BACKGROUND:Preparation of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite by conventional methods has the deficiency of simple structure, low degree of automation and difficulty in porosity and pore size control, which limits the diverse process and manufacture. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the feasibility of three-dimensional printing technology for the preparation of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded material molding. METHODS:A CAD model of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite was designed to be the cylinder (diameter 25 mm, height 20 mm), while the titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant designed as a CAD model of the cylinder with 25 mm in diameter asnd 10 mm in height with two layers, the upper layer with titanium powder and the lower layer with titanium/hydroxyapatite powder. The composite and functional y graded implant were processed by the three-dimensional printing and sintered. The sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant were observed for their microstructures, and the X-ray diffraction analysis and compressive strength testing were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant had uniform contraction and no obvious distortion. The sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite composite had the aperture size from 50 to 150μm. There occurred a chemical reaction between titanium and hydroxyapatite during the sintering process, obtaining the new creations of Ca3(PO4)2, CaTiO3, TiO2 and CaO. Its compressive strength was (184.3±27.1) MPa. The microstructure of titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant had graded structures with a visible line between the two layers. The results of the microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant can meet the requirements of medical biological implant materials.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic sphincterotomy(EST)in treating common bile duct stone or strictive papillitis,and then analyze possible related risk factors for long-term complications after EST.Methods We made a retrospective study of 103 out of 158 patients who had EST from January 2005 to December 2006.Results In the 103 patients,there were 13 cases of long-term complications(≥3 m after EST),the incident rate being 12.6%:recurrent calculus of common bile duct in 8 cases,combined cholangitis in 6;cholangitis in 1;acute calculus cholecystitis in 2;residual calculus in 1 case;chronic pancreatitis in 1 case.Conclusion Endoscopic papillosphincterotomy is an effective and safe way to treat biliary tract obstruction.Preoperative jaundice may be the risk factor inducing long-term complications after EST.

Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures

Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the short-term and mid-to-long-term clinical effectiveness of endovascular isolation technique with covered-stent in treating Stanford type B aortic dissection. Methods A total of 183 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection, who were admitted to authors’ hospital during the period from January 2005 to December 2013 to receive endovascular isolation treatment with covered-stent under general anaethesia, were enrolled in this study. The clinical data, including post-operative symptoms, complications, retention time in ICU, hospitalization days, 30-day mortality, etc. were retrospectively analyzed. After discharged from hospital, the patients were followed up to check the situation, position and shape of the stent, the diameter of dissection false lumen, the internal leakage, etc. The survival rate and the quality of life were determined. Results Endovascular isolation procedure with covered-stent was successfully accomplished in all the 183 cases. The retention time in ICU was (3.08 ± 1.93) days, the mean hospitalization time was (3.08 ± 1.93) days, and the 30-day mortality was 1.09%. After discharged from hospital, the patients were followed up regularly, and no collapse or displacement of stent was observed, and the stent remained in its normal shape. No recurrence of dissection, rupture or reversal tear was observed. No long existing internal leakage could be detected. During the follow-up period 4 patients died, among them three died from cerebral infarction and one died of natural death. The 5-year survival rate was 97.82% and the patient’s quality of life did not become apparently worse. Conclusion For the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection, endovascular isolation therapy with covered-stent has excellent short-term effect and stable mid-to-long-term result.

Objective To analyze MRI features of different cervical flexion positions in Hirayama disease (HD) and discuss the effects on these features by different cervical flexion angles.Methods The cervical MR images of neutral and different flexion positions (20°, 25°, 30°, 35° ,40°) of 20 patients, who were clinically diagnosed as HD,were studied.At flexion positions, the appearance of anterior shifting of the posterior wall of the cervical dural canal and widening of epidural space was recorded.The maximum sagittal diameters (d) of widened cervical epidural space and the cervical canal sagittal diameters (D) on the same level were measured to calculate d/D value for quantitative evaluation of the two signs.Comparisons of appearance of the signs among different flexion positions were made using F/sher's exact test.Repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA) was used to compare mean d/D values among groups with different positions, and paired comparisons were also performed.Results The appearance of anterior shifting of the posterior wall of the cervical dural canal were different between 20° group (70%, 14/20) and other 4 larger angles groups (100%) (χ2 =5.76, P=0.020).The d/D values were 0.51±0.06,0.54±0.08,0.57±0.09,0.61±0.09,0.59±0.07 respectively at abovementioned 5 flexion positions, which were different among groups( F = 3.450 ,P = 0.013 ).The value was greater at 35° than that at 20° and 25°( P <0.05 ), and it was also greater at 40° than that at 20° ( P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Cervical flexion angle has an effect on anterior shifting of the posterior wall of the cervical dural canal and widening of epidural space.

Animals ; Carbon Radioisotopes ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; genetics ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glucose ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate the efficacy of computer-assisted postural balance training system combined with Bobath balance training on balance disorders after cerebellar stroke.Methods Forty patients with balance disorders after cerebellar stroke were randomly divided into either a combined training group or a control group (n =20 in each group).The control group was trained with Bobath balance training and routine rehabilitation treatment.On the basis of this,the combined training group used the computerassisted postural balance training system for rehabilitation treatment.The balance function,activities of daily living and motor function were evaluated with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS),modified Barthel Index,mBI)and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after treatment,and the computer-assisted postural balance training system was used to conduct the postural balance ability according to the center of gravity track length,rectangle area of track,and peripheral area of track.Results There were no significant differences in various indexes before treatment between the patients of both groups.The scores of BBS,mBI and FMA after treatment were increased obviously (all P ＜ 0.001).The the center of gravity track length,rectangle area of track,and peripheral area of track were decreased compared before treatment (P ＜0.001 or 0.05).In addition to the FMA score,all the indexes of the combined training group after treatment were significantly better than those of the control group (all P＜0.05).Conclusions On the basis of Bobath balance training,using computer-assisted postural balance training system can obviously improve the balance disorder and extremities motion ability after cerebellar stroke,and thus improving the activities of daily living in cerebellar stroke patients.

Objective To explore the value of abnormal imaging findings on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in delayed graft function (DGF). Methods The conventional MRI and SWI images of 26 cases with DGF and 20 cases with normal renal function of transplanted kidneys were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with cysts and angiomyolipomas were excluded. Normal structures of transplanted kidney were identified. If lesions of abnormal signal intensity were found in the transplanted kidney, the location, border and signal intensity compared to renal cortex would be analyzed. The differences in signal intensity between the abnormal signal lesions and normal renal cortex in the same SWI layer of DGF were compared by using independent-sample t test. The differences in positive detection rate of discovering the abnormal signal lesions in DGF between conventional MRI and SWI were compared by using McNemar test. Results Of the 26 cases with DGF, one case was found to exhibit abnormally low signal lesions with fuzzy boundary located at junctional zone between cortex and medulla on both conventional MRI and SWI images. Ten cases were found to exhibit abnormally low signal lesions with fuzzy boundary located at junctional zone between cortex and medulla on SWI images only. Fifteen cases exhibited no abnormal signal lesions on both conventional MRI and SWI images. Twenty cases with normal renal function of transplanted kidney, no abnormal signal lesions were found on both conventional MRI and SWI images. The differences in signal intensity between the abnormally low signal lesions (130±20) and normal renal cortex (177±25) in the same SWI layer of 11 cases with DGF were statistically significant (t=-4.582,P<0.01). The differences in positive detection rate of discovering the abnormally low signal lesions in DGF between conventional MRI [3.8%(1/26)] and SWI [42.3% (11/26)] were statistically significant (χ2=8.100,P=0.002). Conclusions Abnormally low signal lesions with fuzzy boundary located at junctional zone between cortex and medulla on SWI images suggest the presence of DGF. Compared with conventional MRI, SWI appears to be superior in detecting the abnormally low signal lesions.

Objective:To understand the mode and effect of the consultations involved clinical pharmacists, and discuss the work-ing process and mode of the consultations. Methods:Based on the practical work and team discussion, the flow chart and consultation registration form for the clinical pharmacist consultations were established and applied. Totally 410 cases of clinica1 pharmacist consul-tations were retrospectively investigated from March 2009 to December 2012. Results:The consultation flow chart was strictly followed by the clinical pharmacists in our hospital, and the obvious effect was shown. The number of consultation was increased from 59 cases in 2009 to 122 cases in 2013. In all the consultation cases, 21 departments were involved, including the medical departments and the surgery departments. Among the cases,the adjustment in antibacterial drug treatment was the main requirements. Meanwhile, the a-doption rate of the clinical pharmacist suggestions was 95. 12%. Conclusion:Clinical pharmacists are playing an important role in clin-ical treatment. The consultation work can be regulated by the consultation flow chart and registration form with the improved adoption rate and consultation quality.