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Pathological manifestations in either heart or kidney impact the function of the other and form the basis for the development of cardiorenal syndrome. However, the mechanism or factors involved in such scenario are not completely elucidated. In our study, to find the correlation between late fetal gene expression in diabetic hearts and their influence on diabetic nephropathy, we created a rat model with cardiac specific overexpression of IGF-IIRα, which is an alternative splicing variant of IGFIIR, expressed in pathological hearts. In this study, transgenic rats over expressing cardiac specific IGF-IIRα and non-transgenic animal models established in SD rats were administered with single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/Kg) to induce Type I diabetes. The correlation between IGF-IIRα and kidney damages were further determined based on their intensity of damage in the kidneys. The results show that cardiac specific overexpression of IGF-IIRα elevates the diabetes associated inflammation and morphological changes in the kidneys. The diabetic transgenic rats showed advancement in the pathological features such a renal tubular damage, collagen accumulation and enhancement in STAT3 associated mechanism of renal fibrosis. The results therefore show that that IGF-IIRα expression in the heart during pathological condition may worsen symptoms of diabetic nephropathy in rats.

Background Traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine have coexisted since 1958 in Taiwan. Integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine (TC&WM) remains to be studied and promoted. In response to the documentary report of WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002–2005, the present study was planned and carried out. Methods During 2004–2008, 19 integrative TC&WM dialogue forums were held, in which 219 TC&WM scholars and professionals participated by invitation. The proceedings of the forums in Chinese were published. A study team was organized in 2009 to collect the consensus opinions, utilizing a Delphi method. The opinions collected were discussed in an international TC&WM forum held on November 1, 2014. Results The opinions of TC&WM experts and professionals on the integrative issues and values were quite divergent. Of the 39 integrative issues, 34 (87.8%) reached consensus, agreeing that WM is excellent in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases/disorders, yet is still evolving, and not perfect without defects. TCM is patient-centered, wellness-oriented, inadequate for acute, critical and life-threatening diseases, but has a complementary and alternative role to WM. Of the 44 diseases/disorders, 36 (81.8%) reached consensus, worthy for integrative clinical use or trials. Conclusions Integrative TC&WM, combining the best features of two systems, could be a most useful and advanced healthcare medicine in the future, requiring development of regulations and guidelines for the use of TCM and more rigorous efforts have to be made in clinical trials.

Growing evidences indicate that high glucose toxicity-associated fibrotic effects play a pivotal role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation is a major hallmark of renal fibrosis event under diabetic stress. Roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Radix glycyrrhizae) used as a sweetener and traditional Chinese medicine possess high potential for renal protection. In this study, a cell model for high glucose (HG) injury with HK-2 renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line and a type-II-diabetes model with Apoe

Meridians systems are the pathways of qi and blood of TCM (Tradition Chinese Medicine). These systems include twelve regular meridians and eight extra meridians. The five Shu-points, namely the Well, Spring, Stream, River, and Sea, are an important grouping of acupuncture points of the twelve regular meridians. Five Shu-points on each Meridian located below the elbow and the knees are therapeutically pivotal in most styles of acupuncture needling. The Sea points of both the Yin and Yang meridians are among the most important acupuncture points for treating disorders. In order to explain the mechanism of meridian theory, infrared imaging (or thermal imaging) is one of techniques to investigate the phenomena of sensation transmission along channel in channel vessel theory. Assumed the qi can be shown by the thermal imager, based on the thermal graphic data the thermal imager was used to detect the temperature variation by needling the Sea points of a pair of Yin and Yang meridians named Large Intestine meridian of Hand Yangming and Lung meridian of Hand Taiyin. In this paper, it will show the temperature variations of Stream points of the chosen meridians are different by needling the Sea points of their corresponding meridians. And we can see the needling the Sea point of Yang meridian induced a temperature rising of its correlated Stream point. But needling the Sea point of Yin meridian deduced a temperature falling of its correlated Stream one.

Somatovisceral reflex suggested that the somatic stimulation could affect visceral function like acupuncture which treats diseases by stimulating acupoints. The neuronal connection between somatic point and visceral organ was not clear. Uterine pain referred to the groin region has long been recognized clinically. Wesselmann, using neurogenic plasma extravasation method, showed that uterine pain was referred to the groin region through a neuronal mechanism (Wesselmann and Lai 1997). This connection could be considered through the somatovisceral reflex pathway. However, the relay center of this pathway is still not clearly identified. In the present study, bee venom was injected in the groin region to induce central Fos expression to map the sensory innervation of groin region. Pseudorabies virus (PrV), a transneuronal tracer, was injected in the uterus to identify the higher motor control of the uterus. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed the Fos expression and PrV-infected double-labeled neurons in the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS), the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMX), and the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN). These results suggest a somatoparasympathetic neuronal connection (groin-spinal dorsal horn-NTS/DMX-uterus) and a somatosympathetic neuronal connection (groin-spinal dorsal horn-NTS-PVN-uterus). These two neuronal connections could be the prerequisites to the neuronal basis of the somatovisceral reflex and also the neuronal mechanism of acupuncture.

A well-defined, stimuli-responsive tetrapolymer with pH-responsive characteristics and targeting specificity has been synthesized by radical copolymerization of methacrylic acid, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide, methacryloyl glycylglycyl sulfamethoxazole, and N-(methacryloyl)glycylglycine 4-nitrophenyl ester. The structure and properties of tetrapolymer were investigated by NMR, FT-IR, UV–visible absorption, TEM and gel permeation chromatography. Incorporation of maleimide linker into tetrapolymer facilitates its conjugation with antibody fragments, as demonstrated by the solid-phase immunoassay experiments. The TEM image shows that tetrapolymer had self-assembled a spherical micelle with a diameter ranging from 50 to 150 nm. Altering the pH of the solution leads to a different extent of aggregation at pH 6.5–3.5, responding in accordance with the properties associated with the extracellular environment of solid tumors and endocytosis. Furthermore, fluorescence spectroscopy indicated a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 1 mg/mL. Because of the solvation and ionization effects, the tetrapolymer showed considerably enhanced antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli in the presence of DMSO and the antibacterial activity increased with decreasing pH value.

Berberine (BBR) is a natural alkaloid with significant antitumor activities against many types of cancer cells. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which BBR suppresses the growth of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. The results show that BBR induces G1-phase cell cycle arrest by interfering with the expression of cyclins D1 and E and that it induces cellular apoptosis through the induction of a mitochondria/caspase pathway. The data also indicate that BBR inhibits cellular growth and promotes apoptosis by down-regulating the HER2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Furthermore, it is also shown that a combination of taxol and BBR significantly slows the growth rate of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. In conclusion, this study suggests that BBR could be a useful adjuvant therapeutic agent in the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.

Renal colic caused by ureteral stone is commonly encountered in the emergency department (ED). This study was designed to measure meridian electrical conductance of patients with ureteral stone in emergency settings.A cohort of patients who had ureteral calculus and acute renal colic and who had visited the ED was enrolled in this study. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theory, was used to measure the meridian electrical conductance of patients in the ED. Sixty (60) patients (aged 42.0 +/- 12.6 years) who had a primary ED diagnosis of ureteral calculus or renal colic were enrolled. Thirty (30) healthy volunteers (aged 40.8 +/- 11.7 years) were recruited to serve as controls.Statistical analysis showed that (1) the average electrical conductance of the patient group was statistically lower than that of the control group (p0.01), (2) the average index of sympathovagal balance of the patient group was statistically higher than that of the control group (p0.01), (3) the average coefficient of variation of the electrical conductance and index of sympathovagal balance in the patient group was statistically different from that in the control group (p0.01), and (4) the patients who needed intervention had a higher autonomic nervous imbalance than the patients who had spontaneous stone passage (p0.01).Measures of electrical conductance, especially the index of sympathovagal balance, may be used as valuable supplementary diagnostic methods for selective intervention in patients with acute renal colic.

Antrodia camphorata has been recognized to be a traditional Chinese medicine for abdominal pain, diarrhea, and to protect against hepatitis virus infection. Several ingredients derived from A. camphorata possess various pharmacological and biological activities such as antioxidant and anticancer. In this study, its ability to promote immune responses and to exhibited antileukemia activity in WEHI-3 leukemia BALB/c mice were investigated. The results indicated A. camphorata significantly prolonged the survival rate and prevented the body weight loss in leukemia mice. Four mg/kg of A. camphorata treatment significantly decreased the weight of the spleen. Both doses (2 and 4 mg/kg) of A. camphorata did not affect Mac-3 marker in leukocytes. However, the 4 mg/kg of A. camphorata decreased the levels of CD11b and both doses of treatment increased CD3 and CD19. With lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the 4 mg/kg of A. camphorata promoted the significant proliferation of leukocytes; but with concanavalin A stimulation, both doses promoted the significant proliferation of leukocytes. YAC-1 target cells were killed by NK cells from the mice after treatment with A. camphorata at 4 mg/kg in target cells at a ratio of 50:1. The percentage of macrophages with phagocyted at A. camphorata treatment increased, and these effects were in dose-dependent manners.

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a medicinal mushroom having biological effects such as immunomodulation and anti-tumor actions. In China and many other Asian countries, G. lucidum is used as a folk remedy to promote health and longevity. Although many studies have shown that G. lucidum modulates the immune system, including, for example, antigen-presenting cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and the T and B lymphocytes, the effects of G. lucidum on the WEHI-3 leukemic BALB/c mice are unclear. We attempted to determine whether G. lucidum would promote immune responses in BALB/c mice injected with WEHI-3 leukemia cells. The effects of G. lucidum on the survival rate of WEHI-3 leukemia cells injected into BALB/c mice were examined. It increased the percentages of CD3 and CD19, but decreased the percentages of Mac-3 and CD11b markers, suggesting that differentiation of the precursor of T and B cells was promoted but macrophages were inhibited. It decreased the weight of spleens as compared with control mice. It also promoted phagocytosis by macrophage from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and it also promoted natural killer cell activity. It decreased the percentage of leukemia cells in the spleens of mice before they were injected with WEHI-3 cells. Apparently, G. lucidum affects murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells in vivo.

Ear acupuncture stimulation has been used for body weight reduction as early as the 1970s. Several hypotheses have been proposed in literature regarding its mechanism of action, among which are the effects of the stimulation of the hypothalamic satiety center on decreased neuropeptide Y production. Here, we present another possible mechanism to account for the temporary and short-term effects of ear acupuncture stimulation in the treatment of obesity, the sympathetic effects of the autonomic nervous system. 14 female volunteers underwent a randomized clinical trial of the ear acupuncture stimulation. A prospective, sham-point control, crossover study was performed with two sequential four-week stimulation periods separated by a two-week washout interval. The clinical features of and effects on the autonomic nervous system were recorded and analyzed. Decreased body weight was observed in both the experimental and the control groups in the first 4 weeks of stimulation. Sympathomimetic effects were also noted in both groups. Whereas the sympathomimetic effects and body weight reduction were sustained in the experimental group in the second 4 weeks of stimulation, such effects were not observed in the control group. Some sympathomimetic effects were noted in both the experimental and the control groups initially. This effect remained apparent in the experimental group in sequential stimulation but was lost in the control group. Consequently, we believe that sympathomimetic effects may account for the reduction in body weight by temporarily increasing basal metabolic rate and decreasing appetite, but the body may regain weight after the termination of such effects. Accordingly, the combination of an optimal exercise and diet program with repeated acupoint therapy may be necessary to maintain a healthy body weight.

The growth factor receptor-binding protein 2 – Src homology 2 (Grb2 – SH2) domain plays an important role in the oncogenic Ras signal transduction pathway, therefore, peptidic inhibitors of the Grb2 – SH2 domain has been chosen as our target for the development of antiproliferative agents. The inhibitory effects of peptide analogs on the Grb2 – SH2 domain have been determined by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology developed with the BIACORE biosensor. Recently, we reported the analysis of interactions between peptides and the GST-Grb2-SH2 that was immobilized on the surface of sensor chip by using BIACORE biosensor (the protein-immobilized method). Herein, we analyze interactions of peptides with the GST-Grb2-SH2 that was captured by the anti-GST antibodies immobilized on the surface of sensor chip (the protein-captured method). Results obtained by both methods are in good correlation, indicating the immobilization of GST-Grb2-SH2 on the sensor chip did not significantly affect the binding of Grb2-SH2 with peptides. Both SPR-based assays are very sensitive bioanalytical methods and can be applied in screening inhibitors of target proteins or purifying GST-fusion proteins, however, considering the efficiency and the cost, the GST-Grb2-SH2-immobilized method is suggested for routinely determining the binding potency of inhibitors of Grb2-SH2.

Early detection and intervention strategies for schizophrenia are receiving increasingly more attention. Dermatoglyphic patterns, such as the degree of asymmetry of the fingerprints, have been hypothesized to be indirect measures for early abnormal developmental processes that can lead to later psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. However, previous results have been inconsistent in trying to establish the association between dermatoglyphics and schizophrenia. The goal of this work is to try to resolve this problem by borrowing well-developed techniques from the field of fingerprint matching. Two dermatoglyphic asymmetry measures are proposed that draw on the orientation field of homologous fingers. To test the capability of these measures, fingerprint images were acquired digitally from 40 schizophrenic patients and 51 normal individuals. Based on these images, no statistically significant association between conventional dermatoglyphic asymmetry measures and schizophrenia was found. In contrast, the sample means of the proposed measures consistently identified the patient group as having a higher degree of asymmetry than the control group. These results suggest that the proposed measures are promising for detecting the dermatoglyphic patterns that can differentiate the patient and control groups.

Although an acupuncture needle penetrates the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and underlying muscle, the most effective locus for the somatic acupoint on the needle path is not well established. We therefore investigated the sensory innervations of tissues in the needle path of the canine Shen-Shu point and evaluated their roles in initiating an acupunctural signal. Horseradish peroxidase solution was injected at all three levels within the acupoint. Only a few peroxidase-positive neurons were observed in the L1 dorsal root ganglion following intradermal injection. Following subcutaneous injection, peroxidase-labeled neurons were detected extending from spinal levels T10 to L2, with maximal labeling at T12 (46.3%). Approximately 95% of positive neurons were at spinal levels T11, T12, T13, and L1. As a result of an intramuscular injection, labeled neurons were observed at spinal levels T12 to L3, with most labeling occurring at L1 (39.9%). Approximately 95% of positive neurons were at spinal levels T13, L1, and L2. The results suggest that most afferent terminals are in the subcutaneous tissue rather than the muscular tissue, with an approximate ratio of 3.75:1. The data provide solid evidence that sensory innervation to a somatic acupoint is confined to a spinal segment and spatially organized, and we speculate that to cause a maximum effect, the centripetally transmitted signal from needling a somatic acupoint is spatio-segmental and divergently amplified.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The binding of SARS-CoV spike (S) protein to cellular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the first step in SARS-CoV infection. Therefore, we assayed the inhibitory effects of small peptides derived from S protein on the binding of S protein to ACE2 and on the S-protein-pseudotyped retrovirus infectivity. SP-4 (residues 192-203), SP-8 (residues 483-494), and SP-10 (residues 668-679) significantly blocked the interaction between S protein and ACE2 by biotinylated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with IC(50) values of 4.30 +/- 2.18, 6.99 +/- 0.71, and 1.88 +/- 0.52 nmol, respectively. Peptide scanning suggested the region spanning residues 660-683 might act as a receptor-binding domain. SP-10 blocked both binding of the S protein and infectivity of S protein-pseudotyped retrovirus to Vero E6 cells. In conclusion, this is the first report of small peptides designed to disrupt the binding of SARS-CoV S protein to ACE2. Our findings suggest that SP-10 may be developed as an anti-SARS-CoV agent for the treatment of SARS-CoV infection.

The integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine and their clinical effects have been widely evaluated. Many studies have shown that using a combination of these two remedies has resulted in better outcomes than using only one of them. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique, which plays an important role in enforcing pain control, prevention and functional improvement. In 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) journal introduced acupuncture as a remedy for 43 diseases, including frozen shoulder. This study aims to assess the therapeutic outcomes of combining acupuncture and physical therapy to treat frozen shoulder, and hopes to establish an evidence-based study of the integration of acupuncture and western medicine in the future. A total of 75 frozen shoulder patients treated in a medical center were recruited for the study between January 2002 and December 2002. The average age of these patients was 54.8 years. The average duration of the condition was 25.8 weeks before treatment. Of the 75 patients, 30 were treated by physical therapy, 30 by acupuncture and 15 by both remedies. Before the treatment began, all patients were evaluated by assessing static pain scale, motion pain scale, active and passive ROM (range of motion) and quality of life scale sheet SF-36 (Short Form-36). The outcome was evaluated by follow-up assessments conducted at the 2nd week and 4th week of treatment sessions. All patients showed improvement in quality of life (Short Form-36). Pain was controlled better by acupuncture while ROM improved following physical therapy. However, patients treated by both methods had the best outcome. The integration of acupuncture and physical therapy to treat frozen shoulder leads to a better outcome than using only one method. The author suggests that an evidence-based foundation of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine should be established in the future, to encourage the integration of Chinese and Western medicine.

If acupuncture is able to prevent hypertrophy of the heart, it could therefore prevent the heart from overloading and thus prevent heart failure or sudden death. We therefore studied the effects of acupuncture on blood pressure and cardiac muscle cells. Rats with spontaneous hypertension were divided into three acupuncture treatment groups and one non-treatment group. The treatment groups were classified as sham acupoint, Yanglingquan (GB. 34) and Quchi (LI. 11) groups. The measurements recorded included changes in tail pressure, femoral arterial pressure, left ventricular weight (LVW), whole heart weight (WHW), body weight (BW), LVW/BW and WHW/BW ratios and the size of the cardiac muscle cells. The results showed that femoral arterial pressure of subjects which were needled on the selected points for 3 days dropped. Acupuncture at these two acupoints seemed to improve the condition of hypertension in a short period of time. Significant changes in the femoral arterial pressure were observed in all subjects when they were treated for 6 days. In the two acupoint groups, the LVW/BW and the WHW/BW ratios did not change significantly. Cardiac muscle cells reduced in size in the Yanglingquan (GB. 34) treatment groups. This indicates that the Yanglingquan (GB. 34) points not only can lower blood pressure, but also prevent hypertrophy of cardiac muscle cells in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Therefore, acupuncture could be a good treatment modality for hypertension and hypertrophy of the heart.

Acupuncture has been shown to improve the regularity of gastric myoelectric activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether atropine-induced gastric dysrhythmia can be normalized by electroacupuncture. Fifteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled for this study. Each subject was studied for three sessions in a randomized sequence which included electroacupuncture on the Zusanli (St 36) points with or without premedication with atropine and a placebo stimulation on a nonacupoint. Cutaneous EGG was performed for 30 min at the baseline, 30 min during acupuncture, and for an additional 30 min after acupuncture. Serum gastrin, motilin, and human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) levels were also measured. When applying 2 Hz of electrical stimulation on the Zusnali point, there was a significant increase in the percentage of normal frequency (2–4 cpm) during acupuncture (baseline versus acupuncture, 82.09 ± 12.37% versus 93.08 ± 8.17%, P < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in the percentage of bradygastria as well as tachygastria during 2 Hz of electrical stimulation on the Zusnali point. Using intravenous atropine immediately before electroacupuncture, the percentage of normal frequency during acupuncture and postacupuncture periods decreased significantly (baselines versus acupuncture and postacupuncture, 83.86 ± 13.79% versus 55.07 ± 29.44% and 56.76 ± 33.44%, P < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in serum PP after intravenous atropine. This observation indicated that atropine-induced gastric dysrhythmia might be mediated partly via the vagal pathway. However, atropine-induced gastric dysrhythmia is not normalized by electroacupuncture.

Summary Objective This pilot study evaluated whether acupressure affected the postoperative comfort of gastric cancer patients following a subtotal gastrectomy. Methods A randomised controlled trial was conducted. Sixty patients were recruited from 141-bed general surgery ward at a 3000-bed medical centre in Northern Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group receiving regular postoperative care or to the experimental group receiving additional acupressure at acupoints of Neiquan (P6) and Zusanli (ST36) for 3 consecutive days. Results The similarities between two groups were in postoperative pain and the onset of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at the baseline. Following acupressure, significant differences were found in postoperative pain ( P =.03) and time of first flatus ( P =.04); but not PONV ( P =.49), nor the time of first defecation ( P =.34). Conclusions Acupressure is a simple, noninvasive, safe, and economical procedure for improving the comfort of patients who undergo surgery for gastric cancer. Acupressure at the P6 and ST36 acupoints can improve postoperative comfort by alleviating pain and decreasing the time until first flatus. However, additional research is necessary to elucidate how acupressure can improve postoperative outcomes.

Aquapunctureis a modified acupuncture technique and it is generally accepted that it has a greater therapeutic effect than acupuncture because of the combination of the acupoint stimulation and the pharmacological effect of the drugs. However, to date, the mechanisms underlying the effects ofaquapunctureremain unclear. We hypothesized that both the change in the local spatial configuration and the substrate stimulation ofaquapuncturewould activate neuronal signaling. Thus, bee venom, normal saline, and vitamins B1 and B12 were injected into a Zusanli (ST36) acupoint as substrate ofaquapuncture, whereas a dry needle was inserted into ST36 as a control. Afteraquapuncture, activated neurons expressing Fos protein were mainly observed in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in lumbar segments L3–5, with the distribution nearly identical among all groups. However, the bee venom injection induced significantly more Fos-expressing neurons than the other substrates. Based on these data, we suggest that changes in the spatial configuration of the acupoint activate neuronal signaling and that bee venom may further strengthen this neuronal activity. In conclusion, the mechanisms for the effects ofaquapunctureappear to be the spatial configuration changes occurring within the acupoint and the ability of injected substrates to stimulate neuronal activity.

Breath analysis provides a way to diagnose diseases by detection of special odors in breaths; one of its clinical applications, electronic nose, has been proved as a non-invasive and rapid tool for diagnosis. In this study, a sensor module of the electronic nose is devised with six 12 MHz AT-cut quartz crystals array. Probe peptides are designed with structure-based computer simulation, in which a simulated three-dimensional structure of the olfactory receptor protein (ORP) is docking with target gas molecules, and then synthesized. In the clinical test, this sensor module discriminates breaths from the normal subjects, patients with uremia, patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) well by the discriminating analysis with a correct classification of 86.78%. In general, the normal subjects can be distinguished completely from the patients.

In this study, we investigated the effects of Pai-Hui by acupuncture on cycloheximide (CXM)-induced impairment of the passive avoidance response in rats. Acupuncture at Pai-Hui (Go-20) treated 15 min before or immediately after training trial for 15 min significantly attenuated CXM-induced impairment of passive avoidance response in rats, but did not have the same effect 30 and 60 min before or 30 min after the training trial or before the retention trial. Acupuncture at Pai-Hui 15 min before the training trial for 15, 30 and 60 min significantly attenuated CXM-induced impairment of passive avoidance response in rats, and its efficacy paralleled the acupuncture duration. Furthermore, acupuncture at Pai-Hui did not attenuate scopolamine (SCOP)-induced impairment of passive avoidance response, but was slightly inhibited by SCOP at 0.3 mg/kg. Second, acupuncture at Pai-Hui attenuated p-chloroamphetamine (PCA)-induced impairment of passive avoidance response and was significantly antagonized by PCA at 1 mg/kg. These results suggest that acupuncture at Pai-Hui mainly affects the memory storage process and has preventive and immediate therapeutic effects on CXM-induced impairment of passive avoidance response. Its efficacy paralleled the acupuncture duration. The preventive effect of acupuncture at Pai-Hui on CXM-induced impairment is significantly reduced by serotonergic 5-HT releaser, and slightly by cholinergic manipulations.

The effect of acupuncture at life-saving point on the central nervous depressive action of anesthetics was investigated in rabbits. Stimulation with electroacupuncture (EA) inserted in Jen-Chung point, which is located at the mid-point on the upper lip, decreased the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital or propofol. However, this action of acupuncture was not modified by naloxone at the doses sufficient to block opiate receptors. Plasma β-endorphin detected by radioimmunoassay was also not markedly changed in rabbits which received similar electrostimulation. Moreover, pretreatment with para-chlorophenylalanine at a dose sufficient to deplete endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) failed to influence the action of EA. Mediation of endogenous opioids and/or 5-HT in this action of EA was then ruled out. Prazosin reversed the sleeping time decreasing action of acupuncture in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the action of acupuncture was eliminated in rabbits which received intracerebroventricular injection of guanethidine at a dose which could block noradrenergic nerve terminals. It is suggested that stimulation of Jen-Chung point through EA can activate noradrenergic neurotransmission in the brain, which in turn reduces the central nervous depressive activity of anesthetics.

Smoking represents a serious worldwide public health problem because of its close association with the development of chronic disease and cancer. Acupoint stimulation has been used as treatment mode for smoking cessation but its efficacy remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of acupoint stimulation on smoking cessation rate and daily cigarette consumption. Electronic literature searches in eight electronic databases up to March 2011 were performed to identify acupoint stimulation for smoking cessation. The outcomes assessed were smoking cessation rate and cigarette consumption. We assessed abstinence from smoking at the earliest and last measured time points, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Meta-analysis was performed using CMA software. A total of 20 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. A significant effect of acupoint stimulation was found in smoking cessation rates and cigarette consumption at immediate, 3- and 6-month follow-ups, with effect sizes 1.24 (95%CI = 1.07 ~ 1.43, p = 0.003), -2.49 (95%CI = -4.65 ~ -0.34, p = 0.02), 1.70 (95%CI = 1.17 ~ 2.46, p = 0.01), and 1.79 (95%CI = 1.13 ~ 2.82, p = 0.01), respectively. Multi-modality treatments, especially acupuncture combined with smoking cessation education or other interventions, can help smokers to eschew smoking during treatment, and to avoid relapse after treatment.

Dear Editor: The revised standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of acupuncture (STRICTA) as a formal extension to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) has been published in PLoS Medicine recently. It includes 6 items and 17 subitems, which set the reporting guidelines for the acupuncture rationale, the details of needling, the treatment regimen, other components of treatment, the practitioner background, and the control or comparator intervention. Also, the examples for the explanation of each item have been provided. The aim of this revision is first, to extend the STRICTA under the CONSORT roof, and second, to help authors of acupuncture trials provide readers with a clear, accurate, and transparent account of their acupuncture protocols as well as their control and/or comparator procedures. To some extent, we believe that it will provide help in improving the quality of reporting. Based on the nature of acupuncture and the necessity of reporting, however, some additional key elements should be involved in the reporting about acupuncture trials. These additional key elements are as follows.

Background: Breast engorgement is a common problem that affects the initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Limited solutions are available to relieve the discomfort associated with breast engorgement. Thus, further investigation of methods to achieve effective relief of symptoms is critical to promote breastfeeding success. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two breast caremethods, that is, scraping (Gua-Sha) therapy (administered to the experimental group) and traditional breast care (i. e., massage and heating; administered to the control group). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 54 postpartum women at a Level Ⅲ medical teaching hospital. Participant inclusion criteria included postpartum breastfeeding women (a) who had an uncomplicated delivery and (b) who were experiencing breast engorgement problems. The Gua-Sha protocol selected appropriate acupoint positions, which included ST16, ST18, SP17, and CV17. Each position was lightly scraped seven times in two cycles. For the control group, we used hot packs and massage for 20 min in accordance with recommendations given in an obstetrical technique textbook. Results: Results showed no statistical differences between the two groups at baseline. Body temperature, breast temperature, breast engorgement, pain levels, and discomforting levels were statistically different between the two groups at 5 and 30 min after intervention (p＜.001). The results of generalized estimating equation analysis indicated that, with the exception of body temperature, all variables remained more significant (p＜.0001) to improving engorgement symptoms in the experimental group than those in the control group, after taking related variables into account. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Our findings provided empirical evidence supporting that Gua-Sha therapy may be used as an effective technique in the management of breast engorgement. By using Gua-Sha therapy, nurses can handle breast engorgement problems more effectively in primary care and hence help patients both physically and psychologically.

Post-operation pain is a very subjective phenomenon. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on post-cesarean pain.Sixty women, who had had spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at the Department of Obstetrics of China Medical University Hospital, were randomly assigned to the control group, the acupuncture group, and the electro-acupuncture group. After the operation, we applied subjects with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on the bilateral acupuncture point, San Yin Jiao (Sp6), and the patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The first time of requesting morphine, the frequency of PCA demands in 24 hours, and the doses of PCA used were recorded double blindly. In addition, monitoring the subjects' vital signs, the opioid-related side effects, and the pain scores was done.The results showed that the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group could delay the time of requesting morphine up to 10 - 11 minutes when compared with the control group. The total dose of PCA used within the first 24 hours was 30% - 35% less in the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group when compared with the control group, which was indicated in statistical significance. However, there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group. The electro-acupuncture group's and the acupuncture group's pain scores were lower than the control group's within the first 2 hours. Both were statistically significant. However, two hours later, there were no significant differences of the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between either of the treatment groups and the control group. Finally, the incidence of opioid-related side effects, such as dizziness, was less in the acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture group than in the control group.This study shows that the application of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture could definitely delay the time of requesting pain relief medication after cesarean section and decrease the PCA doses used within the first 24 hours.

Enhanced fruit and vegetable consumption is closely related to reduced cancer incidence as shown in epidemiological studies. Ganoderma lucidum, one of the most well-known traditional Chinese medicines, has been demonstrated to have pharmacological activities and antitumor effects, in Asian populations. However, the promotion of immune responses in normal BALB/c mice is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the immune responses of BALB/c mice after treatment with G. lucidum extract in vivo. The results demonstrated that G. lucidum extract was able to promote the proliferation of splenocytes under Concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Compared with the control group, phagocytosis of macrophage was significantly enhanced by intraperitoneal administration of G. lucidum extract at both 3 and 6 mg/kg. Compared with the control group, natural killer cell activity was significantly enhanced by intraperitoneal administration of G. lucidum extract (6 mg/kg). Results of cytometric bead array and flow cytometry indicated that the expressions of interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma also increased (p0.001) by treatment with G. lucidum extract (3 and 6 mg/kg). In conclusion, the findings of this study implied that G. lucidum extract was able to effectively promote immune responses in BALB/c mice.

Several previous studies have investigated the gender difference of the fingerprint features. However, regarding to the statistical significance of such differences, inconsistent results have been obtained. To resolve this problem and to develop a method for gender determination, this work proposes and tests three fingertip features for gender determination. Fingerprints were obtained from 115 normal healthy adults and comprised of 57 male and 58 female volunteers. All persons were born in Taiwan and were of Han nationality. The age range was18-35 years. The features of this study are ridge count, ridge density, and finger size, all three of which can easily be determined by counting and calculation. Experimental results show that the tested ridge density features alone are not very effective for gender determination. However, the proposed ridge count and finger size features of left little fingers are useful, achieving a classification accuracy of 75% (P-value

Gypenosides (Gyp), components of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino, were found to induce suppression of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma SCC4 cell growth and induce apoptosis in response to overexpression of reactive oxygen species, calcium (Ca(+2)) and to decrease mitochondrial membrane potential in vitro. In this study, the effect of Gyp on cell migration and invasion of human tongue SCC4 cells was examined. SCC4 cells treated in vitro with Gyp migrated and invaded less than cells treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a control. Gyp inhibited migration and invasion by down-regulating the production of RAS, NFkappaB, COX2, ERK1/2 and MMP-9 relative to PBS only. These results show that Gyp inhibits invasion and migration of human tongue SCC4 cells by down-regulating proteins associated with these processes, resulting in reduced metastasis.

Berberine, a yellow benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, is a constituent of Coptis chines and is commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. The pharmacological effects of berberine include anti-inflammation, antidiarrhetic, antimalarial, and even antimicrobial activities. However, its mechanism of action on the cell migration of human gastric cancer SNU-5 cells is not fully understood. The effects of berberine on the percentage of viable cells were examined first and it was found that berberine induced dose-dependent inhibition in human gastric cancer SNU-5 cells. The effect of berberine on the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinase-1, -2, -7 and -9 was then examined using Western blotting and the results showed that berberine induced ROS production for up to 6 hours of incubation. It was also found that berberine induced downregulation of MMP-1 -2, and -9 but did not affect the level of MMP-7. The mRNA levels of MMPs in SNU-5 cells after treatment with berberine for 24 hours were investigated using a polymerase chain reaction and the results showed that berberine inhibited the gene expression of MMP-1, -2 and -9 in human SNU-5 cells but it did not affect MMP-7. In conclusion, berberine appears to exert its anticancer properties by inducing ROS production and prevention of cell migration via inhibition of the gene expression of MMP-1, -2 and -9 in human gastric cancer SNU-5 cancer cells.

Curcumin (1, 7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5- dione), a natural polyphenol product of the plant Curcuma longa, exhibited potent inhibitory activities against proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and exhibited the induction of apoptosis in several tumor cell lines. In our previous studies, we have shown that curcumin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis on human leukemia HL-60 and mouse leukemia WEHI-3 cells; there are no reports regarding whether or not it affects leukemia cells in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on WEHI-3 in BALB/c mice and the results indicated that curcumin reduces the percentage of Mac-3 marker, which is the precursor of macrophage. Curcumin induced significant effects on the population of B cells from murine leukemia in vivo. We also investigated the weights of spleen and liver from murine leukemia and the results showed that curcumin reduced the weight of the liver and spleen. From the pathological examinations, the effects of curcumin on the liver and spleen from mice after being injected with WEHI-3 cells were apparent. Both organs were enlarged. In conclusion, curcumin affect WEHI-3 cells in vivo.

The effects of baicalein on SCC-4 human tongue cancer cells were examined to better understand its effect on apoptosis and associated possible signal pathways in vitro.Apoptosis induction, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytoplasmic Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and caspase-3 activity were analyzed using the flow cytometric assay. Apoptosis-associated proteins, such as p53, BAX, BCL-2, cytochrome c, caspase-3 and -9, EndoG and AIF were determined by Western blotting.Our results showed that baicalein promoted the levels of p53, BAX, cytochrome c, capase-3 and -9 and reduced the level of BCL-2, which were associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death of SCC-4 cells. A release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol was demonstrated and an activation of caspase-3, which led to the occurrence of apoptosis in SCC-4 cells treated with baicalein as determined by Western blot. In order to understand the role of Ca2+ in the induction of apoptosis, cells were pre-treated with BAPTA (intracellular calcium chelator) and baicalein. It was shown that the MMP was restored, and the level of cytoplasmic Ca2+ suppressed, the proportion of cells undergoing apoptosis was also markedly diminished. Our data suggest that cellular Ca2+ modulates baicalein-induced cell death via a Ca2+-dependent mitochondrial death pathway in SCC-4 cells.

In this study, the EEG, ECG and blood-pressure-pulse recorder were employed to evaluate heart rate variability, pulse rate variability, and EEG of 10 adults after scalp (experimental test I) at Sishencong scalp acupoint and auricular (experimental test II) acupuncture at Shenmen auricular acupoint for about 10 min. Comparison of the results between the experimental tests and a control with no stimulation test showed that both the heart rate and pulse rate were decreased, and the blood pressure fell. The high and low frequency power of FFT analysis of heart rate was increased and decreased, respectively; indicating that the parasympathetic nerves were activated and the sympathetic nerves were inhibited. The analysis of the power spectrum of EEG showed that the number of low frequency waves was increased after acupuncture stimulation. Therefore, acupuncture on either Sishencong or Shenmen might calm the mind, slow down the heart rate, and activate the parasympathetic nerves.

The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of wogonin on the cytotoxicity, natural killer activity, macrophage phagocytosis, release of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in leukocytes from Sprague-Dawley rats. Wogonin was added to the medium and the levels of IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha in the medium were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha mRNAs were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and the levels of NF-kappaB and I-kappaB were measured by Western blotting. Natural killer cell activity and macrophage phagocytosis were measured by flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that wogonin induced cytotoxicity in rat leukocytes and promoted the activities of natural killer cells and macrophages. Wogonin increased the IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha levels in the leukocytes in culture media dose-dependently. IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha mRNA elevations were also promoted by wogonin. The data suggests that wogonin may affect the IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha mRNA expressions by affecting the NF-kappaB in rat leukocytes.

Aloe-emodin has shown anti-neoplastic activity against some human cancer cell lines. This study aimed to explore the effects of aloe-emodin on the phagocytosis of macrophages, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and the expression of cytokines in leukocytes from Sprague-Dawley rats. Leukocytes were collected, placed into culture plates and the functions of macrophages and NK cells and the percentage of viable cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Incubation of leukocytes with various concentrations of aloe-emodin caused a dose-dependent decrease of viable cells, a decrease of phagocytosis by macrophages, and a decrease of the activity of NK cells. Evaluation of cytokines in leukocytes by ELISA indicated that aloe-emodin increased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The results were also confirmed by PCR assay for the mRNA expression of the examined cytokines.

In this research, heart rate variability (HRV), pulse rate variability (PRV) and human skin conductance (SC) of all acupoints on Heart Meridian were used to evaluate the effects of electrical acupuncture (EA) on acupoint BL15 (Bladder Meridian). Ten healthy volunteers (aged 23 ± 6) were selected as the control group on the first day, and then used again as the experimental group on the second day. The control group received sham EA during the study, while subjects of the experimental group were stimulated by 2 Hz EA on acupoint BL15 for 10 minutes. Electrocardiogram (ECG), wrist blood pressure pulse meter and skin conductance response (SCR) device were used to measure and analyze HRV, PRV and SCR for the two groups before and after stimulation. From the spectrum analysis of ECG and pulse pressure graph, we found that the EA applied on BL15 could induce a significant increase in the normalized high frequency power (nHFP) component of HRV and PRV, as well as a significant decrease in the normalized low frequency power (nLFP) part ( p < 0.05). Moreover, both the heart rate and pulse rate were reduced in the analysis of the time domain of ECG and PRV. Furthermore, most of the SCR values at acupoints were decreased after stimulation. These results also indicate that the stimulation of BL15 by EA could cause relaxation, calmness and reduce feeling of tension or distress.

Emodin has been reported to induce apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines, although its effects on leukocyte functions in vitro have not been demonstrated Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of emodin on the phagocytosis of macrophages, the activity of natural killer cells and the expression of cytokines in leukocytes from Sprague-Dawley rats. Leukocytes, isolated from rats, were placed into culture plates for incubation with or without various concentrations of emodin for 1-6 hours and the functions of macrophages and natural killer cells were evaluated by flow cytometric analysis. The results indicated that emodin caused a decrease in phagocytosis of macrophages after treatment for up to 4 hours but 6-hour treatments led to an increase in the phagocytosis of macrophages. Further, emodin increased the activity of natural killer cells, both effects being dose-dependent. The levels of cytokines from the examined leukocytes were evaluated by ELISA and the results indicated that emodin increased the levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, results which were confirmed by PCR assay for the mRNA expressions of the examined cytokines.

Background: Dry eye is a very common ocular disease characterized by eye dryness and photophobia. It often influences the patient's normal life. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of the Chinese herb, Chi-Ju-Di-Huang-Wan, for treatment of dry eye patients. It is one of the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbs used for eyes, however, there are no scientific reports about its effect. Methods: This study included 80 dry eye patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with topical eye drops and Chi-Ju-Di-Huan-Wan. The control group was given topical eye drops and placebo. All patients received tear film examinations including Schirmer's test, Rose Bengal test, fluorescein stain test, break up time test and questionnaires. Results: The results of the tear film tests were analysed by two independent t-tests between the two groups. No significant differences between the two groups according to the Schirmer's test were found. There was a significant difference in the Rose Bengal test at week 2 and tear break up time at week 4 (p = 0.04, 0.04, individually). Conclusion: Chi-Ju-Di-Huang-Wan is an effective stabilizer of tear film and decreases the abnormality of corneal epithelium. It provides an alternative choice for dry eye treatment. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study was designed to investigate the electrical conductance of meridian in the obese during weight reduction. Ten obese including overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI > 26) and 30 healthy (non-overweight) people were recruited from Chung Yuan Christian University. The obese subjects were instructed to follow a weight reduction program that included diet control, exercise and oral intake of Prozac. A device, the design of which is based on the Ryodoraku theorem, was used to measure the electrical conductance of 12 meridians on both sides of the subjects. The results showed that: (1) the average coefficient of variation of the electrical conductances in 24 meridians of the obese group was statistically different from that of the healthy group ( p

Antrodia camphorata (A. camphorata) is well known in Taiwan as a traditional Chinese medicine, and it has been shown to exhibit antioxidant effects. In this study, the ability of A. camphorata to induce apoptosis was studied in cultured human premyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Treatment of the HL-60 cells with a variety of concentrations of the fermented culture broth of A. camphorata (25-150 microg/ml) resulted in dose- and time-dependent sequences of events marked by apoptosis, as shown by loss of cell viability, chromatin condensation, and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, apoptosis in the HL-60 cells was accompanied by the release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3, and specific proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). This increase in A. camphorata-induced apoptosis was also associated with a reduction in the levels of Bcl-2, a potent cell-death inhibitor, and an increase in those of the Bax protein, which heterodimerizes with and thereby inhibits Bcl-2. The data suggest that A. camphorata exerts antiproliferative action and growth inhibition on HL-60 cells through apoptosis induction and that it may have anticancer properties valuable for application in drug products.

Acupuncture has been used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms in oriental countries for many years. The underlying mechanism is still not fully understood.Fifteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled into this study. A cutaneous electrogastrography recording was obtained. Two frequencies (2 Hz and 100 Hz) of electrical stimulation were applied to Zusnali or Shousanli point in different sessions. Another non-acu-point (2 cm lateral to Zusanli) without electrical stimulation was used for a control study.There was a significant increase in the percentage of normal frequency during 2 Hz of electrical stimulation on Zusnali (baseline vs. acupuncture, 82.49 +/- 12.87% vs. 93.18 +/- 8.40%, p0.01). The percentage of normal frequency did not change significantly, during or after acupuncture, with 100 Hz of electrical stimulation on Zusnali, or 2 Hz and 100 Hz of electrical stimulation on Shousanli. In addition, the percentage of tachygastric frequency and power ratio also changed significantly during 2 Hz of electrical stimulation on Zusnali. However, the change in the percentage of bradygastria and dominant frequency was not statistically significant among all five study sessions during each stage.The results of this study demonstrated that electrical stimulation, with a frequency of 2 Hz, on Zusanli might enhance the regularity of gastric myoelectrical activity. The effect of acupuncture on gastric myoelectrical activity was acu-point-specific, and that effect was observed with 2 Hz but not 100 Hz electrical stimulation.

Acupuncture has been shown to improve the regularity of gastric myoelectric activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether atropine-induced gastric dysrhythmia can be normalized by electroacupuncture. Fifteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled for this study. Each subject was studied for three sessions in a randomized sequence which included electroacupuncture on the Zusanli (St 36) points with or without premedication with atropine and a placebo stimulation on a nonacupoint. Cutaneous EGG was performed for 30 min at the baseline, 30 min during acupuncture, and for an additional 30 min after acupuncture. Serum gastrin, motilin, and human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) levels were also measured. When applying 2 Hz of electrical stimulation on the Zusnali point, there was a significant increase in the percentage of normal frequency (2-4 cpm) during acupuncture (baseline versus acupuncture, 82.09 +/- 12.37% versus 93.08 +/- 8.17%, P0.01). There was a significant decrease in the percentage of bradygastria as well as tachygastria during 2 Hz of electrical stimulation on the Zusnali point. Using intravenous atropine immediately before electroacupuncture, the percentage of normal frequency during acupuncture and postacupuncture periods decreased significantly (baselines versus acupuncture and postacupuncture, 83.86 +/- 13.79% versus 55.07 +/- 29.44% and 56.76 +/- 33.44%, P0.01). There was a significant decrease in serum PP after intravenous atropine. This observation indicated that atropine-induced gastric dysrhythmia might be mediated partly via the vagal pathway. However, atropine-induced gastric dysrhythmia is not normalized by electroacupuncture.

In traditional Chinese tongue diagnosis, inspection of the sublingual veins has been developed as a new diagnostic examination method especially for determining blood stasis. The main purpose of this research is to develop a computerized inspection system, used to quantitatively extract the chromatic and geometrical properties of sublingual veins. A method based on color equalization is presented to assist the image segmentation of sublingual veins. Color image analysis techniques are applied to extract the length, width, area and color information from sublingual veins. Experimental results are compared with the visual inspection of physicians. The severity of blood stasis was classified into three groups: normal, moderate and pronounced. Each group consisted of eight subjects. The overall recognition rate is 87.5% in the leaving-one-out classification using the developed system.

The effect of acupuncture on locomotor activity was investigated in rats. Stimulation with acupuncture inserted in Bai-Hui point, which is located at the vertex of the head, increased the spontaneous locomotor activity of rats measured in ANIMEX meter. This effect was obtained in rats which received acupuncture significantly at 60 min later as compared with sham-treated control. The sleeping time induced by hexobarbital was also reduced markedly in rats receiving acupuncture. An activation of the central nervous system by acupuncture at Bai-Hui point can thus be considered. This action was unrelated to opioids because naloxone failed to modify it. Increase in locomotor activity was abolished by an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (200 mg/kg) at 2 h before insertion of acupuncture. Deprenyl at the dose sufficient to elevate monoamine enhanced this action of acupuncture. Mediation of cerebral monoamines can also be considered. This view was supported by the dose-dependent inhibition of chlorpromazine. Action of acupuncture was not observed in apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.)-treated rats, probably due to an activated receptor of dopamine. Otherwise, action of acupuncture was enhanced by para-chlorophenylalanine, the depleter of endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and eliminated by 5-hydroxytryptophan, the precursor of 5-HT, in the initial stage of insertion. Participation of 5-HT can be considered as an initial way in rats that received acupuncture at Bai-Hui point. These results suggested that stimulation of Bai-Hui point with acupuncture can activate central neurotransmission of monoamines to increase the spontaneous locomotor activity in rats.