounds on the back skin of Sprague-Dawley rats were induced. ⋯ We observed that the incidences of wound infection following Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculation were lower on both the Shiunko-treated group (0%, p < 0.01) and Povidine-iodine-treated group (5%, p < 0.05), than the saline-treated group (40%). The Shiunko-treated group reported higher percentages of complete epithelization not only on the sterilized wounds (100%) but also on the contaminated wounds (90%) when compared to the saline-treated group (60% sterilized wounds, 40% and 50% contaminated wounds) on day 7 (p < 0.01). Povidone-iodine did not promote epithelization of wounded skin, whereas Shiunko did.
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Electroacupuncture (EA) is used to relieve various kinds of pain. However, the mechanistic basis of electroacupuncture analgesia (EAA) in inflammatory pain remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether endogenous peripheral corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) or interleukin-1beta (IL-1) participated in EAA during hyperalgesia elicited by carrageenan-induced inflammation. ⋯ This PPT elevation was not influenced by i.v. injection of alpha-helical CRF or IL-1ra. These findings suggest that peripheral CRF or IL-1 participate in EAA during hyperalgesia. The release of CRF or IL-1 elicited by EA may trigger the release of opioid peptides within inflamed tissue which may activate peripheral opioid receptors and inhibit the pain.
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Clinical Trial
The pain-relieving effects induced by electroacupuncture with different intensities at homotopic and heterotopic acupoints in humans.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the distribution of the analgesic area when different intensities of stimulation were applied to homotopic and heterotopic acupoints. The experiments were performed on volunteers; the left sural nerve was stimulated by a volley of eight rectangular pulses delivered at a frequency of 400 Hz. Electromyographic reflex responses (EMGs) were recorded from the ipsi-lateral biceps femoris muscle. ⋯ Local analgesic effects of acupoint stimulation involve segmental inhibition, whereas systemic analgesic effects of acupoint stimulation are involved in contra-lateral effects. The latter may recruit the diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) system. The specific function of an acupoint is determined by the anatomical relationship between the disease focus and the segmental location of the acupoint.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Clinical observations on postoperative vomiting treated by auricular acupuncture.
We studied the effect of auricular acupuncture on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). One hundred female patients undergoing transabdominal hysterectomy were entered into the study. The patients were divided into two groups (auricular acupuncture treatment group and non-treatment group) in order to test the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture. ⋯ There was a significant difference between the control and auricular acupuncture treatment groups in the incidence of vomiting 12 hours after surgery (68% and 30%, respectively, p < 0.01). No noteworthy side effects from treatment were observed. Auricular acupuncture is effective in reducing vomiting following transabdominal hysterectomy in female patients.