Primary orbital reconstruction with selective laser melted core patient-specific implants: overview of 100 patients

Contemporary advances in technology have enabled the transfer of industrial laser melting technology to surgery, and its use can improve the accuracy of orbital restoration. The aim of this study therefore was to evaluate the accuracy of primary orbital reconstruction with the use of selective laser melted, patient-specific implants and navigation. A total of 100 patients with complex orbital fractures were included. Planned orbital volumes were compared with those achieved, and angles were compared with the unaffected side. Analysis included the overlay of postoperative on planned images (iPlan® 3.0.5, Brainlab). The mean (SD) orbital volume of the unaffected side was 27.2 (2.8) ml in men and 25.0 (2.6) ml in women. Fractures that involved the posterior third of the orbital floor and comminuted fractures showed significant orbital enlargement (p = 0.026). The mean (SD) reconstructed orbital volume was 26.9 (2.7) ml in men and 24.26 (2.5) ml in women. Three-dimensional analysis of the colour mapping showed minor deviations when compared with the unaffected side. The results suggest that a high degree of accuracy can be routinely achieved in these complex cases

Induction of osteogenic markers in differentially treated cultures of embryonic stem cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Facial trauma or tumor surgery in the head and face area often lead to massive destruction of the facial skeleton. Cell-based bone reconstruction therapies promise to offer new therapeutic opportunities for the repair of bone damaged by disease or injury. Currently, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are discussed to be a potential cell source for bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to investigate various supplements in culture media with respect to the induction of osteogenic differentiation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Murine ESCs were cultured in the presence of LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor), DAG (dexamethasone, ascorbic acid and β-glycerophosphate) or bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Microscopical analyses were performed using von Kossa staining, and expression of osteogenic marker genes was determined by real time PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ESCs cultured with DAG showed by far the largest deposition of calcium phosphate-containing minerals. Starting at day 9 of culture, a strong increase in collagen I mRNA expression was detected in the DAG-treated cells. In BMP-2-treated ESCs the collagen I mRNA induction was less increased. Expression of osteocalcin, a highly specific marker for osteogentic differentiation, showed a double-peaked curve in DAG-treated cells. ESCs cultured in the presence of DAG showed a strong increase in osteocalcin mRNA at day 9 followed by a second peak starting at day 17.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Supplementation of ESC cell cultures with DAG is effective in inducing osteogenic differentiation and appears to be more potent than stimulation with BMP-2 alone. Thus, DAG treatment can be recommended for generating ESC populations with osteogenic differentiation that are intended for use in bone tissue engineering.</p

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale(1-3). Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter(4); identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation(5,6); analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution(7); describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity(8,9); and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes(8,10-18).Peer reviewe

Situações significativas no espaço-contexto da hemodiálise: o que dizem os usuários de um serviço? Situaciones significativas en el espacio-contexto de hemodiálisis: que dicen los usuarios de un servicio? Significant situations in the space and context of hemodialysis: what do users say about?

Estudo de abordagem qualitativa realizado em uma clínica de hemodiálise, no interior do Paraná, com pacientes em tratamento hemodialítico. O objetivo consistiu em conhecer situações significativas para o paciente renal crônico vivenciadas no espaço-contexto de hemodiálise. Os resultados apontaram dificuldades associadas ao processo de comunicação, falta de informações e o desconhecimento de aspectos que envolvem o tratamento. Ficou patente a atribuição de importância à família, a relação com os demais usuários e com os membros da equipe de saúde, como forma de contribuir para o processo de recuperação e de adaptação, em meio às adversidades impostas pela doença e tratamento. Aspectos relacionados à apresentação e estética do ambiente também emergiram como fatores que interferem na satisfação dos clientes.<br>Estudio de abordaje cualitativo realizado en una clínica de hemodiálisis, en el interior del estado de Paraná, Brasil. A través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, nos propusimos a conocer situaciones significativas para los pacientes renales crónicos, vivenciadas en el espacio-contexto del tratamiento hemodialítico. Los resultados apuntaron a dificultades asociadas al proceso de comunicación, generando incómodo y sensación de desamparo, principalmente en el comienzo del tratamiento. Resultó clara la atribución de importancia a la familia, a la relación con los otros usuarios del servicio y con los miembros del equipo de salud, como forma de contribuir al proceso de recuperación y de adaptación, en medio no solo a las adversidades que la enfermedad y el tratamiento imponen. Aspectos relacionados a la presentación, estética e higienización del ambiente también han sido mencionadas como factores que interfieren en la satisfacción de los clientes.<br>A qualitative study performed at a hemodialysis clinic in the interior of Paraná. Semi-structured interviews were used to look at significant situations for chronic renal patients, experienced in the space and context of hemodialytic treatment. The results indicated difficulties associated with the communication process, causing discomfort and a feeling of helplessness, especially at the beginning of the treatment. It was shown that importance was assigned to the family, to the relationship with the other service users and with the members of the health care team, as a way of contributing to the recovery and adaptation process, amidst the adversities imposed by the disease and treatment. Aspects related to the presentation, esthetics and cleanliness of the environment also emerged as factors that interfere in client satisfaction