Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling moxibustion plus Mulligan dynamic joint mobilization for cervical radiculopathy. Methods: A total of 60 cases with cervical radiculopathy were randomly divided into group A, group B and group C by random digital table, 20 cases in each group. The patients in three groups were treated with similar warm needling moxibustion. Group A only received warm needling moxibustion; group B was treated with warm needling moxibustion plus Mulligan dynamic joint mobilization; group C was treated with warm needling moxibustion plus cervical traction. Before the treatment and after 12 sessions of treatment, the patients in the three groups were assessed for score of pain and range of motion (ROM). Results: By 12 sessions of the treatments, the scores of pain were obviously decreased in the three groups, with statistical significances (all P<0.05), and the pain scores of group B and group C were significantly different from the score of group A (both P<0.05). ROM of the neck was increased than before the treatment in the three groups, with statistical significances (all P<0.05), and the ROM of the neck of group B was significantly different from those of group A and group C (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Warm needling moxibustion plus Mulligan dynamic joint mobilization can effectively improve the neck ROM and relieve pain in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Technetium-99m galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin (99mTc-NGA) is a new hepatocellular receptor imaging ligand Its preparation and preclinical research are reported in this paper. The ligand was synthesized by the chemical coupling and the product was nontoxic and apyrogenic with good stability both in vivo and in vitro. The static images and kinetic data obtained from the liver portal vein ligation group (n = 2), the hepatic necrosis group (n=2) and the control group (n=6) indicate: (1) Tc-NGA imaging can provide excellent hepatic images, and (2) hepatic kinetic data appear to provide a new means for diagnosis of liver diseases.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reason and strategy for failure of posterior pedicle screw short-segment internal fixation on thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to December 2010,the clinical data of 18 patients with thoracolumbar fracture failed in posterior pedicle screw short-segment internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 11 males and 7 females with an average age of 37.2 years (ranged, 19 to 63). The time from the first operation to complication occurrence was from 6 to 44 months with an average of 14.3 months. Of them,fusion failure was in 7 cases (combined with screw breakage in 4 cases), the progressive neuro-dysfunction was in 5 cases,the progressive lumbodorsal pain was in 6 cases. All 18 patients with kyphosis were treated with anterior internal fixation remaining posterior fixation (9 cases) and anterior internal fixation after posterior fixation removal (9 cases).

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 18 to 50 months with an average of 30.5 months. No intetnal fixation loosening and breakage were found, moreover, X-ray and lamellar CT showed bone healing well. Preoperative, postoperative at 3 months and at final follow-up, ODI score was respectively 31.6+/-5.1, 8.6+/-5.7, 8.3+/-3.2; VAS score was respectively 7.2+/-2.3, 2.3+/-0.7, 2.1+/-1.1; kyphosis angle was respectively (-21.2/-+7.8 degreeso, (-5.3+/-6.8 degrees ), (-5.8+/-7.8 )degrees. Compared with preoperative data ,above-listed items had obviously ameliorated(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of thoracolumbar fracture with posterior pedicle screw short-segment internal fixation may result in the complications such as bone nonunion ,internal fixation breakage and progressive kyphosis. Anterior reconstruction may be a good strategy for the failure of posterior operation.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Objective To explore the effect of surgical treatment on primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgking lymphoma(NHL) in children.Methods Nine cases of clinical and follow-up data of primary gastrointestinal NHL were studied retrospectively to evaluate the effect of surgical treatment on primary gastrointestinal NHL in children.Results Seven cases were male and 2 cases were female.The mean age was(5.59?3.27)years old.The clinical manifestation included abdominal mass (7 cases),abdominal pain (5 cases),fever (2 cases),haematemesis and melena (2 cases),constipation (1 case) and paroxysmal abdominal pain with vomiting (1 case).Nine cases were diagnosed as primary gastrointestinal NHL,including 1 case of intussusception,1 case of acute appendicitis,2 cases of gastrointestinal obstruction,2 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding and 3 cases of abdominal mass.One case received the operation of intussusception reduction,tumor resection and intestinal anastomosis.One case received appendectomy.One case received the operation of tumor biopsy and transverse colon colostomy.Six cases received laparotomy.Six cases were diagnosed as Burkitt lymphoma.One case was anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 2 cases were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.One case was at stage Ⅰ,1 case was at stage ⅠE,2 cases were at stage Ⅱ,3 cases were at stage ⅡE and 2 cases were at stage Ⅲ.Nine patients had received operation.One case died after operation and 8 cases had received combined chemotherapy.The 1 and 3 years survival rates were 75.0% and 37.5%,respectively.Conclusions Acute abdomen is often the first symptom of primary gastrointestinal NHL in children and comprehensive surgical treatment is an effective procedure for it.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical application and effects of Yuziwan in the treatment of male sterility patient with abnormal protamine.

METHODSThe changes of protamine, semen and sex hormones of 30 male sterility patients treated by Yuziwan were observed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter a 3-month course of treatment, 9 cases were cured, 15 obviously improved and 6 failed to respond. The ratio of histone to protamine was decreased from (1.34 +/- 0.52) before the treatment to (0.72 +/- 0.32) after it, with significant difference (P < 0.01), the semen quality obviously improved (P < 0.05), and the LH and T levels markedly raised (P < 0.01). Yuziwan evidently improved the abnormal protamine, sperm quality and endocrine function of the sterility patients.

CONCLUSIONYuziwan has good curative effect on male sterility.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Protamines ; metabolism

The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a prominent component of the descending modulatory system involved in the control of spinal nociceptive transmission. In the current study, we investigated melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) expression in the RVM, where the neurons involved in modulation of nociception reside. Using a line of mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the MC4R promoter, we found a large number of GFP-positive neurons in the RVM [nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and nucleus gigantocellularis pars α (NGCα)]. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that approximately 10% of MC4R-GFP-positive neurons coexpressed tyrosine hydroxylase, indicating that they were catecholaminergic, whereas 50%-75% of those coexpressed tryptophan hydroxylase, indicating that they were serotonergic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MC4R signaling in RVM may modulate the activity of serotonergic sympathetic outflow sensitive to nociceptive signals, and that MC4R signaling in RVM may contribute to the descending modulation of nociceptive transmission.
Animals ; Female ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways ; cytology ; metabolism ; Neurons, Afferent ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nociception ; physiology ; Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Serotonergic Neurons ; metabolism ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical results of an interspinous stabilization system (Wallis) in treating lumbar degenerative disease in the short-term.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to June 2010,48 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who were treated with interspinous stabilization system, the data of patients were analyzed retrospectively. In all of the 48 cases, there were 30 males and 18 females with an average age of 54.2 years (ranged, 40 to 68 years). Forty-four cases were with single segment and 4 cases with two segments. Of them, 4 cases were in L3, 4, 40 cases were in L4, 5, 4 cases were in L3, 4 and L4, 5. The radiographic data of patients were analyzed. Clinical effects were evaluated by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score system and low back pain disability questionnaire (Oswestry) and Odom method.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 1 to 2 years with an average of 18 months. According to Odom's criteria, 20 cases obtained excellent results, 24 good, 4 fair. JOA score increased from 12.4 +/- 2.7 preoperatively to 26.1 +/- 2.0 postoperatively (P < 0.01). Oswestry score decreased from 14.1 +/- 2.9 preoperatively to 5.5 +/- 1.8 postoperatively (P < 0.01). The posterior height of intervertebral space and height of nerve root canal increased compared with that of preperative height.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of lumbar degenerative disease with interspinous stabilization system can obtain satisfactory effects in the near future. It can retain dynamic stable of corresponding segments, expand volume of vertebral canal, and is safe and feasible.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery

Objective:To evaluate the biomechanical performance of our self-designed anatomical plate for posterolateral tibial plateau in comparison with conventional plates for treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures.Methods:A novel anatomic plate for posterolateral tibial plateau was designed according to the data measured in the superior fibular capitulum and 3D CT segmentation. Twenty-four knee joints were obtained from 12 freshly frozen adult cadavers to make models of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture. The models were divided into 3 groups( n=8). In group A, fixation was simulated via the supra-fibular-head approach after autogenous iliac bone-graft by our self-designed anatomic plate for posterolateral tibial plateau; in group B, fixation was simulated via the posterior tibial approach after autogenous iliac bone-graft by a small T-plate; in group C, fixation was simulated via the supra-fibular-head approach after autogenous iliac bone-graft by a normal L-plate. Biomechanical tests were carried out in the 3 groups to measure the vertical displacements of split bone fragment under the vertical compression loads of 500 N, 1,000 N and 1,500 N and the maximum compression upon failure of internal fixation (compressed displacemen t=3 mm). Results:At the vertical compression loads of 500 N, 1,000 N and 1,500 N, the vertical displacements of split bone fragment showed significant differences among the 3 groups ( P<0.05); there was a significant difference between group C and groups A and B, respectively ( P<0.05), but an insignificant difference between group A and group B ( P>0.05) though group A performed slightly better. In terms of the maximum compression upon failure of internal fixation, significant differences existed among the 3 groups ( P<0.05); there was a significant difference between group C and groups A and B, respectively ( P< 0.05), but an insignificant difference between group A and group B ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Our self-designed anatomic plate for posterolateral tibial plateau can firmly fixate the fracture fragments of posterolateral condyle.

Objective In order to address the issues of inconvenience,high medical costs,and lack of universality associated with traditional knee rehabilitation equipment,a portable intelligent wheelchair for knee rehabilitation was designed in this study.Methods Based on the analysis of the knee joint's structure and rehabilitation mechanisms,an electric pushrod-driven rehabilitation institution was developed.A multi-functional module was designed with a modular approach,and the control of the wheelchair body and each functional module was implemented using an STM32 single-chip microcomputer.A three-dimensional model was established using SolidWorks software.In conjunction with Adams and Ansys simulation software,kinematic and static analyses were conducted on the knee joint rehabilitation institution and its core components.A prototype was constructed to verify the equipment's actual performance.Results According to the prototype testing,the actual range of motion for the knee joint swing rod is 15.1°～88.9°,the angular speed of the swing rod ranges from-7.9 to 8.1°/s,the angular acceleration of the swing rod varies from-4.2 to 1.6°/s2,the thrust range of the electric pushrod is-82.6 to 153.1 N,and the maximum displacement of the load pedal is approximately 1.7 mm,with the leg support exhibiting a maximum deformation of about 1.5 mm.Conclusion The intelligent knee joint rehabilitation wheelchair meets the designed functions and its actual performance aligns with the design criteria,thus validating the rationality and feasibility of the structural design.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of psychosocial services provided by social workers in reducing dropout rate and increasing treatment dosage in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) users.

METHODSFrom May in 2009 to April in 2010, 300 MMT users were recruited from three MMT clinics in Guangzhou, and were randomly allocated into the intervention group and the control groups. The control group (152 cases) received standard MMT services while the intervention group (148 cases) received additional services provided by social workers. Methadone dosage, dropout rate, perceptions toward MMT etc. were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe 1-month dropout rate of the control and intervention groups were 19.7% (30/152) and 6.8% (10/148) (P < 0.05) respectively; the 6-month dropout rate of the control and intervention groups were 75.5% (115/152) and 50.7% (75/148) (P < 0.05) respectively. The intervention group had higher average treatment dosage than the control group ((56.0 ± 21.2) vs (64.4 ± 23.1) ml/d, (58.0 ± 24.0) vs (66.1 ± 26.6) ml/d, P < 0.05). At 1-month and 6-month, the intervention group had higher scores of MMT-related perception ((1.26 ± 0.68) vs (1.84 ± 0.95), (1.55 ± 0.83) vs (2.44 ± 1.23), P < 0.05), self-efficacy of maintenance ((3.68 ± 1.33) vs (4.20 ± 1.05), (3.80 ± 1.38) vs (4.43 ± 0.79), P < 0.05) and satisfaction toward MMT((4.08 ± 0.54) vs (4.15 ± 0.60), (4.01 ± 0.67) vs (4.31 ± 0.64), P < 0.05) as compared to the control group. The reverse was true for the score of negative experiences ((1.05 ± 0.86) vs (0.96 ± 0.92), (1.46 ± 0.87) vs (1.11 ± 1.07), P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe psychosocial interventions provided by social workers were effective in reducing dropout rate, increasing treatment dosage and improving cognitions of MMT users.

Adult ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Methadone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Patient Compliance ; Social Work ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Treatment Outcome