Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus massotherapy in treating cervicogenic headache. Methods Ninety-seven patients with cervicogenic headache were randomly allocated to a treatment group of 62 cases and a control group of 35 cases. The treatment group received acupuncture plus massotherapy and the control group, massotherapy alone. The VAS score was recorded and plasma nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) levels were measured in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results The total efficacy rate was 95.2% in the treatment group and 82.9% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the VAS score, neck mobility, and plasma NO and ET levels in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the VAS score, neck mobility, and plasma NO and ET levels in the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between plasma NO and ET levels and the VAS score.Conclusions Acupuncture plus massotherapy is an effective way to treat cervicogenic headache. Its improving effect on headache is closely related to changes in plasma NO and ET levels.

Objective To study the conventional MRI features of adult Japanese encephalitis (JE)and explore the early features of diffusion weighted imaging(DWI).Methods Thirty-two patients with adult JE were included.MR scanning including T1 WI,T2 WI and FLAIR were done in all patients,and DWI in 28 patients.Twenty-three patients received DWI in the early stage (within 1 to 7 days),in which the appearances of DWI were analyzed,ADC graphs were obtained and the signal noise ratio and the ADC values of lesions were calculated.Results Twenty-eight cases were abnormal on MRI,and 4 patients were normal.The lesions of JE involved the thalamus in 22 cases,the substantia nigra of midbrain in 13,kellogg’s seahorse in 9,the basal ganglia in 7,the splenium corpo-ris callosi in 4,the pons in 6 and the insular lobe in 2,extensive cerebral edema in 2.The early features of DWI in 23 patients showed cytotoxic edema in 2,vasogenic edema in 12,both two edemas existing in 5,and normal in 3.DWI were superior to T2 WI in 6 cases,and T2 WI were superior to DWI in 9 cases,DWI was similar to T2 WI in 5 cases on showing the size and signal of the le-sions.Conclusion Adult JE often occurs in the thalamus,substantia nigra of midbrain and kellogg’s seahorse.DWI shows vasogenic edema in the early stage.Comprehensive analysis of DWI,ADC and T2 WI details helps to early detection and qualitative adult JE le-sions.

BACKGROUND:The currently published literatures about Tuina manipulation for lumbar disc herniation include clinical observations, retrospective study and summary of clinical experience, which have shortcomings in the study design, choice of cases and outcome measures. Reviews may enrol randomized and intended references, and has no analysis or evaluation on the quality of involved literatures, leading to the bias and subjective views.
OBJECTIVE:To research the application laws of Tuina manipulation for treating lumbar disc herniation through literature analysis within 10 years.
METHODS:The key words of“lumbar disc herniation, traditional Chinese medicine, Tuina, manipulation, massage, rehabilitation, poking channels, point pressing, palpating pressing, and finger pressing”in Chinese were used to search the literature about Tuina manipulation in treatment of lumbar disc herniation within recent 10 years published in the Wanfang database, Vip database and CNKI database. The top 20 manipulations of Tuina for lumbar disc herniation were and statistical analyzed with hierarchical clustering statistical method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The hierarchical clustering analysis results showed that, Tuina manipulations for lumbar disc herniation are as fol ows:(1) manipulations acted on soft tissue, including rol ing, holding, pushing and pressing;(2) manipulations acted on acupuncture point, including Urinary Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang acupuncture points (Shengshu, Dachangshu, Guanyuanshu, Zhibian, Chengfu, Weizhong, Chengshan and Kunlun), Gal Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang acupuncture points (Huantiao and Yanglingquan), Yaoyangguan point in Du Meridian, Zusanli point in Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, and tender points;(3) manipulations acted on human bones and joints, including waist inclined pul method, waist back-stretching method, pelvic traction method and straight-leg raising method. The findings indicate that the potential application laws of Tuina manipulation for treating lumbar disc herniation are given priority to pressing acupuncture points (Urinary Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang acupuncture point, Gal Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang acupuncture point, Du Meridian, Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming acupuncture point and tender points), at the same time companied with manipulations acted on soft tissue (rol ing, holding, pushing spinal method), and bones and joints (waist inclined pul method, waist back-stretching method, pelvic traction method and straight-leg raising method).

Purpose To investigate MRI features of encephalitis in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD). Materials and Methods The MR images of 85 cases of clinically diagnosed encephalitis in severe HFMD patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results In 85 patients, plain MRI was negative in 28;57 cases were positive including 10 cases showing punctate or patchy lesions in cerebral hemisphere, callosum, thalamus and cerebellar vermis with isointensity or slightly hypointensity on T1WI, isointensity or slightly hyperintensity on T2WI, and hyperintensity on T2FLAIR and DWI. In 47 cases, the lesions were located in the brainstem, tegmentum of pons and medulla oblongata. MRI features included symmetric high signal on DWI in posterior portions of brainstem, hypointensity or isointensity on T1WI and hyperintensity or isointensity on T2WI and T2FLAIR (n=17);patchy long T1, long T2 signal in posterior portions of brainstem, normal or mild hyperintensity on DWI, hyperintensity on T2FLAIR (n=30); lesion extending around the fourth ventricle in 9 patients, one of which involved bilateral cerebral peduncles. Conclusion Encephalitis in children with severe HFMD has characteristic MRI features. The lesions are mostly located in the posterior portion of the brainstem. DWI and T2FLAIR can better detection lesions.

To investigate the effects of serum containing Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of aggrecan and type X collagen mRNAs of the degenerated intervertebral disc cells in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Objective To explore the effect of goal-oriented repetitive training on motor function of upper limb in patients with stroke. Methods From March, 2014 to February, 2016, a total of 60 stroke patients were randomly divided into experiment group (n=30) and con-trol group (n=30). Both groups received routine rehabilitation, while the experiment group received goal-oriented repetitive training in addi-tion, 30 minutes once a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. They were assessed with simple Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel index (MBI) before and after training. Results There was no difference in the scores of FMA-UE and MBI between two groups before training (Z<1.153, P>0.05). The scores of FMA-UE and MBI significantly improved in both groups after treat-ment (Z>5.645, P<0.001), in which the scores were higher in the experiment group than in the control group (Z>2.275, P<0.05), as well as the D-value of scores before and after training (t>5.770, P<0.001). Conclusion Goal-oriented repetitive training could promote the recovery of upper limb motor function in patients with stroke.

Objective ToinvestigatethevalueofDWIhyperintensityinvenoussinusindiagnosisandrecanalizationpredictionof cerebralvenoussinusthrombosis(CVST).Methods Clinicaland MRIdataof19patientswithCVST wereanalyzedretrospectively. BasedonDWIsignalcharacteristicsoftheCVST,thepatientsweredividedintoasthehyperintensegroupandthenon-hyperintense group.TheintervaltimebetweenthefirstMRIexaminationandtheonset,andtherecanalizationratewithin1 monthand3 months werecomparedbetweenthetwogroups.Results Therewere76 CVSTinthe19patients,withhyperintensein16venoussinus (21%)andin11patients(57.9%).Theintervaltimewaslongerinthehypertensegroupthanthenon-hypertensegroupbutnosta-tisticalsignificance[(12.81±11.10)daysversus(5.70±7.82)days,P=0.165].17patientsunderwentthesecond MRIexamination in1month,andtherecanalizationrateoftheobstructedsinuswaslowerinthehypertensegroupthanthenon-hypertensegroupwith nostatisticalsignificance(P=0.130).14patientsunderwenttheMRIexaminationafter3 months,andtherecanalizationrateofthe obstructedsinuswaslowerinthehypertensegroupthanthenon-hypertensegroupwithstatisticalsignificance(P=0.047).Conclu-sion ThehypertenseonDWIhashighsensitivityforthedetectionofsubacuteCVST.Thepresenceofhypertenseinoccludedsinus onDWIhasthepredictivevalueforvesselrecanalization.

Objective To investigate the atypical MRI manifestations in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL). Methods The clinical and MRI manifestations of 17 patients with pathologically confirmed atypical PCNSL in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology (from May 2011 to Dec 2016) and Nanfang Hospital (from Sep 2003 to May 2009) were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Both conventional and contrast-enhanced MR images were acquired for each patient. The MRI manifestations including the number, location, size, shape, signal intensity, enhancement patterns of lesions were evaluated by two senior radiologists.Results Of the 17 cases,8 were solitary and 9 were multiple.Two types of atypical MR findings were found:(1)Atypical location:For the 9 patients showed atypical location,7 patients had solitary masses which were located in the brainstem(n=3), the supratentorial superficial parts(n=2), the cerebellum(n=1)and the sella(n=1). Two patients had multiple lesions, showing multiple subependymal nodules and no abnormalities in the brain parenchyma. Six of the 7 solitary lesions and the 2 multiple cases showed isointense or hypointense on T1-weighted scans and isointense or hyperintense on T2-weighted scans as well as significant homogenous enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted scans.(2)Atypical signal features:Ten cases were found with atypical signal features including:①Patchy lesions were observed in 6 patients( one patient with single lesion, and five patients with multiple lesions),appearing as hyperintense spots on T2-weighted image and subtle hypointense on T1-Weighted image. Corresponding contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR image showed multiple patchy/linear enhancement. ②Two cases showed diffuse supratentorial periventricular and infra-tentorial white matter T2hyperintensity and absence of contrast enhancement. ③Nodular lesions with inhomogeneous internal signals were found in 2 cases with calcification(n=1) and cystic necrosis (n=1, ring-like enhancement).Conclusions The atypical imaging manifestations of PCNSL could lead to misdiagnosis or delay in the diagnosis.It is important to understand its atypical imaging features and combine with clinical manifestations to improve the accuracy of differential diagnosis of intracranial lesions.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of motor imagery (MI) on knee function after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). MethodsFrom January to September, 2022, 32 patients underwent UKA for the first time in Xuanwu Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 16) and experimental group (n = 16). All the patients accepted routine rehabilitation, and the experimental group accepted MI in addition, until four weeks after discharge. They were assessed with Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), range of motion (ROM) of knee, and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved after treatment (|t| > 2.517, P < 0.05), except ROM in the control group; and they improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (F > 7.999, P < 0.01), except the VAS score. ConclusionMI can further improve the knee function after UKA, but do less for pain.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with task-oriented rehabilitation training single pellet reaching and grasping (SPG) on the motor function of forelimb in rats with unilateral contusion of C₅ spinal cord. MethodsA total of 60 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (sham group), spinal cord injury (SCI) group, tDCS group, SPG group, false group and tDCS+SPG group, with ten rats in each group. Only C₅ lamina was removed in the sham group, and the C₅ spinal cord contusion model was established by IH spinal cord impactor in the other five groups. The rats received tDCS in tDCS group, SPG in SPG group, tDCS without current in false group, tDCS combined with SPG in tDCS+SPG group, and no treatment in the SCI and the sham groups. The rats were evaluated with Rearing and Grooming tests, and motor-evoked potential (MEP). ResultsFour weeks after operation, compared with SCI group, the scores of Rearing and Grooming increased in tDCS group and tDCS+SPG group (P < 0.05), and they were more in the tDCS+SPG group than in tDCS group and SPG group (P < 0.05); the score of Grooming increased in SPG group (P < 0.05); while the amplitude of MEP increased in tDCS group, SPG group and tDCS+SPG group (P < 0.05), and the latency shortened in tDCS group and tDCS+SPG group (P < 0.05); and the amplitude increased more in tDCS+SPG group than in tDCS group and SPG group (P < 0.01). ConclusiontDCS could promote the recovery of motor function in rats with SCI, and the combination therapy of tDCS and task-oriented rehabilitation training is more effective.