Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research: International Journal of Integrated Medicine

T-lymphocyte transformation ability decreased and the function of the B-lymphocyte and mononuclear leucocyte/macrophage system increased when the activity of central serotonergic neurons was enhanced by the stimulation of nucleus dorsal raphe (NDR). These changes induced by NDR stimulation were not effected by electroacupuncture (EA) when EA was performed on the background of NDR stimulation. By comparing these results with the previous resultat that immunoreactions were affected by locus coeruleus (LC) stimulation and LC stimlation plus EA, some regularity had been discovered. So, a hypothesis was put forward by us that the catecholaminergic system plays a main role in EA regulation of cellular immunity while the serotonergic system plays such a role in EA regulation of humoral immunity.

Early records reveal a parental, beneficent attitude, but an uncommunicative approach to the patient. The Nuremberg trials of 1946 demonstrated the need for ultimate responsibility of the physician, and for a well-informed, consenting patient in experimental procedures (Nuremberg Code of 1947). A later report, the Belmont Report (1975) emphasized the difference between therapeutic research and research unrelated to improving the patient's state of health. Acupuncture has the status of an experimental modality, and requires the informed consent discussion and signature on the form by the patient for each procedure.

In the present survey, 162 subjects with enuresis nocturna were given electro-acupuncture therapy. Specially chosen points were inserted once a day throughout a ten day period. After the therapy term, the success rate was evaluated as 98.2%.

Traditional concepts of classical acupuncture and Chinese medicine come from a culture which is very different from ours, and there has been considerable problems in their accurate presentation. Our approach is to attempt the development of a mathematical language that links these traditional concepts theoretically to models that can be experimentally tested. We first review some of Manaka's findings, confirmed also by our results, having to do with low intensity stimuli. In particular, Manaka applied polarized agents such as Cu(+) and Zn(-) to nonacupuncture points on a meridian and to the so called “mother and child” points on a meridian. In both cases he observed the pressure pain reaction which increased for one orientation of Cu and Zn on the meridian and decreased for the opposite orientation. Note that in the case of “mother and child” points the observed reaction was in agreement with the so called “five phase (five element)” theory. Also, in the case of the “mother and child” points the effect usually lasted considerably longer than in the case of nonacupuncture points on a meridian. Taking into account the connection between Manaka's results and skin electrical measurements by some electrodermal diagnostic instruments such as Motoyama's AMI, we discuss some equivalent electric circuits for a single meridian and relate them to the nervous system response. In particular, an electrical circuit model similar to the synapse membrane with two ionic channels seems to be especially useful when we try to explain Manaka's clinical results and Motoyama's results on the velocity of propagation of electrical impulses along meridians. We also develop a mathematical model in the form of a linear five dimensional dynamical system of the so called “five phase (five element)” laws such as “creative” cycle, “controlling” cycle, etc., in the case of a single meridian. We connect this model with the membrane type model mentioned above by assuming a simple mass action law, for the dependence of the conductances in the ionic channels on the input signals. This combined model is used to describe the development of a “disease” and its treatment according to the “five phase” theory. Here we interpret the “disease” as a blockage in a meridian, while the treatment initiates the unblocking process.

36 patients suffering from chronic spastic bronchitis were treated with acupuncture. The patient group consisted of 13 men and 23 women varying in age from 26 to 64 years, with an average age of 42, 3 years. The therapy consisted of two or three months of acupuncture treatment in alternation with an equal period (2 or 3 months) of recess during which no treatment was administered. Before acupuncture, patients had taken corticosteroids either orally and/or intramuscularly for a period of 2 to 24 years. For those taking corticosteroids orally the daily dosages ranged from 10 to 40 mg Encorton (Polfa, Poland). The patients took intramuscular injections of 40 to 60 mg Kenalog (Squibb) every three or four weeks. Acupuncture sessions were twice a week. All the patients had 42 acupuncture sessions. Before the treatment all the patients, and 30 healthy volunteers, made leukocytes migration tests [(in vivo, using the Rebuck method (1) as modified by Southam (2)].* It was found that patients suffering from chronic spastic bronchitis have leukocytes migration defect. This defect increases in patients who have taken corticosteroids. We have also found that after 42 acupuncture sessions the amount of leukocytes in the tissue pool comes close to the value found in healthy persons during leukocyte migration. [(tested in vivo, using the Rebuck method as modified by Southam (2)].

*

Granulocyte migration test by Southam, C. M., Levine, A. G.. A small area on the volar surface of one forearm is cleansed with alcohol and anesthetized by ethyl chloride spray. An area roughly 1 cm. in diameter is then abraded, by scraping with a number 21 Bard Parker scalpel blade while the skin is stretched taut, until the dermal papillae are seen as tiny red spots. This is sufficient to induce an exudative reaction without bleeding. To this point the technic is identical with the method used in this laboratory for the standard qualitative type of Rebuck “skin window” technic, but instead of applying a microscope cover glass directly to the abraded area, a small flat cuplike vessel containing a physilogic salt solution is applied so that exuded cells pass directly into the fluid.

Application of the arterial pulse analyzer now makes it possible to automatically diagnose such geriatric disorders as arteriosclerosis by using simple electrocardiograms and radial, carotid and posterior tibial artery pressure pulse wave charts. If the arterial pulse analyzer is adopted for use in Oriental medical clinics, there will no longer be a need for manual pulse palpation. In brief, applying the arterial pulse analyzer to the 8 key pulses of Oriental medicine yields the following results:1) ‘Slow’ or ‘rapid'pulses can be defined by the S-S interval (almost identical to the R-R interval of the ECG). 2) ‘Slippery'or hesitant'pulses can be defined by the S-P time and the Dh/Ch% (P time & Incisure) rado. 3) ‘Floating'or ‘submerged'pulses can be defined by the Ph/Ch% (pressure pulse wave to height) ratio. 4) ‘Scattered'or ‘moderate'pulses can be defined by the S-C- time (E time). Thus, by employing the arterial pulse analyzer, subjectivity problems inherent in the manual pulse palpation used by Oriental medicine for over 1500 years can be analyzed objectively.