The sterile electrode acupuncture needle for single use is an innovative product that combines traditional acupuncture with modern electronic technology, and it has obtained Class Ⅱ medical device registration certificate. This acupuncture device consists of a needle body and a handle. The diameter of the needle body ranges from 0.16 mm to 0.55 mm, and the length from 7 mm to 150 mm. The spiral spray technology is adopted to modify the micron-level insulating coat on stainless steel needle body. The needle holder is connected to the electroacupuncture device (conductive), the micro-film insulated needle body (non-conductive) and the membrane-free needle tip (conductive) can provide a precise electrical stimulation for different tissue layers of acupoints (such as deep nerves and fascia). The intradermal stimulation test, cytotoxicity test and hypersensitivity reaction test have showed a favorable biocompatibility, laying a solid and reliable safety for clinical application. This acupuncture device is suitable for the in-depth invasive stimulation at the sites of human body surface in combination with electroacupuncture equipment in medical institutions.
Humans ; Needles ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Electrodes ; Equipment Design ; Electroacupuncture/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals

Objective We aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of precise electro-acupuncture stimulation in the pterygopalatine fossa for the treatment of chronic sinusitis.Methods In total,40 patients with chronic sinusitis who visited the Xiyuan Hospital,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences between January 2022 and January 2023 were selected.The subjects were randomly divided into two groups:the treatment group(receiving precise electro-acupuncture in the pterygopalatine fossa)and the control group(receiving standard western medical treatment),with 20 cases in each groups.The treatments were administered twice a week for a period of 12 weeks.The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated through computed tomography(CT)of the sinus changes and the Lund-Mackay scoring system.Results In cases of total opacity and partial opacity,there were significant differences between the two patient groups before and after treatment(P<0.05).Intra-group comparison revealed statistically significant improvements in both groups before and after treatment(P<0.05).The treatment group exhibited significant improvement in various sinus conditions(P<0.05),while in the control group,a significant improvement was only observed in the left maxillary sinus(P<0.05).Inter-group comparison also demonstrated that the treatment group's improvements were superior to those of the control group across multiple indicators(P<0.05).Conclusion The precise electro-acupuncture stimulation technique in the pterygopalatine fossa demonstrated significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of chronic sinusitis,with superior outcomes with respect to radiological changes compared to standard western medicine treatment.

BACKGROUND:In clinic, bone grafting can be adopted to treat alveolar bone defect, and the selected bone graft materials wil have a certain impact on the ultimate effect of bone grafting. OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility and reliability of osteoinduction active materials in the repair of alveolar cleft defects. METHODS:A total of 63 patients with alveolar cleft defect, including 33 male and 30 female patients, aged 8 to 15 years, were enroled and treated by bone grafting. Patients were divided into autologous bone group (n=32) and osteoinduction active material group (n=31) according to different bone graft materials. During 12 months of folow-up after the treatment, the bone grafting effect, bone density, canine condition and adverse reactions were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the autologous bone and osteoinduction active material groups (P > 0.05). Among the seven unerupted canines in the autologous bone group, two teeth erupted, four moved to the bone grafting area, and one appeared to have no obvious changes. Among the six unerupted canines in the osteoinduction active material group, two teeth erupted, two appeared to have no changes, and two moved to graft bone area. The bone density in these two groups was significantly increased after tooth restoration (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the bone density between these two groups after repair. Infection, rejection, bone graft loss and other adverse events did not occur in these two groups. These results demonstrate that the osteoinduction active materials in the treatment of alveolar cleft defects can achieve similar outcomes with the autologous bone graft, which has a certain clinical feasibility and reliability.

BACKGROUNDBased on the excellent medical care and management system for Chinese veterans, as well as the detailed medical documentation available, we aim to construct a Chinese Veteran Clinical Research (CVCR) platform on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and carry out studies of the primary disabling NCDs.

METHODSThe Geriatric Neurology Department of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital and veterans' hospitals serve as the leading and participating units in the platform construction. The fundamental constituents of the platform are veteran communities. Stratified typical cluster sampling is adopted to recruit veteran communities. A cross-sectional study of mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are performed in two stages using screening scale such as the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal cognitive assessment, followed by systematic neuropsychological assessments to make clinical diagnoses, evaluated disease awareness and care situation.

RESULTSA total of 9 676 among 277 veteran communities from 18 cities are recruited into this platform, yielding a response rate of 83.86%. 8 812 subjects complete the MNS subproject screening and total response rate is 91.70%. The average participant age is (82.01±4.61) years, 69.47% of veterans are 80 years or older. Most participants are male (94.01%), 83.36% of subjects have at least a junior high school degree. The overall health status of veterans is good and stable. The most common NCD are cardiovascular disorders (86.44%), urinary and genital diseases (73.14%), eye and ear problems (66.25%), endocrine (56.56%) and neuro-psychiatric disturbances (50.78%).

CONCLUSIONWe first construct a veterans' comprehensive clinical research platform for the study of NCDs that is primarily composed of highly educated Chinese males of advanced age and utilize this platform to complete a cross-sectional national investigation of MNS disorders among veterans. The good and stable health condition of the veterans could facilitate the long-term follow-up studies of NCDs and provide prospective data to the prevention and management of NCDs.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Disease ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Veterans ; statistics & numerical data

Objective To observe the antioxidative dosage-effect relationship of Marigold lutein, and provide experimental data for clinical use. Methods The mice were randomly divided into seven groups:blank control group, model control group, 1 mg/kg lutein group, 5 mg/kg lutein group, 25 mg/kg lutein group, 125 mg/kg lutein group and 625 mg/kg lutein group. The mice in blank control group were dealt with saline solution by intraperitoneal injection, the others were dealt with D-galactose (120 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection for seven weeks to make oxidative damage model, meanwhile the mice were given corresponding dose of the drug. Subsequently, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum were measured, and the antioxidative dosage-effect relationship was observed. Results The 1, 5, 25 mg/kg lutein reduced the MDA level and increased SOD activity, and the 125, 625 mg/kg dose of lutein did not show significant antioxidant activity. Conclusion Lutein has significant antioxidant activity in mouse dealt with D-galactose within the dose range of 1-25 mg/kg. The results suggest that the clinical dosage range of lutein should be kept within reasonable limits.

Objective To observe the antioxidative dosage-effect relationship of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE). Methods The mice were randomly divided into seven groups:blank group, model group, 5 mg/kg GSPE group, 15 mg/kg GSPE group, 45 mg/kg GSPE group, 135 mg/kg GSPE group and 405 mg/kg GSPE group. The mice in blank group were dealt with saline solution by intraperitoneal injection, the others were dealt with D-galactose (120 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection for seven weeks to make oxidative damage model. Meanwhile, the mice were given corresponding dose of the drug. Subsequently the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum were measured to observe the antioxidative dosage-effect relationship of GSPE. Results The 45, 135, 405 mg/kg GSPE group reduced the MDA level, and the 15, 45, 135, 405 mg/kg GSPE group increased the SOD activity. Conclusion GSPE has significant antioxidant activity on mice dealt with D-galactose above the dose of 15 mg/kg, suggesting that the clinical use of GSPE should guarantee a certain dose to play a good antioxidant effect.

Objective To explore the HLA-A2 restriction and immunogenicity of 5 previously identified HCV-speeific CTL epitopes. Methods Based on T2 cell, to explore the HLA-A2 restriction of previously identified HCV-specific CTL epitopes by MHC-peptide complex stabilization assay;To detect pep-tide-specific CTL in HLA-A2~+ PBMC stimulated by HLA-A2-restricted peptides by intracellular cytokine staining(ICS) and ELISPOT; To explore the cytotoxicity of peptide-specific CTL to same peptide-loaded T2 cells (target cells) by CTL cytotoxicity test. Results Among 5 previously identified CTL epitopes NS4b_78 (SMMAFSAAL) and NS5a_367 (TVSSALAEL) have high-affinity for HLA-A2 molecules(FI 1) ;ELISPOT results shown that NS4b_78(SMMAFSAAL) and NSSa_367(TVSSALAEL) induced high levels of IFN-γ-se-creting cells [(60±6) SFC/10~4 PBMC vs (4±1 ) SFC/10~4 PBMC, P < 0.01 ; (10 ± 3 ) SFC/10~4 PBMC vs (2±1 ) SFC/10~4 PBMC, P <0.01, respectively] ;ICS results indicated that there were high percentages of CD8~+ IFN-γ~+ T cells in total CD8~+T cells stimulated by these peptides [(2.33 ±0.22 ) % vs (0.05±0.01)%, P <0.001 ; (0.36±0.06)% vs (0.03±0.01)%, P <0.001, respectively]. Furthermore,peptide-specific CTL could effectively kill same peptide-loadcd T2 cells. Conclusion NS4b_78 (SMMAF-SAAL) and NSSa_367 (TVSSALAEL) were identified as HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitopes which could in-duce immune response in vitro.