Excitability of motor and sensory axons in multifocal motor neuropathy

ObjectiveTo assess excitability differences between motor and sensory axons of affected nerves in patients with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).MethodsWe performed motor and sensory excitability tests in affected median nerves of 20 MMN patients and in 20 age-matched normal subjects. CMAPs were recorded from the thenar and SNAPs from the 3rd digit. Clinical tests included assessment of muscle strength, two-point discrimination and joint position.ResultsAll MMN patients had weakness of the thenar muscle and normal sensory tests. Motor excitability testing in MMN showed an increased threshold for a 50% CMAP, increased rheobase, decreased stimulus-response slope, fanning-out of threshold electrotonus, decreased resting I/V slope, shortened refractory period, and more pronounced superexcitability. Sensory excitability testing in MMN revealed decreased accommodation half-time and S2-accommodation and less pronounced subexcitability. Mathematical modeling indicated increased Barrett-Barrett conductance for motor fibers and increase in internodal fast potassium conductance for sensory fibers.ConclusionsExcitability findings in MMN suggest myelin sheath or paranodal seal involvement in motor fibers and, possibly, paranodal detachment in sensory fibers.SignificanceExcitability properties of affected nerves in MMN differ between motor and sensory nerve fibers.     

Efficacy of local therapy for oligoprogressive disease after programmed cell death 1 blockade in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically changed the strategy used to treat patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the vast majority of patients eventually develop progressive disease (PD) and acquire resistance to ICIs. Some patients experience oligoprogressive disease. Few retrospective studies have evaluated clinical efficacy in patients with oligometastatic progression who received local therapy after ICI treatment. We conducted a retrospective analysis of advanced NSCLC patients who received PD‐1 inhibitor monotherapy with nivolumab or pembrolizumab to evaluate the effects of ICIs on the patterns of progression and the efficacy of local therapy for oligoprogressive disease. Of the 307 patients treated with ICIs, 148 were evaluated in our study; 42 were treated with pembrolizumab, and 106 were treated with nivolumab. Thirty‐eight patients showed oligoprogression. Male sex, a lack of driver mutations, and smoking history were significantly correlated with the risk of oligoprogression. Primary lesions were most frequently detected at oligoprogression sites (15 patients), and 6 patients experienced abdominal lymph node (LN) oligoprogression. Four patients showed evidence of new abdominal LN oligometastases. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the local therapy group and the switch therapy group (reached vs. not reached, P = .456). We summarized clinical data on the response of oligoprogressive NSCLC to ICI therapy. The results may help to elucidate the causes of ICI resistance and indicate that the use of local therapy as the initial treatment in this setting is feasible treatment option.     

V-EMF treatment of facial scar: First results

Aim of studyThis is a retrospective study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the use of electromagnetic fields and negative pressure treatment (V-EMF) for facial scars, from an aesthetic and functional point of view, and considering the variations in the levels of hydration.Material and methods25 subjects with facial scarring were re-evaluated after being treated with the V-EMF method. The hydration levels of the scars before and after treatment were compared. The results were evaluated considering the satisfaction levels of the patients with the VAS, and of the medical specialists who performed the treatment, and of 3 independent dermatologists with the Likert scale.ResultsMean hydration levels of scars went from 41.8 to 53.3, with mean hydration levels of healthy reference points equal to 54.6. The minimum patient satisfaction level was 2 in the VAS. The minimum level of satisfaction of specialists and dermatologists was equal to IV on the Likert scale for all patients, except for 1 subject in which it was III for the specialist who had treated him. Anti-aging and re-pigmentation effects were also noted as secondary results.ConclusionsFrom an aesthetic and functional point of view, and for the overall anti-aging effect of the treated area, V-EMF applied to facial scars has shown extremely promising results.     

基于UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS分析刺果番荔枝叶的化学成分

目的利用UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS技术对刺果番荔枝叶的化学成分进行定性分析。方法采用Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T 3色谱柱(2.1 mm×100 mm,1.8μm),流动相为0.1%甲酸水(A)和乙腈(B)梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL/min,进样量2μL,在电喷雾正负离子模式下采集数据。经Reaxys数据库检索番荔枝属类化合物信息,通过质谱信息比对各化合物的m/z值、保留时间、质谱特征碎片等,并结合文献数据对鉴定的化合物进行验证。结果根据各化合物的特征裂解规律,从刺果番荔枝叶中共鉴定出45个化合物,包括16个生物碱类,14个番荔枝内酯类,7个黄酮类和8个其他类化合物,其中以番荔枝内酯类和生物碱类成分居多,与文献报道番荔枝内酯与生物碱类化合物是发挥抗癌的主要活性成分一致。结论利用UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS技术对刺果番荔枝叶中的化学成分进行了快速、准确的定性分析,为刺果番荔枝叶的提取分离与药效物质基础的研究提供依据。     

Stability and Effect of Parkinsonian State on Deep Brain Stimulation Cortical Evoked Potentials

ObjectivesTo characterize and compare the stability of cortical potentials evoked by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) across the naïve, parkinsonian, and pharmacologically treated parkinsonian states. To advance cortical potentials as possible biomarkers for DBS programming.Materials and MethodsSerial electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings were made more than nine months from a single non-human primate instrumented with bilateral ECoG grids spanning anterior parietal to prefrontal cortex. Cortical evoked potentials (CEPs) were generated through time-lock averaging of the ECoG recordings to DBS pulses delivered unilaterally in the STN region using a chronically implanted, six-contact, scaled DBS lead. Recordings were made across the naïve followed by mild and moderate parkinsonian conditions achieved by staged injections of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxin. In addition to characterizing the spatial distribution and stability of the response within each state, changes in the amplitude and latency of CEP components as well as in the frequency content were examined in relation to parkinsonian severity and dopamine replacement.ResultsIn the naïve state, the STN DBS CEP presented as a multiphase response maximal over M1 cortex, with components attributable to physiological activity distinguishable from stimulus artifact as early as 0.45–0.75 msec poststimulation. When delivered using therapeutically effective parameters in the parkinsonian state, the CEP was highly stable across multiple recording sessions within each behavioral state. Across states, significant differences were present with respect to both the latency and amplitude of individual response components, with greater differences present for longer-latency components (all p < 0.05). Power spectral density analysis revealed a high-beta peak within the evoked response, with significant changes in power between disease states across multiple frequency bands.ConclusionsOur findings underscore the spatiotemporal specificity and relative stability of the DBS-CEP associated with different disease states and with therapeutic benefit. DBS-CEP may be a viable biomarker for therapeutic programming.     

地塞米松不同给药途径对下颌阻生第三磨牙拔除术后的疗效观察

目的:评价地塞米松不同给药途径(冠周局部注射和口服)在预防下颌阻生第三磨牙拔除术后肿胀、疼痛及张口受限中的疗效。方法:对480例患者的下颌阻生第三磨牙根据阻生类型进行分组(高位、中位、低位),每组中再分为实验组(拔牙术后局部注射地塞米松)和对照组(拔牙术后口服地塞米松),对患者术后第1、3、7天进行随访分析,对患者肿胀指数、疼痛程度和张口受限程度进行统计分析。结果:在拔牙术后第1天和第7天,高位组、中位组和低位组中的实验组与对照组在肿胀指数、疼痛程度和张口受限程度方面比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);术后第3天,高位组和中位组中的实验组与对照组在肿胀指数、疼痛程度和张口受限程度差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),低位组中的实验组与对照组相比,在肿胀反应中具有更好的预防效果(P<0.05),在疼痛程度和张口受限程度中具有一定的缓解效果(P>0.05)。结论:下颌阻生第三磨牙拔除术后,冠周局部给予地塞米松能够防治和减轻术后肿胀、疼痛以及张口受限的发生。     

生物反馈电刺激联合补中益气汤对产妇产后盆底康复效果的影响

目的探讨生物反馈电刺激联合补中益气汤对产妇产后盆底康复效果的影响。方法将56例初产妇按随机数字表法分成对照组与研究组各28例。对照组给予补中益气汤治疗;研究组在对照组基础上联合生物反馈电刺激治疗,两组均治疗6周。观测盆底肌相关电压、盆底肌力、尿失禁率、性生活质量。结果治疗后,两组盆底电位均值均显著升高,研究组高于对照组(P<0.05);治疗后,研究组尿失禁发生率显著降低,且显著低于对照组(P<0.05);研究组Ⅱ、Ⅲ、IV级肌力显著低于对照组(P<0.05);研究组性生活质量高水平显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论生物反馈电刺激联合补中益气汤可有效促进产妇产后盆底康复,效果显著优于单独补中益气汤。