Do social support and community engagement act as mechanisms in the association between neighbourhood income inequality and the mental health of mothers in Calgary,Canada? A mediation analysis

PurposeAccording to the social determinants of health framework, income inequality is a potential risk factor for adverse mental health. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms suspected to mediate this relationship. The current study addresses this gap through a mediation analysis to determine if social support and community engagement act as mediators linking neighbourhood income inequality to maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms within a cohort of new mothers living in the City of Calgary, Canada.MethodsData collected at three years postpartum from mothers belonging to the All Our Families (AOF) cohort were used in the current study. Maternal data were collected between 2012 and 2015 and linked to neighbourhood socioeconomic data from the 2006 Canadian Census. Income inequality was measured using Gini coefficients derived from 2006 after-tax census data. Generalized structural equation models were used to quantify the associations between income inequality and mental health symptoms, and to assess the potential direct and indirect mediating effects of maternal social support and community engagement.ResultsIncome inequality was not significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.32, 95%CI = −0.067, 0.70), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.11, 95%CI = −0.39, 0.60), or lower social support. Income inequality was not associated with community engagement. For the depression models, higher social support was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = −0.13, 95%CI = −0.15, −0.097), while community engagement was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.059, 95%CI = −0.15, 0.27). Similarly, for the anxiety models, lower anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with higher levels of social support (β = −0.17, 95%CI = −0.20, −0.13) but not with higher levels of community engagement (β = 0.14, 95%CI = −0.14, 0.41).ConclusionThe current study did not find clear evidence for social support or community engagement mediating the relationship between neighbourhood income inequality and maternal mental health. Future investigations should employ a broader longitudinal approach to capture changes in income inequality, potential mediators, and mental health symptomatology over time.     

PARP7 negatively regulates the type I interferon response in cancer cells and its inhibition triggers antitumor immunity

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运动学对线应用于全膝关节置换术的研究进展

全膝关节置换术是目前治疗终末期膝关节骨性关节炎最有效的方法之一，全膝关节置换术后膝关节功能、术后膝关节疼痛与术后下肢力线有着密切的关系。目前膝关节置换术下肢对线方式主要采用机械力学对线方法，该方法可以改善膝关节功能，但是有部分患者也会产生术后膝关节的疼痛、活动受限等并发症，导致术后患者满意度较差。近些年越来越多的研究开始关注运动力学对线技术并应用于临床。运动学对线技术旨在重建患者的解剖结构，将膝关节假体运动轴与膝关节生理性运动轴保持一致，减少膝关节周围软组织和韧带的松解，实现膝关节生理性运动。该文就运动力学对线方法在全膝关节置换术中的应用进展作一综述。     

Comparison of screw fixation versus non-fixation in dorsal opening wedge medial cuneiform osteotomy of adult acquired flatfoot

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare the radiographic and functional results between fixation and non-fixation in the Cotton osteotomy for the treatment of adult acquired flatfoot.MethodsA retrospective, case-controlled study of consecutive stage IIB posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD) patients treated with the same bony reconstructive surgery including cotton osteotomy between 2013 and 2017. Meary’s angle, the medial arch sag angle (MASA), and medial cuneiform cobb angle (MCCA) were evaluated pre-operation, at first weight bearing after surgery, and 12 months post operation.ResultsForty feet were included in the study. The cotton osteotomy utilized screw fixation (n = 20) or non-fixation technique (n = 20). No significant differences between groups were found in pre-operative and follow-up radiographic parameters, union rate, and functional results.ConclusionThe non-fixation with press fit technique is a reliable procedure for Cotton osteotomy and as effective as screw fixation.Level of evidenceLevel III, case control study     

Retrograde Instrumentation of Surgically Resected Roots Using Controlled Memory Files: A Human Cadaver Study

IntroductionThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the amount of residual obturation material of retroinstrumented surgically resected roots using controlled memory files and to evaluate the incidence of adverse treatment outcomes.MethodsThirty maxillary anterior teeth in human cadavers were selected, and nonsurgical root canal treatment was performed on these teeth. A standardized 4-mm osteotomy and a 3-mm root resection with as close to 0° bevel as possible were made on each tooth. A microsurgical diamond tip was used to create a 1- to 2-mm starting point for each retropreparation. A 25/06 and 30/06 VTaper 2H were bent at about 90° angle to mimic the clinical and anatomic restrictions and used to create a retropreparation to a depth of 14 mm. Micro–computed tomography scans were taken and analyzed for volume and percentage of residual obturation material at 5 and 10 mm. In addition, the incidences of instrument separation and crack and ledge formation in the teeth were recorded.ResultsThe median volume of residual obturation at 5 and 10 mm was 0.18 mm³ (interquartile range, 0.36 mm³) and 1.97 mm³ (interquartile range, 1.99 mm³), respectively. The overall incidence of file separation during retropreparation was 13.33% (4/30). Among the cases analyzed with micro–computed tomography, none showed crack or ledge formation.ConclusionsRetroinstrumentation of surgically resected roots using controlled memory files cleans the canal effectively with relatively low adverse treatment outcomes. Although this novel technique is limited in application, it is a safe and effective way to achieve a deep, clean retropreparation.     

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage I lung cancer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: special reference to survival and radiation-induced pneumonitis

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate radiation-induced pneumonitis (RIP) and a related condition that we define in this report—prolonged minimal RIP (pmRIP)—after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for Stage I primary lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed 136 Stage I lung cancer patients with COPD who underwent SBRT. Airflow limitation on spirometry was classified into four Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades, with minor modifications: GOLD 1 (mild), GOLD 2 (moderate), GOLD 3 (severe) and GOLD 4 (very severe). On this basis, we defined two subgroups: COPD-free (COPD −) and COPD-positive (COPD +). There was no significant difference in overall survival or cause-specific–survival between these groups. Of the 136 patients, 44 (32%) had pmRIP. Multivariate analysis showed that COPD and the Brinkman index were statistically significant risk factors for the development of pmRIP. COPD and the Brinkman index were predictive factors for pmRIP, although our findings also indicate that SBRT can be tolerated in early lung cancer patients with COPD.     

Pyramidal and posterior osseous release for maxillary superior/posterior mobilization using an ultrasonic bone-cutting device after Le Fort I osteotomy

AimThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of pyramidal and posterior osseous release (PPOR) for maxillary impaction using an ultrasonic bone-cutting device after Le Fort I (LFI) osteotomy.Materials and methodsIn total, 31 Japanese adults with jaw deformities, diagnosed as having maxillary excess with mandibular prognathism or deficiency, underwent LFI osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. The patients were divided into two groups: a trimming group (15 patients, four men and 11 women; mean age 24.8 years) and a PPOR group (16 patients, seven men and nine women; mean age 22.8 years). In the trimming group, osseous interference around the descending palatine artery (DPA) was removed using forceps, rounding bur, and reciprocating rasp. The PPOR technique was used to remove osseous fragments created by V-shaped osteotomy around the DPA following vertical osteotomy behind the DPA using an ultrasonic bone-cutting device (Variosurg 3; NSK, Tochigi, Japan). The operative times for maxillary osteotomy, total operative times (including bilateral sagittal split osteotomy), and total blood loss were assessed.ResultsThe mean planned amounts of maxillary impaction were 4.37 ± 1.27 mm in the trimming group and 4.38 ± 1.36 mm in the PPOR group (p = 0.98). The mean maxillary operative time for the PPOR group was significantly shorter, by 25.5% (p < 0.001). Total operative time for the PPOR group was also significantly shorter, by 24.3% (p < 0.001). Mean blood loss was significantly lower in the PPOR group than in the trimming group (p = 0.003).ConclusionThe PPOR technique for maxillary impaction after LFI osteotomy shortened the operative time and enabled secure reduction of the maxilla in patients who required the treatment of maxillary impaction with preservation of the DPA bundle.     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.