Clinical characteristics of patients with motor disability due to conversion disorder: a prospective control group study

Objectives: To investigate clinical characteristics of patients with sciatica in Traditional Medicine Hospital in Thua Thien Hue province; To evaluate the effectiveness of the catgut-embedding method combining with herbal medicine on the treatment of sciatica by wind-cold-damp arthralgia. Subjects and Methods: Patients diagnosed with sciatica by wind-cold-damp arthralgia in-patient treatment in Traditional Medicine Hospital in Thua Thien Hue province. Methods: Clinical and controlled trials, a survey of 72 patients, which were divided into 2 groups: The study group: 36 patients: receiving treatment by catgut-embedding and herbal medicine; The control group: 36 patients: only use herbal medicine. 28-day treatment period. Patients were assessed at admission (T0), after 14 days (T14), after 28 days of treatment (T28). Results: After 28 days of treatment: no severity both 2 groups. The study group fell to 8.3% moderate pain, mostly mild pain (91.7%); the control group was 44.4% moderate pain, mild 55.6%.The catgut-embedding method does not cause any side effects. Key words: catgut-embedding method, sciatica by wind-cold-damp arthralgia

Download Full-text

Circulating miRNA-202-3p is a potential novel biomarker for diagnosis of type 1 gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms

BMC Gastroenterology ◽

10.1186/s12876-021-01769-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dou Dou ◽

Xiao-kou Li ◽

Qi-sheng Xia ◽

Ying-ying Chen ◽

Yuan-liang Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Matched Control ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Neuroendocrine Neoplasms ◽

Diagnostic Biomarkers ◽

Standard Curve ◽

Qrt Pcr ◽

Age And Sex

Abstract Background Currently, there are no circulating diagnostic biomarkers for gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (g-NENs). In previous studies, we found that miRNA-202-3p is overexpressed in the tumour tissue of type 1 g-NEN. We speculated that miRNA-202-3p is also likely to be highly expressed in circulating blood. Methods A total of 27 patients with type 1 g-NEN and 27 age- and sex-matched control participants were enrolled in this study. The miRNA-202-3p levels in serum obtained from the participants were measured by qRT‐PCR. The expression level of miRNA-202-3p in the samples was calculated by comparison with a standard curve. Results The clinical characteristics of the patients were similar to those of the patient samples in previous reports. Expression of miRNA-202-3p was significantly higher in the patient group (3.84 × 107 copies/nl) than in the control group (0.635 × 107 copies/nl). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.878 (95% CI: 0.788–0.968), and the optimal cut-off point was approximately 1.12 × 107 copies/nl. The sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 77.8%, respectively. Conclusion This study suggests that miRNA-202-3p is potentially useful as a biomarker of type 1 g-NEN; further investigation and verification should be performed in future research.

Download Full-text

Motor disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: transcranial magnetic stimulation study

The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery ◽

10.1186/s41983-020-00255-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anssam Bassem Mohy ◽

Aqeel Kareem Hatem ◽

Hussein Ghani Kadoori ◽

Farqad Bader Hamdan

Keyword(s):

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Motor Evoked Potential ◽

Invasive Procedure ◽

Single Pulse ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Control Group ◽

Conduction Time ◽

Motor Disability

Abstract Background Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure used in a small targeted region of the brain via electromagnetic induction and used diagnostically to measure the connection between the central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal muscle to evaluate the damage that occurs in MS. Objectives The study aims to investigate whether single-pulse TMS measures differ between patients with MS and healthy controls and to consider if these measures are associated with clinical disability. Patients and methods Single-pulse TMS was performed in 26 patients with MS who hand an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 9.5 and in 26 normal subjects. Different TMS parameters from upper and lower limbs were investigated. Results TMS disclosed no difference in all MEP parameters between the right and left side of the upper and lower limbs in patients with MS and controls. In all patients, TMS parameters were different from the control group. Upper limb central motor conduction time (CMCT) was prolonged in MS patients with pyramidal signs. Upper and lower limb CMCT and CMCT-f wave (CMCT-f) were prolonged in patients with ataxia. Moreover, CMCT and CMCT-f were prolonged in MS patients with EDSS of 5–9.5 as compared to those with a score of 0–4.5. EDSS correlated with upper and lower limb cortical latency (CL), CMCT, and CMCT-f whereas motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude not. Conclusion TMS yields objective data to evaluate clinical disability and its parameters correlated well with EDSS.

Download Full-text

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 long-term nucleic acid positive patients

Technology and Health Care ◽

10.3233/thc-212921 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Xuan Zhu ◽

Xinxin Zhu ◽

Min Wang ◽

Fang Yang ◽

Zhibing Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nucleic Acid ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Control Group ◽

Viral Shedding ◽

Imaging Characteristics ◽

And Gender ◽

Acid Test ◽

Pulmonary Ct

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.

Download Full-text

FRI0443 CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATED FACTORS OF COMMON RHEUMATIC DISEASES COMPLICATED WITH TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.3717 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 819.1-819

Author(s):

L. Long ◽

G. Tang ◽

Y. Han ◽

Q. Peng ◽

J. Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Risk Factor ◽

High Risk ◽

Rheumatic Diseases ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Control Group ◽

Average Dose ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Infection Group

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and syndrome(SS) are common rheumatic diseases with high incidence. Patients with those rheumatic diseases are at high risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, manifestations can be atypical and easily confused with those of rheumatic disease itself. For those patients, diagnosis is usually much more difficult and further make treatment delayed. Sometimes it may lead to mistreatment. Therefore, it is important to recognize the clinical characteristics of those patients.Objectives:To explore the clinical characteristics and high risk factors of common systemic rheumatism complicated with tuberculosis infection.Methods:A total of 3,906 cases of RA, SLE, and SS common systemic rheumatism diagnosed in the People’s Hospital of Sichuan Province from January 2007 to January 2017 were collected with carefully exclusion with other infectious diseases and neoplastic disease. One hundred and five patients with TB were included as infection group, including 42 cases of RA, 41 cases of SLE, and 22 cases of SS. In the control group, 84 patients with RA, 82 patients with SLE, and 44 patients with SS were randomly selected from the corresponding rheumatoid non-infected patients hospitalized during the same period.Results:Fever was the most common symptom among 42 cases of RA, 41 cases of SLE, and 22 cases of SS with TB, accounting for 83.3%, 92.7%, and 68.2%, respectively. Cough, weight loss or fatigue was less common. For 41 cases of SLE and 22 cases of SS with TB, the proportion of pulmonary was 46.3%, 59.01%, respectively.In TB infection group, 27 cases of RA, 21 cases of SLE, and 13 cases of SS with TB had two or more chest CT findings, accounting for 59%, 57%, 62%, respectively. Lesions located in the posterior or posterior segment which TB usually affected were 9 cases(33.3%),9cases(42.9%),6cases(27.2%),respectively.The daily average dose of hormones within 1 year in TB infection group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). For SLE patients, lower counts of CD4+TL were found in TB infection group (P<0.05), while no such differences were found in RA and SS group.Conclusion:Patients with RA who have TB infection are mainly pulmonary TB. For SLE and SS patients, the chance of pulmonary tuberculosis and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis is similar.Symptoms of RA, SLE, SS with TB, such as fever, cough, weight loss, fatigue, are similar with the primary disease or other infection. Chest imaging is diversity. It is difficult to diagnose.Daily average dose of hormone within one year may be a common risk factor for RA, SLE and SS patients with TB. Decreased CD4+TL may also be a risk factor for SLE patients with TB.References:[1]Cantini F, Nannini C, Niccoli L, et al. Risk of Tuberculosis Reactivation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis Receiving Non-Anti-TNF-Targeted Biologics[J]. Mediators of Inflammation, 2017, 2017(6):1-15.[2]Ruangnapa K, Dissaneewate P, Vachvanichsanong P. Tuberculosis in SLE patients: rare diagnosis, risky treatment.[J]. Clinical & Experimental Medicine, 2015, 15(3):429-432.[3]Manuela D F, Bruno L, Martina S, et al. Lung Infections in Systemic Rheumatic Disease: Focus on Opportunistic Infections[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017, 18(2):293-315.[4]Disseminated tuberculosis masquerading as a presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus.Li JC, Fong W, Wijaya L, Leung YY.Int J Rheum Dis. 2017 Oct 2. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13195.[5]Handa R, Upadhyaya S, Kapoor S, et al. Tuberculosis and biologics in rheumatology: India – A special situation[J]. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 2017, 51(2):115.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Download Full-text

Arousability, Personality, and Decision-Making Ability in Dissociative Disorder

Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1177/0253717620981555 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 025371762098155

Author(s):

Doyel Ghosh ◽

Pritha Mukhopadhyay ◽

Ishani Chatterjee ◽

Prasanta Kumar Roy

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Iowa Gambling Task ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Economic Status ◽

Reaction Time Task ◽

Conversion Disorder ◽

Control Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Personality Disposition

Background: There is a gap in understanding the pathogenesis of dissociative conversion disorder (DCD), despite the disorder having a strong historical root. The role of personality and neurocognitive factors are now highlighted; however, inconsistencies are reported. This study explores the personality disposition, arousability, and decision-making ability of patients with DCD, in reference to a healthy control group (HCG). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the sample comprised ten adult psychiatric patients with DCD. Ten participants of the HCG were matched according to age, gender, education, economic status, domicile, religious background, and handedness. The study assessed personality disposition with Temperament and Character Inventory, arousability with reaction time task, and decision-making ability with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT PEBL version). Results: The DCD group differed significantly on personality disposition related to both temperament and character. There was also evidence of easy arousability and frustration along with deficit in executive function related to decision-making ability. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of both temperamental and characterological factors associated with DCD. Moreover, this study identifies the role of cognitive arousability and decision-making or feedback utilization ability in the psychopathology of DCD.

Download Full-text

Self-esteem in Recovered Bipolar and Unipolar Out-patients

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.163.6.755 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 163 (6) ◽

pp. 755-762 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

D. Pardoen ◽

F. Bauwens ◽

A. Tracy ◽

F. Martin ◽

J. Mendlewicz

Keyword(s):

Social Adjustment ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Normal Control Group ◽

Basic Component ◽

Control Group ◽

Bipolar Patients ◽

The Relationship ◽

Depressive Patients

The hypothesis of a low self-esteem in depressive patients was tested using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in 24 recovered unipolar and 27 recovered bipolar patients, compared with a normal control group of 26 subjects matched for age and sex. The hypothesis was confirmed only for unipolars; bipolar patients presented a self-esteem score not significantly different from normal scores. Self-esteem was not related to clinical characteristics of the affective disorder, suggesting that low self-esteem may be a basic component of a depression-prone personality. The investigation of the relationship between self-esteem and social adjustment confirmed the presence of social conformism in bipolar patients and rigidly set low self-esteem in unipolar patients. These results should stimulate the evaluation of different psychotherapeutic treatments in the long-term psychosocial management of affectively ill patients.

Download Full-text

Cephalometric analysis for the diagnosis of sleep apnea: a comparative study between reference values and measurements obtained for Brazilian subjects

Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics ◽

10.1590/s2176-94512013000300023 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 143-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Patrícia Superbi Lemos Maschtakow ◽

Jefferson Luis Oshiro Tanaka ◽

João Carlos da Rocha ◽

Lílian Chrystiane Giannasi ◽

Mari Eli Leonelli de Moraes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Apnea ◽

Reference Values ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Control Group ◽

Cephalometric Analysis ◽

Upper Airways ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Lateral Cephalograms ◽

Standard Values ◽

Student’S T

OBJECTIVE: To verify if the reference values of Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis of North American individuals are similar to the ones of Brazilian individuals presenting no craniofacial anomalies. The study also aimed to identify craniofacial alterations in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) patients in relation to individuals without clinical characteristics of the disease through this cephalometric analysis. METHOD: It were used 55 lateral cephalograms consisting of 29 for the control group of adult individuals without clinical characteristics of OSAHS and 26 apneic adults. All radiographs were submitted to Sleep Apnea cephalometric analysis through Radiocef Studio 2.0. The standard values of this analysis were compared, by means of z test, to the ones obtained from the control group and these were compared to values from apneic group through Student's t test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between values obtained from control group and standard values. On the group of OSAHS patients it was observed a decrease on the dimensions of upper airways and an increase on the soft palate length. CONCLUSIONS: The standard values of Sleep Apnea analysis can be used as reference in Brazilian individuals. Besides, through lateral cephalograms it was possible to identify craniofacial alterations in OSAHS patients.

Download Full-text

Efeito de imunodulador glutamina e probiótico pool de Lactobacillus na atenuação dos sintomas e crises de asma em crianças

Abr-Jun - Braspen Journal ◽

10.37111/braspenj.2019344007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 346-354

Author(s):

Michele Honicky ◽

João Paulo Zattar ◽

Mariana Saciloto ◽

Mariana Abe Vicente Cavagnari ◽

Claudia Nodari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Glutamine Supplementation ◽

Control Group ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Asthma Symptoms ◽

Asthma Attack ◽

Asthma In Children ◽

And Control

Introduction: Immunomodulator glutamine and probiotic Lactobacillus at certain doses have beneficial effects by modulation of the immune system and may assist in the integrity of therespiratory system. However, studies about the effects of glutamine or Lactobacillus pool on the prevention and control of asthma in children are still scarce. The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of the use of glutamine and Lactobacillus pool on the attenuation of clinical asthma symptoms in children. Methods: Longitudinal study, 45 children with medical diagnosis of asthma distributed in three groups: control group (C), glutamine group (G), Lactobacillus group (L). Group G was supplemented with L-glutamine powder (0.3 g/kg/day). Group L used a pool of Lactoba- cillus (Lactobacillus casei, paracasei, rhamnosus, acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis) (2 g/day). Group C received no glutamine or Lactobacillus pool. Clinical characteristics and symptoms of respiratory diseases were assessed by study-specific anamnesis and ISSAC Questionnaire (to obtain diagnostic scores and asthma symptoms) for 4 months. To test for differences between groups, the ANOVA test with Tukey post-hoc test was used. It was considered significant p <0.05. Results: Initial ISSAC score was (C=8.67±1.77, L=7.80±1.52 and G=8.00 ± 1.46, p=0.31). At the first follow-up, the ISSAC score indicated that group G had improvement in the clinical characteristics of asthma (C=6.47±2.29, L = 5.07±2.28, G = 4.00±1.73, p <0.05), as also occurred in the following months until the last follow-up (C=5.93±2.28, L=5.13±2.13, G=4.00±1.96, p<0.05). After supplementation, group G presented lower mean duration of asthma attack (p=0.01), lower number of asthma attack (p<0.05), lower prevalence of typical asthma symptoms, as cough and wheezing (p<0.05). Conclusion: Glutamine supplementation attenuated the typical asthma symptoms, while the use of Lactobacillus pool did not attenuate the symptoms. Glutamine may be a new strategy for prevention and control of asthma in children.

Download Full-text