[Efficacy of Acupuncture Combined with Fire Dragon Moxibustion for Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy of Kidney-Deficiency-Cold Type].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with fire dragon moxibustion and simple acupuncture therapy in the treatment of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) of kidney-deficiency-cold type. METHODS: Ninety kidney-deficiency-cold type CSR outpatients were randomly divided into control (acupuncture, n=40) and treatment (acupuncture +moxibustion, n=50) groups. Acupuncture stimulation was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Ganshu (BL 18), Tianzhu (BL 10) and Houxi (SI 3), Jiaji (EX-B 2), Taixi (KI 3), Shenmai (BL 62), Zusanli (ST 36), Shenshu (BL 23), etc once daily, 5 times a week, and two weeks altogether, except the weekend. In addition, for patients of the treatment group, herbal medicinal powder separated-fire dargon moxibustion was applied to the patient's back from GV14 and Fengmen (BL 12) on the top to Zhibian (BL 54) area at the buttock, once every 3 days, 5 times altogether. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to "CSR-20-points scale" including 3 aspects as neck-shoulder pain, upper-limb pain-numbness, finger numbness; working and daily life ability and physical conditions (Spurling tests, sensory, myodynamia and tendon reflex). RESULTS: ① After the treatment, CSR-20-points scores in both treatment and control groups were significantly increased in comparison with pre-treatment in each group (P<0.05), with the score being markedly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). ② Of the 40 and 50 cases in the control and the treatment group, 2 and 13 were cured, 14 and 24 experienced a remarkable improvement, 12 and 11 were effective, and 12 and 2 failed, with the total effective rates being 70.0%(28/40) and 96.0%(48/50), respectively. The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was notably better than that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with fire dragon moxibustion is superior to simple acupuncture therapy in improving clinical symptoms of patients with CSR of kidney-deficiency-cold type, being a recommendable scheme in clinical practice.

[Experimental study on effect of pre-acupuncture and moxibustion on molecular markers in pre-thrombosis state of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the best method for prevention and treatment of thrombosis and its mechanism. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an electroacupuncture group and a crude herb moxibustion group. In the electroacupuncture group and the crude herb moxibustion group. "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Geshu" (BL 17) were punctured or moxibusted for 2 weeks, then pre-thrombosis model was induced by Adrenalin Hydrochloride and ice water method in the model group, the electroacupuncture group and the crude herb moxibustion group, respectively. Molecular markers in venous blood after the model made in 18 hours were detected. RESULTS: Act: vaty of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and content of alpha-granule membrane protein (GMP-140) decreased and content of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) increased after electroacupuncture or crude herb moxibustion. The levels of t-PA and GMP-140 in the model group were higher than those in the electroacupuncture group, the crude herb moxibustion group and the blank group (all P < 0.05), and the content of NO in the model group was lower than those in the electroacupuncture group, the crude herb moxibustion group and the blank group (all P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in t- PA, GMP-140 and NO among the crude herb moxibustion group, electroacupuncture group and blank group (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture and crude herb moxibustion can significantly change the contents of t-PA, GMP-140 and NO and there was no significant difference between the two therapies.