Influence of knee extension in sitting position with hip adduction on surface EMG of quadriceps muscles in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome / 医用生物力学

Objective To investigate the possible effect of fully knee extension in sitting position with or without hip adduction on quadriceps imbalance in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) by using surface electromyography (sEMG). Methods sEMG signals of vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscles from 30 patients with PFPS as PFPS group and 30 healthy subjects as control group were collected, during their fully knee extension in sitting position with or without hip adduction. All the EMG data were then analyzed by extracting time domain indexes, namely, the root mean square (RMS) and integrated EMG (IEMG), to compare the balanced relationship between VL and VMO muscles. Results In PFPS group, there were no significant differences in VL time domain indexes during knee extension in sitting position with or without hip adduction, while statistical differences were found in VMO time domain indexes, and values of RMS and IEMG of VMO were higher under hip adduction, which indicated that the VMO muscle recruitment was strengthened. Conclusions Fully knee extension in sitting position with hip adduction can promote EMG activities of VMO muscles in patients with PFPS, which will help to balance the VL and VMO muscles.

Study of copper metabolism and liver damage in TX Mice-an animal model for liver disease / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide right time points in selection of right aged animals and the normal physiological data of TX mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>7-12 months old TX and DL mice were studied, each group contained 3 female and 3 male mice of TX or DL mice. The concentration of copper in the serum, dry tissues (liver, brain and kidney), together with copper biochemistry indexes were measured. The liver histopathology was observed under light microscopy and electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transaminase increased significantly only in 10 and 11-month- old (AST(TX10) = 218.3 U/L, AST(TX11) = 197.5 U/L, AST(DL10) = 171.5 U/L, AST(DL11) = 165.0 U/L, P(10) less than 0.001, P(11) = 0.022), but the copper concentration of liver, brain and kidney was significantly increased during 7-12 month old (the average concentration of copper, Liver(TX) = (750.0 +/- 85.5) mg/kg, Brain(TX) = (39.7 +/- 2.2)mg/kg, Kidney(TX) = (29.8 +/- 5.0) mg/kg, Liver(DL) = (11.6 +/- 1.5) mg/kg, Brain(DL) = (16.8 +/- 0.9) mg/kg, Kidney(DL) = (14.2 +/- 1.0) mg/kg, t = 21.16, 23.60, 7.47, for all these organs P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TX mice is a suitable model of liver disease with natural recovery, so selecting animal model of suitable time point is very important.</p>

Electroacupuncture treatment of chronic insomniacs / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Due to the quick rhythm of life and work pressure, more and more people suffer from sleep quality problems. In this study, we investigated the effect of electroacupuncture on sleep quality of chronic insomniacs and the safety of electroacupuncture therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four courses of electroacupuncture treatment were applied to 47 patients. With pre-treatment and post-treatment self-control statistical method, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were used for evaluating sleep quality. Polysomnogram was used for detecting insomniacs' changes in sleep architecture. The safety of electroacupuncture was evaluated by monitoring the self-designed adverse events and side effects during treatment and post-treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Electroacupuncture considerably improved insomniacs' sleep quality and social function during the daytime. Electroacupuncture had certain repairing effect on the disruption in sleep architecture. At the same time, electroacupuncture prolonged slow wave sleep (SWS) time and relatively rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) time. There was no hangover, addiction or decrements in vigilance during the daytime (incidence rate was 0). However, insomnia rebound rate was about 23% within one month.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results suggest that electroacupuncture has beneficial effect on sleep quality improvement in the patients with chronic insomnia, which may be associated with repairing sleep architecture, reconstructing sleep continuity, as well as prolonging SWS time and REM sleep time. Electroacupuncture treatment for chronic insomnia is safe. Therefore, electroacupuncture therapy could be a promising avenue of treatment for chronic insomnia.</p>

The clinical effect of iontophoresis of hyaluronidase in treating infants with congenital muscular torticollis / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To observe the clinical effects of hyaluronidase iontophoresis in the treatment of in- fants with congenital muscular torticollis(CMT).Methods Fifty infants with congenital muscular torticollis were divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group.Manual stretching was performed with both groups,while hyaluronidase iontophoresis was also administered to those in the treatment group.The range of side-flexion and rota- tion of the neck was examined at the beginning of and after 1 and 2 months of treatment.At the end of the treatment, the overall outcome was assessed according to a scoring system.Results There was no significant difference be- tween the two groups at admission.Compared with the control group,the range of side-flexion and rotation of the neck,and the overall treatment outcome were all significantly better in the treatment group after treatment.Conclu- sion Hyaluronidase iontophoresis can effectively improve function in infants with CMT and alleviate their symptoms.