Peripheral Neuropathy, erectile dysfunction and swollen feet

Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder  when the nerves are damaged or destroyed. It is believed that more than 100 different types of peripheral neuropathy exist. Each type has unique symptoms and specific treatment options.

Nerve damage caused by diabetes is one of the most common forms of neuropathy which leads to numbness, pain, and a loss of sensation in the extremities. Certain medications may also cause nerve damage. These include: drugs used to lower cholesterol,  drugs to fight bacterial infections, and more often, medications used to treat cancer, tumor and leukemia, like Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that Peripheral neuropathy is due to the flow of Qi (energy) and Blood being blocked. The treatment is twofold, to directly facilitate the circulation of Qi and Blood in the affected area, more importantly to treat the underlying factor that is causing this damage. By improving the circulation, the nerve tissues of the affected area can be nourished to repair the nerve functions and reduce pain.

Jim had Diabetes and hypertension for over ten years. Most recently he lost feeling at bottom of his feet. After several treatments with combination of traditional Acupuncture, scalp acupuncture and Chinese Herb Medicine,  Jim felt tingling at first and gradually he got his feeling back. To his surprise, his leg edema and ED also were significantly improved.

Men with type I diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are almost more likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED), swollen feet and  leg edema or ulcer. The strong background in caner and diabetes research has enabled Dr Wang to help those like Jim suffering from peripheral Neuropathy and related complications.  

 

MORE ABOUT DR WANG

Clinic Practice: 

1989-1998: Physician in China Internal Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Beijing, China.

1999-2001: PhD fellow Clinic in Integrated Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Beijing, China

2009-2014:  Acupuncture Practitioner, Great Wall Acupuncture Clinic, Indianapolis, IN

2012-2013: Co-supervisor for clinical trial in “Delay Diabetes development through diet Supplements” at Indiana University School of Medicine.

2014-present: Acupuncture Practitioner, Great Wall Acupuncture Clinic 3033 Ogden Av., Lisle, IL

2014-present: L.Ac, Clinician, National University of Health Sciences, AOM clinic in Lombard.

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:

2001-2009: Postdoctoral Fellow,

  • 2001-2002: Umea University, Dept. of Medical Biosciences & Pathology, Sweden.
  • 2002-2005: Indiana University School of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology
  • 2005-2009: Indiana University School of Medicine,Department of Pediatrics

2010-2014: Assistant Professor of Research, Indiana University School of Medicine.

2014-2015 Assistant Professor(adjunct)  Indiana University School of Medicine

2016- 2019: Assistant Dean of  AOM, Dept. of Clinical Sciences, NUHS

2014-present   Professor, National University of Health Sciences

 

Books & chapters (in Chinese):

1993 Function and contradiction of common-used patent Traditional  Chinese Herbs. Industry Press, Beijing, China. Chapter author

1998 Clinical Hematology of Integration of Chinese herbs and Western Medicine.China Medical and pharmacological Science Press, Beijing. Vice editor-in-chief

1997 Contemporary Hematology of Integration of Chinese Herbs and Western Medicine.China Medical and pharmacological Science Press, Beijing, China. Editor-committee Member

2000  Acute Leukemia.  China Medical and pharmacological Science Press, Beijing, China. Sole author.

2000 Chronic Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes.  China Medical and pharmacological Science Press, Beijing, China. Sole author.

2000 Protection of Cancer Patients with Herbs and western medicine after chemotherapy. China Medical and pharmacological Science Press, Beijing, China. Sole Author.

 

Peer Reviewed Publications (#  = corresponding  author)

In Modern Medicine

  1. Nylander K, Vojtesek B, Nenutil R, Lindgren B, Roos G, Zhanxiang W, et al . Expression and subcellular localization of individual p63 isoforms in normal tissue and neoplastic cells. Journal of Pathology, 2002; 198:417-427
  2. Wang Z, Fukuda S, Pelus LM. Survivin regulates the p53 tumor suppressor gene family. 2004, 23 (49):8146-53. 
  3. Wang Z, Sampath J, Fukuda S, Pelus LM. Disruption of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin sensitizes Bcr-abl-positive cells to STI571-induced apoptosis. Cancer Res. 2005, 65(18):8224-32.
  4. Wang Z, Oh E, Thurmond DC. Glucose-stimulated Cdc42 signaling is essential for the second phase of insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2007, 282(13): 9536-46.
  5. Jewell JL, Luo W, Oh E, Wang Z, Thurmond DC. Filamentous actin regulates insulin exocytosis through direct interaction with Syntaxin 4. J Biol Chem. 2008, 283(16): 10716-26.
  6. Wang Z, Pelus LM. Disruption of Survivin in K562 cells elevates telomerase activity and protects cells against apoptosis induced by the Bcr-abl kinase inhibitor STI571. Cancer Therapy. 2008, 6: 603-610.
  7. Wang Z, Thurmond DC. Mechanisms of biphasic insulin-granule exocytosis – roles of the cytoskeleton, small GTPases and SNARE proteins (peer reviewed commentary). J Cell Sci. 2009, 122(Pt 7): 893-903.
  8. Wang Z, Thurmond DC. Differential phosphorylation of RhoGDI mediates the distinct cycling of Cdc42 and Rac1 to regulate second-phase insulin secretion. J Biol Chem. 2010, 285(9):6186-97.
  9. Wang, Z., Oh, E., Chernoff, J., Clapp, D.W. and Thurmond, DC. The Cdc42-Pak1 signaling pathway controls second-phase insulin release in human islets: aberrant whole-body glucose homeostasis in Pak1-deficient mice. J Biol Chem. 2011 Dec 2;286(48):41359-67.
  10. Kalwat, M. Wiseman, D. Luo, W.  Wang, Z. and Thurmond, DC. Gelsolin Associates with the N-terminus of Syntaxin 4 to Regulate Insulin Granule Exocytosis.  Mol Endocrinol.  2012 Jan; 26(1):128-41.
  11. Wang Z  #,  Thurmond D. PAK1 limits the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein BAD in pancreatic islet β-cells. FEBS Open Bio 2012; 2: 273-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.fob.2012.09.001
  12. Chen YC, Fueger T P and Wang Z #.  Depletion of PAK1 enhances Ubiquitin mediated Survivin degradation in pancreatic beta-cells. Islets, 2013 Jan 1;5(1)1-7. PMID:23514967.
  13. Kalwat MA, Yoder SM, Wang Z, Thurmond A p21-activated kinase (PAK1) signaling cascade coordinately regulates F-actin remodeling and insulin granule exocytosis in pancreatic beta-cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2013, 85:808-816. PMID: 23246867
  14. Ahn M, Yoder SM, WangZ, Oh E, Ramalingam L, Tunduguru R, Thurmond  The p21-activated kinase (PAK1) is involved in diet-induced beta cell mass expansion and survival in mice and human islets. Diabetologia. 2016 Oct;59(10):2145-55.
  15. The p21-activated kinase (PAK1) is involved in diet-induced beta cell mass expansion and survival in mice and human islets. Ahn M, Yoder SM,Wang Z, Oh E, Ramalingam L, Tunduguru R, Thurmond   Diabetologia. 2016 Oct;59(10):2145-55.

In Chinese medicine

  1. Wang Z #, Zheng J. Liver-protection-herbs prevent Danazole-induced Liver dysfunction in aplastic anemia. Journal of Modern Chinese herbal Medicine, 1994,7 (2): 90-91.
  2. Wang Z #, Chen H. Pathologic changes of immature erythrocytes in bone marrow from different blood diseases. Chinese Leukemia,1995,4 (1):30-33
  3. Wang, Z#, Ma R, Zheng J, Xu Y ,et al. Clinical and experimental study on myelodysplastic Syndromes with Fuzheng-quxie(herbs). Chinese J. of integration of W. and Chinese herbal Medicine. 1999, 19(11):664-667.
  4. Wang Z #, Zhou A. Long-living cases of Chronic Myeloid leukemia treated by Chinese herb formula. Journal of Chinese Leukemia, 1998,7 (2):93-95.
  5. Wang Z #, Zhou A. Long-living cases of acute leukemia treated by traditional Chinese herb Formula. Journal of Chinese Leukemia, 1999,8(5):297-299.
  6. Wang Z #, Xu Y, Ma R. Apoptosis and tolemerase activity changes induced by arsenic trioxide. Chinese Journal of integration of Western and Chinese herbal Medicine,2000,20(7):536-538.
  7. Wang Z #, Liao J, X, Ma R, Zhou A. Influence of antioxidants on apoptosis induced by arsenic trioxide. Journal of Chinese Leukemia, 2000, 9(4): 153-155.
  8. Wang Z #, Xu Y, Ma Rou, Yang J, Liu F, Liao J. Experimental study on K562 cells and hematopietic stem cells with Fuzheng-Quxie herbs. Chinese J. of Basic Chinese herbal Medicine. 2001, 7(1) :27-30
  9. Wang Z #, Zhang H. Antidiabetic Effects of Ginseng in Humans and Rodents. Journal of Metabolic Syndrome. 2012;1:106.
  10. Wang Z and Zhang H: How We Treat Frozen Shoulder (by acupuncture). Meridians: The J. of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 2014: Fall Vol. 1, No. 1 p36.
  11. B Feng, Z. Wang and Y Kwon: Effects of Acupuncture in treatment of Hypertension. Journal of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: 2016 Winter Vol3(1):p19
  12. Wang, H Wei and H Tian: Evidence-based Acupuncture: Report on the 1st Congress of Evidence-based Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, J. of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: 2016 Vol3(1):p17-20.
  13. 2019: Invited comment: Pi-zhen – Flat-head Needle Techniques. NEWSLETTER FOR THE ILLINOIS SOCIETY OF ACUPUNCTURISTS, p41

Honors and Awards:

09/1999: “Scientific Research Advancement Award” from China Academy of Chinese Medicine.  Sciences, Beijing, China.

07/2001: “Excellent Ph.D Thesis Award” from China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences,   Beijing, China.

08/2003: Postdoctoral Fellows Competition Award (2nd Place Prize) from Walther Cancer     Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA:  Title: Regulation of the tumor suppressor gene p53  and by Survivin contributes to its anti-apoptotic effects.

08/2004: Postdoctoral Fellows Competition Award (Honorable Mention) from   Walther Cancer    Institute, South Bend, Indiana, USA. Title: Disruption of the inhibitor-of- apoptosis protein,   Survivin, sensitizes Bcr-Abl positive cells to STI571 (Gleevec)- Induced apoptosis.

08/2012: Excellent Poster in Presentation: Indiana Clinical and translational Sciences Institute 4th Annual meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Title: Pak1 is a molecular target for the  preservation of β-cell.

 

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS(Principle Investigator)

7/1/1993-6/31/1996: PI. Youth Fund award 93C043.  Title: Clinical and experimental study on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (pre-leukemia) with Chinese Herbs.  National Administration of Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China.

7/1/2011-6/31/2013 PI. CTSA career award CTSI-KL2 RR025760. Title: Delay diabetes development through dietary (including Ginseng) mediated Pak1 activation.  NIH/NCRR- Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute– K12 Program.