ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus rehabilitation training in treating post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis pattern. Methods: Sixty-six patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis patter were divided into an observation group and a rehabilitation group using the random number table method. The two groups both received conventional medications and supportive treatment for stroke. In addition, the observation group received acupuncture plus rehabilitation training while the rehabilitation group only received the same rehabilitation training. The interventions were conducted 3 times a week for a total of 4 weeks in both groups. They were evaluated using Kubota water swallowing test (KWST), Fujishima Ichiro food intake level scale (FILS) and symptoms score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) before and after treatment, and at the 1-month follow-up. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed at the 1-month follow-up. Results: The KWST grading and FILS result after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly different from those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.001); the results of these two items at the follow-up were not significantly different from those after treatment in the two groups (all P>0.05). There were significant differences in the KWST grading and FILS result between the two groups after treatment and at the follow-up (all P<0.05). The TCM symptoms score changed significantly after treatment and at the follow-up compared with that before treatment in both groups (all P<0.001). The TCM symptoms grading efficacy at the follow-up was significantly different from that after treatment in the observation group (P<0.05), while the difference was statistically insignificant in the rehabilitation group (P>0.05). The TCM symptoms grading efficacy in the observation group was significantly different from that in the rehabilitation group after treatment and at the follow-up (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the conventional treatment for stroke, acupuncture plus rehabilitation training or use of rehabilitation training alone both can improve the clinical symptoms in post-stroke deglutition disorders of qi-deficiency blood stasis pattern, but acupuncture plus rehabilitation training can produce more significant efficacy and better long-term efficacy in improving TCM symptoms.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The Medical Outcome Study of 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a well-validated generic questionnaire widely used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) is a specific HRQOL assessment designed for patients with liver diseases. The aim of our study is to evaluate the HRQOL based on SF-36 and CLDQ (Chinese version) in patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis, especially in the status of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The SF-36 and CLDQ were answered by 160 healthy volunteers, 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 106 patients with cirrhosis. HRQOL scores of the groups with different liver disease severities and with or without MHE were compared. The SF-36 includes one multi-item scale that assesses eight health categories: physical functioning, role-physical, body pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotion, and mental health. CLDQ assesses 6 categories: abdominal symptoms, fatigue, systemic symptoms, activity, emotional function and worry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy controls, patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis at baseline had a lower HRQOL on all scales of the SF-36 and CLDQ (P < 0.01 for all). Increased severity of liver cirrhosis (based on the Child-Pugh score but with MHE or without) was associated with a decrease in most components, both in SF-36 and in CLDQ. However, patients with Child-Pugh B and C disease had similar HRQOL scores on both the SF-36 and CLDQ (P > 0.05), except role-physical and vitality on SF-36. There was a significant difference between patients with and without MHE on the SF-36 score (P < 0.01), and no significant difference (P > 0.05) on CLDQ scores except in abdominal symptoms.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese version of SF-36 along with CLDQ are valid and reliable methods for testing MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis.</p>