Sialendoscopy plus laser lithotripsy in sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland in 64 patients: A simple and safe procedure

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the safety and efficiency of holmium laser-assisted lithotripsy during sialendoscopy of the submandibular gland using a retrospective, interventional consecutive case series.MethodsWe performed 374 sialendoscopies between 2008 and 2015 and evaluated all patients regarding clinical symptoms, clinical findings, therapy and outcome. We performed 109 procedures of holmium laser-assisted lithotripsy in 64 patients whose sialoliths measured 5 mm or more in diameter. In addition to retrospective case note reviews, we performed telephone interviews of all patients in January 2017.ResultsWe performed 374 consecutive submandibular gland sialendoscopy procedures in 276 patients between 2008 to 2015. Sialolithiasis had either previously been diagnosed, or symptoms highly suggestive of sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland presented in 197 patients.Holmium laser-assisted Laser lithotripsy was performed in 109 cases (64.9%). Smaller mobile concrement was removed directly either by forceps or wire basket, or following marsupialisation of the submandibular duct. This was the case in 88 patients (29.1%). Three patients (0.8%) required surgical removal of the submandibular gland due to early abscess. The majority of patients (n = 374 procedures; 90.1%) remained symptom-free after two or more years following intervention. In the remaining procedures (n = 37 procedures; 9.9%), patients reported discreet postprandial problems but did not seek medical attention. In total, we managed to preserve the submandibular gland and avoid open surgery in 99% of patients through endoscopic management of submandibular concrement and duct stenosis.ConclusionHolmium laser-assisted lithotripsy is a simple, safe, and effective procedure for treating patients with sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland. Removal of the gland is rarely required, and removing the gland without prior sialendoscopy is no longer recommended. It should be offered to all patients with submandibular gland sialolithiasis, or such patients should be referred to the appropriate centre for sialendoscopy before submandibulectomy is considered.     

An empirical investigation of time‐varying cost‐effectiveness across the product life cycle

Cost‐effectiveness is traditionally treated as a static estimate driven by clinical trial efficacy and drug price at launch. Prior studies suggest that cost‐effectiveness varies over the drug's lifetime. We examined the impact of “learning by doing,” one of the least studied drivers of changes in cost‐effectiveness across the product life cycle. We combined time‐series trends in effectiveness over time by cancer regimen using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare database. We estimated the time‐varying effects of treatments in colorectal and pancreatic cancer over their life cycle, including FOLFOX (leucovorin, 5‐fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) and gemcitabine, on survival of patients. Mean prices over time by strength and dosage form were calculated using historical wholesale acquisition costs. We found consistent downward trends in the mortality hazard ratios, which suggest that effectiveness improves over time. In the case of first‐line FOLFOX for colorectal cancer, the implied incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio based on the observational data fell from $610,000 per life year gained in 2004 to $27,000 per life year gained in 2011. Cost‐effectiveness estimated at launch is unlikely to be representative of cost‐effectiveness over the drug's lifetime. In the drugs studied, the impact of time‐varying clinical effectiveness dominated the impact of changing prices overtime.     

Head region of unconventional myosin I family members is responsible for the organ‐specificity of their roles in left–right polarity in Drosophila

In Drosophila, Myosin31DF (Myo31DF), encoding a Myosin ID protein, has crucial roles in left–right (LR) asymmetric development. Loss of Myo31DF function leads to laterality inversion for many organs, including the embryonic gut. Here, we found that Myo31DF was required before LR asymmetric morphogenesis in the hindgut, suggesting it functions in LR patterning instead of directly in hindgut morphological changes. Myosin61F (Myo61F) encodes another Myosin I, and Myo31DF or Myo61F overexpression reverses the laterality of different organs. Myo31DF and Myo61F have domains conserved in Myosin proteins, particularly in the proteins' head regions. We studied the roles of these domains in LR patterning using overexpression analysis. The Actin‐binding and ATP‐binding domains were essential for both proteins, but the IQ domains, binding sites for Myosin light chains, were required only by Myo31DF. Our results also suggest that the organ specificities of the Myo31DF and Myo61F activities depended on their head regions. Developmental Dynamics 237:3528–3537, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Bartha-k61 vaccine protects growing pigs against challenge with an emerging variant pseudorabies virus

Since late 2011, pseudorabies (PR) has resurfaced in many large pig farms, causing great economic loss for the swine industry in China. The PRV variant strain with high virulence and antigenic variation has been considered to be the main cause, and much attention has been focused on how to prevent and control the reoccurrence of this disease in China. In this study, two kinds of vaccination strategy were employed to evaluate the protective effects of Bartha-k61vaccine against both variant PRV (XJ5) and classical PRV (Ra) strain challenge. Humoral immunity response, clinical signs, survival rate, body weight, virus shedding and pathology were assessed in commercial pigs. The results showed that Bartha-k61vaccine, administered either once or twice, was effective against the PRV variant (XJ5) challenge, while no significant differences were observed between single and prime-boost vaccinated pigs. However, pigs vaccinated twice had better body weight gains than those vaccinated once, following challenge with the classical PRV strain (Ra) (p < 0.01). Therefore, the Bartha-k61 vaccine appears to be an effective vaccine to control the spread of PRV variants in China in the absence of new powerful candidate vaccines specific to these PRV strains.     

Total hip arthroplasty with step-cut subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy in high riding hip dislocated patients with previous femoral osteotomy

Background

To evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) in high riding hip dislocated patients with previous proximal femoral osteotomy.

Cyr61在单纯及放创复合伤愈合过程中的表达及其临床意义

目的研究Cyr61在单纯和放创复合伤愈合过程中的表达变化,对伤口愈合和组织改建的影响,及其在创伤实验室诊断中的意义。方法制备单纯及放创复合伤动物模型,采用光镜、免疫组化、RT-PCR等方法,动态观察伤口愈合过程中Cyr61mRNA及蛋白表达变化规律。结果5Gy(γ射线)全身照射后对伤口愈合有明显的损害作用。在伤后第3、6、9、15天,Cyr61表达量均随创伤愈合时间延长而增加;但在同一时间点,放创复合伤组Cyr61蛋白和mRNA的表达量均低于单纯创伤组,第21天放创复合伤组表达继续升高,而单纯创伤组表达下降。Cyr61表达时相拖后与辐射所致伤口愈合延迟一致。结论Cyr61在放创复合伤肉芽组织中表达较单纯创伤组明显降低,影响细胞迁移、新生血管形成和组织改建等重要过程,这可能是辐射所致伤口难愈的重要原因之一,认识Cyr61在创伤愈合过程的表达规律有助于创伤的预后判断和治疗。     

富含半胱氨酸蛋白61在结直肠癌中的应用

目的通过测定结直肠癌(colorectal cancer,CRC)患者血清富含半胱氨酸蛋白61(cysteine-rich Protein 61,Cyr61)水平,分析其用于结直肠癌诊断和病理评估的价值。方法用ELISA方法检测血清Cyr61浓度,再用ROC曲线计算最佳灵敏度和特异性,比较Cyr61在诊断结直肠癌的效果;分析Cyr61水平与结直肠癌TNM分期及淋巴结转移的关系,探究血清Cyr61水平与结直肠癌临床病理分期的关系。结果 CRC患者的血清Cyr61水平明显高于健康对照组(P<0.05),血清Cyr61、CEA和CA19-9检测对诊断结直肠癌的灵敏度分别为70.2%、48.2%和48.9%,Ⅲ-Ⅳ期血清Cyr61表达高于Ⅰ-Ⅱ期,有淋巴结转移的血清Cyr61表达高于无淋巴结转移。结论血清Cyr61水平可作为CRC诊断的潜在标志物,且与肿瘤分期和淋巴结转移有关,血清Cyr61水平对结直肠癌的监测有重要意义。