Continuous passive motion following total knee replacement: a prospective randomized trial with follow-up to 1 year

We have carried out a prospective randomised, single blind clinical trial to investigate the effect of continuous passive motion on range of knee flexion, lack of extension, pain levels and analgesic use after total knee replacement surgery. 85 subjects were randomly allocated to control or study group. All subjects followed the existing rehabilitation protocol, which permits immediate active range of motion exercises and mobilisation with the study group using continuous passive motion for 1 h, twice a day. Outcome measures employed were range of motion, pain assessed on a visual analogue scale and analgesic use according to the WHO ladder. Blinded evaluation was carried out preoperatively, at time of discharge from hospital, 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months postoperation. No significant difference was observed between groups at all time intervals for each outcome variable using Wilcoxon Rank sum tests. The results substantiate previous findings that short duration continuous passive motion following total knee arthroplasty does not influence outcome of range of motion or reported pain.     

Is there a diurnal pattern in the clinical symptoms of HELLP syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a diurnal pattern in the clinical symptoms of HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets) syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed in 134 pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome. The medical records were reviewed to describe each HELLP episode. Time of day was divided into three periods, day, evening, and night. The following parameters were categorized according to the time of day: onset of symptoms, consultation by the doctor, initial blood sampling, diagnosis and decrease of symptoms. Biochemical parameters at clinical presentation and consecutive changes within 24 h were recorded. RESULTS: In 65 pregnancies 77 HELLP episodes were well documented. Times of onset of symptoms and consultation by the doctor were significantly higher during the evening and night (p < 0.001), whereas times of diagnosis and decrease of symptoms occurred significantly more during the day (p < 0.001). In only 49.3% of the cases were diagnostic laboratory criteria met at clinical presentation. This was mainly due to platelet values in excess of 100 x 10(9)/l. Several hours later (median 8 h, range 2-23) the decrease in platelets occurred. CONCLUSIONS: A diurnal pattern exists in the clinical symptoms of HELLP syndrome that is characterized by an exacerbation during the night and recovery during the day. There is a considerable delay between the onset of symptoms and the fulfillment of diagnostic laboratory criteria.     

Refractory Ascites After Liver Transplantation: An Analysis of 1058 Liver Transplant Patients at a Single Center

A retrospective study of 1058 liver transplant recipients was performed to determine: (i) the incidence, etiology, timing, clinical features and treatment of refractory ascites (RA), (ii) risk factors for RA development, (iii) predictors of RA disappearance, (iv) predictors of survival following RA and (v) the impact of RA on patient survival. Sixty-two patients (5.9%) developed RA and its disappearance occurred in 27/62 cases. Patients having hepatitis C virus (HCV) had a significantly higher hazard rate of developing RA (p < 0.00001). No other baseline characteristic was associated with RA. Cox stepwise regression analysis of the hazard rate of RA disappearance found two significant factors: HCV recurrence as the reason for developing RA implied a poorer outcome (p = 0.006), whereas an unknown reason implied a favorable outcome (p = 0.02). In addition, survival following RA was significantly poorer among patients having bacterial peritonitis or HCV recurrence. Finally, the mortality rate was significantly (nearly 8.6 times) higher in patients following RA development while it was ongoing (p < 0.00001); however, if the RA disappeared, then the additional risk of death also disappeared. This study illustrates the importance of developing an optimal treatment strategy to (i) effectively treat RA if it develops and (ii) prevent hepatitis C recurrence.     

Energy cost of activity and exercise in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), perturbations of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) may be a major determinant of altered nutrition and growth. Measurement of TDEE is problematic, though the flex-heart rate method (FHRM) provides a close estimation of TDEE, as compared to the cost-prohibitive, gold standard, the double-labeled water method, and permits estimates of the energy cost of daily activities (ECA) above resting energy expenditure (REE). We hypothesize that alterations in ECA affects TDEE in CF. PURPOSE: To measure components of TDEE in adolescents with CF and normal lung function compared with controls, and to determine whether ECA can be improved by diet and exercise. METHODS: Clinically stable CF subjects (aged 9-13, n=12) and age- and gender-matched controls (n=13) had repeated measurements of TDEE by FHRM, REE, and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) during a 6-week exercise and diet program. RESULTS: While the mean REE was similar in both groups, ECA was significantly lower in CF adolescents as compared to controls (p=0.02). During CPET, maximal exercise in CF was characterized by hyperventilation, which was unrelated to ventilation-perfusion mismatching. There were no changes in REE after dietary intervention. CONCLUSION: ECA in CF adolescents with normal lung function is lower when compared to healthy controls. These findings support the hypothesis that clinically stable patients with CF have inefficient energy metabolism or alternatively conserve energy during activities of daily living.     

复合杂合parkin基因突变家族的不同表型

背景：Parkin基因（PRKN）突变可导致常染色体隐性遗传性早发帕金森病（EOPD）。目的：探讨EOPD白人家族PRKN突变的表现和基因型-表型关系。设计：对EOPD家族的3代20例成员进行基因分析，该家族有4例患者。应用直接基因组DNA测序、半定量聚合酶链反应、实时定量聚合酶链反应以及逆转录酶聚合酶链反应分析以确定PRKN突变。结果：4例早发患者（年龄30—38岁）被确定有PRKN复合杂合突变（T240M和EX5_6缺失），虽然PRKN的杂合T240M和纯合EX5_6缺失突变已有描述，但是据悉，本文为上述复合杂合突变的首次报道。患者的表型为典型常染色体隐性遗传性EOPD的表现，其特征是对左旋多巴治疗有效、相对缓慢的进展和运动障碍。所有杂合突变的基因携带者（T240M或EX5_6缺失）和1例56岁的复合杂合突变女性携带者（T240M和EX5_6缺失）无任何神经系统症状。结论：研究发现，PRKN基因复合杂合突变（T240M和EX5_6缺失）导致一个大的白人家族中4例成员发生常染色体隐性遗传性EOPD。另外1例成员具有相同的突变，比4例患者的平均发病年龄大10岁，并且无本病的临床表现。不完全的外显率对遗传咨询具有暗示作用，并且提示复杂的基因一环境交互作用在PRKN相关EOPD的发病机制中发挥作用。