ABSTRACT
With the advent of the era of 5G and big data, complex medical data with multiple dimensions and a large sample size bring both opportunities and challenges for clinical medicine in the new era. Compared with conventional methods, artificial intelligence can detect the hidden patterns within large datasets, and more and more scholars are applying such advanced technology in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. After development and perfection for more than half a century, liver transplantation has become the most effective treatment method for end-stage liver diseases. Unlike the analysis of "single-patient" data in other fields, liver transplantation usually requires the consideration of the features of both the donor and the recipient and the variables during transplantation, thus generating a larger volume of medical data than other diseases, which is particularly in line with the advantages of artificial intelligence. Effective application of artificial intelligence and its combination with clinical research will usher in the new era of precision medicine. The advantages and limitations of artificial intelligence technology should be comprehensively discussed for the cross-application of artificial intelligence in liver transplantation, and the future directions of this field should also be proposed.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:There is evidence that internal fixation through an anterior or posterior approach for treatment of severe kyphotic deformity in spinal tuberculosis exhibits good curative effects. However, few prospective, long-term fol ow-up case control studies are reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy and safety of cobalt al oy pedicle screw implantation for treatment of severe kyphotic deformity in spinal tuberculosis. METHODS/DESIGN:This is a prospective, single-center, self-control, open-label trial, which wil be performed at the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, China. Eighty-four patients with severe kyphotic deformity in spinal tuberculosis wil be included according to the diagnosis criteria. Among 52 patients with tuberculosis of the thoracic spine, 28 wil undergo surgery through a posterior approach, and 24 through an anterior approach. According to the Frankel Grade classification, grade C, D and E spinal cord function wil be assessed in 8, 31 and 13 patients, respectively. Surgery through a posterior and anterior approach wil be respectively performed in half of 32 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbar spine. Grade C, D and E spinal cord function wil be assessed in 7, 14 and 11 patients, respectively. The primary outcome measure of this study wil be the Cobb angle at the thoracic spine segments before and 2 years after surgery, which wil be used to evaluate the angle of the spine curvature at the thoracic segments. The secondary outcome measures wil be X-ray scan or MRI findings before and 2 years after surgery, which wil be used to evaluate vertebral fusion after internal fixation;and Frankel Grade before and 2 years after surgery, which wil be used to evaluate recovery of spinal cord function after injury. Other outcome measures wil include multiple logistic regression analysis results of the factors that influence patient's curative effects and the incidence of adverse events 2 years after surgery. The trial protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, China and wil be performed in strict accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. Signed informed consent regarding the trial protocol wil be obtained from each participant. DISCUSSION:This study is to validate that cobalt al oy pedicle screw implantation shows precise curative effects in the treatment of severe kyphotic deformity in spinal tuberculosis and to analyze through what approach, posterior or anterior, internal fixation wil be more beneficial to surgery performance. The outcomes of this study wil provide objective long-term fol ow-up evidence for internal fixation treatment of severe kyphotic deformity in spinal tuberculosis in the clinic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: During the repair of thoracolumbar fracture, pedicle screw fixation is a commonly used treatment method. In the process of fixation, the different approaches can be used. OBJECTIVE: To compare effect and biocompatibility of pedicle screw by percutaneous approach, posterior median approach, and intervertebral space approach for thoracolumbar fracture. METHODS: 118 cases of thoracolumbar fracture were included after pedicle screw fixation. Al patients were divided into three groups according to the approach: posterior median approach group (38 cases), intervertebral space approach group (40 cases) and percutaneous approach group (40 cases). After 12 months of folow-up, perioperative conditions, pain score, vertebral height of anterior border, kyphosis correction effect, adverse events and biological compatibility were compared among three groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Operation time, intraoperative bleeding and time in bed after surgery were shorter or less in the percutaneous approach and intervertebral space approach groups than in the posterior median approach group. Postoperative drainage was better in percutaneous approach and intervertebral space approach groups than in the posterior median approach group (alP < 0.05). Except drainage in the percutaneous approach and intervertebral space approach groups, no significant difference in other indicators was found. (2) Patients received imaging examination at different time points. The percentage of anterior vertebral height and kyphosis were significantly improved immediately after treatment and in final folow-up (alP < 0.05). No significant difference was detected before treatment, immediately after treatment and in final folow-up. (3) Visual Analogue score was identical before treatment. Visual analogue score was lower in the percutaneous approach and intervertebral space approach groups than in the posterior median approach group at 24 hours and 3 days after treatment and in final folow-up (alP < 0.05). No significant difference was detectable at 24 hours and 3 days after treatment and in final folow-up between the percutaneous approach and intervertebral space approach groups. (4) No rejection or wound non-healing was seen at 12 months after treatment. Some patients suffered from mild low back pain, which was improved by active symptomatic treatment. (5) These findings suggest that intervertebral space approach percutaneous approach obtained satisfactory outcomes compared with posterior median approach for treatment of thoracolumbar spine fractures, and good biocompatibility was found.
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Objective To investigate if mitochondrial KATP channels are involved in the cardioprotective effects of astragalus membranaceus in immature rabbit hearts. Methods Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits of both sexes aged 14-21 days weighing 300-350 g were anesthetized and heparinized. The hearts were rapidly removed after thoracotomy and mounted on a Langendorff apparatus via ascending aorta and perfused with oxygenated (95% O2-5% CO2) Krebs-Hensleit buffer (KHB) solution at 60 cm H2O (perfusion pressure) and 38 ℃ . A fluid-filled latex balloon was inserted into left ventricle via left atrium for measurement of left ventricular developed pressure ( LVDP) , Global myocardial ischemia was induced by suspension of perfusion for 30 min followed by 45 min reperfusion. The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups with 8 animals in each group : group A control;group B astragalus and group C astragalus +- 5-HD (a selective inhibitor of the mitochondrial KATP channel). In group B the hearts were perfused with astragalus 40 g? L-1 for 15 min before ischemia. In group C the hearts were perfused with 5-HD 100?mol?L-1 for 5 min followed by 10 min astragalus perfusion before ischemia. In control group the hearts were perfused with only KHB before ischemia. Coronary flow (CF), HR, LVDP and ? dp/dtmax, were measured at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 min of reperfusion and recorded. Coronary effluent was collected at 10 min of reperfusion for determination of CK-MB, LDH and CK levels . At the end of 45 min reperfusion the isolated heart was removed for determination of myocardial ATP and iNOS levels and electron microscopic examination.Results In astragalus group (B) LVDP ? dp/dtmax and CF recovered significantly better and myocardial ATP content was significantly higher as compared with group A and C (P