Objective To explore the efficacy of electroacupuncture and massage combined with Yaobi-Zhuyu-Zhitong decoction in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods A total of 100 LDH patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis type who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups, 50 in each group. The control group was treated with Yaobi-Zhuyu-Zhitong decoction, and the observation group was treated with electroacupuncture and massage on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The VAS scale was used to evaluate the degree of pain. The Japanese Orthopedic Association Scores (JOA) was used to evaluate the efficacy of low back pain. The Oswestry dysfunction index was used to evaluate the recovery of lumbar function, and the improvement of daily activities of patients after treatment was evaluated.Results After treatment, the VAS score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the JOA score was significantly higher than that of the control group (t value were 9.870, 8.214, P<0.01). The excellent and good rates of Oswestry dysfunction index before and after treatment in the observation group were 34.0％ (17/50) and 86.0％ (43/50), respectively, and the control group was 24.0％ (12/50) and 44.0％(22/50), respectively. The excellent rate of Oswestry dysfunction index in the two groups was significantly higher than that in the same group before treatment (χ2 values were 28.167, 4.456, P<0.01), and the observation group was significantly higher than the control group (χ2=19.385, P<0.001). The scores of daily activities such as walking, weight-bearing, sitting for a long time, bending over, washing, standing, sleeping and turning over in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t values were 3.689, 1.661, 3.621, 3.621, 3.300, 1.661, 1.461 respectively, all Ps<0.05). The total effective rate was 94.0％ (47/50) and the control group was 76.0％ (38/50). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=6.353, P=0.012). Conclusions Electroacupuncture and massage combined with Yaobi-Zhuyu-Zhitong decoction can improve the lumbar function, reduce the degree of lumbar pain, improve the quality of life of the LDH patients with qi stagnation and blood stasis type.

BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder characterized primarily by cognitive impairment.Acupuncture is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine therapy for treating Alzheimer's disease,but its mechanism is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"on the Notch signaling pathway,β-amyloid protein(Aβ)and synaptic plasticity in 5xFAD mice. METHODS:Sixteen male,6-month-old 5xFAD mice,SPF-grade,were randomly divided into the electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"group(electroacupuncture group)and the model group,with eight mice in each group.Eight SPF-grade,male,6-month-old C57BL/6 mice were used as the wild control(wild)group.The electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"intervention,5 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks.The model group and the wild group did not receive electroacupuncture intervention.The Morris water maze was used to preliminarily assess their learning and memory abilities.Thioflavin S staining was performed to detect Aβ plaque deposition.Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were used to measure the expression levels of transmembrane receptor protein Notch-1,Notch 1 intracellular domain(NICD),hairy and enhancer of split 1(Hes 1),hairy and enhancer of split 5(Hes 5),synaptophysin(SYN),postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),and Aβ. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group,the wild group and the electroacupuncture group showed shortened escape latency,increased platform crossing times,and longer target quadrant dwell time(P<0.05).Compared with the wild group,the model group had significantly increased deposition of Aβ plaques,while electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"inhibited the deposition of Aβ plaques in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice(P<0.05).Compared with the wild group,the model group had decreased mRNA levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue of mice,and increased mRNA levels of Aβ(P<0.05).Electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"increased the mRNA levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue,and decreased the mRNA level of Aβ(P<0.05).Compared with the Wild group,the model group had decreased protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5 in the hippocampal tissue of mice,and increased protein expression levels of Aβ(P<0.05).Electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"upregulated the protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,Notch 1,NICD,Hes 1,and Hes 5,and inhibited the protein expression of Aβ(P<0.05).To conclude,electroacupuncture with"Zhi San Zhen"can improve the learning and memory abilities of 5xFAD mice,possibly by inhibiting the deposition of Aβ protein and activating the Notch signaling pathway in the hippocampus to enhance synaptic plasticity.