Notes

Is three-dimensional-printed custom-made ultra-short originate with a permeable framework an acceptable rebuilding choice in peri-knee metaphysis for that tumorous bone tissue problem?
Biomarkers are important tools for describing the adequacy or inadequacy of biological processes (to allow for the early and accurate diagnosis) and monitoring the biological effects of intervention strategies (to identify and develop optimal dose and treatment strategies). A number of lipid biomarkers are implicated in metabolic disease and the circulating levels of these biomarkers are used in clinical settings to predict and monitor disease severity. There is convincing evidence that specific circulating ceramide species can be used as biological predictors and markers of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Here, we review the existing literature that investigated sphingolipids as biomarkers for metabolic disease prediction. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Are circulating ceramides predominantly produced in the liver? Will hepatic sphingolipid inhibitors be able to completely prevent and treat metabolic disease? As sphingolipids are being employed as biomarkers and potential metabolic disease treatments, we explore what is currently known and what still needs to be discovered.Background Asymmetry of motor signs is a cardinal feature of Parkinson disease which may impact phenotypic expression. Objective To investigate the relationship between lateralization of motor signs and symptom progression and severity during longitudinal observation for up to 4 years in a naturalistic study. Methods We analyzed data prospectively collected during the NINDS Parkinson Disease Biomarker Project (PDBP). We defined the Movement Disorder Society Revision of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) part II as the primary measure of symptom progression. Left side predominant subjects were those whose lateralized motor scores on the MDS-UPDRS part III were ≥2 points higher on the left side than on the right side of the body. Multiple regression models (controlled for age, gender, education years, ethnicity, levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) at baseline, and years with PD) were used to estimate the rate of symptom progression comparing left predominant (LPD) with non-left predominanting motor predominance in their counseling regarding prognosis.Objective To determine the frequency and extent of cardiac involvement in female carriers of pathogenic variants in DMD, 53 women were examined through an observational, cross-sectional study. Methods Genetically verified female carriers of pathogenic DMD variants were examined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement, echocardiography, 24-h Holter monitoring, ECG, and blood concentrations of skeletal and cardiac muscle biomarkers. Results Fifty-three female carriers of pathogenic DMD variants (mean age 49.6 years, 33 associated with DMD, and 20 with BMD) were included in the study. Sixty-two percent had cardiac dysfunction on echocardiography. On CMR, 49% had myocardial fibrosis, 35% had dilated left ventricles, and 10% had left ventricular hypertrophy. ECGs were abnormal in 72%, and abnormal Holter monitoring was found in 43%. Age did not correlate with myocardial fibrosis or cardiac dysfunction. Myocardial fibrosis was more frequent in carriers of pathogenic variants associated with DMD vs. BMD (61 vs. 28%, p = 0.02). Conclusion This study shows that cardiac involvement, affecting both structure and function of the heart, is found in over 2/3 of women with a pathogenic DMD variant. The study supports early cardiac screening, including ECG, Holter, and cardiac imaging, in this group of carriers, so that symptoms related to pathogenic variants in DMD can be recognized, and relevant treatment can be initiated. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess morbidity and mortality related to single, pathogenic DMD variants in women.Background Physical activity and sleep quality are both major factors for improving one's health. Knowledge on the interactions of sleep quality and the amount of physical activity may be helpful for implementing multimodal health interventions in older adults. Methods This preliminary cross-sectional study is based on 64 participants [82.1 ± 6.4 years (MD ± SD); 22 male 42 female]. The amount of physical activity was assessed by means of an accelerometer (MyWellness Key). Self-reported sleep parameters were obtained using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The Barthel Index was used for physical disability rating. Bivariate correlations (Spearman's Rho) were used to explore relationships between the amount of physical activity and sleep quality. To analyse differences between categorial subgroups univariate ANOVAs were applied; in cases of significance, these were followed by Tukey-HSD post-hoc analyses. Results No linear association between physical activity and sleep quality was found (r = 0.119; p > 0.05). In subgroup analyses (n = 41, Barthel Index ≥90 pts, free of pre-existing conditions), physical activity levels differed significantly between groups of different sleep duration (≥7 h; ≥6 to less then 7 h; ≥5 to less then 6 h; less then 5h; p = 0.037). Conclusion There is no general association between higher activity levels and better sleep quality in the investigated cohort. However, a sleep duration of ≥5 to less then 6 h, corresponding to 7.6 h bed rest time, was associated with a higher level of physical activity.Background and Purpose Perihematomal edema (PHE) is associated with poor functional outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Early identification of risk factors associated with PHE growth may allow for targeted therapeutic interventions. Methods We used data contained in the risk stratification and minimally invasive surgery in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (Risa-MIS-ICH) patients a prospective multicenter cohort study. Patients' clinical, laboratory, and radiological data within 24 h of admission were obtained from their medical records. The absolute increase in PHE volume from baseline to day 3 was defined as iPHE volume. Poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 4 to 6 at 90 days. learn more Binary logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between iPHE volume and poor outcome. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to find the best cutoff. Linear regression was used to identify variables associated with iPHE volume (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03862729). Results One hundred ninety-seven patients were included in this study. iPHE volume was significantly associated with poor outcome [P = 0.003, odds ratio (OR) 1.049, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.016-1.082] after adjustment for hematoma volume. The best cutoff point of iPHE volume was 7.98 mL with a specificity of 71.4% and a sensitivity of 47.5%. Diabetes mellitus (P = 0.043, β = 7.66 95% CI 0.26-15.07), black hole sign (P = 0.002, β = 18.93 95% CI 6.84-31.02), and initial ICH volume (P = 0.018, β = 0.20 95% CI 0.03-0.37) were significantly associated with iPHE volume. After adjusting for hematoma expansion, the black hole sign could still independently predict the increase of PHE (P 7.98 mL from baseline to day 3 may lead to poor outcome. Patients with diabetes mellitus, black hole sign, and large initial hematoma volume result in more PHE growth, which should garner attention in the treatment.Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (sICAD) remains a challenging disorder in the neurovascular field. Despite best medical treatment, the recurrence rate for stroke remains high in patients with intracranial high-grade stenosis (>70-99%). Furthermore, two large randomized trials (SAMMPRIS and VISSIT) failed to prove the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in patients with sICAD. Drug-coated balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (DCB-PTA) represents an alternative treatment modality with therapeutic benefits for interventional cardiology. However, there are very few articles in the existing literature that relate to the use of DCB-PTA in sICAD patients. Here, we aimed to review the rationale underlying the use of DCB-PTA in sICAD patients and summarize recent developments in the neurovascular field.Objective The use of goggles to assess vertical semicircular canal function has become a standard method in vestibular testing, both in clinic and in research, but there are different methods and apparatus in use. The aim of this study was to determine what the cause of the systematic differences is between gain values in testing of the vertical semicircular canals with two different video head impulse test (vHIT) equipment in subjects with normal vestibular function. Study Design Retrospective analysis of gain values on patients with clinically deemed normal vestibular function (absence of a corrective eye saccade), tested with either Interacoustics or Otometrics system. Prospective testing of subjects with normal vestibular function with the camera records the eye movements of both eyes. Finally, 3D sensors were placed on different positions on the goggles measuring the actual vertical movement in the different semicircular planes. Results In the clinical cohorts, the gain depended on which side and semicircular canal was tested (p less then 0.001). In the prospective design, the combination between the stimulated side, semicircular canal, and position of the recording device (right/left eye) highly influenced the derived gain (p less then 0.001). The different parts of the goggles also moved differently in a vertical direction during vertical semicircular canal testing. Conclusion The gain values when testing the function of the vertical semicircular canals seem to depend upon which eye is recorded and which semicircular plane is tested and suggests caution when interpreting and comparing results when different systems are used both clinically as well as in research. The results also imply that further research and development are needed to obtain accurate vertical semicircular canal testing, in regard to both methodology and equipment design.Background Self-reported measures are often used in research and clinical practice to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and guide therapeutic choices. We aimed to assess the clinical utility of the Norwegian versions of two self-reported outcome measures for symptom severity assessment, the 6-item CTS (CTS-6), and Boston-CTS (BCTQ), and of one diagnostic measure, the hand-diagram, by evaluating measurement properties including discriminative ability for severity assessment (CTS-6, BCTQ), and diagnosis of CTS (hand-diagram). Methods We performed forward and backward translation and cultural adaptation of the Norwegian CTS-6 and BCTQ. Following COSMIN guidelines, we investigated internal consistency, reliability, construct validity, and discriminative ability for distinguishing between severity levels of CTS in patients with confirmed CTS for the CTS-6 and BCTQ and reliability and discriminative ability for diagnosing CTS for the hand-diagram. Results Two hundred and fifty-one patients referred for diagnostic work-up for CTS with nerve conduction studies (NCS) participated. The CTS-6 and BCTQ had acceptable internal consistency (Crohnbach's α = 0.82 and 0.86, respectively), reliability (ICC = 0.86 and 0.90; SEM = 0.24 and 0.20; SDC95% = 0.68 and 0.55, respectively), construct validity (all eight pre-defined hypotheses confirmed) and discriminative ability to distinguish between severity levels of CTS [Area under the curve (AUC) = 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.85]. The hand-diagram had acceptable reliability (Cohen's kappa = 0.69) and discriminative ability to diagnose CTS (sensitivity = 0.72, specificity = 0.90). Conclusion Our findings support the clinical utility of the CTS-6 and BCTQ for symptom severity assessment and of the hand-diagram for diagnostic screening.
Website: https://www.selleckchem.com/