Influence of lumbar disc degeneration on the efficacy of lumbar fixed-point rotation manipulation in sitting position:a finite element study

Objective：To investigate the influence of lumbar disc degeneration on the efficacy of lumbar fixed-point rotation manipulation in sitting position in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation（LIDH）.Methods：We simulated lumbar fixed-point rotation manipulation of sitting position using three finite element models including a normal model,a mild degeneration model and a moderate degeneration model of L3-5,in which the herniated disc was assumed at the left rear of L4 disc and the rotation manipulation was carried out on the right side.The displacement and stress at the left rear of L4 disc of the three models were analyzed.Results：When lumbar fixed-point rotation manipulation in sitting position was carried out,a displacement and stress were generated at the left rear of L4 intervertebral disc of the three models directing forward.The displacement and stress in degeneration models were less than those in the normal model,and the smallest values were found in the moderate degeneration model.From normal model to mild and then to the moderate degeneration model,the displacement decreased by 36% and 59%,and the stress decreased by 22.3% and 45.2%,respectively.Conclusion：The lumbar disc degeneration affects adversely the effectiveness of lumbar fixed-point rotation manipulation in sitting position in the treatment of LIDH.The severer the lumbar degeneration,the greater the influence.

Comparing posture induced intraocular pressure variations in normal subjects and glaucoma patients

AIM:To compare the posture-induced variations in intraocular pressure(IOP)between the primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)and non-glaucomatous eyes.METHODS:A case-controlled age matched study was conducted in 55 successive newly diagnosed POAG and 56 non-glaucomatous patients seen in glaucoma clinic and general outpatient eye clinic in the Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital,Abakaliki.The IOPs of eligible correspondents were measured with Perkin’s hand-held tonometer in the sitting,supine flat and supine with pillow positions respectively.Measurement of IOP in each position was done after 15 min of assuming such posture.RESULTS:The IOP difference between the sitting and supine flat position was significantly higher in the POAG than non-glaucoma subjects(7.68±2.08 vs 4.03±0.13 mm Hg,P<0.001).The IOP difference between the sitting and supine with pillow positions was 2.61±1.49 mm Hg for POAG and 1.44±0.70 mm Hg in non-glaucoma(P<0.001),while difference between supine flat and supine with pillow positions was 5.07±2.24 mm Hg in POAG and 2.59±0.66 mm Hg in non-glaucomatous patients(P<0.001).CONCLUSION:Greater variations in posture induced IOP occurred in POAG patients than non-glaucomatous.The posture induced IOP variation is lowest in the sitting position and highest in the supine flat position.Evaluation of posture induced IOP changes may be an important tool in the management of glaucoma.

Examining Handwashing Care in Assisted-Living Facilities from the Perspective of Hand and Finger Stimulation to Induce Brain Activation in the Residents

The elderly who is confined to bed or demented may choke if their cerebrum is not sufficiently aroused while eating. Therefore, this study focused on determining if hygienic care of the hands and fingers would have a biologically stimulative effect and on verifying whether using a warm cloth or warm water was more effective for cerebral activation. The results suggest that when assisting the elderly in washing their hands, from the perspective of cerebral activation, using warm water is better than using a warm cloth.

Combined Endovascular and Surgical Treatment for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations in Biplanar Hybrid Operating Room

Objective Combined surgical and endovascular treatment for vascular disorders has become prevalent in recent years.However,reports on one-session hybrid surgery for arteriovenous malformations(AVMs)are relatively rare.The safety and efficiency of combined treatment for brain AVMs were analyzed in biplanar hybrid operating room(OR)at one stage.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 20 patients with AVMs undergoing combined surgical and endovascular treatment from October 2015 to June 2018.The data for resection rate,microcatheter adhesion,surgical position and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.Total resection or near-total resection was achieved in all cases.Results A total of 13 patients were under combined endovascular and surgical procedures,and 7 experienced surgery with intraoperative digital subtraction angiography.Sitting position was applied in 3 of them;2 niduses in cerebellum,and 1 in parietal lobe.Compared with admission modified Rankin Scale(mRS)in all patients,postoperative 12-month mRS showed a significant decline.Besides,3 patients experienced microcatheter adhesion after endovascular embolization,thereafter underwent surgical adhesion removal while nidus resection was done.Conclusion Combined endovascular and surgical modality in a hybrid OR at one stage provides a safe strategy for the treatment of AVMs.The biplanar hybrid neurointerventional suite is endowed with unconstrained operating angle which enables combined endovascular and surgical treatment in sitting position.It also reduces the risk of microcatheter adhesion,which enables interventional radiologists to perform aggressively.

Is the transperineal ultrasonography approach effective for the diagnosis of rectocele?

Background Transperineal ultrasonography has been used as a diagnostic imaging modality for rectocele for many years.However,the consistency of ultrasonography and defecography in evaluating the severity of rectocele was not satisfactory.This study aimed to evaluate the agreement in the measurement of rectocele parameters between the two methods in different positions and provide clinical implications for the diagnosis of rectocele.Methods In this pilot study,participants were recruited in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital between December 2017 and December 2019.All participants separately underwent defecation proctography at sitting and squatting positions,and undertook transperineal ultrasonography at left lateral,sitting,and squatting positions.The consistency of ultrasonography and defecography was evaluated.Results Thirty female volunteers with rectocele were included in this study.The degree of anorectal angle was significantly larger at rest and during contraction,maximal Valsalva,and evacuation;the depth of the rectocele was significantly deeper during maximal Valsalva and evacuation;and the length of the perineumdescending was significantly longer during contraction and maximal Valsalva in using squatting position compared to the sitting position when performing the defecation proctography.The degree of anorectal angle,the depth of rectocele,the area of levator hiatus,and the volume of the rectocele were significantly different in using squatting,sitting,and left lateral positions when performing the transperineal ultrasonography.Bland-Altman semi-quantitative plots showed good consistency in the measurement of the anorectal angle and the depth of the rectocele between proctography and ultrasonography in both sitting and squatting positions.Conclusions The findings of our study may be considered as the preliminary evidence to support the use of transperineal ultrasonography with sitting and squatting positions as the imaging test of choice for evaluating patients with rectocele.