Ea Peripheral Facial Paralysis Patients Gu, After The River, To Position Hole Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

ObjectTo compare the imaging regularity among Hegu (LI4), Dicang (ST4) and Houxi (SI3) acupoint by electroacupuncture(EA), we deployed the technology of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) and tried to research the mechanism of acupuncture and the function essence of acupoint, to figure out primarily the nervous informatic basis for the connection and regulation effect of meridian in communicating the upper and tower part of the body, and in a certain extent to reflect the relation between meridian of TCM and modern neurology. We wanted to have an energetic effect on clinical application and modernization of acupuncture and moxibustion.MethodsIn this study different acupoints EA methods were devised. Eighteen patients with peripheral facial paralysis on the left were randomly divided into three groups, 6 patients of them received EA at left Hegu, 6 receivedEAat left Dicang, and 6 receivedEAat left Houxi; Eighteen patients with peripheral facial paralysis on the right were randomly divided into three groups, 6 of them received EA at right Hegu, 6 received EA at right Dicang, and 6 received EA at right Houxi. Functional MRI data were obtained from scanning the whole brain at the same time. Acquired functional data were processed by SPM99 software and functional responses were established by t-test analysis (P＜0.01).Results1. Electroacupuncture (EA) Heguontheleft induced signal decreases of left cingulate gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus. Induced signal increases of right inferior frontal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right insula, left precentral gyrus.2. EA Dicang on the left induced signal decreases of bilateral superior frontalgyrus, bilateralmiddlefrontalgyrus, leftcingulate gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus, left precuneus or left paracentral lobule. Signal increases of right precentral gyrus or superior temporal gyrus left superior temporal gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, left angular gyrus.3. EA Houxi on the left induced signal decreases of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left caudate head, left lentiform nucleus right middle temporal gyrus, right cerebellar tonsil, signal increases of right caudate head, right cingulate gyrus, left brainstem or cerebellar vermis, right parahippocampal gyrus or thalamus, right superior temporal Gyrus or thalamus.4. EA Hegu on the right induced signal decreases of left parahippocampal gyrus, left inferior semi-lunar lobule. Signal increases of left anterior cingulated, left middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, right cingulate gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus.5. EA Dicang on the right induced signal decreases of left superior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left claustrum, left subthalamic nucleus, left cingulate gyrus, left cerebellar Tonsil, leftcuneus or left middle occipital gyrus. Signal increases of right inferior frontal gyrus, right Insula, right precentral gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus.6. EA Houxi on the right induced signal decreases of left superior frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, left cerebellar tonsil, signal increases of left inferior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, right cingulate gyrus, left caudate, left inferior parietal lobule, right superior temporal gyrus, left lingual gyrus.Conclusions1. There exists some correlation between acupoints stimulation and encephalic region. That is, EA each acupoint we can see signal changing in brain area, reflected as increase or decrease. 2. When EA different acupoint, multi-encephalic regions signal appeared change, the influenced area is intimate correlated to the effect and indication of acupoint. Stimulation from different acupoint can influence the same area, but the extent and scope appeared disparitily. And there were distinct encephalic region influcenced.3. This is the first experiment in the world to compare the imaging regularity among Uegu, Dicang and Houxi acupoint through fMRI on peripheral facial paralysis patients. The acupoint Hegu on the left and Dicang concerned with fMRI have not been reported even now. Our study may provide visibledatafor the colleague in the world and our next profound research.4. The therapeutic action of acupoint to generate maybe resulted from the communication among multi-encephalic region on the information analyzing and conforming, EA different acupoint influenced distinct encephalic region correlated to analgesia, we suppose that the mechanism of analgesic effect may be different on various acupoints.5. Meridian system and nervous system have both closed association and quite distinction. In the study we found many phenomenon impossibly to explain, and we made some presumption.