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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore a safe and effective method for the treatment of low back pain in the cutaneous nerve, and to clarify the indication of Pi needle to treat it.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2003 to December 2004, 278 patients with cutaneous nerve entrapment low back pain were divided into two groups: Pi needle group and electrical stimulation group. In the Pi needle group, there were 68 males and 70 females, ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old, with an average of(41.92±10.88)years old. In the electrical stimulation group, there were 68 males and 72 females, ranging in age from 18 to 60 years old, with an average of(41.44±10.47) years old. The pain, tenderness and soft tissue tension of the two groups were measured and compared before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the selected cases were qualified. No suspension, culling and shedding cases occurred in either group. In Pi needle group, visual analog scale(VAS) of pain decreased from 8.78±1.52 before treatment to 1.33±1.33 after treatment;and in electrical stimulation group, VASof pain decreased from 8.59±1.76 before treatment to 5.20±2.64 after treatment;and the VAS of pain of the Pi needle group was lower than that of the electrical stimulation group. In Pi needle group, VAS of tenderness decreased from 9.12±1.24 before treatment to 1.60±1.36 after treatment;and in electrical stimulation group, VAS of pain decreased from 8.79±1.60 before treatment to 5.34±2.60 after treatment;and the VAS of pain of the Pi needle group was lower than that of the electrical stimulation group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Once tissue texture changes to pain point, cord, nodules, Pi needle is the first line treatment for the cutaneous nerve entrapment low back pain.</p>
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Objective To observe influence of atorvastatin combining with berberine on blood cholesterol level and carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with acute artery atherosclerosis cerebral infarction disease. Methods Fif-ty-five cases of acute cerebral infarction patients were randomized into 3 groups: group A (n=28), group B (n=11) and group C (n=16). Group A, B or C received atorvastatin 20 mg (qn), atorvastatin 40 mg (qn) or atorvastatin 20 mg (qn) +berberine 0.4 g (tid), respectively. All groups were then followed up for 3 months. The total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C and the changes of carotid atherosclerotic plaques including total plaque area (TPA), crouse score,carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the stability of carotid plaques as well as the serum levels of creatinine(Scr), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), were compared among three groups. Results After 3 months, the TC, TG and LDL-C were de-creased in all three groups. There were statistically significant differences in the TC and LDL-C among these three groups (P=0.011,P=0.033) after treatment. The compliance rate of group C (75.0%) was significantly higher than group A ( 32.1% ) and group B (45.5%) in LDL-C (P=0.026). Both berberine combining with atorvastatin and atorvastatin monotherapy(20mg could significantly reduce crouse score. Conclusions Berberine can significantly enhance the benefi-cial effects of atorvastatin on LDL-C and the crouse score in patients with acute artery atherosclerosis cerebral infarction patients.
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Recent studies have indicated that periodontal diseases have close relationship with ischemic stroke.Periodontal diseases are not only closely associated with the risk factors for ischemic stroke,such as hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,and hyperhomocysteinemia,but also closely associated with the formation and development of atherosclerotic plaques.Furthermore,periodontal diseases also affect neurological deficits and cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke.This article reviews the relationship between periodontal diseases and ischemic stroke as well as its possible mechanism.