Enlarged high frequency oscillations of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ObjectiveA large N20 and P25 of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) predicts short survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated whether high frequency oscillations (HFOs) over N20 are enlarged and associated with survival in ALS.MethodsA total of 145 patients with ALS and 57 healthy subjects were studied. We recorded the median nerve SEP and measured the onset-to-peak amplitude of N20 (N20o-p), and peak-to-peak amplitude between N20 and P25 (N20p-P25p). We obtained early and late HFO potentials by filtering SEP between 500 and 1 kHz, and measured the peak-to-peak amplitude. We followed up patients until endpoints (death or tracheostomy) and analyzed the relationship between SEP or HFO amplitudes and survival using a Cox analysis.ResultsPatients showed larger N20o-p, N20p-P25p, and early and late HFO amplitudes than the control values. N20p-P25p was associated with survival periods (p = 0.0004), while early and late HFO amplitudes showed no significant association with survival (p = 0.4307, and p = 0.6858, respectively).ConclusionsThe HFO amplitude in ALS is increased, but does not predict survival.SignificanceThe enlarged HFOs in ALS might be a compensatory phenomenon to the hyperexcitability of the sensory cortex pyramidal neurons.     

Antigenic cartography using sera from sequence-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern infections reveals antigenic divergence of Omicron

1. Download : Download high-res image (182KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Minimally Invasive Treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

PurposeTo review and to compare indirectly the outcomes of minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials and MethodsA literature search via Medline and Cochrane Central databases was completed for randomized control studies published between January 2000 to April 2020 for the following therapies: Rezum, Urolift, Aquablation, and prostatic artery embolization (PAE). Data on the following variables were included: International prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate, quality of life, and postvoid residual (PVR). Standard mean differences between treatments were compared through a meta-analysis using transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to assess differences in treatment effect.ResultsThere was no significant difference in outcomes between therapies for IPSS at the 3, 6, and 12-month follow ups. Although outcomes for Rezum were only available out to 3 months, there were no consistently significant differences in outcomes when comparing Aquablation versus PAE versus Rezum. TURP PVR was significantly better than Urolift at 3, 6, and 12 months. No significant differences in minor or major adverse events were noted.ConclusionAlthough significant differences in outcomes were limited, Aquablation and PAE were the most durable at 12 months. PAE has been well studied on multiple randomized control trials with minimal adverse events while Aquablation has limited high quality data and has been associated with bleeding-related complications.     

Effect of iron deficiency without anaemia on days alive and out of hospital in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery

Comprehensive evidence regarding the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the association between non-anaemic iron deficiency and postoperative outcomes in these patients. We retrospectively analysed 321 patients of which 180 (56%) had iron deficiency (defined as serum ferritin < 100 ng.ml^-1 or < 300 ng.ml^-1 with transferrin saturation < 20%). While the iron-deficient group had lower pre-operative haemoglobin levels than the non-iron deficient group (median (IQR [range]) 134 (127–141 [120–172]) g.l^-1, 143 (133–150 [120–179]) g.l^-1, p = 0.001), there was no between-group difference in allogeneic red blood cell transfusion. Median (IQR [range]) days alive and out of hospital at postoperative day 90 was 1 day shorter in the iron-deficient group (80 (77–82 [9–85]) days vs. 81 (79–83 [0–85]) days, p = 0.026). In multivariable analysis, only cardiopulmonary bypass duration (p = 0.032) and intra-operative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion (p = 0.011) were significantly associated with reduced days alive and out of hospital at postoperative day 90. Iron deficiency did not exert any adverse influence on secondary outcomes except length of hospital stay. Our findings indicate that non-anaemic iron deficiency alone is not associated with adverse effects in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery when it does not translate into an increased risk of allogeneic transfusion.     

中药饮片保质期与有效期文献计量学分析

目的：对中药保质期或有效期进行系统的调研，探讨中药饮片设定保质期或有效期的依据及其必要性，为提高中药饮片质量、保障临床用药安全提供技术支撑，为药品监管部门制定有关法规提供科学依据。方法：以国家知识基础设施数据库（CNKI）为数据来源，采用文献计量学研究方法，选用检索词为“中药材”并“有效期”“饮片”并“有效期”，“饮片”并“保质期”“中药材”并“保质期”“中药材”并“效期”和“饮片”并“效期”，利用CNKI平台工具以及Excel统计工具进行统计分析。结果：经数据库检索、筛选，获取中药材、饮片保质期或有效期或效期的相关有效文献共85篇，其中关于中药、饮片保质期的相关文献26篇，中药、饮片有效期或效期的相关文献59篇；在59篇关于中药有效期的文献中，74.58%的文献对于中药是否应该制定有效期、如何制定有效期等展开了讨论，25.42%的文献为中药有效期研究的实验性文献。结论：本文从中药材、饮片保质期与有效期的现状，质量评价指标，研究方法，饮片分类、保质期制定的必要性，及其存在的问题和建议等方面进行了梳理和归纳，为中药饮片保质期制定，提供了详实的文献依据。     

本草类书籍与《滇南本草》历代药图演变评述*

本草学是东方医药学的重要标志。在生境中辨识药用植物是本草学的重点，本草著作在对药用植物进行描述的同时，基于知识传授的实际需要，会配以药图帮助学者掌握该药材的特点以方便识别。药图在发展过程中逐渐从本草著作的附属成为独立的册页，其科学和艺术价值也日益凸显，然而其重要性并没有被太多研究者重视，尤其将药图研究的视野从传统医药扩展至文化史、艺术史、美学和文化资源学等领域的研究成果更是鲜有。本文从本草学和本草图谱的演变发展历史为线索，以云南地域本草的杠鼎之作《滇南本草》各时期版本中代表性药图作为研究对象，对比《本草纲目》等几种代表性本草著作中的药图，结合文化和艺术史相关知识，初步梳理《滇南本草》各历史时期药图的特点，分析其演变原因和具体社会条件，尝试从历史角度理解和归纳这些不同时期和版本药图的发展变化呈现的特点并揭示我们今天研究和利用中国传统药图这一重要文化资源的意义和价值。     

基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预对脑出血后遗症病人的心理状况和生活质量的影响

目的:探讨基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预对脑出血后遗症病人的心理状况和生活质量的影响。方法:按照随机数字表法将2019年1月—2021年1月收治的98例脑出血后遗症病人分为对照组和观察组各49例,对照组实施常规护理,观察组在常规护理基础上给予基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预。干预前后采用卒中量表(NIHSS)、功能独立性评定量表(FIM)、生活活动功能测量量表Barthel指数(BADL)评定两组病人康复情况,采用非精神病性焦虑量表(HADS-A)、非精神病性抑郁量表(HADS-D)、自我效能量表(GSES)评定两组病人心理状态,采用生活质量简明调查表(SF-36)评定两组病人生活质量。结果:观察组病人干预后NIHSS评分低于对照组,FIM和BADL评分高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组病人干预后HADS-A和HADS-D评分低于对照组,GSES评分高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组病人干预后生活质量各维度(躯体功能、躯体角色、肌体疼痛、总体健康、活力、社会功能、情绪角色、心理卫生)评分均明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:基于罗森塔尔效应的护理干预应用于脑出血后遗症病人能有效促进病人康复,改善病人心理状态,提高病人生活质量。