Objective To compare the effect of botulinum toxin A(BTX-A)applied according to experi- ence with its effect when the application is guided by electrical stimulation on spasticity in the ankle plantarflexors of children with cerebral palsy(CP).Methods Forty-five children with CP were randomly assigned into 2 groups to receive injections of BTX-A guided by electrical stimulation,or injections of BTX-A guided by experience.All chil- dren received a local injection in the ankle plantar flexors.Physiotherapy and ankle-foot orthoses were applied by a physical therapist 3 days after the BTX-A injections.After the first 10 days,the therapy was administered by the patient's family.Clinical assessments included the patient's passive range of movement(PROM),scoring on the Ash- worth scale(MAS),the composite spasticity scale(CSS),and the D and E dimensions of the gross motor function measure(GMFM),and walking velocity(WV).Assessments were performed before treatment and at 3 days,2 weeks,1,2,and 3 months following the injection with BTX-A.Results All children showed significant decrease in spasticity(PROM,MAS and CSS)after 3 days.The improvement was maintained at 3 months.When compared with the results before the injection,the improvements in standing and walking(GMFM)and in walking velocity were statistically significant after 2 weeks of treatment for both groups,and were maintained at 3 months.The differences in PROM and CSS scores at 3 days,2 weeks,1,2,and 3 months following the injection were statistically significant between the 2 groups.Significant differences were also found between the 2 groups in MAS scores at 3 days,2 and 3 months after treatment,and in GMFM and WV at 2 and 3 months after treatment.Conclusions A BTX-A injec- tion,whether guided by electrical stimulation or experience,in combination with physiotherapy,can reduce spasticity in the ankle plantarflexors of ambulant children with CP and improve their functional performance.BTX-A injection guided by electrical stimulation was more effective than an injection guided by experience.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection guided by electric stimulation combined with physiotherapy, with physiotherapy only on the spasticity of the ankle plantar flexor in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODSAfter signing the informed consent, 43 children with CP, aged 52.4 +/- 13.2 months (35 to 82 months), were randomly assigned into 2 groups, (1) BTX-A group (n = 23) treated with BTX-A injection guided by electric stimulation and (2) physiotherapy alone group (n = 20). Children in BTX-A group received injection of HengLi BTX-A in the ankle plantar flexors. A maximum dose of 12 units of BTX-A per kilogram body weight and maximumly 10 units of BTX-A per site were administered. Localization technique was the use of electrical stimulation guidance. Physiotherapy and ankle-foot orthosis were applied to children at 72 hours after injection in BTX-A group and at the time of being recruited into physiotherapy group. Ten days after entering into the study, the program was applied by the parents. Demographic data, including age, gender, number of the spastic lower limbs, affected side (left or right) were recorded. Clinical assessments included the range of passive movement (PROM) measured by goniometer while children maintained the knee extended, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), composite spasticity scale (CSS), D and E dimensions of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), and walking velocity (WV) was determined before treatment and at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found in age, gender, number of the spastic lower limbs, affected side, as well as clinical assessments (PROM, MAS, CSS, GMFM and WV) before treatment between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). All the children showed a reduction of spasticity (PROM, MAS and CSS) after 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months of treatment (P < 0.05). When compared with the baseline findings, the improvement of standing and walking (GMFM), walking velocity were statistically significant after 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months of treatment (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the differences of PROM, MAS and CSS between the 2 groups at 2 weeks, 1, 2, and 3 months examination were also statistically significant (after 3 months of treatment: t(PROM) = 6.48, t(MAS) = 9.74, t(CSS) = 9.59; P < 0.05). The difference in GMFM between the 2 groups was statistically significant (t(1M) = 2.20, t(2M) = 3.26, t(3M) = 4.13; P < 0.05) at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment. The difference of WV between the 2 groups was statistically significant (t(2M) = 2.12, t(3M) = 2.57; P < 0.05) at 2 and 3 months after treatment.

CONCLUSIONBTX-A injection guided by electrical stimulation in combination with physiotherapy was more effective than physiotherapy alone in terms of reducing spasticity and improving functional performance in standing, walking, walking pattern and velocity on spasticity in ankle plantar flexors of ambulant children with CP.

Ankle Joint ; physiopathology ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cerebral Palsy ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity ; drug therapy ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of epilepsy on sleep in children.

METHODSWhole night polysomnography was performed in 48 epileptic children and 12 healthy controls. The 48 epileptic children were divided into focal seizure and generalized seizure groups and into waking seizure and sleeping seizure groups according to the time of occurrence of the seizures. Various parameters of sleep structure were analyzed.

RESULTSThe sleep efficiency of epileptic children was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (85.4 +/- 8.6% vs 90.9 +/- 5.8%; P < 0.05). The total recording time (TRT) of sleep was significantly longer and the sleep efficiency was significantly lower in the focal seizure group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of stage 1 non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (S1 sleep) increased and the percentage of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep decreased in the generalized seizure group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of S1 sleep increased and both the percentage of REM sleep and the sleep efficiency decreased in the sleeping seizure group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the parameters of sleep structure between the waking seizure and the control group. Among the sleeping seizure group, the children with generalized seizure showed significantly lower REM sleep percentage and sleep efficiency, and those with focal seizure had significantly longer TRT and higher S1 sleep percentage as compared with the controls.

CONCLUSIONSEpilepsy affects sleep structure of patients, and different types of seizure have different influences on sleep structure. Children with generalized seizure have prolonged light sleep and shortened REM sleep. When generalized seizures occur during waking, the increase of light sleep is more pronounced. While generalized seizures occur during sleeping, REM sleep reduction is more prominent. Children with focal seizures have decreased sleep efficiency. When focal seizures occur during waking, the sleep structure of patients is normal. However, when seizures occur during sleeping light sleep increases and sleep efficiency decreases.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Stages ; physiology

Objective To explore the influential factors and predictive value of early femoral head collapse progression following allogeneic fibula grafting(AFG)surgery.Methods Clinical and radiological data of 68 patients(75 hips)with osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH)who underwent AFG between January 2008 and December 2022 at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department,Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed.Seventy-five hips were divided into stable(n=40)and progressive(n=35)groups based on the presence or absence of postoperative collapse progression.Age,gender,etiology,location of the lesion,Association Research Circulation Osseous(ARCO)stage,Japanese Committee of Osteonecrosis Investigation(JIC)classification,China-Japan Friendship Hospital(CJFH)classification,and Hounsfield units(HU)value of anterolateral sclerosis rim(ⅠSHU)were collected.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors influencing early collapse progression after AFG.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of the identified factors influencing postoperative early collapse progression.Results Of the 75 hips,35(46.7%)had postoperative collapse progression.Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age,ARCO stage,JIC classification,and ⅠSHU were in fluencing factors for early femoral head collapse progression after AFG(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ARCO stage ⅢA and JIC classification C2 were independent risk factors for early femoral head collapse progression after AFG,while ⅠSHU was identified as an independent protective factor(P<0.05).The ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivities of ARCO stage,JIC classification,ⅠSHU,and the combined predictive model were 0.850,0.725,0.800,and 0.775,the specificities were 0.486,0.657,0.743,and 0.914,and the area under the ROC curve(AUC)were 0.668,0.725,0.811,and 0.896,respectively.Conclusions ⅠSHU is associated with early collapse progression after AFG in patients with ONFH.ARCO stage ⅢA,JIC classification C2,and ⅠSHU are independent factors influencing postoperative early collapse progression and have a certain predictive value.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the outcome of newly diagnosed adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with HAA (homoharringtonine, cytarabine and aclarubicin) regimen and explore the efficacy and safety of this regimen.

METHODSEighty patients were treated with HAA regimen. The complete remission (CR) rate was observed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate relapse free survival (RFS) rate and the differences were compared with 2-sided log-rank test.

RESULTSOf the 80 patients, 65 (81%) attained CR and the CR rate after the first course of induction was 75%. For the CR patients, the median follow-up was 26 (2 -69) months, and the estimated 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 51% and the estimated 3-year RFS was 53%. For the AML-M5 and AML-M /M2 patients the CR rate was 74% and 87% and 3 year RFS of CR patients was 75% and 37%, respectively. The CR rate of 100%, 83% and 20% was achieved in patients with favorable, intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetics, respectively. The 3 year OS for favorable and intermediate group was 76% and 50% respectively. The median survival time of unfavorable group was only 6 months.

CONCLUSIONHAA regimen is a safe, efficacious, and well-tolerable induction therapy for newly diagnosed AML.

Aclarubicin ; administration & dosage ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Harringtonines ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective　To analyze the clinical indications,efficacy and safety of Chinese minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) in treating upper urinary calculi based on our experience.Methods　From June 1992 to September 2010,a total of 10,452 patients (6060 males and 4392 females)with a mean age of (47.6 ± 13.7) years (7 months-93 years) received MPCNL in our center.The mean stone burden was (777.4 ± 740.3) mm2 (20 - 4 080 mm2 ).The data of stone burden,operative techniques,operating time,stone-free rate,major complication,hospital stay and stone composition were investigated.　Results　Of the 10 452 cases,11 801 procedures were performed on 10 876 (5493 left and 5383right) renal units,including 10 102 first stage procedures,1604 secondary procedures,86 third procedures and 9 fourth procedures.There were 11 830 tracts established,including 373 (3.15％ ) tracts of 14 F,7867 (66.50％) tracts of 16 F and 3590 (30.35％) tracts of 18 F.There were 1207 (10.20％),9174(77.55％) and 1449 (12.25％) punctures located in upper,middle and lower pole,respectively.956(8.79％) renal units were managed with multiple tracts,which including 2 tracts in 846 (7.78％) units,3tracts in 85 (0.78％) units,4 tracts in 18 (0.17％) units and 5 tracts in 7 (0.06％) units.Pneumatic lithotripsy was used in 8563 (72.56％) procedures,Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy was used in 2981(25.26％)　procedures and Pneumatic lithotripsy + Holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy was used in 257(2.18％) procedures.762 (7.29％) cases needed ESWL to clean the stone after MPCNL.The average operating time was ( 101.3 ± 44.2) min ( 10 -240 min).The stone-free rate of MPCNL was 89.9％,which increased to 93％ by adjunctive ESWL.And the mean hospital stay was ( 13.2 ± 6.4) days (2 - 72 days).The major complications happened on 321 (3.07％) cases,including 294 (2.81％ ) cases of blood transfusion,12 (0.11％ ) cases of sepsis,2 (0.02％) cases of renal abscess,9 (0.09％) cases of pleura injury,2 (0.02％) cases of colon injury and 2 (0.02％) cases of death.53 (0.51％) cases needed selective renal arterial embolization to achieve hemostasis.The main stone compositions were analyzed in 4345 cases.Calcium oxalate,calcium phosphate,magnesium ammonium phosphate,uric acid,ammonium urate,carbapatite and cystin were 91.74％,90.33％,14.91％,17.77％,4.83％,8.47％ and 0.51％,respectively. Conclusions　MPCNL is an effective and safe treatment option for all kinds of upper urinary calculi in patients at all ages with a high stone free rate and low major complication rate.

Decompression, Surgical ; Gout ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Spinal Stenosis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the changes in the cardiac function after St. Jude Regent mechanical valve replacement and assess the prosthesis-patient matching.

METHODSFrom October 2007 to March 2009, 44 patients received implantation of 17 mm St. Jude aortic prostheses in our hospital. The patients were followed up for clinical symptoms, signs, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram and cardiac functions, and the results were compared with those of randomly selected 44 patients receiving 21 mm St. Jude aortic prostheses.

RESULTSIn 17 mm St Jude Medica Regent valve group, 8 patients presented with ECG ST segment changes, 3 complained of chest tightness, 3 had occasional chest pain and discomfort, and 8 had grade II and 4 grade III cardiac function. In 21 mm St Jude Medical Regent valve group, 6 patients had ECG ST segment changes, 2 complained of chest tightness, 2 reported occasional chest pain and discomfort, 11 had grade II and 2 grade III cardiac function. No significant differences were found in these indices between the two groups (P=0.32). Compared with those before operation, the two groups showed significant improvements in the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass index, and aortic pressure gradient (P<0.05). A significant increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction occurred 6-12 months after operation, but without statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor underweight patients (<60 kg) and those with small body surface area (<1.6 cm(2)), 17 mm St. Jude Medical Regent valve prosthesis may produce good therapeutic effect, and some indices are even close to those after placement of 21 mm St. Jude Medical Regent valve prosthesis. No obvious prosthesis-patient mismatch occurs after the placement of the 17 mm valve prosthesis and aortic valve ring expansion is not necessary.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aortic Valve ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience with surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of the post-operative clinical data was conducted in 128 surgical patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis.

RESULTSTwo early postoperative death occurred in this group due to severe low cardiac output syndrome, with the mortality rate of 1.57%. The postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome (13.2%), arrhythmia (7.02%), acute renal insufficiency (3.9%), respiratory insufficiency (3.1%), wound infection (2.3%), postoperative chest bleeding (1.6%) and cerebral infarction (0.78%). Relapse occurred in one case because of incomplete pericardial resection.

CONCLUSIONSConstrictive pericarditis should be confirmed as soon as possible with actively surgery, and the extent of pericardial resection should be decided according to the individual conditions. Complete untethering of the diseased pericardium should be performed with active prevention of postoperative complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of the HAA regimen (homoharringtonine, cytarabine and aclarubicin) as induction chemotherapy in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSThe efficacy and safety of 236 de novo AML patients who received the HAA regimen as induction chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. The complete remission (CR) rate was assayed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and relapse free survival (RFS), and the differences were compared by Log-rank test.

RESULTSThe overall CR rate was 78.0%, and 65.7% of the patients attained CR in the first induction cycle. The early death rate was 4.7%. The median followup time was 41(1-161) months. The estimated 5-year OS and 5-year RFS rates were 44.9% and 45.5%, respectively. The CR rates of patients with favorable, intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetics were 92.9%,78.6%and 41.7%, respectively. The 5-year OS of favorable and intermediate group were 61.1% and 45.1%, respectively. The 5- year RFS of favorable and intermediate group were 49.0% and 45.4%, respectively. The median survival time of unfavorable group was only 5 months. The side effects associated with the HAA regimen were tolerable, in which the most common toxicities were myelosuppression and infection.

CONCLUSIONThe HAA regimen is associated with a higher rate of CR and longer survival time and its toxicity could be tolerated.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult