No abstract

In this pilot study, EPS enhanced remission of dysphagia as assessed with fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), thereby enabling decannulation in 75% of patients.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. The contribution of the immune system to its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood.Methods: In this study, we performed comprehensive immune cell profiling in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) of PD patients. Ten PD patients were diagnosed according to brain bank criteria and underwent detailed clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging, PB and CSF immune cell profiling by multiparameter flow cytometry, and cytokine and chemokine measurements by bead-based arrays. Thirteen healthy elderly volunteers served as control population.Results: The proportions of activated T-lymphocytes and non-classical monocytes in the CSF were increased in patients with PD compared to the control group. In accordance, we found increased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and TNFα and of the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in the CSF of the included PD patients.Conclusions: Our data provide novel evidence for a response of the innate and adaptive immune system in the central nervous system of patients with PD.

Thirty-six thumbs with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint were treated either by trapezio-metacarpal arthrodesis (n = 18) or resection-tendon-interposition arthroplasty (n = 18). The mean follow-up of the 29 patients was 42 months. With the data available, we could not find any difference in the outcome of either procedure. In the majority of cases, the main aim of the operation, relief of pain, was achieved, the patients were satisfied and pleased with the functional result of the operation. No difference in grip strength between the operated and the normal contralateral hand could be established. Nevertheless, the arthrodesis seems to be the procedure causing fewer problems (only one patient not completely satisfied) and is therefore preferred over the resection-tendon-interposition arthroplasty.

The radiological result of the titanium cage is superior to that of PMMA with respect to the fusion rate. Although the titanium cage achieves a better fusion rate, there is no difference between titanium cages and PMMA with respect to the clinical outcome.