A case of Hemiplegia Vegetativa Alterna, Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity and Ogilvie's Syndrome: the role of central sympathetic pathways in their pathophysiology

Meeting Theme: Degenerative Lumbar SpineOral-Poster Presentation 1Hemiplegia vegetativa alterna (HVA) is the clinical syndrome of contralateral hemiparesis, hemisensory loss, hemihyperhydrosis and ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome1,2. The term vegetativa alterna denotes that a single brainstem lesion manifests with ipsilateral and contralateral, i.e. crossed, signs of autonomic (“vegetative”) sympathetic nervous system dysfunction. Fewer than five cases have been reported and most were a result of stroke involving the occlusion of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) perforators that supply the anterolateral mesencephalon. We describe a 46 year old male who suffered from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and exhibited HVA as …published_or_final_versio

Management of pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery in postirradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

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Excessive use of electronic devices among children and adolescents is associated with musculoskeletal symptoms, visual symptoms, psychosocial health, and quality of life: a cross-sectional study

Data availability statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.Supplementary material: The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178769/full#supplementary-materialCopyright © 2023 Tsang, Cheing, Lam, Siu, Pang, Yip, Chan and Jensen. Objective: Electronic devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. The frequency and duration of device use in children and adolescents have increased drastically over the years and the study of its negative musculoskeletal, visual and psychosocial health impacts is necessary. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the associations between electronic device use and the prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms, visual symptoms, psychosocial health, and quality of life in children and adolescents studying at primary and secondary schools. Data were collected through confidential online and paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Primary 4–5 and Secondary 1–4 students were recruited from 3 schools in Hong Kong. Demographics, frequency and duration of electronic device use, frequencies of musculoskeletal symptoms, visual symptoms, psychosocial health, and quality of life outcomes were measured. Results: 1,058 children and adolescents aged 9–17  years participated. Sixty-one percent and 78% of all students spent more than 2  h per day using electronic devices during school days and weekend/holidays, respectively. Extended electronic device use was associated with increased prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms (ρ’s = 0.28–0.33, P’s < 0.001), visual symptoms (ρ’s = 0.33–0.35, P’s < 0.001), and poorer device use-related psychosocial health (ρ’s = 0.38–0.47, P’s < 0.001). Secondary school students reported greater device use and severity of symptoms than primary school students. Conclusion: Excessive electronic device use was associated with increased prevalence and severity of physical and psychosocial symptoms, and such use is more prevalent in adolescents when compared to the children. The findings have important health implications for children and adolescents, suggesting that early intervention is needed to reduce the risk of developing device use-related disorders.This research was supported by Health and Medical Research Fund, Health Bureau of Hong Kong (project number.: 02180348)

Selective deletion of PPARβ/δ in fibroblasts causes dermal fibrosis by attenuated LRG1 expression.

Connective tissue diseases of the skin are characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin and internal organs. Fibroblasts play a pivotal role in the clinical presentation of these conditions. Nuclear receptor peroxisome-proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are therapeutic targets for dermal fibrosis, but the contribution of the different PPAR subtypes are poorly understood. Particularly, the role of fibroblast PPARβ/δ in dermal fibrosis has not been elucidated. Thus, we generated a mouse strain with selective deletion of PPARβ/δ in the fibroblast (FSPCre- &lt;i&gt;Pparb/d&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;-/-&lt;/sup&gt; ) and interrogated its epidermal and dermal transcriptome profiles. We uncovered a downregulated gene, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 ( &lt;i&gt;Lrg1&lt;/i&gt; ), of previously unknown function in skin development and architecture. Our findings suggest that the regulation of &lt;i&gt;Lrg1&lt;/i&gt; by PPARβ/δ in fibroblasts is an important signaling conduit integrating PPARβ/δ and TGFβ1-signaling networks in skin health and disease. Thus, the FSPCre- &lt;i&gt;Pparb/d&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;-/-&lt;/sup&gt; mouse model could serve as a novel tool in the current gunnery of animal models to better understand dermal fibrosis

The effect of using shorter echo times in MR imaging of knee menisci: a study using a procine model

OBJECTIVE: Increasingly shorter TEs are being used for T1-weighted and proton density-weighted sequences in MR imaging of the knee. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a short TE on meniscal signal intensity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty porcine knees were imaged with a 1.5-T MR scanner using spin-echo T1-weighted and proton density-weighted sequences. TR was kept constant at 700 msec for T1-weighted and 2200 msec for proton density-weighted sequences. For each set of sequences, sagittal images were obtained using these TE values: 9, 12, 16, 20, and 25 msec. Imaging parameters, such as slice thickness and interslice gap, number of excitations, matrix size, and field of view, were identical for each set of sequences. Using a fixed window level and width, we assessed the anterior and posterior horns of the medial meniscus for signal hyperintensity at each TE value. Signal intensity was also measured in eight knees. The menisci were then dissected and examined grossly and histopathologically. RESULTS: Intrameniscal signal intensity increased progressively with shorter TEs. At a TE of 9 msec, signal hyperintensity was present in 100% of T1-weighted and 96.7% of proton density-weighted images. At a TE of 12 msec, signal hyperintensity was seen in 86.7% of T1-weighted and 80% of proton density-weighted images. At a TE of 16 msec, increased signal intensity was seen in only 3.3% of T1-weighted and 6.6% of proton density-weighted images. At TEs of 20 and 25 msec, increased signal intensity was seen in none of the T1-weighted and proton density-weighted images. Meniscal signal intensity increased exponentially at very short TE values. All menisci were found to be normal on gross and histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: Spurious signal hyperintensity appears in normal menisci at short TE values. Images acquired with short TEs should be interpreted with caution, and a TE of 16 msec or more is recommended.published_or_final_versio

Developing vestibular commissural projections display differential patterns with chondroitinase treatment of the hindbrain

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans have been regarded as molecules that restrict neuronal migration and neurite outgrowth. To assess the role of the chondroitin sulfate moieties on axonal projection in the hindbrain, we chose to perform DiI tracing of vestibular commissural projections following delivery of chondroitinase ABC into the 4th ventricles of rat embryos (E11.5-E13.5) in culture. At E11.5(+1DIV), few outgrowths could be traced. With enzyme treatment, robust outgrowths extended more than half-way towards the midline. At E12.5(+1DIV), the commissural projections assumed fascicles and reached the midline in the controls. In enzyme-treated embryos, the axons remained unfasciculated as they extended normal to the midline. At E13.5(+1DIV), commissural projections were fasciculated and extended beyond the midline in controls. Enzyme treatment did not affect the pioneer axons that had advanced beyond the midline and towards the contralateral vestibular nuclear complex. However, later outgrowths traversed the enzyme-treated matrix as unfasciculated fibres and diverted from the course of the pioneers. These results provide in vivo evidence for contributions of chondroitin sulfates not only to restrict initial axonal sprouts, but also to limit later axonal outgrowths and to foster axonal fasciculation as vestibular neurons project across the midline towards the contralateral target. Supported by HKRG