A pilot study of ultrasound-guided acupotomy for the treatment of frozen shoulder.

This study retrospectively analyzed the feasible effectiveness of ultrasound-guided acupotomy (USGAP) for the treatment of frozen shoulder (FS). A total of 36 patients with FS were analyzed in this retrospective study. All 36 patients received extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT). In addition, 18 of them also underwent USGAP intervention and were assigned to a treatment group, while the other 18 patients did not receive such intervention and were assigned to a control group. The primary efficacy endpoint was pain intensity, as measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The secondary efficacy endpoint was assessed by the score of shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Furthermore, the adverse events were also documented during the treatment period. All efficacy endpoints were measured after the treatment. After treatment, patients who received USGAP exerted better efficacy endpoints in pain relief, as measured by NRS scale (P < .01), and shoulder disorders, as evaluated by SPADI (P < .01), than subjects who did not receive USGAP. Additionally, no adverse events occurred in either group. The results of this study indicated that USGAP may be used for the treatment of FS effectively. More studies are still needed to warrant the present results.

Dynamic Changes of Pulmonary Arterial Pressure and Ductus Arteriosus in Human Newborns From Birth to 72 Hours of Age.

Normal pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary hypertension assessment of newborns is rarely reported. The aim of the study is to explore dynamic changes of pulmonary arterial pressure and ductus arteriosus in human newborns from birth to 72 h of age with echocardiography.A total of 76 cases of normal newborns were prospectively detected by echocardiography after birth of 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, respectively. Ductus arteriosus diameter, blood shunt direction, blood flow velocity, and pressure gradient were recorded. The brachial artery blood pressure were measured to estimate the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) using patent ductus arteriosus pressure gradient method. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAMP) were calculated by equation of PAMP = PADP + 1/3(PASP-PADP).(1) There were 76 cases of normal newborns. Among them, 29 cases (38%) ductus arteriosus closed within 24 h, 59 cases (78%) closed within 48 h, 72 cases (95%) closed within 72 h, and 4 cases (5%) ductus arteriosus not closed within 72 h. (2) The ductus arteriosus diameter of 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after birth was 4.60 ±â€Š0.59 mm, 3.37 ±â€Š0.59 mm, 2.47 ±â€Š0.49 mm, 1.89 ±â€Š0.41 mm, 1.61 ±â€Š0.35 mm, and 1.20 ±â€Š0.24 mm, respectively. Compared all of the ductus arteriosus diameter of the above time periods, there were statistically differences with P < 0.05, respectively. (3) The mean PASP in 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h after birth were 76.58 ±â€Š7.28 mm Hg, 65.53 ±â€Š9.25mm Hg, 52.51 ±â€Š9.07 mm Hg, 43.83 ±â€Š7.90 mm Hg, 38.07 ±â€Š8.26 mm Hg, and 36 ±â€Š6.48 mm Hg, respectively. The PADP of the above time period were 37.88 ±â€Š5.56 mm Hg, 29.93 ±â€Š7.91 mm Hg, 23.43 ±â€Š7.37 mm Hg, 19.70 ±â€Š8.51 mm Hg, 13.85 ±â€Š5.58 mm Hg, 13.25 ±â€Š6.18 mm Hg, respectively. The PAMP of the above time period were 63.41 ±â€Š7.03 mm Hg, 51.78 ±â€Š9.82 mm Hg, 40.94 ±â€Š9.32 mm Hg, 34.39 ±â€Š9.89 mm Hg, 26.23 ±â€Š7.49 mm Hg, 25.25 ±â€Š8.29 mm Hg, respectively. There were statistically differences with P < 0.05 between each time periods of PASP, PADP, and PAMP. (4) The upper 95% limit reference range of PASP of normal newborns of 72 h after birth were 39.97 mm Hg.(1) Normal newborns ductus arteriosus diameter gradually decreased after birth, and 95% of them spontaneous closed within 24 to 72 h. (2) Normal newborns pulmonary artery pressure showed a gradually decline after birth, the upper 95% limit reference range for PASP measured in normal newborns <72 h of age was 39.97 mm Hg. Therefore, the diagnostic criteria of newborns pulmonary hypertension may be >40.00 mm Hg according to our limited study.

[The effect of shanzha xiaozhi capsule on the blood lipid and the function of endothelial cells in patients with dislipide mia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the Mechanism of Shanzha xiaozhi Capsule improving the functions of endonthelial cells in patients with dislipide mia. METHODS: To measurate the blood lipid and the levels of plasma Endothelin (ET) and nitrodi oxide (NO) in 30 patients with dislipide mia before and after taking the Shanzha xiaozhi Capsule, and there were 10 normal persons in control group, which were measured the blood lipid and the levels of ET and NO only one time. RESULTS: After treatment with Shanzha xiaozhi Capsule, the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholestero (LDL-C), ET were markedly reduced (P < 0.05), and the levels of NO were obviously elevated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Shanzha xiaozhi Capsule can reduce blood lipid level and the plasma ET levels, increase the NO levels and the protection to the functions of endothelial cells which might be involved in the mechanisms of against atherosclerosis.