A carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone intramedullary nail improves fracture site visibility on postoperative radiographic images

IntroductionTo evaluate the advantages of a carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR/PEEK) intramedullary nail on the diagnosis of fracture healing because of its radiolucency, we retrospectively reviewed radiographs and computed tomography (CT) images of trochanteric femoral fractures that underwent internal fixation with the CFR/PEEK intramedullary nail or a traditional metallic intramedullary nail.MethodsRadiographs and CT images from 20 patients with intertrochanteric femoral fractures treated with a CFR/PEEK intramedullary nail and 20 similar patients treated with a metallic intramedullary nail were reviewed. After division of the intertrochanteric region into three zones on anteroposterior and lateral views of the radiographs, the visibilities of the fracture site, fracture line, and bone formation were evaluated in each zone. A three-grade assessment for existence of scattering and effect of scattering on diagnosis of the surrounding bone was performed on three axial slices of the CT images.ResultsIn the CFR/PEEK group, the fracture site was visible in all zones for all cases except for the posterior zone on the lateral view in one case. In the cranial and middle zones on anteroposterior views and the middle zone on lateral views of the radiographs, the visible fracture site rates in the CFR/PEEK group were significantly higher than those in the metal group. The grades for existence of scattering and effect of scattering on diagnosis of surrounding bone on the CT images were significantly lower in the CFR/PEEK group compared with the metal group.ConclusionSuperior fracture site visibility on radiographs was demonstrated in cases treated with the CFR/PEEK intramedullary nail compared with cases treated with the traditional metallic intramedullary nail, thereby confirming the advantages of the CFR/PEEK intramedullary nail for evaluation of fracture reduction and bone formation. The CFR/PEEK nail evoked little scattering on CT images, leading to higher diagnostic values for the peri-prosthetic cancellous and cortical bone compared with the metallic nail.     

First-Pass Arrival Interval of Ultrasound Contrast Medium in the Hepatic Artery and Portal Vein as a Marker for Assessment of Liver Transplant Recipients

BackgroundThis study measures the first-pass arrival times in the hepatic artery and portal vein of the transplanted liver using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and assess its correlation with graft performance in the early posttransplant period.MethodsThis study evaluated 35 liver transplant recipients who underwent CEUS examination within 1 month of transplant surgery. CEUS under contrast-specific harmonic imaging mode were recorded for 60 seconds immediately after intravenous administration of microbubble ultrasound contrast medium (Sonazoid, GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway). The recorded video clips were reviewed by 2 readers to determine the first-pass arrival times in the hepatic artery and portal vein, and the difference between the 2 was defined as the arterial-portal arrival interval (APAI). Laboratory data on the same date of CEUS examination were collected as indicators to correlate with APAI.ResultsThe intra- and inter-rater reliability for APAI measurement were excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients > .95. The mean APAI was 4.5 ± 1.8 seconds (range, 2.0-10.5 seconds). The APAI was positively correlated with the serum total bilirubin level (r = 0.357, P = .035) and negatively correlated with the platelet count (r = −0.354, P = .037). At the 5 second cutoff point, a total serum bilirubin of >8 mg/dL was reported in 5 of 11 patients (45.4%) with APAI of >5 seconds and in only 3 of 24 patients (12.5%) with APAI of <5 seconds (P < .05).ConclusionsThe APAI is a quantitative marker that links the hemodynamics and the clinical status of the liver graft.     

精子功能指标在辅助生殖助孕方式选择中的作用

目的评估精子功能参数对精子常规体外受精能力的预测价值,探寻有效选择受精方式的新指标。方法回顾性分析2017年1月至2019年12月于我院首次行体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)短时受精的429个周期的临床资料,根据受精结局不同分为2组:受精失败或受精率<30%的患者为早补救卵胞浆内单精子注射(R-ICSI)组(n=98);受精率≥30%的为短时IVF组(n=331)。比较两组患者精子前向运动(PR)、精子浓度、精子正常形态率、顶体酶活性、顶体反应(AR)、酪氨酸磷酸化(TP)及透明质酸结合试验(HBA)等指标;采用Logistic回归分析影响受精的独立危险因素,并绘制受试者工作曲线(ROC曲线)评估各项危险因素对IVF受精率的预测价值。结果两组患者精子的正常形态率、顶体酶活性、自发AR和TP比较均无显著性差异(P>0.05);R-ICSI组患者的精子浓度、PR、诱发顶体反应(IAR)和HBA均显著低于短时IVF组(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,精子PR、IAR和HBA为IVF受精率的独立危险因素;ROC曲线显示精子PR、IAR、HBA和联合预测新变量(Pre-1)的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.66、0.62、0.64和0.70。结论精子功能指标中IAR和HBA是影响IVF受精率的独立危险因素,其对辅助生殖助孕方式的选择有一定指导意义。     

基于WNT16预防骨质疏松非椎体骨折的研究进展

随着我国老龄化程度加深,骨质疏松发病率持续升高,已经严重威胁我国国民健康。骨折作为骨质疏松最严重的并发症,是骨质疏松患者死亡的主要原因。近年来,关于骨质疏松骨折的研究有很多,但偏重于骨质疏松椎体骨折,而骨质疏松非椎体骨折的研究较少。目前,市场上预防骨质疏松的药物也往往针对椎体骨折,而骨质疏松非椎体骨折的可用药物较少。WNT信号通路在预防骨质疏松骨折方面的研究较多,WNT16作为WNT家族中新成员,是调控骨皮质的关键因子,骨质疏松非椎体骨折的关键原因在于骨皮质变薄,因此,WNT16可能是预防非椎体骨折的潜在靶标。本文主要通过总结近期关于WNT16在骨质疏松骨折上的研究,探讨WNT16在骨质疏松非椎体骨折的预防上所起的作用,为临床预防骨质疏松非椎体骨折提供参考,以及为骨质疏松非椎体骨折药物开发提供新思路。     

Relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density in a cross-sectional Chinese study

Background ContextPrevious studies have reported conflicting results for the relationships between anthropometric adiposity indexes and bone mineral density, based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, few studies were published based on quantitative computed tomography (QCT), especially for Chinese population.PurposeTo evaluate the associations of spine bone mineral density (BMD) with body mass index (BMI), waist circumstance (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and a body shape index (ABSI) using QCT.Study Design/SettingA Cross-sectional study.Patient SampleAround 3,457 participants in multiple communities across 7 administrative regions of China.Outcome MeasuresSpine BMD was measured using QCT, and the classification of osteoporosis was defined as follows: 1) osteoporosis if BMD <80mg/cm³, 2) osteopenia if BMD 80–119 mg/cm³, and 3) normal bone mass if BMD≥120 mg/cm³.MethodsThis study was conducted using convenient sampling between 2013 and 2017. Multivariable linear regression model and logistic regression models were used for the associations of continuous and categorical BMD, respectively.ResultsAround 3,405 participants were included in the final analyses, including 1,272 males and 2,133 females, with spine BMD of 111.00±35.47 mg/cm³ and 99.38±40.60 mg/cm³, respectively. Spine BMD decreased significantly with the increase of ABSI in females (adjusted β, ?5.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], ?8.50 to ?2.98), and this trend also was kept in females aged at less than 60 years (adjusted β, ?14.54; 95% CI, ?20.40 to ?8.68), and females with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, ?7.59; 95% CI, ?10.91 to ?4.28). However, this inverse association was observed only in males with age ≥ 60 years (adjusted β, ?5.19; 95% CI, ?10.08 to ?0.29). Except ABSI, negative associations of Spine BMD with WC (adjusted β, ?0.46; 95% CI, ?0.77 to ?0.15), WHR (adjusted β, ?6.25; 95% CI, ?10.63 to ?1.86), WHtR (adjusted β, ?6.80; 95% CI, ?11.63 to ?1.97) were shown in females aged at <60 years, and positive association with BMI in males with age ≥60 years (adjusted β, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.29–1.55).ConclusionsABSI had more remarkable association with spine BMD, compared with the other four indexes.     

超声引导下热消融治疗继发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症的有效性及安全性:Meta分析

目的采用Meta分析评价超声引导下热消融治疗继发性甲状旁腺功能亢进症(SHPT)的有效性及安全性。方法检索PubMed、EMbase、Cochrane Library、中国知网、维普数据库及万方医学网中热消融治疗SHPT相关文献,检索时间自建库至2020年8月。依据纳入及排除标准筛选文献。采用ReveMan 5.3软件对消融前后血清全段甲状旁腺素(iPTH)、钙、磷水平及并发症行Meta分析。结果共纳入19篇文献、634例SHPT患者。热消融术后1天、1周、1个月及6个月,血清iPTH水平、钙及磷水平均较术前下降(P均0.01)。术后声音嘶哑发生率14.08%[OR=6.99,95%CI(3.00,16.26)],低钙血症发生率34.62%[OR=38.59,95%CI(16.64,89.47)]。结论超声引导下热消融治疗SHPT安全有效。     

Anterior tibial artery injury is not the contraindication of medial plantar flap: digital subtraction angiography evidence and clinical application

The medial plantar artery (MPA) is often sacrificed as the vascular pedicle of the medial plantar flap (MPF). However, for patients with ankle soft tissue defect caused by traffic accident, the anterior tibial artery (ATA) could be damaged and the blood supply of the distal foot would only come from the MPA and the lateral plantar artery (LPA). In this case, sacrificing the MPA for the MPF means that the LPA will become the mainly source of blood supply of the distal foot. Whether the blood supply of the distal foot is adequately guaranteed remains to be discussed. A total of seven patients with ankle soft tissue defect and ATA injury were enrolled in the study. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed to observe the hemodynamics of the ipsilateral foot. The MPF was harvested only when the foot arterial network consisting of the MPA, the LPA, the deep plantar arch, and the deep plantar artery of DPA, and the blood redistribution existed. DSA results showed the blood from the posterior tibial artery was redistributed to the ipsilateral foot and the MPA is not the dominant artery in the foot. Seven MPFs were harvested, and all flaps survived completely. No complications, such as pain, ulcer, and necrosis, occurred in the ipsilateral toes. The DSA could accurately and intuitively evaluate the hemodynamics of foot in patients with ATA injury. The DSA data and clinical practice proved that the ATA injury is not the contraindication of the MPF.     

Long-term persistent immunogenicity after successful standard and triple-dosed hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients: A 3-year follow-up study in China

BackgroundAlthough the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccines among hemodialysis patients has been documented, the long-term persistence of immunogenicity in this population remains largely unknown. We explored the long-term persistence of immunogenicity induced by different hepatitis B vaccine regimens in hemodialysis patients.MethodsIn initial study, we conducted a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial among hemodialysis patients in 13 hospitals in Shanxi Province, China. A total of 352 hemodialysis patients were allocated to receive 3-dose 20 μg (IM20 group) and 3-dose 60 μg (IM60 group) recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at months 0, 1, and 6. Vaccine-induced immune responses were measured at month 7. In this study, the responders (anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL) were followed up at months 18, 24, 30, 36 and 42, respectively. We used the generalized log-rank test and generalized estimating equations (GEE) to analyze the long-term durability of responses and the kinetics of anti-HBs levels, respectively.ResultsA total of 284 patients were involved in the extended follow-up period. The duration of vaccine-induced response with 75% of patients maintained protective antibody were 12 months and 18 months in the IM20 group and IM60 group, respectively (P = 0.291). The long-term persistent immunogenicity induced by 3-dose 60 μg was more satisfactory than that by 3-dose 20 μg hepatitis B vaccine in patients with hemodialysis duration ≥ five years (P = 0.023). The peak anti-HBs levels in 100–1000 mIU/mL or ≥ 1000 mIU/mL were more likely to maintain long-term protective antibody compared to anti-HBs levels in 10–100 mIU/mL (P ＜ 0.05). The kinetic profile was similar between the two groups (P = 0.334).ConclusionHigh-dose 60 μg hepatitis B vaccine could lead a satisfactory long-term durability of immunogenicity among patients with hemodialysis duration of five years or more. Peak anti-HBs level after vaccination was associated with the long-term persistence of immunogenicity.