Objective To observe the effect of JIN’s three needle therapy plus mirror therapy for knee joint movement on lower-limb function of patients with hemiplegia after cerebral infarction.Method Seventy-four patients with hemiplegia after cerebral infarction were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 37 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by JIN’s three needle therapy plus mirror therapy for knee joint movement, while the control group was by mirror therapy for knee joint movement alone. After 4-week treatment, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) were adopted for evaluating motor function of the affected limb and the activities of daily living (ADL), the Functional Ambulation Category scale (FAC) for assessing the walking ability, and the Twichell-Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery for determining the stage of post-stroke hemiplegia. Result After the intervention, the FMA and MBI scores were significantly changed in both groups (P<0.05). The changes of FMA and MBI scores in the treatment group after the treatment were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0.05). After the treatment, there were significant between-group differences in comparing the FAC and Brunnstrom grading results (P<0.05).Conclusion JIN’s three needle therapy plus mirror therapy for knee joint movement is an effective approach in treating hemiplegia after cerebral infarction, and it can improve the lower-limb motor function and the ADL.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on back three-acupoints ( namely bilateral Dazhu, Fengmen, Feishu) on the protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and Smad3 in asthmatic rat airway remodeling model, and to explore its therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanism. Methods Rat asthma model was established by inhalation of ovalbumin. After sensitization for 6 weeks, rats were killed. And then the airway morphological parameters of rats were measured by image analysis. The protein and mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in lung tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) respectively. Results Compared with the blank group, the standardized values of muscle cross-sectional area including airway smooth muscle area (WAm) /perimeter of the basement membrane (Pbm), and bronchial inner wall area (WAi)/Pbm were increased in the model group. The protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were also increased in the model group. In electroacupuncture group, the above observation indexes were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05 compared with the model group). Conclusion The experimental results indicated that back three-acupoint electroacupuncture has an effect on remodeling airway, and one of the mechanisms is probably associated with the regulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.