Wearing face masks as a potential source for inhalation and oral uptake of inanimate toxins - A scoping review.

Background: From 2020 to 2023 many people around the world were forced to wear masks for large proportions of the day based on mandates and laws. We aimed to study the potential of face masks for the content and release of inanimate toxins.

Methods: A scoping review of 1003 studies was performed (database search in PubMed/MEDLINE, qualitative and quantitative evaluation).

Physio-metabolic and clinical consequences of wearing face masks-Systematic review with meta-analysis and comprehensive evaluation.

Background: As face masks became mandatory in most countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse effects require substantiated investigation.

Methods: A systematic review of 2,168 studies on adverse medical mask effects yielded 54 publications for synthesis and 37 studies for meta-analysis (on = 8,641, = 2,482, = 6,159, age = 34.8 ± 12.

Possible toxicity of chronic carbon dioxide exposure associated with face mask use, particularly in pregnant women, children and adolescents - A scoping review.

Introduction: During the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic, face masks have become one of the most important ubiquitous factors affecting human breathing. It increases the resistance and dead space volume leading to a re-breathing of CO. So far, this phenomenon and possible implications on early life has not been evaluated in depth.

Characterization in respect to degradation of titanium-coated polypropylene surgical mesh explanted from humans.

Titanium-coated polypropylene (Ti-PP) mesh was introduced in 2002 as a surgical mesh for the treatment of hernias and shortly after for pelvic floor surgery, with the aim of improving biocompatibility when compared to non-titanised/regular PP mesh implants. The application of a titanium coating could also be beneficial to address concerns regarding the exposure of PP in an in vivo environment. Many studies have shown that PP, although it is widely accepted as a stable polymer, is subject to oxidation and degradation, such degradation affects the mechanical behavior, that is, the stiffness and tensile strength of PP mesh.

Influence of polypropylene mesh degradation on tissue inflammatory reaction.

Polypropylene degradation in vivo appears as mesh surface cracking and peeling. This aging process of the mesh, resulting in the lack of bio-stability, contradicts the requirement of biocompatibility. However, to date, it is still not clearly established how much this mesh degradation influences the local tissue response with subsequent clinical consequences.

Mechanical ileus of the small bowel due to an inflamed Meckel's diverticulum with an enterolith - a case report with literature review.

Background: Meckel's diverticula result from incomplete obliteration and regression of the omphaloenteric duct and are the most common congenital intestinal malformations. Many Meckel's diverticula remain asymptomatic and are discovered as incidental findings. They present a diagnostic challenge.

Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?

Many countries introduced the requirement to wear masks in public spaces for containing SARS-CoV-2 making it commonplace in 2020. Up until now, there has been no comprehensive investigation as to the adverse health effects masks can cause. The aim was to find, test, evaluate and compile scientifically proven related side effects of wearing masks.

Degradation resistance of PVDF mesh in vivo in comparison to PP mesh.

Mesh implant has been applied in hernia repair and urogynecological reconstruction. Polypropylene (PP) is now the most widely used material for non-resorbable mesh implants. A degradation phenomenon of PP mesh, which is apparent on the mesh surface as cracking, flaking and peeling, was discovered in the 1990's.

Histological and SEM Assessment of Blood Stasis in Kidney Blood Vessels after Repeated Intra-Arterial Application of Radiographic Contrast Media.

Background: After application of iodinated contrast media (CM), a pronounced deterioration of the microcirculation in skin and myocardium was reported. Clinically, the repeated application of CM, especially, led to an increase of the renal resistance index (RRI). With respect to the transiency of the RRI increase, it is reasonable to assume that the deterioration of blood flow could be due to transient blood stasis caused by reversible morphologic cell alterations due to osmotic discrepancies between CM and human blood.

CD68+ macrophages as crucial components of the foreign body reaction demonstrate an unconventional pattern of functional markers quantified by analysis with double fluorescence staining.

Implants like meshes for the reinforcement of tissues implement the formation of a persistent inflammation with an ambient fibrotic reaction. In the inflammatory infiltrate several distinct cell types have been identified, but CD68+ macrophages are supposed to be most important. To investigate the collaboration among the various cell types within the infiltrate we performed at explanted meshes from humans double fluorescence staining with CD68 as a constant marker and a variety of other antibodies as the second marker.

Mesh implants for hernia repair: an update.

Introduction: Today the use of textile meshes has become a standard for the treatment of abdominal wall hernias and for the reinforcement of any tissue repair as the strength of the implant decreases the recurrence rates. With increasing use, side effects of the textile implants became apparent, as well.

Areas Covered: Based on publications in Medline over the past decade, general and specific benefits, as well as risks, are discussed with the challenge to define individual risk-benefit ratios.

Concomitant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Hairy Cell Leukemia in a Patient Harboring BRAF-V600E Mutation in Both Tissues: A Case Report.

The BRAF-V600E mutation has been established as a signature alteration occurring almost universally in hairy cell leukemia. Moreover, it can be detected in a small percentage of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We report the case of a patient with a metastatic BRAF-V600E-mutated lung adenocarcinoma suffering from concomitant hairy cell leukemia.

Isolated Splenic Metastasis from Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Metastases to the spleen are rare but have been reported for different tumor entities, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and melanoma. As an isolated event, splenic metastasis from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is exceedingly rare. Until now, only 28 cases have been reported in the medical literature.

Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of the spleen mimicking metastasis of melanoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation is a benign disorder of splenic tissue and is often mistaken as a potentially malignant entity in the diagnostic process. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation mimicking metastasis of melanoma in the literature.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old white man presented with a newly found splenic mass 4 years ago to our Department of Gastroenterology.

Cross-linked xenogenic collagen implantation in the sheep model for vaginal surgery.

The properties of meshes used in reconstructive surgery affect the host response and biomechanical characteristics of the grafted tissue. Whereas durable synthetics induce a chronic inflammation, biological grafts are usually considered as more biocompatible. The location of implantation is another determinant of the host response: the vagina is a different environment with specific function and anatomy.

Distribution of MED12 mutations in fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumors of the breast--implications for tumor biology and pathological diagnosis.

Somatic mutations in exon 2 of MED12 have been described in benign and malignant smooth muscle cell tumors suggesting a functional role in these neoplasms. Recently fibroadenomas of the breast were also reported to harbor MED12 mutations. Hence, we explored MED12 mutations in fibroepithelial tumors of the breast, histological subtypes of fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumors, to validate and extend previous efforts.

Host reaction to vaginally inserted collagen containing polypropylene implants in sheep.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the effect of vaginal or abdominal mesh insertion and of different collagen augmentation of polypropylene mesh in a sheep model. Outcome measures were passive and active biomechanical properties and semiquantitative morphometry.

Study Design: Forty-two Texel sheep were used: 6 were nonimplanted controls (n = 6), the rest were implanted with polypropylene mesh (n = 12; Avaulta Solo; Bard Medical, Covington, GA) or collagen-coated meshes: Avaulta Plus (n = 12; Bard Medical) and Ugytex (n = 12; Sofradim International, Trevoux, France).

Coating of mesh grafts for prolapse and urinary incontinence repair with autologous plasma: exploration stage of a surgical innovation.

Purpose: Optimized biocompatibility is a major requirement for alloplastic materials currently applied for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair. In the preliminary studies the mesh modification by coating with autologous plasma resulted in the increased adherence score in vitro and improved biocompatibility in an animal model. The first use of plasma coated meshes in human is presented.

Inflammatory reaction as determinant of foreign body reaction is an early and susceptible event after mesh implantation.

Purpose: To investigate and relate the ultrashort-term and long-term courses of determinants for foreign body reaction as biocompatibility predictors for meshes in an animal model.

Materials And Methods: Three different meshes (TVT, UltraPro, and PVDF) were implanted in sheep. Native and plasma coated meshes were placed bilaterally: (a) interaperitoneally, (b) as fascia onlay, and (c) as muscle onlay (fascia sublay).

Localized retroperitoneal Castleman's disease: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Castleman's disease, also known as angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, is a rare disease with two known expansion types, unicentric and multicentric, which play a major role in determining therapy. We focus here on the unicentric type, which can be treated and cured by surgery. To date, approximately 1000 cases of Castleman's disease have been reported in the literature.

Coating with autologous plasma improves biocompatibility of mesh grafts in vitro: development stage of a surgical innovation.

Purpose: To investigate mesh coating modalities with autologous blood components in a recently developed in vitro test system for biocompatibility assessment of alloplastic materials.

Materials And Methods: Seven different mesh types, currently used in various indications, were randomly investigated. Meshes were coated prior to cultivation with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), platelets, and blood plasma.

'The ideal mesh?'.

Currently, more than 200 different textile constructions, so-called 'meshes', are available for use world-wide in the more than 20 million operations performed annually for the reinforcement of tissues. As any reintervention at the mesh-tissue compound is a surgical challenge, sometimes resulting in almost untreatable defects, huge efforts are being made to improve the biological and functional performance of the meshes. Based on numerous experimental and clinical studies in the past 20 years, our understanding of them has improved markedly.

IDEAL in meshes for prolapse, urinary incontinence, and hernia repair.

Purpose: Mesh surgeries are counted among the most frequently applied surgical procedures. Despite global spread of mesh applying surgeries, there is no current systematic analysis of incidence and possible prevention of adverse events after mesh implantation.

Materials And Methods: Based on the recommendations of IDEAL an in vitro test system for biocompatibility of surgical meshes has been generated (Innovation).