Vacuum myofascial therapy device for non-specific neck pain. A single blind randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum myofascial therapy device (VT) for improving pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), range of motion (ROM), neck pain-related disability, pain, and quality of life in patients with non-specific neck pain.MethodsA randomized controlled trial in which thirty-eight participants with non-specific neck pain (NP) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (VT) or a comparison physical therapy program (PTP) group. The VT group (n = 19) received five sessions of treatment with a vacuum myofascial therapy device while the PTP group (n = 19) received five sessions of massage, ultrasound therapy (US), and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) over two weeks. The outcome measures were the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), range of motion, quality of life (SF-12), neck disability Index (NDI), and PPTs at the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up.ResultsAlthough both groups experienced improvements in pain, neck disability, range of motion, and pressure pain, these only were statistically significant in the VT group. At one-month follow-up, the VT group still showed improvements in pain, neck disability, and range of motion.DiscussionVacuum myofascial therapy applied with a device offers similar results to other vacuum-based techniques such as cupping therapy. Moreover, in this device the parameters are digitally controlled, which allows for the precise reproduction of treatment.     

Defective Treg response in acute kidney injury was caused by a reduction in TIM-3+ Treg cells

Background: Despite years of research, the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a significant challenge. Animal studies presented causal links between elevated regulatory T cell (Treg) response and better prognosis in AKI. Previous studies in mice and humans showed that TIM-3+ Treg cells were more potent than TIM-3- Treg cells. In this study, we investigated the role of TIM-3 in Treg in AKI patients.

Methods: Peripheral blood from AKI patients and healthy controls were gathered, and TIM-3+ Treg subset was examined.

Results: Compared to healthy controls, the AKI patients presented a significant upregulation in the frequency of circulating CD4+CD25+ T cells; however, the majority of this increase was from the CD4+CD25+TIM-3- subset, and the frequency of CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells was downregulated in AKI patients. In both healthy controls and AKI patients, the CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells expressed higher levels of Foxp3, and were more potent at expressing LFA-1, LAG-3, CTLA-4, IL-10 and TGF-β. In addition, the CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells from both healthy controls and AKI patients presented higher capacity to suppress CD4+CD25- T cell proliferation than the CD4+CD25+TIM-3- T cells. Interestingly, the total CD4+CD25+ T cells from AKI patients presented significantly lower inhibitory capacity than those from healthy controls, indicating that the low frequency of CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells was restricting the efficacy of the Treg responses in AKI patients.

Conclusions: We demonstrated that TIM-3 downregulation impaired the function of Treg cells in AKI. The therapeutic potential of CD4+CD25+TIM-3+ T cells in AKI should be investigated in future studies.     

准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术后的再治疗

目的探讨对准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术(LASIK)后发生欠矫及屈光回退者进行再次手术的时机及疗效.方法对18例(29眼)LASIK术后发生欠矫及屈光回退者施行原角膜瓣下角膜基质内准分子激光切削术,术后随防6月～1年.两次手术间隔3～11月.对再手术后的裸眼视力、屈光度及并发症以及再手术原因、手术时机的选择进行分析.结果术后23眼(79.31%)裸眼视力达到最佳矫正视力,6眼(20.69%)低于矫正视力一行,22眼(75.86%)剩余屈光度≤±1.00DS,5眼再次出现欠矫及屈光回退.再手术原因与高度近视屈光状态不稳定、个体对激光反应的差异性、激光机能量不稳定及术者的操作技术有关.结论对LASIK术后欠矫及屈光回退者行原角膜瓣下角膜基质内准分子激光切削术,方法简单,疗效稳定,再次手术时机选择术后3～12月.     

冠脉循环中血小板活化状态对冠心病致病作用的研究

目的：探讨冠脉循环中血小板活化状态在冠心病（ＣＨＤ）发病学中的意义。方法：用放免等方法对受试冠状静脉窦（ＣＳ）及升主动脉（ＡＯ）血行血小板膜表面α－颗粒膜蛋白（α－ＧＭＰ－１４０）和循环内皮细胞（ＣＥＣ）等测定。结果：ＣＨＤ患冠脉循环中α－ＧＭＰ－１４０含量和ＣＥＣ浓度均明显升高（Ｐ〈０．０１）,以急心肌梗塞（ＡＭＩ）组为明显,冠脉狭窄愈严重,二升高愈明显,病灶多发比单发升高明显。结论：ＣＨＤ患冠脉循环中血小板高度激活,在ＣＨＤ的发生发展中有一定的意义。     

Longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy following decompression surgery

Previous studies have reported the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as an imaging biomarker for the severity of myelopathy and subsequent surgical outcome in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). We hypothesized that DTI may reflect neurological recovery following surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of DTI to assess the post-operative alteration of neural status in patients with DCM as well as to predict post-operative recovery. We enrolled 15 patients with DCM who underwent decompression surgery. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was evaluated before and 1 year after surgery. The participants were examined using DTI on a 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner before, and 1 year after surgery. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were assessed for both time points. The correlations between the pre- and post-operative FA and MD values and the pre- and post-operative JOA scores were analyzed. Although the JOA score improved significantly after surgery from 8.9 to 12.3, there was no significant change between the pre- and post-operative FA and MD values. The post-operative outcomes after 1 year moderately correlated with the pre-operative FA values (Spearman’s ρ = 0.55, p = 0.03 and Spearman’s ρ = 0.56, p = 0.03 for change and recovery rate of the JOA score, respectively). However, there was no correlation between the post-operative FA and post-operative JOA scores nor between MD and clinical outcomes. DTI cannot be utilized as a biomarker for post-operative alterations of neural status of the spinal cord; however, pre-operative DTI may be useful as a predictor of surgical outcomes.     

Single-centre comparison of procedural complications,clinical outcome,and angiographic follow-up between coiling and stent-assisted coiling for posterior communicating artery aneurysms

Aneurysm recurrence is a principle limitation of endovascular coiling procedures, especially in posterior communicating artery aneurysms, with reported recurrence rates of >30%. The adjunctive use of self-expandable stents has revolutionised the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, especially for complex morphologies, wide necks, or unfavourable dome-to-neck ratios. However, there are limited data concerning a direct comparison between simple coiling and stent-assisted coiling in posterior communicating artery aneurysms. This study aimed to compare the durability and outcomes of coiling versus stent-assisted coiling procedures. Imaging data of patients with posterior communicating artery aneurysms treated with coiling or stent-assisted coiling between January 2008 and October 2012 were retrospectively analysed. The initial angiographic results, procedural complications, and clinical outcomes were assessed at discharge. Imaging follow-up was performed with cerebral angiography. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved on initial angiography in 23/56 (41.1%) stent and 83/235 (35.3%) non-stent patients. At the latest follow-up (mean follow-up 14.3 ± 10.4 months for stent and 13.2 ± 9.5 months for non-stent patients), aneurysms had recurred in 5/47 (10.6%) stent and 57/203 (28.1%) non-stent patients (p = 0.014). Procedural complications occurred in 6/56 (10.7%) stent and 27/235 (11.5%) non-stent aneurysms. No rebleeding occurred during clinical follow-up (mean duration, 46.7 months). Recurrence rates at the latest follow-up were significantly lower in patients undergoing stent-assisted coiling than those undergoing simple coiling. Thus, use of the stent-assisted neck remodelling technique in the treatment of wide-necked posterior communicating artery intracranial aneurysms appears to improve the long-term clinical outcome.     

武警某部军人慢性前列腺炎样症状的调查研究

 目的 了解武警军人慢性前列腺炎样症状的发病情况并研究在部队特殊环境下的发病因素,为进一步探讨其发病机制与针对性治疗提供依据。方法 应用自制问卷和美国国立卫生研究院慢性前列腺炎症状指数(NIH-CPSI)对301名武警某部军人进行调查。结果 (1)慢性前列腺炎样症状阳性率为23.6%。(2)单因素分析结果,年龄、BMI、入伍前性行为、遗精、体能锻炼量、工作压力、喝水习惯等对阳性率无影响。(3)多因素分析结果:经常憋尿的比没有或偶尔憋尿的军人发生慢性前列腺炎样症状的概率高11.64倍;服役2~5年的比服役2年内的高1.31倍,服役5年以上比服役2年内的高4.68倍;城镇或城市来源的比农村来源的高1.01倍。是否经常熬夜和担负勤务(全训或执勤为主)对慢性前列腺炎样症状的发生均无显著性影响。结论 武警军人慢性前列腺炎样症状阳性率处于较高水平,经常憋尿、服役年限长、城镇或城市生长环境是其发生的独立危险因素。