Gender and morphogenetic variability of patients with spina bifida occulta and spina bifida aperta: prospective population-genetic study.

BACKGROUND: Aim of our study was to evaluate degree of genetic homozygosity in male and female gender of spina bifida (SB) occulta and SB aperta patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients with SB occulta and 51 with SB aperta. Degree of genetic homozygosity was evaluated by direct observation of 15 homozygously recessive characteristics (HRC) by HRC-test separately for SB occulta and SB aperta participants. Additionally 370 individuals without SB from Serbia were randomly selected and evaluated as control group. Male and female gender was separately evaluated for assessing degree of genetic homozygosity. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean values of HRC between male and female gender in control group (male gender -3.9±1.2, female gender -4.0±1.4, z=0.39; p>0.05), SB occulta (male gender -4.1±1.5, female gender -4.7±1.4, z=1.87, p>0.05) and SB aperta patients (male gender -4.3±1.6, female gender -4.5±1.4, z=0.66, p>0.05), while there was significantly increased recessive homozygosity in female SB occulta group versus control female group (Females: SB occulta -4.7±1.4, Control group -4.0±1.4, z=3.16, p<0.01) and female SB aperta group versus control female group (Females: SB aperta -4.5±1.4, Control group -4.0±1.4, z=2.05, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There is increased recessive homozygosity in tested female SB occulta and female SB aperta individuals versus SB male participants and significantly increased recessive homozygosity in female groups of SB patients versus control female group. These findings could lead to the possible assumption that different genes in different degree might be expressed in SB occulta and SB aperta patients.

[Combined low-power laser therapy and local infiltration of corticosteroids in the treatment of radial-humeral epicondylitis]. / Kombinacija terapije laserom niske snage i lokalne infiltracije kortikosteroida u tretmanu radijalnog epikondilitisa humerusa.

The prospective study included 32 patients with radiohumeral epicondylitis. They are by single-blind method divided into three groups: Group I (n = 11) was treated with low power laser therapy (904 nm, 5 kHz, in the dose of 1 J/cm2); Group II (n = 11) was treated with corticosteroid infiltration and group III (n = 10) was treated with combination of initial infiltration and subsequent laser therapy. The estimation of therapy effect was done by pain intensity follow-up with modified McGuill's questionnaire. The results of the first control examination, 7 days after the therapy onset, demonstrated significantly higher analgesic effect to be achieved in the group of patients treated with combination of corticosteroid infiltration and laser therapy. Similar results were noticed in the other two groups after the repeated same treatment.

Influence of low level laser irradiation on biochemical processes in brainstem and cortex of intact rabbits.

The influence of low level laser (LLL) irradiation at wavelength at 660 and 904 nm on oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation activity-LP, production of superoxide anion radicals-NBT reduction), activity of enzymes of antioxidative defense (superoxide dismutase-SOD, glutathione reductase-GR) and functional activity of sodium pump (Na+K+ ATPase) in relation with applied wavelength of LLL was investigated. The investigation was performed at the adult rabbits (n = 21) classificated in three groups: control group (C), the group of rabbits irradiated with LLL wavelength 904 nm (CL1) and the group of rabbits irradiated with LLL wavelength 660 nm (CL2). The irradiation was performed in the upper cervical region in the anatomical projection of the brainstem. It was established that LLL induced oxidative stress in the brainstem and the cortex of treated rabbits, independently of applied wavelength of laser beams. The registrated changes in functional activity of sodium pump were dependent on the applied wavelength. The irradiation at 904 nm caused the significant increase of the substrate uptake rate of sodium pump in the brainstem tissue. The irradiation at 660 nm caused the "competitive inhibition" of the sodium pump. Decrease of norepinefrine content in the brainstem of treated rabbits pointed on the indirect mechanism of functional activity of sodium pump as well as the oxidative stress.

[Use of low dose lasers in physiatry]. / Primena lasera niske snage u fizijatriji.

The prospective study comprised 105 patients treated for six months in the out-patient and in-patient institutions suffering from the syndrome manifested in pain and disturbed functions due to the diseases of the nerve-muscle and bone-connective tissue systems. The group of patients with the vertebro-basilar syndrome was selected by a single-blind controlled trial while the rest constituted the group whose results were preliminary presented. Two modes of laser photobiostimulation were applied: local stimulation and stimulation of acupuncture points. Evaluation of effects were performed by following up subjective troubles, clinical examinations, laboratory analyses and in patients with the vertebro-basilar syndrome by rheoencephalography in addition. The application of the mentioned methods in different pathological states have shown positive results in 78% of patients with analgesic, spasmolytic and antiadematous effects. In patients with the vertebro-basilar syndrome disappearance of subjective troubles was followed by the improved perfusion in the vertebro-basilar system with the mean increase of the amplitude of the rheoencephalographic curve of 0.063 +/- 0.018 oms and the mean shortening of the anacrotic phase of 0.048 +/- 0.019 seconds.