Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling moxibustion plus Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods: A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was treated with warm needling moxibustion, and the observation group was treated with additional Tuina treatment. The treatments were performed once every other day, for a total of 10 times. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) were scored before and after treatment, and the surface electromyography (sEMG) signals of quadriceps femoris were collected. Results: The total effective rate of the control group was 76.7％, and that of the observation group was 90.0％. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups after treatment were improved, and the integrated electromyography (iEMG) and median frequency (MF) of quadriceps femoris were increased. The intra-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the WOMAC and VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The improvement of quadriceps femoris function in the observation group was more notable than that in the control group, and the iEMG value and MF were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Warming needling moxibustion plus Tuina can effectively relieve the pain in patients with KOA, improve their daily activity function, and increase the sEMG signals of the quadriceps femoris.

Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in contused brain and contralateral side and correlation of AQP4 level with brain edema.Methods A total of 70 health adult SD rats were divided into sham operation group (n =10) and brain contusion group (n =60) according to the random number table.Except for no impact in sham operation group,the remaining operations were the same in both groups.Ten rats in brain contusion group were separately sacrificed at 1,6,24,48 and 72 hours,and 7 days.Pathological changes in brain tissues of rats were detected and immunohistochemistry staining and Western-blot were used to measure AQP-4 expression.Results There were no abnormalities of brain tissue structure in sham operation group with AQP4 expressed mainly in glial cells and vascular endothelial cells.With respect to the injured side in brain contusion group,mixed brain edema that consisted of angioedema and cellular edema occurred along with tissue necrosis,massive inflammatory cell infiltration,and microgial proliferation.AQP4 was apparently expressed in gliocytes and vascular endothelial cells,which showed a fall at 1 hour,the lowest at 6 hours,the peak at 24 hours,slow fall at 48 hours,a second peak at 72 hours,and then a fall until 7 days.Level of AQP4 other than that at 1 hour had significant difference compared with sham operation group (P ＜ 0.01).Whereas the contralateral side in brain contusion group showed no pathological abnormalities at 1 hour,but cellular edema emerged at 6 hours followed by mixed brain edema mainly characterized as cellular edema at 24 hours,continued cellular edema but alleviated angioedema at 48 and 72 hours,and alleviated cellular edema at day 7.AQP4 was up-regulated in gliocytes and vascular endothelial cells,which decreased at 1 hour (1.313 ± 0.01),minimized at 6 hours (0.922 ± 0.03),peaked at 24 hours (2.848 ± 0.020),fell at 48 hours,peaked again at 72 hours (2.662 ± 0.02) and fell to almost normal level at day 7.By contrast with sham operation group,level of AQP4 had significant difference other than that at 1 hour and 7 days (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions After brain contusion,angioedema and subsequent cellular edema emerge in the contused side.Pathological changes are delayed in non-contused side with cellular edema ahead of angioedema.Level of AQP4 is closely related with traumatic brain edema.

Objective To explore clinical indications and curative effects of microwave coagulation combined with submucous 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) injection in the management of early-stage lower rectal cancer. Methods Nine patients with early-stage lower rectal cancer underwent microwave coagulation with submucous 5-FU injection from January 1996 to December 2002. After the microwave treatment, a retention enteroclysis with 100~200 ml normal saline containing 1.0 g 5-FU was performed once daily for 3 days. Results In 3 patients, levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which were preoperatively increased, were reduced below normal limits after microwave treatment. No hemorrhage or other intra- or post-operative complications was observed. Follow-up observations to January 2006 showed that all the 9 patients survived. One patient survived for 3 years and 5 months, 1 patient survived for 3 years and 8 months, and 1 patient experienced a tumor relapse at 1 year and 4 months and survived for 2 years and 9 months after a Miles procedure. Among 6 patients who survived longer than 5 years, 1 survived for 5 years and 1 month, 1 for 6 years and 3 months, 1 for 6 years and 8 months, 1 for 7 years and 6 months, and 2 for 9 years. Conclusions Surgical indications for microwave coagulation combined with submucous 5-FU injection for rectal cancer included early-stage cancer, lesions located within 7 cm away from the anus, the mass type cancer, tumor diameter at 0.5~3.0 cm or less than one third of the rectum’s circumference, well differentiated tumor, and patient’s strong anus-sparing demand. This method is minimally invasive, safe, reliable, and cost-effective.

BACKGROUND: Improper practice during military training is likely to cause various training wounds, among which patellar tendinosis is the common one.OBJECTIVE: To explore the onset characteristics of patellar tendinosis caused by military training and incidence changes after the implementation of interventions.DESIGN:Sampling investigation.SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA; Department of Surgery, Hospital of Chinese PLA Garrison in Hong Kong PARTICIPANTS: Male army soldiers aged 18-24 years were recruited from a full-time training army in August 2000 (non-intervention group) and August 2001 (intervention group). The same training program was carried out among the 2,783 soldiers in non-intervention group and 5,824 soldiers in the intervention group.METHODS: The investigation group was composed of medical workers with senior and intermediate professional titles. Uniform diagnostic standard was made before the investigation, and questionnaire survey wascombined with on-the-spot inspection on soldiers who complained about knee joint pain following training. Those who conformed to the diagnosis were inquired of their training state in detail and possible causes; meanwhile knee X-ray examination was also conducted. Soldiers in the non- intervention group were subjected to the investigation of the incidence and cause of patellar tendinosis due to fulltime training without given any preventive intervention. By contrast, soldiers in the intervention group were given preventive and therapeutic interventions and then subjected to the investigation into the interventional outcomes one year later.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of patellar tendinosis in soldiers of the two groups.RESULTS: The first and second investigations were conducted on the 2 783 soldiers and 5 824 soldiers, respectively. All of them entered the rediers of the non-intervention group (the incidence of 0.61%) as compared to 15 soldiers in the intervention group (the incidence of 0.26%) (P＜0.01).tenderness. Patel1ar bone X-ray inspection on 12 of them displayed patellar ciated with run-jump training projects; 23 cases were caused by 400 mbarrier training and 7 cases by 5 km cross-country training.CONCLUSION: Patellar tendinosis during military training is mostly caused by run-jump training and can be remarkably prevented by preventive interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of matrine on proliferation and apoptosis of human renal cell carcinoma cell line GRC-1 in vitro, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: The human renal cell carcinoma cell line GRC-1 was treated with matrine of different concentrations for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h respectively. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of matrine on GRC-1 cells. The transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry were utilized to observe and detect the apoptosis of GRC-1 cells induced by matrine. The expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were evaluated by streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. RESULTS: The matrine of different concentrations all have cytotoxic effects on GRC-1 cells, with obvious dose- and time-dependent effects. The apoptosis induced by matrine was confirmed in GRC-1 cells. With intervention of matrine (1.5 g/L) for 12 h, the expression level of Bcl-2 in GRC-1 cells was decreased while the expression level of Bax was increased as compared with those in the untreated group. CONCLUSION: The proliferation-inhibiting effects of matrine on human renal cell carcinoma cell line GRC-1 may be related to down-regulating the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression and promoting the apoptosis.

Ablation Techniques ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Extremities ; Swine

Objective To investigate clinical effect of sEMG-BFB training combined with swallowing training for dysphagic patients with cerebral infarction,to provide a reference for life quality improvement of dysphagic patients.Methods 48 patients with cerebral infarction combined swallowing disorder were selected.According to the digital table,patients were divided into the control group and observation group,24 cases in each group.Patients in the control group were given training such as routine training and behavioral swallowing training,while patients in the observation group were given sEMG-BFB training based on training of the control group.FOIS score,Kubota's water drinking test grade,SSA score and SWAL-QOL score were compared between two groups.Results After treatment,FOIS score,SSA score and SWAL-QOL score of the observation group were (3.82 ± 1.04),(19.97 ± 8.17),(158.23 ± 10.27),which were significantly higher than those of the control group [(2.82 ± 1.21),(24.21 ± 6.31),(139.23±7.32),t =4.394,4.115,5.642,all P ＜ 0.05] ; Kubota's water drinking test grade of the observation group was better than the control group,the difference was statistically significant (U =283.43,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion sEMG-BFB training combined with swallowing training is helpful for dysphagic patients with cerebral infarction to improve swallowing ability and life quality.

Objective To investigate the effects of different acupuncture therapies on serum branched-chain amino acids (BAC and free tryptophan (F-Trp) in high-intensity military training soldiers. Methods Ninety healthy soldiers were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C, 30 soldiers each. Group A received treatment with electroacupuncture at Zusanli; group B, treatment by cupping on Zusanli;group C, no treatment. The three groups did a high-intensity 5 km running exercise after two weeks of treatment. Serum BACC and F-Trp contents were measured in the three groups before and at the end of treatment and at five days after treatment. Results It can be seen from table 2 that there were no statistically significant pre-treatment differences in serum BACC and F-Trp contents between the three groups of soldier subjects (P>0.05); there were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in serum BACC and F-Trp contents in the three groups of soldier subjects (P＜0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in serum BACC content between group A or B and group C (P＜0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in serum F-Trp content between group A or B and group C at the end of treatment and at five days after treatment (P＜0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture therapy can effectively improve bodily anti-fatigue ability and reduce high-intensity exercise induced muscular injury in military training soldiers.

Objective To investigate changes in the intraocular pressure(IOP) and anterior chamber angle in patients with chronic renal failure before and after hemodialysis. Methods Fifty?eight patients(116 eyes) with chronic renal failure were measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer and anterior segment optical coherence tomograph. The patients were divided into three groups based on gonioscopy results:the narrow angle group(22 eyes),the Iris neovascular group(3 eyes)and the open angle group(91 eyes). IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometer in patients in the three groups before and after hemodialysis. Anterior chamber angle opening distance (AOD) was detected by anterior segment optical coherence tomograph before and after hemodialysis. The blood urea nitrogen,creatinine,albumin were also determined before and after hemodialysis. All changes in the parameters were analyzed with a paired t test. Results The IOP in narrow angle eyes and in neovascular eyes increased significantly after hemodialysis ,while the IOP in open angle eyes showed no significant changes. The AOD decreased significantly after hemodialysis. The blood urea nitrogen and creatinine decreased significantly in 58 patients,while albumin increased after hemodialysis. Conclusion The IOP in narrow angle eyes and in neovascular eyes increased after hemodialysis ,correlating with the resistance increase of aqueous outflow pathway and the change of plasma osmotic pressure. As a result ,it is recommended that the condition of eye of patients with chronic renal failure should be checked ,and patients should receive appropriate controlling measure or treatment before hemodialysis.

Objective To study the relationship between cell apoptosis and mRNA expression of c-fos and BNIPl in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Methods Cell apoptosis and mRNA expression of c-fos and BNIP1 in 48 SCCs and 41 BCCs were determined by TUNEL and in situ hybridization, respectively. Results Apoptosis index (AI) and c-fos mRNA expression in SCCs were higher than those in BCCs (P 0.05). AI was significantly higher in well-differentiated SCCs than in poorly differentiated SCCs (P