Intervention with thumbtack needling on spinal low back pain in Air Force crew: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect on spinal low back pain (SLBP) in Air Force crew treated with novel thumbtack needling therapy and to analyze the relevant factors of the therapeutic effect.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 Air Force crew with SLBP were randomized into a thumbtack needling group (40 cases), an external treatment group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off ) and a combined treatment group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the thumbtack needling group, the thumbtack needling therapy was adopted. The novel thumbtack needles were inserted at the lower No.6 region of the wrist-ankle acupuncture, Yaotongdian (EX-UE 7), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), etc. Each point was pressed and kneaded for 1 min each time, 3 or 4 times a day. The treatment for 3 days was taken as one course. At the interval of 2 days, 3 courses were required totally. In the external treatment group, @*RESULTS@#Compared with the values before treatment, McGill scores and ODI scores were reduced (@*CONCLUSION@#The thumbtack needling therapy is significantly effective on spinal low back pain in Air Force crew and is of the safety. Hence, this therapy is applicable to be promoted in the primary care army hospital.

Comparison of cosmic radiation doses contributed by photon and neutron for air crew between polar route and non-polar route flights / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To compare the cosmic radiation doses to air crew (including pilots and flight attendants) between polar route and non-polar route flights. Methods A typical polar flight route (Beijing-New York) was selected and compared with non-polar route, non-polar route was selected as control group. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeter and CR-39 solid track detector were used to measure the cosmic radiation dose to air crew. Results The annual mean effective dose to air crew from polar route and non-polar route was (5.79 ± 0.92)mSv/a and (2.14 ± 0.64)mSv/a, respectively.The 1000 h effective dose to air crew was (3.10 ± 0.27)mSv/kh and (2.21 ± 0.46)mSv/kh,respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups in either annual mean effective dose (t=30.25, P＜0.05) or 1000 h effective dose (t =7.60, P＜0.05). The doses of pilot groups were higher than that of flight attendants for either polar route ( t = 7.96, P ＜0.05) or non-polar route (t=4.70, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The effective dose to air crew from galactic cosmic radiation during polar route fight might be higher than that of non-polar route fight, however, it did not exceed 20 mSv/year,which is the limit of national standard.