Development of A Patient-reported Outcomes Scale for Post-stroke Aphasia Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Holism / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To develop a patient-reported outcomes (PRO) scale for post-stroke aphasia based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holism. Methods:Referring to the TCM holism, the theoretical model was established following the standard process for the development of the PRO scale. An item pool was established and optimized with case review, patient interview, expert questionnaire survey and consensus conference. The PRO scale was established finally. Results:A pool of post-stroke aphasia items based on the holistic view of TCM was constructed in the physical, psychological and social model. The Expert Comment Form for the PRO Scale for Aphasia after Stroke was formed after sorting out the item pool. After expert surveys and meeting discussion, 40 items were finally selected to form the first version of Patient-reported Outcomes Scale for Post-stroke Aphasia-TCM. Conclusion:The first version of Patient-reported Outcomes Scale for Post-stroke Aphasia-TCM has been developed based on the TCM holism and the concept of PRO, which can be evaluated clinically.

Effects of electro-acupuncture on neuronal apoptosis and associative function in rats with spinal cord injury / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of electro-acupuncture to improve the bladder function after acute spinal cord injury in rats and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty healthy adult male SD rats of SPF grade, with body weight of 220 to 250 g, one week after feeding adaptation, were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, electro-acupuncture group, electro-acupuncture control group with 15 rats in each group. Sham operation group underwent no stimulation, and the moderate damage model of spinal cord injury were made in other three groups according to modified Allens method. The model group were not treated, electro-acupuncture group were treated with electro-acupuncture on Zhibianxue and Shuidaoxue, and electro-acupuncture control group were treated with electro-acupuncture on 0.5 inch next to Zhibianxue and Shuidaoxue. The frequency of 2/100 Hz, current of 1 mA, stimulation time of 15 min, once a day, left and right alternately stimulate every time, for a total of 7 times. The changes of residual urine volume and urine output in rats at the 1st and the 7th days after operation were observed. And 7 d later, the rats were sacrificed and the injured spinal cord were taken out to observe the apoptosis, and to detect the changes of Bcl-2, Bax, Bad content.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After modeling,the rats of three groups showed different bladder dysfunction. In electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group, the residual urine volume of the 7th day after operation was significant lower than the 1st day after operation (P < 0.001), and there was statistically significant difference on the 7th day after operation between two groups (P < 0.001). Compared with model group, the urine output of electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group was significantly increased on the 7th day after operation, and there was sig- nificant difference between electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group (P < 0.001). Electro-acupuncture can inhibit apoptosis of spinal cord neurons by TUNEL detection. Postoperative at 7 d, the rate of nerve cell apoptosis in electro -acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group was significant increased than model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and there was significant difference between electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group (P < 0.005). Compared with model group, the positive expression rate of Bax, Bad decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and Bcl-2 increased (P < 0.01) in electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group,there was significant difference between electro-acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electro-acupuncture can obviously promote the repair of acute spinal cord injury,its mechanism may be through increasing Bcl-2, inhibiting the expression of Bax, Bad, which inhibits the apoptosis of spinal cord neurons.</p>

The anxiolytic effect of aromatherapy on patients awaiting ambulatory surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to determine if aromatherapy could reduce preoperative anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients. A total of 109 preoperative patients were randomly assigned to experimental (bergamot essential oil) and control (water vapor) conditions and their responses to the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and vital signs were monitored. Patients were stratified by previous surgical experience, but that did not influence the results. All those exposed to bergamot essential oil aromatherapy showed a greater reduction in preoperative anxiety than those in the control groups. Aromatherapy may be a useful part of a holistic approach to reducing preoperative anxiety before ambulatory surgery.