Volumetric evaluation of osteotomy gap following mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy using a novel semi-automated approach: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To establish an analysis pipeline for the volumetric evaluation of the osteotomy site after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed before, directly after BSSO, and 6-12 months after surgery. Image segmentations of each osteotomy gap data set were performed manually by four physicians and were compared to a semi-automatic segmentation approach. RESULTS: Five patients with a total of ten osteotomy gaps were included. The mean interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of individual patients was 0.782 and the standard deviation 0.080 when using the manual segmentation approach. However, the mean ICC of the evaluation of anatomical sites and time points separately was 0.214, suggesting a large range of deviation within the manual segmentation of each rater. The standard deviation was 0.355, further highlighting the extent of the variation. In contrast, the semi-automatic approach had a mean ICC of 0.491 and a standard deviation of 0.365, which suggests a relatively higher agreement among the operators compared to the manual segmentation approach. Furthermore, the volume of the osteotomy gap in the semi-automatic approach showed the same tendency in every site as the manual segmentation approach, but with less deviation. CONCLUSION: The semi-automatic approach developed in the present study proved to be valid as a standardised method with high repeatability. Such image analysis methods could help to quantify the progression of bone healing after BSSO and beyond, eventually facilitating the earlier identification of patients with retarded healing.

Multivariate Statistical Analysis for the Classification of Sausages Based on Physicochemical Attributes, Using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Sausage is a convenient food that is widely consumed in the world and in Vietnam. Due to the rapid development of this product, the authenticity of many famous brands has faded by the rise of adulteration. Therefore, in this study, principal component analysis (PCA) was combined with chemical analysis to identify 6 sausage brands. Sausage samples were dried and then ground to a fine powder for both instrumental analyses of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Dried measurements of ATR-FTIR was performed directly on the ZnSe crystal, while elemental data were obtained through microwave digestion before the ICP-MS analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) within the framework software of XLSTAT and STATISTICA 12 was performed on the spectroscopy and elemental dataset of sausage samples. PCA visualized the distinction of 6 sausage brands on both datasets of ATR-FTIR and ICP-MS. The classification on the spectroscopy profile showed that although more than 90% variation of the dataset was explained on the first two PCs, the difference between several brands was not detected as the distribution of data overlapped with one another. The PCA observation of the elemental composition on PC1 and PC3 has separated the sausage brands into 6 distinctive groups. Besides, several key elements contributed to the brands' identification have been detected, and the most distinctive elements are Na, K, Ca, and Ba. PCA visualization showed the feasibility of the classification of sausage samples from different brands when combined with the results of FT-IR and ICP-MS methods. The experiment was able to differentiate the sausages from the 5 brands using multivariate statistics.

Morphologic Evaluation of the Patella: The Impact of Gender and Age.

Introduction: The patellofemoral joint is a complex joint that plays a crucial role in knee joint function and stability. This study aims to describe the MRI characteristics of the patellofemoral joint in Vietnamese adults. Subjects and Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 patients at Hue UMP Hospital from May 2020 to May 2021. All patients underwent knee MRI using Siemens Magnetom Amira 1.5 Tesla. The evaluation parameters included the morphology of the patella and the femoral trochlea. Results: The study found that the morphological parameters of the patellar joint varied significantly between genders and age groups. The mean largest patellar transverse diameter was 4.26 ± 0.37 cm, the average length of the lateral joint facet was 2.5 ± 0.26 cm, and the medial joint facet was 2.0 ± 0.25 cm. The patellar height was 4.07 ± 0.35 cm. The indexes of patellar morphology were higher in men than in women, except for the lateral-medial facet ratio. The most common Wiberg classification was type B (63.9%), followed by type C (25.4%), and type A was the least common (10.7%). There was a statistically significant difference in the patellar measurements between different age groups. There was a weak negative linear correlation between the dimensions of the largest transverse diameter, the length of the articular surface, the patellar articular angle, and the age of the patient. Additionally, there was a moderate inverse linear relationship between patellar height and patient age. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant variations in patellar morphology based on gender and age. The findings emphasize the importance of careful assessment and consideration of these variations in the imaging evaluation of the patellofemoral joint.

Computed Tomography Findings and Classification of Traumatic Lumbosacral Spine Injuries: Insights from the AOSpine Classification System.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to provide a description and classification of lumbosacral spine injuries based on the new AOSpine classification system. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 patients with lumbosacral spine trauma who were admitted to Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Hue, Vietnam, between April 2021 and July 2022. All patients underwent lumbosacral computed tomography, and each injured vertebra was classified according to the AOSpine classification system. The frequency and percentage of subtypes of lumbosacral spine trauma were determined. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.6 ± 16.1 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. Falls and traffic accidents were found to be the main causes of injuries. Among the patients, 78.7% did not exhibit any neurological symptoms, while 1.3% experienced complete hemiplegia and 20% had incomplete hemiplegia. The most common fracture subtype was A3, accounting for 34.6% of cases. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the demographics, associated injuries, and classification of traumatic lumbosacral spine injuries based on the new AOSpine classification system. The study found that falls and motor vehicle accidents were the main causes of these injuries, with a higher proportion of male patients. The majority of injuries were classified as type A fractures, while type C fractures were the least common. Sacral fractures were relatively infrequent and often associated with pelvic ring fractures. These findings contribute to our understanding of lumbosacral spine trauma and can aid in the development of more effective treatment protocols.

Discovery of novel flavonoid derivatives as potential dual inhibitors against α-glucosidase and α-amylase: virtual screening, synthesis, and biological evaluation.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, accounting for 6.7 million deaths in 2021, and is one of the most rapidly growing global health emergencies of this century. Although several classes of therapeutic drugs have been invented and applied in clinical practice, diabetes continues to pose a serious and growing threat to public health and places a tremendous burden on those affected and their families. The strategy of reducing carbohydrate digestibility by inhibiting the activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase is regarded as a promising preventative treatment for type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated the dual inhibitory effect against two polysaccharide hydrolytic enzymes of flavonoid derivatives from an in-house chemical database. By combining molecular docking and structure-activity relationship analysis, twelve compounds with docking energies less than or equal to - 8.0 kcal mol-1 and containing required structural features for dual inhibition of the two enzymes were identified and subjected to chemical synthesis and in vitro evaluation. The obtained results showed that five compounds exhibited dual inhibitory effects on the target enzymes with better IC50 values than the approved positive control acarbose. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to elucidate the binding of these flavonoids to the enzymes. The predicted pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties suggest that these compounds are viable for further development as type 2 diabetes drugs.

Towards a Standardized Approach for the Geographical Traceability of Plant Foods Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA).

This paper presents a systematic literature review focused on the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) combined with PCA, a multivariate technique, for determining the geographical origin of plant foods. Recent studies selected and applied the ICP-MS analytical method and PCA in plant food geographical traceability. The collected results from many previous studies indicate that ICP-MS with PCA is a useful tool and is widely used for authenticating and certifying the geographic origin of plant food. The review encourages scientists and managers to discuss the possibility of introducing an international standard for plant food traceability using ICP-MS combined with PCA. The use of a standard method will reduce the time and cost of analysis and improve the efficiency of trade and circulation of goods. Furthermore, the main steps needed to establish the standard for this traceability method are reported, including the development of guidelines and quality control measures, which play a pivotal role in providing authentic product information through each stage of production, processing, and distribution for consumers and authority agencies. This might be the basis for establishing the standards for examination and controlling the quality of foods in the markets, ensuring safety for consumers.

Multiple system atrophy-cerebellar: A case report and literature review.

We reported a case of a 48-year-old female patient admitted to the hospital due to balance disorder which progressed rapidly within 1 week. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed significant atrophy and hyperintensities at the middle cerebellar peduncles and the "hot cross bun" sign of the pons. The final diagnosis was probable multiple system atrophy, cerebellar subtype. The clinical and imaging findings will be discussed as well as a brief literature review.

Complicated breast augmentation via self-injection of ultrasound gel and shoe glue: A case report.

Various types of dermal fillers have been developing for soft tissue augmentation. Even though many fillers have been approved and strictly regulated by authorities, homemade products for body contouring procedures are widely available and easily purchased on websites without prescriptions. It is challenging for radiologists to interpret radiological findings of complicated breast augmentation of unknown origin. While ultrasound is the modality of choice for initial work-up, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a role as the gold standard in evaluating the integrity of prosthetic implants. Using silicone or water-only MRI sequences may also be able to distinguish them. We report a rare case of breast abscess of a young female patient after self-injection of the mixture of ultrasound gel and shoe glue. The clinical and imaging aspect, especially MRI imaging, will be discussed.

How Can We Sustain the Training Quality of Radiologic Technology Students During COVID-19 Outbreaks: A Lesson from Vietnam.

Radiologic technology training required a substantial amount of practice. The traditional teaching approach includes in-hospital placement along with theory classes. During the COVID-19 outbreaks, clinical rotations become impossible. Direct contact with patients raises safety concerns for staff and students. The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for medical universities worldwide. We developed in-house simulation software that can be used for training in radiologic technology. Our preliminary results yielded good efficacy of this novel teaching approach in training radiologic technology students.

Online Clinical Briefing for Radiologic Technology Students in Covid-19 Pandemic Outbreak: Efficiency, Application, and Feedback of Students.

Objective: To evaluate students' satisfaction and efficacy of online clinical briefing for radiologic technology students. The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency, the possibility of application, and students' feedback with the new form of clinical briefing during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 120 full-time radiologic technology students after participating in online clinical briefing sessions at the Department of Radiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. This training approach was implemented for students from April to July 2021. During the briefing, participants were asked to discuss on cases that were prepared by the previous on-duty nightshift students with the consultant of the senior staff. The discussion focused on the technical aspects, challenges, and clinical implementation of each technique. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the responses of students using the Likert scale (1. Complete disagree, 2. Disagree, 3. Satisfy, 4. Partial agree, 5. Complete agree). Results: Our findings show that 76.5% of students were very satisfied and/or satisfied with the online clinical briefing. In particular, the mean score for satisfaction with teaching resources and platforms, and assessment tools were 4.21; less fear in giving feedback than on-site briefings were 3.57; satisfaction with faculty accessibility and availability in giving feedback as well as answering questions for students was 4.29; satisfaction with student's performance and final grade was 3.55. 94.2% of students were willing to continue studying online during the COVID-19 breakout or similar circumstances. Conclusion: Online clinical briefing is an appropriate teaching approach during a prolonged COVID-19 breakout. However, it cannot completely replace traditional teaching methods in providing essential clinical skills for radiologic technology students due to the unique characteristics of medicine and medical imaging teaching which require a substantial amount of clinical practice.

Experience of Kapandji technique in treating Colles' fracture in central region of Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: Extra-articular fractures of the distal radius, known as Colles' fractures, are very common. The optimal management of Colles' fracture is still controversial. The Kapandji technique is one option for orthopedic surgeons to maintain reduced fractures, however, the effectiveness of this method is no clear consensus. This study aims to access Colles' fracture treatment by the Kapandji technique with our experiences. METHODS: This prospective study of 33 patients treated with three K-wires intra-focal fractures by the Kapandji procedure for Colles' fractures at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Vietnam between February 2017 and May 2019. The functional outcome of the patients was assessed by the demerit score system of Gartland and Werley, and the quality of reduction was elevated on radiographic as well at 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperative. RESULTS: 33 patients' mean age is 54.64 ± 18.00; After 24 weeks of postoperative follow-up, 78.79% presented excellent, 21.21% good, and there are not any fair or poor cases on the functional outcome. All patients achieved complete fracture union at 12 weeks postoperative. The average immediate postoperative radial length was 9.85 mm, the radial inclination was 20.64°, and the volar tilt was 9.2°. CONCLUSION: The study emphasizes that the Kapandji technique in Colles' fracture treatment is simple and possible to bring a satisfactory outcome and fast recovery.

Hereditary multiple exostoses: A case report and literature review.

Osteochondroma is the most common bone tumor representing 20%-50% of all benign bone tumors and 10%-15% of all bone tumors. Osteochondroma has similar radiological appearance in both solitary and multiple forms; the latter is an autosomal dominant disorder termed hereditary multiple exostoses. Associated complications of osteochondroma include deformity, fracture, neurovascular compromise, bursa formation, and malignant transformation. Measurement of the cartilage cap thickness is an important index suggesting secondary malignancy of osteochondroma. The upper limit of cap thickness after skeletal maturation is 1.5 cm which can be reliably measured on ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. Hereditary multiple exostoses are linked to the mutations of different exostoses genes located on chromosome 8, 11, and 19. We reported cases of two siblings presented with multiple osteochondromas managed by surgical excision. We evaluated their clinical and radiological presentation, genetic correlations and compared with the literature.

Quantitative parameters of diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived metrics in quantitative evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 39 wrists from 24 symptomatic CTS patients, who underwent clinical, electrophysiological, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations. In addition, 10 wrists of 6 healthy participants were included as controls. Clinical and nerve conduction study (NCS) findings were evaluated and graded according to the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), respectively. We performed MRI using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) of the median nerve at the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) (d), the inlet of the carpal tunnel (CT) at the pisiform level (i), the middle of the CT (m) and the outlet of the CT at the level of the hook of hamate (o), cross-sectional area at the inlet of the CT (iCSA), and the difference between MD and FA of the DRUJ and the outlet of CT (Delta MD and Delta FA) were measured. Results: The CTS patients had significantly lower FA [for example, oFA: mean difference 0.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05 to 0.12] and significantly higher MD than healthy participants (for example, iMD: mean difference 0.3, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.57). There was a negative correlation between iCSA with iFA and between mFA and oFA (-0.5

Diffuse xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with complex spontaneous pyeloduodenal fistula: A case report.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a rare and severe form of chronic pyelonephritis. Spontaneous pyeloduodenal fistula is an extremely rare complication of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. We present a rare case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis complicated by a complex pyeloduodenal and ureteromuscular fistulae with a cutaneous opening. A 57-year-old male patient presented with chronic right flank pain and cutaneous discharge at the right lower quadrant. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis was suspected on preoperative computed tomographic urography owing to the presence of fat deposits and complex pyeloduodenal and ureteromuscular fistulae. Open nephrectomy and fistula closure were performed and the patient recovered uneventfully. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis was confirmed pathologically.

Preclinical Immune Response and Safety Evaluation of the Protein Subunit Vaccine Nanocovax for COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health concern. The development of vaccines with high immunogenicity and safety is crucial for controlling the global COVID-19 pandemic and preventing further illness and fatalities. Here, we report the development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, Nanocovax, based on recombinant protein production of the extracellular (soluble) portion of the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that Nanocovax induced high levels of S protein-specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies in three animal models: BALB/c mouse, Syrian hamster, and a non-human primate (Macaca leonina). In addition, a viral challenge study using the hamster model showed that Nanocovax protected the upper respiratory tract from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nanocovax did not induce any adverse effects in mice (Mus musculus var. albino) and rats (Rattus norvegicus). These preclinical results indicate that Nanocovax is safe and effective.

The value of sonographic quantitative parameters in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in the Vietnamese population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the value of ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in the Vietnamese population. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 42 wrists of 25 patients with idiopathic CTS evaluated by US. In addition, 38 wrists of 22 healthy volunteers were included as the control group. RESULTS: Significant differences in the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) at different levels were found between patients with CTS and controls. Using a cut-off value of 9.5 mm2 for the median nerve CSA at the pisiform (p-CSA), US had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.2% and 97.4%, respectively, for the diagnosis of CTS. Area under the curve analysis revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 95.4%, respectively, for the prediction of severe CTS using a p-CSA of >15.5 mm2. CONCLUSIONS: The median nerve CSA is a highly accurate parameter in the diagnosis of CTS. We recommend using a p-CSA of >9.5 mm2 as a diagnostic criterion for CTS and a p-CSA of >15.5 mm2 as a marker for severe CTS in the Vietnamese population.Research Registry number: 7261.

PMEPA1/TMEPAI Is a Unique Tumorigenic Activator of AKT Promoting Proteasomal Degradation of PHLPP1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Transmembrane prostate androgen-induced protein (TMEPAI), also known as PMEPA1, is highly expressed in many types of cancer and promotes oncogenic abilities. However, the mechanisms whereby TMEPAI facilitates tumorigenesis are not fully understood. We previously established TMEPAI-knockout (KO) cells from human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines and found that TMEPAI-KO cells showed reduced tumorigenic abilities. Here, we report that TMEPAI-KO cells upregulated the expression of pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) and suppressed AKT Ser473 phosphorylation, which was consistent with TCGA dataset analysis. Additionally, the knockdown (KD) of PHLPP1 in TMEPAI-KO cells partially but significantly rescued AKT Ser473 phosphorylation, as well as in vitro and in vivo tumorigenic activities, thus showing that TMEPAI functions as an oncogenic protein through the regulation of PHLPP1 subsequent to AKT activation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TMEPAI PPxY (PY) motifs are essential for binding to NEDD4-2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and PHLPP1-downregulatory ability. Moreover, TMEPAI enhanced the complex formation of PHLPP1 with NEDD4-2 and PHLPP1 polyubiquitination, which leads to its proteasomal degradation. These findings indicate that the PY motifs of TMEPAI suppress the amount of PHLPP1 and maintain AKT Ser473 phosphorylation at high levels to enhance the tumorigenic potentiality of TNBC.

Isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation without sequestration in an adult: A case report and literature review.

Abnormal connections between systemic and pulmonary vascular systems are rare conditions and have been mostly documented in the pediatric population. We report a case of type B isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation in an adult. The patient's chief complaint was intermittent hemoptysis during physical exertion. He had a dual arterial supply from the anomalous systemic artery and the pulmonary artery to the left lower lobe and the venous drainage was through the pulmonary vein. The bronchial connection appeared normal. The fistula was identified on chest computed tomography and was treated endovascularly. The patient remains asymptomatic at 1-year follow-up.

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome: A report of three cases in adolescents and adult woman.

We report three cases with Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome in adolescents and young female. The objective of this report was to describe the clinical presentation, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome. The three patients were 12, 13 and 34 years old, respectively. The reason for admission and clinical symptoms varied between the 3 patients, including menstrual cramps, vaginal bleeding, and dull pain in the hypogastric region. Nevertheless, the sonographic and MRI findings of all three cases were typical for HWWS, including didelphys uterus, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis.

Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease in a Vietnamese adult female: Case report and literature review.

Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is a rare disease in the Asian population and might be overlooked in clinical practice. Early diagnosis is crucial to initiate treatment and to prevent disease progression. Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the modality of choice for diagnosing and assessing this disorder. SSc-ILD should be included in the list of differential diagnoses of ILD. Familiarity with HRCT findings and thorough clinical examination are crucial for diagnosis and treatment.