Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Proctectomy ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Rectum/surgery* ; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery

Objective To investigate how functional connectivity changes within default-mode network related to posterior cingulated cortex employing resting-state functional MRI (tMRI). Methods fMRI was compared between 16 mild Alzheimer' s disease (AD) patients and 16 normal elder subjects. Regions of functional connectivity to posterior cingulated cortex were gathered by calculating temporal correlations in low frequency fMRI signal fluctuations. SPM2 was applied to calculate significant differences of connectivity between group and within group. Significance threshold was set up at the corrected P <0. 01, pixel extent > 5. A random effect two-example t test was performed by SPM2 to achieve significant difference of functional connection between groups ( P < 0. 01, corrected, t = 2. 47, pixel extent > 5 ). Results Regions showing disrupted connectivity to posterior cingulated cortex were: ventral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), bilateral visual cortex, infero-temporal cortex (ITC), and left hippocampus, right thalamus, right dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex ( DLPFC), and precuneus. There were also regions showing increased connectivity with leftward asymmetry, these regions included: MPFC, left ITC, bilateral DLPFC, left pre- central motor cortex and left basal ganglia. Conclusions Impairments of memory and high visual-related functions in AD can be explained by functional disconnection in resting-state. Remoldability is reserved in mild AD to compensate for brain function which is taxed by left hemisphere preferentially. Our findings suggest that resting-state fMRI might be an appropriate approach for evaluating AD brain mechanism.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of our self-designed ultradistal locking tool in the intramedullary nailing for tibial fractures.Methods From January 2014 to May 2016,175 patients with tibial fracture were treated at our department.They were 119 men and 56 women,from 19 to 73 years of age (average,46.3 years).They were divided into 2 groups according to the different targeting devices used in the intramedullary nailing.Conventional locking tools were used in the 83 patients from January 2014 to January 2015 and our self-designed new ultradistal locking tools in the 92 patients from February 2015 to May 2016.The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time,frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy,and successful rate of one-time locking.Results There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in general clinical data(P ＞ 0.05),showing similarities of the 2 groups.The operation time(59.8 ±4.3 min),frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy(11.0 ± 2.1 times),and rate of one-time successful locking[94.4％ (238/252)] in the ultradistal locking group were significantly better than those in the conventional locking group [73.6 ± 5.3 min,23.0 ± 3.8 times and 85.7％ (180/210),respectively] (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Our new ultradistal locking tools are superior to the conventional ones in that they lead to shorter operation time,less intraoperative fluoroscopy and higher successful rate of one-time locking.Additionally,the new locking tools are easy to handle and incur no extra costs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Legionnaires' Disease ; classification ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Male

Objective:To analyze the clinical outcomes of tibial bone transport over an intramedullary nail in combination with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate for treatment of segmental bone defect.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted by enrolling 11 surgically treated patients with tibial segmental bone defect after the debridement for tibial infection or osteomyelitis who were admitted in Lower Limb Surgery Ward of Traumatic Orthopedic Department, Xi′an Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University from Jan. 2018 to Jan. 2020. The collected clinical materials and data included gender, age, injury mechanism, smoke or alcohol, comorbidities, intraoperative bleeding loss, bone defect length, resorption time of calcium sulphate, bone transport time, external fixation time, external fixation index, complications and Paley bone and functional criteria. SPSS 24.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results:Eleven patients were followed up for 8 to 31 months (average 23.2 months). All patients achieved bone healing and the infection was eradicated with no sign of recurrence. The mean length of defect was (8.1±1.6) cm, mean resorption time of calcium sulphate was (6.6±2.6) months, bone transport time was (11.4±2.8) weeks, external fixation time was (4.7±1.2) months, external fixation index was (0.58±0.07) month/cm and full weight bearing time was (6.1±1.4) months. The complication rate was 36.4% including deep vein thrombosis, delayed union of the docking site, pin tract infection and sterile draining of the wound. Paley bone evaluation results were excellent and good in 10 patients (90.9%) and functional results were excellent and good in 11 patients (100%).Conclusion:Tibial bone transport over an intramedullary nail in combination with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate is a safe, reliable and successful method for segmental bone defect and eradication of infection which reduces external fixation time and complication rate, allows patients perform weight bearing and return to daily life earlier.

Objective To explore the application of 3D-printing rapid prototyping in classification of acetabular fractures and education of young surgeons.Methods The data of 20 patients with acetabular fracture were reviewed in this study who had been treated between January and June 2016.Three junior orthopedic surgeons and 3 senior ones were chosen as observers.The conventional radiographs (X-ray films of the pelvis and acetabulum,CT scans and 3D reconstruction images of the pelvis) and 3D-printing rapid prototyping models of the 20 patients(1∶ 1) were randomly numbered.All the observers were asked to make Letournel-Judet classification of each radiograph and 3D-printing model independently in the first assessment.Four weeks later in the second assessment,all the observers were asked to make the same classifications after all the conventional radiographs and 3D-printing models were randomly numbered again.The kappa statistics was used to evaluate inter-and intra-observer agreements among the recorded results.Results At the first assessment,the inter-observer agreement was 0.887 and 0.962 respectively for conventional radiographs and 3D-printing models in senior surgeons while 0.659 and 0.849 in junior surgeons.The second assessment showed the intra-observer agreement was 0.906 for radiographs and 0.925 for 3D-printing models in senior surgeons while 0.696 and 0.849 in the junior ones.Conclusions Compared with conventional radiographs,since 3D-printing models can effectively enhance the reliability of acetabular fracture classification,they may be more helpful for young surgeons in understanding acetabular fractures.

BACKGROUNDThe association between vulnerability of plaque assessed with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and plasma levels of fibrinolytic biomarkers was determined in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few data are available on the relationship between the levels of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and virtual histological intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) signs of plaque instability.

METHODSEighty-nine patients with ACS were enrolled in the study. Blood was collected to measure t-PA levels by liquid phase bead flow cytometry. Eighty-nine nonbifurcate lesions (identified by coronary angiography and ECG) were investigated using IVUS before catheterization. IVUS radiofrequency data obtained with a 20 MHz catheter were analyzed with IVUS virtual histological software. The areas of plaque and media were calculated and lesions were classified into two groups: VH-IVUS derived thin cap fibroatheroma (VH-TCFA) and non-VH-TCFA plaque.

RESULTSPlasma t-PA level in the patients with TCFA was significantly lower than that with non-TCFA ((1489+/-715) pg/ml vs (2163+/-1004) pg/ml). Decreased plasma levels of t-PA were associated with plaque vulnerability. Plasma levels of t-PA correlated negatively with plaque plus media and necrotic core in plaque in patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONSt-PA is an independent risk factor and a powerful predictor of vulnerable plaques. Decreased levels of t-PA may reflect instability of atherosclerotic plaques and might therefore serve as noninvasive determinants of those at high risk for consequent adverse events.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate-autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap in the one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneus osteomyelitis plus skin and soft tissue defects.Methods:From January 2013 to September 2019, 48 patients were admitted to Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Xi'an Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University for chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis complicated with skin and soft tissue defects. They were divided into 2 groups according to different bone grafts. In group A of 26 patients treated at one stage by antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate-autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap, there were 16 males and 10 females with an age of (45.0±11.7) years and an area of skin defect of (56.0±16.7) cm 2. In group B of 22 patients treated at one stage by simple autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap, there were 13 males and 9 females with an age of (43.6±9.6) years and an area of skin defect of (53.8±16.2) cm 2. The volume of the ilium harvested, fracture healing time, infection control, donor site complications, pain score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and function recovery of the ankle were compared between the 2 groups. Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). The 48 patients were followed up for (15.3±6.0) months. Group A had a significantly smaller volume of the ilium harvested [(67.3±14.1) cm 3] than group B [(90.7±23.5) cm 3], a significantly lower rate of donor site complications [3.8% (1/26)] than group B [31.8% (7/22)], significantly lower VAS pain scores at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours than group B, and significantly lower WBC count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein at 2, 4, 8 weeks after operation than group B (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the infection control rate [96.2% (25/26) versus 77.3% (17/22)], the fracture healing time [(6.2±1.9) months versus (6.4±2.1) months], or the ankle-hindfoot score of AOFAS (The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) (83.9±7.2 versus 82.5±8.7) at 6 months after operation (all P>0.05). Conclusion:In one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis complicated with skin and soft tissue defects, compared with simple autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap, antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate-autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap can reduce the volume of the ilium harvested, pain score of VAS, and incidence of donor site complications, and improve the recovery of inflammatory indicators, leading to fine clinical effects.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of double mini locking plate and anatomical locking plate in the treatment of comminuted olecranon fracture.Methods:The clinical data of 46 patients who underwent comminuted olecranon fracture in the Xi′an Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University from March 2017 to May 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 21 cases were treated with double mini locking plate (double plate group) and 25 cases with anatomical locking plate (single plate group). The operation time, patient satisfaction, range of motion, return to work time, soft tissue stimulation to remove internal fixation, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand score (DASH) of the two fixation methods were statistically compared. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as ( ± s), and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Comparison between groups of count data was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results:All 46 patients were followed up for to (19.17±2.79) months. All fractures healed after operation. There was no significant difference in operation time, range of motion, patient satisfaction, MEPS and DASH scores among the two groups( P>0.05). The time of returning to work was (8.47±2.13) weeks in the double plate group and (9.78±1.98) weeks in the single plate group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). There were 9 cases of internal fixation due to soft tissue stimulation, 1 cases in double plate group and 8 cases in single plate group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with anatomical locking plate, the treatment of olecranon fracture with double mini locking plate can effectively reduce soft tissue stimulation and promote patients to return to work early, and the operation time is not significantly prolonged, and the biomechanical advantage is obvious, the clinical effect is satisfactory and the postoperative function is good, so it is an effective treatment.

Objective:To introduce our modified hybrid bone transport technique using hindfoot arthrodesis nails combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate by comparison with conventional bone transport in the treatment of distal tibial osteomyelitis with bone defects involving the articular surface.Methods:The clinical data of 34 patients were retrospectively analyzed who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, Honghui Hospital for distal tibial osteomyelitis with bone defects involving the articular surface from September 2014 to September 2019. They were divided into 2 groups according to their way of repairing bone defects. In the modified group of 14 cases subjected to the treatment using the modified hybrid bone transport technique, there were 9 males and 5 females, with an age of (39.4±7.3) years. In the conventional group of 20 cases subjected to the treatment using conventional bone transport technique, there were 12 males and 8 females, with an age of (41.2±6.6) years. The external fixation time (EFT), external fixation index (EFI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were recorded and compared between the 2 groups. Healing of bone defects and function were evaluated at the last follow-up according to the criteria of Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-posterior foot score, respectively. Complications were recorded according to the Paley classification.Results:There was no significant difference in the general data between the modified group and the conventional group, showing they were comparable ( P>0.05). Thirty-four patients were followed up for 18 to 32 months (average, 27 months) after operation. The modified group had significantly shorter EFT [(3.9±1.6) months] than the conventional group [(9.8±2.2) months], and significantly lower EFI [(0.48±0.09) months/cm] than the conventional group [(1.42±0.32) months/cm] ( P<0.05). The SAS [(48.1±4.7) points] in the modified group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group [(61.2±6.2) points], and the number of complications per capita in the former [(0.8±0.4)/case] was significantly smaller than that in the latter [(1.42±0.32)/case] ( P<0.05). There were no significan differences in the healing of bone defects or AOFSA ankle-posterior foot score ( P>0.05). In the modified group and the conventional group, respectively, 13 versus 12 patients were satisfied while 1 versus 8 patients unsatisfied, 1 versus 8 patients had grade-Ⅱ infection while 13 versus 12 patients did not, and 1 versus 9 patients had grade-Ⅲ infection while 13 versus 11 patients did not. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the above indexes (all P<0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of distal tibial osteomyelitis with bone defects involving the articular surface, compared with conventional bone transport technique, our modified hybrid bone transport technique using hindfoot arthrodesis nails combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate may lead to better clinical efficacy due to the advantages of shorter external fixation time, lower external fixation index and fewer complications.