Effect of acupuncture anesthesia based on nanomaterial sensor on cognitive function after one-lung ventilation thoracotomy

In this work, a new type of nanomaterial sensing acupuncture needle was developed to improve patient comfort and treatment effectiveness. Based on the convenient electrochemical casting process, multilayer nano-tapered holes were constructed on the needle surface to form a porous nano-sensing acupuncture needle (PNAN), which further increases the interface area of the acupuncture needle. To evaluate the effect of PNAN-induced anesthesia on cognitive function after one-lung ventilation and thoracotomy, 60 patients with esophageal cancer undergoing thoracotomy were randomly divided into an acupuncture-induced anesthesia (AIA) group and a conventional anesthesia (CA) group. The recovery time for cognitive function and the incidence of cognitive impairment in the PNAN-induced anesthesia group after one-lung ventilation and thoracotomy were significantly lower than those of the CA group (P < 0.05). The scores from the Mini Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) for the AIA group were lower than the preoperative scores and were better than those for the CA group (P < 0.05). In addition, after one-lung ventilation and thoracotomy, the concentrations of cytokines and catecholamines (CAs) in both groups were lower than the preoperative values, and the levels of cytokines and CAs in the AIA group were significantly lower than those of the CA group. Therefore, acupuncture anesthesia based on a nanomaterial sensor can significantly improve the cognitive function of patients after one-lung ventilation and thoracotomy, inhibit inflammatory factors, and provide an optimal curative effect.

The Relationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine

The essence of the traditional Chinese medicine has always been the most advanced and experienced therapeutic approach in the world. It has knowledge that can impact the direction of future modern medical development; still, it is easy to find simple knowledge with mark of times and special cultures. The basic structure of traditional Chinese medicine is composed of three parts: one consistent with modern medicine, one involuntarily beyond modern medicine, and one that needs to be further evaluated. The part that is consistent with modern medicine includes consensus on several theories and concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, and usage of several treatments and prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine including commonly used Chinese herbs. The part that is involuntarily beyond modern medicine contains several advanced theories and important concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, relatively advanced treatments, formula and modern prescriptions, leading herbs, acupuncture treatment and acupuncture anesthesia of traditional Chinese medicine that affect modern medicine and incorporates massage treatment that has been gradually acknowledged by modern therapy. The part that needs to be further evaluated consists not only the knowledge of pulse diagnosis, prescription, and herbs, but also many other aspects of traditional Chinese medicine.