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Objective To preliminarily reveal the neurovascular effect of electroacupuncture and adrenomedullin (ADM) in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods Rat changes after middle cerebral artery ischemia and reperfusion, and the effect of electroacupuncture and ADM on them were investigated using the neurological deficit score, somatosensory evoked potentials and TTC staining technique.Results Electroacupuncture and ADM can significantly improve the neurological deficit score after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (P0.05). The P1-N1 and N1-P2 peak values of somatosensory evoked potentials decreased significantly at 30 min after ischemia (P0.05).Conclusions Electroacupuncture can reduce neurological impairment and improve brain blood supply after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. That is similar to the neurovascular effect of ADM.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Yang’s pricking-cupping bloodletting in treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and its effect on trapezius tension.Methods Seventy-eight patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 39 cases each. The treatment group received pricking-cupping bloodletting and the control group, conventional acupuncture plus cupping. The nerve function was scored, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was recorded and trapezius tension was measured in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the nerve function score, the VAS score and trapezius tension in the two groups (P0.05).Conclusions Yang’s pricking-cupping bloodletting can effectively improve pain symptoms and trapezius tension in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) tool drugs and combined acupuncture and medicine on striatal expressions of D1R and dopamine transporters (DAT) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-reperfusion rats.MethodForty-seven male SD rats were randomly grouped, used to make a model and given corresponding interventions. The materials were taken and fixed six hrs later. Striatal D1R and DAT expressions were detectedby an immunohistochemical method in different groups.ResultThe neurological deficit score was significantly higher in the model group than in the blank group. Electroacupuncture treatment decreased the score significantly (P0.05). DAT expression was significantly down-regulated in the other groups compared with the model group (P0.05).ConclusionCerebral ischemia-reperfusion can result in high D1R and DAT expressions in rat striatum on the ischemic side. Electroacupuncture, D1R antagonists and a combination of the two can significantly down-regulate D1R expression and have a protective effect on the brain. The effects of electroacupuncture and D1R antagonists can not be added to each other. D1R signaling pathway may be one of ways by which electroacupuncture produces a protective effecton the brain.
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As a component of traditional Chinese medical therapies, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for some nervous system diseases have been proven by a large number of clinical and experimental studies. But, the electrophysiological techniques of the commonly used EEG and evoked potentials are still not sufficient to reveal the functional mechanism of acupuncture therapy. The recording technique of microelectrode array (MEA), a kind of electrophysiological technique originated from the overseas biological electrical signal monitoring technique, can be used to record multiple electrical signals of the nervous cells in vivo or in vitro, and maintain the accuracy and stability of the recorded information at the same time, which greatly enriches the means of electrophysiological study. This technique has been already applied in the basic study and clinical treatment abroad, but it is very seldom used in the study of acupuncture field. In order to guide the application of MEA in the research field of acupuncture science, a general survey about the application of MEA technique in vivo was done, and the present situation and prospects of the application of the technique in acupuncture science was briefly analyzed.
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Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on ischemic stroke by recording the therapeutic effect score and performing transcranial Doppler (TCD) detection in electroacupuncture-treated convalescent stroke patients before and after treatment.Methods Sixty convalescent patients with ischemic stroke were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The control group received routine medication and the treatment group, electroacupuncture in addition. In the two groups, pre- and post-treatment neurological defect scores were recorded and the clinical therapeutic effects were observed after four weeks of treatment. Pre- and post-treatment middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsation indices (RI), resistance indices (RI) and ratios of systolic to end-diastolic (S/D) blood flow velocity detected by TCD were compared between the two groups. Results The total efficacy rate was 80.0% in the treatment group and 50.0% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the MESSS score in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the MESSS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in TCD indices (PI, RI and S/D) on the affected side in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in TCD indices on the affected side between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electro- acupuncture can promote rehabilitation in convalescent stroke patients.
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Objective:To observe the effects of pretreatment and treatment with electroacupuncture on the abilitv of learning and memory in rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury,and to provide the research basis for preventing and treating the disorder of leaming and memory in patients with apoplectic sequelae.Methods:Seventy-two SD rats,clean class,were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,pretreatment group,and treatment group.The step-through latency and number of errors,nerve injury score,and the number of cholinoceotor in the affected hippocampus were recorded to analyze the effects of pretreatment and treatment with electroacupuncture on the ability of learning and memory in rats with ischemia-reperfusion iniury.Results:1)The rats with ischemia had various signs of nerve injury.Compared with that in the sham operation rats,the nerve injury score in the model rats was lower,the step-through latency and number of errors were increased,and the content of special mAchR was decreased(P<0.05):2)Electroacupuncture could decrease the nerve injury score of the model rats.Compared with those in the model group,the step-through latency and number of errors all had significant difierence in the pretreatment and treatment groups(P<0.05);3)Compared with that in the model group.the content of mAchR was increased in the pretreatment group(P<0.05),and increased a little in the treatment group.Conclusion:Pretreatment and treatment with electroacupuncture can prolong step-through latency,and induce number of errors.Electroacupuncture pretreatment can increase the content of mAchR induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury,to improve the ability of learning and memory.Electroacupuncture pretreatment plays an important role in preventing the disorder of learning and memory in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
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Objective:To investigate the dynamic changes of glycine (Gly) and taurine (Tau) in corpus striatum of rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI),and the regulation effect of electroacupuncture on them.Methods:Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group,model group,and treatment group.Rats in the sham surgery group were operated without ischemia.Rats in the model group and treatment group were operated to make model of cerebral IRI.The ischemia status lasts 1.5 h,and reperfusion was performed for 3.75 h.Rats in the treatment group were treated with electroacupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20).Neurologic deficit score (NDS) was used to evaluate the rats functions.Microdialysis and High Performance Liquid Chromatography technique were used to detect the changes of Gly and Tau in corpus striatum of rats.Results:Contents of Gly and Tau increased at 1.5 h after ischemia.Them decreased to level as same as those rats in the sham surgery group after reperfusion.The content of Gly in the model and treatment group increased again at 2-2.5 h after reperfusion,and then decreased to the same level of the sham surgery group.There was a third increase of Gly content in the treatment group at 2.75 h after reperfusion.Electroacupuncture treatment could delay the decrease of Tau content after reperfusion,and make it increase at 1.5,2 and 2.75 h after reperfusion.The peak appeared in the last time.NDS in the model and treatment group were more than that in the sham surgery group,and lowered at 5.25 h after surgery.Effects in treatment group was better than that in the model group (P<0.05).Conclusion:IRI makes contents of Gly and Tau in corpus striatum increase at a special time.Electroacupuncture treatment could increase contents of Gly and Tau at a special time after reperfusion,which maybe an important mechanism of protecting effects of electroacupuncture on the brain.
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Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of early acupuncture in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: In clinical randomized controlled trial, 90 subjects were divided into drug group and acupuncture group, 45 cases in each group. The neurological deficit score, Bathel index and some blood laboratory indexes were detected before and after treatment in both groups. Results: In acute stage, there were striking differences in the neurological deficit score and activities of daily living (ADL) between before and after treatments in acupuncture group (P<0.01), and between acupuncture group and drug group (P<0.01); but there was no difference in blood lipid and theology between two groups. Conclusion: Acupuncture is rather safe in the early treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and improvement of disability and the patients' quality of life.
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Object: To observe the dynamic changes of dopamine (DA) in the striaturn with the process of duplicating cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (CIR) model on rats. And observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on such changes. Methods: Using microdialysis sampling, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detecting technology, dynamic sampling from experimental animals at multiple moments to observe the changes of dopamine in striatum with ischemia. And observe the effect of EA at Fengchi (GB 20) on such changes. Result: About the extracellular level of DA in normal group, sham-operation group and sham-operation + EA group, no significant changes were observed during the measuring period. The extracellular level of DA peaked at 15-45 min after MCAO and 0-30 rain (P<0.05) after reperfusion. A rising trend was also observed following 120 min after reperfusion. After EA, the extracellular level of DA was significant lower than ischemia group following 90 min after reperfusion (P<0.05). And there was no peak again. Conclusion: EA at Fenchi (GB 20) can regulate the disorder of DA. EA can improve the integrity neurological function. This may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture treating the lesion of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.
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Objective: To study the clinical effects of acupuncture therapy for acute stroke. Methods: 150 patients suffered from acute stroke were randomly divided into two groups: drug group, acupuncture group. To apply routine drug treatment of Neurology for drug group: pisacetam 250mL, Salvia injection 20mL added into normal sodium 250mL for intravenous drip, once a day. For acupuncture group applied calm the liver and suppress yang acupuncture therapy beside drugs. Modified Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) and activities of daily living (ADL) scale (Barthel Index) were used for evaluation, as well as biochemistry\hemorheology determination. Results: The scale showed significant difference as compared with the drug group, biochemistry index had non-significant difference, and hemorheological index had partly improved. Conclusion: The scale could synchronously reflect the clinical symptom and changes of patient with stroke.Acupuncture therapy has a significant improvement of acute stroke treatment.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis against brain damage after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. METHODS: Sixty-nine SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, including normal group, sham operation group, model group, electro-acupuncture group and low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis group (LLLI group). The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model was established by thread embolism of middle cerebral artery. The rats in the LLLI group, as well as the electro-acupuncture group were given treatment as soon as the occlusion finished (0 hour) and 12, 24 hours after the occlusion. We observed the changes of neurological deficit scores and the body weight of the rats at different time. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the ratos brain tissue were tested. RESULTS: The neurological deficit score of the LLLI group was significantly lower than that of the model group. The body weight and the activity of SOD of the rats decreased slightly, and the content of MDA decreased significantly after the treatment. CONCLUSION: The low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis can prevent focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. One of its mechanisms may be increasing the activity of SOD and decreasing the damage of the oxidation products to the body.
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Purpose To observe the effect of acupuncturing different points on unstable bladder. Method Fifty-one patients of unstable bladder were divided randomly into Shu-point group, Mu-point group, He-point group,observe the change of symptom score and urodynamics.Results Puncturing these points can improve the symptom score and urodynamics, but the different points can get different effect, and the effect of Sbu-point and Hepoint is superior to that of Mu-point, Conclusion The different points of bladder have different adjusting function and that function relates with nerves locating in points.