CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON TREATMENT OF STUBBORN HICCUP BY ACUPUNCTURE WITH DIFFERENT NEEDLE RETAINING TIME

Purpose:Observe the effect of different duration of needle-retention on acupuncture treatment of stubborn hiccup. Methods: 85 cases of stubborn hiccup patients are randomly divided into control group (n=40) and treatment group(n=45) according to their visiting time. For patients of control group, acupuncture needles (in both scalp points and body acupoints) are retained for 30 min, while for patients of treatment group, the needles inserted in the body acupoints are retained for 1 hr, and that inserted in scalp-point is retained for more than 6 hrs. The treatment is conducted once daily, continuously for 5 times. Results: The cure rate of treatment group is 88.9% (that for deficiency syndrome is 85.3%), and that of control group is 65% (that for deficiency syndrome is 53.3%).There is a significant difference between two groups in the cure rate (P<0.05). The cure rates for excess syndrome of two groups both are 100%.Conclusion: Longer retention of acupuncture needle has a better therapeutic effect for deficiency-syndrome type hiccup.

Risk Factors of Complications after CT-guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of Lumps Near Pulmonary Hilum

The factors influencing the incidence of common complications（pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage） of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum were investigated. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum was performed on 48 patients. The complications of pneumothorax and pneumorrhagia as well as the contributing factors were analyzed statistically. The major complications associated with CT-guided needle biopsy included pneumothorax（13 cases, 27.1%） and pulmonary hemorrhage（14 cases, 20.24%）. ？2 test revealed that pneumothorax was associated with the lesion size and depth of needle penetration, and pulmonary hemorrhage with the depth of needle penetration and needle retention time with a significant P value. Pneumothorax was observed in 7 cases（17.5%） out of 40 cases with diameter of mass greater than 3 cm, and in 6 cases（60%） out of 10 cases with depth of needle penetration greater than 4 cm. Additionally, pulmonary hemorrhage was identified in 12 cases（41.4%） out of 29 cases with needle retention time longer than 15 min, and pulmonary hemorrhage in 7 cases（70%） out of 10 cases with depth of needle penetration greater than 4 cm. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum is safe and effective. The key factors to prevent the complications include correct evaluation of lesion size, depth of needle penetration and the needle retention time before the operation. Key words： biopsy, CT-guided; hilum; pneumothorax; pulmonary hemorrhage

Performance of Nonwoven Filter Materials Based on the Operating Condition

The practical condition of needle-punched filters applied in coal-fired power plants is investigated. According to the actual operating conditions, two common filters (glass fiber filter and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) filter) are selected for experiment. The performance of these two kinds of filter is compared based on a series of tests such as resistance to the acid and alkali, oxidation resistance,hydrolysis resistance,and wear resistance. Experimental results show that PPS filter materials have better properties than those of glass filter material except oxidation resistance. Composite filter mixed glass fiber and PPS is recommended for polluters because of its good properties in all aspects.

Efficacy on rabbits with arrhythmia: needling acupoint of Neiguan(PC6) at shallow or deep depth, and retaining needles for 10, 20, or 30 min

OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of Neiguan(PC6)acupuncture at different depths and retention time on arrhythmia duration,myocardial tissue morphology,mRNA expression level of L-type calcium channelα1C subunit and Ca^(2+)-Mg^(2+)-At Pase activity in tachirrhythmia model of rabbits.METHODS:The tachyarrhythmia model was made by intravenous injection of barium chloride into the ears of rabbits.A total of 56 healthy adult male New Zealand big-eared white rabbits,apply the random number table method,divided into normal control group(group A),model group(group B),shallow needling Neiguan(PC6)10 min group(group C),shallow needling Neiguan(PC6)20 min group(group D),shallow needling Neiguan(PC6)30 min group(group E),deep needling Neiguan(PC6)10 min group(group F),deep needling Neiguan(PC6)20 min group(group G),deep needling Neiguan(PC6)30 min group(group H),7 animals in each group.Electrocardiograms were used to collect the duration of arrhythmia;hematoxylin-eosin staining method was performed on myocardial tissue,RT-PCR tested the expression ofα1C subunit mRNA,and the activity of Ca^(2+)-Mg^(2+)-ATPase were quantified by phosphorus determination method.RESULTS:The duration of arrhythmia in each acupuncture treatment group was shortened to varying degrees.Compare to the model group,the tissue damage from barium chloride inducing was improved in the acupuncture group.Compared to the model group,except for group E,most treatment groups had varying degrees of improvement with significantly down-regulated L-type calcium channelα1C subunit mRNA expressions level and increased Ca^(2+)-Mg^(2+)-ATPase activity.CONCLUSIONS:The effect of acupuncture at Neiguan(PC6)with different depths and retention time can reduce the duration of arrhythmia induced by barium chloride relatively,improve the induced pathological changes,down regulate L-type calcium channelα1C subunit mRNA expressions level and increase Ca^(2+)-Mg^(2+)-ATPase activity.Both the shallow and deep tissues of Neiguan(PC6)may be involved in transmitting acupuncture information.There is an optimal induction period for shallow needling at Neiguan(PC6)to reach the best therapeutic effect.