The method of flying through the air is a qi-promoting and qi-circulating technique commonly used in clinical acupuncture. It includes four methods: the blue dragon wagging its tail, the white tiger shaking its head, the green turtle probing the cave and the red phoenix winging to the source and functions to circulate bodily meridian qi. The method of flying through the air was firstrecorded in Golden needle Fu. Later and modern doctors developed it on the basis of Golden needle Fu. This article straightens up the historical origin and development of four methods of flying through the air.

Objective To develop whole breast irradiation with volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT)-based hybrid intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after breast conserving surgery for breast cancer,and to evaluate its value in clinical application.Methods Ten patients with breast cancer undergoing breast conserving surgery were enrolled.Two radiotherapy plans were designed based on hybrid fixed-beam IMRT/IMRT technique and hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique,respectively.One group received whole breast irradiation with a prescribed dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions.The other group received whole breast irradiation with a prescribed dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions,as well as simultaneous integrated boost to the tumor bed with 60 Gy in 25 fractions.The dosimetric parameters and delivery efficiency were compared between the two plans using paired t test.Results For patients treated with whole breast irradiation alone,there were no significant differences in conformity index and homogeneity index of target volume between the two plans (P=0.866,0.056);however,compared with the hybrid fixed-beam IMRT/IMRT technique,the hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique significantly increased the doses to organs at risk (OARs) and the number of monitor units (MUs) in the intensity-modulated field (P=0.000-0.050,P=0.002).For patients treated with whole breast irradiation with a simultaneous integrated boost to the tumor bed;however,the hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique significantly reduced the doses to the lung and spinal cord,number of MUs in intensity-modulated field,and delivery time compared with the hybrid fixed-beam IMRT/IMRT technique (P=0.004,0.001,0.000,0.000).Conclusions For patients treated with whole breast irradiation with a simultaneous integrated boost to the tumor bed,the hybrid VMAT/IMRT technique is highly promising for clinical application due to better OAR sparing and higher delivery efficiency.

Objective To evaluate the effects of four types of variance reduction techniques ( ring counter grid, high electron cutoff energy, termination of electron tracking in some structures, and emission direction?biased sampling of source) on the efficiency and accuracy of Monte Carlo simulation for the single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife. Methods The single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife was modeled using Monte Carlo software MCNP . Four types of variance reduction techniques were used to simulate the dose distribution in the water?like phantom. The computation efficiency and simulation result were compared between the four techniques. Results All techniques substantially improved the computation efficiency and had little effect on the accuracy of the simulation ( relative error less than 2. 5%) . However, if the electron cutoff energy was above 50 keV, the simulation became quite inaccurate due to neglect of the scattering of high?energy electrons and their dosimetric contribution to the penumbra. When the scattering of high?energy electrons and their dosimetric contribution to the penumbra were ignored, the dose to the Profile platform was overestimated and the dose to the penumbra was underestimated. Conclusions Rational use of variance reduction techniques can substantially improve the efficiency of Monte Carlo simulation for the single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife. However, the impact of variance reduction techniques on the accuracy of the simulation should be carefully evaluated.

We describe two cases of right hyperglycemia hemichorea (HGHC) with identical Tc-99m TRODAT-1/ Tc-99m ECD scan findings. While the brain MRI showed signal alterations within the left putamen, there was evidence of hyperperfusion on Tc-99m TRODAT-1 but hypoperfusion on Tc-99m ECD within the left putamen, in association with hyperperfusion within left thalamus on Tc-99m ECD. The discrepancy between the Tc-99m TRODAT-1 and Tc-99m ECD scan provides insight into the imbalance between direct and indirect circuits along the nigrostriatal pathway, as the fundamental genesis of HGHC. Furthermore, the hyperperfusion at the left thalamus represents thalamic disinhibition secondary to loss of pallidal negative control, which ultimately leads to HGHC through re-entrant outflow to the motor cortex.
Hyperglycemia

Objective To investigate the potential role of human cytomegalovirus lower matrix phosphoprotein 65 (HCMV pp65) in murine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods The prokaryotic vector pET-28b and eukaryotic vector pcDNA 3.0 were constructed to express the HCMV pp65 protein.All the C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with pp65 eukaryotic vector intramuscularly five times at 2-week intervals and then were bled via the retro-orbital vein.Subsequently,indirect ELISA was used to evaluate the concentration of anti-pp65 IgG,anti-dsDNA and ANA.At the same time,IL-1 b,IL-6,and TNF-α were determined by competitive ELISA.Results The early onset of autoantibodies and an overexpression of IL-6 were observed in immunized male C57BL/6 mice.Conclusion HCMV pp65 triggers the deregulation of humoral immunity in C57BL/6 mice,which indicates that the immune responses induced by HCMV pp65 may be involved in the development of SLE.

BACKGROUND:The number of elderly patients with hip fracture is huge, and this population mainly combines with a variety of internal diseases. The general condition was bad. Compared to total hip arthroplasty, bipolar hemiarthroplasty can shorten operation time, reduce the time of anesthesia and improve surgical safety, but the operation using which fixation mode is always controversial.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the safety and curative effects of bipolar hemiarthroplasty with cementless or cement femoral stem prosthesis in elderly patients with osteoporotic complex hip fracture.
METHODS:From June 2007 to June 2010, 198 elderly patients with osteoporotic hip fracture aged more than 75 years old, who were treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty in the People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, were enroled in this study. Al patients were divided into cementless group (n=69) and cement group (n=129) according to the type of prognosis. Osteoporosis was treated conventionaly in both groups after replacement. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incidence of postoperative hip pain, out of bed activity time post surgery, Harris scores of last folow-up and loosening rate of the prognosis were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:176 of above 198 cases were folowed up for 48 to 84 months, including 122 in the cement group and 54 in the cementless group. Operation time was longer in the cement group than in the cementless group, but out of bed time was earlier in the cement group than in the cementless group post surgery, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05). The incidences of loosening and hip pain were more in the cement group than in the cementless group post surgery (P < 0.05). No significant difference in intraoperative blood loss and Harris scores of last folow-up was detected between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidences of loosening rate were 5% and 4% in the cement and cementless groups, respectively, which showed significant differences (P< 0.05). These results indicate that bipolar hemiarthroplasty with or without cement for osteoporotic hip fracture in the elderly can obtain good middle- and long-term effects. Bipolar hemiarthroplasty with cement can reduce the out of bed time, but operation time was longer, and incidences of hip pain and loosening were higher in cement prosthesis than in cementless prosthesis.

Aged ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; complications ; Muscular Diseases ; etiology ; Rhabdomyolysis ; etiology ; Thyrotropin ; blood

Based on the structure and function of acupoint and in association of the definition and principle of sensor, the acupoint is the sensitive element, being sensitive to the physical stimulation with acupuncture and moxibustion and sensitively responded to the disorders; the acupoint is the sensing element, transforming the changes of the acupoint information via the complicated internet conduction, integration and regulation, so as to generate the effects on organic body; the acupoint is the conversion element, transforming every irritation into the bioelectric signal or optical signal so that the organic body could recognize it. Therefore, the acupoint is regarded as the sensor of information in the organic body.
Acupuncture Points ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Humans ; Meridians

PURPOSE: Augmentation enterocystoplasty (AE) has been shown to improve clinical symptoms in patients with end-stage bladder disease (ESBD). Herein, we report the long-term outcomes of a series of patients with different etiologies of ESBD who received AE. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 102 patients with ESBD who received AE at the Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital from 1992 to 2014. ESBD in this study was defined as including neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) due to spinal cord injury (SCI) or myelomeningocele, inflammatory bladder disease (IBD), ESBD occurring after pelvic cancer surgery, and other etiologies. Complications including active lower urinary tract problems and urinary tract infection (UTI), as well as patients’ self-reported satisfaction with the procedure, were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included in the study. A majority of patients received AE for NLUTD (n=43), followed by IBD (n=38), ESBD after pelvic cancer surgery (n=15), and the other etiologies (n=6). Patients had a mean age of 39.4±18.7 years and were followed for a mean of 78 months. All patients had significantly increased cystometric bladder capacity and compliance at the time of follow-up. Fifty-four patients (52.9%) reported moderate to excellent satisfaction with the outcome, and there were no significant differences among the groups (P=0.430). The most common reason for dissatisfaction was the need for clean intermittent catheterization (CIC; 41.7%), followed by urinary incontinence (25.0%) and recurrent UTI (16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: AE is a safe and effective procedure for patients with ESBD. Postoperative urinary incontinence and UTI as well as the need for CIC may affect quality of life and decrease patient satisfaction.
Compliance ; Cystitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intermittent Urethral Catheterization ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Meningomyelocele ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Urinary Bladder Diseases* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUNDGastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and surgical resection is currently the only possible curative approach. Duodenal stump leakage is the most serious complication after radical gastrectomy, and optimal treatment is still lacking.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 2034 cases of total or subtotal gastrectomy for GC from January 1995 to December 2009, including 465 cases of duodenal stump closure using purse-string suture (group A), 835 cases of duodenal stump treated with linear cutting stapler and seromuscular layer suture (group B), and 734 cases of duodenal stump closure using full-thickness and seromuscular layer suture (group C). We evaluated the surgical cost, operative time for duodenal stump closure, short-term postoperative complications, perioperative blood loss, and postoperative recovery.

RESULTSThere was no perioperative mortality in any group. Ninety-four postoperative (within 1 month) complications occurred: 18 abdominal bleeding, 14 anastomotic leakage, 15 abdominal infection, 36 wound infection, and 11 duodenal stump leakage. There was no significant difference among the groups in intra-abdominal hemorrhage, anastomotic leakage, abdominal infection and wound infection. No postoperative duodenal stump leakage occurred in group A, which had a significant difference compared with groups B and C (6 cases in group B and 5 cases in group C suffered duodenal stump leakage. P < 0.01). The surgical cost in groups A and C was significantly lower than in group B (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between groups A and C. The processing time for duodenal stump closure in groups A and B was significantly shorter than in group C (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between groups A and B. There was no significant difference in blood loss and postoperative recovery among the groups.

CONCLUSIONSDuodenal stump closure using purse-string suture seems to be a promising approach with shorter operative time, and lower cost and incidence of duodenal stump leakage in radical gastrectomy.

Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Gastric Stump ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures