Comparison of Foaming Properties Between the Shirasu Porous Glass Membrane Device and Tessari’s Three-way Stopcock Technique for Polidocanol and Ethanolamine Oleate Foam Production: A Benchtop Study

PurposeTo compare the characteristics of polidocanol (POL) and ethanolamine oleate (EO) sclerosing foams produced by a Shirasu porous glass membrane (SPGM) device with those made using a 3-way stopcock (3WSC).Materials and MethodsFoam half-life times were measured in an ex-vivo benchtop study. Computed tomography (CT) images of each foam were obtained over the time course, and a CT texture analysis was conducted. The bubble size in each foam was measured by an optical microscope.ResultsMedian foam half-life times were longer in the SPGM group than in the 3WSC group (POL: 198 vs 166 s, P = .02; EO: 640 vs 391 s, P < .01). In the CT texture analysis, median standard deviation (SD) and entropy (randomness) were lower, and median energy (uniformity) and gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) homogeneity were higher in the SPGM group than in the 3WSC group (POL SD: at 30 s and 50–300 s; POL entropy: at 0–60 s; EO SD: at 0–600 s; EO entropy: at 0–460 s; POL energy: at 0–40 s; POL GLCM homogeneity: at 0–250 s; EO energy: at 0–360 s; EO GLCM homogeneity: at 0–480 s; all P < .05). Median bubble diameters in the SPGM group and in the 3WSC group were 69 and 83 μm (P < .01), respectively, in the POL foam; and 36 and 36 μm (P = .45), respectively, in the EO foam.ConclusionsPOL and EO foams had greater uniformity and longer foam half-life time when prepared with an SPGM device than with a 3WSC.     

Survival analysis of crown margin repair: A retrospective study in a dental school setting

BackgroundRepairing crowns with defective margins is minimally invasive and cost-effective compared with replacement. The authors’ objectives were to examine the survival trajectory of crown margin repairs and to determine the factors associated with survival.MethodsRecords of adult patients from January 2008 through August 2019 were reviewed for crown margin repairs completed at University of Iowa College of Dentistry. A total of 1,002 crown margin repairs were found. Each repair was followed through the end of study in 2019 or until an event (for example, additional repair, endodontic treatment, crown replacement, or extraction). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to study the relationship between selected covariates and time to event.ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 32.8% of the repairs needed reintervention. In the final model, repair material was the only significant covariate. No difference was found between the survival of repairs done with resin-modified glass ionomer and amalgam. However, the repairs done with resin-based composite and conventional glass ionomer were more likely (1.5 times: 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.10 times; and 2 times: 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.73 times, respectively) to need reintervention than were those done with amalgam.ConclusionsMedian survival time of crown margin repairs was 5.1 years (95% CI, 4.48 to 5.72 years). Median survival times for amalgam, resin-modified glass ionomer, resin-based composite, and glass ionomer repair materials were 5.7 years (95% CI, 4.80 to 6.25 years), 5.3 years (95% CI, 4.73 to 6.34 years), 3.2 years (95% CI, 2.51 to 6.19 years), and 3.0 years (95% CI, 2.53 to 3.62 years), respectively.Practical ImplicationsWhen considering crown margin repairs, resin-modified glass ionomer or amalgam is preferable to resin-based composite or glass ionomer.     

Pulmonary metastases in urogenital cancers: Surgical treatment and outcomes

IntroductionMetastasis is remaining one of the major problems in cancer treatment. Like many other malignancies, urogenital tumors originating from kidney, prostate, testes, and bladder tend to metastasize to the lungs.The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the operative results and prognosis of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital tumors.MethodsThis study was approved by the local ethical committee. We retrospectively analyzed the surgical and oncological results of patients who underwent lung resections for urogenital cancer metastases in our department between 2002 and 2018. Demographic data and clinicopathological features were extracted from the medical records. Survival outcomes according to cancer subtypes and early postoperative results of VATS and thoracotomy were analyzed.Results22 out of 126 patients referred for pulmonary metastasectomy to our department had metastases from urogenital tumors. These patients consisted of 17 males and five females. Their metastasis originated from renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n = 9), bladder tumor (n = 7), testis tumors (n = 4), and prostate cancer (n = 2). There was no intraoperative complication. Postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients.ConclusionsAlthough pulmonary metastasectomy in various types of tumors is well known and documented, the data is limited for metastases of urogenital cancers in the literature. Despite the limitations of this study, we aim to document our promising results of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with primary urogenital tumors and wanted to emphasize the role of minimally invasive approaches.     

Current understanding of bipolar disorder: Toward integration of biological basis and treatment strategies

Biological studies of bipolar disorder initially focused on the mechanism of action for antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, and the roles of monoamines (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) have been extensively studied. Thereafter, based on the mechanism of action of lithium, intracellular signal transduction systems, including inositol metabolism and intracellular calcium signaling, have drawn attention. Involvement of intracellular calcium signaling has been supported by genetics and cellular studies. Elucidation of the neural circuits affected by calcium signaling abnormalities is critical, and our previous study suggested a role of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus. The genetic vulnerability of mitochondria causes calcium dysregulation and results in the hyperexcitability of serotonergic neurons, which are suggested to be susceptible to oxidative stress. Efficacy of anticonvulsants, animal studies of candidate genes, and studies using induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived neurons have suggested a relation between bipolar disorder and the hyperexcitability of neurons. Recent genetic findings suggest the roles of polyunsaturated acids. At the systems level, social rhythm therapy targets circadian rhythm abnormalities, and cognitive behavioral therapy may target emotion/cognition (E/C) imbalance. In the future, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments may be combined and optimized based on the biological basis of each patient, which will realize individualized treatment.     

东北苦菜UPLC指纹图谱建立及化学模式识别

目的建立东北苦菜Ixeris vesicolor DC.UPLC指纹图谱,并进行化学模式识别。方法东北苦菜甲醇提取物的分析采用CORTECS C18色谱柱(2.1 mm×150 mm,1.6μm);流动相0.1%磷酸水⁃乙腈,梯度洗脱;体积流量0.1 mL/min;检测波长(1~15 min,327 nm;15~50 min,360 nm);柱温35℃;进样量2μL。采用相似度分析和化学模式识别技术相结合的方法对其进行质量评价。结果10批样品指纹图谱中有19个共有峰,相似度均大于0.953。通过聚类分析将样品分成2类,主成分分析结果支持聚类分析结果,采用正交偏最小二乘法⁃判别分析筛选出了导致不同批次药材质量差异的3个共有峰,指认出2号峰(绿原酸)和12号峰(木犀草素)。结论该方法稳定可靠,可系统、全面地评价东北苦菜的药材质量。     

川芎-天麻配伍对川芎中2种成分在大鼠脑内药动学的影响

目的探讨川芎⁃天麻配伍对川芎中川芎嗪、阿魏酸在大鼠脑内药动学的影响。方法18只大鼠随机分成川芎组、川芎⁃天麻(1∶0.25)组、川芎⁃天麻(1∶1)组,每组6只,建立血瘀型偏头痛模型。灌胃给药后,于大鼠脑内插入微透析探针,收集不同时间点脑透析液,UPLC⁃MS/MS法检测川芎嗪、阿魏酸含有量,绘制血药浓度⁃时间曲线,计算药动学参数。结果与单味药组比较,配伍组2种成分T1/2[川芎⁃天麻(1∶1)组阿魏酸除外]、MRT0~∞、Cmax、AUC0~∞升高(P<0.05,P<0.01);川芎⁃天麻(1∶0.25)组两者T1/2、MRT0~∞、AUC0~∞高于川芎⁃天麻(1∶1)组(P<0.05,P<0.01),川芎嗪Cmax降低(P<0.05)。结论天麻可提高川芎中川芎嗪、阿魏酸脑组织吸收程度,延长作用时间,减缓消除速率,增加蓄积,其作用强度与天麻剂量有关。