Fe3O4@Au core–shell hybrid nanocomposite for MRI-guided magnetic targeted photo-chemotherapy

Lasers in Medical Science - The combination of multiple therapeutic and diagnostic functions is fast becoming a key feature in the area of clinical oncology. The advent of nanotechnology promises...     

Re-recession of the lateral rectus muscles in patients with recurrent exotropia.

PURPOSE: We undertook a retrospective evaluation of changes in deviation and ocular motility after surgical rerecession of the lateral rectus (LR) muscles as a treatment for recurrent exotropia (XT). METHODS: We describe 16 consecutive patients (age 6 to 35 years; median, 10 years; 13 children and 3 adults) with an average amount of recurrent alignment, amount of rerecession, distance from insertion to the limbus, postoperative alignment, and versions. RESULTS: In most cases, bilateral LR muscles were rerecessed to a distance of 15 mm from the limbus, but in 5 cases with larger amount of deviation, these muscles were rerecessed to 17 mm from the limbus. A relation was found between the amount of rerecession and change in far alignment in prism diopters (r=0.46, P=0.07), but not for near deviation. The success rate (esotropia相似文献   

传统与欠矫手术治疗部分调节性内斜视的比较

目的：评估传统与欠矫手术治疗部分调节性内斜视患者的效果。 方法：将25例具有部分调节性内斜视和正常AC／A的患者随机分为两组，其中13例患者接受传统手术治疗，其余12例患者接受欠矫手术治疗。传统手术是基于远距远视完全矫正所测量的偏差上，而欠矫手术比传统手术标准低20％。所有患者均进行对称性双眼内直肌后退术，术后随访6mo。 结果：术后6mo，传统组与欠矫组手术成功率分别为46％和91％（成功标准定义为通过近距和远距远视的完全矫正斜视≤8^△）。传统组和欠矫组的手术过矫率分别为54％和9％，两组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。没有残余内斜视。手术成功率或欠矫率与患者的年龄、术前等效球镜均值、术前眼偏斜量无相关性。 结论：对于具有正常AC／A的部分调节性内斜视患者，欠矫的双眼内直肌后退术成功率较高，过矫率较低。     

Tarsal resection operation in correction of severe unilateral blepharoptosis with poor levator function

There are many options for surgical repair of congenital unilateral ptosis with poor levator function. We performed resection of tarsus, Müller muscle, and conjunctiva in conjunction with an intraoperative adjustable levator resection. Resection of tarsus, Müller muscle, and conjunctiva in conjunction with levator resection was performed in a prospective series of 17 consecutive patients with unilateral ptosis with poor levator function over a 2-year period. Pre- and postoperative upper eyelid margin to reflex distance, degree of levator function, amount of operative tarsus and Müller muscle resection, postoperative eyelid symmetry, and postoperative complications were evaluated. Mean preoperative upper eyelid margin to reflex distance was 0.11 mm. Mean postoperative upper eyelid margin to reflex distance was 3.20 mm. Improved postoperative eyelid symmetry within 1.0 and 1.5 mm was demonstrated in most of our cases (58% and 76%, respectively). The major complication has been exposure keratitis. Resection of tarsus, Müller muscle, and conjunctiva combined with adjustable levator resection can correct severe unilateral ptosis with poor levator function.     

Influence of vibration on delayed onset of muscle soreness following eccentric exercise

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which may occur after eccentric exercise, may cause some reduction in ability in sport activities. For this reason, several studies have been designed on preventing and controlling DOMS. As vibration training (VT) may improve muscle performance, we designed this study to investigate the effect of VT on controlling and preventing DOMS after eccentric exercise.

Methods

Fifty healthy non‐athletic volunteers were assigned randomly into two experimental, VT (n = 25) and non‐VT (n = 25) groups. A vibrator was used to apply 50 Hz vibration on the left and right quadriceps, hamstring and calf muscles for 1 min in the VT group, while no vibration was applied in the non‐VT group. Then, both groups walked downhill on a 10° declined treadmill at a speed of 4 km/hour. The measurements included the isometric maximum voluntary contraction force (IMVC) of left and right quadriceps muscles, pressure pain threshold (PPT) 5, 10 and 15 cm above the patella and mid‐line of the calf muscles of both lower limbs before and the day after treadmill walking. After 24 hours, the serum levels of creatine‐kinase (CK), and DOMS level by visual analogue scale were measured.

Results

The results showed decreased IMVC force (P = 0.006), reduced PPT (P = 0.0001) and significantly increased mean of DOMS and CK levels in the non‐VT group, compared to the VT group (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

A comparison by experimental groups indicates that VT before eccentric exercise may prevent and control DOMS. Further studies should be undertaken to ascertain the stability and effectiveness of VT in athletics.     

The effect of infrared laser on sensory radial nerve electrophysiological parameters

OBJECTS: It has been claimed that laser may have bio-stimulation effect on the nerve tissues. This study has been designed to investigate the effect of different doses of infra-red (IR) laser exposure on the electrophysiological parameters of sensory nerves. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Forty healthy subjects (20-35 years old) with no history of neurological conditions participated in this study. IR laser (780 nm, 20 mw) was applied over five blocks (1 cm2 each and 0.5 J/cm2) of 5 cm length of the left and right superficial radial nerve. The IR laser radiation was started from proximal to distal in the right hand and vise versa in the left hand. Antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocity was evaluated before and after first (0.5 J), third (1.5 J) and fifth (2.5 J) exposures. During the test, we measured the onset and peak latency, amplitude and duration of sensory action potentials. RESULTS: Paired t-test was used to assess the difference between pre- test and post- test data. After IR laser exposure with all doses, significant increased in latencies was observed (P < 0.001), while significant decreased in amplitude and duration was found only in the group who received the doses of 1.5 and 2.5 J of exposure (P < 0.001). There was no difference between right and left hands. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the minimal dose of IR laser may not produce enough effects on the sensory nerves, while the higher doses such as 1.5 and 2.5 J may activate the mechanism of nerve blockage.     

传统与欠矫手术治疗部分调节性内斜视的比较(英文)

目的:评估传统与欠矫手术治疗部分调节性内斜视患者的效果。方法:将25例具有部分调节性内斜视和正常AC/A的患者随机分为两组,其中13例患者接受传统手术治疗,其余12例患者接受欠矫手术治疗。传统手术是基于远距远视完全矫正所测量的偏差上,而欠矫手术比传统手术标准低20%。所有患者均进行对称性双眼内直肌后退术,术后随访6mo。结果:术后6mo,传统组与欠矫组手术成功率分别为46%和91%(成功标准定义为通过近距和远距远视的完全矫正斜视≤8△)。传统组和欠矫组的手术过矫率分别为54%和9%,两组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。没有残余内斜视。手术成功率或欠矫率与患者的年龄、术前等效球镜均值、术前眼偏斜量无相关性。结论:对于具有正常AC/A的部分调节性内斜视患者,欠矫的双眼内直肌后退术成功率较高,过矫率较低。     

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A injection in patients requiring temporary tarsorrhaphy to improve corneal epithelial defects

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A (Dysport, (Ipsen Biopharm Ltd, Wrexham, UK)) injection in patients requiring temporary tarsorrhaphy to improve corneal epithelial defects. METHODS: Thirty patients were enrolled into the prospective study between March 2007 and September 2009. Doses of 15 and 30U of Dysport were injected into the levator palpebrae superioris muscle through the eyelid. The patients were followed daily until completion of ptosis and then 1-2 weekly until complete resolution of levator function and improvement of corneal condition. RESULTS: Ptosis took 2.64±1.85 days to be completed (range 1-9 days) and lasted for 12±2.19 weeks. For patients with seventh nerve palsy, 30U Dysport was appropriate to produce sufficient ptosis whereas in other patients 15U of toxin was sufficient. In 83.3% of patients ptosis was sufficient for complete recovery of corneal epithelium and 16.7% required a second procedure (Amniotic membrane transplantation, conjunctival flap). There was a direct correlation between age and duration of ptosis. In patients with seventh nerve palsy, the amount of resultant ptosis was significantly lower than that of other patients. The only adverse effects of injection were superior rectus underaction (33.3%) and diplopia (16.7%) which resolved in all patients without any intervention. CONCLUSION: Dysport injection is a safe and effective substitute for surgical tasorrhaphy with fewer complications.     

A double-blind randomized clinical trial of a topical herbal extract (Z-HE) vs. systemic meglumine antimoniate for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

A double-blind randomized clinical trial was undertaken to compare the efficacy of meglumine antimoniate solution (Glucantime), administered intramuscularly, with a topical herbal extract consisting of a pure extract mixture of Althaea rosa, Althaea officinalis, and members of the families Leguminosae, Faliaceae, Malvaceae, and Lythraceae (named Z-HE) on patients with Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. The reason for undertaking such a study is that many patients fail to respond to the conventional treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the pentavalent antimonials. Many alternative treatment modalities have been proposed, and one such modality has been the use of herbal extracts applied topically to the lesions. Herbal remedies have been used for a long period of time in Iran for the treatment of many dermatoses, including CL; however, a systematic scientific evaluation of the efficacy of herbal extracts has rarely been performed. A total number of 171 patients who had been referred to the Cutaneous Leishmania Clinic in our center and who were diagnosed as having CL were included in the study. All patients underwent a complete clinical evaluation, and patients were excluded if they were pregnant or nursing or if they had serious concomitant diseases. A diagnosis of CL was based on positive smears from the lesions, and in some cases cultures and histopathologic studies were also performed. The duration of disease in all cases was less than 4 months. The patients were divided randomly into two treatment groups. In the first group (A), 86 patients were treated with the topical herbal extract Z-HE as a black paste applied to the lesions and covered by a dressing for five consecutive days, as well as with 0.5 mL of sterile normal saline used as a placebo and injected intramuscularly for 20 consecutive days. In the second group (B), 85 patients were treated with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime), 15–20 mg/kg/day, as intramuscular injections for 20 consecutive days, as well as with a topical placebo which consisted of petrolatum mixed with charcoal powder and which was applied on the lesions as a black paste covered by a dressing for five consecutive days. Prior to the initiation of treatment with Z-HE, an animal toxicologic study was undertaken and the plant extract was declared safe to use in human clinical trials. Clinical evaluation was performed 6 weeks post-treatment. Complete cure was defined a clinical improvement with complete healing and re-epithelialization of the lesion(s), partial cure was defined as partial clinical improvement with reduction in infiltration, erythema, and size of the lesion(s), and failure was defined as the absence of any changes in the lesion(s) or progression and worsening of the lesion(s).