The health effects of Baduanjin exercise (a type of Qigong exercise) in breast cancer survivors: A randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise, which is a traditional Chinese Qigong exercise, in breast cancer survivors to assess its efficacy for physical and psychological rehabilitation. METHODS: The study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Eighty-six subjects were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 46) or control (n = 40) groups. The intervention group received Baduanjin exercise 3 days/week at hospital and another 4 days/week at home for 6 months, whereas the control group were requested to maintain their original physical activity. Outcomes included body mass index (BMI), heart rate variability, lung capacity, arm circumference, shoulder range of motion, step test index, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: After 6 months of intervention, heart rate variability and shoulder range of motion were significantly improved in the Baduanjin group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There were also significant improvements in depression, QOL, and four QOL dimension scores (physical well-being, social well-being, functional well-being, and breast cancer subscale) (P < 0.05). However, there were no differences in the BMI, lung capacity, arm circumference, step test index, anxiety, and the emotional well-being QOL dimension scores. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that Baduanjin is an effective intervention for improving physical and psychological health outcomes among breast cancer survivors, which is worth recommending and implementing by oncology nurses for breast cancer survivors during their long rehabilitation journeys.

Electroacupuncture improves insomnia by down-regulating peripheral benzodiazepine receptor expression in hippocampus, and up-regulating 5-HT, 5-HIAA, TNF-α and IL-1β contents in hypothalamus in insomnia rats / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at five Back-Shu points on sleep, hippocampal peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) expression and hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β contents in insomnia rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of insomnia. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, EA and medication (Diazepam) groups (n=10 rats in each group). The insomnia model was established by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of para-Chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 300 mg/kg) once daily for 2 days. EA (60 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral five Back-Shu points, i.e., Feishu (BL13), Xinshu (BL15), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20) and Shenshu (BL23) for 10 min, once daily for 6 days. Rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of Diazepam (0.92 mg/kg) once daily for 6 days. The sleep duration was recorded after i.p. of Pentobarbital Sodium (45 mg/kg). Histopathological changes of the hippocampus were displayed by H.E. staining. The contents of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, TNF-α and IL-1β in the hypothalamus were assessed by using ELISA. The expression levels of PBR mRNA and protein in the hippocampus were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot, separately. RESULTS: Following modeling, the sleep duration was considerably shortened in rats of the model group relevant to the control group (P0.05), and significantly superior to that of the medication in increasing TNF-α and IL-1β levels (P<0.05), and considerably superior to that of medication in down-regulating PBR mRNA and protein expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at five Back-Shu-points of the five Zang-organs can significantly improve the sleep in insomnia rats, which is closely associated with its effects in reducing the expression of PBR in hippocampus and up-regulating the levels of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, TNF-α and IL-1β in hypothalamus.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycaemic control and lipid profiles in gestational diabetes mel-litus:a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective To systematically evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glucose homeostasis parameters and lipid profiles in gestational diabetes patients. Methods Four main databases inclu-ding PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and Wanfang were searched to collect randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) about vitamin D supplementation for gestational diabetes mellitus from inception to February 1, 2018. Two investigators were chosen to search, extract and evaluate the data independently. Software RevMan 5. 3 and Stata 15. 0 were used for meta-analysis. Results Results A total of 6 randomized RCTs were included in-cluding 409 patients totally which were divided into two groups as study group ( n=204 ) and control group ( n=205) . The results showed that compared with the control group, patients in study group had lower fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [MD=-11. 43, 95％ CI= (-15. 24-7. 61), P=0. 00001], fasting insulin ( FIns) [ MD=-4. 8, 95％ CI= (-5. 99, 3. 62) , P<0. 00001] , insulin homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ( HOMA-IR) [ MD=-1. 48, 95％ CI= (-1. 81, 1. 16) , P<0. 00001] , total-cholesterol (TC) [MD=-14. 09, 95％ CI= (-22. 09, 5. 2), P=0. 002], low-density lipoprotein (LDL) [MD=-10. 54, 95％ CI= (-18. 18, 2. 89) , P=0. 007] and high-density lipoprotein ( HDL) [ MD=2. 11, 95％CI= (0. 36, 3. 86), P=0. 02]. No significant difference was found in triglycerides level (TG) between the two groups. Conclusion Vitamin D supplementation in patients with gestational diabetes can improve FPG, in-sulin, TC, LDL, insulin resistance and HDL, but has no effect on TG.

Application value of multi-detector computed tomography evaluating the clinical staging of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) evaluating the clinical staging of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study conducted.The clinicopathological data of 46 AEG patients who were admitted to the Peking University Cancer Hospital between January 2016 and April 2018 were collected.All patients underwent MDCT before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and at preoperative 2 weeks,the distance between tumor center and boundary of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) was judged through coronal measured values and axial formula method.Patients underwent radical resection of gastric cancer + D2 lymph node dissection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy,pathologists reviewed the distance between center of AEG and boundary of EGJ,T staging (ycT) and N staging (ycN) of clinical staging,T staging (ypT) and N staging (ypN) of pathological staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were determined according to TNM staging of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) (8th edition),and tumor regression grading (TRG) was determined according to the criterion established by National Comprehensive Cancer Network.Observation indicators:(1) CT examination after neoadjuvant chemotherapy;(2) clinical staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy;(3) postoperative pathological examination;(4) postoperative pathological staging;(5) accuracy of clinical staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy;(6)relationship between imaging changes of CT examination and pathological reactions.Count data were described as absolute number or percentage,and comparisons among groups were analyzed by the chi-square test.Comparisons of ordinal data were analyzed by the non-parametric test.Results (1) CT examination after neoadjuvant chemotherapy:5 of 46 AEG patients,coronal images of CT showed whole tumor and boundary of EGJ,axial images of CT showed EGJ wall thickening,heterogeneous enhancement in all layers of lesions,and unsmooth serosal surface;the distance between tumor center and boundary of EGJ is less than 2 cm by direct measurement,5 patients were confirmed as esophageal cancer staging.For 41 patients,the same coronal image of CT cannot showed whole tumor and boundary of EGJ,axial images of CT showed EGJ wall thickening,heterogeneous enhancement in all layers of lesions,and irregular-shaped serosal surface;27 patients whose calculated values were negative based on formula method used esophageal cancer staging,and 14 patients whose calculated values were positive used gastric staging.(2) Clinical staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy:among 46 AEG patients,ycT staging:staging ycT1,ycT2,ycT3,ycT4a and ycT4b were respectively detected in 1,6,31,6 and 2 patients;ycN staging:staging ycN0,ycN1,ycN2 and ycN3a were respectively detected in 5,14,23 and 4 patients.(3) Postoperative pathological examination:of 46 patients,38,3,3 and 2 were respectively confirmed as adenocarcinoma,adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell carcinoma,adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma with squamous carcinoma.Of 46 patients,the distance between tumor center and boundary of EGJ can be observed in 14 patients by gastric cancer staging and 32 patients by esophageal cancer staging.(4) Postoperative pathological staging:ypT staging:1,3,5,29,7 and 1 patients were respectively detected in staging ypT0,ypT1,ypT2,ypT3,ypT4a and ypT4b;ypN staging:17,4,15,9 and 1 patients were respectively detected in staging ypN0,ypN1,ypN2,ypN3a and ypN3b.One,3,16 and 26 patients were confirmed as staging TRG 0,TRG 1,TRG 2 and TRG 3,including 20 patients tumor regression and 26 patients without tumor regression.(5) Accuracy of clinical staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy:the accuracies of ycT staging and ycN staging were 78.3％ (36/46) and 54.3％ (25/46).(6) Relationship between imaging changes of CT examination and pathological reactions:of 46 patients,33 and 13 had respectively reduced and stable gastric wall thickness of primary lesion.Among 20 patients with tumor regression,17 and 3 had respectively reduced and stable gastric wall thickness of primary lesion;of 26 patients without tumor regression,reduced and stable gastric wall thickness of primary lesion were respectively in 16 and 10 patients,with no statistically significant difference (x2 =3.069,P＞0.05).Of 46 patients,31,14 and 1 had respectively reduced,stable and increased sum of minor diameters of suspicious celiac lymph nodes.The reduced,stable and increased sum of minor diameters of suspicious celiac lymph nodes were detected in 16,4,0 of 20 patients with tumor regression and 15,10,1 of 26 patients without tumor regression,respectively,with no statistically significant difference (Z =-1.629,P＞ 0.05).The changes of gastric wall thickness of primary lesion and sum of minor diameters of celiac lymph nodes before operation were not consistent to that after operation in 3 patients.CT examination showed gastric wall thickness of primary lesion reduced after chemotherapy,and sum of minor diameters of celiac lymph nodes didn't change;pathological staging and clinical staging were respectively in staging ypN0 and ycN1.Conclusion According to the TNM staging of AJCC (Sth edition),the distance between tumor center and boundary of EGJ is judged through coronal measured values and axial formula method and therefore determining to select staging system of esophageal cancer or gastric cancer,meanwhile,rectifying over T3 staging of Siewert Ⅱ gastric cancer and increasing overall accuracy of clinical staging.

Electroacupuncture activates phosphorylated AMPKαto regulate the expression of the mTOR gene in rats with functional dyspepsia / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate how electroacupuncture activates the AMPKαpathway in the treatment of functional dyspepsia ( FD) . Methods Tail clipping stimulation was combined with an irregular diet to induce FD in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats. They were randomly divided into a model group and an electroacupuncture group, each of 10. Ten others had no FD induced and formed a normal group. The rats in the electroacupuncture group were given 10 days of electroacupuncture treatment, while those in the normal and model groups were restrained and fixed like those in the electroacupuncture group, but not given electroacupuncture. The expression of phosphorylated adenosine mono-phosphate-activated protein kinase alpha (p-AMPKα), phosphorylated tuberin (p-TSC2) and Rheb protein in the stomachs and small intestines of each group were detected using the western blotting. Levels of mTOR mRNA were quantified using the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) . Results The western blotting re-sults showed that compared with the normal group, the expression levels of p-AMPKα and p-TSC2 in the stomachs and small intestines of the model group decreased significantly, while that of Rheb protein increased significantly. Compared with the model group, the expression of p-AMPKαand p-TSC2 increased significantly after the electroacu-puncture treatment, while that of Rheb protein decreased significantly. According to the RT-PCR results, the expres-sion of mTOR mRNA in the stomachs and small intestines of the model group was up-regulated significantly compared with the normal group. Compared with the model group, expression of mTOR mRNA in the electroacupuncture group was significantly down-regulated. Conclusion Electroacupuncture can activate the AMPKα pathway, up-regulate the expression of the related protein p-TSC2, and decrease the expression of Rheb protein, thereby down-regulating the transcription of the mTOR gene. That would serve to treat FD.

Study of heterologous efficient synthesis of cucurbitadienol / 中国中药杂志

Cucurbitadienol has anti-inflammation, anti-cancer activities, and acts as a precursor of traditional Chinese medicine active ingredients mogroside and cucurbitacine. For construction of a Sacchromyces cerevisiae cell factory for production of cucurbitadienol, we firstly cloned a cucurbitadienol synthase (CBS) gene from Siraitia grosvenorii. Then, through heterologous expression of CBS in the triterpenoid chassis strain WD-2091, the engineered strain could produced 27.44 mg•L ⁻¹ cucurbitadienol, which was determined by GC-MS. Further regulation of CBS expression led to cucurbitadienol's titer increasing by 202.07% and reaching 82.89 mg•L ⁻¹ in the shake flask fermentation and 1 724.10 mg•L ⁻¹ in the high cell density fermentation. Our research promotes the cucurbitane-type tetracyclic triterpenoids synthesis pathway analysis progress and provides the basis for further obtaining cell factories for production of cucurbitadienol tetracyclic triterpenoids.

Implementation of nursing professional practice model in magnet hospital construction / 中华护理杂志

Objective To develop nursing professional practice model and explore its effects on magnet hospital construction.Methods The core team was established,and nursing professional practice model was developed based on standard of International Magnet Recognition Program.Nursing practices were guided by the developed model:leading clinical nurses to participate in nursing management and decision making,implementing primary holistic nursing,encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration,developing healthy work environment,promoting nursing professionalism,and fostering nursing culture.Results After two years' implementation,employment rate of interior interns was increased from 50.20％ to 72.30％(x2=22.879,P＜0.05).Nursing adverse events,nurses' job satisfaction,patient satisfaction met standard of magnet recognition.Conclusion Nursing professional practice model can increase employment rate of interior interns,decrease nursing adverse events,improve nurses' and patients' satisfaction,which has positive impacts on magnet hospital construction.

Implementation of nursing professional practice model in magnet hospital construction / 中华护理杂志

Objective To develop nursing professional practice model and explore its effects on magnet hospital construction.Methods The core team was established,and nursing professional practice model was developed based on standard of International Magnet Recognition Program.Nursing practices were guided by the developed model:leading clinical nurses to participate in nursing management and decision making,implementing primary holistic nursing,encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration,developing healthy work environment,promoting nursing professionalism,and fostering nursing culture.Results After two years' implementation,employment rate of interior interns was increased from 50.20％ to 72.30％(x2=22.879,P＜0.05).Nursing adverse events,nurses' job satisfaction,patient satisfaction met standard of magnet recognition.Conclusion Nursing professional practice model can increase employment rate of interior interns,decrease nursing adverse events,improve nurses' and patients' satisfaction,which has positive impacts on magnet hospital construction.

Impacts of the low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints on the content of plasma 5-HT and NE in the patients with post-stroke insomnia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy on post-stroke insomnia between the low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints and the conventional western medication in the patients so as to explore the effect mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty patients of post-stroke insomnia were randomized into a low-frequency electric stimulation group, a medication group and a placebo group, 40 cases in each one. In the low-frequency electric stimulation group, the low-frequency pulse electric apparatus was applied to stimulate Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenshu (BL 23), once every day. The treatment for 15 days made one session and 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, estazolam was taken orally, 1 mg each time; and in the placebo group, the starch capsules were taken, one capsule each time; in the two groups the treatment was adopted before sleep every night, continuously for 15 days as one session, and 2 sessions were required. The levels of plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the three groups and: the efficacy was compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the placebo group, 1 case was dropped out. The total effective rate was 95. 0% (38/40), 92. 5% (37/40) and 17. 9% (7/39) in the low-frequency electric stimulation group, the medication group and the placebo group respectively. The effects in the low-frequency electric stimulation group and the medication group were better apparently than that in the placebo group (both P<0. 01). The effect was not different significantly between the low-frequency electric stimulation group and the medication group (P>0. 05). The levels of plasma 5-HT and NE were not different significantly between before and after treatment in the placebo group. The level of plasma 5-HT was increased (both P<0. 05) and thelevel of NE was decreased (both P<0. 05) as compared with that before treatment in the low-frequency electric stimulation group and the medication group. But the differences were not significant between the two groups (P>0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The low-frequency electric stimlaton a the acupoints is safe and effective in the treatment of post-stroke insomnia, which is similar to oral medication of estazolam. The outcome of the increase of plasma 5-HT level and the decrease of plasma NE level is probably one of the effect mechanisms.</p>

Effects of syndrome-differentiation acupuncture on life quality in patients with functional dyspepsia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effects of syndrome-differentiation acupuncture on life quality in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and five cases of FD were randomly divided into a syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, a regular acupuncture group and a non-acupoint group, 35 cases in each one. Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. After syndrome differentiation, Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhangmen (LR 13) were added for those with stagnation of liver qi; Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) were added for those with deficiency of spleen-stomach qi; Qimen (LR 14) and Taichong (LR 3) were added for liver-qi invading stomach and Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Neiting (ST 44) were added for dampness-heat blocking stomach. The selection of acupoints in the regular acupuncture group was the same as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. The points 10 mm lateral to the main acupoints were selected in the non-acupoint group. The treatment was given once a day, six days as a treatment course and totally two courses were required. The symptom total score, health-related quality of life survey (SF-36) and Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) were evaluated before and after the treatment as well as one month after the treatment (follow-up visit), respectively. The efficacy was also assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5% (28/32) in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, which was superior to 74.2% (23/31) in the regular acupuncture group and 20.7% (6/29) in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared before the treatment, the SF-36, NDI and symptom total score after the treatment and in the follow-up visit were all obviously improved in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group and regular acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), which was the most obvious in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group [after the treatment, SF-36: 84.54 +/- 5.93 vs 81.44 +/- 6.22, 63.46 +/- 6.59; NDSI: 18.94 +/- 9.30 vs 21.23 +/- 8.39, 43.93 +/- 11.26; NDLQI: 71.42 +/- 7.23 vs 63.11 +/- 7.06, 54.87 +/- 6.00; symptom total score: 22.06 +/- 15.80 vs 32.52 +/- 16.88, 47.97 +/- 10.92]; the improvement in the regular acupuncture group was more obvious than that in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared before the treatment, only NDSI score was improved in the non-acupoint group after the treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The syndrome-differentiation acupuncture could obviously improve patient's life quality in the treatment of FD, which is an effective therapy for FD.</p>

Clinical research of post-stroke insomnia treated with low-frequency electric stimulation at acupoints in the patients / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on post-stroke insomnia between the low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints and the conventional western medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty patients of post-stroke insomnia were randomized into a low-frequency electric stimulation group, a medication group and a placebo group, 40 cases in each one. In the low-frequency electric stimulation group, the low-frequency electric-pulsing apparatus was used at Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenshu (BL 23), once a day; the treatment of 15 days made one session and 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, estazolam was taken orally, 1 mg each time. In the placebo group, starch capsules were taken orally, 1 capsule each time. All the drugs were taken before sleep every night, continuously for 15 days as one session, and 2 sessions were required. PSQI changes and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pitlsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score was reduced in every group after treatment (all P < 0.01). In the low-frequency electric stimulation group and medication group, the score was reduced much more significantly as compared with the placebo group (both P < 0.01). In the placebo group, 1 case was rejected. The total effective rates were 95.0% (38/40), 92.5% (37/40) and 17.9% (7/39) in the low-frequency electric stimulation group, medication group and placebo group separately. The efficacy in the low-frequency electric stimulation group and medication group was better apparently than that in the placebo group (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The low-frequency electric stimulation at the acupoints effectively and safely treats post-stroke insomnia and the efficacy of it is similar to that of estazolam.</p>

The proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization effects of puerarin on osteoblasts in vitro / 中国天然药物

AIM@#Osteoblasts are key functional cells in the process of bone metabolic balance. Phytoestrogens have an important influence on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. Puerarin, a plant estrogen, has a wide range concentration in vitro on the function of osteoblasts. The current study investigates the effect of the phytoestrogen puerarin on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblasts in vitro.@*METHODS@#The calvaria bone of eight-ten Wistar rats which were born within 24 h were obtained in aseptic condition. After enzyme digestion, isolation, purified osteoblasts of rats were cultured for further study. The cells of the first to third generation were divided into a control group and a puerarin-treated group with 10(-3)-10(-10) mol·L(-1) puerarin. The cells were exposed to the medium containing a low level of carbohydrates, 10% (V/V) FBS for 24 h. After 1 to 4 days of culture, the OD values on the proliferation of osteoblasts in each group were determined by microplate reader. The cells were cultured in the medium containing 50 μg·mL(-1) vitamin C, 10(-2) mol·L(-1) sodium glycerophosphate, 10% FBS and the medium was changed every 3 to 4 days. After 2 to 8 days of culture, expression of alkaline phosphatase were tested and compared by microplate reader. The mineral nodes of osteoblasts were dyed using alizarin red or improved Von Kossa way after four weeks.@*RESULTS@#Compared with those in the 10(-5)-10(-9) mol·L(-1) puerarin, the proliferation of osteoblasts, the expression of alkaline phosphatase, and the number of mineral nodes of osteoblasts were significantly decreased in the control group. The increase was the fastest in the third day, while on the fourth day it was decreased, and arrived at statistical significance compared with the alkaline phosphatase activities and control group. The 10(-6) mol·L(-1) group was the most distinct, and formed the most mineralized nodule. Compared with the 10(-3) mol·L(-1) puerarin group, those changes were markedly increased in the control group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Puerarin has proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization effects on osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner, and has a double-way effect on the osteoblasts in vitro. A low-dose showed positive effects on the development of osteoblasts, and high-dose puerarin could inhibit the formation of bone.

Motor imagery therapy supplemented with scalp acupuncture for improving lower limb motor function after stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of motor imagery therapy supplemented with scalp acupuncture for improving the lower limb motor function of stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods A total of 120 hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group with 60 patients in each.All were given routine medical care and scalp acupuncture (stimulating the posterior and anterior oblique line of the parietal-temporal lobe contralateral to the hemiplegic limb).The treatment was given daily for 3 weeks as one session,and 2 sessions were administered to both groups.The experimental group was given motor imagery therapy in addition.Each treatment took about 25 min every day for 3 weeks as one session,and again 2 consecutive sessions were administered.The temporal and spatial gait parameters (10m maximum walking speed,stride length and cadence) of all of the patients were assessed,the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-L) was conducted and functional ambulation classifications (FACs) were assigned before therapy and at the end of the 6 weeks.Results After 6 weeks of treatment,all of the measures had improved significantly for both groups.The experimental group,however,had improved significantly more than the control group.Conclusion Motor imagery therapy can supplement scalp acupuncture to improve lower limb motor function in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Four main schools of thought and analysis in studies of channels and collaterals / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize 4 schools of thought in studies of meridians.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Consult literature and review the history of studies of meridians.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The studies of meridians in the past dozens years at home and abroad have gradually formed four main theories, namely the nerve-conduction meridian theory of neurophysiology, body fluid circulation meridian theory of the physio-biochemistry, bio-field meridian theory of biophysics, and the connective tissue structure meridian theory of the overall-gap viewpoint, which are summarized and analyzed.</p>