OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of antagonistic needling therapy on lower limb spasticity and the muscle morphology of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius in patients with stroke. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with post-stroke lower limb spasticity were randomly divided into an antagonistic needling group (50 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a routine acupuncture group (50 cases, 1 case dropped out). Both groups received basic treatment and rehabilitation training. The routine acupuncture group was treated with scalp acupuncture at anterior oblique line of vertex-temporal and vertex lateral line 1, combined with body acupuncture at Jianyu (LI15), Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), Taichong (LR3), etc. on the affected side, with Quchi (LI11) and Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36) and Fenglong (ST40), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Taichong (LR3) connected to an electroacupuncture device, using disperse wave at 2 Hz of frequency. The antagonistic needling group used the same scalp and upper limb acupoints as the routine acupuncture group, with additional antagonistic needling on the lower limb at Yanglingquan (GB34), Qiuxu (GB40), Jiexi (ST41), and Xuanzhong (GB39) on the affected side, with Quchi (LI11) and Hegu (LI4), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Qiuxu (GB40), Jiexi (ST41), and Xuanzhong (GB39) connected to an electroacupuncture device, using disperse wave at 2 Hz of frequency. Both groups received treatment once daily for 6 consecutive days per course, with a total of 4 courses. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Holden functional ambulation classification (FAC), lower limb Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), composite spasticity scale (CSS), and musculoskeletal ultrasound parameters (thickness and fiber length of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius, and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius on both sides) were evaluated before and after treatment. Clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the MAS grades and CSS scores were decreased in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), with greater reductions in the antagonistic needling group (P<0.05, P<0.01). FAC grades and FMA scores were increased in both groups after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), with greater improvements in the antagonistic needling group (P<0.05). The muscle thickness, fiber length of the tibialis anterior, the muscle thickness, fiber length and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius on the affected side were improved in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), with greater improvements in the antagonistic needling group (P<0.01, P<0.05). On the unaffected side, these parameters were also increased after treatment in both groups (P<0.01, P<0.05), but the antagonistic needling group showed smaller increases than the routine acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The total effective rate in the antagonistic needling group was 91.8% (45/49), higher than 81.6% (40/49) in the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Antagonistic needling could effectively reduce spasticity, improve motor function, and enhance muscle structure in patients with post-stroke lower limb spasticity.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Spasticity/pathology* ; Aged ; Stroke/physiopathology* ; Lower Extremity/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Muscle, Skeletal/pathology* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the effect of casein kinase 2 interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1) on craniofacial soft tissues and hard tissues, to provide the basis for the study and treatment of craniomaxillofacial related diseases. Methods: 6-month- old male CKIP-1 knockout (KO) mice were selected as the experimental group, and wild-type (WT) mice were selected as the control group. The craniomaxillofacial hard tissues (parietal bone, nasal bone, incisors and molars) were analyzed through micro- CT, and the morphological changes of maxillofacial soft tissues (nasal cartilage, lip mucosa and tongue) were analyzed through HE staining and toluidine blue staining. Results: CKIP-1 negatively regulated bone mass of cancellous bone of cranial and maxillofacial bones and dentin mineralization. Compared with the WT mice, the thickness of the parietal baffle layer increased by 93% in KO mice, while cortical bone showed no significant difference between the two groups. The nasal cancellous bone thickness increased by 160% in KO-mice, while cortical bone showed no significant difference between the two groups; the enamel thickness was normal, but the pulp cavity became smaller and the dentin thickness increased by 48%. Compared with the WT mice, the HE staining and toluidine blue staining analyses of the soft tissues revealed that the thickness of the alar cartilage plate of KO mice increased by 57%, and local ossification was found within the cartilage plate. The thickness of the keratinized layer of the labial mucosa increased by 170% in KO mice and the muscle fiber diameter of the lingual muscle increased by 45%. Conclusion CKIP-1 genes have different effects on the growth and development of various soft and hard tissues in the maxillofacial region of mice.

Objective:To investigate the effect of thromboelastography (TEG) combined with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) guidance on the prevention of internal jugular vein catheterization related thrombosis.Methods:The patients who required internal jugular vein catheterization admitted to the department of critical medicine of Beihai People's Hospital from December 2018 to April 2020 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the random number table method. For the combined cathetherization group, ultrasound was used to examine bilateral internal jugular veins before catheterization. The larger diameter and better filled vein and site were selected for puncture. If both internal jugular veins were not fulfilled well, puncture were performed after fluid administration. At the same time, anticoagulant, antiplatelet or reducing blood viscosity drugs were used according to coagulation function and bleeding risk under the monitoring of TEG. The hemodynamic state of the internal jugular vein was monitored by ultrasound every day. If the vein collapsed or the blood flow was slow, the cause should be tried to be found and improved. Once thrombosis was found, the catheter should be removed. For the routine cathetherization group, the right side internal jugular vein was prior to be punctured according to body surface symbols. The other treatment of the two groups were the same as routine treatment. The conditions of thrombosis and bleeding were recorded.Results:Ninety-seven patients were selected, 51 cases in the combined cathetherization group and 46 cases in the routine cathetherization group. There was no significant differences in gender, age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ), risk of deep vein thrombosis score (Caprini), CRUSADE bleeding risk score, the proportion of high bleeding risk, disease types, the proportion of coagulation disorder and catheterization time between the two groups, but the anticoagulation treatment proportion in the combined cathetherization group was higher than that in the routine cathetherization group (66.7% vs. 30.4%, P < 0.01). The incidence of thrombosis in the combined cathetherization group was lower than that of the routine cathetherization group (39.2% vs. 78.3%, P < 0.01), and the thrombus of the combined cathetherization group was smaller than that of the routine cathetherization group [cm 3: 0.077 (0.047, 0.089) vs. 0.341 (0.070, 0.378), P < 0.01]. There were no major bleeding events in the two groups. Conclusion:Based on TEG and POCUS, the antithrombotic bundles can reduce the incidence of thrombosis after internal jugular vein catheterization and the thrombus size, and does not increase the risk of bleeding, which is worthy of clinical application.