[GAO Wei-bin's clinical experience of electric eye acupuncture and stagnant-moving needling for ophthalmopathy].

Professor GAO Wei-bin's clinical experience of electric eye acupuncture and stagnant-moving needling for ophthalmopathy was introduced. The indications of electric eye acupuncture and stagnant-moving needling include external ophtalmoplegia and visual impairment. Professor GAO has proposed new acupoints at the ocular muscles attachment of eyeball, and put forward five experience points: Shangming point, Neiming point, Xiaming point, Waiming point and Tijian point. The points are selected according to different pathological changes of ocular muscles. In the treatment of ophthalmopathy, the tendons and vessels are often regulated at the same time. Neiming point, Shangming point, Xiaming point and Qiuhou point are the main points, with Fengchi (GB 20) and Gongxue (Extra) as the matching points. In addition, attention is paid to the application of stagnant-moving needling and electroacupuncture (continuous dense wave, frequency of 50 Hz).

[Research progress in the integration of machine learning and acupunctology].

Machine learning is a newly emerged discipline. It develops rapidly and has been penetrated into all walks of life and made great achievements in medical field. The introduction of machine learning in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion should fully play the advantages of targeted therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion, optimize the resource allocation of traditional Chinese medicine and accurately serve the clinic rather than only limited to data mining and analysis. In the paper, through the analysis of the relevant literature in recent years, the combination of acupuncture-moxibustion with machine learning was discussed from the aspects of acupoint selection and prescription, clinical teaching application of acupuncture and moxibustion, the prediction on acupuncture curative effect, etc. Moreover, on the base of multidisciplinary intersection and by means of machine learning, the exploration was given on the future direction of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Adenovirus-mediated osteoprotegerin ameliorates cartilage destruction by inhibiting proteoglycan loss and chondrocyte apoptosis in rats with collagen-induced arthritis.

Our aim is to elucidate the effects of osteoproteogerin (OPG) on cartilage destruction in rats as a model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). To establish the CIA model, Sprague Dawley rats were injected with bovine type II collagen solution subcutaneously via the tails. Adenovirus-mediated OPG (Ad-OPG) was then injected intra-articularly either at the beginning of CIA (early OPG treatment) or one week after CIA establishment (late OPG treatment); vehicle or Ad-green fluorescent protein were injected as controls. The rats were killed 4 weeks after treatment. Ankle-joint sections were obtained for histology. Serum samples were collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Safranin O staining showed that proteoglycan loss was inhibited in the early and late Ad-OPG groups. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining revealed that both early and late Ad-OPG treatments significantly prevented chondrocyte apoptosis in CIA rats. Furthermore, disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif-5 expression decreased remarkably in the early and late OPG treatment groups. However, the cartilage destruction score, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein level and caspase-3 expression were only decreased in the early Ad-OPG treatment group. Additionally, ankle-joint swelling and the interleukin-1ß expression level in CIA rats were not notably altered by Ad-OPG treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that early Ad-OPG treatment has potent protective effects against cartilage destruction during rheumatoid arthritis progression, mainly by reducing proteoglycan loss and chondrocyte apoptosis.

[Modified funnel method transpedicular bone graft in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To explore efficacy of modified funnel method for transpedicular bone grafting in treating thoracolumbar vertebras fracture. METHODS: From May 2006 to November 2011, 35 patients (19 males and 16 females, ranged in age from 21 to 66 years with an average of 34.6 years) with thoracolumbar vertebras fracture were treated by posterior pedicle screw fixation, reduction and modified funnel method for transpedicular autogenous iliac bone grafting. Of the 35 cases, 9 cases were severe compression fracture and 26 cases were burst fracture. The anterior body height and Cobb's angle of injured vertebral were measured by X-ray; the effect of implantation bone and CT value were assessed by radiograph CT scan; Nerve function were evaluated according to Frankel's neurological function classification and back pain were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were followed up from 18 to 37 months with an average of 19.7 months. No nerve injuries aggravated, and 11 patients with partial nerve injuires preoperatively were improved at least 1 level recovery postoperatively; Breakage or loosen of screws were not found. Vertebral bone grafting filled well, bone fusion were got after 6 months' treatment and without cavity gap in grafting bone area. The anterior vertebral height was improved respectively from preoperative (50.17 +/- 8.26)% to postoperative (90.79 +/- 4.85)%, and (90.34 +/- 4.03)% at the final follow-up. The Cobb's angle improved from preoperative (28.7 +/- 6.24) degrees to postoperative (7.26 +/- 3.79) degrees, with (7.34 +/- 4.05) degrees at the final follow-up. CT value of injured vertebras at the final follow-up were significantly higher than adjacent vertebras'. The average VAS was 1.06. CONCLUSION: Posterior pedicle screw fixation, reduction and modified funnel method for transpedicular autogenous iliac bone grafting is a feasible and safe method for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebras fracture. It can effectively prevent bone loss of injured vertebral height, progressive deformity of kyphosis, and keep spinal movement function at the maximum.

[Study of TAT-PEG loaded magnetic liposomes crossing blood spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a kind of novel magnetic liposomes modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and transactivating-transduction protein (TAT) to cross the blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) so as to demonstrate whether or not they can accumulate at the lesions of injured spinal cord. METHODS: The novel liposomes were made through reverse-phase evaporation method modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and transactivating-transduction protein (TAT) with an iron core. Thirty-six Wistar rats subject to spinal cord injury (SCI) at T10 were randomly divided into three groups (Groups I, II and III). The rats of Group III were injected with TAT-PEG loaded magnetic liposomes (4.55 mg/kg). The rats of GroupII received an injection of the equivalent PEG loaded magnetic liposomes while those of control group (GroupI) the equivalent normal saline. The accumulation of liposomes was observed by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), Prussian blue staining, electron microscope and flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS: This kind of TAT-PEG loaded magnetic liposomes could cross the BSCB and enter into the cells around the injured tissue. A low signal of T2WI on MRI could also be found in Group III. The results of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer showed that the iron content accumulated around the lesion site in Group III was obviously higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The TAT-PEG loaded magnetic liposomes may be employed as one kind of novel drug carrier to cross the BSCB and accumulate at tissue cells of spinal cord. It is likely to become a new therapy for SCI.