Advance in Functional Restoration of Injured Nerve with Low Level Laser and its Utilization in the Dental and Maxillofacial Region

The inferior alveolar nerve and facial nerve are the two most important nerves in the dental and maxillofacial region. The injury to them is one of the major postoperative complications after alveolar surgery and orthognathic surgery. However, recovering the nerve function after injury takes a long time and the recovery effect tends to be unsatisfactory. In recent years, an intensively investigated technique, low level laser which has been applying in assisting the recovery of nerve function, has been gradually proved to be effective in clinically treating postoperative nerve injury. In this article we review in terms of the mechanisms involved in low level laser-assisted functional restoration of nerve injury and its clinical application in the recovery of nerve function in the dental and maxillofacial area as well.     

Evodiamine-inspired dual inhibitors of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) with potent antitumor activity

A great challenge in multi-targeting drug discovery is to identify drug-like lead compounds with therapeutic advantages over single target inhibitors and drug combinations. Inspired by our previous efforts in designing antitumor evodiamine derivatives, herein selective histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) dual inhibitors were successfully identified, which showed potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor potency. Particularly, compound 30a was orally active and possessed excellent in vivo antitumor activity in the HCT116 xenograft model (TGI = 75.2%, 150 mg/kg, p.o.) without significant toxicity, which was more potent than HDAC inhibitor vorinostat, TOP inhibitor evodiamine and their combination. Taken together, this study highlights the therapeutic advantages of evodiamine-based HDAC1/TOP2 dual inhibitors and provides valuable leads for the development of novel multi-targeting antitumor agents.     

The Efficacy and Safety of Regional Nerve Blocks in Total Hip Arthroplasty: Systematic Review and Direct Meta-Analysis

BackgroundRegional nerve blocks may be used as a component of a multimodal analgesic protocol to manage postoperative pain after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of regional nerve blocks after THA in support of the combined clinical practice guidelines of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Hip Society, Knee Society, and American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published prior to March 24, 2020 on fascia iliaca, lumbar plexus, and quadratus lumborum blocks in primary THA. All included studies underwent qualitative and quantitative homogeneity testing followed by a systematic review and direct comparison meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of the regional nerve blocks.ResultsAn initial critical appraisal of 3,382 publications yielded 11 publications representing the best available evidence for an analysis. Fascia iliaca, lumbar plexus, and quadratus lumborum blocks demonstrate the ability to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Among the available comparisons, no difference was noted between a regional nerve block or local periarticular anesthetic infiltration regarding postoperative pain and opioid consumption.ConclusionLocal periarticular anesthetic infiltration should be considered prior to a regional nerve block due to concerns over the safety and cost of regional nerve blocks. If a regional nerve block is used in primary THA, a fascia iliaca block is preferred over other blocks due to the differences in technical demands and risks associated with the alternative regional nerve blocks.     

Voluntary ambulation using voluntary upper limb muscle activity and Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) in a patient with complete paraplegia due to chronic spinal cord injury: A case report

Context: We sought to describe our experience with the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) for active knee extension and voluntary ambulation with remaining muscle activity in a patient with complete paraplegia after spinal cord injury.

Findings: A 30-year-old man with complete paraplegia used the HAL® for 1 month (10 sessions) using his remaining muscle activity, including hip flexor and upper limb activity. Electromyography was used to evaluate muscle activity of the gluteus maximus, tensor fascia lata, quadriceps femoris, and hamstring muscles in synchronization with the Vicon motion capture system. A HAL® session included a knee extension session with the hip flexor and voluntary gait with upper limb activity. After using the HAL® for one month, the patient’s manual muscle hip flexor scores improved from 1/5 to 2/5 for the right and from 2/5 to 3/5 for the left knee, and from 0/5 to 1/5 for the extension of both knees.

Conclusion/clinical relevance: Knee extension sessions with HAL®, and hip flexor and upper-limb-triggered HAL® ambulation seem a safe and feasible option in a patient with complete paraplegia due to spinal cord injury.     

A cross-sectional examination of sociodemographic factors associated with meeting physical activity recommendations in overweight and obese US adults

ObjectiveObesity has reached epidemic proportions in the US. Physical activity is an important component of obesity reduction, but little is known about contemporary exercise levels among overweight/obese American adults. In this study, we compared current physical activity levels in overweight and obese US adults to those of normal weight individuals as well as ascertained which sociodemographic factors influence the meeting of physical activity recommendations in these three groups.MethodsWe used national data from 2015 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys (n = 726,075). Bivariate analyses were conducted to determine unadjusted physical activity levels in normal weight, overweight, and obese adults. We fit multinomial logistic models to identify associations between sociodemographic factors and meeting physical activity recommendations in our study population.ResultsAround 45% of overweight and 57% of obese adults failed to meet physical activity guidelines compared to 41% of normal weight adults. Age, sex, and race were significantly associated with physical activity levels for both overweight and obese adults. In overweight and obese individuals, associations between sociodemographic factors and physical activity were more similar between the two comparisons of insufficiently active (IA) versus active (A)/highly active (HA) and A versus HA but quite different to those in the inactive (IN) versus IA/A/HA comparison.ConclusionsFuture physical activity interventions should be aimed at increasing the number of overweight and obese US adults who meet physical activity guidelines as well as targeted towards specific sociodemographic groups within the overweight/obese population with low exercise levels.     

Physical activity and atrial fibrillation: Data from wearable fitness trackers

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