Augmentation of Shoulder Contour Using a Calf Implant

Sprengel deformity is a rare orthopedic condition that is associated with functional and cosmetic impairment. Results of orthopedic procedures are usually inconsistent and cosmetic results are far from satisfactory in these patients. A silicone-gel-filled calf prosthesis was used to correct the shoulder contour in a patient with Sprengel deformity. Cosmetically the deformity can be restored by using a calf implant for patients in whom orthopedic procedures are not likely to yield a satisfactory outcome.     

Reference Data of Vertebral Morphometry by X-ray Absorptiometry (MXA) in Argentine Women

Anterior, middle, and posterior heights and A/P and M/P ratios were determined from T5 to L4 in 111 normal Caucasian Argentine women from 20 to 70 years of age using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) densitometry (Expert XL). Scanning time was less than 1 minute and the semiautomatic analysis requires ∼5 minutes. The precision error for the measurements ranged from 2.2% to 4.6%. The absolute precision error for heights was 0.6 mm. The vertebral bodies tended to be significantly larger in younger women than older women, especially for anterior and middle heights and the A/P and M/P ratios of the mid-thoracic vertebrae (T6–T10). There were no significant differences between pre- and postmenopausal women in the lumbar vertebral heights. It does not appear that this was a cohort effect because stature was identical in both age groups, and there was no age difference in posterior height. The Expert-XL software normalized the vertebral height based on the average height of the L2-L4 segment in order to minimize the influence of interindividual variation of body size. The average Z-scores for vertebral heights and ratios provided by the software were close to zero indicating that the normalization procedure appropriately corrected for smaller stature in Argentine women. Consequently, the reference values for morphometry X-ray absorptiometry (MXA) were appropriate for our population. In summary, we found that (1) in ``normal' women the anterior heights of the thoracic vertebrae (and therefore the A/P ratio) were higher in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women; and (2) the normalization approach corrected for differences of vertebral height and allowed utilization of the manufacturers software in our population. Received: 28 June 1999 / Accepted: 2 November 1999     

Stomach versus sigmoid colon in children undergoing major reconstruction of the lower urinary tract

A review of 50 patients who underwent intestinocystoplasty (ICP) or gastrocystoplasty (GCP) replacement at our department during an 8-year period is presented. The most common diagnoses were neurogenic bladder and bladder exstrophy. A total of 48 patients underwent augmentation cystoplasty and 2 had total bladder replacement. Mean follow-up time was 42 months. The clinical and metabolic aspects of the two types of ICP are reported. Hyperchloremic acidosis requiring therapy was not encountered, although mild degrees were seen after sigmoid augmentation in 36% of patients. A dysuria-hematuria syndrome (DHS) was seen in 50% of the patients who underwent GCP. Operative mortality rate was nil. Significant surgical complications occurred in 36% of the patients. The overall success rate for ICP and GCP in this series was 79.15%. ICP gives effective results when used to increase the compliance of the lower urinary tract, but problems related to electrolyte absorption, stones, and mucus production are often encountered. In GCP electrolyte absorption is practically eliminated, so that this technique can be used in patients with renal damage. In addition, patients with a normal bladder plate (bladder exstrophy) can achieve normal voiding with time. The authors believe that patients must be made aware of the possibility of DHS and that this syndrome needs further investigation.     

Robust-Deep: A Method for Increasing Brain Imaging Datasets to Improve Deep Learning Models’ Performance and Robustness

A small dataset commonly affects generalization, robustness, and overall performance of deep neural networks (DNNs) in medical imaging research. Since gathering large clinical databases is always difficult, we proposed an analytical method for producing a large realistic/diverse dataset. Clinical brain PET/CT/MR images including full-dose (FD), low-dose (LD) corresponding to only 5 % of events acquired in the FD scan, non-attenuated correction (NAC) and CT-based measured attenuation correction (MAC) PET images, CT images and T1 and T2 MR sequences of 35 patients were included. All images were registered to the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) template. Laplacian blending was used to make a natural presentation using information in the frequency domain of images from two separate patients, as well as the blending mask. This classical technique from the computer vision and image processing communities is still widely used and unlike modern DNNs, does not require the availability of training data. A modified ResNet DNN was implemented to evaluate four image-to-image translation tasks, including LD to FD, LD+MR to FD, NAC to MAC, and MRI to CT, with and without using the synthesized images. Quantitative analysis using established metrics, including the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index metric (SSIM), and joint histogram analysis was performed for quantitative evaluation. The quantitative comparison between the registered small dataset containing 35 patients and the large dataset containing 350 synthesized plus 35 real dataset demonstrated improvement of the RMSE and SSIM by 29% and 8% for LD to FD, 40% and 7% for LD+MRI to FD, 16% and 8% for NAC to MAC, and 24% and 11% for MRI to CT mapping task, respectively. The qualitative/quantitative analysis demonstrated that the proposed model improved the performance of all four DNN models through producing images of higher quality and lower quantitative bias and variance compared to reference images.     

Hyaluronic acid augmentation pharyngoplasty complicated by retropharyngeal abscess and grisel syndrome: Case report and literature review

Augmentation pharyngoplasty, in which tissue filler or grafts are used to augment the posterior nasopharynx, is an accepted option to treat velopharyngeal insufficiency. It is generally well tolerated and safe with limited side effects. In this study, we describe a case of a retropharyngeal abscess and Grisel syndrome following hyaluronic acid augmentation pharyngoplasty. Grisel syndrome is a serious condition that requires early diagnosis and prompt intervention to prevent further complications.     

经皮球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体骨折68例疗效分析

目的:探讨经皮球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术在治疗骨质疏松性椎体骨折中的临床疗效。方法:2009年10月-2011年4月选择本科68例骨质疏松性椎体骨折患者,在C臂机或CT透视引导下,经单侧或双侧椎弓根入路行经皮球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术。在术前术后应用疼痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)对患者疼痛进行评分,术后随访。结果:治疗后症状得到改善,患者VAS下降(P<0.01),病椎椎体高度增加(P<0.01)。结论:经皮球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体骨折,可以快速缓解疼痛,安全恢复椎体高度,明显提高生活质量,是一种安全、有效的微创操作技术,     

Influence of Xenogeneic and Alloplastic Carriers for Bone Augmentation on Human Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells

Alloplastic and xenogeneic bone grafting materials are frequently used for bone augmentation. The effect of these materials on precursor cells for bone augmentation is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to ascertain, in vitro, how augmentation materials influence the growth rates and viability of human unrestricted somatic stem cells. The biocompatibility of two xenogeneic and one alloplastic bone graft was tested using human unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs). Proliferation, growth, survival and attachment of unrestricted somatic stem cells were monitored after 24 h, 48 h and 7 days. Furthermore, cell shape and morphology were evaluated by SEM. Scaffolds were assessed for their physical properties by Micro-CT imaging. USSCs showed distinct proliferation on the different carriers. Greatest proliferation was observed on the xenogeneic carriers along with improved viability of the cells. Pore sizes of the scaffolds varied significantly, with the xenogeneic materials providing greater pore sizes than the synthetic inorganic material. Unrestricted somatic stem cells in combination with a bovine collagenous bone block seem to be very compatible. A scaffold’s surface morphology, pore size and bioactive characteristics influence the proliferation, attachment and viability of USSCs.     

颗粒骨复合聚乳酸修复椎板缺损的有限元分析

目的探讨自体微小颗粒骨复合聚乳酸移植修复狗腰部椎板骨缺损的成骨效果。方法犬9只,每只犬选取L1、L3、L5三个节段,行后路椎板切除造成骨缺损,切除骨质研磨成微小颗粒骨,与聚乳酸复合,实验随机分为4组:A组:自体微小颗粒骨 聚乳酸组;B组:自体微小颗粒骨组;C组:聚乳酸组;D组:空白对照组,每组选取7个节段。于术后8周进行CT扫描,应用有限元法分析。结果加载负荷后位移值统计学分析显示空白对照组>聚乳酸组>自体微小颗粒骨组>自体微小颗粒骨 聚乳酸组。结论聚乳酸与自体微小颗粒骨复合修复骨缺损的力学强度优势较明显,并具有一定的结构完整性和稳定性。     

经皮椎体后凸成形术在治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折中恢复椎体高度局限性的观察及机制探讨

目的 观察经皮椎体后凸成形术在治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折中恢复椎体高度局限性并探讨其机制.方法 回顾分析行经皮椎体后凸成形术治疗39例骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折患者(43个椎体)的手术资料,均为单侧穿刺,椎弓根人路,单球囊扩张并骨水泥注入,取穿刺前、球囊扩张时、骨水泥注入后伤椎标准侧位片,测量伤椎后缘和中部高度,计算穿刺前、球囊扩张时及PMMA注入后两者的比值,球囊扩张时抬高比及骨水泥注入后的失高比.结果 手术成功率为100％;球囊扩张时椎体中部抬高40.0％±14.2％,PMMA注入后失高34.4％±19.4％.球囊扩张时伤椎中部抬高及PMMA注入后失高两两比较差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为8.66和7.68,P值均＜0.05).结论 PKP过程中存在抬升椎体的失高现象,需要新的器材替代现有的球囊扩张器.     

小剂量利培酮强化抗抑郁剂治疗双相抑郁发作的疗效和安全性研究

目的考察小剂量利培酮强化抗抑郁剂治疗对双相抑郁发作的疗效和安全性。方法符合入组标准的住院患者,先接受2周的丙戊酸钠（ valproate,VPA）合并西酞普兰（ citalopram,CIT）治疗。2周末相对于基线的蒙哥马利抑郁量表（ Montgomery and Asberg Depression Scale,MADRS）减分率〈50%者按照1：1的比例采用数字表法随机分配至丙戊酸钠＋西酞普兰组（ VPA＋CIT）或丙戊酸钠＋西酞普兰＋利培酮组（ risperidone,RIS）,接受为期6周的随机开放治疗,进行疗效评价及安全性评价。结果治疗终点VPA＋CIT＋RIS组和VPA＋CIT组MADRS、简明精神病量表（ Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale,BPRS）、临床疗效总评量表-严重程度（ Clinical Global Impression-severity of illness,CGI-S）和临床疗效总评量表-改善程度（ Clinical Global Impression-improvement of illness,CGI-I）评分较导入期末均明显降低,其中MADRS、BPRS 、杨氏躁狂量表（ Young Mania Rating Scale,YMRS）两组对比差异没有统计学意义（P〉0.05）。 CGI-I 2组对比,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。 BPRS阳性因子评分两组对比,差异没有统计学意义（P〉0.05）。随机治疗第1周末BPRS阳性因子评分VPA＋CIT＋RIS组较VPA＋CIT组明显降低,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,显示VPA＋CIT＋RIS组较VPA＋CIT组在改善阳性精神病性症状方面起效更快。在随机治疗第2周,VPA＋CIT＋RIS组有效率为66.0%,VPA＋CIT组为33.3%,显示VPA＋CIT＋RIS组较VPA＋CIT组起效更快。结论 VPA＋CIT＋RIS与VPA＋CIT治疗双相抑郁发作均安全有效。在快速起效及降低转相风险方面,VPA＋CIT＋RIS组优于VPA＋CIT组。