Altered Brain Regional Homogeneity Following Contralateral Acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) in Ischemic Stroke Patients with Left Hemiplegia: An fMRI Study

Objective: To study the effect of contralateral acupuncture (CAT) at acupoints of Quchi (LI 11) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the unaffected limbs of ischemic stroke patients with left hemiplegia based on regional homogeneity (ReHo) indices. Methods: Ten ischemic stroke patients with left hemiplegia received CAT on right side at LI 11 and ST 36. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed before and after acupuncture. A ReHo analytical method was used to compare brain responses of patients before and after CAT operated by REST software. Results: The stimulation at both LI 11 and ST 36 on the unaffected limbs produced significantly different neural activities. CAT elicited increased ReHo values at the right precentral gyrus and superior frontal gyrus, decreased ReHo value at right superior parietal lobule, left fusiform gyrus and left supplementary motor area. Conclusions: Acupuncture at one side could stimulate bilateral regions. CAT could evoke the gyrus which was possibly related to motor recovery from stroke. A promising indicator of neurobiological deficiencies could be represented by ReHo values in post-stroke patients.     

Changes in Small Intestinal Motility and Related Hormones by Acupuncture Stimulation at Zusanli (ST 36) in Mice

Objectives

To clarify the effects of acupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST 36) on the hormonal changes.

Methods

Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice received acupuncture stimulation at acupoint ST 36 or Quchi (LI 11) once a day for 3 or 5 days in the acupuncture-stimulated groups, but not received in the normal group (n=6 in each group). On day 3 or 5, animals were given 0.1 mL of charcoal orally with a bulbed steel needle, 30 min after the last acupuncture stimulation. Ten minutes later, mice were anesthetized, and the intestinal transit and the concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin, ghrelin and gastrin in the serum were measured.

Results

Compared to no acupuncture stimulation, acupuncture stimulation at ST 36 for 5 days increased the intestinal transit and down-regulated the concentration of VIP and up-regulated the concentrations of motilin, ghrelin and gastrin (P<0.05 or 0.01), whereas acupuncture stimulation at LI 11 did not change them signifificantly (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Acupuncture stimulation at ST 36 for 5 days enhances the small intestinal motility and regulates the secretion of hormones related to small intestinal motility.

     

Effect of acupuncture plus conventional treatment on brain activity in ischemic stroke patients: a regional homogeneity analysis

Objective

To determine differences in cerebral activity evoked by acupuncture and conventional stroke treatment, and identify the treatment targets.

Effects of three needling manipulations of the right-side Zusanli (ST 36) on brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging

Objective

To investigate the effects on the brain using three needling manipulations (twirling, lifting-thrusting, and twirling plus lifting-thrusting) when the right-side Zusanli (ST 36) acupoint was stimulated with needles.

Study on the Regulatory Effect of Electro-acupuncture on Hegu Point （LI4） in Cerebral Response with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective To study, through blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI), the cerebral activated areas evoked by electro-acupuncturing (EA) the right Hegu point (LI4) or non-acupoint points on the face, and through comparing their similarities and differences, to speculate on the specific cerebral areas activated by stimulating LI4, for exploring the mechanism of its effect in potential clinical application. Methods EA was applied at volunteers’ right LI4 (of 9 subjects in the LI4 group) and facial non-acupoint points (of 5 subjects in the control group), and whole brain 3-dimensional T1 anatomical imaging of high resolution 1 × 1 × 1 mm³ used was performed with clustered stimulatory mode adopted by BOLD fMRI. Pretreatment and statistical t-test were conducted on the data by SPM2 software, then the statistical parameters were superimposed to the 3-dimensional anatomical imaging. Results Data from 3 testees of the 9 subjects in the LI4 group were given up eventually because they were unfit to the demand due to different causes such as movement of patients’ location or machinery factors. Statistical analysis showed that signal activation or deactivation was found in multiple cerebral areas in 6 subjects of LI4 group and 5 subjects of the control group (P<0.01). In the LI4 group, the areas which showed signal activation were: midline nuclear group of thalamus, left supra marginal gyrus, left supra temporal gyrus, right precuneous lobe, bilateral temporal pole, left precentral gyrus and left cerebellum; those which showed signal deactivation were: bilateral hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, amygdala body area, rostral side/audal side of cingulate gyrus, prefrontal lobe and occipital lobe as well as left infratemporal gyrus. In the control group, areas which showed signal activation were: bilateral frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus, Reil’s island lobe, primary somato-sensory cortex, cingulate gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, occipital cuneiform gyrus and/or precuneus gyrus and right brainstem; and the area that showed deactivation was left median frontal lobe. Conclusion The effects of EA LI4 in regulating cerebral activities could be displayed and recorded through BOLD fMRI, the distribution of signally deactivated area evoked by EA LI4 was similar to the known distribution of anatomical orientation of pain in brain, and closely related to the anatomic structure of limbic system, which areas are possibly the acupuncture analgesic effect’s cerebral regulating area. Furthermore, activated portion of left central anterior gyrus, which represent the movement of oral facial muscles, and the activated portion of cerebellum are possibly related with the effect of using EA LI4 in treating facial palsy and facial muscle spasm. As for the mechanism of signal deactivation of cerebral activities exhibited in the present study that is unable to be elucidated, it awaits for further research. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (No. 90209031)     

额三针透刺的脑功能性磁共振成像研究

目的:研究额三针透刺引发的脑内功能区的变化情况。方法:对6例健康志愿者进行额三针透刺,利用血氧依赖性磁共振成像技术,获取针刺前后的脑功能变化图像,利用SPM信号处理系统进行对比分析,观察脑皮层相应功能区的激活状况。结果:额三针透刺高激活的脑区,左侧:额上回(BA8/10),额中回(BA9/46),额下回(BA47),颞上回(BA38),颞中回(BA39),边缘叶,楔叶(BA20),小脑;右侧:中央前回(BA6),颞下回(BA20),枕叶(BA18/19),顶下小叶(BA40),脑干,尾状核;低激活的脑区,左侧:豆状核,顶上小叶(BA7),颞上回(BA39),颞下回(BA20),额中回(BA8);右侧:边缘叶(BA33)。结论:额三针透刺激活脑区可能在治疗心境障碍性疾病时起一定作用,fMRI可清楚显示针刺效应引起的脑部功能变化,可作为针刺机制及效应的评价方法。     

Clinical observation on Wang Juyi's applied channel theory in treating stroke-sequel patients

OBJECTIVE

To explore the advantages of acupuncture treatment guided by channel palpation on stroke-sequel patients.

The Standardization of Acupuncture Treatment for Radiation-Induced Xerostomia: A Literature Review

Objective

To assess the relative standardization of acupuncture protocols for radiation-induced xerostomia.

Methods

A literature search was carried out up to November 10, 2012 in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and China National Knowledge Infrastruction with the terms: radiation-induced xerostomia, acupuncture, acupuncture treatment, and acupuncture therapy. Five ancient Chinese classic acupuncture works were also reviewed with the keywords "dry mouth, thirst, dry tongue, dry eyes and dry lips" to search the effective acupuncture points for dry mouth-associated symptoms in ancient China.

Results

Twenty-two full-text articles relevant to acupuncture treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia were included and a total of 48 acupuncture points were searched in the 5 ancient Chinese classic acupuncture works, in which the most commonly used points were Chengjiang (CV24), Shuigou (GV 26), Duiduan (GV 27), Jinjin (EX-HN 12), and Yuye (EX-HN 13) on head and neck, Sanjian (LI 3), Shangyang (LI 1), Shaoshang (LU 11), Shaoze (SI 1), Xialian (LI 8) on hand, Fuliu (KI 7), Dazhong (KI 4), Zuqiaoyin (GB 44), Taichong (LR 3), Zhaohai (KI 6) on foot, Burong (ST 19), Zhangmen (LR 13), Tiantu (CV 22), Qimen (LR 14) on abdomen, Feishu (BL 13), Danshu (BL 19), Xiaochaogshu (BL 27), Ganshu (BL 18) on back, Shenmen (TF 4), Shen (CO₁₀, Kidney), Yidan (CO₁₁, Pancreas) and Pi (CO₁₃, Spleen) on ear.

Conclusion

There were considerable heterogeneities in the current acupuncture treatment protocols for radiation-induced xerostomia. Based on the results of the review and the personal perspectives, the authors provide a recommendation for manual acupuncture protocols in treating radiationinduced xerostomia patients with head and neck cancer.

     

针灸脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠百会及足三里穴位对热休克蛋白70及肿瘤坏死因子-α表达的作用

Objective:To explore the effects of acupuncture on the peripheral serum expression of heat shock protein 70(HSP70)and tumor necrosis factor a(TNF-α)in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI).Methods:In total,152 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into an operated group and a non-operated group according to a random digits table.The operated group included a sham-operated group,a model group and an acupuncture group,whereas the non-operated group consisted of a normal group.Except for the normal group,each group was further divided into 12,24,48,72,96,and 144 h time points according to different reperfusion times.Eight rats were assigned in each operated group and in the normal group.The rat model of CIRI was established by the thread occlusion method in the model and acupuncture groups.The acupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at Baihui(DU20)and Zusanli(ST36)for the required time after successful operation.Blood was sampled to detect the HSP70 and TNF-αcontent by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results:The expression of HSP70 protein in the peripheral serum of the experimental groups was higher than that in the normal control group.The peak time in both the model and the sham-operated groups was 12 h,and the peak time in the acupuncture group was 24 h.The expression in the acupuncture group declined to a lower level at 72 h and was lower than that in the model and sham-operated groups(P0.05).The peak time for the expression of TNF-αprotein in the peripheral serum of both the model and the acupuncture groups was 24 h,but the expression in the acupuncture group was lower than the model group.Additionally,the expression of TNF-αin all experimental groups was higher than the normal group(P0.05).Conclusions:Acupuncture at DU20 and ST36 in rats attenuated CIRI,which was associated with a reduction in the expression of HSP70 and TNF-α.These results provide clues to acupunctural neuroprotective properties.Acupuncture at DU20 and ST36 in rats after CIRI can adjust the expression of HSP70 and TNF-αin the peripheral serum,which might be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture's attenuation of CIRI.     

针刺外关穴和假穴小脑激活的PET脑功能成像研究

目的观察针刺右侧外关穴后小脑局部葡萄糖代谢变化,研究针刺外关穴小脑的激活区域,探讨针刺穴位小脑的作用机制。方法将18例健康志愿者分为外关穴针刺组、外关穴假针刺组和假穴针刺组3组,每组6例,分别接受右侧外关穴针刺、右侧外关穴假针刺及外关穴旁开假穴点针刺干预,行正电子发射体层显像脑功能成像检查,所得图像采用SPM8软件包进行处理和分析。结果外关穴针刺组及假针刺组各1例因明显刺痛感或头部移动明显,其数据不作进一步统计。与外关穴假针刺组比较,针刺右侧外关穴激活的小脑脑区为左侧小脑前叶山顶及右侧小脑后叶下半月小叶。与假穴针刺组比较,针刺右侧外关穴激活的小脑脑区为右侧小脑后叶山坡、左侧小脑扁桃体、左侧小脑后叶下半月小叶、双侧小脑前叶山顶及双侧小脑后叶。结论针刺穴位特异激活了小脑部分区域。针刺外关穴的治疗作用可能是激活小脑前叶及后叶的结果。