OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture at acupoints selected according to rehabilitation medical theory on upper limb spasticity in the patient of poststroke.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and an electro-stimulation group, 30 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture at the contralateral scalp motor region of the affected limb, Jiquan (HT 1), Chize (LU 5), Daling (PC 7) on the flexor side and Jianyu (LI 15), Tianjing (TE 10), Yangchi (TE 4) on the extensor muscle side of the affected limb; the electro-stimulation group were treated by electric stimulation. The two groups also were treated with necessary medical treatment and anti-spasm rehabilitation motor training. The course was 3 weeks. Modified Ashworth Scale for muscle spasm (MAS), modified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) for upper limb motor function, and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) for ability of daily living were used for assessment of the therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the spasm was significantly alleviated, the motor function of the upper limb and daily living ability were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the two groups; after treatment, BMI scores in the acupuncture group was very significantly superior to that in the electro-stimulation group. The total effective rate was 93.3% in the acupuncture group and 86.7% in the electro-stimulation group, with no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONProper acupuncture is an effective method for upper limb spasm in the patient of poststroke, and the therapeutic effect is better for mild-moderate spasm of the upper limb.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Spasticity ; therapy ; Stroke Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVETo establish the theories and methods to determine solubility parameters of multiple components for the traditional Chinese material medica (TCMM) with HPLC.

METHODThe mathematical expresses to determin the solubility parameters were established according to chromatographic and Hildebrand-Scatchard theories, The HPLC experiments were carried out at 40 degrees C on an Alltech Apollo C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetone and water in gradient mode. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min(-1), and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. The injection volume was 1 0 microL.

RESULTThe mathematical expresses between the retention time and the solubility parameters were established and used to determin caffeine solubility parameter as 28.31 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) in accordance with 28.84 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) reported by literature, and those of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, physcione as 39.70 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 39.08 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 38.37 J(1/2) cm(-3/2), 36.42 J(1/2) cm(-3/2) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe retention time of HPLC can be used to determine the solubility parameters of multiple componets. The established method is useful for the compatibility rule study of traditional Chinese medicine.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Caffeine ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Regression Analysis ; Solubility ; Temperature