Impacts of electroacupuncture on left hippocampus NAA/Cr for patients of Uygur and Han nationality with mild cognitive impairment / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for patients of Uygur and Han nationality and explore the national diversity among the patients with MCI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five cases were divided into Han nationality group (15 cases) and Uygur nationality group (10 cases) according to patient's nationality. In either group, EA was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Fuliu (KI 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3), once per day, 15 treatments made one session and there were 5 days at the interval among the sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. The proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was used to observe the changes in the ratio of N-acetylaspartate and creatine (NAA/Cr) on the left hippocampus for the patients in two groups before and after treatment as well as the changes in the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NAA/Cr in Uygur nationality group was higher than that in Han nationality group before treatment (1.659 +/- 0.418 vs 1.137 +/- 0.190, P < 0.05). After treatment, MMSE and MoCA scores all increased apparently as compared with those before treatment in two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and NAA/Cr on the left hippocampus in either group was up-regulated as compared with that before treatment (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA can improve the overall cognitive function for the patients with MCI. There is the national diversity in the partial brain metabolite level between Uygur patients and Han patients with MCI.</p>

Experimental study on effect of pre-acupuncture and moxibustion on molecular markers in pre-thrombosis state of rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the best method for prevention and treatment of thrombosis and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an electroacupuncture group and a crude herb moxibustion group. In the electroacupuncture group and the crude herb moxibustion group. "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Geshu" (BL 17) were punctured or moxibusted for 2 weeks, then pre-thrombosis model was induced by Adrenalin Hydrochloride and ice water method in the model group, the electroacupuncture group and the crude herb moxibustion group, respectively. Molecular markers in venous blood after the model made in 18 hours were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Act: vaty of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and content of alpha-granule membrane protein (GMP-140) decreased and content of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) increased after electroacupuncture or crude herb moxibustion. The levels of t-PA and GMP-140 in the model group were higher than those in the electroacupuncture group, the crude herb moxibustion group and the blank group (all P < 0.05), and the content of NO in the model group was lower than those in the electroacupuncture group, the crude herb moxibustion group and the blank group (all P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in t- PA, GMP-140 and NO among the crude herb moxibustion group, electroacupuncture group and blank group (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture and crude herb moxibustion can significantly change the contents of t-PA, GMP-140 and NO and there was no significant difference between the two therapies.</p>