Effects of ZHU Lian's excitation-type acupuncture manipulation on limb function and serum oxidative stress indexes, angiogenic factors in patients with ischemic stroke during the recovery period

To observe the effects of ZHU Lianʹs excitation-type acupuncture manipulation on limb function and serum oxidative stress indexes, and angiogenic factors in patients with ischemic stroke during the recovery period.

A total of 84 patients with ischemic stroke during the recovery period were randomly divided into a ZHU Lian acupuncture group (42 cases, 5 cases dropped out) and a conventional acupuncture group (42 cases, 8 cases dropped out). On the basis of routine treatment, the ZHU Lian acupuncture group received ZHU Lianʹs excitation-type acupuncture manipulation, while the conventional acupuncture group received conventional acupuncture treatment. Acupoints on the affected side were selected, including Fengchi (GB20), Jianyu (LI15), Quchi (LI11), Waiguan (TE5), Xinshe (Extra), Jianliao (TE14), Xinyi (Extra), Hegu (LI4), etc. Treatments were administered once daily for 3 weeks in both groups. The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Berg balance scale (BBS), modified Barthel index (MBI) scores and serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1) were observed before and after treatment in both groups.

Compared with before treatment, the FMA, BBS, MBI scores and serum levels of SOD, GSH, VEGF, bFGF after treatment were increased in both groups (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01), and serum levels of MDA and ET-1 were decreased (P<0.001); after treatment, the FMA, BBS, MBI scores and serum levels of SOD, GSH, VEGF, bFGF in the ZHU Lian acupuncture group were higher than those in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05, P<0.001), and serum levels of MDA and ET-1 in the ZHU Lian acupuncture group were lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.001, P<0.01).

ZHU Lianʹs excitation-type acupuncture manipulation may exert neuroprotective effects in patients with ischemic stroke during the recovery period by modulating antioxidant capacity and angiogenesis, thereby improving limb function.