Effect of Low Frequency Cerebellar Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Balance Impairment in Patients With Cerebral Infarction

Objective To investigate the effect of low frequency cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on balance impairment in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods Thirty-two patients were randomly divided into two groups: rTMS group (n=16) and control (n=16). In the rTMS group, treatment was performed five times per week for 2 weeks (10 sessions), and in the control group, a sham coil was used with the sound and sensation of scalp similar to the rTMS coil. Patients in both groups underwent a conventional rehabilitation program. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used as the primary outcome measurement. Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 10-m walk test (10mWT), and Activity-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) were used as the secondary outcome measurement. All scales were measured at baseline (T0), after 10 sessions of rTMS (T1), and at 4 weeks after treatment completion (T2) by therapists with over 5 years of clinical experience. Results There were significant improvements between T0 and T1, and between T0 and T2, for all assessed items in the rTMS group. Whereas there were significant improvements between T0 and T1, and between T0 and T2, for the BBS and 10mWT in the control group. TUG (-4.87±5.05 vs. -0.50±2.97 seconds) and ABC score (8.10±8.33 vs. 0.16±0.97) were observed significant differences in comparison of the changes from T0 to T1 between the two group. BBS score (4.40±3.66 vs. 1.88±3.14), TUG (-4.87±4.56 vs. -0.62±2.96 seconds) and ABC score (8.22±7.70 vs. -0.09±0.86) differed significantly from T0 to T2 between the two groups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that low-frequency cerebellar rTMS is helpful for improving balance in patients with cerebral infarction, and maybe a beneficial treatment for these patients

Immuno-chromatographic Analysis for HPV-16 and 18 E7 Proteins as a Biomarker of Cervical Cancer Caused by Human Papillomavirus

Among the more than 120 different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), types 16 and 18 have been known to be high risk agents that cause cervical cancer. We examined, in an immuno-chromatographic analysis, the potential of using the early gene product. E7 protein, as a diagnostic marker of cervical cancer caused by HPV. We developed monoclonal antibodies specific to HPV-16 and 18 E7 proteins that were produced from bacterial cells using, gene recombinant technology. For each E7 protein, the optimal antibody pair was selected using the immuno-chromatographic sandwich-type binding system based on the lateral flow through membrane pores. Under these conditions, this rapid testing assay had a detection capability as low as 2 ng/mL of E7 protein. Furthermore, since viral analysis required the host cell to be lysed using chemicals such as detergents, it was possible that the E7 protein was structurally damaged during this process, which would result in a decrease in detection sensitivity. Therefore, we examined the detrimental effects caused by different detergents on the E7 protein using HeLa cells as the host. In these experiments, we found that the damage caused by the detergent, nonylphenylpolyethylene glycol (NP-40), was minimal relative to Triton X-100 commonly used or the cell lysis. Temperature also affected the stability oldie E7 protein, and we found that the E7 protein was stabilized at 4 T. for about 2 h, which was 4 times longer than at room temperature. Finally, a HPV-infected cervical cancer cell line, which was used as a real sample model, was treated using the optimized conditions and the presence of E7 proteins were analyzed by immuno-chromatography. The results of this experiment demonstrated that this rapid test could specifically detect HPV-infected samples.Cho IH, 2009, ANAL CHIM ACTA, V632, P247, DOI 10.1016/j.aca.2008.11.019Liang YJ, 2008, INT J BIOCHEM CELL B, V40, P2431, DOI 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.04.003Ressler S, 2007, CLIN CANCER RES, V13, P7067, DOI 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-1222Jeon JH, 2007, EXP MOL MED, V39, P621Mirecka EA, 2006, PROTEIN EXPRES PURIF, V48, P281, DOI 10.1016/j.pep.2006.04.017Nishimura A, 2006, MICROBES INFECT, V8, P984, DOI 10.1016/j.micinf.2005.10.015Cho JH, 2006, ANAL CHEM, V78, P793, DOI 10.1021/ac051453vHuh KW, 2005, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V102, P11492, DOI 10.1073/pnas.0505337102Ono T, 2003, J IMMUNOL METHODS, V272, P211DeFilippis RA, 2003, J VIROL, V77, P1551, DOI 10.1128/JVI.77.2.1551-1563.2003Jeon JH, 2002, EXP MOL MED, V34, P496VINCE A, 2002, J CLIN VIROL, V25, P109Chen XJS, 2001, J MOL BIOL, V307, P173Paek SH, 2000, METHODS, V22, P53, DOI 10.1006/meth.2000.1036Walboomers JMM, 1999, J PATHOL, V189, P12Wertlake P, 1999, J REPROD MED, V44, P11JEON S, 1995, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V92, P1654WILBUR DC, 1994, AM J CLIN PATHOL, V101, P209SCHEFFNER M, 1993, CELL, V75, P495SELVEY LA, 1992, J VIROL METHODS, V37, P119MAY K, 1991, AM J OBSTET GYNECOL, V165, P2000DYSON N, 1989, SCIENCE, V243, P934NELSON PH, 1989, EMBO J, V8, P3905GISSMANN L, 1986, VIRAL ETIOLOGY CERVI, P217CHANG JY, 1985, EUR J BIOCHEM, V151, P217

The Change in Regional Cerebral Oxygen Saturation after Stellate Ganglion Block

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is known to increase blood flow to the innervations area of the stellate ganglion. Near infrared spectroscopy reflects an increased blood volume and allows continuous, non-invasive, and bedside monitoring of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2). We investigated the influence of SGB on bilateral cerebral oxygenation using a near infrared spectroscopy. METHODS: SGB was performed on 30 patients with 1% lidocaine 10 ml using a paratracheal technique at the C6 level and confirmed by the presence of Horner's syndrome. The blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rSO2 were measured before SGB and 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after SGB. Tympanic temperature of each ear was measured prior to SGB and 20 minutes after SGB. RESULTS: The increments of the rSO2 on the block side from the baseline were statistically significant at 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. The rSO2 on the non-block side compared with the baseline, however, decreased at 15 and 20 minutes. The difference between the block and the non-block sides was significant at 15 and 20 minutes. The BP at 10, 15 and 20 minutes was increased and the HR was increased at 10 and 15 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an increment of the rSO2 on the block side from the baseline; however, the rSO2 on the non-block side decreasedope

Mortality risk and causes of death in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Background All-cause mortality risk and causes of death in bronchiectasis patients have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the mortality risk and causes of death between individuals with bronchiectasis and those without bronchiectasis. Methods Patients with or without bronchiectasis determined based on chest computed tomography (CT) at one centre between 2005 and 2016 were enrolled. Among the patients without bronchiectasis, a control group was selected after applying additional exclusion criteria. We compared the mortality risk and causes of death between the bronchiectasis and control groups without lung disease. Subgroup analyses were also performed according to identification of Pseudomonas or non-tuberculous mycobacteria, airflow limitation, and smoking status. Results Of the total 217,702 patients who underwent chest CT, 18,134 bronchiectasis patients and 90,313 non-bronchiectasis patients were included. The all-cause mortality rate in the bronchiectasis group was 1608.8 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 1531.5–1690.0), which was higher than that in the control group (133.5 per 100,000 person-years; 95% CI, 124.1–143.8; P < 0.001). The bronchiectasis group had higher all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09–1.47), respiratory (aHR, 3.49; 95% CI, 2.21–5.51), and lung cancer-related (aHR, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.33–5.22) mortality risks than the control group. In subgroup analysis, patients with airflow limitation and ever smokers showed higher all-cause mortality risk among bronchiectasis patients. Therefore, we observed significant interrelation between bronchiectasis and smoking, concerning the risks of all-cause mortality (P for multiplicative interaction, 0.030, RERI, 0.432; 95% CI, 0.097–0.769) and lung cancer-related mortality (RERI, 8.68; 95% CI, 1.631–15.736). Conclusion Individuals with bronchiectasis had a higher risk of all-cause, respiratory, and lung cancer-related mortality compared to control group. The risk of all-cause mortality was more prominent in those with airflow limitation and in ever smokers