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Background: Lateral elbow pain (LEP) due to tendinosis is one of the most common musculoskeletal pains of the upper limbs, yet there is no satisfactory treatment. This study was an international, prospective, multi-centre, randomized, controlled, clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture compared to sham laser in the treatment of LEP.Methods: The study used a parallel and stratified design (1:1 allocation using a computer-generated sequence) and was participant-, outcome assessor- and statistician-blinded. Subjects from 18 to 80 years with unilateral chronic LEP (minimum three months) were recruited at four centres in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Italy. The treatment group received manual acupuncture at acupoints LI 10 and LI 11 on the affected side whereas the control group received sham laser acupuncture at the same acupoints. The primary endpoint was disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire score at the three-week post-treatment follow-up visit. Three VAS scales (pain at rest, pain on motion and pain during exertion) were secondary outcomes measures. Ninety-six subjects were allocated to either the treatment group (n = 47) or control group (n = 49) and were all included in the analysis.Results: At the follow-up visit, we found significant differences in DASH score between the two groups (p = .015). The median change to baseline for the treatment group was -11.7 (interval: -50.83 to 23.33), and for the control group -7.50 (interval: -36.67 to 29.10). The estimated effect size was 0.47, indicating a medium effect. Significant differences were also found for secondary outcome measures for VAS of pain. There were no severe adverse events. Our findings suggest that acupuncture has a moderate efficacy in the treatment of LEP.Conclusions: Acupuncture was shown to be efficacious in improving the function of the arm associated with lateral elbow tendinosis. Both the DASH score and the pain VAS on two occasions (at rest and during motion) showed a significant change over time indicating acupuncture as a potential treatment for LEP due to tendinosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentatomoidea (stink bugs and their relatives) is the third largest superfamily in Heteroptera, or the true bugs. The phylogenetic relationships among the families within Pentatomoidea remain controversial. The family Lestoniidae is morphologically highly specialized, currently including only two species endemic to Australia. Previous researchers have suggested a close relationship of Lestoniidae to either Plataspidae or Acanthosomatidae, based on morphological characters. In this study, phylogenetic tree reconstruction revealed that Lestoniidae and Acanthosomatidae form a monophyletic clade. In addition, in comparisons of the secondary structures of 18S and 28S rRNAs representing 15 families of Pentatomoidea, four length-variable regions in 18S and 28S rRNAs that can serve as autapomorphies for the clade Lestoniidae + Acanthosomatidae were recognized. Among them, E in 18S rRNA and D3-1 and D5-1 in 28S rRNA are unique in length in Lestoniidae and Acanthosomatidae. Based on the new molecular evidence and morphological evidence published by previous authors, Lestoniidae is suggested to be a highly specialized group derived from a common ancestor with Acanthosomatidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of Tibet and growth of Asia resulted from successive accretion of Gondwana-derived continental fragments at the expense of Tethyan oceans, yet how and where the eastern Paleo-Tethys closed in SE Asia remain controversial. Here we report new and synthesized detrital zircon data from Borneo and relevant regions revealing that West and SW Borneo show consistent Precambrian age profiles resembling that of Northern Australia (Kimberley to Pine Creek), but contrasting with those of NW/NE Australia, Bird's Head, and Cathaysia/Indochina. Considering the questionable suture between West and SW Borneo, we suggest a united Borneo basement that originated from Northern Australia, with a position between Sumatra and Timor. Surprisingly, Borneo lacks NE Australia-sourced ca. 1700–1400 and 400–280 Ma zircons that prevail in Triassic-Jurassic strata of Timor, Babar, and Tanimbar offshore Northern Australia, which may be best explained by pre-Triassic rifting of the Borneo basement from Northern Australia. Combining with recent investigations, we propose a new tectonic scenario involving a Permian separation of Borneo (probably together with Sumatra) from northern Gondwana through opening of the Meso-Tethys Ocean followed by a Triassic docking with Eurasia that closed the eastern Paleo-Tethys. Thus, assembly of Sundaland (continental core of SE Asia) completed in the Late Triassic, rather than Cretaceous as previously thought, and the tail (or the southeasternmost section) of eastern Paleo-Tethys lies within the Kuching zone of Borneo. Our new reconstruction challenges current understanding of Gondwana dispersion and Asian accretion, shedding new light on Asian climate change and biogeographic diversity. • Borneo basement (West and SW Borneo) originated from Northern Australia. • Borneo basement left Northern Australia in the Permian during the opening of the Meso-Tethys Ocean. • Borneo basement docked with Sundaland in the Triassic during the closure of eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]