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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of neck point Bailao injection as main therapy plus acupuncture for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Method Two hundred patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly allocated to treatment (neck point Bailao injection as main therapy plus acupuncture) and control (oral administration of Western medicines, e.g. nonsteroid diclofenac sodium as a main drug and meanwhile, mecobalamin tablets) groups. The therapeutic effects and pre-/post-treatment changes in clinical symptoms and signs, TCM syndrome, pains and numbness were observed in the two groups. Result The total efficacy rate was 86.0%in the treatment group and 75.0%in the control group;there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was higher in the treatment group than in the control group. There were statistically significant differences in pre-/post-treatment clinical symptom and sign score difference values between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01), indicating that the symptoms and signs improved more in the treatment group than in control group. Conclusion Both treatments can improve the clinical symptoms and signs and relieve pains in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, but neck point Bailao injection as main therapy plus acupuncture is more effective than oral administration of Western medicines.
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Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the SF-36 health survey questionnaire used to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of the patients undergoing tibial bone transport.Methods Reliability analysis,correlation analysis and validity analysis were performed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the SF-36 scale.According to treatment time,94 patients who underwent tibial bone transport were divided into 3 groups:group A were 30 patients who had just started bone transport,group B 43 patients who had completed bone transport and removal of external fixation within 2 years,and group C 21 patients who had completed bone transport and removal of external fixation beyond 2 years.A mean comparison of items in the SF-36 scale was further carried out.Results The questionnaires were completed well.The Chonbach α indexes of all the items were more than 0.8,showing good reliability of the scale.Most of the correlation coefficients were almost or more than 0.5,indicating acceptable content validity of the scale.The QOL of the patients undergoing tibial bone transport was differentiated from that of normal people,proving good discriminant validity of the scale.Groups B and C obtained significantly better scores in all items of the scale than group A (P ＜ O.05).Group C scored significantly higher in physical functioning (PF) and role-emotional (RE) than group B (P ＜ 0.05),but there were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding other items of the scale (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions With good reliability and validity,the SF-36 health survey questionnaire can be used to assess the QOL of the patients undergoing tibial bone transport.The treatment of bone transport in the tibia can significantly and durably help improve the QOL of the patients.
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ObjectiveTo testify the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) based on brain-gutinteraction.MethodEighty D-IBS patients were randomized into brain-gut interacted acupuncture group (treatment group) and a group with acupoints selected based on conventional syndrome differentiation (control group), 40 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture by selecting the thirteen ghost acupoints (invented by SUN Si-miao) plus Tianshu (ST25), Dachangshu (BL25), etc., while the control group was by acupuncture based on conventional point selection, including Zusanli (ST36),Tianshu (ST25), Dachangshu (BL25), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), etc., three times a week, and 10 sessions as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were evaluated after 2 treatment courses.ResultThe two groups were generally equal to each other incomparing each dimension of the Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) before treatment, while the scores were increased after treatment in both groups; the treatment group was significantly superior to the controlgroup in comparing the scores ofrole-physical,bodily pain, general health, vitality, social role functioning, and reported health transition from the SF-36 (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture based on brain-gut interaction can produce a more significant effect in treating D-IBS compared to conventional acupuncture.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of acupoint application with direct current in treating ankylosing spondylitis. MethodA clinical controlled trial was carried out. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group was given acupoint application with direct current plus sulfasalazine and the control group, sulfasalazine alone. The course of treatment was two months. Inflammation indices, and the SF-36 health survey, BASDI, BASFI, night pain VAS and spinal pain VAS scores, and liver and kidney functions were observed in the patients before and after treatment.ResultInflammation indices, and the SF-36 health survey, BASDI, BASFI, night pain VAS and spinal pain VAS scores took a turn for the better in both groups after treatment. The therapeutic effect was better and the TCM symptom score was lowerin the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionAcupoint application with direct current for treating winter diseases in summer has a therapeutic effect on ankylosing spondylitis.
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Objective To study the relationship between the cardiac markers in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and quality of life (QOL) six months later.Methods N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP),cardiac troponin I (cTnI),creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB)and myoglobin(Myo) was tested in 76 patients with STEMI on admission(0 h) and 24 h after admission.QOL six months later was evaluated by using the SF-36 health survey questionnaire.The relationship between the cardiac markers and QOL was analyzed by multivariate linear regression analysis.Results The total SF-36 scores and the scores of physical function,body pain and general health showed negative linear correlation with NT-proBNP on admission (0 h) and 24 h after admission (P ＜ 0.05).The total SF-36 scores and the scores of physical function and body pain showed negative linear correlation with cTnI on admission (0 h)and 24 h after admission (P ＜ 0.05).The total SF-36 scores and the scores of body pain showed negative linear correlation with CK-MB on 24 h after admission (P ＜ 0.05).The scores of vitality showed negative linear correlation with Myo on admission (0 h) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The higher levels of NT-proBNP,cTnl and CK-MB indicate the lower QOL six months later.
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Objective To identify the emergency factors associated with health-related quality of life(HRQOL)6 months after acute myocardial infarction.Methods HRQOL was assessed in 89 emergency patients 6 months after acute myocardial infarction,using the SF-36 health survey questionnaire.Multivariate linear regression analysis and analysis of covariance were applied to data analysis to identify the emergency factors associated with HRQOL.Results The sum scores of the SF-36 health survey and scores on 4 of the 8 dimensions showed negative linear correlation with age(P