Contribution of different somatosensory afferent input to subcortical somatosensory evoked potentials in humans

ObjectivesTo investigate the subcortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to electrical stimulation of either muscle or cutaneous afferents.MethodsSEPs were recorded in 6 patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD) who underwent electrode implantation in the pedunculopontine (PPTg) nucleus area. We compared SEPs recorded from the scalp and from the intracranial electrode contacts to electrical stimuli applied to: 1) median nerve at the wrist, 2) abductor pollicis brevis motor point, and 3) distal phalanx of the thumb. Also the high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) were analysed.ResultsAfter median nerve and pure cutaneous (distant phalanx of the thumb) stimulation, a P1-N1 complex was recorded by the intracranial lead, while the scalp electrodes recorded the short-latency far-field responses (P14 and N18). On the contrary, motor point stimulation did not evoke any low-frequency component in the PPTg traces, nor the N18 potential on the scalp. HFOs were recorded to stimulation of all modalities by the PPTg electrode contacts.ConclusionsStimulus processing within the cuneate nucleus depends on modality, since only the cutaneous input activates the complex intranuclear network possibly generating the scalp N18 potential.SignificanceOur results shed light on the subcortical processing of the somatosensory input of different modalities.     

Prosthetic treatment in the adult French population: Prevalence and relation with demographic,socioeconomic and medical characteristics

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dental prosthetic treatment and to investigate the demographic, social, economic and medical factors associated with the use of fixed and removable dentures in a representative sample of adults living in France.MethodsThe data were obtained from the 2002–2003 Decennial Health Survey, a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the population living in France, which included 29,679 adults. Information was collected by interview. The variables collected were fixed denture, removable denture, age, gender, number of children, area of residence, nationality, educational attainment, family social status, employment status, annual household income per capita, supplementary insurance, chronic disease, eyesight problems/glasses, hearing problems/hearing aids. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to study the relationship between prosthetic treatment and demographic, socioeconomic and medical characteristics unadjusted, adjusted for age and adjusted for all the characteristics.ResultsThe prevalence of prosthetic treatment was 34.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): [34.1; 35.2]) for fixed prosthetic dentures and 13.8% (95% CI: [13.4; 14.2]) for removable prosthetic dentures. We showed a gradient between educational attainment and removable dentures; the odds ratio adjusted for all the variables (aOR) associated with no or primary education compared to post-secondary education was 2.56; 95% CI: [2.09; 3.13]. When annual household income per capita was low, subjects were less likely to report fixed dentures (aOR = 0.68; 95% CI: [0.62; 0.75]) than those with high annual household income per capita. Individuals without insurance less often reported fixed dentures than those with private insurance. Those reporting chronic disease were less likely to report fixed dentures (aOR = 0.87; 95% CI: [0.79; 0.95]) but more likely to report removable dentures (aOR = 1.29; 95% CI: [1.17; 1.43]) than those without chronic disease.ConclusionThis study reveals social, economic and medical inequalities in fixed and removable prosthetic treatment among adults in France.     

Prosthetic management of a growing patient with Russell-Silver syndrome: a clinical report

Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is a congenital disease characterized by short stature due to growth hormone deficiency, physical asymmetry, inverted triangular face, micrognathia, prominent forehead, and hypodontia. This case report presents a prosthetic management of a 6-year-old patient with Russell-Silver syndrome treated with overdentures on the maxilla and the mandible using the remaining primary teeth. Subsequent and comprehensive dental management considering the growth and development of a young patient will be necessary.     

Acceptance of multiple injectable vaccines in a single immunization visit in The Gambia pre and post introduction of inactivated polio vaccine

BackgroundAs the World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends that children be protected against 11 different pathogens, it is becoming increasingly necessary to administer multiple injectable vaccines during a single immunization visit. In this study we assess Gambian healthcare providers’ and infant caregivers’ attitudes and practices related to the administration of multiple injectable vaccines to a child at a single immunization visit before and after the 2015 introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). IPV introduction increased the number of injectable vaccines recommended for the 4-month immunization visit from two to three in The Gambia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey before and after the introduction of IPV at 4 months of age in a representative sample of all health facilities providing immunizations in The Gambia. Healthcare providers who administer vaccines at the selected health facilities and caregivers who brought infants for their 4 month immunization visit were surveyed.FindingsPrior to IPV introduction, 9.9% of healthcare providers and 35.7% of infant caregivers expressed concern about a child receiving more than 2 injections in a single visit. Nevertheless, 98.8% and 90.9% of infants received all required vaccinations for the visit before and after IPV introduction, respectively. The only reason why vaccines were not received was vaccine stock-outs. Infant caregivers generally agreed that vaccinators could be trusted to provide accurate information regarding the number of vaccines that a child needed.ConclusionHealthcare providers and infant caregivers in this resource limited setting accepted an increase in the number of injectable vaccines administered at a single visit even though some expressed concerns about the increase.     

快速康复内窥镜椎间盘切除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床观察

目的:探讨快速康复外科理念联合内窥镜椎间盘切除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效。方法:选取2018年4月—2019年4月本院收治的86例腰椎间盘突出症患者,随机分为两组,每组43例,对照组通过内窥镜椎间盘切除术治疗,观察组予以快速康复外科理念联合内窥镜椎间盘切除术治疗,对比两组疗效和并发症发生情况。结果:观察组并发症发生率(4.65%)较对照组(18.60%)低,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05);观察组下床活动时间、住院时间较对照组短,术后7天的疼痛评分较对照组低,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05);术后3个月,观察组的Oswestry功能障碍指数问卷表评分较对照组低,日本骨科协会评估治疗分数较对照组高,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05)。结论:探讨快速康复外科理念联合内窥镜椎间盘切除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症可减少并发症,缩短术后恢复时间,进而促进患者功能有效康复。     

针刀配合针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效观察

目的:分析针刀与针灸配合应用于腰椎间盘突出症患者中的临床治疗效果。方法:在我院针灸康复科2017年12月-2018年12月治疗的腰椎间盘突出症患者中选取64例,并严格按照系统随机分配原则分为对照组和观察组,各32例。其中对照组采用针灸进行治疗,观察组采用针刀与针灸配合治疗,观察对比两组患者治疗后临床效果和治疗前后运动功能评分(Fugl-Meyer)、腰椎日本骨科学会(Japanese Orthopaedic Association,JOA)评分、视觉模拟评分法(Visual Analogue Scale,VAS)评分以及临床症状改善情况。结果:两组患者治疗前Fugl-Meyer、VAS、JOA评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗后对照组VAS评分高于观察组,Fugl-Meyer、JOA评分低于观察组,且对照组总有效率低于观察组,对照组腰骶疼痛评分和腿疼痛评分均低于观察组,直腿抬高度高于观察组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:予以腰椎间盘突出症患者针刀与针灸配合治疗效果显著,效果优于单一使用针灸治疗,可有效缓解患者疼痛感,改善临床症状,值得推广。     

腰椎间盘突出症疗效不佳的临床观察

目的 分析腰椎间盘突出症手术疗效不佳的原因，探讨提高疗效的方法。方法 随访本院1993-2003年腰椎间盘突出症行后路髓核摘除术病例236例，对术后腰腿痛症状未缓解或症状消失后再复发者复查X片、CT或MRI了解病因。结果手术疗效不佳者25例。疗效不佳的主要原因为残留髓核再突出、术后脊柱不稳倾向增加、对侧隐窝狭窄认识不足、神经根损伤、极外侧型椎问盘突出漏切、感染、术后椎管内瘢痕黏连等。全椎板切除术较椎板问开窗术更易发生椎管内瘢痕黏连（P＜0．01）。结论首次手术时应尽可能取净髓核组织，对动力位摄片发现有椎问不稳倾向者行后外侧植骨或椎体问植骨融合，常规探查并妥善处理侧隐窝，牵拉神经根时间不应过长且用力轻柔。行腰椎间盘CT和MRI扫描时，应注意包括椎间盘相邻上下椎体的1／3部，以防止遗漏极外侧型椎问盘突出，尽量采用椎板间开窗术式以减少脊柱创伤，术中间断冲洗，术毕持续负压引流，以减少术后黏连，术中应严格无菌操作。     

CT引导下胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术的临床研究

目的:研究CT引导下胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术治疗颈椎间盘突出症的价值。方法:对15例颈椎间盘突出症患者在CT引导下行胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术。结果:15例均成功,随访1~16个月,优良率93.3%,未见并发症发生。结论:CT引导下行胶原酶注射颈椎间盘溶解术治疗颈椎间盘突出症安全有效,值得进一步研究。     

钛瓷瓷裂的临床研究和原因分析

目的：分析钛-瓷修复体失败的原因。方法：对38例瓷裂的钛-瓷修复体进行分析：①肉眼观察烤瓷崩瓷部铸件的表面颜色并用便携式厚度测试仪测量其厚度，与未发生瓷裂的正常镰铬合金烤瓷比较；②观察烤瓷崩瓷的部位；③X-ray检测铸件内部气孔。结果：本组崩瓷的钛-瓷修复体，其断层或有气泡，或金属表面氧化层明显增厚（P〈0．05）。而且，所有发生崩瓷的部位均在受力点或因技工本身操作不当引起。结论：钛-瓷修复体失败的原因与加工过程中工艺、瓷的受力点以及与钛元素化学性能有关。