Robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal tumours in children: a single-centre retrospective study of 149 patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to summarize our experience in performing robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) for mediastinal tumours in children to investigate its safety and feasibility.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 149 patients with mediastinal tumours who were hospitalized in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, and underwent RATS for tumour resection from March 2021 to November 2022. Information on patient age, weight, tumour size, surgical incision selection, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stay, rate of conversion to thoracotomy and follow-up conditions were summarized.

Disentangling the activity-selectivity trade-off in catalytic conversion of syngas to light olefins.

Breaking the trade-off between activity and selectivity has been a long-standing challenge in the field of catalysis. We demonstrate the importance of disentangling the target reaction from the secondary reactions for the case of direct syngas conversion to light olefins by incorporating germanium-substituted AlPO-18 within the framework of the metal oxide-zeolite (OXZEO) catalyst concept. The attenuated strength of the catalytically active Brønsted acid sites allows enhancing the targeted carbon-carbon coupling of ketene intermediates to form olefins by increasing the active site density while inhibiting secondary reactions that consume the olefins.

Steering the reaction pathway of syngas-to-light olefins with coordination unsaturated sites of ZnGaO spinel.

Significant progress has been demonstrated in the development of bifunctional oxide-zeolite catalyst concept to tackle the selectivity challenge in syngas chemistry. Despite general recognition on the importance of defect sites of metal oxides for CO/H activation, the actual structure and catalytic roles are far from being well understood. We demonstrate here that syngas conversion can be steered along a highly active and selective pathway towards light olefins via ketene-acetate (acetyl) intermediates by the surface with coordination unsaturated metal species, oxygen vacancies and zinc vacancies over ZnGaO spinel-SAPO-34 composites.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: An over 10-year retrospective analysis.

Importance: Pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (PIMTs) are primary lung tumors in children. Misdiagnosis easily occurs because of the nonspecific clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results, and imaging findings in affected patients.

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and prognosis of children with PIMTs.

Application of an Extracorporeal-Assisted Intracorporeal Sliding Knot-Tying Technique in Minimally Invasive Surgery in Children.

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the feasibility and safety of an extracorporeal-assisted intracorporeal sliding knot-tying technique in minimally invasive surgery in children. From June 2009 to December 2017, a total of 333 cases of pediatric minimally invasive surgery were performed using the extracorporeal-assisted intracorporeal sliding knot-tying technique. Polyester, polyglactin, and polydioxanone sutures were used for suturing and knotting.

Diagnosis and treatment of pleuropulmonary blastoma in children: A single-center report of 41 cases.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the age at onset, clinical manifestations, pathological types and features, treatment, and prognosis of pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) in children in an attempt to reduce the misdiagnosis rate and achieve early detection and timely intervention.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical data of 41 pediatric patients with PPB who were treated in our center from March 2002 to November 2018. The data comprised the age at onset, clinical manifestations, characteristics of familial diseases, pathological types, surgical procedures, and prognosis.

Different Nuss procedures and risk management for pectus excavatum after surgery for congenital heart disease.

Purpose: In Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum (PE) after surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD), retrosternal adhesion may increase the risk of cardiac injury. This study aimed to explore different Nuss procedures and their implications for reducing the incidence of serious complications and improving surgical safety.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 49 cases (29 male and 20 female) of Nuss procedures for PE after surgery for CHD that were performed between April 2003 and December 2016.

Effects of trimethylsilane plasma coating on the hydrophobicity of denture base resin and adhesion of Candida albicans on resin surfaces.

Statement Of Problem: Candida-associated denture stomatitis is the most common oral mucosal lesion among denture wearers. Trimethylsilane (TMS) plasma coating may inhibit the growth of Candida albicans on denture surfaces.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate whether TMS plasma coatings can effectively reduce C albicans adhesion on denture base acrylic resin surfaces.

Hydroxyapatite induces spontaneous polymerization of model self-etch dental adhesives.

The objective of this study is to report for the first time the spontaneous polymerization phenomenon of self-etch dental adhesives induced by hydroxylapatite (HAp). Model self-etch adhesives were prepared by using a monomer mixture of bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (2MP) with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The initiator system consisted of camphorquinone (CQ, 0.

Enhancement in dentin collagen's biological stability after proanthocyanidins treatment in clinically relevant time periods.

Objective: To investigate whether proanthocyanidins (PA) is capable of improving dentin collagen's biological stability through cross-linking within time periods that are clinically relevant.

Materials And Methods: Demineralized dentin collagen slabs were treated with 3.75 wt% PA solution for 10s, 1 min, 30 min, 60 min, 120 min, 360 min, and 720 min, respectively.

The Distribution of Carbonate in Enamel and its Correlation with Structure and Mechanical Properties.

The correlation of carbonate content with enamel microstructure (chemical and crystal structure) and mechanical properties was evaluated via linear mapping analyses using Raman microspectroscopy and nanoindentation. Mappings started at the outer enamel surface and ended in the inner enamel near the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) in lingual and buccal cervical and cuspal regions. The carbonate peak intensity at 1070 cm gradually increased from outer to inner enamel.

BisGMA/TEGDMA dental nanocomposites containing glyoxylic acid-modified high-aspect ratio hydroxyapatite nanofibers with enhanced dispersion.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of the glyoxylic acid (GA) modification of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanofibers on their dispersion in bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (BisGMA)/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) dental composites and also to investigate the mechanical properties, water absorption and water solubility of the resulting dental resins and composites. Scanning/transmission electron microscopy images showed that microsized HAP nanofiber bundles could be effectively broken down into individual HAP nanofibers with an average length of ∼15 µm after the surface modification process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis characterization confirmed that GA was chemically grafted on the HAP nanofiber surface, hypothetically by reacting with the amine group on the HAP nanofiber surface.

Identification of a protein-containing enamel matrix layer which bridges with the dentine-enamel junction of adult human teeth.

Objective: To investigate the ultrastructure and chemical composition of the dentine-enamel junction and adjacent enamel of minimally processed third molar tooth sections.

Design: Undecalcified human third molar erupted teeth were sectioned and etched with 4% EDTA or 37% phosphoric acid prior to visualization by scanning electron microscopy. Confocal Raman spectroscopy was carried out at 50 μm and more than 400 μm away from the dentine-enamel junction before and after mild etching.

Comparison of flexural properties and surface roughness of nanohybrid and microhybrid dental composites.

Recently introduced nanohybrid dental composites have promised a smoother surface finish and strength, comparable to that of microhybrid composites. This study compared the mechanical properties and surface finish of nanohybrid and microhybrid composites by measuring the flexural strength and modulus (four-point bend) and surface roughness after polishing (using atomic force microscopy) of six commercial dental composites (three nanohybrid, three microhybrid). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to qualitatively characterize filler morphology and size.

Chemical characterization of etched dentin in non-carious cervical lesions.

Purpose: Bonding to non-carious cervical lesion (NCCL) sclerotic dentin that involves acid etching continues to be a challenging problem due to its altered chemical structure. In the present study, the objective was to investigate the chemical response of NCCL sclerotic dentin to the different acid etching times.

Materials And Methods: Extracted human premolars affected with NCCLs were selected, and a cavity matching the natural lesion with respect to size and location was prepared on the lingual surface of each tooth to serve as the control.

Chemical composition and structure of peritubular and intertubular human dentine revisited.

Objective: Currently there is still a debate about whether peritubular dentine (PTD) is non-collageneous or collageneous tissue. The chemical composition and structure of human PTD and intertubular dentine (ITD) was re-visited in this study.

Design: The dentine tubular region including ITD and PTD prepared from human third molars was in situ detected by means of micro-Raman spectroscopy (μRs) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Collagen cross linking increases its biodegradation resistance in wet dentin bonding.

Purpose: The biodegradation of exposed dentin collagen within the adhesive/dentin (a/d) interface is one of the main reasons for composite restoration failures and seriously affects the durability of dental restorations. In the present study, the objective was to investigate whether the inclusion of the cross-linking reagent (glutaraldehyde, GA) in the adhesive would increase collagen biodegradation resistance within the a/d interface.

Materials And Methods: The model adhesive consisted of ~60 % monomers (HEMA/bis-GMA, 45/55 wt/wt) and ~ 40 % ethanol as a solvent.

Cross-linked demineralized dentin maintains its mechanical stability when challenged by bacterial collagenase.

The molecular structure, weight loss, and mechanical properties of demineralized dentin of noncrosslinked/crosslinked by glutaraldehyde (GA) were investigated when being challenged by bacterial collagenase solution over time in this study. Raman spectra proved that crosslinking occurred in demineralized dentin matrices after being treated with GA. Meanwhile, the weight of the cross-linked demineralized dentin matrices did not change after being challenged by bacterial collagenase solution up to 1 week.

Dentin surface treatment using a non-thermal argon plasma brush for interfacial bonding improvement in composite restoration.

The objective of this study was to investigate the treatment effects of non-thermal atmospheric gas plasmas on dentin surfaces used for composite restoration. Extracted unerupted human third molars were prepared by removing the crowns and etching the exposed dentin surfaces with 35% phosphoric acid gel. The dentin surfaces were treated using a non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma brush for various periods of time.

Grape seed proanthocyanidins increase collagen biodegradation resistance in the dentin/adhesive interface when included in an adhesive.

Objectives: Contemporary methods of dentin bonding could create hybrid layers (HLs) containing voids and exposed, demineralised collagen fibres. Proanthocyanidins (PA) have been shown to cross-link and strengthen demineralised dentin collagen, but their effects on collagen degradation within the HL have not been widely studied. The purpose of this study was to compare the morphological differences of HLs created by BisGMA/HEMA model adhesives with and without the addition of grape seed extract PA under conditions of enzymatic collagen degradation.

Chemical profile of the dentin substrate in non-carious cervical lesions.

Objective: The molecular structural nature of the dentin substrate in non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) is poorly understood. This investigation characterized the chemical structure including inhomogeneities, composition, mineral crystallinity, collagen organization of normal dentin and affected dentin substrates within NCCLs using Raman microspectroscopic mapping/imaging.

Materials And Methods: Three extracted human pre-molars affected with NCCLs were selected and cavities matching the natural lesion with respect to size and location were prepared on the lingual/palatal surface of each tooth to serve as controls.

Chemical/molecular structure of the dentin-enamel junction is dependent on the intratooth location.

The dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) plays an important role in preventing crack propagation from enamel into dentin. This function stems from its complex structure and materials properties that are different from either dentin or enamel. The molecular structural differences in both mineral and organic matrix across the DEJ zone were investigated by two-dimensional confocal Raman microspectroscopic mapping/imaging technique.

Effects of different preparation procedures during tooth whitening on enamel bonding.

The objective of this study was to assess effects of some clinically related preparation procedures during tooth whitening on enamel bonding properties. Sixty-two extracted human teeth were cleaned and divided into four groups. Forty-two of the teeth were left with their natural surface intact while 20 teeth were polished to form a flat surface.