Scalp acupuncture targets for neurological disorders：evidence from neuroimaging studies (part 1).

Objectives: Scalp acupuncture is a unique acupuncture method developed based on brain functional and pathophysiological knowledge. In past decades, there has been significant development in the understanding of the brain pathology of many neurological disorders through cutting-edge brain imaging techniques. Yet, these findings have not been incorporated into scalp acupuncture.

[Effect of acupuncture at the anterior oblique parietotemporal line on gray matter remodeling in patients with hemiplegia of cerebral infarction].

Objective: To observe the intervention effect of acupuncture at the anterior oblique parietotemporal line on gray matter remodeling in patients with hemiplegia of cerebral infarction based on voxel-based morphology (VBM), and to reveal the advantages and central effect sites of scalp acupuncture for hemiplegia of cerebral infarction.

Methods: A total of 18 patients with hemiplegia of cerebral infarction in the right basal ganglia and 18 healthy subjects were enrolled and T1 structural scan was performed. The patients were randomly divided into scalp acupuncture group and non-scalp acupuncture group, with 9 patients in each group.

Altered structural and functional connectivity between the bilateral primary motor cortex in unilateral subcortical stroke: A multimodal magnetic resonance imaging study.

A large number of functional imaging studies have focused on the understanding of motor-related neural activities after ischemic stroke. However, the knowledge is still limited in the structural and functional changes of the interhemispheric connections of the bilateral primary motor cortices (M1s) and their potential influence on motor function recovery following stroke.Twenty-four stroke patients with right hemispheric subcortical infarcts and 25 control subjects were recruited to undergo multimodal magnetic resonance imaging examinations.

[Imaging Observation of Scalp Acupuncture on Brain Gray Matter Injury in Stroke Patients with Cerebral Infarction].

Objective: To study features of brain gray matter injury in cerebral infarction patients and intervention of scalp acupuncture by using voxel-based morphology.

Methods: A total of 16 cerebral infarction patients were recruited in this study, and assigned to the scalp acupuncture group and the control group, 8 in each group. Another 16 healthy volunteers were recruited as a normal group.

[Effect of blood activating stasis removing method on prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage patients].

Objective: To observe the clinical effect and safety of blood activating stasis removing method (BASRM) on intracerebral hemorrhage patients.

Methods: A multi-center, prospective, randomized, open, controlled and blinded endpoint design was adopted. Totally 228 intracerebral hemorrhage patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 114 in each group by center randomized method.

[Observation on the immediate effects of acupuncture at Yanglingquan(GB 34) on passive movement in cerebral infarction patients].

Objective: To observe central immediate effect of acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34) on passive movement of cerebral infarction paitents with hemiplegia by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and provide reference for clinical treatment.

Methods: With 1. 5 T MRI scanner, six cases of right cerebral infarction paitents with left hemiplegia in recovery stage were scanned during passive fingers movement before and after acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB 34), which was controlled with sham-acupoint acupuncture to observe immediate activated part of the corresponding brain.