Inter-rater Accuracy and Reliability of a Palpation Protocol of the C7 Spinous Process Comprising a Combination of 3 Traditional Palpation Techniques

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and intrarater reliability of a palpatory protocol based on a combination of 3 palpatory methods to identify both the C7 spinous process (C7 SP) and the factors that affect the errors and inaccuracy of palpation.MethodsTwenty-five women between the ages of 18 and 60 years were submitted to a palpation protocol of the C7 SP, and a radiopaque marker was fixed on the skin at the possible location of the vertebrae. A radiograph and a photograph of the cervical spine were obtained in the same posture by a first rater. A second rater performed the same palpation protocol and took a second photograph. The accuracy and measurement error of the palpation protocol of C7 SP were assessed through radiographic images. The inter-rater reliability was estimated by the interclass correlation coefficient and assessed using photographs of each rater. The Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), the Fisher exact test, and the χ² test were used to identify the factors associated with the error and inaccuracy of palpation.ResultsAccuracy of the C7 palpation was 76% with excellent reliability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). There was a moderate correlation between weight and the measurement of palpation error (r = –0.6; P = .003). One hundred percent of inaccuracy palpation was related to the increased soft-tissue thickness (P = .005) in the cervical region.ConclusionThe palpation protocol described in this study was accurate and presented excellent reliability in identifying the C7 SP. Increased weight and dorsocervical fat pad were associated to error and palpation inaccuracy, respectively.     

Resveratrol attenuates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by maintaining gut barrier integrity and inhibiting gut inflammation through regulation of the endocannabinoid system

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Clinical analysis of high-intensity focussed ultrasound ablation for abdominal wall endometriosis: a 4-year experience at a specialty gynecological institution

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical effect of high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) as a non-invasive modality for ablation of abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) foci.

Methods: All women who were diagnosed with cutaneous endometriosis and underwent HIFU ablation and 4-year follow-up were included. Patient symptoms, imaging performed, HIFU ablation, recurrence, lesion location, size and number were collected and analyzed.

Results: A total of 51 women with 57 painful abdominal wall masses with a median volume of 4.00?cm³ and a mean age of 30.5±2.12 years were treated with HIFU. The main symptoms were a palpable painful abdominal mass (93%), protrusion of the skin (28.1%, 16) or lack of protrusion of the skin (71.9%, 41). Ultrasound was initially performed in 100% (51) of women, whereas 6% (3) required MRI examinations to distinguish the features and range of the masses. Ablation was performed with a median 300?s of sonication time, 40?min treatment time, 150?W of power and 41800?J of total energy to treat lesions that were a median volume of 3.83?cm³. No severe complications occurred, except in one patient with a first-degree skin burn, during the 48-month follow-up period. The pooled recurrence of cutaneous endometriosis occurred in 3.9% (2) of women.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of AWE should be confirmed with imaging of the lesion number, location, size and features before HIFU ablation. HIFU should be the first choice for the treatment of AWE as it is a non-invasive method, with high efficiency and safety and rapid postoperative recovery.     

Review of the environmental prenatal exposome and its relationship to maternal and fetal health

Environmental chemicals comprise a major portion of the human exposome, with some shown to impact the health of susceptible populations, including pregnant women and developing fetuses. The placenta and cord blood serve as important biological windows into the maternal and fetal environments. In this article we review how environmental chemicals (defined here to include man-made chemicals [e.g., flame retardants, pesticides/herbicides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances], toxins, metals, and other xenobiotic compounds) contribute to the prenatal exposome and highlight future directions to advance this research field. Our findings from a survey of recent literature indicate the need to better understand the breadth of environmental chemicals that reach the placenta and cord blood, as well as the linkages between prenatal exposures, mechanisms of toxicity, and subsequent health outcomes. Research efforts tailored towards addressing these needs will provide a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental chemicals impact maternal and fetal health.     

Cellular targets of regulatory B cell-mediated suppression

Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are defined by their ability to restrain inflammatory responses both in vivo and in vitro. Interleukin 10 (IL-10) production by Bregs is thought to be central to their ability to regulate inflammation, largely due to IL-10s’ ability to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production by effector lymphocytes and to maintain the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, with an increase in available published data, it has become evident that Bregs utilize a number of suppressive mechanisms in order to alter the activation of a variety of different lymphocytes. Here, we summarize the multiplicity of cellular targets of Breg-mediated suppression and describe the mechanisms employed by Bregs to suppress chronic inflammatory responses.     

激素替代治疗对绝经后Ⅱ型糖尿病和高血压患者肾脏微血管病变的影响

目的 :探讨激素替代治疗对绝经后Ⅱ型糖尿病和高血压患者肾脏微血管病变的影响。方法 :36例患有Ⅱ型糖尿病和高血压的绝经后妇女随机分为治疗组和安慰剂组各 18例 ,采用双盲法予口服克龄蒙或安慰剂 1片 /日 ,共 4 5个周期 ,测量用药前后各参数值并进行比较及线性相关分析。结果 :治疗组用药前后 2 4小时尿蛋白定量由 ( 0 4 45± 0 0 36 )g降到 ( 0 36 1± 0 0 32 ) g(P <0 0 1) ,内生肌酐清除率由 ( 92 0± 5 2 )ml/min增到 ( 99 1± 4 8)ml/min (P <0 0 5) ,空腹血糖由 ( 7 0 2± 0 4 3)mmol/L降到 ( 6 55± 0 31)mmol/L(P <0 0 5) ,血清总胆固醇由 ( 6 6 6±0 2 8)mmol/L降到 ( 5 71± 0 71)mmol/L(P <0 0 1) ,血压无明显改变。 2 4小时尿蛋白定量和内生肌酐清除率与其他参数间无显著相关性。安慰剂组用药前后各项指标无明显改变。结论 :激素替代治疗对绝经后Ⅱ型糖尿病和高血压患者肾脏微血管病变有改善作用     

非孕期子宫肌瘤红色变性40例分析

目的 了解非孕期子宫肌瘤红色变性的临床特征。方法 本组回顾分析了1993年1月～2001年2月间住院手术治疗40例非孕期子宫肌瘤红色变性的临床病理特征。结果 非孕期子宫肌瘤红色变性发生率为2.3%。生育年龄多见，绝经后也可发生。有典型表现者2例，占5%，非典型下腹隐痛而无发热者7例，占17.5%，肌瘤结节局部压痛者12例，占30%，无任何症状者30例，占75%，白细胞升高占10例，25%。90%的红色变性肌瘤直径在5cm以上，77.5%为壁间肌瘤。68.6%有典型牛肉样改变，54.8%旋涡状结构存在。65%为单纯红色变性，余35%可合并其他类型变性。结论 非孕期子宫肌瘤红色变性临床过程缓和，症状不典型，易漏诊，不作为手术指征，但因子宫肌瘤往往较大，多需手术治疗。     

压力性尿失禁的病因学研究

目的　绝经后压力性尿失禁 (SUI)患者补充雌激素的临床疗效尚有争议。本研究通过对血雌二醇 (E2 )浓度及子宫韧带的雌激素受体 (ER)的观察 ,分析雌激素与SUI和盆底组织膨出 (POP)发生的关系。方法　绝经前、后对照组、POP组和绝经后SUI组共 5组 73例子宫全切患者 ,免疫组化方法测定主韧带、宫骶韧带ER含量。结果　 ( 1)绝经前POP组血E2 浓度 ( 4 7.2 9pg ml± 38.30pg ml)、韧带ER值明显低于绝经前对照组 (E2 73.83pg ml± 5 2 .72pg ml;ER主韧带9.5 8%± 2 .39% ,ER宫骶韧带11.6 4 %±2 .6 8% ) ,差异非常显著 (P <0 .0 1)。 ( 2 )绝经后韧带ER值 :对照组 (ER主韧带10 .89%± 2 .5 4 % ,ER宫骶韧带13.0 9%± 3.0 3% )、POP组 (ER主韧带11.85 %± 2 .89% ,ER宫骶韧带13.2 1%± 3.4 6 % )及SUI组 (ER主韧带9.6 4 %± 5 .0 1% ,ER宫骶韧带11.12 %± 6 .13% )之间无显著差异 ( P >0 .0 5 )。 ( 3)绝经前、后对照组韧带ER值无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。绝经前对照组月经增生期、分泌期韧带ER值无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。血E2 浓度与韧带ER值无相关性。 ( 4 )绝经后对照组绝经时间与主韧带ER值成正相关 ,与宫骶韧带ER值无相关性。绝经后POP组和SUI组主韧带、宫骶韧带ER值与绝经时间成正相关。 ( 5 )各组研究对?