The Effect of Rosuvastatin on Facial Nerve Regeneration After Facial Nerve Injury: An Experimental Animal Study.

Objectives: Rosuvastatin is an antihyperlipidemic statin group pharmacological agent with antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to examine the functional, electrophysiological, and histopathological effects of rosuvastatin or in combination with corticosteroids on facial nerve regeneration in rats with traumatic peripheral facial paralysis (PFP).

Methods: PFP was induced in 28 female Sprague Dawley rats that we divided into 4 groups: group 1, control group; group 2, methylprednisolone group; group 3, rosuvastatin group; group 4, rosuvastatin and methylprednisolone group.

AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) Improves Function According to Goal Attainment in Children With Dynamic Equinus Due to Cerebral Palsy.

This secondary analysis of a large (n = 241), randomized, double-blind study evaluated the efficacy of 2 doses of abobotulinumtoxinA + standard of care (SOC) versus placebo + SOC in enabling children with dynamic equinus due to cerebral palsy to achieve their functional goals using Goal Attainment Scaling. Most parents/caregivers selected goals targeting aspects of gait improvement as most relevant. Mean (95% confidence interval) Goal Attainment Scaling T scores at week 4 were higher for both abobotulinumtoxinA groups versus placebo (treatment difference vs placebo: 10 U/kg/leg: 5.

Moderate Hypoxia Exhibits Increased Endothelial Progenitor Vessel-forming Ability However Gestational Diabetes Caused to Impede Compensatory Defense Reaction.

Endothelium represents a defense barrier and responds and integrates neuro humoral stimulus which describes as a compensatory mechanism. Endothelium formed with endothelial cells (ECs) and their progenitors. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) represent minor subpopulation of mononuclear cells in the blood.

Fetal exposure to a diabetic intrauterine environment resulted in a failure of cord blood endothelial progenitor cell adaptation against chronic hypoxia.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has long-term health consequences, and fetal exposure to a diabetic intrauterine environment increases cardiovascular risk for her adult offspring. Some part of this could be related to their endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Understanding the vessel-forming ability of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB)-derived endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) against pathological stress such as GDM response to hypoxia could generate new therapeutic strategies.

A 22-year-old man with severe osteoporosis due to prolactinoma.

Prolactin-secreting adenomas represent nearly 40% to 60% of all pituitary adenomas. Prolactin inhibits the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone that is responsible for the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropins. Sex steroids have an important effect on the regulation of bone metabolism in men.

The effect of dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that dry needling is more effective than sham dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized-controlled study conducted in an outpatient clinic. Thirty-nine subjects with established myofascial trigger points were randomized into two groups: study group (N = 22) and placebo group (N = 17).

Cardiac ryanodine receptor in metabolic syndrome: is JTV519 (K201) future therapy?

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a combination of obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance. This multifaceted syndrome is often accompanied by a hyperdynamic circulatory state characterized by increased blood pressure, total blood volume, cardiac output, and metabolic tissue demand. Experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies have demonstrated that patients with metabolic syndrome have significantly elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates.

The effect of aging on adrenergic and nonadrenergic receptor expression and responsiveness in canine skeletal muscle.

We tested the hypothesis that adrenergic and nonadrenergic receptor responsiveness and protein expression would be altered with advancing age. Young (n = 6; 22 ± 1 mo; mean ± SE) and old (n = 6; 118 ± 9 mo) beagles were instrumented with flow probes and an indwelling catheter for continuous measurement of external iliac blood flow and arterial blood pressure. Vascular conductance (VC) was calculated as hindlimb blood flow/mean arterial pressure.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patient under treatment and its successful management: a complicated case.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a common chronic inflammatory disease in the childhood and it can differentiate rarely into spondiloarthropaties. It is one of the important causes of chronic pain and disability. Some of the drugs used for the treatment have immunosupressive activity.

Cardiac β-adrenoceptor expression is markedly depressed in Ossabaw swine model of cardiometabolic risk.

Ossabaw swine have a "thrifty genotype" and consumption of excess calories induces many classical components of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, hyperleptinemia, and hypertension. Earlier studies indicate that the metabolic syndrome is associated with diminished cardiac function; however, to what degree this impairment is associated with alterations in myocardial β(1)- and β(2)-adrenoceptor (AR) expression has not been fully elucidated. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of the metabolic syndrome on cardiac β(1)- and β(2)-AR expression.

The ankle-foot orthosis improves balance and reduces fall risk of chronic spastic hemiparetic patients.

Background: Ankle foot orthoses (AFO) are commonly used orthotic device in order to restore the ankle foot function and to improve the balance and gait in post-stroke hemiparetic patients. However, there remain some discussions about their effectiveness on long term hemiparetic patients who had mild to moderate spasticity.

Aim: To investigate the relative effect of prefabricated thermoplastic posterior leaf spring AFO (PLS-AFO) on balance and fall risk.

Jumping combined exercise programs reduce fall risk and improve balance and life quality of elderly people who live in a long-term care facility.

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine whether regular combined exercise program, which consists strength, stretching and aerobic exercises and additional jumping training, improve balance, fall risk, quality of life and depression status of older people living in a residential care.

Methods: A total of 168 residents who live in a long term care facility were screened. The trial began with 78 eligible participants and they were randomly grouped as combined exercises program (COM) group that includes stretching, strength and aerobic exercises, and COM plus jumping (COMpJ) group.

Neurological symptoms after a provocative dive: spinal DCS or anterior spinal artery syndrome?

Reported here is a 37-yr-old professional diving instructor who had developed complaints of back pain and weakness in the lower extremities after diving. He was eventually diagnosed as having spinal cord decompression sickness along with a likely diagnosis of anterior spinal artery (artery of Adamkiewicz) syndrome. Additionally, since the transthoracic echocardiography revealed patent foramen ovale, we hypothesized that it might have been a potential route for gas bubbles to occlude the anterior spinal artery in this diver.

Thoracic outlet syndrome in a patient with Poland syndrome.

We report a 20-year-old man with Poland syndrome who suffered from weakness, pain, numbness, and discoloration in the left upper extremity. He was eventually diagnosed as also having thoracic outlet syndrome. The concomitance of these two disorders is discussed with a special emphasis on the underlying mechanisms.

Impaired function of coronary BK(Ca) channels in metabolic syndrome.

The role of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels in regulation of coronary microvascular function is widely appreciated, but molecular and functional changes underlying the deleterious influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been determined. Male Ossabaw miniature swine consumed for 3-6 mo a normal diet (11% kcal from fat) or an excess-calorie atherogenic diet that induces MetS (45% kcal from fat, 2% cholesterol, 20% kcal from fructose). MetS significantly impaired coronary vasodilation to the BK(Ca) opener NS-1619 in vivo (30-100 microg) and reduced the contribution of these channels to adenosine-induced microvascular vasodilation in vitro (1-100 microM).

Work disability in ankylosing spondylitis: differences among working and work-disabled patients.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton. Work disability can be one of the major consequences of AS, and the knowledge about the burden of AS to the patient and society is not well-established yet. The objective of this study was to investigate work disability among patients with AS in the national service and to put forward the related factors and differences among disabled and nondisabled groups.

Periadventitial adipose tissue impairs coronary endothelial function via PKC-beta-dependent phosphorylation of nitric oxide synthase.

Endogenous periadventitial adipose-derived factors have been shown to contribute to coronary vascular regulation by impairing endothelial function through a direct inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains uncertain. Accordingly, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that periadventitial adipose tissue releases agents that attenuate coronary endothelial nitric oxide production via a protein kinase C (PKC)-beta-dependent mechanism.

Epidermal growth factor-containing wound closure enhances wound healing in non-diabetic and diabetic rats.

Background: This study was designed to elucidate the in vivo efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on wound healing in non diabetic and diabetic rats.

Methods: Ninety-six male Wistar-Albino rats were randomly divided into six groups. Saline-moistened gauze, pure gelatin or EGF in gelatin-microsphere dressings were used in a dermal excision model in both normal and streptomycin-induced diabetic rats.