Objective Tests Of Function Research Articles

Translation and Validation of the Brazilian-Portuguese Short Version of Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire in Peripheral Artery Disease Patients with Intermittent Claudication Symptoms

The Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire (VascuQoL-6) was proposed to evaluate specific quality of life of peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. However, there is no Brazilian-Portuguese version available, blunting its use in Brazilian patients. The objective of the study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a translated Brazilian-Portuguese version of VascuQoL-6 in Brazilian patients with PAD with intermittent claudication symptoms. One hundred eleven patients with PAD participated in the study. After translation and retranslation, construct validity was analyzed by identifying correlation between VascuQoL-6 scores, general World Health Organization qualify of life (WHOQOL) score, and subjective and objective functional capacity tests. To determine the reliability, internal consistency and test-retest reliability with at least 7 days interval between 2 questionnaire applications were calculated. Significant correlations between the VascuQoL-6 score and total WHOQOL score (r=0.44; P<0.05) were observed. Moreover, we observed negative correlations between the VascuQoL-6 score and 4-meter usual pace (r=-0.33; P<0.05) and 4-meter fast pace (r=-0.34; P<0.05) and positive correlation with onset claudication distance (r=0.39; P<0.05) and total walking distance (r=0.29; P ≤ 0.05). Internal consistency was 0.84, whereas the intraclass coefficient correlation was 0.84, with no differences in VascuQoL-6 scores between the 2 applications days. The Brazilian-Portuguese version of the VascuQoL-6 presents adequate valid and reliability indicators, allowing its use in patients with PAD with intermittent claudication symptoms.

Systemic Aminoglycosides-Induced Vestibulotoxicity in Humans.

This systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of vestibular adverse effects of aminoglycoside (AG) therapy in humans and to analyze objective vestibular tests for the detection of AG-induced vestibulotoxicity. PubMed, Cochrane Database, Web of Science, and reference lists of all included studies were screened by two independent researchers. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Studies were included according to preset inclusion criteria and reported outcomes of studies evaluating vestibular function using one or more objective vestibular function tests in adults and children after systemic AG administration. The methodological quality of each study was assessed using the quality assessment tool for quantitative studies. Interrater reliability was established using Cohen's Kappa. Twenty-seven studies were included, with the vast majority showing AG-induced vestibulotoxic side effects, ranging from 0 to 60%. Most studies reported AG-induced abnormalities by caloric and rotatory testing, whereas only a few studies reported using video Head Impulse test and vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing. Because type I hair cells (particularly of the semicircular canals) are more susceptible to ototoxicity, video Head Impulse test and vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing seem more promising for the early detection of vestibulotoxicity than caloric and rotatory testing. Prospective studies using an extensive vestibular test battery are needed to further characterize the impact of AGs on the different vestibular end organs and to identify the most sensitive vestibular technique for the early detection of vestibulotoxicity.

Association between objective signs and subjective symptoms of dry eye disease in patients with systemic sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between clinical signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This cross-sectional observational study included 19 SSc patients and 19 normal subjects with no ocular symptoms or ocular surface disorders. Clinical parameters included tear film break-up time (tBUT), Schirmer I, lissamine green (LG) dye, and tear film osmolarity tests, tear production, and tear secretion flow. For assessment of the dry eye symptoms, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was administered to all patients. The following mean values were found in SSc patients: OSDI 33.6±19.86; osmolarity of the tear fluid 310.8 mOsmol/l±14.47; tBUT time 5.158±2.328s; Schirmer I test 5.395mm/5min; LG grading score 2.026±0.8893; collected tear fluid volume 6.397±2.761µl. The calculated average tear velocity was 4.654±1.963µl/min. A significant correlation was found between the OSDI as a subjective parameter and disease duration. Early recognition of dry eye symptoms, a possible extra-intestinal manifestation of SSc, should be included in the check up of the disease to reduce ocular complications. The objective tear functional tests were strongly influenced by individual factors like age and disease duration.

Will Perimetry Be Performed to Monitor Glaucoma in 2025?

Visual field testing has played an essential role in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma for more than a century. Methods to examine the visual field have been refined from early kinetic perimetry to current standard automated perimetry (SAP). Clinicians now use SAP for the diagnosis and management of glaucoma throughout the world. Various testing paradigms and analytic methods have been developed to simplify the diagnosis of glaucoma and the interpretation of progression. Moreover, strategies have been implemented to improve patient experience with visual field testing and to increase reliability. Objective functional tests, such as electroretinography, provide an alternative to subjective visual field testing but are not yet ready for widespread adoption. Standard automated perimetry is being adapted and improved constantly. New devices may allow patients to complete visual field tests at home, which could relieve patients and clinicians from in-office testing and allow for more frequent examinations. Glaucoma detection and progression analysis also are incorporating progressively more information and will be improved as deep learning strategies are applied. Finally, perimetric and structural testing likely will become more closely intertwined as testing platforms and progression analysis incorporate both of these measures. Visual field testing will continue to have an important role in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma.

Objective Functional Testing in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease.

Objective Functional Testing in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease.

Response to "Objective Functional Testing in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease".

Response to "Objective Functional Testing in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease".

Arthrose, lésion méniscale dégénérative et ostéonécrose primitive du genou : une analyse simple de la marche améliore-t-elle la démarche diagnostique ?

IntroductionThe purpose of the current study was to compare the gait patterns in patients with three differing knee pathologies – knee osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative meniscal lesion (DML) and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) and a group of healthy controls. HypothesisA simple gait test will detect differences between different knee pathologies. Material and methodsForty-seven patients with bilateral knee OA, 47 patients with DML, 28 patients with SONK and 27 healthy controls were included in this analysis. Patients underwent a spatiotemporal gait assessment and were asked to complete the Western Ontario and McMaster university (WOMAC) Index and the Short-Form (SF)-36 Health Survey. Anova tests, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison tests and the Chi2 tests were performed for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. ResultsSignificant differences were found for all gait measures and clinical questionnaires between healthy controls and all knee conditions. Patients with SONK differed from patients with bilateral knee OA and DML in all gait measures and clinical questionnaires, except for WOMAC subscales. There were no significant differences between patients with bilateral knee OA and patients with DML. Symmetry was also examined and revealed asymmetry in some gait parameters in patients with SONK and DML. DiscussionBased on the differences in gait parameters that were found in the current study, adding an objective functional spatiotemporal gait test may assist in the diagnostic process of knee pathologies. Type of studyCase Control Study Level III.

Knee osteoarthritis, degenerative meniscal lesion and osteonecrosis of the knee: Can a simple gait test direct us to a better clinical diagnosis

IntroductionThe purpose of the current study was to compare the gait patterns in patients with three differing knee pathologies – knee osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative meniscal lesion (DML) and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) and a group of healthy controls. HypothesisA simple gait test will detect differences between different knee pathologies. Material and methodsForty-seven patients with bilateral knee OA, 47 patients with DML, 28 patients with SONK and 27 healthy controls were included in this analysis. Patients underwent a spatiotemporal gait assessment and were asked to complete the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) Index and the Short-Form (SF)-36 Health Survey. ANOVA tests, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison tests and the Chi2 tests were performed for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. ResultsSignificant differences were found for all gait measures and clinical questionnaires between healthy controls and all knee conditions. Patients with SONK differed from patients with bilateral knee OA and DML in all gait measures and clinical questionnaires, except for WOMAC subscales. There were no significant differences between patients with bilateral knee OA and patients with DML. Symmetry was also examined and revealed asymmetry in some gait parameters in patients with SONK and DML. DiscussionBased on the differences in gait parameters that were found in the current study, adding an objective functional spatiotemporal gait test may assist in the diagnostic process of knee pathologies. Type of studyCase Control study Level III.

Correlation between gait analysis and clinical questionnaires in patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee

BackgroundSpontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is usually verified by magnetic resonance imaging accompanied by clinical questionnaires to assess the level of pain and functional limitation. There is a lack however, in an objective functional test that will reflect the functional severity of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. The purpose of the current study was to examine the correlation between spatiotemporal gait parameters and clinical questionnaires in patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. Methods28 patients (16 females and 12 males) were included in the analysis. Patients had unilateral spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee of the medial femoral condyle confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. All patients performed a computerized spatiotemporal gait analysis and completed the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index and the Short-Form 36. Relationships between selected spatiotemporal gait measures and self-assessment questionnaires were assessed by Spearman non-parametric correlations. FindingsSignificant correlations were found between selected spatiotemporal gait parameters and clinical questionnaires (r ranged between 0.28 and 0.79). Single limb support was the gait measure with the strongest correlation to pain (r=0.58), function (r=0.56) and quality of life. InterpretationSpatiotemporal gait assessment for patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee correlates with the patient's level of pain and functional limitation there by adding objective information regarding the functional condition of these patients.

Long-term pulmonary complications in perinatally HIV-infected youth

Increased incidence and prevalence of asthma have been documented for perinatally HIV-infected youth 10 to 21years of age compared with HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) youth. We sought to perform objective pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in HIV-infected and HEU youth with and without diagnosed asthma. Asthma was determined in 370 participants (218 HIV-infected and 152 HEU participants) by means of chart review and self-report at 13 sites. Interpretable PFTs (188 HIV-infected and 132 HEU participants) were classified as obstructive, restrictive, or normal, and reversibility was determined after bronchodilator inhalation. Values for HIV-1 RNA, CD4 and CD8 T cells, eosinophils, total IgE, allergen-specific IgE, and urinary cotinine were measured.Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) of asthma and PFT outcomes weredetermined for HIV-infected participants relative toHEU participants, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and sex. Current asthma was identified in 75 (34%) of 218 HIV-infected participants and 38 (25%) of 152 HEU participants (adjusted PR, 1.33; P=.11). The prevalence of obstructive disease did not differ by HIV status. Reversibility was less likely in HIV-infected youth than in HEU youth (17/183 [9%] vs 21/126 [17%]; adjusted PR, 0.47; P=.020) overall and among just those with obstructive PFT results (adjusted PR, 0.46; P=.016). Among HIV-infected youth with current asthma, serum IgE levels were inversely correlated with CD8 T-cell counts and positively correlated with eosinophil counts and not associated with CD4 T-cell counts. HIV-infected youth had lower association of specific IgE levels to several inhalant and food allergens compared with HEU participants and significantly lower CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios (suggesting immune imbalance). Compared with HEU youth, HIV-infected youth demonstrated decreased reversibility of obstructive lung disease, which is atypical of asthma. This might indicate an early stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Follow-up into adulthood is warranted to further define their pulmonary outcomes.

Decreased Axon Flare Reaction to Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Demyelinating Inflammatory Polyneuropathy.

In chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy (CIDP), the impairment of unmyelinated nerve fibers appears unexpected. The measurement of the electrically induced axon flare reflex is a clinical test to assess the peripheral C-nociceptor function. In this study, we compared the flare area in patients suffering from CIDP with healthy subjects. We examined 18 patients fulfilling the criteria for CIDP (11 men, mean age 51.8 years, SD 15.1) and 18 age-matched adult healthy volunteers (control group) (11 men, mean age 51.9 years, SD 15.8). The flare responses were elicited by transcutaneous electrical stimulation and recorded by laser Doppler imaging. There was a significant reduction of electrically induced maximum flare area in the foot dorsum of patients with CIDP (t-value 2.08, P = 0.04) which proved to be length-dependent measured by a numerical index comparing the results with the forearm and thigh. The repeatedmeasures ANOVA revealed statistically significant smaller flare areas in all body regions for the CIDP group (P < 0.001). The axon flare reaction to electrical stimulation was decreased in patients with chronic demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy. The evaluation of the axon flare response can be proposed as a noninvasive objective functional test to detect an impaired C-fiber function in CIDP patients with the advantages of simplicity of the procedure, time economy, and objectivity.

Relationship between patient-reported and objective measurements of hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often results in impairments in upper extremities, especially in the small joints of hand. Involvement of hand brings limitations in activities of daily living. However, it is commonly observed that patient-reported functional status of hand does not always corresponds to their actual physical performance in the clinical setting. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the relationship between patient self-reported and objectively measured hand functions in patients with RA. Twenty-six patients (51±13 years) with RA diagnosis participated in the study. Hand grip and pinch (lateral, bipod, tripod) strengths were measured and Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT) was performed for objective functional performance. Duruöz Hand Index and Beck Depression Inventory - Turkish version were completed by patients. Grip and all three-pinch strength results significantly correlated with Duruöz Hand Index scores (p&lt;0.05). JHFT results except the sentence writing also correlated with the Duruöz scores (p&lt;0.05). Our results showed that self-reported outcome scales might be used for determining functional level of hand in patients with RA in rheumatology practice. Objective quantitative functional tests are the best methods in evaluating functional level of hand, but require valid and reliable equipment with accurate calibration. Therefore, in case of unavailability of objective assessment tools, patient-reported scales may also reflect the real status of hand functions.

Outcomes of surgical stabilization in patients with combined ACL deficiency and patellofemoral instability — A case series

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the disease-specific quality of life, and the objective clinical and functional outcomes of patients with symptomatic ACL deficiency and patellofemoral instability following surgical stabilization of both ligaments. MethodsBetween February 2010 and August 2013, 22 subjects underwent a combined ACL reconstruction and patellofemoral stabilization. The anterior cruciate ligament quality of life questionnaire (ACL-QOL) was completed pre-operatively and two-years post-operatively. Clinical and functional assessments were performed two-years post-operatively. A paired t-test assessed the difference between the pre- and post-operative ACL-QOL scores. Effect size was calculated manually using the Eta squared formula. A Pearson r correlation coefficient assessed for a relationship between the post-operative ACL-QOL scores and functional tests. ResultsTwenty patients completed the 24-month ACL-QOL, 17/20 completed clinical assessment, and 14/20 completed functional testing. The mean pre-operative ACL-QOL score was 21.20 (SD=7.25, range 5.8 to 31.7) and two-years post-operative it was 65.24 (SD=21.38, range 34.5 to 99.1). The paired t-test demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in ACL-QOL scores; t (19)=9.119, p<.001 (two-tailed). The Eta squared statistic (0.81) indicated a very large effect size. Statistically significant correlations (p<.05) were evident between post-operative ACL-QOL scores and all the operative limb single-leg hop tests. ConclusionsCombined ACL reconstruction and patellofemoral stabilization surgery leads to good results. This patient cohort with chronic ACL–MPFL injuries demonstrated a statistically significant change in disease-specific quality of life following surgery. In addition, the patient-reported outcomes and objective functional testing results correlated. Level of evidenceCase series — IV.

Diagnosis and management of childhood asthma in primary care

Diagnosing asthma in children is challenging, but information obtained from clinical history and objective lung function testing should help nurses determine probability and adopt a stepwise approach, write Dr David Lo, Dr Brigitte Gaillard, Louise Bullous and Dr Erol Gaillard Although asthma is the most common non-communicable disease of childhood, there is no standardised definition nor gold-standard test available to diagnose the condition. Asthma is a complex airways disorder where genetic, environmental and host immunity are likely to play a part. Misdiagnosis in children is common, although objective lung function tests aid accuracy, when combined with a clinical history. Adopting a stepwise approach to achieving complete, or good, control of symptoms enhances management and regular treatment reviews should include provision of mutually-agreed, written personalised asthma action plans, which should also be given to children's schools. When control is poor or diagnosis uncertain, patients should be referred to specialist care.

Betahistine for symptoms of vertigo.

Vertigo is a symptom in which individuals experience a false sensation of movement. This type of dizziness is thought to originate in the inner ear labyrinth or its neural connections. It is a commonly experienced symptom and can cause significant problems with carrying out normal activities. Betahistine is a drug that may work by improving blood flow to the inner ear. This review examines whether betahistine is more effective than a placebo at treating symptoms of vertigo from different causes. To assess the effects of betahistine in patients with symptoms of vertigo from different causes. The Cochrane ENT Information Specialist searched the Cochrane ENT Trials Register; Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2015, Issue 8); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; ClinicalTrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. We also contacted manufacturers and researchers in the field. The date of the search was 21 September 2015. We included randomised controlled trials of betahistine versus placebo in patients of any age with vertigo from any neurotological diagnosis in any settings. We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Our primary outcome was the proportion of patients with reduction in vertigo symptoms (considering together the intensity, frequency and duration those symptoms). We included 17 studies, with a total of 1025 participants; 12 studies were published (567 patients) and five were unpublished (458 patients). Sixteen studies including 953 people compared betahistine with placebo. All studies with analysable data lasted three months or less. The majority were at high risk of bias, but in some the risk of bias was unclear. One study, at high risk of bias, included 72 people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and compared betahistine with placebo; all patients also had particle repositioning manoeuvres. The studies varied considerably in terms of types of participants, their diagnoses, the dose of betahistine and the length of time it was taken for, the study methods and the way any improvement in vertigo symptoms was measured. Using the GRADE system, we judged the quality of evidence overall to be low for two outcomes (proportion of patients with improvement and proportion with adverse events).Pooled data showed that the proportion of patients reporting an overall reduction in their vertigo symptoms was higher in the group treated with betahistine than the placebo group: risk ratio (RR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 1.60; 606 participants; 11 studies). This result should be interpreted with caution as the test for statistical heterogeneity as measured by the I(2) value was high.Adverse effects (mostly gastrointestinal symptoms and headache) were common but medically serious events in the study were rare and isolated: there was no difference in the frequency of adverse effects between the betahistine and placebo groups, where the rates were 16% and 15% respectively (weighted values, RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.40; 819 participants; 12 studies).Sixteen per cent of patients from both the betahistine and the placebo groups withdrew (dropped out) from the studies (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.42; 481 participants; eight studies).Three studies looked at objective vestibular function tests as an outcome; the numbers of participants were small, techniques of measurement very diverse and reporting details sparse, so analysis of this outcome was inconclusive.We looked for information on generic quality of life and falls, but none of the studies reported on these outcomes. Low quality evidence suggests that in patients suffering from vertigo from different causes there may be a positive effect of betahistine in terms of reduction in vertigo symptoms. Betahistine is generally well tolerated with a low risk of adverse events. Future research into the management of vertigo symptoms needs to use more rigorous methodology and include outcomes that matter to patients and their families.

Tight control of disease activity fails to improve body composition or physical function in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

RA typically features rheumatoid cachexia [loss of muscle mass (MM) and excessive total fat mass (TFM), especially trunk FM], which contributes to physical disability. Since rheumatoid cachexia is driven by inflammation, it would be anticipated that the success of tight control of disease activity, such as treat-to-target (T2T), in attenuating inflammation would benefit body composition and physical function. This aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of T2T on body composition and objectively assessed function in RA patients. A total of 82 RA patients exclusively treated by T2T, were compared with 85 matched sedentary healthy controls (HCs). Body composition was estimated by DXA, with appendicular lean mass the surrogate measure of total MM. Physical function was assessed by knee extensor strength, handgrip strength, 30 s sit-to-stands, 8' up and go, and 50' walk (tests which reflect the ability to perform activities of daily living). Although generally well treated (mean DAS28 = 2.8, with 49% in remission), RA patients had ∼10% proportionally less appendicular lean mass and were considerably fatter (by ∼27%), particularly in the trunk (∼32%), than HCs. All measures of function were 24-34% poorer in the RA patients relative to HC. Despite marked improvements in disease control (most patients achieving or approaching remission), the relative loss of MM and increased adiposity in RA patients compared with matched HCs was similar to that observed pre-T2T. Additionally, performance of objective function tests was unchanged from that reported by our group for pre-T2T RA patients. Thus T2T, even in responsive RA patients, did not attenuate rheumatoid cachexia or improve objectively assessed function.

Athletic Performance at the National Basketball Association Combine After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are significant injuries in elite-level basketball players. In-game statistical performance after ACL reconstruction has been demonstrated; however, few studies have reviewed functional performance in National Basketball Association (NBA)–caliber athletes after ACL reconstruction.Purpose:To compare NBA Combine performance of athletes after ACL reconstruction with an age-, size-, and position-matched control group of players with no previous reported knee injury requiring surgery. We hypothesized that there is no difference between the 2 groups in functional performance.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 1092 NBA-caliber players who participated in the NBA Combine between 2000 and 2015 were reviewed. Twenty-one athletes were identified as having primary ACL reconstruction prior to participation in the combine. This study group was compared with an age-, size-, and position-matched control group in objective functional performance testing, including the shuttle run test, lane agility test, three-quarter court sprint, vertical jump (no step), and maximum vertical jump (running start).Results:With regard to quickness and agility, both ACL-reconstructed athletes and controls scored an average of 11.5 seconds in the lane agility test and 3.1 seconds in the shuttle run test (P = .745 and .346, respectively). Speed and acceleration was measured by the three-quarter court sprint, in which both the study group and the control group averaged 3.3 seconds (P = .516). In the maximum vertical jump, which demonstrates an athlete’s jumping ability with a running start, the ACL reconstruction group had an average height of 33.6 inches while the controls averaged 33.9 inches (P = .548). In the standing vertical jump, the ACL reconstruction group averaged 28.2 inches while the control group averaged 29.2 inches (P = .067).Conclusion:In athletes who are able to return to sport and compete at a high level such as the NBA Combine, there is no significant difference in any combine performance test between players who have had primary ACL reconstruction compared with an age-, size-, and position-matched control group.Clinical Relevance:Athletes with previous ACL reconstruction who are able to return to high-level professional basketball have equivalent performance measures with regard to speed, quickness, and jumping ability as those athletes who have not undergone knee surgery.

Gender difference in Chinese adults with post-viral olfactory disorder:a hospital-based study

Conclusions: This hospital-based study found a gender differences in Chinese subjects with post-viral olfactory disorder (PVOD). Women appear to face higher susceptibility to PVOD, a finding that appears to be magnified with age and duration of olfactory loss.Objectives: PVOD is one of the most common reasons for acquired olfactory dysfunction, but there is little data in Chinese populations. We analyzed Chinese subjects with PVOD in order to determine demographic risk factors and clinical features in this major population group.Methods: Data from 143 consecutive subjects with PVOD and 117 subjects with other olfactory disorders (controls) were analyzed. This study examined age, duration, and severity of olfactory loss, and compared the differences of subjective and objective olfactory function tests between two groups, using Sniffin’ Sticks, Olfactory Event Related Potential (OERP), and olfactory pathway MRI.Results: There were more women in the PVOD group compared to controls (p < 0.001). Older subjects with PVOD were more likely to be women (p = 0.027), and the proportion of women with PVOD increased with the duration of olfactory loss (p = 0.032). There were no differences in the prevalence of abnormal OERP between two groups, although the female-to-male ratio was higher in the PVOD group (p = 0.041). Women with PVOD were less likely to have olfactory pathway abnormalities by MRI compared to controls (p < 0.001).

The study of prevention the gustatory sweating syndrome and facial contour deformity with sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps in the parotidectomy

Objective:To assess the outcome for prevention the gustatory sweating syndrome and facial contour deformity with sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps in the parotidectomy. Method:It was a prospective study. Eighty-one patients who underwent parotidectomy were randomly divided into 2 groups, sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps group and control group. They were tested with the subjective and objective function testing in 3, 6, 9, 12 months after operation. We assessed the result. Result:All of the result of the sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps group was obviously better than the control group. There was significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05). Conclusion:It effectively prevented the gustatory sweating syndrome and facial contour deformity that we used the sternocleidomastoid muscle flaps to fill the cavity in the parotidectomy.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise Interventions on Mobility among Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this systematic review was to examine studies that examined the effectiveness of aerobic exercise interventions on mobility in long-term stroke survivors. The authors searched electronic databases for randomized control trials between January 1995 and December 2014 investigating aerobic exercise interventions and mobility in stroke survivors after the subacute phase (>6 mos). Mobility was measured using objective functional fitness tests: 6-minute walk, 10-meter walk, and up-n-go. Nine randomized control trials that compared aerobic exercise with a control group among stroke survivors (mean age, 56.95-68 yrs) were identified. Aerobic interventions lasted between 2 and 6 mos and primarily involved walking. Using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software, it was found that two of the three mobility outcomes showed small to moderate effect sizes favoring the aerobic exercise group: 6-minute walk (g = 0.366, P < 0.001) and 10-meter walk (g = 0.411, P = 0.002), while the up-n-go test was not significant (g = -0.150, P = 0.330). These findings demonstrate that stroke survivors may continue to benefit from aerobic exercise after the subacute phase. Future research needs to examine the precise dose and recommendation for aerobic exercise, test other exercise modalities, and use larger samples to thoroughly determine long-term exercise effects on mobility in this population.