scholarly journals Auricular Electroacupuncture for Late Posttraumatic Epilepsy after Severe Brain Injury: A Retrospective Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Cui-Cui Shen ◽  
Jin-Feng Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Sodium Valproate ◽  
Effective Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Posttraumatic Epilepsy ◽  
Auricular Electroacupuncture ◽  
Auricular Branch ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Background. Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a common complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which seriously affects patients’ survival and recovery. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a nonpharmacological therapy for epilepsy. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) is the only peripheral branch and has antiepileptic effects, but the efficacy of ABVN stimulation as treatment of late PTE is uncertain. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy of ABVN stimulation by auricular electroacupuncture for the treatment of late PTE, and investigated the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the anti-PTE effects of auricular electroacupuncture. Method. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship of age, cause of PTE, use of auricular electroacupuncture, sodium valproate, and edaravone with the incidence of late PTE. To compare the curative effects of auricular electroacupuncture, 89 cases of late PTE were divided into an auricular electroacupuncture and a control group according to whether they were treated with auricular electroacupuncture. We further analyzed the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the effects of the treatment of PTE with auricular electroacupuncture. Results. Among age, cause, use of auricular electroacupuncture, sodium valproate, and edaravone, the use of auricular electroacupuncture was associated with significantly reduced incidence of late PTE (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, there were more seizure-free cases in the auricular electroacupuncture group (P<0.01). The total effective rate of the auricular electroacupuncture group was 90%. The seizure-free rate among patients treated with auricular electroacupuncture was significantly reduced, regardless of the use of sodium valproate or edaravone (P<0.05). Conclusion. Auricular electroacupuncture can reduce the incidence of late PTE and is a safe and economical therapy for late PTE.

Experimental study of the inhibition effect of CXCL12/CXCR4 in malignant pleural mesothelioma

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianshuang Li ◽  
Tong Li ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Lipeng Xie ◽  
Yi-Lin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cxcr4 Axis

Previous studies have demonstrated that CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is closely related to tumors such as malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). This research was conducted in order to detect whether CXCL12/CXCR4 inhibitors could restrain MPM and have a synergistic effect with chemotherapy, also to investigate the relationship of CXCL12/CXCR4 with other gene expressions in MPM. Forty mice were injected MPM cells and randomly divided into four groups: the PBS (control group), AMD3100 (CXCR4-CXCL12 antagonist), pemetrexed and AMD3100 plus pemetrexed. The mice were treated respectively for duration of 3 weeks. The size, bioluminescence and weight of tumors were measured. The differences between gene expressions in each group were analyzed. The tumor weights of each treatment group were lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). The bioluminescence of the tumor of the AMD3100 treatment group and the AMD3100 plus pemetrexed treatment group were lower than that of the control group (p<0.05), and AMD3100 was shown to have synergistic effects with pemetrexed (p<0.05). Among the 2.5 billion genes, several hundreds of genes expressed differently between groups. Results show that AMD3100 and pemetrexed can inhibit the growth of MPM in vivo, also that there is a better result if both are used together. Our findings suggest that CXCL12/CXCR4 axis affects a certain amount of gene expression in MPM.

scholarly journals Reduced loss aversion in subclinical negative symptoms and hypomania

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Klaus ◽  
Justin Chumbley ◽  
Erich Seifritz ◽  
Stefan Kaiser ◽  
Matthias Hartmann-Riemer
Keyword(s):  
Loss Aversion ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Inverse Relation ◽  
Symptom Dimensions ◽  
Binary Choices ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Behavioral Phenomenon ◽  
Higher Sensitivity

AbstractLoss aversion is a behavioral phenomenon that describes a higher sensitivity to losses than to gains and influences decisions. Decision-making is altered in several psychopathologic states, such as in the two symptom dimensions of hypomania and negative symptoms. It has been argued that progress in our understanding of psychopathology requires a reorientation from the traditional, syndrome-based perspective to a more detailed study of individual constituent symptoms. In the present study, we made careful efforts to dissociate the relationship of loss aversion to negative symptoms, from its relationship with hypomanic symptoms. We selected a sample of 45 subjects from a healthy student population (n = 835) according to psychopathologic scales for hypomania and negative symptoms and stratified them into a control group (n = 15), a subclinical hypomania group (n = 15) and a negative symptoms group (n = 15). Participants completed a loss aversion task consisting of forced binary choices between a monetary gamble and a riskless choice with no gain or loss. We found, that these two symptom dimensions of hypomania and negative symptoms have a similar inverse relation to loss aversion as demonstrated by analysis of variance. Further research is warranted to describe the underlying psychological and neurobiological mechanisms at play. Given the partially opposing nature of hypomania and negative symptoms it further needs to be elucidated whether they are linked to loss aversion via dissociable mechanisms.

The Relationship of Drug Abuse to Unexplained Sudden Death

2008 ◽  
Vol 132 (12) ◽  
pp. 1903-1906
Author(s):  
Amy C. Gruszecki ◽  
Gerald McGwin, Jr ◽  
C. Andrew Robinson, Jr ◽  
Gregory G. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Manner Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Matched Case ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Context.—Forensic pathologists regularly investigate the deaths of individuals with a history of drug abuse. Autopsy, including toxicology testing, reveals no cause for death in a subset of this cohort. Objective.—To determine whether deaths with an undetermined cause and manner of death are associated with a history of drug abuse. Design.—Retrospective matched case-control study of 52 decedents whose cause of death remained undetermined following autopsy, matched 1:2 to a control group of living patients admitted for cholecystectomy according to age and date of death or procedure. Results.—Individuals whose cause of death was undetermined were 5.3 times (95% confidence interval, 1.9– 14.5) more likely to have a history of drug abuse than were patients with cholecystitis. Conclusions.—Decedents with a history of chronic drug abuse appear to be at an increased risk of dying by their chronic drug abuse, even in the absence of any anatomical or toxicologic finding at autopsy to account for death.

scholarly journals Elevated levels of serum, but not salivary, brain-derived neurotrophic factor following mild traumatic brain injury in collegiate athletes post return-to-play

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 205970021989410
Author(s):  
Taylor R Susa ◽  
Ryan D Brandt ◽  
Keara J Kangas ◽  
Catherine E Bammert ◽  
Erich N Ottem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Serum Bdnf

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) helps restore neuronal function following mild traumatic brain injury. BDNF levels can be obtained in blood serum and more recently in saliva. However, the relationship between serum and salivary BDNF is poorly understood—especially in relation to alterations in BDNF levels following mild traumatic brain injury. In this study, serum and salivary BDNF were collected from a sample of 42 collegiate student athletes. Half of the participants were recently cleared by a physician and/or an athletic trainer to return-to-play after experiencing a sports-related concussion. The other half had not experienced a concussion within the past year and were matched by age, sex, sport, and time of sample. Results suggest that incidences of depression, anxiety, and stress were all elevated in the concussion group, relative to the control participants. When controlling for stress-related negative affect, serum BDNF was elevated in the concussion group. However, there was no difference in salivary BDNF. Serum and salivary BDNF were uncorrelated across the entire sample. Yet, these measures of BDNF were correlated in the concussion group, but not the control group. In sum, serum BDNF is elevated in concussion post return-to-play; however, further research is needed to explore the utility of salivary BDNF following concussion.

Relationship of Adherent Bacterial Biofilms to Peritonitis in Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mrinal K. Oasgupta ◽  
Kelvin B. Bettcher ◽  
Raymond A. Ulan ◽  
Valorie Burns ◽  
Kan Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Bacterial Biofilms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Bacterial Cultures ◽  
Successful Transplantation ◽  
Catheter Surface ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

To examine the relationship of the formation of biofilm (adherent bacterial microcolonies) to recurrent peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPO) we examined the surfaces of 25 recovered Tenckhoff (T) catheters by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microbiological examination of scrapings. Twelve catheters had been removed after successful transplantation; the patients had not been dialyzed for three months and had no evidence of peritonitis during that period (control group), and only seven had experienced peritonitis (I or 2 episodes) before transplantation. All 13 patients in the study group had experienced repeated episodes of peritonitis (range 3–13, average, 5.6). We detected no significant differences between the control and study groups with respect to the percentage of catheter-surface covered by biofilm, or the proportion of catheter segments whose scrapings yielded positive bacterial cultures. It is concluded that large areas of the T catheters of CAPO patients are colonized by bacterial biofilms but only active dialysis predisposes to recurrent peritonitis.

scholarly journals THE PREVALENCE OF CELIAC DISEASE AMONG PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sedat IŞIKAY ◽  
Nurgül IŞIKAY ◽  
Halil KOCAMAZ
Keyword(s):  
Celiac Disease ◽  
Familial Mediterranean Fever ◽  
Tissue Transglutaminase ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Marsh Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Mediterranean Fever ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Background Familial Mediterranean Fever and celiac disease are both related to auto-inflammation and/or auto-immunity and they share some common clinical features such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating and flatulence. Objectives We aimed to determine the association of these two diseases, if present. Methods Totally 112 patients diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and 32 cases as healthy control were included in the study. All participants were examined for the evidence of celiac disease, with serum tissue transglutaminase IgA levels (tTG IgA). Results Totally 144 cases, 112 with Familial Mediterranean Fever and 32 healthy control cases were included in the study. tTG IgA positivity was determined in three cases with Familial Mediterranean Fever and in one case in control group. In that aspect there was no significant difference regarding the tTG IgA positivity between groups (P=0.81). Duodenum biopsy was performed to the tTG IgA positive cases and revealed Marsh Type 3b in two Familial Mediterranean Fever cases and Marsh Type 3c in the other one while the biopsy results were of the only tTG IgA positive case in control group was Marsh Type 3b. In HLA evaluation of the celiac cases; HLA DQ2 was present in two celiac cases of the Familial Mediterranean Fever group and in the only celiac case of the control group while HLA DQ8 was present in one celiac case of the Familial Mediterranean Fever group. Conclusions We did not determine an association of Familial Mediterranean Fever with celiac disease. Larger studies with subgroup analysis are warranted to determine the relationship of these two diseases.

Plasma kisspeptin and ghrelin levels in puberty variant cases

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erdal Kurnaz ◽  
Yaşar Şen ◽  
Süleyman Aydın
Keyword(s):  
Serum Levels ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Premature Thelarche ◽  
Premature Adrenarche ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Control ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractBackground:The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of kisspeptin and ghrelin (GAH), as well as the relationship of these two peptides with each other in premature thelarche (PT) and premature adrenarche (PA) cases and to investigate the possibility of using these peptides as markers in the differentiation of puberty disorders.Methods:A PT group aged 1–8 years (n = 40), a PA group aged 1–9 years (n = 23, female/male = 20/3) and control groups consistent with each of the previous groups in terms of age and gender were created for the study. Kisspeptin and ghrelin levels were measured with ELISA methods from blood samples drawn while fasting in the morning.Results:When the PT group was compared with the controls, the plasma kisspeptin levels of the cases were significantly higher than the control group (165.47 ± 15.45 pmol/L, 96.82 ± 12.33 pmol/L, p = 0.005, respectively). Kisspeptin levels in the PA group did not show a difference with the control group (121.36 ± 17.99 pmol/L, 95.52 ± 11.54 pmol/L, p = 0.249, respectively). No significant difference could be found when GAH levels in the PT and PA groups were compared with controls. No significant correlation was found between kisspeptin and GAH levels in the PT and PA groups.Conclusions:Our results indicate that kisspeptin plays an important role in the PT, but GAH is not associated with puberty disorders.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Relationship of APOE Polymorphisms and Cerebral Vasospasm on Functional Outcomes in Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Reuter-Rice ◽  
Michael Regier ◽  
Ellen Bennett ◽  
Daniel Laskowitz
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cerebral Vasospasm ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Apoe Gene ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability. Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E ( APOE) gene have been linked to cerebral vasospasm (CV) and poor outcomes in adults with TBI, yet these associations remain poorly defined in children. Objective: We examined the effect of the relationship between APOE polymorphisms and CV on functional outcomes in children with a TBI. Method: This prospective, descriptive study examined 60 children (aged 10 days to 15 years) with a TBI. Data included demographic information, genetic sampling for the APOE gene and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs405509, rs429358, rs7412), and daily transcranial Doppler ultrasounds to evaluate for CV. We examined Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended Pediatrics (GOS-E Peds) scores at the time of discharge and 4–6 weeks after discharge. Results: More than half (56.7%) of the 60 children ( Mage = 5.9 years) were male. Twenty-six participants (43.3%) experienced an occurrence of CV. There were significant differences in injury mechanism (unadjusted p = .048) and age (unadjusted p = .02) between those with and without CV. Also, the noncoding promoter SNP rs405509 T/T, when considered with injury severity, appeared to modify the relationship of APOE genotype to CV. The relationship between APOE and CV had no significant effect on GOS-E Peds scores. Conclusion: Injury severity and the APOE noncoding promoter SNP rs405509 may modify the relationship between APOE and CV in children with TBI. More studies are needed to understand the role of APOE polymorphisms in outcomes in children with TBI.

Locus of Control and Decision to Abort

1984 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 547-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul N. Dixon ◽  
Donald A. Strano ◽  
Welborn Willingham
Keyword(s):  
Locus Of Control ◽  
General Population ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Personality Characteristics ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Scale ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Control Construct

The relationship of locus of control to deciding on an abortion was investigated. Rotter's Scale was given to 118 women immediately prior to abortion, 2 wk., and 3 mo. following the abortion. Subjects' locus of control scores were compared across the three times, and the abortion group's pretest scores were compared with those of a nonpregnant control group. As hypothesized, the aborting group scored significantly more internal than the general population but no differences in locus of control were found across the three times. The length of delay in deciding to abort an unwanted pregnancy following confirmation was also assessed. Women seeking first-trimester abortions were divided into internal and external groups on the Rotter Locus of Control Scale and the lengths of delay were compared. The hypothesis that external scorers would delay the decision longer than internal ones was confirmed. The results confirm characteristics of the locus of control construct and add information about personality characteristics of women undergoing abortion.

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