Efficacy of multi-wave locked system laser therapy on nerve regeneration after crushing in Wister rats

[Purpose] To investigate the efficacy of the multi-wave locked system laser therapy on the regeneration of peripheral nerve injuries by evaluating the functional, electrophysiological, and morphological changes of the crushed sciatic nerve in Wistar rats. [Materials and Methods] Sixty male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were randomly assigned to control negative, control positive, or laser groups and subjected to no laser therapy or crushing, to crushing without laser therapy, or crushing followed by multi-wave locked system laser therapy five times/week for four weeks (power=1 W, energy density=10 J/cm², total energy=100 J), respectively. Functional, electrophysiological, and morphometric analyses were performed before and 7, 15, 21, and 28 days after crushing. The sciatic functional index, compound motor action potential amplitude, motor nerve conduction velocity, and nerve and myelin sheath diameters were measured. [Results] The sciatic functional index value decreased significantly, while the compound motor action potential amplitude, motor nerve conduction velocity, nerve diameter, and myelin sheath diameter increased significantly in the laser group post-treatment compared to the values in the control groups. [Conclusion] Multi-wave locked system laser therapy was effective in accelerating the regeneration of crushed sciatic nerves in Wistar rats.     

Effect of swimming exercise on premenstrual syndrome

Objective

To study the effectiveness of performing swimming on the severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Materials and methods

A randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 70 women diagnosed with PMS divided randomly into two equal groups: Group I included women who engaged into exercise and group II controls. Daily Symptoms Report was filled at the start and at end of the study.

Results

At the posttreatment evaluation, there was a highly significant difference between the study and control groups regarding anxiety (0 vs. 5), depression (3 vs. 12), tension (3 vs. 12), mood changes (0 vs. 7), feeling out of control (0 vs. 7), weak coordination (0 vs. 10), confusion (2 vs. 9), headache (3 vs. 15), tiredness (4 vs. 12), pains (5 vs. 11), tenderness of the breast (2 vs. 8), and cramps (6 vs. 17) (P < 0.001), but no such difference was found regarding irritability, insomnia, crying, swelling, or food craving. Regarding the percentage of symptoms changes, there was a highly significant difference between the study and control groups regarding anxiety (? 33.3 vs. 0), depression (? 79.29 vs. 15.56), tension (? 81.18 vs. ? 6.79), mood changes (? 33.33 vs. 0), feeling out of control (? 91.67 vs. 0), weak coordination (? 100 vs. ? 9.55), sleeplessness (? 71.43 vs. 0), confusion (? 84.17 vs. ? 9.55), headache (? 77.78 vs. ? 6.94), fatigue (? 65.69 vs. 0), pains (? 65.83 vs. ? 8.93), breast tenderness (? 87.87 vs. 4.55), cramps (? 60.77 vs. 4.55), and swellings (? 55.05 vs. ? 8.33), but no such difference was found regarding irritability, crying, or food craving.

Conclusions

There is beneficial effect of swimming on most of the physical and psychological symptoms of PMS.

Clinical trial registry no.

NCT03264612.

     

Changes in Doppler parameters of portal pressure after interventional management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has many options for management; some of them are complicated by development of portal hypertension (PHT). Doppler ultrasound is an effective method to diagnose and monitor PHT changes after HCC ablation procedures. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in portal pressure hemodynamics of HCC patients following treatment with different interventional strategies: radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). A total of 60 patients with HCC were divided into three main groups, and each group received a different type of therapy (RFA, MWA, and TACE). Full medical record and basic investigations were performed including Doppler ultrasound and upper GIT endoscopy for evaluation of PHT parameters, and then repeated after three months of ablation. RFA is associated with the increased splenic artery resistive index, while MWA has no significant impact on PHT indices. TACE has led to a marked increase in liver vascular index with significant decrease in hepatic artery resistive index and PHI after treatment. No significant changes in esophageal varices were observed by upper GIT endoscopy following all ablation methods. RFA is quite safe but associated with degree of PHT. On the contrary, TACE is associated with improved PHT parameters. MWA has no significant association to development of PHT following the technique. Doppler ultrasound could be used as a reliable and effective method of evaluation of PHT post ablation for HCC.     

Tissue no-reflow despite full recanalization following thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke with proximal occlusion: A clinical study

Despite early thrombectomy, a sizeable fraction of acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusion have poor outcome. The no-reflow phenomenon, i.e. impaired microvascular reperfusion despite complete recanalization, may contribute to such “futile recanalizations”. Although well reported in animal models, no-reflow is still poorly characterized in man. From a large prospective thrombectomy database, we included all patients with intracranial proximal occlusion, complete recanalization (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2c–3), and availability of both baseline and 24 h follow-up MRI including arterial spin labeling perfusion mapping. No-reflow was operationally defined as i) hypoperfusion ≥40% relative to contralateral homologous region, assessed with both visual (two independent investigators) and automatic image analysis, and ii) infarction on follow-up MRI. Thirty-three patients were eligible (median age: 70 years, NIHSS: 18, and stroke onset-to-recanalization delay: 208 min). The operational criteria were met in one patient only, consistently with the visual and automatic analyses. This patient recanalized 160 min after stroke onset and had excellent functional outcome. In our cohort of patients with complete and stable recanalization following thrombectomy for intracranial proximal occlusion, severe ipsilateral hypoperfusion on follow-up imaging associated with newly developed infarction was a rare occurrence. Thus, no-reflow may be infrequent in human stroke and may not substantially contribute to futile recanalizations.     

Preparation of chemically stable allergen‐specific sublingual immunotherapy from Egyptian allergens

BackgroundThe term “allergen extracts” refers to solutions of proteins or glycoproteins extracted from source raw materials.ObjectivesThis study was planned to prepare chemically stable sublingual immunotherapy from different allergens in Egypt.MethodsAllergen extraction from raw materials. The concentrated aqueous extract of each allergen was mixed with an equal volume of glycerol. The protein content of the preparations was determined using the modified Lowry assay method. The prepared allergens were stored for 9 months at 2–4°C. Samples were analyzed periodically (0, 3, 6, and 9 months of intervals) adopting the Lowry Assay method. Levels of specific IgE to Chenopodium album antigens were measured in patients’ sera by ELISA.ResultsThe concentration of all prepared allergens, as indicated by the concentration of the protein content, was found to decrease exponentially with time, implying first‐order kinetics of degradation. From the values of the slopes of the log plot for each allergen, the half‐life time (t _1/2) and (t _1/4) values were calculated. The expiration date was considered as the time after which the allergen loses 25% of its potency. The obtained values of t _1/4% vary according to the type of vaccine. The most stable one is that of Chenopodium album pollens (2.4 years) and the least stable is that of house dust Mites (9 months). The immunological characters of Chenopodium album extract were stable for at least 6 months.ConclusionDifferences exist among allergen extracts made by multiple manufacturers. So, developments in studies on allergen preparation and characterization in a different locality are necessary.