Augmented reality guided condylectomy

An accurate transfer of a 3D virtual planned proportional condylectomy to the patient is challenging due to the limited surgical access. A new clinical workflow that uses augmented reality to assist a condylectomy is presented step-by-step. This AR-based approach has the potential to be implemented in the clinical setting routinely.     

Localizing pharmaceuticals manufacturing and its impact on drug security in Saudi Arabia

Local production of pharmaceuticals plays a vital role in maintaining resilience of national healthcare systems, especially when it comes to facilitating access to needed medicines and decreasing exposure to imports and international supply chains. Pharma is a research-intensive industry and the systemic lack of governance and support to R&D activities in this sector, among other host of related issues such as unsupportive regulatory regimes and human resources capacity limitations, is one of the major impediments to the diversifying of locally produced pharmaceuticals portfolio. In this review, an overview of the current pharmaceutical production system in Saudi Arabia, its major challenges, and proposed remedies to address them will be highlighted.     

Renal sympathetic denervation in resistant hypertension: The association between vitamin D and positive early response in systolic blood pressure

Aims and objectivesVitamin D deficiency is a common finding and there is a suggested association with hypertension. Resistant hypertension is a clinical problem observed in 5–30% of hypertensive patients. Renal denervation (RDN) has been used for patients with resistant hypertension and has proven to lower blood pressure. Our primary goal was to assess the vitamin D serum concentration as a predictor of blood pressure response to RDN in highly selected patients.MethodsThis prospective, nonrandomized, single-center study included 24 patients treated with RDN. Based on their one-year response after RDN, patients were classified as responders or non-responders at six months or at 12 months.ResultsThe median follow-up was 52 months (range, 14-91 months). After RDN, 17 patients (70.8%) had a reduction >5 mmHg in the mean systolic blood pressure, at the first six months of follow-up. At 12 months, 20 patients (83.3%) were responders. Vitamin D levels at baseline (15.1±4.8 vs. 24.2±8.8 ng/ml) and at six months (16.6±7.2 vs. 25±9.2 ng/ml) were lower in early non-responders compared to early responders (p=0.008), without significant variation during follow-up. Even though Vitamin D levels were lower in the total responder's group, no statistically significant differences were found (p=ns).ConclusionIn patients with resistant hypertension, low vitamin D concentrations were associated with an absence of early response to RDN.     

3D打印技术辅助后路截骨治疗脊柱畸形的Meta分析

文题释义：脊柱畸形：指脊柱的冠状位、矢状位或轴向位偏离正常位置，发生形态上异常的表现，可以分为特发性、先天性、病理性及创伤性等原因。绝大多数患者需手术治疗，但由于该类患者解剖不规则、周围组织粘连严重，其截骨矫形手术风险极高。 3D打印技术：又称“快速成型技术”，术前对患者进行脊柱 CT 扫描，获得相关数据，打印出脊柱模型。脊柱外科医师可以通过模型进行模拟截骨及模拟内固定，设计最好的手术方案。背景：3D打印技术在脊柱外科应用越来越广泛，有很好的辅助手术作用。但是目前缺乏循证医学证据证实3D打印辅助后路截骨治疗脊柱畸形的疗效及安全性。 目的：系统评价3D打印辅助后路截骨治疗脊柱畸形的疗效。方法：计算机检索PubMed、Embase、Cochrane Library、CNKI、万方、维普和CBM数据库自建库至2019年12月关于3D打印治疗脊柱畸形患者的研究。英文检索词为“3D printing” “rapid prototyping” “Spinal deformity”等；中文检索词为“3D打印”“快速成型技术”“脊柱畸形”等。由2名研究人员独立进行文献筛选、数据提取和质量评价，采用 RevMan 5.3软件对文献进行Meta分析。结果与结论：①共纳入6篇文献，282例患者，其中3D打印组139例，常规组143例；②Meta 分析结果显示，3D打印组在手术时间、手术出血量及手术放射暴露时间方面均小于常规组(P < 0.05)；③在Cobb角、Cobb角矫正率、置钉准确率及Oswestry功能障碍指数评分方面均优于常规组(P < 0.05)；④3D打印组和常规组在并发症方面差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)；⑤上述数据证实，3D打印辅助后路截骨能够明显降低手术间和手术出血量，改善手术效果。ORCID: 0000-0002-1739-7548(吴荣海) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节；骨植入物；脊柱；骨折；内固定；数字化骨科；组织工程