OBJECTIVETo compare the effective differences between deep needling and shallow needling at three acupoints around ear for subjective tinnitus.

METHODSFifty patients with subjective tinnitus were randomized divided into a deep needling group and a shallow needling group, 25 cases in each group. Twenty-two patients in the deep needling group and 20 patients in the shallow needling group were brought into statistic in the end. In the two groups, the three acupoints around ear and distal acupoints were both selected. The acupoints of the affected side such as Yifeng (TE 17), Tinghui (GB 2), Ermen (TE 21), Zhigou (TE 6), Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Hegu (LI 4) were adopted. Yifeng (TE 17), Tinghui (GB 2) and Ermen (TE 21) were acupunctured 30-38 mm in the deep needling group and 15-20 mm in the shallow needling group. The other acupoints were conventionally acupunctured in the two groups. The needles were retained for 30 min,once a day and five times a week for all patients. The treatment was continuously for 4 weeks in the two groups. Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) scores, tinnitus grades and visual analogue scale (VAS) for tinnitus sound levels were observed before and after treatment, and the effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the deep needling group was 59.1% (13/22), and it was better than 20.0% (4/20) in the shallow needling group (P < 0.05). In the deep needling, group, the THI score, tinnitus grade and the VAS score were improved than those before treatment (all P < 0.05). In the shallow needling group, the three above indices before and after treatment were not different in statistical significance (all P > 0.05). After treatment, all the three indices in the deep needling group were superior to those in the shallow needling group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at the three acupoints around ear deeply could apparently improve tinnitus, and reduce tinnitus sound levels for subjective tinnitus. The effect is better than that by shallow needling at the three acupoints.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Aged ; Ear ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Divergent axon collaterals from forebrain and brainstem to the dorsal hippocampus in the rat were examined by means of HRP method and fluorescent retrograde double labeling method.HRP solution was injected into the left or right dorsal htppocampus of 3 rats. HRP labeled cells were observed in the bilateral medial parts of medial septal areas, vertical limbs of the diagonal band of Broca, supramammillary nuclei, submammillothalamic nuclei, superior central nucleus and locus ceruleus.PI and Bb solution were injected into the left and right hippocampus of 3 rats separately. Many retrograde double labeled cells were found in the nuclei mentioned above.The results indicate that the retrograde double labeled ceils in these nuclei may divergently projected to both the left and right dorsal hippocampi. They play an important role in harmonizing the activity of bilateral hippocampi.

Objective To establish a novel method to detect autoantibodies against platelatespecific receptors by flow cytometric bead assay and study its clinical application. Methods The beads were coated with monoclonal antibodies SZ2, SZ22, SZ21 and 7E3 against platelet GP Ⅰ b, GP Ⅱ b, GP Ⅲa and GP Ⅱ b/Ⅲ a, respectively. Captured platelet glycoprotein and beads complex was detected by FITC labeled polyclonal goat antihuman immunoglobulin using flow cytometer. The platelet samples that reacted with antibodies (SZ2, SZ22, SZ21 and 7E3) negatively and positively were tested, respectively. Each sample was repeated 20 times to generate intra-day CV for the MFI and once a day for 8 days to generate inter-day CV values. The 85 ITP patients, 17 NITP patients and 50 controls from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University during March 2006 to December 2008 were included in the studies. The sensitivity and specificity of these four platelet antibodies to diagnose ITP were analyzed using ROC curve. The results were compared with MAIPA. Results The CV of the intra-day-assay for samples negative to antibody SZ2, SZ22,SZ21 and 7E3 were 3.26%, 2. 86%, 1.65% and 4. 94%, respectively; While the CV of the intra-day-assay for samples positive to antibody SZ2, SZ22, SZ21 and 7E3 were 6. 16%, 4. 88%, 5.20% and 5. 85%,respectively. The CV of the inter-day-assay for samples negative to antibody SZ2, SZ22, SZ21 and 7E3 were 5. 86%, 4. 74%, 5.69% and 7.56%, respectively; While the CV of the inter-day-assay for samples positive to antibody SZ2, SZ22, SZ21 and 7E3 were 7.53%, 5.49%, 7.11% and 6.25%,respectively. The MFI for SZ2 in ITP group, NITP group and healthy control group were 1.49(0. 88-16. 24),1.12(1.00-1.33), 1.01 (0. 83-1.37), respectively, which showed significant differences (H = 36.89,P＜0.01). The MFI for SZ22 in the three groups were 1.55 (0.84-11.30), 1.13(1.03-1.29), 0.98(0. 85-1.24), respectively (H=28.41, P ＜0.01). The MFI of SZ21 were 1.50 (0.87-11.04), 1.13(0.97-1.32), 1.05 (0.85-1.48), respectively (H=54.42, P＜0. 01). The MFI for7E3 were 1.51(0. 84-9.81), 1.05(0.86-1.13), 1.03 (0.74-1.28), respectively (H =31.97, P ＜0.01). Based on ROC analysis, with cut-off values of 1.37, 1. 24, 1.48 and 1.28 for SZ2, SZ22, SZ21 and 7E3,respectively, the AUC were 0. 86, 0.90, 0. 87 and 0. 84, respectively. The sensitivities of the assays were 58. 82% (50/85), 52. 94% (45/85), 52.94% (45/85) and 51.76% (44/85), respectively. When all four antibodies were used, the sensitivity was increased to 74. 12% (63/85), which was higher than that of MAIPA [ 50. 59% (43/85) ,χ2 = 6. 78, P ＜ 0. 05) ]. Conclusion Flow cytometric bead assay can be used to detect four platelet-specific autoantibodies simultaneously, and may be a useful method to aid in the diagnosis of ITP.

Objective To observe the sequential ultrastroctural and electrophysiological changes in the sciatic nerve coagulated by a newly-designed microwave antenna. Methods A total of 75 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups A,B and C and irradiated with microwaves at 10,20 or 30 Watts,for 6 seconds to coagulate the left sciatic nerve.Electrophysiological effects and sequential uhrastructural changes were observed on the 0th,2nd,7th,30th and 60th days after coagulation.A static sciatic index was calculated based on measurements of the footprint on the 7th,30thand 60th days after coagulation.Results On the Oth,2nd,7th and 30th days after cpagulation,the static sciatic index,the nerve conduction velocity and the amplitude of the action potentials in groups B and C had decreased significantly compared with those before coagulation.On the 60th day after coagulation.significant recovery was observed in groups A and B,but not in group C.Only mild alteration in uhrastructure was found,and only in group A.The prominent changes in uhrastructure in group B included broken Schwann cell membranes and myelin disintegration.There were severe injuries in group C,including myelin disintegration,cell deformity,coagulative necrosis,axon necrosis,basement membrane necrosis and demyelination.The structure of the sciatic nerve in group B had partially recovered after 60 days,but group C showed no recovery at all. Conclusion Microwave coagulation of a nerve can block its conduction.and even destroy the nerve.Percutaneous microwave coagulation is clinically feasible and call be an alternative treatment for pain.

Now,with the dramatic increase in Internet technology,we should focus on innovation teaching and learning,so it is necessary to set up a platform of Internet resources for education in order to reach optimization of teaching.

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 observe the effects of tendon-regulating and stretching manipulation plus JIN's three-needle therapy for the shoulder on pain and shoulder joint function in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods: Eighty patients with SIS were recruited and divided into a control group and a treatment group by the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was given JIN's three-needle therapy for the shoulder, and the treatment group received additional tendon-regulating and stretching manipulation. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and constant-Murley score (CMS) were observed before and after the intervention, and the total effective rate was also observed. Results: The total effective rate was 92.5％ in the treatment group versus 70.0％ in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The VAS score and CMS changed notably after treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the improvements were markedly greater in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Tendon-regulating and stretching manipulation plus JIN's three-needle therapy for the shoulder can facilitate the relief of pain and the improvement of shoulder joint function in SIS patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of scalp point penetration combined with rehabilitation training on content of endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in plasma of patients with acute cerebral hemorrage (ACH).Methods90 ACH patients were randomly divided into the scalp point penetration combined with rehabilitation group (group A), the rehabilitation group (group B) and control group (group C) with 30 cases in each group. The radioimmunoassay was adopted to determinate the content of ET and CGRP in plasma of patients.ResultsAfter treatment, contents of ET and CGRP of all patients were decreased significantly (P<0.01), but group A and group B had a significant difference compared with the group C (P<0.01), and there was also a significant difference between the group A and group B.ConclusionThe scalp point penetration combined with rehabilitation training can regulate the content of ET and CGRP in plasma and make them under a dynamic balance.

Objective To explore the effect of cluster scalp acupuncture on pathological changes and the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF) in rats after acute cerebral infarction.Methods30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group (group A), model group (group B) and cluster scalp acupuncture group (group C) with 10 animals in each group. Animal model was made by the middle cerebral artery occlusion. The pathological changes and the expression of NGF and TGF in the brain tissues of rats were tested.ResultsOn the 7th day after operation, brain tissue of infarction area in the group B indicated significantly edema, neural cells decreased. Compared with the group B, the edema in the group C decreased and neural cells increased. At the same time, there were a few NGF and TGF expressions in hippocampus andcortex areas of the group A and group B, and there was no difference between the two groups ( P>0.05); but compared with the group A and group B, NGF and TGF in the group C increased significantly ( P<0.05, P<0.01).ConclusionCluster scalp acupuncture therapy can decrease edema, increase neural cells in infarction areas, as well as induce the expression of NGF and TGF in cortex and hippocampus.