State of HBV DNA in HBsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma: existence of HBV DNA possibly as nonintegrated form with analysis by Alu-HBV DNA PCR and conventional HBV PCR

The role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in carcinogenesis of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative, anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. To investigate the state of HBV DNA in such HCC, HBV DNA was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between HBV DNA and human Alu sequence (HBV-Alu PCR), which could detect integrated form of HBV DNA only, and by conventional HBV PCR, which could detect both integrated and episomal forms of HBV DNA. In all the 17 HBsAg-positive HCC, HBV DNA was detected by both HBV-Alu PCR method and conventional HBV PCR method. By contrast, in HBsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive cases, HBV DNA was detected in 10 of 21 (47.6%) by conventional HBV PCR and in none of 21 (0%) by HBV-Alu PCR method. Thus, integrated form of HBV DNA was not found in most HbsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive HCC in the current study. The role of episomal form of HBV DNA requires further investigation of its involvement in the process of the development of HBsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive HCC.     

Experimental modification of P50 suppression

White and Yee (1997) found that normal suppression of the P50 component of the event-related potential was disrupted during a paired-click paradigm when nonpsychiatric subjects performed mental arithmetic (MA) problems aloud, concurrently with the presentation of auditory stimuli. In fact, the degree of disruption reflected in the P50 suppression ratio fell within the range that is typically observed in schizophrenia patients. The present study was conducted to clarify the processes that might underlie the apparent disruption of P50 suppression during performance of an oral MA task. Participants completed a series of tasks designed to examine the impact of competing cognitive activity, competing auditory stimulation, muscle activity, and acute psychological stress on P50 amplitude and P50 suppression. Results suggested that psychological stress and heightened facial muscle activity may exert modulatory effects on P50 suppression.     

Predicting the Responses of Mechanoreceptor Neurons to Physiological Inputs by Nonlinear System Identification

The nonlinear dynamic properties of action potential encoding were studied in mechanosensory neurons innervating the slits of a slit-sense organ in the tropical wandering spider, Cupiennius salei. The organ contains two types of neurons that are morphologically similar but have different dynamic properties. Type A neurons produce only one or two action potentials in response to a mechanical or electrical stimulus of any suprathreshold amplitude, while type B neurons can fire prolonged bursts of action potentials in response to similar stimuli. Neurons were stimulated with pseudorandomly modulated intracellular current while recording the resultant fluctuations in membrane potential and action potentials. A parallel cascade method was used to estimate a third-order Volterra series to describe the nonlinear dynamic relationship between membrane potential and action potentials. Kernels measured for the two types of neurons had reproducible forms that showed differences between the two neuron types. The measured kernels were able to predict the responses of the neurons to novel pseudorandomly modulated inputs with reasonable fidelity. However, the Volterra series did not adequately predict the difference in responses to step depolarizations. © 2001 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC01: 8719Bb, 8717Nn, 8719La, 8719Nn, 8716Uv     

Construction and application of tuberculosis medical and nursing integration cooperation model

Objective

To explore the clinical effect of the tuberculosis (TB) doctor–nurse integration management model

Methods

This study is a retrospective historical cohort study. The clinical data of 180 patients with TB in our hospital from 2019 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. In a control group, 90 cases were treated with the traditional medical care model. An observation group of 90 cases received clinical diagnoses, treatments, and nursing under a doctor–nurse integration management model. Comparative analyses between the two groups were conducted on various aspects, including the awareness level of TB prevention and control, medication compliance and patient satisfaction. Comparisons between the two groups were evaluated using independent-sample t-tests or Chi-squared tests

Results

Compared with the control group, the knowledge awareness levels of TB prevention and medication compliance in the observation group were significantly higher (p < .05). The appointment waiting times and hospitalization times in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < .05). The total average satisfaction score of the patients in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < .05). Compared with the control group, the patients in the observation group were significantly more satisfied with their nursing methods, operating techniques, psychological techniques, service attitudes, and ward management (p < .05). In addition, in the observation group, medical–nursing relationships and doctor–patient communication were better than in the control group; additionally, the satisfaction of doctors with nursing work was also higher than in the control group, which was a statistically significant difference (p < .05)

Conclusion

The implementation of an integrated medical–nursing cooperation model for TB will help increase the awareness of health knowledge in patients with TB, improve patient medication compliance and enhance patient satisfaction.     

新冠肺炎疫情期间糖尿病患者中西医结合管理建议

2019年底我国湖北省爆发了新冠肺炎(COVID-19)疫情,近期已在世界多国传播,其传染性强,治疗难度大,严重威胁民众健康。从此次疫情数据来看,糖尿病患者的COVID-19的患病率、重症率和病死率相对正常人明显偏高,因此科学有效的管理对于加强疫情期间糖尿病患者病情转归和预后极其重要。中西医结合治疗在本次抗击疫情中疗效明显,得到社会各界的认可,因此笔者从中西医结合角度出发,阐述糖尿病患者易感COVID-19的原因,分析中西医管理的必要性,对合并COVID-19的糖尿病住院患者及未合并COVID-19的非住院患者的管理提出建议,为糖尿病临床管理提供参考。     

(Re)organisation of the somatosensory system after early brain lesion: A lateralization index fMRI study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between neural (re)organization of the somatosensory cortex and impairment of sensory function (2-point discrimination [2PD]) in individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy.MethodsWe included 21 individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy. 2PD thresholds were evaluated on thumb pads, and activation of the somatosensory cortex was recorded by functional MRI (fMRI) during passive movements of the affected hand. A lateralization index (LI) was calculated for the primary sensory (S1) and secondary sensory (S2) cortices and the correlation between the LI and 2PD thresholds was analysed.ResultsWe found a significant negative correlation between the 2PD thresholds and the S2 LI (r = −0.5, one-tailed P-value = 0.01) and a trend towards a negative correlation with the S1 LI (r = −0.4, one-tailed P-value = 0.05).ConclusionHigh levels of activation in the contralesional hemisphere were associated with high levels of sensory impairment in individuals with unilateral cerebral palsy. The interhemispheric (re)organization of the somatosensory system may not effectively compensate for somatosensory impairment.     

Sensory and Sensorimotor Features in Violinists and Violists With Neck Pain

Objective

To investigate sensory and sensorimotor function in violin and viola players with and without neck pain.

Design

Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting

University laboratory.

Participants

Convenience sample of violin players with playing-related neck pain (n=22), violinists without neck pain (n=21), and healthy nonmusician comparison subjects (n=21).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Measures include thermal pain thresholds (cold and heat) and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the cervical spine and over a remote region (tibialis anterior muscle). Motor performance tests including reaction times, speed of movement, accuracy, coordination, and tapping speed assessed with a special upper-limb test battery.

Results

Musicians with neck pain had significantly lower heat and elevated cold pain thresholds as well as lower PPTs over C5-6 (P<.01) and over the tibialis anterior (P<.05). Motor performance tests revealed no differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic musicians and nonmusician comparison groups (P>.05).

Conclusions

Violin players with neck pain demonstrated signs of sensory impairment, suggesting that playing-related neck pain may be associated with augmented central pain processing consistent with findings in other neck pain groups. No differences were evident in the motor performance tests. Fine motor skills of violin players may be better assessed in the context of playing their musical instruments before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the presence or not of sensorimotor impairments in this group of musicians with playing-related neck pain.     

A review of factors influencing participation in social and community activities for wheelchair users

Objective: To systematically identify factors associated with participation in social and community activities for adult wheelchair users (WCUs). Data sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and EMBASE. Study selection: Quantitative and qualitative peer-reviewed publications were included, which were written in English, reported original research and investigated factors associated with social and community participation in adult WCUs. Data extraction: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used. Factors were organized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Data synthesis: Thirty-five studies were selected: two of power WCUs, 10 of manual WCUs and 23 of both. Six qualitative studies, ranging in quality from 8/10 to 9/10 and 29 quantitative studies were included, ranging in quality from 4/15 to 11/15. Fifteen body function, 4 activity, 5 participation, 15 environmental and 14 personal factors were found to be associated with social and community participation. Conclusions: Social and community participation of WCUs is associated with factors from all ICF domains. Wheelchair factors, accessibility, skills with wheelchair use, pain, finances and education are modifiable factors frequently reported to be associated with participation. Experimental research focusing on modifiable factors is needed to further our understanding of factors influencing participation among WCUs.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Wheelchair factors, including comfort and durability, are associated with participation and may be targeted in clinical intervention.

• Wheelchair skills are clinically modifiable and have been shown to improve participation in manual wheelchair users.

• Body functions (e.g. confidence, depression and fatigue) and personal factors (e.g. finances and level of education) may be considered for clinical intervention.

     

电针联合来氟米特治疗类风湿关节炎临床观察

【目的】观察电针八邪穴联合来氟米特治疗上肢肿痛为主的类风湿关节炎临床疗效。【方法】将55例上肢关节肿痛为主的类风湿关节炎患者随机分成2组,治疗组28例予电针八邪穴联合来氟米特片治疗,对照组27例单纯给予来氟米特片抗风湿治疗;45天后通过观察关节压痛数、肿胀数、健康评估量表(HAQ指数)、血沉(ESR)、C反应蛋白(CRP)比较两种方法的临床疗效。【结果】治疗组有效率为89.28%,优于对照组66.67%(P<0.05)。【结论】电针八邪穴联合来氟米特治疗上肢肿痛为主的类风湿关节炎疗效明显优于单纯使用来氟米特,且预后佳,值得临床重视及广泛应用。