Motor unit number index (MUNIX) in the quantitative assessment of severity and surgical outcome in cervical spondylotic amyotrophy

ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of motor unit number index (MUNIX) in the quantitative assessment of the cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA).MethodsMUNIX was recorded bilaterally on the abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, biceps brachii and middle deltoid in 41 normal controls and 47 patients with CSA (distal-type to proximal-type ratio: 25 to 22). Additionally, patients were assessed on handgrip strength (HGS), the disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and Medical Research Council (MRC) scales. These examinations were re-evaluated approximately 18 months after surgery in 37 of these CSA patients.ResultsMUNIX values were noticeably lower in the mainly affected muscles of CSA patients than those in controls (P < 0.05), and 49.0% (51/104) of the tested muscles with abnormal MUNIX measurements showed normal muscle strength. Significant correlations between MUNIX measurements and both DASH and MRC scores were observed in both CSA patient groups (P < 0.05). Postoperative longitudinal follow-up analysis identified significant increase in motor unit number in both CSA patient groups within approximately 18 months (P < 0.05), with or without improved measures of motor function.ConclusionsA significant reduction in MUNIX values related to motor impairment was observed in CSA patients, even in the subclinical stage. Compared to measures of motor function, the MUNIX measurements in the patients with CSA improved more noticeably after surgical intervention.SignificanceMUNIX may serve as an available supplementary test to quantitatively evaluate the motor dysfunction in CSA and to track its progression, that is complementary to conventional electromyography.     

Spondylodiscitis after transoral robotic surgery: Retrospective 7-case series from the GETTEC group

BackgroundCervical spondylodiscitis is a rare but severe complication of pharyngeal surgery.Material and methodsThis multicenter retrospective study reported all patients in the database of the French head and neck tumor study group (GETTEC) affected by cervical spondylodiscitis after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for malignant pharyngeal tumor from January 2010 to January 2017.ObjectivesTo describe cases of post-TORS cervical spondylodiscitis, identify alarm signs, and determine optimal management of these potentially lethal complications.ResultsSeven patients from 6 centers were included. Carcinomas were located in the posterior pharyngeal wall. Tumor stage was T1 or T2. All patients had risk factors for spondylodiscitis. Mean time to diagnosis was 12.6 days. The interval between surgery and spondylodiscitis diagnosis ranged from 20 days to 4.5 months, for a mean 2.1 months. The most common symptom was neck pain (87%). Infections were polymicrobial; micro-organisms were isolated in 5 cases and managed by intravenous antibiotics, associated to medullary decompression surgery in 3 cases. Follow-up found favorable progression in 4 cases, and 3 deaths (mortality, 43%).ConclusionThis French multicenter study found elevated mortality in post-TORS spondylodiscitis, even in case of limited resection. Surgeons must be aware of this complication and alerted by persistent neck pain, fever, asthenia, impaired or delayed posterior pharyngeal wall wound healing or elevation of inflammatory markers. MRI is the most effective diagnostic radiological examination.     

CD44基因多态性与宫颈癌及非小细胞肺癌的相关性

背景与目的：CD44分子是众多肿瘤细胞的标志分子，其表达水平与肿瘤细胞的恶性程度有关。该研究探讨CD44基因中的单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphism，SNP）位点与云南汉族人群宫颈癌和非小细胞肺癌（nonsmall cell lung cancer，NSCLC）易感性的相关性。方法：选取了CD44基因中的两个SNP位点rs13347和rs8193，采用TagMan基因分型的方法，分析这两个多态性位点在497例宫颈癌患者和500例健康对照个体以及483例NSCLC患者和471例健康对照个体中的分布特征，并分析CD44基因中的多态性位点与云南汉族人群宫颈癌和NSCLC的相关性。结果：rs13347和rs8193位点等位基因和基因型在宫颈癌组和对照组中的分布频率的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。而在NSCLC组和对照组的比较中：rs13347和rs8193位点等位基因在NSCLC组和对照组中的分布频率的差异有统计学意义（P=0.020和P=0.004）；这两个位点基因型在NSCLC组和对照组中分布频率的差异有统计学意义（P=0.027和P=0.020）；其中rs13347位点等位基因C在NSCLC组中的分布频率显著高于对照组，可能是NSCLC发生的风险因素（OR=1.250，95% CI：1.035～1.509），rs8193位点等位基因C在对照组中的分布频率显著高于NSCLC组，可能是NSCLC发生的保护性因素（OR=0.768，95%CI：0.641～0.921）。单倍型分析结果显示，rs13347C-rs8193T和rs13347T-rs8193C在NSCLC组和对照组中的分布频率差异有统计学意义（P=0.003和0.022）；该结果说明单倍型rs13347C-rs8193T可能是云南汉族人群NSCLC发生的风险性因素（OR=1.316，95%CI：1.096～1.579）。结论：CD44基因中的两个SNP位点rs13347和rs8193可能与云南汉族人群宫颈癌发病风险无关，而可能与云南汉族人群NSCLC具有相关性。     

Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among medical students in Mangalore,India

Background

The highly prevalent cervical cancer can be prevented through a vaccine. However, the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine in the general population continues to be low. Medical students, as healthcare providers in the future, would be influential in affecting the community's views and thereby the uptake of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine. Hence, there is a need to promote the right attitude for prompt implementation of this vaccine among medical students. None of the studies in India have so far documented the proportion of vaccinated population among medical students or an intervention strategy to eliminate the barriers to Human Papillomavirus vaccine.

不同手术方案对脊髓型颈椎病合并椎管狭窄症患者术后疗效及颈椎矢状位参数的影响

目的探讨前路椎体次全切除术和后路椎管扩大椎板成形术对脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)合并椎管狭窄症患者术后疗效及颈椎矢状位参数的影响。方法回顾性分析2010年3月—2015年8月收治的147例CSM合并椎管狭窄症患者的临床资料,其中80例行前路椎体次全切除术治疗(A组),67例行后路椎管扩大椎板成形术治疗(B组)。比较2种手术方法治疗前后日本骨科学会(JOA)评分、Cobb角及矢状位垂直距离(SVA)。将2组患者根据T_1倾斜角分别分为高T_1倾斜角(≥25°)亚组和低T_1倾斜角( 25°)亚组,对不同亚组之间的疗效及手术安全性进行比较。结果 2组术后JOA评分和Cobb角均高于术前,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05)。A组术后SVA低于术前,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05),B组术后SVA与术前相比差异无统计学意义(P 0.05)。A组术后JOA评分和Cobb角均高于B组,SVA低于B组,差异均有统计学意义(P 0.05)。A组中,高T_1倾斜角亚组和低T_1倾斜角亚组JOA评分改善效果和后凸畸形发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P 0.05);B组中,低T_1倾斜角亚组JOA评分改善效果和后凸畸形发生率优于高T_1倾斜角亚组,差异均有统计学意义(P 0.05)。结论相较于后路椎管扩大椎板成形术,前路椎体次全切除术治疗CSM合并椎管狭窄症临床疗效更佳,且有助于改善颈椎矢状位平衡;在高T_1倾斜角水平下,应尽可能选择前路椎体次全切除术。     

萸竹定眩丸治疗颈性眩晕短期疗效观察

目的:观察萸竹定眩丸治疗颈性眩晕的短期疗效。方法:将河南省中医院脊柱科门诊收治的80例患者随机分为对照组和观察组,各40例。对照组服用盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊治疗,治疗组在服用盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊基础上加服萸竹定眩丸治疗。每组疗程均为4周1个疗程,1个疗程后根据改良Macnab标准评估临床疗效。结果:治疗组40例中优4例,良28例,可6例,差2例,有效率80%(32/40);对照组中优1例,良21例,可8例,差10例,有效率55%(22/40),两组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊治疗颈性眩晕能取得一定临床疗效,但盐酸氟桂利嗪胶囊联合萸竹定眩丸临床疗效更显著。     

低剂量容积CT灌注成像CTA对宫颈癌供血血管的显示效果分析

目的探讨基于盆腔容积CT灌注成像的CTA图像对宫颈癌供血血管的显示价值。方法选取我院86例宫颈癌患者随机分为A、B两组,每组43例。A组行盆腔容积CT灌注扫描,获得髂外动脉的时间密度曲线(TDC),确定髂外动脉达峰时间(TTP),以TTP时相原始图像重建三维CTA图像。B组行数字减影血管造影术(Digital subtraction angiography,DSA)获得血管图像。以DSA图像为金标准,分析低剂量容积CT灌注成像的CTA对宫颈癌供血血管的显示效果。采用Kappa检验,评估两名影像医师分析双侧子宫动脉主干的起源及连续性显示的一致性,同时将卡方检验用于评估两者判定子宫动脉下行分支显示率的差异。结果两名医师对A、B组图像的评分一致性良好(A组Kappa=0.899,P<0.001,B组Kappa=0.782,P<0.001);A、B两组对双侧子宫动脉主干血管的显示情况无统计学差异(甲医师χ^2=0.213,P>0.05;乙医师χ^2=0.343,P>0.05);甲医师对A组B组子宫动脉下行支的显影率分别为97.7%(42/43)和100%(43/43),乙医师对A组B组子宫动脉下行支的显影率分别为95.3%(41/43)和97.7%(42/43)。两名医师对A、B组子宫动脉下行支显影率的评价一致性良好,(A组Kappa=0.656,P<0.001;B组Kappa=0.306,P<0.001);两名医师判定的CTA图像及DSA图像对子宫动脉下行支显影率无统计学差异(甲医师χ^2=1.01,P>0.05;乙医师χ^2=0.345,P>0.05)。结论以DSA图像为标准,基于容积CT灌注成像的CTA可良好地显示宫颈癌供血血管,对双侧子宫动脉主干的起源及连续性和对子宫动脉下行支的显示具有很好稳定性。     

Development and pre/post testing of a decision aid supporting Chinese parental and young women’s HPV vaccination decision-making

ABSTRACT

We developed and tested the acceptability and utility of a novel HPV vaccination decision aid (DA) among Chinese young women aged 18–26 years and parents of adolescent girls aged 9–17 years. From March to May 2016, a total of 101 parents plus 109 young women completed baseline surveys assessing their HPV vaccination knowledge, decision self-efficacy, decision conflict, and HPV vaccination intention. Two weeks after receiving the DA, 84 (83.2%) parents and 92 (84.4%) young women completed re-assessments. Chi-square tests or t-tests were performed to compare the before-and-after differences. Cohen’s d was calculated to indicate the effect size. After reading the DA, both participating young women’s and parents’ knowledge of HPV vaccination (Cohen’s d = 0.62 among young women and d = 0.59 among parents) and decision self-efficacy (d = 0.38 among young women and d = 0.59 among parents) significantly increased. Both young women’s and parents’ decision conflict (d = ?0 · 98 and ?1.06) significantly decreased. The proportion of young women intending to receive HPV vaccination and parents deciding to vaccinate daughters against HPV significantly increased (p < 0 · 0001). The DA showed good acceptability and utility facilitating HPV vaccination decision-making for most Chinese young women and parents of adolescent girls. Further randomized controlled trials of this tool are essential.     

Subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy (SPAM): A potential complication of subarachnoid shunt for syringomyelia?

Context: Treatment of primary spinal syringomyelia is still controversial. Among others, shunting syrinx fluid to the subarachnoid, peritoneal or pleural space has been utilized with varying success. Shunt obstruction, migration, and infection represent the most common complications of these procedures.

Findings: The authors present the case of an 81-year-old woman who developed an unusual neurological deterioration resembling a subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy (SPAM) after the insertion of a syringosubarachnoid shunt for the treatment of slow-growing D10 syringomyelia.

Conclusion/Clinical Relevance: To date, no cases of SPAM secondary to the insertion of a syringosubarachnoid shunt for the treatment of syringomyelia have been reported. The potential pathogenesis related to this phenomenon is discussed.