OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste (combined therapy), electroacupuncture (EA) and TDP irradiation.

METHODSEighty-nine cases were randomized into three groups. In the combined therapy group (30 cases), the auricular electroacupuncture therapy was adopted together with the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. The auricular points were xi (AH4), pizhixia (AT4), shenmen (TF4), etc. The Lingxian herbal paste was applied at Yanglingquan (GB 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2) and Ashi points. In EA group (29 cases), EA was applied at the acupoints that were same as those in the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. In TDP group (30 cases), TDP irradiation was given at the affected knee. The treatment was given once every day, 10 treatments made one session and there was 1 week at the interval among sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. KOA clinical symptom and physical sign score and the single item pain symptom score of Lequesne index were observed before treatment and 1 week after treatment in the patients of each group separately. The efficacies were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSOne week after treatment, the total score of symptoms and physical signs of the patients in each group was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (1.50 +/- 1.57 vs 2.52 +/- 1.82, 2.63 +/- 1.97, both P < 0.05). The improvement in pain in the combined therapy group was also better than that in the other two groups (2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 2.83 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05; 2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 3.03 +/- 0.77, P < 0.01). The curative rate in the combined therapy group was 40.0% (12/30), which was higher than 17.2% (5/29) in EA group and 20.0% (6/30) in TDP group separately (both P < 0.01). The overall efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste is advantageous at the total score of the symptoms and physical signs and the overall efficacy in the patients of KOA as compared with EA at the local acupoints and local TDP irradiation.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the problems and improve the quality of clinical education.Method:A questionnaire was made among 200 medical students at Ji'ning medical college.Results:About eighty-eight percent of the students were satisfied with their clinical education,but there were still some problems:absence of clear objectives in clinical practice;shortage of enthusiasm of the students;lack of responsibility of some teachers and too many factors affecting clinical practice.Conclusion:The key points to improve clinical education quality are to set up clear education objectives,develop appropriate clinical practice methods,improve teaching staff quality and reform the teaching content.

OBJECTIVETo explore the curative effect and safety of acupuncture for mild cognitive disorders after stroke.

METHODSRandomized controlled trial was adopted and one hundred cases conforming to criteria were divided into a combined acupuncture and medication group (group A) and a medication group (group B), 50 cases in each group. The basic treatment of cerebrovascular disease was applied in two groups. The group A treated was with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24) and Qucha (BL 4) etc. and oral administration of Nimodipine. In group B, Nimodipine was taken orally. The treatment lasted for 3 months, the scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), modified Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R) and Barthel Index (BI) were observed before and after treatment in two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in group A was 66.7% (32/48), which was superior to 30.4% (14/46) in group B (P < 0.05). The scores of MMSE, HDS-R and BI after treatment were apparently improved as compared with those before treatment in two groups (all P < 0.01). The improvements in group A were superior to those in group B (all P < 0.05). There was no adverse event reported during the treatment in two groups.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve activity of daily living and has significant effect in treating mild cognition disorders after stroke without adverse reactions.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; etiology ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

With the rapid development of medical imaging technique, iodinated contrast media (IOCM) has become the most commonly used agent in performing imaging diagnosis and interventional therapy. The use of IOCM, especially the use of non-ionic iodine contrast media, has been swiftly increased in recent years. The accompanying untoward reactions, such as allergic reactions, cardiovascular reactions, contrast media nephropathy, thyroid toxicity, etc. prove to be the new problems that greatly perplex the medical circle. With the continuous improvement of the knowledge to the untoward reactions, more and more physicians have paid attention to contrast media induced thyroid toxicity. At present, researches concerning iodine contrast media thyroid toxicity are still few, and the relevant research is particularly rare in China. This paper aims to make a review about the influence of different kinds of iodine contrast media on thyroid function.

Objective To summarize our surgical experience in repair and functional reconstruction for compound defects of proximal phalanx and dorsal skin at multiple digits,Methods Six patients with multiple digital defects were treated in our department between June 1996 and March 2005.At the first stage,free iliac bone grafts were used to repair defects of proximal phalanges and temporary syndactyly between adjacent affected fingers was created through digital palmar skin sutures.The defects were covered with free flap transfer finally.Dorsalis pedis flaps were used in four patients,a lateral arm flap in one and a lateral thoracic flap in one respectively.At the second stage,a partial debulking procedure and division of syndaetyty followed three to six months later.Additional procedures were performed in three eases to reconstruct the digital extensor function through tendon transfer.The follow-ups ranged from six months to nine years.Results The flaps survived uneventfully in the six patients postoperatively.The dorsal aspects of reconstructed fingers demonstrated an aesthetically pleasing effect after the flap debulking procedures and division of syndactyly.Follow-up X-Ray examinations showed good lilac bone union and nearly normal structure of digital bone.The distal interphalangeal extension restored to normal in the three cases after extensor reconstruction.Conclusions Iliac bone graft to repair phalangeal defects and free flap transplantation to cover skin defects can be a good treatment for compound defects of proximal phalanx and dorsal skin at multiple digits.Secondary plastic procedure may greatly improve the appearance of a reconstructed digit,and extensor re- construction the function of distal interphalangeal extension too.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement for acute cervical radiculopathy. Methods: A total of 85 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group by random numbers, with 43 cases in the observation group and 42 cases in the control group. The observation group was treated with Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement;while the control group was treated with Bashen-pulling and stretching manipulation in a supine position. The treatment was performed once a day, 10 times as a treatment course. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 1 treatment course, and the changes in the scores of visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) were observed. Results: The total effective rate was 97.7% in the observation group, and 83.3% in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05). After treatment, the VAS and NDI scores of both groups were significantly decreased (both P＜0.01), and the differences in the VAS and NDI scores between the two groups were statistically significant (both P＜0.01). Conclusion: Both Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement and Bashen-pulling and stretching manipulation in a supine position can relieve pain and improve cervical function in patients with acute cervical radiculopathy, and Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement can produce more significant efficacy than Bashen-pulling and stretching manipulation in a supine position.

OBJECTIVETo culture rat prostate glandular epithelial cells and study their barrier functions in vitro.

METHODSRat prostate glandular epithelial cells were cultured in vitro. The expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry, the structure and composition of the epithelial cells observed under the inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. The transepithelial electrical resistances (TEERs) were monitored with the Millicell system. The permeability of the prostate glandular epithelial cells was assessed by the phenol red leakage test.

RESULTSCompact monolayer cell structures were formed in the prostate glandular epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of tight junctions between the adjacent glandular epithelial cells. The TEERs in the cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells reached the peak of about (201.3 ± 3.5) Ω/cm2 on the 8th day. The phenol red leakage test manifested a decreased permeability of the cell layers with the increase of TEERs.

CONCLUSIONThe structure and function of rat prostate glandular epithelial cells are similar to those of brain capillary endothelial cells, retinal capillary endothelial cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. In vitro cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells have the barrier function and can be used as a model for the study of blood prostate barrier in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Cells, Cultured ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Electric Impedance ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; pharmacokinetics ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Tight Junctions

AIM: To report one case of huge fungal granuloma in the deep maxillofacial region with its clinical findings,diagnosis and treatment process to improve our understanding of fungal granuloma and lessen misdiagnosis.METHODS: The literature was reviewed with combination of case report.RESULTS: The clinical and imaging findings of fungal granuloma had no specificity and were very subject to misdiagnosis. Confirmed diagnosis needed histopathological examination and bacterial culture.CONCLUSION: Deepened understanding of this disease can decrease misdiagnosis and benefit prompt and proper treatment.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of intergrin linked kinase (ILK) in pancreatic carcinoma.Methods ILK protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in 60 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and 32 cases of normal pancreatic tissue,and the relationship with the clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.Results Immunohistochemistry showed ILK was expressed in cytoplasm and membrane of pancreatic carcinoma cells and the positive rate was 65% (39/60),which was significantly higher than 18.75% (6/32) of normal pancreatic tissue(P ＜0.05 ).Western blotting showed the expression of ILK in pancreatic carcinoma tissue was 303933±195116,which was significantly higher than 144613±30074 of normal pancreatic tissue(P＜0.05 ).In pancreatic carcinoma,the expression of ILK was correlated with clinical stage and lymph metastasis(P＜0.05 ),but not correlated with tumor cell differentiation(P＞0.05 ).Conclusions ILK protein was highly expressed in pancreatic carcinoma tissue and it was correlated with the degree of malignancy.

Objective To explore the difference of abstract color preference among different genders,ages and education levels of hospitalized patients with neurosis.Methods The abstract color preference test was conducted in 223 inpatients with neurosis by adopting the paired comparison method.Results (1) The color preferences order in different genders of neurosis patients tended to be consistent (U=2.606,P＜0.01),green was always the most preferred color,black was the least preferred color,the preference difference had no statistical significance (P＞0.05).(2) The color preferences order in different ages of neurosis patients tended to be consistent(x2 =20.27,P＜0.01).The most preferred color of the patients in 18-30 years old group was yellow,which in ＞ 30 years old group was green,the preference difference had no statistical significance (P＞0.05).(3) The color preferences order in different education years of neurosis patients tended to be consistent(x2 =19.49,P＜0.05).The primary school and illiteracy group preferred red,and the middle school and above group preferred green;the preference difference of orange,white and black in different educational levels of neurosis patients had statistical significance(x2 =6.325,12.491,10.445,P =0.042,0.002,0.005).Conclusion The abstract color preferences of neurosis inpatients with different genders and ages have no obvious difference.The cold and warm color preferences of neurosis patients with different education levels are different.