Treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures with percutaneous kyphoplasty and oral Zishengukang

AbstractObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and oral Zishengukang (ZSGK) for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).MethodsSeventy patients were randomly divided into a control group (PKP group) and an experimental group (PKP plus ZSGK group). The 35 patients in the experimental group were prescribed 6 g oral ZSGK three times a day for 90 days after PKP. Visual analog pain scale (VAS), Oswestry functional score, vertebral height and Cobb's angle were recorded and compared before treatment and at one week, one month and three months after treatment.ResultsVertebral height and Cobb's angle significantly improved and VAS and Oswestry functional score were significantly lower in both groups after PKP than pre-operatively (P<0.01). Three months after treatment, VAS and Oswestry functional score in the experimental group were lower than controls (P<0.05), even though vertebral height and Cobb's angle were comparable (P>0.05).ConclusionPKP combined with oral ZSGK provide superior short-term and long-term symptom control after OVCF than PKP alone

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Yaotuitong Capsules in experimental rats with chemically induced radicular neuritis

AbstractObjectiveThe aims of this study were to determine the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Yaotuitong (translation: low back and leg pain) capsules, a Chinese herbal preparation, and the histological changes it induces in experimental rats with chemically induced radicular neuritis.MethodsWistar rats were randomly divided into normal, model, Western medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine groups (n=24 per group). We surgically duplicated a chemical radicular neuritis model to simulate lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. Granuloma formation was measured on postoperative days (PODs) 3, 7, 14, and 21. Prostaglandin E2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine (inflammation mediators) levels in the surrounding tissue and the histology of the nerve root were determined on PODs 7 and 14.ResultsYaotuitong capsules significantly reduced prostaglandin E2 (P<0.01) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (P<0.01) levels in tissue surrounding the nerve root. It also inhibited granuloma formation (P<0.05).ConclusionYaotuitong capsules have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that can alleviate the discomfort of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion

Design and Implementation of Reusable Components Using PowerBuilder

AbstractComponent technology is a key technology of software reuse. This paper investigates PowerBuilder based technology of software reuse, especially the technology of component design. To build a reusable component, reusable elements in the application system are firstly extracted. The reusable components are then used to form a reusable component library. When designing application system, suitable components are selected from the reusable library and then instantiated. Software system is implemented by composing the instanced components under a reusable framework. Practical results show that the use of reusable components can improve the efficiency of software development

Why torus-unstable solar filaments experience failed eruption?

To investigate the factors that control the success and/or failure of solar eruptions, we study the magnetic field and 3-Dimensional (3D) configuration of 16 filament eruptions during 2010 July - 2013 February. All these events, i.e., erupted but failed to be ejected to become a coronal mass ejection (CME), are failed eruptions with the filament maximum height exceeding $100 Mm$. The magnetic field of filament source regions is approximated by a potential field extrapolation method. The filament 3D configuration is reconstructed from three vantage points by the observations of STEREO Ahead/Behind and SDO spacecraft. We calculate the decay index at the apex of these failed filaments and find that in 7 cases, their apex decay indexes exceed the theoretical threshold ($n_{crit} = 1.5$) of the torus instability. We further determine the orientation change or rotation angle of each filament top during the eruption. Finally, the distribution of these events in the parameter space of rotation angle versus decay index is established. Four distinct regimes in the parameter space are empirically identified. We find that, all the torus-unstable cases (decay index $n > 1.5$), have a large rotation angles ranging from $50^\circ - 130^\circ$. The possible mechanisms leading to the rotation and failed eruption are discussed. These results imply that, besides the torus instability, the rotation motion during the eruption may also play a significant role in solar eruptions

Research on the performance and application of low traffic hardened lime-fly ash pavement materials in rural areas

By means of curing agent hardening technology applied for lime-fly ash road surface, the performance of unconfined compressive strength, water stability and freezing stability of hardened fly ash mixture has been tested, and the feasibility of the technology has been verified. At the same time, combined with the indoor test results, the test road has been paved which achieved good results, and the construction technology is simple, economical and reasonable, so it has a good value of popularization and application

A Model of Customer Lifetime Value Consider with Word-of-mouth Marketing Value

With the rapid development of IT technology and fierce competition of market, the customer relationship management(CRM) has gained its importance in the market. Companies have attached importance to acquiring and retaining the most profitable customers. So calculating customer’s value is a significant segment for every effective CRM. Many researches have been performed to calculate customer’s value based on customer lifetime value (LTV). But, these calculations can’t effectively include the whole customer value, especially for the word-of-mouth marketing value. This paper proposes a new LTV model which considers the customer’s past profit contribution, potential value and word-of-mouth marketing value, and gives a more reasonable LTV value in CRM for the company to make a decision