[Analysis of long-term efficacy and influencing factors of subthalamic nuclear stimulation for isolated dystonia].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in the treatment of isolated dystonia, and explore the factors influencing the results. Methods: The clinical data of 23 consecutive patients with isolated dystonia treated with STN-DBS in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University from December 2004 to December 2014,were retrospectively analyzed. Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) was used to quantify the dystonia symptoms and signs. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of the results. Results: The age of the 23 patients including 8 females and 15 males was 19(10, 27) years old. The follow-up time was 5-12 years, with an average of (8.1±1.8) years.Compared with the preoperative period, the BFMDRS movement score decreased by 30.1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.3-47.8)] points, 34.7 (95%CI: 17.0-52.4) points, 34.1 (95%CI: 16.4-51.8) points and 34.0 (95%CI: 16.3-51.7) points (all P<0.001) respectively at 1 year, 3 years, 5 years after surgery and the last follow-up, the average improvement rates were (56.0±20.2)%, (65.3±24.0)%, (64.4±25.1)% and (64.3±25.1)%;the disability score decreased by 6.9 (95%CI: 1.4-12.3)points, 8.7 (95%CI: 3.3-14.2)points, 9.0 (95%CI: 3.6-14.5)points, and 9.2 (95%CI: 3.7-14.7) points (all P<0.001), the average improvement rates were (42.9±17.1)%, (55.5±23.2)%, (57.8±24.8)% and (58.7±24.8)%. Patients with DYT1-positive dystonia had higher rates of improvement in movement and disability scores than patients with DYT1-negative, but there was no statistically significant difference. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, age at onset, course of disease, preoperative movement or disability score had no linear relationship with long-term results (improvement rate of movement or disability score) (both P>0.05). Conclusions: STN-DBS is effective and long-lasting in the treatment of isolated dystonia, but no reliable predictor has been found.

Breast lymphoma: General review.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoma of the breast can be classified as either primary breast lymphoma (PBL) or secondary to systemic lymphoma (SBL). PBL is a rare disease with Diffuse Large B cell Lymphomas (DLBCL) being the most common subtype. OBJECTIVES: In the current study, we represented eleven cases diagnosed with breast lymphoma in our trust; two of them had PBL and nine had SBL. We focused mainly on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and outcomes. METHODS: We did this retrospective review for all breast lymphoma patients who were diagnosed in our trust during the periods from 2011-2022. Patients' data were obtained from the hospital recording system. We followed up these patients thus far to identify the outcome of treatment in each patient. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included in our review. All patients were females. Average age of diagnosis was 66.1 ± 13 years of age. Eight patients were diagnosed with DLBCL, two patients were diagnosed with follicular lymphomas, and the last one had lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Chemotherapy +∕- radiotherapy was the standard treatment regimen in all patients. Four patients passed away within one year of chemotherapy, five patients achieved complete remission, one patient had two relapses and is still under treatment, while the last patient was diagnosed recently and still awaiting treatment. CONCLUSION: Primary breast lymphoma is an aggressive disease. The treatment for PBL is mainly systemic with chemoradiotherapy. The role of surgery is now limited to the diagnosis of the disease. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial for the management of such cases.

Stimulation of proliferation ofTetrahymena pyriformis by trace rare earths.

Using two Chinese strains ofTetrahymena pyriformis, S1 and BJ4, as the biological models, the effects of lighter rare earths (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, and europium), representatives of heavier rare earths (yttrium and thulium), and mixed rare earths were studied. The stimulation of population growth ofTetrahymena in peptone-glucose media containing trace amounts of these elements have been observed. The mechanisms for the beneficial effects of rare earth elements in low concentrations remains to be discovered.