Chijie Yang, Yinyin Zhang, Yanying Yang*
Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Funan County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuyang City, Anhui Province 236300, China
- Corresponding Author: Yanying Yang; E-mail: Yyy_edu@outlook.com
Abstract
Background
To assess the influences of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy on neurological function, inflammatory factors along with carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients suffered from atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (CI).
Methods
One hundred and thirty-four patients diagnosed with atherosclerotic CI in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected and divided into a study group (n=67) and a control group (n=67). The control group accepted oral atorvastatin calcium tablets. The study group accepted oral atorvastatin calcium tablets plus Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy.
Results
Compared with the control group, the study group had lower NIHSS and mRS scores after one month of therapy (P<0.01). The results also showed reduced levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP, lower S-100β and NSE levels, higher BI scores, and improved sleep quality as indicated by lower PSQI scores (all P<0.01; for example, the between-group differences at one month for NIHSS, IL-6, BI and PSQI were 2.69 points (95% CI: 2.03-3.34), 3.18 units (95% CI: 2.50-3.86), 10.75 points (95% CI: 8.29-13.21) and 2.14 points (95% CI: 1.89-2.39), respectively).
Conclusion
Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture adjunctive to atorvastatin may improve vascular, neurological, inflammatory, and functional outcomes in atherosclerotic cerebral infarction, possibly via reductions in serum S-100β and NSE.
Keywords: atherosclerotic cerebral infarction, Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture therapy, neurological function, carotid atherosclerotic plaques, inflammatory response