ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rapid correction of dysnatremias can result in neurological complications. Therefore, various formulas are available to predict changes in plasma sodium concentration ([Na+]) after treatment, but these have been shown to be inaccurate. This could be explained by sodium acumulation in skin and muscle tissue, which is not explicitly considered in these formulas. We assessed the association between clinical and biochemical factors related to tissue sodium accumulation and the discrepancy between predicted and measured plasma [Na+]. METHODS: We used data from an intensive care unit (ICU) cohort with complete data on sodium, potassium, and water balance. The predicted plasma [Na+] was calculated using the Barsoum-Levine (BL) and the Nguyen-Kurtz (NK) formula. We calculated the discrepancy between predicted and measured plasma sodium and fitted a linear mixed-effect model to investigate its association with factors related to tissue sodium accumulation. RESULTS: We included 594 ICU days of sixty-three patients in our analysis. The mean plasma [Na+] at baseline was 147±6 mmol/L. The median (IQR) discrepancy between predicted and measured plasma [Na+] was 3.14 mmol/L (1.48, 5.55) and 3.53 mmol/L (1.81, 6.44) for the BL and NK formulas, respectively. For both formulas, estimated total body water (p=0.027), initial plasma [Na+] (p<0.001) and plasma [Na+] change (p<0.001) were associated with the discrepancy between predicted and measured plasma [Na+]. CONCLUSION: In this ICU cohort, initial plasma [Na+], total body water, and plasma [Na+] changes, all factors that are related to tissue sodium accumulation, were associated with the inaccurateness of plasma [Na+] prediction.
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OBJECTIVES: Due to climate change and major sport events in hot climate, temperature regulation during exercise is gaining relevance in professional and amateur sports. This study compares the effects of an upper body garment with water-soaked inlays, of a synthetic- and of a cotton shirt on health, fluid balance and performance during a high intensity exercise session in the heat. METHODS: 32 healthy participants (age 25 ± 4 years; 15 women) were assigned to one of three upper body garments (cotton-shirt, synthetic-fiber-shirt, cooling-vest with water-soaked inlays) and underwent a high intensity steady state ergometer exercise test (Temperature 30.5 °C, frontal airflow 20 km/h, relative air-humidity 43 ± 13%). Time to exhaustion, physiologic parameters (inner ear temperature, heart rate, relative oxygen uptake, body weight, garment weight) and subjective data (perceived exertion, thermal sensation, skin wettedness, clothing humidity, feeling scale) were assessed. Time to exhaustion was analyzed using a survival time analysis. Other outcomes were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis Tests and 95%-confidence-intervals. RESULTS: Time to exhaustion was not different between groups. Cooling-vests were heavier and led to lower inner ear temperature, lower thermal- and higher clothing-humidity-sensation at the start of exercise. Physiologic and subjective parameters showed no group differences at exercise termination. CONCLUSIONS: In a realistic setting including frontal airflow, synthetic and cotton-fiber shirts reach comparable effects on health and thermoregulation and are perceived as equally comfortable. Although inducing a small pre-exercise cooling effect, a water-soaked garment induces a weight penalty and creates a less comfortable situation.
ABSTRACT
Background: Hypertension can be classified into different phenotypes based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) that carry a different prognosis and may therefore be differently associated with sympathetic activity. We assessed the association between cardiac autonomic function determined from continuous finger BP recordings and hypertensive phenotypes. Methods: We included 10,221 individuals aged between 18-70 years from the multi-ethnic HELIUS study. Finger BP was recorded continuously for 3-5 minutes from which cross-correlation baroreflex sensitivity (xBRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. Hypertension was classified into isolated systolic (ISH; ≥140/<90), diastolic (IDH; <140/≥90) and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension (SDH; ≥140/≥90). Differences were assessed after stratification by age (younger: ≤40, older: >40 years) and sex, using regression with correction for relevant covariates. For xBRS, values were log-transformed. Results: In younger adults with ISH, xBRS was comparable to normotensive individuals in men (ratio 0.92; 95%CI 0.84-1.01) and women (1.00; 95%CI 0.84-1.20), while xBRS was significantly lower in IDH and SDH (ratios between 0.67 and 0.80). In older adults, all hypertensive phenotypes had significantly lower xBRS compared to normotensives. We found a similar pattern for HRV in men, while in women HRV did not differ between phenotypes. Conclusions: In younger men and women ISH is not associated with a shift towards increased sympathetic control, while IDH and SDH in younger and all hypertensive phenotypes in older participants were associated with increased sympathetic control. This suggests that alterations in autonomic regulation could be a contributing factor to known prognostic disparities between hypertensive phenotypes.
Hypertension can be classified into different phenotypes based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) that carry a different prognosis. Impaired autonomic regulation is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and independently associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes.We analyzed 3-5 minutes continuous non-invasive finger blood pressure recordings performed in over 10.000 individuals participating in the HELIUS cohort study. From these measurements, short term heart rate variability (HRV) and cross correlation baroreflex sensitivity (xBRS) were determined using an automatic algorithm.In our analysis we observed pronounced differences in the relation between autonomic regulation and hypertensive phenotypes that depend on age and sex.Younger men and women (age 18-40 years) with isolated systolic hypertension had similar values for xBRS and HRV compared to normotensives, while isolated diastolic hypertension was associated with a shift towards increased sympathetic control. In contrast to our findings in younger individuals, all hypertensive phenotypes were associated with increased sympathetic control in older participants (age 40-70 years).This supports earlier studies showing prognostic differences and suggests that alterations in sympathovagal balance could be a contributing factor to the disparities between phenotypes.
Subject(s)
Hypertension , Male , Humans , Female , Aged , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Blood Pressure/physiology , HeartABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To identify key factors associated with Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) in healthcare at the hospital organization level. DESIGN: Longitudinal study covering the period 2011-2019. Hospital reports were analysed to determine the number of CDIs and several hospital-related environmental factors: financial resources (i.e., cleaning expenditure), spatial resources (i.e., number of single rooms with a private bathroom), human resources (i.e., number of physicians and nursing staff) and cultural resources (i.e., error reporting climate). The relationships between the environmental factors and CDIs were analysed in a hybrid within- and between-hospital random-effect model. SETTING: A total of 129 general hospital Trusts operating in the English National Health Service (NHS). PARTICIPANTS: All inpatients in 129 general hospital trusts of the NHS in the years 2011-2019, covering 120,629 cases of CDI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Annual number of CDIs per hospital trust. RESULTS: Single rooms were associated with fewer CDIs at the within-hospital level, but not at the between-hospital level. Similarly, more nursing staff was associated with fewer CDIs at the within-hospital level, but not at the between-hospital level. This effect was not observed for physician staffing. A different picture emerged for the protective effect of cultural resources, with a weakly significant effect of between-hospital differences, but no within-hospital effect. Financial resources were not associated with CDIs either between hospitals or within them over time. CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified hospital resources with a beneficial influence on CDI rates. Healthcare organizations can use this knowledge for active CDI prevention.
Subject(s)
Clostridioides difficile , Clostridium Infections , Cross Infection , Humans , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/prevention & control , State Medicine , Clostridioides , Longitudinal Studies , Clostridium Infections/epidemiology , Clostridium Infections/prevention & control , Hospitals, GeneralABSTRACT
Sympathovagal balance is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and independently associated with mortality. We evaluated the value of automated analysis of cross-correlation baroreflex sensitivity (xBRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) and its relationship with clinical covariates in 13,326 participants from the multi-ethnic HELIUS study. Finger blood pressure (BP) was continuously recorded, from which xBRS, standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and squared root of mean squared successive difference between normal-to-normal intervals (RMSDD) were determined. A subset of 3356 recordings > 300 s was used to derive the minimally required duration by comparing shortened to complete recordings, defined as intraclass correlation (ICC) > 0.90. For xBRS and SDNN, 120 s and 180 s were required (ICC 0.93); for RMSDD, 60 s (ICC 0.94) was sufficient. We included 10,252 participants (median age 46 years, 54% women) with a recording > 180 s for the regression. xBRS, SDNN, and RMSDD decreased linearly up to 50 years of age. For xBRS, there was a signification interaction with sex, with for every 10 years a decrease of 4.3 ms/mmHg (95%CI 4.0-4.6) for men and 5.9 ms/mmHg (95%CI 5.6-6.1) for women. Using splines, we observed sex-dependent nonlinearities in the relation with BP, waist-to-hip-ratio, and body mass index. Future studies can help unravel the dynamics of these relations and assess their predictive value. Panel 1 depicts automatic analysis and filtering of finger BP recordings, panel 2 depicts computation of xBRS from interpolated beat to beat data of systolic BP and interbeat interval, and (IBI) SDNN and RMSDD are computed directly from the filtered IBI dataset. Panel 3 depicts the results of large-scale analysis and relation of xBRS with age, sex, blood pressure and body mass index.
Subject(s)
Baroreflex , Hypertension , Male , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Blood Pressure/physiology , Heart Rate/physiology , Baroreflex/physiology , FingersABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pivotal randomized trials demonstrating efficacy, safety and good tolerance, of two new potassium binders (patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) led to their recent approval. A major hurdle to the implementation of these potassium-binders is understanding how to integrate them safely and effectively into the long-term management of cardiovascular and kidney disease patients using renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), the latter being prone to induce hyperkalaemia. METHODS: A multidisciplinary academic panel including nephrologists and cardiologists was convened to develop consensus therapeutic algorithm(s) aimed at optimizing the use of the two novel potassium binders (patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) in stable adults who require treatment with RAASi and experience(d) hyperkalaemia in a non-emergent setting. RESULTS: Two dedicated pragmatic algorithms are proposed. The lowest intervention threshold (i.e. 5.1â¯mmol/L or greater) was the one used in the patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) pivotal trials, both drugs being indicated to treat hyperkalaemia in a non -emergent setting. Acknowledging the heterogeneity across specialty guidelines in hyperkalaemia definition and thresholds to intervene when facing hyperkalaemia, we have been mindful to use soft language i.e. "it is to consider", not necessarily "to do". CONCLUSIONS: Providing the clinical community with pragmatic algorithms may help optimize the management of high-risk patients by avoiding the risks of both hyper and hypokalaemia and of suboptimal RAASi therapy.
Subject(s)
Heart Diseases , Heart Failure , Hyperkalemia , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic , Adult , Algorithms , Humans , Hyperkalemia/diagnosis , Hyperkalemia/drug therapy , Hypertension, Renal , Nephritis , Potassium , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/drug therapy , Renin-Angiotensin SystemABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend treatment of dysnatremias to be guided by formulas based on the Edelman equation. This equation describes the relation between plasma sodium concentration and exchangeable cations. However, this formula does not take into account clinical parameters that have recently been associated with local tissue sodium accumulation, which occurs without concurrent water retention. We investigated to what extent such clinical factors affect the Edelman equation and dysnatremia treatment. METHODS: We performed a post-hoc analysis with original data of the Edelman study. Linear regression was used to examine the effect of age, sex, weight, edema, total body water (TBW) and heart and kidney failure on the Edelman equation. With attenuated correction, we corrected for measurement errors of both variables. Using piecewise regression, we analyzed whether the Edelman association differs for different plasma sodium concentrations. RESULTS: Data was available for 82 patients; 57 males and 25 females with a mean (SD) age of 57 (15) years. The slope of the Edelman equation was significantly affected by weight (p=0.01) and edema (p=0.03). Also, below and above plasma sodium levels of 133 mmol/L the slope of the Edelman equation was significantly different (1.25 x0025vs 0.58x0025, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Edelman's equation's coefficients are significantly affected by weight, edema and plasma sodium, possibly reflecting differences in tissue sodium accumulation capacity. The performance of Edelman-based formulas in clinical settings may be improved by taking these clinical characteristics into account.
Subject(s)
Hyponatremia , Sodium , Body Weight , Edema , Female , Humans , Hyponatremia/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Biological , Water-Electrolyte BalanceABSTRACT
Preeclampsia, an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, is associated with increased sFLT1 levels and with structural and functional damage to the glycocalyx contributing to endothelial dysfunction. We investigated glycocalyx components in relation to preeclampsia in human samples. While soluble syndecan-1 and heparan sulphate were similar in plasma of preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women, dermatan sulphate was increased and keratan sulphate decreased in preeclamptic women. Dermatan sulphate was correlated with soluble syndecan-1, and inversely correlated with blood pressure and activated partial thromboplastin time. To determine if syndecan-1 was a prerequisite for the sFlt1 induced increase in blood pressure in mice we studied the effect of sFlt1 on blood pressure and vascular contractile responses in syndecan-1 deficient and wild type male mice. The classical sFlt1 induced rise in blood pressure was absent in syndecan-1 deficient mice indicating that syndecan-1 is a prerequisite for sFlt1 induced increase in blood pressure central to preeclampsia. The results show that an interplay between syndecan-1 and dermatan sulphate contributes to sFlt1 induced blood pressure elevation in pre-eclampsia.
Subject(s)
Dermatan Sulfate/blood , Heparitin Sulfate/blood , Keratan Sulfate/blood , Pre-Eclampsia/blood , Syndecan-1/blood , Adult , Animals , Blood Pressure , Female , Glycocalyx/metabolism , Humans , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Pre-Eclampsia/metabolism , Pre-Eclampsia/physiopathology , Pregnancy , Thromboplastin/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/metabolism , VasoconstrictionABSTRACT
Clinical management of renal artery stenosis has seen a major shift, after randomised clinical trials have shown no group benefit of endovascular intervention relative to optimal medical control. However, the inclusion criteria of these trials have been criticised for focusing on a subset of patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis where intervention was unlikely to be beneficial. Moreover, new imaging and computational techniques have become available, which have the potential to improve identification of patients that will respond to interventional treatment. This review addresses the challenges associated with clinical decision making in patients with renal artery stenosis. Opportunities for novel diagnostic techniques to improve patient selection are discussed, along with ongoing Dutch studies and network initiatives that investigate these strategies.
Subject(s)
Renal Artery Obstruction , Humans , Patient Selection , Renal Artery , Renal Artery Obstruction/diagnosis , Renal Artery Obstruction/therapyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tertiary hyperparathyroidism (tHPT), i.e., persistent HPT after kidney transplantation, affects 17-50% of transplant recipients. Treatment of tHPT is mandatory since persistently elevated PTH concentrations after KTx increase the risk of renal allograft dysfunction and osteoporosis. The introduction of cinacalcet in 2004 seemed to offer a medical treatment alternative to parathyroidectomy (PTx). However, the optimal management of tHPT remains unclear. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients receiving a kidney transplantation (KT) in two academic centers in the Netherlands. Thirty patients undergoing PTx within 3 years of transplantation and 64 patients treated with cinacalcet 1 year after transplantation for tHPT were included. Primary outcomes were serum calcium and PTH concentrations 1 year after KT and after PTx. RESULTS: Serum calcium normalized in both the cinacalcet and the PTx patients. PTH concentrations remained above the upper limit of normal (median 22.0 pmol/L) 1 year after KT, but returned to within the normal range in the PTx group (median 3.7 pmol/L). Side effects of cinacalcet were difficult to assess; minor complications occurred in three patients. Re-exploration due to persistent tHPT was performed in three (10%) patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with tHPT, cinacalcet normalizes serum calcium, but does not lead to a normalization of serum PTH concentrations. In contrast, PTx leads to a normalization of both serum calcium and PTH concentrations. These findings suggest that PTx is the treatment of choice for tHPT.
Subject(s)
Calcimimetic Agents/therapeutic use , Cinacalcet/therapeutic use , Hyperparathyroidism/therapy , Kidney Transplantation , Parathyroidectomy , Postoperative Complications/therapy , Adult , Female , Humans , Hyperparathyroidism/diagnosis , Hyperparathyroidism/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/diagnosis , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the practices and attitudes of professional basketball head coaches towards injury prevention. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Elite-level basketball. PARTICIPANTS: Head coaches of all 366 German professional teams. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of injury risk screening methods, rated importance of different musculoskeletal injuries and rated effectiveness of preventive interventions. RESULTS: Eighty-three of 366 invited coaches (23%) responded to the survey. No non-response bias was detected. Only one of three teams conducts systematic injury screenings. The most commonly used test was the functional movement screen (73.1% of users), while balance and strength testing (both 38.5%) were least prevalent. Top-rated preventive interventions included balance and strength training, training of functional movement patterns, and stretching. In contrast, passive interventions, e.g. the use of orthoses, were not considered effective. The involvement of a health professional (e.g. physiotherapist) was associated with the performance of injury screening, but not with the choice of specific tests or preventive strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The methods applied to conduct injury screening and prevent musculoskeletal disorders in German professional basketball teams seem only partially backed by scientific evidence. Although not correlated with the tests and interventions used, the involvement of health-related stakeholders might help to identify players at increased injury risk.
Subject(s)
Athletic Injuries/prevention & control , Attitude , Basketball/injuries , Mentors/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Germany , Humans , Muscle Stretching Exercises , Postural Balance , Resistance TrainingABSTRACT
Although very rare, severe neurological complications can occur when undergoing spinal anesthesia. This report describes and analyses a case of spinal injury due to an undiagnosed tethered cord (TC) during spinal anesthesia for a cesarean section of a 31-year-old woman expecting twins. As a consequence of spinal dysraphism during embryogenesis, an atypically low conus level can occur and increase the risk of injury during neuraxial anesthesia, especially in the absence of symptoms. Injuries can be caused by mechanical trauma from direct needle injury, hematoma or neurotoxicity from local anesthetics. Special attention should therefore be paid to frequent symptoms, such as a hairy nevus on the back, deformities of the feet or bladder and bowels, voiding and micturition dysfunction in order to reduce the risk of complications.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Spinal/adverse effects , Injections , Neural Tube Defects/complications , Adult , Anesthetics, Local , Cesarean Section , Female , Humans , PregnancyABSTRACT
There is mounting evidence that aerobic exercise has a positive effect on cognitive functions in older adults. To date, little is known about the neurometabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying this positive effect. The present study used magnetic resonance spectroscopy and quantitative MRI to systematically explore the effects of physical activity on human brain metabolism and grey matter (GM) volume in healthy aging. This is a randomised controlled assessor-blinded two-armed trial (n=53) to explore exercise-induced neuroprotective and metabolic effects on the brain in cognitively healthy older adults. Participants (age >65) were allocated to a 12-week individualised aerobic exercise programme intervention (n=29) or a 12-week waiting control group (n=24). The main outcomes were the change in cerebral metabolism and its association to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels as well as changes in GM volume. We found that cerebral choline concentrations remained stable after 12 weeks of aerobic exercise in the intervention group, whereas they increased in the waiting control group. No effect of training was seen on cerebral N-acetyl-aspartate concentrations, nor on markers of neuronal energy reserve or BDNF levels. Further, we observed no change in cortical GM volume in response to aerobic exercise. The finding of stable choline concentrations in the intervention group over the 3 month period might indicate a neuroprotective effect of aerobic exercise. Choline might constitute a valid marker for an effect of aerobic exercise on cerebral metabolism in healthy aging.
Subject(s)
Aging , Brain/metabolism , Exercise , Gray Matter/anatomy & histology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Choline/metabolism , Female , Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , MaleABSTRACT
AIMS: The dynamical structure of glucose fluctuation has largely been disregarded in the contemporary management of diabetes. METHODS: In a retrospective study of patients with diabetes, we evaluated the relationship between glucose dynamics, antihyperglycemic therapy, glucose variability, and glucose exposure, while taking into account potential determinants of the complexity index. We used multiscale entropy (MSE) analysis of continuous glucose monitoring data from 131 subjects with type 1 (n = 18), type 2 diabetes (n = 102), and 11 nondiabetic control subjects. We compared the MSE complexity index derived from the glucose time series among the treatment groups, after adjusting for sex, age, diabetes duration, body mass index, and carbohydrate intake. RESULTS: In type 2 diabetic patients who were on a diet or insulin regimen with/without oral agents, the MSE index was significantly lower than in nondiabetic subjects but was lowest in the type 1 diabetes group (p < 0.001). The decline in the MSE complexity across the treatment groups correlated with increasing glucose variability and glucose exposure. Statistically, significant correlations existed between higher MSE complexity indices and better glycemic control. In multivariate regression analysis, the antidiabetic therapy was the most powerful predictor of the MSE (ß = -0.940 ± 0.242, R 2 = 0.306, p < 0.001), whereas the potential confounders failed to contribute. CONCLUSIONS: The loss of dynamical complexity in glucose homeostasis correlates more closely with therapy modalities and glucose variability than with clinical measures of glycemia. Thus, targeting the glucoregulatory system by adequate therapeutic interventions may protect against progressive worsening of diabetes control.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism , Glycemic Index , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Body Mass Index , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/pathology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Lower limb stretching based on myofascial chains has been demonstrated to increase cervical range of motion (ROM) in the sagittal plane. It is, however, unknown whether such remote exercise is as effective as local stretching. To resolve this research deficit, 63 healthy participants (36 ± 13 years, â32) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: remote stretching of the lower limb (LLS), local stretching of the cervical spine (CSS) or inactive control (CON). Prior (M1), immediately post (M2) and 5 min following intervention (M3), maximal cervical ROM was assessed. Non-parametric data analysis (Kruskal-Wallis tests and adjusted post hoc Dunn tests) revealed significant differences between the disposed conditions. With one exception (cervical spine rotation after CSS at M2, P > .05), both LLS and CSS increased cervical ROM compared to the control group in all movement planes and at all measurements (P < .05). Between LLS and CSS, no statistical differences were found (P > .05). Lower limb stretching based on myofascial chains induces similar acute improvements in cervical ROM as local exercise. Therapists might consequently consider its use in programme design. However, as the attained effects do not seem to be direction-specific, further research is warranted in order to provide evidence-based recommendations.
Subject(s)
Cervical Vertebrae/physiology , Exercise/physiology , Lower Extremity/physiology , Muscle Stretching Exercises/methods , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Range of Motion, ArticularSubject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/urine , Bone Resorption/urine , Zinc/deficiency , Zinc/urine , Adult , Anemia, Sickle Cell/metabolism , Anemia, Sickle Cell/pathology , Bone Resorption/metabolism , Bone Resorption/pathology , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Bone and Bones/pathology , Cohort Studies , Humans , Male , Young AdultABSTRACT
Several studies investigating myofascial pain syndrome include assessments of range of motion (ROM) as a diagnostic criterion. However, the value of ROM in this context has not yet been evaluated in controlled clinical studies. We aimed to examine whether patients with myofascial pain syndrome display alterations of ROM when compared to healthy subjects. Twenty-two individuals (13 females, 9 males; aged 33.4 ± 13.9 yrs) afflicted with active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle as well as 22 age and sex matched healthy controls were included. All subjects underwent an examination of maximal active cervical ROM in flexion/extension assessed by means of a 3D ultrasonic movement analysis system (30 Hz; Zebris CMS 70). In the patients group, pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the trigger points was determined using a pressure algometer. Maximum range of motion in the sagittal plane did not differ between individuals with MTrP (125.9 ± 23.2°, 95% CI: 116.2-135.6°) and asymptomatic subjects (128.2 ± 20.4°, 95% CI: 119.7-136.7°; p > .05). In patients, PPT (1.7 ± .6, 95% CI: 1.5-1.9) was not correlated with cervical mobility (r = -.13; p > .05). Based on these pilot data, range of motion in flexion/extension is not a valid criterion for the detection of myofascial trigger points. Additional research incorporating movement amplitudes in other anatomical planes and additional afflicted muscles should be conducted in order to further delineate the relative impact of MTrP on range of motion.
Subject(s)
Myofascial Pain Syndromes/diagnosis , Range of Motion, Articular/physiology , Trigger Points/physiopathology , Adult , Cervical Vertebrae/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Threshold , Superficial Back Muscles/physiopathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Strong associations have been established in nationwide registry studies between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and later vascular morbidities and mortality. The aim of this case-control study is to examine the interdependent relationships of different predictive factors for vascular disease and HDP, because they are not clearly elucidated due to lack of detail in registries. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assembled three different case groups of women who had cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or hypertensive kidney disease before the age of 55. The control group consisted of age-matched women who underwent hysterectomy for benign reasons. We assessed the occurrence of HDP in previous pregnancies. The strength of the association with vascular morbidities was tested with multivariable logistic regression in comparison with classic vascular risk factors. In all case groups, previous HDP occurred more frequent than in the control group. In logistic regression analysis, previous HDP were the strongest predictor in the cerebrovascular group (OR 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-11.0). In the cardiovascular group and the kidney failure group a similar association was found, however, this was not statistically significant (OR 4.4 (95% CI 0.82-4) and 2.9 (95% CI 0.61-14), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Previous hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a strong predictor for later vascular morbidity. This is partially mediated through the presence of classic vascular risk factors, but our data suggest it is also an independent predictor.
Subject(s)
Hypertension, Renal/epidemiology , Stroke/epidemiology , Adult , Cardiovascular System/physiopathology , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/epidemiology , Hypertension, Renal/etiology , Middle Aged , Netherlands/epidemiology , Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Stroke/etiologyABSTRACT
Although systematic reviews are conducted in the field of anatomical research, no instruments exist for the assessment of study quality. Thus, our objective was to develop a valid tool that reliably assesses the methodological quality of observational cadaveric studies. The QUACS scale (QUality Appraisal for Cadaveric Studies) was developed using an expert consensus process. It consists of a 13-item checklist addressing the design, conduct and report of cadaveric dissection studies. To evaluate inter-rater reliability, a blinded investigator obtained an initial pool of 120 observational cadaveric studies. Sixty-eight of them were selected randomly according to sample size calculations. Three independent researchers rated each publication by means of the QUACS scale. The reliability of the total score was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). To assess agreement among individual items, margin-free kappa values were calculated. For construct validity, two experts (an anatomist and an experienced physician) categorized the quality of 15 randomly selected studies as 'excellent' (4 points), 'moderate to good' (3 points), poor to moderate' (2 points) or 'poor' (1 point). Kendall's tau rank correlation was used to compare the expert ratings with the scores on the QUACS scale. An evaluation of feasibility was carried out during the reliability analysis. All three raters recorded the duration of quality appraisal for each article. Means were used to describe average time exposure. The ICC for the total score was 0.87 (95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.92; Pâ <â 0.0001). For individual items, margin-free kappa values ranged between 0.56 and 0.96 with an agreement of 69-97% among the three raters. Kendall's tau B coefficient of the association between expert ratings and the results obtained with the QUACS scale was 0.69 (Pâ <â 0.01). Required rating time per article was 5.4â ±â 1.6â min. The QUACS scale is highly reliable and exhibits strong construct validity. Thus, it can confidently be applied in assessing the methodological quality of observational dissection studies.