[Objective]To evaluate the efficacy of the different depth of acupuncture on the motor function and the pain with osteoarthritis of the knee.
[Design]Single blind randomized controlled trial.
[Method]Subjects were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Acupuncture needles were inserted about 3mm in the superficial acupuncture group and 10 to 20 mm in the deep acupuncture group. Subjects in both groups received the treatments for ten minutes on ten tender points. Acupuncture sessions were performed once a week for 8 weeks and without treatment 4 weeks.
[Outcome Measures]Pain intensity (visual analogue scale :VAS) , Objective evaluation of the motor function (Timed Up &Go test, 20m walking time, Time of going up and down stairs) and QOL (Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities osteoarthritis index :WOMAC).
All measurements were recorded at baseline, 4th, 8th and 11thweek.
[Result]Motor function improved significantly only in the superficial acupuncture group(P<0.05). The degree of pain decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.05).
[Conclusion]Superficial acupuncture provided the improvements on pain and motor function and contributed to the QOL improvement. Therefore the superficial acupuncture would be suggested to be one of the most effective method for the acupuncture treatment of OA of the knee.

Effects of 20km running uppn taking a low-carbohydrate, high-fat and protein diet on the changes in blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, skinf old thickness, blood components and urinary recordings in five healthy young men were investigated and the changes in these items which occured by taurine inducement were studied by double blind test method. The results were as follows:
1) As to the degree of decrease in body weight in 20km running, the case in taurine administration (T. A.) was more than in placebo administration (P. A.) .
2) As to the degree of increase in systolic pressure upon 20km running, T. A. was less than P. A. 3) The rate of creatine kinase isozyme (CK-MB) against creatine kinase (CK), which increased after 20km running in P. A., was possible to reduce by T. A.
4) T. A. was less than P.A. in the rate of increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on 20km running.
5) In P. A., triglyceride increased after 20km running, but in T. A., it decreased.
6) T. A, much influenced the rate of individual fatty acid composition on 20km running
7) T. A, was more than P. A. in the secretion of adrenaline on 20km running.
8) No changes were observed in other blood components and urinary kallikrein.

PURPOSE: Medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) causes progression of medial meniscus extrusion (MME). This study aims to calculate the progression rate of MME based on findings in two preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and determine the associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 33 patients (27 females and 6 males; mean age, 60 years) who underwent MRI twice, at a mean interval of 48 days. We measured the medial meniscus body width, medial joint space width (MJSW), and MME. The MME progression rate was derived from regression analysis of the increase in MME (ΔMME) between the two MRI scans. In addition, the correlations of the MME increase rate with age, body mass index, femorotibial angle, and MJSW were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean MME increased from 3.4 mm to 4.5 mm (p<0.001). A good correlation was observed between ΔMME and the interval of MRI scans (R²=0.621), and the MME progression rate was 0.020 mm per day. A moderate correlation was observed between the MME increase rate and the MJSW (R²=0.432). CONCLUSIONS: The MME progression rate was rapid in MMPRT and narrowing of the MJSW was associated with the progression of MME. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, Cross-sectional study
Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tears