Objective To compare the pros and cons of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) with those of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) in the treatment of common bile duct stones.Methods We searched The Cochrane library,Medline,Pubmed,Embase,CBM,CNKI,VIP and Wan Fang database in any language.RCTs that compared EPBD with EST for the removal of common bile duct stones were included from January 1983 to September 2012 and qualities of the trials were evaluated.Statistic analyses were carried out using RevMan 5.1 software.Results A total of 18 randomized trials with 2385 participants met our inclusion criteria.EPBD compared with EST resulted in similar outcomes with regards to stone removal on 1 st attempt,overall stone removal,perforation,total short-term complication,long-term cholangitis or mortality.EPBD carries a higher risk of pancreatitis (RR =1.99,95％ CI:1.41-2.81) and severe pancreatitis (RR =4.68,95 ％ CI:1.36-16.11),and requires higher rates of mechanical lithotripsy (RR =1.31,95％ CI:1.14-1.50).Conversely,EPBD not only has statistically significant lower rates of bleeding (RR =0.14,95％ CI:0.06-0.34),but also leads to significantly less long-term cholecystitis (RR =0.38,95％ CI:0.19-0.76),long-term stone recurrence (RR =0.67,95％ CI:0.47-0.96) and total longterm complications (RR =0.52,95 ％ CI:0.40-0.67).Conclusion On the basis of lower rates of bleeding or long-term complications,EPBD should be the preferred strategy over EST for endoscopic management of common bile duct stones,however,the rate of pancreatitis,especially the severe pancreatitis is higher with EPBD.

Objective To compare clinical effects of appendicectomy and conservative treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis.Methods Searched The Cochrane library,Medline,Pubmed,Embase,CBM,CNKI,VIP and Wan Fang database in any language.RCTs that compared conservative treatment with appendicectomy in patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis were included from January 1983 to May 2013 and qualities of the trials were evaluated.Statistic analyses were carried out using RevMan 5.1 soft-ware.Results Four randomized trials met our inclusion criteria (821partiCI:pants).Antibiotics compared with appendicectomy resulted in similar outcomes with regards to the incidence of complicated appendicitis (RR:0.89,95％ CI:0.29-2.68) and intra-abdominal infection(RR:0.54,95％ CI:0.13-2.35).Antibiotics carries a lower risk of complications (RR 0.46,95％ CI:0.32-0.67),but requires more length of hospital stay (Mean Difference 0.52,95％ CI:0.16-0.88).Conclusions The effect of conservative treatment is safe and effective.But the recurrent uncomplicated appendicitis recommends operation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the properties of screw-bone interface of expansive pedicle screw (EPS) in osteoporotic sheep by micro-CT and histological observation.

METHODSSix female sheep with bilateral ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis were employed in this experiment. After EPS insertion in each femoral condyle, the sheep were randomly divided into two groups: 3 sheep were bred for 3 months (Group A), while the other 3 were bred for 6 months (Group B). After the animals being killed, the femoral condyles with EPS were obtained, which were three-dimensionally-imaged and reconstructed by micro-CT. Histological evaluation was made thereafter.

RESULTSThe trabecular microstructure was denser at the screw-bone interface than in the distant parts in expansive section, especially within the spiral marking. In the non-expansive section, however, there was no significant difference between the interface and the distant parts. The regions of interest (ROI) adjacent to EPS were reconstructed and analyzed by micro-CT with the same thresholds. The three-dimensional (3-D) parameters, including tissue mineral density (TMD), bone volume fraction (BVF, BV/TV), bone surface/bone volume (BS/BV) ratio, trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), were significantly better in expansive sections than non-expansive sections (P less than 0.05). Histologically, newly-formed bony trabeculae crawled along the expansive fissures and into the center of EPS. The newly-formed bones, as well as the bones at the bone-screw interface, closely contacted with the EPS and constructed four compartments.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings of the current study, based on micro-CT and histological evaluation, suggest that EPS can significantly provide stabilization in osteoporotic cancellous bones.

Animals ; Bone Screws ; Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sheep ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the properties of screw-bone interface of expansive pedicle screw (EPS) in osteoporotic sheep using micro-CT and histology.

METHODSSix female sheep with bilateral ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis were employed in this experiment and were randomly assigned into 2 groups: A and B. After EPS insertion in each femoral condyles, sheep in group A were bred for 3 months, while those in group B 6 months. Femoral condyles with EPS were 3D-imaged and reconstructed by micro-CT. Histology was evaluated thereafter.

RESULTSThe trabecular microstructure was denser at the screw-bone interface than in the distant parts in expansive section, especially within spiral marking. In the non-expansive section, however, there was no significant difference between the interface and the distant parts. The regions of interest (ROI) adjacent to EPS were reconstructed and analyzed by micro-CT using the same thresholds. The 3D-parameters generated, including tissue mineral density (TMD), bone volume fraction (BVF, BV/TV), bone surface/bone volume (BS/BV) ratio, trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), were significantly better in expansive than in non-expansive sections (P < 0.05). Histologically, newly formed bone trabeculae crawled along the expansive fissures and into the center of EPS. The newly formed bones, as well as the bone at the bone-screw interface, closely contacted the EPS and constructed four compartments.

CONCLUSIONSBased on micro-CT and histological evaluation, the study suggest that EPS can significantly provide stabilization in osteoporotic cancellous bone.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Screws ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Femur ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; surgery ; Osteoporosis ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Ovariectomy ; adverse effects ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sheep ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods