Gene Electrotransfer via Conductivity-Clamped Electric Field Focusing Pivots Sensori-Motor DNA Therapeutics: "A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down".

Viral vectors and lipofection-based gene therapies have dispersion-dependent transduction/transfection profiles that thwart precise targeting. The study describes the development of focused close-field gene electrotransfer (GET) technology, refining spatial control of gene expression. Integration of fluidics for precise delivery of "naked" plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in sucrose carrier within the focused electric field enables negative biasing of near-field conductivity ("conductivity-clamping"-CC), increasing the efficiency of plasma membrane molecular translocation.

Accuracy of low-field magnetic resonance imaging for differentiating intervertebral disc extrusions and protrusions at the lumbosacral disc space in dogs.

Introduction/purpose: MRI features differentiating extrusion from protrusion in thoracolumbar discs have been published, however little specifically evaluates the lumbosacral disc. The high prevalence of degenerative changes in apparently normal animals complicates assessment of this region and features relevant elsewhere in the spine may not apply. The aims of this study were to determine the accuracy of MRI in differentiating IVDE and IVDP at the lumbosacral disc space in dogs and determine which MRI characteristics discriminate between IVDE and IVDP.

Clinical utility of local over general anesthetic tonsillectomy using the BiZact™ device.

Purpose: Tonsillectomy under general anesthesia may be viewed preferentially to local anesthesia, due to mitigation of potential airway compromise secondary to intraoperative hemorrhage, patient discomfort and anxiety. However, this is offset by risk of increased trauma (via the endotracheal tube and gag), adverse medication reactions and cost. Here we evaluated the case for use of local anesthesia in tonsillectomy using the BiZact™ (Medtronic) device by comparing surgical outcomes and cost factors across patients where either local or general anesthesia was employed.

Audiological and Surgical Correlates of Myringoplasty Associated with Ethnography in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Introduction: This retrospective cohort study of myringoplasty performed at Tauranga Hospital, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand from 2010 to 2020 sought to identify predictive factors for successful myringoplasty with particular consideration given to the known high prevalence of middle ear conditions in New Zealand Māori.

Methods: Outcomes were surgical success (perforation closure at 1 month) and hearing improvement, which were correlated against demographic, pathological, and surgical variables.

Results: 174 patients underwent 221 procedures (139 in children under 18 years old), with 66.