Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture, tuina plus rehabilitative therapy on lower limb motor dysfunction in infants with spastic cerebral palsy.
Methods:A total of 60 infants with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group by random digital table, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with acupuncture, tuina therapy plus rehabilitative therapy of Western medicine. The control group was simply treated with rehabilitative therapy of Western medicine, as same as that for the treatment group. The assessment was respectively given to the sick infants before the treatment and after the treatment of six months, to evaluate lying and rolling scores in dimension A, to evaluate sitting score in dimension B, to evaluate crawling and kneeling scores in dimension C, and evaluate standing score in dimension D in the gross motor functions and determine the muscle tone of the gastrocnemius muscle by modified Ashworth scale (MAS).
Results:The differences were not statistically significant in comparison of the gross motor functions and the muscle tone of the gastrocnemius muscle between the two groups of sick infants before the treatment (P>0.05); after the treatment of six months, the above items were obviously improved in the two groups (P<0.01), better in the treatment group than in the control group, with the statistical significance in the differences between the groups (P<0.01).
Conclusion:Acupuncture, tuina plus rehabilitative therapy of Western medicine are remarkable in the therapeutic effects in the treatment of motor disorders of the lower limbs in the sick infants with spastic cerebral palsy. This therapeutic method is safe, simple and convenient and needs to be clinically popularized and applied.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of tuina plus ultrasonic therapy in treating infantile muscular torticollis. ＜br> Methods:Seventy kids with muscular torticollis were intervened by tuina plus ultrasonic therapy, and the efficacy was evaluated after 8-month treatment. ＜br> Results: After 8-month treatment, 41 subjects were cured, accounting for 58.6%, 27 were improved, occupying 38.6%, 2 failed, occupying 2.8%, and the total effective rate was 97.2%. ＜br> Conclusion: Tuina plus ultrasonic therapy can produce a significant efficacy in treating infantile muscular torticollis, without adverse effects.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacies between heat-sensitive moxibustion and warm needling in treating cervical spondylosis of vertebroarterial type.MethodTotally 120 patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebroarterial type were randomized into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group and a warm needling group, 60 in each group. In addition to acupuncture at bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Wangu (GB12), Tianzhu (BL10), Dazhui (GV14) and Baihui (GV20), the heat-sensitive moxibustion group was given mild moxibustion to the heat-sensitive points in cervical and scapular regions, while the warm needling group was given regular moxibustion.ResultGenerally, after 20 treatment sessions, efficacy wasfound in both groups, and there were significant differences in both groups after intervention (P<0.05), while the improvements of integral score, dizziness, cervical and shoulder pain, and the recovery and markedly-effective rate in the heat-sensitive moxibustion group were significantlysuperiorto that in the warm needling group (P<0.05).ConclusionCompared to warm needling treatment, heat-sensitive moxibustion can more significantly improve dizziness and pain in patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebroarterial type, and thus enhance the therapeutic efficacy.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus acupoint application in treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).Method Sixty patients were randomized into two groups, 30 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6), Zhongwan (CV12), and Zusanli (ST36), etc, plus application withBai Jie Zi(Semen Brassicae) powder at Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), and Tianshu (ST25), etc; the medication group was prescribed with oral administration of Trimebutine maleate capsules (0.2 g each dose, 3 times a day). Four-week treatment was taken as a course. The symptoms score and quality of life (QOL) scale were evaluated prior to and after the treatment.Result The clinical symptoms were significantly improved in the acupuncture group, and the total effective rate was89.3%, significantly higher than 63.0% in the medication group (P<0.05). After 4-week treatment, the clinical symptoms scores of the two groups were analyzed by rank-sum test (Z=-19.627,P=0.000<0.05), revealing a significant difference between the two groups and indicating that the improvements of clinical symptoms in the acupuncture group were more significant than those in the medication group. After 4-week treatment, the general QOL scores of the two groups were examined by rank-sum test (Z=-10.039, P=0.000<0.05), revealing a significant difference between the two groups and indicating that the improvement of QOL in the acupuncture group was superior to that in the medication group.Conclusion Acupuncture plus acupoint application can obviously mitigateabdominal pain and discomfort.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling plus acupoint sticking therapy for primary dysmenorrhea.
Methods:A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=30) and a control group (n=30) according to their sequence of consultation. Patients in the treatment group were treated with warm needling combined with acupoint sticking therapy, whereas patients in the control group were treated with oral Ibuprofen (Fenbid) capsules. After two menstrual cycles, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups.
Results:After treatment, the VAS and CMSS scores were significantly reduced in both groups, indicating that both treatment protocols can remarkably alleviate pain. There was a between-group statistical difference in comparing the CMSS score (P<0.05), but no between-group statistical difference in the VAS score (P>0.05). However, the follow-up visit showed between-group statistical differences in comparing VOA and CMSS scores (bothP<0.01). The clinical effect, relapse rate and long-term efficacy in the treatment group were better than those in the control group.
Conclusion:Warm needling plus acupoint sticking therapy is a simple but effective therapy for primary dysmenorrhea. In addition, it causes fewer cases with relapse.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of combining acupuncture, Chinese medicine and rehabilitation training for subacute stroke. Methods:A total of 120 subacute stroke cases were randomly allocated into a treatment group (n=60) and a control group (n=60). Patients in the control group received standard rehabilitation therapy alone, whereas patients in the observation group received additional acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Before treatment, after 30-day and 60-day treatments, and 3 months after treatment, the neurologic deficit severity was evaluated using the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS); the motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA); the activities of daily living (ADL) was evaluated using the Barthel index (BI); and the changes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms were evaluated according to TCM symptom scores. Results:After 30-day, 60-day treatments, and 3 months after treatment, the NIHSS, FMA, BI and TCM symptoms scores were statistically different from those before treatment in both groups (allP<0.05); and there were between-group statistical differences at same time points (allP<0.05). Conclusion:Combining acupuncture, Chinese medicine and rehabilitation training can improve neurologic deficit, motor function and ADL in subacute stroke patients and its efficacy is better than rehabilitation therapy alone.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at affected-limb gallbladder meridian points and its effect on the recovery of lower limb function in treating hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction. Methods Sixty hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture at the gallbladder meridian points of the affected-side lower limb as main therapy and the control group, conventional acupuncture. After two courses of treatment, a pre-/post-treatment change in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score was observed in the two groups and post-treatment walking paces, pace lengths and incidences of strephenopodia were compared between the two groups.Results There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in walking pace, pace length and the incidence of strephenopodia between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at affected-limb gallbladder meridian points can improve lower limb function and reduce the incidence of strephenopodia in hemiplegia patients with cerebral infarction.

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction.Methods Seventy patients with pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 35 cases each. The control group received routine medication and the treatment group, acupuncture in addition. Pre-treatment and post-treatment National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPIS) were compared between the two groups. The correlation between the NIHSS score and the CPIS score was observed.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the NIHSS score and the CPIS score in the two groups (P<0.05,P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the NIHSS score and the CPIS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The correlation between the NIHSS score and the CPIS score was low in the treatment group after treatment (r=0.417,P<0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture plus medication is an effective way to treat pulmonary infection after acute cerebral infarction. It can improve the NIHSS score and the CPIS score in the patients.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus rehabilitation training in treating post-stroke depression.Method Forty-one patients with post-stroke depression were randomized into a treatment group of 22 cases and a control group of 19 cases. In addition to the basic internal medicine treatment, the treatment group received acupuncture plus rehabilitation training, while the control group was intervened by rehabilitation training alone. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were observed and compared before and after treatment.Result The HAMD and NIHSS scores in the two groups were significantly changed respectively after 4-week and 8-week treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01). Respectively after 4-week and 8-week treatment, the HAMD and NIHSS scores in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture plus rehabilitation training is an effective approach in treating post-stroke depression.

In recent years, more and more studies had found that ferroptosis regulated the death of nerve cells in the process of ischemic stroke. The ferroptosis of nerve cells was composed of three pathways: iron metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. During ischemic stroke, the abnormal intake and excretion of iron in nerve cells with the pathway of iron pathway made the increase of intracellular free iron cause Fenton reaction; the up-regulation of acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 and lipoxygenase in lipid pathway promoted the transformation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into lipid peroxides on cell membrane; the abnormality of cystine/glutamate reverse transporter and glutathione peroxidase 4 in amino acid pathway led to the excessive accumulation of lipid peroxides. These pathways were related to each other and eventually led to ferroptosis of nerve cells. Here, the relationship between ischemic stroke and ferroptosis was summarized, in order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke.