Efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of refractory epilepsy / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulative therapeutic technique for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who are not suitable for resection or who have experienced a failed resection. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of VNS in patients with refractory epilepsy, and to analyze the influential factors for the efficacy.@*METHODS@#A retrospective review of clinical data were conducted for 35 patients, who were treated for refractory epilepsy through VNS surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from April 2016 to August 2019. All patients were analyzed in terms of the clinical and follow-up data.@*RESULTS@#After a mean follow-up of 26 months (6-47 months), outcome was as follows: 7 patients were MuHugh class I, 13 patients were MuHugh class II, 8 patients were MuHugh class III, and 7 patients were MuHugh class IV-V. The total efficacy rate in the short duration group was significantly higher than that in the long duration group (77.8% vs 50.0%, @*CONCLUSIONS@#VNS is a safe and effective option in treating patients with refractory epilepsy, especially for those with short duration.

The Clinical Experience of Professor Wang Xu in the Treatment of Throid-associated Ophthalmopathy from Liver, Spleen and Kidney / 浙江中医药大学学报

Objective]Discussion on academic ideas and clinical experience of Professor Wang Xu in treating of throid-associated ophthalmopathy from liver, spleen and kidney.[Methods]From the relationship of etiology and pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, prognosis and therapy with liver, spleen and kidney to expound the academic viewpoints and clinical experience of Professor Wang Xu in treatment of TAO. The course of TAO is divided into early stage, middle stage and advanced stage. Early stage should be treated from the liver, middle stage should be treated from the spleen, and advanced stage should be treated from the kidney.In the end, we examplify that. [Results] Professor Wang Xu believes the liver, spleen and kidney in Chinese Medicine sense have close relationship on TAO. The pathogenesis of this disease is “Liver stagnation transforming into fire and phlegm, phlegm fire disturbing orifice and damaging liver and kidney after a long time”, phlegm and blood stasis are the important pathological factors. Thus, the treatment of TAO focusing on liver, spleen and kidney is proposed. Clearing liver and nourishing liver yin, strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, dissipating phlegm and activating blood, nourishing Yin of liver and kidney is the clinical common therapy, clinically obtaining better therapeutic effect. [Conclusion] The clinical experience of Professor Wang Xu in treatment of TAO is effective, has the value of popularization and application.