Acupuncture can effectively improve the sleep state, and most PD patients have sleep disorders. In this study, we used acupuncture to intervene in the sleep state of PDSD, so as to observe the changes and dose effect of Acutreatment on PDSD. 57 patients with PDSD, during medical treatment, aged 40–70 years were recruited to enroll in this trial. Each participant completed one condition, namely, Acutreatment ( n = 30 ) and sham Acutreatment (placebo, stick flat needle on skin, n = 27 ). The Acutreatment was applied for 30 min once a day for a 30-day observation. UPDRSIII scores for motor symptom assessment and sleeping quality were assessed by PDSS-2, ESS as well as ActiGraph. Scale evaluation was made on the first day of admission and the thirtieth day. There were significant differences on all outcome indicators, except UPDRSIII, on day 30 compared with day 1 ( P < 0.01 ). Compared with sham Acutreatment therapy, Acutreatment therapy has better performance in sleep latency, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency ( P < 0.01 ). ActiGraph indicated that sleep efficiency of sham or Acutreatment in day 6 was significantly lower than that in day 5 ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 ) and Acutreatment in day 7 was significantly lower than that in day 6 ( P < 0.01 ). The sleep efficiency of Acutreatment in days 5, 6, and 7 was significantly higher than that in sham Acutreatment ( P < 0.01 ). Moreover, Acutreatment in days 26, 27, and 28 was significantly higher than that in sham Acutreatment ( P < 0.01 ). There was a close correlation between the difference of UPDRSIII and PDSS-2 ( r = 0.5090 , P < 0.05 ), sleep latency ( r = 0.7201 , P < 0.01 ), TST ( r = − 0.6136 , P < 0.01 ), and sleep efficiency ( r = − 0.6707 , P < 0.01 ). The sleep condition of PDSD patients can be improved by acupuncture, which can effectively relieve sleep quality, can also be shown by ActiGraph, and shows a dose-response relationship. Future research should explore Acutreatment with a larger sample size and compare the Acutreatment protocol goal formation of the system scheme.

ObjectiveAcupuncture is a commonly used method to provide motor-symptomatic relief for patients with Parkinson s disease (PD). Our objective was to evaluate protective effects of acupuncture treatment and potential underlying mechanisms according to the “gut-brain axis” theory.MethodsWe employed a 6-OHDA-induced PD rat model. The effects of acupuncture on disease development were assessed by behavioural tests and immunohistochistry (IHC). ELISA, qPCR and western blot (WB) were employed to measure inflammatory parameters and Fe metabolism in the substantia nigra (SN), striatum, duodenum and blood, respectively.ResultsOur data show that acupuncture can significantly increase the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), compared with untreated and madopa treated rats (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore we could observe significantly decreased levels of pro-inflammatory markers in the duodenum and serum (P < 0.05), reduced deposition of Fe in the substantia nigra (P < 0.05) and but no change in transferrin expression after acupuncture treatment. The mRNA ratio of DMT1/Fpn1 in the SN of acupuncture treated rats (1.1) was comparable to that of the sham group (1.0) which differed both significantly from the untreated and madopa treated groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, after acupuncture expression of α-synuclein was decreased in the duodenum.ConclusionsAcupuncture can reduce iron accumulation in the SN and protect the loss of dopamine neurons by promoting balanced expression of the iron importer DMT1 and the iron exporter Fpn1. Furthermore CNS iron homeostasis may be affected by reduced systemic and intestinal inflammation.