Objective To evaluate the incidence of heterotopic ossification (HO) after single-level Bryan cervical artificial disc replacement, and to identify the relationship between HO and the effectiveness. Methods The cl inical data of 48 patients undergoing single-level Bryan cervical artificial disc replacement between October 2005 and October 2007 were reviewedretrospectively. There were 27 males and 21 females with an average age of 40.5 years (range, 33-51 years), including 8 cases of cervical myelopathy, 27 cases of nerve root cervical spondylosis, and 13 cases of mixed cervical spondylosis with an average disease duration of 10.3 months (range, 2-14 months). The involved segments included C3, 4 in 3 cases, C4, 5 in 6 cases, C5, 6 in 30 cases, and C6, 7 in 9 cases. The outcomes were evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, the neck disabil ity index (NDI), and cervical range of motion (ROM). According to patients with or without HO, 48 patients were divided into 2 groups (HO group and no HO group). VAS score, NDI, and cervical ROM were compared between 2 groups at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after operation. Results No severe complication occurred during and after operation in all patients. Forty-eight patients were followed up 48-72 months (mean, 56.6 months). VAS score and NDI were significantly improved when compared with preoperative values at all time points (P lt; 0.05); except at 3 days after operation, no significant difference was found in cervical ROM at the other time points when compared with preoperation (P gt; 0.05). Thirteen patients (27.08%) had HO at 4 years after operation, including 8 cases of grade 1, 3 cases of grade 2, and 2 cases of grade 3. There was no significant difference in VAS score, NDI, and cervical ROM between 2 groups at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The incidence of HO after single-level Bryan cervical artificial disc replacement is relatively high. However, HO has no effect on the cervical ROM and the effectiveness.
Objective To introduce the multivariate random effects model (MREM) in the meta-analysis of diagnostic tests with multiple thresholds. Methods This paper expanded and extended the bivariate random effects model (BREM) to develop the MREM, and implemented it in the SAS Proc NLMIXED procedure. Results The MREM could obtain the study specific ROC curve for each study through empirical Bayes estimation, and the summary ROC curve located in between all study specific ROC curves evenly, while the BREM couldn’t obtain the study specific ROC curve. In addition, in the aspect of parameters estimation, the MREM didn’t depend on the choice of the diagnosis threshold and the type of SROC. The MREM could get only one SROC curve and its AUC was between the AUC of the 5 types of SROC from BREM, so it could avoid overestimation or underestimation. Conclusion The MREM can fully exploit the data, obtain stable and reliable results, and have a good application value in meta-analysis of diagnostic tests with multiple thresholds.
Objective To improve the satisfaction of standardized remote consultation of epilepsy center in patients with refractory epilepsy, and initially establish a standardized remote consultation model of three-level comprehensive epilepsy center. Methods Based on the characteristics of our epilepsy center, we designed a set of standardized remote consultation process of epilepsy center in tertiary hospitals, including sorting out patient data before consultation, improving examination, application of multi-modal technology during consultation, notification of results after consultation, and decision of operation time and method. A total of 209 patients who received remote consultation in our epilepsy center from January 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the observation group, and 150 patients who received offline consultation in our epilepsy center during the same period were randomly selected as the control group. The satisfaction of patients in the two groups on the service of doctors and nurses in consultation and the consultation results were compared. Results Through the application of the new multi-modal remote consultation mode, the number of consultations gradually increased, Compared with the offline consultation mode, there was no significant difference in patients' satisfaction with the service of doctors and nurses in remote consultation mode (P<0.05). Conclusion The establishment of standardized remote consultation mode in epilepsy center has effectively reduced the economic burden of patients, simplified the medical treatment process and improved the service quality, but the consultation quality has not been affected.