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Urology Research & Practice Sep 2023Scrotal tumors of nerve origin are extremely rare and occur mostly in the extratesticular tissues of scrotum, such as the spermatic cord and epididymis. A systematic...
Scrotal tumors of nerve origin are extremely rare and occur mostly in the extratesticular tissues of scrotum, such as the spermatic cord and epididymis. A systematic search of the literature in PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar databases concerning intrascrotal nerve tumors was performed by 2 independent investigators. The systematic search retrieved 45 male adults, with a mean age of included patients at 43.9 ± 18.8 years. The majority of nerve tumors were extra-testicular (86.7%), and only 13.3% originated from the testis. Out of that, 51.1% of neoplasms were histologically proved as schwannomas, 44.4% as neurofibromatosis, and 4.4% as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The majority of patients presented with atypical symptoms such as scrotal swelling (51.1%), while only 4.4% of patients were asymptomatic. Ultrasonography is the diagnostic modality of choice (97.2%) for the detection of primary lesion, while magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography comprise supplementary diagnostic tools. Surgical excision of the mass was the preferred type of surgery performed (75.6%), whereas orchiectomy was performed only in 22.2% of patients. Intrascrotal tumors of nerve origin are extremely rare neoplasms that present mainly in middle-aged males. Increased clinical suspicion is required for accurate diagnosis of this rare entity.
PubMed: 37877874
DOI: 10.5152/tud.2023.23050 -
The International Journal of... Mar 2024The discovery of effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) may help target different brain pathways. Invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an...
BACKGROUND
The discovery of effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) may help target different brain pathways. Invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective neuromodulation technique for the treatment of MDD; however, the effectiveness of the noninvasive technique, transauricular VNS (taVNS), remains unknown. Moreover, a mechanistic understanding of the neural effects behind its biological and therapeutic effects is lacking. This review aimed to evaluate the clinical evidence and the neural and anti-inflammatory effects of taVNS in MDD.
METHODS
Two searches were conducted using a systematic search strategy reviewed the clinical efficacy and neural connectivity of taVNS in MDD in humans and evaluated the changes in inflammatory markers after taVNS in humans or animal models of depression. A risk of bias assessment was performed in all human studies.
RESULTS
Only 5 studies evaluated the effects of taVNS in patients with depression. Although the studies demonstrated the efficacy of taVNS in treating depression, they used heterogeneous methodologies and limited data, thus preventing the conduct of pooled quantitative analyses. Pooled analysis could not be performed for studies that investigated the modulation of connectivity between brain areas; of the 6 publications, 5 were based on the same experiment. The animal studies that analyzed the presence of inflammatory markers showed a reduction in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines or receptor expression.
CONCLUSIONS
Data on the clinical efficacy of taVNS in the treatment of MDD are limited. Although these studies showed positive results, no conclusions can be drawn regarding this topic considering the heterogeneity of these studies, as in the case of functional connectivity studies. Based on animal studies, the application of taVNS causes a decrease in the level of inflammatory factors in different parts of the brain, which also regulate the immune system. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand the effects of taVNS in patients with MDD.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Depressive Disorder, Major; Vagus Nerve Stimulation; Brain; Treatment Outcome; Vagus Nerve
PubMed: 37870480
DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad058 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Sep 2023High-resolution ultrasound of the tibial nerve has been used for screening of several neurologic disorders, but normative reference values of tibial nerve...
BACKGROUND
High-resolution ultrasound of the tibial nerve has been used for screening of several neurologic disorders, but normative reference values of tibial nerve cross-sectional areas (CSA) have not been well established. Thus, the present meta-analysis was performed to generate normative estimates of tibial nerve CSA at various sites of the lower limb based on ultrasonography.
METHODS
Google Scholar, Scopus and PubMed were searched for potential studies. Studies were required to report tibial nerve CSA in healthy individuals to be included. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed to calculate tibial nerve CSA values. Subgroup and statistical analyses were performed to study covariates.
RESULTS
Forty-eight eligible articles consisting of 2695 limbs were included. The average tibial nerve CSA was found to be 10.9 mm at the ankle (95% CI: 9.9-11.8) and should not exceed 11.8 mm in healthy adults. At the popliteal fossa, the overall CSA was 21.7 mm (95% CI: 17.5-25.8) in healthy adults. At both sites, the average tibial nerve CSA was significantly larger in adults than in children, and the differences by geographical region were not statistically significant. At the ankle, tibial nerve CSA increased with age and body mass index, while at the popliteal fossa it increased with age and weight.
CONCLUSIONS
our findings indicate that the tibial nerve varied not only along its course but also among sub-variables. Establishing normal references values of tibial nerve CSA is helpful to differentiate healthy from diseased tibial nerves such as in diabetic peripheral neuropathy or tarsal tunnel syndrome.
PubMed: 37834829
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12196186 -
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia... Mar 2024Segmental surgical resection is a frequently indicated procedure to treat aggressive mandibular tumors. One of the most important complications derived from this...
BACKGROUND
Segmental surgical resection is a frequently indicated procedure to treat aggressive mandibular tumors. One of the most important complications derived from this technique is permanent paresthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), which significantly affects the quality of life of patients who experience it. This could be avoided through maneuvers that preserve the IAN. The objective of this paper is to review the main techniques for IAN preservation and to present 2 cases with the technique used by the author.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines, apropos of two clinical cases reported in this study. The MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases were searched. Several variables were considered and are presented in detail in the form of tables and figures. In addition, 2 case reports with NAI preservation techniques are presented.
RESULTS
13 articles were finally obtained for analysis. 127 patients were evaluated, reporting mandibular resections associated with various pathologies. Various surgical techniques were used, all with the same goal of maintaining the IAN. In most of the patients, the maintenance of sensitivity was achieved, which was verified with different methods.
CONCLUSIONS
Preservation of the IAN in maxillofacial surgical procedures where surgical resection of the mandibular bone has been performed is an alternative that has demonstrated successful results in terms of reducing postoperative sequelae and is currently positioned as a necessary and feasible procedure.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Mandible; Mandibular Nerve; Mandibular Neoplasms; Tooth Extraction
PubMed: 37823290
DOI: 10.4317/medoral.26239 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Jan 2024Oxaliplatin is a first-line chemotherapy drug for the treatment of colorectal cancer, but its induced oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) affect the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Oxaliplatin is a first-line chemotherapy drug for the treatment of colorectal cancer, but its induced oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OIPN) affect the chemotherapy process and quality of life of tumor patients. OIPN is a serious and potentially permanent side effect of cancer treatment. Currently, no unified standard has been established for preventing and treating OIPN in Western medicine. Therefore, it is very important to seek effective prevention and treatment measures. Many clinical trials have reported that Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction can effectively prevent OIPN, but substantial evidence base to support this treatment is lacking. We collected existing literature and evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction for OIPN by performing a meta-analysis.
METHODS
We systematically searched China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), VIP, Wan Fang Database, Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library from inception through to Oct 2022 to identify only randomized controlled trials examining the prevention of OIPN using Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction. This search was supplemented by manual retrieval, including dissertations and conference papers. All data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software.
RESULTS
A total of 18 papers involving 564 patients in the treatment group and 523 patients in the control group were included. A total of 17 articles reported the overall incidence of peripheral neurotoxicity (I² = 0%), and the overall incidence of peripheral neurotoxicity in the treatment group was 0.27 times higher than in the control group (95% CI: 0.20-0.36). A total of 16 articles reported the incidence of level III-IV severe peripheral neurotoxicity (I² = 0%), which was 0.16 times higher in the treatment group than in the control group (95% CI: 0.09-0.32). In the Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu VS no-interference subgroup, it showed that the incidence of severe peripheral neurotoxicity in the treat group was significantly lower than in the control group (OR:0.13, 95% CI:0.06-0.28). But in the Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu VS west medicine therapy subgroup, no significant difference between Huangqi Quizhi Wuwu and conventional Western medicine was observed for the prevention and treatment of severe OIPN (OR:0.37, 95% CI:0.09-1.53). A total of 2 articles were reported median nerve conduction velocity (I² = 51.2%); and no significant difference was found between the treatment and control groups (SMD: 1.43; 95% CI: 0.80-2.08); 4 studies showed Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction did not increase the incidence of chemotherapy-related adverse reactions and was safe.
CONCLUSIONS
Our current findings support the application of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction for the clinical prevention and treatment of patients with OIPN. However, high-quality RCT research is still needed to further exploration. The potential impact of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction on the quality of life or treatment compliance of cancer patients needs further research.
Topics: Humans; Oxaliplatin; Quality of Life; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Treatment Outcome; Astragalus propinquus
PubMed: 37820675
DOI: No ID Found -
Revista de La Facultad de Ciencias... Sep 2023Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) is a syndrome of severe, disabling, constant facial pain arising from the trigeminal nerve or ganglion. Arteriovenous malformations...
INTRODUCTION
Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) is a syndrome of severe, disabling, constant facial pain arising from the trigeminal nerve or ganglion. Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are a rare cause of TNP. The limited choices of intervention of TNP include peripheral nerve stimulation, trigeminal nucleotomy and motor cortex stimulation.
CASE REPORT
We present a 56-year-old man who suffered from trigeminal neuropathic pain secondary to nerve compression due to a giant posterior fossa AVM. The pain was refractory to drug treatment. From all the therapeutic options available we declined the microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve due to the presence of the giant AVM, or stereotactic radiosurgery because of the AVM´s diffuse nidus. After a multidisciplinary discussion we proposed a minimally invasive, safe and reversible treatment: Motor Cortical Stimulation (MCS). We placed a 16-pole epidural electrode on the right precentral gyrus. The patient had satisfactory pain control with some supplemental medication. No complications or side effects such as seizures, sensory disturbances or infections were presented.
DISCUSSION
The limited choices of intervention of TNP include peripheral nerve stimulation, trigeminal nucleotomy and MCS. Henssen et al performed a systematic review where they investigated the effectiveness of MCS and discovered that this is significantly different among different chronic neuropathic orofacial pain disorders. A visual analogue scale (VAS) measured median pain relief of 66.5% was found.
CONCLUSION
MCS should be one more tool to consider in highly selected cases, when other treatments are unfeasible.
Topics: Male; Humans; Middle Aged; Motor Cortex; Trigeminal Neuralgia; Neuralgia; Arteriovenous Malformations; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37773339
DOI: 10.31053/1853.0605.v80.n3.41142 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Pre-clinical evidence shows that neuropathy is associated with complex neuroimmune responses, which in turn are associated with increased intensity and persistence of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The potential protective effects of pre-injury exercise on neuroimmune responses following experimentally-induced traumatic neuropathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Pre-clinical evidence shows that neuropathy is associated with complex neuroimmune responses, which in turn are associated with increased intensity and persistence of neuropathic pain. Routine exercise has the potential to mitigate complications of future nerve damage and persistence of pain through neuroimmune regulation. This systematic review aimed to explore the effect of pre-injury exercise on neuroimmune responses, and other physiological and behavioural reactions following peripheral neuropathy in animals. Three electronic databases were searched from inception to July 2022. All controlled animal studies assessing the influence of an active exercise program prior to experimentally-induced traumatic peripheral neuropathy compared to a non-exercise control group on neuroimmune, physiological and behavioural outcomes were selected. The search identified 17,431 records. After screening, 11 articles were included. Meta-analyses showed that pre-injury exercise significantly reduced levels of IL-1β (SMD: -1.06, 95% CI: -1.99 to -0.13, n=40), but not iNOS (SMD: -0.71 95% CI: -1.66 to 0.25, n=82). From 72 comparisons of different neuroimmune outcomes at different anatomical locations, vote counting revealed reductions in 23 pro-inflammatory and increases in 6 anti-inflammatory neuroimmune outcomes. For physiological outcomes, meta-analyses revealed that pre-injury exercise improved one out of six nerve morphometric related outcomes (G-ratio; SMD: 1.95, 95%CI: 0.77 to 3.12, n=20) and one out of two muscle morphometric outcomes (muscle fibre cross-sectional area; SMD: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.27 to 1.54, n=48). For behavioural outcomes, mechanical allodynia was significantly less in the pre-injury exercise group (SMD -1.24, 95%CI: -1.87 to -0.61) whereas no overall effect was seen for sciatic function index. subgroup analysis suggests that timing of outcome measurement may influence the effect of pre-injury exercise on mechanical allodynia. Risk of bias was unclear in most studies, as the design and conduct of the included experiments were poorly reported. Preventative exercise may have potential neuroprotective and immunoregulatory effects limiting the sequalae of nerve injury, but more research in this field is urgently needed.
Topics: Animals; Hyperalgesia; Exercise; Neuralgia
PubMed: 37767095
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1215566 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Sepsis is a systemic inflammation caused by a maladjusted host response to infection. In severe cases, it can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and even... (Review)
Review
Sepsis is a systemic inflammation caused by a maladjusted host response to infection. In severe cases, it can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and even endanger life. Acupuncture is widely accepted and applied in the treatment of sepsis, and breakthroughs have been made regarding its mechanism of action in recent years. In this review, we systematically discuss the current clinical applications of acupuncture in the treatment of sepsis and focus on the mechanisms of acupuncture in animal models of systemic inflammation. In clinical research, acupuncture can not only effectively inhibit excessive inflammatory reactions but also improve the immunosuppressive state of patients with sepsis, thus maintaining immune homeostasis. Mechanistically, a change in the acupoint microenvironment is the initial response link for acupuncture to take effect, whereas PROKR2 neurons, high-threshold thin nerve fibres, cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R) activation, and Ca influx are the key material bases. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway of the vagus nervous system, the adrenal dopamine anti-inflammatory pathway, and the sympathetic nervous system are key to the transmission of acupuncture information and the inhibition of systemic inflammation. In MODS, acupuncture protects against septic organ damage by inhibiting excessive inflammatory reactions, resisting oxidative stress, protecting mitochondrial function, and reducing apoptosis and tissue or organ damage.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Sepsis; Acupuncture Therapy; Inflammation; Vagus Nerve
PubMed: 37753078
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1242640 -
Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology... 2024The costoclavicular approach to brachial plexus block may have a more favorable anatomy than the classic infraclavicular approach. However, there are conflicting results... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The costoclavicular approach to brachial plexus block may have a more favorable anatomy than the classic infraclavicular approach. However, there are conflicting results in the literature regarding the comparative effectiveness of these two techniques.
METHODS
We systematically searched for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) comparing costoclavicular with infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks for upper extremity surgeries on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Ovid. The outcomes of interest were sensory and motor block onset times, performance times, block failure, and complication rate. We performed statistical analyses using RevMan 5.4 and assessed heterogeneity using the Cochran Q test and I statistics. We appraised the risk of bias according to Cochrane's Risk of Bias 2 tool.
RESULTS
We included 5 RCTs and 374 patients, of whom 189 (50.5%) were randomized to undergo costoclavicular block. We found no statistically significant differences between the two techniques regarding sensory block onset time in minutes (Mean Difference [MD = -0.39 min]; 95% CI -2.46 to 1.68 min; p = 0.71); motor block onset time in minutes (MD = -0.34 min; 95% CI -0.90 to 0.22 min; p = 0.23); performance time in minutes (MD = -0.12 min; 95% CI -0.89 to 0.64 min; p = 0.75); incidence of block failure (RR = 1.59; 95% CI 0.63 to 3.39; p = 0.63); and incidence of complications (RR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.20 to 1.84; p = 0.37).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis suggests that the CCV block may exhibit similar sensory and motor onset times when compared to the classic ICV approach in adults undergoing distal upper extremity surgery, with comparable rates of block failure and complications.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Brachial Plexus Block; Brachial Plexus; Upper Extremity; Ultrasonography; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Anesthetics, Local; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37748644
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjane.2023.09.004 -
Medicine Sep 2023The analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) versus intercostal nerve block (ICNB) for thoracoscopic surgery remains controversial. We conducted a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) versus intercostal nerve block (ICNB) for thoracoscopic surgery remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of ESPB versus ICNB on thoracoscopic surgery.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through May 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of ESPB versus ICNB on thoracoscopic surgery. This meta-analysis was performed using the random-effect model or fixed-effect model based on the heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Four RCTs and 203 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with ICNB for thoracoscopic surgery, ESPB results in significantly reduced pain scores at 48 hours (SMD [standard mean difference] = -3.49; 95% CI [confidence interval] = -6.76 to -0.21; P = .04), but demonstrated no impact on pain scores at 24 hours (SMD = -0.04; 95% CI = -1.24 to 1.16; P = .95), pain scores at 4 to 6 hours (SMD = -0.16; 95% CI = -2.02 to 1.71; P = .87), pain scores at 12 hours (SMD = -0.16; 95% CI = -2.38 to 2.05; P = .88) or analgesic consumption (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI = -0.80 to 1.35; P = .62).
CONCLUSIONS
ESPB may be comparable with ICNB for the postoperative pain control of thoracoscopic surgery.
Topics: Humans; Intercostal Nerves; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Analgesics; Thoracoscopy; Nerve Block; Pain
PubMed: 37747029
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035093