Imaging Observation of Scalp Acupuncture on Brain Gray Matter Injury in Stroke Patients with Cerebral Infarction / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study features of brain gray matter injury in cerebral infarction patients and intervention of scalp acupuncture by using voxel-based morphology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 16 cerebral infarction patients were recruited in this study, and assigned to the scalp acupuncture group and the control group, 8 in each group. Another 16 healthy volunteers were recruited as a normal group. All patients received scanning of T1 structure. Images were managed using VBM8 Software package. Difference of the gray matter structure was compared among the scalp acupuncture group, the control group, and the healthy volunteers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients mainly occurred in 14 brain regions such as cingulate gyrus, precuneus, cuneus, anterior central gyrus, insular lobe, and so on. They were mainly distributed in affected side. Two weeks after treatment when compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients in the scalp acupuncture group still existed in 8 brain regions such as bilateral lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, left cuneus, right precuneus, and so on. New gray matter injury occurred in lingual gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. Two weeks after treatment when compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients in the control group existed in 23 brain regions: bilateral anterior cingulum, caudate nucleus, cuneate lobe, insular lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, precuneus, paracentral lobule, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, lingual gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, precentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and so on. New gray matter injury still existed in 9 cerebral regions such as lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and so on.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Brain gray matter structure is widely injured after cerebral infarction. Brain gray matter volume gradually decreased as time went by. Combined use of scalp acupuncture might inhibit the progression of gray matter injury more effectively.</p>

Effect of blood activating stasis removing method on prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effect and safety of blood activating stasis removing method (BASRM) on intracerebral hemorrhage patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multi-center, prospective, randomized, open, controlled and blinded endpoint design was adopted. Totally 228 intracerebral hemorrhage patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 114 in each group by center randomized method. All patients received basic treatment of Western internal medicine. Patients in the treatment group received intravenous infusion with Xingnaojing Injection (XI) from the 1st day of grouping, 20 mL per day for 14 days. Then they took or were nasally fed with Chinese medical granules (by syndrome typing as complicated with wind syndrome, fire syndrome, and phlegm syndrome) for 21 days. Finally they took Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (NOL), 10 mL each time, 3 times per day till the 3rd month of incidence. Patients' disability degree, activities of daily living, neurological impairment, the effective rate, physiologic functions, mental status, social relationship, and degree of treatment satisfaction were assessed using Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), Barthel index (BI), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and patient reported outcome (PRO). Head CT was performed to evaluate the absorption of hematoma at the 1st and 7th day of grouping. The safety was also assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 108 patients in the treatment group and 112 patients in the control group completed the trial. There was no statistical difference in the total effective rate between the two groups after 3 months of treatment (P>0.05). The MRS score was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01) at month 3 after attack (P<0.01). There was statistical difference in the difference between pre-post hematoma volume between the two groups after 7-day treatment (P<0.05). The NIHSS score of two groups at the 7th, 14th, 21st day, and 3rd month decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the decremenit of NIHSS score decreased more obviously in the treatment group at day 7, 21, and 3rd month (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the BI increased (P<0.01); physiologic fupctions, social relationship, treatment satisfaction and total score in PRO scale were all lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The incidence of adverse events occurred in 7 cases (6.14%) in the treatment group and 5 cases (4.39%) in the control group, with no statistical difference (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BASRM could lower the deformity rate of intracerebral hemorrhage patients at month 3, effectively promote hematoma absorption within 7 days, improve neurologic impairment, and elevate living abilities at month 3 of onset.</p>

Observation on the immediate effects of acupuncture at Yanglingquan(GB 34) on passive movement in cerebral infarction patients / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe central immediate effect of acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) on passive movement of cerebral infarction paitents with hemiplegia by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and provide reference for clinical treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With 1. 5 T MRI scanner, six cases of right cerebral infarction paitents with left hemiplegia in recovery stage were scanned during passive fingers movement before and after acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34), which was controlled with sham-acupoint acupuncture to observe immediate activated part of the corresponding brain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The activated areas of the passive movement in all the patients were mainly motor sensory cortex on the right side. Compared with sham-acupoint, in the left anterior insula, in ferior frontal gyrus, central gyrus, fusiform gyrus, cerebellum, acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) has better central effect. These areas were involved with several brain networks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupuncture at Yan glingquan (GB 34) could promote recover of helmiplegia by regulating motor-related network.</p>