Biomarkers of in vivo limbal stem cell function

PurposeTo evaluate in vivo parameters as biomarkers of limbal stem cell function and to establish an objective system that detects and stage limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).MethodsA total of 126 patients (172 eyes) with LSCD and 67 normal subjects (99 eyes) were included in this observational cross-sectional comparative study. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (IVCM), and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were performed to obtain the following: clinical score, cell morphology score, basal cell density (BCD), central corneal epithelial thickness (CET), limbal epithelial thickness (LET), total corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and tortuosity coefficient. Their potential correlations with the severity of LSCD were investigated, and cutoff values were determined.ResultsAn increase clinical score correlated with a decrease in central cornea BCD, limbal BCD, CET, mean LET, maximum LET, CNFL, CNFD, CNBD, and tortuosity coefficient. Regression analyses showed that central cornea BCD, CET and CNFL were the best parameters to differentiate LSCD from normal eyes (Coef = 3.123, 3.379, and 2.223; all p < 0.05). The rank correlation analysis showed a similar outcome between the clinical scores and the central cornea BCD (ρ = 0.79), CET (ρ = 0.82), and CNFL (ρ = 0.71). A comprehensive LSCD grading formula based on a combination of these parameters was established.ConclusionsA comprehensive staging system combining clinical presentation, central cornea BCD, CET, and CNFL is established to accurately and objectively diagnose LSCD and stage its severity.     

A prospective study of high resolution ultrasound in brachial plexopathies – Correlation with electrophysiological measurements

ObjectivesTo evaluate the diagnostic role of ultrasound in brachial plexopathies.MethodsWe included 59 healthy subjects (HS) and 42 patients consecutively referred with clinical suspicion of brachial plexopathy from October 2015 to May 2016. Patients underwent routine electrodiagnostic testing (EDx) as reference standard and a blinded standardised ultrasound examination of the brachial plexus as index test with cross-sectional area (CSA) as the ultrasound parameter of choice.ResultsSeventeen patients were diagnosed by EDx with brachial plexopathy, ten with mononeuropathies, and ten had normal EDx. Five had a cervical radiculopathy. In 11 (64%) out of the 17 patients with EDx diagnosed plexopathy, we found at least one abnormal level on ultrasound. Six (60%) out of ten normal EDx patients had a normal ultrasound examination at all levels. Ultrasound identified the same abnormal level(s) as EDx in eight (73%) of the 11 patients who had both abnormal EDx and ultrasound results. Mean CSA was higher in the plexopathy group compared to HS at the level of the C6 root (p = .022), the middle trunk (p = .027), and the medial cord (p = .003).ConclusionUltrasound examination showed abnormalities in patients with brachial plexopathies in good agreement with EDx.SignificanceUltrasound may be an important supplement to electrodiagnostics in evaluating brachial plexopathies.     

Vaginal breech delivery at term and neonatal morbidity and mortality – a population-based cohort study in Sweden

Introduction: The routine to deliver almost all term breech cases by elective cesarean section (CS) has continued to be debated due to the risk of maternal and neonatal complications. The aims of the study were (1) to investigate if mode of delivery impacts on the risk of morbidity and mortality among term infants in breech presentation and (2) to compare the rates of severe neonatal complications and mortality in relation to presentation and mode of delivery.

Methods: This population-based cohort study used data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. All women (and their newborn infants) with singleton pregnancies who gave birth at term to an infant in breech (n?=?27,357) or cephalic presentation (n?=?837,494) between 2001 and 2012 were included. Births with vacuum extraction and induced labors were excluded, as well as antepartum stillbirths, births with infants diagnosed with congenital malformations and multiple births.

Results: On one hand, the rates of neonatal complications and mortality were higher among infants born in vaginal breech compared to the vaginal cephalic group. On the other hand, after CS, the rates of all neonatal complications under study and neonatal mortality were lower among infants in breech presentation than in those in cephalic presentation. After adjustment for confounders, infants delivered in vaginal breech had 23.8 times higher odds AOR (ratio) for brachial plexus injury, 13.3 times higher odds ratio for Apgar score <7 at 5?min, 6.7 times higher odds of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), or convulsions and 7.6 higher odds ratio for perinatal mortality than those delivered by elective CS.

Conclusions: Despite a probable selection of women who before-hand were considered at low risk and, therefore, could be recommended vaginal breech delivery, infants delivered in vaginal breech faced substantially increased risks of severe neonatal complications compared with infants in breech presentations delivered by elective CS.

• Key message

• Vaginal breech delivery is associated with increased risk for severe neonatal complications.

     

经皮穴位电刺激联合颈丛神经阻滞麻醉在甲状腺手术中的应用研究

目的:观察经皮电刺激合谷、内关穴联合颈丛神经阻滞麻醉在甲状腺手术中的应用效果。方法:将68例行甲状腺手术的患者随机分为观察组和对照组各34例,对照组采用颈丛神经阻滞麻醉,观察组采用经皮电刺激合谷、内关穴联合颈丛神经阻滞麻醉。比较两组麻醉前后平均动脉压和血氧饱和度,以及两组术后麻醉效果、疼痛数字量表(NRS)评分和不良反应情况。结果:两组麻醉后各时点平均动脉压较麻醉前均升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组手术全程血压变化幅度小于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组麻醉前后血氧饱和度无明显变化,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);对照组麻醉后血氧饱和度低于麻醉前,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者全部麻醉成功,但对照组Ⅲ级麻醉患者比例高于观察组,差异有统计学意义(P=0.001)。观察组术后1 h、4 h、12 h的NRS评分均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。观察组不良反应发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P=0.031)。结论:在甲状腺手术中采用经皮穴位电刺激联合颈丛神经阻滞麻醉,具有麻醉效果好、循环干扰小、并发症少等优点。