scholarly journals The Contribution of Surface Electromyographic Assessment for Defining the Stage of Peripheral Facial Paralysis: Flaccid or Sequelae Stage

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 348-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Bernardes ◽  
Ricardo Bento ◽  
Maria Goffi Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Facial Paralysis ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cutoff Point ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Peripheral Facial Paralysis ◽  
Primary Activity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Introduction Surface electromyographic activity may not be symmetric, even in subjects with no facial paralysis history. Objective To evaluate the contribution of the index of electromyographic (IEMG) activity in the identification of the two extremes of the facial paralysis course. Methods Thirty-four subjects with unilateral peripheral facial paralysis were selected. A control group was composed of volunteers without a history of facial paralysis. The electromyographic assessment of the facial muscle was performed by placing surface electrodes during movements of the forehead, eyes and lips using MIOTEC equipment, such as the MIOTOOL (Miotec, Porto Alegre, Brazil) software. The electromyographic activity was also recorded in other channels during the primary activity to identify the presence of synkinesis. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Macintosh (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). The IEMG activity was obtained from the division of the electromyographic activity root mean square (RMS) values on both sides. Results There was a statistically significant difference among the groups in all the analyzed indexes. The ocular-oral synkinesis in all patients must be correctly identified (with 100% sensitivity and specificity) using an IEMG activity of 1.62 as a cutoff point. The oral-ocular synkinesis must be correctly identified (93.3% sensitivity and 95.9% specificity) using the IEMG activity of 1.79 as a cutoff point. Conclusion The IEMG activity is below the normal scores in patients in the flaccid stage, whereas patients in the sequelae stage can either show normal values or values above or below the normal scores. The IEMG activity was shown to have high sensitivity and specificity in the identification of synkinesis.

A Method of Selecting Acupoints for Acupuncture Treatment of Peripheral Facial Paralysis by Thermography

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (06) ◽  
pp. 967-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Facial Paralysis ◽  
Acupuncture Treatment ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Selection Method ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Peripheral Facial Paralysis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Face ◽  
Healthy Side

The purpose of this study is to select acupoints for acupuncture treatment of peripheral facial paralysis according to the temperature on the face of the patient detected by thermogram, to determine an objective acupoint selection method for acupuncture treatment. In the test group of 60 cases of facial paralysis, the infrared thermogram on the face was detected at the first visit, and then acupuncture was given at the acupoints on the affected side with a temperature difference of over 0.5°C from the healthy side for one therapeutic course, and in each successive course the acupoints were re-determined according to the results of thermogram examination and were administrated till the end of the total therapeutic course, and 120 cases of the control group were treated with acupuncture at conventionally selected acupoints. The results showed that the cured and basically cured rate was 90.0% (54 cases) in the test group and 77.5% (93 cases) in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups ( p < 0.05); and the total sessions of acupuncture were less and the course of treatment was shorter in the test group than those in the control group (both p < 0.001). The utilization rate of the acupoints selected by facial thermogram in the test group was in order of Dicang (ST 4, 92.3%), Yingxiang (LI 20, 90.6%), Taiyang (EX-HN 5, 85.5%), Yangbai (GB 14, 76.6%), Quanliao (SI 18, 72.3%), and so on. In conclusion, acupuncture at the acupoints selected by thermogram for treatment of facial paralysis in the cured rate, the therapeutic course and sessions of acupuncture is significantly superior to acupuncture at the conventionally selected acupoints, and the thermogram-aided acupoint selection method is beneficial to objectivity and modernization of acupoint selection for acupuncture and moxibustion treatments.

Breastfeeding Training through Role-Play and Effects on Mother-infant Attachment Behaviours: A Randomised Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farokh Saljughi ◽  
Mitra Savabi-Esfahani ◽  
Shahnaz Kohan ◽  
Soheila Ehsanpour
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Employment ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Infant Attachment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Mother-infant attachment is an intimate, lasting and satisfying relationship that leads to better cognitive, emotional and social growth of the infant. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of breastfeeding training by role-play on mother-infant attachment behaviours. This research was a randomised clinical trial (parallel design). Inclusion criteria were: no history of mental disorders; ability to read and write the Persian language to complete the questionnaire; no history of drug and tobacco intake in primigravida women. The sample comprised 100 pregnant women (in 2 groups), selected through simple random sampling at healthcare centres. The researcher reviewed prenatal care registries of selected healthcare centres and extracted the names of pregnant women in their early third trimester. The data were imported into randomisation software. The control group received routine breastfeeding training, while the intervention group received routine training together with training through role-play. The data collection tool was the Maternal Behaviour Inventory Questionnaire. Consequently 75 samples were analysed in SPSS16. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used to examine the difference between the two groups. Results showed that the mean score of mother-infant attachment one week after delivery was significantly higher in the intervention group in comparison to that in the control group (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in maternal age, age of marriage, neonatal gender, maternal employment and education, number of parity, and number of abortions (P>0.05). Since breastfeeding training through role-play could affect mother-infant attachment, it is suggested that this type of training should be provided for pregnant women to promote mother-infant attachment and exclusive breastfeeding.

scholarly journals Patients With a History of Idiopathic Deep Venous Thrombosis Have Long-Term Increased Levels of Inflammatory Markers and Markers of Endothelial Damage

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateja Kaja Jezovnik ◽  
Jawed Fareed ◽  
Pavel Poredos
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Inflammatory Parameters ◽  
History Of ◽  
Hemostatic Markers

Introduction: Although the role of inflammation in DVT has been investigated in different studies, there is no definite answer as to whether increased systemic inflammation is the cause or the consequence of DVT. Aim: To follow inflammatory parameters in a cohort of patients with idiopathic DVT. Methods: Out of 49 patients with an acute idiopathic DVT, which were investigated four months after an acute episode (DEVTA 1), 43 patients were included in the follow-up study investigating inflammatory markers and hemostatic markers of endothelial damage five years after an acute DVT (DEVTA 2). A control group consisted of 43 sex and age matched healthy subjects (CONTROLS). Results: The levels of inflammatory markers were significantly higher in DEVTA 2 in comparison to CONTROLS: tumor necrosis factor alpha 2.0 pg/mL (1.1-2.3) vs 1.3 pg/mL (0.8-1.9), p < .001, high sensitivity C-reactive protein 3.2 mg/L (1.5-5.2) vs 1.7 mg/L (0.9-3.0), p = .008, interleukin-6 (IL-6) 2.7 pg/mL (2.0-3.5) vs 2.1 pg/mL (1.5-2.6), p = .025, IL-8 5.0 pg/mL (3.6-7.3) vs 2.4 pg/mL (1.8-2.8), p < .001. IL-10 was significantly decreased (0.9 pg/mL (0.7-1.8) vs 1.8 (1.5-2.2), p < .001. Most of the proinflammatory markers remained elevated in the DEVTA 2 in comparison to DEVTA 1. Markers of endothelial damage were higher in DEVTA 2 in comparison to CONTROLS and higher than in DEVTA 1. Conclusion: Patients with idiopathic DVT have long-term increased inflammatory markers and markers of endothelial damage. These findings favor the hypothesis that inflammation is a cause and not merely a consequence of acute DVT.

scholarly journals The Characteristics of Risk Factors in Chinese Young Women with Acute Coronary Syndrome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruifang Liu ◽  
Fangxing Xu ◽  
Yujie Zhou ◽  
Tongku Liu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Family History ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Cardiac Insufficiency ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Gynecological Diseases ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background In recent years, the prevalence rate of ACS in Chinese young women has been increasing significantly, becoming the main cause of death in young female. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and difference of risk factors in Chinese young women with ACS and to provide references for ACS prevention and treatment. Methods A 1:1 case-control study was conducted to evaluate risk factors of 415 young female patients with ACS (ACS group) who underwent PCI treatment and 415 young female cases without ACS (control group) who were hospitalized and confirmed by coronary angiography to exclude coronary heart disease from January 2010 to August 2016. The average age of the cases in the two groups was respectively (40.77±4.02) years-old and (40.57±4.01) years-old (P> 0.05). Results The risk factors in ACS group were overweight (64.10%), hypertension (49.88%), hyperlipidemia (35.66%), diabetes (23.37%), depression or anxiety disorder (16.62%), gynecological diseases (16.39%), Hyperuricemia (15.18%), family history of early onset coronary heart disease (14.94%), hyperhomocysteinemia (11.33%), hypothyroidism(14.96%), hypercholesterolemia (8.43%) and high c-reactive protein (7.47%), and were statistically significant difference (P<0.01) compared with that of control group. The average number of risk factors per case in ACS group was significantly more than that of control groups (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of combined risk factors of the overweight cases compared between two groups (P<0.01). Regression analysis showed that hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, overweight（obesity）, high CRP, hypertension, hypothyroidism, gynecological diseases, depression or anxiety, cardiac insufficiency, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, oral contraceptives, family history of early onset CHD, and autoimmune diseases were independent risk factors (P<0.01). The bivariate correlation analysis between CRP level and age was r= -0.158 (P<0.01). This result showed the younger ACS patient is the higher serum CRP. Conclusion The independent risk factors of ACS in young women are hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, overweight, high CRP, hypertension, hypothyroidism, gynecological diseases, depression or anxiety, cardiac insufficiency, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, oral contraceptives, family history of early onset CHD, and autoimmune diseases. The co-existence of multiple risk factors is the main cause suffering from ACS in young women.

Abstract W MP89: Validation of Clinical-Radiological Criteria for the Diagnosis of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-related Inflammation

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eitan Auriel ◽  
Mahmut Edip Gurol ◽  
Jun Ni ◽  
Ellis Van Etten ◽  
Sergi Martinez-Remirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ◽  
Vascular Inflammation ◽  
Brain Biopsy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Amyloid Angiopathy ◽  
Radiological Criteria ◽  
Disease Subtype ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cerebral Amyloid

Introduction: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) is a disease subtype characterized by rapidly progressive cognitive decline, seizures, headaches, T2-hyperintense MRI lesions, and neuropathologic evidence of CAA-associated vascular inflammation. CAA-ri is an important diagnosis to reach in clinical practice, as many patients respond to immunosuppressive therapy. Definitive diagnosis of CAA-ri generally requires brain biopsy, however, highlighting the importance of developing noninvasive diagnostic criteria. Objectives: To test the sensitivity and specificity of modified criteria (Table 1) for possible and probable CAA-ri in groups of subjects with histologically proven CAA-ri and non-CAA-ri. Methods: After refining previously proposed clinical- radiological criteria we retrospectively analyzed clinical charts and MRI FLAIR and gradient-echo scans obtained from 17 subjects with pathologically confirmed CAA-ri and 37 control subjects with pathologic diagnosis of non-inflammatory CAA. The control group was further divided into those with past intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (n=21) and those with cerebral microbleeds (CMB) only and no history of ICH (n=16). Results: In the CAA-ri group 14/17 (82.4%) met criteria for both probable and possible CAA-ri. One (4.7%) of the subjects in the control CAA-ICH group (n=21) met the criteria for possible and none met criteria for probable CAA-ri. In the control CAA-no ICH group 1/16 (6.25%) and 11/16 (68.75%) met criteria for probable and possible CAA-ri respectively. This yields sensitivity and specificity of 82% and of 97.3% respectively for the probable criteria and sensitivity and specificity of 82% and 67.6% respectively for the possible criteria. Conclusions: Our data suggest that a reliable diagnosis of CAA-ri can be reached from basic clinical and radiographic information alone with good sensitivity and excellent specificity.

The Utility of Serum IL-1β and CRP Together with Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in the Diagnosis of Asthma in Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
Hayder Abdul-Amir Makki Al-Hindy ◽  
Ali Jihad Hemid Al-Athari ◽  
Mazin J. Mousa ◽  
Safa Jihad Hameed ◽  
Suhad Hafidh Obeed
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Bronchial Asthma ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Exhaled Nitric Oxide ◽  
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide ◽  
Asthmatic Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
Hs Crp

Background: Bronchial asthma (BrA), recognized lately as an umbrella, covers various subtypes rather than only one disease. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways, in which cytokines could play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Hence, labors to progress noninvasive markers for asthma had centered through this era. Presently, the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin levels are emerging analytical biomarkers in this field. FeNO is a noninvasive and practical tool even in mild asthma. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of serum IL-1β and CRP together with fractional exhaled nitric oxide in the diagnosis of adult bronchial asthma. Method: The study was a case control, including 150-patients and 100-healthy controls. FeNO tests, measurements of plasma levels IL-1β and HS-CRP had undertaken for all the participants. The statistical data had examined by SPSS (V/27) for Windows. Descriptive data of the variables had compatibly used. A significance lower than or identical to 0.05 had intended. ROC curve examination of FeNO tests, IL-1β, and HS-CRP, to predict asthma from healthy control had applied. Results: there was a significant difference in the FeNo test, HS-CRP levels, and BMI, while no significant difference in all other variables between the groups. The FeNo results correlate positively, though not significantly, with the levels of IL-1β in asthmatic patients (> 0.05). There was a nonsignificant negative correlation between the FeNo results with the level of HSCRP. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the IL-1β to distinguish asthma were 68.6% and 58% at 95% CI [0.41-0.745], respectively, which was not significant (p>0.05). However, ROC analysis of HS-CRP revealed predictability for asthma patients (p-0.000), with higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity: 89.9%, and 68.1% at 95% CI [0.820-0.979], respectively. The FeNo tests revealed highly significant (0.000), high sensitivity, and specific (91% for both) with high 95% CI [0.938-1.000] predictability for asthma. Conclusion: The utility of circulating HS-CRP is more valuable than IL-1β when combined with fractional exhaled nitric oxide in the diagnosis of asthma. Novel biomarkers could improve the precision of this field.

Bronchiolitis as a Possible Cause of Wheezing in Childhood: New Evidence

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. McConnochie ◽  
Klaus J. Roghmann ◽  
Suzanne J. Klein ◽  
Thomas K. Mclnery ◽  
James B. MacWhinney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Historical Cohort ◽  
Practice Population ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Age Range ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
Allergic Manifestations

A historical cohort study was performed in order to assess the hypothesis that even mild bronchiolitis in infancy is a predictor of wheezing later in childhood. Subjects who had experienced bronchiolitis and a matched control group were compared in terms of reported wheezing 8 years later. A highly significant difference was found between the bronchiolitis group and the control group in terms of current wheezing (P &lt; .0001, relative risk 3.24). This difference was maintained after adjusting for many potentially confounding variables including family history of allergy and other allergic manifestations in the child. Results suggested that 13.6% of a normal practice population in the age range 6 to 9 years currently wheeze, but that 44.1% of children who experienced bronchiolitis currently wheeze. Based on the incidence of bronchiolitis (4.27/100 children in their first 2 years of life) and the relative odds for wheezing derived from a logistic regression model including variables that measured passive smoking, genetic tendency to wheeze, and bronchiolitis, calculations of attributable risk suggested that wheezing in 9.4% of the population of children who currently wheeze was attributable to bronchiolitis.

The Effect of Crystal Dependence on Brain Activity Related to the Perception of Pleasure Using fMRI

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Yoonessi ◽  
Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli ◽  
Iman Ahmadnezhad ◽  
Hamid Soltanian-zadeh
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Control Study

Background: Addiction is currently one of the problems of human society. Drug abuse is one of the most important issues in the field of addiction. Methamphetamine (crystal) is one of the drugs that has been abused in recent decades. Methods: In this case-control study, 10 individuals aged 20 to 40 years old with at least 2 years of experience of methamphetamine consumption without any history of drug use or other stimulants from clients and drug withdrawal centers in Tehran City, and 10 healthy volunteers were selected. Age, social status, and economic status of addicts were included in the fMRI apparatus, and 90 selected pleasurable, non-pleasurable, and neutral images (IAPS) were displayed by the projector through an event-related method. The playback time of each photo was 3 s, and after this process, the person outside the device, without the time limit selected the enjoyable and unpleasant images. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, alcohol use, and smoking history (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the age at first use between members of the methamphetamine-dependent group. Also, the methamphetamine-dependent group showed more brain activity in their pre-center and post-center gyrus than the normal (control) group. Conclusions: According to the results obtained in this study, in general, it can be concluded that there are some areas in the brain of addicts that are activated when watching pleasant photos, while these areas are not active in the brains of normal people.

Investigating platelet-activating factor as a potent proinflammatory mediator in coronary atherosclerotic patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Shler Ghafoor Raheem
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Atherosclerosis ◽  
Platelet Activating Factor ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Prognostic Indicator ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Surgical Specialty ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hs Crp

The inflammatory reaction is one of the complications in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of platelet-activating factor (PAF) compared with high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in coronary atherosclerotic patients. Fifty patients with coronary atherosclerosis and 30 subjects with normal angiography were considered as the control group attending Cardiac Center-Surgical Specialty Hospital - in Erbil city / Iraq. The levels of PAF and hs-CRP were estimated quantitatively using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a particle-enhanced immune turbid metric assay, respectively. Lipid profiles and some hematological indexes were also used in this study. The levels of the inflammatory biomarkers of PAF and hs-CRP increased significantly in the patients group compared with controls (p<0.05). Although the patients group showed the highest level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the difference was not significant (p>0.05) compared with the healthy control. However, the incidence of risk factors such as smoking and obesity showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the patients group. Additionally, the PAF level correlated positively and significantly with hs-CRP (p<0.05), and negatively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p>0.05). Although hs-CRP was a valuable diagnostic marker for coronary atherosclerosis, the PAF level showed to be a better prognostic indicator than hs-CRP in coronary atherosclerosis patients.

Abstract 17246: Sensitivity and Specificity of Relative Sparing of Apical Longitudinal Strain for Detection of Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis versus Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Jiang ◽  
Julia M Simkowski ◽  
Nadia El Hangouche ◽  
Jeesoo Lee ◽  
Milica Marion ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Longitudinal Strain ◽  
Ventricular Hypertrophy ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Transthyretin Amyloidosis ◽  
Light Chain Amyloidosis ◽  
Significant Difference

Introduction: Relative apical sparing of longitudinal strain (RALS, the ratio of apical strain vs the rest of the heart) on echocardiography has been found to have high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating cardiac amyloidosis (CA) from other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy. Previous studies have shown no significant difference between amyloid subtypes, systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) Hypothesis: There will be a significant difference in sensitivity and specificity of RALS to detect CA across amyloid subtypes. Methods: A cohort of patients with either AL or ATTR amyloid was identified, with a control cohort of patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) of other etiologies. Speckle tracking echocardiography was performed on EchoPAC (GE Medical Systems) software to obtain values of basal, mid, and apical longitudinal strain for each patient; relative apical strain was then calculated. Results: The TTR group (n=22) was older (66.4±7.9, 76.6±11.6, p=0.001) and more likely to be female (p=0.009) than the AL group (n=30), both groups had similar rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and end stage renal disease. Echocardiographic markers of diastolic function were decreased in both groups; the AL group had decreased left ventricle end diastolic volume (60.9±25.5, 94.9±50.2, p=0.012) and mean wall thickness (1.4±0.3, 1.6±0.4 p=0.017). ROC analysis using a RALS cutoff of 2 to differentiate AL and ATTR from the LVH control group revealed similar specificity (AL 85%, ATTR 85%) and sensitivity (AL 40%, ATTR 50%). Difference in area-under-curve (AUC) was not significant (p=0.2) (figure). Conclusions: ATTR and AL amyloid have similar specificity, but ATTR has a trend towards improved sensitivity over AL for detection of CA using RALS with the previously validated threshold of 2. This might become significant with a larger sample, work that is currently on-going..

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