Efficacy of Scalp Acupuncture in Patients With Post-stroke Hemiparesis: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Huang, Yen-Wen; Huang, Chih-Shan; Leng, Kuo-Feng; Sung, Jia-Ying; Cheng, Sheng-Wei

doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.746567

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Our results also indicate that the new HD-tDCS application significantly alleviated motor and cognitive deficits and showed better therapeutic effects than the conventional application, as predicted by computational modeling of the electric fields. In particular, reducing infarct size is an important target because it is associated with stroke severity and involves neurological deficits in patients with stroke 30 . The new HD-tDCS application significantly reduced the infarct volume and inflammatory response compared with that generated by the conventional application.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic effects of a novel electrode for transcranial direct current stimulation in ischemic stroke mice

Jung,

Lee,

Lee

et al. 2024

Theranostics

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Rationale: Non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a promising stimulation tool to modulate a wide range of brain disorders, has major limitations, such as poor cortical stimulation intensity and focality. We designed a novel electrode for tDCS by conjugating a needle to a conventional ring-based high-definition (HD) electrode to enhance cortical stimulation efficacy. Method: HD-tDCS (43 µA/mm 2 , charge density 51.6 kC/m 2 , 20 min) was administered to male C57BL/6J mice subjected to early-stage ischemic stroke. Behavioral tests were employed to determine the therapeutic effects, and the underlying mechanisms of HD-tDCS were determined by performing RNA sequencing and other biomedical analyses. Results:The new HD-tDCS application, showing a higher electric potential and spatial focality based on computational modeling, demonstrated better therapeutic effects than conventional HD-tDCS in alleviating motor and cognitive deficits, with a decrease in infarct volume and inflammatory response. We assessed different electrode configurations in the new HD electrode; the configurations variously showed potent therapeutic effects, ameliorating neuronal death in the peri-infarct region via N-methyl-D-aspartate-dependent sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 signaling and related inflammatory factors, further alleviating motor and cognitive deficits in stroke. Conclusion:This new HD-tDCS application showed better therapeutic effects than those with conventional HD-tDCS in early-stage stroke via the amelioration of neuronal death in the penumbra. It may be applied in the early stages of stroke to alleviate neurological impairment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic effects of a novel electrode for transcranial direct current stimulation in ischemic stroke mice

Jung,

Lee,

Lee

et al. 2024

Theranostics

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“…In a randomized controlled clinical trial, the initial SA interference after acute ischaemic stroke with hemiplegic paralysis showed an enhanced myodynamia of the afflicted limbs, but also an improvement of neurological deficiency severity and quality of life [18]. A meta-analysis result reported that SA improved motor function in patients with stroke, whether ischemic or hemorrhagic [19]. In a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the efficacy and safety of SA for insomnia, the authors could provide insight of the effectiveness and safety treating insomnia [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ashi Scalp Acupuncture in the Treatment of Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report

Schürer¹,

Shaban

Gantenbein

et al. 2022

Medicines

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Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, and axonal degeneration disease of the central nervous system. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), a neuropathic facial paroxysmal pain, is prevalent among MS patients. Because of the inadequacy of the comprehension of MS-related TN pathophysiological mechanisms, TN remains arduous in its treatment approaches. Acupuncture as a non-pharmacological therapy could be a promising complementary therapy for the treatment of TN. MS gradual neural damage might affect the muscles’ function. This can lead to acute or paroxysmal pain in the form of spasms that might progress to formation of myofascial trigger points also known in traditional Chinese medicine as Ashi points (AP). Localising these AP through palpation and pain sensation feedback in patients with MS is an indicator of disease progression. Pathologically, these points reveal the disharmony of soft tissue and internal organs. Methods: This case report examined the pain relief outcome with Ashi scalp acupuncture (ASA) in a secondary TN patient who was unsuccessfully treated multiple times with body acupuncture. The main outline measure was to quantify pain intensity using a numerical rating scale (NRS) before and after each acupuncture therapy. The patient was treated on the scalp for a total of eight times, twice a week over four weeks. Results: A reduction in secondary TN pain intensity was observed after each session. On average, the patient expressed severe pain (NRS: 8.0 ± 2.20) before ASA treatment, which significantly decreased after therapy to mild pain (NRS: 2.0 ± 1.64). Conclusions: Significant improvements in pain intensity reduction after each acupuncture treatment without any adverse effects were observed.

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“…Over the past 50 years, a large body of clinical evidence has been accumulated for the application of SA in the treatment of brain diseases, common cases including ischemic strokes, acute strokes, and post-stroke hemiplegia ( Zheng et al, 2011 ; Wang et al, 2012 , You et al, 2018 ; Huang et al, 2021 ; Wang Y.-F. et al, 2022 ). Others include autism ( Yi et al, 2020 ), pediatric cerebral palsy (CP) ( Xue et al, 2022 ), cognitive impairment ( Zhang et al, 2013 ), and Parkinson’s disease (PD) ( Lee et al, 2013 ).…”

Section: Therapeutic Effects Of Scalp Acupuncture For Brain Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scalp acupuncture (SA) is a modern acupuncture therapy that first emerged in the early 1970s, and has been widely used globally due to its significant efficacy on various acute or chronic brain diseases, specifically acute ischemic strokes ( Lu, 1991 ; Zheng et al, 2011 ; Wang et al, 2012 ; Lee et al, 2013 ; Zhang et al, 2013 ; You et al, 2018 ; Yi et al, 2020 ; Huang et al, 2021 ; Xue et al, 2022 ; Wang J. H. et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural control of cerebral blood flow: scientific basis of scalp acupuncture in treating brain diseases

Jin¹,

Jin²,

Jin

et al. 2023

Front. Neurosci.

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Scalp acupuncture (SA), as a modern acupuncture therapy in the treatment of brain diseases, especially for acute ischemic strokes, has accumulated a wealth of experience and tons of success cases, but the current hypothesized mechanisms of SA therapy still seem to lack significant scientific validity, which may not be conducive to its ultimate integration into mainstream medicine. This review explores a novel perspective about the mechanisms of SA in treating brain diseases based on its effects on cerebral blood flow (CBF). To date, abundant evidence has shown that CBF is significantly increased by stimulating specific SA points, areas or nerves innervating the scalp, which parallels the instant or long-term improvement of symptoms of brain diseases. Over time, the neural pathways that improve CBF by stimulating the trigeminal, the facial, and the cervical nerves have also been gradually revealed. In addition, the presence of the core SA points or areas frequently used for brain diseases can be rationally explained by the characteristics of nerve distribution, including nerve overlap or convergence in certain parts of the scalp. But such characteristics also suggest that the role of these SA points or areas is relatively specific and not due to a direct correspondence between the current hypothesized SA points, areas and the functional zones of the cerebral cortex. The above evidence chain indicates that the efficacy of SA in treating brain diseases, especially ischemic strokes, is mostly achieved by stimulating the scalp nerves, especially the trigeminal nerve to improve CBF. Of course, the mechanisms of SA in treating various brain diseases might be multifaceted. However, the authors believe that understanding the neural regulation of SA on CBF not only captures the main aspects of the mechanisms of SA therapy, but also facilitates the elucidation of other mechanisms, which may be of greater significance to further its clinical applications.

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Efficacy of Scalp Acupuncture in Patients With Post-stroke Hemiparesis: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Cited by 8 publications

References 44 publications

Therapeutic effects of a novel electrode for transcranial direct current stimulation in ischemic stroke mice

Therapeutic effects of a novel electrode for transcranial direct current stimulation in ischemic stroke mice

Ashi Scalp Acupuncture in the Treatment of Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report

Neural control of cerebral blood flow: scientific basis of scalp acupuncture in treating brain diseases

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