Huang Guangying

Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology.

SummaryThe clinical effects of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in sperm parameter and on therapeutic results in assisted reproductive technology were investigated. 22 patients failed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with idiopathic male infertility were treated with acupuncture twice weekly for 8 weeks, followed by ICSI treatment again. The sperm concentration, motility, morphology, fertilization rates and embryo quality were observed. Quick sperm motility after acupuncture (18.3%±9.6%) was significantly improved as compared with that before treatment (11.0%±7.5%,P<0.01). The normal sperm ratio was increased after acupuncture (21.1%±10.4% vs 16.2%±8.2%,P<0.05). The fertilization rates after acupuncture (66.2%) were obviously higher than that before treatment (40.2%,P<0.01). There was no significant difference in sperm concentration and general sperm motility between before and after acupuncture. The embryo quality after acupuncture was improved, but the difference between them was not significant (P>0.05). Acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in assisted reproductive technology.

Acupuncture for the treatment of functional constipation

Abstract OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of functional constipation (FC). METHODS The literature was searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture with medical treatment; no medical treatment, placebo acupuncture, and sham acupuncture in patients with FC were searched. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers using standard data extraction forms. Risk of bias for each RCT was assessed using a modified Oxford 5-point quality scale. Data were pooled according to intervention and treatment course. Parameters evaluated included effectiveness/invalidity, Cleveland Clinic score (CCS), colon transit time (CTT) and adverse effects. RESULTS Nineteen studies involving 1679 participants were eligible for inclusion; of these studies, 16 were published in Chinese and three in English. Risks of bias were high. Acupuncture was significantly superior to medication therapy in short-term (effectiveness / invalidity, P = 0.0009; CCS, P = 0.02) and long-term (effectiveness / invalidity, P = 0.004; CCS, P = 0.04; CCT, P CONCLUSION Compared with medication, acupuncture was more effective and had a lower adverse effect rate in the treatment of FC. A short treatment course of two weeks was sufficient for a good effect. However, the poor quality of the included trials indicates the need for well-designed RCTs, including adequate sample size and a reasonable placebo control, to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for FC.

Effects of Jiantaiye on estrogen receptor and mRNA expressions in uterus of mice with embryo implantation dysfunction.

Objective: To explore the effect of Jiantaiye (JTY) on the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and ER mRNA in uterus of mice with embryo implantation dysfunction.Methods: Embryo implantation dysfunction mouse models were induced with mifepristone and treated with JTY. All animals were sacrificed on day 8 of pregnancy. The endometrial ER and ER mRNA expressions were assessed by immunno-histochemical SP method and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results: Area ratio and absorbency of ER in the JTY treated group’s gland and stroma were higher than those of the model group, quite similar to those of the normal control’s, and ER mRNA expression in treated group’s uterus was significantly higher than that in the models, but it was not significantly different from the normal control.Conclusion: JTY improves the endometrial development by increasing ER and ER mRNA expressions of uterus of mice with embryo implantation dysfunction.

Effect of Bushen Yiqi Hexue recipe on pinopodes expression on endometrial surface in embryo implantation dysfunctional mice

Objective: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of Bushen Yiqi Hexue recipe (BYHR), and observe its effect on pinopodes expression on endometrial surface in mifepristone induced embryo implantation dysfunctional mice.Methods: Pregnant Kunming mice were randomly divided into the normal group, the control group and the treated group. Mice in the treated group were administered with BYHR, and those in the normal group and the control group were administered with normal saline, starting from the very first day of pregnancy (Pd1). On the Pd4, mifepristone (RU486) was subcutaneously injected into mice in the control group and the treated group. Pinopodes expression on endometrial surface at 09:30–10:00 pm on Pd4 (regarded as time point 1, T1) and at 09:30–10:00 am on Pd5 (as time point 2, T2) was determined by scanning electron microscopy. Pregnancy rate and average implanted embryos were observed on Pd7.Results: Pregnancy rate and average implanted embryos in the control group were obviously lower than those in the normal group (allP<0.01), while the two parameters were significantly higher in the treated group (P<0.05,P<0.01, respectively) than those in the control group. In the normal group, abundant developing pinopodes were distributed over the whole endometrial surface in T1, and they were altered to a great deal of fully developed pinopodes in T2. But in the control group, only a few pinopodes were expressed locally on endometrial surface in T1, showing a nonsynchronous figure of development, and they completely disappeared in T2. In the treated group, a lot of developing pinopodes were expressed like those in the normal group but somewhat lagged behind, whereas many fully developed pinopodes were expressed in T2.Conclusion: The decrease of the pinopodes in Tl and the cleaning up of them in T2 is possibly the partial mechanism of mifepristone in inducing embryo implantation dysfunction. It is indicated that BYHR could improve pinopodes expression on endometrial surface, eventually better the uterine receptivity and improve the embryo implantation.

Expression of connexin43 in rat epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

SummaryTo explore the role of connexin43 (Cx43) in gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and propagated sensation along meridians, the expression of Cx43 in the rat epithelial cells and fibroblasts was studied bothin vitro andin vivo. With thein vitro study, the rat epithelial cells and fibroblasts were cultured together, and the localization of Cx43 was detected by immunohistochemistry and indirect immunofluorescent cytochemistry and under confocal microscopy. And the expression of Cx43 on the surface of the cells was examined by flow cytometry. With thein vivo examination, 20 SD rats were randomized into control group (n=10) and electrical acupuncture group (EA group,n=10). EA (0.5–1.5 V, 4–16 Hz, 30 min) was applied to “Zusanli” acupoint for 30 min at rat’s hind paw, the localization of Cx43 was immunohistochemically detected. The immunohistochemical staining and indirect immunfluorescent cytochemistry showed that Cx43 was localized on the surface of the cells and in the cytoplasm. The relative expression level of Cx43 on the cellular membrane surfaces of the rat epithelial cells and fibroblasts, as determined by FACS, were 13.91% and 29.53% respectively. Our studied suggested that Cx43 might be involved in GJIC and propagated sensation along meridians.