EUS-guided interventional therapies for pancreatic diseases.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an integrated diagnostic technique merging endoscope and ultrasound to examine the digestive system. EUS has emerged as a primary diagnostic method for pancreatic diseases due to its distinctive benefits. Over the past four decades, EUS has undergone a transformation, shifting its role from primarily diagnostic to increasingly therapeutic. Additionally, in recent years, EUS has emerged as an increasingly prominent adjunctive or alternative approach to conventional surgical interventions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of current technological approaches in the treatment of pancreatic diseases. The dynamic interplay with diverse therapeutic approaches has reinvigorated EUS and shaped its trajectory in the management of pancreatic diseases.

Ovarian reserve and IVF outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly affects people during reproductive age. However, it is unclear whether IBD might be associated with impaired ovarian reserve in female patients or with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis included articles from inception to May, 2022. Random-effect model was applied to calculate the standardized mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Studies comparing the ovarian reserve or IVF outcomes of patients with IBD with the population were considered. To be included in this study, necessary measurements such as OR, relative risk (RR), SMD or hazard ratio (HR) or any necessary information to calculate them were provided in the articles. Letters, case reports, review articles including meta-analyses and expert opinions were excluded. For different articles studying the same population, the article with larger scale was selected. Findings: We included in our analysis 9 studies and data from 2386 IBD records and matched controls. Comparing with women without IBD, women with IBD had lower anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels (SMD = -0.38, 95%CI: -0.67, -0.09); (I2 = 79.0%, p = 0.000). Patients with IBD of different ages showed distinct ovarian reserves, with patients below 30 years old not showing any decline in ovarian reserve compared to the control group (SMD = -0.56, 95%CI: -2.28, 1.16); (I2 = 96.3%; p = 0.000), while patients with IBD over 30 years old (SMD = -0.75, 95%CI: -1.07, -0.43); (I2 = 0.0%; p = 0.608) showed a decline compared to control group. Patients with IBD in remission stage had similar ovarian reserves to population (SMD = -0.10, 95%CI: -0.32, 0.12); (I2 = 0.0%; p = 0.667), while patients in active stage showed an impaired ovarian reserve (SMD = -1.30, 95%CI: -1.64, -0.96); (I2 = 0.0%; p = 0.318). Patients with IBD showed a pregnancy rate after receiving IVF treatment comparable to the control population (OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.55, 1.37); (I2 = 70.1%, p = 0.035). Interpretation: The result of this study suggest that IBD may reduce reproductive age women's ovarian reserve and IVF treatment might help pregnancy outcomes in patients with impaired fertility. These results should be further validated in additional studies given the heterogeneity and quality of the studies included. Funding: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81671423), National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFC1000603), 2020 Shenyang Science and Technology Plan Program (No. 20-205-4-006), Scientific and Technological Talents Applied Technology Research Program of Shenyang (No. 18-014-4-56).

The effect of additional facet joint block for analgesia in patients with thoracolumbar compression fracture undergoing percutaneous kyphoplasty surgery: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is currently no pooled data in the literature to support whether additional facet joint block results in better clinical analgesia after percutaneous kyphoplasty. We assessed the existing evidence on the safety and efficacy of facet joint block in the treatment of patients with thoracolumbar compression fractures undergoing percutaneous kyphoplasty based on qualified trials. METHODS: We will search PubMed, Springer, ScienceDirect, Wanfang, and Cochrane Library databases through April, 2022. Cohort studies focusing on assessing and comparing the effect of facet joint block and control group will be included. The studies are screened and evaluated by 2 reviewers independently for eligibility. The following outcome measures must be showed: pain scores, Oswestry Disability Index, satisfaction, and complications observed within both groups from baseline to the end of follow-up period. Review Manager software (v 5.3; Cochrane Collaboration) is used for the meta-analysis. A P value of <.05 is considered to be statistically significant. Two independent reviewers will assess the risk of bias of the included studies at study level. RESULTS: It is hypothesized that additional facet joint block is associated with better pain control. CONCLUSIONS: This study expects to provide credible and scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of facet joint block in the treatment of patients with thoracolumbar compression fractures undergoing percutaneous kyphoplasty. REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/ARY3C.

[Comparison between pathology and computer for quantitative determination of femoral head necrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare computer measurement semi automatic quantitative detection software system with ultra thin layer pathological section to confirm the avascular necrosis percentage of the femoral head, and provide reference for clinical treatment options. METHODS: From June 2012 to December 2013, the X-ray and MRI of 24 patients(24 hips on unilateral) were reviewed, who had avascular necrosis of the femoral head at late stage (stage III and IV) according to the ARCO international staging system, and performed by total hip arthroplasty. There were 15 males and 9 females, with an average age of (65.1±8.8) years old ranging 33 to 74 years old. Based on imaging system combined with computer aided technology(CAD) system and postoperative ultrathin slice, the volume of the area of femoral head necrosis were calculated. Then combining with the total volume of the femoral head was calculated by X-ray, the percentage of each femoral head necrosis area was calculated as a percentage of the whole ball head in both methods. RESULTS: For 24 hips, the normal femoral head volume was (39.58±3.29) cm³ on average of X-ray film, the necrotic volume was (20.00±3.04) cm³ on average of MRI by the calculation of computer. The necrotic volume occupying in the volume of the normal femoral head was (42.92±6.09)% on average ranged. The necrotic lesion size was larger than 40% in 16 hips, 30% to 40% in 8 hips, 1 ess than 30% in 0 hip. Under the pathological section, the necrosis volume was (19.89±3.17) cm³, the necrotic volume occupying in the volume of the normal femoral head was (40.33±6.36)%. The necrotic lesion size was larger than 40% in 12 hips, 30% to 40% in 11 hips, 1 ess than 30% in 1 hip. In computer and general measurement, the two entire femoral head volume difference was (0.113±0.466) cm³, there was no significant difference using these measurements(t=-1.186, P=0.248). After the linear correlation statistics analysis, there was a positive correlation relationship in necrotic volume between computer software and pathology measurement(γ=0.980, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of the necrotic femoral head is closely related to the percentage of necrotic area. When the ratio of necrotic lesions and the whole femoral head is greater than 30%, the patients' clinical symptoms tend to aggravate, the probability of total hip arthroplasty increased significantly. It have great significances in femoral head necrosis installment, judge the prognosis, guide the selection of treatment and monitoring curative effect.

[Treatment of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar fractures by postural reduction with instrumental reduction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the curative effect of postural reduction with instrumental reduction in treatment of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 43 patients with single thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fractures admitted from August 2009 to August 2011, included 28 males and 15 females with an average age of 44 years old (34 to 56 years old). All patients were treated with postural reduction with instrumental reduction. The kyphosis (Cobb angle) recovery of injured vertebral height and complication were analyzed. The visual analogue scale(VAS) and com-plications were followed up and recorded. RESULTS: There was no difference in recovery of injured vertebral posterior height among preoperative, 1 week and 1 year after operation (P > 0.05). There were significantly difference in kyphosis (Cobb angle) and recovery of injured vertebral anterior height between preoperative and postoperative at 1 week (P < 0.05). There was no difference in kyphosis (Cobb angle) and recovery of injured vertebral anterior height between 1 week and 1 year after operation (P > 0.05). VAS significantly improved from preoperative (7.2 +/- 1.2) to (0.8 +/- 0.7) at 1 year after operation (t = 18.47, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Postural reduction with instrumental reduction is effective for thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fractures and it is beneficial to the recovery of vertebral height and saggital alignment.

[Biomechanical study on the posterior screw fixation in the lower cervical spine].

So far, the fixation in the lower cervical spine through posterior approach technology has commonly been used, besides the lateral screw and pedicle screw techniques, transarticular screw and laminar screw techniques have being paid more attention recently. This article introduced four screw fixation ways in the lower cervical spine through posterior approach and reviewed the recent biomechanics studies of four screw fixation techniques. The biomechanics study includes stabilization, pollout strength, insertion technique, and screw characteristic and so on. Lateral screw and pedicle screw techniques have become an effective internal fixation way for the lower cervical spine instability because of their superior stabilization and higher pollout strength. Transarticular screw fixation has become a new way to fix the lower cervical spine through posterior approach, which has widely surgical indications. Besides, this technique is relatively safe, simple and has achieved favorable curative effect in clinic. Laminar screw fixation technique is rarely used in clinic, but the study of anatomy and biomechanics confirmed that this technique can be applied as a salvage technique in clinic. Above four techniques of the screw fixation in the lower cervical spine through posterior approach have advantages and disadvantages, respectively, and the application in clinic is different. Through the biomechanics study of these techniques will contribute to the development of the techniques of the screw fixation in the lower cervical spine through posterior approach and guide the clinical work effectively.

[Case-control studies of the treatment for the distal clavicle fracture by elastic band inclined "8" fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the treatment for the distal clavicle fracture with two different methods. METHODS: There were 120 cases of the distal clavicle fractures involved in the study. Among them, 75 cases were treated by self-improved elastic band inclined "8" fixation (Manipulation group), 45 cases were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with clavicular hook plate (Operation group). RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference between manipulation group (6.71+/-2.35 weeks) and operation group (11.38+/-4.58 weeks) in the time of fracture union (P<0.01); but, there was no statistically significant difference between manipulation group (100%) and operation group (97.8%) in the rate of fracture union (P>0.05). According to the evaluation of shoulder-joint function, 56, 14 and 5 cases obtained excellent, good and bad result respectively in manipulation group; 38, 5 and 2 cases obtained excellent, good and bad respectively in operation group. There was no statistically significant difference between manipulation group (93.3%) and operation group (95.5%) in the rate of excellent and good (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with open reduction and internal fixation with clavicular hook plate, treatment with self-improved elastic band inclined "8" fixation can shorten the union time of fracture and reduce therapeutic risks, so it is an economical, practical and safe method for the distal clavicle fracture.