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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of nape acupuncture plus basic treatment and rehabilitation in treating pseudobulbar palsy after cerebral stroke and the relation between the efficacy and age of onset. Method A hundred patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases each. The control group was intervened by basic treatment and swallowing rehabilitation training, and the observation group was intervened by nape acupuncture in addition to the treatment given to the control group, once a day, five sessions a week, for 8 weeks in total. The Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test (RSST), Water Swallowing Test (WST) and Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) were observed in the two groups before and after the treatment; the relation between the age of onset and the efficacy of the integrated treatment method was also observed. Result The scores of RSST, SSA and WST were significantly improved after the treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.01). The therapeutic efficacy of nape acupuncture plus basic treatment and swallowing rehabilitation training was associated with the age of onset (P<0.05). Conclusion Nape acupuncture plus basic treatment and swallowing training can effectively improve dysphagia in pseudobulbar palsy after cerebral stroke. This method produces the most significant efficacy for patients aged 51-60, better than that for those aged over 60 and equivalent to the efficacy for patients aged 41-50.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of herbal cake moxibustion plus acupuncture in treating post-stroke urinary incontinence.Methods Fifty patients with post-stroke urinary incontinence were randomized to a treatment group (26 cases) and a control groups (24 cases). The treatment group received herbal cake moxibustion plus acupuncture and the control group, acupuncture alone. Twenty-four-hour urine void number, incontinence severity and the clinical symptom score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in twenty-four-hour urine void number and the clinical symptom score in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in pre-/post-treatment twenty-four- hour urine void number difference value and clinical symptom score difference value between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in incontinence severity in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in incontinence severity between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Herbal cake moxibustion plus acupuncture is an effective way to treat post-stroke urinary incontinence.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of centro-square needling at Shangxing (GV23) (so called Ghost Hall point) in treating anxiety after cerebral stroke as a major treatment.Method Sixty patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The two groups were both given Flupentixol and Melitracen tablets (Deanxit). In addition, the treatment group received centro-square needling as the major treatment, and the control group received ordinary needling. Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Barthel Index (BI) of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were observed before and after the treatment for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy.Result There was a significant difference in comparing the HAMA score between the treatment group and control group after the treatment (P0.05).Conclusion The treatment group shows a significant efficacy in improving the anxiety symptoms; the effect in improving the anxiety symptoms is insignificant in the control group; the recoveryrate and total effective rate are equivalent between the two groups.
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Objective To observe the therapeutic efficacy and action mechanism of muscle-region alignment electroacupuncture in treating post-stroke shoulder pain. Method Eighty patients were randomized into a muscle-region alignment needling group and a conventional acupuncture group. The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and serum levels of IL-6, TNF-?, and NO were majorly observed before and after the treatment. Result The muscle-region alignment electroacupuncture and conventional acupuncture both obviously reduced the SF-MPQ score and down-regulated the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-?, and NO, and the decreases by the muscle-region alignment electroacupuncture were more significant than that by the conventional acupuncture. Conclusion The action of muscle-region alignment electroacupuncture in treating post-stroke shoulder pain is plausibly by down-regulating serum levels of IL-6, TNF-?, and NO, reducing or inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors and restraining inflammation.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of yang-supplementing thread-embedding (acupoint embedded with catgut soaked in Shenfu injection) in treating shoulder-hand syndrome after cerebral stroke. Method Totally 120 patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 60 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint thread-embedding, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture. The changes of symptoms, joint range of motion (ROM), pain, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and general therapeutic efficacy were observed after 30 d treatment. Result The total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group versus 85.0% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Yang-supplementing thread-embedding and conventional acupuncture both can mitigate pain induced by shoulder-hand syndrome, increase the range of motion, and significantly improve the upper-limb motor function, while the effect of yang-supplementing thread-embedding is superior to that of conventional acupuncture.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of deep needling at Tianshu (ST25) with electroacupuncture in treating post-stroke constipation. Method Forty-eight patients with post-stroke constipation were randomized into an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a medication group, 24 cases in each group. The EA group was intervened by deep needling at Tianshu with EA, while the medication group was by Cong Rong Tong Bian oral liquid. After 1 treatment course, the constipation symptom score was observed and the clinical efficacy was calculated. Result After 1 treatment course, the symptom score, total effective rate, recovery plus markedly-effective rate of the EA group were superior to that of the control group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Deep needling at Tianshu with EA can significantly enhance the clinical efficacy in treating post-stroke constipation and improve the quality of life.
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Objective To select the optimal acupoints formula by evaluating the efficacy of different groups of acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with acupuncture. Method Totally 108 PSD patients were randomized into 3 groups, i.e. Neiguan (PC6) group, Taichong (LR3) group, and Baihui (GV20) group, 36 cases each. The acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 sessions a week, 3 weeks as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were compared among the 3 groups after the intervention. The 3 groups were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Quality of Life Scale (QOL) before and after the treatment, and the results were statistically analyzed. Result The effective rates were respectively 72.2%, 75.0%, and 86.1%in Neiguan group, Taichong group, and Baihui group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P0.05). Conclusion The three groups of acupoints are effective in improving the depression symptoms, neural defect and QOL, while Baihui group can produce a more significant efficacy in improving the depression symptoms compared to Neiguan and Taichong groups;the effects in improving neural defect and QOL are equivalent among the 3 groups of acupoints.
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Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation on shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS). Method Eighty SHS patients were randomized into an experimental group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The experimental group was intervened by electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation training and basic Western medicine treatment, while the control group was by rehabilitation training and Western medicine treatment, 3 sessions a week, 4 weeks in total. The pain intensity of the affected shoulder and upper-limb motor function were observed before and after the treatment. The therapeutic efficacy was also evaluated. Result The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of the shoulder pain and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) score of the upper-limb motor function were significantly improved after the intervention in the two groups (P<0.01), and the improvements of VAS and FMA in the experimental group were more significant than that in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Based on the basic treatment of Western medicine, electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation training can markedly improve the pain intensity of the affected shoulder and upper-limb motor function in post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome.
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Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction.Methods Seventy patients with pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 35 cases each. The control group received routine medication and the treatment group, acupuncture in addition. Pre-treatment and post-treatment National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPIS) were compared between the two groups. The correlation between the NIHSS score and the CPIS score was observed.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the NIHSS score and the CPIS score in the two groups (P<0.05,P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the NIHSS score and the CPIS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The correlation between the NIHSS score and the CPIS score was low in the treatment group after treatment (r=0.417,P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture plus medication is an effective way to treat pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction. It can improve the NIHSS score and the CPIS score in the patients.
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Urinary incontinence is an important predictive indicator for death and bad prognosis in stroke patients. Based on clinical advances in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for post-stroke urinary incontinence, this article has found that present studies on acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for post-stroke urinary incontinence are basically related to clinical research. The study on the mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for post-stroke urinary incontinence remains to be further deepened.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of eye acupuncture plus linguistic competence training in treating post-stroke aphasia.Methods Sixty patients with post-stroke aphasia were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C, 20 cases each. Group A received eye acupuncture plus linguistic competence training; group B, eye acupuncture alone; group C, linguistic competence training alone. The linguistic competence scores, the aphasia quotient (AQ) score and the Chinese Functional Communication Profile (CFCP) score were recorded in the three groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the linguistic competence scores, the AQ score and the CFCP score in the three groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the linguistic competence (spontaneous speech, spoken language understanding and naming) scores, the AQ score and the CFCP score between groups A and C (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 95.0% in group A, 80.0% in group B and 85.0% in group C. There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between group A and group B or C (P<0.05).Conclusion EYE acupuncture plus linguistic competence training is an effective way to treat post-stroke aphasia.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at affected-limb gallbladder meridian points and its effect on the recovery of lower limb function in treating hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction. Methods Sixty hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture at the gallbladder meridian points of the affected-side lower limb as main therapy and the control group, conventional acupuncture. After two courses of treatment, a pre-/post-treatment change in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score was observed in the two groups and post-treatment walking paces, pace lengths and incidences of strephenopodia were compared between the two groups.Results There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in walking pace, pace length and the incidence of strephenopodia between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at affected-limb gallbladder meridian points can improve lower limb function and reduce the incidence of strephenopodia in hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction.
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ObjectiveTo observe the effect of different needle-retaining lengths on the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating post-stroke shoulder pain.MethodSixty patients were randomized into a 30 min group and a 60 min group, 30 cases in each group. The same acupuncture treatment protocol was adopted in the two groups, and the acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 sessions a week, for 20 times in total. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), shoulder pain frequency, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) were observed before treatment and after 4-week treatment.ResultThe scores of each index were significantly improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), and there were significant differences in comparing each index score between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01).ConclusionIn the treatment of post-stroke shoulder pain with acupuncture, 30 min needle-retaining is better than 60 min in comparing the analgesic effect.
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ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of acupuncture plus acupoint injection in improving the depression state and quality of life (QOL) in patients with depression after ischemic stroke (syndrome differentiated as blood stagnation obstructing collaterals).MethodAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the eligible subjects were enrolled and randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus acupoint injection, while the control group was by oral administration of Fluoxetine. They were evaluated by using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Barthel Index (BI) before treatment and after 2-month treatment.ResultAfter 2-month treatment, there was no significant difference in comparing the anti-depressionefficacy between the two groups (P>0.05). The BI score of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group after 2-month treatment (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture plus acupoint injection is effective in improving the depression state in the patients with depression after ischemic stroke (syndrome differentiated as blood stagnation obstructing collaterals); after 2-month treatment, it can produce an equivalent therapeutic efficacy compared with oral administration of Fluoxetine.Acupuncture plus acupoint injection is superior to the control in improving the QOL of the patients.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of auricular plaster therapy plus scalp acupuncture in treating post-stroke depression.Methods One hundred and twenty-five patients with post-stroke depression were randomly allocated to group A of 42 cases, group B of 42 cases and group C of 41 cases. Group A received scalp acupuncture alone; group B, auricular plaster therapy alone; group C, auricular plaster therapy plus scalp acupuncture. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score was recorded in the three groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups. Results There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the HAMD score in the three groups after two months of treatment (P0.05).Conclusion Auricular plaster therapy plus scalp acupuncture is an effective way to treat post-stroke depression.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus rehabilitation training in treating post-stroke depression.Method Forty-one patients with post-stroke depression were randomized into a treatment group of 22 cases and a control group of 19 cases. In addition to the basic internal medicine treatment, the treatment group received acupuncture plus rehabilitation training, while the control group was intervened by rehabilitation training alone. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were observed and compared before and after treatment.Result The HAMD and NIHSS scores in the two groups were significantly changed respectively after 4-week and 8-week treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01). Respectively after 4-week and 8-week treatment, the HAMD and NIHSS scores in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture plus rehabilitation training is an effective approach in treating post-stroke depression.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Xing Nao An Shen Jie Yu needling method (brain-awakening mind-calming and anti-depression needling method) in treating depression after cerebral stroke. Method Totally 120 patients with depression after cerebral stroke were randomized into two groups: the acupuncture group was intervened by An Shen Xing Nao Jie Yu needling method, while the Western medication group was by oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsules. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Barthel Index (BI) were adopted to evaluate the depression degree, neural function deficit, and activities of daily living after 4-week and 8-week treatments. Result The total effective rate was 96.5% in the acupuncture group, versus 83.9% in the Western medication group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the acupuncture group was superior to the Western medication group in improving the HAMD, NIHSS, and BI scores (P<0.01), and its therapeutic efficacy present with a feature of time-effect. Conclusion Xing Nao An Shen Jie Yu needling can significantly improve the symptoms of depression after cerebral stroke, promoting the recovery of neural function and enhancing the quality of life.
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Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on post-stroke belching. Method Ninety-six patients with post-stroke belching were randomized into a control group and a treatment group by random number table, 48 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by conventional Western medication, while the treatment group was by acupuncture in addition to the medication given to the control group. The blood Cl﹣ and Ca2﹢ contents, as well as the symptoms score and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared before and after treatment. Result After intervention, the blood Cl﹣ and Ca2﹢ contents increased and the symptoms score decreased to different extent in both groups; except for the blood Ca2﹢ content, there were significant differences in comparing all the parameters between the two groups after intervention (P<0.05); there was a significant difference in comparing the occurrence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P<0.05), and there were less adverse reactions in the treatment group. Conclusion Acupuncture can effectively control the post-stroke belching and reduce the happening of adverse reactions.
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Objective To investigate the effects of acupuncture at points Baihui (GV20), Yintang (Ex-HN3) and Sishencong (Ex-HN1) on spatial learning and memory abilities and hippocampal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a rat model of post-stroke depression (PSD). Method Thirty male adult SD rats were allocated, using a random number table, tocontrol, acupuncture and sham operation groups, 10 rats each. A rat model of PSD was made by classical middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using an intraluminal thread technique, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and solitary feeding. At the fourteenth day after the beginning of stress, the acupuncture group received acupuncture intervention for 14 consecutive days. At one week after the end of stress, the Morris water maze test was conducted to assess rat spatial learning and memory abilities. After the completion of the water maze test, hippocampal CA3 regional BDNF expression was determined by immunohistochemical method. Result Rat learning and memory abilities decreased significantly in the control group compared with the sham operation group (P<0.05). Space exploration time and the number of crossing platform reflecting memory abilities decreased significantly in the control group (22.36±6.20 s and 3.72±0.90 times, respectively) compared with the sham operation group (48.73±5.40 s and 8.60±1.10 times, respectively); there were statistically significant differences (P<0.01). Learning abilities, space exploration time, the number of crossing platform and BDNF expression increased significantly in PSD rats treated with acupuncture compared with the control group; there were statistically significant differences (P<0.01). Conclusion Acupuncture can improve spatial learning and memory abilities and raise hippocampal regional BDNF levels in rats with post-stroke depression.