Therapeutic
Effect of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post-Stroke Depression
He J, Shen PF., The First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin
University of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of "Xingnao Kaiqiao Zhenfa"
(Acupuncture Technique for Restoring Consciousness) in the treatment of
post-stroke depression. METHODS: A total of 256 stroke patients were divided
into acupuncture group (n = 180, male 138, female 42) and medication group (n =
76, male 57 and female 19) according to their visiting sequence to our hospital.
Acupoints used were Neiguan (PC 6), Renzhong (GV 26), Baihui (GV 20), Yintang
(EX-HN 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6,the affected side) and the needles were retained
for 20 min every time. Patients of medication group were asked to take
Amitriptyline (50 mg/d at first, 200 mg/d). Acupuncture treatment was conducted
twice daily, and after one month's treatment the therapeutic effect was
evaluated. Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Hamilton Rating Scale for
Depression (HRSD) were used to assess the patient's state of depression.
RESULTS: After the treatment, of the 180 and 76 cases in acupuncture and
medication groups, 31 (17.2%) and 13 (17.1%) were cured, 73 (40.6%) and 18
(23.7%) had a marked improvement in their depression state, 27 (15.0%) and 12
(15.8%) had an improvement, 49 (27.2%) and 33 (43.4%) failed, with the effective
rates being 72.8% and 56.6% respectively. The markedly effective rate and the
total effective rate of acupuncture group were significantly higher than those
of medication group (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the total scores of SDS and
HRSD and the severity index of two groups decreased pronouncedly in comparison
with those of their individual pre-treatment; and the therapeutic effects of
acupuncture group were significantly better than those of medication group in
reducing SDS, HRSD and severity index (P < 0 .05). In addition, the decreased
values of depression, pessimistic mood and irritability of acupuncture group
were all bigger than those of medication group (P < 0.05). No significant
difference was found between two groups in the decreased value of insomnia (P >
0.05). CONCLUSION: "Acupuncture Technique for Restoring Consciousness" can
effectively improve depression patients' symptoms and the therapeutic effect of
acupuncture is markedly superior to that of medication for post-stroke patients.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2007 Feb;32(1):58-61.
Source PubMed
[TOP]
The
Regulatory Effect of Electro-Acupuncture on Hegu point (LI4) in Cerebral
Response with Functional MRI
Wang W, et al., Radiology Department, Union Hospital Affiliated
to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan.
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 (L14) or non-acupoint points on
the face, and through comparing their similarities and differences, to speculate
on the specific cerebral areas activated by stimulating L14, for exploring the
mechanism of its effect in potential clinical application. METHODS: EA was
applied at volunteers' right L14 (of 9 subjects in the L14 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 x 1 x 1 mm(3) 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 L14 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 L14 group and 5 subjects of the control group
(P<0.01). In the L14 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 L14 in regulating cerebral activities could be displayed and
recorded through BOLD fMRI, the distribution of signally deactivated area evoked
by EA L14 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 L14 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.
Chin J Integr Med. 2007 Mar;13(1):10-6
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Effects and
Mechanisms of Extract from Paeonia lactiflora and Astragalus membranaceus on
Liver Fibrosis Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats.
Sun WY, et al., Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui
Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immunopharmacology
in Anhui Province, Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese
Medicine in Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.
Paeonia lactiflora and Astragalus membranaceus are two popular traditional
Chinese medicines, commonly used in Chinese herb prescription to treat liver
disease. The extract prepared from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora and
Astragalus membranaceus (PAE) demonstrated more excellent hepato-protective
activity than the single herbs used individually as indicated in our preliminary
studies. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of PAE on
liver fibrosis in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) and to explore
its possible mechanisms. Liver fibrosis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats
by injection with 50% CCl(4) subcutaneously twice a week for 8 weeks. At the
same time, PAE (40, 80 and 160mg/kg) was administered intragastrically. Upon
pathological examination, the PAE-treated rats significantly reduced the liver
damage and the symptoms of liver fibrosis. Administration of PAE decreased
CCl(4)-induced elevation of serum transaminase activities, hyaluronic acid,
laminin and procollagen type III levels, and contents of hydroxyproline in liver
tissue by approximately 30-60%. It also restored the decrease in SOD and GSH-Px
activites and inhibited the formation of lipid peroxidative products during
CCl(4) treatment. Moreover, PAE (80, 160mg/kg, ig) decreased the elevation of
TGF-beta1 by 47.7% and 53.1%, respectively. In the primary cultured hepatic
stellate cells (HSCs), PAE also significantly decreased [(3)H] thymidine
incorporation in cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-B subunit
homodimer (PDGF-BB) and suppressed [(3)H] proline incorporation. These results
suggested that PAE significantly inhibited the progression of hepatic fibrosis
induced by CCl(4), and the inhibitory effect of PAE on hepatic fibrosis might be
associated with its ability to scavenge free radicals, decrease the level of
TGF-beta1 and inhibit collagen synthesis and proliferation in HSCs.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Apr 24;
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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