Recent Medline abstracts on AP

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Paper #61 at http://www.nricm.edu.tw/icom12/postpdf/P-61.pdf

Antispastic Effect of Electroacupuncture and Moxibustion in Stroke

Patients Sang Kwan Moon, Woo Sang Jung, Sung Uk Park, Chang

Nam Ko, Young Suk Kim, Hyung Sup Bae, Ki Ho Cho Department of

Circulatory and Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of

Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University, Korea. Spasticity is a motor

impairment that often develops after stroke. The objective of this study

was to evaluate the efficacy of Electroacupuncture (EA) and

Moxibustion (MO) on spasticity due to stroke. The subjects consisted of

35 stroke patients with elbow spasticity whose mean duration of stroke

was 2.97 months. 15 patients were randomized to the EA group, 10 to

MO, and 10 to control. Every other day 30 min of electrical stimulation

with a frequency of 50Hz was given through four needles at LI11 to LI10

and SJ05, LI04 of the paretic side. Direct moxibustion was applied to the

same points three times a day every other day. The control group was

given only the routine acupuncture therapy for stroke and range of

motion (ROM) exercise, which were applied also to the EA and MO

groups. The efficacy of treatment was measured before, immediately, 1

hour, 3 hours, 1 day, 5 days, 10 days, and 15 days after the start of

treatment using a modified Ashworth scale (MAS). In the EA group,

spasticity was reduced significantly immediately, 1 hour, 3 hours after

treatment (p<0.05). Reductions were significant at the 5th day and

thereafter (p<0.05). In the MO group, there was no significant change

among each MAS score after the first treatment. In the MO and control

group, there was no significant change in MAS. This study suggests that

EA (but not moxibustion) can temporarily reduce spasticity due to

stroke, and if it is applied repeatedly it can maintain reduced spasticity.

 

J Appl Physiol. 2005 Nov 3; [Epub ahead of print]]. Modulation of

Cardiovascular Excitatory Responses in Rats by Transcutaneous

Magnetic Stimulation: Role of the Spinal Cord. Zhou W, Hsiao I, Lin

VW, Longhurst JC. Department of Medicine, University of California,

Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. This study investigated the efficacy of magnetic

stimulation on the reflex cardiovascular responses induced by gastric

distension in anesthetized rats and compared these responses to those

influenced by electroacupuncture (EA). Unilateral magnetic stimulation

(30% intensity, 2 Hz) at the Jianshi-Neiguan acupoints (pericardial

meridian, P 5-6) overlying the median nerve on the forelimb for 24 min

significantly decreased the reflex pressor response by 32%. This effect

was noticeable by 20 min of magnetic stimulation and continued for 24

min. Median nerve denervation abolished the inhibitory effect of

magnetic stimulation indicating the importance of somatic afferent input.

Unilateral EA (0.3-0.5 mA, 2 Hz) at P 5-6 using similar durations of

stimulation similarly inhibited the response (35%). The inhibitory effects

of EA occurred earlier and were marginally longer (20 min) than

magnetic stimulation. Magnetic stimulation at Guangming-Xuanzhong

acupoints (gallbladder meridian, GB 37-39) overlying the superficial

peroneal nerve on the hindlimb did not attenuate the reflex. Intravenous

naloxone immediately after termination of magnetic stimulation reversed

inhibition of the cardiovascular reflex, suggesting involvement of the

opioid system. Also, intrathecal injection of delta and kappa-opioid

receptors antagonists, ICI174,864 (n = 7) and norBNI (n = 6),

immediately after termination of magnetic stimulation reversed inhibition

of the cardiovascular reflex. In contrast, the micro-opioid antagonist

CTOP (n = 7) failed to alter the cardiovascular reflex. The endogenous

neurotransmitters for delta- and kappa-opioid receptors, enkephalins

and dynorphin but not beta-endorphin, therefore appear to play

significant roles in the spinal cord in mediating magnetic stimulation-

induced modulation of cardiovascular reflex responses. PMID:

16269522 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2004 Sep;2(9):758-62. Is there a

vasospasmolytic effect of acupuncture in patients with secondary

Raynaud phenomenon? Hahn M, Steins A, Mohrle M, Blum A, Junger

M. Kreiskrankenhaus Rottweil, Dept. of Dermatology, Germany.

martin.hahn BACKGROUND: Raynaud phenomenon

(RP) is a vasospastic disorder of the digital arteries. Severe forms are

found in patients with connective tissue diseases. Vasospasmolytic

therapies are often limited by side effects such as orthostatic

hypotension. PATIENTS/METHODS: We investigated therefore the

effect of acupuncture in a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized

trial in patients with secondary RP. The study was performed during the

winter season by licensed acupuncturists weekly for 8 weeks (points

chosen for the verum group: L.I.4, S.J.5, St.36, P.6, Du.20, Ex.28).

RESULTS: An improvement was detected in both groups but there was

no significant effect on clinical symptoms - based on patient diaries

(average number of attacks before and after treatment: verum 1.9 +/-

2.0 vs. 1.4 +/- 1.7 attacks/ day and placebo 2.8 +/- 1.8 vs. 1.9 +/- 1.1;

duration of attacks: verum 15 +/- 12 vs. 12 +/- 9 min. and placebo 31 +/-

17 vs. 16 +/- 6; n.s.) or on skin microcirculation, measured by local cold

testing. CONCLUSIONS: A specific vasospasmolytic effect of

acupuncture could not be proven. This may be due to minor

morphologic changes of supplying arteries or a severe local defect in

endothelial function rather than a neurological disturbance which might

be influenced by acupuncture. Much larger studies would be needed to

identify the possible small benefit from acupuncture. If long-term relief is

not obtained, it is unlikely to be cost-effective. PMID: 16279219

[PubMed - in process]

 

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