An Exposition on Surgical Experiences in Identification, Exposure, and Injuries of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) During Thyroid Operations: Gleanings, Narrative, and the Reflections.

Background: Identifying and preserving the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is of paramount importance during thyroid surgeries. Iatrogenic injuries to RLN (RLNI) are considered one of the most serious and feared complications of thyroidectomies. Surgically, there are four routes/approaches (lateral, inferior, superior, and medial) for localizing and identifying the RLN.

Contemporary Plural Deliberations and Perspectives in Revision Middle Ear Surgery. Causes, Outcomes and Lessons Learned.

The indications for revision middle ear surgery are inter-linked to the objectives of surgery and needs of the patient. Revision middle ear surgery is often challengingly arduous not only for the patient but for the surgeon as well. This study concentrates on the causes of failures of primary ear surgery, indications, techniques, outcomes and lessons learned in revision ear surgery.

Considerations on Ossicular Reconstruction Using Lenticular Prosthesis for the Necrosed Lenticular Process During Endoscopic Tympanoplasty in Chronic Otitis Media (Mucosal) Cases.

Unlabelled: : To evaluate hearing outcome and fate of LPIRP (lenticular process of incus replacement prosthesis) prosthesis in the reconstruction of erosion of long process of the incus. : In this retrospective descriptive study 17 patients with erosion of long process of incus who were operated (reconstructed with LPIRP prosthesis) between January 2015 to December 2017 in a tertiary care center were included. The hearing outcome was evaluated by comparing mean PTA and mean ABG preoperatively and postoperatively at the end of 3 months and 18 months.

An Exposition on Endoscopic Broad Palisade Cartilage Tympanoplasty: Procedural Illustrations and Connotations in Context of Audiological and Morphological Outcomes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate graft take up rate and hearing improvement in type I and type III endoscopic tympanoplasty using broad palisade cartilage graft and to compare the results with other studies who have used single piece cartilage as graft. This retrospective observational descriptive study was done in a tertiary care hospital. This study included 64 cases, who met the inclusion criteria, which were operated over 2 years and were followed for 3 years.

The Emerging Surgical Concepts and Principles of Attic and Postero-Superior Wall Reconstruction by Auricular Cartilage and Free Fibro-Periosteal Tissue in Middle Ear Surgery. An Exposition on Surgical Experiences, Observations and Mistakes.

In middle ear surgeries, addressing the pathologies (cholesteatoma, retractions or tympanosclerosis) in attic or postero-superior area, are associated with difficulties like reconstruction of attic and postero-superior canal wall after clearing the disease. There are various graft materials available for such attic reconstruction in intact canal -wall surgeries. We describe our experience of attic and postero-superior canal wall reconstruction in combined approach tympanoplasty (CAT) using free auricular cartilage and free fibro-periosteal tissue and to present our results in anatomical and functional perspectives.

Role of Pre Auricular Flap in Reconstruction of Acquired Meatal Stenosis Via Endaural Approach.

Acquired meatal stenosis is a difficult entity to treat with a significant recurrence rate. It is normally approached posteriorly via post aural approach and reconstructed using split thickness skin graft. We are presenting a novel method of surgery for acquired meatal stenosis using a pre auricular flap via endaural approach only.

Extra-Rhino Cerebral Manifestations of Mucormycosis in Head and Neck Region: An Insight.

Mucormycosis is a potentially life-threatening fungal infection with a high mortality rate. The difficulty and delay in diagnosis due to its rarity usually results in a poor prognosis. Most common site in head and neck region is the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Tragal Perichondrium and Composite Cartilage Graft Complimenting Endoscopic Tympanoplasty in True Sense: A Comparison.

Introduction: In days of scar less surgeries it has become necessary for otologists to concentrate on tympanoplasties without external incisions. This study compares the anatomical and functional results of tragal perichondrium graft and perichondrium-cartilage composite graft for transcanal endoscopic tympanoplasties in Himalayan region.

Methods And Materials: This prospective study included 60 subjects of chronic otitis media (mucosal type), who underwent transcanal endoscopic underlay type I tympanoplasty and were divided into two groups.

A Perspective of Clinical Behaviour and Management of Deep Neck Space Infections (DNSI): The Clinical Conundrum.

The diagnosis and management of deep neck space infections remain a challenging task for otolaryngologists. A retrospective observational analysis of 137 cases of deep neck infections at a tertiary care centre was reviewed. We present 137 treated cases of DNSIs in a retrospective 5 years clinical study conducted in the department of otolaryngology at a tertiary care center from January 2012 to December 2016.

Electrochemical performance of MXenes as K-ion battery anodes.

Herein, we report on the electrochemical performance of two-dimensional transition metal carbonitrides as novel promising electrode materials in K-ion batteries. Titanium carbonitride, TiCNT, was investigated in detail using electrochemical galvanostatic cycling at various current densities. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study the potassiation mechanism and its structural changes.

Binder-Free N- and O-Rich Carbon Nanofiber Anodes for Long Cycle Life K-Ion Batteries.

Carbon nanofibers produced by electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile polymer and subsequent carbonization were tested as freestanding potassium-ion anodes. The effect of oxygen functionalization on K-ion carbon anode performance was tested for the first time via plasma oxidation of prepared carbon nanofibers. The produced materials exhibited exceptional cycling stability through the amorphous carbon structuring and one-dimensional architecture accommodating significant material expansion upon K intercalation, resulting in a stable capacity of 170 mAh g after 1900 cycles at 1C rate for N-rich carbon nanofibers.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III Trial of Ipilimumab Versus Placebo in Asymptomatic or Minimally Symptomatic Patients With Metastatic Chemotherapy-Naive Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Purpose Ipilimumab increases antitumor T-cell responses by binding to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4. We evaluated treatment with ipilimumab in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer without visceral metastases. Patients and Methods In this multicenter, double-blind, phase III trial, patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to ipilimumab 10 mg/kg or placebo every 3 weeks for up to four doses.

Solution Combustion Synthesis of Nanoscale Materials.

Solution combustion is an exciting phenomenon, which involves propagation of self-sustained exothermic reactions along an aqueous or sol-gel media. This process allows for the synthesis of a variety of nanoscale materials, including oxides, metals, alloys, and sulfides. This Review focuses on the analysis of new approaches and results in the field of solution combustion synthesis (SCS) obtained during recent years.

Engineering surface hydrophobicity improves activity of Bacillus thermocatenulatus lipase 2 enzyme.

Bacillus thermocatenulatus lipase 2 (BTL2) is a promising industrial enzyme used in biodiesel production. Although BTL2 has high thermostability and good resistance to organic solvents, the activity of BTL2 is suboptimal for industrial processes. To improve BTL2 activity, we engineered BTL2 lipase by modulating hydrophobicity of its lid domain.

Lipase-catalyzed process for biodiesel production: protein engineering and lipase production.

Biodiesel is an environment-friendly and renewable fuel produced by transesterification of various feedstocks. Although the lipase-catalyzed biodiesel production has many advantages over the conventional alkali catalyzed process, its industrial applications have been limited by high-cost and low-stability of lipase enzymes. This review provides a general overview of the recent advances in lipase engineering, including both protein modification and production.

Apparatus for studies of high-temperature chemical reactions in single particle systems.

We report a compact microgravity flight apparatus for characterization of high-temperature chemical reactions in single particle systems. The apparatus employs an infrared CO(2) laser to ignite 1-5 mm samples while video images, thermocouple measurements, laser on/off status, and XYZ accelerometer signals are synchronously recorded. Different operating modes permit preignition quenching, ignition, and combustion experiments to be performed.