Efficacy of percutaneous and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in women with idiopathic overactive bladder: A prospective randomised controlled trial

BackgroundDifferent studies have reported the efficacy of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in treating idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). However, no study has compared the effectiveness of PTNS and TTNS added to bladder training (BT) in idiopathic OAB.ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of PTNS and TTNS added to BT in women with idiopathic OAB.MethodsWe randomised 60 women with idiopathic OAB into 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 19) received BT, Group 2 (n = 19) received PTNS in addition to BT, and Group 3 (n = 20) received TTNS in addition to BT. PTNS and TTNS were performed 2 days a week, for 30 min a day, for a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated by incontinence severity (pad test), a 3-day voiding diary (frequency of voiding, incontinence episodes, nocturia and number of pads used), symptom severity, quality of life, treatment success (positive response rate), treatment satisfaction (Likert scale), discomfort level and preparation time for stimulation (sec).ResultsAt the end of treatment; severity of incontinence, frequency of voiding, incontinence episodes, nocturia, number of pads used, symptom severity and quality of life were significantly improved in Groups 2 and 3 versus Group 1 (P < 0.0167). Treatment success and treatment satisfaction were higher in Groups 2 and 3 than Group 1 (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0167, respectively). Level of discomfort was lower, treatment satisfaction was higher and preparation time for stimulation was shorter in Group 3 than Group 2 (P < 0.05).ConclusionBoth the PTNS plus BT and TTNS plus BT were more effective than BT alone in women with idiopathic OAB. These 2 tibial nerve stimulation methods had similar clinical efficacy but with slight differences: TTNS had shorter preparation time, less discomfort level and higher patient satisfaction than PTNS.     

The impact of a total knee arthroplasty on jaw movements,upper body posture,plantar pressure distribution,and postural control

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on linked cranial and caudal structures.

Methods: Thirty-five (14f/21m) subjects participated in this study: 15 subjects (9f, 6m) pre- and post- TKA and a control group of 20 subjects (5f, 15m). The measurements included: jaw condyle position and movement, back scan, plantar pressure distribution, and body sway.

Results: There were no significant differences in electronic position analysis of the jaw; however, the protrusion of the TKA group improved (p = 0.001). The test group had a more anteriorly inclined thoracic spine and a less pronounced lumbar lordosis. Before and after surgery, the body sway in the test group was larger.

Conclusion: The TKA affected most prominently the static mechanisms of the postural control and the spine position. The trajectories of the mandible during protrusion also changed slightly.     

Inter-ictal assay of peripheral circulating inflammatory mediators in migraine patients under adjunctive cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS): A proof-of-concept study

Objective

To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.

双眼外直肌后徙术与常规疗法治疗斜视临床疗效比较

目的:比较双眼外直肌后徙术与常规疗法治疗斜视的临床疗效。方法:选取2016年6月-2017年6月笔者医院收治的128例斜视患者,按治疗方式不同分成对照组和研究组,每组各64例。其中对照组患者行常规单眼外直肌后徙联合内直肌缩短术(R&R),研究组患者行双眼外直肌后徙术(BLR-rec)。术后对患者随访1年,观察术后眼位正位率、欠矫率、过矫率,视觉功能恢复情况以及并发症发生率。结果:研究组患者正位率为89.06%高于对照组的68.75%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术前,对照组和研究组患者视近度、视远度和平均斜视度比较,两组患者融合功能和立体视功能占比比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。术后,两组患者的斜视度较治疗前均出现了明显下降(P<0.05),且研究组治疗后斜视度下降幅度明显大于对照组(P<0.05);两组患者视觉功能恢复率均明显增加(P<0.05),且研究组恢复率明显大于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组并发症发生率明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:双眼外直肌后徙术较单眼外直肌后徙联合内直肌缩短术有更好地临床效果,且安全性更高,值得临床推广。     

Novel design of miniplate for fixation of fractures at transition zone of parasymphysis-body region of mandible – A clinical randomised study

Fractures through the mandible at the level of the parasymphysis extending obliquely and traversing through the transitional zone to body region are relatively common. Therefore, a surgeon should have an appropriate understanding of the biomechanics of different plating techniques to fix these fractures. There is always a dilemma for the surgeon as to whether to fix these mandibular segments with one or two miniplates, and the presence of mental neurovascular bundle makes it more challenging. A study was planned in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to evaluate a novel twin-fork design of a miniplate used for fracture fixation at the transition zone of parasymphysis and body region of mandible after an in-vitro study of same design, and provided encouraging results. A total of 30 patients (10 patients in three groups each) were included in the study. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively for operating time, ease of placement of miniplate, occlusion, reduction of fracture, neurosensory disturbances and infection. The novel design of twin-fork−shaped miniplate proved to be superior to the conventional miniplate in terms of neurosensory (Fisher exact test 17.40; p = 0.003) and functional outcome. There was statistically significant difference (χ² = 13.895, p = 0.031) in postoperative reduction of fracture at week 4, indicating superiority of the twin-fork miniplate among the other conventional designs. The study concludes that the use of newly designed twin-fork−shaped miniplate should be encouraged in the fractures of transitional zone of parasymphysis-body region involving mental neurovascular bundle.     

Advance in Functional Restoration of Injured Nerve with Low Level Laser and its Utilization in the Dental and Maxillofacial Region

The inferior alveolar nerve and facial nerve are the two most important nerves in the dental and maxillofacial region. The injury to them is one of the major postoperative complications after alveolar surgery and orthognathic surgery. However, recovering the nerve function after injury takes a long time and the recovery effect tends to be unsatisfactory. In recent years, an intensively investigated technique, low level laser which has been applying in assisting the recovery of nerve function, has been gradually proved to be effective in clinically treating postoperative nerve injury. In this article we review in terms of the mechanisms involved in low level laser-assisted functional restoration of nerve injury and its clinical application in the recovery of nerve function in the dental and maxillofacial area as well.