ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different acupuncture schemes on behaviors, neurotransmitters and inflammation-related factors in post-stroke depressed (PSD) rats. MethodsA total of 72 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, drug control group, scalp acupuncture group, abdominal acupuncture group and combined acupuncture group, 12 rats in each group. The PSD model was prepared using a combination of middle cerebral artery occlusion and chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) for the model and each intervention groups. The drug control group was administered fluoxetine, the scalp acupuncture group accepted acupuncture at Baihui (DU 20) and Yintang (EX-HN3), while the abdominal acupuncture group at Zhongwan (RN 12) and Guanyuan (RN 4), the combined acupuncture group at all the four acupoints, for 21 days. They were assessed with Longa neurological function score, body mass, open-field test and sugar-water preference test on the 0 (before modeling), the seventh (before CUMS), the 14th (before treatment) and the 35th day (after treatment). The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), interferon-γ (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor⁃α (TNF⁃α) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the serum were determined with ELISA on the 35th day. Results The neurological function score was lower in the drug control group and the combined acupuncture group thanin the model group (P < 0.01) on the 35th day; while the body mass was higher in the drug control group, the abdominal acupuncture group and the combined acupuncture group than in the model group (P < 0.01); and the number of horizontal span frames, the number of uprightness and the sugar water consumption were higher in the drug control group, the scalp acupuncture group, the abdominal acupuncture group and the combined acupuncture group than in the model group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the four intervention groups (P > 0.05). The levels of 5-HT, DA and NE were higher in the four intervention groups than in the model group (P < 0.01), and the levels of IFN-γ, TNF⁃α and MIF were lower (P < 0.01). 5-HT level was higher in the combined acupuncture group than in the scalp acupuncture group and the abdominal acupuncture group, and the levels of IFN-γ, TNF⁃α and MIF were lower (P < 0.01); the levels of DA and NE was higher in the combined acupuncture group than in the abdominal acupuncture group (P < 0.01). ConclusionThe combination of scalp acupuncture and abdominal acupuncture can improve behavior, neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors of PSD rats, like fluoxetine. Scalp or abdominal acupuncture alone is still effecive, and can be used secondarily.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of connect meridians inducing Yin from Yang on muscle-tension after cerebral infarction. Methods 82 patients with cerebral infarction in Second Hospital of Harbin from 2010 to 2014 were divided into observation group (n=41) and control group (n=41) according to hospitalization order. The observation group accepted acupuncture of connecting meridians inducing Yin from Yang, and the control group accepted the traditional acupuncture method for 2 weeks. The situation of spasticity, the motor limb function of limbs, and activities of daily living were evaluated with modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Clinic Spasticity Index (CSI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Barthel index (BI), respectively. Results Compared with the control group, the score of MAS decreased (t=2.212, P=0.030), the score of CSI decreased (t=2.514, P=0.014), the score of FMA increased (t=4.288, P<0.001), and the score of BI in-creased (t=2.970, P=0.004) in the observation group after treatment. Conclusion The acupuncture of connecting meridians inducing Yin from Yang can reduce the muscle-tension of limbs, improve the motor function and increase the activities of daily living.