人参皂苷对制动所致大鼠骨骼肌萎缩的保护作用

目的探讨人参皂苷对制动所导致的萎缩骨骼肌结构及功能的影响。方法选用SD大鼠,随机分为3组,对照组(CON)、制动组(IMM)和制动加人参皂苷处理组(GIN),每组10只。制动组采用石膏固定后肢模型,人参皂苷处理组在制动基础上按50 mg/kg·d体重腹腔注射人参皂苷,同步对照组及后肢制动组每日腹腔注射同等体积的生理盐水,共3周。实验结束观察大鼠比目鱼肌重量变化;通过Western blot观察骨架蛋白dystrophin和desmin的表达变化;通过离体肌条实验观察骨骼肌收缩功能的变化。结果制动组比目鱼肌湿重显著低于对照组及人参皂苷处理组;制动组比目鱼肌dystrophin表达显著降低,desmin降解明显增强,人参皂苷处理后上述改变明显缓解;制动组比目鱼肌收缩功能显著低于对照组及人参皂苷处理组。结论人参皂苷可有效防护制动所导致的骨骼肌萎缩。     

A double-blind,placebo- and positive-internal-controlled (alprazolam) investigation of the cognitive and psychomotor profile of pregabalin in healthy volunteers

Rationale Pregabalin potently and selectively binds to the alpha₂-delta subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels, reducing calcium influx and modulating release of downstream excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate. Pregabalin has demonstrated robust efficacy for several disease states, but its neuropharmacology is still being elucidated.Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the cognitive and psychomotor effects of oral pregabalin (150 mg t.i.d.) using alprazolam (1 mg t.i.d.) as a positive internal control and placebo.Methods Twenty-four healthy volunteers were randomised to a double-blind, three-way crossover study. Each period consisted of 3-day double-blind treatment followed by 1 day of single-blind placebo. Psychometrics included tests of Choice Reaction Time (CRT), CNS arousal (Critical Flicker Fusion, CFF), vigilance (Rapid Visual Information Processing, RVIP), serial memory scanning (Sternberg Short-Term Memory Scanning Test, STM), divided attention (Compensatory Tracking Task, CTT), Brake Reaction Time (BRT) in an on-the-road vehicle, and subjective Line Analogue Rating Scales (LARS) for sedation.Results Pregabalin showed no significant effects on the objective psychometrics—CRT, BRT, RVIP, STM—compared with placebo. Pregabalin produced a limited, significant decrement on CFF and CTT and a significant effect on the LARS. Pregabalin was associated with improvement relative to placebo in BRT. The positive control, alprazolam, produced significant impairment on all objective measures and significant impairment on the LARS, thus establishing the sensitivity of the test battery used in the study.Conclusions Pregabalin did not differ on most assessments from placebo, producing only minor, transient impairment on some objective cognitive and psychomotor measures, suggesting a relatively benign CNS side-effect profile.     

An unusual intraorbital foreign body: A brake lever

Orbital trauma usually affects the bony parts of the orbit; however, in rare cases foreign bodies are found within the orbit. In this report, we introduce a case with unusual large intraorbital foreign bodies (two parts of a brake lever) after a motorcycle accident. Although one of the foreign bodies was located in the posterior orbit, they required only one simple operation for retrieval. We will discus the management strategy.     

Typical Brake Reaction Times Across the Life Span

This paper provides average brake reaction times for healthy community living adults from 16 to 90+ years of age, divided by gender. Using consistent directions and context, the RT-2S Simple Brake Reaction shows that average brake reactions for males is 0.50 seconds (median = 0.48, minimum = 0.25 maximum = 0.92) and for females is 0.53 seconds (median = 0.51 minimum = 0.30 maximum = 1.36). The use of a brake reaction timer to assess fitness to drive may be useful for clients recovering from orthopedic surgery, while use as a driving determinate of older adults should be done in conjunction with other tools.     

Assessing specific causation of mesothelioma following exposure to chrysotile asbestos-containing brake dust

Abstract

Background: The question of whether chrysotile asbestos-containing brake dust can plausibly serve as a cause of mesothelioma in an exposed individual has become a matter of heated debate in the medical literature despite multiple international, federal, and state governmental agencies acknowledging a causal association.

Objectives: We describe and provide an analysis of various industry and academic perspectives contributing to the debate.

Methods: A framework is presented for evaluating the general and specific causal relationship between brake dust exposure and mesothelioma utilizing the principles of forensic epidemiology, and by applying the Bradford–Hill criteria.

Results and conclusions: We conclude that there is a “net” of evidence favoring a causal relationship between brake dust-associated chrysotile exposure and mesothelioma. The industry-sponsored position that there is insufficient evidence to support a contiguous “chain” of causation is specious from both a methodologic and evidentiary perspective. Finally, we suggest a semiquantitative approach for the evaluation of individual causation in putative cases of mesothelioma with a history of significant brake dust exposure.     

Respiratory impairment due to asbestos exposure in brake-lining workers

There is extensive evidence that exposure to asbestos causes pulmonary parenchymal fibrosis, pleural disease, and malignant neoplasm in asbestos-exposed workers. However, few data concerning brake-lining workers are available in the literature. In this study, we aimed to assess the long-term effects of chrysotile asbestos exposure on lung function and the risk of asbestos-related diseases in brake-lining workers. Seventy-four asbestos-exposed workers who processed brake-lining products and 12 unexposed office workers were offered pulmonary function tests (spirometry and transfer factor) in 1992 and 1999. In 1999, the mean duration of asbestos exposure was 10.00+/-4.07 and 11.02+/-4.81 years (7-31 years) in nonsmoking and smoking asbestos workers, respectively. Transfer factor (T(L), CO) and transfer coefficient (K(CO)) decline were significant in the 7-year follow-up in both smoking and nonsmoking asbestos workers. However, lung function indices of the control group, whom were all current smokers; were also found to be decreased, including FEF(75), T(L), CO and K(CO). We found minimal reticular changes in 10 asbestos workers who were all current smokers, they underwent high-resolution computed tomography scans of the chest and we found that they had peribronchial thickening resulting from smoking. As a conclusion, even in the absence of radiographic asbestosis, T(L), CO and K(CO) may decrease after a mean 10-year duration of exposure to asbestos in brake-lining workers and this is more noticeable with cigarette burden.     

腕管综合征的封闭配合局部制动治疗观察

目的探讨封闭配合局部制动治疗腕管综合征的疗效及其临床应用价值。方法将患者分成3组,分别行封闭配合局部制动治疗、单纯封闭治疗和局部制动治疗,将3组的疗效进行比较,计算差异显著性。结果试验组的疗效显著优于对照组。其中,试验组在腕管综合征治疗的总有效率为97.3%,远高于对照组,两对照组疗效间差异无统计学意义。结论封闭配合局部制动治疗腕管综合征疗效显著,有较高的临床推广和应用价值。     

腰椎间盘突出症制动与活动时间的把握

目的：探讨把握好腰椎间盘突出症制动与活动时间在临床治疗中的意义.方法：将173例患者分为研究组100例和对照组73例,均采用牵引、推拿、针灸治疗,研究组严格控制制动与活动时间,而对照组患者未要求.结果：研究组治疗效果明显高于对照组,且研究组随访半年,无复发.结论：综和治疗,把握好腰椎间盘突出症制动与活动时间,能减少治疗时间,缩短病程,提高临床疗效,降低复发率.     

Driving ability after right-sided ankle arthroscopy—A prospective Study

IntroductionDue to the current lack of evidence the aim of this study was to investigate the driving ability after right-sided ankle arthroscopy.Materials and MethodsNineteen patients underwent right-sided ankle arthroscopy. Brake response time (BRT) was assessed preoperatively, 2 days, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperative. We also determined patients’ clinical outcome (AOFAS and AOS questionnaires) and their driving frequency.ResultsBRT was 606 ms preoperatively and changed to 821 ms 2 days postoperative (p < 0.001). The further postoperative BRT course was 606 ms (2 weeks), 596 ms (6 weeks) and 603 ms (12 weeks) (p = n.s.). In addition, a significant influence of the AOS and AOFAS scores on BRT was found, namely poorer clinical outcome also leads to a prolonged BRT (p < 0.01 for both). BRT was significantly prolonged in patients with little driving frequency (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the ‘time-by-driving interaction’ was significant (p = 0.018), which means the BRT-peak on the second day was much lower in low-frequency drivers.ConclusionsFrom the findings made in the current study we conclude that a driving abstinence of two weeks is necessary following right-sided ankle arthroscopy. Greater driving frequency and good clinical outcome seem to be associated with better driving ability. However, for the time being no exceptions should be made from the above-mentioned recommendation on driving abstinence.