The results of percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets in 46 patients followed at least three months (mean 15 months) are reported and compared with those reported previously. Satisfactory pain relief three months after the procedure was achieved in 36.4 percent of patients without operations and in 41.7 percent of patients with operations other than fusion.No patient had previously undergone fusion.Treatment of low-back pain by using radio-frequency thermocoagulation of spinal facets is a simple, safe, and well-tolerated procedure. It can be used to relief of pain in spite of decreasing rates of success within the follow-up period. 相似文献
We recorded pattern electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials in a group of selected patients with unilateral uncomplicated branch retinal vein occlusion. To document the effects of preexisting risk factors, patients were divided into three groups: diabetes mellitus, hypertension with hyperlipidemia and no systemic disease. The transient and steady-state pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked potential amplitudes were significantly reduced and visual evoked potential peak times were delayed relative to the fellow eyes and agematched normal subjects. There was a second amplitude reduction relative to the other patient groups in both the affected and fellow eyes of the diabetes mellitus group, which was indicative of an additive effect of diabetes mellitus.Abbreviations BRVO
branch retinal vein occlusion 相似文献
International Urology and Nephrology - The number of kidney biopsies (KB) performed in elderly patients has been increasing. Safety and usefulness of elderly KB have been well established, whereas... 相似文献
Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of mortality in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the normal population. However, MetS in AAV has not been adequately investigated. We aimed to determine MetS prevalence and associated factors in AAV patients.
Methods
Thirty-seven AAV patients and 42 healthy controls were enrolled. MetS was determined by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria. The relationship between clinical features of AAV and MetS was also investigated.
Results
MetS was significantly higher in AAV patients than controls by NCEP-ATPIII (51.4% vs. 26.2%, p 0.022) and IDF (62.2% vs. 35.7%, p 0.020). When AAV patients with MetS were compared to those without, there were significant differences in age, CRP, GFR and NT-pro-BNP. Age [58 (13) vs. 50 (8) years p: 0.028], CRP [4.0 (3.6) vs. 3.2 (1.0) mg/l, p 0.021] and NT-pro-BNP [173.5 (343.7) vs. 106.0 (103.0) pg/ml, p 0.013] were significantly higher in AAV patients with MetS than those without; GFR was significantly lower [38 (46) vs. 83 (51) ml/min/1.73 m2, p 0.004]. ROC curve analysis showed NT-pro-BNP?>?58.0 ng/ml predicted MetS with 87.1% sensitivity and 46.7% specificity (Area under curve: 0.71, CI 0.536–0.902, p 0.041). Multivariate analysis revealed age [OR (95% CI): 1.180 (1.010–1.370), p 0.039] and NT-pro-BNP?>?58 pg/ml [OR (95% CI): 5.5 (1.02–30.1) p 0.047] were independent predictors of MetS in AAV patients.
Conclusion
MetS is significantly higher in AAV patients than controls and is associated with age and NT-pro-BNP. Screening and treating MetS may improve prognosis in AAV patients.
The aim of the study was to investigate the efficiency of ram seminal plasma and fetal calf serum on freezing of buck semen. Twenty ejaculates were collected using an electro-ejaculator and split into six groups. While FCS additive was not used in A1, A2 and A3 groups, 10% FCS was added to B1, B2 and B3 groups. These groups were then edited according to whether the buck or ram SP was involved. The design of the groups was done as follows: Group A1 (control 1), group A2 without buck SP, group A3 containing ram SP instead of buck SP. Groups B1 (control 2), B2 and B3 were the FCS added forms of these groups. Progressive sperm motility percentages in Group A1 and Group B2 were found to be higher when compared to the lowest Group B3. There were no significant differences between the groups in neither the levels of reactive oxygen species nor the enzyme and glutathione activities. In conclusion, the lack of statistical difference between the groups suggested that despite the supplements used but only when the buck spermatozoa structure was healthy, the cell could preserve acrosome, DNA and the integrity of membrane. 相似文献
Internal biliary fistulas (IBF) are seen rarely. Because the symptoms and signs of IBF are not specific and the diagnosis
is not suspected, these patients are commonly investigated with plain abdominal films (PAF), ultrasonography (US), upper gastrointestinal
series (UGIS), barium enema (BE), and computed tomography (CT), but not always with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP). The purposes of this article are (a) to attract attention of radiologists to presumptive findings of IBF, so as not
to misdiagnose this unsuspected and rare disease, and (b) review of the literature while presenting radiologic features of
our cases. Five cases of IBFs in which extrahepatic biliary tree communicating with duodenum (four cases) and colon (one case)
are reported. Diagnostic work-up of cases were done by PAF, US, UGIS, BE, and CT. Aerobilia, which cannot be explained using
other means, ectopic gallstone and small bowel dilatation, nonvisualization of the gallbladder despite no history of cholecystectomy,
and thick-walled shrunken gallbladder adherent to neighboring organs were suggestive findings of IBF in our study. Knowledge
of imaging findings suggestive of IBF and a high index of suspicion increase the diagnostic rate of IBFs.
Received: 4 June 1998; Revision received: 28 July 1998; Accepted: 14 October 1998 相似文献
Summary ? Background. Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has remained a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients
with SAH. Excitatory neurotransmitters are gathered in the extracellular space during ischemia due to cerebral vasospasm and
initiate or stimulate a series of pathophysiological biochemical processes which consequently lead to neuronal death. Tizanidine
(Sandoz compound DS 103–282, 5-chloro-4,2 (2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino)-2,1,3-benzothiazol hydrochloride) is a centrally-acting
muscle relaxant and a selective α 2 adrenoreceptor agonist which shows its effect by stimulating presynaptic α 2 adrenoreceptors
in central ASPergic and GLUergic system by inhibiting aspartic acid and glutamic acid release. In this study, the effect of
Tizanidine on vasospasm was evaluated.
Methods. We used a femoral artery vasospasm model in rats which has been described by Okada et al. 60 rats were examined in three groups. The first group was used as control group (Control) (n=20), in the second group subarachnoid
hemorrhage was performed (SAH) (n=20), in the third group Tizanidine was administered in addition to SAH (SAH+Tizanidine administration)
(n=20). Animals in SAH+Tizanidine administration group received 0,3 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for 7 days. Seven days after
the experiment, after perfusion-fixation, 10 mm segments of both femoral arteries were removed and the femoral artery was
prepared for light microscope examination, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and for morphometric analysis.
Results. There was a statistically significant difference between the electron, scanning and light microscopic observations and morphometric
analysis of SAH+Tizanidine administration group and SAH group, and no statistically significant difference between SAH+Tizanidine
administration group and control group.
Conclusion. This study has disclosed that Tizanidine administration before the vasospasm reduces ultrastructural and morphometric vasospastic
insult significantly. However, the clinical application of Tizanidine as a protective and therapeutic agent in cerebral vasospasm
needs further studies including the employment of clinically more relevant SAH models. 相似文献
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a well known and extensively used antioxidant in traditional remedies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ginger powder on ovarian folliculogenesis and implantation in rats.
Methods
There were two study groups. In the 5-day treatment group (one estrous cycle), 100 mg ginger powder, 200 mg ginger powder or distilled water was given for 5 days to the three subgroups each containing seven rats. In the 10-day treatment group, same doses were given for 10 days (two estrous cycle) to the three subgroups each containing seven rats. At the end of the 5th and 10th days, ovarian volumes, ovarian weights, primordial follicles, antral follicles, atretic follicles, and corpus luteum counts were assessed. To evaluate the angiogenic effects of ginger, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and for the antioxidant effects of ginger endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were examined in the ovaries and in the endometrium immunohistochemically.
Results
In the 5-day treatment group, antral follicle count and ovarian stromal VEGF were significantly high in the 100 mg ginger subgroup in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). In the 10-day treatment group, endometrial VEGF and ovarian stromal eNOS were significantly high in the 100 mg ginger subgroup in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference at 200 mg ginger dose both in 5-day and 10-day treatment groups.
Conclusion
The increases in the antral follicle count and ovarian stromal VEGF in the 100 mg/5-day treatment subgroup indicate that ginger have positive effects on folliculogenesis in short term with low dose. Additionally, ginger may enhance implantation in rats in long term with low dose. 相似文献