title: [Considerations about study on mechanisms of acupuncture underlying efficacy-enhancement and toxicity-attenuation of digitalis drugs for heart failure].
abstract: Digitalis glycosides, a group of cardiotonic agents for heart failure, have been used for a long time, but may often trigger arrhythmias as a result of digitalis intoxication. It is of great significance in finding a method to reduce their toxicity and improve clinical curative effects simultaneously in the application of digitalis glycosides. It has been well documented that acupuncture has good therapeutic effects in improving cardiac function and inhibiting arrhythmia induced by myocardial ischemia. Acupuncture combined with chemotherapeutics can reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapeutics. Accordingly, acupuncture combined with digitalis is likely to reduce the side effects of digitalis by regulating intracellular Ca2+, improving the function of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, increasing calcium sensitivity of cardiac troponin, etc. These considerations may provide a novel clue for treatment of heart failure by joint administration of acupuncture and drugs.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jun-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yu-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jian-Jiang
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wei-Xing
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts