OBJECTIVETo determine the recognition of healthy medical students on deqi after acupuncture, reveal the qualitative and quantitative rules of deqi and understand whether these rules are the factors of the clinical application of acupuncture therapy.

METHODSThe class questionnaires were used for the investigation study on the understanding of deqi after acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) or Zusanli (ST 36) in 86 healthy students in the clinical medicine class.

RESULTS(1) Deqi was a kind of complicated compound feelings, with many sensation qualities such as distending pain, distension and pain. (2) Deqi was a kind of mild and moderate sensations. In 10-score credit sys tem of Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scale (MASS), the scores of distending pain (4.69 +/- 2.83), distension (4.39 +/- 2.91) and soreness and distension (3.93 +/- 2.93) were around 5 (moderate degree), the scores of stabbing pain (1.89 +/- 2.02) were around 2 (mild degree). (3) The differences in the quantitative scores were significant for stabbing pain, distending pain, distention, soreness and distention and the others before and after treatment (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDeqi of acupuncture is the mild and moderate complicated sensations manifested as distension, soreness, pain and numbness. As the invasive therapy, the filiform needle puncture will bring a certain psychological impacts on the receptors. The subjective sensation is possibly the factor for the patients' selection of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Qi ; Schools, Medical ; Sensation ; Young Adult

Chronic intermitted hypoxia including sleep breathing disorder leads to brain injury. This study explores the potential therapeutic effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin as a neuroprotective agent. A rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia was employed, and the animals were given low or high doses of grape seed proanthocyanidin. The ultrastructure changes in the brain, the biochemical components, and the animal behavior were examined. The results showed that with hypoxia exposure, neuronal mitochondria exhibited injuries at ultrastructural level, with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining revealed increased cell apoptosis in hippocampus. In Morris water maze the animals showed decreased learning abilities, when compared to normal control. The administration of grape seed proanthocyanidin treatment reversed all these observed changes, and improved the learning behavior. We concluded that grape seed proanthocyanidin could alleviate the brain injury caused by hypoxia from sleep breathing disorder.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effective differences between acupuncture-moxibustion and Chinese herbs for functional dyspepsia with emotional disorder.

METHODSEighty patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the observation group, based on the basic treatment Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zhongwan (CV 12), Danzhong (CV 17), Neiguan (PC 6), Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18), Geshu (BL 17) and Danshu (BL 19) were selected once every day or every other day. The treatment was given 14 times. In the control group, based on the basic treatment individual therapy of Chinese herbs according to syndrome differentiation was applied,one dose a day. Patients were treated for 4 weeks in the two groups. The scores of self-rating depression scale (SDS), the main symptoms and satisfied degree by self-rating for treatment were observed before and after 4-week treatment in the two groups. Also, the rate and the average time of return visit were compared in 6 months after treatment. Results After treatment, the SDS scores and the main symptoms scores were all improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P< 0. 05). After 4-week treatment, the improvement of the SDS score in the observation group was better than that in the control group (48. 9±8. 5 vs 53. 1±8. 0, P<0. 05). After 1-week treatment and 4-week treatment, the improvements of the main symptoms in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (2. 7 ± 1. 0 vs 3. 3±0. 9, 1. 5±0. 9 vs 2. 3±1. 1, both P<0. 05), and the satisfied degree scores by self-rating were better than those in the control group (3. 0±1. 1 vs 3. 8±1. 3, 2. 0±1. 4 vs 2. 9±1. 5, both P<0. 05). In 6 months after treatment,the return visit rate in the observation group was 42. 5% (17/40), and it was lower than 70. 0% (28/40) in the control group (P<0. 05). The average time of return visit in the observation group was less than that in the control group (1. 0±0.8 vs 1. 9±0. 7, P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of acupuncture-moxibustion or functional dyspepsia with emotional disorder is better than that of Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Dyspepsia ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of ileal conduit versus orthotopic ileal neobladder using the FACT-BL scale.Methods One hundred and thirty patients underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for invasive bladder cancer from Jan 2006 to Dec 2010 at our hospital.According to different urinary diversions,patients were divided into ileal conduit (IC) and orthotopic ileal neobladder (NB).HRQoL was assessed using FACT-BL.The following scores calculated from the FACT-BL questionnaire and list:physical well-being ( PWB ),social/family well-being ( SWB ),emotional well-being(EWB),functional well-being( FWB),overall bladder-special subscale and total FACT-BL were included.A high FACT score indicated a high level of HRQoL.The medical records of each patient were then reviewed.Clinical parameters including age,sex,type of diversion and pathological status were recorded and analyzed.Results A total of 94 questionnaires were collected,of these patients 50 had an IC and 44 had an NB.Among the respondents,the age at surgery was significantly younger in NB group than IC group (P =0.014 ).While the percent of males,follow-up years and pathological stage T3 or greater revealed no significant difference.The NB group got significantly higher scores in PWB,SWB,EWB and FACT-BL than the IC group.Which indicated that the HRQoL was higher in patients following orthotopic ileal neobladder.Conclusions The HRQoL was better in patients who followed orthotopic ileal neobladder than those who followed ileal conduit.This may indicate that orthotopic ileal neobladder should be considered first when making a decision about which urinary diversion should be used.

Objective To evaluate the influence of right ventricular outflow tract septal ( RVS) pacing with right ventricular apical ( RVA) pacing on left ventricular remodeling and brain natriuretic peptide ( BNP). Methods Sixty patients with indication of pacemaker implantation were randomized into two groups, RVA group and RVS group. BNP was measured with ELISA, and echocardiography was performed to measure the left ventricular end diastolic volume ( LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic volume ( LVEDV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at pre-operation,and after 6,12,24 months pacing. The difference of cardiac remodeling and BNP in the two groups was observed. Results Compared to BNP at pre-operation (( 60. 2 ± 15. 7 ) ng/L) , BNP increased significantly in the RVA group at the 6th,12th and 24th month after operation( ( 108. 2 ±29. 8) , ( 190. 3 ±46. 7) ,(308. 2 ±56. 5)ng/L,respectively) (P <0. 05). In the RVS group,BNP increased only at 24 months after pacing ( (75. 2 ± 15. 8) ng/L vs. (63. 9 ± 15. 1 ) ng/L) (P < 0. 05). There was significant difference on BNP between the two groups. LVEDD,LVEDV increased,LVEF declined at 12 months after pacing in the RVA group,which were not observed in the RVS group. There was significant difference on LVEDD,LVEDV and LVEF in the RVA group (P< 0. 05) between the 12th month and pre-operation,and there were no significant difference in the RVS group (P > 0. 05). Conclusions Compared to RVA pacing,RVS pacing was more beneficial to improve heart function,prevent cardiac remodeling and decline the activation of nerve-endocrine.

Objective To observe the expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) in the kidney after ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI),and explore its relationship with macrophage during the IRI kidney.Methods A total of 28 healthy C57BL/6 male mice were used to establish renal IRI model by clamping both pedicles for 35 min followed by reperfusion.Kidney tissue samples were collected at indicated time points.Renal histological changes were estimated.The expression of SDF-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry,ELISA and real-time PCR.After the liposomal clodronate was injected intraperitoneally,the location of CD68 was observed by immunofluorescence.Renal histology and protein expression of SDF-1 were also detected.Results Compared with sham-operated group,classical tubular damage was found in IRI group,accompanied by a large number of inflammatory cells.The expression of total renal SDF-1 peaked on day 1 and decreased to control levels in the following days.SDF-1 in healthy kidney was localized at cortex,but spread to the corticomedullary area of the kidney during IRI.Compared with IRI groups,elimination of macrophage by injection of liposomal clodronate alleviated renal IRI and down-regulated the expressions of CD68 while up-regulating SDF-1.Conclusions SDF-1 expression is up-regulated in IRI kidney and is associated with macrophage.SDF-1 may play a role in the early phase of acute kidney injury and it may be a new marker in diagnosis of AKI.

Objective To compare the clinical characters and hemodynamic data of the prone position and supine position percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods Patients with kidney stones in 100 cases were randomly assigned into the supine position group and prone position group.There were 50 cases in each group.The following data were recorded at preoperative,intraoperative,change position:the blood pressure,heart rate,respiration,saturation of blood oxygen and blood gas analysis results.The VAS score was recorded in patients for postural comfort,dyspnea and pain score. Results The systolic blood pressure in the preoperative,intraoperative,postoperative on supine position and prone position were as follows:(137±12),(119±15),(115±17) mm Hg and (137±10),(110±18),(104±16) mmHg.The diastalic blood pressure was as follows:( 81 ± 9 ),(74 ± 8 ),(63 ± 14 ) mm Hg and ( 84 ± 8 ),(63 ± 9 ),(60 ± 15) mm Hg.Compared with preoperative,there was a blood pressure decreased in both groups.The blood pH at preoperative,intraoperative,postoperative in supine position and prone position:7.4 ± 0,7.3 ± 0,7.3 ± 0 and 7.4 ± 0,7.3 ± 0,7.3 ± 0.The bass excess (BE) of two groups were:(2.1 ± 0.5),(-2.7 ±0.5),( -1.5 ±0.5) mmol/L and (3.2 ±0.5),(-3.8 ±0.5),(-2.5 ±0.5) mmol/L.Compared with preoperative data,the pH and BE declined in both groups.The prone position had more pronounced decrease in serum sodium,serum potassium; but with no significant difference.Supine group in postural comfort and breathing difficulties were 1.6 ± 0.4 and 7.1 4± 05,while prone group were 7.5 ± 0.2 and 1.4 ± 0.3.The supine position showed better in postural comfort and breathing difficulties with statistical significance. Conclusions Compared with the prone position,the supine positioned percutaneous nephrolithotomy could have less influence on hemodynamics,blood gas analysis.It could have better postural comfort.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of total flavonoids of epimedium (TFE) on the streptozocin (STZ)-induced kidney injury in diabetic rats and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of streptozocin (40 mg/kg, iv) in male SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control group, model group and TFE group (100 mg/kg, ig). Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks later. The level of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) as well as the renal index were determined. Detect the specific biochemical of renal tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA). Use masson staining to observe the morphology of the renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

RESULTSCompared to control group, the enhancement of blood glucose, renal index, BUN and Cr was found in model group, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with TFE. Meanwhile, elevated MDA level in renal tissue as well as decreased SOD activities in renal tissue were significantly remitted by TFE. Furthermore, TFE decreased the expression of TGF-beta1.

CONCLUSIONTFE can evidently relieve renal damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by STZ, which might be related to antioxidation and modulating the expression of TGF-beta1 protein.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in a new operative position, flank suspended supine position. Methods The new position hold affected flank suspended by raising the ipsilateral shoulder and haunch with two 3-liter saline bags, and set up waist bridge simultaneously. From March 2010 to October 2010, a series of 173 patients underwent PCNL with the new supine position under epidural anesthesia. The average age was (50± 11) years, and the average bulk of the stone was (2. 9±1.0) cm. All patients were placed in the new supine position. Under ultrasound guidance, the desired calix or pelvis was punctured near the posterior axillary line, then dilating the tract and establishing the 16 F or 20 F tract for PCNL. Results The pelvicaliceal system could be successfully approached in all patients. The procedure was well tolerated in all patients. Mean operation time was (86 ± 34) min. 80. 3% of the patients were rendered free of stones by the initial PCNL. Thirty-four cases had residual stones, and a second PCNL was performed in 16 cases to clear the residual stones. Only 1 patient required blood transfusion.None of the patients suffered visceral injury. Conclusion The new supine position is safe and effective for PCNL.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) for preventing and treating primary osteoporosis.

METHODSSeventy cases, who had been treated in 2001-2003 at our hospital, were selected and the bone mineral density (BMD) before and after treatment and the incidence condition of bone fracture during 5 years after treatment were analyzed in the embedding thread group and the medication group.

RESULTSThe BMDs of hip and lumbar vertebrae were both increased in the embedding thread group, and the BMDs of femoral neck and femoral trochanter in this group were significantly higher than those in the medication group (both P < 0.05). The rate of bone fracture during 5 years after treatment was 2.1% (1/48) in the embedding thread group, which was significantly lower than 18.2% (4/22) in the medication group (P < 0 05).

CONCLUSIONEmbedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) can raise the BMD of primary osteoporosis and significantly reduce the rate of bone fracture during 5 years.

Absorbable Implants ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; physiopathology ; therapy