Objective: To observe the efficacy of needling the Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians plus topical surrounding needling and pregabalin in treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) affecting the head and face and its influence on quality of life (QOL). Methods: Eighty patients with PHN affecting the head and face were randomized into an acupuncture-medication group and a Western medication group by their visiting sequence, with 40 cases in each group. The Western medication group took pregabalin capsules orally, 75 mg each time, twice a day. The dosage could increase to 150 mg each time and twice a day within 1 week based on the efficacy and tolerance. The treatment lasted for 5 weeks. The acupuncture-medication group was given additional surrounding needling at the herpes zoster on the head and face, and Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians were chosen according to the affected area for acupuncture, once every other day, for 5 weeks in total. Results: Prior to treatment, there were no significant differences in the visual analog scale (VAS) and QOL scores between the two groups (both P>0.05). After treatment, VAS and QOL scores dropped significantly in both groups (all P<0.01), and were significantly lower in the acupuncture-medication group than in the Western medication group (both P<0.01). The total effective rate was 67.5％ in the Western medication group, versus 92.5％ in the acupuncture-medication group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on oral administration of pregabalin, needling the Xi-Cleft points of yang meridians and topical surrounding needling can reduce PHN, notably improve patients' QOL, and produce more significant efficacy than oral administration of pregabalin alone.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the differences in the repair process of skin and skeletal muscle after contusion caused by blunt force attack with different heights. METHODS: Three degrees of contusion were performed on SD rats' right hind limbs by a designed free-dropping device falling from 15, 30 and 50 cm heights, which as a main consideration factor for degree of injury. The repair process of skin and skeletal muscle at 6 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d and 13 d after contusion were observed using routine histological methods. RESULTS: Hematoma within skin and/or muscle was found in the rats' hind limbs after contusion with three different heights. The repair processes were similar at 24 h after contusion. However, with the increase of height, the display degree was more obvious. At 3 d after contusion, the RBC of the hemorrhagic region would be decomposed and elapsed in 15 cm contusion group, but for 30 cm contusion group, it delayed to 7 d. At 13 d after contusion, the similar result was found in 15 cm and 30 cm contusion groups, in contrast, the 50 cm contusion group was still in the proliferative phase. CONCLUSIONS With the increase of height, the occurring rate of hematoma within skin and muscle at the same time increases, and the more serious histological appearance after contusion, including inflammation and proliferation, the longer healing process are observed. According to the results of present study and considering forensic application, the contusion model with 50 cm height （2.58 J/cm²） is recommended as the experimental animal model for the future study of wound age estimation on contusion.
Animals ; Contusions/pathology* ; Hindlimb ; Muscle, Skeletal/pathology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/pathology* ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating

This paper explored the background, framework and approach, contents and implementation of WHO Rehabilitation in Health System using approaches of ICF and WHO Handbook for Guideline Development. The actions and significances of implementations of seven recommendations and one good practice statements on assistive products had been discussed.