Effect of Pulsed and Continuous Ultrasound Therapy on the Degree of Collateral Axonal Branching at the Lesion Site,Polyinnervation of Motor End Plates,and Recovery of Motor Function after Facial Nerve Reconstruction

The aim of the present study is to test whether ultrasound therapy of muscles denervated by nerve injury would improve the quality of their reinnervation by reduction of the collateral axonal branching at the lesion site and poly-innervation degree at the neuromuscular junctions. After transection and suture of the buccal branch of the facial nerve, pulsed or continuous type of ultrasound therapy was applied to the paralyzed whisker pad muscles of rats in the course of 2 months. Instead of reduction, we found a significant increase in the collateral axonal branching after continuous ultrasound therapy when compared to the branching determined after pulsed or sham ultrasound therapy. Both types of ultrasound therapy also failed to reduce the proportion of polyinnervated end plates in the reinnervated facial muscles. Accordingly, continuous ultrasound therapy failed to restore any parameter of the motor performance of the vibrissal hairs. Application of pulsed ultrasound therapy promoted slight improvements of the functional parameters angular velocity and acceleration. The inhomogeneous structural and functional results achieved after both types of ultrasound therapy let us conclude that further studies are required to evaluate its effects on peripheral nerve regeneration. Anat Rec, 302:1314–1324, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The biological basis of the experience and categorization of colour

We used the Land Colour Mondrian experiments in a Bayesian context to test the degree to which subjects vary in categorizing the colour of different patches, when each patch is made to reflect light of the identical wavelength‐energy composition. The brain uses a ratio‐taking mechanism to determine the ratio of light of every waveband reflected from a surface and from its surrounds. Our (Bayesian) hypothesis was that this ratio‐taking mechanism is similar in all humans and therefore leads to a constant categorization of colours that differs little between them. The similarly categorized colours are the initial priors, with initial hues attached to them. Twenty subjects of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, for all but one of whom English was not the primary language, viewed eight patches of different colour in two Mondrian displays; each patch, when viewed, was made to reflect identical ratios of long‐, middle‐ and short‐wave light. Subjects were asked to match the colour of the viewed patch with that of the Munsell chip coming closest in colour to that of the viewed patch, without using language. In terms of hue, there was less variability in matching warm hues than cool ones. In terms of colour categorization, there was little variability overall. We take the lack of significant variability between subjects in the matches made as a pointer to similar computational mechanisms being employed in different subjects to perceive colours, thus permitting them to assume that their categorization of colours has universal agreement and assent.     

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The relationship of Prohepcidin levels with anemia and inflammatory markers in non-diabetic uremic patients: a controlled study

Introduction: Hepcidin, a small peptide hormone synthesized in the liver, plays central role in regulation of iron metabolism. Hepcidin generation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is dependent on iron status, anemia, inflammation, and hypoxia and erythropoietin levels. In our study, the relationship between Prohepcidin levels and inflammation and iron indices in non-diabetic uremic patients was investigated. Methods: This study has a cross-sectional design which includes four groups: Non-diabetic 21 patients with stage 4 CKD (predialysis), 20 hemodialysis (HD) and 21 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and 17 healthy volunteers as the control group. Complete blood count, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen, parathyroid hormone, interleukin (IL)-6 and Prohepcidin levels were recorded. Results: Serum Prohepcidin levels in the predialysis, HD, PD and the control groups were 119.6?±?45.1?ng/mL, 140.2?±?41.8?ng/mL, 148.2?±?35.0?ng/mL and 93.8?±?21.9?ng/mL, respectively (p?r?=?0.345, p?=?0.002), creatinine (r?=?0.465, p?r?=?0.253, p?=?0.025), hsCRP (r?=?0.275, p?=?0.019), duration of dialysis treatment (r?=?0.443, p?r?=?0.467, p?r?=?0.615, p?r?=??0.286, p?r?=??0.573, p?r?=??0.473, p?r?=??0.351, p?=?0.002) and hematocrit (r?=??0.342, p?=?0.002) levels. Discussion: Prohepcidin levels increase with deepening anemia and show positive correlation with inflammatory markers. Therapeutic interventions regarding Prohepcidin action on inflammatory status may play a role in the treatment of anemia due to inflammation. Functional iron deficiency is frequent in uremic patients. It may be beneficial to measure Prohepcidin level together with ferritin among these patients.     

Efeito de informações por meio de vídeo sobre a ansiedade e satisfação de pacientes submetidos à anestesia espinhal

Background

Providing sufficient information during a preanesthetic interview may help improve patient understanding and decrease anxiety related to spinal anesthesia. We investigated the effect of video‐based education on anxiety and satisfaction in patients about to undergo spinal anesthesia.

Combined application of Indocyanine green (ICG) and laser lead to targeted tumor cell destruction

Purpose

Precise excision of neuroblastoma is challenging, especially when tumors adhere to vital structures. Indocyanine green (ICG), an FDA-approved dye with absorption peaking at 800?nm, can absorb the near IR laser energy and release heat in the dyed tissue. We hypothesize that by injecting ICG at tumor sites followed by precise laser application, tumor cell death can be selectively targeted.

Antiplatelet (aspirin) therapy as a new option in the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction: a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

Purpose

To investigate the efficiency of antiplatelet (aspirin) therapy in vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (VED) patients with a high mean platelet volume.

Methods

A total of 184 patients diagnosed with VED between the ages of 18 and 76 were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 6 weeks [group 1: 120 patients (mean age 48.3), aspirin 100 mg/day; group 2: 64 patients (mean age 47.7), placebo 100 mg/day]. The changes from baseline to end point in erectile function scores on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) and the number of patients who answered “yes” to questions 2 and 3 of the sexual encounter profile (SEP) were compared statistically.

Results

The mean baseline IIEF-EF scores in groups 1 and 2 were 14.1 ± 4.9 and 14.3 ± 5.2, respectively (p = 0.7966), the number of patients who answered “yes” to SEP-2 was 62 (51.6%) in group 1 and 32 (50%) in group 2 (p = 0.8366), and the number of patients who answered “yes” to SEP-3 was 38 (31.6%) in group 1 and 20 (31.2%) in group 2 (p = 0.9557). In the aspirin group, the changes from baseline to end point in the IIEF-EF, SEP-2, and SEP-3 scores were 7.2, 36.6, and 46.6%, respectively. In the placebo group, these changes were 2.0, 9.4, and 12.5%, respectively. When compared with the placebo group, aspirin-treated subjects showed a significant improvement in all three efficacy measures (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

100 mg of aspirin administered once a day significantly improved EF in men with VED.

     

Telaprevir Experience From Turkey

Background:

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, triple drug regimens containing a protease inhibitor, peginterferon and ribavirin were found to significantly increase sustained virologic response rates compared to dual drug regimen containing pegylated interferon and ribavirin, especially in genotype 1.

Objectives:

In Turkey, telaprevir has been used since March 2013. We aimed to evaluate results of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with telaprevir, peginterferon and ribavirin.

Patients and Methods:

We evaluated 28 patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection treated with triple drug regimen containing telaprevir, in three medical centers in Turkey, retrospectively. Demographic data of patients, treatment indications, adverse events and outcomes were recorded.

Results:

Of 28 patients intended to treat, 25 (89.2%) patients completed the treatment. Overall, 21 (82.1%) patients had relapse and five patients were non-responder. Regarding the treatment outcomes of Telaprevir based regimen, 20/26 patients achieved sustained virological response. Pruritus, rash, dysgeusia, anorectal discomfort and anemia were main adverse effects. Blood transfusion and ribavirin dose reduction required for 7 and 11 patients, respectively. Due to several adverse effects, 10 patients were hospitalized.

Conclusions:

Although more frequent and severe adverse effects, telaprevir has been promising for patients with treatment-experienced hepatitis C.