An improvement of current hypercube pooling PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic can be effectively controlled by rapid and accurate identification of SARS-CoV-2-infected cases through large-scale screening. Hypercube pooling polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is frequently used as a pooling technique because of its high speed and efficiency. We attempted to implement the hypercube pooling strategy and found it had a large quantization effect.

Interleukin-6 transiently promotes proliferation of osteoclast precursors and stimulates the production of inflammatory mediators.

Background: Clinical data and phenotypes of several in vivo models demonstrated that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an essential positive regulator in inflammation-induced bone loss. However, how IL-6 affect bone resorption and the osteoclast differentiation remains in debate. In this study we elucidate the cellular responses of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL)-stimulated RAW254.

Full-endoscopic debridement and drainage treating spine infection and psoas muscle abscess.

Background: In recent years, full-endoscopic debridement and drainage (FEDD) is gaining popularity treating spondylodiscitis. Comparing to tradition open surgery, FEDD possess many advantages including lower anesthesia risk and minimally invasiveness. In this study, we report our surgical technique of FEDD and preliminary clinical outcome in 34 consecutive patients with minimum 12 months follow-up.

Implementation and performance evaluation of a drilling assistive device for distal locking of intramedullary nails.

Intramedullary nailing is a common treatment for long bone fractures. The nail might deform during implantation because of the shape of medullary cavity. Thus, surgeons take many X-ray images to position distal locking holes and check the drilling process.

C-Arm Image-Based Surgical Path Planning Method for Distal Locking of Intramedullary Nails.

Due to the curvature of the bone marrow cavity, the intramedullary nail used in long bone fracture fixation can be deformed, causing displacement of the locking holes. In this study, an algorithm using only one C-arm image to determine the center positions and axial directions of locking holes was developed for drilling guidance. Based on conventional method that the axial direction of locking hole would be identified when locking hole contour is presented as a circle, the proposed method can locate the circle contour centroid by using one C-arm image including two elliptical contours.

Segmental correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by all-screw fixation method in adolescents and young adults. minimum 5 years follow-up with SF-36 questionnaire.

Background: In our institution, the fixation technique in treating idiopathic scoliosis was shifted from hybrid fixation to the all-screw method beginning in 2000. We conducted this study to assess the intermediate -term outcome of all-screw method in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients were retrospectively included with minimum of 5-year follow-up (mean, 6.

Instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion in adult spondylolisthesis.

Unlabelled: It is unclear whether using artificial cages increases fusion rates compared with use of bone chips alone in posterior lumbar interbody fusion for patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis. We hypothesized artificial cages for posterior lumbar interbody fusion would provide better clinical and radiographic outcomes than bone chips alone. We assumed solid fusion would provide good clinical outcomes.