La thérapie par exposition en réalité virtuelle pour les états de stress post-traumatiques,les troubles obsessionnels compulsifs et les troubles anxieux : indications,plus-value et limites

The exposure in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-known intervention, widely investigated in scientific research. Several studies have shown the benefits of this intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The different exposure techniques are mainly based on the emotional processing of fear theory and use an emotional stimulation of fear, following by its habituation. However, new approaches have emerged and are based on the inhibitory learning theory. The virtual reality technology allows emotional involvement from patients and represents a complementary approach to the classical modalities of exposure therapy (e.g., mental or in vivo expositions). This modern approach presents specific features that need to be taken into account by the therapist. Firstly, the presence feeling, which is defined as the “be there” feeling. This feeling is dependent on immersive technical features and personality factors. Secondly, virtual reality sickness, similar to motion sickness, represents a limitation that might prejudice a virtual therapy. The main scientific investigations of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for treating social phobia, specific phobia, PTSD, and panic disorders are encouraging and demonstrate a similar effectiveness between both in vivo and in virtuo exposures. The scarce investigations on generalized anxiety disorders and OCD also suggeste a similar effectiveness between these exposures. However, further scientific investigations are needed to support these preliminary findings. The attrition rates and deteriorating states are similar to classical CBT approaches. Nevertheless, scientific literature presents several limits: 1) much of the research on this topic has interest conflicts (e.g., developers are also authors of a large number of studies); 2) there is a high heterogeneity of materials and virtual environments used; 3) important measures are not always taken into account in scientific research (e.g., the presence feeling); and 4) a massive use of waiting lists as a control measure. Despite these limitations, the VRET have strong silver linings: 1) the easy access to exposure (less limited than standard exposure techniques) and a cost reduction; 2) highly guaranteed security; 3) the anonymization of exposures (i.e., the patients do not risk meeting someone they know during the exposure therapy); 4) the therapist has a greater control of exposures; 5) a standardization of the exposures; 6) a greater involvement in therapy for technophile patients. Virtual exposure also seems to be generally more accepted by patients.     

Post-traumatic stress in the medical setting

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the prevalence of posttraumatic stress arising from serious illness and injury. Its purpose is to underscore the importance of assessment and treatment of this population. The article reviews literature about patient stress responses to intensive care experiences and hospitalization. Above all, serious illness and injury hamper the individual’s ability to maintain their ongoing lifestyle and interpersonal relationships; the experience raises the specter of vulnerability and mortality and can obstruct the experience of a familiar “self”. Issues to be assessed and areas to be addressed therapeutically using hypnosis are suggested.     

Mechanism of subchronic vinyl chloride exposure combined with a high-fat diet on hepatic steatosis

Vinyl chloride (VC) is a common industrial organic chlorine and environmental pollutant. In recent years, the dietary structure of residents especially Chinese has gradually shifted to western dietary patterns. VC aggravates dietary fatty acid-induced hepatic steatosis, but its mechanism is still unclear. And if the risk factors for steatosis persist, more severe diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis will occur. Therefore, we studied the effects and mechanisms of VC (160 and 800 mg/m³) and its metabolite (chloroacetaldehyde, 2.25, 4.5, and 9 μM) on hepatic steatosis of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and palmitic acid (PA, 100 μM) treated HepG2 cells. Liver and serum biochemical indicators and pathological staining of the liver showed that the hepatic steatosis of VC combined with HFD groups was more severe than that of single-exposure groups (HFD group, low-dose VC group, and high-dose VC group). Moreover, VC enhanced HFD-induced oxidative stress (OS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and further upregulated the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) and FAS. Besides, antioxidants and ERS inhibitors reduced the steatosis of HepG2 cells induced by VC metabolites and PA. These results suggest that VC exposure can enhance the degree of hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed mice. VC combined with HFD led to OS and ERS and upregulated the expression of de novo lipogenesis-related proteins, which may be related to the occurrence of hepatic steatosis. And the increased expression of CYP2E1 induced by VC combined with HFD may be the cause of OS.     

Early-adulthood caloric restriction is beneficial to improve renal redox status as future anti-aging strategy in rats

AimsCaloric restriction (CR) is an experimental approach proposed to alleviate age-related oxidative damage. In the present study, we investigated the consequences of CR on renal redox homeostasis in rats at a specific time frame in early-adulthood..MethodsThree groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats; young control at 6-month-old, 2-year-old subjected to 40% CR between 18^th-24^th months of age, and their non-CR controls were sacrificed, and numerous redox status biomarkers including protein oxidation, glycation, lipid peroxidation, glycation end products, thiol groups, and superoxide dismutase were assayed. It was also ensured that CR rats and their non-CR corresponding rats had similar body weights at the end of the study to decrease the confounding effects of different body weights on redox homeostasis and caloric restriction.ResultsAfter CR, the detrimental effects of the protein oxidation, glycation, and lipid peroxidation were significantly improved in the renal tissue CR rats when compared to their non-CR control group. However, there were no significant difference in thiol fractions between younger controls and both of the elderly groups.ConclusionDetrimental consequences of renal senescence on redox homeostasis are significantly improved via CR especially applied in early-adulthood.     

82例应力性骨折影像学诊断回顾性分析

目的：研究影像学在诊断应力性骨折中的应用。方法：选取2013年1月—2017年12月南京医科大学第一附属医院收治的82例保有影像学资料并诊断明确的应力性骨折患者作为研究对象，对患者影像学资料进行回顾性分析，并比较分析X线、CT、MRI对应力性骨折的诊断准确率及漏诊的原因。结果：82例应力性骨折患者的男女比例为1∶1.9，平均年龄为49.77岁；病变多累及下肢骨及中轴骨，胫骨为最常见累及部位；X线、CT、MRI的诊断准确率依次升高，X线、CT的初诊漏诊与MRI分级之间的关系无统计学意义；X线及CT图像中骨膜反应易被漏诊。结论：应力性骨折的影像学诊断应结合临床病史及好发部位，早期诊断应力性骨折首选MRI，注重X线及CT中骨膜反应及软组织情况以减少漏诊率。     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者的近远期效果分析

目的分析腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者的近远期效果。方法选取2017年1月至2018年1月我院收治的78例胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者为研究对象,采用随机数字法将其分为传统组和腹腔镜组,各39例。传统组给予开腹胆囊切除术联合胆总管切开取石术治疗,腹腔镜组给予腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗。比较两组手术前、后的疼痛缓解情况、应激反应指标、临床治疗效果、并发症发生情况及术后1年的复发率。结果手术后1个月,两组的NRS评分明显降低,且腹腔镜组明显低于传统组(P<0.05)。手术后,腹腔镜组的CRP及IL-6水平均低于传统组(P<0.05)。腹腔镜组的临床治疗总有效率为94.87%,明显高于传统组的71.79%(P<0.05)。腹腔镜组的并发症总发生率为7.69%,明显低于传统组的33.33%(P<0.05)。腹腔镜组术后1年的复发率明显低于传统组(P<0.05)。结论腹腔镜胆囊切除术治疗胆囊结石合并胆总管结石患者的近远期效果更加显著,值得临床推广应用。