SpringerPlus
-
The purpose of this study was to determine if marital status, including specific types of single status categories, is associated with length of survival in lung cancer patients. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that married or widowed lung cancer patients have better survival compared to patients who were never married or separated/divorced. Research to understand the mechanism of this effect, and how the beneficial effect can be extended to those who have never married or have had the marital relationship severed through divorce or separation is needed.
-
To observe the relationship between the perihematomal glutamate levels and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in a rabbit model of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). ⋯ Perihematomal glutamate increased significantly after ICH. High levels of glutamate are closely associated with BBB disruption and the brain edema. Therefore, glutamate may play an important role in the pathogenesis of secondary brain injury after (ICH).
-
Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome is a well-recognized and potentially fatal complication of carotid revascularization. However, the occurrence of non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage as a manifestation of cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome post-carotid endarterectomy is uncommon. We report a case of a patient who presented with headache following carotid endarterectomy for a critically occluded common carotid artery. ⋯ The incidence of CHS varies from 0.2% to 18.9% after carotid endarterectomy (CEA), with a typical reported incidence of less than 3% in larger studies (Cardiol Rev 20:84-89, 2012; Neurosurg 107:1130-1136, 2007). Uncontrolled hypertension, an arterially isolated cerebral hemisphere, and contralateral carotid occlusion are the main risk factors (Lancet Neurol 4:877-888, 2005; J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 83:543-550, 2012). We present a case of non-aneurysmal SAH after CEA, with focus on its presentation, risk factors, and management.
-
Although disease progression of osteoarthritis has been well documented, pain pathophysiology is largely unknown. This study was designed with two purposes: 1) to characterize patients with knee pain predominantly originating from intra-articular structures and 2) to describe the location and pattern of their pain. ⋯ The characteristics of joint pain are widely variable even in patients with similar radiological features. Extra-articular sources are not negligible especially in older patients with a long history of diffuse pain. Differences in pain characteristics among knee areas should be taken into account when examining the pain source.
-
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a form of neurodegeneration that results from repetitive brain trauma. Not surprisingly, CTE has been linked to participation in contact sports such as boxing, hockey and American football. In American football getting "dinged" equates to moments of dizziness, confusion, or grogginess that can follow a blow to the head. ⋯ In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding the etiology of CTE. It is now known that those instances of mild concussion or "dings" that we may have previously not noticed could very well be causing progressive neurodegenerative damage to a player's brain. In the future, focused and intensive study of the risk factors could potentially uncover methods to prevent and treat this disease.