Anticipatory representations of reward and threat in perceptual areas from preadolescence to late adolescence

This study examined whether changes in perceptual processes can partially account for the increase in reward-orientated behaviour during adolescence. This was investigated by examining reinforcement-dependent potentiation to discriminative stimuli (S^D) that predicted rewarding or threatening outcomes. To that end, perceptual event-related potentials that are modulated by motivationally salient stimuli, the N170 and Late Positive Potential (LPP), were recorded from 30 preadolescents (9–12 years), 30 adolescents (13–17 years), and 34 late adolescents (18–23 years) while they completed an instrumental task in which they emitted or omitted a motor response to obtain rewards and avoid losses. The LPP, but not the N170, showed age, but not gender, differences in reinforcement-dependent potentiation; preadolescents, adolescents, and late adolescents showed potentiation to S^D that predicted a threat, whereas only preadolescents showed potentiation to S^D that predicted a reward. Notably, the magnitude of threat-related LPP reinforcement-dependent potentiation decreased during the course of adolescence. In addition, greater sensation seeking was associated with greater LPP amplitudes in preadolescent males, but smaller LPP amplitudes in late adolescent males. Critically, these findings provide initial evidence for developmental differences in value-related coding in perceptual areas, where adolescents show greater perceptual biases to avoidance-related cues than to reward-related cues.     

两种腹腔镜手术路径治疗儿童肾上腺区神经母细胞瘤的经验总结

目的评估两种腹腔镜手术路径治疗儿童肾上腺区神经母细胞瘤的可靠性及安全性。方法回顾性分析2018年2月至2020年8月江西省儿童医院9例腹腔镜下行手术治疗的肾上腺区神经母细胞瘤患儿临床资料,其中男6例,女3例;年龄1个月至5岁5个月,平均年龄22个月。6例为右侧肾上腺区神经母细胞瘤,3例为左侧肾上腺区神经母细胞瘤。临床表现:2例为腹痛,1例为血尿,1例为腹泻,1例为腹胀,4例为体检发现。结果9例术前经增强CT及彩超检查诊断为肾上腺区肿瘤,与周围脏器无浸润,下腔静脉无瘤栓;8例无淋巴结及远处转移,1例肝脏转移;内分泌检查均为无功能性肿瘤。9例中7例经腹腔途径手术,2例经腹膜后途径手术;9例均顺利、完整切除肿瘤,无一例中转开放手术,平均手术(腹腔镜操作)时间137 min,平均出血16.3 mL(5~40 mL),1例输血100 mL,肿瘤平均直径4.3 cm(2.5~5.4 cm)。术后病理检查结果:5例神经母细胞瘤,3例节细胞神经母细胞瘤,1例节细胞神经瘤。术后均恢复良好,Ⅰ期病例未行化疗,Ⅳ期肝脏转移病例术后予化疗,平均随访时间8.6个月(2~35个月),无一例复发。结论两种腹腔镜手术路径切除儿童肾上腺区神经母细胞瘤均安全、有效,腹膜后途径在显露及血管处理上更具优势,腹腔途径在操作空间上更具优势。     

A multidimensional examination of affective and cognitive empathy in anorexia nervosa

Socio-emotional features are crucial in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN). The present study investigates the patterns of altered and preserved empathic abilities in AN. Empathy is an umbrella term that comprises the ability to recognise another's emotional state, take another's perspective, and fantasise (cognitive empathy), as well as the ability to experience vicarious emotions and signal them (affective empathy). These empathic abilities were measured in 43 AN patients and 33 healthy women through a multi-method approach comprising self-report measures, behavioural tasks and bodily correlates. Further, we assessed self-reported approach-avoidance attitudes towards suffering others. Results showed that, within the domain of cognitive empathy, AN patients reported impairment in recognising emotional expressions of anger and fantasising. Concerning affective empathy, they manifested lower sharing of others’ positive emotions, higher self-reported distress, and higher facial expressiveness during a video depicting a suffering person. Finally, AN patients reported lower motivation to approach suffering others. Our results draw a complex picture of preserved and altered empathic abilities in AN and capture which are the deficits mediated by the higher levels of anxiety and depression reported by the AN population and those that seem to persist independently from these co-morbid conditions.     

A Comparison of Outcomes between the Wiltse Approach with Pedicle Screw Fixation and the Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for Multi-Segmental Thoracolumbar Fractures

Objective

Multi-segmental thoracolumbar fracture (MSF) generally refers to fractures occurring in two or more segments of the thoracolumbar spine. With the development of minimally invasive concept, there is little research on its application in the field of MSF. The purpose of this study is to compare two minimally invasive surgical techniques and determine which one is more suitable for treating patients with neurologically intact MSF.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 MSF patients with intact nerves who were admitted from January 2017 to February 2019. Among them, 25 cases underwent percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF), and 24 cases underwent Wiltse approach pedicle screw fixation (WAPSF). The operation time, number of fixed segments, blood loss, length of incision, postoperative ambulation time, accuracy of pedicle screw placement, facet joint violation (FJV), number of C-arm exposures, as well as pre- and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), local Cobb's angle (LCA), and percentage of anterior vertebral body height (PAVBH) were recorded for both groups. Paired sample t-test was used for intra-group comparison before and after surgery while independent sample t-test was used for inter-group comparison.

Results

The differences in the number of fixed segments, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative bed time, accuracy rate of pedicle screw placement, VAS, and ODI between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the operative time and total surgical incision length were significantly shorter in the WAPSF group than in the PPSF group (p < 0.05), and the FJV was significantly higher in the PPSF group than in the WAPSF group (p < 0.05). Also, the PPSF group received more intraoperative fluoroscopy (p < 0.05). The result of LCA and PAVBH in the WAPSF group were significantly better than in the PPSF group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Both PPSF and WAPSF were found to be safe and effective in the treatment of MSF without neurological deficits through our study. However, considering radiation exposure, FJV, vertebral height restoration, correction of kyphosis, and learning curve, WAPSF may be a better choice for neurologically intact MSF.     

留置途径对中心静脉导管感染的影响

目的探讨不同留置途径对中心静脉导管相关性感染的影响。方法对重症监护病房采用不同途径留置中心静脉导管的患者进行回顾性分析,比较经不同途径留置中心静脉置管而发生感染的差异。结果股静脉发生感染率最高（31．2％）,锁骨下和颈内静脉置管发生感染率次之（13．7％、15．4％）,经外周静脉置管发生感染率最低（3．8％）,三者差异有显著性（P〈0．01）,并且感染的致病菌以革兰氏阳性菌为主。结论中心静脉置管的感染与留置途径有明显的相关性,采用外周静脉置管途径可以明显降低中心静脉置管的感染率。     

Associated both-column acetabular fracture: An overview of operative steps and surgical technique

The management of both-column fractures of the acetabulum is challenging for the orthopaedic surgeon. Operative treatment is usually recommended in this particular fracture pattern, as residual joint surface displacement has been shown to increase local contact stress, drastically leading to rapid cartilage destruction. In this review, we present an overview of operative steps and surgical technique for both-column acetabular fracture reconstruction. Therefore, we demonstrate how correct understanding of fracture morphology and displacement, preoperative preparation, including choice of approach and patient positioning, reduction strategies, and programmed sequential fixation, starting from superior fracture lines on the anterior acetabular column and ending on the posterior components of this fracture type, may provide satisfactory outcomes in this difficult acetabular fracture pattern.