Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is a powerful neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, which can relieve muscle spasm or limit gland secretion by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular/glandular junction. In addition, BTX-A can also play a role in the sensory feedback loop, which can ease pain. Currently, dentists are paying more attention to the cosmetic applications of BTX-A in the oral and maxillofacial region, while their understanding of BTX-A′s non-cosmetic applications is still insufficient. Although the specific molecular mechanism of BTX-A in oral diseases has not been fully clarified, with the development of evidence-based medicine, more and more clinical evidence has began to support the effectiveness of BTX-A in the therapeutic applications of oral diseases. This article will briefly review the main molecular mechanisms of BTX-A, the latest clinical research progress of BTX-A at home and abroad in the treatment of oral diseases, clinical contraindications and adverse reactions of BTX-A, providing a new idea for the treatment of oral diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of design of bone scaffolds with different single cell structures. METHODS: The related literature on the study of bone scaffolds with different single cell structures at home and abroad in recent years was extensively reviewed, and the research progress was summarized. RESULTS: The single cell structure of bone scaffold can be divided into regular cell structure, irregular cell structure, cell structure designed based on topology optimization theory, and cell structure designed based on triply periodic minimal surface. Different single cell structures have different structural morphology and geometric characteristics, and the selection of single cell structure directly determines the mechanical properties and biological properties of bone scaffold. It is very important to choose a reasonable cell structure for bone scaffold to replace the original bone tissue. CONCLUSION Bone scaffolds have been widely studied, but there are many kinds of bone scaffolds at present, and the optimization of single cell structure should be considered comprehensively, which is helpful to develop bone scaffolds with excellent performance and provide effective support for bone tissue.
Bone and Bones ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the influence of microstructure on performance of triply-periodic minimal surface (TPMS) bone scaffolds. METHODS: The relevant literature on the microstructure of TPMS bone scaffolds both domestically and internationally in recent years was widely reviewed, and the research progress in the imfluence of microstructure on the performance of bone scaffolds was summarized. RESULTS: The microstructure characteristics of TPMS bone scaffolds, such as pore shape, porosity, pore size, curvature, specific surface area, and tortuosity, exert a profound influence on bone scaffold performance. By finely adjusting the above parameters, it becomes feasible to substantially optimize the structural mechanical characteristics of the scaffold, thereby effectively preempting the occurrence of stress shielding phenomena. Concurrently, the manipulation of these parameters can also optimize the scaffold's biological performance, facilitating cell adhesion, proliferation, and growth, while facilitating the ingrowth and permeation of bone tissue. Ultimately, the ideal bone fusion results will obtain. CONCLUSION The microstructure significantly and substantially influences the performance of TPMS bone scaffolds. By deeply exploring the characteristics of these microstructure effects on the performance of bone scaffolds, the design of bone scaffolds can be further optimized to better match specific implantation regions.
Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry* ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Bone and Bones ; Porosity

Femoral fracture is a common type of fracture in clinical practice, and poor fracture reduction may lead to malunion and dysfunction. At present, traditional reduction with manipulation and intramedullary nailing are the mainstream treatments, but there exist problems such as X-ray exposure or poor reduction. Fracture reduction robots are of positive significance in improving the safety of surgical treatment of femur fracture, avoiding repetitive operations and poor alignment, and shortening the patients′ postoperative recovery time. Navigation algorithm is the key to achieve the function of femoral repositioning. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages that various types of navigation algorithms demonstrated in femoral reduction applications is important for giving full play to the value of fracture reduction robots in femoral reduction. Therefore, the authors reviewed the research progress in existing robot navigation algorithms applied in femoral fracture repositioning from the following four aspects, including image alignment algorithm, algorithm for establishing the target pose of femoral repositioning, algorithm for compensating the mechanical error, and algorithm for path planning, hoping to provide a reference for the application and research of navigation algorithms of fracture reduction robots.

Bone defects, often accompanied by osteomyelitis, soft tissue contusions, etc, are facing lengthy treatment process and slow healing, seriously jeopardizing the structural integrity of the human bone tissue. Currently, the main treatment for bone defects involves autologous or allogeneic bone transplant. However, autologous bone transplant poses problems, including long surgical duration, increased pain and complications such as infections. Additionally, immune rejection reactions also limit the effectiveness of allogeneic bone transplant of the same species. Bone scaffolds have become a potential alternative for bone transplant, but problems such as sharp edges of the scaffolds and poor compatibility with human tissues exist. Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS), with an average curvature of zero has lower levels of stress concentration and the ability to be precisely expressed with mathematical formulas, compared with other structures. Its application in bone scaffolds attracts much attention, but there is currently a lack of comprehensive understanding of the impacts of different types of TPMS on the performance of bone scaffolds. With this purpose, the authors reviewed the research progress in the impacts of different types of TPMS on the performance of bone scaffolds, providing a reference for the construction of bone scaffolds.

Chronic osteomyelitis is a serious clinical problem with repeated courses and high disability rate, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. Through continuous learning and summary in the process of using traditional therapies, the innovative improvements and changes had made in the treatment of osteomyelitis: Radical debridement of lesions was performed by applying the basic principles of modern bone tumor surgery. The application of microsurgical technique to transfer composite tissue flap can provide guarantee for tissue defect repair and wound closure without tension. Combined with bone grafting, local antibiotics and bone fixation, an one-stage operation has significantly improve the therapeutic effect of chronic complex osteomyelitis.

Objective:To evaluate the influence on the results and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) at different combination time.Methods:Patients who received combined DBE procedures in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from April 2019 to August 2020 were divided into the one-day combination group and the non-one-day combination group. The complete enteroscopy rate, time of anterograde approach, time of retrograde approach, total time of combined approach, adverse events, hospital stay and cost were compared.Results:Among 119 patients who received DBE, 23 patients were excluded due to small intestinal stenosis. The complete enteroscopy rate was 92.9% (39/42) in the one-day group and 74.1% (40/54) in the non-one-day group, showing significant difference ( χ2=4.390, P=0.036). There were significant differences in the time of retrograde approach (35.59±23.29 min VS 55.10±19.04 min, t=-4.080, P<0.001), total time of combined approach (89.10±27.82 min VS 114.20±24.55 min, t=-4.254, P<0.001), hospital stay (9.24±3.76 d VS 11.76±4.41 d, t=-2.599, P=0.011) between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the time of anterograde approach, hospital cost or adverse events between the two groups. Conclusion:Combined DBE on one day yields a higher complete enteroscopy rate, less examination time and less hospital stay, which is worth of clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the application value of small IT knife pre-cut in assistance to duodenal papillary cannulation compared with conventional guidewire cannulation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 90 patients with choledocholithiasis including 52 patients with small IT knife pre-cut assisted intubation (small IT knife group) and 38 patients with conventional guidewire intubation (conventional group) in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) from May 2016 to July 2019 in the digestive endoscopy center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The basic data, curative effect and complications of the two groups were collected and compared.Results:There was statistically significant difference in gender composition between the small IT knife group and the conventional group ( χ2=5.679, P=0.017), but no significant difference in other baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). The median intubation time of the small IT knife group was significantly shorter than that of the conventional group (141.5 s VS 270.0 s, Z=1 268.0, P=0.022). There were no significant differences in the success rate of intubation [98.1% (51/52) VS 94.7% (36/38), χ2=0.760, P=0.571], the incidence of intraoperative bleeding [15.4% (8/52) VS 7.9% (3/38), χ2=1.148, P=0.345], postoperative pancreatitis [5.8% (3/52) VS 7.9% (3/38), χ2=0.159, P=0.694], and postoperative cholangitis [1.9% (1/52) VS 5.3% (2/38), χ2=0.760, P=0.571] between the two groups. No perforation occurred in the two groups. After stratifying according to the operator′s proficiency, the median intubation time was significantly different between the small IT knife expert group and the conventional expert group (116.0 s VS 258.0 s, Z=276.0, P=0.038), while there was no significant difference in the intubation time among other groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:The small IT knife is safe and effective to pre-cut and assist intubation in ERCP, and it may shorten the intubation time.

To investigate the effect and application value of transplantation of the free cutaneous fibular flap combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate artificial bone graft for the treatment of antibrachial chronic osteomyelitis of Cierny-Mader type IV. Methods From August, 2013 to May, 2017, 12 cases of ulna or (and) radius chronic osteomyelitis of Cierny-Mader type IV were treated by transplantation of the free cutaneous fibu-lar flap combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate artificial bone graft. There were 7 males and 5 females, with an average age of 36.3 (21-47) years.Pure ulnar osteomyelitis in 7 cases, radius osteomyelitis in 4 cases, and both ul-nar and radius osteomyelitis in 1 case. The average range of osteomyelitis lesions was 6.3 (3.0-9.0) cm. The area of soft tissue defect (including bone scar) ranged from 8.0 cm×2.0 cm to 15.0 cm×5.0 cm. The area of the flap was 10.0 cm×3.5cm-17.0 cm×7.0 cm.The average length of the fibular flap was 8.8 (5.0-12.0) cm.Locking plate internal fixa-tion was used in 9 cases, external fixator in 2 cases, and plate combined with external fixator in 1 case. Vancomycin/gentamicin, an effective component of calcium sulfate artificial bone, averaged 0.64 g/102.7 kU (0.4 g/64 kU-1.0 g/160 kU).Routine postoperative treatment.And monthly outpatient review in the first half year after operation, and outpatient review every 3 months after half a year.One year after operation, comprehensive evaluation of elbow, forearm and wrist function with Mayo Elbow Function Index, Anderson Forearm Double Fracture Evaluation System and Cooney Wrist Function Score. Results Vascular crisis occurred in 1 case after operation, prompt surgical exploration, and ultimately all flaps survived completely.The donor sites healed well in all cases.The lower extremity functions of donor sites had no change compared with that before operation.Followed-up of an average of 22.7 months, there were 2 cases who had sen-sory disturbance in the ulnar nerve innervation area and returned to normal 3 months after operation. The fibular flaps healed satisfactorily with an average healing time of 4.7 (3-6) months.No calcium sulphate artificial bone granules were seen on X-ray at 3 months after operation.One year after operation, bone healing, forearm appearance and wrist function recovered well, but elbow and forearm motor function recovered unsatisfactorily. Conclusion On the basis of master-ing the applied anatomy and vascular anastomosis techniques of microsurgery, this method of transplantation of the free cutaneous fibular flap combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate artificial bone graft for the treatment of an-tibrachial chronic osteomyelitis of Cierny-Mader type IV has achieved satisfactory results.The recipient area is beautiful. The bone healing is reliable.And it has little influence on the recipient area and the donor area.It is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of tissue flap combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate and autogenous iliac bone grafting at stage Ⅰ for infected nonunion of long bone.Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 51 patients with infected nonunion of long bones admitted to Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2013 to December2017.There were 42 males and nine females,aged 19-71 years,with an average age of 36.3 years.There were 43 patients with bone nonunion at tibia,six at femur,one at humerus,and one at ulna and radius.The range of bone defect area was 1-9 cm,with an average of 2.9 cm.On the basis of thorough debridement,tissue flaps combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate and autologous iliac bone graft were performed at stage Ⅰ treatment.The survival of skin flaps,infection control,nonunion healing and complications were recorded.Johner-Wruhs joint function assessment criteria were used to evaluate limb function.Results All patients were followed up for 10-35 months,with an average of 18.3 months.All flaps survived eventually.Except for one patient with infection recurrence,the other 50 patients with infection obtained primary cure.All nonunions were healed,with an average healing time of 6.4 months ranging from 4 to 15 months.Complications included venous crisis of skin flaps in five patients,anterolateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury in 20 patients,recurrence of infection in one patient,and infection of external fixator nail tract in three patients.Function evaluation results by Johner-Wruhs criteria were excellent in 34 patients,good in 14,and moderate in three patients,with an excellent and good rate of 94％.Conclusion On the basis of thorough debridement,tissue flap combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate and autogenous iliac bone graft can control the infection effectively,promote the bone union and improve the limb function.