Concurrent validity and reliability of wireless instrumented insoles measuring postural balance and temporal gait parameters

BackgroundThe OpenGo seems promising to take gait analysis out of laboratory settings due to its capability of long-term measurements and mobility. However, the OpenGo’s concurrent validity and reliability need to be assessed to determine if the instrument is suitable for validation in patient samples.MethodsTwenty healthy volunteers participated. Center of pressure data were collected under eyes open and closed conditions with participants performing unilateral stance trials on the gold standard (AMTI OR6-7 force plate) while wearing the OpenGo. Temporal gait data (stance time, gait cycle time, and cadence) were collected at a self-selected comfortable walking speed with participants performing test-retest trials on an instrumented treadmill while wearing the OpenGo. Validity was assessed using Bland-Altman plots. Reliability was assessed with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (2,1) and smallest detectable changes were calculated.FindingsNegative means of differences were found in all measured parameters, illustrating lower scores for the OpenGo on average. The OpenGo showed negative upper limits of agreement in center of pressure parameters on the mediolateral axis. Temporal reliability ICCs ranged from 0.90–0.93. Smallest detectable changes for both stance times were 0.04 (left) and 0.05 (right) seconds, for gait cycle time 0.08 s, and for cadence 4.5 steps per minute.InterpretationThe OpenGo is valid and reliable for the measurement of temporal gait parameters during walking. Measurements of center of pressure parameters during unilateral stance are not considered valid. The OpenGo seems a promising instrument for clinically screening and monitoring temporal gait parameters in patients, however validation in patient populations is needed.     

Strategies for the treatment of invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas and how to achieve zero mortality for pancreaticoduodenectomy

Although various therapeutic modalities are available for carcinoma of the pancreas, “curative resection” is the most important. Thus, the aim of surgery for carcinoma of the pancreas is local complete resection of the carcinoma. Carcinoma of the head of the pancreas invades through the pancreatic parenchyma, following the arteries, veins, and especially nerves between the parenchyma and fusion fascia, and then spreads horizontally toward the superior mesenteric artery or celiac axis. We suggest techniques for resection of the extrapancreatic nerve plexus in the head of the pancreas during a Whipple procedure for carcinoma of the pancreas, from the perspective of surgical anatomy and pathology, to achieve “curative resection”. We suggest that: (1) en-bloc resection of the right side of the superior nerve plexus and the first and second nerve of the pancreatic head should be performed. With this technique, it is possible to avoid cutting these nerves. It is easy to perform this procedure, as follows. First, the superior mesenteric artery and vein are encircled with tape. Next, the superior mesenteric artery should be moved to the right side of the superior mesenteric vein under this vein. In addition, (2) the entire cut end of the nerve plexus should be investigated during the operation, using frozen specimens, and confirmed to be negative for cancer. If the cut end is positive for cancer, additional resection of the nerve plexus should be performed to achieve curative resection. It is impossible to completely determine whether the cut end of the nerve plexus is positive or negative for carcinoma after surgery, because the cut end is long and some specimens are deformed by formalin fixation; thus, it is difficult to identify the true surgical cut end. With regard to reconstruction, we perform a modified Child method with pancreaticojejunostomy (end-to-side), choledochoduodenostomy (also end-to-side), and gastrojejunostomy with Braun’s anastomosis. The greater omentum is set around the pancreaticojejunostomy to prevent pancreatic juice from spreading in the abdomen. Careful management of the intraabdominal drainage tubes after the operation is crucial. With the operative procedure and postoperative controls described above, operative mortality was zero in 114 consecutive patients in our series who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy.     

E6 and E7 variants of human papillomavirus‐16 and ‐52 in Japan,the Philippines,and Vietnam

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has several intragenotypic variants with different geographical and ethnic distributions. This study aimed to elucidate the distribution patterns of E6 and E7 (E6/E7) intragenotypic variants of HPV type 16 (HPV‐16), which is most common worldwide, and HPV‐52, which is common in Asian countries such as Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In previous studies, genomic DNA samples extracted from cervical swabs were collected from female sex workers in these three countries and found to be positive for HPV‐16 or HPV‐52. Samples were amplified further for their E6/E7 genes using type‐specific primers and analyzed genetically. Seventy‐nine HPV‐16 E6/E7 genes were analyzed successfully and grouped into three lineages: European (Prototype), European (Asian), and African‐2. The prevalences of HPV‐16 European (Prototype)/European (Asian) lineages were 19.4%/80.6% (n = 31) in Japan, 75.0%/20.8% (n = 24) in the Philippines, and 0%/95.8% (n = 24) in Vietnam. The 109 HPV‐52 E6/E7 genes analyzed successfully were grouped into four lineages, A–D; the prevalences of lineages A/B/C/D were, respectively, 5.1%/92.3%/0%/2.6% in Japan (n = 39), 34.4%/62.5%/0%/3.1% in the Philippines (n = 32), and 15.8%/73.7%/7.9%/2.6% in Vietnam (n = 38). The distribution patterns of HPV‐16 and HPV‐52 lineages in these countries differed significantly (P < 0.000001 and P = 0.0048, respectively). There was no significant relationship between abnormal cervical cytology and either HPV‐16 E6/E7 lineages or specific amino acid mutations, such as E6 D25E, E6 L83V, and E7 N29S. Analysis of HPV‐16 and HPV‐52 E6/E7 genes can be a useful molecular‐epidemiological tool to distinguish geographical diffusion routes of these HPV types in Asia. J. Med. Virol. 85: 1069–1076, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于时空分析的急诊护理人力资源管理

目的 探讨急诊患者的时空分布规律,优化急诊护理人力资源的管理。方法 回顾分析2017-2019年笔者所在医院急诊科就诊患者的资料,对患者每年不同月份、不同工作日、不同时间段及省内外就诊辐射特点进行时空分布的统计分析。结果 急诊患者就诊量呈逐年上升趋势,节假日的日均就诊量最高,就诊患者大部分集中在1-4月和9-12月,9∶00和20∶00是全天就诊的2个高峰时间点。空间上以笔者所在医院为中心就诊患者呈中心辐射状分布,人群主要为湖北省内患者为主,省内集中在武汉、黄冈、孝感等城市;省外以河南居首,其次为江西、湖南、浙江。结论 应根据患者的时空分布规律,科学合理地配置及利用护理人力资源,以保障患者安全和提高急救护理质量。     

Collaborative interplay between FGF-2 and VEGF-C promotes lymphangiogenesis and metastasis

Interplay between various lymphangiogenic factors in promoting lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis remains poorly understood. Here we show that FGF-2 and VEGF-C, two lymphangiogenic factors, collaboratively promote angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment, leading to widespread pulmonary and lymph-node metastases. Coimplantation of dual factors in the mouse cornea resulted in additive angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. At the molecular level, we showed that FGFR-1 expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells is a crucial receptor that mediates the FGF-2–induced lymphangiogenesis. Intriguingly, the VEGFR-3–mediated signaling was required for the lymphatic tip cell formation in both FGF-2– and VEGF-C–induced lymphangiogenesis. Consequently, a VEGFR-3–specific neutralizing antibody markedly inhibited FGF-2–induced lymphangiogenesis. Thus, the VEGFR-3–induced lymphatic endothelial cell tip cell formation is a prerequisite for FGF-2–stimulated lymphangiogenesis. In the tumor microenvironment, the reciprocal interplay between FGF-2 and VEGF-C collaboratively stimulated tumor growth, angiogenesis, intratumoral lymphangiogenesis, and metastasis. Thus, intervention and targeting of the FGF-2– and VEGF-C–induced angiogenic and lymphangiogenic synergism could be potentially important approaches for cancer therapy and prevention of metastasis.