Central auditory processing and word discrimination in patients with multiple sclerosis

Many multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with normal pure tone threshold suffer from difficulties in their hearing especially speech perception in background noise, which is possibly because of incompetence of central auditory processing in this group. Three audiologic tests including gap in noise test (GIN), duration pattern sequence test (DPST) and word discrimination score (WDS) were used for comparing a number of aspects of central auditory processing between patients with MS and normal subjects. Approximate threshold and percent of correct answers in GIN test, percent of correct answers in DPST test and monosyllabic discrimination in WDS test were obtained through cross-sectional non-invasive study conducted on 26 subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who had mean age of 28.9 (SD 4.1) years, and 26 18–40-year-old ones with normal hearing and mean age of 27.7 (SD 5.2). Results of this study demonstrate increased approximate threshold and reduction of percent of correct answers obtained from GIN test in patients with multiple sclerosis (Pv = 0.0001). Furthermore in patients with MS, the average of correct answers in DPST was lower than normal subjects and finally performance of MS subjects in WDS test in quiet environment was correlated with GIN threshold (r = ?/624, Pr = /003). Results of the present study showed that patients with MS had defect in aspects of central auditory processing consisting of temporal resolution, auditory pattern and the memory for auditory task and difficulty in discrimination of speech in noisy environment that are related to the involvement of central nervous system.     

Evaluation of Non Diseased Specified Outcome Measures in Hand Injuries to Assess Activity and Participation Based on ICF Content

The objective of the study is to provide information about non disease specified outcome measures which evaluate disability in patients who have impairments in hand and upper extremity and to find the extent to which they are evaluating “disability” based on ICF hand Core Set (activity limitation and participation restriction). MEDLINE, CINAHL, GOOGLE SCHOLAR , OVID and SCIENCE DIRECT databases were systematically searched for studies on non disease specified outcome measures used to evaluate upper extremity function; only studies written in English were considered. We reviewed titles and abstracts of the identified studies to determine whether the studies met predefined eligibility criteria (eg, non disease specified out come measures used in hand injured patients). All the outcome measures which had eligibility included. After full text review ,7 non disease specified outcome measures in hand were identified. Studies were extracted, and the information retrieved from them. All the outcome measures which had incuded, were linked with ICF hand core set disability part (activity and participation). All of them only linked to 16 (42 %) components of ICF hand Core Set, which were most activity and less participation from ICF. None of the non disease specified out come measures in hand injuries cover all domains of disability from the ICF Hand Core Set.     

Anatomical variants of lower limb vasculature and implications for free fibula flap: Systematic review and critical analysis

Sound knowledge of the anatomical patterns of lower limb vasculature is crucial for raising the free fibula flap (FFF). The tibial arteries are particularly susceptible to anatomical variations with a dominant role of peroneal artery (PR) for lower leg perfusion, and hence precluding fibular flap harvest. In this systematic review we study the prevalence of lower limbs with dominant peroneal artery (dPR). A systematic review of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted using a comprehensive combination of keywords and search algorithm according to PRISMA guidelines. Articles describing the branching patterns of lower limb arteries, in cadaveric or angiographic studies, were included. A total of 5,790 limbs were included from 26 studies. dPR was found in 5.2% of all limbs. The combination of dPR with hypoplastic or aplastic posterior tibial artery was the most common pattern (3.3%) followed by hypoplastic anterior tibial artery (1.5%). Peronea arteria magna (PAM) was seen in 0.4% of limbs. Bilateral variants were seen in 20% of all cases with a dPR. A greater awareness of dPR as anatomical variation and its prevalence among healthy subjects can prevent ischemic donor‐site complications after FFF harvest. Clinical examination alone may not suffice to detect anatomical variations, hence preoperative imaging of lower limb vascular system is recommended. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:165–172, 2016.     

Microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE): A novel approach to real‐time inexpensive slide‐free dermatopathology

Traditional histology relies on processing and physically sectioning either frozen or formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue into thin slices (typically 4‐6 μm) prior to staining and viewing on a standard wide‐field microscope. Microscopy using ultraviolet (UV) surface excitation (MUSE) represents a novel alternative microscopy method that works with UV excitation using oblique cis‐illumination, which can generate high‐quality images from the cut surface of fresh or fixed tissue after brief staining, with no requirement for fixation, embedding and histological sectioning of tissue specimens. We examined its potential utility in dermatopathology. Concordance between MUSE images and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides was assessed by the scoring of MUSE images on their suitability for identifying 10 selected epidermal and dermal structures obtained from minimally fixed tissue, including stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, stratum basale, nerve, vasculature, collagen and elastin, sweat glands, adipose tissue and inflammatory cells, as well as 4 cases of basal cell carcinoma and 1 case of pseudoxanthoma elasticum deparaffinized out of histology blocks. Our results indicate that MUSE can identify nearly all normal skin structures seen on routine H&E as well as some histopathologic features, and appears promising as a fast, reliable and cost‐effective diagnostic approach in dermatopathology.     

Soy,Soy Isoflavones,and Protein Intake in Relation to Mortality from All Causes,Cancers, and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

ObjectiveWe conducted a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective studies to summarize findings on the associations between intakes of soy, soy isoflavones, and soy protein and risk of mortality from all causes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.MethodsOnline databases were systematically searched to identify relevant articles published earlier than May 2018. We applied restricted cubic splines using random-effects analysis to assess dose–response associations. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by I² value and Cochrane Q test. Potential publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Begg regression test.ResultsIn total, 23 prospective studies with an overall sample size of 330,826 participants were included in the current systematic review and the meta-analysis. Soy/soy products consumption was inversely associated with deaths from cancers (pooled relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.99; P=0.03; I²=47.1%, 95% CI 0.0% to 75.4%) and cardiovascular diseases (pooled effect size: 0.85, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99; P=0.04; I²=50.0%, 95% CI 0.0% to 77.6%). Such significant associations were also observed for all-cause mortality in some subgroups of the included studies, particularly those with higher quality. In addition, higher intake of soy was associated with decreased risk of mortality from gastric, colorectal, and lung cancers as well as ischemic cardiovascular diseases. Participants in the highest category of dietary soy isoflavones intake had a 10% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with those in the lowest category. We also found that a 10-mg/day increase in intake of soy isoflavones was associated with 7% and 9% decreased risk of mortality from all cancers and also breast cancer respectively. Furthermore, a 12% reduction in breast cancer death was indicated for each 5-g/day increase in consumption of soy protein. However, intake of soy protein was not significantly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular diseases mortality.ConclusionsSoy and its isoflavones may favorably influence risk of mortality. In addition, soy protein intake was associated with a decreased risk in the mortality of breast cancer. Our findings may support the current recommendations to increase intake of soy for greater longevity.     

Clinicopathological significance of PTEN and bcl2 expressions in oral squamous cell carcinoma

A high frequency of mutations at the PTEN locus has been noticed in carcinoma of oral. However, the role of PTEN alternations and its association with outcome variables in the genesis of oral carcinoma is not understood fully. The purpose of our study was to examine the impact of PTEN and Bcl2 in the genesis of Squamous cell carcinoma of oral. Total numbers of 60 histopathologically confirmed cases of Squamous Cell Carcinoma and 15 cases of inflammatory lesion of oral specimens were studied. We assessed PTEN and bcl2 overexpression by the use of anti-PTEN and anti-bcl2 antibody through immunohistochemistry as directed by the manufacturer. There was progressive loss of PTEN expression from inflammatory lesion to OSCC (p<0.05). Significant differences were found for PTEN expression between inflammatory lesion and OSCC. The difference in expression pattern of PTEN in gender did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05). The expression of bcl2 was found to be restricted to tumor cells in well and moderately differentiated tumors. The intense expression of bcl2 was observed throughout the tumor cell in poorly differentiated tumors.The Overexpression of bcl2 and loss of PTEN expression were correlated to poor differentiation, lymph node involvement and late stages. Thus, alteration of PTEN and bcl2 is likely an important molecular event in pathogenesis and carcinogenesis of oral carcinoma.     

The tear VEGF and IGFBP3 in healthy and diabetic retinopathy

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - Diabetic retinopathy is an important problem worldwide. The purposes of this study were to measure and analyze VEGF and IGFBP3 level...     

Cavum velum interpositum cysts in normal and anomalous fetuses in second trimester of pregnancy: Comparison of its size and prevalence

ObjectiveCavum veli interpositi (CVI) is a potential space below the splenium of corpus callosum and sometimes presents as a cyst.Materials and methodsIn this prospective cross-sectional study, 360 fetuses with normal second trimester scan and 152 s trimester fetuses with structural abnormalities were included.ResultsThe CVI cysts were more common in fetuses with brain anomaly compared to normal fetuses and fetuses with extra-central nervous system (CNS) anomalies (23% vs 18.3% and 18% respectively; p value < 0.01). The mean size of cysts in normal fetuses, fetuses with extra-CNS anomalies and fetuses with brain abnormalities was 4.6 mm, 5.8 mm and 9.2 mm respectively. There was a significant difference between cysts size in normal fetuses and fetuses with brain anomalies (p value < 0.01) and the cut-point was 7.1 mm.ConclusionThe prevalence of CVI cysts is more in fetuses with brain anomaly. Fetuses with a cyst size >7.1 mm need a more detailed brain examination.