ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of long-snake moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion at point on nonspecific low back pain (NLBP) with symptom of cold and dampness.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients were randomized into a long-snake moxibustion group, an ashi point group and a waiting for treatment group, 40 cases in each one. Ginger-partitioned moxibustion was applied from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2) of governor vessel in the long-snake moxibustion group, and was applied at point of affected area in the ashi point group, 40 min each time, once every other day and totally 8 times were required. No intervention was adopted in the waiting for treatment group, and after the trial, long-snake moxibustion was applied. Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of rest and activity, the Oswestry disability index (ODI) score and the score of cold and dampness symptom were observed in the 3 groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the VAS scores of rest and activity, the ODI scores and the scores of cold and dampness symptom after treatment were decreased in the long-snake moxibustion group and the ashi point group (<0.05). After treatment, the variations of the above indexes in the long-snake moxibustion group and the ashi point group were larger than those in the waiting for treatment group (<0.05), and the variations of the above indexes in the long-snake moxibustion group were larger than those in the ashi point group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Long-snake moxibustion can effectively improve the pain, dysfunction and the symptom of cold and dampness in patients with nonspecific low back pain, and the improvement is superior to the ginger-partitioned moxibustion at point.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Low Back Pain , Therapeutics , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , MoxibustionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on indocyanine green (ICG) metabolism in the liver and the action mechanism of acupuncture for hepatic regulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Kunming mice were randomly divided into an EA group and a control group, 20 cases in each one. Combined with classical hepatic metabolism test of ICG, after tail vein injection of ICG, twenty mice were treated with EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 20 min. The ICG fluorescence intensity and distribution in the liver were observed with animal in vivo fluorescence imaging apparatus during 20 min of EA and 60 min of needle withdrawal. Twenty mice, taken as control group, were treated with ICG injection and no EA. The differences of fluorescence intensity and distribution in both groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) There was blocking and gathered fluorescent sign in both groups when ICG was injected immediately. With the extension of observation time, the fluorescence brightness and area were increased until 30 min of injection. This was in accordance with known metabolism activities of ICG in the liver. (2) At 10 min and 20 min of EA and after needle withdrawal, compared with the control group, the fluorescence intensity in the liver of the EA group was weaker and the distribution area was smaller. (3) According to quantitative statistics of fluorescence intensity, at each time point of treatment, the value in the control group was higher than that in the EA group, which appeared regularly all along. As for the total mean difference of ICG fluorescence intensity at all time points, there was statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA could reduce fluorescence intensity and lasting time of ICG, indicating that EA accelerates metabolic process of ICG in the liver. Also it is feasible to apply animal in vivo fluorescence imaging technology to the principle research of acupuncture effect.</p>