Publications by authors named "Alexandru M"

Hearing aids (HAs) have been used for standard high-frequency hearing loss and tinnitus, but their effects on speech intelligibility in noise (SIN) in people with normal hearing, including hidden hearing loss (HHL), have been little explored. We included in a prospective cohort study patients who experience poor SIN and have normal pure tone average in quiet conditions or slight HL. We used open-fit HAs.

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Article Synopsis
  • MitoNEET, an iron-sulphur protein in the mitochondrial outer membrane, is linked to the drug pioglitazone but its exact molecular function remains unclear.
  • Researchers identified a specific site for nitric oxide (NO) access to the mitoNEET's [2Fe-2S] cluster and found that both oxygen and pioglitazone can block this access.
  • This discovery suggests a role for mitoNEET in mitochondrial signal transduction related to hypoxia, revealing new insights into how [Fe-S] clusters may function in signaling processes in eukaryotic cells.
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Background: Treatment with short-acting betablockers in septic patients remains controversial. Two recent large multicenter trials have provided additional evidence on this therapeutic approach. We thus performed a meta-analysis, including the most recent data, to evaluate the potential impacts of treatment with short-acting betablockers on mortality in adult septic patients.

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Immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitor antibodies, have precipitated significant improvements in clinical outcomes for melanoma. However, approximately half of patients do not benefit from approved treatments. Additionally, apart from Tebentafusp, which is approved for the treatment of uveal melanoma, there is a lack of immunotherapies directly focused on melanoma cells.

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Two new cyanido-bridged {FeM} double chains were obtained by reacting cyanido anions [M(CN)] with complex cations [Fe(tptz)] (preformed by mixing a hydrated tetrafluoroborate salt of iron(II) and a tptz ligand, tptz = 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) having the general formula [Fe(tptz)M(CN)]·2HO·CHCN, where M = Pd (1) or Pt (2). Additionally, two molecular complexes formulated as [Fe(tptz)][M(CN)]·4.25HO, where M = Pd (3) or Pt (4), were subsequently obtained from the same reaction, as secondary products.

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Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is an umbrella term for a group of rare inherited skin disorders characterised by mucocutaneous fragility. Patients suffer from blisters and chronic wounds that arise spontaneously or following minor mechanical trauma, often resulting in inflammation, scarring and fibrosis due to poor healing. The recessive form of dystrophic EB (RDEB) has a particularly severe phenotype and is caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene, encoding the collagen VII protein, which is responsible for adhering the epidermis and dermis together.

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Background: Among all studies describing COVID-19 clinical features during the first wave of the pandemic, only a few retrospective studies have assessed the correlation between olfac-tory dysfunction (OD) and the evolution of disease severity. The main aim was to assess whether OD is a predictive factor of COVID-19 severity based on the patient's medical management (outpa-tient care, standard hospital admission, and ICU admission).

Methods: A national, prospective, mul-ticenter cohort study was conducted in 20 public hospitals and a public center for COVID-19 screen-ing.

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Introduction: Nearly all patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) report ear-nose-throat (ENT) symptoms. However, scarce evidence exists about how ENT symptoms relate to pulmonary disease in PCD. We explored possible associations between upper and lower respiratory disease among patients with PCD in a multicentre study.

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Objectives: To analyze the perception of endoscopic endonasal surgery training by French otolaryngology residents.

Material And Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted from March to April 2023. Otolaryngology residents from 7 French regions filled out a 27-item questionnaire on their training in endoscopic endonasal surgery.

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This study presents the synthesis and characterization of alginate-based nanocomposite peelable films, reinforced by carbon nanofibers (CNFs) decorated with nanoparticles that possess remarkable antimicrobial properties. These materials are suitable for immediate decontamination applications, being designed as fluid formulations that can be applied on contaminated surfaces, and subsequently, they can rapidly form a peelable film via divalent ion crosslinking and can be easily peeled and disposed of. Silver, copper, and zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using superficial oxidized carbon nanofibers (CNF-ox) as support.

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Background: There is no consensus on the role of surgery in the treatment of chronic rhinitis (CR). Should it be considered when nasal symptoms are not controlled by medical treatment? Various targets (turbinates and secretory nerves) and techniques (surgical, laser, cryotherapy, radiofrequency and phototherapy) have been reported, but benefit varies between reports. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate results of surgical and instrumental procedures in CR care.

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Purpose: Hearing rehabilitation through middle ear surgery can be challenging, particularly for patients with chronic otitis media, but new hearing devices offer opportunity to reach this goal. The aim was to compare hearing outcomes and quality of life in patients who were converted from a Baha Attract system to the Osia system.

Methods: Prospective observational study, in which each subject acted as their own control.

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In this study, novel materials have been obtained via a dual covalent and ionic crosslinking strategies, leading to the formation of a fully interpenetrated polymeric network with remarkable mechanical performances as drug delivery platforms for dermal patches. The polymeric network was obtained by the free-radical photopolymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone using tri(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether as crosslinker in the presence of sodium alginate (1%, weight%). The ionic crosslinking was achieved by the addition of Zn, ions which were coordinated by the alginate chains.

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Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by pulmonary, otological and sino-nasal manifestations. Well-defined clinical outcome measures are needed in such rare diseases research to improve follow-up and treatments. Pulmonary outcome measures have recently been described.

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Objectives: To assess the perception of environmental issues in head-and-neck surgery rooms and to compare the perception of priority environmental issues according to health professionals' age-group, initial training and role in the operating room.

Methods: A multicenter descriptive observational study was conducted in January 2023, contacting health professionals working in the operating rooms of 5 French centers. An anonymous online questionnaire explored the perception of environmental issues according to age, initial training and role in the operating room.

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Two new families of zinc/cobalt/aluminum-based pigments, with a unique composition, were obtained through the polyol method. The hydrolysis process of a mixture of Co(CHCOO), Zn(acac) and Al(acac) (acac = acetylacetonate ion) in 1,4-butanediol afforded dark blue gels (wPZnxCo1-xAl), in the presence of a supplementary amount of water, and light green powders (PZnxCo1-xAl), respectively, for the water-free procedure ( = 0, 0.2, 0.

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Skin infections are frequently treated via intravenous or oral administration of antibiotics, which can lead to serious adverse effects and may sometimes contribute to the proliferation of resistant bacterial strains. Skin represents a convenient pathway for delivering therapeutic compounds, ensured by the high number of blood vessels and amount of lymphatic fluids in the cutaneous tissues, which are systematically connected to the rest of the body. This study provides a novel, straightforward method to obtain nafcillin-loaded photocrosslinkable nanocomposite hydrogels and demonstrates their performance as drug carriers and antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria.

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Introduction: The introduction of biotherapies has significantly changed the management of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). These drugs are generally reserved for severe or recurrent CRSwNP. Thus, the concepts of severity of the disease and treatment response must be mastered by otorhinolaryngologists.

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Background: Sinonasal symptoms are a common feature of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD); however, literature about their severity and frequency, particularly during the life course, is scarce. Using baseline data from the Ear, nose and throat (ENT) Prospective International Cohort of PCD patients, we describe sinonasal disease in PCD.

Methods: We included participants who had a routine sinonasal examination during which they completed a symptoms questionnaire.

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Article Synopsis
  • Otologic disease is prevalent among individuals with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), but detailed information regarding its severity and characteristics is limited.
  • A study analyzed data from 397 participants across 12 specialized centers to assess the prevalence of ear-related symptoms and findings, revealing significant ear pain, discharge, and hearing issues, particularly in adults.
  • Key findings included a high prevalence of otitis media with effusion, frequent reports of hearing impairment, and identifying autumn as a major risk factor for increased ear inflammation.
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Previous research established age-related normal limits for children's heart rates (HRs). However, children of the same age can have significantly different HRs, depending on whether they are overweight or underweight, tall or short. Studies on children HR have failed to find a clear correlation between HR and body size.

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The aim of this study is the preparation of nanostructured copper(II) oxide-based materials (CuONPs) through a facile additive-free polyol procedure that consists of the hydrolysis of copper(II) acetate in 1,4-butane diol and its application in hydrogen peroxide sensing. The nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide determination was constructed by drop casting the CuONP sensing material on top of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified by a layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conducting polymer (PEDOT). The PEDOT layer was prepared on GCE using the sinusoidal voltage method.

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Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetical disease characterized by an abnormal structure or function of the cilia, causing sinusitis, otitis, and bronchiectasis. Hearing loss affects 60% of PCD patients, but data are lacking concerning hearing and temporal bone imaging in adults. Our aim was to describe clinical and radiological ear disease in adults with genetically confirmed PCD.

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