Current Research in Acupuncture

Written by over 60 scientists and clincicians from the United States, mainland China, Germany, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Portugal and Hong Kong, Current Research in Acupuncture discusses recent advances in acupuncture research in a modern scientific language. The first 5 chapters investigate the basic mechanisms of acupuncture. Later chapters explore topics including acupuncture treatment and potential mechanisms for epilepsy, Parkinson’s diseases, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular cognitive impairment, aging, anxiety, polycystic ovary syndrome, pain, nerve root cervical spondylosis, stroke, imflamation, myocardial ischemia and other cardiovascular diseases. Following the translational and clinical discussions, 4 chapters present new prospects for acupuncture theories and applications. The final chapter comments on the pitfalls and problems of the previous studies and suggests direction for future research towards in-depth understanding of acupuncture, along with better application of acupuncture in modern medicine. Each chapter is written by one or more experts in the field. This unique book provides a broad perspective on the principles of acupuncture for acupuncture researchers and neuroscientists. The laboratory and clinical investigations of various acupoints and optimal conditions provide unique clues to acupuncturists for improved clinical efficacy. For a medical student, this book is a modern course in ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially acupuncture.

Ying Xia, the chief editor, is Professor and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas, USA. Guanghong Ding is Professor in the Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science at Fudan University and Director of Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture and Meridians, Shanghai, China. Gen-Cheng Wu is Professor of Neurobiology; Chairman, Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology; Director, Institute of Acupuncture Research; and Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Dr. Ying Xia is Professor and Vice-Chairman (Research) of Department of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He obtained his medical training at Soochow Medical College, China. After being a clinical physician for almost four years, he pursued his graduate study and obtained a Master Degree of Medicine and a Doctoral Degree of Medical Science (Ph.D) in Neurobiology and Integrative Medicine at Shanghai Medical University (now Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University), China. He was then appointed as a lecturer of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology there. Dr. Xia joined Yale University School of Medicine in 1988 for his postdoctoral training and initiated his laboratory at Yale in 1994. During his 22-year academic career at Yale University School of Medicine, he was appointed as a faculty member in 1993 and promoted to Associate Professor in 2002. He joined the University of Texas Medical School at Houston in May 2010.

He investigates, with molecular, transgenic and electrophysiological approaches, hypoxic dysfunction of cortical neurons, neuroprotection against ischemic injury and inhibition of epileptic hyper-excitability, besides studying acupuncture effects on neurological diseases (e.g., stroke, epilepsy, and hypoxic encephalopathy). More recently, Xia Laboratory has initiated new explorations on the mechanisms of deep brain stimulation for treatment of Parkinson’s’ disease and the relationship between hypoxic/ischemic injury and Alzheimer's disease. His research has been consecutively supported by NIH, America Heart Association, March of Dimes Foundation, and Cerebral Palsy Foundation since 1994 and is currently supported by two R01 grants from NIH and research aids from The Vivian L. Smith Neurologic Foundation.

He has been invited to deliver speeches by many academic institutions (e.g., NIH and Harvard) and international conferences (e.g., INRC and iSAMS). He has been serving as a manuscript-reviewer for over 40 international journals and as a grant-reviewer for NIH, US National Science Foundation, America Heart Association, other American foundations (e.g., US Civilian Research & Development Foundation), European foundations (e.g., Scotland Medical Research of UK), Hong Kong University Grants Committees, and Natural Science Foundation of China.

Guanghong Ding

Professor Guanghong Ding is Director of Biomechanics Institute of Fudan University and Director of Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture and Meridians. He is a Member of Council of Chinese Society of Acupuncture and Meridians, member of Council of Chinese Society of Mechanics, Associate Chairman of Shanghai Society of Mechanics, Associate Chairman of Shanghai Society of Acupuncture and Moxibution, Executive Member of Shanghai Society of Biomedical Engineering, Associate Chairman of Chinese-German Research Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chairman of Sponsors of the Chinese-German Research Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

He is an editor for Journal of Fudan University (Natural Science), an editor for Shanghai Journal of Biomedical Engineering, an editor for Journal of Medical Biomechanics, an editor for Acupuncture Research and an editor for Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences.

He has been studying the scientific mechanism of acupuncture since 1990s. His work almost clearly demonstrated that acupuncture at acupoint induces mast cells degranulation. He has also studied the mechanism of physical basis of acupoints and meridians such as infrared radiation, calcium accumulation,interstitial fluid flow, connective tissue, et al.

He has published more than 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has been an invited speaker for more than 30 times at various International Congresses in USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and China.

Gen-Chang Wu

Dr. Gen-Cheng Wu is Professor of Neurobiology; Chairman, Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology; Director, Institute of Acupuncture Research; Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine, at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. He obtained his M.D. from Shanghai First Medical College in 1969 and M.S. from the Department of Neurobiology, Shanghai First Medical College in 1982. He was a Research Fellow in the First Department of Physiology, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan (1986–1987) and a Guest Researcher at the National Institute of Environment Health Science (NIEHS), NIH, USA (1992–1994).

He is the member of Disciplinary Appraisal Panels, Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, member of the Specialist Panels of the National Postdoctoral Administration, member of Standing Committee, Chinese Association of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, and the member of the editorial board of the America Journal of Chinese Medicine, the International Journal in USA.

His main research interests are on pain modulation and the mechanism of acupuncture. He has published 154 research articles, including 80 international SCI papers from 1984 to 2007. He has obtained 3 awards from the Chinese Central Government and 15 awards from several ministries of the Chinese Government.