Soft-tissue sound-speed-aware ultrasound-CT registration method for computer-assisted orthopedic surgery.

Ultrasound (US) has been introduced to computer-assisted orthopedic surgery for bone registration owing to its advantages of nonionizing radiation, low cost, and noninvasiveness. However, the registration accuracy is limited by US image distortion caused by variations in the acoustic properties of soft tissues. This paper proposes a soft-tissue sound-speed-aware registration method to overcome the above challenge.

Inversion study on elastic-plastic material parameters of red sandstone in uniaxial compression test.

In order to obtain the real material parameters of heterogeneous rock, the material parameters of red sandstone specimens under uniaxial compression tests are inverted based on the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method and the Finite Element Model Updating (FEMU) method. The DIC method is employed to calculate the displacement field of red sandstone specimens during uniaxial compression loading. Concurrently, a uniaxial compression elastic-plastic finite element numerical model with non-uniform material parameters is developed based on the FEMU method.

Research on microseismic localization algorithm with global search and local optimization.

A microseismic localization algorithm that combines global search and local optimization is proposed. The Fewer Conditions Trigger Difference (FCTD) objective function of global search and local optimization is constructed, the execution process of the algorithm is described by numerical simulation, and the global search and local optimization microseismic localization algorithm is verified and applied by field data analysis. The results show that: (1) the global search and local optimization methods have fast search speed in the global range, high convergence accuracy and stable localization results in the local range, and high localization accuracy and stability without relying on the velocity model and initial values in the process of search.

Accurate and robust registration method for computer-assisted high tibial osteotomy surgery.

Purpose: Computer-assisted high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a frequently used treatment technique for lower extremity orthopedics, and its small incision and low exposure area are major limitations in tibial registration. This work combines skin surface features and gives a suitable registration algorithm based on Iterative Closest Points (ICP) algorithm to improve registration results. Furthermore, the precision, stability and efficiency of the described method is evaluated.

Quantitative initial safety range of early passive rehabilitation after ankle fracture surgery.

Background: Early rehabilitation training after ankle fracture surgery is critical to healing and avoiding complications. Inappropriate or excessive motion may impede healing or even lead to secondary injury. Currently, there is a lack of scientific quantitative postoperative rehabilitation methods after ankle fracture.

Quantitative investigation on the heterogeneity of deformation fields in sandstone pre-existing cracks during damage evolution.

The inherently heterogeneous microstructures of rocks lead to heterogeneity of the deformation distribution within the rock volume. In this study, experiments were conducted on red sandstone specimens with four different pre-existing crack inclinations stressed under uniaxial loading to investigate these features. Acoustic emission and digital image correlation techniques were used to confirm the damage process and obtaining deformation fields, respectively.

CD44/Folate Dual Targeting Receptor Reductive Response PLGA-Based Micelles for Cancer Therapy.

In this study, a novel poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based micelle was synthesized, which could improve the therapeutic effect of the antitumor drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and reduce its toxic and side effects. The efficient delivery of DOX was achieved by active targeting mediated by double receptors and stimulating the reduction potential in tumor cells. FA-HA-SS-PLGA polymer was synthesized by amidation reaction, and then DOX-loaded micelles were prepared by dialysis method.

Preparation and Properties of Thrombus-Targeted Urokinase/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)-Chitosan (CS)-RGD Drug Delivery System.

In order to improve the therapeutic effect, prolong the action time and reduce the side effects of the first generation thrombolytic drug urokinase (UK), a novel UK/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-chitosan (CS)-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (Arg-Gly-Asp) (RGD) drug delivery system was synthesized by chemical bonding/non covalent bond modification/ultrasonic dispersion. The results showed that the diameter of the UK/MWCNTs-CS-RGD drug delivery system was about 30-40 nm, there was a layer of UK was attached to the surface of the tube wall, and the distribution was relatively uniform. The average encapsulation efficiency was 83.

Preparation and in vivo/in vitro characterization of Ticagrelor PLGA sustained-release microspheres for injection.

The objective of this paper was to develop a PLGA carrier Ticagrelor sustained-release microspheres preparation, which was expected to continue to release Ticagrelor for 14 days with a high encapsulation rate. Ticagrelor microspheres were prepared successfully with average diameter of 7.31 µm, drug loading of 12.

Study on improvement of prefolded energy absorption device to constant resistance and its mechanical properties.

When the rock burst occurs, energy absorption support is an important method to solve the impact failure. To achieve constant resistance performance of energy absorption device, as an important component of the support, the mechanical properties of one kind of prefolded tube is analyzed by quasi-static compression test. The deformation process of compression test is simulated by ABAQUS and plastic strain nephogram of the numerical model are studied.

Preparation and properties of Pue-loaded HA-ADH-PS nanomicelles.

Puerarin (Pue) is the most abundant isoflavonoid in kudzu root. It has been widely used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, poor-bioavailability of puerarin is the main obstacle to its widespread clinical applications.

Construction of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactic acid)-stearic acid reverse aspirin-loaded micelles and optimization of preparation process.

This work aims to study the construction of reverse aspirin-loaded micelles prepared from amphiphilic PEG-PLA-SA triblock copolymers and the optimization of the preparation process. Using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the initiator, ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (L-LA) was used to prepare PEG-PLA diblock copolymers. Final product PEG-PLA-SA triblock copolymers were prepared by the reaction of stearic acid (SA) and PEG-PLA catalyzed by 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC).

MicroRNA-7 regulates the proliferation and metastasis of human papillary carcinoma cells by targeting Bcl-2.

Papillary carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer responsible for significant number of mortalities across the globe. This study was conducted to investigate the role and therapeutic implications of microRNA-7 in human papillary carcinoma. Gene expression analysis was carried out through quantitative real time PCR method.

Utilization of public health care by people with private health insurance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The objective of this systematic review was to explore the association between private health insurance and health care utilization.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) electronic databases for relevant articles since 2010. Studies were eligible if they described original empirical research on the utilization of public health care by individuals with private health insurance, compared with individuals without private insurance.

Existence and functions of a kisspeptin neuropeptide signaling system in a non-chordate deuterostome species.

The kisspeptin system is a central modulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in vertebrates. Its existence outside the vertebrate lineage remains largely unknown. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the kisspeptin system in the sea cucumber The gene encoding the kisspeptin precursor generates two mature neuropeptides, AjKiss1a and AjKiss1b.

Incidence and risk factors of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasm metastasis in liver, lung, bone, and brain: A population-based study.

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasm is a rare solid tumor. Metastatic pattern of the gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasm (GI-NEN) has not been fully explored.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (SEER-9 registry) from 1973 to 2015.

The effect of different surface treatment methods on the physical, chemical and biological performances of a PGA scaffold.

In order to improve the adhesion between a PGA scaffold and islet cells, it is necessary to find a suitable method to modify the scaffold. In this study, the PGA scaffold surface was modified by plasma, polylysine coating and plasma combined with polylysine coating (P-P-PGA). The surface adhesion of the modified PGA scaffold was examined, and the stretchability and infiltration of the PGA scaffold were also tested.

Suppression of Tafazzin promotes thyroid cancer apoptosis via activating the JNK signaling pathway and enhancing INF2-mediated mitochondrial fission.

Tafazzin has been found to be associated with tumor progression. Mitochondrial homeostasis regulates cancer cell viability and metastasis. However, the roles of Tafazzin and mitochondrial homeostasis in thyroid cancer have not been explored.

Design and synthesis of novel 2-(6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl)-N'-phenylacethydrazide derivatives as potential fungicides.

A series of novel 2-(6-thioxo-1,3,5-thiadiazinan-3-yl)-N'-phenylacethydrazide derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal activities against Fusarium graminearum (Fg), Rhizoctonia solani (Rs), Botrytis cinerea (Bc) and Colletotrichum capsici (Cc). The bioassay results in vitro showed that most of the title compounds exhibited impressive antifungal activities against the above plant fungi. Particularly, the compounds 5c, 5f, 5g, 5i, 5m and 5p displayed desirable anti-Rs activities, with the corresponding EC values of 0.

Preparation and characterization of acetylsalicylic acid/chitosan nanoparticles and its antithrombotic effects.

Chitosan (CS)-acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) nanoparticles, which are well dispersed and stable in aqueous solution, have been prepared by interpolymer complexation of ASA in CS solution. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles were investigated by using FT-IR, H NMR, scanning electron microscope（SEM）, dynamic light scattering, and UV spectrophotometer. It was found that the carboxyl group of the ASA had firmly integrated on the amino group of CS and the ASA-CS nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape with an average diameter of less than (79.