Objective To observe the effect of sling exercise therapy combined with acupuncture at Jiaji acupoints on balance function of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods From October, 2013 to October, 2015, 40 hemiplegic stroke patients with balance dysfunction were randomized to control group and treatment group equally. Both groups accepted routine rehabilitation, while the treatment group com-bined with sling exercise therapy and acupuncture at Jiaji acupoints. They were assessed with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10-metre maxi-mum walking speed (10MWS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower limbs (FMA-L) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and four weeks after treatment. Results The scores of BBS, FMA-L and MBI, and 10MWS improved in both groups (t>2.249, P<0.05), and improved more in the treatment group than in the control group (t>2.954, P<0.01). Conclusion Sling exercise therapy combined with acupuncture at Jiaji acupoints can further improve the function of balance, walking and activities of daily living in stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the combined saphenous nerve-great saphenous vein flap and cutaneous branches of posterior tibial artery flap in repairing refractory wounds. Methods Eighteen cases of pedal chronic ulcers were treated with the combinedsaphenous nervegreat Saphenous vein flap and cutaneous branches of posterior tibial artery flap, in which the wounds were treated with vacuum suction techniques before the operation in 6 cases. Wounds were from 8 cm× 13 cm to 1 cm× 17 cm in zine after debricement, and the designed size of the flaps was from 8 cm× 14 cm to 11 cm× 18 cm. Results After the treatment, 18 cases were evaluated as excellent in 10 cases, and good in 8 cases, in which the primary sealing of the wounds was achieved in 17 cases, but one case presented with focal necrosis of smaal size owing to vein drainage disturbance in a distallypedicled flap, and was healed after flap transplantation. Follow-up for 6 months to 2 years showed that all the patients were satisfied with the results. Conclusions The combined flap has reliable blood supply, skin pedicle of the flap is longer, superior texture and satisfied appearance, and incisive area of the flap is larger. It is particularly useful in repairing refractory wound in foot.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of surface electrical stimulation on bladder spasm among patients with spinal cord injury,and compare it with that of therapy combining electrical stimulation with bladder function training.Methods Forty-two patients with bladder spasm after spinal cord injury were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=21) and a control group (n=21).Patients in the experimental group were further divided into three subgroups:patients with cervical spinal injury (n =7),thoracic spinal injury (n =9) and lumbar spinal injury (n =5).Both the experimental group and control group were given normal bladder function recovery exercise,while the experimental group was given the extra electrical stimulation on the surface of the sacral nerve.Urodynamic tests including the maximum detrusor pressure,bladder capacity,residual urine volume and bladder compliance were conducted for both groups before the treatment,after the first and the second 18-days of treatment and during a follow-up visit 2 months after the intervention.Results After the first course of treatment,significant differences were found in all measurements in the experimental group and most measurements of the control group except for the residual urine volume.Significant differences were found in all measurements after the second course of treatment compared to those after the first course in both groups.After the two courses of treatment and during the follow-up visit the average residual urine volume of the experiment group was significantly better than that of the control group.After the second course of treatment the average maximum detrusor pressure and bladder compliance of the experimental group were significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusion Surface electrical stimulation significantly improves the urodynamics and bladder function of patients with bladder spasm after spinal cord injury and its therapeutic effect is greater for patients with cervical and thoracic spinal injury than for those with lumber spinal injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate endostatin gene therapy of rat corneal neovascularization induced by acid cauterization.

METHODSpBlast-hEndostatin and pBlast-Mcs were identified by digestion with Nhe Iand Sal I, by PCR reaction, by sequence, and then by alignment of PCR products with the gene Bank using NCBIBLAST software. They were then purified with QIAGEN Endofree plasmid maxi kit. Rat corneal neovascularization models were made with 75% AgNO(3) and 25% KNO(3) cauterization. The treatment method was subconjunctive injection of the pBlast-hEndostatin with the control of pBlast-Mcs.

RESULTSpBlast-hEndostatin was found to contain the human endostatin gene. The rat corneal neovascularization induced by acid cauterization was significantly suppressed after subconjunctive injection of the pBlast-hEndostatin with inhibition rates of 37%, 40.2%, and 42.8% respectively on the sixth, tenth, and fifteenth day. The inhibition rate for the density of corneal neovascularization was 40%. However, no inhibition effect on the length of the neovascularization and corneal inflammatory cells was observed. Corneal neovascularization areas were positively correlated with edema and corneal opacity.

CONCLUSIONSThe plasmid of pBlast-hEndostatin contained the human endostatin gene. The rat corneal neovascularization induced by acid cauterization can be partially inhibited by subconjunctive injection of the pBlast-hEndostatin mediated by liposomes. Endostatin produced by transfected fibroblast cells directly inhibits corneal neovascularization. This is not caused by inflammatory reaction inhibition.

Animals ; Corneal Neovascularization ; pathology ; therapy ; Endostatins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transfection