This study involved modification of the surface of Ti by micro‐arc oxidation (MAO). A rough and porous oxide film with good wettability was formed on the Ti surface. This MAO‐treated film exhibited a ...meta‐amorphous structure comprising crystalline anatase and rutile TiO2 as well as amorphous phases. In addition, the incorporation of Ca and P in the MAO‐treated film was induced by micro‐arc discharge. The biological responses of the MAO‐treated surfaces were evaluated by observing the adhesion of MG63 osteoblast‐like cells and platelets. The MAO‐treated Ti had a considerably better biocompatibility and blood compatibility than untreated Ti.
The surgery for facelift or zygoma reduction usually has a long operative time, swelling, and blood loss consideration; and therefore, these two procedures are often performed separately. In recent ...years, an increasing demand for simultaneous zygoma reduction and facelift has been observed; however, few studies have examined safe and effective of simultaneous zygoma reduction and facelift.
The aim of this study was to present a safe, easy, and flexible method for combining facelift and zygoma reduction through single facelift incision with minimal blood loss.
From 2015 to 2020, the senior author performed zygoma reduction with facelift by using a subcutaneous approach through single facelift incision in patients with wide zygoma and an aging face. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative course, and complications were recorded.
In total, 56 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The combined surgery was successfully performed in all cases, and no serious complications were reported. The follow-up period ranged from 6.5 to 60 months. The average operating time was 187 minutes, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was minimal (30 mL). All patients were satisfied with the outcome, different scores were assessed with Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS).
Facelift and zygoma reduction using a subcutaneous approach through single facelift incision provides complete visualization of the zygoma, superior hemostasis control, resulting in an easy and safe surgery that does not require additional intraoral incisions.
A bicalcium phosphate (BCP) bioceramic comprising α‐tricalcium phosphate (α‐TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) was prepared by a two‐step sintering. The microstructure of the BCP bioceramic was ...investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction. The in vitro osteoinductivity was evaluated by culturing MG63 osteoblast‐like cells on the BCP bioceramic. Results showed that the BCP bioceramic comprising α‐TCP and HA in a moderate ratio possessed a hardness of 93.7 Hv. The cells spread faster on the BCP bioceramic than those on the commercial HA. It suggested that the BCP bioceramic can enhance osteoinductivity in vivo.
Purpose
Femtosecond laser arcuate keratotomy (FS-AK) and toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation are effective for the correction of eyes with corneal astigmatism. In this study, the postoperative ...refractive outcomes of patients receiving femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) with FS-AK and patients receiving standard phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation were evaluated.
Methods
This retrospective study reviewed the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing FLACS with FS-AK (the FS-AK group) and patients undergoing standard phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation (the toric IOL group). The main outcome measures were uncorrected and corrected visual acuities, keratometric and refractive astigmatism, and vector analysis.
Results
The FS-AK group included 41 eyes with preoperative keratometric astigmatism of − 1.64 ± 0.42 diopters (D), and the toric IOL group included 53 eyes with preoperative keratometric astigmatism of − 2.29 ± 0.91 D (
P
< 0.001). Postoperative refractive astigmatism was comparable between the two groups. Compared with the FS-AK group, postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was significantly better (
P
= 0.005) and corrected visual acuity was marginally better in the toric IOL group (
P
= 0.051). The absolute angles of error were 9.95° ± 9.57° and 5.08° ± 4.94° (
P
= 0.02) in the FS-AK and the toric IOL groups, respectively.
Conclusion
Both FLACS with FS-AK and standard phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation are safe and effective methods for astigmatism correction during cataract surgery. Standard phacoemulsification with toric IOL implantation achieves better visual acuity than FLACS with FS-AK at the 6-month follow-up.
Crystallization and melting of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) diblock copolymer containing a tablet-like block of poly{2,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)oxycarbonylstyrene} (PMPCS) in ultrathin films have been ...studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) coupled with a hot stage. The PEO and PMPCS block possess the number-average molecular weights (
M
n) of 5300 and 2100
g/mol, respectively. The ultrathin films on the mica and glow-discharged carbon surfaces were obtained by static dilute solution casting at room temperature. Isothermal melt crystallization from ultrathin films always leads to flat-on lamellae. Selective area electron diffraction (SAED) experiments have demonstrated that the PEO blocks crystallize with a monoclinic structure identical to that of homo-PEO and the chain direction is perpendicular to the substrate. At
T
c<44
°C, the monolayer crystals are dendrites. At
T
c>48
°C, square-shaped crystals are formed with the (100) and (020) planes as the crystal edges. At 44
°C≤
T
c≤48
°C, an intermediate monolayer morphology is observed. The monolayer thickness increases monotonically with increasing
T
c. At the same
T
c, the monolayer lamellae with the top and bottom amorphous layers contacting with the atmosphere and the substrate possess a significantly larger overall thickness than the long period of the crystals in bulk. For the spiral terraces induced by screw dislocation, the thickness of each terrace is close to that of the monolayer formed at the same
T
c, and their melting is mainly determined by the terrace thickness.
Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) coupled with a hot stage, we studied the morphological evolution of superheated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) crystal monolayer on the mica surface. The PEO possesses ...a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 4250g/mol and a polydispersity of 1.03. The superheated monolayer was obtained when the entire periphery of a triply-folded chain crystal IF(3) was thickened to be a twice-folded chain crystal IF(2) ‘dam’. The IF(3) crystal was laterally confined by the IF(2) ‘dam’ and remained unchanged at its unconfined melting temperature (Tm). In superheated conditions, the interior IF(3) crystal unfolded, resulting in domains with a thickness in between the fold lengths of the IF(3) and the IF(2) crystals accompanied by hole formation. After its nucleation, the hole enlarged its area quickly and migrated long distances within the area bounded by the IF(2) crystal ‘dam’.
To assess the surgical outcomes in patients who underwent lamellar keratoscleroplasty with full-thickness central corneal grafts for limbal dermoids.
Retrospective, noncomparative, analysis of a ...consecutive case series with chart review.
Ten patients (6 male, 4 female; mean age, 12.3+/-5.0 years; range, 5.7-22.4 years) with 10 limbal dermoids in 10 eyes undergoing lamellar keratoscleroplasty with full-thickness central corneal grafts between 1992 and 2003 at National Taiwan University Hospital were studied.
The medical records and external eye photographs were reviewed.
Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal astigmatism and topography, cosmetic outcomes, and surgical complications were measured as outcome indicators. For analysis of the surgical effect on corneal astigmatism, the 9 patients with topographic data available were divided into 2 groups according to their preoperative corneal astigmatism (group 1, > or =6 diopters D; group 2, <6 D).
The mean earliest recorded BCVA and the latest postoperative BCVA were 6/30 and 6/10, respectively, and the improvement of BCVA after operation combined with amblyopia treatment was 4.9+/-3.6 lines on a Snellen chart. Patients with preoperative astigmatism > or =6.0 D (9.7+/-1.0 D; n = 4) were found to have a marked decrease in astigmatism after surgery (astigmatism change, 5.2+/-1.7 D). Patients with preoperative astigmatism <6.0 D (3.4+/-0.2 D; n = 5) were found to have an insignificant increase in astigmatism after surgery (astigmatism change, 0.0+/-0.6 D). After surgery, significant corneal opacity was found in 1 patient; mild bluish scleral hue was found in 3 patients. Surgical complications included prolonged reepithelialization, interface neovascularization, graft rejection, and steroid glaucoma.
Using full-thickness central corneal grafts in lamellar keratoscleroplasty for limbal dermoids achieved good cosmetic results with limited postoperative complications. Operation may markedly reduce corneal astigmatism in patients with high preoperative corneal astigmatism. Visual prognosis is good in patients undergoing surgery combined with adequate amblyopia treatment.
In an effort to improve the surface properties of surgical instruments in terms of corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, anti-sticking property, and anti-bacterial performance, bioactive films ...of hydrogenated diamond-like carbon containing different fractions of Cu were synthesized using the radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition with a magnetron Cu electrode in different atmospheres comprising different proportions of Ar/CH4 mixture. The influence of the methane fraction and plasma power on the Cu content, microstructure and surface properties of the deposited films was investigated. The results show that the films included stacked nano-clusters and domains of Cu and that the size of the nano-clusters slightly increased with the Cu content and deposition time. The Cu content in the films increased with the plasma power and argon flow ratio. In addition, increasing the Cu content not only improved hardness but also roughened the surface, and consequently, increased the water contact angle of the film surface. All films exhibited a hydrophobic surface that is expected to be useful for synthesizing minimally invasive instruments.
Evidence is sparse and inconclusive on the association between long-term fine (≤2.5 μm) particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and esophageal cancer. We aimed to assess the association of PM2.5 with ...esophageal cancer risk and compared the esophageal cancer risk attributable to PM2.5 exposure and other established risk factors.
This study included 510,125 participants without esophageal cancer at baseline from China Kadoorie Biobank. A high-resolution (1 × 1 km) satellite-based model was used to estimate PM2.5 exposure during the study period. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CIs of PM2.5 with esophageal cancer incidence were estimated using Cox proportional hazard model. Population attributable fractions for PM2.5 and other established risk factors were estimated.
There was a linear concentration–response relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and esophageal cancer. For each 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, the HR was 1.16 (95% CI, 1.04–1.30) for esophageal cancer incidence. Compared with the first quarter of PM2.5 exposure, participants in the highest quarter had a 1.32-fold higher risk for esophageal cancer, with an HR of 1.32 (95% CI, 1.01–1.72). The population attributable risk because of annual average PM2.5 concentration ≥35 μg/m3 was 23.3% (95% CI, 6.6%–40.0%), higher than the risks attributable to lifestyle risk factors.
This large prospective cohort study of Chinese adults found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an elevated risk of esophageal cancer. With stringent air pollution mitigation measures in China, a large reduction in the esophageal cancer disease burden can be expected.
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Long-term exposure to high levels of fine (≤2.5 μm) particulate matter is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
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