Effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal shock wave treatment for low back pain：a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs

This meta-analysis was designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for patients with low back pain (LBP). Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane's library, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Data were searched until December 2019 to identify studies assessing the effectiveness and safety of EPSW for LBP. The prime outcome is pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or numeric rating scale (NRS). Other outcomes included functional status, quality of life, psychological outcomes measured by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), as well as the adverse events. Mean differences (MD) were calculated for continuous outcomes, while odd ratios (OR) were calculated for binary outcomes. Revman 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis. Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were finally included in this meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference in post-treatment pain scores was −2.37 (P ＜0.0001), indicating that post-treatment pain scores was significantly higher by 2.37 in control group than in ESWT group. At a mean follow-up time of 4–6 weeks, the pooled mean difference in ODI scores was −14.10 (P ＜0.00001), indicating that the pooled mean difference of post-treatment ODI scores was 14.10 higher in control group than in ESWT group. The use of ESWT is effective in alleviating pain and improving the general functional state for patients with LBP. However, more evidence was needed to verify its safety.     

脑电仿生电刺激对脑梗死后认知功能障碍的影响

目的观察脑电仿生电刺激小脑顶核对脑梗死后认知功能障碍的影响,并探讨其可能的机制。方法选取脑梗死后并发认知功能障碍患者50例,随机分成治疗组与对照组各25例。2组患者均接受康复治疗及认知功能训练,治疗组同时加用脑电仿生电刺激进行干预。2组患者分别于治疗前后应用蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)、简易精神状态量表(MMSE)评定认知功能变化,采用经颅多普勒超声(TCD)评估颅内动脉血流动力学改变。结果治疗后2组患者MoCA评分、MMSE评分均较组内治疗前提高(P<0.05),且治疗组评分明显较对照组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后2组患者颅内动脉血流动力学较组内治疗前改善(P<0.05),且治疗组较对照组改善更显著,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组与对照组总有效率分别为92%和64%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论脑电仿生电刺激小脑顶核可有效改善脑梗死患者的认知功能,其可能机制是通过改善患者的脑循环进一步改善认知功能。     

重新审视婴幼儿心肺转流中改良超滤的使用

改良超滤(MUF)技术作为心肺转流中节约用血的重要手段之一,具有浓缩血液、清除炎性介质、减轻组织水肿等优点,但随着微小化体外循环技术的应用,MUF在临床应用中的获益性和必要性开始受到各中心的重新审视。本文对近年来MUF的临床使用进展予以综述。     

Baicalin-loaded PEGylated lipid nanoparticles: characterization,pharmacokinetics, and protective effects on acute myocardial ischemia in rats

Context: Baicalin has many pharmacological activities, including protective function against myocardial ischemia by antioxidant effects and free radical scavenging activity. However, its rapid elimination half-life in plasma and poor water solubility limits its clinical efficacy.

Objective: Novel baicalin-loaded PEGylated nanostructured lipid carriers (BN-PEG-NLC) were developed to improve bioavailability of BN, to prolong retention time in vivo and to enhance its protective effect.

Methods: In this study, BN-PEG-NLC were prepared by the emulsion-evaporation and low temperature-solidification method using a mixture of glycerol monostearate and polyethylene glycol monostearate as solid lipids, and oleic acid as the liquid lipid. The physicochemical properties of NLC were characterized. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviors of BN-PEG-NLC or BN-NLC were evaluated in acute MI rats.

Results and discussion: The particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency for BN-PEG-NLC were observed as 83.9?nm, ?32.1?mV, and 83.5%, respectively. The release profiles of BN from both BN-PEG-NLC and BN-NLC were fitted to the Ritger–Peppas modal, which presented burst release initially and prolonged release afterwards. Pharmacokinetics results indicated that BN-PEG-NLC exhibited a 7.2-fold increase in AUC in comparison to BN solution, while a 3-fold increase in comparison to BN-NLC. Biodistribution results revealed that BN-PEG-NLC exhibited higher heart drug concentration compared with BN-NLC as well as BN solution. In the present study, BN-PEG-NLC significantly ameliorated infarct size.

Conclusion: The results of the present study imply that PEG-NLC could be the biocompatible carriers for heart-targeted drug delivery to improve myocardial ischemia.     

Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery: Diagnoses and Surgical Results in 12 Pediatric Patients

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital condition. It responds well to early diagnosis and treatment, but otherwise the prognosis is poor. We present our case series of 12 patients (mean age, 2 ± 2.58 yr; age range, 2 mo–8 yr), emphasizing the diagnostic process and discussing our surgical results. The diagnosis of ALCAPA should be suspected in infants who have dilated cardiomyopathy with electrocardiographic changes that suggest ischemia, and in older children who have isolated mitral regurgitation. When clinical suspicion is high, the results of 2-dimensional echocardiography combined with color-flow Doppler studies in expert hands can establish the diagnosis, thus avoiding angiography in critically ill infants. The treatment of choice in our patients was transfer and reimplantation of the left coronary artery onto the ascending aorta. There were 2 deaths: both were infants in extremis who underwent emergency surgery. An older child with severe ventricular dysfunction was given mechanical ventricular assistance and then heart transplantation. As of this report, all 10 survivors remained well and asymptomatic.     

Isolated Anisocoria as a Presenting Stroke Code Symptom is Unlikely to Result in Alteplase Administration

Background

Acute stroke codes may be activated for anisocoria, but how often these codes lead to a final stroke diagnosis or alteplase treatment is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of anisocoria in stroke codes that ultimately resulted in alteplase administration.

活血利水法在骨伤科疾病中的应用

基于骨伤疾病瘀血内阻的重要病机和现代医家"治血重治水"的学术观点,探索概括了活血利水法在骨伤疾病中的应用现状,结合现代医学的认识,全方位分析了活血利水法的优势和缺点。活血利水法可应用于骨折、筋伤等骨伤科大部分疾病及骨伤科疾病的围手术期,能改善肢体肿胀,促进伤口愈合,便于患者早期功能康复,但目前的临床应用尚缺乏统一的规范和标准,且处方不良反应尚未完全阐明。     

Cognition in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study of interval and continuous exercise

Objectives

The current study investigated the effects of two exercise interventions on cognitive function amongst breast cancer survivors.