基于指按法及针刺作用于手三里的痛温觉诱发电位探讨经络小纤维神经感传效应

目的观察比较指按法、针刺及痛温觉诱发电位(CHEPs)刺激器作用于正常人手三里产生的CHEPs,探析经络理论的小纤维神经感传方式。方法纳入16名健康成年志愿者,检测指按法、针刺、CHEPs刺激器作用于手三里产生的CHEPs,进行自身前后对照。结果3种刺激手段作用于受试者手三里均可记录到CHEPs,指按法诱发的N波潜伏期比CHEPs刺激器高120.69 ms(P<0.05),针刺诱发的N波潜伏期比CHEPs刺激器高183.69 ms(P<0.001)。指按法诱发的P波潜伏期比CHEPs刺激器高149.13 ms(P<0.05),针刺诱发的P波潜伏期比CHEPs刺激器高215.69ms(P<0.001),指按法和针刺N、P波潜伏期比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。未见不同刺激手段对N、P波幅存在显著主效应(F=0.424,P=0.658;F=1.289,P=0.290)。结论指按法、针刺均可诱发由小纤维介导的N、P波,且通过与CHEPs刺激器诱发电位比较,指按法及针刺传导的小纤维速度更慢,为无髓鞘的C纤维;指按法、针刺诱发的N、P波波幅改变无明显差异。     

Impulsive and compulsive behaviors in Parkinson's disease: Impact on quality of and satisfaction with life,and caregiver burden

IntroductionTo disentangle the association between impulsive and compulsive behaviors (ICBs), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), satisfaction with life (SwL), and caregiver distress in dyads of people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) and caregivers.MethodsData used in this study were obtained from the ongoing Norwegian ParkWest study, a population-based longitudinal cohort study of the incidence, neurobiology and prognosis of PD in Western Norway. One hundred and one dyads of PwP free of dementia and their caregivers were included 5 years after PD diagnosis and inclusion in the ParkWest study. Standardized clinical rating scales were used to evaluate ICBs, HRQOL, SwL and caregiver distress.ResultsOf 101 PwP-caregiver dyads, self-reported ICBs were seen in 33% of PwP and only caregiver-reported ICBs in 12% of PwP. PwP-reported ICBs were associated with poorer HRQOL and SwL, whereas ICBs reported by caregivers only were associated with increased caregiver distress, but not poorer HRQOL or SwL in PwP.ConclusionsICBs have adverse effects on HRQOL, SwL and caregiver distress. These findings underpin the need for proper identification and management of ICBs in PwP.     

冠心病稳定型心绞痛痰瘀互结证中医证候量表评价研究

[目的]探索冠心病稳定型心绞痛痰瘀互结证患者、气阴两虚证患者与健康人中医证候评价量表异同。[方法]通过多中心、小样本、精细化临床研究,纳入7家临床单位124例受试者,因未完成访视脱失7例,最终纳入受试者117例,其中冠心病痰瘀互结证患者38例,在西医常规治疗的基础上加服丹蒌片治疗,气阴两虚证患者39例,在西医常规治疗的基础上加服通脉养心丸治疗,健康人40例不予干预。比较冠心病患者0、4、8、12周、健康人第0周《冠心病痰瘀互结证中医证候评价量表》评分情况。[结果] 1)冠心病痰瘀互结证患者第4、8、12周时,各症状评分及舌下脉络青紫情况较0周不同程度降低(P0.05或P0.01)。2)冠心病气阴两虚证患者第4、8、12周时,各症状评分较0周有所下降(P0.05或P0.01)。3)与健康人比较,冠心病痰瘀互结证患者各项评分具有统计学差异(P0.01),冠心病气阴两虚证患者各症状评分及舌质紫暗、舌下脉络青紫、脉弦、脉涩情况具有统计学差异(P0.05或P0.01),冠心病两组患者各时点比较,部分指标及舌脉情况存在不同程度差异。4)冠心病痰瘀互结证患者0、8周时,身重、口黏腻、苔腻、脉滑、舌有瘀斑瘀点聚为一类,脉弦、舌质紫暗、舌下脉络青紫、脉涩、口唇青紫、面色晦暗聚为一类;冠心病气阴两虚证患者0、8周时,胸闷、胸痛、身重、口黏腻、口唇青紫、面色晦暗聚为一类,舌有瘀斑瘀点、舌质紫暗、脉涩聚为一类。[结论]冠心病稳定型心绞痛痰瘀互结证与气阴两虚证患者经治疗后,《冠心病痰瘀互结证中医证候评价量表》中相关症状表现均有所改善,且不同证型的表现不同。《冠心病痰瘀互结证中医证候评价量表》可以为进一步临床诊断冠心病稳定型心绞痛痰瘀互结证提供一定参考。     

Subclinical Pulmonary Congestion and Abnormal Hemodynamics in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

ObjectivesThe authors hypothesized that quantitative computed tomography (QCT) imaging would reveal subclinical increases in lung congestion in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and that this would be related to pulmonary vascular hemodynamic abnormalities.BackgroundGross evidence of lung congestion on physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiography is typically absent among compensated ambulatory patients with HFpEF. However, pulmonary gas transfer abnormalities are commonly observed and associated with poor outcomes.MethodsPatients referred for invasive hemodynamic exercise testing who had undergone chest computed tomography imaging within 1 month were identified (N = 137). A novel artificial intelligence QCT algorithm was used to measure pulmonary fluid content.ResultsCompared with control subjects with noncardiac dyspnea, patients with HFpEF displayed increased mean lung density (–758 HU [–793, –709 HU] vs –787 HU [–828, –747 HU]; P = 0.002) and a higher ratio of extravascular lung water to total lung volume (EVLWV/TLV) (1.25 [0.80, 1.76] vs 0.66 [0.01, 1.03]; P < 0.0001) by QCT imaging, indicating greater lung congestion. EVLWV/TLV was directly correlated with pulmonary vascular pressures at rest, with stronger correlations observed during exercise. Patients with increasing tertiles of EVLWV/TLV demonstrated higher mean pulmonary artery pressures at rest (34 ± 11 mm Hg vs 39 ± 14 mm Hg vs 45 ± 17 mm Hg; P = 0.0003) and during exercise (55 ± 17 mm Hg vs 59 ± 17 mm Hg vs 69 ± 22 mm Hg; P = 0.0003).ConclusionsQCT imaging identifies subclinical lung congestion in HFpEF that is not clinically apparent but is related to abnormalities in pulmonary vascular hemodynamics. These data provide new insight into the long-term effects of altered hemodynamics on pulmonary structure and function in HFpEF.     

Higher mass meningococcal group C-tetanus toxoid vaccines conjugated with carbodiimide correlate with greater immunogenicity

To examine the link between meningococcal C (MenC) vaccine size and immunogenic response, a panel of MenC glycoconjugate vaccines were prepared differing in chain length, molar mass and hydrodynamic volume. The preparations consisted of different lengths of MenC polysaccharide (PS) covalently linked to monomeric purified tetanus toxoid (TT) carrier protein using the coupling reagent ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). Size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering (SEC-MALS) and viscometry analysis confirmed that the panel of MenC-TT conjugates spanned masses of 191,500 to 2,348,000 g/mol, and hydrodynamic radii ranging from 12.1 to 47.9 nm. The two largest conjugates were elliptical in shape, whereas the two smallest conjugates were more spherical. The larger conjugates appeared to fit a model described by multiple TTs with cross-linked PS, typical of lattice-like networks described previously for TT conjugates, while the smaller conjugates were found to fit a monomeric or dimeric TT configuration. The effect of vaccine conjugate size on immune responses was determined using a two-dose murine immunization. The two larger panel vaccine conjugates produced higher anti-MenC IgG1 and IgG2b titres after the second dose. Larger vaccine conjugate size also stimulated greater T-cell proliferative responses in an in vitro recall assay, although cytokines indicative of a T-helper response were not measurable. In conclusion, larger MenC-TT conjugates up to 2,348,000 g/mol produced by EDC chemistry correlate with greater humoral and cellular murine immune responses. These observations suggest that conjugate size can be an important modulator of immune response.     

Effect of group reminiscence therapy on depression and perceived meaning of life of veterans diagnosed with dementia at veteran homes

ABSTRACT

Most senior veterans who live in veteran homes in Taiwan have few interpersonal relationships. Aging is often accompanied by solitude and illness, which causes senior veterans to doubt the meaning of life and to lose confidence in the value of life. This study tested the effectiveness of a group reminiscence therapy protocol on the depression and meaning of life among elderly institutionalized veterans. A quasi-experimental design was applied. A convenience sample of older adults was drawn from two veteran homes in southern Taiwan. Participants were assigned to intervention or control groups based on the veterans' homes they attended. The participants in the intervention group carried out group reminiscence therapy for 8 weeks in addition to their daily activities. The participants in the comparison group maintained their daily activities. Both groups were evaluated using the GDS-SF and MLS scale including two aspects of depression mood and meaning of life in weeks 1 and 8. The overall life satisfaction increased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the comparison group from week 1 to week 8. The group reminiscence therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the depression and meaning of life of older veterans living in veteran homes.