Randomized controlled trial of vacuum therapy for intermittent claudication

ObjectiveThe “gold standard” treatment of intermittent claudication (IC) is supervised exercise therapy (SET). Intermittent vacuum therapy (IVT) has recently been promoted as an additional treatment of IC. During IVT, negative pressure and atmospheric pressure are alternatingly applied to the lower extremities, possibly resulting in improved circulation. The aim of this study was to determine a potential additional effect of IVT in IC patients undergoing a standardized SET program.MethodsIC patients were recruited from three Dutch general hospitals between December 2015 and July 2017. They received a standardized SET program but were also randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving an IVT treatment (−50 mBar negative pressure) or a control group receiving a sham treatment (−5 mBar negative pressure). IVT was provided in a dedicated clinic during 12 sessions of 30 minutes during a 6-week period. The primary outcome measure was a change in maximal treadmill walking distance. Secondary outcome measures were a change in functional treadmill walking distance, 6-minute walk test, ambulatory ability, and quality of life.ResultsA total of 78 patients were randomized, of whom 70 were available for intention-to-treat analysis (control, n = 34; intervention, n = 36). At 6 and 12 weeks, increases in walking distance were of equal magnitude. Median (interquartile range) change in maximal treadmill walking distance during 12 weeks was +335 (205-756) meters in control patients and +250 (77-466) meters in intervention patients (P = .109), whereas functional treadmill walking distance increased +230 (135-480) meters and +188 (83-389) meters (P = .233), respectively. Mean ± standard deviation change in the 6-minute walk test was +36 ± 48 meters and +55 ± 63 meters (P = .823), respectively. Ambulatory ability and quality of life improved equally in both groups.ConclusionsIVT does not confer any additional beneficial effects in IC patients undergoing a standardized SET program.     

间断低氧预适应对大鼠肝切除缺血再灌注肝脏凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax表达的影响

目的 观察术前间断低氧预适应对大鼠70％肝切术后缺血再灌注损伤肝脏凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2和Bax表达的影响。方法 健康清洁级SD大鼠54只,用SPSS软件随机分为3组,每组18只：（1）肝切除组（PH组）,切除肝脏的左叶和中叶（约占总肝重的70％）;（2）缺血再灌注组（IR组）,即在肝门阻断下切除肝脏的左叶和中叶,肝门阻断20 min后开放血流,残余肝脏发生了缺血再灌注过程;（3）间断低氧预适应组（IHP组）,术前1周将大鼠置于氧气体积分数为10％的低氧环境中,每天1h。1周后在肝门阻断下行肝切除术（同IR组）。各组分别于术后12、24、48 h进行取材检测,用全自动生化分析仪检测血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）含量,采用免疫组化方法检测残余肝组织Bcl-2、Bax表达情况。结果 在术后各时间点,IR组和IHP组血清ALT和AST水平均显著高于PH组,但IHP组明显低于IR组。与IR组相比,IHP组术后各时间点肝脏Bcl-2蛋白表达显著升高,而Bax蛋白表达显著下降。差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 间断低氧预适应对残余肝脏缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用,其途径可能是通过促进抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达和抑制促凋亡蛋白Bax表达,来减少肝细胞凋亡。     

间断低氧预适应对大鼠肝切除缺血再灌注肝脏中EPO的影响

目的 观察术前间歇性低氧预适应对大鼠70％肝切术后肝脏中促红细胞生成素（Erythropoietin,EPO）量的影响.方法 健康清洁级SD大鼠120只,简单随机分为3组：假手术组（Sham,S组）40只;单纯大部肝切除组40只（Major hepatectomy,MH组）,即在肝门阻断下切除肝脏的左叶和中叶,肝门阻断20 min;间断低氧预适应组40只（Intermittent hypoxia preconditioning,IHP组）,术前1周将大鼠置于氧气体积分数10％的低氧环境中,每天1次,每次60 min.1周后在肝门阻断下行肝切除术（同IR组）.各组分别于术后2、6、12、24、48、72、120、168 h进行取材检测,用全自动生化分析仪检测下腔静脉血清ALT、AST含量,电镜下观察残余肝细胞中线粒体及内质网等的变化,采用ELISA测定残肝组织中促红细胞生成素的量,并运用统计学的方法比较各组中的意义.结果 MH组、S组、IHP组3组实验组中术后大鼠残肝组织中EPO水平具有显著统计学差异（P＜0.05）,间断低氧预处理组残余肝脏中EPO含量明显高于单纯肝切除组.结论 间断性低氧预适应可以促进肝切除术后残余肝组织中EPO的表达.     

Effect of a prototype lumbar spinal stenosis belt versus a lumbar support on walking capacity in lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can impair blood flow to the spinal nerves giving rise to neurogenic claudication and limited walking ability. Reducing lumbar lordosis can increases the volume of the spinal canal and reduce neuroischemia. We developed a prototype LSS belt aimed at reducing lumbar lordosis while walking.

持续缓慢低效血液透析对重症肾功能衰竭患者的治疗效果

目的 观察持续缓慢低效血液透析(SLED)与常规间断性血液透析(IHD)对重症肾功能衰竭患者血液动力学的影响.方法 纳入重症肾功能衰竭患者20例,采用自身对照法分为两组,对照组(A组,n=20)行间断性血液透析4h,观察组(B组,n=20)行持续缓慢低效血液透析6h.治疗全程每小时记录平均动脉压(MAP)和心率(HR),记录一过性低血压发生情况.比较治疗前后两组患者中心静脉压(CVP)、尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Scr)、血白蛋白(ALB)、血钾(K)、β2-微球蛋白(β2-MG)、心钠肽(BNP)水平.结果 持续低效缓慢血液透析与普通血液透析两种治疗低血压的发生率分别为20％和55％,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组治疗前MAP和HR无显著差别,治疗后30 min两组MAP均显著下降,HR增快,治疗后1和2h观察组MAP值上升,HR下降,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).两组治疗前后ALB差异无统计学意义,两种方法治疗后Scr、BUN、K、β2-MG、BNP、CVP下降(P＜0.01),SLED治疗后BUN、β2-MG、CVP、BNP下降,与IHD比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 在血液动力学方面,持续缓慢低效血液透析对重症肾功能衰竭患者的影响比间断性血液透析小,而且心功能改善更明显,毒素清除率更高,临床效果更好.     

Recurrent nonstatus generalized seizures alter the developing chicken brain

PURPOSE: Noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the evolution of seizure-induced pathology in epileptic, carrier, and normal chickens. Our objective was to determine whether repetitively evoked seizures in an epileptic fowl model of generalized seizures resulted in altered brain development. METHODS: Data were obtained from seizure and control groups at 45, 90, and 180 days after hatching. RESULTS: At 180 days, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the optic tectum and archistriatum of the stimulated epileptic chicks were reduced, whereas ADC values in the nonstimulated group remained unchanged. The mean brain volume of epileptic chickens from the stimulated group was smaller than that from the nonstimulated group at 90 and 180 days. CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish that recurrent seizures modify the brain matrix.     

PAD. Epidemiology and pathophysiology

The real prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is considerably underestimated if only symptomatic patients (i.e those with Intermittent Claudication) are taken into account instead of subjects with instrumental abnormalities such as a low Ankle–Branchial Index (ABI). The risk of both—fatal and non-fatal—cardiovascular events is particularly high in these patients either presenting with symptoms or asymptomatic. On the contrary the tendency to local worsening (need of revascularization or amputation of leg) is reduced. PAD is markedly prevailing in elderly, with a peak of incidence after the fifth decade of life. Owing to this, Owing to this, the prevalence is not significantly different in men compared to women. The risk factors related to PAD are the same as those observed in the other locations of atherosclerosis but cigarette smoking and diabetes seem to be more often associated to PAD than the remaining factors.     

A Spanner in the works: the use of a new temporary urethral stent to relieve bladder outflow obstruction after prostate brachytherapy

PURPOSE: Assessment of the Spanner, a new temporary urethral stent to relieve bladder outflow obstruction and urinary symptoms after brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five patients with unusually severe urinary morbidity after (125)I brachytherapy were recruited. The mean time after implant was 40 days (range 25-90). Spanner intraprostatic stents were introduced using topical anesthetic without complication. RESULTS: All patients were able to void spontaneously with no post-void residual volume of urine. The flow rates increased in all cases (p=0.03) and the International Prostate Symptom Scores were significantly improved after stent insertion in all patients (p=0.03). All patients experienced some degree of pain or dysuria during stent use. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder outflow obstruction was effectively treated with the Spanner intraprostatic stent, however pain limited the use of the device in the early post-brachytherapy patient group. Pharmacotherapy, stent design modification, or smaller stent diameter may increase the utility of stents after brachytherapy.     

Are prophylactic antibiotics necessary with clean intermittent catheterization? A randomized controlled trial

Background/Purpose

Clean intermittent catheterization has been an established practice for more than 3 decades. The validity of antibiotic prophylaxis has been questioned although not tested.

Methods

Eighty-five patients were recruited into a randomized controlled trial. The randomization involved the placement into 1 of 2 groups: (A) continuing antibiotics or (B) discontinuing antibiotics. The trial would last 4 months with the outcome being a confirmed urinary tract infection. All groups were matched for age, sex, and pathology.

Results

The incidence of urinary tract infections was significantly increased in the group who continued to use antibiotics (n = 20) when compared with the group who discontinued prophylaxis (n = 3). The common infecting organism was Escherichia coli.

Conclusions

The use of prophylactic antibiotics for children who intermittently catheterize may not be necessary. The use of prophylactic antibiotics may result in increased rates of infection because of the development of resistant organisms.