Airway morphology, hyoid position, and serum inflammatory markers of obstructive sleep apnea in children treated with modified twin-block appliances.

Objective: To investigate the effects of modified twin-block appliances (MTBA) on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mandibular retrognathia and the changes in the upper airway, hyoid bone position, and hypoxia-related inflammatory marker levels in children with OSA.

Methods: This study included children with OSA and mandibular retrognathia and those with class I without mandibular retrognathia (n = 35 each). The experimental group comprised children with OSA and mandibular retrognathia managed using MTBA.

Analysis of automatic fetal intracranial volume (ICV) measurement based on the optimized ultrasound Smart ICV method at 16-34 weeks of gestation.

Background: Fetal intracranial volume (ICV) can help evaluate the development of the prenatal central nervous system (CNS) from the three-dimensional (3D) attributes of the cranial structure. Accurate and rapid segmentation and calculation of the ICV are clinically significant. Virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) is a commonly used method for measuring fetal ICV.

Long- and short-term outcomes for resectable gallbladder carcinoma patients treated with curative-intent laparoscopic versus open resection: a multicenter propensity score-matched comparative study.

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) was once considered a contraindication for laparoscopic surgery, but it is becoming more common to use laparoscopic surgery for GBC treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the long- and short-term outcomes of patients with more advanced T-staged GBC treated with curative intent as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) after laparoscopic resection (LR) versus open resection (OR).

Methods: A multicenter database was used to select consecutive GBC patients treated with curative-intent resection as defined by the NCCN between 2016 and 2020.

Causal Effects of Gastroesophageal Reflux on Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Introduction: Observational studies have shown a bidirectional association between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) or chronic rhinitis (CR), but it is not clear whether this association is causal.

Objectives: This study was to investigate the causality between GER and CRS or CR using bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods: Using pooled data from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genetic loci independently associated with GER, CRS and CR in populations of European and American ancestry were selected as instrumental variables (IVs).

Ultrasound microvascular flow imaging: evaluating fetal mesenteric blood flow and predicting postnatal surgery in meconium peritonitis.

Objective: This study explored the characteristics of fetal mesenteric blood flow perfusion across various gestational weeks and evaluated the efficacy of Microvascular Flow (MV-Flow) imaging technology in assessing intestinal wall blood flow in fetuses with meconium peritonitis (MP).

Method: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 35 fetuses with MP and 160 healthy fetuses. We examined the correlation between the Vascular Index (VI) of mesenteric perfusion and gestational age, conducted an analysis comparing MP operative and non-operative groups, and developed a predictive model for surgical intervention.

Association between Pre-operative Body Mass Index and Surgical Infection in Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma Patients Treated with Curative Resection: A Multi-center Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between pre-operative body mass index (BMI) and surgical infection in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) patients treated with curative resection. Consecutive pCCA patients were enrolled from four tertiary hospitals between 2008 and 2022. According to pre-operative BMI, the patients were divided into three groups: low BMI (≤18.

SeedHit: A GPU Friendly Pre-Align Filtering Algorithm.

The amount of genetic data generated by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies grows faster than Moore's law. This necessitates the development of efficient NGS data processing and analysis algorithms. A filter before the computationally-costly analysis step can significantly reduce the run time of the NGS data analysis.

Long-term prognosis of patients with gallbladder carcinoma after curative-intent resection based on changes in the ratio of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 to total bilirubin (CA19-9/TB): a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: The prognostic value of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is known to be affected by elevated bilirubin levels in patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). The clinical significance of changes in the ratio of CA19-9 levels to total bilirubin (TB) levels in patients with GBC after curative-intent resection remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of changes in preoperative and postoperative CA19-9/TB ratio in these patients.

Palatal Morphology After Treatment of Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Using the Modified Twin-Block Appliance.

Objective: To investigate changes in the upper maxillary palates of children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and mandibular retraction who were treated using modified twin-block appliances (MTBAs).

Methods: Thirty-five OSA children (age: 6-12 years) with mandibular retraction were included as the experimental group and 35 children who were Angle's class I but without mandibular retraction were included as the control group. The experimental group was treated with MTBA.

A self-elastic chitosan sponge integrating active and passive hemostatic mechanisms for effectively managing uncontrolled coagulopathic hemorrhage.

Developing a self-elastic sponge integrating active and passive hemostatic mechanisms for the effective management of uncontrolled coagulopathic hemorrhage remains a challenge. We here developed a chitosan-based sponge by integrating freeze-drying, chemical decoration of alkyl chains and phosphate groups, and physical loading of thrombin. The sponge exhibited high mechanical strength, self-elasticity, and rapid shape recovery.

Tensile and Interfacial Mechanical Properties for Single Aramid III Fibers under Dynamic Loading.

In this study, the traditional mini split Hopkinson tension bar (SHTB) was enhanced for the dynamic mechanical performance testing of single fiber/resin interface of composites. Single Aramid III fibers were modified using a polyamine modification treatment. Quasi-static and dynamic tensile tests of modified single Aramid III fibers were conducted using an electronic tensile testing machine and mini SHTB.

The role of multimodal ultrasound in diagnosis of fetal bowel dilatation and prediction of adverse neonatal outcomes: A study of 86 cases in a series of 43,562 births.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic utility of multimodal ultrasound for fetal bowel dilatation (FBD) in different parts of the bowel and to examine its prognostic potential in FBD.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 86 fetuses with a dilated bowel identified via ultrasound in a 10-month postnatal follow-up. Both two- and three dimensional (2D and 3D, respectively) ultrasound volume imaging were used to characterize dilation across different bowel sections.

Profiling the clinical characteristics and surgical efficacy of laryngomalacia in children.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of laryngomalacia in Chinese children and explore the surgical efficacy and factors influencing severe laryngomalacia.

Methods: Children (0-18 years) diagnosed with laryngomalacia in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2022 were enrolled in this study. Clinical data of patients, including general conditions, clinical symptoms, grading and classification, medical comorbidities, surgical efficacy, and the risk factors influencing severe laryngomalacia were retrospectively analyzed.

SWsnn: A Novel Simulator for Spiking Neural Networks.

Spiking neural network (SNN) simulators play an important role in neural system modeling and brain function research. They can help scientists reproduce and explore neuronal activities in brain regions, neuroscience, brain-like computing, and other fields and can also be applied to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other fields. At present, many simulators using central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU) have been developed.