Bridges between Nervous and Immune Systems: Their Disconnection and Clinical Consequences

Nervous and immune systems are connected by several mutual links, thus constituting a diffuse functional network in the body. In particular, neurohormones, neuropeptides, and cytokines represent the major mediators of the so-called psychoneuroendocrinoimmune axis. In this review, special emphasis is placed on certain pathologies characterized by a disconnection of the existing bridges between nervous and immune systems. For instance, spinal cord injury (SCI) is a clinical condition in which loss of neurons and very poor axon growth represent the main features. The role played by infiltrating and resident immunocompetent cells is still debated in SCI. However, to enhance axon growth in SCI, current therapeutic attempts are based on the stimulation of the immune response within the central nervous system, thus triggering either cell-mediated or humoral immune responsiveness.     

First case report using optical topographic-guided navigation in revision spinal fusion for calcified thoracic disk

Computer assisted navigation systems are frequently used in spine surgery to improve the accuracy of pedicle screw placement. The 7D Surgical System utilizes optical topographic imaging (OTI) with a camera positioned directly above the surgical field to perform rapid registration from a pre-operative CT scan onto anatomical landmarks with zero intra-operative radiation exposure. This current technology requires an open approach with well-exposed bony anatomy, raising concerns about using the 7D Surgical System in revision surgery, where typical anatomical landmarks may be altered, missing, or obscured by prior hardware. To overcome this, the 7D Surgical System is capable of registering off prior hardware. Here, we present the first published report of 7D Surgical System’s registration off prior hardware in a revision spinal fusion. The registration was accurate, and the workflow was easy and efficient with one registration required for 3 levels of instrumentation and discectomy/corpectomy. This demonstrates that the 7D Surgical System can be used in revision cases with altered, missing, or obscured anatomy.     

Epidemiology and Clinical Patterns of Ocular Trauma at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Korea

BackgroundTo evaluate the patterns of distribution and clinical manifestations of ocular injuries referred to the level 1 trauma center of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH) in Korea.MethodsWe analyzed 254 of 4,287 patients who were referred to the Department of Ophthalmology at the level 1 trauma center of the PNUH, from January 2016 through December 2018. Data on the incidence of ocular injuries, sex, age, monthly and seasonal distribution, day and time of injury, side of injury, cause, residence of patients, referral time to an ophthalmologist and subsequent examination time, final visual acuity (VA), and complications were obtained from medical records and retrospectively reviewed. The patients were grouped according to their main diagnosis using the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETTS) and Ocular Trauma Score (OTS).ResultsThe incidence of ocular injuries with major trauma was higher in men (n = 207, 81.5%), the median age at time of injury was 54 years, and Pusan recorded the most cases. The incidences of ocular injury were 1.47/100,000, 1.57/100,000, 1.48/100,000 in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The most common cause was by a motorbike accident, followed by a pedestrian traffic accident and falls. According to the BETTS classification, open-globe injuries represented 4% of cases, closed-globe injuries represented 12.6%, and other injuries represented 83.1%. Open-globe injuries were significantly associated with low final VA (P = 0.01). In the OTS, 79.4% of patients received 4 or 5 points and 13.7% of patients received 1 or 2 points. The patients who received 1 or 2 points in the OTS score showed final VA below hand movement (P < 0.001), except for two patients. Lid laceration and low initial VA were highly correlated with poor final VA (P < 0.001).ConclusionThis is the first study on the epidemiology and clinical manifestations in trauma patients with ocular injuries at a level 1 trauma center. The incidences of ocular injuries with major trauma were about 1.47–1.57/100,000. BETTS, OTS, lid laceration and initial VA were associated with final VA. We expect our study to provide a basis of data for the evaluation, prevention, and management of ocular injuries in patients with systemic trauma.     

Zebris下颌运动分析系统的应用与研究现状

下颌运动轨迹记录是一项重要的临床技术,它能够帮助医师了解下颌运动的过程及原理,诊断疾病及评估干预手段的疗效。Zebris下颌运动分析系统作为近年来逐渐推广应用的下颌运动轨迹记录系统,具有其特殊的优势。本文对Zebris下颌运动分析系统的工作原理及方式进行了介绍,并综述其应用。     

壶腹周围癌危险因素的病例对照研究

目的：探讨壶腹周围癌发病的相关危险因素,为有效预防和控制壶腹周围癌提供理论依据。 方法：采用1:1配对病例对照研究,收集湖南省人民医院肝胆外科2003—2014年间122例壶腹周围癌患者（病例组）和同期122例非肿瘤、非消化系统疾病患者（对照组）,对可能的危险因素进行条件Logistic回归分析。 结果：在控制了混杂因素后,壶腹周围癌的危险因素为吸烟、饮酒及乙肝感染。其结果为,随着每日吸烟量（支）的增加壶腹周围癌的患病率随之增加,其中现在不吸烟者、<20支/d、20~39支/d、≥40支/d者的优势比（OR）分别为0.450（95% CI=0.205~0.988）、0.500（95% CI=0.092~2.730）、 2.571（95% CI=1.074~6.156）、3.000（95% CI=0.312~28.841）;每日饮酒<40 g、40~99 g、≥100 g者患壶腹周围癌的OR值分别为3.000（95% CI=0.312~28.841）、65.289（95% CI=0.006~70.239）、4.50（95% CI=0.972~20.827）;乙肝感染者患壶腹周围癌的危险性是无乙肝病史者的3.25倍（95% CI= 1.060~9.967）。 结论：大量吸烟、饮酒以及乙肝感染是壶腹周围癌的危险因素。     

Urinary endometriosis: MR Imaging appearance with surgical and histological correlations

ObjectivesThe goals of the study were to describe the MR imaging features of endometriosis of the urinary tract and identify those that suggest intrinsic involvement of ureteric wall.Materials and methodsThirty-five women with proven urinary tract endometriosis and who had preoperative MR imaging between 2001 and 2011 were included retrospectively. MR images were intrepreted by one junior and one senior radiologists. To characterize the intrinsic parietal involvement, the ureteric circumference involved by the lesion of endometriosis was noted.ResultsThirty-eight ureteric and 13 bladder lesions were analyzed. They were found in association in nine women. Ureteric lesions were bilateral in seven women. Of the 38 ureteric lesions, 27 were extrinsic and 11 intrinsic at histopathological analysis. Sixteen women with extrinsic lesions and 10 with intrinsic ones were correctly identified on MR imaging. When the ureter was included less than 360° in the lesion, extrinsic involvement was confirmed in 80% of cases.ConclusionMR imaging appears to be more sensitive (91%vs 82%) but less specific (59% vs 67%) than surgery for the diagnosis of intrinsic form of ureteric location.