Untersuchung der zentralen Nervenbahnen, die das Gehirn und periphere Akupunkturpunkte verbinden, unter Verwendung von Nervenmarkern Abstract Background Acupuncture is widely used for therapeutic purposes, but the neural mechanisms underlying its effects are not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the neural projections from acupoints and subcutaneous (sham acupoints) sites to the central nervous system, using retrograde tracing technology, to clarify the specificity of acupuncture’s...Weiterlesen

Immunmodulatorische Wirkungen der Akupunktur auf Makrophagen bei allergischen Erkrankungen: Eine systematische Übersicht Abstract The incidence of allergic diseases has been increasing annually, severely affecting the quality of life of patients. With the growing recognition of traditional medicine, acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapeutic method, has gradually gained attention for its potential in immune modulation. Studies have shown that macrophages play a crucial role in the development...Weiterlesen

Der Stand der Evidenz in der Akupunktur: Eine Übersicht über Meta-Analysen und systematische Übersichtsarbeiten zur Evidenz der Akupunktur – Aktualisierung 2017 bis 2022 Abstract Introduction Over the last decades, acupuncture research has increased drastically. As a result, it has become more and more difficult to oversee the amount of evidence concerning its effect in various medical conditions. Different comparative reviews aimed to roughly assess individual...Weiterlesen

Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to investigate and compare the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) on current perception thresholds (CPTs) using quantitative methods. Methods Twenty-nine healthy volunteers participated in this prospective crossover trial, in which three acupuncture methods were compared: control, MA, and EA. Acupuncture needles were inserted to a depth of 15 mm at LI4 and LI11 on the...Weiterlesen

Abstract This review summarizes experimental evidence indicating that purinergic mechanisms are causally involved in acupuncture (AP)-induced analgesia. Electroacupuncture (EAP) and manual AP release at pain-relevant acupoints ATP which may activate purinergic P2X receptors (Rs) especially of the P2X3 type situated at local sensory nerve endings (peripheral terminals of dorsal root ganglion [DRG] neurons); the central processes of these neurons are thought to inhibit via collaterals...Weiterlesen

Abstract Subcutaneous mast cells (MCs) are vulnerable to mechanical stimulation from external environment. Thus, MCs immune function could be modulated by their mechanosensitivity. This property has been identified as the trigger mechanism of needling acupuncture, a traditional oriental therapy. Previously we have demonstrated the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a stress-responsive signalling molecule, from mechanical-perturbed MCs. The current work explores its underlying mechanisms. We noticed...Weiterlesen

Abstract Acupuncture has many advantages in the treatment of certain diseases as opposed to drug therapy. Besides, adenosine has been revealed to affect cellular progression including proliferation. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring the mechanism involving acupuncture stress and adenosine in fibroblast proliferation. The fibroblasts from fascia tissues of the acupoint area (Zusanli) were stimulated by different levels of stress, different concentrations of adenosine, and...Weiterlesen

Abstract BACKGROUND Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture reveal no significant differences between acupuncture and so-called placebo acupuncture. There is a strong tendency to replace the term „placebo“ by the term „sham,“ because any needling stimulates a certain physiological response. However, neither concept accounts for the great diversity of results in RCTs comparing verum acupuncture and sham (placebo) acupuncture. Some trials have shown little...Weiterlesen

Abstract The hypothesis that cutaneous mast cells (MCs) are responsible for skin phenomena in acupuncture was proposed 40 years ago, but very little is known about the correlation of MC distribution with acupuncture systems in human. The aim of this study is to quantify cutaneous mast cells at different body sites and compare them with the distributions of classical acupuncture points and micro-acupuncture systems. Skin...Weiterlesen

Abstract The array of end organ innervations of the vagus nerve, coupled with increased basic science evidence, has led to vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) being explored as a management option in a number of clinical disorders, such as heart failure, migraine and inflammatory bowel disease. Both invasive (surgically implanted) and non-invasive (transcutaneous) techniques of VNS exist. Transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) delivery systems rely on the cutaneous...Weiterlesen