Fire twinkling is the common method in cupping therapy. In the teaching materials of acupuncture and moxibustion, and the national standard, Standardized Manipulations of Acupuncture and Moxibustion-Part 5: Cupping Therapy, this cupping technique is operated by igniting an alcohol-soaked cotton ball held with a forceps, placing it inside the cup, taking it out after "turning around in several circles", and placing the cup on the selected area. Based on the clinical experience of chief physician LI Yan, a high-efficient and safe fire twinkling was developed. Clamping the middle part of the cotton ball with a holder, dipping it in 95% ethanol, and squeezing the cotton ball to ensure no ethanol drops left; holding the cup with the dominant hand and covering the ignited cotton ball vertically, removing the cup immediately when the ball touching the cup bottom. Such manipulation mode, "flame going in and out directly", can avoid the potential safety hazards such as residual ethanol left on the cup opening, overheating of cup opening and accidentally falling-off of the ignited cotton ball.
Humans ; Cupping Therapy/instrumentation* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Fires

Objective By comparing biomechanical properties of two-screw rod and three-screw rod for fixing pelvic fracture, the difference in mechanical effects of different screw rod fixation positions in pelvic minimally invasive surgery was studied.Methods The mechanical models of pelvis fixed by two-screw rod and three-screw rod were established, and biomechanical characteristics of the pelvis during standing on both legs, during single-legged standing on healthy side or affected side, as well as in sitting posture were compared and analyzed by finite element simulation, and the fixation effect of three-screw rod was verified by clinical experiments.Results Both fixation methods could restore mechanical transmission of the pelvis. But for three-screw rod fixation, the stress on both sides of the pelvis was more balanced, and the displacement of the whole body and fracture surface was also lower during single-legged standing.Conclusions The three-screw rod fixation has an excellent effect in stability, which is more beneficial for fracture recovery.

Objective To explore the effect of radiofrequency heating on type Ⅱ collagen expression in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis.Methods Knee osteoarthritis was induced in the right hind legs of 54 male rabbits using modified Hulth modeling.The rabbits were randomly divided into a model group which was not given any special treatment,a Lugua polypeptide group and a radiofrequency hyperthermia group.The Lugua polypeptide group was injected with Lugua polypeptide;the radiofrequency hyperthermia group was treated with radiofrequency irradiation.Six,12 and 18 days after the treatment,the morphological condition of the rats' right femoral medial condyle cartilages were evaluated using modified Mankins scoring and the type Ⅱ collagen content of the cartilage was detected using a quantitative PCR technique.Results At the same time points after treatment,the average Mankins scores were decreased in all the 3 groups,with that of the model group was significantly higher than those of both of the other groups,and the radiofrequency hyperthermia group's average score was significantly better than that of the Lugua polypeptide group.The average type Ⅱ collagen content was significantly increased in all the 3 groups to various extent (the radiofrequency hyperthermia group ＞ Lugua polypeptide group ＞ model group).For the radiofrequency hyperthermia group,the average Mankins score decreased significantly and the average type Ⅱ collagen content increased significantly as the treatment continued.Conclusion Radiofrequency hyperthermia is superior to Lugua polypeptide for treating knee osteoarthritis,at least in rabbits.Its therapeutic effectiveness may be related to a significant increase of type Ⅱ collagen in the cartilage.

Objective To explore the effect of radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia on the morphology of articular cartilage and any changes in serum-1 interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the process of knee osteoarthritis in rabbits.Methods Fifty-four male rabbits were selected and knee osteoarthritis was introduced to their right hind limbs using the modified Huhh model.They were then randomly divided into a model group,a cervus and cucumis polypeptide (CCP) group and a radiofrequency thermotherapy (RT) group,each of 18.The CCP group was injected with deer melon peptide intramuscularly.The RT group was given radiofrequency hyperthermia treatment.The model group was not provided with any special treatment.On the 7th,13th and 19th day of the treatment,6 rabbits in each group were sacrificed to resect the right medial femoral condyle cartilage.The morphological characteristics of the cartilage were evaluated using the modified Mankins score,while the content of IL-1βand TNF-α in the serum were detected using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISAs).Results At the same time points,the average Mankins score and the average content of IL-1βand TNF-α in the serum of the model group were significantly higher than in the CCP group,with the values in the latter group significantly higher than in the RT group.In the RT group,the average Mankins score,as well as the IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha levels in the serum,decreased significantly with longer treatment.Conclusion Radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia is superior to deer melon polypeptide in treating knee osteoarthritis,at least in rabbits.Its therapeutic mechanism may be related to the control of serum IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha levels.

AIM: To observe the effects of aspirin and prostaglandin E_2 (PGE_2) on the cell viability and cell cycle in SW1990 human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, and to investigate the mechanisms of aspirin-induced growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest. METHODS: After incubated with aspirin or PGE_2 and their combination, the viability of SW1990 cells was measured by MTT assay. The levels of intracellular PGE_2 were determined by ELISA. The effects of aspirin or PGE_2 on cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of p21~ Wafl/cipl and p27~ Kipl/pic2 (the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors) were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Aspirin could inhibit the growth of cells and level of intracellular PGE_2 in a dose-dependent manner. Aspirin enhanced the expression of p21~ Wafl/cipl and p27~ Kipl/pic2 and induced cell cycle arrest at G_0/G_1 phase. PGE_2 increased the cell viability of SW1990 cells. However, it couldn't antagonize the changes of cell viability and cell cycle that induced by aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: The inhibitory effects of aspirin on growth and cell cycle of pancreatic carcinoma cells might not be mediated by a COX-dependent pathway completely. Cell cycle arrest induced by aspirin might be associated with up-regulation of p21~ Wafl/cipl and p27~ Kipl/pic2 .