ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy on lower limb motor function, and to explore a cortical mechanism using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods From December, 2020 to July, 2021, 24 stroke patients with lower limb motor dysfunction in our hospital were randomly divided into rehabilitation group (n = 12) and acupuncture-rehabilitation group (n = 12), and received routine rehabilitation training and acupuncture-rehabilitation intervention for four weeks, respectively. The control group included ten healthy subjects matched the patients. Before and after intervention, the lower limb motor function of the patients was assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), and all the subjects accepted fNIRS examination. The functional intensity and lateralization index (LI) of supplementary motor area (SMA), premotor cortex (PMC) and sensory motor cortex (SMC) were calculated based on oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2). Results There was no significant difference in FMA-LE score between the rehabilitation group and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group before the intervention (P > 0.05). After four weeks of intervention, FMA-LE scores improved in both groups (t > 3.770, P 0.05). After intervention, the average functional connection increased in both groups (t > 2.178, P < 0.05), and the functional connection of the affected PMC of acupuncture-rehabilitation group increased (P < 0.05). The LI in SMC increased in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the change of functional connection of the affected PMC and the change of FMA-LE scores in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (r = 0.579, P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture with rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve the lower limb motor function and asymmetrical activation of SMC in stroke patients. The recovery of lower limb motor function may be related to the enhanced activation of affected PMC.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective To study the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on neurological function and expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and angiostatin (AS) in rats after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, acupuncture treatment group, rehabilitation treatment group and acupuncture and rehabilitation treatment group, each group was further divided into 3 days, 7 days and 14 days subgroups (n=6). Permanent cerebral ischemia rat model was established according to Longa's method. The model group and the sham operation group accepted no treatment, the acupuncture treatment group was treated by cluster needling of scalp acupuncture, the rehabilitation treatment group received the treadmill training, the acupuncture and rehabilitation treatment group was treated by acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy. 3 days, 7 days, 14 days after operation, the neural function was evaluated with the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), the expression levels of bFGF and AS proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, the acupuncture treatment group and the rehabilitation treatment group, mNSS decreased, the expression of bFGF protein increased, and the expression of AS protein decreased in the acupuncture and rehabilitation treatment group 3 days, 7 days, 14 days after operation (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy can reduce the neurological function defect in rats with focal cerebral ischemia, which may be related to the upregulation of bFGF protein expression and down-regulation of AS protein expression.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture combined with rehabilitation on neurological function and expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and angiostatin (AS) in rats after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, acupuncture treatment group, rehabilitation treatment group and acupuncture and rehabilitation treatment group, each group was further divided into 3 days, 7 days and 14 days subgroups (n=6). Permanent cerebral ischemia rat model was established according to Longa's method. The model group and the sham operation group accept-ed no treatment, the acupuncture treatment group was treated by cluster needling of scalp acupuncture, the rehabilitation treatment group re-ceived the treadmill training, the acupuncture and rehabilitation treatment group was treated by acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy. 3 days, 7 days, 14 days after operation, the neural function was evaluated with the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), the expres-sion levels of bFGF and AS proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, the acupuncture treatment group and the rehabilitation treatment group, mNSS decreased, the expression of bFGF protein increased, and the expression of AS protein decreased in the acupuncture and rehabilitation treatment group 3 days, 7 days, 14 days after operation (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy can reduce the neurological function defect in rats with focal cerebral ischemia, which may be related to the up-regulation of bFGF protein expression and down-regulation of AS protein expression.