Effect of long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV 20) on cognitive impairment in post-stroke patients

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of long-time needle retaining at Baihui（GV 20） in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment. Methods： A total of 60 eligible patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment were randomized into a treatment group and a control group by random digital table, 30 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by basic treatment including routine therapy in Neurology department and Western medicine rehabilitation therapy, while the treatment group was intervened by same treatment in the control group combined with long-time needle retaining at Baihui（GV 20）. Mental state of patients was evaluated by National Institute of Health stroke scale（NIHSS） and mini-mental state examination（MMSE） after 4 weeks of treatment. Results： After 4-week treatment, the NIHSS score dropped in both groups, and intra-group comparisons showed statistical significances（both P〈0.05）, and the score in the treatment group was statistically lower than that in the control group（P〈0.01）; the MMSE score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group, there was a statistical inter-group difference（P〈0.01）; the total effective rate was 93.3%, and the marked effective rate was 50.0% in the treatment group, versus 76.7% and 20.0% in the control group, there were significant differences in the total effective rate and the marked effective rate between the two groups（all P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Long-time needle retaining at Baihui（GV 20） can produce a safe valid therapeutic efficacy in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment.

Advance in study on influence factors of needle retention duration

Needle retention duration, as an essential link in acupuncture treatment, has always been valued by physicians in all ages of the Chinese history. In this article, related literatures in recent years on influence factors of needle retention duration have been collected and reviewed in terms of duration, type and state of illness, point selection and so on. Modern related researches, to a certain extent, have approved and advanced the viewpoints of the previous physicians. However, few of the studies are randomized controlled trials of evidence-based medicine. Most of them still remain in observation stage. Therefore, scientific designing methods should be adopted in the future for researching approaches of TCM. Systematic and through studies should be carried out on needle retention duration, so as to comprehend the principle and define the optimal duration for different diseases. In this way, a standardized and systematic model on acupuncture treatment can be established.

Efficacy observation of long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training for upper-extremity dysfunction after cerebral stroke

Objective:To observe the efficacy of long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training in improving upper-extremity dysfunction in cerebral stroke patients.Methods:Ninety-five patients with upper-extremity dysfunction after cerebral stroke were randomized into two groups,with 48 cases in the treatment group and 47 cases in the control group.Conventional internal medicine treatment was offered to both groups.In both groups,Anterior Oblique Line of Vertex-temporal(MS 6,the middle 2/5)and Posterior Oblique Line of Vertex-temporal(MS 7,the middle 2/5)were selected from the same side of the brain lesion(the side apposing to the hemiplegic limb)for scalp acupuncture treatment.In the treatment group,the scalp acupuncture needles were retained for 7 h,in combination with interactive training,while the needles were also retained for 7 h in the control group but without interactive training.Prior to treatment and at 2-week and 4-week treatment,the two groups were scored using the functional test for the hemiplegic upper extremity-Hong Kong(FTHUE-HK)and simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity(FMA-UE).Results:The total effective rate was 97.9%in the treatment group,higher than 74.5%in the control group(P<0.01).The FTHUE-HK score was higher at 2-week and 4-week treatment than before treatment in both groups,presenting statistically significant intra-group differences(all P<0.001);the FTHUE-HK score was higher at 4-week treatment than at 2-week treatment in both groups,presenting statistically significant intra-group differences(both P<0.001).At 2-week and 4-week treatment,the FTHUE-HK score was higher in the treatment group than in the control group,showing significant between-group differences(both P<0.05).During the whole treatment process,the treatment group had higher FTHUE-HK scores compared with the control group,but there was no statistical significance comparing the change of the score between the two groups at 2-week treatment(P>0.05),while the between-group difference in the change of the score was statistically significant at 4-week treatment(P<0.05).The FMA-UE score was higher at 2-week and 4-weeks treatment than before treatment in both groups,presenting statistically significant intra-group differences(all P<0.001);the FMA-UE score was higher at 4-week treatment than at 2-week treatment in both groups,presenting statistically significant intra-group differences(both P<0.001).At 2-week and 4-week treatment,the FMA-UE was higher in the treatment group than in the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant(both P<0.01).The FMA-UE score rose gradually with the increase of treatment session,and there was statistical significance comparing the change of the score between the two groups at 2-week and 4-week treatment,respectively(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Long-retaining scalp acupuncture plus interactive training results in more significant efficacy than long-retaining scalp acupuncture alone in improving the upper-limb dysfunction after cerebral stroke and the advantage becomes more notable after 2-week consecutive treatment.

Clinical Study on Treatment of Vascular Dementia with Scalp Acupuncture

Objective： To explore a treatment method for vascular dementia. Methods： Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups. The observation group was treated with long-term needle-retaining method of scalp acupuncture and the control group was treated by medications. Evaluation was made respectively before and after the treatment by means of Hasegawa dementia scale （HDS）, neurological function deficit （NFD） score and main symptom （MS） score. Results： There were statistically significant differences in HDS, NFD score and MS score in both groups （P〈0.01） before and after the treatment. There were statistically significant differences in HDS, NFD score and MS score between the two groups （P〈0.05） before and after the treatment. The total effective rate was 86.8% in the observation group and 80.0% in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in the effects between the two groups （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： This long-term needle-retaining method of scalp acupuncture is precisely effective for vascular dementia.

Clinical studies on different acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea

Objective： To seek the optimal acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea and provide clinical basis for optimal acupuncture treatment protocol. Methods： A total of 90 eligible cases were randomly allocated into three groups, 30 cases in each group. Points Guanyuan（CV 4）, bilateral Zusanli（ST 36） and Sanyinjiao（SP 6） were selected for patients in all three groups, with a different treatment duration： 15 min in group A, 30 min in group B and 45 min in group C. Then the clinical efficacy in each group was evaluated by pain symptom scoring. Results： As for the pain symptom scores, there were statistically significant intra-group differences between before and after treatment in three groups（all P〈0.05）; coupled with statistically significant inter-group differences between group B and the other two groups（both P〈0.05）. As for clinical efficacy, there were statistical differences between group B and the other two groups（both P〈0.05）, indicating that 30 min of acupuncture is the optimal duration in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion： With the same needling manipulation, 30 min of acupuncture treatment achieves a better efficacy for primary dysmenorrhea.

A review of time-effect research on acupuncture in experimental rats/mice in the recent 10 years

Objective:To summarize the influence patterns of related time factors on acupuncture effectiveness in different disease model rats/mice,and to provide reference for acupuncture clinical practice.Methods:Retrieved the relevant literatures on time-effect experimental studies of acupuncture in rats/mice in the recent 10 years.The correlations between the key time factors(such as different intervention timings of acupuncture,acupuncture moments,operation durations,needle-retaining times,intervals and treatment courses)and the acupuncture effect were analyzed and summarized.Results:From the mainstream perspective of quantification,the earlier the acupuncture intervention,the better.The proper time to implement acupuncture varied depending on disease models and points.The best operation time varied widely between different diseases.The most frequently needle-retaining time was 20-30 min.The frequency of acupuncture was usually 1 time/day;the length of the treatment course was determined according to practitioners'experience.Conclusion:Throughout the time-effect studies of acupuncture intervention in experimental rats/mice,conclusions are inconsistent,especially the lack of quantitative research on acupuncture operation time,acupuncture frequency,acupuncture treatment duration,and optimal stimulation amount.Future research should explore and determine the best time-quantity parameters that affect the effectiveness of acupuncture intervention,which is the key and goal of the acupuncture time-effect research.Independent intervention-time experiments throughout the entire course of a single disease(dominant disease)need to be done to guide clinical and disciplinary development.