Trajectory of adherence to home rehabilitation among older adults with hip fractures and cognitive impairment

This study aimed to identify different trajectories of adherence to home rehabilitation for older adults with hip fracture and cognitive impairment, to examine associations between different adherence trajectories and postoperative recovery outcomes, and to explore the predictors of adherence trajectories. Group-based trajectory modeling showed two adherence trajectories: low (39.06%) and high (60.94%) adherence. The high adherence group had better activities of daily living (β=11.77, p<.001), instrumental activities of daily living (β=0.56, p<.01), femoral muscular strength (β=3.35, p<.01) on the fractured side and quality of life (β=-0.81, p=.02) than the low adherence group. Participants who established exercise habits (OR=6.49, p<.01) and consulted a physical therapist (OR=4.29, p=.03) during hospitalization were more likely to be in the high adherence group.     

Helicobacter pylori and gastric hyperacidity,and their association with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Helicobacter pylori is an established cause of gastric ulcers. Its role in causing recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) remains controversial. Fifty-two RAS patients and 52 sex-matched controls were recruited in this case–control study. All subjects were screened for hematinic deficiencies and H. pylori. The latter was assessed quantitatively using the ¹⁴C-urea breath test. The χ² test and Wilcoxon signed ranks test were used to compare H. pylori and hematinic indices between cases and controls, while conditional logistic regression was used to assess the associations between the occurrence of RAS and independent factors. H. pylori was positive in 56.7% of the overall sample, with no difference between RAS patients (50.8%) and controls (49.2%) (P = 0.843). The median H. pylori and haematological indices values did not show any association with ulcer diameter, number, or frequency. Interestingly, gastric hyperacidity was significantly associated with RAS, and this association was independent from tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and H. pylori (odds ratio 14.99, 95% confidence interval 2.47–90.95; P = 0.003). This study found no association between H. pylori and RAS. The association between RAS and gastric hyperacidity suggests that gastric refluxate, not H. pylori, has an effect on the oral mucosa that favours an ulcerative change.     

早发型子痫前期应用低分子肝素期待治疗的临床效果分析

目的分析早发型子痫前期应用低分子肝素期待治疗的临床效果。方法回顾分析2017-01—2018-12间在郑州大学第一附属医院产科终止妊娠的95例早发型子痫前期患者的临床资料。按终止妊娠前是否应用低分子肝素分为2组。对照组(47例)给予降压、解痉等治疗;观察组(48例)在对照组基础上加用低分子肝素。结果2组分娩孕周、妊娠延长时间、妊娠并发症发生率、新生儿出生体质量、新生儿窒息及胎儿宫内窘迫发生率、新生儿Apgar评分等,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论对早发型子痫前期患者在常规治疗基础上短期应用低分子肝素,不能延长妊娠时间,不改善母婴结局。     

Gastrodin relieved complete Freund's adjuvant-induced spontaneous pain by inhibiting inflammatory response

The analgesic effects of gastrodin (GAS), an active component derived from the Chinese herb Tian ma (Gastrodia elata Blume), on chronic inflammatory pain of mice and the involved molecular mechanisms were investigated. GAS significantly attenuated mice chronic inflammatory pain induced by hindpaw injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and the accompanying anxiety-like behaviors. GAS administration reduced CFA-induced up-regulation of GluR1-containing α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, GluN2A- and GluN2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and Ca^2 +/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-alpha (CaMKII-α) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of NMDA receptors, the GluR1 type of AMPA receptor, and CaMKII-α are key molecules responsible for neuroplasticity involved in chronic pain and the accompanying anxiety. Moreover, GAS administration reduced the activation of astrocyte and microglia and the induction of TNF-α and IL-6 in the ACC of the CFA-injected mice. Therefore, GAS administration relieved chronic pain, exerted anxiolytic effects by regulating neuroplasticity molecules, and attenuated the inflammatory response by reducing the induction of TNF-α and IL-6 in the ACC of the CFA-injected mice.     

Effects of exogenous factors on spatial accuracy in neurosurgery

The study aimed to assess the effect of exogenous factors such as surgeon posture, surgical instrument length, fatigue after a night shift, exercise and caffeine consumption on the spatial accuracy of neurosurgical manipulations. For the evaluation and simulation of neurosurgical manipulations, a testing device developed by the authors was used. The experimental results were compared using nonparametric analysis (Wilcoxon test) and multivariate analysis, which was performed using mixed models. The results were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. The study included 11 first-year neurosurgery residents who met the inclusion criteria. Hand support in the sitting position (Wilcoxon test p value = 0.0033), caffeine consumption (p = 0.0058) and the length of the microsurgical instrument (p = 0.0032) had statistically significant influences on the spatial accuracy of surgical manipulations (univariate analysis). The spatial accuracy did not significantly depend on the type of standing position (Wilcoxon test p value = 0.2860), whether the surgeon was standing/sitting (p = 0.1029), fatigue following a night shift (p = 0.3281), or physical exertion prior to surgery (p = 0.2845).When conducting the multivariate analysis, the spatial accuracy significantly depended on the test subject (p < 0.0001), the use of support during the test (p = 0.0001), and the length of the microsurgical instrument (p = 0.0397). To increase the spatial accuracy of microsurgical manipulations, hand support and shorter tools should be used. Caffeine consumption in high doses should also be avoided prior to surgery.