Acupuncture for cervical dystonia associated with anxiety and depression: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Cervical dystonia (CD) is a type of muscle tone disorder that usually occurs in the neck muscles. Due to the intermittent or continuous involuntary contraction of the neck muscles, the head and neck are twisted and skewed and some postural abnormalities occur. Long-term abnormal posture or pain can cause negative emotions in patients, which can affect their quality of life. CASE SUMMARY: This case report included a 37-year-old woman who was diagnosed with CD associated with anxiety and depression; the accompanying symptoms were head and neck tilt of approximately 90° to the right and mental abnormality. After two courses of acupuncture treatment, the patient's head and neck can be maintained in a normal position, and the negative emotions can be relieved. CONCLUSION: This case indicates that acupuncture can effectively improve CD and the emotional state and quality of life of patients, making it an effective alternative treatment for the condition.

["Huayu Tongluo" moxibustion improves learning-memory ability and promotes myelin regeneration by regulating Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway in vascular dementia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of "Huayu Tongluo" (resolving blood stagnation to dredge meridian-collaterals) moxibustion on remyelination and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway in the corpus callosum of vascular dementia (VD) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of VD. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomized into sham-operation, model, medication and moxibustion groups, with 12 rats in each group.The VD model was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Moxibustion was applied to "Shenting"(GV24), "Baihui"(GV20) and "Dazhui"(GV14) for 20 min once a day, 7 d as a treatment course, for 3 courses, with one day's rest between every two courses. Rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of 10 mg/kg of chloromastine solution once a day, and the course of treatment was the same as that of the moxibustion group. The rat's learning-memory ability was assessed by Morris water maze test (escape latency). The neurological deficits were evaluated by using Longa's scale.The mRNA and protein expressions of Shh and Gli1 in the corpus callosum were measured by quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR and Western blot, separately. The ultrastructure of the myelin sheath and myelinated axons was observed under transmission electron microscopy (TCM). RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the neurologic score and escape latency were significantly increased and prolonged (P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Shh and Gli1 and the number of myelinated axons were obviously decreased in the model group (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, the escape latency was apparently shortened (P<0.05), while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Shh and Gli1 as well as the number of myelinated axons were strikingly increased in both moxibustion and medication groups (P<0.01). Results of TCM showed that in the model group, the arrangement of myelin coil structures was sparse and fuzzy, and some structures were bulged and disbanded. The oligodendrocytes were irregular, and the number of myelin sheath was rare. These situations were relatively milder in both moxibustion and medication groups. CONCLUSION: "Huayu Tongluo" moxibustion can promote the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells after cerebral ischemia by regulating the expressions of Shh and Gli1 in Shh signaling pathway, thus promoting the regeneration of cerebral white matter myelin sheaths in VD rats, which may contribute to improving learning-memory ability.

[Moxibustion improves learning-memory ability by regulating apoptosis related proteins of hippocampus in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of moxibustion on the proteins related with apoptosis and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) in hippocampus of diabetic rats with cognitive impairment (CI), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of learning-memory ability. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model and moxibustion groups (n=10 rats/group). The diabetic model was established by i.p. injection of streptozotocin solution (25 mg·kg-1·d-1), followed by high-fat diet raising for 4 weeks, and the CI model was confirmed by Morris water maze test. The rats in the moxibustion group were given moxibustion at "Shenting" (GV24), "Baihui" (GV20) and "Dazhui" (GV14) for 20 min each time, the treatment was conducted 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test, the random blood glucose of rats was measured by glucometer and test strips. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 in hippocampus were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, separately. RESULTS: After modeling, the random blood glucose, escape latency, and the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 proteins and mRNAs in the model group were significantly increased, while the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were decreased (P<0.001，P<0.01, P<0.05) in comparison with the normal group. Following the treatment, the modeling induced increase of blood glucose, escape latency, and the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 and NF-κB p65 proteins and mRNAs, as well as decrease of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA expression levels were reversed (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion can improve learning-memory ability in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment, which may be related to its function in regulating the expression levels of hippocampal Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and NF-κB.

[Electroacupuncture improves learning-memory ability by down-regulating expression of hippocampal Aß1-42 and Tau and NF-κB proteins in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the expression of nuclear transcription factors κB (NF-κB) and Tau protein and content of amyloid (Aß) in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of learning-memory ability. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control (n=9), model (n=9) and EA (n=9) groups. The diabetic mellitus model was established by feeding the rats with high fat and high sugar for 1 month and intraperitoneal injection of STZ (25 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 2 days. EA was applied to "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Neiting"(ST44) for 20 min, alternatively on both side every day, and "Yishu"(EX-B3) was stimulated by twirling the acupuncture needle with uniform reinforcing-reducing method for 1 min, followed by retaining it for 20 min. The treatment was conducted 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The learning-memory ability was evaluated by using Morris water maze swimming test. The blood glucose level was randomly detected by using a glucometer, the content of Aß1-42 in the hippocampal tissue was detected by ELISA, and the relative expression levels of hippocampal Tau and NF-κB p65 proteins and mRNAs were determined by Western blot and fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR, separately. RESULTS: After modeling, the blood glucose, escape latency, Aß1-42 content and the expression levels of Tau and NF-κB p65 proteins and mRNAs in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05) in comparison with the normal control group. Following EA intervention, the modeling induced increase of blood glucose, escape latency, Aß1-42 content and the expression levels of Tau and NF-κB p65 proteins and mRNAs were reversed (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA can improve the learning-memory ability in rats with diabetic cognitive impairment, which may be related to its function in down-regulating the levels of hippocampal Aß1-42, Tau and NF-κB proteins.

[Effects of huayu tongluo moxibustion on learning and memory ability and the hippocampal BDNF/TrkB expressions in the rats of vascular dementia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of huayu tongluo (resolving stasis, promoting collateral circulation) moxibustion on learning and memory ability and the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) in the rats of vascular dementia (VD) in the microenvironment of neurovascular niche. METHODS: Using 2-vessel occlusion (2-VO), the VD rat models were duplicated. The neural stem cells (NSCs) labeled with lentiviral vector-mediated enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were co-cultured with endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to structure the NSCs + EPCs implant. The implant was transplanted into the lateral ventricle of VD rats and the VD rat models with neurovascular niche were established. In No.1 experiment, the successful-modeled rats were divided into 3 groups, i.e. a NSCs + EPCs moxibustion group, a NSCs + EPCs blank group and a model group, 12 rats in each one. No any treatment was provided in the model group and the NSCs + EPCs blank group. The huayu tongluo moxibustion therapy was adopted in the NSCs + EPCs moxibustion group, in which, the suspending moxibustion technique was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Dazhui" (GV 14) and "Shenting" (GV 24), 20 min at each acupoint. The treatment was given once every day and a 14-day treatment was as one course. Totally, 3 courses of treatment were required. At the end of treatment, Morris water maze experiment was adopted to determine the learning and memory ability of the rats in each group. In the No.2 experiment, the model rats were divided into 3 groups, a NSCs + EPCs moxibustion group, a NSCs + EPCs blank group and a model group, 18 rats in each one. In each group, according to the durations of treatment, 3 subgroups were divided and 6 rats in each one. The intervention method was same as the No.1 experiment. Additionally, after corresponding treatment course, using perfusion, the brains were collected in each subgroup and the slices were frozen. BDNF/TrkB expressions were observed in the immunofluorescence test. RESULTS: After treatment, in the NSCs + EPCs moxibustion group, the escape incubation was reduced, the time of the first running-cross platform was shortened and the frequency of running-cross platform increased as compared with the model group and the NSCs + EPCs blank group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The protein expressions were increased in tendency among the 3 courses of treatment in the NSCs + EPCs moxibustion group, indicating the significant differences (all P<0.05), in which, the increase of the protein expressions in the NSCs + EPCs moxibustion group was better than the NSCs + EPCs blank group (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The huayu tongluo moxibustion therapy is the effective approach to VD in clinical treatment. This therapy up-regulates the BDNF/TrkB protein expressions in the microenvironment of neurovascular niche, co-modulates NSCs-EPCs coupling mechanism, promotes nerve neogenesis and repairs the injured nerve.

[Effect of Moxibustion on Delayed Memory and Expression of Hippocampal Nestin and Doublecortin Proteins in Dementia Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of "Huayu Tongluo"(Blood-stasis Dispersing and Meridian-collateral Dredging) moxibustion on the delayed memory and expression of Nestin and Doublecortin (DCX) proteins in the hippocampus in vascular dementia (VD) rats in the view of neurogenesis produced by intracerebral transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METHODS: Healthy male Wistar rats were randomized into control group, VD model group,NSCs＋EPCs group and NSCs＋EPCs moxibustion group. The VD model was established by using a modified 2-vessels occlusion method, and neurogenesis was produced by transplantation of NSCs＋EPCs (2×106cell/10 µL) into the lateral ventricle for rats of the NSCs＋EPCs groups 3 days after successful VD-modeling. Moxibustion was applied to "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Shenting" (GV 24) once daily for 21 days with an interval of one day between every two 7 days. The Morris Water Maze was used to test the rat's delayed memory ability before and 24 h after the treatment. The expression of Nestin and DCX proteins in the hippocampus tissues was detected using double-labeled immunofluorescence technique. RESULTS: Following modeling, Morris Water Maze tests showed that the average escape latency of location navigation task was significantly prolonged in VD rats(P<0.008)and the times of target platform crossing (spatial probing task) within 120 s were remarkably reduced in VD rats (P<0.008). Compared with pre-treatment in the same one group, the escape latency of NSCs＋EPCs and NSCs＋EPCs moxibustion groups were considerably reduced (P<0.05), and the average times of target platform crossing of the NSCs＋EPCs moxibustion group were markedly increased(P<0.05). The effect of NSCs＋EPCs moxibustion was evidently superior to that of simple NSCs＋EPCs in shortening the escape latency (P<0.008). The expression levels of Nestin protein were significantly higher in the NSCs＋EPCs moxibustion group after 1 and 3 period treatment than those in the NSCs＋EPCs group (P<0.05)．. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion intervention is able to improve the delayed memory in VD rats, which may be related to its effect in up-regulating the expression of hippocampal Nestin and DCX proteins within 15 days via accelerating neurogenesis.