[Effects of fast-twisting long-retaining acupuncture therapy on apoptosis and expression of related proteins in vestibular nucleus in rats with vertigo induced by posterior circulation ischemia].

Objective: To observe the effects of fast-twisting long-retaining (FTLR) acupuncture therapy on apoptosis of vestibular nucleus and expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in rats with vertigo induced by posterior circulation ischemia.

Methods: A total of 70 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a medication group, a regular acupuncture group and a FTLR acupuncture group, 14 rats in each group. The rats in the model group, medication group, regular acupuncture group and FTLR acupuncture group were intervented with surgical ligation of the right common carotid artery (CCA) and the right subclavian artery (SCA) to establish the model of vertigo induced by posterior circulation ischemia; in the sham operation group, the right CCA and the right SCA were separated without ligation.

[Effect of acupuncture needle-retention duration at Baihui (GV 20) and sishencong (EX-HN 1) on blood pressure in hypertension patients].

Objective: To observe the effect of needle-retention duration at Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) on blood pressure in hypertension patients.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into acupuncture group and medication group. For patients of the acupuncture group, single-use sterilized filiform needles were inserted into Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and manipulated for about 10 s till "Deqi", and retained for 8 h.