Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of minimally invasive retractor reduction and fixation through sinus tarsi approach together with external application of Chinese medicine for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods From October of 2009 to June of 2013, 52 patients with displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (Sanders type Ⅱ, Ⅲ) were enrolled into the study. The patients received minimally invasive retractor reduction through sinus tarsi approach and fixation with small plate and cannulated screws, and after the operation were given external washing with Chinese herbal formula Shenxing Fang ( mainly composed of Herba Lycopodii, Herba Speranskiae Tuberculatae, Rhizoma Sparganii, Rhizoma Curcumae, Herba Asari, Radix Aconiti Preparata, Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii Preparat). Follow-up was carried out for the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures ( Sanders type Ⅱ, Ⅲ). Results Forty cases (involving 44 feet) received the postoperative follow-up for 12-18 months (average being 14.2 months). The Maryland foot scores were 95 points for type Ⅱ displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures, and 86 points for type Ⅲ fractures. Satisfactory results were achieved in the height, width and length of the calcaneus as well as the B?hler's and Gissane angle ( P<0.01). Conclusion Minimally invasive retracter reduction and fixation through sinus tarsi approach together with external application of Chinese medicine exert satisfying effect for the treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures.

Objective To analyze the characterization of cognitive function in Parkinson's disease with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Methods Cognitive function was examined in Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) patients ( n = 30) , Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients ( n = 30) and healthy elderly control subjects ( n = 60) . Neuropsychological evaluation contained semantic fluency test, phonemic fluency test, action fluency test, objective and action naming tests. Results In PDD group , the score of semantic fluency test is 9. 33 ±2. 78, 6. 17 ± 1.67 of phonemic fluency test and 7.03 ±2. 34 of action fluency test,it is 6.90 ±2.47, 7.87±2.01,8.30±3. 17 of AD group. The score of objective and action naming tests is 36.33 ±3.39, 17.63 ±2. 17 in PDD group,while AD patients is 33.23 ±3.56 and 22.33 ±2.37. The verbal fluency tests and naming tests were impaired in PDD and AD patients compared with the healthy elderly control group (P ＜ 0. 01 ), phonemic fluency, action fluency and action naming were more impaired in PDD patients compared with the AD group , while semantic fluency and objective naming were more impaired in AD patients (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions Executive function deficit and naming impairment are found in PDD and AD patients, it shows that PDD is characterized by the addition of cortical dysfunction upon a predominant and progressive fronto-subcortical impairment. There is subcortical dysfunction in AD patients.

Objective To analyze the magnetic resonance images (MRI) of patients with spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) in high-altitude areas and to determine the optimal cut-off value for diagnosis with epidural fat thickness. Methods This retrospective study included patients who underwent lumbosacral MRI examination for lumbosacral pain in Ping’an District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haidong City, China from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. The epidural fat thickness in vertebral segments T12/L1 to L5/S1 was compared between the SEL group and the non-SEL group. The diagnostic efficacy with different cut-off values at each vertebral segment was evaluated. Between-group comparisons were performed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or modified chi-square test. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency. The DeLong test was used to compare AUC between the two groups. Results A total of 370 patients were included (60 in the SEL group and 310 in the non-SEL group). There were no significant differences in age, sex, height, body weight, and body mass index between the two groups (all P > 0.05). At different vertebral segments, the epidural fat thickness was significantly higher in the SEL group than in the non-SEL group (all P < 0.05). The cut-off values for SEL diagnosis with epidural fat thickness in segments T12/L1 to L5/S1 were 2.23, 4.25, 4.85, 5.57, 7.21, and 8 mm, respectively. The AUC of MRI SEL diagnosis with epidural fat thickness in segment L5/S1 was the highest (0.945, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.916-0.966, P < 0.001). SEL diagnosis with epidural fat thickness > 8 mm in segment L5/S1 was the most accurate, with an AUC of 0.931 (95% CI: 0.901-0.955, P < 0.001), a sensitivity of 95.0%, and a specificity of 91.3%; this AUC was significantly higher than those of diagnosis with other cut-off values (all P < 0.05). Conclusion SEL patients have significantly increased epidural fat in the spinal canal. Epidural fat thickness > 8 mm in segment L5/S1 can be used for diagnosis of SEL with improved efficiency and accuracy.