小儿哮喘眼影分级与中医证候的相关性研究

目的观察小儿哮喘患者眼影分布情况及程度,并探索与中医证候的相关性。方法收集2014年12月—2015年11月于湖南中医药大学第一附属医院儿科就诊的小儿哮喘患者400例,其中风寒束肺证68例、痰热阻肺证156例、外寒内热证46例、肺实肾虚证12例、肺脾气虚证67例、脾肾阳虚证10例及肺肾阴虚证41例。统计患儿年龄、性别构成情况,分析发病季节、年龄与中医证候的相关性。对入选患儿进行眼影分级,分析眼影分级与小儿哮喘患者病程、中医证候等的相关性。结果(1)小儿哮喘于学龄前期(44.50%)及幼儿期(42.75%)的发病率高,各年龄段患儿的性别差异无统计学意义(P=0.59)。(2)哮喘患儿以痰热阻肺证(39.00%)多见,风寒束肺证(17.00%)及肺脾气虚证(16.75%)次之,风寒束肺证与痰热阻肺证哮喘患儿多发生在冬春、季(P<0.01)。(3)入选患儿眼影分级情况为:0、Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级分别为71、94、155、80例,其中以Ⅱ级最多见;眼影分级与小儿哮喘病程呈正相关(r=0.581,P<0.01)。风寒束肺证与外寒内热证以0级(39.7%、39.1%)与Ⅰ级(32.4%、34.8%)为主;痰热阻肺证与肺脾气虚证以Ⅱ级(55.8%、47.8%)为主;肺肾阴虚证以Ⅲ级(58.5%)最多,肺实肾虚证、脾肾阳虚证眼影分级差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。小儿哮喘发作期眼影以Ⅰ级(24.1%)、Ⅱ级(39.4%)为主,缓解期眼影以Ⅱ级(37.3%)、Ⅲ级(28.0%)为主。(4)伴有家族哮喘史或者伴有过敏性鼻炎的小儿哮喘患者的眼影分布中,Ⅱ、Ⅲ级所占比例较大。结论小儿哮喘患儿病程越长,眼影分级越高;风寒束肺证、外寒内热证患者眼影分级低于痰热阻肺证、肺脾气虚证及肺肾阴虚证患者。有家族哮喘史或伴有过敏性鼻炎的患儿眼影分级越高。     

Decoding attention control and selection in visual spatial attention

Event‐related potentials (ERPs) are used extensively to investigate the neural mechanisms of attention control and selection. The univariate ERP approach, however, has left important questions inadequately answered. We addressed two questions by applying multivariate pattern classification to multichannel ERPs in two cued visual spatial attention experiments (N = 56): (a) impact of cueing strategies (instructional vs. probabilistic) on attention control and selection and (b) neural and behavioral effects of individual differences. Following cue onset, the decoding accuracy (cue left vs. cue right) began to rise above chance level earlier and remained higher in instructional cueing (~80 ms) than in probabilistic cueing (~160 ms), suggesting that unilateral attention focus leads to earlier and more distinct formation of the attention control set. A similar temporal sequence was also found for target‐related processing (cued target vs. uncued target), suggesting earlier and stronger attention selection under instructional cueing. Across the two experiments: (a) individuals with higher cue‐related decoding accuracy showed higher magnitude of attentional modulation of target‐evoked N1 amplitude, suggesting that better formation of anticipatory attentional state leads to stronger modulation of target processing, and (b) individuals with higher target‐related decoding accuracy showed faster reaction times (or larger cueing effects), suggesting that stronger selection of task‐relevant information leads to better behavioral performance. Taken together, multichannel ERPs combined with machine learning decoding yields new insights into attention control and selection that complement the univariate ERP approach, and along with the univariate ERP approach, provides a more comprehensive methodology to the study of visual spatial attention.     

儿童风湿病国际相关诊治指南系列解读之七——儿童大动脉炎分类标准解读

大动脉炎（TA）是由免疫机制介导的慢性、肉芽肿性、炎症性疾病，病变主要累及主动脉及其一级分支。现今儿童TA诊断多采用由欧洲抗风湿病联盟、欧洲儿童风湿病学会和儿科风湿病国际研究组织共同制定的分类标准。影像学检查是诊断TA及评估疾病活动程度的重要方法。欧洲儿童风湿病单中心及访问点所发布的共识对该标准做了进一步补充。     

Differentiating benign from malignant cardiac tumors with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Background

The purpose of this analysis is to describe the differences in cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics between benign and malignant tumors, which would be helpful for surgical planning.

Difference in background factors between responders to gabapentin enacarbil treatment and responders to placebo: pooled analyses of two randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled studies in Japanese patients with restless legs syndrome

ObjectiveRestless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder that is characterized by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations mainly in the legs. Two placebo-controlled studies (Phase II/III and post-marketing) in Japanese patients with RLS failed to demonstrate the efficacy of gabapentin enacarbil (GE) 600 mg in the change from baseline in International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLS) score at the end of the treatment period. The high response to placebo is thought to be a possible reason why the post-marketing study failed. The objectives of these post hoc analyses were to determine potential predictive factors associated with improvement in IRLS score with GE treatment and to identify subgroups with higher placebo responses.MethodsWe combined data from the two Japanese studies and analyzed change from baseline in IRLS score in the pooled population and subgroups defined by several patient characteristics. Moreover, we calculated the variable importance of each factor and performed predictive enrichment analysis to identify an enrichable subpopulation with greater improvement by GE treatment.ResultsThe post hoc analyses suggested that higher baseline IRLS score (≥21) and higher body mass index (≥25 kg/m²) were associated with higher placebo responses. On the other hand, positive family history of RLS, prior use of dopaminergic receptor agonists, and higher baseline ferritin level (≥50 ng/mL) were associated with higher responses to GE.ConclusionsOur results suggest that patients with typical idiopathic RLS characteristics, including positive family history and no low ferritin level, would be expected to derive the greatest benefits from GE treatment.     

Clinical and radiological outcome after minimally invasive surgical approach for type II unstable odontoid fractures

IntroductionAnterior odontoid screw fixation is a valid surgical option for unstable odontoid fractures, as type II Anderson D’Alonzo fractures. Grauer further divided type II fractures in subtypes according to the fracture line, providing recommendations for implementation of screw fixation techniques.ObjectivePrimary endpoint of our study is to evaluate the postoperative results of minimally invasive odontoid screw insertion in terms of outcome, fusion rate and stability of cranio-cervical junction. Secondary endpoint was to investigate the influence of age or fractures’ features on outcome and fusion rate.Materials and methodsWe report the clinical and radiological features of 32 patients harbouring unstable type II fractures operated by a minimally invasive odontoid screw insertion technique. All patients underwent a high resolution multiplanar CT in order to assess fracture features according to Grauer's classification; the integrity of ligaments was investigated by MRI. In addition, a preoperative neurological performance (modified Rankin Scale, mRS) was evaluated for patients either directly or interviewing their families. Follow-up at one, three and six months and 1 year have been performed (averaging 13.5 months) by cervical CT (fusion rate and stability) and mRS update. In order to investigate the influence of age on postoperative neurological performance, two groups (≤ 50 yrs, 9 pts/ > 50 yrs, 23 pts) were separately considered and analysed. Overall, we observed no surgery related complications. We also analysed the fusion rate and its correlation with patient age and Grauer's subtype of fracture.ResultsAt last available clinical follow-up, the preoperative performance was preserved (mRS 0/1: 24, 75%; mRS 2–4: 9, 15%) although with slight reduction of intact patients (mRS 0: 22 vs. 19; 71.8 vs. 59.3%). Younger patients (≤ 50 yrs) fared significantly better than older ones, achieving a good clinical outcome (mRS 0/1) in 100% vs. 69.5% (9/9 vs. 16/23 pts). Statistical analysis showed a fair correlation between age and outcome. Other factors such as sex and Grauer's type did not influence significantly the clinical outcome. Nine patients did not complete a full radiological follow-up and were therefore excluded from analysis of radiological outcome. Among the remaining 23 patients, only 25% of those who were followed three months or less showed fusion; conversely, all patients who have been examined from 6 to 48 months fused. Among the non-union patients, two underwent a second surgery by posterior approach.ConclusionsIn our recent experience, the minimally invasive AOSF proved safe and effective in treating odontoid peg fractures. Selection based on Grauer's type is mandatory to achieve best results. While in the elderly, an anterior approach is well accepted as the first choice treatment, we recommend that this option should be offered as a suitable alternative to Halo or orthosis also in younger patients since it provides prompt, excellent clinical outcome and high fusion rate especially in this age group.     

Biopharmaceutics classification and intestinal absorption of chikusetsusaponin IVa

The objective of this study was to investigate the absorption behavior of chikusetsusaponin IVa (CHS‐IVa) in the rat intestine using single‐pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) and to classify CHS‐IVa into the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS). The equilibrium solubility of CHS‐IVa was determined by the shaker method. The absorption mechanism of CHS‐IVa in the intestine was studied by comparing the P_eff of different concentrations of CHS‐IVa. The intestinal site dependence of CHS‐IVa absorption was studied by comparing the P_eff of the same concentration of CHS‐IVa in different intestinal segments. The relationship between CHS‐IVa and intestinal efflux protein was studied by perfusion with an efflux protein inhibitor. The permeability of CHS‐IVa was investigated by comparing the P_eff of CHS‐IVa and the reported value. The solubility of CHS‐IVa over the pH range 1.0–7.5 was 14.4 ± 0.29 to 16.9 ± 0.34 mg/ml. The P_eff of CHS‐IVa in the duodenum was 1.76 × 10^?3 to 2.00 × 10^?3 cm/min. The P_eff of CHS‐IVa in the jejunum was 1.26 × 10^?3 to 1.39 × 10^?3 cm/min. The P_eff of CHS‐IVa in the ileum was 1.25 × 10^?3 to 1.31 × 10^?3 cm/min. The P_eff of CHS‐IVa in the colon was 1.02 × 10^?3 to 1.08 × 10^?3 cm/min. There was no statistical difference of the P_eff in the four segments at different CHS‐IVa concentrations. The P_eff of CHS‐IVa (0.07, 0.7 and 7.0 mg/ml) were all notably smaller than the reported P_eff (3.00 × 10^?3 cm/min) in the jejunum. The P_eff of CHS‐IVa was not influenced by verapamil (P‐gp inhibitor), indomethacin (MRP inhibitor) and pantoprazole (BCRP inhibitor). CHS‐IVa was classified as high solubility, low permeability and BCS III. The main absorptive tracts were the upper intestinal tracts and the rank order of intestinal permeability was duodenum > jejunum ≈ ileum > colon. The transport mechanism of CHS‐IVa in all intestinal segments might be primarily passive transport. CHS‐IVa was not a substrate of P‐gp, MRP and BCRP.     

Fractures of the proximal humerus: overview and non-surgical management

Proximal humeral fractures account for 6% of all adult fractures, usually occurring in elderly patients following a low-energy fall. Fracture patterns occur because of the intricate bony anatomy of the proximal humerus and its rotator cuff attachments, which cause displacement of the tuberosities in a predictable nature. This can lead to long-term functional deficit, not only due to mechanical restrictions but also biological consequences such as impaired vascularity and avascular necrosis. The majority of fractures can be treated non-operatively to give satisfactory restoration of function for the vast majority of patients, with recent literature evidence supporting this method of management.