Introduction. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) in postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) patients who were refractory to standardized treatment and to compare the results with the impact observed in an observation group. Methods. Fifty patients who presented to the outpatient clinic with PVOD and were refractory to standardized treatment were included: 25 were treated with TCA and 25 patients were simply observed. A subjective olfactory test was performed using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). The effects of TCA were compared with the results obtained in the observation group. Results. Improved olfactory function was observed in eleven patients treated with TCA compared with four patients in the observation group. This study revealed significantly improved olfactory function outcomes in patients who underwent acupuncture compared with the observation group. No significant differences in olfaction recovery were found according to age, gender, or duration of disease between the two groups; however, hyposmic patients recovered at a higher rate than anosmic patients. Conclusion. TCA may aid the treatment of PVOD patients who are refractory to drugs or other therapies.

BackgroundFibular allograft with impaction bone grafting (FAIBG) is an effective hip-preservation method for avoiding total hip arthroplasty in the early stage of femoral head necrosis. However, whether thorough debridement should be used with FAIBG is controversial. This study compared the mechanical performance between FAIBG with and without thorough debridement, which provides a biomechanical basis for selecting the proper treatment in clinical settings.MethodsEighteen computational models were constructed and used to simulate two subtypes of femoral head collapse with seven debridement radii. The initial model was validated using the bony density distribution from X-ray images and a photograph of the cadaver bone cross-section. The stress of the anterolateral column and the debridement efficiency were computed and analyzed.Results(1) The peak stress of the anterolateral column in all conditions could return to the physiological level, and in two cases, the decrement/increment of stress was almost less than 0.1 % when the debridement radius increased. (2) The load share ratio (LSR) of the cortical and cancellous bone was markedly decreased in the untreated condition and increases with an increase in the debridement radius. (3) A debridement radius greater than 1/2r yields a LSR value larger than that obtained in the normal condition.ConclusionsThe simulation results provide specific biomechanical evidence to support the finding that FAIBG with a debridement region of 3/8 -1/2 appears to be a better choice for resisting femoral head collapse (FHC). Furthermore, FAIBG without thorough debridement, which requires relatively simple surgical devices and reduces artificial damage, appears to be a better method for resisting FHC than FAIBG with thorough debridement.

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Central nervous system (CNS) injuries, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury, are leading causes of long-term disability. It is estimated that more than half of the survivors of severe unilateral injury are unable to use the denervated limb. Previous studies have focused on neuroprotective interventions in the affected hemisphere to limit brain lesions and neurorepair measures to promote recovery. However, the ability to increase plasticity in the injured brain is restricted and difficult to improve. Therefore, over several decades, researchers have been prompted to enhance the compensation by the unaffected hemisphere. Animal experiments have revealed that regrowth of ipsilateral descending fibers from the unaffected hemisphere to denervated motor neurons plays a significant role in the restoration of motor function. In addition, several clinical treatments have been designed to restore ipsilateral motor control, including brain stimulation, nerve transfer surgery, and brain–computer interface systems. Here, we comprehensively review the neural mechanisms as well as translational applications of ipsilateral motor control upon rehabilitation after CNS injuries.