Clinical outcome after 36 months of treatment with injections of autologous blood for recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint

We investigated the prognosis after three years of treatment for recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint with autologous blood given intravenously in 21 patients with a mean (range) age 64 (17-92) years of whom 16 had coexisting systemic disease. The mean (range) follow up from the first injection was 64 (41-99) months. Eighteen patients had no recurrence during the first 36 months after their first injection, which showed that this minimally-invasive treatment was effective, particularly for those who had conditions that made a mouthpiece or operation unsuitable.     

Lower Extremity Revascularization Using Directional Atherectomy: 12-Month Prospective Results of the DEFINITIVE LE Study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of directional atherectomy (DA) for endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in infrainguinal arteries in patients with claudication or critical limb ischemia.BackgroundTo date, no prospective, multicenter, independently-adjudicated study has evaluated the effectiveness and durability of DA in the treatment of PAD. Previous DA studies have not been prospectively powered to evaluate any differences in outcomes in patients with and without diabetes.MethodsDEFINITIVE LE (Determination of EFfectiveness of the SilverHawk® PerIpheral Plaque ExcisioN System (SIlverHawk Device) for the Treatment of Infrainguinal VEssels / Lower Extremities) prospectively enrolled subjects at 47 multinational centers with an infrainguinal lesion length up to 20 cm. Primary endpoints were defined as primary patency at 12 months for claudicants and freedom from major unplanned amputation for critical limb ischemia (CLI) subjects. A pre-specified statistical hypothesis evaluated noninferiority of primary patency in diabetic versus nondiabetic claudicants. Independent angiographic and sonographic core laboratories assessed outcomes, and events were adjudicated by a clinical events committee.ResultsA total of 800 subjects were enrolled. The 12-month primary patency was 78% (95% confidence interval: 74.0% to 80.6%) in claudicants, with a 77% rate in the diabetic subgroup versus 78% in the nondiabetic subgroup (noninferior, p < 0.001). The rate of freedom from major unplanned amputation of the target limb at 12 months in CLI subjects was 95% (95% confidence interval: 90.7% to 97.4%). Periprocedural adverse events included embolization (3.8%), perforation (5.3%), and abrupt closure (2.0%). The bail-out stent rate was 3.2%.ConclusionsThe DEFINITIVE LE study demonstrated that DA is a safe and effective treatment modality at 12 months for a diverse patient population with either claudication or CLI. Furthermore, DA was shown to be noninferior for treating PAD in patients with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. (Study of SilverHawk/TurboHawk in Lower Extremity Vessels [DEFINITIVE LE]; NCT00883246).     

‘Must try harder?’: A family empowerment intervention for acquired brain injury

This paper describes an intervention aimed at empowering parents of child survivors of acquired brain injury (ABI) in their interaction with teachers and other professionals involved in their child's education. The particular characteristics of the late morbidity of child ABI led to the design of an intervention in the form of a video and informational booklet that is the property of the family. Early response to the intervention has been extremely positive, although formal evaluation has been unexpectedly challenging.     

Activity of guard cell anion channel SLAC1 is controlled by drought-stress signaling kinase-phosphatase pair

In response to drought stress the phytohormone ABA (abscisic acid) induces stomatal closure and, therein, activates guard cell anion channels in a calcium-dependent as well as-independent manner. Two key components of the ABA signaling pathway are the protein kinase OST1 (open stomata 1) and the protein phosphatase ABI1 (ABA insensitive 1). The recently identified guard cell anion channel SLAC1 appeared to be the key ion channel in this signaling pathway but remained electrically silent when expressed heterologously. Using split YFP assays, we identified OST1 as an interaction partner of SLAC1 and ABI1. Upon coexpression of SLAC1 with OST1 in Xenopus oocytes, SLAC1-related anion currents appeared similar to those observed in guard cells. Integration of ABI1 into the SLAC1/OST1 complex, however, prevented SLAC1 activation. Our studies demonstrate that SLAC1 represents the slow, deactivating, weak voltage-dependent anion channel of guard cells controlled by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.     

糖尿病下肢血管病变踝肱指数与中医证型等相关性研究

目的:探讨ABI的影响因素及ABI与糖尿病中医证型、临床症状等的相关性,并以下肢血管彩超为诊断标准,探讨ABI用于早期诊断糖尿病下肢血管病变的临床意义.方法:为90例糖尿病患者测定踝肱指教(ABI),抽血查FBC、2hPBG、HbA1C、TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C等指标,进行临床症状评分、下肢血管彩超检查及中医辨证分型,采用SPSS10.0统计软件包进行统计分析.结果:双侧ABI与年龄、PBC、Hb A1c、SBP、DBP、LDL-C均呈负相关,与糖尿病病程、BMI、FBC、TG、HDL-C、TC无相关性.合并冠心病的糖尿病患者的ABI值较无冠心痛者降低.临床症状方面,随着症状的加重,ABI数值逐渐降低.中医证型方面,阴阳两虚组双侧ABI在糖尿病各证型中最低.以下肢血管彩超为诊断标准,踝肱指数≤0.9诊断符合率最高.结论:临床上可以把踝肱指数≤0.9作为糖尿病下肢血管病变的早期筛壹方法,同时ABI受年龄、PBG、HbA1c、SBP、DBP、LDL-C等因素的影响.     

Haemodynamic limitations and exercise performance in peripheral arterial disease

It has been frequently argued that haemodynamic limitations are poor predictors of exercise performance in people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication. This review has tried to address this argument through a review of published data that appears to support or counterbalance it, brief consideration of some of the methodological limitations associated with these data, as well as some other considerations. The main argument rests primarily upon data about the resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) and/or blood flow after calf exercise or an ischaemic challenge; whereas the counter argument rests mainly on data about blood flow during walking or cyding exercise. Consideration of the limitations of all methods suggests that the measurement of blood flow during exercise has the greatest value in explaining differences in exercise performance amongst claudicants; whereas the other methods are relatively limited in their explanatory value. This strengthens the counter argument and undermines the main argument proposed by others. Consequently, asserting that haemodynamic limitations are poor predictors of exercise performance in claudicants is not justified in light of available evidence.     

通脉活血汤对动脉硬化闭塞症Ⅱ期踝肱指数和跛行距离的影响

目的:探讨通脉活血汤对动脉硬化闭塞症(ASO)Ⅱ期踝肱指数(ABI)和跛行距离的影响.方法:54例患者均口服通脉活血汤,记录治疗前后ABI值和跛行距离,并进行统计学分析.结果:通脉活血汤为主方治疗ASOⅡ期,治疗后ABI值升高、跛行距离延长,治疗前后对比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:通脉活血汤作为治疗ASO的通用方,根据中医证型变化加减,能较快减轻或消除间歇性跛行症状,延长跛行距离;升高ABI值,对改善疾病转归,逆转病情具有重要意义.