[Review and thinking of fifth national clinical skill competition of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina].

Through the review and summary of the 5th national clinical skill competition of acupuncture-moxibustion and tuina, it is recognized that the strict security of training, the concentrated training items, active competition of training and the diversity of training patterns are the keys of achievement. Besides, the suggestions are proposed in terms of tuina manipulations and the recitation content of classic in competition. It hopes that the competition greatly play its role in promoting learning, teaching and education construction.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and Tau protein in hippocampus of SAMP8 mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) on learning-memory ability, changes of ultrastructure of neurons and expression of CDK5 and Tau proteins in hippocampus of SAMP8 mice，so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of Alzheimer's disease (AD)．. METHODS: A total of 45 male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model, EA and MA groups, with 15 mice in each group. The other 15 SAMR1 mice were used as the normal group. In the EA group, EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Shenshu"(BL23) and manual acupuncture was applied to "Baihui"(GV20) for 20 min. In the MA group, MA was applied to GV20 and bilateral BL23 for 20 min. Both group were treated once a day for 31 days, and with an interval of one day between every two 7 days. Morris water maze was performed to assess the animals' learning-memory ability. The morphological changes of hippocampal neurons were observed under transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of CDK5, p25 and Tau-5 proteins in the hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, separately. RESULTS: ①Compared with the normal group, the average escape latency of Morris water maze test was prolonged in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant and the number of original platform crossing were significantly shorter and less respectively (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the average escape latency in the EA group was shortened (P<0.05, P <0.01), the duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant and the number of original platform crossing were significantly prolonged and increased (P<0.01); The average escape latency in the MA group was shortened (P<0.05, P <0.01)，and the duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant was prolonged (P<0.05). Compared with the EA group, the average escape latency of the MA group was prolonged (P<0.05), the duration of swimming in the original platform quadrant was shortened(P<0.05). ②Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area had irregular shape and vague structure, reduction in size and number of mitochondria accompanied with swelling, and malformed changes of mitochondrial crest in the model group, which was relatively milder in both EA and MA groups. ③The expression levels of hippocampal Tau-5, p25 and CDK5 proteins were significantly up-regulated in the model group in contrast to the normal group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and obviously down-regulated in both EA and MA groups relevant to the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the EA group, the expression levels of p25 and CDK5 proteins were significantly increased in the MA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of BL23 can improve the learning-memory ability in SAMP8 mice, which is associated with its effect in down-regulating the expression of hippocampal CDK5, p25 and Tau-5 proteins.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of round-sharp needle of new nine-needle and elongated needle for piriformis syndrome with triple puncture method].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy differences between round-sharp needle of new nine-needle and elongated needle for piriformis syndrome, and explore its action mechanism. METHODS: Eighty cases were randomly divided into a round-sharp needle of new nine-needle group (round-sharp needle group) and an elongated needle treatment group (elongated needle group), 40 cases in each group. The round-sharp needle group was treated with round-sharp needle (0.60 mm x 125 mm) at three points in piriformis with triple puncture method, while the elongated needle group was treated with elongated needle of ordinary specifications (0.32 mm x 125 mm) at three points in piriformis with triple puncture method. Besides, the two groups were also treated with routine acupuncture at Weizhong (BL 40) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), 3 times every week, 2 weeks as one course of treatment. After one course of treatment, the clinical effect was evaluated and the pain threshold values were measured before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the round-sharp needle group was 92.5% (37/40), which was superior to 77.5% (31/40) in the elongated needle group (P < 0.05). Compared before treatment, the pain threshold values after treatment in two groups were improved significantly (both P < 0.01). The increment of pain threshold value in the round-sharp needle group was higher than that in the elongated needle group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Round-sharp needle of new nine-needle is effective in treatment of piriformis syndrome and is better than ordinary elongated needle, which is related to that it can effectively increase pain threshold value of the local tissue.