Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies RSS feed: Articles in Press. The Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed journal featuring high-quality studies related to basic and clinical acupuncture and meridian research. It also includes new paradigm of integrative research, covering East–West and traditional–modern medicine. Manuscripts should fall into one of the categories: topical review, original research paper, brief report and case report. The areas covered by the journal include: basic and clinical research on acupuncture and meridian studies; integrative biomedical research; and health science in general and other modalities. The subjects covered by the journal include acupressure, electroacupuncture, laser therapy, pharmacopuncture (herbal acupuncture, acupoint injection), herbology (herbal medicine), veterinary acupuncture, and related animal studies. Articles on general health science and other modalities, such as anthroposophy, homeopathy, ayurveda, bioelectromagnetic therapy, chiropractic, neural therapy and meditation, may also be eligible for consideration if the articles are related to acupuncture and meridian studies. http://www.jams-kpi.com//inpress?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2005-29012012-05-16 © 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.jams-kpi.com/article/PIIS2005290112000301/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: In this study, we demonstrate that the direct application of moxibustion significantly enhances muscle regeneration in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Twelve Dilute Brown Non-Agouti (DBA)/1 J male mice were randomly divided into the following groups: intact control (n=4), CIA (n=4), and CIA with moxibustion treatment (CIA+moxi, n=4). Mice in the CIA and CIA+moxi groups were immunized twice via intradermal injections of bovine type II collagen (C II) at 3-week intervals. After the second injection, moxibustion was applied to the mouse equivalent of the BL24 and ST36 acupoints with a moxa cone five times/day, every other day (except Sundays), for 3 weeks (a total of 9 treatments were administered). Phospho-Erk1/2, myostatin, TFG-B1, and IGF-1 were analyzed using ELISA. Protein levels in skeletal muscle tissues of the hind limb were analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining.Treatment with direct moxibustion led to a marked improvement in CIA and atrophy of individual muscle fibers. Collagen protein signaling in the muscle of the CIA group was stronger than the control and CIA+moxi groups. Myostatin protein expression, as determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining, were stronger in the CIA group compared with the control and CIA+moxi groups. Immunofluorescent staining confirmed that the CIA group had the strongest TGF-B1 protein signals among the three groups. However, in serum analysis the intact control group showed the strongest TGF-B1 protein signaling. RT-PCR analysis of the muscle tissues of the CIA+moxi group showed significant IGF-1 mRNA expression, and the most intense phospho-Erk1/2 protein signaling was detected in the muscle tissues of the CIA group via Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. These results confirm that the direct administration of moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) influences muscle regeneration in the CIA mouse model. Our results suggest that the establishment of the moxibustion mechanism will encourage the clinical application of moxi.Regenerative Effects of Moxibustion on Skeletal Muscle in Collagen-Induced Arthritic Mice - Corrected ProofMin-Jung Kim, Uk Namgung, Kwon-Eui Hong10.1016/j.jams.2012.02.001Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2012)2012-05-16Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2012-05-16RESEARCH ARTICLEhttp://www.jams-kpi.com/article/PIIS2005290112000313/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: The placebo effect has evolved from being thought of as a nuisance in clinical research to a biological phenomenon worthy of scientific investigation. The study of the placebo effect and of its evil twin, the nocebo effect, is basically the study of the therapeutic ritual around the patient, and it plays a crucial role in the therapeutic outcome. In recent years, different types of placebo responses have been analyzed with sophisticated biological tools that have uncovered specific mechanisms at the neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, biochemical, and cellular levels. Most of our knowledge about the neurobiological mechanisms of the placebo response comes from pain and Parkinson's disease, whereby the neuronal networks involved in placebo responsiveness have been identified. In the first case, opioid, cannabinoid, and cholecystokinin circuits have been found to be involved. In the second case, dopaminergic activation in the striatum and neuronal changes in basal ganglia have been described. This recent research has revealed that these placebo-induced biochemical and cellular changes in a patient's brain are very similar to those induced by drugs. This new way of thinking may have profound implications in clinical trials and medical practice both for pharmacological interventions and for nonpharmacological treatments such as acupuncture.Placebo-Induced Improvements: How Therapeutic Rituals Affect the Patient's Brain - Corrected ProofFabrizio Benedetti10.1016/j.jams.2012.03.001Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2012)2012-05-07Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2012-05-07REVIEW ARTICLEhttp://www.jams-kpi.com/article/PIIS2005290112000325/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: In this study, the antioxidative potential of a hydroalcoholic extract of Nardostachys jatamansi (NJE) rhizomes was evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including antioxidant capacity by the phosphomolybdenum method, total antioxidant activity in linoleic acid emulsion systems, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, metal chelating and reducing power activity. These various antioxidant activities were compared with standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene, tocopherol, catechin, and L-ascorbic acid. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of NJE was also determined by a colorimetric method. The extract exhibited high reduction capability and powerful free radical scavenging, especially against DPPH and superoxide anions as well as a moderate effect on NO. Moreover, the peroxidation inhibiting activity of NJE was demonstrated in the linoleic acid emulsion system. The results obtained in the present study clearly established the antioxidative potency of NJE, which may account for some of the medical claims attributed to this plant.In Vitro Antioxidant and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. - Corrected ProofSurendra Kumar Sharma, Ajay Pal Singh10.1016/j.jams.2012.03.002Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2012)2012-05-07Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2012-05-07RESEARCH ARTICLEhttp://www.jams-kpi.com/article/PIIS2005290112000337/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Thymus species are known to have significant amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and exhibit strong antioxidant activities. This work was designed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of three endemic Iranian Thymus species (including T. daenensis, T. kotschyanus, and T. pubescens) in different test systems [namely DPPH (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS+ [2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid], and linoleic acid/β-carotene bleaching assays] to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the species (assayed by colorimetric techniques) and to study the possible composition-activity relationship. All the tested plants exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. T. pubescens showed the highest free radical scavenging activities in both DPPH and ABTS+ methods, while T. daenensis and T. kotschyanus were the most active species in the β-carotene bleaching inhibition test. Alternatively, T. pubescens exhibited a significantly higher level of the total flavonoid content compared with those of the other species, while no significant statistically differences were found among the tested plants regarding the total phenolic content. In addition, significant correlations were found between the flavonoid content and DPPH/ABTS+ radical scavenging activities, but not between the β-carotene bleaching inhibition system and the flavonoid content.Evaluation of the Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Content of Three Thymus Species - Corrected ProofBahman Nickavar, Naser Esbati10.1016/j.jams.2012.03.003Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2012)2012-05-07Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2012-05-07RESEARCH ARTICLEhttp://www.jams-kpi.com/article/PIIS2005290112000349/abstract?rss=yesIn a recently published article of Internal Medicine, Yun and colleagues suggested possible causes of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) of Korean men. In this study, a total of 206 adult men diagnosed with IDA were included and possible causes were evaluated from the medical histories, gastroscopy, and colonoscopy tests. Among all detected causes, one thing that attracted our interest was the description of “blood-letting cupping.” According to this manuscript, 11 patients who previously experienced repeated wet-cupping therapy met the criteria for IDA.Does Wet-Cupping (Blood-Letting Cupping) Cause Iron Deficiency Anemia? Comments About “A Prospective Evaluation of Adult Men with Iron-deficiency Anemia in Korea” Published in Internal Medicine - Corrected ProofTae-Hun Kim, Kun Hyung Kim, Jung Won Kang, Myeong Soo Lee10.1016/j.jams.2012.03.004Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2012)2012-05-07Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2012-05-07LETTER TO THE EDITORhttp://www.jams-kpi.com/article/PIIS2005290111000665/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Medicinal plants have been used traditionally to cure a variety of diseases since ancient times. Elsholtzia densa, a rare annual herb of the Kashmir valley, was assessed for its antioxidant efficacy. Antioxidant activity of the crude extracts was evaluated using 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical (DPPH), DNA sugar damage, lipid peroxidation, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. The maximum percentage decrease of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) standard solution was recorded for the 50% ethanolic extract (90.48%). The extracts were further evaluated using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay. The methanolic extract showed the highest activity (32.02%) in reducing oxidative damage to DNA. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was also determined using the linoleic acid system and the highest antioxidant activity (49.64%) was found in the 50% ethanolic extract. In the case of the FTC assay, the 50% ethanolic extract showed the highest activity (70.14%) which was comparable to that of α-tocopherol. Moreover, total phenolics concentration was found to be 62.5mg% and 77.5mg% in the cases of absolute ethanolic and 50% ethanolic extracts, respectively. These findings indicate promising antioxidant activity of crude extracts of the plant and the need for further exploration of their effective use in both modern and traditional systems of medicine.Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Elsholtzia densa - Corrected ProofMisba Khan, Showkat Ahmad Ganie, Ishfak Hussain Wani, Bashir Ahmad Ganai, Akbar Masood, Mohmmad Afzal Zargar, Akhter Hussain Malik, Rabia Hamid10.1016/j.jams.2011.12.001Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (2012)2012-01-20Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies2012-01-20ORIGINAL ARTICLE