OBJECTIVETo explore different regulatory effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the same acupoint on the heart and the stomach.

METHODSEighty male SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups equally, i.e., the Neiguan (PC6) group, the Quchi (LI11) group, the Tianshu (ST25) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, the Zusanli (ST36) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, the Xinshu (BL15) group, and the Weishu (BL21) group, 10 in each group. The regulatory effects of EA (2/15 Hz, 3 mA, 2 min) at different acupoints on the gastric motility (intragastric pressure) and the cardiac function (the left ventricular pressure) were observed. The mean values of effect of two-min pre-EA and after-EA were compared.

RESULTSCompared with the pre-EA in the same group, the left ventricular pressure decreased in the Neiguan (PC6) group, the Quchi (LI11) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, and the Xinshu (BL15) group (P <0.05). The intragastric pressure increased in the Quchi (LI11) group, the Zusanli (ST36) group, the Sanyinjiao (SP6) group, and the Xinshu (BL15) group, while it decreased in the Tianshu (ST25) group, the Danzhong (RN17) group, and the Weishu (BL21) group (P <0.05). The difference of the left ventricular pressure was sequenced from high to low as Xinshu (BL15) >Danzhong (RN17) >Neiguan (PC6) >Sanyinjiao (SP6) >Quchi (LI11). The difference of the intragastric pressure was sequenced from high to low as Tianshu (ST25) >Weishu (BL21) > Xinshu (BL15) > Danzhong (RN17) > Zusanli (ST36) > Sanyinjiao (SP6) > Quchi (LI11).

CONCLUSIONSEA at the same acupoint (2/15 Hz, 3 mA) showed different regulatory effects on the heart and stomach. There existed some difference in the direction and size due to the acupoint location, meridians, dominant nerve segment or relating organs. A fixed effect direction to the specific target was also shown.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Heart ; physiology ; Male ; Meridians ; Rats, Wistar ; Stomach ; physiology

Toxoplasma gondii is a world-widely spread zoonotic parasite. However, scarce knowledge is known about the prevalence of T. gondii infection in people in Hubei province, China. This study herein was to perform epidemiological investigation of T. gondii infection in people in this region. A total 12527 blood samples were obtained during 2015-2018, and were assayed for T. gondii antibodies of IgG and IgM, respectively by employing an indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). The results discovered that the prevalence of T. gondii in people was 2.44% and 6.1%, respectively based on antibodies of IgG and IgM, respectively. The prevalence was ranged from 0.3% to 5.4% during 2015-2018 based on IgM antibodies. For genders, the prevalence was 0.7% and 2.6% in males and females, respectively based on IgM antibodies. In different years, the prevalence was ranged from 4.9% to 14.0% based on IgG antibodies. The prevalence of T. gondii was 4.9% and 6.6% in males and femalesy based on IgG antibodies. The current results may be helpful for the implementation of preventive measures against Toxoplasma infection among people living in this region.

Objective To investigate the biomechanical effects of interbody cage height on cervical spine during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery, so as to provide references for selection of interbody cage. Methods The finite element model of normal cervical spine (C2-7) was built and validated, and the cages with different height (5, 6, 7, 8 mm) were implanted into C5-6 disc (cage5, 6, 7, 8 model). All the models were loaded with pure moment of 1.5 N•m to produce flexion, extension, blending and axial torsion motions on the cervical spine, and the effects of cage height on range of motion (ROM), facet joint stress, intervertebral pressure in cervical spine were investigated. Results The intervertebral angle at the fusion segment increased by 0.68°with per 1 mm-increase of height. The ROM at C5-6 after cage implantation was less than 0.44°. The influence of cage height on ROM in C4-5 was greater than that in C6-7, and the changes of ROM in non-fusion segments were less than 7.3%. The cage height variation had a smaller impact on the facet joint stress and intervertebral pressure. The stresses in the capsular ligament, cage and screw-plate system increased gradually with the increase of cage height, and these stresses in the cage6, 7, 8 models were much higher than those in the cage5 model. Conclusions For patients who need implanting fusion cage, the cage height should be 0-1 mm greater than the original intervertebral space height.

Three-dimensional finite element model of elbow was established to study the effect of medial collateral ligament (MCL) in maintaining the stability of elbow joint. In the present study a three-dimensional geometric model of elbow joint was established by reverse engineering method based on the computed tomography (CT) image of healthy human elbow. In the finite element pre-processing software, the ligament and articular cartilage were constructed according to the anatomical structure, and the materials and contacts properties were given to the model. In the neutral forearm rotation position and 0° flexion angle, by comparing the simulation data of the elbow joint with the experimental data, the validity of the model is verified. The stress value and stress distribution of medial collateral ligaments were calculated at the flexion angles of elbow position in 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 120°, 135°, respectively. The result shows that when the elbow joint loaded at different flexion angles, the anterior bundle has the largest stress, followed by the posterior bundle, transverse bundle has the least, and the stress value of transverse bundle is trending to 0. Therefore, the anterior bundle plays leading role in maintaining the stability of the elbow, the posterior bundle plays supplementary role, and the transverse bundle does little. Furthermore, the present study will provide theoretical basis for clinical recognizing and therapy of elbow instability caused by medial collateral ligament injury.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cadaver ; Collateral Ligaments ; physiology ; Elbow Joint ; physiology ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed