Effects of warming-reinforcing acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on the early motor function of hemiparalysis patients caused by ischemic brain stroke: a randomized and controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the improvement function of warming-reinforcing acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on the early motor function of hemiparalysis patients caused by ischemic brain stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases were randomly divided into a warming-reinforcing acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training group (group A) and a rehabilitation training group (group B), 40 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with internal routine treatment. The Motor Relearning Program rehabilitation was used in group B, while warming-reinforcing acupuncture combined with Motor Relearning Program rehabilitation were used in group A. Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected, and warming-reinforcing method was used in these points, they were treated for 3 weeks. The neurological functional deficits scores of hemiparalysis patients, Fugl-Meyer Score, Motor Function Assessment Score (MAS), Barthel Index and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to evaluate the condition of hemiparalysis patients before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The effective rate of group A (87.5%, 35/40) superior to that of group B (67.5%, 27/40) (P < 0.05). The neurological functional deficit scores, Fugl-Meyer score, MAS and Barthel Index of both groups were improved after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the improved degree of group A was better than that of group B (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is obvious improvement function of warming-reinforcing acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on the early motor function of hemiparalysis patients caused by ischemic brain stroke, and the function is better than that of simple rehabilitation training.</p>

Observation on short-term and long-term therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture at Houxi (SI 3) on acute lumbar sprain / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture at Houxi (SI 3) and medicine on acute lumbar sprain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred cases of acute lumbar sprain were randomly divided into two groups, a electroacupuncture (EA) group and a medication group, 150 cases in each group. The EA group were treated with EA at Houxi (SI 3), once each day, 3 sessions constituting one course, and the medication group with Mobike, once daily, 7. 5 mg each time. Their therapeutic effects were evaluated after treatment for 7 days and one month respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For the short-term therapeutic effect, the effective rate was 97. 3% in the EA group and 89. 2% in the medication group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01); for the long-term therapeutic effect, the effective rate was 99. 3% in the EA group and 93. 2% in the medication group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both the short-term and the long-term therapeutic effects of EA at Houxi (SI 3) on acute lumbar sprain are better than those in the medication group.</p>

Automatic decompression with micro-catheter for open and tension pneumothorax / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of treating pneumothorax with automatic intermittent decompression with micro-catheter instead of traditional thorax water sealed drainage (TWSD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The automatic decompression instrument (ADI), which decompressed intermittently with programmed control, was designed and assembled by the authors (Patent No. ZL 01242081.6). A prospective study of the efficacy of this device was conducted in 87 pneumatothorax cases, and the results were compared with those of TWSD.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average time of closure in ADI group was 4.12+/-0.98 days, which was significantly shorter than that with TWSD (6.83+/-2.06 days, P<0.01). The incidence of complications was also significantly lower in ADI patients (P<0.01), and none of them developed severe complications. Clinical cure was achieved in all the patients in ADI group except for two patients who gave up treatment voluntarily and one transferred for open surgery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Application of ADI allows faster healing and safer and easier operation, and causes fewer complications and less pain with shortened hospital stay as compared with conventional therapy for open and tension pneumothorax.</p>