Protective effects of quercetin on uterine receptivity markers and blastocyst implantation rate in diabetic pregnant mice

ObjectiveDiabetic women have different reproductive problems. In pregnant diabetic women, high rates of perinatal mortality, spontaneous abortion and congenital anomalies are observed. We hypothesized that quercetin, as an antidiabetic and phytoestrogen, might have protective effects on the embryo implantation in pregnant diabetic mice. We investigated the ameliorative effects of quercetin on the levels of serum estrogen and progesterone, rate of blastocyst implantation, and uterine receptivity markers in diabetic mice.Materials and methodsDiabetic and healthy female mice were treated with quercetin (30 mg/kg/day) four weeks before pregnancy. Plasma sex-steroid levels were determined on day 4 of pregnancy. Also, uteri were harvested for investigation of protein and mRNA expression changes. In another set of our study, implantation rate was determined on day 5 of pregnancy.ResultsOur results indicated that quercetin was significantly reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. The number of implantation sites as well as serum estradiol level was reduced in diabetic mice, and then treatment with quercetin significantly increased both. On the other hand, insulin like growth factor1, integrin αvβ3, and cyclooxygenase2 mRNA expression in the uterus of diabetic mice were significantly reduced, and quercetin treatment augmented the expression level of these genes. Besides, the level of inactive β-catenin protein level in the uterus of diabetic mice was higher than normal group; treatment with quercetin reduced the level of inactive β-catenin protein as compared to diabetic mice.ConclusionWe conclude that administration of quercetin before pregnancy can probably alleviate reproductive problems in diabetic women likely via its estrogenic and antihyperglycemic effects.     

Aorto-pulmonary bypass shunt for intraoperative right ventricular support during LVAD implantation

We describe a simple modification of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit that allows selective intraoperative circulatory support of the right ventricle during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The addition of a side branch to the arterial line and an intermediate line connector allows selective venting and perfusion through a cannula inserted in the main pulmonary artery. This modification of the CPB circuit allows for selective evaluation of right ventricular function, titration of inotropic support, and early identification of patients that require right ventricular assist device (RVAD) support.     

Improvements to the retractor and muscle flap design for minimally invasive cochlear implantation

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to improve muscle flaps and to evaluate surgical outcomes with the use of a novel specialized retractor, which is a surgical instrument used to locate and shape a bony seat for minimally invasive cochlear implantation.Methods50 patients aged 1–75 years with sensorineural hearing loss who required cochlear implantation were recruited. A small incision (<3 cm) was made, and the novel specialized retractor was used in the study group during cochlear implantation. The incision length, surgical outcomes and operative time were recorded and analyzed.ResultsThe incision length, total operative time and drilling bony time were shorter in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). All patients recovered well after the surgery without any severe complications.ConclusionThe use of a novel specialized retractor standardized the surgical processes of cochlear implantation. The retractor helped locate and control the size of the bony well during bone drilling. The tool reduced the technical difficulty and improved the efficacy of this minimally invasive operation.     

Conjunctival flap advancement with or without scleral graft for hypotony maculopathy after trabeculectomy

AIM: To introduce a novel technique for transscleral fixation of the PC-IOL that requires no sutures on the IOL haptics. METHODS: Instead of suturing polypropylene onto the IOL haptics, the method simply winds the thread on the haptics. Fifteen eyes of 15 patients underwent this technique and were followed up for more than 18 months. Surgical outcomes and post-operative complications were evaluated and compared with those of the conventional transscleral fixation method. RESULTS: Postoperative cylinder was significantly lower in the thread winding group than in the conventional transscleral fixation method group (-1.02±0.46 diopters vs -1.57±0.77 diopters; P=0.01). Further, no postoperative complications, such as optic capture, IOL dislocation, and hyphema, were detected in the thread winding group. CONCLUSION: We believe that our thread winding technique is better than previously reported methods because it is simple, mechanically stable, and free from suture-related complications.     

下颌磨牙区即拔即种的临床疗效观察

目的 探究下颌磨牙区即拔即种的临床疗效。方法 选取2017年1月至2019年1月江门市口腔医院收治的60例需进行下颌磨牙区种植的患者随机分为A、B组,A组给予即拔即种,B组给予延期种植,比较两组留存率、浅蝶形骨吸收率、种植12个月后PIS指标及满意度进行评价。结果 随访12个月两组留存率均为100%,浅碟形骨吸收率A组前磨牙为16.67%、磨牙为22.22%,B组前磨牙为10.00%、磨牙为25.00%,差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05),A组植入30个种植体,60个牙间乳头,其中3度29个、2度24个、1度7个,B组植入30个种植体,60个牙间乳头,其中3度14个、2度24个、1度22个,A组牙间乳头PIS指标优于B组,且A组牙间乳头PIS评分(2.36±0.52)较B组(1.87±0.48)显著提高,差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.05),A组对治疗效果满意率为93.33%较B组66.67%显著提高,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 对于下颌磨牙区缺牙患者可采取即拔即种的方法修复,缩短缺牙时间,促进咬合和咀嚼功能恢复,舒适且美观,提高患者的满意度,值得在临床上推广。     

经皮肺动脉瓣植入术在肺动脉瓣反流患者中的临床应用

经皮肺动脉瓣植入术(PPVI)在我国作为一种新兴的技术,开展相对较晚,但随着我国医疗水平的不断提高以及临床对于右心室流出道梗阻的先天性心脏病患者术后出现重度肺动脉瓣反流的不断重视,PPVI在我国得到了飞速发展。近十几年来,欧美国家已在临床成熟应用PPVI,相对于传统外科手术而言其具有微创、可重复性、术后疗效好等优点。现对PPVI在肺动脉瓣反流患者中的临床应用进行叙述。     

植入物乳房重建一步法和二步法临床对比研究

目的:探讨即刻乳房假体重建（一步法）和应用扩张器的假体重建（二步法）两种不同手术方式在术后并发症、美容效果和成本效益的差异。方法:回顾性分析我院乳腺外科2015年5月至2018年5月收治的285例乳腺癌植入物重建患者，依据手术方式不同分为一步法组（145例）和二步法组（140例），比较两组患者临床资料的差异。结果:一步法组术后出血发生率（6.8%）高于二步法组（1.4%），差异有统计学意义（P=0.021）。一步法组术后伤口皮瓣坏死率（6.2%）高于二步法组（1.4%），差异有统计学意义（P=0.036）。二步法组乳房满意度评分（81.5±7.1）分高于1步法组（78.6±6.2）分，差异有统计学意义（P=0.035）。二步法组住院总花费（80 334.8±6 149.8）元高于一步法组（60 966.5±5 544.9）元，差异有统计学意义（P=0.049）。二步法组住院天数（34.3±3.2）天多于一步法组（17.5±3.9）天，差异有统计学意义（P=0.014）。结论:在植入物乳房重建两种手术方式中，二步法相较于一步法，其并发症少，美容效果好，但在成本效益上并不优于一步法。