Medicine
-
Comparative Study
Finite element analysis of spiral plate and Herbert screw fixation for treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures.
Both spiral plate and Herbert screw fixations have been clinically adopted for treating midshaft displaced clavicle fractures. However, the biomechanical properties of the 2 implant fixations have not yet been thoroughly evaluated. Here we report the results of a finite element analysis of the biomechanical properties of midshaft clavicle fractures treated with Herbert screw and spiral plate fixation. ⋯ Spiral plate fixation provides greater stability, but is associated with stress shielding. These results demonstrate that Herbert screw fixation is suitable for the treatment of simple displaced clavicluar fractures, but excessive shoulder activity and weight-bearing should be avoided after the operation. Therefore, spiral plate fixation may be preferred for patients requiring an early return to activity.
-
There is no known study regarding the usefulness of each blood pressure (BP) component based on stratification by age and sex for predicting cardiovascular (CV) events among hypertensive populations without chronic kidney disease (CKD) or diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was performed to investigate the association of BP components and CV events in a Korean hypertensive population according to age and sex. A total of 22,853 Korean hypertensive participants without CKD and DM were stratified into six groups according to age [40-49, 50-59, and 60 years or older] and sex. ⋯ When subjects were stratified by age and sex, an increase of SBP or PP was significantly related to the increased risk of CV events in 40's male group, and only the elevation of PP was significantly associated with increase in incidence of CV events in 50's male group, while a decrease in DBP was significantly associated with increased risk of CV events in older male group. In addition, there were no the significant associations with the incidence of CV events in MAP, after stratification according to age and sex. In conclusion, this study suggests that, in hypertensive populations, BP management may need to be performed after full consideration of age and sex.
-
Limbic encephalitis is one of the most common paraneoplastic neurological disorders (PND). The role of brain Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) in paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) and of the whole body 18F-FDG PET/CT in this setting, remains still not well defined. ⋯ In the era of personalized medicine and targeted therapy, this case highlights the importance of the 18F-FDG PET/CT study as an accurate tool to identify PLE and to guide the diagnostic work-up of the underlying tumor. Considering that most of these are 18F-FDG avid tumors and that the 18F-FDG PET/CT scan is often added to the diagnostic work-up when screening patients for malignancy, this functional imaging can play a decisive role.
-
With the development of endoscopic technique and the improvement of available accessories, endoscopic therapy became to play an important role in the management of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs). ⋯ Our successful experience showed that EFR is a feasible, safe and efficacious treatment for small (<2 cm) gastric GIST in liver transplant recipients, providing the advantages of little damage, short operative time, stable graft function, without compromising postoperative outcomes.
-
Fetal giant cervical cyst (FGCC) is a rare congenital anomaly. Sometimes FGCC may extend into the mediastinum, and result in severe tracheal compression, which is a life-threatening event at birth. ⋯ If an FGCC is suspected by abdominal ultrasound, a fetal MRI is recommended to assess the severity of tracheal compression before birth, if feasible. An anesthesiologist should assess the risk of intubation failure at birth according to those results. If fetal severe tracheal compression is detected and it may result in inability of intubation at birth, prenatal cervical cyst reduction under ultrasound guidance may be effective for alleviating tracheal compression at birth, if feasible. This could maximize the chance of fetal survival. Improvement of fetal short- and long-term outcomes is important.