CLINICAL STUDY ON TREATMENT OF ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE WITH ACUPUNCTURE OF ACUPOINTS OF THE PERICARDIUM MERIDIAN AND THE HEART MERIDIAN

Objective: To research the protective effect of acupuncture on the cardiac performance and cerebral function in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Methods: Forty AIS patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n=20) and medication group (n=20) according to their admission sequence. Acupoints, bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Tongli (HT 5) were punctured with Gauge-28 filiform needles, once daily, with 10 sessions being a therapeutic course. Patients of the medication group were treated with oral administration of persantine and aspirin as well as intravenous drip of 20% mannitol, low molecular dextran and compound Danshen (red sage root) injectio. Cerebral infarction volume, ECG (heart rate, ST Ⅱ and T Ⅱ), plasma CGRP, thromboxane (TX) B 2 and 6-Keto-prostanglandin (PG) F1a and scores of the neurological deficit were used as the indexes. Results: After 2 courses of treatment, self comparison of pre-and post treatment of each group showed that the therapeutic effects of acupuncture in reducing infarction volume ( P<0.01), lowering heart rate (HR, P<0.01) and ST Ⅱ ( P<0.01), raising T Ⅱ wave amplitude ( P<0.01), elevating plasma CGRP ( P<0.001) and 6-keto-PGF 1a ( P<0.01) and reducing plasma TXB 2 ( P< 0.01) were superior to those of medication group. Conclusion: Acupuncture of acupoints of the Pericardium Meridian and Heart Meridian has a significant protective action on the cardiac performance and cerebral function in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Post-stroke hand motor impairment treated with acupuncture at Zhōngzhǔ(中渚 TE 3) and Wàiguān(外关 TE 5)

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of post-stroke hand motor impairment treated with acupuncture at Zhongzhu （中渚 TE 3） and Waiguan （外关TE 5）. Methods Sixty cases of post-stroke hand motor impairment were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The conventional medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other rehabilitation trainings were applied in both groups. In observation group, Zhongzhu （中渚 TE 3） and Waiguan （外关TE 5） were punctured. The assessment was performed with neurologie deficit scoring of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS）, hand motor function, walking ability and the modified Barthel index scale of the Activities of Daily Living （ADL） in both groups before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the scores of hand function, walking ability, ADL and NIHSS were improved in both groups as compared with those before treatment （all P〈0.01）. The improvements of hand function, walking ability and ADL ：in observation group were superior to those in control group （all P〈0.05）. Conclusion The conventional medication and rehabilitation trainings combined with acupuncture at Zhongzhu （中渚 TE 3） and Waiguan （外关TE 5） ean obviously improve hand motor function, walking ability, the activities of daily living and rehabilitation efficacy in the patients with post-stroke hand motor impairment.

Acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training for post-stroke spasmodic dysphonia:a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training for post-stroke spasmodic dysphonia and compare the differences in efficacy among the therapy of acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training and the monotherapy.Methods Two hundred and seventy cases of patients with post-stroke spasmodic dysarthria were randomly divided into three groups with the ratio of 1：1：1.Group A：acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training group（90 cases）,group B：acupuncture group（90 cases）,group C：speech rehabilitation training group（90 cases）.In the group B,acupuncture treatment was given at Baihui（百会 GV 20）,JTnjin（金津 EX-HN 12） and Yuye（玉液 EX-HN13） as well as tongue-three needles.In the group C,the treatment of speech rehabilitation training was provided.The two treatments mentioned above were combined in the group A.Patients were treated once a day for a month with improved Frenchay dysarthria rating scale as the indices of therapeutic effect evaluation.Results ① Group A：the cured and markedly effective rate was 88.7%,and total effective rate was 94.3%;group B：the cured and markedly effective rate was 44.2%and total effective rate was 81.4%;group C：the cured and markedly effective rate was 23.5%and total effective rate was 61.2%.Both the cured and markedly effective rate and the total effective rate in the group A were significantly higher than those in the group B or group C（all P0.05）;both the cured and markedly effective rate and the total effective rate in the group B were higher than those of group C（both P0.05）;② In comparison of functional recovery of tongue in accordance with the Frenchay dysarthria rating scale,the recovery rate of the tongue-stationary state was 71.74%in the group A,18.87%in the group B and 4.44%in the group C;the recovery rate of tongue lolling out was 66.23%in the group A,27.63%in the group B and 1.59%in the group C;the recovery rate of tongue up and down motion was 44.19%in the group A,4.94%in the group B and 1.35%in the group C;the recovery rate of lateral motion was 40.24%in the group A,7.59%in the group B and 0.00%in the group C;the recovery rate of alternating motion was 29.07%in the group A,7.14%in the group B and 1.23%in the group C;the recovery rate of speech was 29.07%in the group A,5.88%in the group B and 1.22%in the group C.In the three groups,the recovery rates of stationary state and tongue lolling out were superior to those of up and down movement,lateral movement,alternating movement and speech（all P0.05）.Conclusion The clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training for patients with post-stroke spasmodic dysarthria is significant,and the efficacy of acupuncture is superior to that of speech rehabilitation training;as for functional recovery of tongue like stationary state and tongue out,the therapy of acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training is effective.

Research of efficacy assessment of post-stroke hemiplegic spasticity treated with acupuncture and rehabilitation:a multi-centre randomized controlled trial

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and rehabilitation on poststroke hemiplegic spasticity, and probe into the indices of efficacy assessment of the disease. Methods According to the randomized, controlled and blind clinical trial design, 229 cases enrolled in accordance with the inclusive criteria were divided into 3 groups based on visiting sequence： treatment group 1 （74 cases）, treated with acupuncture [Jianyu （肩髃 LI 15）, Quchi （曲池 LI 11）, Waiguan （外关 TE 5） etc. on the affected side]; treatment group 2 （75 cases）, treated with acupuncture as treatment group 1 and combined with rehabilitation as control group; control group （80 cases）, treated with rehabilitation （Bobath facilitation technique）. 5 treatments were given each week, continuously for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy on post-stroke hemiplegic spasticity was observed systematically after the treatment of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation. Results The research showed that the baseline situations of 3 groups were good, the group division was proportionate, indicating strong comparability （P〉0.05）. Based on the modified Ashworth Spasticity Scale （modified ASS）, the total effective rate was 63.01% （46/73） in treatment group 1, 66.67%（50/75） in treatment group 2 and 44.00% （33/75） in control group, indicating a statistical significant difference among 3 groups （P〈0.05）. Based on MAS motor function scale, the function improvement in treatment group 2 was superior to that in treatment group 1 and control group, indicating statistical significant differences among 3 groups （both P〈0.05）. Based on modified Barthel index, the daily life activity in treatment group 2 was superior in the improvement as compared with treatment group 1 and control group, but without statistical significant difference indicated （P〉0.05）. Conclusion The efficacy of post-stroke hemiplegic spasticity is definite with acupuncture combined with rehabilitation, and the acupuncture program is safe and effective.

Observation on Therapeutic Effect of Acupucnture plus Rehabilitation for Hemiplegia Following Stroke

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus rehabilitation on hemiplegia following stroke. Methods： Ninety-six patients with hemiplegia due to stroke were randomly allocated into two groups. The treatment group （50 cases） was treated with acupuncture plus rehabilitation, and the control group （46 cases） was treated with rehabilitation. Results： The total effective rate was 92.0% in the treatment group and 76.1% in the control group. There was a statistical difference in the effects between the two groups （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus rehabilitation is a perfect method for hemiplegia following stroke. It is especially effective in improving the function of limbs, relieving the spasm and improving the activity of daily life.