We identified that oncological treatments in general (chemotherapies, immunotherapies and radiotherapies) frequently cause peripheral neuropathy, including cramps, characterized by excess protons due to metabolic and ...We identified that oncological treatments in general (chemotherapies, immunotherapies and radiotherapies) frequently cause peripheral neuropathy, including cramps, characterized by excess protons due to metabolic and neuronal factors, such as sudden changes in pH, uremia and aspects that affect neuromotor functions. Such situations and others like them are often neglected in treatment, which naturally concerns itself with the main problem: Cancer. Sometimes toxic solutions are implemented that have comorbid side effects, such as duloxetine (standard treatment). Based on monitoring of cancer patients who used the non-toxic product, called “Magicramp® Electrostatic Charge Reduction Cushion” (MECRC), approved in Europe more than 10 years ago, we carried out a controlled test in Brazil. In this clinical trial, we hypothesized that reducing excessive ionic charges (electrostatic charge), which is one of the side effects often described in the literature as “Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy” (CIPN), would decrease or eliminate cramping, under the hypothesis that such elimination would prevent or attenuate muscular vulnerability to action impulses, and increase the power of relaxation through the same mechanism. In this double-blind and randomized clinical trial, 40 (forty) adult patients with muscle cramps caused by oncological treatments were tested, evaluating the degree of efficiency of the product that aims to reduce muscle cramps, by eliminating and/or reducing excess loads electrostatic ionic. Data from the clinical research conducted in this study are available online at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/QUS94U.展开更多
Anecdotal evidence supports the use of Bacrobial skin cleanser for preventing muscle cramps; however, empirical evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE： To examine whether Bacrobial prevents muscle cramping in the triceps sur...Anecdotal evidence supports the use of Bacrobial skin cleanser for preventing muscle cramps; however, empirical evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE： To examine whether Bacrobial prevents muscle cramping in the triceps surae. DESIGN： Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. SETTINGS/LOCATION： Laboratory. SUBJECTS： Seventeen cramp-prone participants （11 male, 6 female; age 21 -4- 2 yrs; 79.72 - 19.75 kg; 175.86 - 11.76 cm） volunteered. INTERVENTION： Participants completed two trials, at least one week apart. On the ftrst trial, Bacrobial was liberally applied to the skin over the triceps surae musculature of one leg, while placebo was applied to the other leg. At 1, 5, 10, and 20 min after application, participants were instructed to induce a cramp in the triceps surae via maximal voluntary contraction. For the second trial, treatments were applied to the opposite leg as in trial one and the cramping procedure was repeated. OUTCOME MEASURES： Incidence of cramping was the main outcome measure and event-odds tables, risk reduction and NNT （numbers needed to treat） or NNH （numbers needed to harm） were calculated at the time intervals of 1, 5, 10 and 20 minutes. RESULTS： No significant differences between treatments were found in cramping incidences at all time intervals. Bacrobial decreased the risk of cramping by 12.5% at one minute （NNT = 8）, while causing a 5.3% increased risk at five minutes （NNH = 5.3）. CONCLUSIONS： Our findings indicate Bacrobial skin cleanser is not an overall effective treatment for muscle cramp prevention. However, the observed results at one minute may be useful to clinicians who treat cramp-prone patients.展开更多
Myocardial infarction(MI)is defined as myocardial cell death due to prolonged myocardial ischemia.Clinically,troponin rise and/or fall have become the“defining feature of MI”according to the universal definition of ...Myocardial infarction(MI)is defined as myocardial cell death due to prolonged myocardial ischemia.Clinically,troponin rise and/or fall have become the“defining feature of MI”according to the universal definition of MI(UD-MI).Takotsubo syndrome(TS)and TS-related disease conditions also cause troponin elevation with typical rise and/or fall pattern but through a mechanism other than coronary ischemia.By strict application of the clinical diagnostic criteria for type-1 MI,type-2 MI,type-3 MI,and MI with non-obstructive coronary arteries according to the UD-MI including the fourth one published recently,TS and most of the 26 other causes of troponin elevation mentioned in the fourth UD-MI may erroneously be classified as MI.The existing evidence argues for the case that TS by itself is not a MI.Hyper-activation of the autonomic-sympathetic nervous system including local cardiac sympathetic hyper-activation and disruption with nor-epinephrine churn and spillover is the most probable cause of TS.This autonomic neuro-cardiogenic(ANCA)mechanism results in myocardial“cramp”(stunning),the severity and duration of which depend on the degree of the sympathetic-hyperactivation and nor-epinephrine spillover.The myocardial cramp may squeeze the cytosolic free troponin pools causing mild to moderate troponin elevation in TS and TS-related disease conditions.This ANCA syndrome,which has hitherto been enveloped by the UD-MI over more than one decade,may occur in acute,recurrent,and chronic forms.In this critical review,the controversies of UD-MI,evidence for ANCA syndrome,and a hypothetical mechanism for the troponin elevation in ANCA syndrome are provided.展开更多
In the current scenario,dysmenorrhea is a very frequent gynecological condition among women.At least one in every four women suffers from severe abdominal cramps,which are referred to as dysmenorrhea or menstrual cram...In the current scenario,dysmenorrhea is a very frequent gynecological condition among women.At least one in every four women suffers from severe abdominal cramps,which are referred to as dysmenorrhea or menstrual cramps.Hence,in this review we compile the data from several reviews and research papers about dysmenorrhea,its pathogenesis,along with all treatment approaches.It was found in a survey that normally women treated these cramps with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines or oral contraceptives,but lately it was found that these medications have a 20%to 25%failure rate as well as unpleasant side effects.Hereby,in this review,we concluded all the possible treatments,including pharmacological treatment,non-pharmacological treatment,and herbal treatments for dysmenorrhea.Many women are looking for alternatives to conventional treatments,such as the use of herbs,vitamins,minerals,nutritional supplements,analgesics,anti-inflammatory agents,and aromatherapy agents,which can have a significant impact when taken on a regular basis.The active constituents of these medicinal plants help the body fight cramps and pain associated with menstruation,as well as alleviate these issues in the most calming and effective way possible.展开更多
Background:True cicadas(Cicadidae)are large and temporarily abundant insects.Their availability may produce demographic and behavioural effects on bird populations,as happens with forest avifauna feeding on periodical...Background:True cicadas(Cicadidae)are large and temporarily abundant insects.Their availability may produce demographic and behavioural effects on bird populations,as happens with forest avifauna feeding on periodical cicadas in North America.In Europe,the Near East and North Africa,knowledge of cicada predation by birds is sparse.Methods:To help fill this gap,I consulted Cramp’s Birds of the Western Palearctic,conducted a search of online databases and used search engines to generate a database of Western Palearctic birds known to eat cicadas.Results:A total of 105 species(16%of those occurring in the region)belonging to 13 orders,and comprising 20 of the 33 passerine families,were found to consume cicadas.I estimated that 69 of these bird species are known to consume cicadas within the limits of the Western Palearctic.Many terrestrial birds predate on cicadas,preferably on adults.Avian predators include cuckoos,owls,bee-eaters,woodpeckers,falcons,reed-warblers,larks,crows and jays,buntings,shrikes,pipits and wagtails,flycatchers and chats,tits,sparrows,leaf-warblers,starlings,warblers and thrushes,but also terns and gulls.Nymphs are consumed by some passerines,owls and herons.Cicadas can make up as much as 70%of food items delivered to nestlings.Analysis of stomach contents and neck collar samples are the most common methods used in diet studies.Conclusions:Available knowledge is biased towards species that have been more intensively studied,and often lack proper quantification of prey items.More studies about the relative importance of cicadas as prey for birds in the Western Palearctic are needed.I suggest using non-invasive studies based on pellets and droppings and prioritizing declining bird species.展开更多
For years,Zimbabwean legislators have had to contend with sitting in a cramped parliamentary building,often complaining that the space is small and suffocating.The Zimbabwe parliament building is a 1920s-era former ho...For years,Zimbabwean legislators have had to contend with sitting in a cramped parliamentary building,often complaining that the space is small and suffocating.The Zimbabwe parliament building is a 1920s-era former hotel from colonial times,which has been expanded several times over the years to accommodate the growing number of parliamentarians.展开更多
To explore the appropriate exercise methods and means for astronauts in confined and small isolation conditions,a set of XunTian Tai Chi suitable for the spaceflight workforce was created,with the aim of discovering t...To explore the appropriate exercise methods and means for astronauts in confined and small isolation conditions,a set of XunTian Tai Chi suitable for the spaceflight workforce was created,with the aim of discovering the practical effects of XunTian Tai Chi and providing a scientific basis for the subsequent development of new astronaut health maintenance techniques with Chinese characteristics.Using the Controlled Ecological Life Support System(CELSS)as a research platform,we observed the changes in a crew member’s emotion regulationrelated indexes during 180 days of working and living in a confined isolation chamber through periodic interventions of the XunTian Tai Chi and conducted statistical analyses.During the 180-day cabin mission,expression suppression,cognitive reappraisal,attention index,and relaxation index were all lower than those before entering the cabin,suggesting that the crew member’s emotion regulation ability decreased during the incabin mission.A single Tai Chi exercise could cause favorable changes in the indicators,positively affecting the crew member's emotional regulation.The attention and relaxation indices of the occupants were improved significantly by both single and periodic Tai Chi exercises.After the Tai Chi exercise cycle,the results of each index showed a certain degree of effect.The 180-day ground-based simulation of Tai Chi in the confinement of a space capsule positively affects the occupant’s emotional regulation.展开更多
Background Writer＇s cramp is a type of task specific idiopathic focal dystonia and has an incompletely understood pathophysiology. The present study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） to investig...Background Writer＇s cramp is a type of task specific idiopathic focal dystonia and has an incompletely understood pathophysiology. The present study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） to investigate what type of brain activity correlates with writer＇s cramp and its physiological mechanism.Methods Ten patients with writer＇s cramp were age and gender matched with ten nealthy control suojects in a block design. Subjectswere scanned by fMRI while performing three consecutive, visually instructive, tasks with MR Vision 2000： （1） suppositional writing, （2） writing with finger and （3） writing with a pencil. Data was analysed using AFNI software for groups of patients and controls.Results The patients with writer＇s cramp showed significant activations of contralateral basal ganglion （especially the putamen）, motor cortex （primary sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, premotor cortex） and ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere in writing with a pencil compared with controls; whereas there was no obvious difference between patients and controls during writing with finger. Furthermore, these differences exist in the stibtractive activated maps for ＂writing with a pencil＂ minus ＂writing with finger＂ of patients, when the activation of subcortical area and insula in controls disappeared.Conclusions Abnormal activations of contralateral basal ganglion, motor cortex and ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere of the patients with writer＇s cramp suggest dysfunction of basal ganglion and subcortical-cortical loop might play a pathophysiological role in writer＇s cramp.展开更多
Ⅰ.We demonstrated in 1985 that high resolution NMR spectra of oil contents in intact oilseeds can be easily obtained by magic angle spinning (MAS). The lipids in oilseeds
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is the most common form of motor neuron disease and is a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects both lower and upper motor neurons.Muscle cramps,which are ...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is the most common form of motor neuron disease and is a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects both lower and upper motor neurons.Muscle cramps,which are characterized by a sudden,painful,involuntary contraction of muscles,are not rare in ALS patients.However,muscle cramps do not normally present early in ALS and therefore not used for the initial diagnosis of ALS.In this paper the authors present a case of ALS with initial manifestation of progressive painful muscle cramps in the absence of muscle weakness.This case might help people to recognize atypical foremost presentations of ALS and therefore formulate effective therapies.展开更多
文摘We identified that oncological treatments in general (chemotherapies, immunotherapies and radiotherapies) frequently cause peripheral neuropathy, including cramps, characterized by excess protons due to metabolic and neuronal factors, such as sudden changes in pH, uremia and aspects that affect neuromotor functions. Such situations and others like them are often neglected in treatment, which naturally concerns itself with the main problem: Cancer. Sometimes toxic solutions are implemented that have comorbid side effects, such as duloxetine (standard treatment). Based on monitoring of cancer patients who used the non-toxic product, called “Magicramp® Electrostatic Charge Reduction Cushion” (MECRC), approved in Europe more than 10 years ago, we carried out a controlled test in Brazil. In this clinical trial, we hypothesized that reducing excessive ionic charges (electrostatic charge), which is one of the side effects often described in the literature as “Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy” (CIPN), would decrease or eliminate cramping, under the hypothesis that such elimination would prevent or attenuate muscular vulnerability to action impulses, and increase the power of relaxation through the same mechanism. In this double-blind and randomized clinical trial, 40 (forty) adult patients with muscle cramps caused by oncological treatments were tested, evaluating the degree of efficiency of the product that aims to reduce muscle cramps, by eliminating and/or reducing excess loads electrostatic ionic. Data from the clinical research conducted in this study are available online at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/QUS94U.
文摘Anecdotal evidence supports the use of Bacrobial skin cleanser for preventing muscle cramps; however, empirical evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE： To examine whether Bacrobial prevents muscle cramping in the triceps surae. DESIGN： Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. SETTINGS/LOCATION： Laboratory. SUBJECTS： Seventeen cramp-prone participants （11 male, 6 female; age 21 -4- 2 yrs; 79.72 - 19.75 kg; 175.86 - 11.76 cm） volunteered. INTERVENTION： Participants completed two trials, at least one week apart. On the ftrst trial, Bacrobial was liberally applied to the skin over the triceps surae musculature of one leg, while placebo was applied to the other leg. At 1, 5, 10, and 20 min after application, participants were instructed to induce a cramp in the triceps surae via maximal voluntary contraction. For the second trial, treatments were applied to the opposite leg as in trial one and the cramping procedure was repeated. OUTCOME MEASURES： Incidence of cramping was the main outcome measure and event-odds tables, risk reduction and NNT （numbers needed to treat） or NNH （numbers needed to harm） were calculated at the time intervals of 1, 5, 10 and 20 minutes. RESULTS： No significant differences between treatments were found in cramping incidences at all time intervals. Bacrobial decreased the risk of cramping by 12.5% at one minute （NNT = 8）, while causing a 5.3% increased risk at five minutes （NNH = 5.3）. CONCLUSIONS： Our findings indicate Bacrobial skin cleanser is not an overall effective treatment for muscle cramp prevention. However, the observed results at one minute may be useful to clinicians who treat cramp-prone patients.
文摘Myocardial infarction(MI)is defined as myocardial cell death due to prolonged myocardial ischemia.Clinically,troponin rise and/or fall have become the“defining feature of MI”according to the universal definition of MI(UD-MI).Takotsubo syndrome(TS)and TS-related disease conditions also cause troponin elevation with typical rise and/or fall pattern but through a mechanism other than coronary ischemia.By strict application of the clinical diagnostic criteria for type-1 MI,type-2 MI,type-3 MI,and MI with non-obstructive coronary arteries according to the UD-MI including the fourth one published recently,TS and most of the 26 other causes of troponin elevation mentioned in the fourth UD-MI may erroneously be classified as MI.The existing evidence argues for the case that TS by itself is not a MI.Hyper-activation of the autonomic-sympathetic nervous system including local cardiac sympathetic hyper-activation and disruption with nor-epinephrine churn and spillover is the most probable cause of TS.This autonomic neuro-cardiogenic(ANCA)mechanism results in myocardial“cramp”(stunning),the severity and duration of which depend on the degree of the sympathetic-hyperactivation and nor-epinephrine spillover.The myocardial cramp may squeeze the cytosolic free troponin pools causing mild to moderate troponin elevation in TS and TS-related disease conditions.This ANCA syndrome,which has hitherto been enveloped by the UD-MI over more than one decade,may occur in acute,recurrent,and chronic forms.In this critical review,the controversies of UD-MI,evidence for ANCA syndrome,and a hypothetical mechanism for the troponin elevation in ANCA syndrome are provided.
文摘In the current scenario,dysmenorrhea is a very frequent gynecological condition among women.At least one in every four women suffers from severe abdominal cramps,which are referred to as dysmenorrhea or menstrual cramps.Hence,in this review we compile the data from several reviews and research papers about dysmenorrhea,its pathogenesis,along with all treatment approaches.It was found in a survey that normally women treated these cramps with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines or oral contraceptives,but lately it was found that these medications have a 20%to 25%failure rate as well as unpleasant side effects.Hereby,in this review,we concluded all the possible treatments,including pharmacological treatment,non-pharmacological treatment,and herbal treatments for dysmenorrhea.Many women are looking for alternatives to conventional treatments,such as the use of herbs,vitamins,minerals,nutritional supplements,analgesics,anti-inflammatory agents,and aromatherapy agents,which can have a significant impact when taken on a regular basis.The active constituents of these medicinal plants help the body fight cramps and pain associated with menstruation,as well as alleviate these issues in the most calming and effective way possible.
基金supported by grant CGL2014-54094-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness。
文摘Background:True cicadas(Cicadidae)are large and temporarily abundant insects.Their availability may produce demographic and behavioural effects on bird populations,as happens with forest avifauna feeding on periodical cicadas in North America.In Europe,the Near East and North Africa,knowledge of cicada predation by birds is sparse.Methods:To help fill this gap,I consulted Cramp’s Birds of the Western Palearctic,conducted a search of online databases and used search engines to generate a database of Western Palearctic birds known to eat cicadas.Results:A total of 105 species(16%of those occurring in the region)belonging to 13 orders,and comprising 20 of the 33 passerine families,were found to consume cicadas.I estimated that 69 of these bird species are known to consume cicadas within the limits of the Western Palearctic.Many terrestrial birds predate on cicadas,preferably on adults.Avian predators include cuckoos,owls,bee-eaters,woodpeckers,falcons,reed-warblers,larks,crows and jays,buntings,shrikes,pipits and wagtails,flycatchers and chats,tits,sparrows,leaf-warblers,starlings,warblers and thrushes,but also terns and gulls.Nymphs are consumed by some passerines,owls and herons.Cicadas can make up as much as 70%of food items delivered to nestlings.Analysis of stomach contents and neck collar samples are the most common methods used in diet studies.Conclusions:Available knowledge is biased towards species that have been more intensively studied,and often lack proper quantification of prey items.More studies about the relative importance of cicadas as prey for birds in the Western Palearctic are needed.I suggest using non-invasive studies based on pellets and droppings and prioritizing declining bird species.
文摘For years,Zimbabwean legislators have had to contend with sitting in a cramped parliamentary building,often complaining that the space is small and suffocating.The Zimbabwe parliament building is a 1920s-era former hotel from colonial times,which has been expanded several times over the years to accommodate the growing number of parliamentarians.
基金The study was approved by the ethics committee of the China Astronaut Training Center,and all investigators were aware of the study and gave their consent for publication.The Ethics Committee of the Astronaut Center of China(NO.ACC201508)reviewed this study.
文摘To explore the appropriate exercise methods and means for astronauts in confined and small isolation conditions,a set of XunTian Tai Chi suitable for the spaceflight workforce was created,with the aim of discovering the practical effects of XunTian Tai Chi and providing a scientific basis for the subsequent development of new astronaut health maintenance techniques with Chinese characteristics.Using the Controlled Ecological Life Support System(CELSS)as a research platform,we observed the changes in a crew member’s emotion regulationrelated indexes during 180 days of working and living in a confined isolation chamber through periodic interventions of the XunTian Tai Chi and conducted statistical analyses.During the 180-day cabin mission,expression suppression,cognitive reappraisal,attention index,and relaxation index were all lower than those before entering the cabin,suggesting that the crew member’s emotion regulation ability decreased during the incabin mission.A single Tai Chi exercise could cause favorable changes in the indicators,positively affecting the crew member's emotional regulation.The attention and relaxation indices of the occupants were improved significantly by both single and periodic Tai Chi exercises.After the Tai Chi exercise cycle,the results of each index showed a certain degree of effect.The 180-day ground-based simulation of Tai Chi in the confinement of a space capsule positively affects the occupant’s emotional regulation.
文摘Background Writer＇s cramp is a type of task specific idiopathic focal dystonia and has an incompletely understood pathophysiology. The present study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） to investigate what type of brain activity correlates with writer＇s cramp and its physiological mechanism.Methods Ten patients with writer＇s cramp were age and gender matched with ten nealthy control suojects in a block design. Subjectswere scanned by fMRI while performing three consecutive, visually instructive, tasks with MR Vision 2000： （1） suppositional writing, （2） writing with finger and （3） writing with a pencil. Data was analysed using AFNI software for groups of patients and controls.Results The patients with writer＇s cramp showed significant activations of contralateral basal ganglion （especially the putamen）, motor cortex （primary sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, premotor cortex） and ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere in writing with a pencil compared with controls; whereas there was no obvious difference between patients and controls during writing with finger. Furthermore, these differences exist in the stibtractive activated maps for ＂writing with a pencil＂ minus ＂writing with finger＂ of patients, when the activation of subcortical area and insula in controls disappeared.Conclusions Abnormal activations of contralateral basal ganglion, motor cortex and ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere of the patients with writer＇s cramp suggest dysfunction of basal ganglion and subcortical-cortical loop might play a pathophysiological role in writer＇s cramp.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
文摘Ⅰ.We demonstrated in 1985 that high resolution NMR spectra of oil contents in intact oilseeds can be easily obtained by magic angle spinning (MAS). The lipids in oilseeds
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is the most common form of motor neuron disease and is a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disease that affects both lower and upper motor neurons.Muscle cramps,which are characterized by a sudden,painful,involuntary contraction of muscles,are not rare in ALS patients.However,muscle cramps do not normally present early in ALS and therefore not used for the initial diagnosis of ALS.In this paper the authors present a case of ALS with initial manifestation of progressive painful muscle cramps in the absence of muscle weakness.This case might help people to recognize atypical foremost presentations of ALS and therefore formulate effective therapies.
