ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of acupuncture on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism and intestinal function in elderly patients of primary osteoporosis with intestinal dysfunction.@*METHODS@#A total of 128 elderly patients of primary osteoporosis with intestinal dysfunction were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 64 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of vitamin D calcium chewable tablets (0.6 g, once a day) and calcitriol capsules (0.25 μg, three times a day); the treatment was given for 6 months. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, patients in the observation group were additionally treated with acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Pishu (BL 20), Dachangshu (BL 25), Tianshu (ST 25) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. for 30 min each time, once a day. After 1-week treatment, the patients took a rest for 2 days; the treatment was given for 6 months. Before and after treatment, the BMD of lumbar spine, femoral neck and femoral trochanter was detected by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (NBAP), osteocalcin (OC), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and calcitonin (CT) were detected by ELISA method. The primary symptom scores of intestinal function, serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactic acid (D-Lac) levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#The total effective rate was 85.9% (55/64) in the observation group, which was higher than 71.9% (46/64) in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, BMD were increased (<0.05), and serum bone metabolism indexes were improved in the two groups (<0.05); the BMD and serum bone metabolism indexes in the observation group were better than those in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the primary symptom scores of intestinal function, serum DAO and D-Lac levels in the observation group were decreased (<0.05), and the indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The adjuvant therapy of acupuncture could increase BMD, improve bone metabolism and regulate intestinal function in elderly patients of primary osteoporosis with intestinal dysfunction.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of scalp-acupuncture on the expression of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), Interleukin (IL)-1β, zonula occludens-1(ZO-1) mRNA and Occludin mRNA in striatum in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease (AICD) rats, so as to investigate its mechanisms underlying improvement of AICD. METHODS: Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly allocated to control, model, IL-1Ra and IL-1Ra+scalp-acupuncture groups (n=12 rats in each group). The AICD model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Rats of the IL-1Ra group and IL-1Ra+scalp-acupuncture group received intraperitoneal injection of IL-1Ra (0.05 mg·kg-1·d-1), once daily for 6 days. Scalp acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral "Dingnieqianxiexian" (MS6) once daily for 6 days for rats in IL-1Ra+scalp-acupuncture group. Before and after intervention, the neurologic deficit score (NDS) was evalua-ted according to Longa's method. The expression of striatum PTX3 and IL-1β was detected by immunohistochemistry, and ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA in the striatum tissue were detected by fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR. The Evans Blue (EB) tracer method was used to monitor the degree of blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage. RESULTS: Following modeling, the NDS, EB content and the expression of PTX3 and IL-1β in the striatum tissue were significantly increased, and the ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression was considerably decreased in the model group compared with the control group (P0.05). The effects of scalp acupuncture combined with IL-1Ra were obviously superior to that of IL-1Ra in down-regulating NDS, EB content and IL-1β expression level, and in up-regulating PTX3, ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture can improve neurological function and reduce the degree of BBB injury in AICD rats, which may be associated with its function in up-regulating the expression of PTX3 and in promoting the expression of ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method versus ordinary acupuncture on superficial fascia for treating neck type cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz. Methods:A total of 64 Kyrgyz patients conforming to the diagnostic criteria of neck type cervical spondylopathy were included. The patients were randomized into a Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were treated with Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method to stimulate the superficial fascia, the stimulation sites were primarily located at bilateral sides of the cervical vertebra as well as the trigger points in shoulder-neck region; patients in the conventional acupuncture group were punctured at the same acupoints, with twirling reducing method, and the depth of insertion was determined by the treated region. Patients in both groups received treatment every day for a succession of 5 d as a course, with a 2-day interval between 2 courses, and the whole treatment lasted for 3 courses. After 3 courses of treatment, the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and neck disability index (NDI) were measured to compare the clinical effect between the two groups. Results: After treatment, scores of MPQ and NDI scale dropped when compared with those before treatment, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05); scores of MPQ and NDI in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were substantially lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.9％ in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and the cured rate was 78.1％, which were higher than 81.3％ and 40.6％ in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (bothP<0.05). Conclusion: Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method by stimulating superficial fascia to treat cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz can produce a better clinical effect than conventional acupuncture treatment, and is effective in improving pain and stiffness in patients, and thus is worth clinical popularization.