OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of nape seven needles combined with pressing moxibustion for cervical vertigo (CV).
METHODS: A total of 70 patients with CV were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. In the observation group, nape seven needles combined with pressing moxibustion was delivered, once a day, 6 times a week, for consecutive 2 weeks. In the control group, betahistine hydrochloride tablet and aceclofenac dispersible tablet were given orally, for 2 weeks and 3 days respectively. Before and after treatment, the evaluation scale for cervical vertigo (ESCV) score was observed, the plasma levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) were detected, the hemorheologic and hemodynamic indexes were measured, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment in the two groups.
RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of dizziness, daily life and work ability, psychological and social adaptability, and headache, as well as the total scores of ESCV were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the two groups, and the score and total score of neck and shoulder pain of ESCV was increased compared with that before treatment (P<0.01) in the observation group; each sub-item score and total score of ESCV in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment, the plasma levels of NPY and ET-1 were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), while the plasma levels of CGRP were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the two groups; the plasma levels of NPY and ET-1 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), the plasma level of CGRP in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the whole blood high shear viscosity, plasma viscosity and whole blood low shear viscosity were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), the mean velocity of basilar artery (BA), left vertebral artery (LVA) and right vertebral artery (RVA) were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05) in the two groups; the whole blood high shear viscosity, plasma viscosity and whole blood low shear viscosity in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), and the mean velocity of BA, LVA and RVA in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 91.4% (32/35), which was superior to 71.4% (25/35) in the control group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Nape seven needles combined with pressing moxibustion can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms, and improve the hemorheology and hemodynamics in CV patients.
目的：观察项七针联合压灸治疗颈性眩晕（CV）的临床疗效。方法：将70例CV患者随机分为观察组和对照组，每组35例。观察组采用项七针联合压灸治疗，每日1次，每周6次，连续治疗2周。对照组予口服盐酸倍他司汀片（2周）和醋氯芬酸分散片（3 d）。分别于治疗前后观察两组患者颈性眩晕症状与功能评估量表（ESCV）评分，检测血浆神经肽Y（NPY）、内皮素-1（ET-1）、降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）含量及血液流变学、血流动力学指标，并于治疗后评定两组临床疗效。结果：治疗后，两组患者ESCV眩晕、日常生活及工作能力、心理及社会适应能力、头痛评分及总分较治疗前升高（P<0.01，P<0.05），观察组患者颈肩痛评分较治疗前升高（P<0.01）；观察组患者ESCV各项评分及总分均高于对照组（P<0.01，P<0.05）。治疗后，两组患者血浆NPY和ET-1含量较治疗前降低（P<0.01），血浆CGRP含量较治疗前升高(P<0.01，P<0.05)；观察组患者血浆NPY、ET-1含量低于对照组（P<0.01），血浆CGRP含量高于对照组（P<0.01）。治疗后，两组患者全血高切黏度、血浆黏度、全血低切黏度均较治疗前降低（P<0.01，P<0.05），基底动脉（BA）、左侧椎动脉（LVA）、右侧椎动脉（RVA）平均血流速度均较治疗前升高（P<0.05）；观察组患者全血高切黏度、血浆黏度及全血低切黏度均低于对照组（P<0.01），BA、LVA、RVA平均血流速度均高于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组总有效率为91.4%（32/35），高于对照组的71.4%（25/35，P<0.05）。结论：项七针联合压灸可有效减轻CV患者临床症状，改善血液流变学及血流动力学。.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of pressing moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) and Guanyuan (CV 4) combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets and donepezil hydrochloride tablets alone on cognitive impairment in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer\'s disease(AD), and to explore the mechanism of pressing moxibustion in the treatment of mild to moderate AD from the serum levels of β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42), microtubule-associated protein tau and phosphorylated tau (P-tau).
METHODS: A total of 76 patients with mild to moderate AD were randomly divided into an observation group (38 cases, 4 cases dropped out) and a control group (38 cases, 2 cases dropped out). Patients in the control group were given oral donepezil hydrochloride tablets (5 mg each time, once a day). On the basis of the control group, patients in the observation group were treated with pressing moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 5 cones per acupoint, once every other day, three times a week. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were compared between the two groups before treatment, after treatment and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment completion. The serum levels of Aβ1-42, tau and P-tau were detected before and after treatment in the two groups, and the safety was evaluated.
RESULTS: At each time point after treatment, the MMSE and MoCA scores of the two groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of Aβ1-42, tau and P-tau in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and above indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the safety level between the two groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The short-term and long-term effect of pressing moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) and Guanyuan (CV 4) combined with donepezil hydrochloride tablets in improving cognitive impairment in mild to moderate AD is better than that of donepezil hydrochloride tablets alone, and can reduce serum levels of Aβ1-42, tau and P-tau, which may be one of the mechanisms of pressing moxibustion to improve cognitive impairment.
目的: 比较压灸百会、关元联合盐酸多奈哌齐片与单纯盐酸多奈哌齐片治疗轻中度阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者认知障碍的临床疗效，从血清β淀粉样蛋白1-42（Aβ1-42）、微管相关蛋白tau、磷酸化tau（P-tau）水平探讨压灸治疗轻中度AD的机制。方法: 将76例轻中度AD患者随机分为观察组（38例，脱落4例）和对照组（38例，脱落2例）。对照组予口服盐酸多奈哌齐片（每次5 mg，每天1次）；观察组在对照组基础上予压灸百会、关元治疗，每次每穴施灸5壮，隔日1次，每周3次。两组均连续治疗8周。比较两组患者治疗前后及治疗结束后4、12周简易精神状态检查量表（MMSE）评分、蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评分，治疗前后血清Aβ1-42、tau、P-tau水平，并进行安全性评价。结果: 治疗后各时间点，两组患者MMSE、MoCA评分均较治疗前升高（P<0.05），且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后，两组患者血清Aβ1-42、tau、P-tau水平较治疗前降低（P<0.05），且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组患者安全等级比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论: 压灸百会、关元联合盐酸多奈哌齐片改善轻中度AD认知障碍的近远期疗效优于单纯盐酸多奈哌齐片，且可降低血清Aβ1-42、tau、P-tau水平，这可能是压灸改善认知障碍的机制之一。.

Through analyzing the origin and evolution of the thunder-fire moxibustion therapy, the mysteries and misunderstandings of it were revealed. As a result, a more objective and comprehensive recognition of this ancient therapy was displayed to the people nowadays. The thunder-fire moxibustion therapy maybe originate from the Taoism magic arts before the Yuan Dynasty and became matured in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. Two categories were divided during the long-term evolution in the history. In one category, the peach twig was taken as the moxa material rather than moxa stick and the incantation of Taoism remained. Regarding the other category, the herbal medicine was mixed in the moxa stick and the herbal composition was relatively specified. The incantation was removed. The moxibustion in the first category vanished at the end of the Ming Dynasty. The latter one kept on development from the middle of the Ming Dynasty through the modern times. Additionally, the herbal composition of moxa material has been modified; the indication enlarged and the operation improved. This therapy is still developed and applied by many doctors at the present times.