Acupuncture-moxibustion with Tong Du Method on the Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Patients with Ischemic Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the effect ofTong Du acupuncture-moxibustion, conventional acupuncture, and medication on the bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) mobilization markers CD34+and CD133+, neurological deficit score in patients with ischemic stroke.Method Totally 120 eligible subjects with ischemic stroke were randomized into aTong Du acupuncture-moxibustion group (group A), a conventional acupuncture group (group B), and a medication group (group C), 40 in each group. In addition to the conventional medication given to all three groups, patients in group A also received moxibustion at Baihui (GV20), bloodletting at Dazhui (GV14), and acupuncture at Fengchi (GB20), Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), and Sanyinjiao (SP6); patients in group B also received acupuncture at Fengchi, Quchi, Hegu, Zusanli, and Sanyinjiao; group C received patent Chinese medicine Tong Xin Luo capsules. The intervention lasted 14 d in all three groups. The CD34+and CD133+and neurological deficit score were evaluated and compared before and after intervention.Result The three treatment methods all significantly increased the level of CD34 + and CD133+in peripheral blood (P0.05); the three treatment methods all improved the neurological deficit score to various extent, and the result in group A was significantly different from that in group B and C (P<0.05,P<0.01), and there was also a significant difference between group B and C (P<0.05).ConclusionsTong Du acupuncture-moxibustion, conventional acupuncture, and medication can influence the BMSCs and neurological deficit to different extent; the effect ofTong Du acupuncture-moxibustion on the BMSCs and neurological deficit is more significant than that of the conventional acupuncture and medication, suggesting thatTong Du acupuncture-moxibustion method should have advantage in treating cerebral infarction.