慢性高原病脑部多体素1H-MRS研究

目的利用多体素氢质子磁共振波谱成像(hydrogen proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy,¹H-MRS)探讨慢性高原病(chronic mountain sickness,CMS)长期缺氧状态下脑部代谢物的特点,并比较各代谢物与血液指标之间的相关性。材料与方法前瞻性纳入青海大学附属医院经临床确诊为CMS的17例男性患者作为实验组,年龄(53.29±9.03)岁,居住海拔(3989.12±937.45)m,血红蛋白(hemoglobin,HGB)(224.35±11.81)g/mL,并招募与实验组年龄及居住海拔相匹配的18名健康男性志愿者作为对照组,年龄(48.61±8.76)岁,居住海拔(3674.94±634.27)m,HGB(156.67±9.46)g/mL。采用Siemens Prisma 3.0 T MR扫描仪20通道头颅线圈对所有受试者行常规头颅MRI及多体素;H-MRS检查,通过Syngo.via后处理软件获得;H-MRS图,ROI选取双侧额叶及海马区,并获得相应脑区N-乙酰天门冬氨酸/肌酸(NAA/Cr)、胆碱/肌酸CHo/Cr、乙酰天门冬氨酸/胆碱(NAA/CHo)、乳酸/肌酸(Lac/Cr)的比值。结合独立样本t检验及非参数曼-惠特尼U检验以比较两组间代谢物相对浓度差异,然后将CMS组双侧额叶及海马区各代谢物比值与血液生化指标作相关性分析。结果(1)两组受试者年龄、长期居住海拔差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),而与对照组相比,CMS组HGB、红细胞计数(red blood cell count,RBC)、血细胞比容(hematocrit,HCT)增高,血小板(blood platelet,简称PLT)减低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);(2)与对照组相比,CMS组双侧额叶及海马区NAA/Cr及NAA/CHo均减低(P<0.05),Lac/Cr增高(P<0.05),差异均具有统计学意义;(3)与对照组相比,CMS组双侧额叶及双侧海马区CHo/Cr均增高(P>0.05),差异无统计学意义;(4)CMS组右侧额叶及左侧海马CHo/Cr与RBC明显正相关,左侧额叶CHo/Cr与HCT低度正相关,右侧额叶及左侧海马Lac/Cr与HCT低度正相关。结论CMS长期缺氧状态下脑组织局部代谢物改变,神经元受损,无氧代谢增加,且这些代谢物的改变与血液指标呈一定的相关性,可为临床后续进一步预防或干预CMS患者脑损害提供影像学证据及监测指标。     

Visual fixations and visually induced dizziness: An exploratory study

BackgroundVisually induced dizziness can develop as a sequala of a vestibular disorder and is characterized by symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and imbalance in rich visual environments such as supermarkets and shopping malls. To date the mechanisms underlying visually induced dizziness are poorly understood.Research questionWhat are the characteristics of visual fixations and postural sway in adults with visually induced dizziness compared to healthy adults when exposed to increasingly complex visual environments?MethodsWe recruited 20 adults with visually induced dizziness and 20 healthy adults to this cross-sectional exploratory study. Participants were instructed to maintain gaze on letters projected on a large screen with backgrounds of differing visual complexity. The number of visual refixations, movement of the centre of pressure, and movement of the head and body centres of mass were recorded.ResultsAdults with visually induced dizziness showed a significantly higher number of visual refixations (F= 10.592, p < 0.01), and increased mean velocity of head and body centres of mass movement (F= 14.034, p < 0.01 and F= 6.553, p < 0.05 respectively) compared to healthy adults.SignificanceAdults with visually induced dizziness exhibited visual fixational instability and increased postural and head sway compared to healthy adults. This was mainly observed in conditions with complex and moving backgrounds. This may account for reports from adults with visually induced dizziness of worsening symptoms in busy environments. The results from the study may assist in guiding intervention development to reduce symptoms of visually induced dizziness.     

Validation of an on-screen application-based measurement of shoulder range of motion over telehealth medium

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Organoids in modelling infectious diseases

Approaches based on animal and two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models cannot ensure reliable results in modeling novel pathogens or in drug testing in the short term; therefore, there is rising interest in platforms such as organoids. To develop a toolbox that can be used successfully to overcome current issues in modeling various infections, it is essential to provide a framework of recent achievements in applying organoids. Organoids have been used to study viruses, bacteria, and protists that cause, for example, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and liver diseases. Their future as models of infection will be associated with improvements in system complexity, including abilities to model tissue structure, a dynamic microenvironment, and coinfection.Teaser.Organoids are a flexible tool for modelling viral, bacterial and protist infections. They can provide fast and reliable information on the biology of pathogens and in drug screening, and thus have become essential in combatting emerging infectious diseases.     

RWMAs in critically ill patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries

Introduction

Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is estimated to occur in 10%–25% of the general intensive care unit (ICU) population and is frequently seen as regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs). Although RWMA is mostly attributed to myocardial ischemia or infarction, some studies have suggested that nonischemic RWMA might also be prevalent. We sought to establish that RWMA can be seen in critically ill patients with normal coronary arteries and to explore reasons for RWMA in this population.

Methods

In this retrospective study, data from the hospital angiography register and the ICU register were collated between 2012 and 2019. Patients were identified who underwent angiography in conjunction with their ICU stay and had RWMA on echocardiography. Patients were divided into either those with non-obstructed or those with obstructed coronary arteries. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) examinations were reviewed if they had been performed on patients with non-obstructed coronaries.

Results

We identified 53 patients with RWMA and non-obstructed coronary arteries and 204 patients with RWMA and obstructed coronary arteries. Patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries were more often female, younger, and had fewer cardiovascular risk factors. They less commonly had ST elevation, but more frequently had T-wave inversion or serious arrhythmias. Troponin levels were higher in patients with obstructed coronary arteries, but NT-proBNP was similar between the groups. There were no differences in risk-adjusted 90-day mortality between patients with non-obstructed versus obstructed coronary arteries (OR 1.21, [95% CI 0.56–2.64], p = .628). In those with non-obstructed coronary arteries, follow-up echocardiography was available for 38 patients, of whom 30 showed normalization of cardiac function. Of the 14 patients with non-obstructed coronary arteries on whom cMRI was performed, 7 had a tentative diagnosis of Takotsubo syndrome or myocardial stunning; 4 had a myocardial infarction (preexisting in 3 cases); 1 patient had acute myocarditis; 1 patient had post-myocarditis; and 1 patient was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion

RWMA can be seen to occur in critically ill patients in the absence of coronary artery obstruction. Several conditions can cause regional hypokinesia, and cMRI is useful to evaluate the underlying etiology.     

The biomechanical effects of 3D printed and traditionally made foot orthoses in individuals with unilateral plantar fasciopathy and flat feet

BackgroundFoot orthoses (FOs) are used to manage foot pathologies such as plantar fasciopathy. 3D printed custom-made FOs are increasingly being manufactured. Although these 3D-printed FOs look like traditionally heat-moulded FOs, there are few studies comparing FOs made using these two different manufacturing processes.Research questionHow effective are 3D-printed FOs (3D-Print) compared to traditionally-made (Traditional) or no FOs (Control), in changing biomechanical parameters of flat-footed individuals with unilateral plantar fasciopathy?MethodsThirteen participants with unilateral plantar fasciopathy walked with shoes under three conditions: Control, 3D-print, and Traditional. 2 × 3 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVAs) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to compare discrete kinematic and kinetic variables between limbs and conditions. Waveform analyses were also conducted using statistical parametric mapping (SPM).ResultsThere was a significant condition main effect for arch height drop (p = 0.01; ηp² =0.54). There was 0.87 mm (95% CI [−1.84, −0.20]) less arch height drop in 3D-print compared to Traditional. The SPM analyses revealed condition main effects on ankle moment (p < 0.001) and ankle power (p < 0.001). There were significant differences between control condition and both 3D-print and Traditional conditions. For ankle moment and power, there were no differences between 3D-print and Traditional conditions.Significance3D-printed FOs are more effective in reducing arch height drop, whist both FOs lowered ankle plantarflexion moment and power compared to no FOs. The results support the use of 3D-printed FOs as being equally effective as traditionally-made FOs in changing lower limb biomechanics for a population of flat-footed individuals with unilateral plantar fasciopathy.     

肠炎清合剂治疗慢性复发型溃疡性结肠炎大肠湿热证的临床观察

目的:观察肠炎清合剂对慢性复发型溃疡性结肠炎(UC)大肠湿热证患者诱导缓解效果及维持治疗对复发的影响,并从神经-内分泌-免疫炎症网络方面探讨了其作用机制。方法:将112例符合要求的患者随机分成对照组55例和观察组57例。对照组内服美沙拉嗪肠溶片,1.0 g/次,4次/d;Mayo评分系统≥7分者,加服醋酸泼尼松片,0.75 mg·kg^-1·d^-1;加用双歧杆菌活菌散剂,1包/次,2次/d,餐后温水冲服。观察组在对照组治疗的基础上服用肠炎清合剂,1包/次,分早晚2次服用。两组疗程均为连续治疗6周,再每周门诊复诊1次。进入缓解期后,两组患者均给予美沙拉嗪肠溶片,0.5 g/次,3次/d,维持治疗;观察组仍内服肠炎清合剂内服,至大肠湿热证评分减少≥90%以上。记录进入6周内缓解期的人数和缓解时间;进行治疗前后结肠镜检查,并进行Geboes指数和Baron法评价;进行治疗前后大肠湿热证评分和Mayo评分;检测治疗前后外周血白细胞介素-6(IL-6),IL-8,IL^-10,IL^-17,血管活性肠肽(VIP),胃动素(MTL)和神经肽Y(NPY);随访24周,记录复发情况。结果:经6周治疗后,观察组临床有效率为100%,黏膜愈合率为96.4%,均分别高于对照组的89.09%和81.82%(P<0.05),两组患者内镜应答率均为100%;经6周治疗后,观察组临床缓解率为91.23%,高于对照组的76.36%(χ2=4.581,P<0.05),观察组平均缓解时间短于对照组(P<0.01);治疗后观察组结肠黏膜评分,Geboes指数、大肠湿热证评分和Mayo评分均低于对照组(P<0.01);观察组患者外周血IL-6,IL-8和IL^-17水平均低于对照组(P<0.01),IL^-10水平高于对照组(P<0.01);观察组患者外周血VIP,MTL水平均低对照组(P<0.01),NPY水平高于对照组(P<0.01);观察组复发率为17.54%,低于对照组的38.18%(χ2=5.955,P<0.05);观察组平均复发时间长于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:在常规西医治疗的基础上,肠炎清合剂用于慢性复发型UC大肠湿热证的治疗,可诱导病情缓解,缩短病程,并能降低复发率,推迟复发时间,并对神经-内分泌-免疫炎症网络具有调节作用,从而可改善病情。     

冬虫夏草预防糖尿病大鼠对比剂肾病机制研究

目的探讨冬虫夏草预防糖尿病大鼠对比剂肾病的机制。方法SD大鼠80只,腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(60 mg/kg)建立糖尿病模型,并随机分为对照组(C组)、对比剂肾病组(CIN组)、冬虫夏草低剂量组(L组)、冬虫夏草标准剂量组(M组)和冬虫夏草强化剂量组(H组)。L组、M组、H组大鼠分别给予冬虫夏草(2.0、2.5、3.0 g/kg)灌胃,C组、CIN组则以等量生理盐水灌饲,连续7天。7天后检测SCr、BUN、尿蛋白排泄率(UAE)、一氧化氮(NO)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、中性粒细胞明胶酶相关脂质运载蛋白(NGAL)、肾损伤分子1(KIM-1)及IL-18。取左肾测病理和氧化应激指标;右肾用于Western Blot检测抗凋亡蛋白和促凋亡蛋白(包括:Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3、Caspase-9、p-Akt、p-mTOR、p-ERK、p-JNK、p-P70S6K)表达。结果与C组比较,CIN组SCr、BUN、UAE、MDA、NAGL、KIM-1、IL-18均明显升高,NO、T-SOD降低(P<0.05)。与CIN组比较,L组、M组、H组SCr、BUN、UAE、MDA均明显降低,NO、T-SOD升高(P<0.05);L组、H组NAGL、IL-18、降低(P<0.01),其中H组KIM-1均明显降低(P<0.01)。与L组、M组比较,H组SCr、BUN、UAE、MDA、NGAL、KIM-1、IL-18明显降低,NO、T-SOD升高(P<0.05)。与C组比较,CIN组Bcl-2、P-Akt、P-mTOR、P-P70S6K、P-ERK蛋白表达增加,Bax、P-JNK、Caspase-3、Caspase-9蛋白表达减少(P<0.05)。与CIN组比较,Bcl-2、P-Akt、P-mTOR、P-P70S6K、P-ERK蛋白表达在L组、M组、H组逐渐增加,其中H组最高(P<0.05),Bax、P-JNK、Caspase-3、Caspase-9蛋白表达L组、M组、H组逐渐减少,H组表达量最少(P<0.05)。结论冬虫夏草通过抗氧化应激、抑制脂质过氧化反应、抗凋亡等途径对糖尿病大鼠对比剂肾病发挥较好的保护作用,冬虫夏草强化剂量组优于低剂量组和标准剂量组。