Medicine
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Transpedicular screw (TPS) fixation in unstable thoracic and lumbar (TL) spine fractures remains technically difficult because of destroyed anatomical landmarks, unstable gross segments, and discrepancies in anatomic orientation using conventional anatomic landmarks, fluoroscopic guidance, or computed tomography (CT)-based navigation. In this study, we evaluated the safety and accuracy of TPS placement under intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) navigation in managing unstable TL spine fractures. From 2010 to 2013, we retrospectively reviewed the Spine Operation Registry records of patients who underwent posterior instrumented fusion to treat unstable TL spine fractures via the iCT navigation system. ⋯ A malplaced TPS could be revised during real-time confirmation of the TPS position, and no secondary operation was required to revise malplaced screws. The iCT navigation system provides accurate and safe management of unstable TL spine fractures. In addition, operating room personnel, including surgeons and nurses, did not need to wear heavy lead aprons as they were not exposed to radiation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Virtual reality training versus blended learning of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial with laparoscopic novices.
This study compared virtual reality (VR) training with low cost-blended learning (BL) in a structured training program. Training of laparoscopic skills outside the operating room is mandatory to reduce operative times and risks. Laparoscopy-naïve medical students were randomized in 2 groups stratified for sex. ⋯ The efficiency of the training was judged higher by the VR group than by the BL group. VR and BL can both be applied for training the basics of LC. Multimodality training programs should be developed that combine the advantages of both approaches.
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Observational Study
Incidence of branching patterns variations of the arch in aortic dissection in Chinese patients.
Several authors have described anatomic variations of the aortic arch in 13% to 20% of the patients who do not have aortic disease. However, few studies have evaluated these patterns in the thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). In the authors' knowledge, this is the first survey that specifically investigates the frequency of these variations in a broad, nonselected group of Chinese patients with aortic dissection. ⋯ The bovine arch was considered the variant pattern of the major frequency in the patients with TAD and the control group. The anatomical variant of 4 branches, defined as vertebral artery of direct origin of the aortic arch, was more frequent in patients with Stanford B aortic dissection than in the patients with Stanford A. This finding might show an association between the geometry of the aortic arch and the site of onset of first intimal tear of dissection.
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High hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels are strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with and without diabetes. However, information regarding the relationship between low HbA1c levels and the risk of CVD among people without known diabetes is limited. The aim of this large-scale, prospective, population-based cohort study was to clarify the association between HbA1c levels and CVD risk among people without known diabetes. ⋯ In addition, the hazard ratio for CVD was 1.81 (1.43-2.29) in patients with known diabetes compared with participants with HbA1c levels of 5.0 to 5.4% and without known diabetes. This nonlinear relation persisted after excluding people with kidney dysfunction, liver dysfunction, anemia, body mass index <18.5 kg/m, or early events within 3 years of follow-up (P value for nonlinear trend: <0.01 for all tests). In conclusion, both low and high levels of HbA1c were associated with a higher risk of CVD in a Japanese general population without known diabetes.
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Interest is growing in radiotherapy to nonuniformly boost radioresistant regions within nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using molecular imaging techniques. The complexity of tumor behavior is beyond the ability of any single radiotracer to reveal. We hold dual tracer positron emission tomography-computer tomography (PET/CT) imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and fluorodeoxythymidine (FLT) for NSCLC patients to offer an integrated overlook of tumor biological behaviors quantitatively and localizationally, which may help biological target volume delineation and subvolume boost. ⋯ Dual tracer PET/CT of FDG and FLT is suggested for NSCLC patients to guide tumor target delineation in clinical practice. FDG PET/CT is necessary whereas FLT PET/CT may be optional when guiding tumor target delineation clinically. Additional information from randomized trials is required to validate.