Search

Assistive devices are one of the crucial medical instruments for rehabilitation. Customized designs are required to match the geometry and dimensions of the affected sites of human bodies. The existing practice of assistive device development remains mostly a manual process, in which an experienced physiotherapist employs simple two-dimensional measurements and visual estimation to handcraft each device. The resulting devices not only vary substantially in fit to wearers, but also are not compatible to modern developmental technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) printing. This study incorporated substantial quantities of anthropometric data to construct a parametric 3D hand model. This study employed a customized assistive device - splint for carpal tunnel syndrome as a target object for testing the feasibility of the proposed method and verified the practicability through 3D printing implementation. Moreover, a wearable device embedded with inertial measurement unit sensor and vibration module will be integrated into the customized assistive device to offer a smart way for rehabilitation. With the help of this developed wearable device, continuously tracking user’s activity wirelessly and provide the real-time physically intervention feedback of vibration module based on back-end monitoring system platform. This new concept by integrating customized design and the IMU sensor and vibration module open a new window for the field of customized assistive device and improve its practical values.

BACKGROUND Unilateral exophthalmos is often caused by inflammation, neoplasm, infection, metabolic disease, vascular disorder and several other less common conditions. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy related to unilateral exophthalmos has not been reported in the past literature. CASE SUMMARY We describe a 45-year-old female with unilateral exophthalmos caused by reflex sympathetic dystrophy and its unexpected spontaneous disappearance after a standard anterior cervical discectomy and fixation operation with two PEEK interbody cages and a plate. To our surprise, the patient's left unilateral exophthalmos improved spontaneously in the morning on postoperative day 2-with no relapse, without any further medication, as of seven years. We have named this condition "cervicogenic exophthalmos." CONCLUSION We would inform other clinicians that unilateral exophthalmos was caused not only by inflammation, vascular disorder, infection, neoplasm, or metabolic disease, but also by reflex sympathetic dystrophy related with cervicogenic spondylosis. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first related case report and use of the term "cervicogenic exophthalmos" after reviewing previous literature.

Porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVADs) are among the most important diseases affecting the worldwide swine industry. Vaccination against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection has been utilized for disease control and effectively reduces clinical signs of PCVADs. To evaluate the efficacy of the PCV2 vaccine in field farms, we conducted a trial using conventional pigs immunized with the subunit PCV2 vaccine followed by PCV2 challenge. Immunized pigs demonstrated lower serum viral loads, less viral antigen staining in lymph nodes, and higher average daily weight gain, confirming the protective efficacy of the vaccine. However, low levels of PCV2 infection were still detected in vaccinated pigs after challenge, suggesting that the PCV2 vaccine was unable to eradicate the virus, which could lead to asymptomatic PCV2 subclinical infection (PCV2-SI) in pig farms. Additionally, PCV2 infection is a risk factor for impaired pig immune response development during the weaning to growth stages, which is a crucial period to receive vaccines against classical swine fever (CSF). Therefore, the impact of PCV2-SI or PCV2-systemic disease (PCV2-SD) on live attenuated CSF vaccine was investigated. After PCV2 challenge, there was no difference in levels of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) neutralizing antibodies (NA) between pigs with PCV2-SD and PCV2-SI, suggesting that the efficacy of CSF vaccine was compromised. Moreover, results of long-term monitoring of CSFV NA titers in PCV2-SI pigs with minimized interference by maternally-derived antibodies suggested that serum PCV2 viral loads greater than 102 copies/mL may compromise the efficacy of CSF vaccine. Overall, a conventional pig model was established to demonstrate the impaired efficacy of the subunit PCV2 vaccine and its impact on the CSF vaccine in vaccination-challenge trials. Additionally, the impaired efficacy of the PCV2 vaccine resulted in increased PCV2-SI, eventually leading to compromised the live attenuated CSF vaccine induced NA response in field farm applications.

In previous (k,n) secret image sharing scheme, the threshold k is decided by dealer according to the security requirement, and this threshold value is fixed without considering the dynamic secure environment in future. In this work, we propose a novel threshold changeable secret image sharing scheme where the threshold value can be changed according to the changeable security requirement. In our scheme, each participant only needs to keep one initial shadow. When reconstructing image, the dealer decides the threshold according to security level. If the threshold is unchanged, any k or more initial shadows can recover the image; else if the threshold is increased or decreased, dealer publishes additional information, each participant update their shadows accordingly such that the threshold of updated shadows is changed correspondingly. The contribution of our work is that the threshold of shadows can be changed flexibly to satisfy the dynamic secure environment, and each participant only need to keep one initial shadows. The feature of threshold changeable makes our scheme more practical than previous secret image sharing in some complicated applications.

Claudin-4 is a member of a large family of transmembrane proteins known as claudins, which are essential for the formation and maintenance of tight junctions. Our previous studies have revealed that claudin-4 proteins are overexpressed in metastatic gastric cancer. To clarify the roles of claudin-4 in gastric cancer metastasis, human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells constitutively expressing wild-type claudin-4 were generated. Expression of claudin-4 in AGS cells was found to increase cell invasion and migration, as measured by Boyden invasion chamber assays. Moreover, the claudin-4-expressing AGS cells were found to have increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 expression, indicating that claudin-mediated increased invasion may be mediated through the activation of the MMP protein. Overall, the results suggest that claudin-4 overexpression may promote gastric cancer metastasis through the increased invasion of gastric cancer cells.

Retrospective radiographical review.To evaluate the outcome of selective thoracic fusion (STF) by using the Guan-Din method for the treatment of major thoracic compensatory lumbar (MTCL) curves.Performing STF for MTCL curves is to minimize the loss of lumbar motion and the risk of lumbar degeneration or pain. Surgical treatment of MTCL curves aims to maximize the rate of STF for MTCL curves while optimizing instrumental thoracic and compensatory lumbar correction. The Guan-Din method has been demonstrated to be able to enhance the lumbar curve's capacity for spontaneous correction and broaden the current curve criteria of MTCL curves for STF.Between 2004 and 2010, 510 consecutive surgically treated MTCL curves were reviewed. Of these MTCL curves, who met the criteria of lumbar side bending Cobb 35° or less and without global thoracic hyperkyphosis and/or thoracolumbar kyphosis (T10-L2 ≤20°), were treated with STF using the Guan-Din method. Radiographs were analyzed before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the most recent follow-up (range, 2-8 yr).Curve types of 510 MTCL curves according to Lenke system were as follows: 1A (n = 91), 2A (n = 74), 3A (n = 6), 4A (n = 2), 1B (n = 93), 2B (n = 34), 3B (n = 8), 4B (n = 5), 1C (n = 84), 2C (n = 26), 3C (n = 72), and 4C (n = 15). Of the 510 MTCL curves, 458 (90%) curves were treated with STF. A mean 73% thoracic correction and 63% lumbar correction was obtained at the most recent follow-up. Of the 197 surgically treated MTCL curves with a lumbar C modifier, 148 (75%) curves that contained 57 Lenke 1C and 2C curves and 40 Lenke 3C and 4C curves that did not meet Lenke curve criteria for STF, were successfully treated with STF. A mean 67% thoracic correction and 57% lumbar correction was obtained at the most recent follow-up. The rate of STF and the magnitude of correction of MTCL curves in this study were significantly greater than those in all other reports. No significant change in global coronal and sagittal imbalance was observed.The rate of STF and the compensatory correction of MTCL curves could be maximized by using the Guan-Din method as the method for STF.4.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent disorders in elderly population. Among various therapeutic alternatives, we employed stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a heterogeneous cell population, to regenerate damaged knee cartilage. OA patients were classified on the basis of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and x-ray-derived Kellgren&ndash, Lawrence (KL) grade. They were treated with SVF and followed-up for 24 months. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index were used to determine treatment efficacy. Cartilage healing was assessed using the MRI-based Outerbridge score (OS) and evaluation of bone marrow edema (BME) lesions, while a placebo group was used as a control. Time- and KL-dependent changes were also monitored. We observed a decreasing trend in VAS score and WOMAC index in the SVF-treated group up to 24 months, as compared with the placebo group. Besides, a significant increase and decrease in Lysholm and OS, respectively, were observed in the treatment group. Compared with the values before treatment, the greatly reduced WOMAC scores of KL3 than KL2 groups at 24 months, indicate more improvement in the KL3 group. Highly decreased BME in the treated group was also noted. In conclusion, the SVF therapy is effective in the recovery of OA patients of KL3 grade in 24 months.

There are trace amounts of heavy metals in cosmetics. Heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), which is added to skin-whitening cosmetics, may cause acute or chronic damage to human cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of mercury chloride (HgCl2) to human keratinocytes. The keratinocytes were treated with various concentrations of HgCl2 and the cell survival fractions were found to be 38.08, 17.59, 12.76, 3.29 and 0.77% when the cells were treated with 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 μM of HgCl2, respectively. Moreover, we observed that the greatest damage was to the cell membrane. The metallothionein (MT) protein expression was also investigated. MT expression levels increased with increasing concentrations of HgCl2. The results indicated that MT protects the keratinocytes against HgCl2-induced toxicity.

The purpose of this study is to develop a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to further investigate the stress distributions after occlusal splint therapy. Six patients with anterior disc displacement without reduction were reconstructed before and after six months of occlusal splint treatments from computed topography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One must focus on the magnitude and location of the maximum stresses under physiological loading. In the 3D model studies, each mandibular condyle, disc, and articular eminence was divided into five regions: anterior, posterior, central, medial, and lateral. The results of this study show that the abnormal von Mises stresses occurred in the condyle during jaw closing, and overloading of the anterior condyle and posterior disc during jaw opening occurred before treatment. Stresses of all regions became well distributed after treatment, and an approximately 30% stress reduction in the condyle and a 35% stress reduction in the disc were found during jaw opening (p < 0.05), a remarkable difference. This result shows the potential clinical benefits in terms of proven superior biomechanical behavior according to occlusal splint treatment.

One hundred and thirty-eight stage II and III colorectal cancer patients were included to evaluate the prognostic significance of genetic markers (including mutations of the p53, K- ras genes, and microsatellite instability) on the response to 5-fluorouracil (FU)-based post-operative adjuvant therapies (PAT). When stratified by PAT and adjusting for other prognostic variables, presence of p53 mutation was associated with a poor outcome (hazard ratio (HR)=3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9–11.0) among patients without PAT. Our data confirmed that p53 mutation is an independent pre-treatment factor in stage II and III colorectal cancer after curative resection.

Study design Retrospective radiographical review. Objective To demonstrate that the structural and noncompensatory Lenke 3 and 4C lumbar curves could be nonstructural and compensatory. Summary of background data Historically, Lenke 3 and 4C curves were not recommended for selective thoracic fusion (STF) because the lumbar curve was considered structural and noncompensatory. However, consecutive series of Lenke 3 and 4C curves suggest successful treatment with STF. Methods Between 2001 and 2004, 2005 and 2008, and 2010 and 2012, 3 consecutive series of 108, 134, and 78 surgically treated Lenke 1, 2, 3, and 4C curves were reviewed, respectively. The coronal curve criteria for the curves treated with STF during each period were lumbar side bending Cobb angle less than 25° and meeting the Lenke ratio criteria, lumbar side bending Cobb angle 35° or less, and lumbar side bending Cobb angle 45° or less, respectively. The sagittal curve criteria for STF during each period was absence of junctional thoracolumbar kyphosis 20° or more between T10 and L2. The technique used for STF was the Guan-Din method. Radiographs of all the curves treated with STF were analyzed before and after surgery. Results Optimal instrumented thoracic and compensatory lumbar correction was obtained for all Lenke 1, 2, 3, and 4C curves treated with STF in each period. As the coronal criteria for STF were broadened, the extent of feasibility of STF was expanded and the rate of STF increased. Although Cobb angle, apical vertebral translation, and apical vertebral rotation magnitudes of Lenke 3 and 4C curves were larger and more severe than those of Lenke 1 and 2C curves, optimal compensatory correction could still be obtained for Lenke 3 and 4C curves. Conclusion The structural and noncompensatory Lenke 3 and 4C lumbar curves were proven to be nonstructural and compensatory. Lenke 1, 2, 3, and 4C curves have similar natures and similar responses to the same technique (Guan-Din method) used for STF and could be considered collectively as a single indication for STF. The extent of feasibility of STF could be expanded from Lenke 1 and 2 curves to Lenke 1, 2, 3, and 4 curves. Level of evidence 2.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an important tool for enabling quantification of human brain function. However, quantitative studies using tracer kinetic modeling require the measurement of the tracer time-activity curve in plasma (PTAC) as the model input function. It is widely believed that the insertion of arterial lines and the subsequent collection and processing of the biomedical signal sampled from the arterial blood are not compatible with the practice of clinical PET, as it is invasive and exposes personnel to the risks associated with the handling of patient blood and radiation dose. Therefore, it is of interest to develop practical noninvasive measurement techniques for tracer kinetic modeling with PET. In this paper, a technique is proposed to extract the input function together with the physiological parameters from the brain dynamic images alone. The identifiability of this method is tested rigorously by using Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that the proposed method is able to quantify all the required parameters by using the information obtained from two or more regions of interest (ROI's) with very different dynamics in the PET dynamic images. There is no significant improvement in parameter estimation for the local cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (LCMRGlc) if the number of ROI's are more than three. The proposed method can provide very reliable estimation of LCMRGlc, which is our primary interest in this study.

Background Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, is widely used for the treatment of gynopathies diseases such as menstrual discomfort, climacteric syndrome, dysmenorrhea, and other estrogen-related diseases. Recent studies have shown that SWT can treat primary dysmenorrhea, have anti-pruritic anti-inflammatory effects, and protect against radiation-induced bone marrow damage in an animal model. It has been reported that anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents have the potential to treat osteoporosis by increasing bone formation and/or suppressing bone resorption. However, the effect of SWT on bone cell function has not yet been reported. Methods Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2, and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression was analyzed by qPCR. The mechanism of action of SWT extract was investigated using western blotting. The in vivo anti-osteoporotic effect of SWT extract was assessed in ovariectomized mice. Results Here, we report that SWT increases ALP, BMP-2, and OPN expression as well as bone mineralization. In addition, we show that the PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways may be involved in the SWT-mediated increase in gene expression and bone mineralization. Notably, treatment of mice with SWT extract prevented bone loss induced by ovariectomy in vivo. Conclusion SWT may be used to stimulate bone formation for the treatment of osteoporosis.

This is the first report of 0 eV or negative Schottky barrier height for electrons down to 100 K, even on lightly doped Si. It is achieved by energy barrier engineering with Yb doping at NiSi/Si interface. Ideal unity rectification ratio and reasonable sheet resistance are also achieved in this study. This technology can potentially boost future MOSFET performance.

Chondrosarcoma is a primary malignant bone cancer, with a potent capacity to invade locally and cause distant metastasis, especially to the lungs. Patients diagnosed with chondrosarcoma have poor prognosis. Berberine, an active component of the Ranunculaceae and Papaveraceae families of plant, has been proven to induce tumor apoptosis and to prevent the metastasis of cancer cells. However, the effects of berberine in human chondrosarcoma are largely unknown. In this study, we found that berberine did not induce cell apoptosis in human primary chondrocytes and chondrosarcoma cells. However, at noncytotoxic concentrations, berberine reduced the migration and invasion of chondrosarcoma cancer cells. Integrins are the major adhesive molecules in mammalian cells and have been associated with the metastasis of cancer cells. We also found that incubation of chondrosarcoma cells with berberine reduced mRNA transcription for, and cell surface expression of, theαvβ3 integrin, with additional inhibitory effects on PKCδ, c-Src, and NF-κB activation. Thus, berberine may be a novel antimetastasis agent for the treatment of metastatic chondrosarcoma.

AIM: To investigate how a complex network of CC chemokine ligands (CCLs) and their receptors influence the progression of tumor and metastasis. METHODS: In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of CCL7, CCL8 and CCL21 in 194 gastric cancer samples and adjacent normal tissues. We analyzed their correlation with tumor metastasis, clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome. RESULTS: We found that the higher expression of CCL7 and CCL21 in cancer tissues than in normal tissues was significantly correlated with advanced depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis and higher tumor node metastasis stage. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that CCL7 and CCL21 overexpression in cancer tissues was correlated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that overexpression of these two CC chemokine ligands is associated with tumor metastasis and serves as a prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer.