Effect of Electroacupuncture at Fengchi on Astrocytes and Neurons in Rats with Acute Cerebral Infarction / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at Fengchi (GB20) on astrocytes and neurons in rats with acute cerebral infarction. Methods:A total of 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 16), model group (n = 16), non-acupoint group (n = 16) and Fengchi group (n = 16). The latter three groups were modeled with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and the latter two groups were treated with electroacupuncture after modeling, at the point near Fengchi and Fengchi, respectively, for seven days. All the rats were assessed with neurological deficit score after treatment, while the cerebral infarction area and water content were measured, the histopathology of hippocampus was observed by HE staining, the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in hippocampus were detected with ELISA, the apoptosis of brain neurons were measured with TUNEL, and the expression levels of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in brain homogenate were detected with Western blotting and reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results:Compared with the sham group, the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction area and water content increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the other groups; while the the expression of GFAP and NSE in hippocampus increased (P < 0.05) and the expression of BDNF decreased (P < 0.05); the number of apoptosis in hippocampus increased (P < 0.05), and the expression of caspase-3 increased (P < 0.05) and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group and non-acupoint group, the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction area and water content decreased in the Fengchi group (P < 0.05); while the the expression of GFAP and NSE in hippocampus decreased (P < 0.05) and the expression of BDNF increased (P < 0.05); the number of apoptosis in hippocampus decreased (P < 0.05), and the expression of caspase-3 decreased (P < 0.05) and the expression of Bcl-2 increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at Fengchi can protect the brain from acute cerebral infarction, adjust the expression of GFAP, NSE and BDNF, and reduce the neuronal apoptosis.

Controlled study on treatment of cervical spondylopathy of the nerve root type with acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into clinical value of comprehensive program of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main for treatment of cervical spondylopathy of the nerve root type.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five centers, single blind, randomized controlled method were used, 660 cases were divided into a treatment group of 317 cases and a control group of 311 cases. They were treated respectively with comprehensive program of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main, and comprehensive program of physical therapy as main. Establish syndrome detection scale and multiply dimensional effect assessment indexes, and evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate, the cured-markedly effective rate were 42.9%, 64.4% in the treatment group, respectively, better than 16.7%, 36.3% in the control group (P<0.01); after treatment of 2 weeks, clinical symptoms improved in the both groups, but the treatment group was better than the control group in the improvement degrees of neck-shoulder-limb pain, neck rigidity, abnormality of cervical anteflexion, etc. (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the treatment group was shorter than the control group in the time of producing the effect and therapeutic course (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Comprehensive program of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main is safe and effective for treatment of cervical spondylopathy, with a better therapeutic effect compared with the comprehensive program of physical therapy.</p>

Clinical study on combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at five mental points and moving cupping on the Hechelu of the back on fibromyalgia syndrome (FS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-six cases who conformed to the criteria were randomly divided into the treatment group treated with acupuncture at five mental points, moving cupping on the Hechelu of the back and amitriptyline, and the control group treated with amitriptyline. Clinical therapeutic effects were assessed with McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and HAMD depression scale.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination of acupuncture with cupping therapy is an effective therapy for fibromyalgia syndrome.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold type / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare clinically therapeutic effects of warming needle moxibustion and simple acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases conformed with the diagnostic criteria of knee osteoarthritis with TCM kidney-yang deficiency and cold syndrome were randomly divided into a warming needle moxibustion group and a simple acupuncture group. Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and others were selected in the two groups. Their therapeutic effects were assessed with joint pain scale, knee osteoarthritis severity index scale and cold syndrome differentiation factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both warming needle moxibustion and simple acupuncture could alleviate pain of knee osteoarthritis, improve dysfunction of the knee joint, reduce symptoms. The clinically basic cured rate and the total effective rate were 32.1% and 96.4% in the warming needle moxibustion group, which were better than 7.4% and 92.6% in the simple acupuncture group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Warming needle moxibustion is an effective therapy for knee osteoarthritis with kidney-yang deficiency and cold type.</p>

Clinical observation on moving cupping therapy combined with moxibustion for treatment of senile habitual constipation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore an effective method for treatment of senile habitual constipation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four cases were randomly divided into a treatment group treated with moving cupping at Hechelu plus Shenque (CV 8) Bazhenxue moxibustion, and a control group with oral administration of Tab phenolphthaleinum, 32 cases in each group. Improvement of constipation in the patients were observed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The short-term (14 days) clinical cured-markedly effective rate was 84.4% in the treatment group, which was significantly better than 59.4% of the control group (P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups in the long-term (2 months) therapeutic effect (P < 0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moving cupping at the Hechelu combined with Shenque (CV 8) Bazhenxue moxibustion is an effective method for senile habitual constipation.</p>