Management of sagittal craniosynostosis: morphological comparison of eight surgical techniques

The aim of this study was to carry out a retrospective multicentre study comparing the morphological outcome of 8 techniques used for the management of sagittal synostosis versus a large cohort of control patients. Computed tomographic (CT) images were obtained from children CT-scanned for non-craniosynostosis related events (n = 241) and SS patients at preoperative and postoperative follow-up stages (n = 101). No significant difference in morphological outcomes was observed between the techniques considered in this study. However, the majority of techniques showed a tendency for relapse. Further, the more invasive procedures at older ages seem to lead to larger intracranial volume compared to less invasive techniques at younger ages. This study can be a first step towards future multicentre studies, comparing surgical results and offering a possibility for objective benchmarking of outcomes between methods and centres.     

A Proposal for an Alternative Approach to Particle Size Method Development During Early-Stage Small Molecule Pharmaceutical Development

Particle size analysis in the pharmaceutical industry has long been a source of debate regarding how best to define measurement accuracy; the degree to which the result of a measurement or calculation conforms to the true value. Defining a “true” value for the size of a particle can be challenging as the output of its measurement will differ because of variations in measurement approaches, instrumental differences and calculation methods. Consequently, for “real” particles, a universal “true” value does not exist and accuracy is therefore not a definable characteristic. Accordingly, precision is then a measure of the ability to reproducibly achieve a measurement of unknown relevance.This article proposes, in place of accuracy, a means to define the “appropriateness” of a measurement in line with the critical quality attributes (CQA) of the material being characterized. The decision as to whether the measurement is correct should involve a link to the CQA; that is, correlation should be demonstrated, without which the measured particle size cannot be defined as a critical material attribute.Correspondingly, methods should also be able to provide sufficient precision to demonstrate discrimination relating to variation in the CQA. The benefits and challenges of this approach are discussed.     

Synergism through combination of chemotherapy and oxidative stress-induced autophagy in A549 lung cancer cells using redox-responsive nanohybrids: A new strategy for cancer therapy

A combination of various therapeutic approaches has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. A safe and competent nano-delivery system is thus in urgent demand to facilitate the simultaneous transport of various therapeutic agents to cancer cells and a tumor region to achieve synergistic effect. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSNs) were fabricated herein as potential candidates for drug delivery. Serving as gatekeepers, GNPs (5 nm in diameter) were attached onto the amino-functionalized MSNs (denoted as NMSNs) via a relatively weak gold–nitrogen bonding. The resulting nanohybrids (denoted as GCMSNs) were uptaken by cells, and the detachment of GNPs and subsequent intracellular drug release from NMSNs were achieved by competitive binding of intracellular glutathione to GNPs. In addition to the function of gatekeeping, GNPs also play another role as the oxidative stress elicitor. Our in vitro studies revealed that GCMSNs induced higher oxidative stress in lung cancer cells (A549) than in normal cells (3T3-L1). This growth inhibitory effect found in the cancer cells was likely induced by mitochondria dysfunction originated from the GCMSN-induced, oxidative stress-triggered mitochondria-mediated autophagy. The redox-responsive nanohybrids were further loaded with camptothecin and the intensified synergistic therapeutic effects were observed associated with combined chemotherapy and oxidative stress strategy. The results clearly demonstrate that such unique nanohybrids hold great promise for selective and effective cancer treatments.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情下喉镜检查的防护策略

目的探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID 19）疫情下耳鼻咽喉头颈外科喉镜室如何做好防护工作，在保证临床诊疗工作顺利完成的同时保护好医务人员及患者健康、避免院内交叉感染。方法本研究查阅相关资料并总结医院的疫情防控经验及应对策略，在患者合理分流、喉镜室工作环境的布置及工作人员的个人防护、喉镜检查前的准备工作、检查中的操作流程及注意事项及检查后的清洁消毒工作等方面做好疫情期间周详合理的工作安排。结果疫情期间，耳鼻咽喉头颈外科喉镜室每日临床工作顺利完成，所有医务人员及患者均未感染新型冠状病毒，也未出现其他院内交叉感染。结论耳鼻咽喉头颈外科喉镜室的防护策略合理有效，能够在完成临床诊疗工作的同时有效保护医患的健康。     

Long-term skeletal stability in the treatment of mandibular prognathism with a physiological positioning strategy

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term skeletal stability of the mandible in 21 patients after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning. The measurement points SNB, B point (X, Y), Pog (X, Y), and the angle of the ramus were measured on cephalometric photographs to assess skeletal stability preoperatively, immediately after operation, and one and two years postoperatively. In addition, we evaluated the clinical symptoms of disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The analysis of the cephalometric photographs showed that SNB, B point X, and Pog X showed no significant differences among the postoperative time points. On the other hand, B point Y and Pog Y showed no significant differences throughout the study period. We compared the angle of the ramus before operation and two years postoperatively, and no significant difference was found. In addition, no cases showed any pathological symptoms of disorders of the TMJ two years postoperatively. The long-term stability after orthognathic surgery with physiological positioning was confirmed, and it seems to be a reliable orthognathic treatment in patients with mandibular prognathism.     

Effects of incentives,age, and behavior on brain activation during inhibitory control: A longitudinal fMRI study

We investigated changes in brain function supporting inhibitory control under age-controlled incentivized conditions, separating age- and performance-related activation in an accelerated longitudinal design including 10- to 22-year-olds. Better inhibitory control correlated with striatal activation during neutral trials, while Age X Behavior interactions in the striatum indicated that in the absence of extrinsic incentives, younger subjects with greater reward circuitry activation successfully engage in greater inhibitory control. Age was negatively correlated with ventral amygdala activation during Loss trials, suggesting that amygdala function more strongly mediates bottom-up processing earlier in development when controlling the negative aspects of incentives to support inhibitory control. Together, these results indicate that with development, reward-modulated cognitive control may be supported by incentive processing transitions in the amygdala, and from facilitative to obstructive striatal function during inhibitory control.     

基于生物活性与效应基准的中药质量 评价技术发展现状与展望

中药质量的评控问题是制约中药现代化发展的瓶颈,因此有必要在现有检测方法的基础上结合生物评价,继而更为全面地保证中药质量。生物评价是完善中药质量标准、保证临床功效和安全性评价的重要方法,已成为中药质量标准化发展趋势之一。在此处主要论述了近年来基于生物活性与效应基准的中药质量评价技术和已取得的部分研究进展,同时对目前中药质量生物评价研究与应用中存在的主要问题进行探讨,进一步对其未来应用做出展望,从而更好的对中药质量进行控制。     

试论医学院校的转型和发展战略

我国医学院校的发展道路有通过“强强联合”并入综合性大学和通过学科多样化“转型”为多科性大学两种类型。“转型”方式虽然不受广泛的关注，却正在低调而广泛地运行，成为独立设置医学院校自我发展和提高的主要方式。转型期医学院校在发展战略上有明显共性，如专业学科布局的优化、大力扶植基础学科、整合临床资源凸显医学主体、校园规划和建设体现多科性大学的包容性等，应予以重视。     

肺泡征募对单肺通气时氧合和肺内分流的影响

目的探讨肺泡征募(ARS)通气方式对单肺通气(OLV)时氧合和肺内分流的影响。方法择期行食管癌根治术患者24例随机分为观察组和对照组。全麻诱导后插入右双腔支气管导管,开胸后行OLV。观察组ARS于开胸后15min进行。记录动脉血压、HR和SpO2,并在侧卧后双肺通气(TLV)15min、OLV15min、OLV40min行动脉血气分析,以简化肺内分流公式计算肺内分流率(Qs/Qt)值。结果TLV15min和OLV15min时,观察组和对照组的SpO2、SaO2、PaO2、Qs/Qt和PaCO2差异无显著意义(P>0.05)。OLV40minARS观察组较对照组PaO2显著增加(P<0.05),Qs/Qt明显降低(P<0.05)。结论ARS通气方式在麻醉状态下OLV时可改善肺内氧合,降低肺内分流。