OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different temperatures on cognitive function and blood glucose levels in patients with cognitive impairment associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A total of 66 T2DM patients with cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to a high-temperature group (22 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was eliminated), a medium-temperature group (22 cases, 2 cases were eliminated), and a low-temperature group (22 cases, 2 cases were eliminated). All groups received moxibustion at Baihui (GV20), Dazhui (GV14), and Shenting (GV24) based on their existing glycemic control treatment. Moxibustion temperatures were maintained at 44-46 ℃ (high-temperature group), 41-43 ℃ (medium-temperature group), and 38-40 ℃ (low-temperature group), respectively, for 20 min per session, every other day, 3 times a week for 3 months. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, short-term memory (STM) accuracy and average reaction time, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) score, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, MMSE scores in all three groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). In the high-temperature group, the total MoCA score and the scores of visuospatial and executive function, memory and delayed recall, attention, naming, language, and abstraction were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05); the scores of ROCF copy, immediate recall, and delayed recall were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05); the HbA1c level was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05). In the medium-temperature group, the total MoCA score and the scores of memory and delayed recall, attention, and language were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). STM accuracy was higher than before treatment (P<0.05), and STM average reaction time was shorter than before treatment (P<0.05) in both the high-temperature and medium-temperature groups. After treatment, the total MoCA score and the scores of visuospatial and executive function, memory and delayed recall, attention, and language in the high-temperature group were higher than those in the medium- and low-temperature groups (P<0.05); MMSE score, STM accuracy, and ROCF immediate recall and delayed recall scores were higher than those in the medium- and low-temperature groups (P<0.05); STM average reaction time was shorter than that in the medium- and low-temperature groups (P<0.05); HbA1c level was lower than that in the low-temperature group (P<0.05). The total MoCA score, attention score, and MMSE score in the medium-temperature group were higher than those in the low-temperature group (P<0.05), and STM average reaction time was shorter than that in the low-temperature group (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in FPG within or between the three groups before and after treatment (P>0.05). The total effective rates were 75.0% (15/20) in the high-temperature group, 50.0% (10/20) in the medium-temperature group, and 15.0% (3/20) in the low-temperature group; the total effective rate in the high-temperature group was significantly higher than that in the low-temperature group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Moxibustion at different temperatures has a dose-effect relationship in treating cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. A temperature range of 44-46 ℃ is more effective in improving cognitive function and stabilizing average blood glucose levels over 2-3 months.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Moxibustion ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology* ; Cognition ; Temperature ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Adult ; Acupuncture Points

Objective To compare the efficacies of electrothermal needle acupuncture versus nimesulide in treating knee osteoarthritis and the relieving effects of them on the pain and explore the possible mechanism of electrothermal needle treatment for knee osteoarthritis.Method Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to electrothermal needle and Western medicine groups, 40 cases each.The electrothermal needle group received electrothermal needle therapy and the Western medicine group took nimesulide sustained-release tablets.The therapeutic effects were compared after thecompletionof treatment.Therelieving effects of the two treatments on the pain were evaluated using the Pain Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).Serum SOD and MDA were measured in all the subjects before and after treatment.Result The marked efficacy rate and the total efficacy rate for knee osteoarthritis were higher in the electrothermal needle group than in the Western medicine group.There was no significant post-treatment difference in the VAS pain score between the electrothermal needle and Western medicine groups.After treatment, serum SOD increased and MDA decreased in the electrothermal needle group and they did not change significantly in the Western medicine group.Conclusion Electrothermal needle therapy can well relieve the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.Its relieving effect on the pain is equal to that of nimesulide.The mechanism of electrothermal needle treatment for knee osteoarthritis may be relatedto its improving bodilyoxidative stress levels.

Objective To compare the efficacy of ozone injection plus electrothermal acupuncture versus oral glucosamine and nimesulide in treating knee osteoarthritis and investigate the effects of the two treatments on the WOMAC total score and the pain, stiffness and physical function scores.Method Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to combination and Western medicine groups, 40 cases each. The combination group received a combined treatment with intra-articular ozone injection and electrothermal acupuncture and the Western medicine group took glucosamine hydrochloride and nimesulide sustained-release tablets. The WOMAC score was recorded in the patients before and after treatment. The therapeutic effects were evaluated using the WOMAC score. Result The control and marked efficacy rate of ozone injection plus electrothermal acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis was higher than that of Western medicine. The WOMAC score decreased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05) but decreased more in the combination group than in the Western medicine group (P<0.05). There were no significant post-treatment differences in the pain and stiffness scores between the combination and Western medicine groups (P>0.05). The physicalfunction score decreased more in the combination group than in the Western medicine group (P<0.05).Conclusion Ozone injection plus electrothermal acupuncture is more effective than Western medicine in treating knee osteoarthritis. It is more effective in improving knee function but not in relieving the pain and joint stiffness in comparison with Western medicine.