Background Previous studies have demonstrated that the vagus nerve stimulation improves upper limb function in patients with stroke sequelae(six month-two years).This study aimed to investigate whether the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)acted on the auricular branch of the vagus nerve can facilitate the recovery of upper limb motor function and expedite the effects and characteristics of rehabilitation processes in flaccid phase after stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ.Methods This study utilized a randomized controlled single-blinded clinical design.Patients with ischemic stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ were randomly assigned to the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)group(AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)or the sham auricular intradermal acupuncture(sham AIA)group(the sham AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)for 6 days of 1 week(6 times).Primary outcome measures:Brunnstrom(Ueda Assessment),Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity(FMA-UE)and its subtype score(FMA-UEFS,FMA-UEES),Wolf motor function test scale(WMFT).Secondary outcome measures:Upper limb active range of joint motion(AROM),manual muscle test(MMT)of upper limb muscles,Barthel index(BI).Results Of the 332 patients who were screened,70 patients met the criteria and were recruited.There were 35 patients in the AIA group,1 patient was fall off,34 patients were actually completed;35 patients in the sham AIA group had no falling off case.Primary outcome measures:The upper Ueda assessment of the AIA group were better than those of the sham AIA group after treatment on days 3 and 6(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).The FMA-UEFS score on days 6 of the AIA group were significantly better than those of the sham AIA group(P<0.05).FMA-UEES of the AIA group was more associated with FMA-UE than FMA-UEFS with FMA-UE after treatment on day 6(FMA-UEFS:r=0.728,P<0.001;FMA-UEES:r=0.744,P<0.001).After 3 days and 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of the WMFT were significantly improved in the sham AIA group(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).Secondary outcome measures:AROM:After 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of shoulder abduction were more improved than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).MMT:The muscle strength of elbow flexion,and elbow extension muscle improved more in the AIA group than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).Barthel index(BI):After 6 days of treatment,there was a significant improvement in the group compared with before treatment(P<0.05),but no difference compared with the group(P>0.05).Conclusions AIA combined with conventional rehabilitation and acupuncture,can effectively improve the upper limb motor function of patients with post-ischemic stroke flaccid hemiplegia and accelerates the rehabilitation process of upper limb motor function.Clinical Trial Registration The study protocol is registered withhttp://www.chictr.org.cn(accession number:ChiCTR2200058141).

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that the vagus nerve stimulation improves upper limb function in patients with stroke sequelae(six month-two years).This study aimed to investigate whether the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)acted on the auricular branch of the vagus nerve can facilitate the recovery of upper limb motor function and expedite the effects and characteristics of rehabilitation processes in flaccid phase after stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ.Methods This study utilized a randomized controlled single-blinded clinical design.Patients with ischemic stroke in Phase Brunnstrom Ⅰ were randomly assigned to the auricular intradermal acupuncture(AIA)group(AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)or the sham auricular intradermal acupuncture(sham AIA)group(the sham AIA,standard rehabilitation,conventional acupuncture)for 6 days of 1 week(6 times).Primary outcome measures:Brunnstrom(Ueda Assessment),Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity(FMA-UE)and its subtype score(FMA-UEFS,FMA-UEES),Wolf motor function test scale(WMFT).Secondary outcome measures:Upper limb active range of joint motion(AROM),manual muscle test(MMT)of upper limb muscles,Barthel index(BI).Results Of the 332 patients who were screened,70 patients met the criteria and were recruited.There were 35 patients in the AIA group,1 patient was fall off,34 patients were actually completed;35 patients in the sham AIA group had no falling off case.Primary outcome measures:The upper Ueda assessment of the AIA group were better than those of the sham AIA group after treatment on days 3 and 6(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).The FMA-UEFS score on days 6 of the AIA group were significantly better than those of the sham AIA group(P<0.05).FMA-UEES of the AIA group was more associated with FMA-UE than FMA-UEFS with FMA-UE after treatment on day 6(FMA-UEFS:r=0.728,P<0.001;FMA-UEES:r=0.744,P<0.001).After 3 days and 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of the WMFT were significantly improved in the sham AIA group(P<0.05,P<0.001,respectively).Secondary outcome measures:AROM:After 6 days of treatment,the AIA group of shoulder abduction were more improved than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).MMT:The muscle strength of elbow flexion,and elbow extension muscle improved more in the AIA group than in the sham AIA group(P<0.05).Barthel index(BI):After 6 days of treatment,there was a significant improvement in the group compared with before treatment(P<0.05),but no difference compared with the group(P>0.05).Conclusions AIA combined with conventional rehabilitation and acupuncture,can effectively improve the upper limb motor function of patients with post-ischemic stroke flaccid hemiplegia and accelerates the rehabilitation process of upper limb motor function.Clinical Trial Registration The study protocol is registered withhttp://www.chictr.org.cn(accession number:ChiCTR2200058141).

BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived stem cel s have different sources, but it is unclear whether these cel s from different sources have difference in their biological properties.
OBJECTIVE:To detect the in vitro proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cel s derived from renal fat capsule and groin.
METHODS:Adipose-derived stem cel s from renal fat capsule and groin of rats were isolated, cultured and identified. MTT assay was used to detect in vitro proliferation ability of these cel s. Passage 3 cel s were under chondrogenic induction for 2 weeks. After induction, the expression of type II col agen was observed by immunofluorescence detection, and RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression levels of Aggrecan and type II col agen mRNA in the two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After primary culture and passage, adipose-derived stem cel s from the renal fat capsule and groin of rats exhibited similar morphology, and over 95%of cel s expressed CD44 in the two groups. Adipose-derived stem cel s from two sources showed an S-shaped growth curve in vitro and were positive for type II col agen. After RT-PCR detection, the expression levels of Aggrecan and type II col agen mRNA had no difference in adipose-derived stem cel s from renal fat capsule and groin (P>0.05). Experimental results show that adipose-derived stem cel s from both renal fat capsule and groin exhibit stable growth, rapid proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation under orient induction in vitro, indicating there is no difference between these cel s from two sources.

Objective To compare the effect and safety of digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy and per-cutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal calculi. Methods Clinic data of 105 cases with kidney stones were analyzed retrospectively, including 53 cases with digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (group A) and 52 with minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (group B). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, stone-free rate, complications, average hospitalization time were compared. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, stone size, stone surface area, average operative time, stone-free rate and complications between two groups. Significant differences were found between group A and group B in terms of intraoperative blood loss and average hospitalization time. Conclusions Digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy has similar effect as minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the treatment of kidney stones about 20 mm in terms of average operative time, stone-free rate, and complications, but excels minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy in intraopera-tive blood loss and average hospitalization time. Digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy can be the first choice for the treatment of kidney stones about 20 mm.

Objective To assess the impact of preoperative ureteral stenting on outcome of flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy . Methods The clinic data of flexible ureteroscope lithotripsy were analyzed retrospectively .All 52 eligible patients were divided into three group :goup A(no preoperative ureteral stenting );group B (preoperative ureteral stenting for 3-10 days);group C(preopera‐tive ureteral stenting for two weeks or more ) .The application of ureteral access sheath ,operation time ,stone free rates ,hospital stays ,complications were compared among the three groups .Results There were no significant differences in aging ,gender ,stone size , distribution ,average hospitalization days ,postoperative complications among the three groups (P>0 .05) .There were significantly differ‐ences between group A and group B ,group C(P<0 .05) ,and there were no difference between group B and group C (P>0 .05) on the suc‐cess rate of indwelling ureteral access sheath ,average operation time ,stone free rate .Conclusion Preoperative ureteral stenting could en‐hance the success rate of indwelling ureteral access sheath ,shorten the operation time ,improve the stone free rate .There was similar out‐come of flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy between preoperative ureteral stenting for 3-10 days and two weeks or more .