title: Modulatory effect of acupuncture at Waiguan (TE5) on the functional connectivity of the central nervous system of patients with ischemic stroke in the left basal ganglia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the influence of acupuncture at Waiguan (TE5) on the functional connectivity of the central nervous system of patients with ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with ischemic stroke in the left basal ganglia were randomized based on gender to receive TE5 acupuncture (n = 12) or nonacupoint acupuncture (n = 12). Each group underwent sham acupuncture and then verum acupuncture while being scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Six regions of interest (ROI) were defined, including bilateral motor, somatosensory, and bilateral basal ganglia areas. The functional connectivity between these ROIs and all voxels of the brain was analyzed in Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI) to explore the differences between verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture at TE5 and between TE5 acupuncture and nonacupoint acupuncture. The participants were blinded to the allocation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect of acupuncture on six seed-associated networks was explored. The result demonstrated that acupuncture at Waiguan (TE5) can regulate the sensorimotor network of the ipsilesional hemisphere, stimulate the contralesional sensorimotor network, increase cooperation of bilateral sensorimotor networks, and change the synchronization between the cerebellum and cerebrum. Furthermore, a lot of differences of effect existed between verum acupuncture and sham acupuncture at TE5, but there was little difference between TE5 acupuncture and nonacupoint acupuncture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modulation of synchronizations between different regions within different brain networks might be the mechanism of acupuncture at Waiguan (TE5). Stimulation of the contralesional sensorimotor network and increase of cooperation of bilateral hemispheres imply a compensatory effect of the intact hemisphere, whereas changes in synchronization might influence the sensorimotor function of the affected side of the body.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-ONRC-08000255.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Junqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jizhou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xinsheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chunzhi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Junjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Junxian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China.
authors.forename: Tongjun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*