Manifestation of Rouse and Entanglement Dynamics in Non-Cross-Linked and Cross-Linked Polymers Studied by Field-Cycling and Multiple Quantum NMR.

Rubbers prepared from technical poly(butadiene) and natural poly(isoprene) are studied by field-cycling (FC) H NMR relaxometry to elucidate the changes of the relaxation spectrum. Starting with the non-cross-linked polymer successively cross-links are introduced via sulfur or peroxide vulcanization. Applying an advanced home-built relaxometer allows one to probe entanglement dynamics in addition to Rouse dynamics.

International expert consensus statement: surgical failure in obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Upper airway (UA) surgery is commonly employed in the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The intricate pathophysiology of OSA, variability in sites and patterns of UA collapse, and the interaction between anatomical and non-anatomical factors in individual patients may contribute to possible surgical failures. This clinical consensus statement aims to identify areas of agreement among a development group comprising international experts in OSA surgery, regarding the appropriate definition, predictive factors in patients, and management of surgical failure in OSA treatment.

Clinical Application of Pediatric Sleep Endoscopy: An International Survey.

Objectives: To investigate through an international survey the actual clinical application of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to clarify the use, application, clinical indications, and protocol of pediatric DISE.

Methods: A specific survey about pediatric DISE was initially developed by five international otolaryngologists with expertise in pediatric sleep apnea and drug-induced sleep endoscopy and was later spread to experts in the field of sleep apnea, members of different OSA-related associations.

Results: A total of 101 participants who answered all the survey questions were considered in the study.

Introducing "MEW2" Software: A Tool to Analyze MQ-NMR Experiments for Elastomers.

Low-field time-domain proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an attractive and powerful tool for studying the structure and dynamics of elastomers. The existence of crosslinks and other topological constraints in rubber matrices (entanglements and filler-rubber interactions, among others) renders the fast segmental fluctuations of the polymeric chains non-isotropic, obtaining nonzero residual dipolar couplings, which is the main observable of MQ-NMR experiments. A new software, Multiple quantum nuclear magnetic resonance analyzer for Elastomeric Networks v2 (MEW2), provides a new tool to facilitate the study of the molecular structure of elastomeric materials.

The effect of drug-induced sleep endoscopy on surgical outcomes for obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review.

Purpose: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is the most widespread diagnostic tool for upper-airway endoscopic evaluation of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, a consensus on the effectiveness of DISE on surgical outcomes is still lacking. This study aimed to quantify the effect of DISE on surgical outcomes and to compare DISE with awake examination using the Müller Maneuver (MM).

Care for Patients with Type-2 Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

In the last 20 years, growing interest in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has become evident in medical literature; nevertheless, it is still difficult to identify the real prevalence of the disease. Epidemiological studies are few and focused on heterogeneous populations and diagnostic methods. Recent research has contributed to identifying CRS as a disease characterized by heterogeneous clinical scenarios, high impact on quality of life, and elevated social costs.

3D 4K exoscope in snore surgery simulation: pre-clinical experience.

Purpose: The application of 3D exoscopic technology is spreading worldwide, in several surgical scenarios. In this study, we present the first-time use of the exoscopic system (VITOM® and Versacrane™) in a cadaver simulation of transoral Snore Surgery.

Methods: All participants (n = 14) were asked to perform 2 exercises that simulate tasks required in Snore Surgery, they were then administered a questionnaire assessing their evaluation of the applied exoscopic technology.

Shape-Memory Composites Based on Ionic Elastomers.

Shape-memory polymers tend to present rigid behavior at ambient temperature, being unable to deform in this state. To obtain soft shape-memory elastomers, composites based on a commercial rubber crosslinked by both ionic and covalent bonds were developed, as these materials do not lose their elastomeric behavior below their transition (or activation) temperature (using ionic transition for such a purpose). The introduction of fillers, such as carbon black and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), was studied and compared with the unfilled matrix.

Barbed pharyngoplasty for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: the surgical learning curve.

Background: Barbed snore surgery (BSS) was recently introduced for the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with optimistic clinical outcomes associated with a low complication rate. The purpose of the present study was to describe the surgical learning curve of the BSS to determine the effect of surgeon experience on surgical procedure time and complication rates.

Methods: Patients who underwent tonsillectomy with barbed lateral pharyngoplasty were divided in two different groups based on surgeon experience.

Obstructive sleep apnoea after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study is to focus attention on obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSHAS) as a sequela of non-surgical treatments of selected head and neck cancer (HNca), sharing our experience in drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that documents dynamic anatomical and functional alterations during sleep in irradiated OSAHS patients by DISE.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients affected by OSAHS referring to our department from January 2018 to December 2019 was carried out.

Use of real-world data to study health services utilisation and comorbidities in long-term breast cancer survivors (the SURBCAN study): study protocol for a longitudinal population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Breast cancer has become a chronic disease due to survival improvement and the need to monitor the side effects of treatment and the disease itself. The aim of the SURBCAN study is to describe comorbidity, healthcare services use and adherence to preventive recommendations in long-term breast cancer survivors and to compare them with those in women without this diagnosis in order to improve and adapt the care response to this group of survivors.

Methods And Analysis: Population-based retrospective cohort study using real-world data from cancer registries and linked electronic medical records in five Spanish regions.

Prospective multicentre study on barbed reposition pharyngoplasty standing alone or as a part of multilevel surgery for sleep apnoea.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate in a prospective multicentre study that Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty (BRP) procedure is safe and effective in management of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Multicentre study.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Obstructive Airway Adult Test for Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Rationale: The gold standard for the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is polysomnography, whose access is however reduced by costs and limited availability, so that additional diagnostic tests are needed.

Objectives: To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of the Obstructive Airway Adult Test (OAAT) compared to polysomnography for the diagnosis of OSA in adult patients.

Methods: Ninety patients affected by OSA verified with polysomnography (AHI ≥ 5) and ten healthy patients, randomly selected, were included and all were interviewed by one blind examiner with OAAT questions.

Barbed Roman blinds technique for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: how we do it?

Retro-palatal obstruction is often involved in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), which is currently treated by means of various surgical procedures. The aim of this paper is to describe our preliminary results using a new, minimally invasive and non-resective procedure called the "barbed Roman blinds technique" (BRBT), which was used to treat severe OSAS due to retro-palatal obstruction. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), time with <90 % O2 saturation, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) of 32 consecutive adult outpatients (mean age 47.

Barbed anterior pharyngoplasty: an evolution of anterior palatoplasty.

We present a new surgical technique for the treatment of snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. This is a modification of anterior palatoplasty, and its main features are the use of self-locking (barbed) threads and the possibility of stabilise the palatal suture by fixing it to anatomical bone and fibrous structures. The technique is described in detail and some preliminary results are presented.

Should we stop performing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is still one of the most frequently performed procedures for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in adults, with unsatisfactory results. In the era of the mini-invasive/conservative surgery, considering the increasing attention to the disregulation of the peripheral neuromuscular control of the upper airway contributing to pharyngeal collapse in OSAS, with the development of sophisticated treatments such as the neural stimulation of the upper-airway, which role should be reserved to a muscular resective procedure such as UPPP? Being aware of the uncertain results and the high postoperative morbidity of UPPP, we believe that we should re-evaluate the role of these procedures involving the resection of palatal/pharyngeal muscles and uvula.

Identification of obstructive sites and patterns in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome by sleep endoscopy in 614 patients.

The aim of this study was to analyze and report sites and patterns of obstruction observed during sleep endoscopy in a large group of patients and suggest consequent therapeutic prescriptions. 614 consecutive patients who approached the Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Sleep Disorders underwent sleep endoscopy. We used propofol to induce sleep, monitoring the value of bispectral index to evaluate the depth of sedation.

Promoting networks between evidence-based medicine and values-based medicine in continuing medical education.

Background: In recent years, medical practice has followed two different paradigms: evidence-based medicine (EBM) and values-based medicine (VBM). There is an urgent need to promote medical education that strengthens the relationship between these two paradigms. This work is designed to establish the foundations for a continuing medical education (CME) program aimed at encouraging the dialogue between EBM and VBM by determining the values relevant to everyday medical activities.

Videoendoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider.

After evaluating approaches proposed, over the last few years, by several Authors, to make the procedure of adenoidectomy safer and more accurate, we have developed a new procedure based on the combined use of a rigid 70 degrees endoscope with a video attachment and a microdebrider, both introduced through the oral cavity. This procedure offers several advantages: an improved field of vision, continuous suction of blood, and extreme precision in removing the adenoid tissue. Compared with current practices which employ the adenotome or curette, it is possible with our approach to remove adenoid tissue in the most important centres: the choanal and tubaric regions.

Identification of two E-boxes that negatively modulate the activity of MyoD on the alpha-sarcoglycan core promoter.

The alpha-SG promoter is composed of a plethora of cis-regulatory elements, whose individual contribution to alpha-SG gene expression modulation remains unknown. We have identified a negative regulatory element in the alpha-SG distal promoter including two conserved E-boxes (E1 and E2), which interact with MyoD. We found that E1 and E2 negatively modulate the transactivation potential of MyoD on the alpha-SG core promoter.

Characterization of mtDNA haplogroups in 14 Mexican indigenous populations.

In this descriptive study we investigated the genetic structure of 513 Mexican indigenous subjects grouped in 14 populations (Mixteca-Alta, Mixteca-Baja, Otomi, Purépecha, Tzeltal, Tarahumara, Huichol, Nahua-Atocpan, Nahua-Xochimilco, Nahua-Zitlala, Nahua-Chilacachapa, Nahua-Ixhuatlancillo, Nahua-Necoxtla, and Nahua-Coyolillo) based on mtDNA haplogroups. These communities are geographically and culturally isolated; parents and grandparents were born in the community. Our data show that 98.

WITHDRAWN: Identification of two E-boxes that negatively modulate the activity of MyoD on the alpha-sarcoglycan core promoter.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Biochem. Biophys. Acta, doi:10.