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OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electronic moxibustion on memory function in the patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).@*METHODS@#A total of 59 aMCI patients were randomized into an electronic moxibustion group (30 cases) and a placebo moxibustion group (29 cases). In the electronic moxibustion group, the electronic moxibustion was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Mingmen (GV 4) and Taixi (KI 3), 45 ℃ in temperature, 20 min each time. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week. The treatment for 4 weeks was as one course and 2 courses were required totally. In the placebo moxibustion group, the moxa-free patch was used, 38 ℃ in temperature. The acupoint selection and the treatment frequency were same as the electronic moxibustion group. Before and after treatment, Rivermead behavior memory test (RBMT) was adopted to evaluate the global memory function of the patients in the two groups and the N-back task test was adopted to evaluate working memory function separately. Additionally, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and its immediate memory, Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and its delay recall were adopted to evaluate the global cognitive function and memory function@*RESULTS@#In the electronic moxibustion group, after treatment, RBMT score, N-back accuracy rates, MMSE and MoCA scores and the scores of immediate memory and delay recall were improved significantly as compared with those before treatment (<0.01). In the placebo moxibustion group, the accuracy rates of 1-back and 2-back task and the scores of immediate memory and delay recall were improved obviously as compared with those before treatment (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the improvements of RBMT score, the accuracy rates of N-back task and MMSE and MoCA scores in the electronic moxibustion group were higher than those in the placebo moxibustion group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Electronic moxibustion improves memory function in the patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
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Humans , Acupuncture Points , Amnesia , Therapeutics , Cognitive Dysfunction , Therapeutics , Memory , Mental Status and Dementia Tests , Moxibustion , MethodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of electronic moxibustion on dysphagia in patients with achalasia of cricopharyngeus muscle after stroke.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with dysphagia of achalasia of cricopharyngeus muscle were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. One patient in the observation group and 2 cases in the control group dropped off. The patients in the control group were treated with routine medical treatment, acupuncture treatment and swallowing rehabilitation training; the patients in the observation group were additionally treated with electronic moxibustion at Lianquan (CV 23), Tiantu (CV 22), Tianding (LI 17) and Futu (LI 18), 30 min each treatment. Both groups were treated 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) was applied to test the activity of parapharyngeal wall and the dysphagia score of Ichiro Fujishima was compared before and after 4-week treatment.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the activity of the parapharyngeal wall and the dysphagia score of Ichiro Fujishima were increased in both groups (<0.01, <0.05). The changes of activity of parapharyngeal wall and dysphagia score of Ichiro Fujishima in the observation group were greater than the control group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Electronic moxibustion can improve the impaired swallowing function and reconstruct the normal swallowing process.
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Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of DZWJY-1 type electronic moxibustion apparatus and traditional moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: A total of 76 eligible patients were randomized into an electronic moxibustion apparatus group and a traditional moxibustion group, with 38 cases in each group. The electronic moxibustion apparatus group was intervened by DZWJY-1 type electronic moxibustion apparatus, and the traditional moxibustion group received moxa stick moxibustion for treatment. Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Xuehai (SP 10) and Liangqiu (ST 34) were selected for both groups and the treatment was conducted 3 times a week for a total of 12 times. The visual analog scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) scores were observed before treatment and after 6 and 12 sessions of treatment, respectively. Results: There were 4 dropout cases in the traditional moxibustion group. Therefore, this trial had 72 valid cases, including 38 cases in the electronic moxibustion apparatus group and 34 cases in the traditional moxibustion group, the differences in the baseline data between the two groups were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). After 6 and 12 sessions of treatment, the VAS scores decreased significantly with the increase of treatment sessions in both groups (all P<0.01), and the betweengroup differences were statistically insignificant at the same time points (both P>0.05). The pain intensity was evaluated using the weighted value of VAS score. The markedly effective rate was 47.4％ and the total effective rate was 89.5％ in the electronic moxibustion apparatus group, versus 50.0％ and 94.1％ in the traditional moxibustion group, and the betweengroup differences were statistically insignificant (both P>0.05). After 6 and 12 sessions of treatment, the total score and the component scores including pain, stiffness and difficulty moving in the WOMAC decreased significantly with the increase of treatment sessions in both groups (all P<0.01), and the between-group differences were statistically insignificant (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Electronic moxibustion apparatus and traditional moxibustion both are effective in reducing joint pain and improving joint function in KOA patients, and they are equivalent comparing the clinical efficacy.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electronic moxibustion in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to liver-kidney deficiency. Method Ninety patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to liver-kidney deficiency were randomized into a treatment group of 44 cases and a control group of 46 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint therapy by warm electronic moxibustion, while the control group was intervened by foot bath with Chinese medication. For both groups, 10 treatment sessions were taken as a course of treatment, for 3 courses in total. Before and after the treatment, the whole blood viscosity, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) were evaluated in the two groups. Result The whole blood viscosity indexes, blood lipids levels, FBG level and GHb level didn't show significant differences after the treatment in the two groups (P>0.05). The intra-group and inter-group comparisons of MNSI score showed significant differences after the treatment (P<0.01); there was a between-group difference in the change of MNSI score after the treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion Electronic moxibustion is an effective approach in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
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Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of electronic moxibustion apparatus and stone needle for primary dysmenorrhea disease in 35 cases.Methods 70 patients were randomly divided into the treatment group of 35 cases by random number table ,using electronic moxibustion apparatus and stone needle for treatment;and con-trol group of 35 cases,only using electronic moxibustion apparatus for treatment from 5 days before menstruation ,the treatment was continuous for 5 days,a course including 3 menstruation cycles .The clinical therapeutic effect after one treatment course was observed .Results The curative effects of the two groups were respectively 91.42% and 88.57%(χ2 =0.16,P>0.05);recovery rates of the two groups were respectively 77.14%and 42.85%(χ2 =8.57, P<0.05).The scores of the VAS,CMSS of the treatment group were much lower than those of the control group after treatment (t=2.532,2.137,2.256,P<0.05).Conclusion Electronic moxibustion apparatus and stone needle therapy is an effective method to treat primary dysmenorrhea ,which is a safe and convenient method .
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In the previous papers, we reported the effects of electronic moxibustion on immune response of experimental rats to the exogeneous antigens, human γ-globulin.<br>The results supported the theory, “non-specific heat aggregeted autologous tissue protein stimulation therapy” presented by Dr. Shimetaro Hara in 1933.<br>Therefore, in this paper we chose two kinds of antigens, one is the T-cell dependent antigen, dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH), the other is the T-cell independent antigen dinitrophenylated Ficoll (DNP-Ficoll) to analyse the mechanism of electronic moxibustion whether it enhances the immune response or not.<br>Using 9 weeks old femal SLC-Wistar rats, we administered the electronic moxibustion according to the method reported in the previous papers. Following daily moxibustion for 8 weeks, antigens were giver twice at intervals of one week together with Freund's complete adjuvant. And 4 days later from the last antigen stimulation direct, DNP plaque forming cells in the spleen were counted.<br>The results obviously showed daily electronic moxibustion for 8 weeks enhanced immune response against the T-cell dependent antigen (DNP-KLH) stimulated rats but no effect on the immune response to the T-cell independent antigen (DNP-Ficoll) stimulated rats.<br>The daily electronic moxibustion for 4 weeks to rats failed to show any effective results against both antigens stimulation.<br>The responses of spleen cells against mitogenic lectins, PHA, Con A and PWM were analysed 3 days after the incubation with lectins by tritiated thymidine up takes into cells. The results also showed the animal group received the electronic moxibustion for 8 weeks manifested higher response against the one of T-cell mitogens, Con A compared with either the group received the electronic moxibustion for 4 weeks or the control group, not received any treatment.<br>These results suggested that the immune activation mechanism exhibited by the electronic moxibustion is via the activation of T-cell function and the electronic moxibustion does not act on B cell nor antibody forming cells.<br>The direct effects on the animal skin by the electronic moxibustion were shown exactly the same physical characteristics as the conventional moxibustion method as reported in the previous papers. Therefore, we could expect the similar T-cell activation effect on the immune response by the conventional moxibustion.<br>But from our results to get such a T-cell activation by the electronic moxibustion, it has been necessary to administrate the electronic moxibustion daily at least for more than 4 weeks.<br>Next we would like to make clear what kinds of subpopulation in the T-cell populations are activated by the electronic moxibustion.<br>Before the clinical administration of the electronic moxibustion as one of immune activators, it is necessary to investigate further about the optimal amounts of the moxibustion, effects of the moxibustion on the cellular immunity or tumor immunity.