Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapies for Retinal Disorders.

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are key mediator of retinal and choroidal neovascularization as well as retinal vascular leakage leading to macular edema. As such, VEGF plays an important role in mediating visually significant complications associated with common retinal disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and age-related macular degeneration. Various drugs that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF therapies) have been developed to minimize vision loss associated with these disorders.

Transvitreal and subretinal fibrinoid reaction following diabetic vitrectomy.

Purpose: To describe an unexpected and atypical transvitreal and subretinal fibrinoid reaction following vitrectomy for non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Observations: A 58-year-old woman with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy and non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage underwent combined phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation and vitrectomy in the right eye. Two months later she underwent staged phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation followed by vitrectomy in the left eye.

Establishing the Biofidelity of a Multiphysics Finite Element Model of the Human Heart.

Purpose: Accelerating development of new therapeutic cardiac devices remains a clinical and technical priority. High-performance computing and the emergence of functional and complex in silico models of human anatomy can be an engine to accelerate the commercialization of innovative, safe, and effective devices.

Methods: An existing three-dimensional, nonlinear model of a human heart with flow boundary conditions was evaluated.

Quality assurance in reverse logistics supply chain of demolition waste: A systematic literature review.

The reverse logistics supply chain (RLSC) facilitates the greening of the traditional construction industry supply chain. Despite the growing interest in this approach, limited studies focus on quality assurance (QA) in RLSC, which is crucial to resolve the issue of the low quality in reprocessed products. This study aims to explore the elements which contribute to the QA of RLSC of demolition waste (DW) by conducting a systematic literature review (SLR).

So much at stake: Ethical tradeoffs in accelerating SARSCoV-2 vaccine development.

Background: A sense of urgency exists to develop vaccines against SARS CoV-2, responsible for numerous global cases and deaths, as well as widespread social and economic disruption. Multiple approaches have been proposed to speed up vaccine development, including accelerated randomized controlled trials (RCT), controlled human challenge trials (CHI), and wide distribution through an emergency use authorization after collecting initial data. There is a need to examine how best to accelerate vaccine development in the setting of a pandemic, without compromising ethical and scientific norms.

The mechanics of corneal deformation and rupture for penetrating injury in the human eye.

Penetrating eye injuries are surgical emergencies with guarded visual prognosis. The purpose of the current study was to determine the force required to rupture the cornea with a penetrating object, and to study how this force is affected by the object geometry. Thirty-six human cadaveric eyes from donors of various ages were characterized for diameter, axial length, and pre-test intraocular pressure.

Intracanal Cryotherapy Reduces Postoperative Pain in Teeth with Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Randomized Multicenter Clinical Trial.

Introduction: A prospective, multicentered, randomized clinical trial was designed to assess if controlled irrigation with cold saline could result in less incidence and intensity of postoperative pain in patients presenting with pulp necrosis and symptomatic apical periodontitis.

Methods: A total of 210 patients (presenting with necrotic uniradicular teeth with a diagnosis of symptomatic apical periodontitis and a preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score higher than 7) were randomly allocated in the control or experimental group after the completion of shaping and cleaning procedures. The experimental group received a final irrigation with 20 mL sterile cold (2.

A study of best practices in promoting sustainable urbanization in China.

In the past twenty years, various sustainable urban development policies and methods had been implemented within China, such that sustainable urbanization is now more widely accepted. Some of these policies and methods have been found to be successful in improving the sustainability of cities in China. Those practices can be defined as the best practices of sustainable urbanization, which can provide useful references for future urban developments.

Finite element analysis and experimental evaluation of penetrating injury through the cornea.

Penetration injuries of the eye are among the most frequent causes of permanent visual impairment resulting from trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the peak strain at which rupture occurs in the cornea due to a penetrating object. Probes of varying diameters (1.

Factors Affecting Lethal Isotherms During Cryoablation Procedures.

Background: Creating appropriately-sized, lethal isotherms during cryoablation of renal tumors is critical in order to achieve sufficiently-sized zones of cell death. To ensure adequate cell death in target treatment locations, surgeons must carefully select the type, size, location, and number of probes to be used, as well as various probe operating parameters.

Objective: The current study investigates the effects of probe type, operating pressure, and clinical method on the resulting sizes of isotherms in an in vitro gelatin model.

Outcomes and cost of care for patients with distal radius fractures.

This study was designed to evaluate treatment patterns in open treatment and percutaneous fixation of distal radius fractures, compare morbidity rates for the 2 types of treatment, and compare costs associated with the procedure and treatment of complications up to 1 year after surgery. From a 5% sample of nationwide Medicare claims records (1997-2009), patients with distal radius fractures were identified with International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), codes. Patients who underwent percutaneous fixation and open treatment were tracked with appropriate Current Procedural Terminology codes.

[Value of the optical coherence tomography in the treatment guided of the stent failure. Case report].

Since the advent of bare metal and drug-eluting stents, the surgical revascularization have declined considerably, however the thrombosis and in-stent restenosis are important complications of these devices. There are several factors that predispose to thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. Conventional angiography has serious limitations to determine the causes of stent failure.

Perioperative outcomes, complications, and costs associated with lumbar spinal fusion in older patients with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.

Object: The purpose of this study was to quantify the perioperative outcomes, complications, and costs associated with posterolateral spinal fusion (PSF) among Medicare enrollees with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and/or spondylolisthesis by using a national Medicare claims database.

Methods: A 5% systematic sample of Medicare claims data (2005-2009) was used to identify outcomes in patients who had undergone PSF for a diagnosis of LSS and/or spondylolisthesis. Patients eligible for study inclusion also required a minimum of 2 years of follow-up and a claim history of at least 12 months prior to surgery.

Contact-coupled impact of slender rods: analysis and experimental validation.

To validate models of contact mechanics in low speed structural impact, slender rods were impacted in a drop tower, and measurements of the contact and vibration were compared to analytical and finite element (FE) models. The contact area was recorded using a novel thin-film transfer technique, and the contact duration was measured using electrical continuity. Strain gages recorded the vibratory strain in one rod, and a laser Doppler vibrometer measured speed.

The feasibility of concentrated rural settlement in a context of post-disaster reconstruction: a study of China.

There is growing appreciation of the use of concentrated rural settlement as an effective means of implementing infrastructure projects and helping to achieve sustainable development in rural areas. This occurs in China through the exchange of rural residential land for urban construction. However, this policy has not been effective under normal circumstances (called development-driven conditions) as frequently farmers are reluctant to accept such an exchange.

Biomechanics of the monopedicle skin flap.

Objective: The design and implementation of skin flaps remains a puzzle for the reconstructive surgeon. The objective of the present study is to use finite element (FE) analysis to characterize and understand the biomechanics of the monopedicle skin flap design.

Study Design: The current study uses a nonlinear hyperelastic FE model of the human skin to understand the biomechanics of monopedicle-based flap designs as geometric flap parameters are varied.

Predictions of vacuum loss of evacuated vials from initial air leak rates.

Container closure integrity is a critical factor for maintaining product sterility and stability. Therefore, closure systems (found in vials, syringes, and cartridges) are designed to provide a seal between rubber stoppers and glass containers. To ensure that the contained product has maintained its sterility and stability at the time of deployment, the seal must remain intact within acceptable limits.

[Meningovascular neurosyphilis with basilar artery thrombosis, a case report and literature review].

Herein a case is described of a 54-years old patient, HIV negative, with cerebro-vascular disease by basilar artery thrombosis secondary to meningovascular neurosyphilis. Neurosyphilis is the impairment at any stage of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum and includes asymptomatic and symptomatic forms of infection. The presentation can take many forms, depending on the location and extent of tissue damage.

Trends in permanent pacemaker implantation in the United States from 1993 to 2009: increasing complexity of patients and procedures.

Objectives: This study sought to define contemporary trends in permanent pacemaker use by analyzing a large national database.

Background: The Medicare National Coverage Determination for permanent pacemaker, which emphasized single-chamber pacing, has not changed significantly since 1985. We sought to define contemporary trends in permanent pacemaker use by analyzing a large national database.

Biomechanical evaluation of the Total Facet Arthroplasty System® (TFAS®): loading as compared to a rigid posterior instrumentation system.

Purpose: To gain insight into a new technology, a novel facet arthroplasty device (TFAS) was compared to a rigid posterior fixation system (UCR). The axial and bending loads through the implants and at the bone-implant interfaces were evaluated using an ex vivo biomechanical study and matched finite element analysis. Kinematic behaviour has been reported for TFAS, but implant loads have not.

Biomechanical assessment of a PEEK rod system for semi-rigid fixation of lumbar fusion constructs.

The concept of semi-rigid fixation (SRF) has driven the development of spinal implants that utilize nonmetallic materials and novel rod geometries in an effort to promote fusion via a balance of stability, intra- and inter-level load sharing, and durability. The purpose of this study was to characterize the mechanical and biomechanical properties of a pedicle screw-based polyetheretherketone (PEEK) SRF system for the lumbar spine to compare its kinematic, structural, and durability performance profile against that of traditional lumbar fusion systems. Performance of the SRF system was characterized using a validated spectrum of experimental, computational, and in vitro testing.

16-year trends in the infection burden for pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in the United States 1993 to 2008.

Objectives: We analyzed the infection burden associated with the implantation of cardiac implantable electrophysiological devices (CIEDs) in the United States for the years 1993 to 2008.

Background: Recent data suggest that the rate of infection following CIED implantation may be increasing.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) discharge records were queried between 1993 and 2008 using the 9th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM).