Clinical Observation Of The Effect Of Moxa Tube Needle On Unstable Plaques In Carotid Atherosclerosis

Objective:To objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of the moxa tube needle method on unstable plaques of carotid atherosclerosis through a randomized control of the moxa tube needle observation group and the western medicine control group.Methods:Following the principles of clinical trial ethics,clinical trial design,and statistical principles,60 patients who met the inclusion criteria were collected and randomly divided into a control group(n=30)and an observation group(n=30).Both groups of patients received health education,and blood pressure,blood lipid,and blood glucose levels were regulated on time.Smoking and drinking were also monitored.On this basis,the control group was treated with aspirin enteric-coated tablets,100mg/time,once a day,and atorvastatin calcium tablets,20mg/time,once a day,both taken continuously for 4 weeks.The observation group was treated with moxa tube needle method based on the control group,with acupuncture points including bilateral Zusanli,Sanyinjiao,Fengchi,Fenglong,Quchi,Neiguan,and Gongxue.The needles were left in place for 30 minutes,once a day for 6 days a week,with 1 day of rest,and continuous treatment for 4 weeks.The changes in the intima-media thickness,plaque thickness,plaque echo,blood lipid indicators(TG,TC,HDL-C,LDL-C),hemorheological,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer(DD),and homocysteine(HCY)of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were observed,and patients were followed up for 3 months after the treatment to inquire about the development and changes of carotid artery plaques.Statistical software was used to perform statistical analysis on the above data.Results:1.The baseline data comparison between the control group and the observation group: there was no statistically significant difference(P>0.05)in gender,age,risk factors,underlying diseases,IMT,plaque thickness,plaque echo properties,lipid levels(TC,TG,HDL,LDL),hemorheological parameters(whole blood viscosity,plasma viscosity,hematocrit),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,fibrinogen,D-dimer,and homocysteine between the two groups.The two groups were comparable.2.IMT: The carotid IMT values before and after treatment in the control group were not statistically significant(P>0.05);however,the carotid IMT values before and after treatment in the observation group were statistically significant(P<0.01).There was also statistical significance in the comparison of IMT values between the two groups after treatment(P<0.01).3.Plaque thickness: There was no statistically significant difference in plaque thickness before and after treatment in the control group(P>0.05),but there was statistically significant difference in the observation group(P<0.05).There was also statistical significance in the comparison of plaque thickness between the two groups after treatment(P<0.01).4.Echo properties of plaques: in the control group,0(0%)plaques disappeared,7(15.55%)hard plaques,22(48.89%)soft plaques and 16(35.56%)mixed plaques;in the observation group,0(0%)plaques disappeared,16(34.04%)hard plaques,26(55.32%)soft plaques and 5(10.64%)mixed plaques.The overall comparison of the number of stable and regressed plaques and unstable plaques was statistically different(P<0.05).5.Lipid profile: TG,TC,and LDL-C levels in both observation and control groups showed significant reductions after treatment compared to before treatment(P<0.01),while HDL-C levels showed a significant increase(P<0.01).There was a statistically significant difference in TG,TC,LDL-C,and HDL-C levels between the two groups after treatment(P<0.01).6.Hemorheology: High shear viscosity,medium shear viscosity,low shear viscosity,plasma viscosity,and hematocrit levels in both observation and control groups showed significant reductions after treatment compared to before treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01);there was a statistically significant difference in high shear viscosity,medium shear viscosity,low shear viscosity,plasma viscosity,and hematocrit levels between the two groups after treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01).7.High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: There was a statistically significant difference in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels before and after treatment in both the observation and control groups(P<0.01),and there was a statistically significant difference in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels between the two groups after treatment(P<0.05).8.Fibrinogen: There was a statistically significant difference in fibrinogen levels before and after treatment in both the observation and control groups(P<0.01),and there was a statistically significant difference in fibrinogen levels between the two groups after treatment(P<0.05).9.D-dimer: There was a statistically significant difference in D-dimer levels before and after treatment in both the observation and control groups(P<0.01),and there was a statistically significant difference in D-dimer levels between the two groups after treatment(P<0.05).10.Homocysteine: There was a statistically significant difference in homocysteine levels before and after treatment in both the observation and control groups(P<0.01),and there was a statistically significant difference in homocysteine levels between the two groups after treatment(P<0.01).Conclusion:1.Moxa tube needle have a certain degree of improvement in carotid intima-media thickness,plaque thickness,plaque stability,lipid profile,hemorheology,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein,fibrinogen,D-dimer,and homocysteine levels in patients with unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques.2.On the basis of atorvastatin calcium and aspirin,the addition of moxa tube needle can better promote the stability and regression of carotid atherosclerotic unstable plaque.