Articles: function.
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Meta Analysis
Association between arsenic exposure and inflammatory cytokines and C-reaction protein: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Previous studies have reported controversial results on levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with arsenic exposure. This study aims to evaluate the associations between arsenic exposure and inflammatory cytokines and C-reaction protein (CRP). ⋯ Many cytokines (such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12) have altered in individuals with arsenic exposure, this indicates arsenic exposure could trigger the cell-mediated inflammatory response. Regular examining immune function (such as inflammatory cytokines) in individuals with the risk of arsenic exposure is important to human health.
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Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the leading cause of knee pain in middle-aged and older individuals. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been applied to treat patients with KOA to reduce pain and improve function. Patients (n = 123) diagnosed with KOA who received ESWT were selected to participate in this study, and were grouped according to their body mass index (BMI). ⋯ With pain in WOMAC as the demarcation criterion, the tibial plateau soft tissue ratio, femoral intercondylar apex soft tissue ratio, and medial tibial soft tissue ratio also are positively correlated with pain relief in patients. When the Lequesne and WOMAC scores were the demarcation criteria, the patients' function improved significantly when the patella apical soft tissue ratio exceeded 2.401 and 2.635, respectively. ESWT can effectively alleviate pain and improve knee function in patients with KOA, and the soft tissue around the knee joint should also be an important reference factor in KOA treatment.
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In this mini review, 6 studies that investigated the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) were reviewed. Generally, the application of taVNS in patients with DOC appears to be effective (positive results in 5 of 6 studies) and safe. Furthermore, 4 studies that evaluated changes in the brain following taVNS reported positive results (2 studies, functional magnetic resonance imaging and 2 studies, electroencephalography). ⋯ Therefore, further studies to overcome the above limitations should be encouraged; further original studies involving a larger number of patients in the control or sham groups are needed. However, studies on the optimal conditions (treatment schedule and electrical stimulation parameters) for taVNS in patients with DOC are necessary. Furthermore, neuroimaging studies should be undertaken to elucidate the neurological mechanisms for the recovery of impaired consciousness in DOC and the lasting effects of taVNS on the brain.
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Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive systemic disorder characterized by retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly, obesity, intellectual disability, renal impairments, and hypogonadism. The purpose of this study was to determine the ocular characteristics of a boy with BBS caused by a novel homozygous variant in the ARL6 (alternative named BBS3) gene who had been originally diagnosed with retinitis punctata albescens. ⋯ In children with night blindness and progressive visual dysfunction, it is important for ophthalmologists to consult clinical geneticists and pediatricians to rule out the possibility of systemic diseases such as BBS.
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Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are posited to effect flow dynamics, causing turbulence, vascular remodeling and eventual thrombosis; however, minimal data exists evaluating hemodynamic effects of IVC filters in vivo. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in hemodynamic flow parameters acquired with two-dimension (2D)-perfusion angiography before and after IVC filter placement or retrieval. 2D-perfusion images were reconstructed retrospectively from digital subtraction angiography from a cohort of 37 patients (13F/24M) before and after filter placement (n = 18) or retrieval (n = 23). Average dwell time was 239.5 ± 132.1 days. ⋯ After retrieval, ROIs within and inferior to the filter showed a significantly shorter TTP (1.7 vs 1.4 s, P = .004; 1.5 vs 1.3 s, P = .001, respectively) and MTT (1.7 vs 1.4 s, P = .003; 1.5 vs 1.2 s, P = .002, respectively). Difference in variables showed no significant correlation when compared to dwell time. 2D-perfusion angiography is feasible to evaluate hemodynamic effects of IVC filters in vivo. TTP and MTT within and below the filter after retrieval were significantly changed, without apparent correlation to dwell time, suggesting a functional hemodynamic delay secondary to filter presence.