ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe any effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on urodynamics and bladder c-Kit expression in rats with urination disorders after spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:Complete spinal cord injury models were created in female Sprague-Dawley rats by transecting the spine at the thoracic or sacral level. On day 22 after the injury, the rats with successful modeling were randomized into a thoracic spinal cord injury (TSCI) group, a TSCI+ EA group, a sacral spinal cord injury (SSCI) group and an SSCI+ EA group, each of 10. Both EA groups were given 15 minutes of EA at the Guanyuan (CV4) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points daily for 14 days. After the intervention, urination function was evaluated using bladder volume, compliance and residual urine volume. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe any morphological changes in bladder tissues. The gene and protein expression of c-Kit in bladder tissues were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions and western blotting.Results:Compared with the sham group, the bladder volume and compliance of the TSCI group decreased significantly, while the average residual urine volume increased significantly. In the SSCI group the average residual urine volume, bladder volume and compliance all increased significantly. The modeling altered the morphology of the bladder in all of the SCI rats. The average expression of c-Kit mRNA and protein increased significantly in TSCI group, but both decreased significantly in the SSCI group. EA improved the histological structure of the SCI rats′ bladders.Conclusions:EA can bi-directionally regulate bladder c-Kit expression, and that is a possible mechanism for improving urinary incontinence and urine retention after an SCI.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the proper methods of acupuncture and moxibustion for controlling body weight and their objects. Methods: 274 outpatients were allocated to 3observation groups: obesity, overweight and normal, using standard weight as an index. The obesity group was divided, at a ratio of 1: 1: 3, into 3 groups: fixed prescription, local treatment and treatment based on syndrome differentiation. The syndromes were classified into five types in the syndrome differentiation group. Different protocols of acupuncture and moxibustion plus auricular-plaster therapy were drawn up for treatment. Body mass index (BMI), body fat (F%),body circumferences and subcutaneous fat were evaluated in the patients before and after treatments. Results: There was a difference in the controlling effect of acupuncture on body weight among different populations. The curative effect was better in the obesity and overweight groups than in the normal group; the effective rate was 72.2%, 72.5% and 44.0%, respectively.There was also a difference in curative effect among obesity patients with different types of syndromes. The curative effects on retention of damp-heat in the stomach, stagnation of liver qi and dampness retention due to splenic hypofunction were equal but all better than those on deficiency of splenonephric yang and intemal heat due to yin deficiency. There was also a difference in curative effect among different protocols. The curative effects in the syndrome differentiation-based treatment and fixed prescription groups were equal (77.8%) but all better than that in the local treatment group (53.3%). Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion is an effective way to treat obesity and overweight. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation and fixed prescription on the basis of syndrome differentiation are effective methods.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To overcome shortcomings in use of bed sheet,and to improve it for examining bed.METHODS Based on the working principle of the reel toilet paper and industrial drive belt,a reel device for(disposable) whole bed sheet was designed,and used on the bed examining more than 300 times.(RESULTS) The new designed reel aevice with disposable whole bed sheet was operated easy and safely,with decreased cost and(contamination) in use.It could alleviate infection opportunity in favor of control againt hospital infection and(environmental) protection.(CONCLUSIONS) The device can mount on any size of examining bed and widely accept for use.