A multivariate survival function of Weibull Distribution is developed by expanding the theorem by Lu and Bhattacharyya. From the survival function, the probability density function, the cumulative probability function, the determinant of the Jacobian Matrix, and the general moment are derived.

To compare the biomechanical properties of a high-tensile strength suture with the high-tensile strength tape for tendon graft fixation. Methods: A total of 24 porcine tendons were used and were randomly divided into 2 groups. Two kinds of suture materials, a braided nonabsorbable high-strength suture (group S) and a high-tensile strength tape (group T), were used to complete 3 pairs of Krackow stitches on the tendons. Each specimen was pretensioned to 100 N for 3 cycles, cyclically loaded from 50 to 200 N for 200 cycles, and finally loaded to failure. Elongation after cyclic loading, ultimate failure load, and the mode of failure were recorded. Results: The elongation after cyclic loading between group S (26% AE 5%) and group T (24% AE 5%) were not significantly different (P ¼ .378). The ultimate failure loads in group T (400 AE 38 N) were significantly greater than those in group S (358 AE 21 N) (P ¼ .010). All specimens failed because of suture material breakage. Conclusions: Compared with the braided nonabsorbable high-strength suture, the high-tensile strength tape had similar elongation values after cyclic loading, but significantly greater ultimate failure load in this porcine in vitro biomechanical model. Clinical Relevance: A secure suture-tendon construct is especially important when a post-tie fixation technique is used because the mitigating construct may potentially lead to graft loosening and affect graft healing.

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Background: Meningiomas have classically been considered to include benign and atypical/anaplastic tumors. Despite the availability of clinical and pathologic parameters for prognostic prediction prognosis, the behavior of each meningioma may be difficult to predict. Here, we used DNA flow-cytometric studies to predict biological tumor behaviors of intracranial meningiomas.Methods: The specimens were obtained from fresh tumoral tissues of 43 microsurgically resected meningiomas as approved by the institutional review board. The presence of G2/M-phase and S1G2/Mphase fractions were analyzed and correlated with the proliferation index of Ki-67 and the World Health Organization grading. The check point of G2/M-phase fraction, cyclin B, and pCdk1 (Y15), were analyzed by Western blotting.Results: Our results showed that there were significant differences in Ki-67, G2/M-phase, S1G2/Mphase fractions, and cyclin B between benign and atypical/anaplastic meningiomas. The optimal cutoff point of G2/M-phase and S1G2/M-phase fractions were 5.12 and 7.52%, respectively, and this can be used to discriminate those cases with benign or atypical/anaplastic meningiomas. Besides, both the G2/ M-phase and S1G2/M-phase fractions were correlated well with Ki-67 and the histopathological features such as focal necrosis, infiltration of dura mater and mitotic activity. In addition, the occurrence of tumor recurrence and patient age were correlated to the G2/M-phase and S1G2/M-phase fractions, respectively. The G2/M-phase and S1G2/M-phase fractions, however, did not correlate well with histologic invasion to adjacent bone, sinus, or brain tissues.Conclusions: The use of flow cytometry facilitates additional information for G2/M-phase and S1G2/Mphase fractions represent tumoral grading and risk of recurrence in patients with meningiomas. V C 2014

This study aimed to assess the impact of diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity on the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in T1D patients. Patients diagnosed with T1D between 1999 and 2013 were identified from patient-level data of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research database. A total of 1135 patients were included and classified into mild DR (n = 454), severe DR (n = 227), or non-DR (n = 454) by using propensity score matching. Multi-state model analyses, an extension of competing risk models with adjustment for transition-specific covariates for prediction of subsequent MACE and ESRD, were performed. MACE and ESRD risks were significantly higher in the severe DR patients; a 2.97-fold (1.73, 5.07) and 12.29-fold (6.50, 23.23) increase in the MACE risk among the severe DR patients compared to the mild DR and DR-free patients, respectively; and, a 5.91-fold (3.50, 9.99) and 82.31-fold (29.07, 233.04) greater ESRD risk of severe DR patients than that of the mild DR and DR-free groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Severity of DR was significantly associated with the late diabetes-related vascular events (i.e., MACE, ESRD) among T1D patients.