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Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an electroacupuncture-like magnetic therapy (ELMT) and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A prospective randomized controlled trial in single-centre was conducted. Thirty-four CTS patients confirmed by electrodiagnostic study were randomized into TENS or ELMT group and completed a six-week treatment program. TENS or ELMT treatment was applied on acupuncture point PC-6 (Neiguan) and one selected hand acupoint. Therapeutic exercises were also included after the electrophysical modality. Their physical signs, motor and sensory performances, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) scores, and results of electrodiagnostic study were evaluated. After treatments, both groups demonstrated significantly decreased BCTQ scores and positive rate of Tinel’s sign in the major symptomatic side, which indicated improvements in the symptom severity and physical functions. Significant increases in distal sensory amplitude and nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve were only found in the ELMT group. Our study found either conventional TENS or ELMT plus therapeutic exercises could improve the symptomatology and physical provocation sign of CTS. The ELMT has additional improvement in the nerve conduction in patients with CTS.

Uremic toxins are mainly represented by blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Crea) whose removal is critically important in hemodialysis (HD) for kidney disease. Patients undergoing HD have a complex illness, resulting from: inadequate removal of organic waste, dialysis-induced oxidative stress and membrane-induced inflammation. Here we report innovative breakthroughs for efficient and safe HD by using a plasmon-induced dialysate comprising Au nanoparticles (NPs)-treated (AuNT) water that is distinguishable from conventional deionized (DI) water. The diffusion coefficient of K3Fe(CN)6 in saline solution can be significantly increased from 2.76, to 4.62 × 10-6 cm s-1, by using AuNT water prepared under illumination by green light-emitting diodes (LED). In vitro HD experiments suggest that the treatment times for the removals of 70% BUN and Crea are reduced by 47 and 59%, respectively, using AuNT water instead of DI water in dialysate, while additionally suppressing NO release from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]