Understanding congenital vertical talus

Congenital vertical talus (CVT) is a rare foot deformity that presents with a rigid flat foot at birth. CVT can present as an isolated abnormality in the newborn, however in at least 50% of cases in association with other conditions. Full neuro-axial imaging is essential to detect any associated neurologic problems. Radiographs of the foot, including forced plantar and dorsiflexion laterals, are diagnostic. Gold standard modern treatment uses the Dobbs method of serial manipulation and casting with minimally-invasive stabilization of the talonavicular joint and Achilles tendon tenotomy.     

Effects of the Cerebral Aneurysm Treatment Method on Coil Packing Density and Its Relationship with the Ostium Area

PurposeTo test the following hypotheses: (a) balloon or stent assistance increases coil packing density (CPD) in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, and (b) CPD correlates to ostium area (OA) and aneurysm volume (AV).Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study included 60 aneurysms (54 ruptured and 6 unruptured) treated with simple coiling (SC) (n = 18), balloon-assisted coiling (BAC) (n = 7), or stent-assisted coiling (SAC) (n = 35) at the authors’ institution between August 2017 and December 2019. AV and OA measurements were obtained from 3-dimensional digital subtraction angiography images using commercial software. Coil sizes were retrieved from patient files, and coil volume (CV) measurements were obtained from https://www.angiocalc.com/. Analysis of covariance, multivariate covariance analysis, and Pearson correlation analyses were performed.ResultsThe median value for AV, CV, CPD, and OA was 63.4 mm³ (range, 5.5–1,771.4 mm³), 23.13 mm³ (range, 2.03–296.95 mm³), 33.29% (range, 13.41%–81.02%), and 10.7 mm² (range, 2.7–49.9 mm²), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the CPD values were not significantly different among the treatment groups, although OA significantly differed between the SC and SAC groups (P < .05). Pearson correlations showed that similar to AV, OA was negatively correlated with CPD (r = ?0.321, P < .05).ConclusionsThe CPD value in cerebral aneurysms treated with BAC or SAC did not differ from that in aneurysms treated with SC.     

Cyclical strain improves artificial equine tendon constructs in vitro

Tendon injuries are a common cause of morbidity in humans. They also occur frequently in horses, and the horse provides a relevant, large animal model in which to test novel therapies. To develop novel cell therapies that can aid tendon regeneration and reduce subsequent reinjury rates, the mechanisms that control tendon tissue regeneration and matrix remodelling need to be better understood. Although a range of chemical cues have been explored (growth factors, media etc.), the influence of the mechanical environment on tendon cell culture has yet to be fully elucidated. To mimic the in vivo environment, in this study, we have utilised a novel and affordable, custom‐made bioreactor to apply a cyclical strain to tendon‐like constructs generated in three‐dimensional (3D) culture by equine tenocytes. Dynamic shear analysis (DSA), dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to determine the mechanical and chemical properties of the resulting tendon‐like constructs. Our results demonstrate that equine tenocytes exposed to a 10% cyclical strain have an increased amount of collagen gel contraction after 7 and 8 days of culture compared with cells cultured in 3D in the absence of external strain. While all the tendon‐like constructs have a very similar chemical composition to native tendon, the application of strain improves their mechanical properties. We envisage that these results will contribute towards the development of improved biomimetic artificial tendon models for the development of novel strategies for equine regenerative therapies.     

如何根据特异性IgM和IgG评价新型冠状病毒宫内垂直传播

新型冠状病毒能否通过宫内垂直传播感染胎儿是关注的焦点,而如何正确评价新型冠状病毒是否存在宫内垂直传播,更是问题的关键所在。病毒学和血清学证据对诊断病毒宫内垂直传播都有价值。单纯将血清学结果用于确定新型冠状病毒宫内传播时,应至少对新生儿随访3~6个月,动态观察IgM和IgG滴度变化,同时随访其母亲,与母亲特异性抗体的滴度进行比较。     

实时剪切波弹性成像在拉米夫定治疗乙肝纤维化过程中的疗效评估作用

目的探讨实时剪切波弹性成像在评估拉米夫定治疗乙肝纤维化临床疗效中的作用。方法选取2017年1月～2018年1月我院收治的80例乙肝纤维化患者,根据随机数字法分为对照组和观察组,每组40例。对照组采用常规治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上给予拉米夫定进行治疗,治疗6个月。比较两组治疗前后肝功能、肝纤维化指标,利用实时剪切波弹性成像评估两组治疗前后肝脏弹性模量值及肝穿刺活检情况,并进行比较。结果两组治疗后AST、ALT、TBIL水平均明显低于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组治疗后AST、ALT、TBIL水平均明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组治疗后HA、LN、PⅢPN-P、CL-Ⅳ水平及杨氏弹性模量值均显著低于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组治疗后HA、LN、PⅢPN-P、CL-Ⅳ水平及杨氏弹性模量值均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);与治疗前相比,两组治疗后肝穿刺活检结果均有好转,尤其是汇管区、肝小叶内炎症及肝纤维化改善明显。结论实时剪切波弹性成像作为肝脏硬度定量检测的无创性技术,可用于拉米夫定治疗乙肝纤维化临床疗效评估的重要方法。