Dorsal suspension for Morton’s neuroma: A comparison with neurectomy

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical outcomes of dorsal suspension with those of neurectomy for the treatment of Morton’s neuroma.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of dorsal suspension and neurectomy group. The dorsal suspension was performed by dorsal transposition of neuroma over the dorsal transverse ligament after neurolysis. The visual analog scale (VAS), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), postoperative satisfaction, and complications were evaluated.ResultsBoth groups reported significant pain relief, and there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to postoperative pain. The postoperative FAAM outcomes showed no significant between-group differences. Satisfaction analysis showed ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ results in the dorsal suspension and neurectomy groups (95% and 77.7%, respectively). Complications of numbness and paresthesia reported in the dorsal suspension group (5% and 5%, respectively) were significantly fewer than those of neurectomy group (61.1% and 33.3%, respectively) (both, p < .05).ConclusionsWith its favorable results, dorsal suspension can be another operative option for the treatment of Morton’s neuroma.Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative case series.     

Semi-perfusion cultures of suspension MDCK cells enable high cell concentrations and efficient influenza A virus production

Control and prevention of rapid influenza spread among humans depend on the availability of efficient and safe seasonal and pandemic vaccines, made primarily from inactivated influenza virus particles. Current influenza virus production processes rely heavily on embryonated chicken eggs or on cell culture as substrate for virus propagation. Today’s efforts towards process intensification in animal cell culture could innovate viral vaccine manufacturing using high-yield suspension cells in high cell density perfusion processes. In this work, we present a MDCK cell line adapted to grow as single cell suspension with a doubling time of less than 20 h, achieving cell concentrations over 1 × 10⁷ cells/mL in batch mode. Influenza A virus titer obtained in batch infections were 3.6 log₁₀(HAU/100 µL) for total- and 10⁹ virions/mL for infectious virus particles (TCID₅₀), respectively. In semi-perfusion mode concentrations up to 6 × 10⁷ cells/mL, accumulated virus titer of 4.5 log₁₀(HAU/100 µL) and infectious titer of almost 10¹⁰ virions/mL (TCID₅₀) were possible. This exceeds results reported previously for cell culture-based influenza virus propagation by far and suggests perfusion cultures as the preferred method in viral vaccine manufacturing.     

LC-HR-MS/MS法鉴定头孢丙烯干混悬剂中的未知杂质

目的:检测头孢丙烯干混悬剂中的未知杂质,并对其进行结构鉴定。方法:采用高效液相色谱-串联高分辨质谱法检测并鉴定头孢丙烯干混悬剂中的未知杂质。色谱柱为Thermo HyPURITYTMC18,流动相为乙腈-0.013%甲酸水溶液(梯度洗脱),检测波长为230 nm,流速为1.0 m L/min,柱温为40℃,进样量为20μL;以电喷雾离子源行正离子全扫描,扫描范围为质荷比(m/z)100~1500,喷雾电压为3.8 kV,金属毛细管温度为320℃,鞘气压力为60 Arb,辅助气压力为10 Arb,喷雾温度为280℃。结果:在该色谱条件下,杂质K的检测限为0.202μg/mL,精密度、重复性试验的RSD均小于4%。杂质K附近发现3个未知杂质,且互为异构体,离子保留时间为17.83~19.31 min,二级母离子均为m/z 436.1500[M+H]+,可能为头孢丙烯开环、脱水后的产物。结论:本方法检测出头孢丙烯干混悬剂中杂质K附近的3个未知杂质。     

Decellularized porcine conjunctiva as an alternative substrate for tissue-engineered epithelialized conjunctiva

PurposeThe long-term success of visual rehabilitation in patients with severe conjunctival scarring is reliant on the reconstruction of the conjunctiva with a suitable substitute. The purpose of this study is the development and investigation of a re-epithelialized conjunctival substitute based on porcine decellularized conjunctiva (PDC).MethodsPDC was re-epithelialized either with pre-expanded human conjunctival epithelial cells (PDC + HCEC) or with a human conjunctival explant placed directly on PDC (PDC + HCEx). Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate epithelial thickness, proliferation (Ki67), apoptosis (Caspase 3), goblet cells (MUC5AC), and progenitor cells (CK15, ΔNp63, ABCG2). The superior construct (PDC + HCEx) was transplanted into a conjunctival defect of a rabbit (n = 6). Lissamine green staining verified the epithelialization in vivo. Orbital tissue was exenterated on day 10 and processed for histological and immunohistochemical analysis to examine the engrafted PDC + HCEx. A human-specific antibody was used to detect the transplanted cells.ResultsFrom day-14 in vitro onward, a significantly thicker epithelium and greater number of cells expressing Ki67, CK15, ΔNp63, and ABCG2 were noted for PDC + HCEx versus PDC + HCEC. MUC5AC-positive cells were found only in PDC + HCEx. The PDC + HCEx-grafted rabbit conjunctivas were lissamine-negative during the evaluation period, indicating epithelial integrity. Engrafted PDC + HCEx showed preserved progenitor cell properties and an increased number of goblet cells comparable to those of native conjunctiva.ConclusionPlacing and culturing a human conjunctival explant directly on PDC (PDC + HCEx) enables the generation of a stable, stratified, goblet cell-rich construct that could provide a promising alternative conjunctival substitute for patients with extensive conjunctival stem and goblet cell loss.     

Stability of probiotics with antibiotics via gastric tube by simple suspension method: An in vitro study

Data on the stability of probiotics with antibiotics delivered via gastric tube using the simple suspension method (SSM) are limited. Therefore, we investigated bacterial survivability in probiotics treated with antibiotics prepared by the SSM in vitro. Probiotics and antibiotics were suspended in 20 mL of sterilized hot water (55 °C) and then 1-mL of the suspensions were taken each at 10, 60, 120, 180 and 360 min. Thereafter, the samples were inoculated on 3 media and cultured at 37 °C for 24 h. Survival of probiotic strains was measured in colony-forming units. The growth of Clostridium butyricum did not change without antibiotics at all experimental times, but in the case of Enterococcus faecium tended to increase. On the other hand, the viable bacterial number of C. butyricum was decreased significantly by treatment with cefdinir, tosufloxacin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin, but was not altered by levofloxacin, minocycline, or vancomycin. The viable bacterial number of E. faecium was significantly decreased by treatment with tosufloxacin, levofloxacin, minocycline, vancomycin, or azithromycin, and was significantly increased by clarithromycin. In conclusion, our results suggest that the efficacy of probiotic therapies might be reduced by the SSM when specific antibiotics are used. Moreover, antibiotics might inhibit probiotic growth, although some probiotics are spore-forming and have high minimum inhibitory concentrations. Additionally, early administration of non-spore-forming bacteria might be desirable. Therefore, when patients are administered therapy combining probiotics and antibiotics by the SSM, we should consider the characteristics of the probiotics and the administration times.     

多索茶碱联合布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入对哮喘患者炎性因子及肺功能的影响

目的探讨多索茶碱联合布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗哮喘的临床效果。方法选择我院2018年5月至2019年4月收治的哮喘患者114例,随机分为两组各57例。对照组采用布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗,观察组在此基础上采用多索茶碱治疗。观察两组的临床疗效、炎性因子指标(IL-4、 IFN-γ)、肺功能指标(FVC、 FEV1)及不良反应情况。结果观察组的治疗总有效率为92.98%,高于对照组的78.95%(P <0.05)。治疗后,观察组的IL-4水平低于对照组,IFN-γ、 FEV1、 FVC水平均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。两组的不良反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论多索茶碱联合布地奈德混悬液雾化吸入治疗哮喘可有效改善患者的肺功能和临床症状,调节炎性因子水平,且药物副作用少。     

基于颈部软组织张力探讨悬吊循经弹拨结合麦肯基疗法对颈型颈椎病的疗效及机制

目的比较悬吊循经弹拨结合麦肯基疗法与两者分别单一治疗颈型颈椎病的临床疗效差异并探讨其疗效机制。方法将88例符合标准的患者按照随机数字表法分为综合组(29例)、对照1组(30例)、对照2组(29例)。对照1组采用悬吊循经弹拨法,对照2组采用麦肯基疗法,综合组将对照组的治疗方法相结合,5 d为1疗程,共观察2个疗程。应用颈椎病临床评价量表(clinical assessment scale for cervical spondylosis,CASCS)、利用表面肌电图比较2个疗程治疗前后颈椎功能情况以及胸锁乳突肌、斜方肌上部纤维平均功率频率(mean power frequency,MPF)和中位频率(median frequency,MF)数值变化(对应肌肉的疲劳度改变)。结果治疗结束后,综合组总有效率96.55%,优于对照1组总有效率80.00%和对照2组75.86%(P<0.05或P<0.01),且综合组颈椎功能情况及胸锁乳突肌、斜方肌上部纤维MPF、MF值的治疗效果均优于对照1组和对照2组,组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。结论悬吊循经弹拨法结合麦肯基疗法能有效治疗颈型颈椎病,其效果优于单纯悬吊循经弹拨法和单纯麦肯基疗法,能更好地修复颈部软组织张力,实现生物力学平衡,恢复颈椎运动功能,因此临床上可推广此法治疗颈型颈椎病。