Kazushi Nishijo

Decreased heart rate by acupuncture stimulation in humans via facilitation of cardiac vagal activity and suppression of cardiac sympathetic nerve.

The effect of acupuncture stimulation applied to a Ximen point (P4) of a forearm on heart rate was studied in healthy volunteer human subjects. Acupuncture stimulation decreased heart rate, or gave no significant response. The decreased response of heart rate following acupuncture was attenuated by administration of atropine and propranolol. Therefore, the acupuncture-induced response of decrease in heart rate was concluded to be a result of a reciprocal coordination of an increase in cardiac vagal activity and a decrease in cardiac sympathetic activity.

Unique immunomodulation by electro-acupuncture in humans possibly via stimulation of the autonomic nervous system

Cumulative evidence suggests that immunologic responses are under the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Since acupuncture has recently been reported to modulate the autonomic nervous system, we investigated the possibility that acupuncture eventually modulates the immune system. In the present study, electro-acupuncture was applied in young volunteer subjects. As for the proportions of granulocytes and lymphocytes in the blood, there were three groups: (1) granulocytosis and lymphocytopenia; (2) granulocytopenia and lymphocytosis; and (3) normal pattern. Interestingly, with the administration of acupuncture, the status of subjects with relatively low levels of granulocytes and high levels of lymphocytes shifted to Group 1, whereas that of subjects with high levels of granulocytes and low levels of lymphocytes shifted to Group 2. In other words, acupuncture tended to normalize the pattern of leukocytes. We confirmed that acupuncture induced parasympathetic nerve stimulation, resulting in a decrease in the heart rate. These results suggest possible mechanisms underlying how acupuncture ameliorates the condition of patients with many chronic diseases.

Electro-acupuncture stimulation to a hindpaw and a hind leg produces different reflex responses in sympathoadrenal medullary function in anesthetized rats.

The effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation (EAS) of two different areas of a hindlimb with different stimulus intensities on sympathoadrenal medullary functions were examined in anesthetized artificially ventilated rats. Two needles of 160 microm diameter and about 5 mm apart were inserted about 5 mm deep into a hindpaw (Chungyang, S42) or a hind leg (Tsusanli, S36) and current of various intensities passed to excite various afferent nerve fiber groups at a repetition rate of 20 Hz and pulse duration of 0.5 ms for 30-60 s. Fiber groups of afferent nerves stimulated in a hindlimb were monitored by recording evoked action potentials from the afferents innervating the areas stimulated. The sympathoadrenal medullary functions were monitored by recording adrenal sympathetic efferent nerve activity and secretion rates of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla. EAS of a hindpaw at a stimulus strength sufficient to excite the group III and IV somatic afferent fibers produced reflex increases in both adrenal sympathetic efferent nerve activity and the secretion rate of catecholamines. EAS of a hind leg at a stimulus strength sufficient to excite the group III and IV afferent fibers produced reflex responses of either increases or decreases in sympathoadrenal medullary functions. All responses of adrenal sympathetic efferent nerve activity were lost after cutting the afferent nerves ipsilateral to the stimulated areas, indicating that the responses are the reflexes whose afferents nerve pathway is composed of hindlimb somatic nerves. It is concluded that electro-acupuncture stimulation of a hindpaw causes an excitatory reflex, while that of a hind leg causes either excitatory or inhibitory reflex of sympathoadrenal medullary functions, even if both group III and IV somatic afferent fibers are stimulated.

The effect of massage on localized lumbar muscle fatigue

BackgroundThere is not enough evidence to support the efficacy of massage for muscle fatigue despite wide utilization of the modality in various clinical settings. This study investigated the influence of massage application on localized back muscle fatigue.MethodsTwenty-nine healthy subjects participated in two experimental sessions (massage and rest conditions). On each test day, subjects were asked to lie in the prone position on a treatment table and perform sustained back extension for 90 seconds. Subjects then either received massage on the lumbar region or rested for a 5 minute duration, then repeated the back extension movement. The median frequency (MDF), mean power frequency (MNF), and root mean square (RMS) amplitude of electromyographic signals during the 90 second sustained lumbar muscle contraction were analyzed. The subjective feeling of fatigue was then evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).ResultsMDF and MNF significantly declined with time under all conditions. There was no significant difference in MDF, MNF or RMS value change between before and after massage, or between rest and massage conditions. There was a significant increase in fatigue VAS at the end of the 2nd back extension with rest condition. There was a significant difference in fatigue VAS change between massage and rest condition.ConclusionsA significant difference was observed between massage and rest condition on VAS for muscle fatigue. On EMG analysis, there were no significant differences to conclude that massage stimulation influenced the myoelectrical muscle fatigue, which is associated with metabolic and electrical changes.

Effects of moxibustion on the enhancement of serum antibody in rabbit against Staphylococcus aureus

The titer and activity of antibody in rabbits immunized with heat-killed vaccine were assessed with and without moxibustion treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for the detection of immunoglobulins to Smith strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Positive IgM titer of more than 0.4 were observed with this assay against the moxibustion group (P < 0.05). The titer of IgG antibody also increased; however, there was no significant difference between the moxibustion group and the control group. The ELISA inhibition test showed significantly higher protective activity of the sera in the moxibustion group at the 9th week after the first immunization (P < 0.05).

Pupillary response induced by acupuncture stimulation – an experimental study

Objectives To investigate whether acupuncture stimulation affects autonomic nerve function by measuring pupil diameters with electronic pupillography. Methods Two studies were conducted (Experiment 1 and 2) in the Tsukuba University of Technology, Tsukuba, Japan. Experiment 1 examined the responses before, during and after acupuncture. Experiment 2 compared acupuncture and a no acupuncture control in a two period, repeated measurement crossover design. Twelve healthy male university students were recruited for Experiment 1 and nine healthy male university students for Experiment 2. The intervention was superficial acupuncture at the acupuncture point TE5. Following the insertion, gentle repetitive tapping stimulation was applied during the subjects exhalation phase in a sitting position for 90 seconds. The main outcome measures in Experiment 1 were pupil diameter, heart rate, pulse wave and blood pressure. In both experiments, pupil diameter was measured for three minutes before acupuncture stimulation, during stimulation and for three minutes after stimulation. Results In Experiment 1, a decrease in pupil diameter was observed after acupuncture stimulation (P=0.018) and a decrease in heart rate was observed during the stimulation (P=0.049). Moreover, a significant decrease of pulse wave amplitude was observed during and after acupuncture stimulation. In Experiment 2, a decrease in pupil diameter occurred after acupuncture stimulation (P=0.007), whereas no change occurred under the no acupuncture control. Conclusions It is thought that the pupillary constriction observed after gentle, superficial acupuncture stimulation may be attributed to an increase of parasympathetic nerve function. Further study is necessary in order to further clarify the duration of the observed response and to elucidate the mechanisms behind it.

Is there any difference in human pupillary reaction to acupuncture between light- and dark-adaptive conditions?

Objectives To determine if acupuncture stimulation elicits a pupillary response under light adaptation and whether there is any difference in the pupillary response between light and dark adaptation environments during acupuncture stimulation. Methods The participants consisted of 55 healthy individuals who had no known eye diseases or pupil abnormalities. Experiment 1 compared pupillary responses between acupuncture stimulation and no-stimulation groups under light adaptation. Experiment 2 compared pupillary responses to acupuncture between two conditions (dark and light adaptation) with a two-period repeated measurement crossover design. For both experiments the pupil diameter was continuously measured for 3 min before stimulation, during stimulation and for 3 min after stimulation. For all acupuncture stimulation interventions an acupuncture needle was inserted superficially at the TE5 acupuncture point followed by gentle tapping stimulation for 90 s. Results In experiment 1 the pupil diameter was significantly decreased during (p<0.01) and after stimulation (p<0.0001) compared with the pupil diameter before stimulation under light adaptation. No significant difference was noted in the serial changes in pupil diameter in the no-stimulation group. In experiment 2 the pupil diameter was significantly decreased 90 s after stimulation (p<0.05) and 150 s after stimulation (p<0.05) under light adaptation conditions. Furthermore, the pupil diameter was significantly decreased 120 s after stimulation (p<0.05) and 150 s after stimulation (p<0.01) under dark adaptation conditions. No significant difference in the serial changes in pupil diameter was noted between the groups. Conclusions This study shows that pupil constriction occurs following acupuncture stimulation under light adaptation and this response is no different from that seen under dark adaptation.

The Influence of Acupuncture Stimulation on Dynamic Electromyographic Activity.

直立位から体前屈し直立位へ戻る問の腰部脊柱起立筋部の最高RMS筋電図活動 (MREA) の左右差を検出したところ、健常者30名中20名は左右差20%未満 (左右対称被験者) 、10名は20%以上の左右差が認められた (左右非対称被験者) 。左右非対称被験者に対して左右いずれかの腰部脊柱起立筋部へ鍼刺激をおこなったところ鍼刺激直後に左右差が有意に縮小した (P=0.049) 。刺激側のMREAは刺激前後で一定の方向性のある変化はみいだせなかった。刺激反対側のMREAは刺激前高かった例では低くなり (P=0.037) 、低かった例では高まる (P=0.0185) という強い傾向が観察された。鍼治療は筋の機能的歪みを改善し共同筋協調を向上させることが示唆された。

Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Frozen Shoulder. A Case Study.

当診療所において我々が鍼治療を行った五十肩の症例を集積し、鍼治療の効果について検討した。1) 21例の五十肩の症例が集積された。2) 鍼治療経過中に15例 (71%) の自覚症状が改善した。3) 鍼治療後に運動時痛の67%、安静時痛の44%、夜間痛の56%で一時的軽減 (数時間～数日間) を認めた。4) 治療後に疼痛軽減が得られなかった症例は、脱落する傾向がみられた。五十肩に対する鍼治療は、疼痛の軽減に対して効果的であった。また、運動療法の併用により、拘縮予防に役立つ期待がもたれた。

The influence of acupuncture stimulus at the Ketsuinyu and Danchu points on the autonomic nervous function.

心包の兪穴・募穴である厥陰兪及び〓中に対して鍼刺激を行い, 瞬時心拍数を測定しその結果を西條らの動的自律神経機能検査法を用いて, 刺激前値に対する刺激後の効果の相違を観察検討した。測定は, 刺激前に安静仰臥後及び立位3分後に1分間, 刺激時に2分間・刺激後に仰臥位, 立位を3回繰り返しそれぞれ3分後に1分間行なった。その結果刺激後1回目の測定では, 2種の刺激間の自律神経機能関与度の変化に差は見られなかったが, 刺激後3回の測定を通して見ると, 厥陰兪刺激では, 自律神経機能関与度の変化の方向に一定の傾向が見られず, 変化も小さかったが, 〓中刺激では, 自律神経機能関与度を持続的に高めると共に大きい変化を表す傾向が見られた。