Du Xiao-Zheng, Qin Xiao-Guang, Fang Xiao-Li
Department of Acu-moxibustion and Tuina, Gansu College of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2009 Oct;34(5):319-23.
To observe the analgesic effect of heat-reinforcing needling manipulation for acute inflammatory arthritis and its underlying mechanism in experimental rheumatoid arthritis rabbits.
A total of 60 rabbits were randomized into control (n=6), model (n=6), needle-twirling (n=24) and heat-reinforcing (n=24) groups, and the later 2 groups were further divided into 0 h, 0.5 h, 1 h and 2 h subgroups,with 6 cases in each. Rheumatoid arthritis model was established by injecting mixed solution of egg-albumin (4 mg/ml) and equal volume of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the subcutaneous tissue (6 points around the shoulder, 0.2 ml/point). Fourteen days later,the injection was repeated once again,and another 6 days later, egg-albumin (0.4 ml, 20 mg/ml) solution was injected into the bilateral knee-joints. "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Hegu" (LI 4) were punctured and stimulated by needle-twirling or by heat-reinforcing needling technique for 1 min, with the needle retained for 30 min. The pain threshold of the paw was detected with K+ import stimulation method. beta-EP and PGE2 contents of the joint tissue were assayed with radioimmunoassay.
Compared with model group, the pain threshold of needle-twirling group and heat-reinforcing group at each time-point increased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with needle-twirling group, the pain threshold of heat-reinforcing group at 0.5 h, 1 h and 2 h subgroups increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). Both beta-EP and PGE2 contents of model group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). In comparison with model group, beta-EP contents of needle-twirling group and heat-reinforcing group at each time-point increased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.05), and PGE2 contents of needle-twirling group and heat-reinforcing group at each time-point decreased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.05). The beta-EP content of heat-reinforcing group was significantly higher than that of needle-twirling group at 2 h (P<0.05), while PGE2 content of the former group was significantly lower than that of needle-twirling group at 0 h (P<0.01).
Both needle-twirling and heat-reinforcing needling can effectively raise the pain threshold in acute arthritis rabbits, which my be closely associated with their effects in upregulating beta-EP content and lowering PGE2 level in the local joint tissue. The analgesic effect of heat-reinforcing needling manipulation is superior to that of needle-twirling.
观察温针补法对实验性类风湿关节炎兔急性炎症性关节炎的镇痛作用及其潜在机制。
将60只兔随机分为对照组（n = 6）、模型组（n = 6）、捻转组（n = 24）和温针补法组（n = 24），后两组再分为0 h、0.5 h、1 h和2 h亚组，每组6只。通过将蛋清（4 mg/ml）与等体积的完全弗氏佐剂（CFA）混合溶液注射到皮下组织（肩部周围6个点，0.2 ml/点）建立类风湿关节炎模型。14天后，再次重复注射，再过6天后，将蛋清（0.4 ml，20 mg/ml）溶液注射到双侧膝关节。采用捻转或温针补法针刺“足三里”（ST 36）和“合谷”（LI 4）1分钟，留针30分钟。采用钾离子导入刺激法检测爪部痛阈。采用放射免疫分析法测定关节组织中β - 内啡肽（β - EP）和前列腺素E2（PGE2）含量。
与模型组相比，捻转组和温针补法组各时间点的痛阈均显著升高（P < 0.01，P < 0.05）。与捻转组相比，温针补法组0.5 h、1 h和2 h亚组的痛阈显著升高（P < 0.05，P < 0.01）。模型组β - EP和PGE2含量均显著高于对照组（P < 0.01，P < 0.05）。与模型组相比，捻转组和温针补法组各时间点的β - EP含量均显著升高（P < 0.01，P < 0.05），捻转组和温针补法组各时间点的PGE2含量均显著降低（P < 0.01，P < 0.05）。温针补法组2 h时β - EP含量显著高于捻转组（P < 0.05），而温针补法组0 h时PGE2含量显著低于捻转组（P < 0.01）。
捻转和温针补法均可有效提高急性关节炎兔的痛阈，这可能与其上调局部关节组织中β - EP含量和降低PGE2水平的作用密切相关。温针补法的镇痛效果优于捻转法。
