Effect of electronic moxibustion on memory function in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment / 中国针灸

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.

Functional organization of complex brain networks modulated by acupuncture at different acupoints belonging to the same anatomic segment / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Noninvasive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques have opened a "window" into the brain, allowing us to investigate the anatomical and physiological function involving acupuncture needling. Imaging its sustained effect rather than acute effect on the brain networks may further help elucidate the mechanisms by which acupuncture achieves its therapeutic effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional brain networks during the post-resting state following acupuncture at KI3 in comparison with acupuncture at GB40.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Needling at acupoints GB40 and KI3 was performed in twelve subjects. Six minutes of scanning at rest were adopted before and after acupuncture at different acupoints. Then we divided the whole brain into 39 regions and constructed functional brain networks during the post-acupuncture resting states (PARS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For direct comparisons, increased correlations during post-resting state following acupuncture at KI3 compared to resting state (RS) were primarily located between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and post temporal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and post temporal cortex. These brain regions were all cognitive-related functions. In contrast, the increased connections between the anterior insula and temporal cortex mainly emerged following acupuncture at GB40 compared with the RS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present study demonstrates that acupuncture at different acupoints belonging to the same anatomic segment can exert different modulatory effects on the reorganizations of post-acupuncture RS networks. The heterogeneous modulation patterns between two conditions may relate to the functional specific modulatory effects of acupuncture.</p>

Effect of shallow needling combined with acupoint application on the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for the acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty cases of facial paralysis patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with routine medication, and the observation group was treated with shallow needling combined with acupoint application using self-made "acupoint application formula for facial paralysis" on the basis of the routine medication. The acupoints of Yifeng (TE 17), Wangu (GB 12), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Cuanzhu (BL 2) in affected side and Hegu (LI 4) in healthy side were selected as main acupoints for shallow needling, and Qianzheng (EX-HN 17), Dicang (ST 4), Yangbai (GB 14) and Wangu (GB 12), or Jiache (ST 6), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Quanliao (SI 18) and Yifeng (TE 17) were selected for acupoint application. The cure rate and the course of cured patients in both groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cure rate of 88.3% (53/60) in observation group was superior to that of 66.7% (40/60) in control group (P < 0.01). The course of cured patients in observation group was obviously shorter than that of control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of routine medication, shallow needling combined with acupoint application can improve the therapeutic effect and shorten the course for acute stage of peripheral facial paralysis.</p>

Control study of therapeutic effects of three phase acupuncture method and routine acupuncture method on periarthritis of shoulder / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of the three phase acupuncture method and routine acupuncture method on periarthritis of shoulder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Randomized, controlled and single blind method was adopted and 70 cases were divided into a three phase acupuncture group and a routine acupuncture group, 35 cases in each group. Same acupoints were selected in the two groups and selection of acupoints, manipulation of the needle and motion in the three phase acupuncture group were conducted by stages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate was 97.15% in the three phase acupuncture group which was better than 87.10% in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05). After treatment, VAS scores decreased significantly in the two groups (P < 0.01), and there was a significant difference between the two groups in the difference of VAS after treatment (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The three phase acupuncture treatment was superior to the routine acupuncture therapy in therapeutic effect on periarthritis of shoulder.</p>

Effects of thread embedding therapy on nucleotides and gastrointestinal hormones in the patient of chronic gastritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of thread embedding therapy on chronic gastritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy cases of chronic gastritis were randomly divided into the treatment group (n = 36) treated by thread embedding therapy and the control group (n = 34) by acupuncture. Weishu (BL 21), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected as main points. And plasma contents of cAMP, cGMP, gastrin and substance P were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 88.89% in the treatment group and 76.47% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05); there were significant differences before and after treatment in plasma contents of cAMP, cGMP, gastrin and substance P in the two groups (P < 0.01), and the changes of these indexes in the treatment group were significantly superior to the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Thread embedding therapy has a definite therapeutic effect on chronic gastritis and it can adjust nucleotides, gastrin and substance P to improve the functions of the nerve-endocrine-immunity network.</p>

Clinical observation and mechanism study on acupuncture combined with massage for treatment of vertebrobasilar insufficiency / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for the best program increasing clinical therapeutic effect on vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and to study the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture plus massage group, an acupuncture group and a massage group. Their therapeutic effects were observed and compared. And transcranial Doppler (TCD) was used for detection of systolic flow velocity (Vs), enddiastolic peak flow velocity (Vd), mean peak flow (Vm) and pulsatility index (PI) before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate and the total effective rate in the acupuncture plus massage group were significantly higher than the acupuncture group and the massage group (P < 0.05). And there were significant differences in Vm, PI and DI in the left vertebral artery (LVA), the right vertebral artery (RVA) and the basilar artery (BA) before and after treatment (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined with massage can improve Vm, PI, DI of VA-BA and the clinical therapeutic effect on VBI as well. It is superior to the simple acupuncture therapy and simple massage therapy. At present, it is one of the best therapy for VBI.</p>

Optimum selection of acupuncture treatment programs of cerebral infarction and its effects on insulin resistance / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the optimum acupuncture treatment program and the mechanism for treatment of cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-three cases were randomly divided into 9 groups. The four factors, times of manipulation, the retaining time of the needle, acupuncture instrument and acupoints,and their corresponding three levels were adopted respectively in treatment of each group. Then nerve function defect score and insulin resistance were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The acupoints, the times of manipulation and the retaining time of the needle have significant effects on nerve function defect and insulin resistance (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and the acupuncture instrument has a significant effect on insulin resistance (P < 0.01). The choice of acupoints was the most important factor for acupuncture treatment of cerebral infarction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture for regulating The Governor Vessel with twice manipulations and retaining the needle for 60 min is optimum treatment program for cerebral infarction. The good regulating effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance is one of the mechanisms of achieving the therapeutic results.</p>