Delays in the reading and spelling of children with cerebral palsy: Associations with phonological and visual processes

BackgroundThis investigation addresses the question of whether there exists a significant discrepancy in the cognitive abilities of children with cerebral palsy (CP) who, despite the presence of age appropriate communication and language, have reading and spelling delays.AimsWe wanted to discover whether there was a relationship between the phonological and visual perceptual abilities of children with CP and their progress in reading and spelling.Methods and proceduresFifteen children with CP (aged between 6:9 years and 11:6 years) were assessed on reading and spelling; communication and language; non-verbal reasoning; phonological processing; and visual perception.Outcomes and resultsTen of the children had very weak reading and spelling skills. Five children had (mostly) age appropriate scores of reading and spelling. No differences were found between these two groups in non-verbal reasoning or communication and language. However, phonological abilities, visual sequential memory and perception of visuospatial relationships were found to be related to reading and spelling.Conclusions and implicationsThe findings suggest that children with CP are at risk for reading and spelling delays when they have poor phonological processing, visual sequential memory and perception of visuospatial relationships. The implications of the findings for classroom practice are discussed.     

Laparoendoscopic Single-site Surgery for Comprehensive Staging of Early Ovarian Cancer

Study ObjectiveTo demonstrate the procedure and suspension skills of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) staging surgery with infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy for early-stage ovarian cancer.DesignA presentation of the surgery through this technical video.SettingA hospital.Patient and InterventionsA 45-year-old woman presented with a pelvic mass on gynecologic examination and a serum cancer antigen 125 level of 5910 U/mL (normal = <35 U/mL). A computed tomographic scan revealed a mixture of solid and cystic components (70 × 77 × 71 mm) arising from the right ovary and characterized by the “ovarian vascular pelvic” sign. Clinically early-stage ovarian cancer was suspected. Subsequently, LESS staging surgery was performed by an experienced surgeon in our department.ResultsThe surgery lasted 280 minutes, and the volume of blood loss was 50 mL; there were no intra- or postoperative complications. We “hid” the incision perfectly for cosmetic purposes. The histopathologic findings supported high-grade serous ovarian cancer of the right ovary with the left fallopian tube involved as well. In addition, a total of 34 negative pelvic and 18 negative para-aortic lymph nodes were identified, and a stage of IIA was diagnosed as a result.ConclusionWe performed an LESS staging surgery for early-stage ovarian cancer successfully. Our video shows that the LESS approach provided feasible, cosmetic, and safe access among the selected malignant gynecologic surgery. Therefore, we have experienced that the effective suspension was an auxiliary measure for LESS lymphadenectomy. In addition, compared with multiport laparoscopy, the LESS approach could provide easier access to infrarenal para-aortic regions; furthermore, it was safe and quick to extract an unknown sample.     

基于数据挖掘的吕英教授治疗自闭症语言障碍的用药规律分析＊

目的 基于中医传承辅助平台软件（TCMISS，V2.5）对吕英教授治疗自闭症语言障碍的处方进行数据挖掘，探索其病因病机及组方规律。方法 收集吕英教授治疗自闭症语言障碍的医案，将其方药信息录入TCMISS，借助该平台集成的关联规则、改进互信息法、复杂系统熵聚类法、无监督熵层次聚类法等分析方法探索吕英教授治疗自闭症语言障碍的药物组方规律。结果 共筛选出120个医案，包含处方共120首，涉及中药89味，其中使用频次前6味中药为桂枝、鸡蛋花、白术、泽泻、石膏、桔梗，药性以寒、温为主，药味以甘、苦居多，归经多属肺、脾、肝经。通过关联规则分析所得的用药模式中，使用频次最高的为桂枝与鸡蛋花、桂枝与泽泻、白术与桂枝，进一步分析得到的核心药物为泽泻、桂枝、白术，为五苓散的药物组成，并基于复杂熵聚类方法演化出6首新处方。结论 吕英教授治疗自闭症语言障碍以阳明“气血津”不足和三焦气化功能失常为主要病机线路，清解阳明伏火、加强阳明本体液津血的生化化生及恢复三焦气化功能正常为主要治法，其核心代表方剂为木防己汤和五苓散。     

孕前超重及肥胖女性孕中期子宫-胎盘血流动力学的变化

目的探讨孕前超重及肥胖女性孕中期子宫-胎盘血流动力学及胎儿生长发育指标的变化。 方法回顾性选取2019年6月至2020年9月在唐都医院进行产前检查并行胎儿超声心动图检查的孕妇127例。依据孕前体质量指数（BMI）将孕妇分为正常对照组55例、超重组45例和肥胖组27例。对3组孕妇的一般资料、子宫-胎盘血流、胎儿生物学测量指标和大脑中动脉、脐动脉血流进行比较分析。 结果与正常组孕妇相比，超重组及肥胖组孕妇双侧子宫动脉收缩期峰值血流速度（Vs）、舒张期峰值血流速度（Vd）及搏动指数（PI）均升高，3组比较差异均有统计学意义（P均＜0.05），其中肥胖组孕妇双侧子宫动脉PI较超重组升高（P均＜0.05）。与正常组比较，肥胖组和超重组胎儿脐动脉游离段血流速度不同程度减低，3组比较差异均有统计学意义（Vs：F值=4.41，P=0.01；Vd：F值=4.03，P=0.02）；进一步两两比较，超重组与正常组Vd比较，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；肥胖组与正常组Vs比较，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。 结论孕前超重及肥胖女性孕中期子宫-胎盘循环血流动力学已经出现明显改变，应用超声实时监测这些参数变化对指导临床合理控制孕期体重，避免或减少相关并发症有潜在价值。     

Is the motor skills checklist appropriate for assessing children in Japan?

Purpose

Motor skill screening tools are essential for the early detection of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The present study aimed to examine any cultural and rater effects on these tools. This then enabled us to judge the validity of the original cut-off values for identifying diagnosable children.

Baseline Neutrophil Counts and Neutrophil Ratio May Predict a Poor Clinical Outcome in Minor Stroke Patients with intravenous Thrombolysis

Background: Evidence about whether neutrophil counts, neutrophil ratio linked with clinical outcome in patients with minor stroke after thrombolysis is scarce. The purpose of this study is to explore the association of neutrophil counts, neutrophil ratio with the 90-day clinical outcome in patients with minor stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Materials and methods: A total of 163 patients with minor stroke treated with thrombolysis within window time were recruited from 2013 to 2017. Their total neutrophil and leukocyte counts on admission were measured. Disability or death (defined as a modified Rankin scale score ≥2) at 90-day were captured. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between neutrophil counts, and neutrophil ratio to clinical outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of neutrophil counts or neutrophil ratio. Results: At the 90-day follow-up, 36 patients (21%) had disability or death after stroke onset. Compared to the first tertile, the higher neutrophil counts increased the risk of 90-day disability or death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for third tertile: 2.93 (1.08-7.96); P for trend = .03). Similarly, higher neutrophil ratio also increased the risk of disability or death (aOR for third tertile: 5.81 (1.7-19.88); P for trend = .005). The comparison of area under the curve for neutrophil ratio versus neutrophils was .1 (P = .04). Thus, neutrophil ratio with the cutoff point of .74 had a better discriminative ability to the outcome (6.11, 2.36-15.86). Conclusions: Baseline higher neutrophil counts and neutrophil ratio were associated with an increased risk of 90-day disability or death in patients with minor stroke who received thrombolytic therapy.     

Cavum velum interpositum cysts in normal and anomalous fetuses in second trimester of pregnancy: Comparison of its size and prevalence

ObjectiveCavum veli interpositi (CVI) is a potential space below the splenium of corpus callosum and sometimes presents as a cyst.Materials and methodsIn this prospective cross-sectional study, 360 fetuses with normal second trimester scan and 152 s trimester fetuses with structural abnormalities were included.ResultsThe CVI cysts were more common in fetuses with brain anomaly compared to normal fetuses and fetuses with extra-central nervous system (CNS) anomalies (23% vs 18.3% and 18% respectively; p value < 0.01). The mean size of cysts in normal fetuses, fetuses with extra-CNS anomalies and fetuses with brain abnormalities was 4.6 mm, 5.8 mm and 9.2 mm respectively. There was a significant difference between cysts size in normal fetuses and fetuses with brain anomalies (p value < 0.01) and the cut-point was 7.1 mm.ConclusionThe prevalence of CVI cysts is more in fetuses with brain anomaly. Fetuses with a cyst size >7.1 mm need a more detailed brain examination.