Novel design of miniplate for fixation of fractures at transition zone of parasymphysis-body region of mandible – A clinical randomised study

Fractures through the mandible at the level of the parasymphysis extending obliquely and traversing through the transitional zone to body region are relatively common. Therefore, a surgeon should have an appropriate understanding of the biomechanics of different plating techniques to fix these fractures. There is always a dilemma for the surgeon as to whether to fix these mandibular segments with one or two miniplates, and the presence of mental neurovascular bundle makes it more challenging. A study was planned in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to evaluate a novel twin-fork design of a miniplate used for fracture fixation at the transition zone of parasymphysis and body region of mandible after an in-vitro study of same design, and provided encouraging results. A total of 30 patients (10 patients in three groups each) were included in the study. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively for operating time, ease of placement of miniplate, occlusion, reduction of fracture, neurosensory disturbances and infection. The novel design of twin-fork−shaped miniplate proved to be superior to the conventional miniplate in terms of neurosensory (Fisher exact test 17.40; p = 0.003) and functional outcome. There was statistically significant difference (χ² = 13.895, p = 0.031) in postoperative reduction of fracture at week 4, indicating superiority of the twin-fork miniplate among the other conventional designs. The study concludes that the use of newly designed twin-fork−shaped miniplate should be encouraged in the fractures of transitional zone of parasymphysis-body region involving mental neurovascular bundle.     

Brain impedance variation of directional leads implanted in subthalamic nuclei of Parkinsonian patients

ObjectiveConventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems with ring-shaped leads generate spherical electrical fields. In contrast, novel directional leads use segmented electrodes. Aim of this study was to quantify the impedance variations over time in subjects with the directional Cartesia-Boston® system.MethodsImpedance records, programming settings, and clinical data of 11 consecutive Parkinsonian patients implanted with DBS directional leads in two Italian centers (Udine and Vicenza) were retrospectively evaluated. Data were collected before starting stimulation (in the operating room and at days 5 and 40) and after switching stimulation on at the successive follow-up visits (1, 6 and 12 months).ResultsDirectional leads have significantly higher impedance than ring leads. Stimulated contacts had always lower impedance compared to non-stimulated contacts. Before DBS-on, all contacts had higher impedance in the operating room, with an initial decrease five days post-surgery and a subsequent increase at day 40, more evident for directional contacts. The impedance of directional leads increased post-implantation at 1 and 6 months with a plateau at 12 months.ConclusionsThere was a significant difference between the directional and ring leads at baseline (before activation of DBS) and during follow-up (chronic DBS).SignificanceOur study reveals new information about the impedance of segmented electrodes that is useful for patient management during the initial test period, as well as during long-term DBS follow-up.     

L’espace de la santé mentale : un paysage discursif et clinique en remaniement

Objectives

This paper introduces some epistemology about mental health developments and how it leads to reconsider the landscape of clinical practices.

Steep Decrease of Gender Difference in DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of Two Nation-wide Surveys Conducted 10 Years Apart in Korea

While decreasing trend in gender differences in alcohol use disorders was reported in Western countries, the change in Asian countries is unknown. This study aims to explore the shifts in gender difference in alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD) in Korea. We compared the data from two nation-wide community surveys to evaluate gender differences in lifetime AA and AD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were applied to all subjects in 2001 (n=6,220) and 2011 (n=6,022). Male-to-female ratio of odds was decreased from 6.41 (95% CI, 4.81-8.54) to 4.37 (95% CI, 3.35-5.71) for AA and from 3.75 (95% CI, 2.96-4.75) to 2.40 (95% CI, 1.80-3.19) for AD. Among those aged 18-29, gender gap even became statistically insignificant for AA (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.97-2.63) and AD (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.80-2.41) in 2011. Men generally showed decreased odds for AD (0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) and women aged 30-39 showed increased odds for AA (2.13; 95% CI 1.18-3.84) in 2011 compared to 2001. Decreased AD in men and increased AA in women seem to contribute to the decrease of gender gap. Increased risk for AA in young women suggests needs for interventions.     

农村青少年不同时期家庭逆境与精神病理症状的关联

目的探讨家庭逆境致精神病理症状结局的累积性与关键期效应,为预防与干预逆境伤害提供依据。方法2017年12月,采用方便抽样的方法选取安徽省阜阳地区2所农村学校的710名青少年。采用《童年期不良经历问卷》评估家庭逆境,《MacArthur健康与行为问卷》评价内化症状和外化症状。采用多元线性回归分析家庭逆境发生时间与数量和精神病理症状的关联。结果持续家庭逆境组与内化症状、外化症状增加均有相关性[β值(95%CI)分别为0.35(0.15~0.54),0.16(0.01~0.32)]。家庭逆境数量为2和≥3与内化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.20(0.04~0.36),0.42(0.24~0.60)]、外化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.14(0.01~0.26),0.23(0.09~0.37)]增加有关。在仅童年期家庭逆境中,家庭逆境数量为2和≥3的内化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.23(0.06~0.41),0.34(0.11~0.58)]、外化症状[β值(95%CI)分别为0.17(0.02~0.31),0.21(0.02~0.39)]的风险增高。在持续家庭逆境组中,逆境数量≥3与内化症状、外化症状相关[(β值(95%CI)分别为0.56(0.31~0.82),0.24(0.02~0.45)]。仅青春期家庭逆境与精神病理症状无关。结论家庭逆境的多次发生可增加精神病理症状风险,童年期可能是家庭逆境致精神病理症状的关键期。     

Developing a Brief Neuropsychological Battery for Early Diagnosis of Cognitive Impairment

ObjectivesEarly diagnosis of cognitive impairment is increasingly emphasized in the literature to facilitate timely preventive interventions. Although bedside cognitive tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are widely used for such early diagnostic purposes, they may not have comparable performance to a full neuropsychological battery (FNB) in diagnosing early cognitive impairment. This study investigated whether a small subset of neuropsychological tests can be added on to MoCA to match its performance to that of the FNB in discriminating mild cognitive impairment and dementia (MCI/dementia) from normal cognition.DesignCross-sectional diagnostic study.SettingAlzheimer's Disease Centers across the United States.ParticipantsOlder participants (≥50 years) who completed MoCA and the FNB (N = 9187).MeasuresThe study sample was split into two: the derivation sample (n = 1837) was used to develop a brief neuropsychological battery that best discriminated MCI/dementia (using the best-subset approach with 10-fold cross-validation); while the validation sample (n = 7350) verified its actual performance in discriminating MCI/dementia.ResultsA 3-item neuropsychological battery was identified, comprising MoCA, Benson Complex Figure Recall, and Craft Story 21 Delayed Recall. It had excellent performance in discriminating MCI/dementia from normal cognition (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 90.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 89.2%-90.7%), which was comparable to that of the FNB (AUROC 88.4%, 95% CI 87.6%-89.2%). By contrast, MoCA alone had significantly worse AUROC (86.9%, 95% CI 86.0%-87.7%) than that of the FNB.Conclusions/ImplicationsUsing rigorous methods, this study developed a brief neuropsychological battery that maintained the brevity of a bedside cognitive test, while rivaling the diagnostic performance of an FNB in early cognitive impairment. This brief battery offers a viable alternative when the FNB is needed but cannot be feasibly administered in nonspecialty clinics. It can have a wider health systems effect of improving patients’ access to accurate diagnosis in early cognitive impairment and facilitating timely interventions to delay the progression of cognitive impairment.