AIM To study the tissue distribution of strychnos nux vomica alkaloids in rats. METHODS Rats were given strychnos nux vomica alkaloids intravenously and strychnine(S), brucine(B), strychnine N oxide(SNO), brucine N oxide(BNO) in every tissue was determined by HPLC timely. RESULTS The concentration of S, B, SNO and BNO were high in brain and spinal marrow. CONCLUSION S, B, SNO and BNO all have the ability to permeate blood brain barrier.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of shoulder pain in post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome among floating acupuncture, oral administration of western medicine and local fumigation of Chinese herbs.

METHODSNinety cases of post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (stage I) were randomized into a floating acupuncture group, a western medicine group and a local Chinese herbs fumigation group, 30 cases in each one. In the floating acupuncture group, two obvious tender points were detected on the shoulder and the site 80-100 mm inferior to each tender point was taken as the inserting point and stimulated with floating needling technique. In the western medicine group, mobic 7.5 mg was prescribed for oral administration. In the local Chinese herbs fumigation group, the formula for activating blood circulation and relaxing tendon was used for local fumigation. All the patients in three groups received rehabilitation training. The floating acupuncture, oral administration of western medicine, local Chinese herbs fumigation and rehabilitation training were given once a day respectively in corresponding group and the cases were observed for 1 month. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Takagishi shoulder joint function assessment were adopted to evaluate the dynamic change of the patients with shoulder pain before and after treatment in three groups. The modified Barthel index was used to evaluate the dynamic change of daily life activity of the patients in three groups.

RESULTSWith floating acupuncture, shoulder pain was relieved and the daily life activity was improved in the patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome, which was superior to the oral administration of western medicine and local Chinese herbs fumigation (P < 0.01). With local Chinese herbs fumigation, the improvement of shoulder pain was superior to the oral administration of western medicine. The difference in the improvement of daily life activity was not significant statistically between the local Chinese herbs fumigation and oral administration of western medicine, the efficacy was similar between these two therapies (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe floating acupuncture relieves shoulder pain of the patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome promptly and effectively, and the effects on shoulder pain and the improvements of daily life activity are superior to that of the oral administration of western medicine and local Chinese herbs fumigation.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Shoulder Pain ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of individualized scalp acupuncture base on location of brain function for motor dysfunction in stroke patients.

METHODSA total of 180 patients were randomly assigned into an individualized scalp acupuncture (ISA) group, a conventional scalp acupuncture (CSA) group and a rehabilitation group, 60 cases in each one. In the ISA group, we stimulated Sishencong (EX-HN 1), motor area and balance area, matched with pre-motor area for higher muscle tension, application area and's three-needle for involuntary motion, application area for poor motor coordination, forehead five-needle for cognitive disorder, sensory area for sensory disturbance. In the CSA group, the affected Dingnieqianxiexian (MS 6), Dingniehouxiexian (MS 7) and Zhenxiapangxian (MS 14) were selected. Rehabilitation was used during needle retained in the two groups. Simple rehabilitation was used in the rehabilitation group. All the treatment was given from Monday to Friday for 4 weeks, once a day for 20 times. Eight-week follow-up was applied. The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) for motor function, modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to evaluate clinical effect.

RESULTSAfter treatment and at follow-up, FMA and MBI scores increased compared with those before treatment in the three groups（all<0.01）, with significant differences among the three groups (all<0.000 1) and better results in the ISA group compared with those in the other two groups (<0.05,<0.01) at the two time points. The FMA and MBI scores in the CSA group were higher than those in the rehabilitation group after treatment and at follow-up (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe individualized scalp acupuncture can improve motor dysfunction and self-care ability of daily life for stroke patients.