title: [MRI pain matrix regional homogeneity in cervical spondylosis of neck type treated with acupuncture at multiple acupoints].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the impacts on pain matrix (PM) brain area in the patients of cervical spondylosis of neck type treated with acupuncture at single point and the multiple points.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients of cervical spondylosis of neck type were randomized into a single-point group (25 cases) and a multiple-point group (24 cases), and treated with acupuncture at Bailao (EX-HN 15) singly or Bailao (EX-HN 15) and Hegu (LI 4) in combination correspondingly. At the same time, 19 healthy people were selected as a control group. The resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted in each group before and after treatment. The changes in the regional homogeneity (ReHo) of brain area PM were analyzed in terms of the different therapeutic programs. The relevant analysis was on the scores of the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire (NPQ) and short form 36 questionnaire (SF-36) for life quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, ReHo value was increased in supplementary motor area (SMA) of PM in the patients, of cervical spondylosis of neck type. In the single-point group, after treatment, ReHo value was reduced in the bilateral medial superior frontal gyri of patients. In the multiple-point group, ReHo values were reduced in the left medial superior frontal gyrus and right SMA in PM area after treatment. In the single-point group, ReHo value in each brain area of PM was not significantly correlated with NPQ and SF-36 scores. In the multiple-point group, the changes of ReHo value in superior frontal gyrus were positively correlated with those of NPQ scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the clinical efficacy of acupunctrue for cervical spondylosis of neck type, the overall result in the multiple-point group is better than that in the single-point group. It is deduced that the advantages of the therapeutic program in the multiple-point group is relevant with the cooperative integration of the stimulation at multiple points in cerebral analgesic center.
authors.forename: Weicui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Delong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guoxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Chenlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult