scholarly journals An ultrasound observation study on the levator hiatus with or without diastasis recti abdominis in postpartum women

Author(s):  
Peng Tian ◽  
Dong Mei Liu ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Yu Gu ◽  
Guo Qing Du ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction and hypothesis We hypothesized that differences in post-partum levator hiatus (LH) measurements, as well as the area of urethra and bladder (AUB), viewed under ultrasound, correlate with diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) occurrence. The primary objective of this study is to determine ultrasound parameters available for diagnosing DRA in post-partum women. We compared LH and AUB measurements under ultrasound in primiparous women, with and without DRA, at 24–26 weeks postpartum. Methods One hundred ninety-four women underwent routine examination, including a self-made clinical symptoms questionnaire, DRA evaluation, and LH and AUB measurements. Independent samples t- and chi-squared tests were used to compare the differences between women with and without DRA. Results DRA incidence was significantly higher among those who underwent cesarean section (CS) than for vaginal delivery (VD) (P = 0.038). DRA patients could potentially have urinary urgency, frequency, pain, dysuria, and perineal tears. Additionally, statistically significant differences were found between VD patients, with or without DRA, in the resting LH transverse diameter (TrD) (P = 0.032) and the area of the levator hiatus (ALH) (P = 0.048) as well as AUB at Valsalva (P = 0.049). No differences, however, were found between the DRA and no DRA groups for all those measurements among women who had cesarean deliveries. Conclusions DRA was more likely in post-CS women. Furthermore, the results showed a plausible association between DRA occurrence and LH expansion, especially in women with VD under rest and Valsalva. This could be useful for developing therapeutic plans based on these parameters for post-partum rehabilitation of women with DRA to avoid long-term complications.

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 735
Author(s):  
Jun-il Park ◽  
Joo-Hyun Kee ◽  
Ja Young Choi ◽  
Shin-seung Yang

It has been reported that congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) may result in secondary scoliosis over long-term follow-ups. However, there are few reports on whether CMT causes pelvic malalignment syndrome (PMS). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CMT and PMS and to determine the factors associated with the development of PMS in children with longstanding CMT. Medical records of 130 children with CMT who had long-term follow-up were reviewed retrospectively. The chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine which initial clinical parameters contributed to the development of PMS. Among 130 children with CMT, 51 (39.2%) developed PMS with or without compensatory scoliosis during long-term follow-up, indicating a high prevalence of PMS in children with a CMT history. Initial clinical symptoms such as a limited range of motion of the neck or the presence of a neck mass could not predict the development of PMS. Even if the clinical symptoms are mild, long-term follow-up of children with CMT is essential to screen for PMS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maude Bernasconi ◽  
Béatrice Eggel-Hort ◽  
Antje Horsch ◽  
Yvan Vial ◽  
Alban Denys ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study intend to compare the long-term psychological impact (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) on both partners between patients that underwent uterine artery embolization (UAE) for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and uneventful deliveries. Women who experienced severe PPH treated by UAE in our institution between 2003 and 2013 were identified in our obstetrical database. These cases were matched to controls with uneventful deliveries. Matching criteria were maternal age, parity, ethnicity, year of delivery, birthweight, gestational age and mode of delivery. Patients and their partners completed validated questionnaires measuring post-traumatic stress (TSQ), as well as depression symptoms (MINI). A total of 63 cases of PPH and 189 matched controls (1:3) participated in a study exploring gynecological and obstetrical outcomes. With a mean of 8 years post-index delivery, patients after PPH showed increased risk of depression (p = 0.015) and post-traumatic stress disorder (22.2% versus 4.8%, p < 0.005) compared to controls. PPH remains strongly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, even after adjustment for depression (adjusted odds ratio 5.1; 95% confidence intervals 1.5–17.5). Similarly, partners of patients with PPH showed a propensity to depression (p = 0.029) and post-traumatic stress disorder (11.5% versus 1.5%, p = 0.019). In conclusion, both women and their partners are at increased risk of long-term psychological adverse outcomes after PPH. Couples may benefit from psychological support.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002071522199352
Author(s):  
Boris Heizmann ◽  
Nora Huth

This article addresses the extent to which economic downturns influence the perception of immigrants as an economic threat and through which channels this occurs. Our primary objective is an investigation of the specific mechanisms that connect economic conditions to the perception of immigrants as a threat. We therefore also contribute to theoretical discussions based on group threat and realistic group conflict theory by exposing the dominant source of competition relevant to these relationships. Furthermore, we investigate whether people react more sensitive to short-term economic dynamics within countries than to the long-term economic circumstances. Our database comprises all waves of the European Social Survey from 2002 to 2017. The macro-economic indicators we use include GDP per capita, unemployment, and national debt levels, covering the most salient economic dimensions. We furthermore control for the country’s migration situation and aggregate party positions toward cultural diversity. Our results show that the dynamic short-term developments of the economy and migration within countries are of greater relevance for perceived immigrant threat than the long-term situation. In contrast, the long-term political climate appears to be more important than short-term changes in the aggregate party positions. Further mediation analyses show that objective economic conditions influence anti-immigrant attitudes primarily through individual perceptions of the country’s economic performance and that unemployment rates are of primary importance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaorong Yan ◽  
Huiqing Wang ◽  
Cai Li ◽  
Yuanxiang Lin ◽  
Lin Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To present a surgical technique for the treatment of intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors by using endoscopically controlled surgery with open hemilaminectomy technique. Methods In this study, 20 patients with 22 IDEM tumors were enrolled. An endoscopically controlled surgery with open hemilaminectomy was employed to remove the tumors. Data related to clinical symptoms and medical images before and after surgery were collected for perioperative evaluation and follow-up analysis. Results All the tumors in 20 patients were well removed. The clinical symptoms were significantly reduced in all the patients as well. The short-term follow-up data showed that there was no tumor recurrence or spinal deformity. Conclusion The endoscopically controlled surgery with open hemilaminectomy technique provided favorable exposure and satisfactory resection to the IDEM tumors. It may be an effective surgical method for treating IDEM tumors. Larger samples and longer follow-up data are needed to verify its long-term effectiveness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juopperi Samuli ◽  
Sund Reijo ◽  
Rikkonen Toni ◽  
Kröger Heikki ◽  
Sirola Joonas

Abstract Background Good physical capability is an important part of healthy biological ageing. Several factors influencing physical capability have previously been reported. Long-term reports on physical capability and the onset of clinical disorders and chronic diseases are lacking. Decrease in physical capacity has been shown to increase mortality. This study focuses on the prevalence of chronic diseases. The primary objective of the study was to reveal the association between physical capability and morbidity. Secondary objectives included the validity of self-reported physical capability and the association between baseline physical capability and mortality. Methods The OSTPRE (Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention Study) prospective cohort involved all women aged 47–56 years residing in the Kuopio Province, Finland in 1989. Follow-up questionnaires were mailed at five-year intervals. Physical capability questions were first presented in 1994. From these women, we included only completely physically capable subjects at our baseline, in 1994. Physical capability was evaluated with five scale self-reports at baseline and in 2014 as follows: completely physically capable, able to walk but not run, can walk up to 1000 m, can walk up to 100 m and temporarily severely incapable. The prevalences of selected chronic diseases, with a minimum prevalence of 10% in 2014, were compared with the change in self-reported physical capability. Additionally, associations between long-term mortality and baseline physical capability of the whole 1994 study population sample were examined with logistic regression. The correlation of self-reported physical capability with functional tests was studied cross-sectionally at the baseline for a random subsample. Results Our study population consisted of 6219 Finnish women with a mean baseline age of 57.0 years. Self-reported physical capability showed statistically significant correlation with functional tests. Cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders show the greatest correlation with decrease of physical capability. Prevalence of hypertension increased from 48.7% in the full physical capability group to 74.5% in the “able to walk up to 100 metres” group (p < 0.001). Rheumatoid arthritis showed a similar increase from 2.1 to 7.4% between these groups. Higher baseline body mass index (BMI) decreases long-term capability (P < 0.001). Women reporting full physical capability at baseline had a mortality rate of 15.1%, in comparison to 48.5% in women within the “able to walk up to 100 m” group (p = 0.357). Mortality increased steadily with worsening baseline physical capability. Conclusions The results of this study show that chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, correlate with faster degradation of physical capability in the elderly. Similar results are shown for increase in BMI. We also demonstrate that the risk of mortality over a 20-year period is higher in individuals with poor baseline physical capability.


Author(s):  
Harsha Adnani ◽  
Akshay Khatri ◽  
Nirav Agrawal ◽  
Ernesto Molmenti ◽  
Madhu Bhaskaran

AbstractDuring the ongoing pandemic, there have been varying presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, with the concern that patients who are immunosuppressed (due to underlying medical conditions and/or therapies) are at higher risk of severe disease. We report the case of an elderly renal transplant recipient working in a long-term health care facility who was being monitored by weekly surveillance testing and tested positive for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, despite having no clinical symptoms. He recovered with supportive care, despite being on multiple long-term immunosuppressant drugs and having multiple comorbidities. Additionally, it was found that he did not mount an antibody response, when he tested negative by serologic testing. Through this case, we wish to highlight the unique clinical scenario of asymptomatic patients who may have an underwhelming immune response to COVID-19, but may nevertheless be an important source of dissemination. We further discuss the probable mechanism of such asymptomatic presentations in immunosuppressed patients, while reinforcing the importance of self-isolation of COVID-19 patients (particularly in asymptomatic health care workers).


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xuan Zhu ◽  
Xinxin Zhu ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Fang Yang ◽  
Zhibing Sun ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) long-term nucleic acid positive patients (hereinafter referred to as CLTAPs). METHODS: Patients were recruited from the Xiaogan Central Hospital between 16 January 2020 and 28 March 2020. Among the 562 cases of patients with laboratory-identified COVID-19 infection by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qtPCR), 19 cases of COVID-19 patients with more than 41 days from the first to the last time of nucleic acid test were selected as the study group, and 76 cases of age- and gender-matched COVID-19 patients were selected as the control group (hereinafter referred to as C-CLTAPs). Demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, laboratory examination and computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: On admission, among the 562 cases of patients with COVID-19, there were 398 cases of ordinary COVID-19 patients, 99 cases of severe COVID-19 patients and 99 cases of critical COVID-19 patients. CLTAPs had milder clinical symptoms and longer viral shedding time in comparison to C-CLTAPs. Compared to C-CLTAPs, CLTAPs had a lower infection index at admission. CLTAPs used less oxygen therapy and a higher proportion of hydroxychloroquine treatment in comparison to C-CLTAPs. In comparison to C-CLTAPs, CLTAPs showed slower pulmonary CT progression and faster pulmonary CT absorption. CONCLUSION: In this study, out of the 562 cases, we found 19 CLTAPs. The clinical differences between CLTAPs and C-CLTAPs were compared and analyzed. We hope that these finding can provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of CLTAPs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Naciri Bennani ◽  
Juste Yérémandé Bonzi ◽  
Johan Noble ◽  
Florian Terrec ◽  
Lionel Motte ◽  
...  

Introduction: Primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) frequently reoccurs on kidney transplants and may lead to premature allograft loss. There are no guidelines for treating FSGS recurrence on allografts; treatment is based on apheresis (plasma exchange plasmapheresis [PP], semi-specific immunoadsorption [IA] with reusable columns) plus rituximab. Objective: We aimed to assess the efficacy of IA to treat recurrent FSGS. Methods: We report on 7 patients with recurrent FSGS on kidney allograft (proteinuria ≥3 g/g of urinary creatinine or ≥3 g/day); they all received IA. Our primary objective was to reduce proteinuria by >50%. Patients’ mean age was 45 ± 10 years. Postoperative immunosuppression relied on steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, with an induction therapy of basiliximab or antithymocyte globulins. Prophylaxis to prevent FSGS recurrence was either rituximab alone (n = 3), rituximab plus either PP or IA (n = 3), or no treatment (n = 1). Mean follow-up was 20 ± 13 months. There was a median of 72 (14–101) IA sessions per patient, that is, a mean of 14 ± 1 sessions per IA column. Results: At 12 months after starting IA, all patients had partial (n = 6) or complete (n = 1) remission, and allograft survival was 100%. The mean reduction in proteinuria within an IA session was 45 ± 15%. At last follow-up, 2 patients are in remission without IA, 3 patients are in partial remission that is IA dependent, and 2 patients lost their allograft due to FSGS recurrence. The most frequent adverse event was cytomegalovirus reactivation (n = 13), which subsided after valganciclovir therapy. Conclusions: We show that recurrence of FSGS can be controlled long term with IA plus rituximab. However, some patients remained dependent on IA.


2003 ◽  
Vol 182 (5) ◽  
pp. 412-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Cooper ◽  
Lynne Murray ◽  
Anji Wilson ◽  
Helena Romaniuk

BackgroundPsychological interventions for postnatal depression can be beneficial in the short term but their longer-term impact is unknown.AimsTo evaluate the long-term effect on maternal mood of three psychological treatments in relation to routine primary care.MethodWomen with post-partum depression (n=193) were assigned randomly to one of four conditions: routine primary care, non-directive counselling, cognitive–behavioural therapy or psychodynamic therapy. They were assessed immediately after the treatment phase (at 4.5 months) and at 9, 18 and 60 months post-partum.ResultsCompared with the control, all three treatments had a significant impact at 4.5 months on maternal mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS). Only psychodynamic therapy produced a rate of reduction in depression (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–III–R) significantly superior to that of the control. The benefit of treatment was no longer apparent by 9 months post-partum. Treatment did not reduce subsequent episodes of post-partum depression.ConclusionsPsychological intervention for post-partum depression improves maternal mood (EPDS) in the short term. However, this benefit is not superior to spontaneous remission in the long term.


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