ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of establishing intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) model by using minimally invasive acupuncture and rotary-cutting. MethodsForty New Zealand white rabbits [male or female, (2.9±0.3) kg in weight] were randomly divided into control group (n=20) and experimental group (n=20). No treatment was done in the control group; percutaneous puncture was performed on L4, 5 and L5, 6 intervertebral disc by using 18G needle under C-arm X-ray monitoring for rotary-cutting of nucleus pulposus to promote degeneration of the disc in the experimental group. At 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after operation, general observation and MRI observation were done, and intervertebral disc degeneration was accessed based on Pfirrmann grade; the specimens were harvested for Masson staining and Safranine O staining. ResultsThe nucleus pulposus showed dark colors and reduced elasticity in the experimental group when compared with the control group. T2-weighted MRI images indicated that the disc signal intensity of control group had no obvious change at early stage, and weakened slightly at late stage; disc signal intensity of the experimental group decreased with time. According to Pfirrmann grade for disc degeneration, disc degeneration degree was significantly aggravated with time in 2 groups (P < 0.05); degeneration was significantly more severe in the experimental group than the control group at the other time points (P < 0.05) except 4 weeks (P > 0.05). Masson staining results showed that irregular arrangement of annulus with integrate structure was observed in the control group with time; the annulus of the experimental group arranged in disorder, or even disc fibrous circle rupture appeared with time. Safranin O staining showed that the nucleus pulposus cells reduced significantly in the experimental group, but did not in the control group. ConclusionMinimally invasive acupuncture and rotary-cutting could successfully establish the IDD model in rabbits.
Objective To assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for shoulder hand syndrome after stroke. Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966 to Sep. 2008), EMbase (1980 to Sept. 2008), CBM (1978 to Sept. 2008), VIP (1989 to Sept. 2008), WANFANG Database (1998 to Sept. 2008), CNKI (1979 to Sept. 2008) and handsearched relevant journals and conference proceedings. We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of acupuncture treatment for patients with shoulder hand syndrome. We evaluated the internal validity of the RCTs and quasi-RCTs. If all included trials were of high quality and homogeneity, then the meta-analysis was conducted. Results Three RCTs were identified but due to the defects in quality and clinical differences between the trials, data from these trials were not combined through meta-analysis, and a descriptive analysis was performed. The results showed that acupuncture was effective for treating shoulder hand syndrome. Conclusions The results of our review suggest that acupuncture may be effective for treating houlder hand syndrome, but because of the defects in the methodological quality of included trials, further large sample, double-blind RCTs are urgently needed.
This article investigates the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream signaling targets in mediating cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammation, offering insights into how acupuncture may treat common central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including ischemic stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease. AMPK and its downstream effectors are pivotal in the signaling pathways that underlie the pathophysiology of CNS diseases. These pathways are implicated in a variety of cellular responses that contribute to the progression of neurological disorders. During CNS injury, AMPK can be activated through phosphorylation, triggering the regulation of downstream molecules and exerting protective effects on neuronal function. Acupuncture has been shown to promote neuroprotection and enhance recovery in CNS diseases through multiple mechanisms, one of which involves the activation of AMPK-related signaling pathways. Nevertheless, numerous unresolved challenges remain in this research field.
Objective To evaluate the effect of ultrasound guided percutaneous drainage on acute perforation of gastroduodenal ulcer in elderly patients. Methods The clinical features, treatments, and the curative effects of 86 elderly cases (≥65 years) of acute perforation of gastroduodenal ulcer in our hospital between January 2004 and October 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-one cases were treated by ultrasound guided percutaneous drainage (drainage group), and 65 cases were treated by exploring operation (operation group). Results Drainage group was cured and had no complications. In 15 patients which accepted recheck one month after drainage, gastroscope showed the ulcer healed in 12 cases， and improved in 3 cases. In operation group, 63 cases were cured and 2 cases died. Compared with the drainage group, there was no significant difference in cure rate (Pgt;0.05). However, 11 patients had operative complications in operation group, which was significantly more than that in the drainage group （Plt;0.05）. In 45 patients which accepted recheck one month after operation, gastroscope showed the ulcer healed in 38 cases， and improved in 7 cases. Conclusion For elderly patients with acute perforation of gastroduodenal ulcer， if the patients do not fit for exploring operation， ultrasound guided percutaneous drainage is proved to be a simple, safe, and effective means.
Objective To investigate the combined effects of digastric muscle low frequency modulated medium frequency electro-acupuncture therapy and voice training for dysphagia in patients who underwent aortic arch surgery. Methods Forty-two consecutive patients with dysphagia after aortic arch surgery between October 2014 and November 2017 were divided into two groups including an observation group and a control group. There were 21 patients in each group. There were 17 males and 4 females at age of 51.0±6.5 years in the observation group, while 18 males and 3 females at age of 49.8±7.3 years in the control group. The patients in the observation group underwent electroacupuncture therapy and voice training (20 min per day for each therapy, 2 weeks), while the patients in the control group only received safe swallowing education and rehabilitation guidance (2 weeks). The test results, such as fibrolaryngoscope and functional oral intake scale (FOIS) score, and the data of computer phonatory detection, before and after the intervention were compared. Results The fibrolaryngoscope of vocal cords significantly decreased and the FOIS score significantly increased after digastric muscle low frequency modulated medium frequency electro-acupuncture therapy and voice training in the observation group(6.30 vs. 4.60, P<0.05). Bucking was obviously reduced. The indicators of hoarse degree, such as median pitch, fundamental frequency, jitter (0.60%±0.96%vs. 1.99%±1.86%, P=0.033), shimmer (2.47%±4.26% vs. 5.89%±3.66%, P=0.043), maximum phonation time (15.31±9.10 s vs. 3.72±8.83 s, P=0.006), maximum and loud phonation time (9.30±5.73 s vs. 2.32±2.99 s, P=0.039), mean noise-to-harmonics ratio (23.99±10.17 vs .9.98±9.37, P=0.006) and mean harmonics-to-noise ratio (0.03±0.02 vs. 0.17±0.23, P=0.019) improved after the treatment in both groups. But the improvement in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group. Conclusion The combination of digastric muscle low frequency modulated medium frequency electro-acupuncture therapy and voice training on dysphagia in patients who underwent aortic arch surgery can significantly improve the swallowing function of patients. Meanwhile, it also helps the recovery of phonic function and improves the ability of feeding and communication in these patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety of photoelectric guided navigation unilateral puncture of the percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsA randomized controlled clinical research was performed between June 2015 and January 2017. Eighty-five cases of OVCF were treated with photoelectric guided navigation unilateral puncture of the PKP (trial group, 43 cases) or C arm fluoroscopy unilateral puncture of the PKP (control group, 42 cases) respectively. There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, segmental fracture, AO classification, bone mineral density, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score between 2 groups (P>0.05). The concordance rate of puncture path and design path, the incidence of pedicle wall breaking, the incidence of bone cement leakage, and the rate of bone cement distribution center were observed and calculated on postoperative CT images; the intraoperative X-ray exposure frequency, frequency of puncture, operation time, VAS scores before operation and at 2 days after operation, and postoperative blood vessel or nerve injury were recorded and compared.ResultsThe intraoperative X-ray exposure frequency and puncture frequency in trial group were significantly less than those in control group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in operation time between 2 groups (t=0.440, P=0.661). The VAS scores of 2 groups at 2 days after operation were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in VAS score at 2 days after operation between 2 groups (t=0.406, P=0.685). All the patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 10 months). No blood vessel or nerve injury occurred in 2 groups. The incidence of pedicle wall breaking, the incidence of bone cement leakage, the concordance rate of puncture path and design path, and the rate of bone cement distribution center in trial group were 2.33% (1/43), 2.33% (1/43), 86.05% (37/43), and 88.37% (38/43) respectively, all showing significant differences when compared with those of control group [19.05% (8/42), 21.43% (9/42), 45.24% (19/42), and 50.00% (21/42) respectively] (P<0.05).ConclusionIntraoperative photoelectric guided navigation unilateral puncture of the PKP can improve the success rate of target puncture and reduce the incidence of pedicle wall breaking effectively, and achieve better bone cement distribution and better security.
Objective To study the application, safety and efficiency of tetracaine sprayed through thyrocricoid puncture before intubation in intensive care unit ( ICU) . Methods Forty-one patients ready to undergo intubation, admitted in ICU from November 2009 to February 2010, were recruited in the study. They were randomly divided into a tetracaine group and a control group. 2% tetracaine was sprayed through thyrocricoid puncture before intubation in the tetracaine group but not in the control group. The hemodynamic variables and SpO2 at baseline ( T0 ) , beginning of intubation ( T1 ) , 1 min after intubation ( T2 ) , and 5 min after intubation ( T3 ) were recorded. The dosage of propofol and vasoactive agents, the incidence of hypotension, the times of intubation, and complications were also recorded. Results The variance rate about heart rate ( HR) , mean arterial pressure ( MAP) and rate pressure production on time of T1 and T2 were significantly lower in the tetracaine group than those in the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . There was no difference about the incidence of successful intubation and hypoxia ( P gt; 0. 05) . The dosage of propofol during induction and vasoactive agents after intubation in the tetracaine group were less than those in the control group ( P lt;0. 05) . The incidence of hypotension after intubation in the tetracaine group was 35% , which was lower than 61. 9% in the control group ( P lt;0. 05) . There was no any complications and adverse accidents in the tetracaine group. Conclusions It is safe and simple to spray tetracaine through thyrocricoid puncture before intubation in ICU, which can effectively stabilize the hemodynamics, and decrease the dosages of propofol and vasoactive agents.
Objective To summarize experience and efficacy of multidisciplinary treatment for severe intra-abdominal infection. Methods The clinical data of 17 patients with severe intra-abdominal infection underwent multidisciplinary treatment were analyzed retrospectively. There were 5 cases of severe acute pancreatitis, 4 cases of postoperative biliary fistula, 2 cases of intestinal fistula, 2 cases of pancreatic trauma, 1 case after resection for intestinal necrosis, 1 case of abdominal trauma, 1 case after operation for liver abscess, 1 case of unexplained severe intra-abdominal infection. The experiences of multidisciplinary treatment including the intensive care unit (ICU), surgery, blood purification center, and departments of pharmacy, nutrition, and digestion and internal medicine, and so on were summarized. Results After multidisciplinary treatment, 13 patients were cured, of which 4 patients treated by non-open operation. Three patients died, including 1 patient died of infectious shock, 1 patient died of pancreatic bed bleeding, 1 patient died of multiple organ failure. There was 1 case of automatic discharge. Conclusions Multidisciplinary treatment including ICU, surgery, blood purification center, and departments of pharmacy, nutrition, and digestion and internal medicine, and so on has an exact clinical curative effect in patients with severe intra-abdominal infection. Concept of damage control should be followed by surgical intervention. Abdominal cavity puncture and drainage has some advantages of small trauma and good clinical effect, which is suitable for infection control of patients with severe intra-abdominal infection, it could provide surgical condition and opportunity for patients required further surgical treatment.
ObjectiveTo summarize and evaluate the quality of methodology, report and evidence of the systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) of acupuncture and moxibustion interventions for Parkinson's disease. MethodsEight databases including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched from inception to May 1, 2023. The quality of methodology, report and evidence involved in these studies were evaluated by AMSTAR 2, PRISMA and GRADE tool. ResultsA total of 28 SRs/MAs were included, and the findings of included studies showed that acupuncture and moxibustion had a clinical advantage for Parkinson's disease. The methodological quality of all studies was extremely low. Thirteen reports were relatively complete, 14 reports had certain flaws, and 1 report had relatively serious flaws. And of the 126 reports for seven outcomes, 1 was graded as high, 12 as moderate, 57 as low, and 56 as critically low. ConclusionThe current evidence shows that acupuncture and moxibustion have a certain clinical effect for Parkinson's disease, but the methodological quality and evidence quality of related SRs/MAs are low, and the standardization still needs to be improved. The efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in Parkinson's disease still needs to be verified by high-quality clinical studies in the future.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization or transcatheter arterial embolization combined with percutaneous transhepatic sclerotherapy injection for hepatic cavernous hemangioma with different blood supply. MethodsEighty-six patients with hepatic cavernous hemangioma with different blood supply received femoral artery pingyangmycin iodized oil embolization or transcatheter arterial embolization combined with percutaneous transhepatic injection of pingyangmycin iodized oil embolization from February 2004 to April 2013. ResultsForty-five cases (52.3%) of tumor decreased by over 50%; 26 (30.2%) decreased by about 20% to 50%; 11 (12.8%) decreased by less than 20%; and 4 (4.7%) had no significant change in the tumor diameter. Patients did not have serious complications. ConclusionThe effect of individualized intervention for hepatic cavernous hemangioma with different blood supply is obvious, and it is a safe and effective therapeutic method.