Inthisstudy,61casesofischemicstrokepatientsarerandomlypidedintosurroundingneedlinggroup(n＝31)andscalp-acupuncturegroup(n＝30).TheischemicfocusofthebrainisdeterminedbyCTexamina-tion.Forpatientsofthesurroundingneedlinggroup,Gauge-29-30stainlesssteelfiliformneedlesareinsertedintothesurroundingscalpofthefocalprojectionregiononebyone,withtheneedle-tipstowardthecenterofthefocalprojec-tionarea,andcombinedwithotherbodyacupointsaccordingtosyndromedifferentiation.Forpatientsofscalp-acupuncturegroup,MotorArea(MS6)andSensoryArea(MS7)ofthecontralateralsideofthefocusareused.Thetreatmentisperformedoncedailyinbothgroups,with30sessionsbeingatherapeuticcourse.Afteronecourseoftreatment,insurroundingneedlingandscalp-acupuncturegroups,20and11casesarecuredbasically,10and15haveamarkedimprovement,1and4areeffective,thetherapeuticeffectoftheformergroupissignificantlysuperiortothatofscalp-acupuncturegroup.Aftertreatment,plasmaepinephrine(E)andnorepinephrine(NE)levelsofthetwogroupsdecreaseconsiderablycomparedwithpre-treatmentofeachgroup(P＜0.01),andtheeffectsofsurroundingneedlingonEandNEaremoreevidentlythanthoseofscalp-acupuncture(P＜0.05).ResultssuggestthatthetherapeuticeffectofacupuncturemayberelatedtothedeclineofplasmaEandNElevels.
