An updated review on pathophysiology and management of burning mouth syndrome with endocrinological,psychological and neuropathic perspectives

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic oro‐facial pain disorder of unknown cause. It is more common in peri‐ and post‐menopausal women, and sex hormone dysregulation is believed to be an important causative factor. Psychosocial events often trigger or exacerbate symptoms, and persons with BMS appear to be predisposed towards anxiety and depression. Atrophy of small nerve fibres in the tongue epithelium has been reported, and potential neuropathic mechanisms for BMS are now widely investigated. Historically, BMS was thought to comprise endocrinological, psychosocial and neuropathic components. Neuroprotective steroids and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor family ligands may have pivotal roles in the peripheral mechanisms associated with atrophy of small nerve fibres. Denervation of chorda tympani nerve fibres that innervate fungiform buds leads to alternative trigeminal innervation, which results in dysgeusia and burning pain when eating hot foods. With regard to the central mechanism of BMS, depletion of neuroprotective steroids alters the brain network–related mood and pain modulation. Peripheral mechanistic studies support the use of topical clonazepam and capsaicin for the management of BMS, and some evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioural therapy. Hormone replacement therapy may address the causes of BMS, although adverse effects prevent its use as a first‐line treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may have important benefits, and well‐designed controlled studies are expected. Other treatment options to be investigated include brain stimulation and TSPO (translocator protein 18 kDa) ligands.     

Cost of postoperative complications: How to avoid calculation errors

Postoperative complications(PC) are a basic health outcome, but no surgery service in the world records and/or audits the PC associated with all the surgical procedures it performs. Most studies that have assessed the cost of PC suffer from poor quality and a lack of transparency and consistency. The payment system in place often rewards the volume of services provided rather than the quality of patients' clinical outcomes. Without a thorough registration of PC, the economic costs involved cannot be determined. An accurate, reliable appraisal would help identify areas for investment in order to reduce the incidence of PC,improve surgical results, and bring down the economic costs. This article describes how to quantify and classify PC using the Clavien-Dindo classification and the comprehensive complication index, discusses the perspectives from which economic evaluations are performed and the minimum postoperative follow-up established, and makes various recommendations. The availability of accurate and impartially audited data on PC will help reduce their incidence and bring down costs. Patients, the health authorities, and society as a whole are sure to benefit.     

脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者生活质量的影响因素研究

目的 探讨脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者生活质量的直接和间接影响因素，以期为临床症状管理提供参考信息。 方法 采用一般资料调查表、脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛症状评估表、简易疲乏量表、医院焦虑抑郁量表、Fugl-Meyer上肢功能评分量表和脑卒中生活质量专用量表对205例脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者进行调查。结果 偏瘫肩痛患者的生活质量总分为（144.48±27.69），整体处于中等水平。生活质量的主要影响因素是肩痛困扰、肩痛频度、肩外旋、疲乏程度和抑郁，可以解释总变异的63.3%。路径分析结果显示，疲乏程度、肩痛频度和肩痛困扰可直接影响患者的生活质量（β_(疲乏程度-生活质量)=-0.252，P<0.001；β_(肩痛频度-生活质量)=-0.147，P<0.001；β_(肩痛困扰-生活质量)=-0.317，P<0.001）；疲乏程度和肩痛频度亦可通过肩痛困扰来间接影响患者的生活质量（ β_(疲乏程度-肩痛困扰-生活质量)=-0.066，P<0.001；β_(肩痛频度-肩痛困扰-生活质量)=-0.064，P<0.001）。结论 临床上应同时关注脑卒中患者疲乏和偏瘫肩痛症状，关注抑郁和疲乏对症状体验的协同作用，提高医护人员症状管理的效率，从而提高脑卒中偏瘫肩痛患者的生活质量。     

Vacuum myofascial therapy device for non-specific neck pain. A single blind randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum myofascial therapy device (VT) for improving pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), range of motion (ROM), neck pain-related disability, pain, and quality of life in patients with non-specific neck pain.MethodsA randomized controlled trial in which thirty-eight participants with non-specific neck pain (NP) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (VT) or a comparison physical therapy program (PTP) group. The VT group (n = 19) received five sessions of treatment with a vacuum myofascial therapy device while the PTP group (n = 19) received five sessions of massage, ultrasound therapy (US), and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) over two weeks. The outcome measures were the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), range of motion, quality of life (SF-12), neck disability Index (NDI), and PPTs at the end of treatment and at one-month follow-up.ResultsAlthough both groups experienced improvements in pain, neck disability, range of motion, and pressure pain, these only were statistically significant in the VT group. At one-month follow-up, the VT group still showed improvements in pain, neck disability, and range of motion.DiscussionVacuum myofascial therapy applied with a device offers similar results to other vacuum-based techniques such as cupping therapy. Moreover, in this device the parameters are digitally controlled, which allows for the precise reproduction of treatment.     

缺血修饰性白蛋白在急性缺血性胸痛中的诊断价值

目的 评价缺血修饰性白蛋白（ischemia modified albumin，IMA）对急性缺血性胸痛（ICP）的早期诊断价值。方法 时206例发病〈12h、表现为急性胸痛的患者立即行12导联心电图（ECG）检查，并抽血进行IMA、肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）、肌酸激酶同工酶MB（CK-MB）测定。将ECG、IMA、cTnI、CK-MB的结果单独或结合与最终诊断为非缺血性胸痛（NICP）及ICP的相互关系进行比较。结果 最后诊断为ICP98例，NICP108例，ICP发病〈3h和3-6h组IMA水平明显升高，与NICP组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．001）；ICP发病〉6h组IMA水平与NICP组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。IMA诊断发病〈3hICP的敏感性和阴性预测值（NPV）为89．1％和88．8％，明显高于ECG、cTnI和CK-MB，四者结合为97．6％和96．9％；IMA诊断发病3～6hICP的敏感性和NPV为71．7％和74．5％，也高于ECG、cTnI、CK-MB，四者结合为95．5％和94．2％；但IMA对于发病〉6h的ICP则无诊断作用。结论 IMA是诊断ICP的早期敏感生化指标，对于发病〈6h（尤其是〈3h）的ICP诊断具有较高的敏感性和NPV，优于ECG、CK-MB、cTnI；将IMA与其他指标结合，可进一步提高对ICP的诊断价值。     

卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿粘连程度及相关因素分析

Objective To investigate the relationship between degree of endometrioma adhesions and clinical feature, surgical treatment and postoperative recurrence. Methods From Jan 2003 to Mar 2008, 662 patients with endometrioma undergoing laparoscopic ovarian endometrioma excision in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were studied retrospectively. All patients were classified into four groups according to the extent of adhesions: 31 cases in none adhesions group, 123 cases in mild adhesions group (filmy thickness, avascular, easily separated adhesions), 310 cases in moderate adhesions group (less than a half of ovary was adjacent to dense thickness adhesions which was difficult to separate, or above a half of ovary were adjacent to filmy thickness adhesions) and 198 cases in severe adhesions group (above a half of ovary was adjacent to dense thickness, well vascularized adhesions which was difficult to separate, and always involved the other pelvic organs, observed angiogenesis). The comparison of degree, characteristics, period of pain, lab test, surgical management and postoperative recurrence was performed among those above groups. In the mean time, risk factors and multinomial logistic regression were analyzed. Results (1)Clinical characteristics: The incidence of patients with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, straining feeling in anus, chronic pelvic pain and the level of CA125 (>35 kU/L) was remarkably higher in moderate-to-severe adhesion groups than in none-to-mild adhesions groups (P=0.000, 0.000, 0.001, 0.006 and 0.000, respectively). Infertility rate were significantly higher in severe adhesions group(15.7%,31/198) than none adhesions group(3.2%,1/31), mild adhesions group(11.4%,14/123) and moderate adhesions group(9.7%,30/310, OR=1.728, P<0.05).(2)Operating time and blood loss: Operating time of each groups was as followed: (37±15) min in none adhesions group, (42±19) min in mild adhesions group, (50±20) min in moderate adhesions group and (63±22) min in severe adhesion group. Blood loss was (23±12) ml in none adhesion group, (31±27) ml in mild adhesion group, (40±32) ml in moderate adhesion group and (70±67) ml in severe adhesions group. Thicker adhesions result in longer operation time and more blood loss. (3)Combined with other disease: The ratio of patients who combined with adenomyosis or deeply infiltrating endometriosis in moderate-to-severer adhesion groups was higher than patients in none-to-mild adhesions groups (OR=3.466, P=0.000). (4) Postoperative recurrence: It was categorized into recurrence of pain and cyst. Moderate-to-severe adhesions was related to higher recurrence rate of pain (OR=1.685,P=0.046), but was irrelevant to recurrence of cyst. Conclusion The more extent of endometrioma adhesions was related to severer pelvic pain symptoms, longer operating time and more blood loss. Postoperative pain recurrence rate was observed in moderate-to-severe adhesion group. Extent of adhesions was irrelevant to cyst recurrence.