ABSTRACT

The di-zhen (DZ) is an ancient type of acupuncture needle with a history dating back to more than 2000 years. Unlike modern acupuncture needles, the DZ is not inserted subcutaneously and is considered to be safe for common use, even at the bedside of terminally ill patients. In this case study, DZ application was selected and applied 14 times on a 92-year-old patient who had suffered severe oliguria along with administration of diuretics. Urine volume increased 12 out of 14 times following DZ treatment; however, the other two times it was ineffective. To investigate the reason and the differences in effective/ineffective DZ application, two internal conditions (effective vs ineffective) were compared by analyzing daily nursing reports (vital signs such as blood pressure, urine volume and body temperature) and weekly clinical data (including renal, liver and immune function, urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT, AST, the ratio and number of leukocytes, erythrocytes). DZ application increased urine volume via a transient modification of the autonomic nervous system when internal homeostasis was maintained. Aging populations, who often have several diseases and medications, are rapidly increasing in developed countries. Therefore, the study and application of DZ may contribute to a reduction in medical costs, which have been rapidly and heavily expanding recently.

1. INTRODUCTION

It is known that acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced. Acupuncture is said to be useful as an adjunct application included in a comprehensive management program application, which is known to reduce physical and psychological pain and improve the quality of life [1-3]. However, in cases of hospitalized patients who are the oldest-old or terminally ill, it is very difficult to insert acupuncture needles, which might cause problems such as infection and tissue breakdown [4,5]. The study of new approaches to the oldest-old, including terminally ill patients, addressed current needs given that aging populations are rapidly increasing in developed countries [6-9]. Recently, we studied the basal mechanism of di-zhen (DZ) application. DZ is an ancient type of acupuncture needle without subcutaneous insertion, the effects of which are very similar to those of modern needles inserted subcutaneously [10].

In this study, we applied DZ application for oliguria to a 92-year-old patient in the hospital, which resulted in an increase in urine output. The nursing team recorded vital signs (blood pressure, urine volume and body temperature) several times each day, and doctors weekly examined renal, liver and immune function (including urea nitrogen [UN], creatinine [CRE], ALT, AST, the ratio and number of leukocytes, erythrocytes). Therefore, we analyzed these data to quantify the effect of DZ applications. These results suggested a possibility that urine volume was increased after DZ application. At the same time, the findings indicated a difference between its effective and ineffective stages.

2. MATERIALS AND METHOD

2.1. Subject

2.1.1. Patient

A 92-year-old male, an active president of a local metal-processing company, was hospitalized because of aspiration pneumonia, under shock conditions (blood pressure: 20 - 70 mmHg), anuria and high fever. Written informed consent and all data were obtained from the patient and his family, and the study was approved by the institutional review board of Niigata University.

2.1.2. Clinical History

He recovered from brain infarction at the age of 82. He had suffered from arteriosclerosis for the past 2 years, and he routinely underwent acupuncture applications.

2.1.3. Conventional Application

The temperature in the hospital room was kept at 26˚C. Conventional therapy, the existing prescription and the existing quantity of administration of antibiotics, diuretic, fluid infusion, and nutrition were maintained during his hospitalization. DZ application was tried for the purpose of urination. The nursing team recorded vital signs, such as blood pressure, urine volume and body temperature several times each day, and doctors examined venous blood and urine every week to check clinical conditions of renal, liver and immune function.

2.2. DZ Application

The DZ needles made of stainless steel with a columnlike body and flat head (Tumujikaze-kun SNM type, Soken Medical Co. Ltd., Toshima, Japan) were selected to avoid any problems such as infection or tissue breakdown. An autoclaved DZ was softly pressed vertically onto the body surface for 5 minutes (diameter 5.0 mm, 37.3 g/mm²) at approximately 120 points from the head to the feet on both sides of the spine as mentioned in our previous study [10]. DZ application points corresponding to the Bladder Meridian as defined by the World Health Organization were selected. This meridian anatomically passes near the bladder and kidneys, and the aim of DZ application was to enhance function of these organs to increase urine volume [11,12]. The application was applied by nationally licensed, experienced Japanese acupuncturists.

2.3. Statistical Analysis

The statistical significance of differences between values was tested using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. P-values of less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

3. RESULTS

3.1. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) Elevated after DZ Application before Day 50

The kidneys filter out waste products from the blood, combining them with water to make urine and control blood pressure [13,14]. Because the volume of urine affects blood pressure, two kinds of blood pressures (diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure: DBP and SBP) were studied. Compared to DBP, SBP showed an increasing trend after DZ application, although there were no statistically significant differences. After Day 50 of hospitalization, DBP did show elevation (Figure 1, upper panel).

3.2. Urine Volume Increased after DZ Application before Day 50

The urine volume of the patient, who had suffered from oliguria, showed a step-like increase (103 → 300 → 850 → 1900 mL) after the first DZ application (Figure 1, lower panel). Particularly, on all days when urine volume exceeded 1000 mL, SBP showed an elevation. Urine volume significantly increased with DZ application compared to without DZ application (P < 0.05) (Figure 2). However, after day 50, urine volume was not increased (Figure 1, lower panel).

3.3. Body Temperature, Total Protein, Erythrocytes and Hemoglobin Decreased

As mentioned, DZ application might have an effect on blood pressure, which is one of several vital signs. Therefore, kinetic changes in body temperature, another type of vital sign, were also studied; body temperature returned to the normal range. At the same time, total protein, erythrocytes and hemoglobin were investigated. All of these measures were consistently below the normal range and showed a decrease (Figure 3).

The number of leukocytes, which had severely exceeded the normal range, began to decrease after Day 10 (Figure 4). The ratio of leukocytes to granulocytes was outside of the normal range. The number of granulocytes and lymphocytes largely decreased after Day 10. The latter showed a sudden decrease after Day 50.

3.4. Comparison of the Internal Condition of the Two Points: The Effective and Ineffective

Although urine volume with DZ application increased until Day 49, it did not show an increase after Day 50.

Therefore, the period of hospitalization was divided into two stages: the effective period when DZ application could increase urine volume and the ineffective period when it did not. In other words, DZ application was effective from Day 1 through Day 49 (effective period) and was ineffective after Day 50 (ineffective period) (Figure 5). To investigate this reason, the internal clinical conditions of the former period and that of the latter were compared. The former was represented by data from Day 22 and the latter by that of Day 50. These days were selected because DZ applications were given soon after the clinical medical checks on these 2 days.

The plasma levels of Na and Cl were lower than the normal range during both periods. The volume of potassium (K) in the plasma was out of the normal range during ineffective period. The plasma level of C-reactive protein during the effective period had been severely high and decreased during the ineffective period; however, it remained over the normal range. UN and CRE were lower during the effective period compared to the ineffective. GPT (ALT) and GOT (AST) were elevated during the ineffective period compared to the effective, during which GOT/GPT decreased inside of the normal range.

4. DISCUSSION

4.1. DZ Application Increased Urine Volume

Because the urine volume was higher on days with DZ application compared to days without, it was suggested

that DZ application could affect urine volume. Several researchers and clinical doctors reported acupuncture and other skin stimulating applications regulated urine volume [15-19]. Recently, we reported that DZ application increases catecholamine (adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine) levels. Moreover, there are many clinical reports of the ability of various skin stimulating applications, such as acupuncture, moxibustion and massage, to elevate catecholamine levels [10,20,21], which indicates an effect on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). As SBP was elevated the day after DZ application, there is a possibility that the circulatory system is affected as well (Figure 1, upper panel). Given that the maintenance of blood pressure and urination is commonly regulated by the kidneys, the relationship between the urine volume and the blood pressure must be considered. In fact, on all days when the urine volume exceeded 1000 mL, SBP also was elevated (Figure 1).

4.2. DZ Application Affected Urine Volume via Changes in ANS Balance from SNS to PNS Dominance

4.2.1. Urination Was Observed after Transient SNS Dominance

Recently, we reported that DZ application affected the level of adrenaline and noradrenaline, and that it induced a transient sympathetic nervous system (SNS) dominance (20 - 40 min) [10]. In fact, urination was observed 20 - 40 minutes after DZ application in the current study (data not shown). The same mechanism was indicated in a transient cutaneous hypothermia, which showed recovery within 20 - 40 minutes [10]. These observations agree with the fact that adrenaline and noradrenaline have a short half-life [22,23]. In this way, it is expected that urination was observed after the end of the transient SNS dominance.

4.2.2. DZ Application Affected Urination, Changing the ANS Balance from SNS to PNS Dominance

The detrusor urinae muscle (smooth muscle) contracts in response to the pelvic nerve, a parasympathetic nerve, to cause urination. In short, urination is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and is suppressed under SNS dominance [24,25]. Therefore, it is thought that urine volume increased after DZ application because of changes in ANS balance from SNS to PNS dominance.

4.2.3. Transient SNS Dominance Was Followed by PNS Dominance

The image of the relationship between transient SNS dominance and the onset of PNS dominance is illustrated in Figure 6. DZ application was stronger than other skin stimulation [10] and brought about a transient (rapid appearance and disappearance of) SNS dominance. Such a rapid and strong change in ANS balance could induce a kind of rebound, such as the yin-yang like reaction. In other words, SNS suppression was related to PNS dominance [26]. Thus, there is the possibility that the transient SNS dominance was followed by a PNS dominance. Further studies with precise measurements are needed to support this hypothesis.

4.3. DZ Application Was Ineffective When Internal Homeostasis Failed

First, UN and CRE, renal function indicators, largely decreased during the ineffective stage compared to the effective stage (Figure 5). Therefore, it may be plausible to consider that DZ application was ineffective when renal function failed. Second, the number of lymphocytes remained over 1000/μL until suddenly dropping after day

50, when DZ application became ineffective. It has been reported that the number and ratio of lymphocytes controlled by the PNS [27,28]. The volume of urine, which is also regulated by the PNS, did not increase after DZ application when the number of leukocytes dropped (Figure 4, upper right panel). Therefore, the number of leukocytes might be considered to be an indicator of the effectiveness of DZ application.

The urination reflex is a local reflex and is controlled by centers in the spinal cord and central nervous system [15,24]. However, increased urine volume was not observed after DZ application under a severe and systemic condition. It may be understood that DZ application was ineffective when internal homeostasis failed.

4.4. Specific and Historical Compatibility of DZ and the Bladder Meridian

In this study, DZ was selected because it was practiced during the end-of-life care of an oldest-old patient in a general hospital; it was needed to avoid infection and tissue damage. Because the main purpose of the application was the application of oliguria, the Bladder Meridian, which is said to run through and stimulate the kidneys and the bladder [11,12], was selected.

The specific compatibility of DZ, the ancient type of acupuncture needle, with the stimulation of acupuncture points along the Bladder Meridian was not negligible. If this historically reported compatibility, which was indicated from the era of the Tyrolean Iceman [29], is more significant than other applications, it should be possible to observe effects that are specific to DZ application. Further research is required to support this hypothesis.

5. CONCLUSION

DZ showed effectiveness at the bedside during endof-life care of the oldest-old. In cases when the effects of administered diuretics are not sufficient, DZ application, with adequate knowledge and appropriate technique, could help improve the quality of life of patients as complementary medicine. The oldest-olds often have several diseases and medications [30,31]. DZ application may contribute to reduce medical costs, which have been rapidly and heavily expanding recently.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank all the medical staff, the patient and his family, and Ms. Hiromi Ishiwatari (Soken Medical Co. Ltd.) and Ms. Ryoko Karasawa for assistance with this study.

REFERENCES

NOTES

^*These authors contributed equally to this work.