ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of scalp acupuncture combined with cognitive therapy on cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. Methods:From June, 2016 to October, 2017, 60 patients with cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into scalp acupuncture group (n = 20), cognitive training group (n = 20) and combined group (n = 20), who accepted their own therapies for 40 times. They were assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. Results:All the groups improved in the scores of MMSE, MoCA and MBI after treatment (F > 21.923, P < 0.001), which were the best in the combined group (F > 3.423, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Combination of scalp acupuncture and cognitive training is more effective on cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the feasibility of a novel Ni-Ti shape memory alloy vertebral reduction fixator for treating vertebral compression fractures. Methods The experimental thoracic-lumbar fracture units made from adult fresh-frozen cadaver vertebral specimens were randomly assigned to 3 groups for testing: control group, percutaneous kyphoplasty group (PKP group) and percutaneous vertebral body reduction fixator group (Ni-Ti fixator group). The vertebral height and peak load on the specimens were measured before and after the two kinds of operations, respectively, to compare the restoration of compression fractures. Results Compared with the control group, both the PKP and Ni-Ti fixator groups could significantly restore the collapse of the vertebral endplate. The vertebral height of the PKP group and Ni-Ti fixator group was raised from (2.01±0.21) and (2.00±0.18)cm before the operation to (2.27±0.18) and (2.31±0.17) cm after the operation, respectively. The peak loads on the vertebrae for the PKP and Ni-Ti fixator group were (2 880.75±126.17) and (2 888.00±144.69) N, respectively, with no statistical differences found in between, while those for the control group were (2 017.17±163.71) N. Conclusions The Ni-Ti shape memory alloy vertebral reduction fixator can effectively restore the collapse of the vertebral endplate, maintaining the immediate biomechanical stability of the vertebrae, and reducing the adverse reactions due to the injection of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cement during percutaneous kyphoplasty.