Sensitivity to mechanical stimuli and the role of general sensory and perceptual processes in heartbeat detection

Sensitivity to heartbeat sensations is commonly assessed using tasks that require individuals to judge the simultaneity of heartbeats and tones. In two experiments, we investigated the suitability of this paradigm for examining cardioception. In the first experiment, participants judged the simultaneity of near–threshold vibrations and suprathreshold tones. Precision in judging vibration–tone simultaneity was directly related to the detectability of the mechanical stimuli, thereby supporting use of the simultaneity paradigm to assess heartbeat detection. In the second experiment, we examined the influences of sensitivity to mechanical stimuli and the ability to make intermodality simultaneity judgments on the precision of heartbeat detection. We measured participants' vibrotactile thresholds, precision in judging light–tone simultaneity, and precision in judging heartbeat–tone simultaneity. The ability to judge the simultaneity of lights and tones accounted for 24.3% of the variance in precision of heartbeat detection, and mechanical sensitivity accounted for a further 8.5%.     

Number of cortisol time-points and dexamethasone suppression test sensitivity for major depression

Failure to suppress cortisol secretion after administration of dexamethasone has been reported to be a diagnostic marker for major depression and to have prognostic implications when repeated after antidepressant treatment. The pulsatile pattern of cortisol secretion suggested to us that increasing the number of post-dexamethasone cortisol determinations might significantly increase the sensitivity of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for major depression. With a conventional two-point DST (1600 h and midnight), 5% of 20 normal volunteers, 8% of 13 inpatients with non-major depressions, and 31% of 65 inpatients with primary major depression failed to suppress. With six post-dexamethasone points (0800 h, 1200 h, 1600 h, 2000 h, 2200 h, midnight), the respective percentages were 10, 15 and 44%. The additional points increased the sensitivity from 31 to 44%, mostly by identifying more major depressives with a "late escape" pattern. If a clinician is using the DST to establish a marker for major depression that can be repeated to monitor response to treatment and the likelihood of relapse, then perhaps the increased sensitivity of the six-point DST would be helpful, despite a modest decrease in specificity from 94 to 88%.     

白色念珠菌对五种抗真菌药物体外敏感性研究

目的了解白色念珠菌对常用抗真菌药物的敏感性情况,为临床正确选择抗真菌药物和有效控制该菌引起的感染提供依据。方法采用美国国家临床实验标准委员会(NCCLS)推荐的微量肉汤稀释法,测定从临床标本中分离的102株白色念珠菌对五种抗真菌药的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)。结果酮康唑、氟胞嘧啶和伊曲康唑对102株白色念珠菌MIC较低,其MIC90分别为0.25μg/ml、0.5μg/ml和0.5μg/ml。两性霉素B和氟康唑MIC90分别为2μg/ml和8μg/ml。受试菌对氟胞嘧啶敏感率最高为100%,对氟康唑和伊曲康唑的敏感率分别为88.3%和75.5%。对氟康唑耐药的9株菌株也同时对伊曲康唑耐药。结论受试白色念珠菌对氟胞嘧啶敏感率最高,未发现耐药菌株;酮康唑对受试菌抗菌活性最强,对唑类药物存在耐药性,且该类药物之间存在交叉耐药。     

影响柴油低温流动改进剂作用的因素

考察了柴油对流动改进剂的感受性与柴油正构烷烃含量、正构烷烃分布等因素的关系。流动改进剂的作用与正构烷烃含量有最佳匹配点。柴油中正构烷烃的平均碳数减少,冷滤点越低。柴油中正构烷烃的分布与流动改进剂的熔点匹配时,改进剂的效果最好。由此进一步分析了柴油流动改进剂的作用机理。     

糖尿病对白内障超声乳化术后角膜知觉改变的影响

目的 探讨糖尿病对白内障超声乳化吸除术后角膜知觉改变的影响。方法 选择行白内障超声乳化吸除手术的糖尿病患者42例（42只眼）,不伴有糖尿病的患者46例（46只眼）,分别观察白内障超声乳化手术前、术后1天、术后1周、术后1个月、术后3个月、术后6个月的角膜知觉。结果 与术前相比,糖尿病白内障患者角膜知觉在术后1天、术后1周、术后1个月、术后3个月明显降低,差异有显著性,术后6个月接近术前水平;不伴糖尿病的白内障患者角膜知觉在术后1天、术后1周、术后1个月降低,差异有显著性,术后3个月接近术前水平。两组患者术前角膜知觉比较,差异有显著性;术后角膜知觉最大降幅比较,差异有显著性。结论 糖尿病可降低患者的角膜知觉,增大白内障手术后角膜知觉的降幅,延长角膜知觉的恢复时间。     

518例泌尿生殖支原体感染的分类及药敏结果

应用支原体药敏试剂盒检测出的 5 18例支原体感染病例中 ,溶脲脲原体 (Uu)培养阳性为 30 8例 ,占5 9 4% ;人型支原体 (Mh)阳性 2 1例 ,占 4 1% ;Uu合并Mh感染者 189例 ,占 36 5 %。对大环内脂类的红霉素 (ery thromycin,Ery)、罗红霉素 (roxithromycin ,Rox)、交沙霉素 (josamycin ,Jos)、阿齐霉素 (azithromycin ,Azi)、四环素类的强力霉素 (doxycycline ,Dox)、美满霉素 (mincon ,Min)、喹诺酮类的氧氟沙星 (ofloxacin ,of1)、环丙沙星 (cipofloxacin ,Cip)等 8种抗生素进行药敏检测 ,发现Uu与Mh感染者对抗生素的敏感性有差异 ,Uu对大环内脂类较为敏感 ,Mh对喹诺酮类较为敏感 ,Uu合并Mh感染者对多种抗生素表现出耐药性。     

Trends of Prosthetic Joint Infection Organisms and Recurrence for a Single High-Volume Arthroplasty Surgeon Over 20 Years

BackgroundProsthetic joint infection (PJI) is a morbid complication following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). PJI diagnosis and treatment has changed over time, and patient co-management with a high-volume musculoskeletal infectious disease (MSK ID) specialist has been implemented at our institution in the last decade.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated all consecutive TJA patients treated for PJI between 1995 and 2018 by a single high-volume revision TJA surgeon. Microbial identities, antibiotic resistance, prior PJI, and MSK ID consultation were investigated.ResultsIn total, 261 PJI patients (median age 66 years, interquartile range 57-75) were treated. One-year and 5-year reinfection rates were 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.6-20.7) and 22.1% (95% CI 17.0-27.7), respectively. Microbial identities and antibiotic resistances did not change significantly over time. Despite seeing more prior PJI patients (53.3% vs 37.6%, P = .012), MSK ID-managed patients had similar infection rates as non-MSK ID-managed patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% CI 0.6-1.75, P = .93). Prior PJI was associated with higher reinfection risk (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.39-4.12, P = .002) overall and in patients without MSK ID consultation, specifically (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.37-5.65, P = .005). This risk was somewhat lower and did not reach significance in prior PJI patients with MSK ID consultation (HR 1.97, 95% CI 0.87-4.48, P = .106).ConclusionWe noted minimal differences in microbial/antibiotic resistances for PJI over 20 years in a single institution, suggesting current standards of PJI treatment remain encouragingly valid in most cases. MSK ID involvement was not associated with lower reinfection risk overall; however, in patients with prior PJI, the risk of reinfection appeared to be somewhat lower with MSK ID involvement.Level of EvidenceLevel IV–Case Series.     

The Functional Status of the ACL in Varus OA of the Knee: The Association With Varus Deformity and Coronal Tibiofemoral Subluxation

BackgroundThe present article analyzes the association of the functional anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) status and the overall varus deformity and coronal tibiofemoral subluxation (CTFS) in varus OA of the knee.MethodsOne hundred consecutive knees with varus OA in 84 patients were prospectively included. Knees were divided into two groups, in accordance with the ACL status (functionally sufficient or insufficient). All included patients were potential candidates for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with predominantly medial compartment OA. Knees with Kellgren/Lawrence ≥ grade 3 in the lateral compartment were excluded leaving 79 knees to be included in this study. Mechanical varus deformity and CTFS were evaluated on AP radiographs and valgus stress radiographs, and compared between the two groups.ResultsKnees with a functionally insufficient ACL had significantly more varus deformity on hip-to-ankle AP standing radiographs (P = .001) and on valgus stress radiographs (P = .017). CTFS on AP standing radiographs was significantly higher (P = .045) in knees with a functionally insufficient ACL. Seventy-three percent (8/11) of the ACL-insufficient knees had a varus deformity of ≥10° and 64% (7/11) of ACL-insufficient knees had CTFS ≥ 6mm. By contrast, only one patient (2%, 1/41) with an insufficient ACL had< 10° varus deformity and a CTFS of < 6mm.ConclusionFunctional ACL insufficiency in osteoarthritic varus knees is associated with greater varus deformity and more advanced CTFS. Seventy-three percent of ACL-insufficient knees had a varus deformity of ≥10° and 64% of ACL-insufficient knees a CTFS of ≥ 6mm. In the work-up for medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, functional ACL insufficiency is likely in knees with varus deformity of ≥10° and CTFS of ≥ 6mm.     

A Prophylactic Tibial Stem Reduces Rates of Early Aseptic Loosening in Patients with Severe Preoperative Varus Deformity in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundPatients with a preoperative varus deformity >8 degrees are at increased risk of aseptic loosening after total knee arthroplasty. This study analyzes the effect of a tibial stem on the rate of aseptic loosening in patients with a severe preoperative varus deformity.MethodsPatients with a preoperative varus deformity of >8 degrees and 2-year minimum follow-up with a stemmed tibial component (n = 67) were matched 1:2 to patients with a similar preoperative varus deformity with a standard tibial component (n = 134). Radiolucent lines were measured on the tibia at 6 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively using the Knee Society Radiographic Evaluation System. Failure was defined as revision due to aseptic loosening of the tibial component. Outcomes were evaluated using Student’s t-tests and log-rank tests.ResultsPatients with tibial stems had greater preoperative deformity (12.9 vs 11.3 degrees, P = .004). There was no difference in postoperative alignment (1.7 vs 2.1 degrees varus, P = .25) or tibial component angle (1.8 vs 2.1 degrees varus, P = .33). Patients with stems were more likely to have more constraint (44.8% vs 1.5%, P < .001). Progression of radiolucent lines >2 mm was observed in 17.6% (23/134) vs 5.97% (4/67) of patients in the stem group (P = .03). Rates of aseptic loosening were lower in the stem group (0% vs 5.15%, P = .05).ConclusionDespite worse preoperative deformity and higher utilization of constraint, tibial stem use in patients with severe preoperative varus deformity resulted in lower rates of aseptic loosening. Prophylactic use of stems in these patients may help increase implant survival.     

Alignment in Medial Fixed-Bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: The Limb Has a Leg Up on the Component

BackgroundTo assess how implant alignment affects unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) outcome, we compared tibial component alignment of well-functioning UKAs against 2 groups of failed UKAs, revised for progression of lateral compartment arthritis (“Progression”) and aseptic loosening (“Loosening”).MethodsWe identified 37 revisions for Progression and 61 revisions for Loosening from our prospective institutional database of 3351 medial fixed-bearing UKAs performed since 2000. Revision cohorts were matched on age, gender, body mass index, and postoperative range of motion with “Successful” unrevised UKAs with minimum 10-year follow-up and Knee Society Score ≥70. Tibial component coronal (TCA) and sagittal (TSA) plane alignment was measured on postoperative radiographs. Limb alignment was quantified by hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle on long-leg radiographs. In addition to directly comparing groups, a multivariate logistic regression examined how limb and component alignments were associated with UKA revision.ResultsIn the Progression group, component alignment was similar to the matched successes (TCA 3.6° ± 3.5° varus vs 5.1° ± 3.5° varus, P = .07; TSA 8.4° ± 4.4° vs 8.8° ± 3.6°, P = .67), whereas HKA angle was significantly more valgus (0.3° ± 3.6° valgus vs 4.4° ± 2.6° varus, P < .001). Loosening group component alignment was also similar to the matched successes (TCA 6.1° ± 3.7° varus vs 5.9° ± 3.1° varus, P = .72; TSA 8.4° ± 4.6° vs 8.1° ± 3.9°, P = .68), and HKA was significantly more varus (6.1° ± 3.1° varus vs 4.0° ± 2.7° varus, P < .001). Using a multivariate logistic regression, HKA angle was the most significant factor associated with revision (P < .001).ConclusionIn this population of revised UKAs and long-term successes, limb alignment was a more important determinant of outcome than tibial component alignment.Level of EvidenceLevel III case-control study.