AIM: To assess objectively the curative effect of CT localization needing around the diseased area in the treatment of stroke with routine body acupuncture method compared with experiment. METHODS: Eighty-nine inpatients from Department of Stroke, Area of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between March 1998 and March 2001 were selected, and assigned randomly into 2 groups: treatment group (CT localization needing around the diseased area at skull) with 57 cases and control group (body acupuncture method) with 32 cases. The patients in the two groups were all treated with the same placebo. Those in the treatment group were given CT localization needing around the diseased area based on the placebo. Peripheral projective region at the same side of epicranium was regarded as main acupoints based on the focus at head showed by CT. Excess syndrome could match with Fenglong (ST 40), Quchi (LI 11), Geshu (BL 17) and Taichong (LR3); Deficiency syndrome could match with Ganshu (BL18), Shenshu (BL23), Tsusanli (St36) and Hegu (LI4). After disinfection, needling around the diseased area was performed with Huatuo brand stainless steel filiform needle for 4 to 8 needlings (number of needling was defined with the size of focus). Acupuncture was all towards the Center of projective area. After depi, twirling for 2 minutes at the frequency of 180 to 200 times per minute, uniform reinforcing-reducing method was conducted, retaining needle for 20 minutes, and intermission for twice at intervals. And then all the acupoints were treated with G-6805 electro-acupuncture apparatus (produced by Shanghai). Spacing-density wave was used at the frequency of about 14 to 26 times per minutes, 30 minutes every time, once a day, 10 days as a course, resting for 4 days at intervals between courses. From the 3rd course, once every day, for 3 courses, totally 48 days. The patients in the control group were treated with routine body acupuncture based on placebo. Main acupoints were at Jianliao (SJ14), Quchi (LI11) and Waiguan (SJ5) at upper limb and Jianliao (GB30), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) at lower limb. Acupoints, acupuncture manipulation and course were all the same to those in the treatment group. Clinical curative effects of the patients were observed after treatment. With the improving degree of symptom, hemorheology was detected. Evaluation on curative effect referred to disease diagnosis norms of department of internal medicine. RESULTS: Eighty-nine included patients were all involved in the result analysis. (1) The curative effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group, which had significant difference (in the treatment group 17 cases as mostly fully recover, 20 cases as apparently efficiency, 18 cases as effective efficiency, 2 cases as inefficiency with a significant efficiency of 64.91% and total efficiency of 96.49%; in the control group 6 cases as mostly fully recover, 7 cases as apparently efficiency, 11 cases as effective efficiency, 8 cases as inefficiency with a significant efficiency of 40.62% and total efficiency of 75.00%, p < 0.05). (2) After treatment, the following symptom improved to some extent in the patients of the two groups, recovery rates of dizzy, upset and easy-anger were more than those in the control group, which had significant difference (the recovery rates of dizzy in the treatment group and control group were 64.71% and 15.38%, respectively; the recovery rates of upset and easy-anger were 72.73%, 15.38%, p < 0.05 in the treatment group and control group, respectively). There was significant difference in other symptoms (p > 0.05). (3) There was remarkably difference of the examination results of hemorheology of the patients of the two groups (took viscosity of low shear rates as an example, it was (9.386 +/- 2.759) and (6.161 +/- 2.739), respectively before and after treatment in the treatment group; it was (9.796 +/- 1.525) and (6.657 +/- 1.276), respectively in the control group before and after treatment p < 0.01). But there was insignificant difference in the two groups after treatment (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Skull CT localization needing around the diseased area has significant effect in the convalescent care on stroke. It can decrease blood viscosity, improve microcirculation, increase cerebral blood flow (CBF), speed up absorption of hematom and accelerate neural functional recovery. The CT localization needing around the diseased area has the advantages, such as: being effective rapidly and high curative effect.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PDF locator
• publisher