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.

Effect of moxibustion on long-term memory in vascular dementia model rats

Objective: To observe the effects on spatial long-term memory in the rats with vascular dementia(VD)treated with moxibustion for resolving stasis and promoting meridian circulation.Methods: The modified 2-vascular occlusion(2-VO) method was used to prepare VD animal model. The rats were randomized into a sham-operation group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a western medication group, 15 rats in each one. In the moxibustion group, mild warm moxibustion was applied to"Bǎihuì(百会 GV 20)" "DàZhuī(大椎 GV 14)" and "Shéntíng(神庭 GV 24)". 20 min at each point, once a day, for 3 weeks consecutively. In the western medicaion group, mouse nerve growth factor(NGF) was injected intraperitoneally, 0.18 mL/kg, once a day, for 3 weeks consecutively. Morris water maze test was used, the time of the first passing platform, the frequency of passing-platform and swimming speed in120 s were determined of the rats in each group. Western blot were used to test the protein expressions of hippocampal Nestin and DCX.Results: At the end of three courses of treatment, compared with sham-operation group, the difference was not significant statistically in swimming speed in the model group, the moxibustion group and the western medication group separately(all P>0.05). Three days after modeling, the mean of escape latency was prolonged obviously in the modeled rats compared with the rats in the shamoperation group(88.84 ± 19.94 vs 18.15 ±9.41, P< 0.01). At the end of three courses of treatment, compared with the sham-operation group(22.01 ± 10.07), the mean of escape latency was different statistically in the model group(89.18± 19.70), the moxibustion group(37.21 ±13.31) and the western medication group separately(51.50± 16.15), all P<0.01. Compared with the model group, the mean of escape latency was shortened in the moxibustion group and western medication group respectively(37.21 ± 13.31 vs89.18 ± 19.70, 51.50 ± 16.15 vs 89.18 ± 19.70, both P< 0.01). Compared with the western medication group,there was no statistical significant difference in the mean of escape latency in the moxibustion group(37.21 ± 13.31 vs 51.50 ±16.15, P> 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the frequency of passing-platform was decreased in the model group(0.73 ±0.96 vs 2.60 ±1.45, P<0.01); compared with model group, the frequency of passing-platform was increased in the moxibustion group and the western medicine group and the statistically significant difference presented in the moxibustion group(2.06 ± 1.33 vs 0.73 ±0.96, P<0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, the time of first passing-platform was prolonged in the model group(87.86 ± 33.25 vs 36.13 +29.76, P< 0.01). Compared with the model group,the time of first passing-platform was shortened in the moxibustion group and the western medicine group respectively(49.53 ±29.48 vs 87.86 ± 33.25.P< 0.01; 58.98 ± 36.22 vs 87.86 ±33.25, P< 0.05). After three courses of treatment, compared with the sham-operation group, Nestin expression was reduced in the model group,(0.33 ±0.12 vs 0.51 ±0.02, P<0.05) and was increased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group respectively(1.33 ± 0.17 vs 0.51 ± 0.02. 1.39 ± 0.10 vs 0.51 ±0.02, both P< 0.01).Compared with the model group, Nestin expression was increased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group, respectively(1.33 ± 0.17 vs 0.33±0.12. 1.39±0.10 vs 0.33 ±0.12, both P< 0.01).Compared with the western medication group, the difference was not significant statistically in the moxibustion group(1.33±0.17 vs 1.39±0.10, P>0.05). After three courses of treatment, compared with the sham-operation group, DCX expression was decreased in the model group, but without significant difference(0.44±0.20 vs 0.51 ±0.26, P> 0.05), the expression was increased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group respectively(0.98±0.25 vs 0.51±0.26. P< 0.05; 1.11±0.43 vs 0.51 ±0.26,P<0.01). Compared with the model group, DCX expression was obviously increased in the moxibustion group and the western medication group(0.98 ± 0.25 vs 0.44 ± 0.20. 1.11 ± 0.43 vs 0.44 ± 0.20, both P<0.01). The difference in DCX expression was not statistically significant between the western medication group and the moxibustion group(0.98 ± 0.25 vs 1.11 ± 0.43. P> 0.05).Conclusion: Moxibustion apparently improves the long-term memory in VD rats.

Influence of moxibustion on NR2B and PKMζ after neural stem cell transplantation in the rats with vascular dementia

Objective:To observe the influence of moxibustion on learning and memory ability in the rats with vascular dementia(VD) and explore the potential effect mechanism.Methods:A total of 80 rats,screened by Morris water maze,were randomly divided into a shamoperation group,a model group,a neural stem cells(NSCs) group,a NSCs+piracetam group and a NSCs+moxibustion group,16 rats in each group.After corresponding treatments,Morris water maze and immunofluorescence technique were adopted to evaluate the therapeutic effect respectively.Results:Comparison among groups after modeling:compared with the sham-operation group,the escape latency was longer(P<0.01) and the times of crossing platform were reduced(P<0.01) in the rats of the model group.Comparison among groups after treatment:compared with the model group,the escape latency was shortened(P<0.01) and the times of crossing platform were increased(P<0.05) in the rats of the NSCs group.Compared with the NSCs group,the escape latency was shorter and the expressions of the hippocampus NR2B/EGFP and PKM ξ/EGFP expression level increased(all P<0.05) in the rats of the NSCs+piracetam group and the NSCs+moxibustion group(all P <0.05).Compared with the NSCs+piracetam group,the escape latency was shorter and the expressions of the hippocampus NR2B/EGFP and PKM ξ/EGFP expression level were higher in the rats of the moxibustion+NSCs group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Moxibustion improves the spatial learning and memory ability of the VD rats and promotes the reconstruction of neurogenesis and synaptic function,which may be related to the up-regulation of the expressions of hippocampus NR2B and PKMξ expressions.