ObjectiveTo study the clinical effect of the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride with exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress in the treatment of early patellofemoral osteoarthritis. MethodsA total of 126 patients with early patellofemoral osteoarthritis treated between June 2013 and April 2015 were divided into group A (n=43), B (n=42) and C (n=41) with the method of random number table. Oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets, exercise therapy of knee joints and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress were applied for the 43 patients in group A. Oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and exercise therapy of knee joints were applied for the 42 patients in group B. Exercise therapy of knee joints and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress were applied for the 41 patients in group C. Chen's Scoring was applied before the treatment and 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment. ResultsThe differences of Chen's scores at the time points after treatment and those before treatment of the same group had statistical significance (P<0.05). The differences of Chen's scores at the time points after treatment in group A and those in group B and C had statistical significance (P<0.05). There were no obvious adverse effects due to administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets in group A and B. Five patients in group A and 4 patients in group C suffered from the symptoms of local erythema, light cutaneous pruritus and other contact dermatitis after traditional Chinese medicine hot compress. Those symptoms disappeared automatically several hours later without any special treatment. ConclusionThe treatment of early patellofemoral osteoarthritis by the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets with exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress can rapidly relieve joint pain, and maintain efficacy for a long time.
ObjectiveTo estimate the radiation dose (RD) to the general public and nuclear medicine technicians from patients undergoing 99mTc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) myocardial perfusion imaging. MethodsFrom January to June 2015, 55 patients including 30 males and 25 females aged between 25 and 87 years[averaging (63.6±15.1)years] ready to undergo myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with 99mTc-MIBI were prospectively recruited in this study. Approximately at hour 1.5 after injection of 99mTc-MIBI, whole-body dose-equivalent rate was measured with a radiation-survey meter at 0.3 meter and 1.0 meter from the patients. On the basis of human 99mTc-MIBI metabolic rate proposed by the International Commission of Radiological Protection and human social contact model proposed by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the RDs to the general public from patients who had completed 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging and left nuclear medicine department were calculated. On the assumption that a nuclear medicine technician typically spent 5 minutes at a distance of 0.3 meter for positioning the patient, the technician's RD was also estimated. ResultsThe RD to a family member sleeping with the patient at night was predicted to be 42.88-160.55 μSv, to a family member contacting the patient at daytime 7.50-29.38 μSv, to a colleague 9.89-38.78 μSv and to a nearby passenger 124.48-466.06 μSv. The RD to a technician per 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging procedure was predicted to be 1.72-6.44 μSv. ConclusionThe predicted RDs to the general public and technicians from exposure of patients undergoing 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging are significantly lower than the regulatory dose limits.