Women's experience of low back and/or pelvic pain (LBPP) during pregnancy

Objectiveto explore the experiences of women suffering low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy.Designa qualitative design using focus groups. Each group was recorded with a digital audio recorder and analysed using the Newell and Burnard framework for thematic analysis.Settingan urban maternity hospital.Participantsa self-selecting sample of 14 women who had taken part in a pilot randomised controlled trial investigating reflexology for pregnancyrelated low back and / or pelvic pain.Measurements and Findingsthe group discussions were guided by a pre-determined schedule of questions designed to investigate women's experiences of pregnancyrelated low back and / or pelvic pain. Three main themes emerged:

• (1)The physical and emotional impact that pregnancy-related low back and / or pelvic pain had on women's lives

• (2)Women's attitudes towards, and knowledge about pregnancy-related low back and/or pelvic pain

• (3)Women's use of treatments to manage their symptoms and levels of dissatisfaction with standard advice and treatment.

Key conclusionslow back and/ or pelvic pain affected women physically and emotionally during pregnancy. Their attitudes towards, and knowledge about the conditions differed. Women used a range of self-help strategies for their symptoms and there was a general sense of dissatisfaction with routine advice and treatment, a finding supported by a growing body of research.Implications for practicegiven that pregnancy-related low back and/ pelvic pain occur across the world, and affects the majority of pregnant women, heath care providers need to ensure that standard care provided is meeting women's needs.Health care professionals may require specific training in order to effectively provide individualised and evidence-based advice and support to pregnant women experiencing this pain.     

早产儿胃肠外营养相关性胆汁淤积症的临床特征

目的 分析早产儿胃肠外营养相关性胆汁淤积症(PNAC)的临床特点及影响因素,探讨预后.方法 对2007年7月至2009年6月,我院新生儿监护室的159例接受＞14 d胃肠外营养(PN)的体重＜2000 g和(或)胎龄＜34周的早产儿进行分析,以其中发生PNAC的40例作为PNAC组,另将剩余的119例非胆汁淤积患儿作为对照组.观察PNAC组患儿的胆汁淤积发生时间、持续时间、胆汁淤积程度及肝功能损害情况.分析PANC的相关因素.结果 PNAC平均发生在胃肠外营养后(3.3±1.6)周,一般持续(13.3±5.4)周,其直接胆红素峰值为(135.2±65.5)μmol/L;PNAC患儿中73.7%伴有肝功能损害,肝损一般发生于胃肠外营养后(6.6±3.0)周,常持续(9.5±5.4)周,谷丙转氨酶峰值(121.5±48.4)U/L,谷草转氨酶峰值(239.8±122.3)U/L.对可能的PNAC相关因素进行Logistic回归分析提示开始喂养时间、PN持续时间、窒息、SGA、颅内出血与PNAC的发生相关.结论 PNAC的预后良好.在条件允许下,尽早的肠内喂养、缩短PN时间、避免一些并发症如窒息、败血症、颅内出血等可以减少PNAC的发生.

Abstract：

Objective To analyze the clinical features and influential factors of parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) in preterm infants. Method A total of 159 infants with birth weight less than 2000 grams and/or gestational age less than 34 weeks were exposed to parenteral nutrition for longer than 14 days in NICU during the period from July 2007 to June 2009. Of these infants, 40 cases who had PNAC were aligned into the PNAC group, and the other 119 cases without PNAC were aligned into the nonPNAC group. PNAC occurring time, duration, the degree of PNAC and hepatic injury were observed.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlative factors of PNAC. Result PNAC occurred about (3.3 ± 1.6) weeks after beginning PN, usually lasted for (13.3 ± 5.4) weeks. The maximum direct bilirubin was ( 135.2 ± 65. 5 ) μmol/L. Of the PNAC patients, 73.7% suffered from hepatic injury. Hepatic injury usually occurred ( 6. 6 ± 3.0 ) weeks after beginning PN, and lasted for (9. 5 ±5.4) weeks. The highest alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was ( 121.5 ±48.4) U/L. The logistic regression of the possible correlative factors showed that time to start enteric feeding, persistence time of PN,asphyxia, small for gestational age, intracranial hemorrhage, were related to PNAC. Conclusion The prognosis of PNAC was good. Early enteral feeding, shorter time of PN, avoidance of the complications such as asphyxia and sepsis, were the important measures to lower PNAC.     

Impact of vaccinating boys and men against HPV in the United States

We assessed the public health impact and value of vaccinating boys and men with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in the United States. We used mathematical population models, accounting for both the direct and indirect protective effects of vaccination. Inputs for the models were obtained from public data sources, published literature, and analyses of clinical trial data. Compared with a program of vaccinating girls and women only, including boys and men 9–26 years of age would further decrease the cumulative mean number of genital wart cases, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 cases, cancer cases, and cancer deaths by 5,146,000, 708,000, 116,000, and 40,000, respectively, within 100 years. The mean cost-effectiveness ratio (2008 US $) of this strategy was $25,700 (range: 13,600–48,800) per QALY gained if vaccination protects against all HPV 6/11/16/18-associated diseases, and $69,000 (range: 37,700–152,300)/QALY if it only protects against diseases currently in the vaccine indication. Vaccinating boys and men age 9–26 against all HPV 6/11/16/18-associated diseases provides substantial public health benefits and is cost-effective at commonly cited thresholds.     

胸锁乳突肌瓣修复改善腮腺术后外观畸形

目的　研究胸锁乳突肌瓣（SCM）填充对腮腺手术并发症及术后外观的影响。 方法　68例腮腺良性肿瘤患者,随机数字表法分为实验组和对照组。对照组34例接受常规腮腺肿物区域切除术,实验组34例在接受腮腺肿物区域切除术后,以SCM填充术区缺损。随访6~12个月,对术后并发症和术区外观进行主观和客观的评价。 结果　实验组在术后面神经麻痹、主观Freys综合征、耳部麻木感、肿瘤复发的发生率和对照组大致相当。实验组术后5例（15%）发生腮腺瘘,对照组9例（27%）发生腮腺瘘,实验组腮腺瘘发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P?0.05）。实验组外观患者主观评分为(1.25±0.96);第三者的评分(1.11±0.99),对照组外观患者主观评分为(2.45±1.33);第三者的评分(2.26±0.87),两组患者外观的主观和客观评分差异均有统计学意义（P?0.05）。 结论　SCM填塞腮腺术腔可改善患者术后面部畸形,为腮腺术后的重建提供了合理的美容选择。     

低钙透析液对低转运性骨病患者PTH和BGP的影响及与骨质疏松及血管钙化的关系

目的探讨低钙透析液对低转运性骨病患者甲状旁腺素(parathyroid hormone,PTH)和骨钙素(osteocalcin,BGP)的影响,并分析其与骨质疏松及血管钙化的关系。方法选取2017年1月至2018年12月在本院使用普钙(1.5 mmol/L)进行维持性血液透析(MHD)6个月以上的180例肾性骨病患者作为研究对象,根据是否为低转运性骨病将其分为低转运性骨病组和非低转运性骨病组,分别为60例和120例,对比两组患者血清PTH、BGP水平、骨密度和冠状动脉血管钙化情况。后对低转运性骨病组中合并冠状动脉血管钙化者改用1.25 mmol/L透析液,观察患者发生低血压、心律失常、肌肉痉挛等不良反应情况以评估其安全性;对比更换前、更换后第1、3、6个月患者血清PTH、BGP水平、骨密度和冠状动脉血管钙化情况。结果与非低转运性骨病比较,低转运性骨病血清PTH、BGP及BMD降低,但CACS则明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。绘制ROC图分析得知,PTH在低转运性骨病和非低转运性骨病鉴别诊断中有一定价值;与之比较,PTH联合检测鉴别诊断效能提高,以PTH、BGP、BMD及CACS四者联合效能最高。更换低钙透析液总不良反应率分别为20.00%和25.00%,两者比较差异无统计学意义(χ^2=0.430,P=0.512)。与更换前比较,更换后低转运性骨病血清PTH、BGP及BMD升高,但CACS则明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与无心血管事件者比较,心血管事件发生者PTH、BGP和BMD明显降低,但CACS则相对升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论低钙透析液可明显升高低转运性骨病患者血清PTH和BGP水平,改善骨质疏松和血管钙化,从而降低心血管事件发生率。     

Interactive three-dimensional teaching models of the female and male pelvic floor

Controversies regarding structure and function of the pelvic floor persist because of its poor accessibility and complex anatomical architecture. Most data are based on dissection. This “surgical” approach requires profound prior knowledge, because applying the scalpel precludes a “second look.” The “sectional” approach does not entail these limitations, but requires segmentation of structures and three-dimensional reconstruction. This approach has produced several “Visible Human Projects.” We dealt with limited spatial resolution and difficult-to-segment structures by proceeding from clear-cut to more fuzzy boundaries and comparing segmentation between investigators. We observed that the bicipital levator ani muscle consisted of pubovisceral and puborectal portions; that the pubovisceral muscle formed, together with rectococcygeal and rectoperineal muscles, a rectal diaphragm; that the external anal sphincter consisted of its subcutaneous portion and the puborectal muscle only; that the striated urethral sphincter had three parts, of which the middle (urethral compressor) was best developed in females and the circular lower (“membranous”) best in males; that the rectourethral muscle, an anterior extension of the rectal longitudinal smooth muscle, developed a fibrous node in its center (perineal body); that the perineal body was much better developed in females than males, so that the rectourethral subdivision into posterior rectoperineal and anterior deep perineal muscles was more obvious in females; that the superficial transverse perineal muscle attached to the fibrous septa of the ischioanal fat; and that the uterosacral ligaments and mesorectal fascia colocalized. To facilitate comprehension of the modified topography we provide interactive 3D-PDFs that are freely available for teaching purposes. Clin. Anat. 33:275–285, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of Mabry Syndrome with novel PIGO gene variants associated with hyperphosphatasia,intractable epilepsy,and complex gastrointestinal and urogenital malformations

Mabry syndrome is a glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) deficiency characterized by intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, intractable seizures, and hyperphosphatasia. We expand the phenotypic spectrum of inherited GPI deficiencies with novel bi-allelic phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis class O (PIGO) variants in a neonate who presented with intractable epilepsy and complex gastrointestinal and urogenital malformations.     

Low sexual function and its associated risk factors in pre- and postmenopausal women without clinically significant depression

Objectives

To investigate the low sexual function and its associated risk factors in pre- and postmenopausal women without clinically significant depression.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with 180 women aged between 19 and 60 years who admitted to our outpatient clinic. Sexual function was assessed by female sexual function index and clinically significant depression was measured by Beck depression inventory test.

Results

The rate of low sexual function was 85.9% in postmenopausal (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.8–4.8) and 47.7% in premenopausal women (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3–0.5) (p < 0.0001). The postmenopausal group reported significantly lower desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain scores than controls (p < 0.0001, for all of them). Low sexual function was positively correlated with age (r = 0.37, p < 0.0001), menopausal status (r = 0.40, p < 0.0001), gravidity (r = 0.44, p < 0.0001), parity (r = 0.43, p < 0.0001), abortion rates (r = 0.27, p = 0.001) and marriage period (r = 0.40, p < 0.0001). There were also significant negative correlations between low sexual function and education (r = −0.39, p < 0.0001) and family income (r = −0.29, p < 0.0001). However, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that education, family income and menopausal status were the only independent variables for low sexual function after adjusted for age, gravidity, parity, abortion, marriage period and menopausal status.

Conclusion

Low sexual function was relatively high in postmenopausal women without clinically significant depression. Education, family income and menopausal status were the independent risk factors for low sexual function. Investigation of female sexuality was essential for these patients.     

Two-electrode low supply voltage electrocardiogram signal amplifier

Portable biomedical instrumentation has become an important part of diagnostic and treatment instrumentation, including telemedicine applications. Lowvoltage and low-power design tendencies prevail. Modern battery cell voltages in the range of 3–3.6V require appropriate circuit solutions. A two-electrode biopotential amplifier design is presented, with a high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR), high input voltage tolerance and standard first-order high-pass characteristic. Most of these features are due to a high-gain first stage design. The circuit makes use of passive components of popular values and tolerances. Powered by a single 3V source, the amplifier tolerates ±1V common mode voltage, ±50μA common mode current and 2V input DC voltage, and its worst-case CMRR is 60 dB. The amplifier is intended for use in various applications, such as Holter-type monitors, defibrillators, ECG monitors, biotelemetry devices etc.     

The SLC14 gene family of urea transporters

Carrier-mediated urea transport allows rapid urea movement across the cell membrane, which is particularly important in the process of urinary concentration and for rapid urea equilibrium in non-renal tissues. Urea transporters mediate passive urea uptake that is inhibited by phloretin and urea analogues. Facilitated urea transporters are divided into two classes: (1) the renal tubular/testicular type of urea transporter, UT-A1 to -A5, encoded by alternative splicing of the SLC14A2 gene, and (2) the erythrocyte urea transporter UT-B1 encoded by the SLC14A1 gene. The primary structure of urea transporters is unique, consisting of two extended, hydrophobic, membrane-spanning domains and an extracellular glycosylated-connecting loop. UT-A1 is the result of a gene duplication of this two-halves-structure, and the duplicated portions are linked together by a large intracellular hydrophilic loop, carrying several putative protein kinase A (PKA) and -C (PKC) phosphorylation sites. UT-A1 is located in the apical membrane of the kidney inner medullary collecting duct cells, where it is stimulated acutely by cAMP-mediated phosphorylation in response to the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin. Vasopressin also up-regulates UT-A2 mRNA/protein expression in the descending thin limb of the loops of Henle. UT-A1 and UT-A2 are regulated independently and respond differently to changes in dietary protein content. UT-A3 and UT-A4 are located in the rat kidney medulla and UT-A5 in the mouse testis. The widely expressed UT-B participates in urea recycling in the descending vasa recta, as demonstrated by a relatively mild "urea-selective" urinary concentrating defect in transgenic UT-B null mice and individuals with the Jk_null blood group.