title: [Observation on specificity of acupuncture location in treatment of acute apoplexy by scalp penetration needling].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the clinical effects of scalp penetration acupuncture and conventional scalp acupuncture for treatment of acute apoplexy, to seek the effective location and mechanism of scalp acupuncture treatment for acute apoplexy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty cases of the apoplexy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Basis on the neurological treatment, the observation group was treated with penetration needling through Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5) on the affected side, with four needles relay; the control group was treated with penetration needling at anterior oblique line of parietotemporal region, with four needles relay. After 14 days of treatment, the neurological deficit scores (NDS) and the therapeutic effects were compared before and after treatment, and the contents of plasma endothelins (ET) and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were tested respectively on the 2nd and 14th day after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effective rate of 86.7% (26/30) in the observation group was superior to that of 80.0% (24/30) in the control group; the NDS of both groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.01), the improvement degree in the observation group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.01); the ET level was obviously decreased and the CGRP level was obviously increased in both groups after treatment (all P < 0.01), and the range of change was more significant in the observation group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Penetration needling through Baihui (GV 20) to Taiyang (EX-HN 5) is an effective treatment for acute apoplexy, which is better than conventional scalp acupuncture.
authors.affiliation: ture and Moxibustion,Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200437, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Wen-Zeng
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Gui-Bo
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gui-Rong
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*