BACKGROUND:Due to the complex movement of the scapula,which is a six-degree-of-freedom activity in three-dimensional space,it is difficult to measure it accurately using traditional methods.The image and model matching technology based on dual-plane X-ray is a three-dimensional measurement method that has gradually developed and matured in recent years.Two high-speed cameras are used to project and shoot from orthogonal directions.Compared with a single perspective,this method has advantages in observation range and reduction of out-of-plane errors,and is suitable for the study of scapula kinematics.OBJECTIVE:X-ray biplane and image-model registration technology were used to explore the differences in scapular kinematics between normal individuals and patients with rotator cuff tears,providing a basis for the treatment and rehabilitation of rotator cuff tear patients.METHODS:From April 2023 to January 2024,10 patients with normal shoulders and 10 patients with rotator cuff tears who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled from Guanghua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.The subjects underwent a shoulder CT scan to create a 3D model and a local scapular coordinate system.X-ray biplane images were taken during shoulder abduction with two C-arm machines.The 2D and 3D images were registered to compare scapular kinematic differences between the two groups at 0°,15°,30°,45°,60°,75°,and 90° of abduction,including scapular rotation angle and displacement distance.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)During shoulder abduction,the scapula of both groups showed upward rotation,but the upward rotation of the rotator cuff tear group was greater than that of the control group,and the difference was significant when the abduction was 30°-90°(P＜0.01).At the same time,the scapula internal rotation of both groups gradually increased,but the rotator cuff tear group was significantly greater than the control group when the abduction was 45°-90°(P＜0.01).In addition,the anteroposterior tilt of the scapula of the two groups was significantly different when the abduction was 15°-90°(P＜0.01).The scapula posterior tilt of the control group gradually increased during abduction,while the scapula of the rotator cuff tear group tilted forward except for a slight posterior tilt at 15°-30° abduction.(2)In terms of displacement,the upward displacement of the rotator cuff tear group was less than that of the control group during abduction,and the difference was significant at 15°-90°(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in lateral and anterior-posterior displacement between the two groups(P＞0.05).(3)Rotator cuff tear can cause scapular dyskinesis,characterized by increased upward rotation,internal rotation,and abnormal forward tilt during shoulder abduction.Identifying and addressing scapular dyskinesis is crucial for treating rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND:Due to the complex movement of the scapula,which is a six-degree-of-freedom activity in three-dimensional space,it is difficult to measure it accurately using traditional methods.The image and model matching technology based on dual-plane X-ray is a three-dimensional measurement method that has gradually developed and matured in recent years.Two high-speed cameras are used to project and shoot from orthogonal directions.Compared with a single perspective,this method has advantages in observation range and reduction of out-of-plane errors,and is suitable for the study of scapula kinematics.OBJECTIVE:X-ray biplane and image-model registration technology were used to explore the differences in scapular kinematics between normal individuals and patients with rotator cuff tears,providing a basis for the treatment and rehabilitation of rotator cuff tear patients.METHODS:From April 2023 to January 2024,10 patients with normal shoulders and 10 patients with rotator cuff tears who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled from Guanghua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.The subjects underwent a shoulder CT scan to create a 3D model and a local scapular coordinate system.X-ray biplane images were taken during shoulder abduction with two C-arm machines.The 2D and 3D images were registered to compare scapular kinematic differences between the two groups at 0°,15°,30°,45°,60°,75°,and 90° of abduction,including scapular rotation angle and displacement distance.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)During shoulder abduction,the scapula of both groups showed upward rotation,but the upward rotation of the rotator cuff tear group was greater than that of the control group,and the difference was significant when the abduction was 30°-90°(P＜0.01).At the same time,the scapula internal rotation of both groups gradually increased,but the rotator cuff tear group was significantly greater than the control group when the abduction was 45°-90°(P＜0.01).In addition,the anteroposterior tilt of the scapula of the two groups was significantly different when the abduction was 15°-90°(P＜0.01).The scapula posterior tilt of the control group gradually increased during abduction,while the scapula of the rotator cuff tear group tilted forward except for a slight posterior tilt at 15°-30° abduction.(2)In terms of displacement,the upward displacement of the rotator cuff tear group was less than that of the control group during abduction,and the difference was significant at 15°-90°(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in lateral and anterior-posterior displacement between the two groups(P＞0.05).(3)Rotator cuff tear can cause scapular dyskinesis,characterized by increased upward rotation,internal rotation,and abnormal forward tilt during shoulder abduction.Identifying and addressing scapular dyskinesis is crucial for treating rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND:In orthodontic treatment,full-mouth treatment is usually used to treat single-root severely twisted teeth,and single-tooth treatment is less common.OBJECTIVE:To design a personalized orthodontic device based on biomechanical principles to address the rotation of teeth 11,12,13,21,22,and 23,and evaluate the device's impact on tooth movement using three-dimensional finite element method.METHODS:Based on the biomechanical principle of tooth rotation and movement,a personalized orthodontic device was made by digital design combined with three-dimensional printing,so that the personalized orthodontic device and the tooth formed an anchorage system.The absolute anchorage of the micro-implant was used to precisely control the single-root twisted tooth in the three-dimensional direction.The CBCT data of the maxillary alveolar bone and tooth tissue of a female volunteer were collected.The three-dimensional finite element models of the twisted tooth-periodontal ligament-maxillary bone-personalized orthodontic device were established using Mimics,Geomagic Wrap,SolidWorks,3-matic Research 15.0,and Ansys Workbench software.The equivalent stress distribution characteristics of the personalized orthodontic device,the movement trend of the tooth,and the equivalent stress distribution characteristics of the periodontal ligament were calculated under a thrust of 60 g.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The maximum equivalent stress observed on the personalized orthodontic device was 47.71 MPa.(2)The initial tooth displacement under the device demonstrated a rotational trend.The peak equivalent stress in the periodontal ligament was concentrated at the neck,while lower stress was observed in the apex region.(3)The safety and feasibility of the personalized orthodontic device designed in this study for severely rotated single-rooted teeth were preliminarily verified through finite element analysis.

Undergraduate education is basis of postsecondary education.A crucial foundational topic in undergraduate medi-cal education is Medical Immunology,a field with a robust theoretical framework and broad application.Without teaching improve-ment,undergraduate education cannot be effective.In recent years,one of main tasks associated with Medical Immunology instruction at many universities has been reforming curriculum.This article evaluates and summarizes Medical Immunology education reform approaches used by fifteen universities,described several common teaching reform techniques in theoretical teaching,experimental teaching,etc,and methodically outlined Medical Immunology teaching reform strategies used at large universities,in order to examine a workable course for teaching reform in Medical Immunology by condensing these incredibly useful teaching reform techniques.

Objectives:To explore the value of non-invasive myocardial work combined with myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease and its efficacy in stratifying the severity of coronary vessel lesions.Methods:A total of 130 patients with suspected coronary artery disease admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from June 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled in this study.All patients underwent echocardiography and MCE after admission,and coronary angiography(CAG).Based on CAG results,patients were divided into non-CAD group(n=45,coronary artery stenosis<50%)and CAD group(n=85,coronary artery stenosis≥50%).Patients in CAD group were further divided into low-score CAD group(≤49 points,n=43)and high-score CAD group(>49 points,n=42)according to the median of Gensini score(49 points).Non-invasive MW indices and quantitative MCE parameters were assessed.A binary logistic regression model was used to construct a combined diagnostic model,and the value of each parameter in diagnosing CAD and evaluating the severity of coronary lesions was calculated.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of subjects was estimated,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of coronary heart disease.Results:Compared with the non-CAD group,the global longitudinal strain,global work index(GWI),and global constructive work(GCW)in both low-score and high-score CAD groups were significantly lower(all P<0.05),and the global work efficiency in the high-score CAD group was significantly reduced(P<0.05).MCE indices in both low-score and high-score CAD groups were significantly lower than those in the non-CAD group(all P<0.05).The multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis and ROC curve showed that GWI(OR=0.997,95%CI:0.995-0.999,P=0.003)and A value(representing the peak intensity of the curve,reflecting myocardial blood volume(OR=0.415,95%CI:0.246-0.698,P=0.001)were independent predictors of low-score CAD.The combined diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for low-score coronary artery disease were 72.1%and 88.9%respectively,with an AUC of 0.851.GCW(OR=0.997,95%CI:0.995-1.000,P=0.019)and β-value(OR=0.000,95%CI:0.000-0.003,P<0.001)were independent predictors of high-score CAD.The combined diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for high-score coronary artery disease were 88.1%and 88.9%respectively,with an AUC of 0.934.Conclusions:Both non-invasive myocardial work parameters and MCE parameters have high diagnostic efficacy for coronary artery lesions of various degrees.The combined application of the two methods significantly improves the accuracy of coronary artery disease diagnosis,with improved sensitivity and specificity than single technique.Our results provide a new non-invasive comprehensive diagnostic model for clinical early diagnosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of MR amide proton transfer(APT)imaging and enhancement signals in benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors and to explore the value of MR APT imaging,contrast enhancement techniques,and their combined application in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 34 patients with muscular soft tissue tumors confirmed by pathology,including 13 malignant and 21 benign.All patients underwent both MR with contrast enhancement and APT imaging examinations before surgery.APT values were obtained through post-processing on an image workstation.The enhancement signal characteristics and APT values were compared between benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of the two techniques alone and in combination for differentiating between benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors.Results There were significant differences in enhancement signal characteristics on MR and APT values between benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors(P<0.05).The enhancement signal of malignant tumors was more heterogeneous,with higher enhancement degree than benign tumors;the APT value of benign tumors was(2.20±0.93)%,and the APT value of malignant tumors was(3.52±0.83)%,the ROC curve analysis determined a cutoff APT value of 2.82%for malignant tumors,with a diagnostic specificity of 90.5%and sensitivity of 76.9%.The area under the curve(AUC)for MR with contrast enhancement,APT imaging,and the combination of the two techniques were 0.694,0.857 and 0.894,respectively.No significant differences were found in the diagnostic efficacy between MR with contrast enhancement and APT imaging(Z=1.587,P=0.112 6)or between APT imaging and the combination of the two tech-niques(Z=1.217,P=0.223 4),but there was significant difference between MR with contrast enhancement and the combination of the two techniques(Z=2.428,P=0.015 2).Moreover,the combination of the two techniques showed the overall highest diag-nostic efficacy.Conclusion The combined application of MR APT imaging and contrast enhancement techniques is more beneficial for the qualitative diagnosis of muscular soft tissue tumors.

Undergraduate education is basis of postsecondary education.A crucial foundational topic in undergraduate medi-cal education is Medical Immunology,a field with a robust theoretical framework and broad application.Without teaching improve-ment,undergraduate education cannot be effective.In recent years,one of main tasks associated with Medical Immunology instruction at many universities has been reforming curriculum.This article evaluates and summarizes Medical Immunology education reform approaches used by fifteen universities,described several common teaching reform techniques in theoretical teaching,experimental teaching,etc,and methodically outlined Medical Immunology teaching reform strategies used at large universities,in order to examine a workable course for teaching reform in Medical Immunology by condensing these incredibly useful teaching reform techniques.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of MR amide proton transfer(APT)imaging and enhancement signals in benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors and to explore the value of MR APT imaging,contrast enhancement techniques,and their combined application in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 34 patients with muscular soft tissue tumors confirmed by pathology,including 13 malignant and 21 benign.All patients underwent both MR with contrast enhancement and APT imaging examinations before surgery.APT values were obtained through post-processing on an image workstation.The enhancement signal characteristics and APT values were compared between benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of the two techniques alone and in combination for differentiating between benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors.Results There were significant differences in enhancement signal characteristics on MR and APT values between benign and malignant muscular soft tissue tumors(P<0.05).The enhancement signal of malignant tumors was more heterogeneous,with higher enhancement degree than benign tumors;the APT value of benign tumors was(2.20±0.93)%,and the APT value of malignant tumors was(3.52±0.83)%,the ROC curve analysis determined a cutoff APT value of 2.82%for malignant tumors,with a diagnostic specificity of 90.5%and sensitivity of 76.9%.The area under the curve(AUC)for MR with contrast enhancement,APT imaging,and the combination of the two techniques were 0.694,0.857 and 0.894,respectively.No significant differences were found in the diagnostic efficacy between MR with contrast enhancement and APT imaging(Z=1.587,P=0.112 6)or between APT imaging and the combination of the two tech-niques(Z=1.217,P=0.223 4),but there was significant difference between MR with contrast enhancement and the combination of the two techniques(Z=2.428,P=0.015 2).Moreover,the combination of the two techniques showed the overall highest diag-nostic efficacy.Conclusion The combined application of MR APT imaging and contrast enhancement techniques is more beneficial for the qualitative diagnosis of muscular soft tissue tumors.

Objectives:To explore the value of non-invasive myocardial work combined with myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease and its efficacy in stratifying the severity of coronary vessel lesions.Methods:A total of 130 patients with suspected coronary artery disease admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from June 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled in this study.All patients underwent echocardiography and MCE after admission,and coronary angiography(CAG).Based on CAG results,patients were divided into non-CAD group(n=45,coronary artery stenosis<50%)and CAD group(n=85,coronary artery stenosis≥50%).Patients in CAD group were further divided into low-score CAD group(≤49 points,n=43)and high-score CAD group(>49 points,n=42)according to the median of Gensini score(49 points).Non-invasive MW indices and quantitative MCE parameters were assessed.A binary logistic regression model was used to construct a combined diagnostic model,and the value of each parameter in diagnosing CAD and evaluating the severity of coronary lesions was calculated.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of subjects was estimated,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of coronary heart disease.Results:Compared with the non-CAD group,the global longitudinal strain,global work index(GWI),and global constructive work(GCW)in both low-score and high-score CAD groups were significantly lower(all P<0.05),and the global work efficiency in the high-score CAD group was significantly reduced(P<0.05).MCE indices in both low-score and high-score CAD groups were significantly lower than those in the non-CAD group(all P<0.05).The multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis and ROC curve showed that GWI(OR=0.997,95%CI:0.995-0.999,P=0.003)and A value(representing the peak intensity of the curve,reflecting myocardial blood volume(OR=0.415,95%CI:0.246-0.698,P=0.001)were independent predictors of low-score CAD.The combined diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for low-score coronary artery disease were 72.1%and 88.9%respectively,with an AUC of 0.851.GCW(OR=0.997,95%CI:0.995-1.000,P=0.019)and β-value(OR=0.000,95%CI:0.000-0.003,P<0.001)were independent predictors of high-score CAD.The combined diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for high-score coronary artery disease were 88.1%and 88.9%respectively,with an AUC of 0.934.Conclusions:Both non-invasive myocardial work parameters and MCE parameters have high diagnostic efficacy for coronary artery lesions of various degrees.The combined application of the two methods significantly improves the accuracy of coronary artery disease diagnosis,with improved sensitivity and specificity than single technique.Our results provide a new non-invasive comprehensive diagnostic model for clinical early diagnosis and risk stratification of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND:In orthodontic treatment,full-mouth treatment is usually used to treat single-root severely twisted teeth,and single-tooth treatment is less common.OBJECTIVE:To design a personalized orthodontic device based on biomechanical principles to address the rotation of teeth 11,12,13,21,22,and 23,and evaluate the device's impact on tooth movement using three-dimensional finite element method.METHODS:Based on the biomechanical principle of tooth rotation and movement,a personalized orthodontic device was made by digital design combined with three-dimensional printing,so that the personalized orthodontic device and the tooth formed an anchorage system.The absolute anchorage of the micro-implant was used to precisely control the single-root twisted tooth in the three-dimensional direction.The CBCT data of the maxillary alveolar bone and tooth tissue of a female volunteer were collected.The three-dimensional finite element models of the twisted tooth-periodontal ligament-maxillary bone-personalized orthodontic device were established using Mimics,Geomagic Wrap,SolidWorks,3-matic Research 15.0,and Ansys Workbench software.The equivalent stress distribution characteristics of the personalized orthodontic device,the movement trend of the tooth,and the equivalent stress distribution characteristics of the periodontal ligament were calculated under a thrust of 60 g.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The maximum equivalent stress observed on the personalized orthodontic device was 47.71 MPa.(2)The initial tooth displacement under the device demonstrated a rotational trend.The peak equivalent stress in the periodontal ligament was concentrated at the neck,while lower stress was observed in the apex region.(3)The safety and feasibility of the personalized orthodontic device designed in this study for severely rotated single-rooted teeth were preliminarily verified through finite element analysis.