Expandable endoprostheses in skeletally immature patients:Where we are

Approximately 45 percent of malignant bone tumors are seen under the age of 16 and one of the important results of growth plate sacrification in patients with immature skeletons is limb inequality.Until the early 1990s,the treatment options for these patients were rotationplasty or amputation.Multimodal approaches that combine imaging,chemotherapy,and surgical techniques have enabled the development of limb-preserving methods with satisfactory results.In order to overcome inequality problems,expandable prostheses have been developed in the 1980s.Extendable endoprosthesis replacements have been improved over the years and are now an established and safe alternative.Noninvasive prostheses appear to be advantageous compared to minimally invasive expandable prostheses that require multiple surgical procedures,but the complication rate remains high.Therefore,although expandable prostheses are not the definitive answer to the treatment of bone sarcomas in skeletally immature children,they are still a suitable interim choice until full adulthood is achieved.Due to reported high complication rates,the procedures require significant experience and are recommended for use only in specialized cancer centers.

China's Oral Care System in Transition:Lessons to be Learned from Germany

Aim The objective of this discussion paper is to investigate whether the experience gained through the German paradigm shift in dental care can be of benefit in China＇s deliberations on the introduction of universal dental care for its people. Methodology A comparison of representative oral health outcome data from China and Germany, two countries at different stages in their development, is presented here in order to analyse whether the findings meet expected outcome and confirm the presumption that more developed countries perform better. Results The epidemiological comparison reveals surprising findings concerning the severity of dental diseases and, in particular, missing teeth per person in adults and rates of total edentulousness in seniors. In all of these areas German adults and seniors show significantly inferior outcomes compared with the Chinese population. The mainreason for these striking discrepancies, as it turned out, is the decisive role played by the treatment philosophies and strategies of German dentists. Conelusion and recommendations If dentists take a less interventionist approach, checking as well as treating dental diseases with preventive and strictly tooth-preserving methods, dental treatment results in oral health. Under these condi- tions it can be assumed that modem dentistry is generally good for the teeth. These findings are important for developing countries that are seeking to integrate dental care into their health care system. On the basis of long-term experience from highly industrialized Western countries and especially from Germany we will attempt to put forward proposals for creating an effective and efficient dental care system in China.

Minimally invasive endoscopic repair of rectovaginal fistula

BACKGROUND Surgical techniques for repair of rectovaginal fistula(RVF)have been continually developed,but the ideal procedure remains unclear.Endoscopic repair is a novel and minimally invasive technique for RVF repair with increasing reporting.AIM To review the current applications and preliminary outcomes of this technique for RVF repair,aiming to give surgeons an alternative in clinical practice.METHODS Available articles were searched according to the search strategy.And the sample size,fistula etiology,fistula type,endoscopic repair approaches,operative time and hospital stay,follow-up period,complication and life quality assessment were selected for recording and further analysis.RESULTS A total of 11 articles were eventually identified,involving 71 patients with RVFs who had undergone endoscopic repair.The principal causes of RVFs were surgery(n=51,71.8%),followed by obstetrics(n=7,9.8%),inflammatory bowel disease(n=5,7.0%),congenital(n=3,4.2%),trauma(n=2,2.8%),radiation(n=1,1.4%),and in two patients,the cause was unclear.Most fistulas were in a mid or low position.Several endoscopic repair methods were included,namely transanal endoscopic microsurgery,endoscopic clipping,and endoscopic stenting.Most patients underwent>1-year follow-up,and the success rate was 40%-93%,and all cases reported successful closure.Few complications were mentioned,while postoperative quality of life assessment was only mentioned in one study.CONCLUSION In conclusion,endoscopic repair of RVF is novel,minimally invasive and promising with acceptable preliminary effectiveness.Given its unique advantages,endoscopic repair can be an alternative technique for surgeons.