Diffusion Tensor Imaging Evaluates Effects of Acupoint Injection at Zusanli (ST36) for Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

作者：Yangkui Zhai, Wenjuan Yu, Wen Shen, Yan Zhang · 发表于：Medical Science Monitor · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.12659/msm.935979 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications、Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders、Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies

BACKGROUND Acupoint injection is a therapeutic method that combines acupuncture and Western medicine and shows good curative effects for neuropathies. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of acupoint injection for treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) by magnetic resonance neuroimaging (MRN). MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty patients with DPN were randomly divided into an acupoint injection group (AI; n=20) and intramuscular injection group (MI; n=20). The AI group received an acupoint injection of mecobalamin at acupoint Zusanli (S36); the MI group received intramuscular injection of mecobalamin. The curative effect was evaluated by the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). RESULTS The neuropathy scores of both groups decreased from baseline (AI 9.31±2.36; MI 9.34±2.54) to after the 2-week treatment (AI 7.12±1.87; MI 7.86±2.11); the differences were not significant. The fractional anisotropy (FA) value showed significant differences on the common peroneal nerve (AI 0.36±0.04; MI 0.31±0.05; P<0.05) and tibial nerve (AI 0.38±0.07; MI 0.34±0.06; P<0.05) after treatment. Likewise, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between groups showed significant differences for the common peroneal nerve (AI 1.44±0.17×10⁻³ mm²/s; MI 1.61±0.20×10⁻³ mm²/s; P<0.05) and tibial nerve (AI 1.54±0.22×10-3 mm²/s; MI 1.60±0.17 10⁻³ mm²/s; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with DPN showed lower nerve FA and higher ADC in DTI-MRN. The acupoint injection of mecoba...