Clinical Study on the Specificities of Needling Manipulation in Point-toward-point Needling at Scalp Acupoints for Acute Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the efficacy difference between different needling manipulations in treating acute stroke with point-toward-point needling at scalp acupoints, for seeking the optimal treatment protocol. Method Ninety patients with acute stroke were randomized into a manual needling group, an electroacupuncture group, and a needle-retaining group, 30 cases each. In addition to the neurological treatment, the three groups were all given point-toward-point needling from Baihui (GV20) to Taiyang (EX-HN5) on the affected side, respectively with manual twisting, electroacupuncture and needle retaining methods. Before and after 14-day treatment, the Neurological Deficit Score (NDS), level of neuron specific enolase (NSE) and total efficacy were compared among the three groups. Result The NDS dropped significantly in the three groups after the intervention (P<0.05); the manual needling group showed the most significant improvement, better than the electroacupuncture group and needle retaining group. The level of NSE declined significantly in the three groups after the intervention (P<0.05); the decrease in the manual needling group was the most significant compared to that in the electroacupuncture group and needle retaining group. The total effective rate in the manual needling group (90.0%) was significantly higher than that in the electroacupuncture group and needle retaining group (P<0.05). Conclusion Point-toward-point needling at scalp acupoints with manual operation can effectively improve the neurological deficit in stroke patients, and the application of needling manipulations can further enhance the therapeutic efficacy, which is specific.

Professor Dong Gui-rong's experiences in treatment of child cerebral palsy / 中国针灸

According to the characteristics of the etiology and pathogenesis of child cerebral palsy, on the basis of "regulating the mind in treatment of all kinds of diseases" and "regulating the functions of five zang organs with back-shu points", Professor DONG Gui-rong applied the penetrating needling technique on the scalp points and acupuncture at back-shu points of five zang organs in the treatment of child cerebral palsy. The valuable clinical experiences have been summarized as "regulating the mind with scalp needling technique, benefiting the brain and opening the orifice", "regulating five zang organs with back-shu points" and "integration of acupuncture and rehabilitation, and function reconstruction". Two effective cases were introduced.

Clinical safety research of penetrating acupuncture at the head points for cerebral hemorrhage at the acute stage / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the safety of penetrating acupuncture at the head points for cerebral hemorrhage at the acute stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of cerebral hemorrhage at the acute stage were selected and randomized into a western medication group and a head-point group, 30 cases in each one. In the western medication group, the anti-cranial pressure and anti-blood pressure program was administered with the conventional intravenous infusion of Sodium Nitroprusside, Mannite, etc. In the head-point group, on the basis of the treatment as the western medication group, the penetrating acupuncture at the head points was supplemented. For consciousness disturbance, Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Benshen (GB 13) and penetrating needling from Shenting (GV 24) to Shangxing (GV 23) were selected. For headache, the penetrating needling was adopted from Shangxing (GV 23) to Yintang (EX-HN 3) and from Fengchi (GB 20) to Fengchi (GB 20). For disturbance of urination and defecation, the penetrating needling was adopted from Baihui (GV 20) to Sishencong (EX-HN 1). For aphasia, the penetrating needling was adopted from Fengfu (GV 16) to Yamen (GV 15), etc. For facial paralysis, the penetrating needling from Dicang (ST 4) to Jiache (ST 6) and Xiaguan (ST 7) were selected. For paralysis, the penetrating needling was adopted from Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5), etc. Before and after treatment, the changes in cerebral hemorrhagic volume, the results of blood, urine and stool routine examination, the situations of the life indices such as heart, liver and kidney functions, blood pressure, respiration and heart rate were observed, as well as the impacts on ECG.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cranial CT sania cn indicated that the rate of the basic and significant absorption of hematoma was 80.0% (24/30) in the head-point group, which was superior to 56.7% (17/30) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). Before and after treatment, the results of blood, urine and stool routine examination and the life indices such as blood pressure, respiration and heart rate were all in the normal scope for the patients in the head-point group (all P > 0.05). There were no any abnormal changes in liver and kidney functions. In the head-point group, the abnormality rate of ECG was lower obviously than that in the western medication group [16.7% (5/30) vs 43.3% (13/30), P < 0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The penetrating acupuncture at the head points is safe in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage at the acute stage.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of Tongluo Guben needling method for lumbar disc herniation / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECT</b>To explore the better treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirty-two cases of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, sixty-six cases in each group. In observation group, Baihui (GV 20) penetrating to Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30) and Chengfu (BL 36) etc. on affect side were applied; in control group, Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Huantiao (GB 30) and Chengfu (BL 36) etc. on affect side were applied. Once a day, 6 treatments made one session and one day break between courses. The curative effects after 4 and 8 courses and the recurrence rate that 6 months after treatment were observed; the pain scale evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cured rate and total effective rate were 44.3% (27/61) and 100.0% (61/61) in observation group, 26.7% (16/60) and 93.3% (56/60) in control group after 4 courses; there were significant differences between two groups (all P < 0.05). After 8 courses, the cured rate and total effective rate were no significant differences between two groups (all P > 0.05). In observation group, the recurrence rate was 9.4% (5/53) 6 months after treatment, which was lower than that (24.1%,13/54) in control group (P < 0.05). The VAS and ODI scale were significantly reduced (all P < 0.05) after treatment, and which in observation group were inferior to those in control group (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The lumbar intervertebral disc herniation treated with puncture by opening meridian and consolidating origin is rapidly effected with low recurrence rate.</p>

Observation on specificity of acupuncture location in treatment of acute apoplexy by scalp penetration needling / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effects of scalp penetration acupuncture and conventional scalp acupuncture for treatment of acute apoplexy, to seek the effective location and mechanism of scalp acupuncture treatment for acute apoplexy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of the apoplexy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Basis on the neurological treatment, the observation group was treated with penetration needling through Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5) on the affected side, with four needles relay; the control group was treated with penetration needling at anterior oblique line of parietotemporal region, with four needles relay. After 14 days of treatment, the neurological deficit scores (NDS) and the therapeutic effects were compared before and after treatment, and the contents of plasma endothelins (ET) and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were tested respectively on the 2nd and 14th day after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate of 86.7% (26/30) in the observation group was superior to that of 80.0% (24/30) in the control group; the NDS of both groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.01), the improvement degree in the observation group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.01); the ET level was obviously decreased and the CGRP level was obviously increased in both groups after treatment (all P < 0.01), and the range of change was more significant in the observation group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Penetration needling through Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5) is an effective treatment for acute apoplexy, which is better than conventional scalp acupuncture.</p>

Effects of scalp penetration acupuncture on plasma endothelin (ET) and calcitonin related peptide (CGRP) contents in the patient of acute intracerebral hemorrhage / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of scalp penetration acupuncture treating acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The treatment group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30) were treated with the same basic therapy, but scalp penetration acupuncture was added to the treatment group. Changes of plasma ET and CGRP contents were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment for 14 days, the content of plasma ET in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the content of plasma CGRP was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Scalp penetration acupuncture is able to improve the prognosis of the patient with ACH by means of regulating the contents of plasma ET and CGRP.</p>