ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrical stimulation at the rabbit sciatic nerve trunk with the body-insulated acupuncture needle whose body is painted with insulating material. METHODS: Eighteen male New Zealand rabbits were randomized into the body-insulated acupuncture needle (BIAN), the general acupuncture needle (GAN), and the blank control groupsï¼with 6 rabbits in each group. The rats'sciatic nerve trunks in BIAN and GAN groups were stimulated by electroacupuncture with the body-insulated acupuncture needle (only allowing the uncoated needle handle and tip to conduct electricity) and the general acupuncture needle, separately. The current intensity was recorded when regular plantarflexion reflexes (sciatic nerve effector reflexes) were observed in the rabbit's foot. The pathological changes of the sciatic nerve at the acupuncture site were observed by H.E. staining, and the ultrastructural changes of the sciatic nerve trunk were observed by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The intensity of the current causing the regular plantar flexion reflection in BIAN group (ï¼»0.29±0.07ï¼½ mA) was significantly lower than that in the GAN group(ï¼»0.86±0.08ï¼½ mA, P<0.01). H.E. staining revealed nerve axon degeneration, forming eosinophilic bodies, nerve fiber edema, and focal loss of myelin sheath in the GAN group. While the nerve fiber damage was not obvious, and axons were only degenerated in a few areas in the BIAN group. Transmission electron microscopy observations showed that the nerve myelin sheath structure was separated, the layers were arranged disorderly and bubbled in the GAN group. while the nerve myelin sheath structure of the BIAN group was normal, and it presents a concentric circle-like light and dark lamellar structure, with fewer myelin vacuoles and fissures, only a small part of the mitochondria, microfilaments, and microtubules of the nerve axons were abnormal, and the overall vacuole-like degeneration was significantly reduced, with few of the myelinated fibers were slightly degenerated, and axonal disease was not obvious. CONCLUSION: Insulated acupuncture needle is more accurate and safer than ordinary acupuncture needle for electrical stimulation of rabbit sciatic nerve trunk, and the required electric current intensity is smaller.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Electroacupuncture , Tics , Animals , Electric Stimulation , Male , Rabbits , Rats , Sciatic NerveABSTRACT
Objective@#To evaluate the service competence of 99 smoking cessation clinics in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide reference for the improvement. @*Methods@#The questionnaire, prepared by Tobacco Control Office of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, was used to investigate all the smoking cessation clinics in Zhejiang Province, to score the basic and developmental indicators, and to assess the qualified rates ( basic indicators >50 points and total scores >60 points ). @*Results@#There were 99 smoking cessation clinics, with 52 in secondary hospitals and 47 in tertiary hospitals. The overall assessment scored from 11 to 96 points, with an average of ( 53.99±16.56 ) points. The smoking cessation clinics in secondary and tertiary hospitals scored ( 53.92±15.88 ) points and ( 54.06±17.45 ) points. The scores of basic and developmental indicators were ( 45.66±12.16 ) points and ( 8.33±5.39 ) points, with the scoring rates of 65.23% and 27.77%. The overall assessment of 43 smoking cessation clinics were qualified and the rate was 43.43%, which was 44.23% in secondary hospitals and 42.55% in tertiary hospitals. @*Conclusion@#The qualified rate of smoking cessation clinics in Zhejiang Province was 43.43%, which was similar between second hospitals and tertiary hospitals.
