Effect of Individualized Needling on Gross Motor Function in Cerebral Palsy Infants

Objective: To observe the effect of individualized needling protocol (on the basis of functional brain mapping and standardized syndrome differentiation in Chinese medicine) on gross motor functions of infants with cerebral palsy (CP) and thus study the innovative means of combining acupuncture with rehabilitation management technique. Methods: A total of 74 CP infants were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 37 in each group. Combined individualized needling and rehabilitation training were used in the treatment group, versus combined Jin's needling (16 brain-benefiting points) and rehabilitation training in the control group. For both groups, acupuncture treatment was conducted once every other day and rehabilitation training every day. The dynamic changes of gross motor functions before treatment and after every 1-month treatment were measured and assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66. Results: After treatment, the GMFM scores were significantly increased in both groups (P<0.01); there were no between-group statistical differences in increase range of the GMFM scores (P>0.05); the treatment protocol was not interacted with the treatment time; and the GMFM scores for spastic CP infants were better in the treatment group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Combined scalp acupuncture and rehabilitation training can produce positive effects on gross motor functions of CP infants. Individualized needling can obtain better effects than 16 brain-benefiting points in improving the gross motor functions of spastic CP infants.

Clinical Study on Point Application Using Chinese Herbal Medicine for Pediatric Chronic Cough

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of point application using Chinese herbal medicine for chronic cough in children. Methods: A total of 200 children with chronic cough were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 100 cases in each group. Conventional Western medication was used for cases in the control group, whereas conventional Western medication plus point application using Chinese herbal medicine were used for cases in the observation group. Changes of indexes including eosinophils(EOS), peak expiratory flow(PEF) and forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) were observed before and after treatment. In addition, the clinical effects were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, coughs in children were alleviated in both groups; however, it took a shorter period of time for cough alleviation in the observation group than that in the control group(P<0.01). On the 28 th day of treatment, the EOS, PEF and FEV1 were improved in both groups(P<0.01), and the improvements were more significant in the observation group(P<0.05). Additionally, the frequencies of cough variant asthma attacks were decreased in both groups, but a better effect in the observation group than the control group. Conclusion: Complementary point application using Chinese herbal medicine could substantially improve the clinical effect, alleviate coughs and benefit lung functions.

Experience on Treatment of Infantile Asthma by Acupuncture plus Herbal Medicine

Asthma is commonly termed "roaring disease", referring to gurgling with sputum in the throat, characterized by difficult and rapid breathing. Infantile asthma belongs to a kind of bronchitis, and would occur repeatedly