The Self -Complete of Leeds Assessment Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S -LANSS) questionnaire is a tool for screening patients with neuropathic pain, which can be completed without a physician’s assistance. Until now, a Polish version of the S -LANSS has not been available. The aim of the study was to translate the English version into the Polish language and to validate it for the Polish population.A total of 101 subjects; 51 with chronic neuropathic pain in the course of different neurological diseases, and 50 patients with osteoarthritis and nociceptive pain were included in the study. All of them completed a version of the S -LANSS questionnaire translated into the Polish language. Test sensitivity and specificity were calculated on the basis of statistical analysis.The sensitivity of the S -LANSS scale with the cut -off of ≥11 points was 62%, and the specificity was 77%. The estimated area under ROC curve AUC (95% CI) = 0.729 (0.63–0.809).The Polish version of S -LANSS could be used as a tool for screening patients with neuropathic pain. The diagnosis should be confirmed in neurological examination and other appropriate diagnostic methods.
Abstract Background: N-terminal fragment B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) prognostic utility is commonly determined post hoc by identifying a single optimal discrimination threshold tailored to the individual study population. The authors aimed to determine how using these study-specific post hoc thresholds impacts meta-analysis results. Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review of studies reporting the ability of preoperative NT-proBNP measurements to predict the composite outcome of all-cause mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction at 30 days after noncardiac surgery. Individual patient-level data NT-proBNP thresholds were determined using two different methodologies. First, a single combined NT-proBNP threshold was determined for the entire cohort of patients, and a meta-analysis conducted using this single threshold. Second, study-specific thresholds were determined for each individual study, with meta-analysis being conducted using these study-specific thresholds. Results: The authors obtained individual patient data from 14 studies (n = 2,196). Using a single NT-proBNP cohort threshold, the odds ratio (OR) associated with an increased NT-proBNP measurement was 3.43 (95% CI, 2.08 to 5.64). Using individual study-specific thresholds, the OR associated with an increased NT-proBNP measurement was 6.45 (95% CI, 3.98 to 10.46). In smaller studies (<100 patients) a single cohort threshold was associated with an OR of 5.4 (95% CI, 2.27 to 12.84) as compared with an OR of 14.38 (95% CI, 6.08 to 34.01) for study-specific thresholds. Conclusions: Post hoc identification of study-specific prognostic biomarker thresholds artificially maximizes biomarker predictive power, resulting in an amplification or overestimation during meta-analysis of these results. This effect is accentuated in small studies.
To investigate the role of genetic factors on susceptibility to atherosclerotic arterial disease, the influence of haptoglobin phenotypes (Hp) on serum elastase activity, neutrophil count, and elastin concentration in the aorta was measured in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA; n=52) and aortoiliac atherosclerotic occlusive disease (AOD; n=37). Findings (serum elastase activity, peripheral blood neutrophil count) were compared to a control group (CG) of 37 subjects without atherosclerosis. Hp phenotyping performed by starch-gel electrophoresis produced a haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex of three phenotypes: Hp1-1, Hp2-2, and Hp2-1. Distribution of Hp phenotypes was similar in the three study groups (AAA, AOD, CG). Significant increases in serum elastase activity and neutrophil count was measured in Hp2-1 phenotype of AAA patients. Although the aorta wall of aneurysm patients contained less (p<0.001) elastin than that of AOD patients, no significant difference of aorta elastin concentration between the three Hp phenotypes, including Hp2-1, was measured. The postulated association of AAA susceptibility with Hp2-1 phenotype was supported by the study data that demonstrated an increase in serum elastase activity in patients undergoing AAA repair.
WSTĘP: Tetniaki aorty brzusznej są uznaną przyczyną zwiekszonej śmiertelności w populacji europejskiej. Dlatego wazna jest identyfikacja środoperacyjnych czynnikow ryzyka zgonu w okresie okolooperacyjnym. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Prospektywnym badaniem obserwacyjnym, przeprowadzonym w Klinice Chirurgii Naczyniowej Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie, objeto grupe 95 pacjentow z tetniakiem aorty brzusznej w odcinku podnerkowym. Na podstawie kryteriow TASC pacjentow zakwalifikowano do implantacji protezy naczyniowej. Analizowano wplyw czynnikow hemodynamicznych i metabolicznych na śmiertelnośc okolooperacyjną. Obserwacje badanej populacji prowadzono przez 28 dni. WYNIKI: Wykazano, ze wzrost stezenia mleczanow, potasu oraz spadek wartości pH szczegolnie w pierwszych minutach po odklemowaniu aorty byly zasadniczymi czynnikami zwiekszającymi śmiertelnośc w okresie okolooperacyjnym. Ponadto ryzyko zgonu bylo zwiekszone, jeśli poza znieczuleniem ogolnym nie zastosowano znieczulenia regionalnego. Poza tym nie wykazano istotnego wplywu pozostalych badanych czynnikow. WNIOSKI: Zastosowanie znieczulenia zewnątrzoponowego u pacjentow poddawanych operacjom tetniakow aorty brzusznej jest istotnym, niezaleznym czynnikiem zmniejszającym śmiertelnośc we wczesnym okresie pooperacyjnym. Natomiast zmniejszenie wartości pH, wzrost stezenia potasu i mleczanow w pierwszych minutach po odklemowaniu aorty moze byc przydatnym wskaźnikiem sluzącym do identyfikacji pacjentow zagrozonych zwiekszonym ryzykiem zgonu we wczesnym okresie pooperacyjnym.
Homocysteine (Hcy) may affect the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) through enhancement of proteolysis and an impaired coagulation/fibrinolysis system. Intensified haemostatic capacity may promote local proteolytic degradation of the aortic wall. This study aimed to examine the effects of Hcy on haemostatic and proteolytic processes in samples of thick and thin fragments of the ILT and underlying walls. Subjects and Methods. Thirty-six patients who underwent AAA surgery were enrolled. Aneurysm tissue sections were incubated with DL-Hcy (100 and 500 μmol/L) in a series of experiments and analyzed for concentration/activity of proteolytic and haemostatic markers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Incubation of wall underlying thin ILT segments (B) with DL-Hcy resulted in an increase of active MMP-2 levels compared to control tissue (9.54 ± 5.88 versus 7.44 ± 4.48, p=0.011). DL-Hcy also induced t-PA and plasminogen concentration increases in thin thrombus sections (B1) compared to control tissue (respectively: 1.39 ± 1.65 versus 0.84 ± 0.74, p=0.024; 11.64 ± 5.05 versus 10.34 ± 5.52, p=0.018). In contrast, wall adjacent to thick thrombus segments (A) showed decreases in MMP-2 and TF activities compared to control (respectively, 5.89 ± 3.39 versus 7.26 ± 5.49, p=0.046; 67.13 ± 72.59 versus 114.46 ± 106.29, p=0.007). In thick ILT sections (A1), DL-Hcy decreased MMP-2 activity and t-PA and plasminogen concentrations compared to control tissue (respectively, 2.53 ± 2.02 versus 3.28 ± 2.65, p=0.006; 0.67 ± 0.57 versus 0.96 ± 0.91, p=0.021; 9.25 ± 4.59 versus 12.63 ± 9.56, p=0.017). In addition, analysis revealed positive correlations at all sites between activities/concentrations of MMP-2, TF, and PAI-1 measured in control tissues and after incubation with DL-Hcy. Conclusions. These data indicate the potential for excess Hcy to enhance damage of arterial wall in thinner AAA segments as a result of the increased activity of MMP-2 and fibrinolytic factors.
In the 1994-1997 238 carotid endarterectomies (CEA) were performed under regional anaesthesia (cervical block) for carotid artery stenosis. In 30 CEA indwelling shunt was necessary. Among 30 patients with shunt 19 (63%) had a stroke before surgery, then 9 (30%) had contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion. Among entire group of 238 patients with CEA 56 (23.5%) had a stroke before surgery and 27 (11.4%) contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion. In our opinion the strongest factor influencing neurological deficiency after clamping trial, is a history of stroke before surgery and in a less degree contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion. The mean time of the neurological deficit during clamping trial was 27 seconds and varied from 5 to 100 sec. and never appeared after 2 minutes of mentioned trial. For that reason we consider 2 minutes clamping trial as sufficient for detection of neurological deficit during CEA under local anaesthesia.
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