Effects of long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)on post-stroke cognitive impairment / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)on post-stroke cognitive impairment(PSCI)and its effects on the cognitive ability and living ability of the patients.Methods:A total of 62 PSCI patients were divided into a control group and an observation group by the random number table method,with 31 cases in each group.The control group was treated with routine treatment for stroke in the recovery period plus cognitive training.The observation group received additional acupuncture at Baihui(GV20)with long-time needle retaining based on the same intervention in the control group.The Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)was used to evaluate the cognitive ability of patients.The activities of daily living(ADL)scale was used to evaluate the living ability of patients.And the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scale was used to evaluate the mental state,concentration,language,and abstraction cognition of patients.After 4 weeks,the curative efficacy was observed,and the scores of cognitive level,living ability,mental state and concentration,language,and abstraction understanding ability were compared between the two groups.Results:During the trial,1 patient in each group dropped out due to personal reasons and was unable to continue the treatment.After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate was 83.3%in the observation group and 66.7%in the control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05);the scores of MoCA,ADL,and MMSE,and scores of concentration,language ability,and abstraction understanding ability were all increased,and were statistically different from those before treatment in each group(P<0.05);the scores in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group,and the differences between the groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:On the basis of routine treatment and cognitive training,the clinical efficacy of additional acupuncture at Baihui(GV20)with long-time needle retaining in the treatment of PSCI is better than that of routine treatment plus cognitive training;the treatment can better improve the cognitive function and mental state of patients,and improve their living ability.

Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training for post-stroke cognitive impairment: a multi-center randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the efficacy of needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training in the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).@*METHODS@#A total of 206 patients with PSCI were randomized into a needle retaining group (103 cases, 9 cases dropped out) and an electroacupuncture group (103 cases, 6 cases dropped out). In addition to the conventional basic medical treatment and the rehabilitation treatment, in the needle retaining group, electroacupuncture at Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20) was applied, with continuous wave of 50 Hz in the first 15 min and with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/50 Hz in the last 15 min, the needles were continuously retained for 1 h after electroacupuncture, during which cognitive training was adopted; in the electroacupuncture group, cognitive training was performed after the same electric stimulation exerted for 30 min, without additional needles retaining. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for totally 8 weeks in the two groups. Before and after 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome score was observed; before and after 4,8-week treatment, the scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and ability of daily living were observed in the two groups. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after 8-week treatment.@*RESULTS@#After 8-week treatment, the TCM syndrome scores were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); the TCM syndrome score in the needle retaining group was higher than that in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05).After 4,8-week treatment, the scores of MMSE, MoCA and ability of daily living were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05); MMSE, MoCA scores after 4,8-week treatment and ability of daily living score after 8-week treatment in the needle retaining group were higher than those in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.4% (85/94) in the needle retaining group, which was superior to 82.5% (80/97) in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Both needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training and electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training can effectively treat PSCI, improve the clinical symptom, cognitive function and ability of daily living in PSCI patients. Needle retaining after electroacupuncture combined with cognitive training has a better therapeutic effect.

Efficacy observation of long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training for upper-extremity dysfunction after cerebral stroke / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the efficacy of long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training in improving upper- extremity dysfunction in cerebral stroke patients. Methods: Ninety-five patients with upper-extremity dysfunction after cerebral stroke were randomized into two groups, with 48 cases in the treatment group and 47 cases in the control group. Conventional internal medicine treatment was offered to both groups. In both groups, Anterior Oblique Line of Vertex-temporal (MS 6, the middle 2/5) and Posterior Oblique Line of Vertex-temporal (MS 7, the middle 2/5) were selected from the same side of the brain lesion (the side apposing to the hemiplegic limb) for scalp acupuncture treatment. In the treatment group, the scalp acupuncture needles were retained for 7 h, in combination with interactive training, while the needles were also retained for 7 h in the control group but without interactive training. Prior to treatment and at 2-week and 4-week treatment, the two groups were scored using the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity-Hong Kong (FTHUE-HK) and simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE). Results: The total effective rate was 97.9％ in the treatment group, higher than 74.5％ in the control group (P<0.01). The FTHUE-HK score was higher at 2-week and 4-week treatment than before treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (all P<0.001); the FTHUE-HK score was higher at 4-week treatment than at 2-week treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (both P<0.001). At 2-week and 4-week treatment, the FTHUE-HK score was higher in the treatment group than in the control group, showing significant between-group differences (both P<0.05). During the whole treatment process, the treatment group had higher FTHUE-HK scores compared with the control group, but there was no statistical significance comparing the change of the score between the two groups at 2-week treatment (P>0.05), while the between-group difference in the change of the score was statistically significant at 4-week treatment (P<0.05). The FMA-UE score was higher at 2-week and 4-weeks treatment than before treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (all P<0.001); the FMA-UE score was higher at 4-week treatment than at 2-week treatment in both groups, presenting statistically significant intra-group differences (both P<0.001). At 2-week and 4-week treatment, the FMA-UE was higher in the treatment group than in the control group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (both P<0.01). The FMA-UE score rose gradually with the increase of treatment session, and there was statistical significance comparing the change of the score between the two groups at 2-week and 4-week treatment, respectively (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training results in more significant efficacy than long-retaining scalp acupuncture alone in improving the upper-limb dysfunction after cerebral stroke and the advantage becomes more notable after 2-week consecutive treatment.

A review of time-effect research on acupuncture in experimental rats/mice in the recent 10 years / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To summarize the influence patterns of related time factors on acupuncture effectiveness in different disease model rats/mice, and to provide reference for acupuncture clinical practice. Methods: Retrieved the relevant literatures on time-effect experimental studies of acupuncture in rats/mice in the recent 10 years. The correlations between the key time factors (such as different intervention timings of acupuncture, acupuncture moments, operation durations, needle-retaining times, intervals and treatment courses) and the acupuncture effect were analyzed and summarized. Results: From the mainstream perspective of quantification, the earlier the acupuncture intervention, the better. The proper time to implement acupuncture varied depending on disease models and points. The best operation time varied widely between different diseases. The most frequently needle-retaining time was 20-30 min. The frequency of acupuncture was usually 1 time/day; the length of the treatment course was determined according to practitioners' experience. Conclusion: Throughout the time-effect studies of acupuncture intervention in experimental rats/mice, conclusions are inconsistent, especially the lack of quantitative research on acupuncture operation time, acupuncture frequency, acupuncture treatment duration, and optimal stimulation amount. Future research should explore and determine the best time-quantity parameters that affect the effectiveness of acupuncture intervention, which is the key and goal of the acupuncture time-effect research. Independent intervention-time experiments throughout the entire course of a single disease (dominant disease) need to be done to guide clinical and disciplinary development.

Clinical observation of long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) on post-stroke cognitive disorder of deficiency and blood stasis / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) on post-stroke cognitive disorder of deficiency and blood stasis.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 patients (3 cases dropping) with post-stroke cognitive disorder of deficiency and blood stasis were randomized into an observation group (34 cases) and a control group (33 cases). Neurological routine treatment and western medicine rehabilitation therapy were given in the control group as the basic treatment, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) was applied in the observation group. The treatment was given once every other day, 3 times a week for a total of 4 weeks. The National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and deficiency blood stasis syndrome scale score were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After 4 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (both 0.05). The total effective rate was 94.1% (32/34) in the observation group, which was higher than 75.8% (25/33) in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) is safe and effective in treating with post-stroke cognitive disorder of deficiency and blood stasis.

Effect of long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) on cognitive impairment in post-stroke patients / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment. Methods: A total of 60 eligible patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by random digital table, 30 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by basic treatment including routine therapy in Neurology department and Western medicine rehabilitation therapy, while the treatment group was intervened by same treatment in the control group combined with long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20). Mental state of patients was evaluated by National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) after 4 weeks of treatment. Results: After 4-week treatment, the NIHSS score dropped in both groups, and intra-group comparisons showed statistical significances (both P<0.05), and the score in the treatment group was statistically lower than that in the control group (P<0.01); the MMSE score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group, there was a statistical inter-group difference (P<0.01); the total effective rate was 93.3%, and the marked effective rate was 50.0% in the treatment group, versus 76.7% and 20.0% in the control group, there were significant differences in the total effective rate and the marked effective rate between the two groups (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Long-time needle retaining at Baihui (GV 20) can produce a safe valid therapeutic efficacy in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment.

Clinical studies on different acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To seek the optimal acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea and provide clinical basis for optimal acupuncture treatment protocol. Methods:A total of 90 eligible cases were randomly allocated into three groups, 30 cases in each group. Points Guanyuan (CV 4), bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected for patients in all three groups, with a different treatment duration: 15 min in group A, 30 min in group B and 45 min in group C. Then the clinical efficacy in each group was evaluated by pain symptom scoring. Results:As for the pain symptom scores, there were statistically significant intra-group differences between before and after treatment in three groups (allP<0.05); coupled with statistically significant inter-group differences between group B and the other two groups (bothP<0.05). As for clinical efficacy, there were statistical differences between group B and the other two groups (bothP<0.05), indicating that 30 min of acupuncture is the optimal duration in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion:With the same needling manipulation, 30 min of acupuncture treatment achieves a better efficacy for primary dysmenorrhea.

Effect of different needling retaining times in clinical curative effect of acupuncture on the treatment of periarthritis humeroscapularis / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the effect of different needling retaining times in clinical curative effect of acupuncture on the treatment of periarthritis humeroscapularis.Methods A total of 60 patients, who met the inclusion criteara, were randomly divided into 2 groups according to random number table method, 30 patients in each group. Both groups were treated with the same acupuncture therapy for 20 times, but the needling retaining times were different as 20 minutes and 40 minutes. The curative effect rates, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Constant-Murley Score (CMS) were evaluated.Results After the treatment, the VAS scoresin 40mins group was significantly lower than that in the 20 mins group (2.67 ± 1.03vs.3.60 ± 1.48,t=-3.251, P<0.01); the CMSin 40 mins group was significantly higher than the 20 mins group (73.20 ± 10.88vs.66.47 ± 12.62,t=-2.199,P<0.05). The curative effect rates of the 40 mins group was 26.7% (8/30), which was significantly higher than 3.3% (1/30) in the 20 mins group (χ2=4.706,P=0.030). The total effective rates in the 40 mins group was 90.0% (27/30), which was significantly higher than 96.7% (29/30) in the 20 mins group (χ2=0.268,P=0.605).Conclusions Acupuncture treatment for the patients with periarthritis humeroscapularis showed that the 40 minutes of needling retaining times had better symptom improvement and restore function effects than 20 minutes, however the total effective rate was no significant difference.

Effect of Different Needle-retaining Lengths on the Therapeutic Efficacy of Acupuncture in Treating Post-stroke Shoulder Pain / 上海针灸杂志

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.

Effect of Different Needle-retaining time on Post-stroke Hypermyotonia in Acupuncture Treatment / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To compare the effect of different needle-retaining time on post-stroke hypermyotonia in acupuncture treatment.Method Ninety patients with post-stoke hypermyotonia were randomized into group A, group B, and group C, 30 in each group. The three groups were all treated by the twelve hand-foot needling method from the thirteen therapies invented by acupuncture master WANG Le-ting, once a day, 5 times a week, 20 times in total. For group A, needles were removed right after needling qi arrived; for group B, needles were retained for 30 min after needling qi arrived; for group C, needles were retained for 60 min after needling qi arrived. The modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI), and Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FAS) were adopted for observation before and after intervention.Result After treatment, the MAS was significantly changed in all three groups (P<0.05). The CSI score and FAS score of the affected limb were significantly changed in all three groups after intervention (P<0.05). Both group A and B were significantly different from group C in comparing the CSI and FAS scores (P<0.05).Conclusion Compared to retaining needles for 60 min, acupuncture without retaining needles or retaining needles for 30 min can produce better effect in improving post-stroke hypermyotonia, spasticity, and motions of limbs.

Real-time Analgesic Effect of Acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B8) for Primary Dysmenorrhea with Different Needle-retaining Time / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To treat the patients with primary dysmenorrhea by puncturing Shiqizhui (EX-B8) and observe the change and regularity of the analgesic effect with different needle-retaining time, for providing evidence for the optimal needle-retaining time. Method Ninety eligible subjects with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into a 20 min group of 30 cases, a 30 min group of 30 cases, and a blank control group of 30 cases. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to observe the change before and after intervention with the time, and to compare the intergroup differences. Result The acupuncture groups started to show analgesic effect 10 min after needling, and the effect increased with the needle-retaining time (P＜0.05);the therapeutic efficacy of the 30 min group was significantly superior to that of the 20 min group (P＜0.01). Conclusion Acupuncture at Shiqizhui can produce a real-time analgesic effect for patients with primary dysmenorrhea, and retaining the needle for 30 min is superior to 20 min.

Effects of Needle Retaining on Haemodynamics of Anterior Tibial Artery During Acupuncture / 中国康复理论与实践

@# Objective To study the relationship between needle retaining anddeqi. Methods Manual acupuncture was performed at the left ST36 of 26 naive healthy adult volunteers. Half of them retained the needles for 6 min and others were put the needle out immediately afterdeqi. Hemodynamic parameters of the anterior tibial artery were observed with color Doppler ultrasonography before and at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 min after acupuncture. Results There was significant difference in Vmax、Vm、Pi and Dist in anterior tibial artery before and 3 min after acupuncture, but wasn't between needle remaining and not. Conclusion Needle retaining cannot change the regional haemodynamics during acupuncture, which suggest it cannot strengthendeqi.

Clinical Study on Treatment of Vascular Dementia with Scalp Acupuncture / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To explore a treatment method for vascular dementia. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups. The observation group was treated with long-term needle-retaining method of scalp acupuncture and the control group was treated by medications. Evaluation was made respectively before and after the treatment by means of Hasegawa dementia scale (HDS), neurological function deficit (NFD) score and main symptom (MS) score. Results: There were statistically significant differences in HDS, NFD score and MS score in both groups (PO.01) before and after the treatment. There were statistically significant differences in HDS, NFD score and MS score between the two groups (P<0.05) before and after the treatment. The total effective rate was 86.8% in the observation group and 80.0% in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the effects between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: This long-term needle-retaining method of scalp acupuncture is precisely effective for vascular dementia.