Efficacy and Safety of Coronary Intervention via Distal Transradial Access (dTRA) in Patients with Low Body Mass Index.

The study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of coronary intervention via distal transradial access (dTRA) in patients with low body mass index (BMI). A total of 67 patients with low BMI who underwent coronary intervention, comprising 29 patients via dTRA and 38 patients via conventional transradial access (cTRA), were retrospectively included. There was no significant difference in the puncture success rate between the two groups (dTRA 96.6%, cTRA 97.4%, P=0.846). Compared with the cTRA group, the success rate of one-needle puncture in the dTRA group was lower (51.7% vs. 81.6%, P=0.020). The compression haemostasis time in the dTRA group was shorter than that in the cTRA group (P < 0.001). However, the incidence of radial artery occlusion was lower in the dTRA group than in the cTRA group (4.0% vs. 33.3%, P=0.007). In conclusion, coronary intervention via dTRA was safe and effective in patients with low BMI.

Safety and efficacy of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention via distal transradial artery access in the anatomical snuffbox: a single-centre prospective cohort study using a propensity score method.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the safety and efficacy of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via distal transradial artery access (d-TRA). METHODS: For this single-centre prospective cohort study, a total of 1066 patients who underwent CAG or PCI procedures from September 2019 to November 2020 were included. Patients were divided into two groups: the d-TRA group (346) and the conventional transradial artery access (c-TRA) group (720) based on access site. A total of 342 pairs of patients were successfully matched using propensity score matching (PSM) for subsequent analysis. RESULTS: No significant differences in puncture success rate, procedural method, procedural time, sheath size, contrast dosage or fluoroscopy time were noted between the two groups. The puncture time in the d-TRA group was longer than that in the c-TRA group (P < 0.01), and the procedure success rate was lower than that in the c-TRA group (90.94% vs. 96.49%, P = 0.01). The haemostasis time in the d-TRA group was shorter than that in the c-TRA group (P < 0.01), and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was lower than that in the c-TRA group (P < 0.01). In addition, the prevalence of bleeding and haematoma in the d-TRA group was lower than that in the c-TRA group (1.75% vs. 7.31%, P < 0.01; 0.58% vs. 3.22%, P = 0.01, respectively). No significant difference in the incidence of numbness was noted between the two groups. No other complications were found in two groups. CONCLUSION: d-TRA is as safe and effective as c-TRA for CAG and PCI. It has the advantages of improved comfort and fewer complications. Trail registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900026519.

[The electrophysiological response of chorda tympani nerve to taste stimuli in rats with conditioned taste aversion to saltiness].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristic changes of the peripheral chorda tympanic nerve (CT) electrophysiological responses to salty stimulus and other taste stimuli in rats with the conditioned taste aversion to saltiness. METHODS: Fourteen adult SD male rats were divided into a conditioned taste aversion to salty group (CTA) and a control group (Ctrl) (n=7/group). On the first day of the experiment, rats were given a 0.1 mol/L NaCl intake for 30 min, then, the rats in CTA and Ctrl groups were injected intraperitoneally with 2 ml of 0.15 mol/L LiCl and the same amount of saline respectively. On day 2, 3 and 4, the 30 min consumption of NaCl and distilled water was measured for both groups of rats. On the 4th day after the behavioral test of that day, CT electrophysiological recording experiments were performed on CTA rats and control rats. RESULTS: Compared with the rats in Ctrl group, the electrophysiological characteristics of CT in CTA group rats did not change significantly the responses to the series of NaCl and other four basic taste stimuli (P＞0.05). The amiloride, the epithelial sodium channel blocker, strongly inhibited the response of CT to NaCl in CTA and Ctrl group rats (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: The electrophysiological responses of CT to various gustatory stimuli do not significantly change in rats after the establishment of conditional taste aversion to the saltiness.

CTRP3 inhibits high glucose-induced human glomerular mesangial cell dysfunction.

C1q/tumour necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) is a member of CTRP family, and its blood level is reduced in human and rodent models of obesity and diabetes. However, the role of CTRP3 in diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. This study was designed to examine the effects of CTRP3 on cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in human glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) in response to high glucose (HG), and explore the potential molecular mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that the expression of CTRP3 was significantly decreased by HG stimulation in MCs. In addition, CTRP3 overexpression inhibited MCs proliferation, reactive oxygen species level, and ECM production in HG-stimulated MCs. Mechanistically, CTRP3 overexpression inhibited the activation of the Janus kinase 2/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway in HG-stimulated MCs. Taken together, these findings indicated that CTRP3 attenuated HG-induced MC proliferation and ECM production through the inactivation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Thus, CTRP3 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

[Effect of acupuncture stimulation of Zusanli (ST 36) on cerebral regional homogeneity in volunteer subjects with different constitutions: a resting-state fMRI study].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the synchronism difference of brain region activities in response to acupuncture stimulation of Zusanli (ST 36) in healthy volunteer subjects with different acupuncture analgesia sensitivity, so as to study the central factors influencing acupuncture intervention outcomes. METHODS: Forty-five healthy volunteer subjects with different constitutions (different sensitivities in response to needling stimulation) were divided into insensitive group, normal group and sensitive group (n = 15). The pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the Zusanli (ST 36) region before and after acupuncture stimulation of ST36 was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS). Two weeks later after acupuncture stimulation of ST 36, resting-state fMRI images were acquired by using a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system and analyzed by using DPARSFV 2.1 software package, software SPM 8 and REST 1.7. The cerebral regional homogeneity (ReHo) of the subjects was then calculated by Resting-State fMRI Data Analysis Toolkit (REST). RESULTS: Compared with pre-acupuncture, PPT levels of the normal and sensitive groups were significantly increased after acupuncture of ST 36 (P < 0.05), and that of the insensitive group had no significant change (P > 0.05). Following acupuncture stimulation of ST 36, the insensitive group only showed a significant decreased ReHo in the left fusiform gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, and left anterior central gyrus. In the normal group, a significantly increased ReHo was found in left brainstem, the right cerebellum posterior lobe, right parahippocampa gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, left angular gyrus, temporal lobe and the left frontal lobe; and a significantly decreased ReHo in the occipital lobes and the right superior temporal gyrus after acupuncture stimulation of ST 36. In the sensitive group, a markedly increased ReHo was found in the left brainstem, bilateral cerebellum posterior lobes, left inferior temporal gyrus, basal ganglia, the left insular lobe, anterior cingutate, frontal lobe, inferior parietal lobule, and the right supplementary motor area, and an obviously decreased ReHo found in the bilateral occipital lobes, fusiform gyrus, posterior central gyrus, the right posterior cingutate, the left temporal lobe and the left paracentral lobule, etc. after acupuncture of ST 36. CONCLUSION: Constitution-associated needling sensation may be an important influential factor for acupuncture analgesia in normal subjects. The change of ReHo in different cerebral areas is probably responsible for the difference of acupuncture analgesia in different constitution people.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture of five Shu-points of the liver meridian combined with bloodletting for depression patients and concomitant changes of blood rheology].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture of five Shu-points of the Liver Meridian plus bloodletting for depression patients and its effect on hemorheology. METHODS: Thirty depression outpatients were randomly and equally divided into medication and acupuncture + bloodletting groups. Patients of the medication group were treated with Fluoxetine (20 mg/d, PO. in the morning) and those of the acupuncture + bloodletting group treated by acupuncture of Xingjian (LR 2), Taichong (LR 3), Zhongfeng (LR 4) and Ququan (LR 5) first, followed by pricking Dadun (LR 1) to let a little bit of blood out. The treatment was given once every other day, two months altogether. The therapeutic effect was assessed by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Severity of Illness (CGI-SI) before and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the treatment, respectively. Changes of hemorheology were detected by using a blood rheology detector. RESULTS: Of the 15 outpatients in both medication and acupuncture + bloodletting groups, 6 (40.00%) and 6 (40.00%) were cured basically, 5 (33.34%) and 4 (26.67%) experienced marked improvement, 2 (13.33%) and 3 (20.00%) were improved, and 2 (13.33%) and 2 (13.33%) invalid, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P > 0.05). On the 6th and 8th weeks of the treatment, the CGI-SI score of the acupuncture + bloodletting group was significantly lower than that of the medication group (P < 0.05), suggesting a better therapeutic effect of the acupuncture + bloodletting group. The low and high shear viscosity of whole blood, erythrocyte aggregation index and rigidity index, and fibrinogen levels of the two groups were decreased significantly after the treatment (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups in the changes of hemorheology indexes following the treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of the five Shu-points of the Liver Meridian combined with bloodletting is effective in relieving depression symptoms and improving blood rheology in depression patients.

[Comparative study of heat-sensitive moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion in treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Sixty cases of KOA were randomly divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group and a conventional moxibustion group, 30 cases in each one. Dubi (ST 35), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and Heding (EX-LE 2) on the affected side were selected in two groups. In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the techniques of circling moxibustion, sparrow-pecking moxibustion, moving moxibustion and mild moxibustion were applied. In conventional moxibustion group, the mild moxibustion was used, 2 to 3 cm far from the skin of the acupoints selected. Lysholm scale for the assessment of knee joint function was adopted to evaluate the efficacy. The scores of joint pain, morning stiffness, joint swelling and walking ability were compared before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS: The scores of joint pain, morning stiffness, joint swelling and walking ability after treatment were all apparently improved as compared with those before treatment in either group (all P < 0.05). The improvement in the above-mentioned indices in heat-sensitive moxibustion group was much more apparent as compared with that in conventional moxibustion group (all P < 0.01). The effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in heat-sensitive moxibustion group and was 73.3% (22/30) in conventional moxibustion group. The effective rate in heat-sensitive moxibustion group was obviously superior to that in conventional moxibustion group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion is superior to that of conventional moxibustion in the treatment of KOA. This therapy can more significantly improve the symptoms and physical signs of the patients with KOA.

[Effect of scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on limb function in subacute stroke patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of scalp- and body-acupoints on limb function in subacute stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 110 stroke inpatients were randomly and equally divided into acupuncture group and control group. Patients of the acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of scalp acupoint Dingnie Qianxiexian (MS 6) and body acupoints Neiguan (PC 6), Jianyu (LI 15), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. once daily for 20 days and routine neurological therapies, including drugs for controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, water-electrolyte balance, anticoagulation, encephaledema reduction, intracranial pressure reduction, anti-inflammation, neurofunction protection, etc. The stroke patients of the control group were treated with the routine neurological therapies only. The Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), US National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were used to assess the patients' limb function and nerve functional lesion severity before and after the treatment, and the ratio of mortality/disability and recurrence rate were used to assess the efficacy of acupuncture at the end of 3 and 6 months' follow-up. RESULTS: After the treatment, the FMA scores were increased significantly and NIHSS scores decreased considerably in both groups (P < 0.01), and the effects of acupuncture group were obviously superior to those of the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between two groups in the ratios of mortality/disability and recurrence rates at the end of 3 and 6 months' follow-up (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture can evidently improve limb movement function and reduce the nerve function damage in stroke patients.