Gelastic seizure (GS) is a type of epilepsy characterized primarily by inappropriate bursts of laughter, with or without other epileptic events. Based on the timing of symptoms, the presence of emotional changes, and disturbances of consciousness, GS is classified into simple and complex types. The generation of laughter involves two major neural pathways: the emotional pathway and the volitional pathway. The neural network involved in GS includes structures such as the frontal lobe, insula, cingulate gyrus, temporal lobe, and brainstem.The most common cause of GS is a hypothalamic hamartoma, and stereotactic electroencephalography can record discharges from the lesion itself. Surgical removal of the hypothalamic hamartoma can result in immediate cessation of GS in the majority of patients, while some may experience partial improvement with persistent epileptic-like discharges detectable on scalp electroencephalography (EEG). Early surgical intervention may improve prognosis.In cases of non-hypothalamic origin of GS with no apparent imaging abnormalities, focal discharges are often observed on EEG and these cases respond well to antiepileptic drugs. Conversely, patients with structural abnormalities suggested by imaging studies tend to have multifocal discharges and a poorer response to medication. In a small subset of medically refractory non-hypothalamic GS, surgical intervention can effectively control symptoms.This article provides a comprehensive review of the etiology, neural networks involved, EEG characteristics, and treatment options for GS, with the goal of improving understanding of this relatively rare type of epileptic seizure.
ObjectiveTo observe the macular choroidal and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) thickness in tilted disc syndrome (TDS). MethodsThis is a descriptive study. Thirty eyes of 22 TDS patients (TDS group) and 30 eyes of 15 normal subjects (control group) were analyzed. Among TDS group, there were 8 males (11 eyes) and 14 females (19 eyes), the average age was (9.00±2.78) years old. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.3-1.0, and the average spherical equivalent degree was (-3.44±2.22) DS. Among the control group, there were 8 males (16 eyes) and 7 females (14 eyes), the average age was (9.33±1.11) years old. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)≥1.0, and the average spherical equivalent degree was (-3.18±1.13)DS. The difference of the spherical equivalent degree between two groups was not statistically significant (t=-1.648, P=0.110). Enhanced depth imaging techniques of frequency-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the thickness of choroid and RPE at totally 17 sites. There sites included subfoveal, 4 sites each (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 μm from the fovea) at the horizontal (nasal/temple) and vertical (superior/inferior) directions. ResultsThe subfoveal choroidal thickness was (235.53±51.77) μm and (273.45±60.3) μm in TDS patients and control respectively, the difference was significant(t=-2.612,P=0.011). The difference of the choroidal thickness of the other 8 horizontal sites (F=24.180) and 8 vertical sites (F=23.390) in TDS group was statistically significant (P=0.000). The TDS choroidal thickness of all horizontal sites except nasal 1000 μm site was thinner than corresponding sites of the control group (P<0.05). The TDS choroidal thickness of the subfoveal site and 4 inferior vertical sites was thinner than corresponding sites of the control group (P<0.05). The subfoveal RPE thickness was (32.56±5.00) μm and (36.58±3.60) μm in TDS patients and control respectively, the difference was significant(t=-3.567,P=0.001). The subfoveal RPE thickness was the thickest among other 16 sites in both groups, and the TDS RPE thickness of all sites was thinner than control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe choroidal and RPE thickness of TDS patient was thinner than normal subjects.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of combined Pregabalin and Celecoxib for neuropathic pain after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. Methods Between January and June 2014, 178 patients with lumbar disc herniation underwent percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID). Ninety patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited in this study. Every case in group A was recruited to match its counterpart in group B and group C according to gender, disease duration, herniated level, smoking history, preoperative Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs (LANSS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Nine patients were excluded due to incomplete study or loss of follow-up. In each group, 27 cases were included in the final analysis. There was no significant difference in gender, age, height, body mass index, herniated level, disease duration, smoking history, preoperative LANSS, ODI, and visual analogue scale (VAS) between groups (P>0.05). All patients of 3 groups received oral administration of Celecoxib from preoperative 3rd day to postoperative 14th day. Pregabalin was taken orally from preoperative 3rd day to postoperative 14th day in group A, and from postoperative 1st to 14th day in group B. Adverse drug reactions were observed during medication. The LANSS score and VAS score in rest state and active state were conducted before operation and at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after operation. ODI was conducted before operation and at 1, 3 months after operation. The number of neuropathic pain cases was recorded, and the effectiveness was evaluated by modified Macnab criteria at 3 months after operation. Results During period of increasing Pregabalin dose, 1 patient of group A suffered severe dizziness, and 1 patient of group B suffered sleepiness, who were eliminated from this research. Another 2 cases (1 case of group A and 1 case of group C) suffered dry mouth, and 1 case of group B suffered muscle weakness. At 1 day after operation, the LANSS score and VAS in rest state and active state of group A were significantly lower than those of groups B and C (P<0.05). At 1 month after operation, the LANSS score, ODI, and VAS in rest state and active state of group A and group B were significantly lower than those of group C (P<0.05). At 3 months after operation, the LANSS score, ODI, and VAS in active state of group A and group B were significantly lower than those of group C (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indicators at the other time points between groups (P>0.05). Neuropathic pain occurred at 3 months after operation in 1 case (3.7%) of group A and 6 cases (22.2%) of group C, showing significant differences in incidence of neuropathy pain between groups A, B and group C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group A and group B (P>0.05). The excellent and good rate of modified Macnab criteria was 92.6% in group A, was 88.9% in group B, and was 85.2% in group C at 3 months after operation, showing no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Combined use of Pregabalin and Celecoxib during perioperative period can reduce postoperative pain and incidence of postoperative neuropathic pain. Preoperative oral Pregabalin can reduce the incidence of acute postoperative neuropathic pain.
The incidence of myopia is increasing year by year and the trend of younger age is obvious. The situation of myopia prevention and control is very serious. The sclera is the target organ for the development of myopia. When myopia occurs and develops, the ultrastructure of the sclera tissue will undergo pathological changes, resulting in a decrease in its tensile strength, then progressive axial growth and posterior sclera expansion. Scleral collagen cross-linking can effectively increase the hardness and tensile strength of scleral tissue, which may have great potential in the prevention and control of myopia, especially pathological myopia. At present, the effectiveness of scleral collagen cross-linking technology in the prevention and treatment of pathological myopia researches are still in the stage of animal experiments, and there are a lot of controversies on the safety. The development of any new technology to ensure safety is the primary condition. A comprehensive understanding of the safety of scleral collagen crosslinking in the prevention and control of myopia can provide more basis and guidance for the further study of scleral collagen crosslinking.
ObjectiveTo analyze the tumor characteristics of colorectal cancer in the current version of Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA).MethodsThe DACCA version was the updated version on September 26, 2019. The data items included: date of surgery, precancerous lesions, cancer family, tumor site, distance to the dentate line, morphology of tumor, size, position, happening and origination, differentiation, pathology of tumor, Ki-67 of protein, complications (included obstruction, intussusception, perforation, pain, edema, and hemorrhage) were analyzed for the characteristics of each selected data item.ResultsA total of 11 898 analyzable data rows were obtained by screening the DACCA database. Among the 11 898 pieces of data, the effective data of precancerous lesions was 1 275, including 541 (42.4%) with precancerous lesions, and 734 (57.6%) without precancerous lesions. There were 1 116 valid data on cancer families, and 761 (6.4%) had a family history of cancer. The Ki-67 index had a total of 1 893 valid data, which ranged form 0 to 95% [(59.0±20.1) %]. According to the classification of tumor occurrence, the primary colorectal cancer accounted for the vast majority (92.8%), and the metastatic colorectal cancer was the least (0.3%). According to the primary and multiple primary, respectively analysis of tumor site, distance to the dentate line, morphology of tumor, size, position, differentiation, and pathology of tumor showed that, most tumor’s position were in the rectum (76.9%, 41.9%), the most common morphology was ulcers (42.4%, 51.5%), the most tumors were located around the wall of intestine (44.6%, 35.0%), the degree of differentiation was mostly moderate (65.4%, 61.3%), most of the tumor pathologies were adenocarcinoma (77.8%, 64.0%).ConclusionA more accurate and detailed analysis of colorectal cancer tumor characteristics by the DACCA database is helpful for determining the diagnosis and treatment plan in clinical work, judging the prognosis, and so on.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial disease affected by environmental factors and genetic variation, which is a major cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. miRNA is a kind of endogenous non-coding RNA, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AMD, such as oxidative stress, pathological neovascularization and inflammation, by inhibiting or silencing the expression of transcription genes. miRNA has unique advantages in terms of ease synthesis, targeting and additive effect, a large number of experiments have proved the therapeutic potential of miRNA in AMD, which is expected to become a new method for the treatment of AMD in the future. Since the pathogenesis of AMD has not been fully elucidated, it is still necessary to continue to study the pathogenesis of AMD, the biological effects and mechanisms of various miRNA in the occurrence and development of AMD, and observe its therapeutic effects in AMD, so as to provide more effective options for the precise prevention and treatment of AMD.
An automatic control system was designed to suppress pathological tremor on wrist joint with two degrees of freedom (DoF) using functional electrical stimulation (FES). The tremor occurring in the wrist flexion-extension and adduction-abduction was expected to be suppressed. A musculoskeletal model of wrist joint was developed to serve as the control plant, which covered four main muscles (extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris). A second-order mechanical impedance model was used to describe the wrist skeletal dynamics. The core work was to design the controller and a hybrid control strategy was proposed, which combined inverse model based on feed forward control and linear quadratic regulator (LQR) optimal control. Performance of the system was tested under different input conditions (step signal, sinusoidal signal, and real data of a patient). The results indicated that the proposed hybrid controller could attenuate over 94% of the tremor amplitude on multi-DoF wrist joint.
Objective To determine the expression of the growth factors and the receptors related to angiogenesis in the intraocular tissues incarcerating in the sclerotomy sites. Methods Ten specimens from prolapsing intraocular tissues in sclerotomy sites during vitrectomy were obtained and serially sectioned in cryostate and were stained with a group of polyclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor-A(PDGF-A) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) as well as their receptors by using a streptavidin peroxidase system. Results The tissues prolapsed from the sclerotomy sites were identified as retina(3 cases), vitreous tissues(3 cases), degenerated red blood cell components(2 cases), ciliary body(one case) and fibrous tissue(one case). All specimens expressed VEGF and bFGF as well as their receptors. PDGF-A, TGF-β1 and their receptors expressed in the most of specimens. The positive cells included retinal cells, ciliary non-pigmented epithelial cells and pigmented epithelial cells, fibrous cells and the cells in vitreous. Conclusions The intraocular tissues incarcerated in the sclerotomy entries express the growth factors and receptors related to angiogenesis. This might be one of the potential factors of developing anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 34-37)