Longitudinal Study on Pre- and Post-Operation CT Imaging for Predicting Pedicle Screw Loosening in Patients with Lumbar Degenerative Disease.

Purpose: We conducted a longitudinal study to examine the predictive role of risk factors in the occurrence of pedicle screw loosening, assessed through pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) scans. Methods: A total of 103 patients with degenerative lumbar disease who had undergone L4/5 pedicle screw fixation (involving 412 screws) were included in this study. They were subsequently categorized into two groups-the "loosening group" and the "non-loosening group". The axial and sagittal angles of the screw trajectory in pre- and post-operative CT images were measured, and the deviation angles were computed. Additionally, measurements were taken of the Hounsfield unit (HU) within the screw entry point area, the pedicle, and the vertebral body in preoperative CT images. Logistic regression analysis was employed to ascertain the risk factors influencing the occurrence of screw loosening. Results: Elderly patients who experienced screw loosening tended to have bilateral screw issues at the L5 level (p < 0.005). The HU of the pedicle (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), and the axial deviation angle (p = 0.014) were identified as independent factors predicting screw loosening. Additionally, when HU of the pedicle < 126.5 or age ≥ 53.5 years, the axial deviation angle was found to be smaller in the group experiencing screw loosening (p = 0.018 and p = 0.019). Conclusion: Loosening of screws positioned at L5 was found to be more prevalent in elderly patients, particularly exhibiting a bilateral occurrence. Independent predictors of this phenomenon included a low HU value in the pedicle, advanced age in patients, and a substantial axial deviation angle. In the case of elderly patients with a low HU value in the pedicle, a reduced axial surgical deflection was necessitated to prevent the occurrence of screw loosening.

Reading comprehension skill in English as a second language of Japanese middle school students with cochlear implants.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the English reading comprehension skill of Japanese middle school students with cochlear implants (CIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were pre- or perilingually deafened CI recipients between seventh and ninth grades (age 12-15 years). English reading comprehension skill was evaluated using the Norm Referenced Test developed for Japanese students. Furthermore, factors related to English reading comprehension were assessed, focusing on a total of 11 variables: age; sex; age at CI; length of CI use; aided pure-tone thresholds with CI; Japanese listening word recognition score; performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) score; verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ); grade; school type; and Japanese reading comprehension skill. RESULTS: A total of 40 subjects completed the test. Their average word recognition score was good, at 80.2%,and the average age at CI was late, at 4.4 years. The chi-square goodness of fit test showed the English reading comprehension skill level deviated toward lower achievement in the students with CIs compared with children with normal-hearing. VIQ and Japanese reading comprehension skill were correlated with English reading skill. On the other hand, there was no relationship between English reading skill and the factors of hearing level and CI experience.

[Comparative study of 3D printing implant guide in different implant surgeries in anterior tooth defect area].

OBJECTIVE: To study the accuracy of 3D printing implant-guided anterior tooth implantation under flap or flapless surgery. METHODS: Twenty-one cases (32 teeth) with missing teeth were divided into two groups: tooth implantation on the maxillary models under flap surgery (FP group) and tooth implantation on the maxillary models under flapless surgery (FPS group). A dental implant guide was designed and used in the two groups. The actual position of the dental implants in the two groups was compared with the preplanned deviation values of implant top, bottom, vertical distance, and angle deviation. SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The deviation values of implant top, bottom, vertical distance, and angle were significantly lower in the FP group than in the FPS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High accuracy of tooth implantation can be realized by using the 3D printing implant guide. The different surgical methods influence the precision of tooth implantation. Clinicians can choose the surgery reasonably depending on the actual situation.

Comparative study of 3D printing implant guide in different implant surgeries in anterior tooth defect area / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the accuracy of 3D printing implant-guided anterior tooth implantation under flap or flapless surgery.@*METHODS@#Twenty-one cases (32 teeth) with missing teeth were divided into two groups: tooth implantation on the maxillary models under flap surgery (FP group) and tooth implantation on the maxillary models under flapless surgery (FPS group). A dental implant guide was designed and used in the two groups. The actual position of the dental implants in the two groups was compared with the preplanned deviation values of implant top, bottom, vertical distance, and angle deviation. SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis.@*RESULTS@#The deviation values of implant top, bottom, vertical distance, and angle were significantly lower in the FP group than in the FPS group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#High accuracy of tooth implantation can be realized by using the 3D printing implant guide. The different surgical methods influence the precision of tooth implantation. Clinicians can choose the surgery reasonably depending on the actual situation.

Relationship between consecutive deterioration of mean deviation value and progression of visual field defect in open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between consecutive deterioration of mean deviation (MD) value and glaucomatous visual field (VF) progression in open-angle glaucoma (OAG), including primary OAG and normal tension glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects of the study were patients undergoing treatment for OAG who had performed VF tests at least 10 times with a Humphrey field analyzer (SITA standard, C30-2 program). The VF progression was defined by a significantly negative MD slope (MD slope worsening) at the final VF test during the follow-up period. The relationship between the MD slope worsening and the consecutive deterioration of MD value were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 165 eyes of 165 patients were included in the analysis. Significant progression of VF defects was observed in 72 eyes of 72 patients (43.6%), while no significant progression was evident in 93 eyes of 93 patients (56.4%). There was significant relationship between the frequency of consecutive deterioration of MD value and MD slope worsening (P<0.0001, Cochran-Armitage trend test). A significant association was observed for MD slope worsening in the eyes with three (odds ratio: 2.1, P=0.0224) and four (odds ratio: 3.6, P=0.0008) consecutive deterioration of MD value in multiple logistic regression analysis, but no significant association in the eyes with two consecutive deterioration (odds ratio: 1.1, P=0.8282). The eyes with VF progression had significantly lower intraocular pressure reduction rate (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study has shown that three or more consecutive deterioration of MD value might be a predictor to future significant MD slope worsening in OAG.