Reduced gray matter volume and respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: a voxel-based morphometry study.

BACKGROUND: The respiratory dysfunction of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) has drawn increasing attention. This study evaluated the relationship between gray matter volume (GMV), as determined by voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and respiratory dysfunction in patients with PD and correlated it with systemic inflammatory markers. METHODS: Whole-brain VBM analysis was performed on 3-dimensional T1-weighted images in 25 PD patients with abnormal pulmonary function (13 men, 12 women; mean age: 62.9 ± 10.8 years) and, for comparison, on 25 sex- and age-matched PD patients with normal pulmonary function (14 men, 11 women; mean age: 62.3 ± 6.9 years). Inflammatory markers were determined by flow cytometry. The differences and correlations in regional GMV, clinical severity and inflammatory markers were determined after adjusting for age, gender and total intracranial volume (TIV). RESULTS: Compared with the normal pulmonary function group, the abnormal pulmonary function group had smaller GMV in several brain regions, including the left parahippocampal formation, right fusiform gyrus, right cerebellum crus, and left postcentral gyri. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and maximal expiratory flow after expiration of 50% of forced vital capacity (MEF50) were positively correlated with regional GMV. There were no significant differences in the level of serum inflammatory markers between two groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that involvement of the central autonomic network and GM loss may underlie the respiratory dysfunction in PD patients.

Short-term clinical outcomes of transarterial embolization for symptomatic hand osteoarthritis refractory to conservative treatment.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to assess the short-term clinical outcomes and safety of transarterial embolization (TAE) for symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (OA) refractory to conservative treatment. METHODS: The present retrospective cohort pilot study included nine patients who underwent TAE for symptomatic OA-associated hand pain in a single tertiary center between November 2022 and January 2023. The baseline and post-procedural OA-associated hand pain and function were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Australian Canadian Hand Osteoarthritis Index (AUSCAN). The use of conservative treatment and pain medications was also recorded. Post-procedural adverse events were evaluated according to the Society of Interventional Radiology classification. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the overall VAS scores were significantly decreased at 1-week, 1-month, 3-months, and 6-months after TAE (76 ± 15 mm versus 34 ± 18 mm, P < 0.001; 32 ± 11 mm, P < 0.001; 21 ± 15 mm, P < 0.001; 18 ± 19 mm, P = 0.002). Similarly, improvement in the mean total AUSCAN scores (22.0 ± 10.0 versus 13.2 ± 6.6, P = 0.007; 14.11 ± 7.3, P = 0.004; 9.8 ± 6.8, P = 0.004; 9.3 ± 7.4, P = 0.011) were documented. The use of other conservative treatment methods also gradually decreased. There were no severe adverse events reported during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: TAE is a feasible and safe treatment method for symptomatic hand OA refractory to conservative treatment. This minimally invasive procedure effectively relieves debilitating OA-associated joint pain and restores hand function with a durable treatment effect.

Psoas muscle area as a predictor of low muscle mass in Asian patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease.

PURPOSE: The relationship between the psoas muscle index (PMI) and the appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) is not yet understood. Our goal is to determine which level of the lumbar spine best represents the appendicular skeletal muscle. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This retrospective study involved patients with cACLD between January 2020 and December 2021. We documented the patients' body weight, height, gait speed, handgrip strength, appendicular skeletal muscle measured by DXA, and psoas muscle area segmented on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Low muscle mass, as defined by the Asian working group for sarcopenia, is less than 7.0 kg/m2 in males and less than 5.4 kg/m2 in females. We analyzed the correlation between PMI and ASMI. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were enrolled in the study, with 74 being male and 60 being female. The mean age was 63.9 ± 7.7 years old. Significant associations (p < 0.001) were found between PMI of all levels and ASMI. In the analysis of Pearson's correlation coefficients, it was noted that the r value increased gradually in both males (r = 0.3197 at L2, 0.4006 at L3, 0.5769 at L4) and females (r = 0.3771 at L2, 0.4557 at L3, 0.5251 at L4). Similarly, the area under the curve (AUC) values predicting low muscle mass were as follows: for males, AUC=0.582 at L2, 0.619 at L3, 0.728 at L4; for females, AUC=0.685 at L2, 0.733 at L3, 0.744 at L4. The cut-off point for PMI in males was 4.12 at L2, 6.25 at L3, and 8.48 at L4, while in females was 2.61 at L2, 4.47 at L3, 6.07 at L4. CONCLUSION: The Psoas muscle index can be used to assess the muscle mass status in patients with cACLD. Among the various levels that can be used, we recommend using the fourth inferior endplate of the lumbar spine, as it shows the highest correlation. Additionally, we suggest using a PMI cut-off point of 8.48 cm2/m2 for males and 6.07 cm2/m2 for females as a predictor of low muscle mass in Asian.

Exploring the role of anticipatory postural adjustment duration within APA2 subphase as a potential mediator between clinical disease severity and fall risk in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) often show reduced anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) before voluntary steps, impacting their stability. The specific subphase within the APA stage contributing significantly to fall risk remains unclear. Methods: We analyzed center of pressure (CoP) trajectory parameters, including duration, length, and velocity, throughout gait initiation. This examination encompassed both the postural phase, referred to as anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) (APA1, APA2a, APA2b), and the subsequent locomotor phases (LOC). Participants were instructed to initiate a step and then stop (initiating a single step). Furthermore, we conducted assessments of clinical disease severity using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and evaluated fall risk using Tinetti gait and balance scores during off-medication periods. Results: Freezing of gait (FOG) was observed in 18 out of 110 participants during the measurement of CoP trajectories. The Ramer-Douglas-Peucker algorithm successfully identified CoP displacement trajectories in 105 participants (95.5%), while the remaining 5 cases could not be identified due to FOG. Tinetti balance and gait score showed significant associations with levodopa equivalent daily dose, UPDRS total score, disease duration, duration (s) in APA2a (s) and LOC (s), length in APA1 (cm) and APA2b (cm), mediolateral velocity in APA1 (X) (cm/s), APA2a (X) (cm/s), APA2b (X) (cm/s) and LOC (X) (cm/s), and anterior-posterior velocity in APA2a (Z) (cm/s) and APA2b (Z) (cm/s). Multiple linear regression revealed that only duration (s) in APA2a and UPDRS total score was independently associated with Tinetti gait and balance score. Further mediation analysis showed that the duration (s) in APA2a served as a mediator between UPDRS total score and Tinetti balance and gait score (Sobel test, p = 0.047). Conclusion: APA2 subphase duration mediates the link between disease severity and fall risk in PD, suggesting that longer APA2a duration may indicate reduced control during gait initiation, thereby increasing fall risk.

Pedunculated subserosal leiomyoma with torsion, a rare cause of abdominal pain: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute abdominal pain caused by torsion of the pedunculated subserosal leiomyoma is rare. Miss diagnosis can lead to ischemia, necrosis, and subsequent peritonitis which may cause significant morbidity. Torsion of the leiomyoma should be recognized as a surgical emergency and once suspected, early surgical intervention should be considered. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 28-year-old woman with a medical history of uterine leiomyoma presented to our emergency department because of acute onset right lower abdominal pain. DIAGNOSES: The computed tomography was performed which demonstrated multiple leiomyomas of variable sizes and a subserosal leiomyoma located at right lower abdomen with poor contrast enhancement. INTERVENTIONS: The gynecologist was consulted, and myomectomy was performed. The intraoperative finding showed a pedunculated subserosal leiomyoma with torsion. OUTCOMES: She underwent myomectomy for the twisted pedunculated subserosal leiomyoma as well as other leiomyomas and was discharged with a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Torsion of the leiomyoma is a surgical emergency as delayed in treatment may lead to marked morbidity. Once suspected, the gynecologist must be consulted, and surgical intervention should be considered.

Portosystemic Shunt in Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplant.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the significance of portosystemic shunts and associated long-term outcomes in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) among pediatric patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of 121 pediatric patients who underwent LDLT between May 1994 and December 2015 at Taiwan Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography images of the liver were reviewed, and portal vein complications were assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-seven pediatric patients were included in the study, and 70 had portosystemic shunts before transplant. Thirty-three patients have portal systemic shunt (PSS) 6 months after transplant (mean [SD] shunt size, 4.59 [1.98] mm). Thirty-seven patients' portosystemic shunts closed spontaneously (mean [SD] shunt size, 3.14 [1.06] mm). Smaller PSSs tend to close spontaneously with a cutoff point of 3.35 mm by receiver operating characteristic curve (P = .01). Patients with PSS have more portal vein complications than those without PSS (44.3% vs 11.1%, P = .02). Among PSS recipients, patients with portal vein complications tend to have larger PSS size (mean [SD], 4.14 [1.96] mm vs 3.59 [1.48] mm), although the difference is not statistically significant (P = .19). CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients, preoperative portosystemic shunts are significantly correlated with portal venous complications, some of which require minimal interventions after LDLT with good outcomes. Shunts larger than 3.35 mm tend to persist after transplant with increased portal venous complications.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: does size really matter?

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of 100-300 µm versus 300-500 µm drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and to investigate the impact of tumor and feeding artery size on treatment outcome of different particle sizes in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 234 consecutive patients who underwent TACE using 100-300 µm DEB (Group A, n=75) and 300-500 µm DEB (Group B, n=159) in a tertiary center between August 2012 and March 2017. Initial treatment response and adverse events were assessed using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 704 HCCs in 234 patients were evaluated. The average index tumor size was 3.8 cm. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size, lobe involvement, particle size, and tumor location were significant predictive factors of complete response. The overall rate of complete response in groups A and B were 56.0% and 33.3% (P = 0.001), respectively. Group A had higher complete response rate than group B in the subgroup of BCLC B with tumor <3 cm (57.9% vs. 21.1%; P = 0.020) and subgroup of feeding artery ≥0.9 mm (55.2% vs. 30.9%; P = 0.014). There were fewer major complications in group A compared with group B (0% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: TACE with 100-300 µm DEB is associated with better initial treatment response and fewer major complications compared with 300-500 µm. Our study also highlights the impact of tumor characteristics on treatment outcome of different DEB size, which might help to select the optimal sphere size for TACE in the treatment of HCC.