Low percentage of patients passed the ‘Back in Action’ test battery 9 months after bone-patellar tendon-bone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BackgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is recommended in patients who intend to return to high-level sports. However, there is only a 55–80% return to pre-injury level of sports after ACL reconstruction, with a re-injury rate up to 20%. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of patients passing the Back in Action (BIA) test 9 months after primary bone-patellar-tendon-bone (BPTB) ACL reconstruction, and evaluate the association between passing the BIA test and patient reported outcome measurements (PROMs).MethodsPatients underwent the BIA test 9 months after BPTB ACL reconstruction. In total 103 patients were included. Passing the BIA test (PASSED-group) was defined as a normal or higher score at all sub-tests with limb symmetry index (LSI) ≥90% for the dominant leg and LSI >80% for the non-dominant leg. Patients who did not meet these criteria were defined as the FAILED-group. PROMs included the International Knee Documentation Committee, Knee injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury.ResultsEighteen patients (17.5%) passed the BIA test 9 months after BPTB ACL reconstruction. PROMs were not statistically significant different between the PASSED- and FAILED-group.ConclusionLow percentage of patients passed the BIA test 9 months after BPTB ACL reconstruction. Although current PROMs cut-off values were met, the BIA test results show persistent functional deficits. Therefore, the BIA test could be of additional value in the decision-making process regarding return to sport (RTS). This study highlights the need for additional rehabilitation as RTS in a condition of incomplete recovery may increase the risk of re-injury.Level of evidenceII.     

耳甲电针治疗功能性消化不良的临床效果

目的:观察耳甲电针治疗功能性消化不良的疗效。方法:选取2018年6月至2019年5月北京同仁医院收治的功能性消化不良患者90例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组45例,对照组采用对照刺激,观察组采用耳甲电针刺激,所有患者治疗前后均使用功能性消化不良主要症状评分表、功能性消化不良生命质量量表(FDDQL)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)评估患者症状的严重程度,并参照功能性消化不良中医诊疗专家共识意见和功能性消化不良中西医结合诊疗共识意见的疗效评估方法,对比分析观察组与对照组治疗功能性消化不良的疗效。结果:观察组和对照组治疗前主要症状评分表、功能性消化不良生命质量量表(FDDQL)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗后观察组症状及量表评分与对照组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组治疗有效率82.22%,对照组治疗有效率57.78%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:耳甲电针对于功能性消化不良的各项症状具有较好的疗效。     

Prostate imaging: Contribution of PET PSMA and MRI

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumour and represents the third cause of cancer-mortality in men. The management of prostate cancer has dramatically changed over the last decades, mainly due to improvement of diagnostic modalities and development of new therapeutic strategies. Imaging plays a key role in all the steps of prostate cancer management. In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron-emission tomography (PET) – computed tomography (CT) have emerged as two major tools for the detection of prostate cancer, tumour staging and treatment choice. Both MRI and PET-CT – using choline or prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) as radiotracer – have become mandatory. This article presents the contribution of the latest advances in these two imaging techniques of prostate cancer and their future developments.     

温针灸对功能性便秘患者临床症状及焦虑抑郁的改善作用

目的:探讨温针灸对功能性便秘(FC)患者临床症状及焦虑抑郁的改善作用。方法:选取2017年1月至2017年12月中国中医科学院广安门医院南区收治的FC患者70例作为研究对象,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组35例。对照组采用常规针刺治疗,观察组采用温针灸治疗,比较治疗前后2组患者便秘临床症状积分、首次排便时间、中医证候评分、焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)评分。结果:观察组有效率96. 00%,对照组有效率68. 00%,差异有统计学意义(P0. 05)。治疗后2组患者的周排便次数、粪便性状积分和排便困难程度均改善,中医证候评分、SAS和SDS评分下降,较治疗前差异有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。治疗后,观察组患者的周排便次数、粪便性状积分高于对照组,中医证候评分、SDS和SAS评分、首次排便时间以及排便困难程度积分小于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。结论:温针灸治疗能调节胃肠道运动、润湿肠道、显著改善便秘等临床症状,对FC患者有显著临床效果。     

Functional network analysis reveals potential repurposing of β-blocker atenolol for pancreatic cancer therapy

BackgroundThe survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer is low; therefore, continuous discovery and development of novel pancreatic cancer drugs are required. Functional network analysis is an integrated bioinformatics approach based on gene, target, and disease networks interaction, and it is extensively used in drug discovery and development.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify if atenolol, a selective adrenergic inhibitor, can be repurposed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer using functional network analysis.MethodsDirect target proteins (DTPs) and indirect target proteins (ITPs) were obtained from STITCH and STRING databases, respectively. Atenolol-mediated proteins (AMPs) were collected from DTPs and ITPs and further analyzed for gene ontology, KEGG pathway enrichment, genetic alterations, overall survival, and molecular docking.ResultsWe obtained 176 AMPs that consisted of 10 DTPs and 166 ITPs. Among the AMPs involved in the pancreatic cancer pathways, several AMPs such as MAPK1, RELA, MAPK8, STAT1, and STAT3 were identified. Genetic alterations in seven AMPs were identified in 0.9%–16% of patients. Patients with high mRNA levels of MAPK1, RELA, STAT3, GNB1, and MMP9 had significantly worse overall survival rates compared with patients with low expression. Molecular docking studies showed that RELA and MMP9 are potential target candidates of atenolol in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.ConclusionIn conclusion, atenolol can potentially be repurposed to target pancreatic cancer cells by modulating MMP9 and NF-κB signaling. The results of this study need to be further validated in vitro and in vivo.Graphical abstractElectronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s40199-020-00375-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Non-pharmacologic approach to pediatric constipation

Functional constipation (FC) is a pervasive problem in pediatrics. Although pharmaceuticals are commonly used for FC, parents and patients show reluctance or find dissatisfaction with available medications at times. Further, patients often have interest in utilizing nutraceutical supplements and botanicals that are available over the counter. This literature review aims to summarize research studies performed on non-pharmacologic approaches to constipation and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these modalities. Overall data on non-pharmacologic treatments for childhood constipation were sparse, and though some studies were available for adult populations, pediatrics studies were generally limited, lacking or flawed. Certain supplements, such as prebiotics, probiotics and fiber, are safe and are without significant side effects. Though fiber supplements such as glucomannan, green banana mass, cocao husk and various fiber blends have emerging evidence in children, evidence for psyllium, cellulose and flaxseed only have supportive studies in adults. Other than senna, studies of botanicals indicate significant safety concerns (in particular with Aloe vera with aloin and Cascara sagrada) and insufficient evidence. For patients with a significant behavioral or anxiety component to their FC and exhibit dyssynergia, mind-body interventions (e.g. diaphragmatic breathing, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, and behavioral modifications) are certainly safe and effective. Finally, movement and manipulative interventions such as abdominal massage, reflexology, acupuncture and transcutaneous nerve stimulation show promise in the field of pediatric constipation, and data is accumulating for efficacy. These modalities require further study to determine mechanisms of action and which populations may benefit the most from these therapies.