title: [Impacts of the low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints on the content of plasma 5-HT and NE in the patients with post-stroke insomnia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical efficacy on post-stroke insomnia between the low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints and the conventional western medication in the patients so as to explore the effect mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty patients of post-stroke insomnia were randomized into a low-frequency electric stimulation group, a medication group and a placebo group, 40 cases in each one. In the low-frequency electric stimulation group, the low-frequency pulse electric apparatus was applied to stimulate Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenshu (BL 23), once every day. The treatment for 15 days made one session and 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, estazolam was taken orally, 1 mg each time; and in the placebo group, the starch capsules were taken, one capsule each time; in the two groups the treatment was adopted before sleep every night, continuously for 15 days as one session, and 2 sessions were required. The levels of plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the three groups and: the efficacy was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the placebo group, 1 case was dropped out. The total effective rate was 95. 0% (38/40), 92. 5% (37/40) and 17. 9% (7/39) in the low-frequency electric stimulation group, the medication group and the placebo group respectively. The effects in the low-frequency electric stimulation group and the medication group were better apparently than that in the placebo group (both P<0. 01). The effect was not different significantly between the low-frequency electric stimulation group and the medication group (P>0. 05). The levels of plasma 5-HT and NE were not different significantly between before and after treatment in the placebo group. The level of plasma 5-HT was increased (both P<0. 05) and thelevel of NE was decreased (both P<0. 05) as compared with that before treatment in the low-frequency electric stimulation group and the medication group. But the differences were not significant between the two groups (P>0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low-frequency electric stimlaton a the acupoints is safe and effective in the treatment of post-stroke insomnia, which is similar to oral medication of estazolam. The outcome of the increase of plasma 5-HT level and the decrease of plasma NE level is probably one of the effect mechanisms.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Chaoyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D009638:Norepinephrine