Acupuncture for blunt chest trauma: A protocol for a double-blind randomized control trial

Introduction:Blunt chest trauma (BCT) accounts for up to 65% of polytrauma patients. In patients with 0 to 2 rib fractures, treatment interventions are typically limited to oral analgesics and breathing exercises. Patients suffering from BCT experience symptoms of severe pain, poor sleep, and inability to perform simple daily life activities for an extended period of time thereafter. In this trial, we aim to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture as a functional and reliable treatment option for blunt chest trauma patients.Methods:The study is designed as a double-blind randomized control trial. We will include 72 patients divided into 2 groups; the acupuncture group (Acu) and placebo group (Con). The acupuncture group will receive true acupuncture using a uniquely designed press tack needle. The control group will receive placebo acupuncture treatment through the use of a similarly designed press tack needle without the needle element. The acupoints selected for both groups are GB 34, GB 36, LI 4, LU 7, ST 36, and TH 5. Both groups will receive 1 treatment only following the initial visit to the medical facility and upon diagnosis of BCT. Patient outcome measurements include: Numerical Rating Scale, Face Rating Scale, respiratory function flowmeter, Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale, and the total amount of allopathic medication used. Follow-up time will be scheduled at 4 days, 2 weeks, and lastly 3 months.Expected outcome:The results of this study can potentially provide a simple and cost-effective analgesic solution to blunt chest trauma patients. This novel study design can serve as supporting evidence for future double-blind studies within the field of acupuncture.Other information:The study will be conducted in the thoracic surgical department and acupuncture department in China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. The study will be conducted on blunt chest trauma patients and is anticipated to have minimum risk of adverse events. Enrollment of the patients and data collection will start from March 2020. Study completion time is expected in March 2022.Protocol Registration:(CMUH109-REC1-002), ({"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT04318496","term_id":"NCT04318496"}}NCT04318496).     

Formation of alginate microspheres produced using emulsification technique

This study investigated the formative process of alginate microspheres produced using an emulsification technique. The alginate microspheres were produced by cross-linking alginate globules dispersed in a continuous organic phase using various calcium salts: calcium chloride, calcium acetate, calcium lactate and calcium gluconate. The size, shape, drug content and Ca²⁺ content of the microspheres were evaluated. The tack, viscosity and pH of the calcium salt solution and percentage of Ca²⁺ partitioned into the organic phase were determined. Microscopic examination of the test emulsion at various stages of the emulsification process was also carried out. The propensity of cross-linking reaction was found to be dependent on successful collision between alginate and calcium salt globules. Examination of the characteristics of microspheres indicated that the formed microsphere was a resultant product of alginate globule clustering. The growth propensity of microspheres was promoted by the higher rate and extent of cross-linkage which was governed by the pH, tack and/or Ca²⁺ content of the cross-linking solution, as well as the dissociation constant and diffusivity of the calcium salt. Overall, the amount of free Ca²⁺ cross-linked with alginate in the formed microspheres was in the following order: calcium acetate > calcium chloride + calcium acetate > calcium chloride + calcium gluconate; calcium chloride + calcium lactate > calcium chloride. In microencapsulation by emulsification, the mean size of the microspheres produced can be modified by varying the tack, pH and Ca²⁺ content of the cross-linking solution and through the use of a combination of calcium salts. The shape of the microspheres produced was, nonetheless, unaffected by the physicochemical properties of the cross-linking solution.     

Press tack needle stimulation for blunt chest trauma: a randomized double-blind control trial

Open in a separate window OBJECTIVESBlunt chest trauma is often associated with severe pain, reduced lung function and decreased sleep quality. This study aims to investigate the immediate and long-term effect of acupuncture on these factors using a randomized control double-blind design.METHODSA total of 72 patients were randomized into 2 groups: treatment group (press tack acupuncture) and control group (press tack placebo). The face rating scale, numerical rating scale (NRS), portable incentive spirometer and Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale were measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 4th day, with 2-weeks and 3-months follow-ups.RESULTSThere were no significant changes between the groups at the baseline measurements, with the exception of hypertension comorbidity. Immediately after the intervention and on the 4th day follow-up, the patients in the treatment group showed a significantly lower face rating scale when compared to the control (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in any of the other measurements between the groups (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that the NRS for turn over on the 4th day was reduced significantly in the treatment group of patients without lung contusion (P < 0.05). For patients without pleural drainage, cough NRS in the treatment group was significantly reduced in the 2-week follow-up (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that press tack acupuncture effects on pain reduction were inconclusive. However, future studies on the effect of acupuncture on blunt chest trauma patients are needed.Clinical trial registrationclinicaltirl.gov: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT04318496","term_id":"NCT04318496"}}NCT04318496.     

Comparing laparoscopic mesh fixation strength between articulated and non-articulated tack devices

Abstract

Aim: The iMESH Tacker? (IMT) device is a device which simplifies laproscopic hernia repair by enabling an articulation of the device tip. The study compares the strength of mesh fixation between the IMT and another commercial tack (ACT) device – Absorbatack? (Covidien, Corp, Mansfield, MA, USA). Material and methods: Strips of mesh were installed on the abodminal wall of three pigs. Half of the meshes were fixated by IMT and half by ACT. Euthanasia was done immediately to the first pig, after14 days to the second and after 27 days to the third pig. The mesh strips were pulled while fixation force was measured. Statistical analysis was done using the two tailed t-test. All mesh strips were found to be fixated. Through detachment force test, the average force in the first pig was 17.1N ± 1.9 and 16.5N ± 8.3 (IMT and ACT respectively, n/s). The average force in the second pig was 18.8N ± 7.3 and 8.4N ± 4.1 (IMT and ACT respectively, p < 0.05). The average force in the third pig was 16.3N ± 5.3 and 10.9N ± 5.9 (IMT and ACT respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of IMT is both feasible and easy to learn. The study showed that IMT creates average fixation force which is higher than ACT.     

Cost comparison of fibrin sealant versus tack screws for mesh fixation in laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Inguinal hernias of the abdominal wall are common accounting for 75% of all hernia defects. They can be treated with laparoscopic surgery using a transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach. However, in surgery there is some contention on how to conclude the hernia repair, as there are alternatives of using fibrin sealant (FS) or tack screws for fixation of a mesh implant over the defect in the abdominal wall. In this study, we evaluate the economic consequences of using FS vs. tacks for mesh fixation in TAPP inguinal hernia repair for the UK from a hospital perspective.

Methods: The model was populated with clinical inputs (theater time, hospitalization days, occurrence of seroma, and neuralgia) from a previously conducted study comparing FS and tack screws in patients who had undergone TAPP hernia repair, and cost inputs from official government sources. One-way sensitivity analyses were also conducted to evaluate key drivers of cost analyses.

Results: The average cost per case treated with FS 2 mL Tisseel® and tack screws (ProTack^TM) was £1,098 and £1,348, respectively, for resource expenses paid by the healthcare system. This would suggest a potential savings achieved of £249 per surgery using FS for mesh fixation. The sensitivity analysis showed that the key drivers for the cost difference were a variation in time to complete the surgery, followed by hospitalization days, and lower adverse outcomes such as seroma and neuralgia in the two cohorts.

Conclusion: Using FS resulted in cost savings in hospitals based on reduced time to complete surgery, hospitalization time post-op, and lower adverse outcomes. Indirect cost savings were also found in favor of FS when comparing the two alternatives from a societal perspective, as patients were able to return to work more promptly in the FS group versus the tack screws group.     

弥散张量成像在胎儿脑发育中的研究进展

胎脑从妊娠第3周末一个简单的神经管结构发育成出生后功能结构复杂的脑组织,期间经历了脑原始诱导发育、神经细胞增殖、神经元移行、两侧大脑半球皮质层状结构形成、脑室、沟、裂、脑回发育,以及白质纤维出现到成熟的髓鞘化过程。这些发育过程极其精确复杂,但是遵从严格的顺序。产前超声仅能筛查早期胎脑较明显的先天异常,无法评估这些细微的脑结构发育情况。近年来发展的磁共振成像技术为胎脑发育的研究提供了有用工具,尤其是弥散张量成像技术通过检测脑组织的水分子弥散运动,提供了从微观结构层面观察胎脑信息的视角,同胎脑组织学研究形成互补。本文将简要介绍弥散张量成像(diffusion tensor imaging,DTI)技术应用于胎脑方面的优势及其主要应用手段,DTI对皮质层状结构的显示,以及显示白质纤维束出现的时间、顺序、胎脑纤维束连接的变化、白质髓鞘化前成熟过程等,还总结了目前DTI技术用于胎儿脑成像的主要技术难题与解决办法,为进一步应用弥散张量成像研究正常胎儿脑发育奠定理论基础。     

孤独症谱系障碍儿童眼动与主要行为指标的相关研究

目的 分析对动态几何图形(DGI)和社会性人物图形(DSI)关注度不同的孤独症谱系障碍(ASD)儿童的眼动指标与其主要行为指标的相关性,为临床研究及干预提供依据。方法 选取2017年9月-11月于深圳市妇幼保健院儿童心理康复科就诊的73例ASD患儿为研究对象,按注视范式兴趣区间时间百分比分组,其中高关注DGI组23例,高关注DSI组16例,两者关注时间百分比接近组34例。采用便携式眼动仪、适应行为评定量表第二版(幼儿版)(ABAS-Ⅱ)、孤独症评定量表(CARS)及孤独症观察量表(ADOS)对本组患儿进行测试,对比三组的眼动指标与其行为指标的结果,并进行相关性分析。结果 眼动指标显示:三组间眼动社会性注视时间(FT)、社会性注视时间百分比(TFD%)、几何FT、几何TFD%相比较,差异有统计学意义(P均＜0.05);三组间眼动几何注视次数(FC)、社会性FC相比,差异无统计学意义(P均＞0.05)。多重线性回归分析显示,高关注DSI组中,眼动社会性FT与社交呈正相关,与休闲、居家生活,呈负相关;眼动社会性TFD%、几何TFD%、几何FT与各行为指标均无相关性。两者注视时间百分比接近组中,社会性FT与实用技能呈负相关;社会性TFD%与CARS、沟通、自我照顾呈负相关,与实用技能呈正相关,几何TFD%与学前功能呈正相关;高关注DGI组中,几何TFD%与沟通呈负相关,几何FT与沟通呈负相关,社会性FT、社会性TFD%与各行为指标均无相关性。结论 对几何图形及社会性图形关注度不同的ASD儿童的眼动指标与其主要行为指标有密切关系。