[Randomized controlled clinical trials of red-hot filiform needle puncturing for knee ostarthritis and inflammatory cytokines in knee articular fluid in senile knee ostarthritis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of red-hot filiform needle puncturing on the pain severity of knee ostarthritis (OA) and the inflammatory cytokine levels in the knee articular cavity (KAC) fluid in senile knee OA patients so as to find a better therapy for knee OA. METHODS: A total of 200 senile knee OA outpatients (who signed an informed consent) were randomized into treatment group and control group (n = 100/group) according to a random number table and their visiting sequence. Futu (LI 18), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. on the affected side of the body were punctured with red-hot filiform needles (cauterized on an alcohol burner) or routine filiform needles, with the needles retained for 30 min. The treatment was conducted once every other day, 15 sessions altogether. Before and after the treatment, the patients' KAC fluid was sampled for assaying the contents of IL-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pain severity was tested by using visual analogue scale (VAS) and the comprehensive therapeutic effect was evaluated by using clinical symptoms and signs, functional activity and pain degrees. RESULTS: In comparison with pre-treatment, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha contents in KAC fluid were decreased significantly in both treatment and control groups (P < 0.01). The IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were considerably lower in the treatment group than in the control group following the treatment (P < 0.01), suggesting a marked relief of inflammation in the affected knee joint. Compared to pre-treatment, the severity scores of illness state of both treatment and control groups were decreased remarkably (P < 0.01), and the VAS score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group after the treatment (P < 0.05). Of the two 100 knee OA outpatients in the treatment and control groups, 29 (29%) and 21 (21%) were controlled in their symptoms and signs; 46 (46%) and 34 (34%) experienced apparent improvement; 18 (18%) and 29 (29%) were effective; 7 (7%) and 16 (16%) failed in the treatment. The comprehensive therapeutic effect of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Red-hot filiform needle puncturing is superior to routine filiform needle puncturing in relieving senile knee OA and in reducing inflammatory cytokine levels in knee OA patients.

[The development of fire-needle and the improvement of its application].

Based on the literature research on the development and application of fire-needle, the materials, the manufacturing process and application in clinic practices were studied. The major type, application and the representative experts of fire-needle in the contemporary era were summarized in this paper. The application fire-needle is more and more expanding in clinic practices, and the modern type of fire-needle should be promoted at present.

[Development and study of three-dimensional CT scanning system for dental cast measurement and analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a computer assisted CT scanning system for 3D dental cast measurement and to study its reliability. METHODS: 20 dental stone casts were scanned by helical CT and captured a series digital sliced radiographs of them. The program which was developed by Visual C 6.0 language and run under the Windows surroundings rebuilt the 3D graphics and measured the coordinate of the dental cast. These dental casts were scanned and measured to test the reliability of the system, contrasting with manual measurement. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between 3D CT scanning and manual measurement (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The system is a valuable computer assisted system for clinical diagnosis and treatment of malocclusion.