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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) between the modified acupuncture and the routine acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9) as well as the impacts on the concentrations of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and urotensinⅡ(UⅡ) in the patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 160 patients were divided into a modified bilateral acupuncture group, a modified unilateral acupuncture group, a routine bilateral acupuncture group and a routine unilateral acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one according to the random number table. In the modified bilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the modified unilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine bilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine unilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). The treatment was given once every day, continuously for 6 days as one course. Two courses of treatment were required at the interval of 1 day. In each group, before and after treatment, we observed the peak systolic blood flow velocity (Vs) of the vertebral artery (VA) and the basilar artery (BA), cervical vertigo symptoms and functional assessment scales (ESCV) and the concentration of plasma NPY and UⅡ. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was 90.0% (36/40), which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the modified unilateral acupuncture group, 77.5% (35/40) in the routine bilateral acupuncture group and 65.0% (26/40) in the routine unilateral acupuncture group (all <0.05). After treatment, Vs of VA and BA was improved remarkably in every group (all <0.01), and the result in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was higher than those in the other groups (all <0.01). After treatment, ESCV scores were all increased remarkably in every group (all <0.01). ESCV score and improvement index in the modified bilateral acupuncture group were all higher than those in the other groups (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the concentrations of plasma NPY and UⅡ were all reduced remarkably in every group (all <0.01) and the differences were significant among the groups (all <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The modified bilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) effectively regulates the blood supply of the vertebral basilar artery and improves the cerebral circulation. The effects are superior to those of the unilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9).</p>
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Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Methods , Neuropeptide Y , Blood , Spondylosis , Blood , Therapeutics , Urotensins , Blood , Vertebral ArteryABSTRACT
Objective To compare the therapeutic effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation at the acupoints with that of conventional Western medication among patients with post-stroke insomnia,and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods Totally 120 stroke survivors with insomnia were randomly divided into an intervention group,a medication group and a placebo group,each of 40.The intervention group received low-frequency electrical stimulation at the Dazhui and Shenshu acupoints once a day for 30 consecutive days.The medication group received 1 mg estazolam capsules and the placebo group took 1 mg starch capsules.The average levels of plasma dopamine (DA) of the 3 groups were compared before and after the intervention and therapeutic efficacy was estimated.Results After the intervention,the total effective rate of the intervention group was 95％ (38/40).For the medication group it was 92.5％ (37/40) and for the placebo group it was 17.9％ (7/39).The former two treatments were significantly more effective than no treatment (the placebo).There was no significant change in the average level of plasma DA before and after the treatment in the placebo group,but significant improvement was observed in the other two groups.There was no significant difference in plasma DA between the two treatment groups after the treatment.Conclusion Low-frequency electrical stimulation at acupoints is safe and equally as effective as estazolam for treating post-stroke insomnia.Both may alleviate post-stroke insomnia by increasing plasma DA levels.
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Objective To investigate the effects of motor imagery therapy combined with scalp acupuncture on balance and walking abilities in hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods A total of 120 patients with post-stroke hemiparesis were randomly divided into 3 groups,each of 40 cases.All patients were given basic medication and conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the motor imagery group accepted motor imagery therapy,the scalp acupuncture group received scalp acupuncture,and the treatment group was provided with the above both for 6 weeks.The 10 m maximum walking speed (10 m MWS),Berg balance scale (BBS),functional ambulation classification (FAC) and timed up and go test (TUGT) were conducted to evaluate balance and gait abilities before and after the intervention.Results There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in any of the assessments (P ＞ 0.05) before intervention (P ＞ 0.05).After six weeks' intervention,all measurements of the 3 groups were significantly better than those before that (P ＜ 0.05),and the effects of the treatment group were significantly better than those of the other 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Motor imagery therapy combined with scalp acupuncture can distinctly improve the balance and walking abilities in hemiplegic stroke survivors,superior to the effect of solely motor imagery therapy or scalp acupuncture.
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Objective To study the effect of group rehabilitation therapy on upper limb and hand function in hemiplegic patients after stroke.Methods Sixty-four stroke survivors with hemiplegia were randomly divided into a group rehabilitation group (GG) (32 cases) and a control group (CG) (32 cases).All patients in both groups were given basic medication and conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the patients in CG were given routine upper limb function training,while the patients in GG were provided with the group rehabilitation therapy.Before and after eight weeks of training,the upper limb function and hand function of both groups were measured using the up-per-extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA-UE) and upper extremities functional test (UEFT).Abilities of daily living were measured using the modified Barthel index (MBI).Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS).Results Before intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the assessments (P ＞ 0.05).At the end of training,all measurements in both groups were significantly better than those before training (P ＜ 0.05),and the UEFT,MBI,SAS and SDS scores were significantly better in GG than in the CG (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The group rehabilitation therapy,in addition to routine training,can improve the upper extremity function,hand function and abilities of daily living,and alleviate anxiety and depression in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
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Objective To study the effect of motor imagery therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation treatment on walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.Methods Eighty patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were randomly divided into a treatment group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases).All the patients in both groups were given basic medication and conventional rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the patients in treatment group were given motor imagery therapy.The 10 m maximum walking speed (10 m MWS),stride length,cadence,Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (lower limb) (FMA-L) and Holden's functional ambulation classification (FAC) were used to evaluate walking ability before the beginning of training and at the end of six weeks of training.Results Before intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of all the assessment (P ＞0.05).At the end of training,all measurements in both groups [the treatment group:10 m MWS (0.53 ± 0.20)m/s,stride length (78.91 ± 20.46) cm,cadence (78.10 ± 12.03) min,FMA-L (24.13 ±5.77),FAC (3.60±1.01);the control group:10 m M WS (0.42 ±0.15)m/s,stride length (69.75 ± 18.31)cm,cadence (71.14±9.29)/min,FMA-L (20.65 ±4.70),FAC (2.93 ±0.89)] were significantly better than those before training (P ＜ 0.05),and the improvements in treatment group were significantly better than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Motor imagery therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation treatment can distinctly improve the walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.
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Objective To investigate the effect of motor imagery therapy supplemented with scalp acupuncture for improving the lower limb motor function of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods A total of 120 hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group with 60 patients in each.All were given routine medical care and scalp acupuncture (stimulating the posterior and anterior oblique line of the parietal-temporal lobe contralateral to the hemiplegic limb).The treatment was given daily for 3 weeks as one session,and 2 sessions were administered to both groups.The experimental group was given motor imagery therapy in addition.Each treatment took about 25 min every day for 3 weeks as one session,and again 2 consecutive sessions were administered.The temporal and spatial gait parameters (10m maximum walking speed,stride length and cadence) of all of the patients were assessed,the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-L) was conducted and functional ambulation classifications (FACs) were assigned before therapy and at the end of the 6 weeks.Results After 6 weeks of treatment,all of the measures had improved significantly for both groups.The experimental group,however,had improved significantly more than the control group.Conclusion Motor imagery therapy can supplement scalp acupuncture to improve lower limb motor function in hemiplegic stroke patients.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of scalp-acupuncture on intelligence in patients with vascular dementia (VaD). METHODS: A total of 108 VaD patients were randomly divided into two groups: scalp-acupuncture group and Western medicine group. The scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blesse Dementia Scale (BDS), Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS), Abilities of Daily Life (ADL) before and after treatment in the two groups were detected. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients completed the treatment. The scores of MMSE, BDS and HDS in the two groups were significantly increased, and the ADL scores significantly declined (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp-acupuncture therapy could improve the clinical intelligence level of VaD patients.