Medicine
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We evaluated the readability of Internet-sourced patient education materials (PEMs) related to "labour analgesia." In addition to assessing the readability of websites, we aimed to compare commercial, personal, and academic websites. We used the most popular search engine (http://www.google.com) in our study. The first 100 websites in English that resulted from a search for the key words "labour analgesia" were scanned. ⋯ Analysis of 300-word sections of the texts revealed that the mean FRES was 47.54 ± 12.54 (quite difficult), mean FKGL and SMOG were 11.92 ± 2.59 and 10.57 ± 1.88 years of education, respectively, and mean Gunning FOG was 14.71 ± 2.76 (very difficult). Within 300-word sections, the mean number of Latin words was identified as 16.56 ± 6.37. In our study, the readability level of Internet-sourced PEM related to "labour analgesia" was identified to be quite high indicating poor readability.
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Cervical nerve root injury is one of the complications of traumatic cervical spine fracture. Although one of the most effective treatments to reduce inflammation in nerve root injuries is the use of corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids and NSAIDs can inhibit bone healing. So, when nerve injury accompanies bone fractures, corticosteroids and NSAIDs have limitations as therapeutic agents. However, polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) may be useful in the treatment of neuropathy or musculoskeletal pain patients with contraindication of the use of corticosteroids because of its anti-inflammatory effect, as revealed in previous studies. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of treatment of traumatic nerve root injury due to an articular process fracture with an ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block (NRB) using PDRN. ⋯ Although it is impossible to draw a conclusion from a single case report, we suggest the ultrasound-guided NRB using PDRN could be a useful treatment for alleviating motor weakness and neuropathic pain caused by traumatic spinal nerve root injury in situations where corticosteroids cannot be used.
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Morphologic measurements of the femoral and tibial features of western population have been done in several studies, which provides the fundamental data for the design of total knee arthroplasty prosthesis used globally, including China. However, researches on anatomic and morphologic features of the knee in Chinese populations of both sexes have never been conducted. Our study was aimed at investigating the anatomic and morphologic features of the knees of the Southeastern Chinese population by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, so as to provide parameters for sex- and ethnic-specific implant designs in the future. ⋯ We also found substantial difference in the morphology of femur and tibia plateau in Southeastern Chinese population compared with data obtained from western populations. Our study measured the anatomic and morphologic features of the knees in Southeastern Chinese population, and identified knee morphologic differences between both sexes, as well as western and Chinese population. Further clinical studies are needed to determine other essential parameters for the design of prosthesis to the Chinese populations.
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Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited collagen disorder caused by defects or deficiency of pro-alpha 1 chain of type III procollagen encoded by COL3A1. vEDS is characterized not only by soft tissue manifestations including hyperextensibility of skin and joint hypermobility but also by early mortality due to rupture of arteries or vital organs. Although pulmonary complications are not common, vEDS cases complicated by pneumothorax, hemothorax, or intrapulmonary hematoma have been reported. When a patient initially presents only with pulmonary complications, it is not easy for clinicians to suspect vEDS. ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, both cryptorchidism and PCH-like foci have never been reported yet as complications of vEDS, suggesting our case might be a new variant of this condition. This case emphasizes the importance of comprehensive physical examination and history-taking, and the clinical suspicion of a possible connective tissue disorder when we encounter cases with atypical presentation and/or unique chest radiologic findings especially in young patients.
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Malignant ascites (MA) is one of the poor prognostic factors for advanced pancreatic cancer and can bring about serious symptoms. The improvement of quality of life for patients is priority. However, there is no standard method for the treatment for pancreatic cancer-mediated MA. Apatinib is a novel and highly selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. There are no reports of concurrent apatinib with gemcitabine in patients with pancreatic cancer-mediated MA. ⋯ It indicated that apatinib concurrent gemcitabine may be a superior choice for pancreatic cancer-mediated MA. Further clinical trials required to confirm its efficacy and safety.