Duration of clinical symptoms in children under two years of age with acute otitis media

Objective: To describe the course of symptoms during the first ten days of episodes of AOM in children under two years of age.

Methods: Within the framework of a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised trial studying the effect of amoxicillin on acute otitis media in children under two years of age in the Netherlands, symptoms were recorded in diaries by the parents. Durations of symptoms were plotted by means of Kaplan-Meier curves. Possible factors influencing the duration were analysed in a Cox regression.

Results: Data from 230 children were used in the analyses. The median duration of fever was two days and the median duration of the combination of earache and/or crying was eight days. The duration of earache and/or crying was not influenced by any factor analysed (including treatment allocation).

Conclusion: Fifty per cent of the children under two years with an episode of AOM had symptoms for more than eight days (95% CI: 6.9-9.1). Since antibiotic treatment did not influence this period, persistence of symptoms should not be a reason for changing antibiotic therapy.     

Utility of Cone-Beam CT Imaging in Prostatic Artery Embolization

PurposeTo evaluate the utility of cone-beam computed tomography (CT) in patients undergoing prostatic artery (PA) embolization (PAE) for benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2012 to January 2013, 15 patients (age range, 59–81 y; mean, 68 y) with moderate- or severe-grade lower urinary tract symptoms, in whom medical management had failed were enrolled in a prospective United States trial to evaluate PAE. During pelvic angiography, 15 cone-beam CT acquisitions were performed in 11 patients, and digital subtraction angiography was performed in all patients. Cone-beam CT images were reviewed to assess for sites of potential nontarget embolization that impacted therapy, a pattern of enhancement on cone-beam CT suggesting additional PAs, confirmation of prostatic parenchymal perfusion before embolization, and contralateral prostatic parenchymal enhancement.ResultsCone-beam CT was successful in 14 of 15 acquisitions, and PAE was successful in 14 of 15 patients (92%). Cone-beam CT provided information that impacted treatment in five of 11 patients (46%) by allowing for identification of sites of potential nontarget embolization. Duplicated prostatic arterial supply and contralateral perfusion were each identified in 21% of patients (three of 11). Prostatic perfusion was confirmed before embolization in 50% of acquisitions (seven of 14).ConclusionsCone-beam CT is a useful technique that can potentially mitigate the risk of nontarget embolization. During treatment, it can allow for the interventionalist to identify duplicated prostatic arterial supply or contralateral perfusion, which may be useful when evaluating a treatment failure.     

Noncalcified atherosclerotic lesions with vulnerable characteristics detected by coronary CT angiography and future coronary events

BackgroundThe ability of coronary CT angiography (CTA) findings such as plaque characteristics to predict future coronary events remains controversial.ObjectiveWe investigated whether noncalcified atherosclerotic lesions (NCALs) detected by coronary CTA were predictive of future coronary events.MethodsA total of 511 patients who underwent coronary CTA were followed for cardiovascular events over a period of 3.3 ± 1.2 years. The primary end point was defined as hard events, including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or unstable angina that required urgent hospitalization. Early elective coronary revascularizations (n = 58) were excluded. The relationship between features of NCALs and outcomes is described.ResultsA total of 15 hard events (2 cardiac deaths, 7 myocardial infarctions, 6 cases of unstable angina that required urgent hospitalization) were documented in the remaining 453 patients with modest risks during a follow-up period of 3.3 ± 1.2 years. For these hard events, a univariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that the hazard ratio for the presence of >50% stenosis was 7.27 (95% CI, 2.62–21.7; P = .0002). Although the presence of NCAL by itself was not statistically significant, NCALs with low attenuation and positive remodeling (low-attenuation plaque [LAP] and positive remodeling [PR]; plaque CT number ≤34 HU and remodeling index ≥1.20) showed an adjusted hazard ratio of 11.2 (95% CI, 3.71–36.7; P < .0001). With C-statistics analysis, when both LAP and PR and >50% stenosis were added, the C-statistic was significantly improved compared with the basal model adjusted for age, sex, and log₂ (Agatston score +1) (0.900 vs 0.704; P = .0018).ConclusionsIdentification of NCALs with LAP and PR characteristics by coronary CTA provides additional prognostic information to coronary stenosis for the prediction of future coronary events.     

下体负压晕厥前症状下事件相关电位变化特征

目的探讨下体负压晕厥前症状（ＰＳＳ）下事件相关电位（ＥＲＰｓ）的Ｐ３潜时（Ｐ３Ｌ）变化特征，为飞行员加速度性晕厥的医学鉴定提供实验方法和依据。方法用下体负压方法（ＬＢＮＰ）诱发ＰＳＳ，观察ＥＲＰｓ的Ｐ３Ｌ变化特征。结果出现ＰＳＳ时，ＥＲＰｓ的Ｐ３Ｌ由３４３．３５±１４．７２ｍｓ延长至５０６．８７±３７．４４ｍｓ（Ｆ（６，４８）＝１４．９６，Ｐ＜０．０５，ＯＺ电极），相关任务反应时（ＲＴ）由５０８．６５±１１．１３ｍｓ延长至６３１．２５±２９．１６ｍｓ（ｔ＝２．９７，Ｐ＜０．０５），靶刺激反应错误率由（４．００±１．６７）％增加至（４３．３８±３．５４）％（ｔ＝３．０６，Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＰＳＳ后第５ｍｉｎ，Ｐ３Ｌ仍明显高于基线值（Ｐ＜０．０５）。而ＲＴ、错误率与基线值已无显著差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结论ＥＲＰｓ的Ｐ３Ｌ结合ＲＴ、错误率等指标对飞行员加速度性晕厥的研究有潜在应用价值。     

柴半六合汤对慢性肾衰竭合并胃肠道症状患者胃泌素、胃动素及生长抑素的作用

目的:观察柴半六合汤对慢性肾衰竭(CRF)合并胃肠道症状患者的作用以及对胃泌素(GAS)、胃动素(MTL)及生长抑素(SS)的影响。方法:将60例CRF合并胃肠道症状患者随机分为两组,治疗组30例给予柴半六合汤,对照组30例给予尿毒清颗粒口服,2月后观察两组疗效、实验室指标以及血浆GAS、MTL及SS的变化。结果:临床综合疗效治疗组90.0%,明显优于对照组73.3%;治疗组治疗后胃肠道症状有明显改善或缓解,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组的血尿素氮(BUN)、肌酐(Scr)、GAS和MTL水平下降,内生肌酐清除率(Ccr)、及SS水平提高,与对照组比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论:柴半六合汤能调节胃肠激素水平,减轻CRF患者胃肠道症状,延缓CRF的进展。     

精神分裂症患者语音信号的临床分析

背景：语音参数是精神分裂症生物学指标研究的一个全新领域,其中一些已被证明与情感反应相关,情感反应是精神分裂症患者显著受限制的一个特点,特别是对那些具有突出阴性症状的患者。
　　目标：评估慢性精神分裂症患者的选择性语音参数与临床症状严重程度之间的关系,并比较患者与所匹配的健康对照者的这些特征。
　　方法：对26例住院慢性精神分裂症患者（入组时和一周后）和30名健康对照者（仅在入组时）通过电话采集的15分钟语音样本,对该样本进行10项语音测量参数的评估,包括6个语音韵律参数、共振峰带宽和振幅、以及2个频谱特征。采用阳性与阴性症状量表(Posiitve and Negaitve Syndrome Scale)、阴性症状评估量表(Scale for the Assessment of Negaitve Symptoms)、临床总体印象量表-精神分裂症分量表(the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale)分别在基线和1周后进行患者临床特征的评估。
　　结果：患者组症状在1周的时间间隔中保持稳定,并且10项语音参数的前后一周重测信度良好（内部相关系数[intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC]介于0.55到0.88之间）。语音参数中6项韵律参数、共振峰带宽和振幅参数在患者组和对照组之间没有显著差异,但2项光谱参数在组间有差异：患者组美尔频率倒谱系数(the Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient, MFCC)评分显著低于对照组,并且患者组的线性预测系数(linear prediction coding, LPC)评分显著高于对照组。在患者组中,在10个本研究所考虑的语音参数和17个所考虑的临床参数之间构成的170个相关性中,有10个达到了p<0.05的统计学显着性水平（相关系数>0.40)。结论：这项研究支持了语音参数具有作为精神分裂症阴性症状严重程度指标（即,生物指标）的潜在价值,但在这些语音参数的潜在效用获充分评估前,我们需要对更多样化的患者进行更大样本量、更详细的随访研究。     

腕管综合征主要症状体征敏感性与特异性的比较

目的　比较腕管综合征 (carpaltunnelsyndrome ,CTS)主要症状、体征的敏感性与特异性。方法　对 10 1例 ( 162只手 )进行症状严重程度与功能状况的询问 ,感觉、运动功能的检查 ;其中 62只手在术后 6周再次测定。结果　 162只患手中 15 8只具有典型症状 ( 98% )。Phalen征、前臂正中神经加压征、Semmes Weinstein单丝纤维测试阳性率分别为 98%、96%、82 %。 87%的患手出现肌力下降 ,拇短展肌肌力测定 (定量法 )结果显示 ,与徒手法相比 ,不同性别间、术前与术后的差异均具非常显著意义 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　典型症状、Phalen征、前臂正中神经加压征、拇短展肌肌力变化的敏感性与特异性最高 ,拇短展肌肌力定量法测定是判断腕管综合征严重程度、评定疗效的一个良好的客观指标。     

万艾可治疗ED时对BPH引起LUTS改善的研究

目的 :探索、研究万艾可在治疗阴茎勃起功能障碍 (ED)时对由良性前列腺增生 (BPH)引起的下尿路症状(LUTS)的影响。　方法 :32例ED同时伴有BPH的研究对象 ,采用IIEF 5问卷表和IPSS评分表 ,在服用万艾可前和服药后 6个月分别各填写一次 ,应用单因素方差分析对所得到的前后评分进行统计学分析。结果 :在服药前32例ED中 ,轻、中、重分别为 14、13、5例 ,BPH中轻、中、重分别为 3、15、14例 ;服药后IIEF 5评分平均上升4 2 .36 % ,IPSS评分平均下降 2 0 .14 % ,两者在统计学上都有显著性差异 ,P <0 .0 1。　结论 :在治疗中老年性ED合并BPH中 ,应用万艾可既能治疗ED ,取得完美的性生活 ,又能达到改善由BPH引起的LUTS。万艾可是一治疗ED有效的药物 ,但对于前列腺基质平滑肌亦有辅助性松弛作用 ,因此也有助于BPH时LUTS的缓解。     

"锚定法"改良单开门椎管成形术及其临床应用

目的评价“锚定法”改良单开门椎管成形术的疗效。方法对129例颈椎病患者常规行后正中入路单开门椎管成形术,在门轴一侧的侧块上选择钻孔点,采用Magerl方法置入直径为3.5mm、长度10~12mm的钛质松质骨螺钉。先将粗丝线系在螺钉的根部,螺钉置入侧块后将丝线一端经棘突根部的预穿孔穿过,开门后拉紧丝线并打结,使椎板保持在开门状态。术后颈围领保护2周。结果平均随访14个月(6~18个月)。术前平均JOA评分7.8分、40分法评分14.5分,术后平均JOA评分15.5分、40分法评分35.5分。术后2个月时颈部疼痛、僵硬感和活动受限者轻度84例、中度32例、重度13例。术后6个月时仅23例仍然有轻度颈部疼痛、僵硬感和活动受限。未见螺钉松动和再“关门”现象。结论“锚定法”改良单开门椎管成形术操作简单、维持“开门”效果好。术后患者颈部症状恢复快,早期效果满意。     

Long-term impacts of different posterior operations on curvature,neurological recovery and axial symptoms for multilevel cervical degenerative myelopathy

Purpose

To investigate the long-term impacts of different posterior operations on curvature, neurological improvement and axial symptoms for multilevel cervical degenerative myelopathy (CDM), and to study the relationship among loss of cervical lordosis, recovery rate and axial symptom severity.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 98 patients with multilevel CDM who had undergone laminoplasty (Group LP, 36 patients), laminectomy (Group LC, 30 patients), or laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation (Group LCS, 32 patients) between January 2000 and January 2005. Loss of curvature index (CI) was measured according to the preoperative and final follow-up radiographic parameters. The recovery rate was calculated based on the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Axial symptom severity was quantified by Neck Disability Index (NDI).

Results

Analysis of final follow-up data showed significant differences among the three groups regarding loss of CI (F = 41.46, P < 0.001) between preoperative and final follow-up JOA scores (P < 0.001), final follow-up JOA score (F = 7.81, P < 0.001), recovery rate (F = 12.98, P < 0.001) and axial symptom severity (χ² = 18.04, P < 0.001). Loss of CI showed negative association with neurological recovery (r = −0.555, P < 0.001) and positive correlation with axial symptom severity (r = 0.696, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Excellent neurological improvement was obtained by LP and LCS for patients with multilevel CDM, while loss of CI in groups LP and LC caused a high incidence of axial symptoms. Loss of CI was correlated with poor neurological recovery and axial symptom severity. Lateral mass screw fixation can effectively prevent loss of postoperative cervical curvature and reduce incidence of axial symptoms.