The Impact of Electroacupuncture Combined With NGF on Clinical Effect and Functional Changes on Ischemic Stroke

The 20ug nerve growth factor (NO.S20060051, Jinlujie) will be obtained from Hiteck Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China. mNGF will be dissolved in 1 ml sterile water for injection and then injected intramuscularly at gluteal muscle, once a day for 4 weeks. Dose modification is not allowed for mNGF.

The patients will receive 1ml volume of physiological saline (PS) injected into the gluteal muscle, once a day for 4 weeks.

"Patients take supine position. After skin disinfection with 75% ethanol routine disinfection, the stainless needle (size 0.25mm×40mm, Hua Tuo brand, Suzhou Medical Supplies Company Ltd in Jiangsu, China) will be inserted in GV20（Baihui) and the stainless needle(size 0.25mm×25mm, described above) will be inserted in GV26 (Shuigou), acupoints will be stimulated manually until patients feel soreness, distension or heaviness (the reaction of De Qi). Then, the needles are stimulated by using an acupuncture point nerve stimulator (HANS-200, Nanjing Jinsheng, Ltd., China) with a frequency of 2/100 Hz and an intensity of 3 mA for 40 min (a homemade relay cycled power to the electrode for 6 sec on and 6 sec off), 28 days as a course of treatment, once a day."

The only difference between sham EA intervention and EA intervention is that the stimulator is connected to the needle handle without power for 40 min intervention.