Effect of electro-acupuncture combined with early rehabilitation on motor function and expressions of CD11b/CD18 and tumor necrosis factor-α in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Objective To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture combined with early rehabilitation on the motor function and expressions of the adhesion molecules CD11b and CD18 in the polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) and monocytes and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods A total of 165 ACI patients were randomly divided into control group (group A, n=50), conventional rehabilitation group (group B, n=50) and comprehensive rehabilitation group (group C, n=65). The expressions of CD11b and CD18 in the PMN and monocytes and serum TNF-α levels were determined before and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the treatment. Thirty-two healthy subjects were also recruited as the normal control group (group N). The neurological function of the subjects was evaluated by modified Edinburgh-Scandinavia stroke scale (MESSS) and Fugi-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and their activity of daily living (ADL) was assessed using Barthel index (BI). Results The CD11b/CD18 expression in the PMN and MN and serum TNF-α level in groups A, B and C were significantly higher than those in group N before and 1 week after the treatment (P<0.05). CD11b/CD18 expression and serum TNF-α level were significantly lower in groups B and C than in the group A at 1 week after the treatment, and significantly lower in group C than in group B (P<0.05). At 2 weeks of treatment, CD11b/CD18 and TNF-α were significantly lower in groups B and C than in the group A, being the lowest in group C (P<0.05). The scores of mESSS in both groups B and C were lower than that in group A, and the scores were lower in group C than in group B. Group C showed higher FMA scores than group B, both having higher scores than group A. At 4 weeks of treatment, the mESSS scores were significantly lower, hut the FMA and ADL score significantly higher in groups B and C than in the control group (P<0.05), and the differences were more obvious in group C. Groups B and C had greater effective rate than group A (P<0.05), and the rate was the highest in group C (P<0.05). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture combined with early rehabilitation promotes the recovery of motor function in ACI patients probably by regulating the expressions of the adhesion molecules CD11b and CD18 on the PMN and monocytes and the serum levels of TNF-α.