Background: Although miniscrews are widely used in orthodontic treatment as temporary anchorage devices, their correct and safe placement has attracted little attention. This study aimed to introduce a novel cone beam CT (CBCT) image-based computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) template for orthodontic miniscrew implantation and to evaluate the effectiveness of miniscrews implanted under the guidance of this template. Methods: The CBCT scans of ten patients requiring miniscrews as anchorage were analyzed in NNT software to predetermine the insertion sites of miniscrew implants. The DICOM data of the scans, along with virtual miniscrews acquired in Solidworks software, were imported into Mimics software to construct three-dimensional (3D) images of teeth and bone and to determine the virtual position of miniscrews and 3D virtual templates were designed following consideration of the virtual implantation plans. A STL (Stereolithography) file of the virtual template was output, and the resin template was then fabricated with a stereolithographic appliance (SLA). 24 Miniscrews were then implanted guided by the template and clinical evaluation of their safety and stability, as well as their placement deviations, were made. A dental casts model and cephalometric analysis before and after orthodontic treatment were made to assess the dentomaxillofacial changes. Results: All 24 miniscrews had no contact with adjacent roots. 18 miniscrews had a grade I safety score and six had a grade II. The miniscrews were stable at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after implantation, although there was mild inflammation around two miniscrews. Implantation deviation of miniscrew in the crown was (1.03±0.65) and (1.26±0.72) mm in the apex, on average. Satisfactory dentomaxillofacial changes in 10 patients with these 24 miniscrews as anchorage were acquired. Conclusions: Miniscrews could be implanted in the targeted position safely and precisely when guided by the novel templates, and remained stable during orthodontic treatment. Patients treated with these miniscrews as anchorage in orthodontic treatment acquired satisfactory dentomaxillofacial changes.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common type of malignancy, which represents one of the leading causes of death among men worldwide. Copy number variations (CNVs) and gene fusions play important roles in PCa and may serve as markers for the prognosis of this condition. Methods: We have presently conducted an analysis of CNVs and gene fusions in PCa, using whole exome sequencing (WES) data of primary tumors. For this, a cohort of 74 PCa patients, including 30 recurrent and 44 non-recurrent cases, were assessed during 5 years of follow-up. Results: We have identified 66 CNVs that were specific to the primary tumor tissues from the recurrent PCa group. Most of duplicated genomic regions were located in 8q2, suggesting that this chromosomal region could be important for the prognosis of PCa. Meanwhile, we have developed a random forest model, using six selected CNVs, with an accuracy near 90% for predicting PCa recurrence according to a 10-fold cross validation. In addition, we have detected 16 recurrent oncogenic gene fusions in PCa. Among these, ALK (ALK receptor tyrosine kinase)-involved fusions were the most common type of gene fusion (n=7). Four of these fusions (i.e., EML4-ALK, STRN-ALK, CLTC-ALK, ETV6-ALK) were previously identified in other cancer types, while the remaining three gene fusions (FRYL-ALK, ABL1-ALK, and BCR-ALK) were here identified. Conclusions: Our findings expand the current understanding in regard to prostate carcinogenesis. Current data might be further used for assay development as well as to predict PCa recurrence, using primary tissues.

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the commonest zoonoses, and it is endemic in many parts of the world including China. Complications and recurrences after the surgical treatment of hepatic CE (HCE) incur a large personal, healthcare, and societal burden. There has been some progress in HCE prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, but there is no “one size fits all” approach, and surgery still remains the cornerstone of treatment for some cyst stages and locations or in areas with little knowledge or access to other treatment modalities. In 2009 we designed and implemented a program to improve surgical outcomes from HCE in Xinjiang province, China. A multimodal HCE training program was implemented in eleven primary hospitals in Xinjiang province, China, which provided education and training on HCE clinical knowledge and practice, the application of diagnostic and treatment options, and optimal surgery. The management of HCE cases was analyzed before and after program implementation. Contrast enhanced CT use, application of scoloicidal agents, removal of necrotic cyst wall remnants, appropriate perioperative drug use, and the use of optimal surgical approach increased after program implementation. Further, postoperative recurrences and residual cavity complications creased from 7.4% to 1.3% and 15.2% to 9.0% after program implementation, respectively. Tis integrated surgical training program is useful for improving outcomes of patients with HCE and can be used in institutions in other endemic areas. Hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE) is an endemic and neglected global disease. Many deprived areas in China still lack the knowledge and expertise to successfully treat HCE surgically, which results in high postoperative complication and recurrence rates that further decrease postoperative quality of life. In this study, we aimed to transfer our extensive experience in the development and implementation of effective surgery for HCE to eleven hospitals in the Echinococcus granulosus endemic province of Xinjiang to improve the surgical treatment of HCE. Our results indicate that our training program effectively reduces recurrence and complication rates and will be of use in other endemic areas.

We report a case of a male patient who presented with multiple abdominal and pelvic echinococcosis. The patient had been diagnosed with hepatic echinococcosis for 7 years and developed intermittent distension and discomfort in the upper abdomen after an accidental fall. In recent years, the patient’s abdominal distention increased gradually. Computed tomography revealed multiple hydatid cysts in the liver, spleen, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity. Abdominal organs were severely compressed, such that he could not eat normally except for a liquid diet. The patient underwent radical surgical resection based on the multi-disciplinary treatment (MDT) and the operation lasted 10 h, nearly 100 hydatid cysts were excised, about 18 liters of cyst fluid and cyst contents were removed, and the patient lost 20 kg of weight after surgery. The operation was successful, but there were still some postoperative complications such as hypovolemic shock, postoperative ascites, postoperative bile leakage. Treatment measures for the patient were anti-infection, antishock, clamping the abdominal drainage tube, and negative pressure abdominal puncture drainage. At follow up the patient’s quality of life had been significantly improved with 15 kg weight gain compared to before.