Effects of different timing selections of labor analgesia for primiparae on parturition and neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of labor analgesia for primiparae with different stages of cervical dilation on parturition and neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the past three years, 530 cases of primiparae who had delivered in the Second People's Hospital of Hefei and were eligible for a vaginal trial of parturition were enrolled as the research subjects. Of these, 360 puerperae had labor analgesia, and the remaining 170 were taken as the control group. Those given labor analgesia were divided into three groups based on the different stages of cervical dilation at that time. There were 160 cases in Group I (cervical dilation <3 cm), 100 cases in Group II (cervical dilation of 3-4 cm), and 100 cases in Group III (cervical dilation of 4-6 cm). The labor and neonatal outcomes were compared among the four groups. RESULTS: The first, second, and total stages of labor in the three groups receiving labor analgesia were all longer than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05 in all). Group I had the longest duration of each stage and the total stage of labor. The differences in labor stages and the total stage of labor were not statistically significant between Group II and Group III (P > 0.05). In the three groups with labor analgesia, the usage rate of oxytocin was higher than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The differences in the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, the incidence of postpartum urine retention, and the episiotomy rate were not statistically significant among the four groups (P > 0.05). The differences in the neonatal Apgar score were not statistically significant among the four groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Labor analgesia might prolong the stages of labor but does not affect the neonatal outcomes. It would be optimal to conduct labor analgesia when cervical dilation reaches 3-4 cm.

Seismic response of CRTS II ballastless track-bridge system considering the damage of track structure.

Based on the 16-32 m simply-supported beam bridge on Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway, a collision model of CRTS II track system was established. The model considered the longitudinal, horizontal as well as vertical nonlinear constraints among structural layers, and the Kelvin element was used to simulate the pounding effect of the gaps. The seismic response of the CRTS II track system was firstly analyzed and then the influences of different cases of damaged track plate, base plate, and mortar layer were discussed. The study revealed that: (1) The rail, track plate, and base plate all bear large longitudinal force and their stress envelope curves are all anti-symmetric. (2) The broken track plates result in a sharp decrease in track plate stress and an extreme increase in rail stress and base plate stress near the gap. The broken base plates result in a sharp decrease in base plate stress and an extreme increase in rail stress and track plate stress near the gap. (3) Both the pounding frequency and pounding force between broken slabs are relatively large and will decrease after some time. (4) The broken slabs near ends of the first bridge span greatly increase the pounding force of stoppers close to the abutment. (5) The gap width has a huge influence on the pounding force and times of stoppers and gaps. (6) The debonding of mortar layer has a great influence on the vertical displacement of rail, track plate, and the base plate.

[Observation and analysis on the meridian-collateral running track-related anatomical structure in the human body].

In the present paper the authors analyze the anatomical structure of the meridian running track by using the dialectical thought and comprehensive analysis of the integrated Chinese and western medicine. It has been observed that the "Qi-passages" of the 14 meridians of Chinese medicine are located in the connective tissue among the interspace of the muscles, etc. distributing longitudinally. The "Qi-passages" of the 15 Luomai (collaterals of the meridians) are located in the connective tissue among the interspace of the muscles, etc. distributing transversally, while those of the small branches of the meridian collaterals are located in the interspace mesenchyme of the muscle bundles distributing in the whole body. The "Qi-passages" of the tiny branches of the meridian collaterals are located in the mesenchyme of the intracellular space, such as the muscle fibers in the whole body. The authors hold that the so-called "Mai Qi" of the meridian-collaterals is the liquid-Qi flowing in the vertical and horizontal tissue interspaces. The "Qi-passage" of the meridian-collaterals of Chinese medicine is the pathway of the liquid-Qi of the tissue interspaces. The structure of the meridian-collaterals is the tissue interspace. The meridian-collateral system is a regulation-control system in the human body where the Qi-passages communicate with each other, and is, in fact, the protoplasm, the liquid-Qi circulating in the tissue interspaces.

[Discussion on the Qi-passage of meridian-collateral system].

The author of the present paper holds that "Qi-passage" is in fact the essence of meridian-collateral system in the human body. In my opinion, the so called "Jing" of the fourteen meridians is referred to the tissue structure of the longitudinal fascia space; the so called "Luo" of the fifteen collaterals referred to the tissue structure of the transversal fascia space, and the "Mai" of meridians and collaterals referred to tissue liquid-Qi of both longitudinal and transversal fascia space. The "Dao" (Qi-passage) of meridians and collaterals is the tissue structure of both longitudinal and transversal fascia space. The tissue liquid-Qi and tissue structure depend on each other. The doctrine of "Qi-passage" of meridian-collateral system has its original evidence, scientific and substantive basis. The meridian-collateral system is a regulative and control system of the unknown synthetic functions of multiple substances including loose connective tissue, tissue liquid-Qi, energy substances, nerves, blood vessels and lymph, etc..

[Discussion on the essence of meridian-collateral system].

The meridian-collateral system of traditional Chinese medicine refers to the regulating system composed of the known loose connective tissue, liquid-Qi of tissue, energy substances, nerves, blood vessels, lymph, etc. existing in the fascia space between the skin, muscles and bone and some associated unknown synthetic functions. This hypothesis of meridian-collateral, Qi-passage, and fascia space composed of multiple substances is probably able to unify different viewpoints about that the meridian-collateral system is in fact an integrated substance of nerves, body fluid and energy. In the present paper, the authors introduce their viewpoints about the essence of meridian-collaterals from nerves, humor and energy, and unknown function of the known anatomical structure.