The Study On BOLD-fMRI Of Acupoint Catgut-Embedding On Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

ObjectiveTo observe the changes of brain functional activity and the efficacy of acupoint catgut-embedding treatment in PMOP patients according to ALFF and ReHo results in BOLD-fMRI of PMOP patients.To explore the central nervous response characteristics of acupoint catgut-embedding in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,15 eligible postmenopausal osteoporosis patients were recruited as the clinical treatment group,with 10 healthy perimenopausal women taken as healthy control group.Patients in the clinical treatment group received acupoint catgut-embedding treatment once every 2 weeks for 3 months.Bone mineral density,BOLD-fMRI scan,Short-Form of McGill Pain Questionnaire(SF-MPQ)and Osteoporosis Symptom Score Questionnaire would be performed before and after the 3-month-treatment.Healthy control group received no treatment.Relevant statistical software was used to analyze the evaluation and test results.Results1.22 patients were included in the study,15 in the clinical treatment group,3 cases dropped out,and 10 cases in the healthy control group.Finally,12 cases in the clinical treatment group and 10 cases in the healthy control group were included in the statistical analysis.2.The baseline data and disease-related data of the clinical treatment group and the healthy control group were balanced and comparable(P>0.05).3.Compared with the healthy control group,PMOP patients had significantly increased SF-MPQ profile scores and osteoporosis symptom scores,and decreased bone mineral density(P<0.05).In clinical treatment group,the ALFF values of vermis cerebelli,bilateral calcarine fissure,left superior cerebellum,left gyrus lingualis,left gyri occipitales superiores and the ReHo values of right rectus,right superior cerebellum,left occipital gyri,right gyrus lingualls,left middle occipital gyrus decreased(P<0.05).The ALFF values of right superior frontal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus and the ReHo values of right central sulcus,right middle frontal gyrus,right gyrus frontalis inferior increased(P<0.05).4.After 3 months of treatment,PMOP patients had significantly decreased SF-MPQ profile scores and osteoporosis symptom scores(P<0.05).Their bone mineral density increased(P>0.05).The ALFF values of right superior temporal gyrus,bilateral middle orbitofrontal gyrus,bilateral superior frontal gyrus,left medial superior frontal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus and the ReHo values of left olfactory cortex,left inferior temporal gyrus,left superior temporal gyrus,left opercularis inferior frontal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus,left inferior occipital gyrus,left rectus decreased.The ALFF values of right precuneus,right calcarine,left posterior cingutate,right medial cingutate,bilateral cerebellum and the ReHo values of left anterior central gyrus,right supramarginal gyrus,right precuneus,left posterior cingutate increased(P<0.05).Conclusion1.Acupoint catgut-embedding treatment can improve the symptoms,emotional state and disease severity of PMOP patients.It can also improve their BMD results to some extent.It is an effective CAM therapy for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.2.Postmenopausal Osteoporosis is related to the temporal lobe,frontal lobe,occipital lobe,and cerebellum.The cerebellum,superior occipital gyrus,middle occipital gyrus,middle occipital gyrus,and frontal lobe are related to brain areas of exercise,pain,and emotion.It may be the performance characteristics of brain function in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.3.Acupoint catgut-embedding treatment can significantly restrain functional activity of superior temporal gyrus,posterior central gyrus,superior frontal gyrus.These brain regions related to response inhibition,emotional control.Acupoint catgut-embedding treatment can also enhance functional activity of brain regions related to Default Mode Network.These kinds of specific regulation may be feature of the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with acupoint catgut-embedding.The neural activity regulation of hypothalamus-limb-frontal network may be one of the principles of acupoint catgut-embedding treatment for PMOP.