Variations of mean sensitivity of tree rings in Asia and their influencing factors.

Mean sensitivity (MS) of tree ring is a key index representing the sensitivity of tree rings to climate. Understanding the variation of MS and its influencing factors at a large area is helpful to understand the interaction between tree growth and climate. We used 573 tree-ring width chronologies in Asia from the International Tree Ring Date Bank (ITRDB) to examine the variation of tree-ring sensitivity and potential influencing factors. The results showed that the MS of trees was high in the arid regions and cold regions. Precipitation was more important than temperature in diriving MS. Consistent with the pattern of up-down-up for precipitation, MS showed a down-up-down fluctuation with increasing altitude, indicating that precipitation affected by altitude was a key climate factor for the MS. MS had great difference due to different physiological traits among tree species. Light-adapted species, such as Juniperus przewalskii and Pinus gerardiana, had high MS due to drought tole-rance. Shade-adapted species, such as Picea and Abies, had low MS. Old trees may have high MS.

Ultrasound-guided needle release of the transverse carpal ligament with and without corticosteroid injection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided needle release of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) with and without corticosteroid injection in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: From June 2016 to June 2017, 49 CTS patients (50 wrists) were included in this study. Twenty-five wrists were treated with ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL plus corticosteroid injection (group A), and 25 wrists were treated with single ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL (group B). The following parameters were assessed and compared including postprocedure results according to relief of symptoms, ultrasound parameters (cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the levels of pisiform, flattening ratio of median nerve at the levels of the hamate bone, and the thicknesses of TCL on the cross-section at the level of the hamate bone), and electrophysiological parameters (distal motor latency and sensory conduction velocity). RESULTS: Group A had higher overall excellent and good rate 3 months after the procedure than group B (84 vs 52%, P < 0.05). There were significant differences regarding the above ultrasonic and electrophysiological parameters between the baseline and postprocedure values in both groups (all P < 0.05). There were significant differences regarding the postprocedure values of above ultrasonic and electrophysiological parameters between the two groups (all P < 0.05). No complications such as infection or tendon rupture were noted. No procedures were converted to the open release. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques are effective in treating CTS. Ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL with corticosteroid injection had better treatment benefits than single ultrasound-guided needle release of the TCL in treating CTS.

[Case control study on ultrasound guided microtraumatic treatment of acute subacromial bursitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guided microtraumatic treatment of acute subacromial bursitis. METHODS: The patients with shoulder pain from June 2012 to March 2014 were treated with musculoskeletal bone ultrasound examination. A total of 120 patients were diagnosed with acute subacromial bursitis, who were randomized divided into two groups:US guided injection group(ultrasound group) and palpation guided injection group(closed group). The patients in each group were injected with a mixture of 3.5 ml Betamethasone compound lidocaine mixture and 2.5 ml Sodium hyaluronate into the subacromial bursa. The outcome measures were the visual analog scale(VAS) for analyzing pain degree, the night rest pain and Constant-Murley score for detecting shoulder function, rate of secondary injection, and comprehensive effect. The VAS, the night rest pain and CMS were evaluated before, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after the injection. RESULTS: After treatment, the shoulder pain and function were improved. One day and 1 week after the injection, the VAS between the two groups were compared. The pain improvement in ultrasonic group was better than in the traditional group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). In the two groups, the night rest pain was relieved after treatment, and 1 day after the injection, the night rest pain in the ultrasonic group was significantly lower than that in the traditional group(P<0.05). One day, 1 week and 1 mouth after the injection, the CMS between the two groups were compared, and the improvement of CMS in the ultrasonic group was significantly better than that in the traditional group(P<0.05). The patient number with secondary injection in the ultrasonic group was 13 cases, which was significantly less than that in the closed group 45 cases(P<0.05). The recovery number of ultrasonic group was significantly better than that of the traditional group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound guided microtraumatic treatment of acute subacromial bursitis worked faster than traditional closed therapy. The short term curative effect and the comprehensive curative effect is better than the traditional closed treatment. The US guided subacromial injection technique is effective in guiding the needle into the subacromial bursa in patients with acute subacromial bursitis.

[Observations on efficacy of small needle scalpel under ultraosonography guidance in plantar fasciitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of small needle scalpel under ultraosonography guidance in plantar fasciitis. METHODS: From March 2011 to May 2015, 234 patients with plantar fasciitis were divided into ultrasound-guided group and traditional knife group. There were 117 patients in ultrasound guided group, including 54 males and 63 females, aged from 42 to 8 years old with an average of(54.36±15.04) years; the courses of disease was(15.72±9.55) months on average; treated with small needle scalpel under ultraosonography guidance. While there were 117 patients in traditional small needle scalpel group, including 52 males and 65 females, aged from 43 to 80 years old with an average of (53.6±18.14) years; the average course of disease was(16.98 ±8.99) months;treated only with needle knife. VAS score, tenderness score and AOFAS-AH score before treatment, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after treatment were observed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: VAS score, tenderness score in ultrasound guided group were lower than traditional needle knife group, and had significant difference between two groups at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after treatment;while ultrasound guided group was better than traditional needle knife group in alleviating pain. AOFAS-AH score in ultrasound guided group was higher than traditional needle knife group, and had significant difference between two groups at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after treatment. The function of foot at different time points in ultrasound guided group was better than traditional needle knife group. Wound healing between two groups were better and no complications were occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Needle knife under ultraosonography guidance is a reliable method for the treatment of plantar fasciitis, and has advantages of rapid onset, excellent efficacy, good functional recovery.