[Influence of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy on limb motor function and serum cAMP and cGMP in patients with hemiplegia of cerebral ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the combined treatment with balance acupuncture therapy and exercise re-learning rehabilitation therapy and the impact on serum cAMP and cGMP in the patients with hemiplegia of cerebral ischemic stroke. METHODS: A total of 90 patients of hemiplegia of cerebral ischemic stroke were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. All of the patients in the two groups received health education, diet guidance, routine symptomatic treatment as well as exercise re-learning rehabilitation therapy. Additionally, in the observation group, balance acupuncture therapy was applied, in which, the acupoints on the yang aspect of the human body, on the governor vessel and bladder meridian were adopted in the morning and those on the yin aspect of the human body, on the conception vessel and kidney meridian were stimulated in the afternoon. In the control group, the regular acupuncture was given. In the two groups, both acupuncture and rehabilitation therapies were given 5 days a week, 2 week-treatment as one course and totally 2 courses were required. Separately, before and after treatment, the score of Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and the score of Chinese stroke scale (CSS) were recorded, the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) detected in serum and the clinical therapeutic effect were evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, FMA score was increased in the patients of either of the groups as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01) and CSS score decreased as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, FMA score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01) and CSS score was lower than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the level of serum cAMP of the patients in either of the groups was increased as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01) and that of cGMP decreased as compared with that before treatment (P<0.01). After treatment, the level of cAMP in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01) and that of cGMP was lower than the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 93.3% (42/45) in the observation group, better than 73.3% (33/45) in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The balance acupuncture therapy combined with exercise re-learning rehabilitation effectively improves the motor function of the affected limb, relieves injury and regulate the levels of serum cAMP and cGMP in the patients with hemiplegia of ischemic stroke.

[Efficacy of Acupuncture Combined with Fire Dragon Moxibustion for Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy of Kidney-Deficiency-Cold Type].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with fire dragon moxibustion and simple acupuncture therapy in the treatment of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) of kidney-deficiency-cold type. METHODS: Ninety kidney-deficiency-cold type CSR outpatients were randomly divided into control (acupuncture, n=40) and treatment (acupuncture +moxibustion, n=50) groups. Acupuncture stimulation was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Ganshu (BL 18), Tianzhu (BL 10) and Houxi (SI 3), Jiaji (EX-B 2), Taixi (KI 3), Shenmai (BL 62), Zusanli (ST 36), Shenshu (BL 23), etc once daily, 5 times a week, and two weeks altogether, except the weekend. In addition, for patients of the treatment group, herbal medicinal powder separated-fire dargon moxibustion was applied to the patient's back from GV14 and Fengmen (BL 12) on the top to Zhibian (BL 54) area at the buttock, once every 3 days, 5 times altogether. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to "CSR-20-points scale" including 3 aspects as neck-shoulder pain, upper-limb pain-numbness, finger numbness; working and daily life ability and physical conditions (Spurling tests, sensory, myodynamia and tendon reflex). RESULTS: ① After the treatment, CSR-20-points scores in both treatment and control groups were significantly increased in comparison with pre-treatment in each group (P<0.05), with the score being markedly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). ② Of the 40 and 50 cases in the control and the treatment group, 2 and 13 were cured, 14 and 24 experienced a remarkable improvement, 12 and 11 were effective, and 12 and 2 failed, with the total effective rates being 70.0%(28/40) and 96.0%(48/50), respectively. The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was notably better than that of the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with fire dragon moxibustion is superior to simple acupuncture therapy in improving clinical symptoms of patients with CSR of kidney-deficiency-cold type, being a recommendable scheme in clinical practice.

[The influence for success rate of warm acupuncture for tube baby of infertility patients with kidney yang deficiency:a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the success rate of warm acupuncture for tube baby of infertility patients with kidney yang deficiency. METHODS: Sixty patients were randomized assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Long-term super ovulation was applied in the two groups. While acupuncture was used at Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Daimai (GB 26), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3) in the observation group, with warm acupuncture at Zigong (EX-CA 1) and Zusanli (ST 36), once a day, and treatment was implemented monthly from 10 days to 1 day before menstruation and continuously for 3 months. After the accomplishment of treatment or waiting, embryo transplantation was operated in the two groups. The success rates of embryo transplantation, the changes before and after treatment of the symptom and sign scores of kidney yang deficiency, menstrual symptom scores and endometrial types were observed. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate of the observation group was 46.7% (14/30), which was better than 23.3%(7/30) of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the symptom and sign scores of kidney yang deficiency and the menstrual symptom scores were improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05), with the lower ones in the observation group (kidney yang deficiency score:5.6±1.8 vs 9.6±2.9, menstrual symptom score:4.1±0.5 vs 5.6±0.9, both P<0.05). After treatment, the endometrial types were superior to those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), with better improvement in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Warm acupuncture can improve the success rate of tube baby of infertility patients with kidney yang deficiency, with advantages in symptom and sign of kidney yang deficiency, menstrual and endometrial situations. Its mechanism may be related to the improvement of menstruation and endometrium.