Effectiveness of convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19 patients.

Currently, there are no approved specific antiviral agents for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, 10 severe patients confirmed by real-time viral RNA test were enrolled prospectively. One dose of 200 mL of convalescent plasma (CP) derived from recently recovered donors with the neutralizing antibody titers above 1:640 was transfused to the patients as an addition to maximal supportive care and antiviral agents. The primary endpoint was the safety of CP transfusion. The second endpoints were the improvement of clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters within 3 d after CP transfusion. The median time from onset of illness to CP transfusion was 16.5 d. After CP transfusion, the level of neutralizing antibody increased rapidly up to 1:640 in five cases, while that of the other four cases maintained at a high level (1:640). The clinical symptoms were significantly improved along with increase of oxyhemoglobin saturation within 3 d. Several parameters tended to improve as compared to pretransfusion, including increased lymphocyte counts (0.65 × 109/L vs. 0.76 × 109/L) and decreased C-reactive protein (55.98 mg/L vs. 18.13 mg/L). Radiological examinations showed varying degrees of absorption of lung lesions within 7 d. The viral load was undetectable after transfusion in seven patients who had previous viremia. No severe adverse effects were observed. This study showed CP therapy was well tolerated and could potentially improve the clinical outcomes through neutralizing viremia in severe COVID-19 cases. The optimal dose and time point, as well as the clinical benefit of CP therapy, needs further investigation in larger well-controlled trials.

Associations of long-term exposure to particulate matter with gallstone risks in Chinese adults: A large cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence regarding the relation of exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) with gallstone disease (GSD) risk remains lacking. We tested the hypothesis that long-term exposure to PM is related to the development of GSD and that dyslipidemia can mediate the effect of PM-associated GSD formation. METHODS: We extracted related information on the basis of the baseline survey of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort Study. The exposure levels of PM (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) were assessed by validated spatiotemporal models. The relation of exposure to ambient PM with GSD risks was analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression models. Additionally, mediation analysis was conducted to assess whether dyslipidemia was related to the relation of PM exposure with GSD risks. RESULTS: A total of 72,893 participants were included. Increased ambient PM exposure was positively associated with a higher GSD risk, with ORs (and 95% CI) of 1.17 (1.06, 1.28), 1.10 (1.05, 1.15), and 1.07 (1.04, 1.10) for every 10 µg/m3 increment in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, separately. The association was more remarkable in males, drinkers, and central obesity participants. Dyslipidemia significantly mediated the association between PM and GSD, with mediating proportions of 5.37%, 9.13%, and 7.66% in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to PM may relate to the increased risk of GSD in Chinese adults, especially among males, drinkers, and central obesity participants. Dyslipidemia may partially mediate the effect of PM-associated GSD development. Our results might provide epidemiological evidence for the progression of GSD related to PM and give new insights into GSD prevention and screening priorities.

Association between the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition and immunity play an important role in many chronic diseases. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been proposed as a comprehensive indicator of an individual's immune and nutritional status. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the association between the PNI and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2001-2014 for participants with CKD. Mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index and matched to NHANES participants. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios for all-cause mortality.Results: The patients were 72.5 ± 9.8 years old, and 47.57% were male. The median follow-up was 58 months, and the mortality rate in patients with CKD was 30.27%. A higher PNI protected against all-cause mortality in patients with CKD, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-0.99). After grouping according to PNI quartiles, statistically significant between-group differences were observed in survival probabilities. The aHR for the lowest PNI quartile compared to the highest PNI quartile was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.26-2.14). Sensitivity analysis further supported this association. Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed an L-shaped association between the PNI and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD, with a critical value of 50.5. CONCLUSIONS: The PNI is a protective factor in patients with CKD, with an L-shaped decrease in all-cause mortality with an increasing PNI.

Comparison of Intravenous and Inhalational Anesthetic on Postoperative Cognitive Outcomes in Elderly Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have documented consistent findings on the long-term cognitive effects such as postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), delirium and delayed recovery among elderly undergoing cancer surgery. This review was conducted to compare the effect of intravenous and inhalational anesthetic on the postoperative cognitive outcomes among elderly patients undergoing cancer surgery. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis METHODS: We searched Medline, EMBASE, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library from inception until May 2021. We carried out a meta-analysis with a random-effects model and reported pooled risk ratio (RR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) depending on the type of outcome. FINDINGS: In total, we analyzed 10 studies including 2,333 participants. Half of the studies had high risk of bias. For the cognitive score, the pooled SMD was -0.87 [95% CI: -3.97 to 2.24] indicating no statistically significant difference between inhalational and intravenous anesthetic. For POCD, the pooled RR was 1.24 (95% CI: 0.83-1.84); for postoperative delirium, the pooled RR was 2.26 (95% CI: 0.79-6.44); for delayed neurocognitive recovery, the pooled RR was 1.49 (95% CI: 1.09-2.03). CONCLUSION: Inhalational anesthetics did not show a significant difference in postoperative cognitive outcomes, except delayed neurocognitive recovery, compared to intravenous anesthetic following cancer surgery.

[Seminal vesiculoscopy: Safe and effective for the treatment of refractory hemospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect and safety of transutricular seminal vesiculoscopy in the treatment of refractory hemospermia. METHODS: Using 6Fr ureteroscopy through the prostatic utricle, we treated 103 cases of refractory hemospermia with distal seminal duct obstructive lesions, including 12 cases complicated by distal seminal duct cyst. We rinsed the seminal duct cavity, cleaned out the stones, removed the cyst wall with holmium laser and followed up the patients for 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The operations were successfully completed in all the cases but 1 (0.9%), in which the ureteroscope failed to enter the bilateral seminal vesicles. The operation time was (47 ± 9) min. No rectal injury or acute epididymitis occurred intraoperatively, nor fever, long-term dysuria or long-term hematuria after surgery. Postoperative follow-up showed that bloody semen symptoms vanished in 93 (90.3%) of the cases, improved significantly in 4 (3.9%) and not significantly in 2 (1.9%), and 3 cases of recurrence (2.9%) were all relieved after reoperation. CONCLUSION: Transutricular seminal vesiculoscopy has the advantages of clear anatomic vision, minor invasiveness and significant effectiveness in the treatment of refractory hemospermia. What's more, holmium laser is better than plasmakinetic resection in removal of the cyst wall.

Quadruple-editing of the MAPK and PI3K pathways effectively blocks the progression of KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer cells.

Mutated KRAS promotes the activation of the MAPK pathway and the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Aberrant activation of the PI3K pathway strongly attenuates the efficacy of MAPK suppression in KRAS-mutated CRC. The development of a novel strategy targeting a dual pathway is therefore highly essential for the therapy of KRAS-mutated CRC. In this study, a quadruple-depleting system for the KRAS, MEK1, PIK3CA, and MTOR genes based on CRISPR/SaCas9 was developed. Adenovirus serotype 5 (ADV5) was integrated with two engineered proteins, an adaptor and a protector, to form ADV-protein complex (APC) for systemic delivery of the CRISPR system. Quadruple-editing could significantly inhibit the MAPK and PI3K pathways in CRC cells with oncogenic mutations of KRAS and PIK3CA or with KRAS mutation and compensated PI3K activation. Compared with MEK and PI3K/MTOR inhibitors, quadruple-editing induced more significant survival inhibition on primary CRC cells with oncogenic mutations of KRAS and PIK3CA. The adaptor specifically targeting EpCAM and the hexon-shielding protector could dramatically enhance ADV5 infection efficiency to CRC cells and significantly reduce off-targeting tropisms to many organs except the colon. Moreover, quadruple-editing intravenously delivered by APC significantly blocked the dual pathway and tumor growth of KRAS-mutated CRC cells, without influencing normal tissues in cell- and patient-derived xenograft models. Therefore, APC-delivered quadruple-editing of the MAPK and PI3K pathways shows a promising therapeutic potential for KRAS-mutated CRC.

Normal reference intervals of prognostic nutritional index in healthy adults: A large multi-center observational study from Western China.

BACKGROUND: It has been widely reported that the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) played a pivotal role in nutritional assessment of surgical patients and tumor prognosis. In order to improve the accuracy of evaluation in Western China, we established reference intervals (RIs) of PNI in healthy controls. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study on healthy ethnic Han adults (18-79 years) was conducted to explore the influences of age, gender, study centers, and instruments on PNI and to establish RIs. The data came from a healthy routine examination center database and laboratory information system (LIS) of four centers in Western China, and there were 200 persons selected randomly for verification of RIs. RESULTS: Five thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine healthy candidates were enrolled. PNI showed a marked gender dependence, and males had significantly higher PNI than females across all ages (p < 0.01). We found that PNI is significantly different between age groups (p < 0.01), the value of PNI tended to decrease with age increasing. There is also an obvious influence of centers and instruments on PNI (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We established reference intervals of PNI in healthy Han Chinese population in Western China and validated successfully. Further established RIs will lead to better standardizations of PNI for clinical applications.

Relationship between common eNOS gene polymorphisms and predisposition to coronary artery disease: Evidence from a meta-analysis of 155 published association studies.

BACKGROUND: Relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms and predisposition to coronary artery disease (CAD) are still controversial and ambiguous. So we performed this meta-analysis to more precisely estimate relationship between eNOS polymorphisms and CAD by pooling the results of already published studies. METHODS: We searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI for eligible studies. We used Review Manager to pool the results of eligible studies. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-five studies were included in this meta-analysis. We found that eNOS rs1799983, rs2070744 and rs869109213 polymorphisms were all significantly associated with CAD in the general population. We also detected similar significant results for eNOS rs1799983, rs2070744 and rs869109213 polymorphisms in both Caucasians and Asians in further subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrated that eNOS rs1799983, rs2070744 and rs869109213 polymorphisms might influence predisposition to CAD in both Caucasians and Asians.

Normal Reference Intervals of Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio, Lymphocyte-To-Monocyte Ratio, and Systemic Immune Inflammation Index in Healthy Adults: a Large Multi-Center Study from Western China.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that the hematological components of the systemic inflammatory response, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) are efficient prognostic indicators in patients with cancers. Most of the studies did not investigate the reference intervals (RIs) of these parameters in healthy controls. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on healthy ethnic Han population aged between 18 and 79 years of age by retrieving the data from a healthy routine examination center database and laboratory infor-mation system of four participating centers in western China. By following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), RIs of each parameter was established and validated. RESULTS: The analysis included 5,969 healthy subjects. We found that the individual's gender can significantly influence PLR, LMR, and SII (all p < 0.05), but not NLR (p > 0.05). Surprisingly, we also found that with an increase in age, the PLR, LMR, and SII tend to decrease, while NLR remained stable. PLR, LMR, and SII values were significantly higher in the young adults (18 - 64 years) than in old adults (65 - 79 years) (p < 0.001). The RIs of NLR, PLR (adults), PLR (old adults), LMR and SII were 0.88 - 4.0, 49 - 198, 42 - 187, 2.63 - 9.9, 142 x 109/L - 804 x 109/L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study addresses possible variations and establishes consensus for the NLR, PLR, LMR, and SII RIs for healthy Han Chinese adults in western China. Further, established RIs can standardize clinical applications and promote the use of these indicators into the routine complete blood count report.

MicroRNA-873 Inhibits Morphine-Induced Macrophage Apoptosis by Elevating A20 Expression.

OBJECTIVES: To study the role of microRNA-873 (miR-873) in suppressing morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis and morphine dependence, and to identify molecular targets within the miR-873 pathway for the treatment of immune suppression and morphine addiction. METHODS: As morphine elevates TLR9 expression and induces TLR9-mediated apoptosis, we used TLR9 knockout Balb/C mice to study TLR9-independent effects of miR-873 on morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis. Forty TLR9-knockout mice were randomly and equally assigned to morphine group and control group. Following the administration of morphine, miR-873 mimics or miR negative control was injected into mice in each group. Using freshly isolated macrophages from mice and RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line, miR-873 level was determined by qRT-PCR and morphine induced apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assays. Western blotting was used to detect and quantify the expression level of A20, a protein that negatively regulates inflammation and TNF-induced apoptosis. RESULTS: qRT-PCR analysis revealed a markedly lower expression of miR-873 in freshly isolated peritoneal macrophages, liver tissue and spleen tissue in the morphine group compared with the corresponding tissues in the control group. TUNEL assays showed that the apoptosis rates in the morphine groups treated with miR-873 mimics was markedly lower than their respective control groups. Western blotting results showed that A20 expression level was sharply elevated in the experimental groups treated with miR-873 mimics than the negative and blank control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that miR-873 elevates A20 levels and inhibits morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis.

The negative effects of chronic exposure to isoflurane on spermatogenesis via breaking the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal equilibrium.

This study aims to investigate the negative effects of chronic exposure to isoflurane on spermatogenesis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Sixty male rats were randomly allocated to two groups: control group, receiving no treatment, and anesthesia group, administrated exposure to isoflurane (2 ppm) for 25 consecutive days (1 h/day). The negative effects of chronic exposure to isoflurane were evaluated by analyzing the median eminence GnRH content, the relevant hormone levels, some sperm parameters and the mRNA expressions for some reproduction-related genes. Isoflurane significantly decreased the GnRH content and the serum gonadotrophin levels compared with the control group (p<0.01). Meanwhile, the mRNA expressions of GnRH in hypothalamus, GnRH receptor, luteinizing hormone (LH)-ß and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-ß in pituitary, and LH receptor and FSH receptor in testes were also significantly inhibited (p<0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of androgen receptor (AR), kisspeptin encoded gene (Kiss-1) and its receptor (GPR54) in hypothalamus were significantly diminished by isoflurane (p<0.01). The results indicated that chronic exposure to isoflurane diminished the synthesis and secretion of GnRH by inhibiting the androgen-AR-Kisspeptin-GPR54 pathway and breaking the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal equilibrium, and therefore it could inhibit spermatogenesis.

A Revolving Temporary Anchorage Cap Connecting to an Orthodontic Miniscrew Using In Vitro Experimental Testing: Safety and Biomechanical Evaluations.

PURPOSE: This study is to develop a plastic revolving (translation and rotation) temporary anchorage cap (TAC) as the orthodontic anchor and evaluate its biomechanical safety and clinical used feasibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The TAC was designed to connect onto a mini-implant head with 45-degree switching unit and extended arm for tying an orthodontic elastic chain/coil spring. The removal force between the TAC and mini-implant head and torque resistance on the mini-implant/bone interface were performed to evaluate the biomechanical safety. Clinical molar uprighting and mesial drive application were performed to reveal the TAC feasibility/capacity. RESULTS: The removal force was 43.95 N (>>finger-pulling force 9.3 N) to prevent the TAC from detaching, and the torque resistance was 159.25 N·mm to maintain micromotion smaller than 30.4 µm between the screw and bone. The strain value in using TAC treatment was found to be about 2 times that of traditional tracing (without using TAC) in molar uprighting/mesial drive application. CONCLUSIONS: The plastic revolving TAC can provide optional use with translation/rotation features to change the angles and directions in orthodontic tractions and increase treatment efficiency under biomechanical safety considerations.

The multi-lineage differentiation and angiogenesis ability of adipose-derived adult mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the in vitro multi-lineage differentiation of adipose-derived adult stem cells and their ability to differentiate into endothelial cells. METHODS: Adipose-derived adult stem cells were isolated for detection of the immune phenotype, cell doubling time, cycle, and induction of endothelial cell differentiation in vitro. The expression of endothelial cell-specific surface markers was measured immunocytochemically. RESULTS: Adipose-derived adult stem cells have multi-lineage differentiation potential and can differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Adipose-derived adult stem cells have the same differentiation ability with those derived from the bone marrow, as both can differentiate into endothelial cells. These findings have opened up the prospect of adipose-derived adult stem cells in angiogenesis therapy.

Do dual-thread orthodontic mini-implants improve bone/tissue mechanical retention?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand whether the pitch relationship between micro and macro thread designs with a parametrical relationship in a dual-thread mini-implant can improve primary stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of mini-implants consisting of single-thread (ST) (0.75 mm pitch in whole length), dual-thread A (DTA) with double-start 0.375 mm pitch, and dual-thread B (DTB) with single-start 0.2 mm pitch in upper 2-mm micro thread region for performing insertion and pull-out testing. Histomorphometric analysis was performed in these specimens in evaluating peri-implant bone defects using a non-contact vision measuring system. RESULTS: The maximum inserted torque (Tmax) in type DTA was found to be the smallest significantly, but corresponding values found no significant difference between ST and DTB. The largest pull-out strength (Fmax) in the DTA mini-implant was found significantly greater than that for the ST mini-implant regardless of implant insertion orientation. Mini-implant engaged the cortical bone well as observed in ST and DTA types. CONCLUSION: Dual-thread mini-implant with correct micro thread pitch (parametrical relationship with macro thread pitch) in the cortical bone region can improve primary stability and enhanced mechanical retention.

Donafenib as neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced thyroid cancer: protocol for the DONATHYCA phase II prospective single-arm trial in China.

INTRODUCTION: The invasion of important structures in locally advanced thyroid cancer (LATC) hinders radical resection, increases the risk of recurrence and even prevents surgery. Creating the opportunity for radical operation in patients with LATC is critical for improving their prognosis. Multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors were used as neoadjuvant therapy in several studies. Donafenib produced survival benefits over placebo in Chinese patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer in a recent study, but its efficacy in the neoadjuvant setting remains unknown. This study thus aims to assess the efficacy and safety of donafenib as neoadjuvant therapy in LATC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: DONATHYCA is a prospective, exploratory, single-arm phase II study evaluating the efficacy and safety of donafenib as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with LATC. 13 patients will be enrolled. The primary endpoint is the objective response rate as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours V.1.1. The secondary objectives include progression-free survival, the duration of response, the disease control rate, the R0/R1 resection rate, quality of life and toxicity during treatment according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V.4.0. Patients will receive donafenib 300 mg two times a day continuously in a 21-day treatment cycle for six cycles. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Fujian Cancer Hospital (K2023-144-02) on 27 July 2023 and registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry on 20 September 2023. The results of the study will be presented at academic conferences and published in scientific publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300075973.

Effects of an augmented reality aided system on the placement precision of orthodontic miniscrews: A pilot study.

Background/purpose: Augmented reality (AR) is gaining popularity in medical applications, which may aid clinicians in achieving improved clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the positional and angle errors of orthodontic miniscrew placement by using a self-developed AR aided system. Materials and methods: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and patient printed models were used in in vitro experiments. The participants were divided into a control group and an AR group, in which traditional orthodontic methods and the AR-aided system were used respectively. After the information obtained from the CBCT images and navigation system was combined on the display device, the AR-aided system indicated the planned miniscrew position to guide the clinicians during the placement of miniscrews. Both methods were compared by a senior and a junior dentist, and the position and angle of miniscrew placement were statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon's signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: When the AR-aided system was used, the accuracy of miniscrew placement in the mesiodistal position considerably increased (83%) when the procedure was performed by a senior clinician. In addition, the accuracy of miniscrew placement in the mesiodistal position and the angle of miniscrew placement considerably increased by approximately 67% and 72%, respectively, when the procedure was performed by a junior clinician. The position error of miniscrew placement was smaller for the junior clinician when the AR-aided system was used than for the senior clinician. Conclusion: The AR-aided system improved the accuracy of miniscrew placement regardless of the clinician's level of experience.

Exploring the impact of culture techniques and patient demographics on the success rate of primary culture of human periodontal ligament stem cells.

Background/purpose: Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have the potential for regenerating periodontal tissue. The study aims to investigate the impact of demographics (ages, gender, disease) and culture techniques (shipping storage time and culture method) on the success of primary culture. Materials and methods: PDLSCs were collected from 51 teeth of 26 patients and cultured via outgrowth (OG) and enzymatic digestion (ED) methods. Cells characteristics were confirmed by flow cytometry, MTT, and ARS. The primary culture success rate was evaluated with a serial chi-square test to determine the relationship with culture technique (ED/OG and ≤4 h/prolonged culture) and patient demographics (Young/Old, Female/Male, and Health/Periodontitis). Results: The overall success rate of Health group (69.7%) was higher than Periodontitis (38.9%). Culturing within 4 h possessed a higher success rate (71.8%) than prolonged group (16.7%) regardless of patient demographics, and using OG method (81.5%) revealed more promising. Subgroup analysis of 39 cases (culture within 4 h) found that the success rate of OG was higher than ED in the Old group (87.5%-25.0%) and in the Periodontitis group (83.3%-25.0%). Conclusion: Primary culturing of PDLSCs within 4 h and using the outgrowth method led to higher success rates regardless of patient demographics. It can achieve successful PDLSCs culture of older patients or patients with periodontal disease by appropriate culture technique.

Naked-Eye 3-Dimensional Vision Training for Myopia Control: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Early onset of myopia increases the risk of high myopia, which can lead to irreversible retinal damage and even loss of central vision. Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of naked-eye 3-dimensional vision training (NVT) in preventing the progression of myopia in children. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in 3 hospitals from May 25, 2022, to February 24, 2023. Participants were children (aged 6-18 years) who had a diagnosis of myopia with a spherical equivalent refraction of -0.75 to -6.00 diopters (D). Intervention: Children in the intervention group received 20 minutes of NVT treatment every day, whereas children in the control group lived as usual without vision training. Main Outcome and Measure: The primary outcome was the change in axial length at 6 months. Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was included as a secondary outcome. Results: Among 263 participants, 125 (47.5%) were male and 138 (52.5%) were female; the mean (SD) age was 10.3 (1.9) years (range, 6.1-15.6 years). A total of 227 patients (86.3%) completed the 6-month follow-up, including 102 in the intervention group and 125 in the control group. In the intervention group, the changes in axial length and SER at 6 months were 0.18 mm (95% CI, 0.16 to 0.20 mm) and -0.25 D (95% CI, -0.31 to -0.19 D), respectively. In the control group, the changes in axial length and SER at 6 months were 0.23 mm (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.25 mm) and -0.35 D (95% CI, -0.41 to -0.30 D), respectively. The differences in AL and SER between the 2 groups were significant (AL difference: -0.06 mm; 95% CI, -0.09 to -0.03; P < .001; SER difference: 0.10 D; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.19; P = .02). No study-related adverse reactions were reported during follow-up. Conclusions and Relevance: NVT is a safe and promising means to control myopia progression in children with good adherence. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05468775.

Biomechanical evaluation of an orthodontic miniimplant used with revolving (translation and rotation) temporary anchorage device by finite element analysis and experimental testing.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the biomechanical interactions of a miniimplant using a temporary anchorage device (TAD) for orthodontic traction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A miniimplant was designed with dual thread (DT) with a TAD that can be connected optionally onto the miniimplant with 60-degree switching unit and an extended arm for tying orthodontic wire. Finite element analysis was used to calculate the relative miniimplant displacement and bone strain under immediate load (500 gW) on behalf of the maximum lateral force during orthodontic treatment. The TAD removal forces were measured by pullout testing. RESULTS: Simulated results showed that the maximum von Mises bone strain concentrated at the cervical regions around the miniimplant. The corresponding strain value in DT miniimplant assembled with TAD was greater than those for DT and single-thread implants with 2.24 and 1.73 times, respectively. Small relative miniimplant displacement (<20 µm) was found in all cases. The TAD removal force remained larger than 2 times the finger-pulling force (9.3 N) after 5 repeated removal tests. CONCLUSION: The DT miniimplant connected with TAD can provide translation and rotation features to change the angles and directions of orthodontic tractions for most effective anchorage preparation.