Characterizing Standardized Functional Data at Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

ObjectiveThe Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 mandates using standardized patient functional data across post-acute settings. This study characterized similarities and differences in clinician-observed scores of self-care and transfer items for the standardized section GG functional domain and the functional independent measure (FIM) at inpatient rehabilitation facilities.DesignWe conducted secondary analyses of 2017 Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation national data. Patients were assessed by clinicians on both section GG and FIM at admission and discharge. We identified 7 self-care items and 6 transfer items in section GG conceptually equivalent with FIM. Clinician-assessed scores for each pair of items were examined using score distributions, Bland-Altman plot, correlation (Pearson coefficients), and agreement (kappa and weighted kappa) analyses.Setting and ParticipantsIn all, 408,491 patients were admitted to Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation-affiliated inpatient rehabilitation facilities with one of the following impairments: stroke, brain dysfunction, neurologic condition, orthopedic disorders, and debility.MeasuresSection GG and FIM.ResultsPatients were scored as more functionally independent in section GG compared with FIM, but change score distributions and score orders within impairment groups were similar. Total scores in section GG had strong positive correlations (self-care: r = 0.87 and 0.95; transfer: r = 0.82 and 0.90 at admission and discharge, respectively) with total FIM scores. Weak to moderate ranking agreements with total FIM scores were observed (self-care: kappa = 0.49 and 0.60; transfers: kappa = 0.43 and 0.52 at admission and discharge, respectively). Lower agreements were observed for less able patients at admission and for higher ability patients of their change scores.Conclusions and ImplicationsOverall, response patterns were similar in section GG and FIM across impairments. However, variations exist in score distributions and ranking agreement. Future research should examine the use of GG codes to maintain effective care, outcomes, and unbiased reimbursement across post-acute settings.     

Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and reproductive toxicity of aqueous extract of Thai Mucuna pruriens seeds

ObjectiveIn traditional medicine, the seeds of Thai Mucuna pruriens (T-MP) are used to treat male dysuria and are believed to enhance fertility. However, information pertaining to the toxicity of T-MP and its interaction with other properties is limited. This study was thus conducted to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and subacute toxicity of T-MP in the reproductive system.MethodsTotal phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of T-MP seed extract were determined using total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Male and female adult rats were treated orally with T-MP at a dosage of 150 or 300 mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days. Sex hormones and functional parameters in the liver and kidney were evaluated. Histopathology of all tissue was conducted using Masson’s trichrome staining. Sperm parameters, including concentration, morphology, acrosome reaction status and DNA damage, were also examined. Expression of tyrosine phosphorylated protein (TyrPho), androgen receptor and A-kinase-anchoring protein 4 (AKAP4) were investigated using the Western blot technique.ResultsT-MP seed extract contained phenolic compounds and exhibited high antioxidant capacity with no toxicity at the tested doses. It did not affect liver or kidney function parameters in the male rats, but increased estradiol, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels in the females. Additionally, it decreased serum progesterone and alkaline phosphatase levels in female rats. Serum and intratesticular testosterone levels were significantly lower in male rats that received a high dosage of T-MP. Histopathological changes were not observed in any tissue treated with T-MP. T-MP also significantly increased sperm concentration (but did not affect sperm parameters), and enhanced testicular TyrPho protein and androgen receptor and expression of AKAP4 in sperms.ConclusionT-MP seed extract exhibited antioxidant capacity and was not harmful to reproductive tissues. It also had a phytoestrogenic effect on females and increased the expression of testicular and sperm markers of male fertility.     

Subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy (SPAM): A potential complication of subarachnoid shunt for syringomyelia?

Context: Treatment of primary spinal syringomyelia is still controversial. Among others, shunting syrinx fluid to the subarachnoid, peritoneal or pleural space has been utilized with varying success. Shunt obstruction, migration, and infection represent the most common complications of these procedures.

Findings: The authors present the case of an 81-year-old woman who developed an unusual neurological deterioration resembling a subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy (SPAM) after the insertion of a syringosubarachnoid shunt for the treatment of slow-growing D10 syringomyelia.

Conclusion/Clinical Relevance: To date, no cases of SPAM secondary to the insertion of a syringosubarachnoid shunt for the treatment of syringomyelia have been reported. The potential pathogenesis related to this phenomenon is discussed.     

急性心肌梗死并发亚急性心脏破裂的预防及护理

心脏破裂（cardiacrupture，CR）是急性心肌梗死（acutemyocardialinfarction，AMI）的严重并发症之一，病死率高，国外文献报道，占院内总死亡人数的15．8％～30％。大多数心脏破裂都会短时间内死亡，但有少部分心脏破裂呈亚急性、破裂口小、过程缓慢、机化血栓可以形成并堵住裂口而使破裂局限、减少血液外流，使患者还能存活。     

PCOS患者卵泡液微环境中的亚急性炎症反应

目的:回顾性分析多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者及对照者卵泡液微环境中局部脂代谢紊乱及炎症反应状态及其形成机制。方法:比较2组患者外周血清脂代谢指标、性激素、炎症细胞及炎症介质水平差异;测定卵泡液中炎症介质及载脂蛋白含量;分析卵巢颗粒细胞中炎症介质及载脂蛋白基因表达。结果:PCOS患者具备典型肥胖、高脂血症及高雄激素血症,外周血中炎症细胞及各类炎症介质水平显著增加;卵泡液中同样具有显著增加的炎症细胞因子浸润,颗粒细胞内炎症介质及载脂蛋白基因表达增加。结论:PCOS组患者卵泡液内所含高水平载脂蛋白表明卵泡液内可能存在高脂蛋白状态。循环中的高脂血症及亚急性炎症各类因子可能通过血清-卵泡液屏障主动渗透。颗粒细胞通过主动摄取(例如载脂蛋白A)抑或自主合成(如炎症因子IL-1、IL-6及TNF-α等)等多种方式进行卵泡液局部微环境的稳态调节。卵子发育生理性卵泡液微环境的脂质代谢紊乱、炎症细胞浸润、高雄激素血症等均可能影响到卵母细胞和胚胎的正常发育。     

以发热为主要症状的21例亚急性甲状腺炎患者因误诊应用抗菌药物的分析

目的 总结发热门诊21例亚急性甲状腺炎误诊、误治的主要原因,为减少抗菌药物不合理使用积累循症医学证据.方法 回顾2010年12月至2014年12月北京世纪坛医院发热门诊21例伴有发热的亚急性甲状腺炎患者的临床资料,总结并分析亚急性甲状腺炎误诊、误用抗菌药物的主要原因.结果 伴有发热的亚急性甲状腺炎误诊患者均曾应用不同种类抗菌药物,多为中、青年,女性多于男性,临床症状主要是发热和咽痛,部分患者伴有下颌、耳部或颈部放射痛、合并一侧或双侧甲状腺肿大和出现甲状腺功能异常,21例患者均接受过不同种类的抗菌药物治疗,原因是11例误诊为咽炎,10例误诊为呼吸道感染.结论 亚急性甲状腺炎常表现为咽喉部不适,由于发热门诊医生对该病缺乏足够认识,常误诊为呼吸道感染或咽炎而造成抗菌药物不合理使用.     

血清C反应蛋白在亚急性甲状腺炎诊断中的应用

目的：探讨血清C反应蛋白（CRP）对亚急性甲状腺炎的诊断价值。方法检测41例亚急性甲状腺炎患者和43例Graves病患者的血清CRP和红细胞沉降率（ESR）水平。结果亚急性甲状腺炎患者的血清CRP及ESR水平明显高于Graves病患者,差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.01）;检测CRP水平较ESR水平更加灵敏。血清CRP与ESR水平呈正相关（P<0.01）。结论血清CRP可以作为亚急性甲状腺炎的诊断标志物。     

颈动脉内膜剥脱治疗亚急性脑梗死的疗效观察

目的探讨颈动脉内膜剥脱对亚急性脑梗死患者的临床治疗效果。方法将来我院诊治的60例患者随机分为两组。对照组行保守治疗,实验组采用颈动脉内膜剥脱治疗,比较两组的治疗效果。结果实验组总有效率达93.3%,显著高于对照组(80.0%),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后两组PT、TT、FIB比较,差异不显著(P>0.05);实验组治疗后APTT(27.9±2.4)s,低于对照组(30.4±6.8)s,差异显著(P<0.05);实验组的不良反应发生率为20.0%,低于对照组(53.3%),差异显著(P<0.05)。结论亚急性脑梗死发病率较高,临床上采用颈动脉内膜剥脱治疗能够提高临床治疗效果,降低并发症发生率,值得推广使用。