Safety of An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol After Head and Neck Free Tissue Transfer.

Objectives: Implementing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols and decreasing length of stay (LOS) have become a priority for major surgeries, including microvascular free tissue transfer (MVFTT) reconstruction of the head and neck. We describe an ERAS protocol with the goal to further reduce length of stay beyond national medians.

Methods: Retrospective chart review between August 2016 and February 2023, including all patients who underwent MVFTT after oral cavity, skull base, salivary gland, and cutaneous ablative surgery.

A clinical microscopy dataset to develop a deep learning diagnostic test for urinary tract infection.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disorder. Its diagnosis can be made by microscopic examination of voided urine for markers of infection. This manual technique is technically difficult, time-consuming and prone to inter-observer errors.

Outcome Comparison of Functional Laryngectomy for the Dysfunctional Larynx to Salvage Laryngectomy.

Objective: To compare functional outcomes of total laryngectomy (TL) with microvascular free tissue transfer (MVFTT) reconstruction in the treatment of dysfunctional larynx (DL) versus salvage therapy for locally recurrent disease in patients with a history of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Retrospective review from a tertiary medical center between August 2015 and August 2022.

Results: Sixty-nine patients underwent TL with MVFTT following primary laryngeal radiation or chemoradiation; 15 (22%) patients underwent functional laryngectomy (FL) and 54 (78%) underwent a salvage laryngectomy (SL).

The clinical implications of bacterial pathogenesis and mucosal immunity in chronic urinary tract infection.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) exert a significant health and economic cost globally. Approximately one in four people with a previous history of UTI continue to develop recurrent or chronic infections. Research on UTI has primarily concentrated on pathogen behavior, with the focus gradually shifting to encompass the host immune response.

Safety of microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction of the head and neck in the setting of chronic pharmacologic immunosuppression.

Background: Patients on chronic pharmacologic immunosuppressive therapy are at increased risk of wound infection and complications after surgery. There is a paucity of data examining perioperative complications after microvascular free tissue transfer (MVFTT) reconstruction of the head and neck in this patient population.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study performed at two tertiary referral centers between August 2016 and May 2020.

A Parametric Study for Tensile Properties of Silicone Rubber Specimen Using the Bowden-Type Silicone Printer.

Silicone printing can enable a lot more accessibility and customizability towards utilizing silicone in different applications, including medicine for its biocompatibility. However, challenges existed for printing in specific geometries due to the lack of guidelines and studies on the mechanical properties. To support the understanding of printing three-dimensional silicone structure having different infill patterns and gel-like material, this paper conducted a parametric study for the specimens printed using a Bowden-type silicone printer and measurements of the tensile properties.

Mating-driven variability in olfactory local interneuron wiring.

Variations in neuronal connectivity occur widely in nervous systems from invertebrates to mammals. Yet, it is unclear how neuronal variability originates, to what extent and at what time scales it exists, and what functional consequences it might carry. To assess inter- and intraindividual neuronal variability, it would be ideal to analyze the same identified neuron across different brain hemispheres and individuals.

Inpatient Type 1 Thyroplasty Versus Injection Laryngoplasty for Vocal Fold Movement Impairment After Extent type I and II Aortic Repair.

Importance: Vocal fold motion impairment (VFMI) due to neuronal injury is a known complication following thoracic aortic repair that can impair pulmonary toilet function and post-operative recovery.

Objective: To demonstrate clinical outcomes of patients undergoing inpatient vocal fold medialization for VFMI after aortic surgery.

Design: A 15-year retrospective chart review (2005-2019) of 259 patients with postoperative VFMI after thoracic aortic surgery registry was conducted.

Adult presentation of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) associated with recent COVID-19 infection: lessons learnt in timely diagnosis and management.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is an uncommon and under-recognised postinfectious manifestation that presents 4-6 weeks after COVID-19 infection. Patients affected tend to be young or middle-aged, from ethnic minority backgrounds and previously healthy. In addition to high fever and myalgia, there are a myriad of extrapulmonary symptoms and signs, including cardiac, gastrointestinal, neurological and dermatological involvement.

Surgical Management of Postradiation, Dropped Head Spinal Deformity in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Dropped head syndrome is a morbid condition that affects daily functionality, causing pain and dysphagia and respiratory compromise. Reported causes of dropped head syndrome include neuromuscular disorders, iatrogenic from cervical spine surgery, and idiopathic and postradiation for head and neck cancers. Management of this spinal disorder remains challenging, as the complication rates are high.

Preparation and Characterization of Starch/Empty Fruit Bunch-Based Bioplastic Composites Reinforced with Epoxidized Oils.

This study examined the development of starch/oil palm empty fruit bunch-based bioplastic composites reinforced with either epoxidized palm oil (EPO) or epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), at various concentrations, in order to improve the mechanical and water-resistance properties of the bio-composites. The SEM micrographs showed that low content (0.75 wt%) of epoxidized oils (EOs), especially ESO, improved the compatibility of the composites, while high content (3 wt%) of EO induced many voids.

A Collagen-Based Scaffold for Promoting Neural Plasticity in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury.

In spinal cord injury (SCI) therapy, glial scarring formed by activated astrocytes is a primary problem that needs to be solved to enhance axonal regeneration. In this study, we developed and used a collagen scaffold for glial scar replacement to create an appropriate environment in an SCI rat model and determined whether neural plasticity can be manipulated using this approach. We used four experimental groups, as follows: SCI-collagen scaffold, SCI control, normal spinal cord-collagen scaffold, and normal control.

Free Flap Inset Techniques in Salvage Laryngopharyngectomy Repair: Impact on Fistula Formation and Function.

Objective: To characterize pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) rates and functional outcomes following microvascular free tissue transfer (MVFTT) reconstruction of salvage total laryngectomy (STL) with a review of two different flap inset techniques and a review of the literature.

Methods: Retrospective review.

Results: Review of the literature revealed 887 patients who underwent STL MVFTT from 14 references.

Recent advances in celluloses and their hybrids for stimuli-responsive drug delivery.

The limitations of existing drug delivery systems (DDS) such as non-specific bio-distribution and poor selectivity have led to the exploration of a variety of carrier platforms to facilitate highly desirable and efficient drug delivery. Stimuli-responsive DDS are one of the most versatile and innovative approach to steer the compounds to the intended sites by exploiting their responsiveness to a range of various triggers. Preparation of stimuli-responsive DDS using celluloses and their derivatives offer a remarkable advantage over conventional polymer materials.

Google searches and medical publication trends since the 2014 US Food and Drug Administration position on power morcellation: Do these translate into patient awareness?

Objectives: Our primary objective was to assess patient awareness by observing Google Trends comparing search terms used in relation to morcellation rather than morcellation alone. Our secondary objective was to review trends and locations of publications on leiomyosarcoma and morcellation following the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) position statement.

Study Design: To assess Internet trends, we obtained the relative search volume (RSV) for each month from 1 January 2004 to 1 March 2019 from Google Trends using the terms 'fibroid', 'morcellation', and 'fibroid cancer'.

Prognostic factors associated with achieving total oral diet following osteocutaneous microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction of the oral cavity.

Introduction: Osteocutaneous microvascular free tissue transfer (OMFTT) is the current standard in reconstruction of large bony defects of the oral cavity. Although being able to swallow ranks as a top priority for patients undergoing OMFTT, factors associated with achieving an oral diet following surgery remain unclear. We sought to describe the rate of total oral diet achievement, and to identify possible pre-, intra-, and post-operative factors associated with achievement in patients undergoing OMFTT.

Rethinking the Issue of Power Morcellation of Uterine Fibroids: Is Morcellation the Real Problem or Is this Another Symptom of Disparity in Healthcare Provision?

Power morcellation remains one of the most significant developments in minimal access surgery over the past decade, allowing many more patients to benefit from the least invasive surgical route. However, its use is not without controversy, particularly with regards to the risks of an undiagnosed leiomyosarcoma. Increased media and, in particular, on-going social media coverage since events in 2014 have only served to intensify the debate, culminating in the Food and Drug Administration essentially 'banning' its use in the USA.

Neurogenic bladder in an adolescent woman with an ovarian tumour: an unusual presentation of anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is rarely seen in women with ovarian teratoma. It is characterised by neuropsychiatric symptoms and may also cause autonomic imbalance. We present the case of a 16-year-old nulliparous woman who presented with an acute history of seizures and neurogenic bladder.

Delayed Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis in the Setting of Isolated Lingual Necrosis.

Background: Lingual necrosis is a rare complication of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: A 77-year-old woman presented for treatment of a painful and discolored tongue, odynophagia, and dehydration refractory to antimicrobials over 2 weeks. An extensive, well-demarcated necrotic area was visualized on the anterior tongue upon admission.

Interneuron Diversity: Toward a Better Understanding of Interneuron Development In the Olfactory System.

The olfactory system is an attractive model for exploring the wiring logic of complex neural circuits. Remarkably, olfactory local interneurons exhibit high diversity and variability in their morphologies and intrinsic properties. Although olfactory sensory and projection neurons have been extensively studied of development and wiring; the development, mechanisms for establishing diversity, and integration of olfactory local interneurons into the developing circuit remain largely undescribed.

Differential efficacy of genetically swapping GAL4.

Several large or mid-scale collections of enhancer traps have been recently created to allow for genetic swapping of GAL4 coding sequences to versatile transcription activators or suppressors such as LexA, QF, split-GAL4 (GAL4-AD and GAL4-DBD), GAL80 and QS. Yet a systematic analysis of the feasibility and reproducibility of these tools is lacking. Here we focused on InSITE drivers that specifically label different subpopulations of olfactory neurons, particularly local interneurons (LNs), and genetically swapped the GAL4 domain for LexA, GAL80 or QF at the same locus.

Correction to: Osteogenic prospective of deriving human dental stem cells in collagen matrix boost.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The country was incorrect in the authors affiliations. It should read as "ROC".