Key Social Determinants to Narrow the Gap between Health-adjusted Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy in Megacities

ObjectiveImprovement in the quality of life is reflected in the narrowing of the gap between health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy (LE). The effect of megacity expansion on narrowing the gap is rarely reported. This study aimed to disclose this potential relationship.MethodsAnnual life tables were constructed from identified death records and population counts from multiple administrative sources in Guangzhou, China, from 2010 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate the temporal trend. Generalized principal component analysis and multilevel models were applied to examine the county-level association between the gap and social determinants.ResultsAlthough LE and HALE in megacities are increasing steadily, their gap is widening. Socio-economic and health services are guaranteed to narrow this gap. Increasing personal wealth, a growing number of newborns and healthy immigrants, high urbanization, and healthy aging have helped in narrowing this gap.ConclusionIn megacities, parallel LE and HALE growth should be highly considered to narrow their gap. Multiple social determinants need to be integrated as a whole to formulate public health plans.     

Impact of various culture conditions on ex vivo expansion of polyclonal T cells for adoptive immunotherapy

Currently, adoptive immunotherapy is considered as one of the leading treatments in cancer. Successful adoptive immunotherapy depends on producing large numbers of desired T cells ex vivo for infusion. This requires an effective protocol for maximum functional T‐cell expansion while keeping the time and costs to a minimum. Current T‐cell expansion protocols are diverse in their methodology, and a universal protocol of expansion is wanting. Also, new findings regarding T‐cell biology, signaling, and activation have reshaped the strategies of T‐cell propagation over the years, introducing new ways to expand T cells. Here, we reviewed different conditions for blood‐derived polyclonal T‐cell expansion so as to elucidate the influential factors of T‐cell expansion and their efficacy.     

Prospective observational study comparing burn surgeons’ estimations of wound healing after skin grafting to photo-assisted methods

IntroductionAppropriate graft healing after split-thickness skin graft and early recognition of complications (graft loss) are critical to burn patient management. Larger mesh ratio expansions and Meek micrografting may pose a greater challenge in estimating the percentage of wound healing. This study looks at the reliability of photograph assessments and the concordance of bedside evaluation to photograph assessments of wound healing after skin grafting.MethodsThree assessment methods for percentage of wound healing after skin Grafting were assessed: (1) clinicians’ bedside rating, (2) clinician assessment of high-definition photographs, and (3) digital image analysis through color subtraction using Adobe Photoshop. We compared each method using a mixed-effects model on absolute agreement using intra-class correlation (ICC) and Bland Altman (BA) plots.ResultsFourteen burn patients were enrolled with 38 grafted wounds (100 sites). Bedside assessments had a mean ICC of 0.64 (compared to digital image analysis) and 0.69 (compared to photo assessment), with a wide range on BA-plots. Inter-rater reliability of photo assessment was excellent (0.96) among six clinicians. Repeated photo-assisted assessments had good intra-rater reliability (ICC: photo assessment: 0.88; digital analysis: 0.97).ConclusionsBedside wound healing assessments show variability; photograph documentation of sequential wound progression could supplement active clinical management or studies for more reliable assessments.     

Double Forehead Expanded Flaps for Reconstruction of Total Nasal Defect: A Case Report

ObjectiveTo introduce a method for total nasal defect reconstruction with a double forehead expanded flap.Case presentationA 55-year-old man underwent three-stage total nasal reconstruction for a complete nasal defect due to electrical injury. The skin expander was implanted during the 1st stage. Total nasal reconstruction was performed with double expanded forehead flap transfer during the 2nd stage. The unilateral forehead flap was used for lining and the contralateral forehead flap, together with the autologous cartilage and titanium mesh framework, were used for skin replacement. The forehead donor defect was covered with a skin graft. Pedicle division and inset were performed in the 3rd stage.ResultsThere was no flap loss, infection, hematoma, rhinostenosis, or implant exposure over the 2-year follow-up, and satisfactory aesthetic results were achieved.ConclusionThe double forehead expanded flap method is useful for the reconstruction of large composite nasal defects in patients who are not suitable for nasolabial flaps and those who may not tolerate free tissue transfer. The operation has fewer complications and is uncomplicated.     

Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion: a systematic review of complications

A systematic review of the literature on the complications of surgically assisted maxillary expansion (SARME) was performed. The search strategy was based on the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Data were extracted from the full texts after screening of the abstracts and titles. Human clinical studies encompassing ‘maxillary expansion’, ‘palatal expansion’, ‘SARME’, or ‘SARPE’ and that reported sufficient data for ‘complication’ were included. In vitro studies, case reports, meta-analyses, reviews, book chapters, animal studies, and studies with missing or insufficient data were excluded. The final selection included 12 articles for data extraction. A total of 851 patients underwent SARME, with 187 reported complications (21.97%). Epistaxis (2.47%) and postoperative pain (2.00%) were the most often reported minor complications, and asymmetric or inadequate expansion presented an occurrence rate of 4.47%. Minor complications were equally distributed between surgical (49.30%) and orthodontic complications (50.70%). The technique without pterygomaxillary disjunction increased the occurrence of minor complications (29.95% vs. 16.87%), and the expansion pattern with less than 0.5 mm/day increased the occurrence of orthodontic complications (30.93% vs. 1.83%), i.e. asymmetric expansion. In conclusion, SARME procedures mostly present minor complications. Although several types of complication are described in the literature, occurrence rates are low, and technical issues such as pterygomaxillary disjunction and the pattern of distraction can be predictors of the complication risk.     

Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion (DOME) for adult obstructive sleep apnea patients with narrow maxilla and nasal floor

ObjectivesThis study correlates objective and subjective measurements associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to define the efficacy of Distraction Osteogenesis Maxillary Expansion (DOME) to treat adult OSA patients with narrow maxilla and nasal floor.MethodsThis is a retrospective study reviewing cases from September 2014 through April 2018 with 75 eligible subjects. Inclusion criteria required OSA confirmed by attended polysomnography (PSG). Pre- and Post-operative clinical data were measured at the Stanford Sleep Medicine and Stanford Sleep Surgery Clinics. DOME is a two-step process starting with insertion of custom-fabricated maxillary expanders anchored to the hard palate by mini-implants followed by minimally invasive osteotomies. After maxillary expansion was complete, orthodontic treatment to restore normal occlusion was initiated. Perioperative Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE), and Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) were measured for 43, 72, 72, and 34 subjects respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using paired T-test with significance set at p-value < 0.05.ResultsThe mean age of test subjects was 30.5 ± 8.5 years with a gender distribution of 57 males and 18 females. There was a significant reduction in pre and post-operative NOSE score (10.94 ± 5.51 to 3.28 ± 2.89, p < 0.0001), mean ESS score (10.48 ± 5.4 to 6.69 ± 4.75, p < 0.0001), and AHI (17.65 ± 19.30 to 8.17 ± 8.47, p < 0.0001) with an increased percentage of REM sleep (14.4 ± 8.3% to 22.7 ± 6.6%, p = 0.0014). No significant adverse effects were identified.ConclusionsDOME treatment reduced the severity of OSA, refractory nasal obstruction, daytime somnolence, and increased the percentage of REM sleep in this selected cohort of adults OSA patients with narrow maxilla and nasal floor.     

圆形皮肤扩张器在面部旁正中瘢痕修复中的应用

目的:探讨应用圆形皮肤扩张器扩张皮瓣修复面部旁正中瘢痕的效果。方法:2014年1月至2019年5月收治面旁正中部瘢痕患者30例,于瘢痕外侧颧颊部埋置圆形皮肤扩张器,经注水扩张后,设计推进或异位扩张皮瓣修复面旁正中瘢痕。结果:30例患者完成扩张,注水扩张中3例发生感染经腔内灌洗引流控制,4例并发血肿行血肿清除术。30例面旁正中瘢痕成功修复,其中11例伴下睑外翻者完全矫正7例、改善4例;伴上唇外翻、口角歪斜、鼻翼畸形者均得到不同程度的改善。随访6~12个月,患者对瘢痕修复效果较满意。结论:选择圆形皮肤扩张器修复面旁正中瘢痕,皮肤利用率高、皮瓣设计方便、修复效果好。     

Prediction of hematoma expansion in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Our institutional experience

BackgroundSpontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is a disease process with high morbidity and mortality. In particular, hematoma expansion (HE) is a feared complication of sICH. With 15–40% of patients experiencing HE, it has become increasingly important to predict which sICH will remain stable and which will expand.ObjectiveWith new treatment options being developed, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to predict which hemorrhages are at high versus low risk for expansion. The authors of this study hope to reexamine variables associated with hematoma expansion in hopes of generating newer data on risk factors for expansion.MethodsA retrospective analysis identified 334 patients who presented with sICH. The primary outcome was HE on follow up head CT. HE was defined as a greater than 33% increase or an absolute increase in 6 mL or more in overall volume between the two sets of CT images. Analysis was performed using unpaired t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate.ResultsOf the 334 patients, 247 (74.0%) did not experience an expansion of their ICH while 87 (26.0%) did. Multivariable logistic regression was performed demonstrating ICH score of 3 or greater (4.76 (95% CI 2.60–8.72, p < 0.001) , cortical location of the sICH (1.77 (95% CI 1.03–3.04, p = 0.038), and presence of a fluid level (6.46 (95% CI 2.28–18.3, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of HE.ConclusionsOur study found that fluid–fluid levels on non-contrast CT, an ICH score 3 or greater, and lobar sICH were all more likely to expand.