A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.     

"管氏培元九宫"针法治疗功能性阳痿疗效观察

目的观察"管氏培元九宫"针法治疗功能性阳痿的临床疗效。方法将60例功能性阳痿患者按随机数字表法随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组30例。治疗组采用"管氏培元九宫"穴,按"洛书九宫数"施行针刺治疗;对照组口服复方玄驹胶囊。观察两组治疗前后国际勃起功能指数-5(IIEF-5)评分,并比较临床疗效。结果治疗组总有效率为80.0%,对照组为70.0%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后IIEF-5评分高于治疗前和对照组(P<0.05)。结论"管氏培元九宫"针法对功能性阳痿具有较好临床疗效。     

益气活血通络汤治疗原发性高血压合并糖耐量减低临床研究

目的:观察中药益气活血通络汤治疗高血压合并糖耐量减低的临床疗效。方法:将64例高血压合并糖尿病患者,随机分为2组各32例,对照组口服硝苯地平片治疗;观察组加用中药益气活血通络汤,以治疗前后收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、血糖、胰岛素、胰岛素敏感性指数(ISI)、胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)为观察指标。结果:治疗3个月后,观察组疗效优于对照组(Z=-1.998,P<0.05)。与治疗前比较,2组经治疗后SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C均下降,HDL-C上升,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组治疗后SBP、DBP、TC、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C与对照组治疗后比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与治疗前比较,2组经治疗后空腹和餐后2 h血糖、胰岛素、HOMA-IR均下降,ISI上升,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);且经治疗后,观察组上述所有指标改善情况均优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2组患者在3个月的治疗期间中均未出现严重不良反应。结论:中药益气活血通络汤治疗高血压合并糖耐量降低疗效较好且安全性高,能显著降低血压,改善血脂。     

放射治疗记录与验证系统质量控制指南

放疗记录与验证系统(RVS)是一套用于防止医用电子加速器等放疗设备治疗参数设置错误,并且记录所有放疗阶段执行参数的医用计算机软件控制系统。为确保患者的治疗安全,必须对记录与验证系统采取必要的质量控制措施。本指南内容涉及:RVS安装和参数设定过程中的质量控制;RVS的验收测试;RVS在临床使用过程中的持续质量控制;使用RVS过程中的典型错误类型;执行RVS验收测试的具体测试例。     

Lower body mass index and higher height are correlated with increased varicocele risk

To evaluate the anthropometric indexes in subjects with varicocele compared to controls and the incidence of varicocele in different body mass index (BMI) groups for the purpose of exploring the association between varicocele and anthropometric indexes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted by using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE databases and Cochrane Library up to February 2019. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted by STATA, and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was utilised for assessing risk of bias. Ultimately, 13 articles containing seven case–control studies and six cross‐sectional studies with 1,385,630 subjects were involved in our study. Pooled results demonstrated that varicocele patients had a lower BMI (WMD = ?0.77, 95% CI = ?1.03 to ?0.51) and a higher height than nonvaricocele participants, especially in grade 3 varicocele patients. Subgroup analyses showed that normal BMI individuals had a higher risk of varicocele than obese or overweight individuals and a lower risk than underweight individuals. In conclusion, this study indicates that varicocele patients have a lower BMI and a higher height than nonvaricocele participants. Moreover, men with excess bodyweight have a lower incidence of varicocele compared to normal weight or underweight people. That is to say, high BMI and adiposity protect against varicocele and high BMI is associated with a decreased risk of varicocele.     

In Vivo Kinematics of Functional Ankle Instability Patients and Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers During Stair Descent

Patients with mechanic ankle instability experience increased tibiotalar and subtalar joint laxity. However, in vivo joint kinematics in functional ankle instability (FAI) patients and lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers, especially during dynamic activities, are poorly understood. Ten FAI patients, 10 LAS copers, and 10 healthy controls were included in this study. A dual fluoroscopic imaging system was used to analyze the tibiotalar and subtalar joint kinematics during stair descent. Five key poses of stair descent were analyzed. Kinematic data from six degrees of freedom were calculated utilizing a solid modeling software. The range of motion and joint positions in each degree of freedom were compared among the three groups. The tibiotalar joints of FAI patients and LAS copers were significantly more inverted than those of healthy controls during the foot strike (p = 0.016, = 0.264). The subtalar joints of FAI patients were significantly more anteriorly translated (pose 2, p = 0.003, = 0.352; pose 3, p < 0.001, = 0.454; pose 4, p = 0.004, = 0.334), inverted (pose 4, p = 0.027, = 0.234; pose 5,p = 0.034, = 0.221), and externally rotated (pose 4, p = 0.037, = 0.217; pose 5; p = 0.004, = 0.331) than those of healthy controls during the mid‐stance and the heel off. The FAI patients showed excessive tibiotalar inversion and subtalar joint hypermobility during stair descent. Meanwhile, the LAS copers maintained subtalar joint stability, and only showed excessive tibiotalar inversion in foot strike. These data provide insight into the mechanisms behind the development of FAI after initial LAS. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:1860–1867, 2019     

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular function in pulmonary hypertensive newborn sheep

Pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PHN) constitutes a critical condition with severe cardiovascular and neurological consequences. One of its main causes is hypoxia during gestation, and thus, it is a public health concern in populations living above 2500 m. Although some mechanisms are recognized, the pathophysiological facts that lead to PHN are not fully understood, which explains the lack of an effective treatment. Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms inducing pulmonary vascular dysfunction and PHN. Therefore, we assessed whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant, improves pulmonary vascular function. Twelve newborn sheep were gestated, born, and raised at 3600 meters. At 3 days old, lambs were catheterized and daily cardiovascular measurements were recorded. Lambs were divided into two groups, one received daily vehicle as control and another received daily melatonin (1 mg/kg/d), for 8 days. At 11 days old, lung tissue and small pulmonary arteries (SPA) were collected. Melatonin decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance for the first 3 days of treatment. Further, melatonin significantly improved the vasodilator function of SPA, enhancing the endothelial‐ and muscular‐dependent pathways. This was associated with an enhanced nitric oxide‐dependent and nitric oxide independent vasodilator components and with increased nitric oxide bioavailability in lung tissue. Further, melatonin reduced the pulmonary oxidative stress markers and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity. Finally, these effects were associated with an increase of lumen diameter and a mild decrease in the wall of the pulmonary arteries. These outcomes support the use of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment for PHN.     

Evolution of neuropsychological profile in motor subtypes of multiple system atrophy

IntroductionCognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in parkinsonian and cerebellar subtypes of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA-P and MSA-C). These symptoms have been investigated mainly in cross-sectional studies. The present 1-year follow-up study aimed at evaluating the evolution of cognitive and neuropsychiatric profile in patients with MSA-C and MSA-P.MethodsTwenty-nine patients with MSA-P, 21 with MSA-C and 30 healthy subjects (HCs) underwent a neuropsychological battery and questionnaires assessing depression and apathy (T0). After 1 year (T1), patients with MSA-C and MSA-P underwent the same neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric tools employed at T0.ResultsAt T0, MSA-P and MSA-C groups were more depressed and apathetic and performed worse on tests assessing repetition abilities, executive and attentive functions than HCs. MSA-P and MSA-C groups did not differ on cognitive variables and neuropsychiatric scales. At T1, a significant worsening in spatial planning and psychomotor speed in MSA-C group and a significant worsening in memory, spatial planning, repetition abilities and functional autonomy in MSA-P group were found. The prevalence of apathy increased in both subtypes, whereas the prevalence of depression was reduced in MSA-C and relatively consistent in MSA-P.ConclusionsThe finding revealed a wide-ranging worsening of cognitive functions in MSA-P and a significant decline in processing speed in MSA-C. These results underline the relevance of evaluating cognitive and psychiatric features of MSA over the course of the disease in the daily clinical practice.     

Association of meibomian gland architecture and body mass index in a pediatric population

PurposeTo determine if meibomian gland architecture in a pediatric population is impacted by body mass index (BMI).MethodsProspective evaluation of 175 eyes of 175 pediatric patients from two clinics. Demographic and clinical information were reviewed. Symptoms of dry eye were assessed with the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire. Meibography was performed and grading of images was performed by a masked rater using a previously validated 5-point meiboscale (0–4) for gland atrophy and a 3-point score (0–2) for gland tortuosity.Results175 eyes of 175 participants aged 4–17 years (11.6 ± 3.7 years) were imaged. The mean meiboscore was 0.82 ± 0.94 (range 0–4) and the mean gland tortuosity score was 0.53 ± 0.70 (range 0–2). Ninety-six patients (56%) showed evidence of gland atrophy (meiboscore greater than 0) and the majority of patients (n=50, 29%) had a gland tortuosity score of 1. The mean BMI was 20.5 ± 4.86 kg/m² with 39.4% of patients (n = 69) above the 85th percentile. BMI percentile was not found to be a significant predictor of a meiboscore greater than 0 (odds ratio (OR) 1.004 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.99–1.10, p = 0.41). However, BMI percentile was found to be a significant predictor of gland tortuosity score (OR 1.01 95% CI (1.00–1.02), p = 0.02). Patients with BMI percentiles between 41 and 60 were 3.79 times more likely to have a gland tortuosity score of greater than 0 than patients with BMI percentiles between 0 and 20 (OR 3.789 CI (1.17–12.24)). No significant associations were found between age, race, or sex and meiboscore or tortuosity. There was a trend towards reduction in lipid layer thickness with increasing BMI percentile (p = 0.028, r² = 0.04).ConclusionIn this pediatric population, there was an association between meibomian gland tortuosity and higher percentiles of BMI. Future studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of meibomian gland tortuosity and atrophy in pediatric patients.