Prediction of outcomes for symptomatic spinal cavernous malformation surgery: a multicenter prospective clinical study

Purpose

Clinical outcome of spinal cavernous malformation (SCM) varies because of its unclear natural history, and reliable prognostic prediction model for SCM patients is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential factors that predict one-year neurological status in postoperative patients with SCM.

Methods

This was a multicenter prospective observational study in consecutive patients with SCMs. SCMs treated microsurgically between January 2015 and January 2021 were included. Outcome was defined as the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade at one year after operation. Multivariable analyses were used to construct the best predictive model for patient outcomes.

Results

We identified 268 eligible SCM patients. Neurological outcome had worsened from preoperative baseline in 51 patients (19.0%) at one year. In the multivariable logistic regression, the best predictive model for unfavorable outcome included symptom duration ≥ 26 months (95% CI 2.80–16.96, P < 0.001), size ≤ 5 mm (95% CI 1.43–13.50, P = 0.010), complete intramedullary (95% CI 1.69–8.14, P = 0.001), subarachnoid hemorrhage (95% CI 2.92–12.57, P < 0.001), AIS B (95% CI 1.91–40.93, P = 0.005) and AIS C (95% CI 1.12–14.54, P = 0.033).

Conclusions

Admission size of the lesion, morphology, symptom duration, AIS grade and the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage were strong outcome predictors regarding prognostication of neurological outcome in postoperative patients with SCMs. A decision to surgically remove a symptomatic SCM should be justified by systematic analysis of all factors potentially affecting outcome.

     

Health Care Providers' Advice on Lifestyle Modification for Older Adults

ObjectivesTo describe the pattern of health care providers' advice on lifestyle modification to older adults, and identify correlates of receiving such advice.DesignCross-sectional survey.Setting and participantsData from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study from 2007-2016 on adults ≥65 years (n = 3758) were analyzed.MethodsWe estimated the weighted prevalence and correlates of receiving advice on the following lifestyle modifications: (1) increase physical activity, (2) reduce fat/calories, (3) control/lose weight, and (4) a combination of control/lose weight and physical activity. Data were analyzed according to level of comorbidity (number of chronic conditions including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and arthritis) and body mass index (BMI).ResultsPhysical activity was the most widely prescribed lifestyle modification, reported by 15.7% of older adults free of chronic conditions and 28.9%, 35.4%, and 52.6% of older adults with 1, 2, and ≥3 comorbidities. Advice on reducing fat/calories was reported by 9.2%, 18.5%, 26.3%, and 40.9% of older adults with 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 comorbidities, respectively, and advice on weight loss/control was reported by 6.5%, 19.1%, 20.8%, and 37.5%, respectively. The combination of advice on weight loss/control and physical activity was least commonly reported: 5.1%, 13.5%, 16.6%, and 32.0%, respectively. Overall, lifestyle modifications were more frequently advised to older adults who were overweight, obese, or Hispanic.Conclusions and implicationsIn the United States, lifestyle modifications are not routinely recommended to older adults, particularly those free of chronic conditions, presenting a missed opportunity for chronic disease prevention and management. Among those advised to lose or manage weight, concurrent advice to increase physical activity is not consistently provided.     

胶质瘤细胞血小板源生长因子B链的纯合二聚体自分泌环活性？…

探讨胶质瘤细胞血小板源生长因子Ｂ链的纯合二聚体自体沁 活性与其细胞增殖和凋亡的关系。方法用原位杂交,原位细胞凋亡检测和免疫组化ＡＢＣ法染色观察了７３例不同级别的胶质瘤组织。     

胶质瘤细胞ING1、人端粒酶逆转录酶及人端粒酶相关蛋白1基因表达的研究

目的 探讨胶质瘤细胞ING1、人端粒酶逆转录酶(hTERT)和人端粒酶相关蛋白1(hTP1)基因表达的意义。方法 用mRNA原位杂交及免疫组织化学染色方法观察了70例不同级别的人胶质瘤组织。结果 hTERT mRNA和蛋白的阳性表达率分别为88.6％和82.9％,hTP1 mRNA和蛋白的阳性表达率均为100％,这4种阳性肿瘤细胞的密度彼此间均呈正相关(r=0.758～0.882,P<0.0005),并均随肿瘤级别升高而相应增加(P<0.05～0.01)。ING1 mRNA和蛋白的阳性表达率分别为94.3％和88 6％,两种阳性肿瘤细胞密度间也呈正相关(r=0.831,P<0.0005),但两者均随肿瘤级别升高而相应减少(P<0.01),并均分别与hTERT mRNA和蛋白及hTP1 mRNA和蛋白的阳性肿瘤细胞密度呈负相关(r=-0.211～-0.384,P<0.05～0.001)。结论 胶质瘤细胞中hTERT和hTP1基因表达异常增加可能是抑制其ING1基因表达的重要因素,这3种基因的表达异常可能在胶质瘤发生及恶性进展过程中起重要作用。     

The effect of physical activity on cognitive function in patients with dementia: A meta-analysis of randomized control trials

Non-pharmacological therapies, such as physical activity interventions, are an appealing alternative or add-on to current pharmacological treatment of cognitive symptoms in patients with dementia. In this meta-analysis, we investigated the effect of physical activity interventions on cognitive function in dementia patients, by synthesizing data from 802 patients included in 18 randomized control trials that applied a physical activity intervention with cognitive function as an outcome measure. Post-intervention standardized mean difference (SMD) scores were computed for each study, and combined into pooled effect sizes using random effects meta-analysis. The primary analysis yielded a positive overall effect of physical activity interventions on cognitive function (SMD[95% confidence interval] = 0.42[0.23;0.62], p < .01). Secondary analyses revealed that physical activity interventions were equally beneficial in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD, SMD = 0.38[0.09;0.66], p < .01) and in patients with AD or a non-AD dementia diagnosis (SMD = 0.47[0.14;0.80], p < .01). Combined (i.e. aerobic and non-aerobic) exercise interventions (SMD = 0.59[0.32;0.86], p < .01) and aerobic-only exercise interventions (SMD = 0.41[0.05;0.76], p < .05) had a positive effect on cognition, while this association was absent for non-aerobic exercise interventions (SMD = -0.10[−0.38;0.19], p = .51). Finally, we found that interventions offered at both high frequency (SMD = 0.33[0.03;0.63], p < .05) and at low frequency (SMD = 0.64[0.39;0.89], p < .01) had a positive effect on cognitive function. This meta-analysis suggests that physical activity interventions positively influence cognitive function in patients with dementia. This beneficial effect was independent of the clinical diagnosis and the frequency of the intervention, and was driven by interventions that included aerobic exercise.     

Low knowledge and perceived Hepatitis C risk despite high risk behaviour among injection drug users in Kathmandu,Nepal

BackgroundIn Nepal, prevalence of Hepatitis C (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs) has been measured at 50% and knowledge of the virus is low. Rehabilitation and harm reduction attendees constitute populations to whom health care providers can deliver services. As such, characterizing their drug use and risk profiles is important for developing targeted service delivery. We measured drug use and risk patterns of IDUs participating in residential rehabilitation as well as those contacted through needle exchanges to identify correlates of drug use frequency, risky injection practices as well as HCV testing, knowledge and perceived risk.MethodsWe collected cross-sectional data from one-on-one structured interviews of IDUs contacted through needle-exchange outreach workers (n = 202) and those attending rehabilitation centres (behaviour immediately prior to joining rehabilitation) (n = 167).ResultsRoughly half of participants reported injecting at least 30 times in the past 30 days and individuals with previous residential rehabilitation experience reported frequent injection far more than those without it. About one in fourteen respondents reported past week risky injection practices. Participants were over three times as likely to report risky injection if they consumed alcohol daily (17.2%) than if they did not (5.0%) (p = 0.002). Those who reported injecting daily reported risky injection practices (11.9%) significantly more than non-daily injectors (1.8%) (p < 0.001). Respondents reported high HCV infection rates, low perceived risk, testing history and knowledge. HCV knowledge was not associated with differences in risky injecting.ConclusionTreatment centres should highlight the link between heavy drinking, frequent injection and risky injecting practices. The link between rehabilitation attendance and frequent injection may suggest IDUs with more severe use patterns are more likely to attend rehabilitation. Rehabilitation centres and needle exchanges should provide testing and education for HCV. Education alone may not be sufficient to initiate change since knowledge did not predict lower risk.