XR4ED: An Extended Reality Platform for Education.

Recent developments in extended reality (XR) are already demonstrating the benefits of this technology in the educational sector. Unfortunately, educators may not be familiar with XR technology and may find it difficult to adopt this technology in their classrooms. This article presents the overall architecture and objectives of an EU-funded project dedicated to XR for education, called Extended Reality for Education (XR4ED).

Breast Cancer Patient's Outcomes after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery at 5 and 10 Years for Stage II-III Disease.

: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer offers the possibility to facilitate breast and axillary surgery; it is a test of chemosensibility in vivo with significant prognostic value and may be used to tailor adjuvant treatment according to the response. : A retrospective single-institution cohort of 482 stage II and III breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on anthracycline and taxans, plus antiHEr2 in Her2-positive cases, was studied. Survival was calculated at 5 and 10 years.

A pediatric patient with autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy using cannabinoid extracts as complementary therapy: a case report.

Background: The pharmacological treatment for autism spectrum disorders is often poorly tolerated and has traditionally targeted associated conditions, with limited benefit for the core social deficits. We describe the novel use of a cannabidiol-based extract that incidentally improved core social deficits and overall functioning in a patient with autism spectrum disorder, at a lower dose than has been previously reported in autism spectrum disorder.

Case Presentation: The parents of a 15-year-old boy, of South African descent, with autism spectrum disorder, selective mutism, anxiety, and controlled epilepsy, consulted a medical cannabis physician to trial cannabis extract to replace seizure medications.

Alexithymia in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ecuador.

Objective: We designed this study to determine the frequency of alexithymia in Ecuadorian patients with psoriasis, as well as possible associations between demographic factors, disease severity, and treatment adherence.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 99 Ecuadorian patients with psoriasis was conducted. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to ascertain whether age, gender, educational level, years with disease, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores, and treatment adherence categories are prediction factors in patients with psoriasis to present alexithymia, possible alexithymia or no alexithymia.

Invasive infections caused by Saprochaete capitata in patients with haematological malignancies: report of five cases and review of the antifungal therapy.

Background: Saprochaete capitata (formerly known as Geotrichum capitatum and Blastoschizomyces capitatus) is a ubiquitous fungus found in soil, water, air, plants and dairy products. It colonizes the skin, and bronchial and intestinal tract of healthy people producing serious opportunistic infections in patients with haematological malignancies, especially in those with acute leukaemia. Since 1960s its presence is being increasingly recognized in this group of patients.

Prevalence of Candida species in necrotic pulp with chronic periapical processes.

The aim of this study was to identify species of the genus Candida in mucosa of oral cavity and in single-rooted teeth with pulp necrosis with chronic endodontic periapical processes, with radiographic images 2+/-4 mm and without clinical symptomatology, in immunocompetent patients. The study included 82 immunocompetent patients of both sexes aged 18-70 years with a clinical dental diagnosis of septic pulp necrosis. Samples were taken from root canals with sterile # 25 paper points and from oral mucosa with a sterile swab.

Phosphoglycerate kinase and fructose bisphosphate aldolase of Candida albicans as new antigens recognized by human salivary IgA.

Background: Candida albicans is an opportunistic dimorphic fungus commonly present in the human oral cavity that causes infections in immunocompromised patients. The antigen variability, influenced by growth conditions, is a pathogenicity factor.

Aims: To determine the effect of nutritional and heat stress on the antigen expression of C.

Long-term onlay graft volume maintenance in aggressive periodontitis patients.

Treatment planning in the esthetic zone has classically presented some of the greatest challenges to the practitioner. The purpose of this article is to describe a staged, multidisciplinary approach and follow-up to a case of aggressive periodontitis. Microbial sampling for suspected periodontopathogens was taken before and after treatment.

Prospective study in critically ill non-neutropenic patients: diagnostic potential of (1,3)-β-D-glucan assay and circulating galactomannan for the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease.

Diagnosis of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in patients under intensive care is challenging. Circulating biomarkers, (1,3)-β-D-glucan (BG) and galactomannan (GM), were prospectively assessed in 98 critically ill patients at risk of IFD. There were 11 cases of invasive aspergillosis (IA; 4 proven and 7 probable), 9 cases of proven invasive candidiasis (IC), 1 case of mixed proven IC and probable IA, 1 case of proven zygomycosis, and 1 case of mixed mycelial proven IFD.

Periodontopathogen and Epstein-Barr virus contamination affects transplanted bone volume in sinus augmentation.

Background: Bone microbial contamination can impair osteogenesis. Human herpesviruses-associated vasculitis can cause vascular damage within the osseous graft and host. This study is conducted to substantiate specific contamination and assess the impact 6 months after sinus augmentation.

Fungicidal monoclonal antibody C7 interferes with iron acquisition in Candida albicans.

We have developed a monoclonal antibody (MAb), C7, that reacts with the Als3p and enolase present in the Candida albicans cell wall and exerts three anti-Candida activities: candidacidal activity and inhibition of both adhesion and filamentation. To investigate the mode of action of MAb C7 on fungal viability, we examined changes in the genome-wide gene expression profile of C. albicans grown in the presence of a subinhibitory concentration of MAb C7 (12.

Long-term block graft stability in thin periodontal biotype patients: a clinical and tomographic study.

Purpose: To assess the esthetic and functional outcome, as well as the volume maintenance, of autogenous block grafts placed in anterior sextants of thin periodontal biotype subjects over a long-term period.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients were followed up yearly for an average of 40 months after autogenous block grafting. Preoperative and postoperative cone beam computed tomographic scans were analyzed to evaluate bone volume maintenance around the implants placed in the grafted sites.

Clinical factors associated with a Candida albicans Germ Tube Antibody positive test in Intensive Care Unit patients.

Background: Poor outcomes of invasive candidiasis (IC) are associated with the difficulty in establishing the microbiological diagnosis at an early stage. New scores and laboratory tests have been developed in order to make an early therapeutic intervention in an attempt to reduce the high mortality associated with invasive fungal infections. Candida albicans IFA IgG has been recently commercialized for germ tube antibody detection (CAGTA).

[Spanish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (SEIMC) guidelines for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections. 2010 update].

These guidelines are an update of recommendations for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections by the Spanish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (SEIMC) published in 2004 (Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2004, 22:32-9). In this updated version of the guidelines, a comprehensive review of the most recent diagnostic innovations and levels of evidence to recommend those diagnostic procedures are included.

Bone microbial decontamination agents in osseous grafting: an in vitro study with fresh human explants.

Background: Establishing a safe prophylactic antimicrobial protocol in bone grafting may enhance osseous volume outcomes. The purpose of this in vitro study is to assess human osteoblast response and safety after explant antimicrobial exposure.

Methods: Fresh human bone explants were exposed to three antimicrobials: povidone-iodine (PovI; 0.

What makes Aspergillus fumigatus a successful pathogen? Genes and molecules involved in invasive aspergillosis.

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes 90% of invasive aspergillosis (IA) due to Aspergillus genus, with a 50-95% mortality rate. It has been postulated that certain virulence factors are characteristic of A. fumigatus, but the "non-classical" virulence factors seem to be highly variable.

A prospective comparison of galactomannan in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the diagnosis of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis in medical patients under intensive care: comparison with the diagnostic performance of galactomannan and of (1→ 3)-β-d-glucan chromogenic assay in serum samples.

Diagnosis of fungal pneumonia (FP) in critically ill patients is challenging. Circulating biomarkers for the diagnosis of FP have limitations and the combination of different assays in serum samples and directly from the target organ may further improve the diagnosis of FP. We prospectively assessed the diagnostic utility of paired galactomannan (GM) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and serum GM and (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BG) assays in critically ill patients at risk of FP.

Potential of anti-Candida antibodies in immunoprophylaxis.

The need for new options for the treatment of invasive candidiasis has fuelled the use of antibodies in combination with conventional antifungal therapy. After a long period of time in which antibodies were considered irrelevant in the resistance against invasive candidiasis, it was demonstrated that a number of antibodies or their engineered derivatives directed against Candida albicans cell-wall polysaccharides and glycopeptides, as well as against some protein epitopes, confer protection against invasive candidiasis. This has confirmed this approach as a new strategy for the prophylaxis of invasive candidiasis.

Clinical, tomographic, and histological assessment of periosteal guided bone regeneration with cortical perforations in advanced human critical size defects.

Background: Large osseous defects that fail to heal spontaneously require ridge augmentation prior to implant placement. The periosteum can act as an effective barrier membrane. Little is known about the influence of bone decortication in enhancing guided bone regeneration outcomes.

Human bone repair after mandibular symphysis block harvesting: a clinical and tomographic study.

Background: There are limited data on the healing potential of osseous defects in the human mandible. Animal model studies have shown that defect fill is size dependent.

Methods: Twenty patients who had autogenous block transplants harvested from the mandibular symphysis were included in the study.

The impact of oral contraceptives on women's periodontal health and the subgingival occurrence of aggressive periodontopathogens and Candida species.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the subgingival occurrence of specific periodontopathogens and the host's periodontal status.

Methods: Ninety-two females aged 19 to 40 years were included in the study. They were divided into two groups, OC users and non-users, and subgrouped according to the most severe periodontal condition and duration of OC usage.

Paradoxical growth of Candida dubliniensis does not preclude in vivo response to echinocandin therapy.

Candida dubliniensis commonly shows paradoxical or trailing growth effects in vitro in the presence of echinocandins. We tested the in vitro activities of anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin against clinical isolates of C. dubliniensis and evaluated the efficacy of these drugs in two murine models of systemic infection.