Gait analysis does not correlate with clinical and MR imaging parameters in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Parameters of MR imaging play a pivotal role in diagnosing lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), and serve as an important tool in clinical decision-making. Despite the importance of MR imaging, little is known about the correlation between MRI parameters, objective gait analysis, and clinical presentation of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty-three patients from our clinic with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis leading to neurogenic claudication were included in this study in accordance with clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical parameters, the depression status (CES-D), the subjective functional back capacity (FFbH-R), and the absolute walking distance (treadmill gait analysis) were quantitatively evaluated in correlation with morphological data from radiographs and MRI scans, in order to determine the coherence of spinal canal narrowing and clinical affliction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty-three consecutive paents with a median age of 68 years and a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28 were included in the study. The mean FFbH-R score displayed a value of 44 percent. The depression status scored an average of 13.6. Objectively measured walking distances showed a mean value of 172 m until patients stopped due to leg pain. A significant difference was found between the objectively measured and the subjectively estimated walking distance. The mean cross-sectional area of the dural tube at L1/2 was 113 mm², at L2/3 94 mm², at L3/4 73 mm², at L4/5 65 mm², and at L5/S1 93 mm². The mean overall cross sectional area of the dural tube of all segments did not correlate with the objectively measured walking distance. However, bivariate analysis found that the BMI (tau b = -0.194), functional back capacity (tau b = -0.225), and the cross sectional area of the dural tube at L1/2 (tau b = -0.188) correlated significantly with the objectively measured walking distance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>According to the results of this study MRI findings failed to show a major clinical relevance when evaluating the walking distance in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and, therefore, should be treated with some caution as a predictor of walking distance. In determining the disease pattern of spinal stenosis functional back capacity and BMI might play a more active role than previously thought.</p

Bladder Lymphangioma Treated by Holmium Laser: Extremely Rare Case Report

Introduction: Lymphangioma is a sporadic benign tumor of the bladder. It is a congenital disorder and based on the size of lymphatic spaces, it is divided into 3 types of capillary, cavernous, and cystic.Case Report: In this paper, we presented a 40-year-old woman with microscopic hematuria and a normal urinary ultrasound. Urethrocystoscopy showed a flat 4 mm highlighted strawberry-like lesion on the right lateral wall of the bladder. After a cold cup biopsy, the lesion was coagulated by the holmium: YAG (Ho: YAG) laser.Conclusion: In Bladder Lymphangioma Based on the size of the lesion, partial cystectomy or minimally invasive surgeries such as laser modality would be the principal treatment. 

Investigating the factors affecting the survival rate in patients with COVID-19 : A retrospective cohort study

Funding Information: Conflicts of Interest: None declared Funding: This study was financially supported by the Deputy of Research and Technology of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Grant no. 17571).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The effects of slow and quick freezing methods on microstructure, drip loss, proximate composition and sensory properties of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of slow and quick freezing on the changes in sensory properties, drip loss, microstructure and proximate compositions of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets. For this reason, skined off and deboned tilapia fillets were frozen by slow and quick freezing methods. The samples were packed and stored at -18 ° C for six months. Proximate composition, drip loss, and sensory evaluation of the samples were determined on a montly basis. Microstructure of the samples was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) every second month. Results indicated that fresh tilapia fillets had 1/30, 18/70, 1/85, 79/12 percentage of fat, protein, ash and moisture contents, respectively. The amounts of proximate compositions were changed during the storageperiod. Quick frozen samples had significantly lower changes than slow frozen samples. The percentage of the drip in the slow frozen samples was significantly higher than quick frozen samples. SEM micrographs were also showed that the changes in the microstructure of the samples were different in the slow and frozen samples. Slow freezing method resulted in the higher damage in the microstructure of the samples than quick freezing method. Sensory evaluation of the samples indicated a better acceptability for the quick frozen samples than that for slow frozen sample

Fluorescence activated enrichment of CD146+ cells during expansion of human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells augments proliferation and GAG/DNA content in chondrogenic media

Background: While numerous subpopulations of BM-MSCs have been identified, the relevance of these findings regarding the functional properties remains mostly unclear. With regards to attempts of enhancing differentiation results by preselecting certain MSC subtypes, we have evaluated the efficiency of CD146 purification during expansion, and evaluated whether these measures enhanced MSC differentiation results. Methods: Human MSCs were derived from bone marrow of six donors and cultured in two different culture media. After P1, MSCs were purified by either magnetic or fluorescence sorting for CD146, with unsorted cells as controls. Growth characteristics and typical MSC surface markers were assessed from P0 to P3. After P3, chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential were assessed. Results: Despite a high variability of CD146 expression among the donors, fluorescence sorting significantly increased the number of CD146+ cells compared to control MSCs, while magnetic sorting led to a lesser enrichment. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential was not affected by the sorting process. However, FACS-sorted cells showed significantly increased GAG/DNA content after chondrogenic differentiation compared to control MSCs. Conclusion: FACS sorting of CD146+ cells was more efficient than magnetic sorting. The underlying mechanism of increased GAG/DNA content after enrichment during expansion remains unclear, but may be linked to increased proliferation rates in these cells

Radiopharmaceutical transport in solid tumors via a 3-dimensional image-based spatiotemporal model

Peer reviewe

Methadone maintenance treatment program in prisons from the perspective of medical and non-medical prison staff: a qualitative study in Iran

Background: As one of the most important components of harm reduction strategy for high-risk groups, following the HIV epidemics, Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) has been initiated in prisoners since 2003. In this paper, we aimed to assess the advantages and shortcomings of the MMT program from the perspective of people who were involved with the delivery of prison healthcare in Iran. Methods: On the basis of grounded theory and through conducting 14 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), 7 FGDs among physicians, consultants, experts, and 7 FGDs among directors and managers of prisons (n= 140) have been performed. The respondents were asked about positive and negative elements of the MMT program in Iranian prisons. Results: This study included a total of 48 themes, of which 22 themes were related to advantages and the other 26 were about shortcomings of MMT programs in the prisons. According to participants’ views “reduction of illegal drug use and high-risk injection”, “reduction of potentially high-risk behaviors” and “making positive attitudes” were the main advantages of MMT in prisons, while issues such as “inaccurate implementation”, “lack of skilled manpower” and “poor care after release from prison” were among the main shortcomings of MMT program. Conclusions: MMT program in Iran’s prisons has achieved remarkable success in the field of harm reduction, but to obtain much more significant results, its shortcomings and weaknesses must be also taken into account by policy-makers