ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zhiyang (GV9) in treating stomachache due to deficient cold.MethodEligible subjects with stomachache due to deficient cold were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was intervened by ginger-partitioned moxibustion at Zhiyang, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture treatment. The clinical efficacies were then observed.ResultThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group versus 73.3% in the control group, and the total effective rate of the treatment groupwas significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionGinger-partitioned moxibustion can produce a better therapeutic efficacy in treating stomachache due to deficient cold than conventional acupuncture.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of centro-square needling at Shangxing (GV23) (so called Ghost Hall point) in treating anxiety after cerebral stroke as a major treatment.Method Sixty patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The two groups were both given Flupentixol and Melitracen tablets (Deanxit). In addition, the treatment group received centro-square needling as the major treatment, and the control group received ordinary needling. Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Barthel Index (BI) of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were observed before and after the treatment for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy.Result There was a significant difference in comparing the HAMA score between the treatment group and control group after the treatment (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in comparing the total effective rate and recovery rate between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion The treatment group shows a significant efficacy in improving the anxiety symptoms; the effect in improving the anxiety symptoms is insignificant in the control group; the recoveryrate and total effective rate are equivalent between the two groups.

Objective To explore the effects of cluster scalp acupuncture on the behavior and expression of bcl-2 in rats after acute cerebral infarction. Methods 72 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (A), model group (B) and cluster scalp acupuncture group (C), 24 rats in each group. According to time after cerebral infarction, each group was reassigned to 6 h, 24 h and 3 d subgroups, 8 rats in each subgroup. The acute cerebral infarction model was established with the middle cerebral artery occlusion. The effects of cluster scalp acupuncture on the behavior and expression of apoptosis-related gene bcl-2 in the rat brain tissues with acute cerebral infarction were tested at different time. Results 3 d after cerebral infarction, the score of neuronal function in group C was significantly lower than that of group B (P<0.01). The expression of bcl-2 in brain ischemic penumbra increased in group C at different time and reached its peak at 24 h. Compared with group B, there was a statistical difference (P<0.01). Conclusion Cluster scalp acupuncture can significantly reduce the neuronal function score of rats after acute cerebral infarction and then promote the recovery of movement function. The therapy can inhibit the apoptosis by increasing the expression of bcl-2 in penumbra zone of cerebral infarction.

Objective: To investigate the microhardness distribution of cancellous bone in the proximal tibia and its clinical significance. Methods: Three fresh tibias were obtained and examined by X-ray and CT to exclude skeletal pathologies, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis. According to the Heim's square, the proximal tibias were cut off. Each of the proximal tibias was divided into three parts, the medial condyle, the intercondylar area and the lateral condyle. Each part was divided into three sections, proximal, middle and distal sections. Each of the proximal tibias was divided into 9 regions. Bone specimens with a thickness of 3 mm were taken from each region using a high precision low-speed saw and fixed on flat sheets. The microhardness of the bone tissue was measured using a Vickers microhardness tester after polish. Ten effective micro-indentation tests were conducted in each region. After measurement the diagonal length of the indentations, the microhardness values were calculated via software provided by the hardness tester. Analysis of variance and Tukey method were used to compare the microhardness values of different parts, sections and regions of cancellous bone. The microhardness distribution of the proximal tibia was analyzed. Results: A total of 270 effective indentations were made in the specimens, and the microhardness values were obtained. The average microhardness of the three proximal tibias was 40.98±3.44, 34.92±4.64 and 39.49±3.86 HV, respectively. There was a significant difference among the groups (F=55.87, P=0.000). The microhardness distribution of bone tissue in the three proximal tibias was similar. In the comparison of different parts, the microhardness of medial condyle was greater than that of the lateral condyle, which was larger than that of the intercondylar area. The difference between the parts was statistically significant (F=18.42, 8.236, 10.877; P=0.000, 0.001, 0.000). In the comparison of different sections, the microhardness of the distal section was greater than that of the proximal section, which was larger than that of the middle section. The difference between the sections was statistically significant (F=8.720, 17.140, 6.142; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.003). The microhardness distribution was similar among different regions. The region with the highest microhardness is the medial condyle of the distal section with microhardness of 44.87±3.25 HV (range 39.2-49.7 HV). The lowest microhardness was in the intercondylar area of the middle section with hardness of 29.41±4.53 HV (range 24.8-36.2 HV). Conclusion The microhardness value of cancellous bone near the articular surface at the proximal tibia was smaller, which could disperse the load and protect the fragile of articular cartilage. Furthermore, the microhardness of the transition zone is larger. The microhardness value of the cancellous bone in medial tibia condyle is the greatest, which is related to load-bearing.

Objective To study the micro-hardness distribution of ulna and explore its correlation with surgical procedures of ulnar fractures,internal fixator,total elbow arthroplasty and the epidemiology of ulna fracture.Methods The ulna wasdivided into proximal metaphysis,diaphysis,and distal metaphysis.The proximal metaphysis was divided into the olecranon and the metaphysis olecranon of ulna.Thedistal epiphysis included the head of ulna.The shaft of the ulna was divided equally into nine segments.Each ulna was sawed by a band saw into twelve parts,which were prepared for the micro-indention testing.The micro-indention testing samples precision cuts were conductedwith a Buehler Isomet 11-1280-250 low speed diamond saw.Each micro-indention sample was cut 3mm thickness and fixed on glass sheet with epoxy resin.The samples surface was polished with progressive grades of sandpaper.Micro-indentation was pedormed on each bone sample sudace using a vicker micro-hardness tester,and the hardness value were measured as Hardness value (HV,HV=kgf/mm2).Twenty indentions were randomly selected on each sample,which were equally divided into four quadrants (anterior,medial,posterior and lateral).Hence,a total of 720 micro-indentations were pedormed on the three ulna.Before indention,each sample was controlled under the optical microscope where the bone surface was intact and not damaged.The micro-indentations were performed on each sample with a load of 50 g.The indentation time was set to 12 s.Hardness value (HV/0.05) was computed for each indentation.The lengths of the diagonals were measured under reflected light microscopy,and the Vickers hardness value was calculated.Indentations in which one diagonal was 10％ longer or more than the other were ignored.The indention was repeated.These preliminary data were used to determine the appropriate sample size of micro =indentation to be performed on each bone segment.SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used for statisticalanalysis.The one =way ANOVA analysis was used to compare the difference of bone micro-hardness values in different parts,and P ＜ 0.05 was statistically significant.Results The hardest part of the ulna is the lower ulnaand the value of micro-hardness was 47.77 HV.The least hard part was the head of ulna and the value of micro-hardness was 29.64 HV.The proximal metaphysis hardness value was 34.39 HV.The shaft hardness value was 43.47 HV.Thedistal metaphysis hardness value was 29.64 HV.The hardness was higher in diaphysis than metaphysis in the ulna with statistical significance.There was no statistically significant difference in the hardness of ulna anterior,medial,posterior and lateral quadrant.Conclusion It is demonstrated that the micro-hardnessof ulna shaft is significant higher than other two parts of ulna.The micro-hardness value difference was not significant among the anterior,medial,posterior and lateral quadrant.This study revealed the distribution rule of ulna micro-hardness and provided data support for the total elbow arthroplasty with human physiological characteristics through 3D printing.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of postoperative analgesia with low-dose sufentanil combined with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and with sufentanil alone in promoting patients'recovery following laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy in our hospital between September, 2016 and August, 2017 were randomly allocated into two equal groups. In group A, the patients were given postoperative analgesia with 1 μg/kg sufentanil, 9.96 mg tropisetronmesylate, and 200 mg flurbiprofen axetil (diluted with 0.9% NaCl solution to 100 mL, pumped at the rate of 2 mL/h) combined with TAP block; in group B, the patients received similar postoperative analgesia but at a higher dose of sufentanil (2 μg/kg) without TAP block. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain at 15 min and at 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively, and the first off-bed time, the length of postoperative hospital stay and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were recorded in all the patients. RESULTS: Compared with those in group B, the patients in group A had significantly lower VAS scores at 15 min, 4 h, 8 h, and 12 h postoperatively ( < 0.01) with also statistically shorter first off-bed time and postoperative hospital stay ( < 0.01). Two (6.7%) patients in group A had mild PONV, and 6 (20.0%) in group B had PONV (including 4 with mild and 2 with moderate PONV). CONCLUSIONS Lowdose sufentanil combined with TAP block is effective for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic hysterectomy and helps to reduce the incidence of PONV and shorten the first off-bed time and postoperative hospital stay to promote the recovery of the patients.
Abdominal Muscles ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Sufentanil

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics and significance of bone hardness in different segments and layers of clavicle. Methods: The right clavicles of three fresh Chinese corpses were taken and then divided into proximal, middle and distal segments according to Allman's classification. The clavicles were cut with diamond saw in the vertical of long axis equidistant exactly into 15 layers (proximal: 3 layers; midshaft: 7 layers; distal: 5 layers), and each layer was divided into four directions: superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior. The bone hardness were measured by Vickers microindentation, HV(kgf/mm²). The distribution of bone hardness was recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 180 parts of cortical bone were measured, generating 900 measurements. Meanwhile, a total of 45 parts of cancellous bone were measured, generating 225 measurements. We found that: (1)The average hardness of cortical bone was (35.9±8.1)HV, and the midshaft segment [(41.3±6.8)HV] was harder than the proximal segment [(33.8±6.1)HV] and the distal segment [(29.7±5.4)HV](P<0.05); (2)The average hardness of cancellous bone was (30.7±6.2)HV, and there were significant differences among the midshaft segment [(34.5±5.5)HV], the proximal segment [(29.2±2.9)HV] and the distal segment [(26.3±5.1)HV](P<0.05); (3)for cortical bone, the hardest segment was the fifth layer of the midshaft segment [(44.8±8.6)HV] while the most soft segment was the fourth layer of the distal segment [(28.0±3.5)HV](P<0.05); (4)for cancellous bone, the hardest segment was the fifth layer of the midshaft segmnet [(36.8±5.1)HV] while the most soft was the fifth layer of the distal segment [(23.0±4.4)HV](P<0.05); (5)There were no statistically significant differences among four directions of segments(P>0.05). Conclusion The microindentation hardness varies greatly among different segments and layers of the clavicles. The cortical bone and cancellous bone have consistent hardness changes, which shows that the middle segment is obviously harder than the proximal and distal segments with a gradually gradient decreasing trend from the middle to both ends. The data can be used to guide the design of 3D printing implants that conform to the stress conduction characteristics of the clavicle under physiological conditions, and provide good data support for the modeling and finite element analysis of the clavicle under simulated physiological conditions.