Evaluating the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture as a treatment for childhood autism using single photon emission computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) in the treatment of childhood autism (CA) and evaluate its effectiveness using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: A total of 55 CA patients (4.52±2.73 years) were enrolled in this study. All patients received EA treatments and were examined by SPECT before and after treatments. RESULTS: Following treatment, the intracerebral multiple focal radioactivity distribution defect areas of CA patients were observed to be partially filled. Specifically, significant differences in the ratios of regional cerebral blood flow and global cerebral blood flow before (Fb) and after (Fe) EA treatment in different lesions were observed (in the left prefrontal cortex, t=5.01, P<0.01; in the right prefrontal cortex, t=2.32, P<0.05; in the left temporal lobe, t=4.54, P<0.01; in the right temporal lobe, t=2.90, P<0.05; in the left Broca's area, t=5.82, P<0.01). After EA treatment, the patients exhibited symptomatic relief. CONCLUSION: EA is useful to treat CA and SPECT can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment.

[Treating coronary heart disease by acupuncture at neiguan (PC6) and xinahu (BL15): an efficacy assessment by SPECT].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in treating coronary heart disease (CHD) and its effect on the myocardial ischemia/perfusion and the recovery of heart functions. METHODS: Totally fifty-nine patients with confirmed CHD were randomly assigned to two groups, the acupuncture group (32 cases) and the nitroglycerine group (27 cases). Patients in the acupuncture group were electro-acupunctured at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) and Xinshu (BL15) for 30 min with the frequency of 2/15 Hz and the current strength 9 - 18 mA after myocardial imaging induced by routine exercises or drug load. 99mTc-MIBI 370 MBq was injected 15 min after needling. The myocardial perfusion imaging was performed immediately after needling. 99mTc-MIBI740 MBq was injected to those in the nitroglycerine group during routine exercises or drug load. The myocardial perfusion imaging was performed 5 min after injection. Patients were asked to sublingual administration of nitroglycerine 1 mg after the myocardial perfusion imaging was completed. 99mTc-MIBI 370 MBq was intravenously injected 5 min later, and myocardial perfusion imaging was performed 5 min after injection. RESULTS: There was statistical difference in changes of radioactive uptake between before and after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Both acupuncture and buccal administration of nitroglycerine could increase the blood perfusion of ischemic myocardium. But there was no statistical difference in the improvement of ischemic myocardial cells (t = 1.57, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Using SPECT could clearly display therapeutic effects of acupuncture on CHD, thus providing a new visible research method for CHD studies.

[Visualized study on acupuncture treatment of children autism using single photon emission computed tomography].

OBJECTIVE: To provide the molecular iconographic evidence for acupuncture treatment of children autism (CA). METHODS: Electric acupuncture (EA) was applied on acupoints of bilateral Hegu (LI4), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) in 34 CA patients' with ABC scale > 57 scores. Using SIEMENS ECAM / ICON double head system, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain perfusion imaging were performed before and during EA with 99mTc-ECD. Then SPECT images were analyzed visually and quantitatively. RESULTS: Visual analysis showed that 114 foci of low cerebral perfusion and function were found in 34 CA patients before EA, 28 cases (82.35%) of them with abnormalities in left (or both) front lobes, left Broca area and left Wernicke area. During EA, the affected areas improved to different extent. Quantitative analysis showed that significant difference existed between pre-EA focal Ff and mirror-side Ff, pre-EA Ff and mid-EA Fe, focal BFCR% and mirror-side BFCR % (all P < 0.01). The improving analysis of cerebral perfusion and function showed that the efficacy of EA was 78.95%. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture was proved preliminarily effective in treating children autism.

[Effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies on cerebral blood perfusion and cerebral function in the patient of stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies on stroke. METHODS: Forty-seven cases of stroke were treated with electroacupuncture at the motor region of the scalp and divided into 2 Hz, 2/15 Hz and 100 Hz groups according to the used frequency. Cerebral blood perfusion and brain functions before and during electroacupuncture in the 3 groups were investigated with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). RESULTS: Local cerebral blood perfusion and brain cell functions could be improved by electroacupuncture of the 3 frequencies, and the actions of 2/15 Hz and 100 Hz were better. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture of 2/15 Hz and 100 Hz has a better therapeutic effect on stroke when the stimulating intensity is fixed.

[Study on influence of acupunctural signal on energy metabolism of human brain by positron emission tomography].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biologic process of energy metabolism in brain during acupuncture using positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-2-desoxyglucose (18FDG) for further elucidation of the relationship between acupunctural signal and nerve system. METHODS: Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied on right lateral of a healthy volunteer and paralytic limbs of 4 patients with cerebral infarction at acupoints L14, LI11, ST36 and SP6 using Hans acupoint-nerve stimulator. PET imaging was conducted on the healthy subject or patients with the same posture before and during EA with GE Advance II PET system. RESULTS: PET showed that in the healthy subject, before EA, the glucose metabolism (GM) in bilateral cerebral cortex, bilateral thalamus, basal nuclei and cerebellum was almost symmetrical, but during EA, the GM in contralateral thalamus, contralateral frontal lobe and parietal lobe (motor and sensory area) increased obviously. While in the patients before EA, the GM in the infarcted area was significantly lower than that in the non-infarcted area, as compared with that observed with CT and MRI, it showed a similar figure but with bigger abnormal area. During EA, GM in the infarcted area increased with apparent reduction of size. Increased GM of focal area, widened cerebral cortex and decreased edematous area were shown in patients with larger infarction area. Quantitative analysis revealed evident change in local/total ratio of glucose and increase of GM change rate. CONCLUSION: (1) EA on limb acupoints of healthy subject could induce obvious increase of regional GM in brain and contralateral thalamus, contralateral frontal lobe and parietal lobe (motor and sensory area). (2) EA on acupoints of paralytic limbs could cause increase of GM in contralateral thalamus, contralateral frontal lobe and parietal lobe. Besides, GM also increased in the area with lowered GM before EA, accompanied with shrinkage or disappearance of lesion. (3) Acupuncture could evoke the function of brain cells and raise the GM in them.