Patient-reported Upper Limb Function After Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Observational Study

IntroductionSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard procedure for axillary staging in breast cancer. There is a lack of consistency in studies reporting on upper limb morbidity after SLNB. We present a prospective study evaluating upper limb function after SLNB using the validated quickDASH questionnaire.Materials and MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent wide local excision and SLNB were included in the study. Arm function was assessed using the quickDASH questionnaire at 3 time points – prior to surgery and 2 weeks and 3 months after SLNB. The scores obtained were labeled as A, B, and C respectively. The mean and median scores were compared using the paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test.ResultsNinety-nine patients met all inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The mean A, B, and C scores were 8.46, 16.05, and 13.36. The median A, B, and C scores were 2.27, 7.5, and 4.54. There was a statistically significant difference between mean and median A and B scores, B and C scores, and A and C scores. A similar trend was observed in patients with better preoperative upper limb function. Patients with a higher body mass index had significantly worse B and C scores.ConclusionThere is a significant deterioration in upper limb function following SLNB. This improves at 3 months but does not reach baseline levels. Larger studies with long-term follow-up are required to establish the extent of upper limb functional morbidity and natural course of functional recovery after SLNB.     

miR-451a suppresses the development of breast cancer via targeted inhibition of CCND2

Extensive research has indicated that miRNAs are crucial for the occurrence and progression of cancers. miR-451a, involved in breast cancer (BC), is one of the miRNAs. This study focused on the mechanism by which miR-451a regulates BC. The levels of miR-451a in BC tissues and cell lines were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Kaplan‒Meier analysis showed that this was intimately related to the patient's overall survival rate. Functional experiments revealed the negative effects of miR-451a on the abilities of BC cells to multiply (tested by Cell Counting Kit-8), migrate (tested by wound healing assay), and invade (tested by Transwell assay) and its positive effects on apoptosis (tested by flow cytometry). Western blotting indicated that the expression of tumor-related proteins was affected by miR-451a. Moreover, in vivo experiments suggested that tumor growth was clearly restrained by an miR-451a agonist in a xenograft tumor model. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that miR-451a directly targeted Cyclin D2 (CCND2), as demonstrated by the luciferase reporter assay. An opposite change in the level of CCND2 and miR-451a in BC was indicated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, functional experiments and western blotting analysis confirmed that CCND2 accelerated BC progression, which was regulated by miR-451a. Cumulatively, research on miR-451a may be valuable for BC treatment.     

不同剂量地佐辛术后镇痛对老年患者肝功能的影响

目的 探讨地佐辛术后镇痛对高龄患者围术期肝功能的影响。方法 选择2018 年1 月～2020 年6 月吉安市中心人民医院麻醉科收治的ASA 分级Ⅱ～Ⅲ级高龄患者80 例，按照随机数字表法，分为A 组、B 组、C 组、D 组，每组各20 例。分别给予0.4 mg/kg、0.5 mg/kg、0.6 mg/kg、0.7 mg/kg 地佐辛进行术后镇痛，评估术后1、2、6、12、24、48 h 患者的疼痛程度[视觉模拟评分法（VAS）]、术后镇静效果（Ramsay 评分法）及肝功能指标（ALT、AST）水平，评价不同剂量的地佐辛术后镇痛对高龄患者围术期肝功能的影响。结果 C 组术后患者不同时间段VAS 疼痛评分低于A 组、B 组、D 组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；四组患者术后1、2、6 h Ramsay 镇静评分比较，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；但术后12、24、48 h Ramay 镇痛评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。C 组肝功能指标ALT、AST优于A 组、B 组、D 组，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 高龄患者术后镇痛应用0.6 mg/kg地佐辛对围术期肝功能的影响最小。     

(Re)organisation of the somatosensory system after early brain lesion: A lateralization index fMRI study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between neural (re)organization of the somatosensory cortex and impairment of sensory function (2-point discrimination [2PD]) in individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy.MethodsWe included 21 individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy. 2PD thresholds were evaluated on thumb pads, and activation of the somatosensory cortex was recorded by functional MRI (fMRI) during passive movements of the affected hand. A lateralization index (LI) was calculated for the primary sensory (S1) and secondary sensory (S2) cortices and the correlation between the LI and 2PD thresholds was analysed.ResultsWe found a significant negative correlation between the 2PD thresholds and the S2 LI (r = −0.5, one-tailed P-value = 0.01) and a trend towards a negative correlation with the S1 LI (r = −0.4, one-tailed P-value = 0.05).ConclusionHigh levels of activation in the contralesional hemisphere were associated with high levels of sensory impairment in individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy. The interhemispheric (re)organization of the somatosensory system may not effectively compensate for somatosensory impairment.     

The transition between turning and sitting in patients with Parkinson's disease: A wearable device detects an unexpected sequence of events

BackgroundWhen older adults turn to sit, about 80% of the subjects complete the turn before starting to sit i.e., a distinct-strategy, while in about 20%, part of the turning and sitting take place concurrently, i.e., an overlapping-strategy. A prolonged duration of the separation between tasks in the distinct-strategy (D-interval) and a prolonged duration of the overlap interval in overlapping-strategy (O-interval) are related to worse motor symptoms and poorer cognition. In the present study, we evaluated what strategy is employed by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) when they transition from turning to sitting.Methods96 participants with PD performed turn to sit as part of the Timed Up and Go test, both with and without medications, while wearing a body-fixed sensor. We quantified the turn-to-sit transition and determined which strategy (distinct or overlapping) was employed. We then stratified the cases and used regression models adjusted for age, gender, height, and weight to examine the associations of the D-interval or O-interval with parkinsonian features and cognition.ResultsMost patients (66%) employed the overlapping-strategy, both off and on anti-parkinsonian medications. Longer O-intervals were associated with longer duration of PD, more severe PD motor symptoms, a higher postural-instability-gait-disturbance (PIGD) score, and worse freezing of gait. Longer D-intervals were not associated with disease duration or PD motor symptoms. Neither the D- nor O-intervals were related to cognitive function. Individuals who employed the overlapping-strategy had more severe postural instability (i.e., higher PIGD scores), as compared to those who used the distinct-strategy.SignificanceIn contrast to older adults without PD, most patients with PD utilize the overlapping strategy. Poorer postural and gait control are associated with the strategy choice and with the duration of concurrent performance of turning and sitting. Additional work is needed to further explicate the mechanisms underlying these strategies and their clinical implications.     

疏风宣肺止嗽汤对咳嗽变异性哮喘患儿肺功能及睡眠质量的影响

目的:观察疏风宣肺止嗽汤对咳嗽变异性哮喘患儿肺功能及睡眠质量的影响。方法:将70例咳嗽变异性哮喘患儿按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组各35例。对照组给予常规西医治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用自拟疏风宣肺止嗽汤治疗。比较两组患儿的临床疗效、症状消失时间、住院时间、不良反应发生率、复发率及治疗前后中医证候积分、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(pittsburgh sleep quality index,PSQI)、肺功能指标变化情况。结果:观察组有效率为94.29%,对照组有效率为77.14%,两组患儿有效率比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组复发率低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患儿治疗后中医证候评分及PSQI评分低于本组治疗前,且观察组治疗后低于对照组治疗后,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患儿治疗后肺功能指标高于本组治疗前,且观察组治疗后高于对照组治疗后,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患儿症状消失时间及住院时间短于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:自拟疏风宣肺止嗽汤治疗咳嗽变异性哮喘,能够改善患儿的临床症状、肺功能及睡眠质量。     

支气管哮喘患儿中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网水平与患者免疫功能及临床预后的关系

目的探讨支气管哮喘患儿中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网水平与患者免疫功能及临床预后的关系。方法选取本院2017年9月-2018年9月支气管哮喘患者80例作为观察组,并以同期健康体检的30例儿童作为对照组,采用pico Green dsDNA荧光染色定量检测支气管哮喘患者NETs水平,采用T淋巴细胞亚群评价患者免疫功能,对比不同NETs水平患者免疫功能及临床特点,采用Logistic回归分析探讨小儿支气管哮喘急性发作的风险因素。结果观察组白细胞、中性粒细胞、单核细胞、Cf-DNA/NETs水平均高于对照组(P <0. 05),而淋巴细胞水平低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。Logistic回归分析显示,哮喘家族史、呼吸道感染、Cf-DNA/NETs水平上升、有害气体接触、被动吸烟均是支气管哮喘急性发作的独立危险因素(P <0. 05)。结论中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网水平与支气管哮喘患者免疫功能及预后密切相关,值得临床重点关注。