Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale in cerebral palsy

BackgroundThe Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (FAB) is a multi-item balance assessment test designed to measure balance in relatively higher functioning individuals. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the FAB (FAB-T) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Research questionIs the Turkish version of the Fullerton Advance Balance Scale valid and reliable in determining balance problems in children with cerebral palsy and determining the underlying cause of this condition?MethodsForty-six children with CP participated in this study. Rasch analysis was used to investigate item adherence. Internal consistency of the FAB-T was established using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Test-retest reliability was also evaluated. In addition, to assess concurrent validity, FAB-T scores were compared with the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) using the Spearman correlation coefficient.ResultsThe FAB-T showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha value=0.94) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.99). The FAB and the PBS exhibited concurrent positive validity (r = 0.913; p < 0.001). All items of the FAB-T were found to fit the Rasch Model (Chi-square 16.01(df=20), p = 0.716).SignificanceThe FAB-T is a reliable and valid tool that can be used to measure balance skills and to identify the source of the problem in children with CP.     

脑淀粉样血管病发病机制的研究进展

脑淀粉样血管病（cerebral amyloid angiopathy，CAA）的主要致病物质是β淀粉样蛋白，其 产生异常、清除障碍导致异常沉积，引起管壁破坏、管腔狭窄等病理变化，最终导致CAA。目前CAA的 具体发病机制尚不清楚，涉及的成分复杂。本文介绍了β淀粉样蛋白产生及清除的三种过程及其平 衡破坏的后续效应和主要影响因素，同时从病因分类的角度阐明CAA的类型。     

Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

双侧延髓内侧梗死临床分析

目的分析并探究双侧延髓内侧梗死(BMMI)的血管病因、临床表现、MRI特征和预后,以期提高BMMI的早期诊断率.方法对青岛大学附属烟台毓璜顶医院诊治的14例BMMI患者临床资料进行分析.结果BMMI血管病因以动脉粥样硬化为主;临床症状表现为四肢瘫痪、舌瘫、感觉异常、头晕、构音障碍、饮水呛咳等,危重时出现呼吸衰竭.头颅DWI示双侧延髓内侧可呈特征性"心型"、"Y"字型、"V"字型或倒"八"字型高信号影.出院NIHSS评分、卒中进展(尤其呼吸衰竭)为BMMI的预后不良因素.结论BMMI临床少见,临床表现多样,预后较差;头颅MRI为其主要的影像学检查,有助于早期诊断.     

Dynamic functional connectivity of the EEG in relation to outcome of postanoxic coma

ObjectiveEarly EEG contains reliable information for outcome prediction of comatose patients after cardiac arrest. We introduce dynamic functional connectivity measures and estimate additional predictive values.MethodsWe performed a prospective multicenter cohort study on continuous EEG for outcome prediction of comatose patients after cardiac arrest. We calculated Link Rates (LR) and Link Durations (LD) in the α, δ, and θ band, based on similarity of instantaneous frequencies in five-minute EEG epochs, hourly, during 3 days after cardiac arrest. We studied associations of LR and LD with good (Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) 1–2) or poor outcome (CPC 3–5) with univariate analyses. With random forest classification, we established EEG-based predictive models. We used receiver operating characteristics to estimate additional values of dynamic connectivity measures for outcome prediction.ResultsOf 683 patients, 369 (54%) had poor outcome. Patients with poor outcome had significantly lower LR and longer LD, with largest differences 12 h after cardiac arrest (LR_θ 1.87 vs. 1.95 Hz and LD_α 91 vs. 82 ms). Adding these measures to a model with classical EEG features increased sensitivity for reliable prediction of poor outcome from 34% to 38% at 12 h after cardiac arrest.ConclusionPoor outcome is associated with lower dynamics of connectivity after cardiac arrest.SignificanceDynamic functional connectivity analysis may improve EEG based outcome prediction.     

Digital surface scanning in flap perfusion

Monitoring vascular perfusion of transferred tissue is essential in reconstructive surgery to recognize early flap failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a digital surface scanner to detect vascular perfusion disorders through the monitoring of skin colour changes. A total of 160 surface scans of the forearm skin were performed with a TRIOS 3D scanner. Vascular compromise was simulated at different time-points by intermittent occlusion of the blood supply to the forearm skin (first the arterial blood supply and then the venous blood supply). Skin colour changes were examined according to the hue, saturation, and value colour scale. Colour differences were analysed with a paired t-test. Significant differences were observed between the colour of the normal skin and that of the vascular compromised skin (P < 0.01). The surface scanner could distinguish between arterial occlusion and venous congestion (P < 0.01). A digital surface scan is an objective, non-invasive tool to detect early vascular perfusion disorders of the skin.     

Position paper on stress cardiac MRI in chronic coronary syndrome: Endorsed by the Société Française de Radiologie (SFR) the Société Française d’Imagerie CardioVasculaire (SFICV) and the Société Française de Cardiologie (SFC)

This position paper was intended to update the former consensus between the French Societies of Radiology and Cardiology about the use of stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in chronic coronary syndrome published in 2009. The Delphi method was used to build the present consensus. This expert panel consensus includes recommendations for indications, procedure with patient preparation, stress inducing drugs, acquisition protocol, interpretation and risk stratification by stress MRI.     

Butane detection after long-term treatment of burns in two autopsy cases

A man and a woman were rescued from a room that had exploded. Many empty cassette gas cylinders were found in the room. The man and woman were hospitalized immediately for the treatment of burns. The woman died 6 days later, and the man died 31 days later without regaining consciousness. Carbonization and hardening of the frontal facial skin and parts of the left and right fingers were observed on the man's body. In both cases, systemic burns had led to progressive systemic edema and markedly suppressed circulation. Analytical samples for butanes obtained from their bodies at autopsy were stored at −20 °C for 14 and 25 days, respectively, before analysis. Normal butane and isobutane were quantified in the brain and subcutaneous adipose tissue of the woman. Only the isobutane was quantified in the adipose tissue of the man. The evidence suggests that the man lit a cigarette while breathing gas and the entire room exploded. Our results also suggest that butane can be detected in the adipose tissue of autopsy cases long after inhalation even under the present storage conditions, and isobutane may remain in adipose tissue longer than n-butane.     

他山之石 何以攻玉:从脑出血国际临床研究现状看我国的规范化治疗

自发性脑出血病死率和病残率较高,但缺乏有效的治疗策略。我国的脑出血相关研究与国际先进水平存在一定差距。近年国际上一系列临床研究从不同角度探讨脑出血的治疗方式,对我国脑出血研究和规范化治疗具有十分重要的参考价值。我国的脑出血临床治疗经验和研究成果要想走向世界,必须开展高质量的临床试验。四川大学华西医院神经外科正在开展INTERACT3试验,以及准备开展STICHⅢ试验,希望能够推动中国脑出血研究事业的进步。