Profiles of orofacial dysfunction in different diagnostic groups using the Nordic Orofacial Test (NOT-S)—A review

Objective. The Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) was developed as a comprehensive method to assess orofacial function. Results from the screening protocol have been presented in 11 international publications to date. This study reviewed these publications in order to compile NOT-S screening data and create profiles of orofacial dysfunction that characterize various age groups and disorders. Materials and methods. NOT-S results of nine reports meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Seven of these studies not only provided data on the mean and range of total NOT-S scores, but also on the most common domains of orofacial dysfunction (highest rate of individuals with dysfunction scores), allowing the construction of orofacial dysfunction profiles based on the prevalence of dysfunction in each domain of NOT-S. Results. The compiled data comprised 669 individuals, which included healthy control subjects (n = 333) and various patient groups (n = 336). All studies reported differences between individuals with diagnosed disorders and healthy control subjects. The NOT-S data could measure treatment effects and provided dysfunction profiles characterizing the patterns of orofacial dysfunction in various diagnoses. Conclusions. This review corroborates previous results that the NOT-S differentiates well between patients and healthy controls and can also show changes in individuals after treatment. NOT-S could be used as a standard instrument to assess orofacial dysfunction, evaluate the outcomes of oral habilitation and rehabilitation and improve comparability in clinical practice and research.     

Effects of social defeat stress and fluoxetine treatment on neurogenesis and behavior in mice that lack zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) and vesicular zinc

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, in part because the available treatments are inadequate and do not work for many people. The neurobiology of depression, and the mechanism of action of common antidepressant drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is not well understood. One mechanism thought to underlie the effects of these drugs is upregulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Evidence indicates that vesicular zinc is required for modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, at least under some circumstances. Vesicular zinc refers to zinc that is stored in the synaptic vesicles of certain neurons, including in the hippocampus, and released in response to neuronal activity. It can be eliminated from the brain by deletion of zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3), as is the case in ZnT3 knockout mice. Here, we examined the effects of repeated social defeat stress and subsequent chronic treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine on behavior and neurogenesis in ZnT3 knockout mice. We hypothesized that fluoxetine treatment would increase neurogenesis and reverse stress‐induced behavioral symptoms in wild type, but not ZnT3 knockout, mice. As anticipated, stress induced persistent depression‐like effects, including social avoidance and anxiety‐like behavior. Fluoxetine decreased social avoidance, though the effect was not specific to the stressed mice, but did not affect anxiety‐like behavior. Surprisingly, stress increased the survival of neurons born 1 day after the last episode of defeat stress. Fluoxetine treatment also increased cell survival, particularly in wild type mice, though it did not affect proliferation. Our results did not support our hypothesis that vesicular zinc is required for the behavioral benefits of fluoxetine treatment. As to whether vesicular zinc is required for the neurogenic effects of fluoxetine, our results were inconclusive, warranting further investigation into the role of vesicular zinc in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.     

胃、结直肠癌术前区域性动脉化疗几个相关问题

胃、结直肠癌根治性切除术复发转移是严重影响术后5 a生存率提高的重要原因.以手术为主综合治疗已成为新的趋势,其中术前区域性动脉化疗(preoperative regional-arterial chemotherapy,PRAC)尤为值得重视.本文介绍了术前PRAC的概念、作用机制和影响区域性动脉化疗疗效的相关因素,并就术前区域性动脉化疗在胃、结直肠癌综合治疗中的评价进行讨论.     

清开灵与利巴韦林治疗小儿呼吸道合胞病毒肺炎的比较：单盲、随机、平行对照试验

目的:比较清开灵与利巴韦林对呼吸道合胞病毒肺炎患儿治疗效果的差异。方法:选择2005-02/2006-04在北京儿童医院分中心治疗的小儿呼吸道合胞病毒肺炎97例,患儿法定监护人知情同意。采用单盲、随机、平行对照试验的原则,按区组随机化方法分为2组,清开灵注射液组49例,利巴韦林组48例。①清开灵注射液组:清开灵注射液静脉滴注加口服中成药。②利巴韦林组:利巴韦林注射液静脉滴注加口服复方愈创木酚磺酸钾口服液。两组疗程均为10d,比较两组患儿的疗效。结果:清开灵注射液组脱落3例,利巴韦林组脱落1例,进入结果分析清开灵注射液组46例,利巴韦林组47例。①清开灵注射液组发热患儿体温恢复正常时间比利巴韦林组短[(2.72±1.86)d,(6.29±2.41)d(P<0.01)]。②清开灵注射液组患儿咳嗽、痰壅、气促症状积分改善方面优于利巴韦林组(P<0.05～0.01)。③清开灵注射液组的呼吸道合胞病毒转阴时间明显优于利巴韦林组。④咳嗽、痰壅、病毒转阴时间、气促均进入Logistic模型,其中前两个症状的回归系数绝对值较大。结论:清开灵注射液治疗小儿呼吸道合胞病毒肺炎在退热、止咳平喘、呼吸道合胞病毒转阴时间等方面均具有明显优势,咳嗽、痰壅这两个症状更能反映清开灵注射液的疗效优于利巴韦林。     

The treatment of advanced cardiac allograft rejection

Severe cardiac allograft rejection remains a serious problem despite the advances of cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. This study analyzes our experience with 202 recipients of cardiac allografts who were treated primarily with cyclosporine and prednisone. Failure of such therapy in 86 patients (43%) resulted in 105 episodes of advanced cardiac allograft rejection as diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy. Of 101 rejection episodes that were initially treated with intravenous pulse therapy, 48 (48%) were successfully resolved, yet 60% of these successes were associated with major infections. Patients in whom steroid therapy failed or was contra-indicated received intravenous antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or intravenous monoclonal antibody (OKT3). ATG and OKT3 successfully reversed severe rejection in 26 (81%) of 32 and in 13 (93%) of 14 episodes, respectively. Infectious complication rates were 54% and 21%, respectively. Because the majority (87%) of these rejection episodes occurred within the first 30 days after treatment, many of them may have resulted from inadequate immunosuppressive induction therapy. Based on our results, we believe that advanced cardiac allograft rejection may be managed best by individualizing immunosuppressive therapy, thus enhancing prevention, and by adding OKT3 to the regimen when rejection occurs.     

Coronal decompensation produced by Cotrel-Dubousset "derotation" maneuver for idiopathic right thoracic scoliosis

From 1985 to 1987, 82 patients with idiopathic scoliosis followed 12 to 44 months underwent selective fusion and correction of their right thoracic curves by Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation using the "derotation" maneuver. Preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up standing anteroposterior roentgenograms of the spine were analyzed. For curves in which there was deviation from the midline (plumb line) and rotation of the lumbar segments, an increased incidence of decompensation was produced after surgery, when posterior Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation and fusion were carried to the "stable" vertebra with one rod bend and hook alignment on the left sided derotation rod. Previous guidelines established for selective fusion with conventional posterior instrumentation (Harrington or Luque rods) may not be applicable to derotation with Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation.     

The Concept of Diminished Responsibility in Supranational Criminal Law (Psychiatric Approach)

The role of the community management order (CMO) in the management of mental illness has been associated with controversy. There is uncertainty as to the effectiveness of such involuntary treatment. Review of outcomes of involuntary community treatment has shown varied results, and in the remote areas of Australia the issue becomes more complex, and outcomes more difficult to measure. The Northern Territory's Mental Health Act 2000 has broadened criteria for detention. The decision to impose follow-up and case management on an individual (who may reside in a community several hundred kilometres from an in-patient facility) requires careful consideration of its ethical, professional and psychosocial implications. The trend toward increasing use of mental health legislation in the Northern Territory — particularly for Indigenous people — deserves close scrutiny in order that culturally appropriate and sensitive treatment plans are developed.     

Complications of gastric bypass surgery,a Northern Ireland experience.

Amongst western nations there are increasing levels of adult obesity. In Northern Ireland the majority of patients who undergo bariatric surgery travel to centres in the UK mainland. Thus, local experience of this type of surgery and the complications which can arise is limited.We report the case of a young woman who had previous bariatric surgery and a significant complication. In the future, greater numbers of patients will undergo this type of surgery. Therefore all emergency doctors need to be familiar with these procedures and the common complications.