OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on post-stroke sensory disturbance between catgut implantation at scalp reflecting foci and conventional acupuncture as well as the impacts on blood rheology.

METHODSFifty-nine cases of post-stroke sensory disturbance were randomized into a catgut implantation group (30 cases) and an acupuncture group (29 cases). The conventional internal medicine treatment, limb motor function rehabilitation training and sensory function training were applied in the two groups. Additionally, the catgut implantation was used at scalp reflecting foci in the catgut implantation group, once a week, 4 treatment made one session. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4), Siqiang (EX-LE 24), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Qiuxu (GB 40) and Taichong (LR 3), once every day, 5 times a week, the 4 weeks of treatment made one session. There was an interval of 1 week between the two sessions in the two groups. Totally, 2 sessions of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the sensory and motor scores, modified barthel index (MBI) and blood rheological indices were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the patients of the two groups.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in the catgut implantation group, which was better than 65.5% (19/29) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). FugI-Meyer motor function, sensory function scores and MBI were all improved as compared with those before treat ment in the two groups (all P < 0.05), and the results in the catgut implantation group was superior to the acu puncture group (all P < 0.05). The levels of whole blood viscosity, erythrocyte hematocrit, platelet aggregation and fibrinogen were improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05), and the results in the catgut implantation group was better than those in the acupuncture group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe catgut implantation at scalp reflecting foci achieves a satisfactory clinical efficacy on post-stroke sensory disturbance and improves the blood rheological indices.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Sensation ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sprains and Strains ; therapy ; Young Adult

Muscle unloading due to long-term exposure of weightlessness or simulated weightlessness causes atrophy, loss of functional capacity, impaired locomotor coordination, and decreased resistance to fatigue in the antigravity muscles of the lower limbs. Besides reducing astronauts' mobility in space and on returning to a gravity environment, the molecular mechanisms for the adaptation of skeletal muscle to unloading also play an important medical role in conditions such as disuse and paralysis. The tail-suspended rat model was used to simulate the effects of weightlessness on skeletal muscles and to induce muscle unloading in the rat hindlimb. Our series studies have shown that the maximum of twitch tension and the twitch duration decreased significantly in the atrophic soleus muscles, the maximal tension of high-frequency tetanic contraction was significantly reduced in 2-week unloaded soleus muscles, however, the fatigability of high-frequency tetanic contraction increased after one week of unloading. The maximal isometric tension of intermittent tetanic contraction at optimal stimulating frequency did not alter in 1- and 2-week unloaded soleus, but significantly decreased in 4-week unloaded soleus. The 1-week unloaded soleus, but not extensor digitorum longus (EDL), was more susceptible to fatigue during intermittent tetanic contraction than the synchronous controls. The changes in K+ channel characteristics may increase the fatigability during high-frequency tetanic contraction in atrophic soleus muscles. High fatigability of intermittent tetanic contraction may be involved in enhanced activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) and switching from slow to fast isoform of myosin heavy chain, tropomyosin, troponin I and T subunit in atrophic soleus muscles. Unloaded soleus muscle also showed a decreased protein level of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and the reduction in nNOS-derived NO increased frequency of calcium sparks and elevated intracellular resting Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in unloaded soleus muscles. High [Ca2+]i activated calpain-1 which induced a higher degradation of desmin. Desmin degradation may loose connections between adjacent myofibrils and further misaligned Z-disc during repeated tetanic contractions. Passive stretch in unloaded muscle could preserve the stability of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channels by means of keeping nNOS activity, and decrease the enhanced protein level and activity of calpain to control levels in unloaded soleus muscles. Therefore, passive stretch restored normal appearance of Z-disc and resisted in part atrophy of unloaded soleus muscles. The above results indicate that enhanced fatigability of high-frequency tetanic contraction is associated to the alteration in K+ channel characteristics, and elevated SERCA activity and slow to fast transition of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms increases fatigability of intermittent tetanic contraction in atrophic soleus muscle. The sarcomeric damage induced by tetanic contraction can be retarded by stretch in atrophic soleus muscles.
Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Fatigue ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiopathology ; Muscular Atrophy ; physiopathology ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; pathology ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Weightlessness Simulation

Asthma ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Immunotherapy

Heparanase(HPA) is an endo-beta-D-glucuronidase that degrades heparan sulfate proteoglycans side chains.Recently data suggested a role of HPA in several proteinuric diseases and an increased glomerular basement membrane.The research advanced of the molecular properties,the role in proteinuric diseases and the specific inhibitor of the human HPA were described.

Asthma ; complications ; therapy ; Child ; Humans ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; complications ; therapy

Humans ; Otitis Media ; etiology ; pathology ; Toll-Like Receptors

Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; Pulmonary Atresia ; surgery

Grasses infected by endophytes have an extraordinary impact on the ecology and economy of pasture and turf. In this review, we presented recent research progress on origin and evolution, biological and ecological impact, and perspective of the association in order to make full use of the widely distributed endophyte resources.