Pediatric Fibrous Dysplasia of the Skull Base: Update on Management and Treatment.

Background: Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is often difficult for skull base surgeons to address. FD arises due to the abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts, ultimately resulting in immature osseous tissue replacing normal cancellous bone. When the skull base is involved, it can result in cranial nerve compression.

Incidence and risk factors for rejection after conversion from calcineurin inhibitor to sirolimus-based immunosuppression in orthotopic heart transplant recipients.

Background: Although recommended in International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines, transition to mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in heart transplant recipients is not routinely performed, in part due to perceived risk of rejection. This study sought to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for biopsy-proven, clinically relevant rejection following conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to sirolimus (SRL) immunosuppression.

Methods: A single center retrospective study was conducted of all consecutive adult patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) and CNI-free SRL conversion from January 1999 to January 2023.

Intensive Asthma Therapy and Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate in the Emergency Department Management of Pediatric Asthma.

Objective: The aim of the stud is to determine whether intravenous magnesium sulfate (IVMg) is associated with hospitalization and time to albuterol every 4 hours in a cohort of children who received intensive asthma therapy (IAT) in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included children 2-18 years who received IAT, defined as 3 bronchodilators and corticosteroids within 60 minutes of ED triage, with or without IVMg in the ED between 2019 and 2021. Primary outcome was hospitalization and among hospitalized children, secondary outcome was time to albuterol every 4 hours.

Synergistic enhancement of hydrophobic dental adhesives: autonomous strengthening, polymerization kinetics, and hydrolytic resistance.

The leading cause of composite restoration failure is recurrent marginal decay. The margin between the composite and tooth is initially sealed by a low-viscosity adhesive, but chemical, physical, and mechanical stresses work synergistically and simultaneously to degrade the adhesive, destroying the interfacial seal and providing an ideal environment for bacteria to proliferate. Our group has been developing self-strengthening adhesives with improved chemical and mechanical characteristics.

Practical Considerations for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Use During Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

Patients undergoing liver transplantation infrequently require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. However, when ECMO is required in the peritransplant period, several key considerations are required to maximize the efficacy of its support and minimize the risks of complications. This review seeks to briefly summarize the existing data supporting the use of ECMO in liver transplant patients and offers expert technical and practical advice from the authors' high-volume liver transplant center and ECMO program.