[Intervention with thumbtack needling on spinal low back pain in Air Force crew: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect on spinal low back pain (SLBP) in Air Force crew treated with novel thumbtack needling therapy and to analyze the relevant factors of the therapeutic effect. METHODS: A total of 120 Air Force crew with SLBP were randomized into a thumbtack needling group (40 cases), an external treatment group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off ) and a combined treatment group (40 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the thumbtack needling group, the thumbtack needling therapy was adopted. The novel thumbtack needles were inserted at the lower No.6 region of the wrist-ankle acupuncture, Yaotongdian (EX-UE 7), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), etc. Each point was pressed and kneaded for 1 min each time, 3 or 4 times a day. The treatment for 3 days was taken as one course. At the interval of 2 days, 3 courses were required totally. In the external treatment group, shangshi zhitong plaster was compressed on the center of the tender site in the lumbar region, once daily, consecutively for 6 days as one course. At an interval of 1 day, 2 courses were required totally. In the combined treatment group, the treatments in the thumbtack needling group and the external treatment group were used in combination. Before and after treatment, McGill score and the score of Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) were compared in the patients among the three groups. The average EMG (AEMG) and the mean power frequency (MPF) were analyzed by using JE-TB0810 electromyography (EMG) acquisition system to evaluate the erector spinae tension in the patients before and after treatment. The clinical effect was observed in the patient of each group and the safety was evaluated. Logistic analysis was performed on the relevant factors of therapeutic effect in the patients. RESULTS: Compared with the values before treatment, McGill scores and ODI scores were reduced (P<0.05), and AEMG and MPF increased in the patients of each group after treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, McGill scores and ODI scores in the thumbtack needling group and the combined treatment group were lower than those in the external treatment group (P<0.05), and AEMG and MPF were higher than the external treatment group (P<0.05). The total effective rates were 87.5% (35/40) and 87.2% (34/39) in the thumbtack needling group and the combined treatment group respectively and were higher than 64.1% (25/39) in the external treatment group (P<0.05). The incidence of the adverse reaction in the combined treatment group was higher than the other two groups (P<0.05). The weekly exercise frequency was the independent factor of the therapeutic effect (OR =12.166, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The thumbtack needling therapy is significantly effective on spinal low back pain in Air Force crew and is of the safety. Hence, this therapy is applicable to be promoted in the primary care army hospital.

Combination of chemical fingerprint and bioactivity evaluation to explore the antibacterial components of Salvia miltiorrhizae.

The aim of this study was to explore the possible antibacterial components of Salvia miltiorrhizae on Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a combination of chemical fingerprint and bioactivity evaluation. The chemical fingerprints of 32 batches of S. miltiorrhizae samples from different sources were developed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, and then were evaluated by similarity analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Anti-P. aeruginosa activity was determined by microcalorimetry. Some crucial thermokinetic parameters obtained from the heat-flow power-time curves of P. aeruginosa growth in the absence or presence of these S. miltiorrhizae samples were evaluated using principal component analysis. Thereafter, multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the fingerprint-activity relationship between the chemical fingerprints and anti-P. aeruginosa activity. This established the related equation between the inhibition ratio (I, %) of S. miltiorrhizae samples on P. aeruginosa and the peak areas of the common peaks. The results showed that the 32S. miltiorrhizae samples could be grouped into three clusters according to their chemical fingerprints and anti-P. aeruginosa activities. Protocatechualdehyde, salvianolic acid B, together with three unidentified compounds might be the major components that contributed largely to the antibacterial properties of S. miltiorrhizae and should be the focus of S. miltiorrhizae quality control. Thus, this study provided a preferred way for exploring the bioactive components of medicinal plants.

Trace analysis of multi-class pesticide residues in Chinese medicinal health wines using gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

A method is described for multi-residue, high-throughput determination of trace levels of 22 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 5 pyrethroid pesticides (PYPs) in Chinese medicinal (CM) health wines using a QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) based extraction method and gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Several parameters were optimized to improve preparation and separation time while still maintaining high sensitivity. Validation tests of spiked samples showed good linearities for 27 pesticides (R = 0.9909-0.9996) over wide concentration ranges. Limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were measured at ng/L levels, 0.06-2 ng/L and 0.2-6 ng/L for OCPs and 0.02-3 ng/L and 0.06-7 ng/L for PYPs, respectively. Inter- and intra-day precision tests showed variations of 0.65-9.89% for OCPs and 0.98-13.99% for PYPs, respectively. Average recoveries were in the range of 47.74-120.31%, with relative standard deviations below 20%. The developed method was then applied to analyze 80 CM wine samples. Beta-BHC (Benzene hexachloride) was the most frequently detected pesticide at concentration levels of 5.67-31.55 mg/L, followed by delta-BHC, trans-chlordane, gamma-BHC, and alpha-BHC. The validated method is simple and economical, with adequate sensitivity for trace levels of multi-class pesticides. It could be adopted by laboratories for this and other types of complex matrices analysis.

[Ancient needling method--essence of ZHANG Shi-jie: a famous acupuncturist].

ZHANG Shi-jie is one of the 500 famous TCM doctors designated by the State Administration of TCM and Beijing Municipal Health Bureau. ZHANG advocates ancient needling method and uses a unique treating method which includes comprehensive analysis of the four examinations and analogy; in his ancient treatment, he usually selects few acupoints and prefers Taixi (KI 3), he insists on stopping needling after the harmonious of qi and needling on alternative days; theoretically, ZHANG is versatile and full of learning, he follows the rule of yin and yang and adjusts his ways to cultivate the health; in his treatment, ZHANG considers the patients in diagnosis and treatment and combines the acupuncture with drugs; in teaching, he is strict and rigorous, on one hand, he is ruthless, but on the other hand, he is patient, demonstrating the sincere shining example of great doctors.