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.

[Observation of the long-term clinical efficacy of "Fuyang Guben" acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on perennial allergic rhinitis and its effects on the total IgE and IL-4 in the serum]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of "Fuyang Guben" (supporting yang and consolidating root) acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and to explore its functioning mechanism.

METHODS

The patients with PAR were randomly divided into acupuncture + western medicine group (n=30) and western medicine group (n=30). In the western medicine group, fluticasone propionate nasal spray was administered, one spray in each nostril in one treatment, once a day, for 6 weeks. On the basis of the western medicine group, fuyangguben acupuncture-moxibustion therapy was supplemented. Acupuncture was applied to Shangxing (GV23), Yintang (GV24+), and bilateral Yingxiang (LI20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN8), Sibai (ST2), Hegu (LI4) and Chize (LU5); warm needling was applied at Dazhui (GV14). The patients of this group received 30 min of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy 3 times weekly during the first 4 weeks and twice a week in the last 2 weeks, totally for 6 weeks. Before treatment, after treatment, in week 10, 18 and 30 of follow-up visits, the reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS), the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS), the total ophthalmic symptom score (TOSS), and the score of the rhinitis quality of life (RQLQ) scale were compared in the patients of the two groups separately. Using ELISA, the serum concentrations of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected before and after treatment.

RESULTS

After treatment, the rTNSS, TNNSS, TOSS, as well as RQLQ score were lower in comparison with those before treatment in each group (P<0.05).The rTNSS, TNNSS, TOSS and the score of RQLQ in the week 10, 18 and 30 of follow-up visits were reduced when compared with those before treatment in each group (P<0.05), and these scores in the acupuncture + western medicine group were remarkably lower than those of the western medicine group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum contents of total IgE and IL-4 were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment in the acupuncture + western medicine group (P<0.05), and these indicators in the acupuncture + western medicine group were lower than those of the western medicine group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

On the base of treatment with fluticasone propionate nasal spray, "Fuyang Guben" acupuncture-moxibustion therapy is safe and effective on PAR, presenting a remarkably long-term efficacy. The functioning mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of total IgE and IL-4 in serum.

[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.

[Professor YANG Jun's experience in treatment of refractory facial paralysis based on acupuncture manipulation]

To summarize professor YANG Jun's experience in treatment of refractory facial paralysis by different acupuncture manipulation. Professor YANG Jun believes that refractory facial paralysis has prolonged course, qi and blood deficiency and collaterals injury after a long illness, and it is difficult to obtain obvious curative effect with routine acupuncture. Aimed at the etiology, pathogenesis and characteristics of disease, professor YANG Jun adopts 3 kinds of acupuncture manipulations, such as "penetration needling with long needle" "pulling technique exert after needle stuck" "contralateral-balance needling on the healthy side", to relieve deviation.

[Electroacupuncture improves learning-memory ability in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment via inhabitating proinflammatory cytokine production through p38 MAPK and STAT3 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway in hippocampus and frontal cortex of diabetic rats with cognitive impairment (CI), as well as the mechanism of EA in protection against CI in diabetic rats.

METHODS

Thirty SD rats were divided into normal, model and EA groups (n=10 rats/group). The diabetic model was established by i.p.injection of Streptozotocin solution(25 mg/kg), followed by high-fat diet raising for 1 month, and the CI rats was confirmed by Morris water maze tasks. The rats in the EA group were given acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST36) "Neiting" (ST44) and "Yishu" (EX-B3) 20 min/d, among which ST36 and ST44 were treated with EA. The treatment was conducted 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) contents were assayed by glucometer before and after treatment. The rats' learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze tasks. The expression levels of IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α、p38 MAPK、p-p38 MAPK、STAT3 and p-STAT3 in hippocampus and frontal cortex were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, separately. The mean fluorescence intensity of p38 MAPK and STAT3 was observed by immunofluorescence histochemistry.

RESULTS

After modeling, FBG and the escape latency of Morris water maze tasks were significantly increased in the model group compared with the normal group (P<0.001, P<0.01). Following EA treatment, the increased FBG and average escape latency were markedly reversed in the EA group relevant to the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the proteins and mRNAs expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in hippocampus and frontal cortex were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.001), as well as the mean fluorescence intensity of p38 MAPK and STAT3 in hippocampus and frontal cortex (P<0.001). Following EA intervention, the proteins and mRNAs expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, STAT3 and p-STAT3, and the mean fluorescence intensity of p38 MAPK and STAT3 in hippocampus and frontal cortex were down-regulated(P<0.001, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

EA can inhibit the over production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in diabetic rats with CI, possibly by regulating the expression of p38 MAPK and STAT3 pathway.