Does the video head impulse test replace caloric testing in the assessment of patients with chronic dizziness? A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionCaloric testing is the most frequently used test to assess peripheral vestibular function since the beginning of the 20th century. However, the video head impulse test, vHIT, has gained prominence in the field of neurotology, as it is a faster examination, easier to perform and less uncomfortable for the patient.ObjectiveTo compare, through systematic review and meta-analysis, the proportion of altered cases between vHIT tests and caloric testing in patients with chronic dizziness, in addition to assessing the sensitivity and specificity of vHIT, with caloric testing as the gold standard.MethodsThe literature search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, BVS-Bireme, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane and ProQuest indexed databases, with no restrictions regarding the publication period. All articles that contained the results of the two tests were included in the evaluation of patients with dizziness. Two researchers independently conducted data selection and extraction from the studies, strictly following the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined in the research protocol. In case of disagreement during the selection, a discussion was carried out with a third evaluator.ResultsEleven of the 1293 initial articles met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed. 2670 patients were evaluated, of which 1112 (41.6%) were males and 1558 (58.4%) females, with a mean age of 51.6 years. The proportion of altered results in the vHIT was 21% (95%CI 9% –33%), and 55% in the caloric testing (95%CI 43% –67%).ConclusionThe vHIT does not substitute for caloric testing. The tests are complementary in assessing the patient with dizziness, as they describe the tonotopy of the ampullary crest at different frequency ranges of stimulation. In chronic cases, the vHIT has a low sensitivity and high diagnostic specificity in comparison to caloric testing.     

尿动力学检查在前列腺增生症术前评估中的临床意义

目的探讨前列腺增生症(BPH)手术治疗前尿动力学检查的必要性。方法对166例拟行手术治疗的BPH患者的尿动力学检查结果进行分析。结果在166例患者中,125例(75.3%)证实存在膀胱出口梗阻(BOO ),25例(15.1%)为可疑BOO(BOO±),16例(9.6%)无BOO(BOO-),3组之间在最大尿流率(Qmax)、残余尿量(PVRV)、逼尿肌/外括约肌协同失调(DSD)上差异无统计意义,BOO( )组的逼尿肌不稳定(DI)、低顺应性膀胱的发生率明显高于其他两组,逼尿肌收缩力减弱(DUA)的发生率明显低于其他两组。结论尿动力学检查对诊断BPH、选择治疗方法和预测疗效有重要意义,手术治疗前应常规检查。     

Perugia urodynamic method of analysis (PUMA): a new advanced method of urodynamic analysis applied clinically and compared with other advanced methods.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare PUMA curves with different pathologic conditions causing bladder dysfunction in 158 men and 83 women. METHODS: PUMA results in terms of bladder outlet obstruction and detrusor contractility were compared in 92 men with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and p(ves) congruent with p(det) (i.e., p(abd) congruent with 0) with the results of the urodynamics operator's opinion, the provisional International Continence Society method, Abrams and Griffith's diagram, urethral resistence factor (URA), Sch?fer's diagram, and Watt factor. PUMA curves correlated reliably with different pathologic conditions such as obstructive BPH, orthotopic bladder, cystocele, the neurological bladder, and bladder diverticulum. Statistical analysis indicated excellent agreement between PUMA and URA; agreement with other methods was good in cases of obstruction and nonobstruction. In doubtful cases, as diagnosed by standard methods, PUMA agreed only with the Abrams and Griffith's diagram. PUMA and Wmax were in good agreement on detrusor con traction force. Agreement between PUMA and Sch?fer's diagram was excellent for patients with detrusor hypercontractility and good for patients with detrusor hypocontractility and normocontractility. PUMA is the only method applicable to women. It is easy to perform. When integrated with other diagnostic tests, it provides realistic data for diagnosis, medical or surgical therapy, and outcome.     

Evidence for motility and pinocytosis in ramified microglia in tissue culture

Ramified microglial cells were investigated in primary cultures of dissociated cerebral cortical tissue from rats. The identification of these cells was confirmed through immunohistochemical staining with 7 monoclonal antibodies selective for microglia. While there was significant variation in staining intensity with different antibodies, all stained the identified ramified cells; the antibodies OX-42 and ED1 yielded the most intense immunoreactivity. Based on distinctive morphological features, the microglia could be identified in living cultures where they were monitored using time-lapse video recording. This technique revealed extremely dynamic features of cellular plasticity and motility. Ramified microglia exhibited constant and rapid alterations in the size and shape of their cell body with an associated extension and retraction of processes; concomitantly, the cells moved about in a circumscribed area. These features of plasticity and motility were unique to this cell type, and correlated with OX-42 immunostaining. The microglia also possessed a differentially high level of pinocytotic activity; this too was correlated with OX-42 staining. From the nature of their morphological plasticity and motility, high pinocytosis, and cellular distribution, it is hypothesized that the ramified microglia specifically function as a system of fluid cleansing in normal brain tissue.     

40例电视胸腔镜手术体会

目的 探讨电视胸腔镜(VATS)手术的优点、适应证和手术技巧。方法 回顾总结VATS手术40例。病种有原发性自发性气胸20例，多发性肺大疱3例，Ⅰ期肺癌3例等。手术方式有肺大疱切除23例，肺叶切除术3例(辅助小切口)，肺楔形切除4例，纵隔肿瘤切除术3例，结核瘤切除1例，活检3例，胸膜粘连术3例，射频消融1例，纤维板剥脱术1例。结果 本组病例手术时间平均65分钟，失血量少于100ml，中转开胸2例，术后胸液总量平均150ml。胸管置留时间1～7天，平均住院时间7．8天，无气胸、良性肿瘤和结核复发，恶性胸水明显减少或消失，无持续漏气、二次开胸止血和手术死亡等并发症。结论 VATS手术适应证范围较广，微创出血少，美观，恢复快，只要掌握了手术技巧，操作便捷，并发症少，疗效满意。     

Image processing in swallowing and speech research

An image processing system for application to studies of the temporal and spatial parameters of movement during swallowing and speech is described. Image sequences from videotape are digitized for computerized manipulation and analysis in an attempt to improve on conventional visual inspection. The system is “interactive” or “event-driven”: after executing a function, the computer waits for guidance from the user who controls the program through keyboard and mouse input, selecting options from menus and responding to prompts. The analyst alters image clarity by the application of filters and heightens contrast through video enhancement. A technique called “remapping” reduces head motion and provides uniform spatial scaling. Animated sequences of images are used, as opposed to frame-by-frame analysis, to preserve temporal context and increase efficiency of measurement. Low cost off-the-shelf personal computer hardware is used along with original software tailored to the application.     

内窥镜除皱术的临床应用

自１９９４年４月采用内窥镜已行额、面部除皱术２２例，取得了较好的临床效果。介绍了应用内窥镜除皱术的操作方法、适应证选择的经验体会。认为在选择好适应证的前提下，是一种简洁的除皱方法。     

Changes in bladder function following a surgical alteration in outflow resistance

The changes in bladder function occurring after a surgical alteration in bladder outflow resistance were studied in 20 males undergoing transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) and in 20 females undergoing an endoscopic bladder neck suspension (EBNS). Serial cystometrograms (CMG) were performed before operation, and on alternate days after spontaneous micturition was re-established, for 5 days in the males and for 21 days in the females. CMGs were repeated at 3 months and 1 year after operation. After TURP voiding pressures (P_det) fell rapidly from a mean of 118 cm H₂O before operation to 57 cm H₂O at 5 days, with an increase in flow rate during this time from 10.5 ml/s to 24 ml/s. Detrusor instability that had been present in 14 patients resolved within 2 days in 12. There was no further significant urodynamic change over the 1-year study period. After EBNS, there was an early rise in voiding pressure (P_det rose from 26 cm H₂O before operation to 42 cm H₂O at 3 days). This continued to increase up to 21 days particularly in those patients with initial large residuals. Three patients developed detrusor instability. Flow rates were greatly reduced at first (27 ml/s before operation and 13 ml/s at 3 days), and gradually increased in line with voiding pressures, yet were still diminished 1 year after operation. The urodynamic changes following a reduction in bladder outflow resistance by TURP are immediate and sustained and unlikely to be the result of structural changes within the bladder wall. EBNS produces an increase in outflow resistance and it can be several weeks before balanced voiding is achieved, with significantly increased detrusor pressures needed to achieve complete bladder emptying at a reduced flow rate.     

下尿路梗阻性肾积水患者逼尿肌功能变化

目的：探讨下尿路梗阻性肾积水患者逼尿肌功能变化。方法：对20例（3．5－73岁）下尿路梗阻导致的肾积水组和10例（13－67岁）无肾积水的对照组进行膀胱压力容积测定与压力－流率测定，并记录不同膀胱灌注量的逼尿肌基础压力。结果：下尿路梗阻性肾积水组逼尿肌－括约肌协同失调（DSD）11例（55％），逼尿肌功能过度活跃5例；而对照组仅发现1例（10％）DSD，未发现有逼尿肌功能过度活跃。下尿路梗阻性肾积水组平均膀胱顺应性显著低于对照组（P＜0．05），而下尿路梗阻性肾积水组平均逼尿肌基础压力，平均逼尿肌最大收缩压和残余尿量均显著高于对照组（P＜0．05），且下尿路梗阻性肾积水组在灌注量逐渐增加时高逼尿肌基础压力发生率逐渐增加。结论：下尿路梗阻性肾积水多伴有逼尿肌功能异常，提示膀胱逼尿肌功能改变与下尿路梗阻性肾积水的形成及发展有一定的相关性。