The influence of iliotibial tract thickness on clinical outcomes in women with patellofemoral pain

BackgroundThe assessment of iliotibial tract thickness by ultrasonography may help identify a key, previously unexplored factor that may contribute directly to the homeostasis imbalance of the femoropatellar joint in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP).ObjectivesTo compare the iliotibial tract thickness of people with PFP and asymptomatic people; and to correlate the iliotibial tract thickness with self-reported pain and function of people with PFP.MethodsEighty women, separated into two groups: PFP group (n = 40) and control group consisting of asymptomatic participants (CG; n = 40). The participants answered the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) questionnaire, to identify the self-reported knee function; they evaluated the pain in millimeters by the Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS). For the imaging evaluation, an ultrasound was used, with a linear transducer at the distal portion of the iliotibial tract (coronal plane), with the participants positioned in dorsal decubitus, with 20° of knee flexion. The iliotibial band was visualized in its long axis, and three sequential images were recorded between the lateral femoral condyle and the lateral tibial condyle. The measurements were normalized and correlated.ResultsThe groups had no differences (P > 0.001) between participants for: age/weight/height/IMC. Participants in the PFP group had moderate levels of pain (58 + 2.1 mm), considerable self-reported functional limitation (d = 3.05) and greater iliotibial tract thickness compared with the CG (d = 2.41).ConclusionThe iliotibial tract of women diagnosed with PFP have greater thickness compared with asymptomatic women. There was no association between iliotibial tract thickness and subjective measures of pain and function.     

Are risk factors necessary for pretest probability assessment of coronary artery disease? A patient similarity network analysis of the PROMISE trial

BackgroundPretest probability (PTP) calculators utilize epidemiological-level findings to provide patient-level risk assessment of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, their limited accuracies question whether dissimilarities in risk factors necessarily result in differences in CAD. Using patient similarity network (PSN) analyses, we wished to assess the accuracy of risk factors and imaging markers to identify ≥50% luminal narrowing on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in stable chest-pain patients.MethodsWe created four PSNs representing: patient characteristics, risk factors, non-coronary imaging markers and calcium score. We used spectral clustering to group individuals with similar risk profiles. We compared PSNs to a contemporary PTP score incorporating calcium score and risk factors to identify ≥50% luminal narrowing on CCTA in the CT-arm of the PROMISE trial. We also conducted subanalyses in different age and sex groups.ResultsIn 3556 individuals, the calcium score PSN significantly outperformed patient characteristic, risk factor, and non-coronary imaging marker PSNs (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.57, 0.55, 0.54; respectively, p ?< ?0.001 for all). The calcium score PSN significantly outperformed the contemporary PTP score (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.78, p ?< ?0.001), and using 0, 1–100 and ?> ?100 cut-offs provided comparable results (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.81, p ?= ?0.06). Similar results were found in all subanalyses.ConclusionCalcium score on its own provides better individualized obstructive CAD prediction than contemporary PTP scores incorporating calcium score and risk factors. Risk factors may not be able to improve the diagnostic accuracy of calcium score to predict ≥50% luminal narrowing on CCTA.     

痛情绪相关神经递质及神经环路研究进展＊

痛情绪是指因疼痛引发的情绪和情感体验，是疾病过程中最常见的一种情绪。痛情绪相关神经机制非常复杂，但主要与单胺类神经递质、神经肽和某些神经环路有关，笔者将结合目前研究现状分别从以上两方面展开，就痛情绪相关单胺类神经递质和神经肽在受体分类、脑区通路、共疾病以及各神经递质之间的联系和痛情绪相关神经环路中各个蛋白的作用机制等方面进行探讨。     

揿针疗法分经论治神经根型颈椎病的临床研究

目的:观察揿针疗法分经论治神经根型颈椎病的临床疗效及可行性.方法:将70例神经根型颈椎病患者随机分为观察组与对照组,每组35例.对照组采用常规取穴的揿针疗法,观察组采用分经辨证取穴的揿针疗法.在治疗前后对两组患者的视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分及临床症状评分进行评价,并观察两组治疗方案的临床疗效.结果:治疗后,两组患者的VAS评分均较治疗前降低(均P<0.01),且观察组患者VAS评分低于对照组(P<0.01);两组患者的临床症状评分均较治疗前降低(均P<0.01),且观察组患者的临床症状评分低于对照组(P<0.01);观察组的临床总有效率高于对照组(P<0.05).结论:分经辨证取穴的揿针疗法能够降低神经根型颈椎病患者的疼痛评分,改善患者的临床症状,疗效优于常规揿针疗法.     

曼月乐治疗子宫内膜异位症的效用分析

目的:探讨曼月乐对子宫内膜异位症的治疗效果。方法:选取98例我院在2015年12月—2018年12月收治的子宫内膜异位症患者进行研究,按照入院顺序分成对照组和观察组,各49例。对照组用妈富隆治疗,观察组用曼月乐治疗,比较两组治疗情况。结果:观察组疾病治疗总有效率高于对照组,不良反应发生率低于对照组(95.92%VS79.59%,6.12%VS22.45%)(P<0.05);两组治疗前疼痛程度、子宫内膜厚度、糖类抗原125水平对比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),观察组治疗后痛程度、子宫内膜厚度、糖类抗原125水平低于对照组[(4.98±1.09)分VS(5.72±1.32)分,(0.58±0.15)cmVS(0.68±0.16)cm,(59.34±1.81)U/mLVS(60.28±1.76)U/mL](P<0.05)。结论:在子宫内膜异位症的治疗中使用曼月乐,可提高治疗效果,缓解疼痛感,降低不良反应发生风险,推广应用价值高。     

王友仁呼吸按动法治疗寒邪客胃型胃脘痛经验

目的:探讨王友仁主任医师推拿手法治疗寒邪客胃型胃脘痛的临床经验。方法:从病因病机和治则治法方面论述王老以"呼吸按动法"为主治疗寒邪客胃型胃脘痛的学术观点和临床经验,对其基本手法及配伍予以总结。结果:王老以"呼吸按动法"为主,配合温中散寒的手法治疗寒邪客胃型胃脘痛,临床疗效佳。结论:王老认为胃脘痛多因胃腑外感寒邪或脾胃阳虚所致,呼吸按动法疗效显著。