Physiological evaluation of gait disturbances post stroke.

A large proportion of stroke survivors have to deal with problems in mobility. Proper evaluations must be undertaken to understand the sensorimotor impairments underlying locomotor disorders post stroke, so that evidence-based interventions can be developed. The current electrophysiological, biomechanical, and imagery evaluations that provide insight into locomotor dysfunction post stroke, as well as their advantages and limitations, are reviewed in this paper. In particular, electrophysiological evaluations focus on the contrast of electromyographic patterns and integrity of spinal reflex pathways during perturbed and unperturbed locomotion between persons with stroke and healthy individuals. At a behavioral level, biomechanical evaluations that include temporal distance factors, kinematic and kinetic analyses, as well as the mechanical energy and metabolic cost, are useful when combined with electrophysiological measures for the interpretation of gait disturbances that are related to the control of the central nervous system or secondary to biomechanical constraints. Finally, current methods in imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation can provide further insight into cortical control of locomotion and the integrity of the corticospinal pathways.     

In vitro studies on the effect of delaminated a-C:H film fragments on bone marrow cell cultures

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) films have many outstanding properties required for a protective coating material on load bearing medical implants. Recently, titanium doped a-C:H films have been evaluated regarding their effects on bone marrow cell cultures. But many materials that are well-tolerated in bulk form are able to induce toxic reaction if present particulate form. In order to further assess biocompatibility aspects of these two coatings, film delamination has been mimicked in exposure to fluids. In the present study, particles from a-C:H, a-C:H/Ti and a-C:H-a-C:H/Ti bilayer films were added to bone marrow cell cultures in vitro. The results showed that plain a-C:H and to a certain extent a-CH/Ti particles were inert. Both kinds of particles did not significantly stimulate the osteoclast-related enzyme tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). A slight increase in cell proliferation and total culture TRAP was found in cultures treated by a-C:H-a-C:H/Ti bilayer films. Latter effect can probably be traced back by the relative high percentage of small particles of a size of around 2 microm. However, if corrected by the cell number also no differences between particle-treated and untreated control cultures could be found, indicating the absence of a toxic effect from delaminated a-C:H coatings.     

Changes in Avidity and Level of Immunoglobulin G Antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Sera of Patients Undergoing Treatment for Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Much is known about specific antibodies and their titers in patients with tuberculosis. However, little is known about the avidity of these antibodies or whether changes in avidity occur during the progression of the disease or during treatment. The aims of this study were to determine the avidity of antibodies to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, to explore the value of avidity determination for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, and to study changes in levels of antibodies and their avidity during treatment. Antibody avidity was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with thiocyanate elution. Avidity indices and serum levels of immunoglobulin G to M. tuberculosis were determined for 22 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis before and during treatment and for 24 patients with other pulmonary diseases. Antibody levels and avidity were both significantly higher in untreated tuberculosis patients than in the controls. Avidity determination had more diagnostic potential than determination of the antibody levels. Tuberculosis patients with a long duration of symptoms had higher antibody avidity than those with a recent onset of symptoms, indicating affinity maturation of specific antibodies during active disease. In the early phase of treatment, a decrease in antibody avidity was observed for 73% of all tuberculosis patients, accompanied by an initial increase in antibody levels in 36% of these patients. These phenomena could be explained by an intense stimulation of the humoral response by antigens released from killed bacteria, reflecting early bactericidal activity of antituberculous drugs leading to the production of low-affinity antibodies against these released antigens.     

Early effects of aldosterone on the basolateral potassium conductance of A6 cells

Summary Aldosterone increases the basolateral conductance in target epithelia. The basolateral membrane of tight epithelia contains two different types of K⁺ conductances (G_K), a resting and a volume-activated G_K. We have studied the early effects (at 4 hours) of 500 nmol/l aldosterone on the basolateral membrane G_k of A6 cells (a Xenopus laevis kidney cell line), after the permeabilization of the apical membrane with amphotericin B. In the presence of a 97 to 3 mmol/l apical to basolateral K⁺ gradient, the resting, inward rectifying G_K was similar in control and aldosterone treated cells. In contrast, aldosterone induced a 2-fold increase of the volume-activated quinidine sensitive G_K.     

Chest radiography in general practice: indications, diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management

BACKGROUND: Chest radiography (CXR) is frequently performed in Western societies. There is insufficient knowledge of its diagnostic value in terms of changes in patient management decisions in primary care. AIM: To assess the influence of CXR on patient management in general practice. DESIGN OF STUDY: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Seventy-eight GPs and three general hospitals in the Netherlands. METHOD: Patients (n = 792) aged > or =18 years referred by their GPs for CXR were included. The main outcome was change in patient management assessed by means of questionnaires filled in by GPs before and after CXR. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 57.3+/-16.2 years and 53% were male. Clinically relevant abnormalities were found in 24% of the CXRs. Patient management changed in 60% of the patients following CXR. Main changes included: fewer referrals to a medical specialist (from 26 to 12%); reduction in initiation or change in therapy (from 24 to 15%); and more frequent reassurance (from 25 to 46%). However, this reassurance was not perceived as such in a quarter of these patients. A change in patient management occurred significantly more frequently in patients with complaints of cough (67%), those who exhibited abnormalities during physical examination (69%), or those with a suspected diagnosis of pneumonia (68%). CONCLUSION: Patient management by the GP changed in 60% of patients following CXR. CXR substantially reduced the number of referrals and initiation or change in therapy, and more patients were reassured by their GP. Thus, CXR is an important diagnostic tool for GPs and seems a cost-effective diagnostic test.     

Clericuzio type poikiloderma with neutropenia is distinct from Rothmund-Thomson syndrome

Two siblings from a consanguineous family presented with a poikiloderma of limbs and face, plantar keratoderma, and toenail pachyonychia. Neutropenia and neutrophil dysfunction with impairment of the respiratory burst and bacterial killing resulted in frequent respiratory tract infections. A bronchocentric granulomatous pneumonia was a fatal complication. The clinical presentation is consistent with Clericuzio type poikiloderma with neutropenia. Literature review identified several additional probable patients. Genetic linkage analysis excluded the locus of the RECQL4 gene, mutations in which have been described in some patients with the Rothmund-Thomson poikiloderma syndrome. This report confirms the clinical and genetic identity of the Clericuzio type of poikiloderma with neutropenia syndrome.     

Interleukin 6 production in the central nervous system during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Interleukin 6 (IL6) is one of the major inflammation-associated cytokines. Elevated serum or tissue levels of IL6 have been reported to occur in several human diseases, including infections of the central nervous system (CNS), but not in non-infectious CNS inflammation, e.g. multiple sclerosis. While studying experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as an animal model for autoimmune inflammation of the CNS, we found increased IL6 levels in the CNS of mice suffering from a lethal form of the disease. IL6 levels in the spleens and sera were not significantly increased. These findings are indicative of local production of IL6 in the CNS during EAE, and represent the first demonstration of IL6 production in non-infectious CNS inflammatory disease.     

Patient and public involvement cultures and the perceived impact in the vulnerable context of palliative care: A qualitative study

BackgroundCultural values are crucial to the practice and impact of patient and public involvement (PPI) in research.ObjectiveTo understand different PPI cultures among research teams and the impacts of PPI associated with each culture type.DesignA participatory action research design.Setting and participantsThe setting was 10 palliative care research projects. Seventeen patients and members of the public and 31 researchers participated.InterventionA programme consisting of four components: (1) training and coaching of patients and the public to prepare them for participation in research, (2) tailored coaching of the 10 research teams over 12‐18 months, (3) a community of practice, and (4) a qualitative evaluation.ResultsWe identified three cultures types: relationship cultures, task cultures, and control cultures. We identified four areas of impact: the project aim became more relevant to the target audience, methodological reliability increased, the research products were better able to reach the public, and the awareness increased, associated with behavioural changes, among researchers regarding PPI.DiscussionA relationship culture appears to be long‐lasting due to impacting the behaviours of the researchers during future projects. Different cultural types require different types of patients and researcher participants, assigned to different tasks.ConclusionsFurther research remains necessary to investigate the support required by researchers to enable relationship‐ and task‐oriented PPI cultures.Patient or public contributionPatient advocates and representatives contributed to our research team throughout the entire research process, as well as within the 10 implementation projects.     

Prognostic factors associated with survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolisation: an Australian multicenter cohort study

Aim: Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is recommended therapy for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the wide variations in outcom...