Therapeutic effect of acupuncture combining standard swallowing training for post-stroke dysphagia: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combining standard swallowing training for patients with dysphagia after stroke. METHODS: A total of 105 consecutively admitted patients with post-stroke dysphagia in the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine were included: 50 patients from the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation received standard swallowing training and acupuncture treatment (acupuncture group); 55 patients from the Department of Neurology received standard swallowing training only (control group). Participants in both groups received 5-day therapy per week for a 4-week period. The primary outcome measures included the scores of Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) and the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA); the secondary outcome measure was the Royal Brisbane Hospital Outcome Measure for Swallowing (RBHOMS), all of which were assessed before and after the 4-week treatment. RESULTS: A total of 98 subjects completed the study (45 in the acupuncture group and 53 in the control group). Significant differences were seen in VFSS, SSA and RBHOMS scores in each group after 4-week treatment as compared with before treatment (P<0.01). Comparison between the groups after 4-week treatment showed that the VFSS P=0.007) and SSA scores (P=0.000) were more significantly improved in the acupuncture group than the control group. However, there was no statistical difference (P=0.710) between the acupuncture and the control groups in RBHOMS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture combined with the standard swallowing training was an effective therapy for post-stroke dysphagia, and acupuncture therapy is worth further investigation in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.

Effect of zibu shenjing fang (see text) on growth and development of the mouse with kidney-essence insufficiency and study on the mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of Zibu Shenjing Fang (see text) on growth and development of the mouse with insufficiency ofkidney-essence and the mechanism. METHODS: Total 50 mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a Jingui Shenqi Wan (see text) group, a Zibu Shenjing Fang high dose group and a Zibu Shenjing Fang low dose group, 10 mice in each group. The kidney-essence insufficiency mouse model was established by use of threat-injuring the kidney combined with over-fatigue. At the same time of modeling, the mice in the model group were intragastrically administrated with saline 20 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1), in the Jingui Shenqi Wan group with suspension of the Jingui Shenqi Wan 2.7 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), in the Zibu Shenjing Fang high dose group with Zibu Shenjing Fang 20 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) and in the Zibu Shenjing Fang low dose group with Zibu Shenjing Fang 10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), for 21 consecutive days. The general state was observed, the body weight was weighted, and serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) contents were detected. RESULTS: Compared with model group, Zibu Shenjing Fang groups and Jingui Shenqi Wan group could improve manifestation of the mouse with kidney-essence insufficiency, increase body weight of the mouse and serum GH and IGF-1 contents, especially in the high dose group. CONCLUSION: Zibu Shenjing Fang gives play to the function of tonifying the kidney and replenishing essence through regulating GH and IGF-1 levels, so as to influence growth and development of the mouse.