Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

Double deficiency of cathepsin B and L in the mouse pancreas alters trypsin activity without affecting acute pancreatitis severity

BackgroundPremature intracellular trypsinogen activation has long been considered a key initiator of acute pancreatitis (AP). Cathepsin B (CTSB) activates trypsinogen, while cathepsin L (CTSL) inactivates trypsin(ogen), and both proteins play a role in the onset of AP.MethodsAP was induced by 7 hourly intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (50 μg/kg) in wild-type and pancreas-specific conditional Ctsb knockout (Ctsb^Δpan), Ctsl knockout (Ctsl^Δpan), and Ctsb;Ctsl double-knockout (Ctsb^Δpan;Ctsl^Δpan) mice. Pancreatic samples were collected and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and immunoblots. Trypsin activity was measured in pancreatic homogenates. Peripheral blood was collected, and serum amylase activity was measured.ResultsDouble deletion of Ctsb and Cstl did not affect pancreatic development or mouse growth. After 7 times cerulein injections, double Ctsb and Ctsl deficiency in mouse pancreases increased trypsin activity to the same extent as that in Ctsl-deficient mice, while Ctsb deficiency decreased trypsin activity but did not affect the severity of AP. Ctsb^Δpan;Ctsl^Δpan mice had comparable serum amylase activity and histopathological changes and displayed similar levels of proinflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, and autophagy activity compared with wild-type, Ctsb^Δpan, and Ctsl^Δpan mice.ConclusionDouble deletion of Ctsb and Ctsl in the mouse pancreas altered intrapancreatic trypsin activity but did not affect disease severity and inflammatory response after cerulein-induced AP.     

Place et modalités de l’irradiation postopératoire dans la prise en charge des métastases cérébrales

Metastases are the most common brain tumors. After surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the resection cavity is the standard of care. Data from two randomized trials indicate that SRT to the surgical bed is an effective treatment in reducing local failure as compared with observation, while reducing the risk of cognitive deterioration and maintaining quality of life as compared with whole brain radiation therapy. Local control appears higher after hypofractionated SRT compared to single-fraction SRT. Several questions such as target volumes, the optimal regimen in particular for large tumor bed, strategies to reduce the risk of lepto-meningeal recurrence, and the treatment sequence still need to be answered.     

脑电仿生电刺激对脑梗死后认知功能障碍的影响

目的观察脑电仿生电刺激小脑顶核对脑梗死后认知功能障碍的影响,并探讨其可能的机制。方法选取脑梗死后并发认知功能障碍患者50例,随机分成治疗组与对照组各25例。2组患者均接受康复治疗及认知功能训练,治疗组同时加用脑电仿生电刺激进行干预。2组患者分别于治疗前后应用蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)、简易精神状态量表(MMSE)评定认知功能变化,采用经颅多普勒超声(TCD)评估颅内动脉血流动力学改变。结果治疗后2组患者MoCA评分、MMSE评分均较组内治疗前提高(P<0.05),且治疗组评分明显较对照组高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后2组患者颅内动脉血流动力学较组内治疗前改善(P<0.05),且治疗组较对照组改善更显著,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组与对照组总有效率分别为92%和64%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论脑电仿生电刺激小脑顶核可有效改善脑梗死患者的认知功能,其可能机制是通过改善患者的脑循环进一步改善认知功能。     

Human metabolism: pathways and clinical aspects

Metabolism describes the series of chemical reactions that are concerned with the provision of energy to biological systems. They may be divided into reactions involved in energy yield (catabolism: demand exceeds supply), and energy storage (anabolism: supply exceeds demand). Regulation of these pathways is critical for homeostasis, and derangements in metabolism are seen in a wide variety of pathological processes. Understanding metabolism is key to the treatment of many diseases, notably diabetes, as well as underpinning clinical nutritional support.     

奥扎格雷联合低分子肝素钙治疗脑血栓的临床研究

目的：对应用低分子肝素钙与奥扎格雷联合对患有脑血栓疾病的患者实施治疗的临床效果进行研究。方法整群选择在该院2012年12月—2014年12月就诊的患有脑血栓疾病的患者86例，随机分为对照组和治疗组，每组43例。采用奥扎格雷对对照组患者实施治疗；采用低分子肝素钙与奥扎格雷联合对治疗组患者实施治疗。对比神经功能缺损评分在药物治疗前后的变化幅度、脑神经功能恢复正常时间和脑血栓药物治疗计划实施总时间、脑血栓疾病药物治疗效果、用药期间的不良反应人数。结果治疗组患者神经功能缺损评分在药物治疗前后的变化幅度明显大于对照组；脑神经功能恢复正常时间（9.66±2.41）d和脑血栓药物治疗计划实施总时间（13.28±2.14）d明显短于对照组（13.62±3.47）、（17.39±3.20）d；脑血栓疾病药物治疗效果（总有效率90.6%）明显优于对照组（总有效率69.8%）；用药期间的不良反应人数（1例）明显少于对照组（8例）。结论应用低分子肝素钙与奥扎格雷联合对患有脑血栓疾病的患者实施治疗的临床效果非常明显。     

CT与MRI对脑梗死后出血性转变的诊断价值

目的探讨CT与MRI在脑梗死后出血性转变(HT)中的诊断价值。方法对2011-01—2014-04我院收治的45例HT患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,对CT与MRI的检查结果进行对比。结果45例患者中,脑内血肿34例(75.6%),脑梗死病灶内片状、斑点状或条状出血11例(24.4%)。其中大面积脑梗死继发出血24例(53.3%),中等面积继发出血15例(33.3%),小面积脑梗死继发出血6例(13.3%);CT检出HT 10例(22.2%),MRI检出45例(100%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);在对不同部位的HT检查中,CT检出幕上出血9例(20.0%),幕下出血1例(2.2%);MRI检出幕上出血39例(86.7%),幕下出血6例(13.3%)。MRI对幕上及幕下出血的检出率均优于CT(P0.05)。结论在HT的诊断中,MRI比CT更加准确和敏感,在判断出血时间、指导临床治疗以及预后判断中具有重要意义。     

Efeitos Terapêuticos da Tripla Antiagregação Plaquetária em Pacientes Femininas Idosas com Diabetes e Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio

BackgroundDual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is the cornerstone treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) in elderly female patients with diabetes and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsWe designed a randomized, single-blind study. Control group A (97 elderly male patients with diabetes and STEMI, whose CRUSADE scores were < 30) received aspirin, ticagrelor, and tirofiban. A total of 162 elderly female patients with diabetes and STEMI were randomly divided into two groups according to CRUSADE score. Group B (69 patients with CRUSADE score > 31) received aspirin and ticagrelor. Group C (93 patients with CRUSADE score < 30) received aspirin, ticagrelor and tirofiban. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsCompared to the findings in group A, post-PCI Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 blood flow and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 3 were significantly less prevalent in group B (p < 0.05). When compared to groups A and C, the incidence of major adverse complications was significantly higher in group B (p < 0.05).ConclusionTAPT could effectively reduce the incidence of major complications in elderly female patients with diabetes and STEMI. However, close attention should be paid to hemorrhage in patients receiving TAPT. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)