Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on ischemic stroke by recording the therapeutic effect score and performing transcranial Doppler (TCD) detection in electroacupuncture-treated convalescent stroke patients before and after treatment.Methods Sixty convalescent patients with ischemic stroke were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The control group received routine medication and the treatment group, electroacupuncture in addition. In the two groups, pre- and post-treatment neurological defect scores were recorded and the clinical therapeutic effects were observed after four weeks of treatment. Pre- and post-treatment middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsation indices (RI), resistance indices (RI) and ratios of systolic to end-diastolic (S/D) blood flow velocity detected by TCD were compared between the two groups. Results The total efficacy rate was 80.0% in the treatment group and 50.0% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the MESSS score in the two groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the MESSS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in TCD indices (PI, RI and S/D) on the affected side in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in TCD indices on the affected side between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electro- acupuncture can promote rehabilitation in convalescent stroke patients.

Objective To select the optimal acupoints formula by evaluating the efficacy of different groups of acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with acupuncture. Method Totally 108 PSD patients were randomized into 3 groups, i.e. Neiguan (PC6) group, Taichong (LR3) group, and Baihui (GV20) group, 36 cases each. The acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 sessions a week, 3 weeks as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were compared among the 3 groups after the intervention. The 3 groups were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Quality of Life Scale (QOL) before and after the treatment, and the results were statistically analyzed. Result The effective rates were respectively 72.2%, 75.0%, and 86.1%in Neiguan group, Taichong group, and Baihui group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); the HAMD, NIHSS, and QOL scores were significantly changed after the intervention in the 3 groups (P<0.01);the inter-group differences in the NIHSS and QOL scores were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion The three groups of acupoints are effective in improving the depression symptoms, neural defect and QOL, while Baihui group can produce a more significant efficacy in improving the depression symptoms compared to Neiguan and Taichong groups;the effects in improving neural defect and QOL are equivalent among the 3 groups of acupoints.

BACKGROUND:Several observational studies have found a close relationship between thyroid function levels and sarcopenia,but the causal relationship between thyroid function levels and the onset of sarcopenia is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between thyroid function levels and sarcopenia using a two sample Mendelian randomization method. METHODS:A two sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted using genome-wide association study data on thyrotropin,free triiodothyronine,free tetraiodothyronine,subclinical hyperthyroidism,subclinical hypothyroidism,and four related phenotypes of sarcopenia-lefthand grip strength,right hand grip strength,limb lean mass,and gait speed.The inverse-variance weighted method,weighted median method,simple mode method,weighted median estimator method,and MR Egger regression method were used as analysis methods,while heterogeneity test,pleiotropy test,MR-PRESSO,leave-one-out method,funnel plot and other methods were used for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Elevated levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone increased left-(β=0.02,SE=0.01,P=0.01)and right-handed grip strength(β=0.02,SE=0.01,P=0.01),an increase in free triiodothyronine decreased left-(β=-0.06,SE=0.02,P=9.5×10-5)and right-handed grip strength(β=-0.07,SE=0.02,P=9.3×10-5),and subclinical hyperthyroidism decreased gait speed(β=-4.4×10-3,SE=1.7×10-3,P=0.01).The sensitivity analysis results were basically consistent with the main analysis results.To conclude,an increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone is a protective factor for sarcopenia,and elevation of free triiodothyronine and subclinical hyperthyroidism may increase the risk of sarcopenia.