Effects of dry needling on symptomatic hallux valgus: A randomized single blind clinical trial

ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to determine the short and medium effects of dry needling (DN) on myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in individuals with symptomatic hallux valgus (SHV).MethodsA total of 30 female volunteers, aged 25–60, with hallux valgus (HV) were randomly divided into two groups: DN group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15) who received sham dry needling. The outcome measures were pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), Foot Function Index (FFI), hallux valgus angle (HVA), and first metatarsophalangeal joint radiography.ResultsAt the end of the intervention, the HVA showed a significant decrease in the case group (P < 0.001); however, statistically no significant difference was found in the pain intensity and foot function between the two groups (P > 0.05). These findings were maintained for a week and a month during follow-ups.ConclusionAccording to the findings, dry needling can be recommended for improving first metatarsophalangeal joint alignment in the mild to moderate SHV individuals.     

理筋正骨手法结合运动疗法治疗慢性非特异性下背痛临床观察

目的:评价理筋正骨手法结合运动疗法治疗慢性非特异性下背痛(CNLBP)的临床疗效.方法:将65例CNLBP患者根据随机数字表法分为两组,治疗组33例接受理筋正骨手法联合运动疗法治疗;对照组32例接受中频电疗法结合运动疗法治疗.治疗前后使用视觉模拟量表(VAS)、腰部动静态肌耐力、表面肌电中位频率(MF)和Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)对患者腰部功能进行评估.治疗后进行疗效评价.结果:治疗过程中,两组各脱落2例.治疗组总有效率为90.3%,对照组为66.7%,两组总有效率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).治疗后,两组VAS评分、腰部动静态肌耐力、表面肌电MF和ODI评分与本组治疗前均有统计学差异(均P<0.05);治疗组各项指标与对照组均有统计学差异(均P<0.05).结论:理筋正骨手法结合运动疗法可有效缓解CNLBP患者的疼痛,提高腰部肌肉耐力,改善患者的生活质量,其疗效优于中频电疗法结合运动疗法.     

Oral finasteride improved the quality of life of androgenetic alopecia patients

Although androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is not a systemic disease, some patients suffer from anxiety about the progression of their condition. This study was conducted in order to ascertain whether treatment by oral finasteride can improve the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. Twenty‐seven male AGA patients aged 19–76 years (average, 33.8) answered the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), WHO/QOL‐26 and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires before and after the administration of finasteride (1 mg/day) for 6 months. Patients assessed by physicians as “excellent” or “good” were defined as “high responders”; those assessed as “moderate” or “no change” were “low responders”. The changes in QOL before and after the treatment were statistically analyzed, and the improved value of each QOL index of the high responders and low responders from baseline were compared. There was a statistical difference in the VAS (P < 0.0001) and DLQI (P < 0.01) indices before and after the administration of finasteride. No significant changes occurred in the WHO/QOL‐26 and STAI indices. Comparison of the high responders (11 cases) and low responders (16 cases) revealed no statistical difference in the improvement of VAS and DLQI scores. Oral finasteride improves the QOL of these patients, and VAS and DLQI are useful for the evaluation of patients’ QOL because of the high sensitivity of these tests. However, oral finasteride did not alleviate the patients’ anxiety nor did its efficacy correlate with the level of reported anxiety.     

Changes in Adrenal Androgens During Puberty Suppression and Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment in Adolescents With Gender Dysphoria

Introduction

Gender-affirming hormone treatment is known to affect adrenal androgen levels in adult individuals with gender dysphoria (GD). This may be clinically relevant because the adrenal gland plays a critical role in many different metabolic processes.

Comparison of a digital and an analog signal processing system for neutron inelastic gamma-ray spectrometry

We compared the value of using a digital signal processing unit for gamma-ray spectroscopy with that of an analog one for in situ measurements of gamma-rays generated by inelastic neutron scattering reactions with soil elements. A large cylindrical NaI(Tl) scintillation detector, 15.24 cm high by 15.24 cm diameter was used to measure carbon (C) and oxygen (O). The performance of the systems was assessed as a function of input count rate (ICR) by monitoring the peak areas of the C, 4.43 MeV, and O, 6.13 MeV, gamma-rays. In separate experiments, the digital and the analog systems were also compared using an intense 10.3 mCi ¹³⁷Cs source to vary the ICR, and the 1.17 MeV peak area of ⁶⁰Co was used as the reference.     

Noninvasive recording of His bundle activity with an analog delay device in normal subjects and patients with atrioventricular block

Summary A simplified and clinically applicable method has been developed for real-time noninvasive recording of the electrical activity of the His bundle in the human heart. A surface electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained from bipolar precordial leads. The electrical signal within the P-QRS segment of the ECG was amplified with a high gain amplifier and delayed with an analog delay device for QRS-triggered signal averaging. The analog delay device consisted of a bucket brigade device (BBD) with an electrical integrated circuit (IC). After filtering with a band width of 50–300Hz, the delayed signal was processed by a microcomputer system and the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal was improved by the signal averaging technique.Surface His bundle electrocardiograms (SHE) were measured in normal subjects without conduction disorders and in patients with atrio-ventricular (A–V) block. In the same patients, each SHE was nonsimultaneously compared with an invasive His bundle electrogram (HBE) obtained by the intracardiac catheter technique. The results of this comparison confirmed that the noninvasive method of SHE recording has broad clinical applicability and high utility for the screening of patients with latent A–V block before intracardiac catheterization is performed.     

Implementation of front-end processor neural networks

Electronic implementation of a class of neural networks whose short-term memory equation is governed by multiplicative, rather than additive, inhibition is proposed. The network models can be derived from ionic flow in nerve membranes and multiplicative terms result from control of conductive paths by voltages of other cells in the network. Since Field Effect Transistors (FETs) are voltage controlled conductances when operated below pinch-off, these networks can be readily implemented in FET technology using this physical property. This class of neural networks appears in many areas of the brain as well as the sensory system and has been used as a basic building block for the multilayer self-organizing architecture of Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART). The model has been especially useful for explaining a wide range of peripheral visual phenomena. The implementation is intended to specifically demonstrate desirable front-end image processing properties of contrast enhancement, edge detection, dynamic range compression, and adaptation of dynamics to mean intensity levels. Since the network can be mathematically described, its dynamics and stability may be examined. Compatibility of the network with higher level processing allows for its inclusion in multilayer self-organizing neural network architectures.     

Studies on blood-pressure regulation by the use of a baroreceptor analog

Summary In rabbits anesthetized with urethane the aortic and carotid sinus nerves were stimulated by an electric baroreceptor analog. In closed loop experiments the analog buffered blood pressure alterations and alterations of heart rate following the blockade of aortic nerves and clamping the common carotid arteries. The carotid sinus nerves appeared to be not more sensitive to baropacing by the analog than the aortic nerves. Blood pressure and heart rate oscillations induced by vagal stimulation with the analog were damped and finally disappeared when the electric receptor analog was used to stimulate simultaneously the depressor nerves. Analysis of the baroreceptor analog in open loop experiments gave the same results as obtained on natural baroreceptors: pulse pressure sensitivity changed with mean pressure, amplitude, and pulse rate. The transfer function of the analog is the same as transfer functions of carotid sinus nerves are. It is concluded, that the baroreceptor analog may be useful for closed loop baropacing treatment of hypertension.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ze 67/1).