The value of a pantaloon cast test in surgical decision making for chronic low back pain patients: a systematic review of the literature supplemented with a prospective cohort study

The results of lumbar fusion in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients vary considerably, and there is a need for proper patient selection. Lumbosacral orthoses have been widely used to predict outcome, however, with little scientific support. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of a pantaloon cast test in selecting chronic LBP patients for lumbar fusion or conservative management. First, a systematic review of the literature was carried out in which two independent reviewers identified studies in Medline, Cochrane and Current Contents databases. Three papers met the selection criteria. In the only study with a control group, a significantly better outcome after fusion compared to conservative treatment was found in patients who reported significant pain relief while in a cast (i.e. a positive cast test). The results of lumbar fusion, however, were not significantly different for patients with a positive and those with a negative cast test. In addition to the review, a clinical cohort study of 257 LBP patients, who had been allocated to either lumbar fusion or conservative management by a temporary external transpedicular fixation trial, was performed. Prior to allocation, all had undergone a pantaloon cast test. Patients with no history of prior spine surgery and with a positive pantaloon cast test had a better outcome after lumbar fusion than those treated conservatively (P = 0.002, χ ² test). In patients with previous spine operations the outcomes were poor and the test was of no value. From the literature and the present patient cohort, it was concluded that only in chronic LBP patients without prior spine surgery, a pantaloon cast test with substantial pain relief suggests a favorable outcome of lumbar fusion compared to conservative management. The test has no value in patients who have had previous spine surgery.     

"催眠态"与"气功态"脑运动皮质低频活动差异的初步研究

目的:研究催眠态和气功态下脑运动皮质的低频同步活动,探讨催眠态与气功态对脑功能皮质活动的不同效应。材料和方法:研究对象为1例28岁的健康女性志愿者,右利手。采用气功入静和催眠诱导分别进入气功态和催眠态。研究采用GEsigna VH/i3.0T磁共振扫描机,先后进行无任务(静息态、催眠态和气功态)和运动任务的BOLD序列扫描。图像的处理先以运动任务获得的运动皮质定位作为种子对三种状态的功能图像做交互相关分析,获得脑功能连接的激活图,然后对这些激活的体素采用功率谱分析,获得相应的优势频率和能量。结果:脑功能低频连接激活体素的数量在静息态、催眠态、气功态间没有明显差异,但通过功率谱分析,催眠态主要表现为优势频率能量的升高,而气功态则主要表现为优势频率的增加。结论:气功态和催眠态下脑运动皮质的低频活动存在一定的差异,提示两种状态有通过不同的途径产生效应,但其生理基础有待于进一步研究。     

精子冷冻环无保护剂玻璃化冷冻方法的初步研究

目的探讨精子冷冻环无保护剂玻璃化冷冻方法的可行性。方法正常精液标本上游处理后,进行常规冷冻和冷冻环无保护剂的玻璃化冷冻,复苏后分别从活力参数及电镜下超微结构等指标比较两种冷冻方法的效果。结果两种方法冷冻后精子存活率、活动率之间差异无显著性(48%∶48%;44.5%∶43.5%,P>0.05),但均较未冷冻的89%和88.5%明显下降(P<0.001)。超微结构亦较未冷冻时发生了一定的改变,但核结构基本保持完整。结论精子冷冻环无保护剂的玻璃化冷冻是一种简单、方便而行之有效的冷冻方法。     

经皮激光椎间盘减压术治疗椎间盘源性腰痛

目的探讨经皮激光椎间盘减压术（percutaneous laser disc decompression，PLDD）治疗椎间盘源性腰痛的疗效。方法2002年6月～2004年12月我院对36例椎间盘源性腰痛，采用英国DIOMED公司半导体激光仪，激光功率15W，每个激光脉冲持续1s，间隔1s，照射能量800～1200J。VAS评分评价治疗效果。结果手术时间15～60min，平均30min。32例出现“疼痛复制效应”。36例随访6～36个月，平均11个月，32例有效（术后VAS评分改善≥3分18例，≥分14例），4例无效，有效率88．9％（32／36）。结论PLDD治疗椎间盘源性腰痛安全、有效、微创。     

Steroid pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma high molecule adiponectin concentration in patients with IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Decreased plasma adiponectin is associated with impaired endothelial function and, thereby, increased risk for cardiovascular events. Glucocorticoid (GC) affects vascular endothelial cells either favourably or harmfully depending upon the dosages and duration. We examined the effect of GC pulse therapy on vascular endothelial function. METHODS: Fourteen young patients with IgA nephropathy were evaluated for flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), plasma levels of adiponectin both in high molecular weight (HMW adiponectin) form and in single molecular form (total adiponectin), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein, before and after a course of GC pulse therapy. RESULTS: GC pulse therapy significantly decreased FMD (from 7.2 +/- 2.6 to 5.7 +/- 2.5%, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly augmented (total adiponectin: from 10.2 +/- 4.0 to 12.1 +/- 6.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05; HMW: from 6.5 +/- 3.2 to 7.7 +/- 3.3 microg/ml, P < 0.05). In parallel, elevated concentrations of serum HGF (from 0.28 +/- 0.12 to 0.63 +/- 0.38 ng/ml, P < 0.01) and plasma ADMA (from 0.45 +/- 0.07 to 0.53 +/- 0.04 nmol/ml, P < 0.05) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: GC pulse therapy impaired endothelial function while increasing plasma adiponectin levels, which may in turn restore the endothelial function in patients with IgA nephropathy.     

Catabolic effects and the influence on hormonal variables under treatment with gynodian-depot® or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) oenanthate

53 patients from a mainly climacteric population were treated monthly with 200 mg dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEA) oenanthate or with 1 ampoule Gynodian-Depot®. Pronounced adiposity was present in 15 of these cases. Hormonal variables were determined before the treatment and during the depot effect of the preparations in order to study the principle which supports the oestrogenic influence and any weight-reducing influence under administration of DHEA. The elimination of lowpolar oestrogens increased considerably in 4 out of 13 post-menopausal cases treated with DHEA. This effect is probably indirect and presupposes intact ovaries. The incorporation of exogenous DHEA into the excretion of 17-ketosteroids and of 17-ketogenic steroids, such as those of androsterone + aethiocholanolone, depends on the size of the initial pool inasmuch as it is higher in small initial pools than in saturated pools - the size of the pool being age-dependent.

An average weight loss of >1 kg/mth was observed under DHEA treatment in 7 out 15 adipose cases. In comparison to the other 8 adipose cases, these 7 were younger and therefore also displayed higher values for 17-ketosteroids and their individual fractions. These circumstances appeared to explain why the administration of DHEA resulted in higher levels of free plasma DHEA which, in contrast to the cases without loss of weight, also resulted in an increase of renal DHEA-sulphate clearance. It was concluded from the findings that this is the explanation for the catabolic effect of exogenous DHEA.

Post-menopausally increased FSH and LH fractions were markedly suppressed in about half of the determinations after Gynodian-Depot administration, the findings indicating that DHEA is probably involved in suppression of the LH fraction.     

小剂量低LET辐射对人淋巴细胞SCE的影响

本文用磷酸盐Giemsa法观察了小剂量X射线照射对人离体外周血淋巴细胞SCE的影响。其结果照射组各剂量点均不明显地高于对照组,证实了SCE对电离辐射不敏感,说明染色体结构畸变和SCE的发生是彼此独立的两个不同事件。     

荷包环扎式结直肠吻合保肛术治疗低位直肠癌*

目的 :评价荷包环扎式结直肠吻合保肛术治疗低位直肠癌的价值。方法 :对低位直肠癌采用荷包环扎结直肠吻合保肛术治疗 2 3例 (A组 ) ,采用Miles手术治疗 2 6例 (B组 )。结果 :A组术后 1、3年生存率分别为 10 0 % (2 3/ 2 3) ,95 7% (2 2 / 2 3) ,术后无局部复发病例 ;排便功能优 16例 (6 9 6 % ) ,良 7例 (30 4 % )。B组术后 1、3年生存率分别为 10 0 % (2 6 / 2 6 ) ,96 2 % (2 5 /2 6 ) ,术后局部复发率 3 8% (1/ 2 6 )。两组术后 1、3年生存率 ,局部复发率经统计检验 ,均无显著差异 (P值均 >0 0 5 )。术后并发症 :A组无吻合口瘘及吻合口狭窄发生 ,盆腔感染 1例。B组 :切口感染 1例 ,人工肛门狭窄 1例。结论 :采用螺纹支架管荷包环扎结直肠吻合保肛术治疗低位直肠癌既能达到根治目的 ,又有保留肛门的良好排便功能 ,且并发症少 ,操作简便易行 ,不用特殊器械 ,值得推广应用