Moyamoya syndrome may result from psoriasis: Four case reports

BACKGROUND Moyamoya syndrome(MMS)is a group of diseases that involves more than one underlying disease and is accompanied by moyamoya vascular phenomena.Psoriasis is a chronic immune skin disease closely linked to high blood pressure and heart disease.However,psoriasis-related MMS has not been reported.CASE SUMMARY We collected data on patients with stroke due to MMS between January 2017 and December 2019 and identified four cases of psoriasis.Case histories,imaging,and hematological data were collected.The average age of the initial stroke onset was 58.25±11.52 years;three cases of hemorrhagic and one case of ischemic stroke were included.The average duration from psoriasis confirmation to the initial MMS-mediated stroke onset was 17±3.56 years.All MMS-related stenoses involved the bilateral cerebral arteries:Suzuki grade III in one case,grade IV in two cases,and grade V in one case.Abnormally elevated plasma interleukin-6 levels were observed in four patients.Two patients had abnormally elevated immunoglobulin E levels,and two had thrombocytosis.All four patients received medication instead of surgery.With an average follow-up time of 2 years,two causing transient ischemic attacks occurred in two patients,and no hemorrhagic events occurred.CONCLUSION Psoriasis may be a potential risk factor for MMS.Patients with psoriasis should be screened for MMS when they present with neurological symptoms.

Effect of electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques on shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff injuries

BACKGROUND The rotator cuff is located below the acromion and deltoid muscles and comprises multiple tendons that wrap around the humeral head,maintaining shoulder joint stability.AIM To explore the effect of electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques on shoulder function in patients with rotator cuff injuries.METHODS We selected 97 patients with rotator cuff injuries treated in the People's Hospital of Yuhuan from February 2020 to May 2023.Patients were grouped using the envelope method.RESULTS After treatment,the study group’s treatment effective rate was 94.90%(46/49 patients),significantly higher than that in the control group(79.17%,38/48 cases;P<0.05).Before treatment,there was no difference in Constant Murley Score(CMS)scores,shoulder mobility,or 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36)scale scores(P>0.05).Compared with those before treatment,the CMS scores(including pain,daily living ability,shoulder mobility,and muscle strength),all aspects of shoulder mobility(forward flexion,posterior extension,external rotation,internal rotation),and SF-36 scale scores(including physiological,psychological,emotional,physical,vitality,and health status)were higher in both groups after treatment and significantly higher in the study group(P<0.05).There was no difference in the occurrence of complications between the two treatment groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation techniques has a good treatment effect on patients with rotator cuff injuries,helps accelerate the recovery of shoulder function,improves the quality of life,and is highly safe.

Visit-to-visit Systolic Blood Pressure Variability and Stroke Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Visit-to-visit variability in systolic blood pressure(SBP)may have an important additional role in increasing the risk of vascular complications,including stroke.We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between visit-to-visit SBP variability(SBPV)and stroke risk.PubMed,EMBASE,and the Cochrane library databases were searched for cohort studies with data on visit-to-visit SBPV and stroke risk.Studies that reported adjusted relative risks(RRs)with 95%Cis of stroke associated with SBPV were included.Fourteen cohort studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in our meta-analysis.After adjustment for age,sex,and existing vascular risk factors,the analysis showed that the risk of stroke in patients with SBPV was significantly increased compared with patients with a small baseline SBPV[SD(RR=1.20,95%CI=(1.07-1.35),P=0.0005),CV(RR=1.12,95%CI=(1.00-1.26),P=0.008)].In addition,follow-up variations of more than 5 years were associated with a higher risk of stroke than those of less than 5 years[RR=1.08,95%CI=(1.04-1.11)].Visit-to-visit SBPV was associated with an increased risk of stroke,especially in terms of the time of variation.Taken together,SBPV data may be useful as a preventative diagnostic method in the management of stroke.

Five newly recorded Cyprinid fish (Teleostei： Cypriniformes) in Myanmar

Freshwater fish from the Putao and Myitkyina areas were collected in three ichthyofaunal surveys of the Mall Hka River and tributaries in and around Khakaborazi National Park and Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kachin State, from 2014-2016. Tor yingjiangensis Chen et Yang 2004, Tor qiaojiensis Wu et al. 1977, Garra qiaojiensis Wu et al. 1977, Garra bispinosa Zhang 2005, and Schizothorax oligolepis Huang 1985, originally described from the upper Irrawaddy （Ayeyarwaddy） River in China, are first reported herein as new records to Myanmar. Counts, measurements, descriptions, photographs, and distributions of the specimens of the five newly recorded species are provided.