Scalp-cluster acupuncture with electrical stimulation can improve motor and living ability in convalescent patients with post-stroke hemiplegia

Anatomical and Clinical Characteristics of Scalp Acupuncture Systems: a Scoping Review and Synthesis

Scalp acupuncture is a therapeutic procedure that involves inserting needles into the scalp to treat various medical conditions, including pain and neurological and psychological disorders. The inter-system variability of scalp acupuncture limits secondary analysis and evidence synthesis, delaying its inclusion into evidence-based healthcare policies and establishment as a treatment intervention recognized by Western medicine. This scoping review aimed to identify the range of scalp acupuncture systems, systematically collect and summarize information on their general, anatomical, and clinical characteristics, and build a framework for understanding scalp acupuncture systems. This review included all English-language publications on scalp acupuncture applied to treat any health condition in humans. Extensive searches were conducted across bibliographic databases, journals, trial registries, and supplementary sources. The detailed general, anatomical, and clinical application characteristics of 19 scalp acupuncture systems were extracted. Data were collected and analyzed using charting and image manipulation software. Framework synthesis was performed using the Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature Scalp Acupuncture as an a priori framework. The review revealed that the heterogeneity related to scalp acupuncture methods can be attributed to the high variability among the theoretical bases of different systems, intersystem mismatch in anatomical locations of treatment points and areas on the scalp, and inconsistencies in the methods used for locating them. These discrepancies in anatomical and clinical features have limited the synthesis and development of a framework for scalp acupuncture. Discussion and agreement on the anatomical locations of scalp stimulation areas, identification of methods for precise positioning of acupuncture areas on the scalp, and further exploration of theoretical bases will aid in the standardization of scalp acupuncture and improve the quality of research in this area.

Increased low frequency fluctuation in the brain after acupuncture treatment in CSVDCI patients: A randomized control trial study

Background

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is one of two cognition-impairing diseases. Acupuncture (Acu) is a flexible treatment with few adverse effects and is thus widely used to treat neurological problems.

Methods

We recruited a total of 60 patients and assigned them to two groups (n = 30 each group). During the study, some participants were excluded by quality control, and a total of 44 subjects (25 Acu and 19 controls) were completed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture on CSVD cognitive impairment (CSVDCI). The following demographic and clinical variables were compared between the two groups: gender, age, education, smoking, alcohol, Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), verbal fluency test (VFT), digit span task (DST), Boston naming test (BNT) scores, and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) under the typical band (0.01-0.08 Hz). Mixed effect analysis was utilized to test for differences between the two groups before and after the treatment.

Results

Following acupuncture treatment, the Acu group scored higher on MoCA, SDMT, VFT, DST, and BNT compared to controls (P < 0.05). The brain regions showing substantially greater ALFF values in the Acu group were the right inferior temporal gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus, left insula, bilateral postcentral gyrus, right superior parietal gyrus, right cerebellum, right precuneus, and right precentral gyrus (P < 0.005, no correction). The ALFF values in the right inferior temporal gyrus (P = 0.027), left middle occipital gyrus (P = 0.005), left superior occipital gyrus (P = 0.011), and right superior parietal gyrus (P = 0.043) were positively associated with MoCA.

Conclusion

We found that acupuncture modulates the functional activity of temporal, occipital, and parietal regions of the brain in CSVDCI patients.

Subsequent Acupuncture Reverses the Aftereffects of Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation

Objective

This study explored whether acupuncture affects the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and the acquisition of motor skills following repetitive sequential visual isometric pinch task (SVIPT) training.

Methods

Thirty-six participants were recruited. The changes in the aftereffects induced by intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and followed acupuncture were tested by the amplitude motor evoked potential (MEP) at pre-and-post-iTBS for 30 min and at acupuncture-in and -off for 30 min. Secondly, the effects of acupuncture on SVIPT movement in inducing error rate and learning skill index were tested.

Results

Following one session of iTBS, the MEP amplitude was increased and maintained at a high level for 30 min. The facilitation of MEP was gradually decreased to the baseline level during acupuncture-in and did not return to a high level after needle extraction. The SVIPT-acupuncture group had a lower learning skill index than those in the SVIPT group, indicating that acupuncture intervention after SVIPT training may restrain the acquisition ability of one’s learning skills.

Conclusion

Acupuncture could reverse the LTP-like plasticity of the contralateral motor cortex induced by iTBS. Subsequent acupuncture may negatively affect the efficacy of the acquisition of learned skills in repetitive exercise training.

Efficacy and safety of scalp acupuncture in improving neurological dysfunction after ischemic stroke: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Scalp acupuncture is remarkable in improving neurological dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients. This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of scalp acupuncture in improving neurological dysfunction of ischemic stroke patients.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials of scalp acupuncture against ischemic stroke patients will be searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Chinese Biological and Medical database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database from inception to July, 2020. Two researchers will perform data extraction and risk of bias assessment independently. Statistical analysis will be conducted in RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

This study will summarize the present evidence by exploring the efficacy and safety of scalp acupuncture in improving neurological dysfunction in ischemic stroke patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the study will help to determine potential benefits of scalp acupuncture against ischemic stroke at different stage.

OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/T26P8.