Efficacy of Acupuncture on Pain Mechanisms, Inflammatory Responses, and Wound Healing in the Acute Phase of Major Burns: An Experimental Study on Rats

Abstract

Objectives We investigated acupuncture, a potential contributor for burn-care, on physiological and pathological pain mechanisms and systemic and local inflammatory responses in a rat experimental burn model. Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups. One-hour groups(5 rats/group) were observed for 1 hour and included Sh1(sham/observation), ShA1(sham+acupuncture/observation), Brn1(burn/observation), and BrnA1(burn+acupuncture/observation). Seven-day groups(5 rats/group) were observed for 7 days and included Sh7(sham/observation), ShA7(sham+acupuncture/observation), Brn7(burn/observation), and BrnA7(burn+acupuncture/observation). “Pain-distress scores” were noted daily, acupuncture was repeated within every wound-dressing change on alternate days. After observation periods, blood samples for interleukin-6 and beta-endorphin and skin biopsies for inflammatory-changes and immunohistochemical-staining of interleukin-6 were collected for analysis( P< .05 ). Results In 1-hour groups, interleukin-6 accumulation in burn wounds of BrnA1 was less than Brn1, with Brn1 having the highest mean blood level(P< .05). Mean beta-endorphin levels were higher in ShA1, Brn1, and BrnA1 than in Sh1(P< .05). In all 7-day groups, the agonizing period was 48 to72 hours after burn, with Brn7 most affected(P< .05). Microvessels were multiplied in Brn7group, with significantly higher numbers in burn wounds of BrnA7(P˂ .05). Burn wounds of BrnA7 had less accumulation of interleukin-6 than Brn7 with Brn7-group having the highest mean blood level and Sh7, ShA7, and BrnA7 having similarly low levels(P˃ .05). Beta-endorphin levels in ShA7, Brn7, and BrnA7 were lower than in Sh7(P< .05). Conclusions Acupuncture contributed to management of physiological and pathological pain, modulation of inflammatory responses, and associated enhancement of angiogenesis in acute phase of burn injury in rats.

Acupuncture for rheumatoid vasculitis complicated by refractory foot ulcer: A case report

“…However, animal experiments have suggested that acupuncture has the potential to mitigate pain, regulate inflammatory responses, and promote angiogenesis. [ 10 , 11 ] Previous studies on acupuncture point selection have primarily focused on acupoints located around or distal to the wound on the lower limbs, with no known instances of direct needling of the wound.…”

Serum lipidomics‐based study of electroacupuncture for skin wound repair in rats

“…Acupuncture is an important part of Chinese traditional medicine, and plays an important role in clinical treatment. Acupuncture can promote wound healing through anti‐inflammatory effects improving microcirculation, and increasing re‐epithelialization and angiogenesis 5,6 . Electrical stimulation is widely used as a physical stimulus in the medical field and is gaining more and more attention in the area of skin wound repair 7,8 .…”

Estimation of Effectiveness of Local Reactive Oxygen Species for Stimulation of Regenerative Processes in Experimental Burn Wound

“…Despite significant achievements in the field of regenerative medicine, cellular technologies and tissue engineering, the problem of adequate restoration of a full-fledged skin remains relevant in combustiology [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Therefore, it is advisable to search and evaluate the effectiveness of new ways to stimulate reparative regeneration of the skin after a burn [1,2,4].…”

“…Despite significant achievements in the field of regenerative medicine, cellular technologies and tissue engineering, the problem of adequate restoration of a full-fledged skin remains relevant in combustiology [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Therefore, it is advisable to search and evaluate the effectiveness of new ways to stimulate reparative regeneration of the skin after a burn [1,2,4]. At the same time, the multiplicity of technologies for local treatment of the burned significantly sidelines the elimination of the main cause of the formation and progression of burn disease-the burn wound itself [1,3,4,7].…”

“…Therefore, it is advisable to search and evaluate the effectiveness of new ways to stimulate reparative regeneration of the skin after a burn [1,2,4]. At the same time, the multiplicity of technologies for local treatment of the burned significantly sidelines the elimination of the main cause of the formation and progression of burn disease-the burn wound itself [1,3,4,7]. Taking into account the fact that one of the most significant mechanisms of post-traumatic tissue damage is oxidative stress [3,8], a logical component of the complex treatment of the burned should be a regulator of the state of pro-and antioxidant systems, which can act as reactive oxygen species [9,10].…”