Influence of 3D laparoscopic surgery on surgeon's visual pattern and mental workload.

Previous studies have found that surgeons perform better in three-dimensional (3D) surgery than in two-dimensional (2D) surgery. However, no comparative studies have revealed the impact of 3D laparoscopic surgery on the surgeon's vision. To explore the effect of laparoscopic surgeons' depth perception during 3D laparoscopic surgery, 10 participants were recruited and performed 4 sets comparative simulated laparoscopic procedures in a virtual simulator, and eye movement signals were acquired, which were used to characteristics the visual differences. Fixation rate and saccade speed were used to characterise the influence of moderating variables for visual characteristics. The results from the data showed significant differences in eye movement behaviour. Compared with 2D laparoscopic surgery, surgeons have more average fixation rate (p-values = 0.001, 0.000, 0.003 and 0.015, respectively) and faster saccade speed (p-values = 0.037, 0.003, 0.073 and 0.105, respectively) in 3D laparoscopic surgery. The results of this study showed that surgeons had more efficient visual search in 3D laparoscopic surgery. At the same time, the results also indicated that surgeon's mental workload in 3D laparoscopic surgery was low. The relevant conclusions of this paper revealed the advantages of 3D laparoscopic surgery through visual efficiency.

Comparison of fracture risk using different supplemental doses of vitamin D, calcium or their combination: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Inconsistent findings in regard to association between different concentrations of vitamin D, calcium or their combination and the risk of fracture have been reported during the past decade in community-dwelling older people. This study was designed to compare the fracture risk using different concentrations of vitamin D, calcium or their combination. DESIGN: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Randomised controlled trials in PubMed, Cochrane library and Embase databases were systematically searched from the inception dates to 31 December 2017. OUTCOMES: Total fracture was defined as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were hip fracture and vertebral fracture. Due to the consistency of the original studies, a consistency model was adopted. RESULTS: A total of 25 randomised controlled trials involving 43 510 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was no evidence that the risk of total fracture was reduced using different concentrations of vitamin D, calcium or their combination compared with placebo or no treatment. No significant associations were found between calcium, vitamin D, or combined calcium and vitamin D supplements and the incidence of hip or vertebral fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The use of supplements that included calcium, vitamin D or both was not found to be better than placebo or no treatment in terms of risk of fractures among community-dwelling older adults. It means the routine use of these supplements in community-dwelling older people should be treated more carefully. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017079624.

Morphometric Characteristics of Sacral-2 Alar Iliac Screw Fixation in Pediatric Population.

STUDY DESIGN: A computed tomographic assessment. OBJECTIVE: To establish morphometric data of sacral-2 alar iliac (S2AI) screw fixation in pediatric population. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Studies on morphometric parameters of S2AI screw fixation are mostly based on adult population. The pediatric scoliosis also needs the S2AI screw fixation, however, without the previous morphometric information of among pediatric population. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) scans of 120 pediatric patients without spinal deformities are obtained and imported to Mimics software for 3D reconstruction. Then, a cylinder (radius of 3.25 mm) is drawn to imitate the screw trajectory of S2AI screw and adjusted to a maximum upward and downward angle to obtain the feasible region. Nine parameters of the S2AI screw are measured. Differences between age groups are compared and significant statistical correlations are carefully studied to determine the potentially important clinical relationships. RESULTS: The mean values and standard deviations (SD) for nine parameters at the maximum upward and downward angles were determined. With age increased, the S2AI screw trajectory becomes more caudal in the coronal (44.03 ±â€Š4.43°-53.15 ±â€Š4.68°) and sagittal planes (50.33 ±â€Š5.89°-57.69 ±â€Š4.21°) and more lateral in the transverse plane (49.40 ±â€Š5.90°-54.44 ±â€Š2.99°), and all of the distance parameters include max-length, sacral distance, iliac width, S2 midline, iliac wing, and skin distance increased. Age has a more significant effect on other parameters than transverse angle and skin distance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The S2AI screw fixation could be used on pediatric population too, but the pediatric population had smaller size of pelvis than adults, surgeons should choose the smaller diameters and the shorter length of screws for pediatric population depends on their age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/ A.

The Outcomes of Minimally Invasive versus Open Posterior Approach Spinal Fusion in Treatment of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: The Current Evidence from Prospective Comparative Studies.

Purpose. To investigate the evidence of minimally invasive (MI) versus open (OP) posterior lumbar fusion in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis from current prospective literatures. Methods. The electronic literature database of Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane library was searched at April 2016. The data of operative time, estimated blood loss and length of hospital stay, visual analog scale (VAS) of both lower back pain and leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), SF-36 PCS (physical component scores) and SF-36 MCS (mental component scores), complications, fusion rate, and secondary surgery were extracted and analyzed by STATA 12.0 software. Results. Five nonrandom prospective comparative studies were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the MI group had a significantly longer operative time than OP group, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stay. No significant difference was found in back pain, leg pain, ODI, SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS, complications, fusion rate, and secondary surgery between MI and OP groups. Conclusion. The prospective evidence suggested that MI posterior fusion for spondylolisthesis had less EBL and hospital stay than OP fusion; however it took more operative time. Both MI and OP fusion had similar results in pain and functional outcomes, complication, fusion rate, and secondary surgery.

Expression and distribution of TNF-α and PGE2 of periodontal tissues in rat periodontitis model.

OBJECTIVE: To simulate the expression of TNF-α and PGE2 of periodontal tissues in rat periodontitis model. METHODS: 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the periodontitis group and the control group (n=20). After the successful establishment of periodontitis rat model, raising for six weeks before the animals were sacrificed. The periodontal tissues were obtained and made into slices. Observed the histopathological changes of the periodontal tissues and measured TNF-α, PGE2 levels change by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and ELISA. RESULTS: TNF-α, PGE2 expression of the periodontitis group was significantly higher than that in the control group, the difference was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The TNF-α, PGE2 expression of the rat periodontal tissue in the periodontitis group was significantly higher than the control group.

Promotion effect of Au on N/TiO2 for hydrogen generation from water splitting.

A series of N/TiO2 were prepared by sol gel method, which was acted as photocatalysts. These photocatalysts were characterized by Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM), Reflective UV-Visible spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photocatalysts were applied for hydrogen gas generation from the water splitting reaction under visible light. Various N/Ti addition ratios could change the hydrogen generation rate. For the addition ratios N/Ti = 10 of N/TiO2, we obtained the maximum hydrogen production rate is about 38 µmol h(-1) g(-1). By loading the Au into the N/TiO2, the hydrogen generation rate was increased. We could get the best hydrogen production rate of 0.05 wt% Au/N/TiO2 is about 517 µmol h(-1) g(-1).

[Experimental study of the bioresorbable collagen membrane used for guided bone regeneration around dental implants].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of using guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique with an bioresorbable collagen membrane for repairing bone defects around dental implants. METHODS: In 12 mongrel dogs, pure titanium implants were immediately implanted in mandibles after extraction of the mandibular third and fourth premolars of both sides, in which standard bone defects of 3 mm x 3 mm x 5 mm were created at mesial side of the implants. The defects on right side were covered with Co membrane, the left side was uncovered as control. The dogs were sacrificed 1, 2, 4, 6 months postoperatively. The specimens were removed and studied by gross observation, X-ray radiograph, histological examination, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and pull-out test. RESULTS: The quantity and quality of new bone formation in experimental side which bone defects covered with Co membrane were much better than that in the control side. CONCLUSION: With the biodegradable property and excellent biocompatibility, Co membrane can be used for guided bone regeneration to promote the bone repair progress, and the promotion acts mainly at early stage of bone healing.