Electromyography ; Electrophysiology ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To explore the correlation between heart rate variability ( HRV ) and multiple system atrophy( MSA) .Methods HRV was performed in 34 MSA patients and 32 healthy controls.The parameters of HRV study was compared, parameters studied included time domain and frequency domain.Single factor analysis andreceiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curves were used to analyze the detection of parameters of HRV. ResultsThe HRV of MSA showed significant decreased from the health controls: root mean square successive difference of intervals (rMSSD) [(51.6 ±29.4)ms vs (70.1 ±34.1)ms,P=0.023],percentage of interval differences of successive N-N intervals greater than 50 ms(pNN50%) [ 4.2% (1.8%,9.5%) vs 9.6%(5.1%, 16.2%),P=0.005], coefficient of variation(CV) [(0.06 ±0.01) vs(0.08 ±0.02),P=0.005],very low frequency(VLF) [1003.4(586.5,1702.9)ms2vs1825.5(1407.2,2670.1)ms2,P=0.000],lowfrequency(LF) [162.9(90.6,337.4) ms2 vs 375.5(210.4,559.5) ms2,P=0.001], high frequency(HF) [164.9(77.5,470.7) ms2 vs 349.1(209.7,738.5)ms2,P=0.005].The areas under ROC in patients with MSA for VLF was 0.703(S=0.053), while the areas for CV, LF, HF and pNN50%were 0.667(S=0.054), 0.660 (S=0.055), 0.650( S=0.055) and 0.640( S=0.055) ,the results all have statistical significance(all P<0.05).The cutoff value of VLF for diagnosing MSA in the early stage was 1240.85, the sensitivity and specificity were 86.7 and 55.4(95%CI:0.599-0.807,P=0.002) .Conclusion MSA has sympathetic and vagus nerve involvement at the early stage disease, resulting dysfunction of cardiovascular autonomic system,VLF may have high drgree of assessing accuracy of its dysfunction.

Abstract? AlM: To observe the effect of combining partial reduction orthokeratology ( Ortho-K ) and spectacles on slowing myopic progressionin high myopic adolescent.? METHODS: Sixty - nine eyes of 36 high myopic adolescent ( aged 9 ~15 years ) with spherical equivalent refraction ≧-6. 00 diopters ( D) ( spherical component≧-5. 50D) were fitted with custom-made four-zone/five-curve Ortho-K lenses. The target of reduction was to achieve -5. 00D for both eyes. The residual refractive errors after at least one month of Ortho-K wear were corrected with single-vision spectacles for clear vision in the daytime. The unaided visual acuity ( UVA) , refractive error ( RE ) , axial length ( AL ) , and ocular health were assessed before the Ortho-K lens wear, and followed up for 2a after Ortho-K.?RESULTS: ( 1 ) Changes in UVA: The mean UVA was 0. 09±0. 05 at baseline before Ortho-K;the mean UVA was 0. 27 ± 0. 14, 0. 54 ± 0. 18, 0. 78 ± 0. 24, and 0. 81 ± 0. 19, respectively after Ortho-K wear for l night, 1wk, 1, and 3mo. The differences of UVA were significant with baseline (P<0. 05), and became stable 1mo after the treatment. (2) Changes in RE:The mean RE was -6. 82± 0. 71D at baseline before Ortho-K and -6. 86 ± 0. 77D after Ortho-K wear for 1a (P>0. 05 compared to baseline). The mean RE was-7. 11±0. 81D after Ortho-K wear for 2a, and the amount of myopia increased -0. 29 ± 0. 37D compared to baseline (P<0. 05). (3) Changes in AL: The mean AL was 26. 18 ± 0. 57mm at baseline before Ortho-K, and it was not significantly different (P>0. 05) from the AL after Ortho-K wear for 6mo (26. 19±0. 54mm) and for 1a (26. 21± 0. 47mm). The AL was 26. 37±0. 59mm after Ortho-K wear for 2a, and the mean increase was 0. 19 ± 0. 28mm compared to baseline (P<0. 05). (4) Grade 1 corneal staining was observed in some subjects at each visit. However, the staining was improved after lens cleaning, discontinuing lens wear, or applying artificial tears. No other adverse events were reported in all subjects during the 2a study.?CONCLUSlON:Combining partial reduction Ortho-K and spectacles completely slowed myopic progression in high myopic adolescent after receiving the treatment for 1a, and partially reduced myopia progression after 2a of treatment. No severe ocular complications were found throughout the treatment. The combination treatment appeared to be effective and safe, but its long-term effect needs to be further assessed.

Hearing Loss, Sudden ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Humans ; Paraquat ; analogs & derivatives ; blood

Adult ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Sinus of Valsalva

Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans

Acupuncture ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Research Design

No abstract available.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of procalcitonin(PCT)as an early indicator for sepsis.Methods Serum levels of PCT and C-creative protein(CRP)and white blood cell (WBC)count were measured in 30 patients in critical condition hospitalized at an intensive care unit(ICU) with diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS).They were divided into two groups, sepsis and non-sepsis,based on their clinical manifestations and results of lab tests.Blood specimen was collected from each patient for measurement of PCT,CRP and WBC count on the 1~(st),3~(rd)and 7~(th)day after hospitalization and bacteriological culture for blood and sputum,and chest X-ray was performed,as well. Acute physiology,age and chronic health evaluation(APACHE Ⅱ)was made on the 1~(st),3~(rd)and 7~(th)day after hospitalization to assess their ill condition.Their prognosis were judged on the 28~(th)day of the follow-up. Results Serum level of PCT increased significantly in the sepsis group(with the highest of 10.13 ng/ml), as compared with that in the non-sepsis group.Sensitivity,specificity and predictive value of a positive test for a cut-off value of serum level of PCT at 0.5 ng/ml were 97.0%,91.7% and 82.1%,respectively, which were all better than those of serum level of CRP and WBC count.Serum level of PCT in the patients was significantly associated with their prognosis,and PCT in those died was significantly higher than that in those survived.Whereas,serum level of CRP and WBC count elevated in both groups,but the difference between the two groups did not reach a level of statistical significance.Conclusion Serum level of PCT can be used as an early indicator for judgment of sepsis for a patient with infection and reflection of severity of illness.