OBJECTIVE: Hypersensitive acupoints in specific body areas are associated with corresponding internal or visceral disorders. Back-shu points are clinically significant for the diagnosis of visceral organ disease, according to the biomechanical characteristics of the acupoints. In this study, we assessed the biomechanical characteristics and pain sensitivities of five back-shu points linked to five visceral organs in healthy participants.
METHODS: The study included 48 volunteer participants. A myotonometry was used to assess muscle tone and muscle stiffness at five back-shu points associated with visceral organs. Pressure was monitored using a microcontroller and a force sensor. Pain sensitivity was assessed in response to deep pressure pain produced by a constant force.
RESULTS: Substantial differences in muscle tone and stiffness were observed at the five back-shu points; muscle tone was highest at BL15, whereas muscle tone and muscle stiffness were lowest at BL23. Moreover, pain sensitivity was significantly different among the acupoints; pain sensitivity was highest at BL23. There was a significant negative correlation between muscle tone and pain sensitivity.
CONCLUSIONS: We found significant differences in muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and pain sensitivity among five back-shu points associated with visceral organs, which may be attributable to anatomical variations at each point. Our findings suggest that differences at back-shu points should be considered to ensure the accurate diagnosis of visceral disease.

The theory of Huatuo Jiaji (EX-B 2) is the representative of the knowledge construction of ancient anatomy, reflecting the academic thought of Huatuo\'s school. Through deeply analyzing the classic theory of acupuncture and its cultural and historical materials, it is believed that the five-body constituents are the structural basis of Huatuo Jiaji (EX-B 2), qi and blood are the material one, while biaoben (the sites where meridian qi gathers and diffuses) and qijie (the common pathways through which meridian qi gathers) indicate its functions. Huatuo Jiaji (EX-B 2) reveals the rules of the transverse distribution of meridian points and the relevant indications, providing the theoretic foundation for acupuncture treatment. It highlights the importance of the anatomical knowledge in acupuncture effect and proposes a new idea for establishing an effective classification system of meridian points.
华佗夹脊穴作为以古代解剖知识建立起来的代表性理论，反映了华佗一派的学术思想。通过对针灸经典理论和文史资料的挖掘，认为五体是华佗夹脊穴的结构基础，血气是其物质基础，标本、气街是其功能体现；华佗夹脊穴揭示了经穴横向分布与主治相关的规律，为针灸治疗提供了理论依据；强调熟悉解剖知识对针灸疗效的重要性，提出了建立有效的经穴分类体系的新思路。.

The clinical experience of Shao\'s needling technique for post-stroke depression is introduced. Professor SHAO Jingming proposes that the main pathogenesis of this condition lies in the \"imbalance of body and spirit,\" with its onset closely related to the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney. In clinical practice, based on the principle of \"treating both the body and spirit\", \"three acupoints for treating the spirit\" including Dazhui (GV 14), Fengchi (GB 20), and Baihui (GV 20) are selected, combined with back-shu points such as Xinshu (BL 15), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), and Shenshu (BL 23). The nu-needle manipulation method is applied. The treatment focuses on both physical and mental aspects, achieving remarkable therapeutic effects.
介绍邵氏针刺治疗卒中后抑郁临床经验。邵经明教授认为本病主要病机为“形失调、神失守”，其发病与心、肝、脾、肾关系密切。基于“形神同治”思想，临证选用“治神三穴”大椎、风池、百会配伍背俞穴心俞、肝俞、脾俞、肾俞为主，采用努针运气针法，治形体又治心神，效专力宏。.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the body surface temperature of the lumbosacral region and relevant back-shu points in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) induced low back pain utilizing infrared thermography, and to explore the functional attribute changes of acupoints under pathological conditions.
METHODS: A total of 50 patients with LDH induced low back pain were included as the observation group, and 45 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Using infrared thermography, the body surface temperature of the lumbosacral region and bilateral Sanjiaoshu (BL 22), Shenshu (BL 23), Qihaishu (BL 24), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Xiaochangshu (BL 27), and Pangguangshu (BL 28) was measured in both groups. The temperature difference values between the bilateral lumbosacral regions and back-shu points of the two groups were calculated. Additionally, the body surface temperature of the affected and healthy sides of the lumbosacral region and relevant back-shu points was compared in the observation group.
RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the body surface temperature of the lumbosacral region and the bilateral temperature difference values of the lumbosacral regions were increased in the observation group (P<0.001). The body surface temperature difference values of bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), Qihaishu (BL 24), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26) and Xiaochangshu (BL 27) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). In the observation group, the body surface temperature of the affected side of the lumbosacral region as well as Shenshu (BL 23) and Dachangshu (BL 25) was elevated compared with that of healthy side (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The patients with LDH induced low back pain have imbalanced and asymmetrical distribution of body surface temperature in the lumbosacral region and related back-shu points, Shenshu (BL 23) and Dachangshu (BL 25) have the relative specificity.
目的: 基于红外热成像技术观察腰椎间盘突出症（LDH）腰痛患者腰骶部及相关背俞穴的表皮温度，探究病理状态下腧穴的功能属性变化。方法: 纳入50例LDH腰痛患者作为观察组、45例健康受试者作为对照组。应用红外热像仪检测两组受试者腰骶部及双侧三焦俞、肾俞、气海俞、大肠俞、关元俞、小肠俞、膀胱俞的穴位表皮温度，计算两组受试者双侧腰骶部、背俞穴表皮温度差，比较观察组患者患侧与健侧腰骶部及相关背俞穴表皮温度。结果: 与对照组比较，观察组患者腰骶部表皮温度及双侧腰骶部表皮温度差升高（P<0.001）。观察组患者双侧肾俞、气海俞、大肠俞、关元俞、小肠俞表皮温度差较对照组升高（P<0.05，P<0.01，P<0.001）。观察组患者患侧腰骶部及肾俞、大肠俞表皮温度较健侧升高（P<0.001）。结论: LDH 腰痛患者腰骶部及相关背俞穴表皮温度左右失衡、不对称分布，肾俞、大肠俞存在穴位的相对特异性。.

The characteristics of acupoint indications vary according to the distribution of acupoints on the body, which is particularly prominent from the perspective of the differences between the acupoints on the trunk and those on the four limbs. The most of meridian-acupoint theories, especially the early theories are based on these differences and collected in Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor\'s Inner Classic). Through the interpretation of the newly unearthed Tianhui medical bamboo slips, it is found that the relevant explanation of Shu (six shu-points [back-shu points and Yuanye, GB 22], distributed on the trunk) and Mai (similar to the names of meridians, referring to those except six shu-points; distributed mostly below the elbows and knees of four limbs, especially on the pulsating sites of the wrists and ankles) also confirms the identification of the differences in both indications and theories between the acupoints located on the trunk and those on the four limbs. In the paper, the essential connotation of the relevant classical theories and their construction path are explored so as to reveal the understanding of the core rules of acupuncture-moxibustion theories.
分布在身体不同部位的腧穴，其主治特性有所差异，这种差异性尤其体现在躯干与四肢上分布的腧穴之间，大多经脉腧穴理论、尤其早期理论基于此发展而来，汇集于《黄帝内经》中。而通过对新出土的天回医简的解读发现，有关“俞”“脉”内容更是印证了这种躯干与四肢腧穴主治差异与理论差别的认识。探究有关经典理论本质内涵及其建构理路，以期揭示对针灸经脉腧穴的核心规律的认识。.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the body surface temperature of the relevant back-shu points in patients with chronic persistent asthma by infrared thermal imaging technology, and observe the specific changes of the body surface temperature of the relevant back-shu points under the condition of lung disease.
METHODS: Forty-five patients with chronic persistent asthma (observation group) and 45 healthy subjects (control group) were selected. The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were measured by BK-MT02A medical infrared thermography.
RESULTS: The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The body surface temperature of bilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17) was higher than that of ipsilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in body surface temperature between ipsilateral Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), between ipsilateral Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The pathological increase of body surface temperature of Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) in patients with chronic persistent asthma indicates that above acupoints have specificity in reflecting lung diseases. The Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), which have significantly increased body surface temperature, not only provide objective basis for the pathological pathogenesis of \"deficiency in origin and excess in symptom\" in patients with chronic persistent asthma, but also reflect the different expressions of different acupoints on the same meridian for the lung diseases.
目的：通过红外热成像技术检测哮喘慢性持续期患者相关背俞穴的体表温度，观察肺脏病变状态下, 相关背俞穴体表温度的特异性变化。方法：选取哮喘慢性持续期患者和健康受试者各45例，分别为观察组和对照组。采用BK-MT02A医用红外热像仪检测两组受试者双侧肺俞、膈俞、脾俞及肾俞穴体表温度。结果：观察组患者双侧肺俞、膈俞、脾俞及肾俞穴体表温度较对照组同侧腧穴体表温度升高（P<0.01，P<0.05）；两组受试者双侧肺俞、膈俞穴体表温度高于同侧脾俞、肾俞穴（P<0.01，P<0.05），同侧肺俞与膈俞、脾俞与肾俞之间体表温度比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：哮喘慢性持续期患者肺俞、膈俞、脾俞及肾俞穴体表温度病理性升高，说明以上背俞穴具有反映肺脏疾患的特异性；体表温度显著升高的肺俞、膈俞穴，不仅为哮喘慢性持续期患者“本虚标实”的病机提供了客观依据，也体现了相同经络不同腧穴对肺脏疾患反映的差异性。.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of catgut embedding at back-shu points on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats based on IKK/IKB/NF-κB signaling pathway and downstream inflammatory factors.
METHODS: Eighty SPF SD rats were selected, among them 10 rats were selected divided into a normal group (group A), and the remaining 70 rats were fed with high-fat diet to establish NASH model. At the end of 12 weeks, 10 rats were randomly selected to verify whether the model establishment was successful. Then the remaining 60 rats were randomly divided into a model group (group B), a catgut embedding at back-shu points group (group C), a catgut embedding at abdominal points group (group D), an acupuncture at back-shu points group (group E), a sham catgut embedding group (group F) and a western medication group (group G), 10 rats in each group. The rats in the group C were treated with catgut embedding at \"Ganshu\" (BL 18), \"Pishu\" (BL 20), \"Weishu\" (BL 21) and \"Shenshu\" (BL 23); the rats in the group D were treated with catgut embedding at \"Daheng\" (SP 15), \"Fujie\" (SP 14), \"Huaroumen\" (ST 24) and \"Tianshu\" (ST 25); the rats in the group E were treated with acupuncture at the same acupoints as the group C; the rats in the group F were treated with catgut embedding at back-shu points but the needle did not enter subcutaneous tissue gamma; the rats in the group G were treated with intragastric administration of vitamin E capsule. All the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The rats in the group A were fed with normal diet until the end of 16 weeks without any intervention. The rats in the group B continued to be fed with high-fat diet until the end of 16 weeks. After the intervention, the liver index was calculated; the liver histomorphology was observed by HE staining; the liver function [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] and blood lipid [serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL)] were measured by serum biochemistry. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1βwere detected by ELISA, and the expressions of IKK-α, NF-κBp65, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α proteins in liver tissue were detected by Western blot. The temperature of the conception vessel and the governor vessel was measured by infrared thermography.
RESULTS: Compared with the group A, the obvious steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the group B, and the body weight, liver wet-weight and liver index were all increased (P<0.01). Compared with the group B, the liver tissue morphology in the group C, the group D, the group E and the group G was improved in varying degrees, and the liver index was decreased (P<0.05), which was the most significant in the group C (P<0.05). Compared with the group A, the ALT, γ-GGT, ALP, TG, TC, LDL, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were all increased in the group B (P<0.01); compared with the group B, the ALT, γ-GGT, ALP, TG, TC, LDL, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in all intervention groups were all decreased in varying degrees (P<0.01, P<0.05), which was the most significant in the group C (P<0.01). Compare with the group A, the expressions of IKK-α, NF-κBp65, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1βproteins in the group B were all increased (P<0.01); compared with the group B, the expressions of IKK-α, NF-κBp65, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1βproteins in all intervention groups were decreased in varying degrees (P<0.05), which was the most significant in the group C (P<0.01). Compared with the group A, the temperature of the conception vessel and governor vessel was decreased in the group B (P<0.01). Compared with the group B, the temperature of the conception vessel and governor vessel was all increased in the group C, the group D and the group E (P<0.01); the temperature of the conception vessel in the group C was similar to that in the group D (P>0.05), while the temperature of the governor vessel in the group C was superior to that in the group D (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The catgut embedding at back-shu points might inhibit the activation of IKK/IKB/NF-κB signaling pathway to interrupt the inflammatory cascade, and reduce the \"second hit\" of inflammatory factors on liver, which could slow down NASH progress and prevent and treat NASH.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect difference between Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points and simple Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction for chronic fatigue syndrome.
METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly assigned into an herbal group and a combination group, 30 cases in each one. Simple Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction was used in the herbal group for continuous one month, one decoction a day. Based on that in the herbal group, 30 min acupuncture was used in the combination group at bilateral Xinshu (BL 15), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23), with acupoints according to syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture was given for 3 courses, 10 times as a course with 3 days between two courses, once a day. Fatigue status was evaluated before and after treatment by fatigue scale 14 (FS-14) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).
RESULTS: The FS-14 scores, including body fatigue scores, mental fatigue scores and total scores, and SAS scores after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01), with better improvements in the combination group (all P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction combined with acupuncture at back-shu points can improve chronic fatigue syndrome, which are better than simple Chaihu Longgu Muli decoction.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the distributions of posterior ramus of spinal nerve (PRSN) and locations of acupoint in low back through anatomical observation.
METHODS: The regional anatomy was performed at five corpses to observe the distribution of erector spinae muscle and PRSN in areas of Jiaji points and back-shu points in low back.
RESULTS: The T12, L1, L2, L3 and L4 PRSN distributed on both sides of the spine; the medial branches of PRSN travelled between spinalis thoracis muscle and longissimus thoracis muscle, while the lateral branches of PRSN travelled between longissimus thoracis muscle and iliocostalis lumborum muscle.
CONCLUSIONS: Jiaji points and back-shu points in low back are closely associated with PRSN, particularly T12, L1, L2, L3 and L4.

Fifty-nine acupoints for febrile disease is recorded in Huangdi Neijing (Huangdi\'s Internal Classics). By analyzing the combination of these acupoints, the writer discovered the acupoint composition and detected their origins from Huangdi\'s Internal Classics, in which the terms biaoben, qijie and beishu are involved in the theoretic evidence. The writer thought the \"fifty-nine acupoints for febrile disease\" implied the self-evolution of some acupuncture school in ancient time, which was formed by absorbing the theoretic experiences of the other schools. It is necessary to analyze and interpret the other literatures besides Huangdi\'s Internal Classics and probably obtain the further reorganization on it.