Clinician-rated measures for distal symmetrical axonal polyneuropathy

Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 346-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer S. Gewandter ◽  
Christopher H. Gibbons ◽  
Marta Campagnolo ◽  
Joonho Lee ◽  
Jenna Chaudari ◽  
...  

Distal symmetrical axonal polyneuropathy (DSP) is due to injury to peripheral sensory, motor, and autonomic nerve fibers, resulting in distal predominant sensory loss, pain, and gait instability. DSP occurs as a complication of multiple medical conditions including diabetes or HIV, or following exposure to various toxins such as chemotherapy. It affects at least 10% of the United States population. Few treatments for DSP are approved by regulatory agencies. Reliable and responsive outcome measures are integral to developing new DSP treatments. Multiple clinician-rated measures that incorporate neuropathy signs exist, however, it is not clear which of these measures performs best for various DSP phenotypes. This systematic review summarizes the content of 18 published measures of DSP identified using PubMed and from personal archives of the authors. The relative percentage of scoring dedicated to motor, reflex, large and small fiber sensory, and autonomic domains varied considerably among measures. The most common neurologic examination items included in the scales were (1) vibration perception (n = 18, 100%), (2) reflexes (n = 16, 89%), (3) pinprick perception (n = 14, 78%), (4) muscle strength (n = 11, 61%), (5) touch–pressure perception (n = 9, 50%), and (6) joint position perception (n = 8, 44%). This review can be used to inform decisions regarding which of the available clinician-rated sign outcome measures would be most appropriate for use in a particular DSP population, based on the domains most affected by that neuropathy or on the domains most likely to be affected by a particular experimental therapy.

Author(s):  
John L. Beggs ◽  
Peter C. Johnson ◽  
Astrid G. Olafsen ◽  
C. Jane Watkins

The blood supply (vasa nervorum) to peripheral nerves is composed of an interconnected dual circulation. The endoneurium of nerve fascicles is maintained by the intrinsic circulation which is composed of microvessels primarily of capillary caliber. Transperineurial arterioles link the intrinsic circulation with the extrinsic arterial supply located in the epineurium. Blood flow in the vasa nervorum is neurogenically influenced (1,2). Although a recent hypothesis proposes that endoneurial blood flow is controlled by the action of autonomic nerve fibers associated with epineurial arterioles (2), our recent studies (3) show that in addition to epineurial arterioles other segments of the vasa nervorum are also innervated. In this study, we examine blood vessels of the endoneurium for possible innervation.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Brittany M. Stopa ◽  
Maya Harary ◽  
Ray Jhun ◽  
Arun Job ◽  
Saef Izzy ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVETraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, but the true incidence of TBI is unknown.METHODSThe National Trauma Data Bank National Sample Program (NTDB NSP) was queried for 2007 and 2013, and population-based weighted estimates of TBI-related emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths were calculated. These data were compared to the 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report on TBI, which used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National (“Nationwide” before 2012) Inpatient Sample and National Emergency Department Sample.RESULTSIn the NTDB NSP the incidence of TBI-related ED visits was 59/100,000 in 2007 and 62/100,000 in 2013. However, in the CDC report there were 534/100,000 in 2007 and 787/100,000 in 2013. The CDC estimate for ED visits was 805% higher in 2007 and 1169% higher in 2013. In the NTDB NSP, the incidence of TBI-related deaths was 5/100,000 in 2007 and 4/100,000 in 2013. In the CDC report, the incidence was 18/100,000 in both years. The CDC estimate for deaths was 260% higher in 2007 and 325% higher in 2013.CONCLUSIONSThe databases disagreed widely in their weighted estimates of TBI incidence: CDC estimates were consistently higher than NTDB NSP estimates, by an average of 448%. Although such a discrepancy may be intuitive, this is the first study to quantify the magnitude of disagreement between these databases. Given that research, funding, and policy decisions are made based on these estimates, there is a need for a more accurate estimate of the true national incidence of TBI.


This handbook signals a paradigm shift in health research. Population-based disciplines have employed large national samples to examine how sociodemographic factors contour rates of morbidity and mortality. Behavioral and psychosocial disciplines have studied the factors that influence these domains using small, nonrepresentative samples in experimental or longitudinal contexts. Biomedical disciplines, drawing on diverse fields, have examined mechanistic processes implicated in disease outcomes. The collection of chapters in this handbook embraces all such prior approaches and, via targeted questions, illustrates how they can be woven together. Diverse contributions showcase how social structural influences work together with psychosocial influences or experiential factors to impact differing health outcomes, including profiles of biological risk across distinct physiological systems. These varied biopsychosocial advances have grown up around the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) national study of health, begun over 20 years ago and now encompassing over 12,000 Americans followed through time. The overarching principle behind the MIDUS enterprise is that deeper understanding of why some individuals remain healthy and well as they move across the decades of adult life, while others succumb to differing varieties of disease, dysfunction, or disability, requires a commitment to comprehensiveness that attends to the interplay of multiple interacting influences. Put another way, all of the disciplines mentioned have reliably documented influences on health, but in and of themselves, each is inherently limited because it neglects factors known to matter for health outside the discipline’s purview. Integrative health science is the alternative seeking to overcome these limitations.


2007 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 841-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn O. Åsvold ◽  
Trine Bjøro ◽  
Tom I. L. Nilsen ◽  
Lars J. Vatten

Abstract Context: The association between thyroid function and blood pressure is insufficiently studied. Objective: The objective of the investigation was to study the association between TSH within the reference range and blood pressure. Design and Setting: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study. Subjects: A total of 30,728 individuals without previously known thyroid disease were studied. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure and odds ratio for hypertension (>140/90 mm Hg or current or previous use of antihypertensive medication), according to categories of TSH. Results: Within the reference range of TSH (0.50–3.5 mU/liter), there was a linear increase in blood pressure with increasing TSH. The average increase in systolic blood pressure was 2.0 mm Hg [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–2.6 mm Hg] per milliunit per liter increase in TSH among men, and 1.8 mm Hg (95% CI 1.4–2.3 mm Hg) in women. The corresponding increase in diastolic blood pressure was 1.6 mm Hg (95% CI 1.2–2.0 mm Hg) in men and 1.1 mm Hg (95% CI 0.8–1.3 mm Hg) in women. Comparing TSH of 3.0–3.5 mU/liter (upper part of the reference) with TSH of 0.50–0.99 mU/liter (lower part of the reference), the odds ratio for hypertension was 1.98 (95% CI 1.56–2.53) in men and 1.23 (95% CI 1.04–1.46) in women. Conclusion: Within the reference range of TSH, we found a linear positive association between TSH and systolic and diastolic blood pressure that may have long-term implications for cardiovascular health.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. E2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazda K. Turel ◽  
Mena G. Kerolus ◽  
Owoicho Adogwa ◽  
Vincent C. Traynelis

OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to comprehensively review each of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved labels of 7 total cervical disc replacements, assess the exact methodology in which the trial was conducted, and provide a broad comparison of these devices to allow each surgeon to determine which disc best suits his or her specific treatment goals based on the specific labels and not the studies published. METHODS The FDA-approved labels for each of the 7 artificial discs were obtained from the official FDA website. These labels were meticulously compared with regard to the statistical analysis performed, the safety and efficacy data, and the randomized controlled trial that each artificial disc was involved in to obtain the FDA approval for the product or device. Both single-level and 2-level approvals were examined, and primary and secondary end points were assessed. RESULTS In the single-level group, 4 of the 7 artificial discs—Prestige LP, Prestige ST, Bryan, and Secure-C—showed superiority in overall success. Prestige ST showed superiority in 3 of 4 outcome measures (neurological success, revision surgery, and overall success), while the other aforementioned discs showed superiority in 2 or fewer measures (Prestige LP, neurological and overall success; Bryan, Neck Disability Index [NDI] and overall success; Secure-C, revision surgery and overall success; Pro-Disc C, revision surgery). The PCM and Mobi-C discs demonstrated noninferiority across all outcome measures. In the 2-level group, Prestige LP and Mobi-C demonstrated superiority in 3 outcome measures (NDI, secondary surgery, and overall success) but not neurological success. CONCLUSIONS This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of 7 currently approved and distributed artificial discs in the United States. It compares specific outcome measures of these devices against those following the standard of care, which is anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This information will provide surgeons the opportunity to easily answer patients' questions and remain knowledgeable when discussing devices with manufacturers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kali Zhou ◽  
Trevor A Pickering ◽  
Christina S Gainey ◽  
Myles Cockburn ◽  
Mariana C Stern ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of few cancers with rising incidence and mortality in the United States. Little is known about disease presentation and outcomes across the rural-urban continuum. Methods Using the population-based SEER registry, we identified adults with incident hepatocellular carcinoma between 2000–2016. Urban, suburban and rural residence at time of cancer diagnosis were categorized by the Census Bureau’s percent of the population living in non-urban areas. We examined association between place of residence and overall survival. Secondary outcomes were late tumor stage and receipt of therapy. Results Of 83,368 cases, 75.8%, 20.4%, and 3.8% lived in urban, suburban, and rural communities, respectively. Median survival was 7 months (IQR 2–24). All stage and stage-specific survival differed by place of residence, except for distant stage. In adjusted models, rural and suburban residents had a respective 1.09-fold (95% CI = 1.04–1.14, p < .001) and 1.08-fold (95% CI = 1.05–1.10, p < .001) increased hazard of overall mortality as compared to urban residents. Furthermore, rural and suburban residents had 18% (OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.10–1.27, p < .001) and 5% (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.09, p = .003) higher odds of diagnosis at late stage and were 12% (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80–0.94, p < .001) and 8% (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88–0.95, p < .001) less likely to receive treatment, respectively, compared to urban residents. Conclusions Residence in a suburban and rural community at time of diagnosis was independently associated with worse indicators across the cancer continuum for liver cancer. Further research is needed to elucidate the primary drivers of these rural-urban disparities.


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