Spatiotemporal characteristics of activation in the swallowing neural circuit / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To observe the activation of cerebral regions during swallowing by magnetoencephalography (MEG), and discuss the temporal and spatial characteristics of neural circuit.Methods:Ten healthy subjects were selected, and the magnetic signals of their brains were recorded using 148 channel full head type MEG system in the magnetic shielding room.Data were analyzed using CURRY8 analysis software and the localization algorithm was based on minimum modulus low resolution electromagnetic imaging method (LORETA). Every 300 ms data were set as an independent analysis stage and made the highest position of the cerebral cortex F-distribution values (F-distributed) as the activation area.The activation areas were analyzed during swallowing through time and space location.Results:Paracentral lobule, anterior central gyrus, medulla oblata, posterior central gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, parietal lobules, angular gyrus, corpus callosum, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, orbital gyrus, thalamus, bottom of third ventricle, corona radiata, precuneus, frontal insula, cerebellopontine angle, superior frontal gyrus and basal ganglia area were activated during swallowing, in which the top eight brain regions were paracentral lobule, anterior central gyrus, corpus callosum, posterior central gyrus, superior parietal lobule, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, and basal ganglia.When the 10 subjects performed the deglutition, MEG signals of 8 subjects were mainly activated by the left cerebral hemisphere at 0-300 ms, the bilateral cerebral hemisphere or intermediate region at 301-600 ms, and the right cerebral hemisphere at 601-900 ms.MEG signal of 1 subject was activated by the right cerebral hemisphere at 0-300 ms, and the left cerebral hemisphere at 301-600 ms and 601-900 ms.MEG signal of 1 subject was mainly activated by the right cerebral hemisphere at 0-300 ms and 601-900 ms, and in the intermediate region at 301-600 ms.Conclusion:During swallowing the MEG signals appeared left laterality in the early stage and right laterality in the later stage, and showed a close correlation with time.There may be a swallowing neural circuit composed by the central region, corpus callosum, superior parietal lobule, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus and basal ganglia, in which the central region is the core.

Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave plus Electroacupuncture on Pain and Shoulder Range of Motion in Periarthritis of Shoulder / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) plus electroacupuncture in treating periarthritis of shoulder.Method Ninety patients with periarthritis of shoulder were randomized into an electroacupuncture (EA) group, an ESW group, and an ESW plus EA group, 30 cases in each group. The EA group was intervened by EA, the ESW group was treated with ESW, and the ESW plus EA group by ESW and EA. The three groups were treated once every 2 d, with successive 10 sessions as a treatment course. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and shoulder range of motion (ROM) score were evaluated before and after the treatment in the three groups. Result The VAS scores dropped significantly in the three groups after the intervention (P0.05); the VAS score in the ESW plus EA group was significantly different from that in the EA group and ESW group after the treatment (P0.05); the ROM score in the ESW plus EA group was significant different from that in the other two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion ESW plus EA can more significantly ease the pain and improve the shoulder ROM in treating periarthritis of shoulder compared with the two methods used separately.

Effect of Tung’s Acupuncture on Walk and Balance Function in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the effect of Tung’s acupuncture on walk and balance function in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Method Ninety-two eligible PD patients were randomized into a control group and a treatment group, 46 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by Levodopa, while the treatment group was additionally intervened by Tung’s acupuncture. The two groups were both treated for 20 d. Before and after the treatment, the walk and balance function were evaluated by the indices of NeuroCom Balance Master, including Walk Across (WLK), Step/Quick Turn (SNT), and Timed Up & Go Test (TUGT), and the results were compared between the two groups. Result The walk speed, step length, swing in turning, time-consumption in turning, and TUGT were improved after the intervention in both groups (P<0.05), and the improvements in the treatment group were more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Tung’s acupuncture plus oral administration of Levodopa can markedly improve the walk and balance function in patients with PD.

Therapeutic Observation Zhuang’s Moxibustion plus Acupuncture for Spastic Paralysis after Craniocerebral Injury / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhuang’s Moxibustion plus acupuncture in treating spastic paralysis due to craniocerebral injury.Method Ninety-two patients with spastic paralysis due to craniocerebral injury were randomized into a treatment group of 60 cases and a control group of 32 cases. The control group was intervened by conventional internal medicine and rehabilitation, while the treatment group was intervened by Zhuang’s moxibustion plus acupuncture in addition to the intervention given to the control group. The modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) was adopted to evaluate the clinical efficacy.Result The total effective rate was 75.0% in the treatment group versus 65.6% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).Conclusion Zhuang’s moxibustion plus acupuncture is an effective approach in treating spastic paralysis due to craniocerebral injury.