OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) at "four points of sacral region" for mild-to-moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A total of 58 patients with BPH/LUTS were randomly divided into a sacral four-point EA group (29 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a conventional EA group (29 cases, 1 case dropped out). EA was applied at bilateral points 0.5 cun lateral to the sacrococcygeal joint and Huiyang (BL35) in the sacral four-point EA group; and was applied at Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Qugu (CV2) and bilateral Shuidao (ST28), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Zusanli (ST36) in the conventional EA group. Both groups received continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 30 min a time, once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, and in follow-up of 1 month after treatment completion, the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), the quality of life (QOL) score were observed; before and after treatment, the prostate volume (PV) was measured by abdominal ultrasound; and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the scores of IPSS, OABSS and QOL were decreased after 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up in both groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). In the sacral four-point EA group, the scores of IPSS and QOL after 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up were lower than those in the conventional EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the OABSS score in follow-up was lower than that in the conventional EA group (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the reductions of IPSS and OABSS scores compared before treatment in the sacral four-point EA group were larger than those in the conventional EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05); After 2, 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the reductions of QOL score compared before treatment in the sacral four-point EA group were larger than those in the conventional EA group (P<0.01). No significant difference in PV was observed after treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). The total effective rate was 75.0% (21/28) in the sacral four-point EA group, which was higher than 39.3% (11/28) in the conventional EA group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION EA at "four points of sacral region" can effectively improve the LUTS, overactive bladder symptom and quality of life in patients with mild-to-moderate BPH, and has good short-term and long-term efficacy, although it can not reduce prostate volume.
Humans ; Male ; Electroacupuncture ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/complications* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Quality of Life

The connotation of the "four-dimensional pivot-earth" qi transformation mode is a dialectical system of the ascending and descending of yin-yang qi movement， which presented as "the middle Jiao showing earth qi mediating， the left wheel showing water and wood ascending， and the right wheel showing fire and metal converting and descending". Based on this dialectical thinking， it is believed that the core pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis is deficiency of center qi and transportation failure to pivot-earth； the middle-stage characteristics of the disease progression are the loss of mediation of the central qi， resulting in water coldness and wood constraint， and clear yang failing to ascend； the final outcome of this disease is the loss of astringeing of lung metal and qi sinking. The treatment should be based on the rule of qi movement， so for the start-stage， Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤） should be used as the basis to nourish the earth and consolidate the root， and restrengthen the middle qi； for the middle-stage， herbs like Yingyanghuo （Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.）， Bajitian （Morinda officinalis How） could be combined to warm the water and soothe the wood， raise yang and boost qi； for the final stage， plus Sini Decoction （四逆汤） to astringe metal to stop collapse， and powerfully supplement original qi. All these medicinals can promote pivot-earth re-transportation， four-dimensional transformation， and regular circulation of qi movement， so as to provide thoughts for improving the clinical effectiveness of myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND:At present,there are many clinical studies on dysphagia,but little is known about the stress of bones and hyoid muscles caused by dysphagia.OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of swallowing musculoskeletal system to investigate the stress changes of hyoid and suprahyoid muscles during swallowing.METHODS:A healthy adult male was selected for head and neck CT scanning.A three-dimensional model was constructed by image extraction method.According to hyoid motion,the lowest and highest positions of hyoid were set,and the muscle strength of suprahyoid muscles was successively loaded to observe the stress influence of suprahyoid muscles on hyoid under physiological state.By changing the material properties of muscles,we simulated different degrees of dysphagia and observed the stress changes of suprahyoid muscle group under the condition of dysphagia.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The finite element models including C2-C4 vertebrae,partial temporal bone,mandible,hyoid,and mylohyoid-geniohyoid muscle were established,which could reflect the displacement of hyoid and stress changes during swallowing.(2)Under physiological conditions,among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle had the greatest influence on hyoid stress,followed by digastric muscle,geniohyoid muscle,and stylohyoid muscle.(3)By simulating different degrees of dysphagia,it was found that with the increase of the severity of dysphagia,the stress of suprahyoid muscles gradually increased.(4)These findings conclude that among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle and digastric muscle have the greatest influence on hyoid stress,which suggests the importance of specific muscle stimulation.The aggravation of dysphagia was positively correlated with the stress change of suprahyoid muscles,which could provide a biomechanical reference for the mechanism study and clinical diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.

BACKGROUND:Polyether ether ketone has the advantages of elastic modulus close to human cortical bone,good ray transmission,chemical stability,and biocompatibility.Polyether ether ketone is expected to be applied in the field of oral implants.However,polyether ether ketone is bioinert and is difficult to integrate with surrounding bone tissue.Therefore,how to improve the surface bioactivity of polyether ether ketone remains a major issue.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the osteogenic and vasogenic effects of polyether ether ketone surface bone forming peptide 1 and polydopamine composite coating.METHODS:Polyether ether ketone titanium sheets were immersed in dopamine solution for 24 hours to prepare polyether ether ketone-polydopamine materials.Polyether ether ketone-polydopamine material was immersed in the bone forming peptide 1 solution for 24 hours to prepare polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide 1 material.The micromorphology,hydrophilicity,and elemental composition of the material were characterized.Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were injected on the surface of polyether ether ketone,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine,and polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide-1 materials.Cell viability and adhesion status were evaluated by live/dead cell staining and cytoskeleton staining.Cellular osteogenic differentiation ability was detected by alizarin red and osteocalcin immunofluorescence staining.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were inoculated on the surface of three groups of materials.Cell viability and angiogenesis level were assessed by live/dead cell staining and immunofluorescence staining of cytoskeleton/vascular endothelial growth factor.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Under scanning electron microscope,the surface of polyether ether ketone material was smooth;the surface of polyether ether ketone-polydopamine material had uneven deposits,and the surface of polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide 1 material had small particles protruding.The results of contact angle test showed that the hydrophilicity of polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide-1 material was better than the other two materials.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that bone forming peptide 1 had been successfully modified on the surface of polyether ether ketone material.(2)Live/dead cell staining and cytoskeleton staining exhibited that compared with the other two materials,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone-forming peptide 1 material could improve the viability and adhesion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Alizarin red and osteocalcin immunofluorescence staining showed that compared with the other two materials,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide-1 materials could promote the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.(3)Live/dead cell staining and immunofluorescence staining showed that compared with the other two materials,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide 1 material could improve the viability and adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor protein.(4)The results show that the modification of bone forming peptide 1 and polydopamine composite coating on polyether ether ketone surface can improve the osteogenesis and angiogenesis.

Pulpotomy of primary molars is a minimally invasive clinical treatment for deep caries or pulpitis in primary molars,which involves the removal of the diseased or infected coronal pulp to preserve the healthy radicular pulp.In recent years,with in-depth study on the biological characteristics of primary molar pulp and the rapid development of treatment techniques and biomaterials,pulpotomy of primary molars has been widely applied in clinical pediatric dentistry.This article reviews the indications,factors affecting success rates,and efficacy evaluation of pulpotomy for primary molars.

Pulpotomy of primary molars is a minimally invasive clinical treatment for deep caries or pulpitis in primary molars,which involves the removal of the diseased or infected coronal pulp to preserve the healthy radicular pulp.In recent years,with in-depth study on the biological characteristics of primary molar pulp and the rapid development of treatment techniques and biomaterials,pulpotomy of primary molars has been widely applied in clinical pediatric dentistry.This article reviews the indications,factors affecting success rates,and efficacy evaluation of pulpotomy for primary molars.

BACKGROUND:At present,there are many clinical studies on dysphagia,but little is known about the stress of bones and hyoid muscles caused by dysphagia.OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of swallowing musculoskeletal system to investigate the stress changes of hyoid and suprahyoid muscles during swallowing.METHODS:A healthy adult male was selected for head and neck CT scanning.A three-dimensional model was constructed by image extraction method.According to hyoid motion,the lowest and highest positions of hyoid were set,and the muscle strength of suprahyoid muscles was successively loaded to observe the stress influence of suprahyoid muscles on hyoid under physiological state.By changing the material properties of muscles,we simulated different degrees of dysphagia and observed the stress changes of suprahyoid muscle group under the condition of dysphagia.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The finite element models including C2-C4 vertebrae,partial temporal bone,mandible,hyoid,and mylohyoid-geniohyoid muscle were established,which could reflect the displacement of hyoid and stress changes during swallowing.(2)Under physiological conditions,among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle had the greatest influence on hyoid stress,followed by digastric muscle,geniohyoid muscle,and stylohyoid muscle.(3)By simulating different degrees of dysphagia,it was found that with the increase of the severity of dysphagia,the stress of suprahyoid muscles gradually increased.(4)These findings conclude that among suprahyoid muscles,mylohyoid muscle and digastric muscle have the greatest influence on hyoid stress,which suggests the importance of specific muscle stimulation.The aggravation of dysphagia was positively correlated with the stress change of suprahyoid muscles,which could provide a biomechanical reference for the mechanism study and clinical diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia.

BACKGROUND:Polyether ether ketone has the advantages of elastic modulus close to human cortical bone,good ray transmission,chemical stability,and biocompatibility.Polyether ether ketone is expected to be applied in the field of oral implants.However,polyether ether ketone is bioinert and is difficult to integrate with surrounding bone tissue.Therefore,how to improve the surface bioactivity of polyether ether ketone remains a major issue.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the osteogenic and vasogenic effects of polyether ether ketone surface bone forming peptide 1 and polydopamine composite coating.METHODS:Polyether ether ketone titanium sheets were immersed in dopamine solution for 24 hours to prepare polyether ether ketone-polydopamine materials.Polyether ether ketone-polydopamine material was immersed in the bone forming peptide 1 solution for 24 hours to prepare polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide 1 material.The micromorphology,hydrophilicity,and elemental composition of the material were characterized.Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were injected on the surface of polyether ether ketone,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine,and polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide-1 materials.Cell viability and adhesion status were evaluated by live/dead cell staining and cytoskeleton staining.Cellular osteogenic differentiation ability was detected by alizarin red and osteocalcin immunofluorescence staining.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were inoculated on the surface of three groups of materials.Cell viability and angiogenesis level were assessed by live/dead cell staining and immunofluorescence staining of cytoskeleton/vascular endothelial growth factor.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Under scanning electron microscope,the surface of polyether ether ketone material was smooth;the surface of polyether ether ketone-polydopamine material had uneven deposits,and the surface of polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide 1 material had small particles protruding.The results of contact angle test showed that the hydrophilicity of polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide-1 material was better than the other two materials.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that bone forming peptide 1 had been successfully modified on the surface of polyether ether ketone material.(2)Live/dead cell staining and cytoskeleton staining exhibited that compared with the other two materials,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone-forming peptide 1 material could improve the viability and adhesion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Alizarin red and osteocalcin immunofluorescence staining showed that compared with the other two materials,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide-1 materials could promote the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.(3)Live/dead cell staining and immunofluorescence staining showed that compared with the other two materials,polyether ether ketone-polydopamine-bone forming peptide 1 material could improve the viability and adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor protein.(4)The results show that the modification of bone forming peptide 1 and polydopamine composite coating on polyether ether ketone surface can improve the osteogenesis and angiogenesis.

Chronic internal carotid artery occlusion, a common clinical lesion caused by atherosclerosis, was also one of the common vascular diseases in the middle and old age. It could slow down the blood flow rate of blood vessels, which leaded to changes in the blood supply of brain tissue, and secondary causes abnormal metabolism of brain nerves and brain tissue. At the same time, long-term cerebral hypoperfusion would induce cognitive impairment, which would seriously affect the quality of life of patients. At present, there were two main treatment methods: drug conservative treatment and intravascular intervention, but there was still a great controversy about the survival of the fittest in these two treatment methods. This paper reported the clinical, imaging, therapeutic strategy and prognosis of a case of severe intracranial and extracranial multiple vessel stenosis and occlusion, in order to provide reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between plasma fibrinogen/serum albumin ratio (FAR) and the degree of cerebral artery stenosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods:Clinical data of 189 patients with acute cerebral infarction diagnosed and treated in the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from January 2021 to March 2023 were selected for retrospective analysis. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was improved, and they were divided into four groups according to the degree of intracranial vascular stenosis according to NASCET grading method: no stenosis group (47 cases), mild stenosis group (45 cases), moderate stenosis group (39 cases) and severe stenosis and occlusion group (58 cases). The differences of basic data, plasma fibrinogen/serum albumin ratio (FAR) and other inflammatory indicators among all groups were compared, and the correlation between FAR level and the severity of cerebral artery stenosis was analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to explore the factors influencing to cerebral artery stenosis and ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of FAR in the degree of cerebral artery stenosis in cerebral infarction patients.Results:There were significant differences in blood neutrophil (NEU), mean platelet volume (MPV), fibrinogen (FIB), fibrinogen (FIB), albumin (ALB) and FAR among the 4 groups (statistical values were H=11.50, H=8.44, F=5.16, H=30.93, H=40.38; all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between FAR and the degree of cerebral artery stenosis ( r=0.455, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that FAR was an independent risk factor for the degree of cerebral artery stenosis ( OR=1.445, 95% CI=1.261-1.655, P<0.001). Conclusion:FAR is an independent risk factor for cerebral artery stenosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and may be a new biomarker for predicting cerebral artery stenosis.