Background: Clear aligners (CAs) can distalize mandibular molars. The present study aimed to study the efficiency and influencing the factors of CAs for mandibular molar distalization and to provide guidance for clinical design. Materials and Methods: The present study evaluated 32 adult orthodontic patients who needed mandibular molar distalization and were treated with CAs between September 2018 and September 2020 at the school of medicine. The cone-beam computed tomography images of T₀ (before orthodontic treatment) and T₁ (after mandibular molars were fully distalized) were collected, and the actual movements of mandibular molars were measured and compared with the expected movements. The efficiency of mandibular molar distalization during treatment was comprehensively evaluated, and the relevant factors were analyzed. Results: For mandibular first molar distalization, the average efficiency of the crown was 67.19% 9swn. 13%, and that of the root was 37.87% 7stn. 72%. There was a significant difference between the achieved movement amount and the expected amount (P < 0.05). For mandibular second molars, the average efficiency of the crown was 58.47% 7swn. 07%, and that of the root was 57.03% 3stn. 48%. There was a statistically significant difference between the achieved movement amount and the expected amount (P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between the expected movement and the efficiency of the crown. Conclusions: CAs can achieve mandibular molar distalization, and the movement pattern of molars is mainly a tipping movement. To accomplish bodily movement, overcorrection should be fully considered. In addition, it is suggested that close attention should be given to observing root movement during molar distalization.

Background and Purpose: Lots of clinical observations have found that there is a close relationship between the pathological changes of lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) and temporomandibular disc displacement. On medical images, unfortunately, these occult dysfunctions of LPM could scarcely be detected by naked eyes. As the presence of intrinsic properties of the human body, textural feature is capable to effectively discover the subtle functional changes of involved tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the lateral pterygoid myospasm in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) texture analysis. Patients and Methods: From December 2019 to October 2020, totally nine patients suffered from unilateral spasm of LPM (which is a subtype of TMD) were evaluated by MRI, who were consecutively recruited from Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated First Hospital. Gray-level co-occurrence matrix method was used to analyze the textural features of MRI T2-weighted images with the maximum area of LPM scanned at axial (closed-mouth) plane. Independent samples t-test was performed to compare the relevant parameters of bilateral LPMs (healthy- and affected-side of one individual self-controlled trial). Results: There were no statistically significant values between the two sides of angular second moment, inversed differential moment, and entropy (P > 0.05). The contrast of the healthy-side (267.983 ± 45.952) was significantly higher than that of the affected-side (210.003 ± 29.613) (P < 0.05); and the autocorrelation of the healthy-side (4.536 ± 0.819) was significantly lower than that of the affected-side (6.563 ± 1.653) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The texture contrast and autocorrelation have certain clinical meanings of diagnosis since they could identify the altered status of LPM, and could be considered as the efficient imaging biomarkers to assess LPM changes in patients with TMD.

Background and Purpose: The emergence of digitalized technology has greatly promoted the progress of craniomaxillofacial and head and neck surgery. This present study aimed to explore and describe the advantages of digital design combined with personalized three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in the treatment of deep oromaxillofacial-cervical tumors. Patients and Methods: Nine patients with deep tumor of oral and maxillofacial and neck region admitted to Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated First Hospital from June 2017 to March 2021 were all treated by the digitalized surgery. Preoperatively, radiological examination including computed tomography (CT) angiography, plain and enhanced CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed in all patients. The software packaged of MIMICS, 3-matic and MAYA was cooperatively used to offer 3D modeling and create 3D texturing for morphological and functional reconstruction. The application effect was assessed by analyzing the relevant data and every patient followed up regularly after the operation. Results: The reconstructed images were acquired through computer-aided three-dimension reconstruction, as well as the navigated devices were established through 3D printing. There were totally nine patients including 4 males and 5 females with a mean age of 48.5 years old, whose tumor size ranged from 1.5 cm × 2.2 cm to 3.5 cm × 4.2 cm. The analysis of data also showed that five cases were characterized by oromaxillofacial osseous defect, 2 primary lesions were adjacent to bone and 2 were noncontacted with bone; the location of 7 cases were closely next to blood vessels of oral-maxillofacial-cervical region, while 2 were contactless. Conclusions: Although the tumors occurred in the deeply maxillofacial area are difficult to resect due to several complex anatomical and functional subunits in this area, digital design combined with 3D technology is a promising tool to provide precise diagnosis with an accurately targeted treatment for maxillofacial deep tumor. The preoperative design and the combined navigation technology can further improve the accuracy and safety for curing deep maxillofacial and neck tumors.

Computer technology has undergone decades of advancement since its emergence and has been extensively used in various fields of life. Under the existing environment of rapid development of information and data technology, computer technology has also shown significant application value and application potential in medical treatment. The combination of computer technology and medicine has formed a new field described as digital medicine. This article reviews the progress in the application of digital medicine in pediatric orthopedics from the aspects of three-dimensional (3D) model reconstruction, virtual reality technology, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robots, and biomechanical analysis by finite element method. At the same time, this paper also preliminarily discusses the advantages and disadvantages of digital medicine in the current clinical application and possible future developments.

In recent years, the application of three-dimensional printing (3DP) in the field of medicine has been expanding and has become the focus of clinical research and application. The 3D reconstruction and 1:1 model can be used to analyze and evaluate the prosthesis installation before operation and improve the accuracy and clinical effect of total hip replacement. In particular, the preoperative evaluation of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with spinal-pelvic sagittal plane deformity is significant. Lumbar degeneration is one of the most common spinal-pelvic sagittal plane malformations, it is difficult to determine acetabular anteversion in THA for these patients, and it is easy to cause postoperative complications. At present, 3DP has been used to determine the anteversion of THA in patients with lumbar degenerative disease, and this article reviews the research and application of 3DP in anteversion evaluation of THA for lumbar degenerative disease, as well as its clinical advantages and challenges.

The severity of mercury intoxication depends on the chemical form, dose, and route of exposure. Mercury intoxication has a wide variety of clinical manifestations that may involve the neurological, gastrointestinal, and dermatological systems. After diagnosis is made, prompt treatment is necessary to avoid systemic complications. Here, we report an unusual case of accidental ingestion of mercury and presenting as acute pain abdomen. She was managed conservatively and discharged in hemodynamically stable condition.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected almost every person across the world and it is high time that we reach to each and every one of them with reliable information at the earliest to minimize the risk of acquisition as well as transmission of the infection. In these testing times, there is an immense need to utilize the communication technology in the various activities of the disease mitigation, treatment and advocacy, communication and social mobilization. It is important to acknowledge that this is the first pandemic in which technology and social media are simultaneously being utilized to ensure people safety. In conclusion, in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, information technology and social media have emerged as one of the important tools for the health sector to create not only awareness about the disease, but also it has aided in the prevention and control of the novel viral infection.

In view of the shortage of equipment resources and the inability for on-site disassembly and assembly training in the current teaching of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), a simulation training system for PET/CT based on Unity 3D engine and C# language is designed by 3ds Max and Cinema 4D. The system realizes the simulation interaction of the equipment, thus providing a simulation environment for the operation training of equipment disassembly and maintenance. Through practical application, more users have a great interest in learning, and the comprehensive quality of operation and maintenance ability has been significantly improved, which shows that the system effectively improves teaching quality and reduces teaching costs. Taken together, we can see that it is worth rolling out.

Background: Digital physiotherapy in line with global health coverage has become a salient field of physiotherapy practice where routine and innovative forms of information and communications technology are employed with the aim of facilitating effective delivery and access to physiotherapeutic services and resources. This study evaluated and determined the socio-demographic correlates of awareness, acceptability, and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for digital physiotherapy among patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 92 consenting patients who were 18 years and older responded in this cross-sectional study. An adapted tool on awareness, acceptability, and WTP for telemedicine services was adapted for use in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, and percentages; inferential statistics of Chi-square was used for test of association. Alpha level was set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 52.40 ± 15.62 years. There was a high rate of unawareness (91.3%), moderate-to-high acceptability (87.0%) and high WTP (88.0%) for digital physiotherapy, respectively. There was no significant association between the socio-demographic factors and each of acceptability and WTP for digital physiotherapy (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In spite of low awareness of digital physiotherapy, Nigerian patients attending physiotherapy clinics are willing to accept and pay for its use irrespective of socio-demographic variations.

Considering the extensive use of mobile devices by medical teachers, undergraduate students, postgraduate residents, and patients, it becomes an indispensable need to deploy mobile technologies in various areas of the health professions education, medical training, and patient care. The purpose of the current review is to explore the scope and utility of mobile technology in ensuring the effective delivery of medical education and clinical teaching. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in the PubMed search engine and a total of 15 articles were selected based on their suitability with the current review objectives and analyzed. The use of mobile technologies creates a gamut of educational experiences and learning opportunities for medical students and thereby enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the learning process. The adoption of mobile technology in medical training is more of a student-centered approach and ensures active engagement of the students with an ultimate goal to become a competent health-care professional. In conclusion, in the best interest of the medical students, it is high time to employ mobile-based applications and technologies in the period of medical training as it is expected to play an important role in the accomplishment of learning outcomes and patient care.

On March 12, 2020, with more than 20,000 confirmed cases and almost 1000 deaths in the European Region, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. As of August 15, 2020, there are 21.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 766,000 deaths from the virus, worldwide. Most governments have imposed quarantine measures of varied degrees of strictness on their populations in attempts to stall the spread of the infection in their communities. However, the isolation may have inflicted long-term psychological injury to the general population and, in particular, to at-risk groups such as the elderly, the mentally ill, children, and frontline healthcare staff. In this article, we offer the most up-to-date review of the effects of COVID-19 confinement on all the disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We make data-driven predictions of the impact of COVID-19 confinement on mental health outcomes and discuss the potential role of telemedicine and virtual reality in mental health screening, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, thus improving the above outcomes in such a difficult time.