OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) points combined with electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints near ear and simple EA for the treatment of nervous tinnitus.

METHODSSixty-three patients were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases) and a control group (32 cases). The observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding at C4-C7 Jiaji (EXB 2) points on the affected side combined with EA at acupoints near ears, including Ermen (TE 21). Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2), etc.; the control group was treated with EA at regular acupoints near ears alone. The EA treatment was given five times per week, and the acupoint catgut embedding was given once every two weeks. All the treatment was given for 6 weeks. The Tinnitus severity score (TSS)was applied to assess the severity of tinnitus before the treatment, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks into treatment and one month after treat ment. Also the efficacy of two groups was compared.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the severity of tinnitus was both improved in two groups at each time point (all P<0.05). which was more significant in the observation group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The cured and markedly effective rate was 77.4% (24/31) in the observation group, which was superior to 50.0% (16/32) in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe short-term and long-term efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) points combined with electroacupuncture are both superior to those of simple electroacupuncture for treatment of nervous tinnitus.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Catgut ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus ; therapy

Objective To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with eye-acupuncture on cognitive dysfunction on cognitive dysfunction in patients with traumatic brain injury. Methods From May, 2014 to June, 2016, 90 trau-matic brain injury patients with cognitive impairment were randomly divided into eye-acupuncture group (n=30), rTMS group (n=30) and combination group (n=30), who accepted eye-acupuncture, rTMS and combination of eye-acupuncture and rTMS, repectively, for eight weeks. They were assessed with Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) before and after treatment. Results There was no significant difference in scores of LOTCA among three groups before treatment (F<0.523, P>0.05). The scores of LOTCA were the best in the combination group after treatment (F>3.789, P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of eye-acupuncture and rTMS is more effective in improving cognitive function after traumatic brain injury than either alone.

Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of endonuclease G (Endo G)-mediated non-Caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway in brain neuronal apoptosis in chronic fluorosis rats.Methods Sixty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (half male and half female) were randomly divided into two groups:control group fed with tap water with fluoride content ＜ 0.5 mg/L and fluorine group in which sodium fluoride was added into drinking water with fluoride content of 50.0 mg/L.Both groups were fed with standard food with fluorine content ＜ 0.5 mg/kg.The experiment period was 10 months.At the end of the experiment,all the animals were sacrificed,and brain tissue was taken.Flow cytometry was used to examine apoptosis rate,immune-histochemistry was employed to detect the distribution of Endo G in brain tissue;Western blotting was used to test the protein expression of Endo G.Results Compared to the apoptosis rate of control group [(1.3 ± 0.6)％,(1.9 ± 0.3)％],the apoptosis rate in hippocampus and cortex of rats with chronic fluorosis [(2.6 ± 0.6)％,(3.1-± 0.7)％] was significantly increased (t =3.1,3.4,all P ＜ 0.05).The Endo G positive neurons and their degree of staining in CA1,CA2,CA3 and CA4 of hippocampus,frontal cortex as well as the upper layer of parietal cortex [(11.1 ± 2.2),(10.2 ± 1.9),(9.8 ± 3.1),(9.9 ± 1.6),(10.6 ± 2.9),(8.2 ± 2.4),(11.1 ± 2.8) scores] in rats with chronic fluorosis were significantly higher than those in the control group [(5.8 ± 1.8),(6.7 ± 2.6),(5.2 ± 2.4),(7.2 ± 2.1),(7.7 ± 2.6),(6.1 ± 1.9),(8.1 ± 2.6) scores,t =2.9,2.5,2.4,2.3,2.2,2.5,2.3,P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05].The protein level of Endo G in the mitochondria of rat brains with chronic fluorosis [(86.4 ± 7.2)％,(83.9 ± 6.8)％] was significantly lower than that of control group [(100.0 ± 6.1)％,(100.0 ± 5.5)％,t =2.6,2.3,all P ＜ 0.05].Meanwhile,the protein level of Endo G in the nucleus of neurons from chronic fluorosis rats [(117.5 ± 6.4)％,(115.2 ± 6.2)％] was significantly higher than that of the control [(100.0 ± 5.2)％,(100.0 ± 5.5)％,t =2.5,2.2,all P ＜ 0.05].Conclusion The high expression of Endo G and nuclear transfer are related to the neuron apoptosis in chronic fluorosis rat,which may be one of the mechanisms of brain injury of the disease.

Objective To evaluate the association between parameters of heart rate turbulence (HRT) and the severity of the coronary arteries disease. Methods 60 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) who under-went angiographic examination and 40 healthy controls were chosen. HRT including turbulence onset (TO), turbu-lence slope (TS) and turbulence dynamicity (TD) were determined by 24 h ambulatory electrocardiogram(Hoher) in all the patients. The value of above indices were compared between UAP group and control group,and between subgroups of UAP. The correlation of HRT with the severity of coronary arteries diseases was analyzed. Results The levels of TO and TD in patients with UAP were significantly higher than those in controls [(1.18±0.88) % vs lower TS (P<0.05) and higher TD (P<0.05 ) than those in patients with coronary single vessel lesion. The same -0.296, P<0.05 ) and coronary artery stenosis score (r=-0.372, P<0.05 ) ; TD was positively correlated with number of abnormal coronary artery (r=0.353, P<0.01 ) and coronary artery stenosis score (r=0.510, P < 0.05). Conclusion . HRT is impaired in patients with UAP,especially the changes of TS and TD is signflcant,and is correlated with the severity of coronary arteries disease. TD is not influenced by premature ventricualr contractionheart rate so the combinatoin of TD and TS might be used as objective index in predicting the severity of the coronary arteries disease.

Objective To observe any effect when eye acupuncture is combined with computer-assisted cognition training to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction after stroke.Methods Stroke patients with cognitive impairment were randomly divided into an eye acupuncture group (n=30),a computer group (n=30) and a combination group (n=30).The eye acupuncture group was given eye acupuncture,the computer group was given rehabilitative cognition training with specialized equipment and the combination group was given both eye acupuncture and the computeraided training.The treatment lasted 2 months.The Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive asessment (LOTCA)and the modified Barthel index were used to evaluate the patients' cognitive function and daily life ability before and after treatment.Results Before training there was no significant difference in average LOTCA and MBI results among the three groups.After 2 months of training,all three groups had significantly higher scores in both evaluations.Moreover,the combination group's average score on organization ability,perceptual ability,thinking operation ability and concentration,and also their average total score and MBI score were significantly better than those of the other two groups.Conclusions Eye acupuncture combines synergistically with cognitive rehabilitation training to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction after stroke.Together they promote cognition,ADL ability and an early return to normal family and social life better than either alone.

Objective To observe the effect of core stability training combined with eye acupuncture on motor function in patients with hemiplegia after stroke.Methods Eighty patients with hemiplegia after stroke were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group (40 cases in each).Both groups were given regular rehabilitation training, but the patients in the treatment group also were taught core stability training of their waist and abdominal muscle groups, their shoulder muscles, trunk and pelvis.They were also given eye acupuncture.A trunk control test (TCT) , Berg's balance scale (BBS), the modified Barthel index (MBI), functional ambulation categories (FACs) and the Fugl Meyer assessment scale (FMA) were used to assess motor function before and after treatment.Results At the end of 6 weeks of treatment, all of the measurements in both groups had significantly improved.The average TCT, BBS, MBI, FMA, and FAC scores of the treatment group significantly exceeded those of the control group.Conclusions Core stability training and eye acupuncture together can significantly improve the motor function of hemiplegic stroke survivors.The combination therapy is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

Objective To evaluate the effect of tirofiban injection in coronary artery occlusion by suction catheter on the opening time of the coronary artery occlusion , the improvement of the blood flow and the incidence of adverse events in 30 days. Methods A total of 97 patients with acute myocardial infarction in recent 4 years were included , whose culprit vessels were subtotal occlusion or total occlusion by angiography and were randomly divided into thrombus aspiration group (group A) and tirofiban injection in occlusion and thrombus aspiration group (group B). The opening time of the coronary artery, the improvement of the blood flow and the incidence of adverse events in 30 days were compared between two groups. Results The opening time of the coronary artery occlusion in group A was shortened when compared with group B but the blood flow arriving TIMI III grade in group B was shorter (P < 0.05). No-reflow incidence in group B was lower while the proportion of blood flow arriving TIMI III grade was higher than that in group A in early phase (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse events in 30 days was decreased in group B when compared with group A ,but the difference wasn't statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion Direct tirofiban injection in coronary artery occlusion could effectively shorten the opening time of the coronary artery occlusion reduce no-reflow incidence , and improve coronary perfusion but could not decrease the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in 30 days.

Objective To explore the role of apoptosis-inducing factors (AIF) mediated non-apoptosis classic pathway involved in neuron apoptosis of rats with chronic fluorosis.Methods Sixty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (body weight 100-120 g) were divided into two groups (30 rats in each group,half male and half female) by random number table according to body weight.Control group was fed with tap water with fluoride content ＜ 0.5 mg/L and fluorine group was fed with water with fluoride content of 50.0 mg/L.Both groups were fed with standard food with fluorine content ＜ 0.5 mg/kg.After 10 months,all the animals were sacrificed though heart perfusion using phosphate buffer,and brain tissue was taken.Immunohistochemical method was employed to detect the distribution of AIF in brain tissue.Western blotting was used to test the protein expression of AIF,cl-caspase-3 and cl-caspase-9.Flow cytometry was used to examine apoptosis rate.Results The AIF positive distribution and degree of staining in the neurons of hippocampal CA1,CA2 and CA3,as well as the parietal cortex (7.50 ± 2.17,9.00 ± 1.63,8.00 ±0.82,10.24 ± 1.80) in rats with chronic fluorosis were significantly higher than those of the control group (5.18 ±1.66,6.27 ± 1.42,6.36 ± 1.96,6.96 ± 2.62,t =2.76,4.09,2.45,5.77,all P ＜ 0.05).The AIF protein expression of neuronal mitochondria in the cerebral tissue of rats with chronic fluorosis [(89.46 ± 8.47)％] was significantly lower than that of the control group [(100.00 ± 7.12)％,t =3.16,P ＜ 0.01],while the AIF protein expression of the neuronal nucleus [(112.80 ± 7.10)％] was significantly higher than that of the control group [(100.00 ± 8.20)％,t =3.75,P ＜ 0.01];cl-caspase-3 and cl-caspase-9 protein expression in the neurons of hippocampus and cortex from the rats with chronic fluorosis [(132.14 ± 18.66)％,(107.31 ± 2.58)％,(121.33 ± 14.86)％,(112.97 ± 7.97)％]were significantly higher than those of the control group [(100.00 ± 11.99)％,(100.00 ± 3.74)％,(100.00 ± 16.87)％,(100.00 ± 8.04)％,t =3.55,3.94,2.32,2.81,P ＜ 0.01 or ＜ 0.05].As compared with those of the control group [(1.28 ± 0.59)％,(1.88 ± 0.25)％],the apoptosis rates in hippocampus and cortex of the rats with chronic fluorosis [(2.55 ± 0.58)％,(3.05 ± 0.65)％] were significantly increased (t =3.08,3.40,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Both of AIF-mediated caspase-independent apoptosis and the classic caspase-dependent apoptosis pathways have participated in neuron apoptosis in rat induced by chronic fluorosis,which may be one of the mechanisms of brain damage of the disease.

Objective:To explore the relationship between thyroid function and cardiovascular diseases .Methods:A total of 980 patients undergoing thyroid function examination during hospitalization were selected . According to their thyroid function ,they were divided into normal thyroid function group (normal group ,n= 930) , hyperthy-roidism group (n=18) ,and hypothyroidism group (n=32) .Clinical data were analyzed ,blood lipids and coagula-tion function indexes were examined and compared among three groups . Results:Compared with normal group ,the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation significantly rose ,incidence rate of hypertension ,cardiac insufficiency signifi-cantly reduced;levels of TC、TG、 LDL-C、 HDL-C significantly reduced ,activated partial thromboplastin time significantly extended in hyperthyroidism group , P<0.01 all;incidence rate of coronary heart disease significantly rose ,levels of TG、HDL-C significantly rose ,levels of TC 、LDL-C significantly reduced in hypothyroidism group , P<0.01 all;Compared with hyperthyroidism group ,the incidence rate of hypertension ,coronary heart disease sig-nificantly rose ,atrial fibrillation significantly reduced ,P<0.05 or <0.01 ;levels of TG、LDL-C、HDL-C signifi-cantly rose ,TC level significantly reduced in hypothyroidism group , P<0. 01 all .Conclusion:Thyroid function is closely related to cardiovascular diseases .so it′s suggested that thyroid function detection should be regarded as a routine examination in patients with cardiovascular diseases and a follow-up index for those with thyroid dysfunc-tion .

Objective: To study the correlation of the degree of sleep apnea with arrhythmia, heart rate variability(HRV)and blood pressure variability(BPV)in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS), and to investigate the intervention effects of home-based continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)treatment. Methods: A total of 122 elderly hypertension patients with OSAHS were recruited in the prospective study.Patients were divided into three groups according to the sleep apnea hypopnea index(apnea hypopnea index, AHI): the mild OSAHS group(5 times/h≤AHI≤15 times/h, n=42), moderate OSAHS group(15 times/h30 times/h, n=40). All patients took ambulatory electrocardiogram and ambulatory blood pressure examinations before and after three months of CPAP treatment.The incidences of arrhythmia, HRV and BPV indexes of each group before and after CPAP treatment were compared between the groups. Results: The incidences of premature atrial contraction, atrial tachycardia and premature ventricular beats were higher in the moderate and severe OSAHS groups than in the mild OSAHS group(P<0.01). Compared with the mild OSAHS group, the RR interval standard deviation(SDNN), root mean square of successive differences(rMSSD), proportion of patients with consecutive RR-interval differences greater than 50 ms(PNN5), standard deviation of the averaged normal RR intervals for all 5 min segments and deceleration capacity of rate increased in the moderate and severe OSAHS groups(P<0.05), and the increases were more obvious in the severe group.Compared with the mild OSAHS group, the standard deviation of 24-h systolic blood pressure, standard deviation of 24-h diastolic blood pressure, standard deviation of daytime systolic blood pressure, standard deviation of nighttime systolic blood pressure and incidence of non-dipper hypertension increased in the moderate and severe OSAHS groups(P<0.05), with the increases were more obvious in the severe group, and the differences was significant between the moderate and severe OSAHS groups(P<0.05). HRV and BPV indicators improved except for high frequency(HF)/low frequency(LF)in all groups(P<0.05)after home treatment of CPAP, and the improvement was more obvious in the severe group.The incidence of non-dipper circadian rhythm of blood pressure improved more significantly in the severe OSAHS group than in the moderate OSAHS group. Conclusions With aggravated sleep apnea, the incidences of arrhythmias such as premature atrial contraction, atrial tachycardia, and premature ventricular contraction are increased and the HRV and BPV are enlarged in elderly hypertension patients complicated with OSAHS.The home treatment of CPAP can improve the above indicators, and it is an effective way to treat OSAHS complicated by hypertension in elderly patients.