Search

Background: It has not been solved what kind of needle sensation might influence outcomes of acupuncture treatment. Effects of personality factors on the therapeutic effect of acupuncture have not been investigated. This study aimed to find the effects of the traits of personality on the objective outcome when different acupuncture techniques were used in treating patients with Bell's palsy. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial of acupuncture for Bell's palsy. Patients were randomly assigned to the de qi and control groups, respectively. The primary outcome was facial nerve function at month 6. The intensity of each needle sensation was rated by a visual analog scale. Psychosocial factors were assessed by the pretreatment mediator questionnaire; 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) was used for assessing personality factors and digit cancellation test for assessing attention. Results: After 6 months, patients in the de qi group had better facial function (adjusted odds ratio [ OR ]: 4.16, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 2.23–7.78). Path analysis showed that intensity of needle sensation of fullness had direct effect on House-Brackmann (HB) score at month 6. In de qi group, the low HB score on day 1 ( OR : 0.13, 95% CI : 0.03–0.45) and the low Social Boldness score ( OR : 0.63, 95% CI : 0.41–0.97) in 16PF were associated with better facial function. In control group, low HB score on day 1 ( OR : 0.25, 95% CI : 0.13–0.50), low Vigilance score ( OR : 0.66, 95% CI : 0.50–0.88), and high Tension score ( OR : 1.41, 95% CI : 1.12–1.77) in 16PF were related to better facial function. Conclusions: The needle sensation of fullness could predict better facial function and personality traits might influence outcomes of acupuncture treatment. Both of them should be considered seriously in acupuncture treatment and research.

In the large hydraulic concrete structure that conventional nondestructive testing technique can’t implement quantitative detection, using steady Rayleigh wave technique can acquire various characteristic parameters of concrete. The paper introduces the principle and detection system of steady Rayleigh wave technique systematically, and makes detection experiments to introduce steady Rayleigh wave e technique and application progress of it in quality of large hydraulic concrete and nondestructive detection of crack depth. The practice proves that steady Rayleigh wave detection technique has the characteristics of strong antijamming capability and higher detection precision.

Due to the interference of noise, filtering technology is applied to achieve gravity anomaly for airborne gravimetry. Kalman filtering and smoothing are discussed and implemented for data processing of airborne gravimetry in this paper. Firstly, the algorithms of Kalman filtering and smoothing are introduced. Then, the system model for solving the gravity anomaly is established which is based on the dynamic equation and the hardware design equations. Finally, the result of Kalman filtering and smoothing would be compared with digital FIR low pass filter, and it is proved that Kalman filter and smoother could obtain more accurate result than FIR low pass filter as that the solving error of Kalman filter and smoother is improved within 1 mGal compared with the theory standard obtained by GT-1A software.

The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the 32 patients clinically diagnosed with BPH, 200 IU BTX-A was injected into five points at the lateral and middle lobes of the prostate under the guidance of ultrasound using a balloon dilatational device. The international prostate symptom score, quality of life score, maximum flow rate, post-void residual urine volume, prostate-specific antigen, and prostate volume were determined before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. All clinical symptoms and indicators were remarkably improved 1 month after the treatment and reached the optimal levels at 6 months post-treatment. This improvement of clinical parameters was maintained for a period of at least 1 year. Ultrasound-guided BTX-A injection was found to be safe and effective in the management of BPH.

The chambers of certain coal mine in Shandong such as central substation situate in soft rock which consists of mudstone and fine sandstone, etc. Obvious ground pressure behaviors, large deformation and failure of surrounding rock have serious effect on mine safety production, with the impact of various complicated deep large ground pressure. This paper presents a rational scheme to control the surrounding rock steadily, based on analysis of deformation and failure on large section soft rock chamber, combined with the concept of the" combined supporting technology of long and short anchors" and "the combined supporting technology of three anchors".

Background: The traditional Chinese theory of acupuncture emphasizes that the intensity of acupuncture must reach a threshold to generate de qi, which is necessary to achieve the best therapeutic effect. De qi is an internal compound sensation of soreness, tingling, fullness, aching, cool, warmth and heaviness, and a radiating sensation at and around the acupoints. However, the notion that de qi must be achieved for maximum benefit has not been confirmed by modern scientific evidence. Methods: We performed a prospective multicentre randomized controlled trial involving patients with Bell palsy. Patients were randomly assigned to the de qi ( n = 167) or control ( n = 171) group. Both groups received acupuncture: in the de qi group, the needles were manipulated manually until de qi was reached, whereas in the control group, the needles were inserted without any manipulation. All patients received prednisone as a basic treatment. The primary outcome was facial nerve function at month 6. We also assessed disability and quality of life 6 months after randomization. Results: After 6 months, patients in the de qi group had better facial function (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.23–7.78), better disability assessment (differences of least squares means 9.80, 95% CI 6.29–13.30) and better quality of life (differences of least squares means 29.86, 95% CI 22.33–37.38). Logistic regression analysis showed a positive effect of the de qi score on facial-nerve function (adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.09). Interpretation: Among patients with Bell palsy, acupuncture with strong stimulation that elicited de qi had a greater therapeutic effect, and stronger intensity of de qi was associated with the better therapeutic effects. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov no. NCT00685789.

The paper has analyzed the mechanical mechanism of movement and deformation of overlying strata and surface on stope, defined the moving structures of the overlying strata of three strata space forms, explored the mechanism of surface subsidence caused by loose layers’ pressure consolidation , and pointed out that when the loose layers are much thicker, what is indispensable is that, the pressure consolidation of loose layers loosed water, or soil body’s deformation leading to additional stress in the mining soil body, and the dissipation of excess pore water pressure resulting in the consolidation. And according to the surface subsiding features of thick loose layers in mining area, the paper has applied the correction model by probability integral method to predict subsidence with a rather satisfying prediction result.

Brazing diamond grits to steel substrate using Ni-based filler alloy was carried out via laser in an argon atmosphere. Thermodynamic analysis was performed in order to research the interfacial reaction mechanism of diamond and Ni-Cr alloy during high temperature brazing. Meanwhile, microstructure of the interfacial layer was experimentally detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersion spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) in this paper. The results indicate that according to the thermodynamic theory the interfacial reaction has been proved feasible, and during brazing high strength bonding between diamond grits and the steel substrate has been successfully realized because the chromium in the Ni-based alloy segregated preferentially to the surface of the diamond to form a chromium-rich reaction product Cr3C2, and the bond between the alloy and the Diamond was established through the reaction product.

In order to understand the tectonic stress mechanism caused by crust equilibrium and lithospheric root pull in the West and East Qinghai-Tibet plateau, two-dimensional viscoelastic models are established and computed on the basis of geophysical data. The results show that the horizontal deviatoric compression mainly comes from down-pulling lithospheric root and the northward convergence of Indian plate is secondary in the West Section, forming the topography “Mountain rising and Basin sinking”. While the horizontal deviatoric compression in the rigid upper crust induced by the down-pulling lithospheric root is relatively weak in the East Section. By comparing the numerical modeling results, the difference of deep material and tectonic stress system may imply different evolution stages of mountain uplift in the West and East Qinghai-Tibet plateau.