title: Acupuncture for ischemic stroke: cerebellar activation may be a central mechanism following Deqi.
abstract: The needling sensation of Deqi during acupuncture is a key factor of influencing acupuncture outcome. Recent studies have mainly focused on the brain function effects of Deqi in a physiological state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on the effects of acupuncture at Waiguan (SJ5) in pathological and physiological states is controversial. In this study, 12 patients with ischemic stroke received acupuncture at Waiguan (SJ5) and simultaneously underwent fMRI scanning of the brain, with imaging data of the activated areas obtained. Based on the patient's sensation, imaging data were allocated to either the Deqi group or non-Deqi group. In the Deqi group, the activated/deactivated areas were the left superior temporal gyrus (BA39)/right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and left thalamus. In the non-Deqi group, the activated areas included the medial frontal gyrus of the right frontal lobe (BA11), right limbic lobe (BA30, 35), and left frontal lobe (BA47), while the only deactivated area was the right parietal lobe (BA40). Compared with the non-Deqi group, the Deqi group exhibited marked activation of the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and right limbic lobe (BA30). These findings confirm that the clinical effect of Deqi during acupuncture is based on brain functional changes. Cerebellar activation may be one of the central mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Miao-Keng
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: First Clinical Medical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Zhaoqing Medical College, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Qi
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6847-0891
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6425-0733
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: 973 Program; Brodmann area; Deqi; Waiguan (SJ5) acupoint; acupuncture; functional magnetic resonance imaging; ischemic stroke; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; non-Deqi; traditional Chinese medicine