Intravascular ultrasound evaluation of the effect of rotational atherectomy in obstructive atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND. High-speed rotational atherectomy uses a diamond-coated, elliptical burr to abrade occlusive atherosclerosis, especially noncompliant calcified plaque. METHODS AND RESULTS. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to analyze 28 patients after atherectomy. Arteries treated and imaged were left main (three), left anterior descending (12), left circumflex (five), right coronary (seven), and saphenous vein graft (one). Twenty patients had adjunct balloon angioplasty. Twenty-two (79%) target lesions were calcified; the intimal arc of calcium was 160 +/- 126 degrees (range, 0-360 degrees). After atherectomy, the intima-lumen interface was unusually distinct and circular. The lumen was larger than the largest burr used for both stand-alone (1.19 +/- 0.19-fold the largest burr size) and adjunct balloon procedures (1.30 +/- 0.15-fold the largest burr). Three-dimensional reconstruction of the ultrasound images showed a smooth lumen, especially in calcified plaque. Deviations from cylindrical geometry occurred only in areas of soft plaque or superficial tissue disruption of calcified plaque. Five patients were studied before and after rotational atherectomy. IVUS showed an increase in lumen size, a decrease in plaque-plus-media area and in arc of target lesion calcification, and no change in target lesion external elastic membrane cross-sectional area. CONCLUSIONS. Rotational atherectomy causes atheroablation with only moderate evidence of barotrauma in heavily calcified arteries, even after adjunct balloon angioplasty. The lumen is cylindrical, especially in areas of calcified plaque, and somewhat larger than the largest burr tip used.     

The significance of early breastfeeding experiences on breastfeeding self‐efficacy one week postpartum

Many new mothers do not reach their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding self‐efficacy is a modifiable determinant influenced by prior and new breastfeeding experiences. More knowledge about factors associated with early breastfeeding experiences and breastfeeding self‐efficacy would allow us to qualify breastfeeding counselling and increase breastfeeding duration. This study aimed to identify prevalence and factors associated with early negative breastfeeding experience, low breastfeeding self‐efficacy in the first week postpartum, and drop in self‐efficacy from late pregnancy to early postpartum period. A prospective longitudinal study was performed in Denmark from 2013 to 2014, including 2, 804 mothers. Results showed that 1 week postpartum almost 10% of mothers had negative breastfeeding experiences, 36% had low breastfeeding self‐efficacy, and 26% drop in self‐efficacy from pregnancy. Negative breastfeeding experiences were significantly associated with epidural analgesia, interrupted skin‐to‐skin contact immediately postpartum, short previous breastfeeding duration, and lacking social support. Low breastfeeding self‐efficacy was associated with low breastfeeding intention, short previous breastfeeding duration, and negative breastfeeding experiences in the first week postpartum. Finally, significant associations of drop in breastfeeding self‐efficacy from late pregnancy were no or short education, early negative breastfeeding experiences, prior short breastfeeding duration, and low general breastfeeding self‐efficacy in pregnancy. Negative breastfeeding experiences in the first week postpartum is crucial for maternal breastfeeding self‐efficacy 1 week following birth. It is important to identify and support mothers at risk of negative breastfeeding experiences in the first week following birth and address factors that might increase the probability of early successful breastfeeding experiences.     

A wearable sensor identifies alterations in community ambulation in multiple sclerosis: contributors to real-world gait quality and physical activity

Journal of Neurology - People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) often suffer from gait impairments. These changes in gait have been well studied in laboratory and clinical settings. A thorough...     

The role of physical status versus mental status in predicting the quality of life of patients with lumbar disk herniation

Purpose: To explore the role of physical status versus mental status in predicting the quality of life (QOL) of patients with lumbar disk herniation (LDH).

Method: In this correlative study 51 patients with LDH were recruited in their conservative stage of treatment. After profiling their physical status, all participants reported about pain level (according to VAS), pain perception using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and disability level (according to Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire). Their mental status was evaluated using the Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Their QOL was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, brief version (WHOQOL-BREF).

Results: Physical status/disability level correlated with anxiety and depression. While Physical status predicted physical QOL, mental status, and mainly anxiety and depression were the significant predictors of psychological, social, and environmental QOL.

Conclusions: Mental status may play a significant role in reducing most QOL domains among patients with LDH. The evaluation and intervention process should consider both physical and mental status and their relation to the person's QOL. Since QOL is a major parameter in determining intervention type and success this elaborated perspective may contribute to the intervention planning and outcomes.

• Implications for rehabilitaion

• A significant mental distress may accompany the physical disability of patients with LDH.

• The role of this mental distress in reducing the QOL of patients with LDH may be greater than that of their physical disability.

• The evaluation and intervention for patients with LDH should refer to both physical and mental status and explore their impacts on quality of life in order to elevate intervention success.

     

A modification of the automated immune precipitin method for quantitation of human serum immunoglobulins.

The use of the automated immune precipitin method to measure human serum immunoglobulins has been reported by several groups. The authors encountered difficulties in evaluating the technic even when they incorporated such recent modifications as the use of polyethylene glycol to enhance the reaction. By altering the flow pattern and prediluting each specimen, they were able to increase sampling rate, decrease processing time, and decrease the frequency of line obstructions while obtaining reproducible standard curves without using polyethylene glycol. There was good correlation between the results obtained by their modification of the technic and those obtained by the Fahey radial immunodiffusion method. As with other automated immune precipitin systems, abnormally high values gave characteristic notched peaks and lipemic specimens were centrifuged in order to obtain the infranatant for quantitation. The present modification of the automated immune precipitin system provides a rapid, simple and efficient method to quantitate human serum immunoglobulins.     

脂质体法与电穿孔法转染两种细胞效率的比较

目的：对比脂质体与电穿孔法对 HepG2、SGC7901/ADM 两种细胞的转染效率。方法以 HepG2、SGC7901/ADM细胞为研究对象,采用脂质体法和电穿孔法分别转染pcDNA3．1‐EGFP质粒,流式细胞仪计算细胞存活率,借助绿色荧光标志蛋白eGFP测算转染效率。结果利用脂质体转染eGFP质粒至HepG2细胞所获得的阳性转染率为（20．8±2．1）％,而电穿孔法转染效率增高至（49．6±2．5）％,二者比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。利用脂质体转染eGFP质粒至SGC7901/ADM细胞所获得的阳性转染率为（25．4±1．3）％,而电穿孔法转染效率增高至（52．6±2．1）％,二者比较差异亦有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。结论使用电穿孔法能明显提高大片段载体的转染效率。     

灯盏细辛活性部位对神经细胞α7尼古丁受体表达的影响

目的：研究灯盏细辛活性部位对SH-SY5Y神经细胞中α7神经型尼古丁受体（nAChR）亚单位在蛋白质水平的表达以及对抗β-淀粉样蛋白的毒性作用。方法：灯盏细辛经乙醇提取、乙酸乙酯及正丁醇萃取、再以反相硅胶柱分离等方式得到极性部位,选取一定浓度的灯盏细辛提取物处理神经母细胞瘤细胞（SH-SY5Y）后,用Western blotting方法测定α7 nAChR蛋白水平的变化;再将能明显上调α7 nAChR蛋白水平的灯盏细辛提取物预处理SH-SY5Y细胞后,加入Aβ25-35处理,用比色法测定MTT还原率,观察灯盏细辛活性部位对细胞毒性的影响。结果：灯盏细辛醇提乙酸乙酯及正丁醇部位、以及该部位经反相硅胶柱分离的低极性部位均能显著上调α7 nAChR蛋白水平,并减弱β-淀粉样蛋白引起的细胞损伤。结论：灯盏细辛活性部位具有一定的神经保护作用,其机制之一可能与上调α7 nAChR有关。     

慢性1-烯丙基氯-3中毒性周围神经病神经肌肉组织电生理及超微结构改变的研究

中毒组为已确诊的慢性1-烯丙基氯-3中毒性周围神经病患者31例,对照组为健康者25例。中毒组肌电图在静息状态时,插入电位降低,部分病例出现自发性失神经电位(正锐波及纤颤电位);轻度收缩时,单个运动单位电位多相电位增多、电压降低、时限延长;最大收缩时,出现混合型。刺激腓总神经诱发胫前肌、腓骨长肌及伸趾短肌反应性肌电位出现多相电位、低电压及时限延长。腓总神经运动传导速度减慢及远端潜伏时延长,腓肠神经感觉传导速度及远端潜伏时无明显改变。腓肠神经髓质内微管及神经微丝变性,线粒体嵴脱落成变性空泡,光面内质网扩张和肿胀,髓鞘未见异常改变。腓肠肌肌原纤维部分断裂及间隙扩大并且内充满肌质网及线粒体变性空泡,Z线弯曲、断裂及崩解。     

大鼠外侧隔核的传出纤维联系

用HRP、WGA—HRP及CB—HRP法顺行追踪了大鼠外侧隔核的传出纤维联系。结果表明外侧隔核发生较多的纤维经内侧前脑束投射到下丘脑;经丘脑髓纹投射到丘脑带旁核、双侧内侧缰核,也有少量纤维投射到外侧缰核,外侧隔核向扣带皮质的投射主要终止在扣带皮质前部,少量纤维投射到后部。此外,有少量纤维投射到杏仁中央核、杏仁内侧核、中缝背核、中央灰质腹、外侧部、被盖腹侧区、脚间核及蓝斑等。