Effect of electroacupuncture on serum melatonin and dopamine in aged insomnia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on aged insomnia, and explore its possible mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 patients with aged insomnia were randomly divided into an EA group (30 cases) and a sham EA group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). The patients in the EA group were treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xinshu (BL 15) and Shenshu (BL 23), and EA was used at Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (GV 29), with intermittent wave, 2 Hz in frequency. In the sham EA group, the acupoints and the EA connection acupoints were the same as those in the EA group, 2-3 mm in depth, but no current was connected. The intervention was given 30 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks in the both groups. Before and after treatment, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scale were used to assess sleep quality and cognitive function, and serum melatonin (MT) and dopamine (DA) levels were detected.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the total score and sub-item scores of PSQI in the EA group were lower than those before treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture can improve sleep quality and cognitive function in aged insomnia patients, and its mechanism may be related to regulating serum MT and DA levels.

Controlled clinical trials on different surgical methods for the treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare clinical effects of clavicular hook plate fixation, coracoid transplantation, and clavicular hook plate fixation combined with modified dynamic muscle transfer for the treatment of the complete acromioclavicular dislocation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2006 to November 2009, 65 patients with sustained complete acrominoclavicular dislocation were treated with clavicular hook plate fixation, coracoid transplantation,and clavicular hook plate fixation combined with modified dynamic muscle transfer. All the patients were divided into three groups: 22 patients in group A were treated with clavicular hook plate fixation, including 17 males and 5 females, with an average age of (31.0 +/- 10.0) years; 21 patient in group B were treated with coracoid transplantation, including 16 males and 5 females,with an average age of (33.0 +/- 6.4) years; 22 patients in group C were treated with clavicular hook plate fixation combined with modified dynamic muscle transfer,including 18 males and 4 females, with an average age of (30.0 +/- 5.3) years. Postoperative functional recovery was evaluated by Karlsson criteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from half to three years (averaged 1.5 years). In group A, 8 patients got half re-dislocation, 2 patients got complete re-dislocation and arthritis of acromioclavicular joint after internal fixations removal, 1 patient had clavicular hook plate broken after operation. In group B, 7 patients got half re-dislocation, 1 patient got complete re-dislocation,and 5 patients had arthritis of acromioclavicular joint with acute pain and limited shoulder function after internal fixations removal. In group C,2 patients got half re-dislocation, no complete re-dislocation and arthritis of acromioclavicular joint occurred after internal fixations removal. According to Karlsson evaluation, in group A, 12 patients obtained an excellent result, 8 good and 2 poor; in group B, the data were 9, 7 and 5 respectively; in group C, they were 20, 2 and 0 respectively. There were remarkable differences of therapeutic effects between the clavicular hook plate fixation combined with modified dynamic muscle transfer and that with either of the former two treatment methods (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Clavicular hook plate combined with modified dynamic muscle transfer is a reliable and good treatment for the complete acrominoclavicular dislocation, with advantages such as easy to handle,stable fixation and early exercise.</p>

Digital surgical technology in reconstruction of orbital frame / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the application of digital surgical technology in reconstruction of orbital frame and assess the treatment outcomes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven patients with post-traumatic orbital defect were included in this study. Images of the orbit were obtained for each individual through computed tomography (CT). Preoperative design was finished according to rapid prototyping, computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) and other digital surgical techniques. Surgical fracture reductions with internal fixation and implant of Medpor were used in operation to reconstruct orbit as well as correct enophthalmos and diplopia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Accurate realignment of the displaced orbital rim was obtained in all the 7 patients, and enophthalmos and diplopia were corrected in 4 and 2 patients, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Digital techniques provide a precise means for preoperative design and operation implementation during orbital reconstruction. As a result, complications can be reduced, and the patient's facial appearance can be maximally improved.</p>

Management of complicated midface deficiencies with external distraction / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To treat complicated midface deficiencies with external distraction device.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four patients (one with acquired midface hypoplasia, two with Crouzon syndrome and one with Parry Romberg) with severe midface deficiencies underwent external distraction osteogenesis. After Le Fort III or Le Fort III plus I osteotomies were performed, the external distraction devices were activated on the 7th postoperative day with a rate of 1 mm per day. The distraction devices were removed after consolidation for 3 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients completed the distraction treatment. The distraction distance ranged from 10 to 14 mm. The appearance of all patients was significantly improved.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>External distraction osteogenesis provides an effectively treatment for patients with severe and complicated midface deficiencies.</p>