Lateral Corticospinal Tract and Dorsal Column Damage: Predictive Relationships With Motor and Sensory Scores at Discharge From Acute Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury

ObjectiveTo determine if lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future ipsilateral lower extremity motor function (LEMS) and if dorsal column (DC) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future light touch (LT) sensory function post spinal cord injury (SCI) at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.DesignRetrospective analyses of imaging and clinical outcomes.SettingUniversity and academic hospital.ParticipantsA total of 151 participants (N=151) with SCI.InterventionsInpatient rehabilitation.Main Outcome MeasuresLEMS and LT scores at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.ResultsIn 151 participants, right LCST spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with right LEMS percentage recovered (β=0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.73; R=0.43; P<.001). Left LCST spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with left LEMS percentage recovered (β=0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.82; R=0.51; P<.001). DC spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with LT percentage recovered (β=0.69; 95% CI, 0.52-0.87; R=0.55; P<.001). When subgrouping the participants into motor complete vs incomplete SCI, motor relationships were no longer significant, but the sensory relationship remained significant. Those who had no voluntary motor function but recovered some also had significantly greater LCST spared tissue than those who did not recover motor function.ConclusionsLCST demonstrated significant moderate predictive relationships with lower extremity motor function at the time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, in an ipsilesional manner. DC integrity demonstrated a significant moderate predictive relationship with recovered function of LT. With further development, these neuroimaging methods might be used to predict potential deficits after SCI and to provide corresponding targeted interventions.     

短时程脊髓电刺激治疗爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹的临床研究

目的探讨短时程脊髓电刺激(temporary spinal cord stimulation, tSCS)治疗爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹的临床疗效。方法回顾性地分析同济大学附属第十人民医院疼痛科2020年1月—2020年12月收治的52例接受tSCS治疗的爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹患者的临床资料，评估在治疗前、治疗后3d、7d、14d、3个月、6个月的总体疼痛情况(numerical rating scale, NRS)评分、(simple McGill scores, McGill)评分、爆发痛情况(发生率、NRS评分、次数以及持续时间)、触诱发痛情况(发生率、分级)、术后不良反应等；评估在治疗前、治疗后7d、3个月、6个月的睡眠时长、睡眠中醒来次数、疼痛障碍指数(pain disorder index, PDI)、功能状态评分(Karnofsky score, KPS)、抑郁症筛查量表(patient health questionnaire depression module scale, PHQ-9)和焦虑症筛查量表(generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, GAD-7)等。结果与治疗前相比，治疗后3d、7d、14d、3个月、6个月的总体疼痛NRS评分、总体疼痛MCGILL评分、静息痛NRS评分明显降低(均P<0.001)；与治疗前相比，治疗后3d、7d、14d、3个月、6个月的的爆发痛NRS评分明显降低(均P<0.05)，治疗后14d、3个月、6个月时的爆发痛次数以及持续时间都明显降低(均P<0.05)；与治疗前比较，患者治疗后7d、14d、3个月、6个月时的触诱发痛的分级都明显降低，差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)；与治疗前相比，治疗后14d、3个月、6个月的PDI评分明显降低(P<0.05)；与治疗前相比，治疗后14d、3个月、6个月的PHQ-9评分和GAD-7评分都明显减少(P<0.05)，与术前的药物使用情况相比，治疗后各镇痛药使用人数普遍呈下降趋势；术中及整个随访期间未观察到严重不良事件。结论短时程脊髓电刺激对爆发痛合并触诱发痛的急性期带状疱疹具有较好的临床疗效。     

Machine learning in clinical diagnosis,prognostication, and management of acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI): A systematic review

BackgroundMachine learning has been applied to improve diagnosis and prognostication of acute traumatic spinal cord injury. We investigate potential for clinical integration of machine learning in this patient population to navigate variability in injury and recovery.Materials and methodsWe performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines through PubMed database to identify studies that use machine learning algorithms for clinical application toward improvements in diagnosis, management, and predictive modeling.ResultsOf the 132 records identified, a total of 13 articles met inclusion criteria and were included in final analysis. Of the 13 articles, 5 focused on diagnostic accuracy and 8 were related to prognostication or management of traumatic spinal cord injury. Across studies, 1983 patients with spinal cord injury were evaluated with most classifying as ASIA C or D. Retrospective designs were used in 10 of 13 studies and 3 were prospective. Studies focused on MRI evaluation and segmentation for diagnostic accuracy and prognostication, investigation of mean arterial pressure in acute care and intraoperative settings, prediction of ambulatory and functional ability, chronic complication prevention, and psychological quality of life assessments. Decision tree, random forests (RF), support vector machines (SVM), hierarchical cluster tree analysis (HCTA), artificial neural networks (ANN), convolutional neural networks (CNN) machine learning subtypes were used.ConclusionsMachine learning represents a platform technology with clinical application in traumatic spinal cord injury diagnosis, prognostication, management, rehabilitation, and risk prevention of chronic complications and mental illness. SVM models showed improved accuracy when compared to other ML subtypes surveyed. Inherent variability across patients with SCI offers unique opportunity for ML and personalized medicine to drive desired outcomes and assess risks in this patient population.     

芒针对脊髓损伤大鼠运动功能和炎症水平的影响

目的探究芒针深刺秩边穴对大鼠脊髓损伤后运动功能的影响及可能作用机制。方法选择健康雄性Wister大鼠81只,随机分为正常组、模型组和芒针组(正常组9只,其余两组各36只),采用改良Allen's造模法制备大鼠脊髓中度损伤模型,模型组不做特殊处理,芒针组采用芒针深刺秩边穴,每日1次,每次30 min。分别于术后1 d、3 d、5 d、7 d行BBB(Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan)运动功能评分;术后1 d、3 d、5 d、7 d取受损段脊髓组织行酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)、实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)和苏木素-伊红染色(HE染色)。结果术后5 d和7 d,芒针组大鼠BBB评分高于模型组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);脊髓损伤后,模型组和芒针组大鼠脊髓组织中高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)、核转录因子kB(NF-kB)、白介素-6(IL-6)含量及HMGB1mRNA、NF-kBmRNA、IL-6mRNA水平显著升高(P<0.05);受损的脊髓组织松散,灰质中有许多空洞形成,伴有炎性细胞浸润。芒针治疗后,芒针组大鼠脊髓组织中HMGB1、NF-kB、IL-6含量及HMGB1mRNA、NF-kBmRNA、IL-6mRNA水平较模型组降低,且在3 d、5 d、7 d差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);受损部位的空洞及炎性细胞逐渐减少。结论脊髓损伤后,炎症因子的大量聚集引起级联性炎症反应,影响大鼠运动功能的恢复。芒针的抗炎机制可能包括抑制HMGB1的表达,降低NF-kB信号通路的传导,下调促炎因子IL-6的分泌。     

电针结合膀胱康复对脊髓损伤者神经源性膀胱的疗效观察

目的 观察电针结合膀胱康复对脊髓损伤者神经源性膀胱的疗效。方法 选择2018年1～9月我院收治的62例脊髓损伤的神经源性膀胱患者,随机分为治疗组和对照组各31例,两组均给予膀胱功能训练及间歇导尿术,治疗组针刺时间为15:00～17:00的任一时刻,按子午流注法选取每日开穴,并选取膀胱经相关治疗穴位,连接电针进行治疗;对照组针刺时间为8:00～12:00的任一时刻,选取膀胱经相关治疗穴位,常规留针。针刺时间每次30 min,每天1次,治疗30 d后评定疗效。于治疗前后对患者膀胱容量、残余尿量及膀胱功能积分进行比较评定,并参照《实用理疗手册》中的疗效标准评价疗效。结果 治疗30 d后,两组患者的膀胱容量、残余尿量及膀胱功能积分较治疗前均有不同程度的改善(P0.05),治疗组治疗后的改善优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。根据疗效标准评价,治疗组有效率为90.32%,对照组有效率为80.64%(P0.05)。结论 在膀胱功能训练及间歇导尿术的基础上给予特定时段电针法比普通针刺法可更有效地改善脊髓损伤患者的膀胱功能,使患者尽早实现自主排尿,提高生存质量。     

仿真模拟教学在脊髓损伤患者间歇导尿操作中应用探索

目的:探索仿真模拟教学在脊髓损伤患者/家属实施自主导尿操作的临床效果。方法:将我科2017年5月~2017年12月收治72例脊髓损伤致神经源性膀胱患者按随机数字表法分为观察组38例和对照组34例,对照组采用常规方法,观察组采用仿真模拟教学,由护士对患者/家属进行导尿操作培训,患者/家属操作熟练后方可行导尿操作,比较两组患者/家属清洁间歇导尿操作掌握情况、培训满意度、导尿成功情况、干预前后日常生活能力及生存满意度改变情况。结果:观察组对于仿真模拟教学满意度高,培训后导尿操作成功率高,且患者日常生活能力及生存满意度显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:在间歇导尿操作培训中对患者/家属应用仿真模拟教学方法有利于提高其导尿操作熟练度,提高导尿成功率,增加患者的满意度,值得临床推荐。     

Issues in cardiopulmonary transition at birth

The transition from fetal to newborn life involves a complex series of physiological events that commences with lung aeration, which is thought to involve 3 mechanisms. Two mechanisms occur during labour, Na⁺ reabsorption and fetal postural changes, and one occurs after birth due to pressure gradients generated by inspiration. However, only one of these mechanisms, fetal postural changes, involves the loss of liquid from the respiratory system. Both other mechanisms involve liquid being reabsorbed from the airways into lung tissue. While this stimulates an increase in pulmonary blood flow (PBF), in large quantities this liquid can adversely affect postnatal respiratory function. The increase in PBF (i) facilitates the onset of pulmonary gas exchange and (ii) allows pulmonary venous return to take over the role of providing preload for the left ventricle, a role played by umbilical venous return during fetal life. Thus, aerating the lung and increasing PBF before umbilical cord clamping (known as physiological based cord clamping), can avoid the loss of preload and reduction in cardiac output that normally accompanies immediate cord clamping.     

Healthcare utilization following spinal cord injury: Objective findings from a regional hospital registry

Objective: The purpose was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of healthcare utilization among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) from a Level I trauma center.

Design: Retrospective data analysis utilizing a local acute trauma registry for initial hospitalization and merged with the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council registry to obtain subsequent health care utilization in the first post-injury year.

Setting: Dallas, TX, USA.

Participants: Six hundred and sixty four patients were admitted with an acute traumatic SCI from January 2003 through June 2014 to a Level I trauma center. Fifty five patients that expired during initial hospitalization and 18 patients with unspecified SCI (defined by ICD-9 with no etiology or level of injury specified) were not included in the analysis, leaving a final sample of 591.

Outcome Measures: Data included demographic and clinical characteristics, charges, and healthcare utilization.

Results: Mean age was 46.1?years (±18.9?years), the majority of patients were male (74%), and Caucasian (58%). Of the 591 patients, 345 (58%) had additional inpatient or emergency healthcare utilization accounting for 769 additional visits (median of 3 visits per person). Of the 769 encounters, 534 (69%) were inpatient and 235 (31%) were emergency visits not resulting in an admission. The most prevalent ICD-9 codes listed were pressure ulcer, neurogenic bowel, neurogenic bladder, urinary tract infection, fluid electrolyte imbalance, hypertension, and tobacco use.

Conclusion: Individuals with SCI experience high levels of healthcare utilization which are costly and may be preventable. Increasing our understanding of the prevalence and causes for healthcare utilization after acute SCI is important to target preventive strategies.