Effect of electroacupuncture at governor vessel on learning-memory ability and serum level of APP, Aβ in patients with Alzheimer's disease / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with donepezil hydrochloride and donepezil hydrochloride alone on improving learning-memory ability in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to explore its action mechanism.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients of AD were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with EA at governor vessel (GV) combined with donepezil hydrochloride. EA was applied at Baihui (GV 20) and Fengfu (GV 16) with dilatational wave (10 Hz/50 Hz of frequency, 0.5 to 5.0 mA of intensity), and the needles were kept for 40 min, EA was given once a day; the donepezil hydrochloride tablet was taken orally, 5 mg, once a day, and after 4 weeks the dosage might be increased to 10 mg per day according to the specific situation. All the treatment was given for 8 weeks. The patients in the control group were only treated with donepezil hydrochloride with the identical procedure as the observation group. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and Alzheimer's disease assessment scale cognitive part (ADAS-Cog) were evaluated before and after treatment; P300 (latency and amplitude of N2 and P3) was detected by EEG/ERP system brain event related potential instrument, and amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ) were detected by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the MoCA scores were increased after treatment in the two groups (<0.05), and the MoCA score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the ADAS-Cog scores were decreased after treatment in the two groups (<0.05), and the ADAS-Cog score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the latency of N2 and P3 was shortened and the amplitude was increased after treatment in the two groups (<0.05); after treatment, the latency of N2 and P3 in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group and the amplitude was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the serum levels of APP and Aβ were lower after treatment in the two groups (<0.05), and the serum levels of APP and Aβ in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EA at Baihui (GV 20) and Fengfu (GV 6) combined with donepezil hydrochloride can effectively reduce the serum levels of APP and Aβ and improve the scores of MoCA and ADAS-Cog and the levels of N2 and P3 of P300 in AD patients, which has superior effect to donepezil hydrochloride alone in improving the learning-memory of AD patients.

"Governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam for insomnia: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy differences between "governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam and estazolam alone for insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy patients of insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of estazolam, 2 mg each time; the estazolam was taken 30 min before sleeping. The patients in the observation group were treated with "governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam; the positive reaction points along governor vessel and Baihui (GV 20) were selected as the main points. The acupuncture was given for 30 min per treatment, once every two days. Both groups were treated for four weeks. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and polysomnography (PSG) were observed before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was assessed between the two groups and adverse reactions were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 94.3% (33/35) in the observation group, which had no significant difference with 82.9% (29/35) in the control group (>0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate was 71.4% (25/35) in the observation group, which was superior to 42.9% (15/35) in the control group (<0.05). Each item score and total score of PSQI were decreased obviously after treatment in the observation group (all <0.05), while the score of sleep latency, sleep duration and sleep efficiency as well as total score of PSQI were decreased obviously after treatment in the control group (all <0.05). The scores of sleep duration, sleep disturbance and day dysfunction due to sleepiness as well as total score of PSQI in the observation group were lower than that in the control group (all <0.05). After treatment, the PSG-related parameters of total sleeping duration, sleeping latency, sleeping arousal and sleeping efficiency were improved significantly in the observation group (all <0.05); the total sleeping duration, sleeping arousal and sleeping efficiency were also improved in the control group (all <0.05). The total sleeping duration, sleeping latency, sleeping arousal and sleeping efficiency in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all <0.05). 4 adverse reactions in the observation group and 3 adverse reactions in the control group were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>"Governor vessel method of acupuncture" combined with estazolam could significantly improve insomnia, which are superior to estazolam alone.</p>