[Effect of electroacupuncture on gastrointestinal dynamics in acute pancreatitis patients and its mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating gastrointestinal disorder in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients.


METHODS
A total of 94 cases of AP patients were divided into acupuncture group (n=56) and control group (n=38). The severity of AP was evaluated according to APACHE II and Balthazar CT scoring system. EA (4 Hz, 4-6 V) was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Taichong (LR 3), and Gongsun (SP 4) for 60 min, twice a day, 5 days altogether. Total and segmental colonic transit time (CTT) were determined by using ingestion of radiopaque markers (SITZMARKS) according to the modified Metcalf's method, serum motilin (MTL), cholecystokinin (CCK), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) contents were assayed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Compared with normal values, total and segmental CTT of AP patients (control group) increased apparently (P < 0.05), especially in right colon, serum MTL and CCK contents in both control and treatment groups on the 1st day decreased considerably (P < 0.05), while serum VIP levels of both control and treatment groups on the 1st day increased markedly (P < 0.05). In comparison with control group, total and segmental CTT of treatment group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Auto-comparison of both control and treatment groups showed that serum MTL and CCK contents on day 9 were significantly higher than those on day 1 (P < 0.05), while serum VIP contents on day 9 in these two groups were both obviously lower than those on day 1 (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between treatment group and control group in serum MTL, CCK and VIP levels on the 9th day after the treatment (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture is able to enhance the gastrointestinal dynamics, improve its motor activity.
Wang
Xin-yu
XY
General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China. wxy821@sina.com
Shi
Xian
X
He
Lei
L
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000097:blood
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D009037:Motilin; D002766:Cholecystokinin