Inter-rater Accuracy and Reliability of a Palpation Protocol of the C7 Spinous Process Comprising a Combination of 3 Traditional Palpation Techniques

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and intrarater reliability of a palpatory protocol based on a combination of 3 palpatory methods to identify both the C7 spinous process (C7 SP) and the factors that affect the errors and inaccuracy of palpation.MethodsTwenty-five women between the ages of 18 and 60 years were submitted to a palpation protocol of the C7 SP, and a radiopaque marker was fixed on the skin at the possible location of the vertebrae. A radiograph and a photograph of the cervical spine were obtained in the same posture by a first rater. A second rater performed the same palpation protocol and took a second photograph. The accuracy and measurement error of the palpation protocol of C7 SP were assessed through radiographic images. The inter-rater reliability was estimated by the interclass correlation coefficient and assessed using photographs of each rater. The Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), the Fisher exact test, and the χ² test were used to identify the factors associated with the error and inaccuracy of palpation.ResultsAccuracy of the C7 palpation was 76% with excellent reliability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). There was a moderate correlation between weight and the measurement of palpation error (r = –0.6; P = .003). One hundred percent of inaccuracy palpation was related to the increased soft-tissue thickness (P = .005) in the cervical region.ConclusionThe palpation protocol described in this study was accurate and presented excellent reliability in identifying the C7 SP. Increased weight and dorsocervical fat pad were associated to error and palpation inaccuracy, respectively.     

帕金森病与炎症相关的研究进展

帕金森病是一种进展性的中枢神经系统变性疾病，主要病理特征是黑质多巴胺能神经元变性死亡和脑干神经元内α突触核蛋白积聚形成路易体。其病因主要为遗传因素和环境因素。该病主要会引起静止性震颤、运动迟缓、肌肉僵直等一系列的运动症状。然而其发病机制并不明确，主要可能与线粒体功能障碍、氧化应激、蛋白质改变及炎症反应相关。小胶质细胞与炎症反应密切相关，而小胶质细胞过度激活是帕金森病发病的病理生理基础。血清炎症因子升高与帕金森病有关，可用于早期诊断并预测疾病预后。目前抗炎治疗成为帕金森病新的研究热点。该文主要综述帕金森病的炎症机制、相关的炎症因子及抗炎药物的研究进展。     

A comparison of two Fendrix hepatitis B vaccination schedules in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Systemic immunosuppressive therapy (IS) renders patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) vulnerable to fulminant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Seroprotection against HBV through a full vaccination scheme is preferably obtained before IS is initiated, but often conflicts with the clinical need to initiate therapy rapidly. Consequently, the vast majority of patients will use IS during booster vaccinations. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the serological response after a modified vaccination schedule which includes an initial double dose of Fendrix in patients with IBD and compared the results with the serological responses of patients with IBD who received the standard schedule. Seroprotection rates were 86.2 % and 88.9 % in the modified and standard schedule groups respectively. One-third of patients obtained seroprotection after only one double dose vaccine. A double dose may be considered in patients with IBD at high short-term risk of HBV infection when a rapid protective response is warranted.     

An 8-week aerobic cycling intervention elicits improved gait velocity and biomechanics in persons with Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundIt is unknown if improvements in gait velocity following an aerobic cycling intervention are accompanied by improved gait biomechanics in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or if gait abnormalities are exaggerated in response to increased velocity.Research questionCan an 8-week aerobic cycling intervention elicit improvements in locomotor function in individuals with mild to moderate PD?MethodsA secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial was conducted in individuals with mild to moderate idiopathic PD (N = 28). Participants were randomized to an aerobic cycling intervention (PD_ex, N = 14) consisting of 24 sessions at a targeted aerobic intensity of 60–80% of heart rate reserve or to a no intervention control group (PD_control, N = 14). Change in comfortable walking speed in addition to gait kinematics, kinetics, and spatiotemporal variables using motion capture were obtained at baseline and end of treatment (EOT).ResultsThe PD_ex group made significantly greater improvements in the primary outcome, change in comfortable gait velocity, from 0.86 ± 0.24 m/s at baseline to 1.00 ± 0.23 m/s at EOT compared to the PD_control group who declined from 0.91 ± 0.23 m/s at baseline to 0.80 ± 0.29 at EOT (P = 0.002). Improvements in gait velocity for the PD_ex group were accompanied by improvements in gait kinematics, kinetics, and spatiotemporal parameters, while the PD_control group demonstrated slight worsening in all gait parameters over the 8-week period.SignificanceThe 8-week moderate- to high-intensity cycling intervention elicited significantly greater improvements in gait velocity compared to the PD_control group. Increased gait velocity was accompanied by normalization of gait biomechanics, rather than an exaggeration of existing gait deviations. Aerobic cycling may be a viable treatment approach to improve gait velocity and gait biomechanics in individuals with mild to moderate PD and may mitigate declines in mobility.     

社区动脉粥样硬化风险研究的进展和展望

社区动脉粥样硬化风险（ARIC）研究是1987年由美国心、肺和血液研究所资助的关注非洲裔美国人心血管健康的最大研究。旨在调查心脏病的危险因素以及心血管疾病与认知之间的联系。ARIC研究的许多发现加深了对动脉粥样硬化性心血管病病因的了解,在心血管病预防领域做出了重大贡献,证明了以人群为基础的研究对改善健康和预防疾病的重要性。主要概述ARIC研究的起源、目的、研究设计、对心血管医学的贡献以及未来的发展方向。     

稳定性冠心病血瘀证的血浆定量蛋白质组学探析＊

目的 基于数据非依赖性采集的定量蛋白质组学技术（data independent acquisition，DIA）对稳定性冠心病血瘀证患者的血浆蛋白质进行研究分析，初步探索冠心病血瘀证的关键生物学过程与核心靶点。方法 选择中国中医科学院广安门医院心血管科收治的5例稳定性冠心病患者作为疾病观察组，同时选取健康成人5人作为对照组，采用DIA蛋白质组学技术对受试者的血浆进行检测，确定蛋白质表达量后进行差异蛋白质表达分析、GO富集分析、KEGG信号通路图查询和蛋白质互作网络分析。结果 在差异倍数为1.5倍时，疾病观察组相比于健康对照组，共鉴定到22个蛋白质下调，9个蛋白质上调。进一步的生物信息学分析表明，冠心病血瘀证的生物学过程与补体参与的慢性炎症反应有关，关键信号通路是补体与凝血级联反应的信号通路，核心蛋白质为C反应蛋白、转甲状腺素蛋白、补体因子H、维生素D结合蛋白等。结论 冠心病血瘀证的生物学过程与补体参与的慢性炎症反应有关。