Observation on Short-Term Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture on Compensatory Hypertrophy Of Gastrocnemius Muscle: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: In Oriental women, having thick and short legs is a common posture problem, and having an imperfect lower leg shape is one of the factors that can cause feelings of inferiority. To address this issue, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in improving compensatory hypertrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle while also reducing side effects. The goal of this study is to improve the clinical treatment plan for this type of problem. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between December 2020 and March 2022 at the Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China. This study included 80 patients who were divided into two equal groups - the infrared (IR) group and the electroacupuncture (EA) group, based on the type of treatment they received during the research. The EA group received electroacupuncture and infrared treatment, while the IR group used an infrared therapeutic instrument to irradiate their lower legs on both sides. The main outcome measures were 3 calf circumference levels and the cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius muscle in two-dimensional ultrasound. The secondary outcome measure was the incidence of adverse events. Results: According to the data, before the treatment there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in calf circumference and ultrasound gastrocnemius cross-sectional area. After the treatment, the value of each calf circumference level and ultrasound gastrocnemius cross-sectional area were significantly lower than the value collected before the treatment in the EA Group. However, there is no significant change in the data of the infrared therapeutic group before and after treatment. By comparing the data between the 2 groups we collected after the treatment, the value of each calf circumference level and ultrasound gastrocnemius cross-sectional area of the EA group is significantly lower than that of the IR group. Only 8 patients suffered from lower limb pain and other discomfort after treatment, and these symptoms did not cause dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture is an effective treatment for compensatory hypertrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle.

The efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal compound or combined with western medicine for pediatric adenoidal hypertrophy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or combined with western medicine in the treatment of pediatric adenoidal hypertrophy has been widely used in clinical practice, but the overall efficacy and safety is still unclear. This paper aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety analysis of TCM or combined with western medicine for pediatric adenoidal hypertrophy. METHODS: PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and China biomedical literature database (CBM) were searched for randomized controlled trials of TCM or combined with western medicine for pediatric adenoidal hypertrophy from the date of establishment to July 2020, and Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR) were searched for unpublished grey literature. Two researchers independently applied RevMan 5.3 software for data extraction and risk assessment of bias. RESULTS: The effectiveness and safety of TCM or combined with western medicine for pediatric adenoidal hypertrophy is evaluated by means of the Adenoid (A) /(Nasopharyngeal (N) ratio, clinical efficacy, integral score of TCM syndromes, clinical single symptom score, disease specific quality of life for children with obstructive sleep apnea 18 items survey (OSA-18), Interleukin 4 (IL-4) and adverse reaction incidence. CONCLUSION: This study will provide theoretical support for the clinical application of TCM or combined with western medicine for pediatric adenoidal hypertrophy. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/J76AG.

Effects of different therapeutic modalities for postacne scars on circulating collagen III.

BACKGROUND: Therapies for postacne scarring act through modulation of elastin and collagen, and collagen III might therefore represent a biomarker of treatment effectiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 70) with postacne scars and individuals without scars (n = 56) were included in this case-control study. Patients were treated with Dermaroller microneedling, trichloroacetic acid chemical reconstruction, punch excision, or scar subcision. Scar severity was graded immediately before and after treatment with a photographic quartile scale and the ECCA scale. Serum levels of collagen III were measured in control individuals and in patients, before treatment, 1 month after the first treatment session, and 4 months after the final session. RESULTS: Circulating levels of collagen III were significantly higher in patients with postacne scarring (24.1 ± 12.5) before treatment than in control individuals (2.6 ± 0.8). Circulating levels of collagen in patients were significantly lower 4 months posttreatment (14.3 ± 8.1) than at baseline. The mean percentage change in serum collagen III was positively correlated with both the mean percentage improvement by photographic evaluation (r = .530, P < .000) and the mean percentage change in the ECCA scale (r = .632, P < .000). CONCLUSION: Circulating collagen III is a biomarker for improvement of postacne scarring following different therapies.

[Effects of Electroacupuncture on Adaptive Hypertrophy of Gastrocnemius and Proliferation and Differentiation of Muscle Satellite Cells in Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects and mechanism of different duration electroacupuncture (EA) on adaptive hypertrophy of gastrocnemius and the expressions of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), paired box transcription factor 7 (Pax 7), myogenic differentiation antigen (MyoD 1), myogenin (MyoG), myosin heavy chain-Ⅰ(Myh 7), transforming growth factor-ß 1 (TGF-ß 1), Smad 3 in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four SD adult male rats were randomly divided into normal, two-week EA (A 2), four-week EA (A 4) and eight-week EA (A 8) groups, 6 rats in each group. Except the normal group, EA was applied at right "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Huantiao" (GB 30) for 10 min in the other three groups, separately for 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks, once a day, 6 times a week. The ratio of gastrocnemius wet weight was calculated after EA. The cross-sectional area and diameter of muscle fiber were measured after HE staining. The expression of PCNA protein was detected by immunofluorescence. The relative expressions of Pax 7, MyoD 1, MyoG, Myh 7, TGF-ß 1 and Smad 3 mRNA were tested with real-time PCR. RESULTS: The expressions of PCNA protein were obviously higher in the A 2 and A 4 groups than that in the normal group. The expression of genes in the EA intervention groups showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing except Smad 3 mRNA. The relative expressions of Pax 7 and TGF-ß 1 mRNAs reached their peaks in the A 2 group compared with those in the normal group (P<0.01). The ratio of gastrocnemius wet weight, cross-sectional area and diameter of muscle fiber, and the relative expressions of MyoD 1, MyoG, Myh 7 mRNAs reached their peaks in the A 4 group (P<0.01), while the relative expression of Smad 3 mRNA showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing and reached its bottom at the 4th week (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Huantiao" (GB 30) may induce adaptive hypertrophy of gastrocnemius in rats by up-regulating the expressions of Pax 7, PCNA, TGF-ß 1, MyoD 1, MyoG, Myh 7 and down-regulating the expression of Smad 3, promoting the proliferation of skeletal satellite cells, myogenic differentiation, myotubes terminal differentiation, increasing the wet weight, fiber cross-sectional area and diameter of gastrocnemius.

Effects of Light-Emitting Diode Therapy on Muscle Hypertrophy, Gene Expression, Performance, Damage, and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: Case-control Study with a Pair of Identical Twins.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify how a pair of monozygotic twins would respond to light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) or placebo combined with a strength-training program during 12 weeks. DESIGN: This case-control study enrolled a pair of male monozygotic twins, allocated randomly to LEDT or placebo therapies. Light-emitting diode therapy or placebo was applied from a flexible light-emitting diode array (λ = 850 nm, total energy = 75 J, t = 15 seconds) to both quadriceps femoris muscles of each twin immediately after each strength training session (3 times/wk for 12 weeks) consisting of leg press and leg extension exercises with load of 80% and 50% of the 1-repetition maximum test, respectively. Muscle biopsies, magnetic resonance imaging, maximal load, and fatigue resistance tests were conducted before and after the training program to assess gene expression, muscle hypertrophy and performance, respectively. Creatine kinase levels in blood and visual analog scale assessed muscle damage and delayed-onset muscle soreness, respectively, during the training program. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, LEDT increased the maximal load in exercise and reduced fatigue, creatine kinase, and visual analog scale. Gene expression analyses showed decreases in markers of inflammation (interleukin 1ß) and muscle atrophy (myostatin) with LEDT. Protein synthesis (mammalian target of rapamycin) and oxidative stress defense (SOD2 [mitochondrial superoxide dismutase]) were up-regulated with LEDT, together with increases in thigh muscle hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Light-emitting diode therapy can be useful to reduce muscle damage, pain, and atrophy, as well as to increase muscle mass, recovery, and athletic performance in rehabilitation programs and sports medicine.

Resultados del tratamiento kinésico en una paciente con lesión traumática de nervios peroneo común y tibial / Results of the kinésico treatment in a patient with traumatic injury of the common fibular and tibial nerves

Se realizó el seguimiento de una paciente de sexo femenino de 41 años de edad, con hipotrofia de miembro inferior izquierdo consecuente de un atentado en el que recibió tres heridas de arma de fuego calibre 22, lesionando los nervios peroneo común y tibial. El tratamiento realizado se basó en un protocolo de electroestimulación muscular selectiva con corrientes de baja frecuencia y ejercicios personalizados de miembros inferiores. Los mismos mejoraron la fuerza, funcionalidad y calidad de vida de la paciente, permitiéndole recuperar independencia funcional y reinserción a las actividades diarias

A monitoring was conducted to a 41 year-old female patient, with hypotrophy of the left lower limb as a consequence of an assault in which she received three gunshot wounds produced by a firearm .22 caliber, injuring both the common peroneal and tibial nerves. The executed treatment was based on a protocol of selective muscular electrostimulation of the affected muscles with low frequency current and personalized exercises of the lower limbs, which have improved the patient's strength, functionality and quality of life, allowing her to regain functional independence and reintegration to daily activities.

Phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate lipolysis and hyaluronic acid augmentation to enhance nonsurgical lower facial contouring using botulinum toxin type A.

Botulinum toxin type A can produce dramatic improvements in patients with benign masseteric hypertrophy but this method alone is not as effective for patients with a rounded lower face. The paper describes the effective use of selective lower jowl phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate lipolysis and chin, cheek, and nose augmentation with hyaluronic acid to refine cosmetic lower facial contouring using botulinum toxin type A in a young Asian woman. A series of treatments was administered over 26 months. The patient's lower cheeks were slimmed and jowl definition was improved producing the patient's desired sculptured, heart-shaped face. The injection-based procedures provided much preferable alternative to surgery from the perspective of both the patient and her family. The authors believe that this is the first case report in the published literature reporting these three methods used in conjunction.

Bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy of turbinate hypertrophy: pilot study and 20 months' follow-up.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The present report is a pilot clinical study about a new bipolar ablation technique for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, which offers an alternative to conventional methods. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, clinical. METHODS: From August 1999 to March 2000, a new bipolar radiofrequency system with acoustic feedback control was submucosally applied for the treatment of 38 patients with nasal airway obstruction of vasomotor (n = 31) or allergic (n = 7) genesis. The therapy was made ambulatory with surface anesthesia. Data were collected by questionnaire and rhinomanometry preoperatively and 2 and 20 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Nearly all patients reported an improvement of their nasal breathing, with 68% of them reporting a full and 29% a partial recovery. No significant differences were reported with regard to the response of the allergic versus the vasomotor rhinitis. On average, a definite benefit was observed after 2 weeks. Side effects, such as bleeding, synechia, or atrophic changes of the mucosa, which would have to be treated, were not observed. CONCLUSION: The new bipolar radiofrequency thermotherapy presents an efficient option for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, which meets the requirements for an outpatient treatment.