Clinical Study on Xiaoke Bi Foot Bath Prescription Combined with Catgut Embedment in Acupoint for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy with Cold Accumulation Causing Blood Stasis Syndrome
Abstract: Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Xiaoke Bi Foot Bath Prescription combined with catgut embedment in acupoint on diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)with cold accumulation causing blood stasis syndrome. Methods: A total of 89 cases of DPN patients with cold accumulation causing blood stasis syndrome treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2022 to March 2024 were selected and divided into the control group(44 cases)and the observation group(45 cases)according to the random number table method. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine ,and the observation group was treated with Xiaoke Bi Foot Bath Prescription combined with catgut embedment in acupoint. Both groups were treated for two months. The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores, nerve conduction velocity, blood glucose levels, serum indicators, Toronto Clinical Scoring System(TCSS)scores, and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI)scores before and after treatment as well as the clinical effects were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment,the total effective rate in the observation group was 91.11%(41/45),higher than 72.73%(32/44)in the control group(P<0.05). Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), with the observation group showing lower scores than the control group(P<0.05). The sensory nerve conduction velocity(SCV)and motor nerve conduction velocity(MCV)of the common peroneal nerve,tibial nerve,and median nerve in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), with the observation group showing faster SCV and MCV than the control group(P< 0.05). The levels of plasma glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and two-hour postprandial plasma glucose(P2hBG)in the two groups were reduced when compared with those before treatment(P< 0.05),with the observation group showing lower levels than the control group(P<0.05). The scores of TCSS and MNSI in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), with the observation group showing lower scores than the control group(P<0.05). The levels of serum Apelin and advanced glycation end products (AgEs)in the two groups were reduced when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), with the observation group showing lower levels than the control group(P<0.05). The levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05),with the observation group showing higher levels than the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Xiaoke Bi Foot Bath Prescription combined with catgut embedment in acupoint can reduce blood glucose levels in DPN patients with cold accumulation causing blood stasis syndrome,relieve clinical symptoms,improve nerve conduction funtion, promote nerve repair,and improve the body's inflammatory response.