Effectiveness and safety of negative pressure wound therapy in patients with deep sternal wound infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a severe and life-threatening complication following cardiovascular surgery. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has emerged as a promising therapeutic bridging option for DSWI. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors aimed to evaluate the impact of NPWT on clinical outcomes in patients with DSWI.

A Physician-Centered Craniofacial Asymmetry Index for the Severity of Plagiocephaly: A Comparative Study of Assessment Methods.

Background: Plagiocephaly, wherein infants' head exhibits a diagonal asymmetry, is currently diagnosed based on physicians' subjective judgment. Discrepancies between physician and parent perspectives may result in dissatisfaction with treatment outcomes. This problem highlights the need for an objective assessment system aligning with physician-made clinical diagnoses.

Engineered, Radially Aligned, Gradient-Metformin-Eluting Nanofiber Dressings Accelerate Burn-Wound Healing.

Introduction: Deep, second- and third-degree burn injuries may lead to irreversible damage to the traumatized tissue and to coagulation or thrombosis of the microvessels, further compromising wound healing. Engineered, morphologically gradient drug-eluting nanofiber dressings promote wound healing by mimicking tissue structure and providing sustained drug delivery, which is particularly beneficial for wound management.

Methods: This study exploited a resorbable, radially aligned nanofiber dressing that provides the sustained gradient release of metformin at the wound site using a pin-ring electrospinning technique and a differential membrane-thickness approach.

Molecular Engineering of Virus Tropism.

Engineered viral vectors designed to deliver genetic material to specific targets offer significant potential for disease treatment, safer vaccine development, and the creation of novel biochemical research tools. Viral tropism, the specificity of a virus for infecting a particular host, is often modified in recombinant viruses to achieve precise delivery, minimize off-target effects, enhance transduction efficiency, and improve safety. Key factors influencing tropism include surface protein interactions between the virus and host-cell, the availability of host-cell machinery for viral replication, and the host immune response.

Injectable Glucose-Releasing Microgels Enhance the Survival and Therapeutic Potential of Transplanted MSCs Under Ischemic Conditions.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies show potential to treat ischemic diseases owing to their versatile functions. However, sustaining MSC viability and therapeutic efficacy in ischemic tissues postengraftment remains a significant challenge. This is because, although MSCs are metabolically flexible, they fail to adapt to hypoxic conditions in the absence of glucose, leading to cell death.

Polysaccharide-Containing Carboxymethyl Cellulose Bilayer Structure Membrane for Prevention of Postoperative Adhesion and Achilles Tendon Repair.

Postoperative tissue adhesion and poor tendon healing are major clinical problems associated with tendon surgery. To avoid postoperative adhesion and promote tendon healing, we developed and synthesized a membrane to wrap the surgical site after tendon suturing. The bilayer-structured porous membrane comprised an outer layer [1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether cross-linked with carboxymethyl cellulose (CX)] and an inner layer [1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether cross-linked with polysaccharides and carboxymethyl cellulose (CXB)].

α7 nicotinic receptor activation mitigates herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in microglia cells.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a neurotropic DNA virus, establishes latency in neural tissues, with reactivation causing severe consequences like encephalitis. Emerging evidence links HSV-1 infection to chronic neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia, the central nervous system's (CNS) immune sentinels, express diverse receptors, including α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChRs), critical for immune regulation.

Rehabilitation Program for Postlaryngectomy Patients Following Ileocolon Flap Transfer for Voice Reconstruction: An Essential Part of Success.

Background:  Speech restoration is important for communication and social activities after pharyngolaryngectomy in head and neck cancer or corrosive injury. Several techniques of voice restoration have been developed to improve life quality. The aim of this paper was to focus on the microsurgical transfer of ileocolon flap and outcome of further voice rehabilitation.

Supercharge end-to-side nerve transfer from anterior interosseous nerve to augment intrinsic recovery in high ulnar nerve injuries of varying magnitudes.

Background: High ulnar nerve injuries result in intrinsic muscle weakness and are inconvenient for patients. Moreover, conventional surgical techniques often fail to achieve satisfactory motor recovery. A potential reconstructive solution in the form of the supercharge end-to-side (SETS) anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) transfer method has emerged.

Assembly of Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexation Fibers with Mineralization Gradient for Physiologically-Inspired Ligament Regeneration.

Current synthetic grafts for ligament rupture repair often fail to integrate well with the surrounding biological tissue, leading to complications such as graft wear, fatigue, and subsequent re-rupture. To address this medical challenge, this study aims at advancing the development of a biological ligament through the integration of physiologically-inspired principles and tissue engineering strategies. In this study, interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC) spinning technique, along with a custom-designed collection system, to fabricate a hierarchical scaffold mimicking native ligament structure, is utilized.

The Transplantation of 3-Dimensional Spheroids of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Promotes Achilles Tendon Healing in Rabbits by Enhancing the Proliferation of Tenocytes and Suppressing M1 Macrophages.

Background: Tendons have limited regenerative potential, so healing of ruptured tendon tissue requires a prolonged period, and the prognosis is suboptimal. Although stem cell transplantation-based approaches show promise for accelerating tendon repair, the resultant therapeutic efficacy remains unsatisfactory.

Hypothesis: The transplantation of stem cells preassembled as 3-dimensional spheroids achieves a superior therapeutic outcome compared with the transplantation of single-cell suspensions.

Psychometric properties and structural validity of traditional Chinese version of the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire in intensive care unit patients without physical restraint.

Background: Sleep assessment in the intensive care unit (ICU) is difficult and often unreliable. The most commonly used questionnaire for assessing ICU sleep, the Richards-Campbell Sleep Scale (RCSQ), has not been tested for reliability and construct validity in the Mandarin-Taiwanese speaking population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to test the construct validity and criterion validity of the traditional Chinese version of RCSQ (TC-RCSQ) in critically ill patients without physical restraint.

APOBEC3G Is a p53-Dependent Restriction Factor in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection of Human Cells Included in the p53/Immune Axis.

Identifying and understanding genetic factors that influence the propagation of the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to health benefits and possibly augment recent vaccine approaches. We previously identified a p53/immune axis in which the tumor suppressor p53 directly regulates the expression of immune system genes, including the seven members of the APOBEC3 family of DNA cytidine deaminases (A3), which are innate immune sentinels against viral infections. Here, we examined the potential p53 and A3 influence in RSV infection, as well as the overall p53-dependent cellular and p53/immune axis responses to infection.

Predicting Union, Osteomyelitis, and Amputation Outcomes of Gustilo IIIC Open Tibial Fractures: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Open tibial fractures are frequently encountered in high-energy traumas and can result in significant complications such as nonunion, osteomyelitis, and even amputation. Among open tibial fractures, Gustilo type IIIC cases are particularly challenging due to the concomitant occurrence of neurovascular injuries and soft tissue defects. This study aimed to assess factors that affect union time and complications in Gustilo IIIC tibial fractures.

Stack versus Te Technique for Central Slip Reconstruction during Vascularized Toe Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Transfer.

Background: Significant extension deficit is a common problem after a vascularized toe proximal interphalangeal joint transfer. One of the main causes related to extensor lag is central slip deficiency of the donor toes. In their clinical practice, the authors performed both the Stack and Te techniques to reconstruct central slip function during a joint transfer.

Vascularized Toe Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Transfer in Posttraumatic Fingers: Analysis of Prognostic Factors for Suboptimal Outcomes.

Background: Posttraumatic finger osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) is a difficult problem. Over the past decade, we have reported several methods for improving the outcomes of vascularized toe joint transfer (VJT). In this study, we focused on determining poor prognostic factors which lead to a suboptimal outcome.

Endogenous and Therapeutic 25-Hydroxycholesterols May Worsen Early SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis in Mice.

Oxysterols (i.e., oxidized cholesterol species) have complex roles in biology.

Occlusion-Based Three-Dimensional Craniofacial Anthropometric and Symmetric Evaluation in Preadolescences: A Comparative COHORT Study.

Background: The importance of early diagnosis of pediatric malocclusion and early intervention has been emphasized. Without use of radiation, 3D imaging holds the potential to be an alternative for evaluating facial features in school-aged populations.

Methods: Students aged 9 and 10 years were recruited.

Preliminary Prospective Preoperative and Postoperative Evaluation of Median Nerve Stiffness by Using Sonoelastography.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. No previous studies have compared preoperative and follow-up sonoelastography results or investigated the correlation of median nerve stiffness with the subjective/objective outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the preoperative and postoperative elastography after carpal tunnel release and find the correlation with associated subjective/objective outcomes.

Neurectomy of the Nerve of Henle Associated with Periarterial Sympathectomy for Management of Intractable Raynaud Phenomenon.

Background: In periarterial sympathectomy for intractable Raynaud phenomenon, the extent of adventitectomy and postoperative outcomes and hand perfusion assessment tools remain debatable. The authors evaluated the outcome of neurectomy of the nerve of Henle combined with ulnar tunnel release and periarterial adventitectomy in the treatment of refractory Raynaud phenomenon using objective measurements and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: Nineteen patients with 20 affected hands were prospectively enrolled and underwent the proposed procedures from 2015 to 2021.

Complement C3 Enhances LPS-Elicited Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Via the Mac1/NOX2 Pathway.

Recent studies showed increased expression of complements in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. However, the mechanism regulating the expression of complements and their roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration are unclear. We hypothesized that acute neuroinflammation increases the expression and activation of brain complements, which, in turn, participate in chronic neuroinflammation and progressive neurodegeneration.

Lambda Repair: A Novel Repair Technique for Chronic Boutonnière Deformity.

Correction of a boutonnière deformity is one of the most demanding challenges in hand surgery. Surgical interventions are usually considered when functional use of the finger cannot be obtained after intense hand therapy. The authors introduce their newly described lambda (λ) repair, which is an easy-to-learn, straightforward surgical technique.