Effect of Different Cantilever Lengths in Polyether Ether Ketone Prosthetic Framework in All-on-Four Technique on Stress Distribution: A Three-Dimensional (3D) Finite Element Analysis.

Background: Determining the distal cantilever length in All-on-Four (All-on-4) implant-supported prostheses is a major factor in the long-term success of these prostheses. The difference in mechanical properties of materials used in the fabrication of these prostheses, such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), may have an impact on the determination of the cantilever length that best distributes stress.

Aim: To study the distribution of stress in All-on-4 mandibular prostheses in the bone, implants, and framework according to difference cantilever length in PEEK prosthetic framework using three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Assessing the kinetics of oxygen-unloading from red cells using FlowScore, a flow-cytometric proxy of the functional quality of blood.

Background: Metrics evaluating the functional quality of red blood cells (RBCs) must consider their role in oxygen delivery. Whereas oxygen-carrying capacity is routinely reported using haemoglobin assays, the rate of oxygen exchange is not measured, yet also important for tissue oxygenation. Since oxygen-unloading depends on the diffusion pathlength inside RBCs, cell geometry offers a plausible surrogate.

Bacteriuria and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing in 45 min by point-of-care Sysmex PA-100 System: first clinical evaluation.

Purpose: This study compared the results of the new Sysmex PA-100 AST System, a point-of-care analyser, with routine microbiology for the detection of urinary tract infections (UTI) and performance of antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) directly from urine.

Methods: Native urine samples from 278 female patients with suspected uncomplicated UTI were tested in the Sysmex PA-100 and with reference methods of routine microbiology: urine culture for bacteriuria and disc diffusion for AST.

Results: The analyser delivered bacteriuria results in 15 min and AST results within 45 min.

Performance evaluation of the new Sysmex XR-Series haematology analyser.

Background: The new XR-Series haematology analyser from Sysmex provides increased throughput and automation, along with a new reagent in WDF channel for optimised WBC differential.

Methods: An analytical performance study for the XR analyser was conducted to evaluate the WDF channel parameters in comparison to the instrument specifications. Additionally, 7460 samples were measured on XR and XN analysers to compare selected parameters and flags, and 930 randomly selected samples were further evaluated with microscopy.

Automated measurement of malaria parasitaemia among asymptomatic blood donors in Malawi using the Sysmex XN-31 analyser: could such data be used to complement national malaria surveillance in real time?

Background: The recent worldwide increase in malaria cases highlights the need for renewed efforts to eliminate malaria. The World Health Organization advocates that malaria surveillance becomes a core intervention. Current methods to estimate the malaria burden rely on clinical malaria case reports and surveys of asymptomatic parasite infection mainly from children  < 5 years.

Rehabilitation of ectodermal dysplasia patient with a telescopic denture in the maxilla and mandibular implant assisted overdenture: A case report.

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is a heritable disease, characterized by hypodontia, hypotrichosis, and anhidrosis. This clinical report demonstrates prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient complaining of impaired mastication and the odd appearance of her jaws. Maxillary telescopic overdenture and implant-supported mandibular prostheses were fabricated to improve mastication, speech, and esthetics of the patient.

A novel haemocytometric COVID-19 prognostic score developed and validated in an observational multicentre European hospital-based study.

COVID-19 induces haemocytometric changes. Complete blood count changes, including new cell activation parameters, from 982 confirmed COVID-19 adult patients from 11 European hospitals were retrospectively analysed for distinctive patterns based on age, gender, clinical severity, symptom duration, and hospital days. The observed haemocytometric patterns formed the basis to develop a multi-haemocytometric-parameter prognostic score to predict, during the first three days after presentation, which patients will recover without ventilation or deteriorate within a two-week timeframe, needing intensive care or with fatal outcome.

Residual red cells in blood components: A multisite study of fully automated enumeration using a hematology analyzer.

Background: Manufacture of platelet concentrates (PCs) and plasma may fail to remove all residual red blood cells (rRBCs). Measuring rRBCs for compliance to guidelines has proven challenging, leading to an absence of a consensus methodology. Sysmex hematology analyzers with the Blood Bank mode (BB mode) analysis option offer the potential for automated rRBC counting.

The use of a hematology analyzer with a new generation of software as an alternative to flow cytometry for enumerating residual white blood cells in blood components.

Background: Leukoreduction of blood components was implemented to reduce transfusion-associated risks. The detection level for residual white blood cells (rWBCs) required to demonstrate leukoreduction was originally considered too low for hematology analyzers. Developments enabling cell counts in body fluids have, however, renewed interest in rWBC counting.

Therapeutic combination of radiolabeled CLR1404 with external beam radiation in head and neck cancer model systems.

Background And Purpose: CLR1404 is a phospholipid ether that exhibits selective uptake and retention in malignant tissues. Radiolabeled CLR1404 enables tumor-specific positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging ((124)I) and targeted delivery of ionizing radiation ((131)I). Here we describe the first preclinical studies of this diapeutic molecule in head and neck cancer (HNC) models.

"Aged sample" software on automated routine hematology analyzer enables differentiation between pathological and non-pathological WBC flagging in aging samples.

Background: Storing K(x)EDTA-conjugated blood samples at room temperature or under insufficient cooling conditions results in various morphological changes such as swelling of the blood cells. These changes are reproducible and have already been described well. However, they can lead to incorrect flagging when using automated hematology analyzers for complete blood counts and white blood cell differentials.

Sym004, a novel anti-EGFR antibody mixture, augments radiation response in human lung and head and neck cancers.

Sym004 represents a novel EGF receptor (EGFR)-targeting approach comprising a mixture of two anti-EGFR antibodies directed against distinct epitopes of EGFR. In contrast with single anti-EGFR antibodies, Sym004 induces rapid and highly efficient degradation of EGFR. In the current study, we examine the capacity of Sym004 to augment radiation response in lung cancer and head and neck cancer model systems.

Inactivation of HNSCC cells by 90Y-labeled cetuximab strictly depends on the number of induced DNA double-strand breaks.

Unlabelled: Radioimmunotherapy is considered to have great potential for efficient and highly specific treatment of tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of radioimmunotherapy when using (90)Y-labeled cetuximab and to determine to what degree induction and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are decisive for this approach.

Methods: This study was performed with 9 cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) differing strongly in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression.

Dual targeting of EGFR and HER3 with MEHD7945A overcomes acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors and radiation.

EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibition is efficacious in cancer therapy, but initially sensitive tumors often develop resistance. In this study, we investigated the potential to overcome acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors with MEHD7945A, a monoclonal antibody that dually targets EGFR and HER3 (ErbB3). In cancer cells resistant to cetuximab and erlotinib, we found that MEHD7945A, but not single target EGFR inhibitors, could inhibit tumor growth and cell-cycle progression in parallel with EGFR/HER3 signaling pathway modulation.

Cellular and tumor radiosensitivity is correlated to epidermal growth factor receptor protein expression level in tumors without EGFR amplification.

Purpose: There is conflicting evidence for whether the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in human tumors can be used as a marker of radioresponse. Therefore, this association was studied in a systematic manner using squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines grown as cell cultures and xenografts.

Methods And Materials: The study was performed with 24 tumor cell lines of different tumor types, including 10 SCC lines, which were also investigated as xenografts on nude mice.

The epidermal growth factor receptor modulates DNA double-strand break repair by regulating non-homologous end-joining.

In mammalian cells repair of radiation-induced DNA damage appears to be also controlled by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with a special impact on DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Aim of this study was to demonstrate this interaction between EGFR signalling and DNA DSB repair and to identify the underlying downstream pathways. We especially wanted to know in how far non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) as the most important DSB repair pathway is involved in this interaction.

Late sequelae of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Seven patients with late sequelae of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) are described. All seven had significant chronic symptoms from asthma. At the time of diagnosis of ABPA all patients had marked irreversible pulmonary function abnormalities; symptoms of chronic bronchitis were present in all.

Significance of tartrazine sensitivity in chronic urticaria of unknown etiology.

Of 38 patients with chronic urticaria of unknown etiology who were evaluated for food and drug additive sensitivity, 53% (20/38) had urticaria for 1 yr or more. Total eosinophil counts were not elevated in most patients, and the frequency of atopy was found to be similar to that in a general population. Of these 38 patients, 10 (26%) had a personal history of aspirin intolerance, but elimination of aspirin did not relieve the urticaria.