[Randomized controlled trial on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy of wind-cold-damp type treated with acupuncture and thunder-fire moxibustion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy of wind-cold-damp type and its impacts on the conduction velocity of F wave of median nerve and ulnar nerve, as well as hypersensitive C-responsive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in serum. METHODS: A total of 94 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy of wind-cold-damp type were randomly divided into a control group and a combined therapy group, 47 cases in each group. In the control group, acupuncture was applied to Fengchi (GV20), Tianzhu (BL10), Neck-Jiaji (EX-B5), Dazhui (GV14) and others, 30 min each time, once daily, 5 times a week, totally for 4 weeks. In the combined therapy group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, the thunder-fire moxibustion was adopted over GV20, EX-B5, GV14, Jianjing (ST21) and Tianzong (SI11), 20 min each time, once every other day, for 4 weeks in total. After the treatment, the curative effect was compared in the patients between two groups. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the neck specificity scale and the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) were scored. The conduction velocity of F wave in median nerve and ulnar nerve was detected by electromyography. The expression of hs-CRP was measured by immunoturbidimetry. IL-6, IL-1ß and TNF-α in serum were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the combined therapy group was 95.7% (45/47), which was higher than 80.9% (38/47) in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with their own pretreatment, the scores of SF-MPQ, neck specificity scale and SF-36 were all obviously improved after treatment in the patients of either group (P<0.05), while the conduction velocity of F wave in median nerve and ulnar nerve was accelerated and hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-1ß and TNF-α in serum were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the improvements in the scores of SF-MPQ, neck specificity scale and SF-36 were more obvious (P<0.05), the increase of the conduction velocity of F wave in median nerve and ulnar nerve and the decrease of hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-1ß and TNF-α in serum were more remarkable (P<0.05) in the combined therapy group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion relieves the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy of wind-cold-damp type.

Effects of different frequencies of electro-acupuncture at shuigou (GV 26) on recovery of motor function in rats with focal cerebral ischemic injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different frequencies of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26) on the latent period and wave amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in rats with focal cerebral infarction. METHODS: Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: controls, model, 2 Hz Shuigou, 50 Hz Shuigou and 100 Hz Shuigou. There were 10 rats in each group. Using a modification of a technique for middle cerebral artery occlusion, focal cerebral ischemic injury was induced in all rats except those in the control group. The rats in the control group received no treatment. After behavioral deficit had been evaluated using the Zausinger 6-point neurological function score, the rats in the Shuigou groups underwent acupuncture and continuous wave stimulation at a frequency of 2 Hz, 50 Hz or 100 Hz (intensity 1 mA) for 10 min twice daily for 3 days. The control and model groups underwent no intervention. Zausinger 6-point neurological function score and MEPs were measured 72 h after the start of treatment. RESULTS: The neurological function scores of the three Shuigou groups were significantly higher than those of the model group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between sides in the latency and amplitude of MEPs in the model group (P > 0.05). The latency on the affected side in the model group was significantly longer than that in the control group (P < 0.05) and the amplitude on affected side was significantly reduced (P < 0.01). After 3 days of electro-acupuncture, the latency on the affected side in the 2 Hz Shuigou group was significantly shortened (P < 0.05) and the amplitude was significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: Low frequency electro-acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26) can promote recovery of motor function after focal cerebral ischemic injury in rats.

[Effects of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou (DU26) point on motor evoked potential in rats with cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture at Shuigou (DU26) on latency and amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP) in rats after cerebral infarction. METHODS: Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups as normal group, untreated group, sham-operated group, non-acupoint group and Shuigou group, with 10 rats in each group. By using a modification of the technique of middle cerebral artery occlusion, focal cerebral ischemia injury was induced in rats except normal and sham-operated groups. Rats in the normal group received no treatment. Rats in the sham-operated group underwent identical experimental procedures as the other groups, except that the nylon suture was inserted into the internal carotid artery. After the behavioral deficit was evaluated by using Zausinger 6-point neurological function score, rats in the Shuigou group and non-acupoint group were separately acupunctured and stimulated by continuous-wave with 2 Hz frequency, 1 mA intensity, for 10 minutes, twice a day for 3 days. Non-acupoint was located at the left side 0.5 cm of the Shuigou point. No intervention was given to the other groups. Zausinger 6-point neurological function and MEP were measured after 72-hour treatment. RESULTS: The latency at the affected side in the untreated group was significantly longer than that in the normal group (P<0.05), and the amplitude at the affected side was significantly reduced (P<0.01). After 3-day electro-acupuncture, the latency at the affected side of rats in the Shuigou group was obviously shortened as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05), and the amplitude was significantly increased (P<0.05). The latency at the affected side in the Shuigou group was shorter than that in the non-acupoint group (P<0.05), and the amplitude tended to increase as compared with the non-acupoint group, but there were no significant differences (P>0.05). There were no significant differences on the latency and amplitude between the untreated group and non-acupoint group (P>0.05). The neurobehavioral score of the Shuigou group was significantly higher than those of the untreated group and non-acupoint group (P<0.05), and there were no significant differences between the untreated group and non-acupoint group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Electro-acupuncture at Shuigou can increase the latency and amplitude of MEP in rats after cerebral infarction.