Anatomical Risk Factors of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Nowadays, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has been one of the most common diseases of the knee joint. The relationships between the ACL injury and the anatomical structures are still controversial. This study aimed to identify the anatomical risk factors of ACL injury by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee.@*Methods@#This was a retrospective study of 125 patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction between July 2013 and May 2017. Another 125 patients without any organic knee joint injury were served as controls. The shape of intercondylar notch, the intercondylar notch width index, the intercondylar notch height index, the α angle, the β angle, and the medial and lateral tibial plateau slope were measured with MRI and compared. The data were compared by binary logistic regression to find the risk factors.@*Results@#The two groups differed in the proportion of male patients (70.4% vs. 52.0%, χ = 8.911, P = 0.003), but gender was excluded as a risk factor for ACL injury with regression analysis (odds ratio = 1.476, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.689-3.160, P = 0.317). The injured group was found to have a smaller notch width index (95% CI = 7.960E-23-2.154E-9, P 7.5°), and larger β angle (>38.5°) might be the factors associated with ACL injury.@*Trial Registration@#ChiCTR-RRC-17014116; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=24119.

Clinical observation on common peroneal nerve palsy treated with comprehensive therapy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference of the clinical efficacy on common peroneal palsy between the comprehensive therapy of electroacupuncture, moxibustion and moving cupping method and western medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety cases of common peroneal nerve palsy were randomized into a comprehensive therapy group and a western medication group, 45 cases in each one. In the comprehensive therapy group, electroacupuncture was applied to Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Jiexi (ST 41), Taichong (LR 3), Zulinqi (GB 41) and the others, combined with warm moxibustion and moving cupping on the lateral side of the affected leg. The comprehensive therapy was used once a day. In the western medication group, vitamin B1 , 10 mg each time, 3 times a day; and mecobalamine, 0. 5 mg each time, three times a day were prescribed for oral administration. In the two groups, 15 days made one session, and the efficacy was observed after 2 sessions treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate of the improvement of sensory function and motor nerve function was 97. 8% (44/45) in the comprehensive therapy group and was 82. 2% (37/ 45) in the western medication. The efficacy in the comprehensive therapy group was better than that of the western medication (P<0. 01). The electrophysiological examination showed that the amplitude of motor conduction of deep peroneal nerve and that of sensory conduction of surficial peroneal nerve after treatment were improved remarkably as compared with those before treatment in the comprehensive therapy group (both P<0. 05). The amplitude of motor conduction of deep peroneal nerve was improved significantly in the comprehensive therapy group as compared with that in the western medication group (P<0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The comprehensive therapy of electroacupuncture, moxibustion and moving cupping method achieves the significant efficacy on common peroneal nerve palsy as compared with western medication.</p>

Clinical observation of the impacts and safety of electroacupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on labor / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts of electroacupuncture (EA) at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on labor and assess its safety.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The random and single-blind method was adopted to divide 111 cases of the puerperas of natural delivery into an EA group (38 cases), a sham-acupuncture group (37 cases) and a blank control group (36 cases). In EA group, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) was selected and stimulated with Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS). In the sham-acupuncture group, the puerperas were stimulated only with the needle tube, needle removed in advance and they felt subjectively to be needled. Afterward, the filiform needle was attached to Sanyinjiao (SP 6) with the needle tip wrapped with the adhesive plaster in advance, then HANS which one conducting wire was cut off in was connected. In the blank control group, no any treatment was applied, but the same indices were recorded at corresponding time points. The blood pressure and the heart rate of the puerperas as well as the heart rate of fetus were measured in 20 min of EA and 30 min after needle removal in three groups separately. The bleeding 24 h after labor and 1 min Apger score of the newborns were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In EA group, the active phase of the 1st labor stage ((4.38 +/- 1.76)h) was shorter than that ((5.28 +/- 2.41)h) in the blank control group and that ((5.38 +/- 2.36)h) in the sham-acupuncture group, presenting statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). In the latent phase of the 1st labor stage and the 2nd and 3rd stages, in the comparison of the blood pressure and the heart rate of the puerperas as well as the heart rate of fetus after EA, the bleeding 24 h after labor and 1 min Apger score of the newborns among three groups, there were no statistically significant differences (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) can shorten the duration of the active phase of the 1st labor stage. It is safe for either the puerpera or the fetus and can assist the parturition quality in clinic.</p>

Effects of acupuncture on the expression of Cx43 in different acupoints of rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differences of the expression of Cx43 in rats' acupoints and sham-acupoint when needled blocks, and explore the relatively specificity of acupoints.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: an acupuncture group and a control group, ten in each group. The rats in the control group were not treated and sacrificed directly to by air embolism; the rats in the acupuncture group were needled at "Neiguan (PC 6)", "Zusanli (ST 36)", "Dazhui (GV 14)" and "Guanyuan (CV 4)", Sham-acupoints were on 1 cm next to each of the above acupoints and "Yongquan (KI 1)" were needled by hand manipulation, retented needles for 30 min, then all the rats were sacrificed by air embolism. With the rats fixed, the tissue blocks at the acupoints and sham-acupoints were collected, then quick-frozen and cut into sections. The sections were stained by immunohistochemical method (Cx43).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of the rats' Cx43 at the acupoints was significantly higher than that at the non-points in both groups (all P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 at the acupoints in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of Cx43 at acupoints and non-points is significantly different, which indicates that the acupoints are actually existed and have relatively specificity.</p>

Analysis and strategy report on overseas large-scale systematic evaluation on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture / 中国针灸

In recent years, studies of large-scale systematic evaluation on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture were carried out in overseas. The literatures were conducted in Cochrane Library and overseas journals about systematic review of clinical effectiveness of acupuncture. The Cochrane Library contained a series of systematic reviews for the treatment of 67 kinds of diseases by acupuncture in 2009. Preliminary evaluations of clinical effectiveness of acupuncture on 37 kinds of disease were conducted. The results indicated that acupuncture therapy was effective for 7 kinds of disease, such as idiopathic headache, neck disorders, glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting, primary dysmenorrhoea with TENS and knee osteoarthritis with TENS. However, these studies still need improved research designs and sufficient research evidence. The results also indicated that acupuncture was indecisive for the other 30 kinds of disease because of insufficient evidence. Through analysis, results of most systematic reviews indicated that there were no significant difference between therapeutic effects of acupuncture treatment and pseudo-acupuncture treatment. Effect of acupuncture treatment was equivalent to therapeutic effect of placebo. The likely reasons may be that some important clinical factors are disregarded in these researches, such as selection of acupoints, treatment with syndrome differentiation, the angel and depth of needle insertion, the proper time for treatment and so on. Therefore, the large-scale systematic evaluation on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture was criticized by acupuncturists. Thus, the pressing problem is to establish a rational evaluation system of clinical acupuncture. The suggestions are strengthening the research on diagnosis and treatment standard, strengthening the quality control of clinical acupuncture and establishing sound acupuncture control group and placebo acupuncture group. The basic researches on the relationship between diseases and acupoints need to be strengthened in order to explore the mechanism of acupoints reaction on diseases.

Clinical observation on acupuncture for treatment of reflux esophagitis of heat stagnation of liver and stomach type / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture for treatment of reflux esophagitis of heat stagnation of liver and stomach type.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-one cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (31 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). The acupuncture group was treated with needles at Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Weishu (BL 21) and Neiguan (PC 6) mainly, once a day; and the medication group was treated with oral administration of 20 mg Omeprazole, once a day. The scores of clincial symptoms, comprehensive therapeutic effect, results of gastroscopy and pathology as well as recurrence rate etc. were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the scores of symptoms significantly decreased in the two groups (both P < 0.01). The total effective rate of the acupuncture group was 90.3% (28/31), and 90.0% (27/30 )in the medication group, there was no statistical difference between two groups (P > 0.05); results of gastroscopy and esophageal mucosa pathology showed no statistical difference between two groups (both P > 0.05), the recurrence rate 12 weeks after treatment of 9.1% in the acupuncture group was lower than that of 42.9% in the medication grou p (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture has preferable short and long-term therapeutic effects for treatment of reflux esophagitis of heat stagnation of liver and stomach type.</p>

Study on effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of GnRH in the rat at different estrous cycles / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the specific regulative law of electroacupuncture (EA) for the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The adult female SD rats were divided into a simulant EA group, Guanyuan (CV 4) group and Neiguan (PC 6) group according to 4 stages of the estrous cycle. Acupuncture was given from 9 : 30 AM to 10 : 00 AM and the brain tissue samples were collected at 15 : 00 PM. GnRH expressions in the nuclei related with genital neuroendocrine in the hypothalamus were investigated with immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The GnRH expression quantity was different in different estrous cycles in the simulant EA group, with more expression in the proestrus and the estruation; (2) After acupuncture, the GnRH expressions in the medial preoptic area, the arcuate nuclei and the nuclei periventriculares were increased in different stages of the estrous cycle in varying degrees, with the "strong" GnRH expression increased significantly in the diestrus and the metaoestrus in the Guanyuan (CV 4) group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After EA, the expression of the GnRH-positive reactant in the medial preoptic area, the arcuate nuclei and the nuclei periventriculares of the hypothalamus significantly increases, with the Guanyuan (CV 4) group better than the Neiguan (PC 6) group, and more obvious expressions in the diestrus and the metaoestrus.</p>

Preliminary observation of acupoint-like and meridian-like structures on the body surface of the zebrafish / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe whether there are acupoint-like and meridian-like structures on the body surface of the zebrafish.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult zebrafish were put into a 10 micromol/L DiA water solution and then anaesthetized for observation under a fluorescent microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The labeled substance appeared in round bright spots and some of them gather together to form a cluster which distributed through the body surface orderly. The labeled clusters along the long axis of the body distributed in four lines, dorsal line, dorsal lateral line, lateral line and ventral line. The lateral line could be divided into two lines, lateral superior line and lateral inferior line; and the ventral line into ventral lateral line and ventral line based on their nerve connection under high power microscope.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sensory organs of the zebrafish distributed orderly and formed clusters appearing orderly in lines throughout the body surface, which are much like acupoints and meridians described in traditional Chinese medicine.</p>

Survey of development and present state of acupuncture and moxibustion literature abroad / 中国针灸

Statistics and analysis of the literature about academic studies of acupuncture and moxibustion 2006 ago are made by means of the authoritative medical literature data retrieving system MEDLINE, and the arrangement are made in order of the kinds of journals and the number of academic paper issued, so as to understand the survey of literature of acupuncture and moxibustion in the world and position of the literature of acupuncture and moxibustion of our country in the world.

Anti-arrhythmic effect of acupuncture pretreatment in the rat of myocardial ischemia the post-receptor signaling pathway of beta-adrenergic receptor / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe anti-arrhythmic effect of acupuncture pretreatment in the rat of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MIR) and to explore the role of cAMP and Gsa protein in beta-adrenergic receptor signaling.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MIR was produced by ligation and reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in the rat. Arrhythmic score, content of cAMP and Gsalpha protein in ischemic myocardium were compared among the normal control (NC), ischemia and reperfusion (IR), electroacupuncture (EA) and EA plus propranolol (EAP) groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The arrhythmic score in the IR group at 10 min after reperfusion was higher than the NC group (P < 0.01); in the EA group the score was decreased (P < 0.01 vs the IR group); the score in the EAP group was similar to the IR group, much higher than the EA group (P < 0.01). The similar results for the contents of cAMP and Gsalpha protein were found in the ischemic myocardium. It is suggested that EA pretreatment significantly attenuates the arrhythmic incidence rate and the enhancement of the contents of myocardial cAMP and Gsalpha protein induced by MIR, and the attenuating effect is significantly inhibited by the intraperitoneal pretreatment of propranolol, a specific beta-adrenoceptor antagonist.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pretreatment of EA can produce anti-arrhythmic effect in the rat of MIR, which is mediated by the post-receptor signaling pathway of beta-adrenergic receptor.</p>