Oil-in-Water Emulsions Probed Using Fluorescence Multivariate-Curve-Resolution Spectroscopy.

Hydrophobic surfaces in contact with aqueous media are omnipresent in nature. A plethora of key biological and physiological processes occur at the interface of immiscible fluids. Besides its fundamental importance, probing such interfaces is rather challenging, especially when one medium is bathed in the other. Herein, we demonstrate a fluorescence-based method that probes the oil-water interface and interfacial processes through surface dielectric perturbations. The fluorescence response of Nile Red is measured in hexadecane in water nanoemulsions. Three major spectral components appear: two from the bulk liquid media (hexadecane and water) and a distinct band at around 640 nm due to the interfacial component. Such spectra are deconvoluted using the multivariate-curve-resolution algorithm, and interface-correlated fluorescence spectra are attained. The influence of anionic sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) and cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants on the oil-water interface is elucidated with concentration-dependent measurements. A charge-dependent spectral shift is observed. The interface correlated band at 641 nm for bare hexadecane nanoemulsions red shifts in the presence of anionic surfactants, indicating an apparent dielectric increase. In contrast, the same band gradually blue shifts with increasing cationic surfactant concentration, indicating an apparent interface dielectric decrease. Such a method can be utilized to probe alterations at interfaces beyond the oil/water interface.

Ultrasonographic measurement of median nerve and wrist skin thickness in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: relationship with clinical, electrophysiologic and functionality.

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the proximal and distal cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve and wrist skin thickness measured by ultrasound in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), demographics, disease characteristics, electrophysiological measurements, symptom severity, functionality, and symptom severity. 98 patients with electrophysiological diagnoses of CTS in the dominant hand were included in the study. Proximal and distal CSAs of the median nerve and wrist skin thickness were measured ultrasonographically. Demographic and disease characteristics of the patients were recorded. Patients were evaluated with the Historical-Objective scale (Hi- Ob) for clinical staging, the Functional status scale (FSS) for functional status, and the Boston symptom severity scale (BSSS) for symptom severity. Ultrasonographic findings were correlated with demographic and disease characteristics, electrophysiological findings, Hi-Ob scala, Functional status scale (FSS), and Boston symptom severity scale (BSSS). Proximal median nerve CSA median was 11.0 (7.0-14.0) mm2, distal median nerve CSA median was 10.5 (5.0-18.0) mm2, and wrist skin thickness was measured 1.10 (0.6-1.40) mm. Median nerve CSAs were positively correlated with the CTS stage and FSS, negatively correlated with the sensory nerve action potential of the median nerve (SNAP) and the compound muscle action potential of the median nerve (CMAP) ( p<0.05). Wrist skin thickness was positively correlated with disease characteristics, including the presence of paresthesia and loss of dexterity and FSS and BSSS levels. Ultrasonographic measurements in CTS are associated with functionality rather than demographics. Especially the increase in wrist skin thickness leads to an increase in symptom severity.

Validation and psychometric properties of the Turkish version of Neuromuscular disease Swallowing Status Scale (NdSSS) in patients with oro-pharygo-esophageal dysphagia in neuromuscular disorders.

Objective: Dysphagia is one of the most disabling conditions arising from neuromuscular disorders(NMD). There is no specific methods to use in the evaluation of dysphagia in NMD patients. We aimed both to evaluate the applicability of the Neuromuscular Disease Swallowing Status Scale (NdSSS) for dysphagia in all phases of swallowing in various NMD patients and to investigate psychometric properties of this scale. Methods: Patients with NMD were enrolled. Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), NdSSS and High-Resolution Esophageal Manometry (HRM) were performed on all subjects within 72 hours. While the convergent and concurrent validities were used as validation method, Cohen's kappa and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were calculated for inter-rater reliability. The correlation between FOIS, PAS and HRM diagnosis according to Chicago version 3.0 (CCv3) were analyzed. Results: 115 NMD patients were included. There was good correlation between NdSSS and FOIS and PAS scores (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r):0.927, r:0.927 and r:-0.836, r:0.841, respectively). Also, there was a positive good correlation between NdSSS and CCv3 evaluating disorders of esophageal peristalsis (r:0.677-0.679, p=0.001). When evaluated separately, there were good correlation between NdSSS levels; and PAS (r:-0.648-0.656); and CCv3 (r:0.514-0.573) levels for ALS. For Myasthenia gravis there was a good correlation between NdSSS levels; and CCv3 (r:0.577-0.622); FOIS (r:0.508-0.521); and PAS (r:-0.504-0.519) scores. Also, for myopathy; a very good(CCv3(0.976-0.982)) and good(FOIS (0.511-0.581) and (PAS (-0.516-0.550)) correlations were defined for myopathy. Conclusion: The NdSSS was found applicable to detect both oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia risk in patients with NMD and is a valid and reliable swallowing screening tool that can evaluate oro-pharyngo-esophageal dysphagia in NMD patients.

Is Dysphagia in Older Patients with Parkinson's Disease Associated With Sarcopenia ?

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's Disease (PD) and sarcopenia share a number of common pathways, and they can potentially affect each other. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between dysphagia and sarcopenia in elderly patients with PD compared to healthy controls. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 54 elderly PD patients and age-, sex- and body mass index-matched 54 healthy elder persons. Demographic and disease characteristics such as disease duration, stage of disease and Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale were recorded. All subjects were assessed by 10- item Eating Assessment Tool, Gugging Swallowing Screen tests and flexible fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) as well as Mini nutritional test short form. Also, A simplified screening tool for assessing sarcopenia (SARC-F), five times sit-to-stand and gait speed tests as well as lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cross-sectional area of psoas and paraspinal muscles were used for evaluation of sarcopenia. Patients were divided as «with normal swallowing¼ or «with dysphagia¼ according to the FEES results. Three groups were compared among themselves in terms of evaluation methods. RESULTS: Sarcopenia evaluation parameters were significantly higher in patient groups compared to the control group. Moreover, muscle measurements evaluated by MRI in patients with dysphagia are lower than both patients with normal swallowing and control group (p value between 0.001 and 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PD have lower muscle mass compared to healthy controls, and the situation is more pronounced in dysphagic PD patients.

The comparison of efficacy of single intraarticular steroid injection versus the combination of genicular nerve block and intraarticular steroid injection in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of genicular nerve block (GNB) and intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACSI) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Forty patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-4 knee OA were included for the study. Patients were divided into two groups randomly as IACS and IACS + GNB groups. All patients were evaluated with ultrasound for cartilage thickness, patellar tendon thickness, quadriceps tendon thickness and quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (QMA). Pain intensity of the patients was evaluated with visual analogue scale and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale. Functional status of the patients was evaluated with Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Quality of life of the patients was assessed with Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). All assessments were measured and compared at baseline, 1st month and 3rd month after treatment. RESULTS: All evaluation parameters were significantly improved in IACSI and IACSI + GNB groups. However, the improvement was better in IACSI + GNB group compared to those in IACSI group in terms of all evaluation parameters except QMA (0.10 ± 0.18 and 0.11 ± 0.22, respectively) and NHP scores in 1st month evaluation (- 3.11 ± 6.99 and - 3.54 ± 1.74, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: When combined with IACSI, GNB yields better analgesic effect and improves function in patients with knee OA compared to only IACSI.

Neurolytic phenol blockade of the obturator nerve for severe adductor spasticity.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we present the 3-month follow-up results of a retrospective analysis of obturator nerve (ON) phenol neurolysis performed between 2000 and 2007 in patients with adductor spasticity. METHODS: The study was performed by retrospective investigation of the clinical follow-up results of 80 ON phenol treatments in 62 patients. Neurolysis using 5-10 ml 6% phenol was applied with the guidance of fluoroscopy and a peripheral nerve stimulator. Pain, spasticity and hygiene were evaluated and the hip abduction range of motion (ROM) was measured at the end of the first week and in the first, second and third months following the intervention. RESULTS: The visual analogue scale scores decreased significantly in the first week, first month and the second month, but reached their initial values in the third month. A drastic increase in the ROM values was shown in hip abduction in the first week, first month and second month. An increase in the Ashworth Scale values was observed in the second and third months, but they did not reach their initial values. The hygiene score decreased drastically in the first week and the first and second months, but worsened in the third month. The success rate in nerve localization during ON neurolysis was 100%. CONCLUSION: ON phenol blockade with fluoroscopy and peripheral nerve stimulator guidance in patients with adductor spasticity led to a decrease in spasticity and pain with an increase in the ROM of the hip and better hygiene with an efficacy lasting for about 3 months.