Genome-wide analysis of transcription factors in hippocampal tissue of cerebral palsy rats after acupuncture treatment.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating cerebral palsy (CP), reducing muscle tension, and improving motor function. However, macro-screening of key gene sets and gene-causal interaction networks for their therapeutic mechanisms have not been studied. METHODS: Applying high-throughput sequencing technology, this research discussed differentially expressed mRNAs and differential alternative splicing pre-mRNAs at the transcriptome level in rats with CP treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, and analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CP. Changes in the levels of transcripts and alternative splicing in the hippocampi of CP rats after acupuncture treatment were analyzed. Global genes that were differentially expressed and alternative splicing events (ASEs) and regulated ASEs (RASEs) in acupuncture treatment of CP rats were analyzed. RESULTS: The RNA-seq data of acupuncture-treated rat hippocampi revealed 198 DEGs, 125 of which were related to CP, and the transcriptional regulation of RNA polymerase II was up-regulated; moreover, there were 1168 significantly different ASEs associated with CP and transcriptional regulation. There were 14 overlapping gene expression changes in transcription factors (TFs) and DEGs. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that 14 TFs were differentially expressed and a large number of TFs underwent differential alternative splicing. It is speculated that these TFs and the translated proteins of the two different transcripts produced by the differential alternative splicing of these TFs may play corresponding functions in acupuncture treatment of young rats with CP by modulating the differential expression of their target mRNAs.

Clinical Observation of Acupuncture at Acupoints Selected byNa Jia Method for Lower-limb Spastic Hemiplegia after Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia point-selection card invented by professor ZHOU Ming-xin method (midnight-noon ebb-flow) in improving lower-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke.Method Eighty-four patients with lower-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke were randomized into a treatment group, a control group, and a blank group by using random number table method, 28 cases in each group. The blank group was only given rehabilitation; the control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture in addition to rehabilitation; the treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia method in addition to the intervention given to the control group. The Ashworth Scale, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) in Barthel Index (BI) and simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of lower-limb function were observed before and after the intervention. Result After the treatment, the simplified FMA scores were changed significantly in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the between-group differences in comparing the simplified FMA score were statistically significant (P<0.01), and the treatment group was superior to both the control group and blank group (P<0.01), while the difference between the control group and blank group was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The ADL from BI and Ashworth scores were significantly changed after the treatment in the three groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). After the treatment, the between-group differences in comparing the ADL score and Ashworth grading were statistically significant (P<0.01), and the therapeutic efficacy was the best in the treatment group (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia method plus ordinary acupuncture and rehabilitation is effective in improving muscular tension, enhancing lower-limb motor function and the quality of life; theZi Wu Liu Zhu point-selection card is easy-to-operate and has a high accuracy, thus suitable for application and promotion in clinic.

Therapeutic Observation of Scalp Acupuncture plus Rehabilitation for Children Epilepsy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation and rehabilitation in treating children epilepsy.Method Sixty children with epilepsy were enrolled and randomized into two groups, 30 cases in the treatment group and 30 cases in the control group. The treatment group was intervened by scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation, while the control group was treated with rehabilitation. After the intervention, the changes of Comprehensive Function Assessment for Disabled Children (CFADC) and electroencephalogram (EEG) waves were observed, and the therapeutic efficacies of the two groups were compared and analyzed.Result The comprehensive function scores were changed significantly in both groups after the treatment (P<0.05). After the treatment, the comprehensive function score was (61.15±2.65) in the treatment group versus (58.60±2.81) in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in comparing the EEG waves between the two groups (P<0.05). In the control group, no case was recovered, 4 cases showed marked efficacy, 21 showed effective, and 5 failed in the treatment; in the treatment group, 2 cases were recovered, 10 showed marked efficacy, 16 showed effective, and 2 failed in the treatment. There was a significant difference in comparing the therapeutic efficacy between the two groups (P<0.05), and the treatment group was superior to the control group.Conclusion Scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation can produce a satisfactory clinical efficacy in treating children epilepsy and is thus feasible.

Clinical Observation of Acupuncture at Acupoints Selected byNa Jia Method for Lower-limb Spastic Hemiplegia after Cerebral Stroke / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia point-selection card invented by professor ZHOU Ming-xin method (midnight-noon ebb-flow) in improving lower-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke.Method Eighty-four patients with lower-limb spastic hemiplegia after cerebral stroke were randomized into a treatment group, a control group, and a blank group by using random number table method, 28 cases in each group. The blank group was only given rehabilitation; the control group was treated with ordinary acupuncture in addition to rehabilitation; the treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia method in addition to the intervention given to the control group. The Ashworth Scale, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) in Barthel Index (BI) and simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of lower-limb function were observed before and after the intervention. Result After the treatment, the simplified FMA scores were changed significantly in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the between-group differences in comparing the simplified FMA score were statistically significant (P<0.01), and the treatment group was superior to both the control group and blank group (P<0.01), while the difference between the control group and blank group was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The ADL from BI and Ashworth scores were significantly changed after the treatment in the three groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). After the treatment, the between-group differences in comparing the ADL score and Ashworth grading were statistically significant (P<0.01), and the therapeutic efficacy was the best in the treatment group (P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at acupoints selected byZi Wu Liu Zhu Na Jia method plus ordinary acupuncture and rehabilitation is effective in improving muscular tension, enhancing lower-limb motor function and the quality of life; theZi Wu Liu Zhu point-selection card is easy-to-operate and has a high accuracy, thus suitable for application and promotion in clinic.

Therapeutic Observation of Scalp Acupuncture plus Rehabilitation for Children Epilepsy / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy between scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation and rehabilitation in treating children epilepsy.Method Sixty children with epilepsy were enrolled and randomized into two groups, 30 cases in the treatment group and 30 cases in the control group. The treatment group was intervened by scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation, while the control group was treated with rehabilitation. After the intervention, the changes of Comprehensive Function Assessment for Disabled Children (CFADC) and electroencephalogram (EEG) waves were observed, and the therapeutic efficacies of the two groups were compared and analyzed.Result The comprehensive function scores were changed significantly in both groups after the treatment (P<0.05). After the treatment, the comprehensive function score was (61.15±2.65) in the treatment group versus (58.60±2.81) in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in comparing the EEG waves between the two groups (P<0.05). In the control group, no case was recovered, 4 cases showed marked efficacy, 21 showed effective, and 5 failed in the treatment; in the treatment group, 2 cases were recovered, 10 showed marked efficacy, 16 showed effective, and 2 failed in the treatment. There was a significant difference in comparing the therapeutic efficacy between the two groups (P<0.05), and the treatment group was superior to the control group.Conclusion Scalp acupuncture plus rehabilitation can produce a satisfactory clinical efficacy in treating children epilepsy and is thus feasible.