A New Approach for Orbital Wall Reconstruction in a Rabbit Animal Model Using a Hybrid Hydroxyapatite-Collagen-Based Implant.

Reconstructing the orbit following complex craniofacial fractures presents significant challenges. Throughout the years, several materials have been used for orbital reconstruction, taking into account factors such as their durability, compatibility with living tissue, cost efficiency, safety, and capacity to be adjusted during surgery. Nevertheless, a consensus has not yet been reached on the optimal material for orbital restoration.

Lipoprotein (a): Underrecognized Risk with a Promising Future.

Lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) is a lipid biomarker that binds cholesterol and bears independent cardiovascular risk. Strategies to lower the level of Lp(a) and mitigate such risk are important both for primary and secondary prevention. Currently there are no approved therapies targeting Lp(a) directly.

Lipoprotein (a) testing patterns among subjects with a measured lipid panel: The Mayo Clinic experience.

Objective: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has been associated with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). Approximately 20 % of the population has elevated Lp(a). Despite its well-recognized role in ASCVD, universal screening remains controversial.

Odontogenic Orbital Cellulitis at the Crossroads of Surgeries: Multidisciplinary Management and Review.

This article examines two cases of odontogenic orbital cellulitis, highlighting the complexities and interdisciplinary approaches required for effective management. We present two cases and describe the clinical challenges and treatment strategies employed. We report the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients who developed orbital cellulitis as a complication of an odontogenic infection.

Association of cardiac biomarkers with long-term cardiovascular events in a community cohort.

Materials And Methods: The study assessed major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous intervention, stroke, and death. Cox proportional hazards models assessed apolipoprotein AI (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), ceramide score, cystatin C, galectin-3 (Gal3), LDL-C, Non-HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC), N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (HscTnI) and soluble interleukin 1 receptor-like 1. In adjusted models, Ceramide score was defined by from N-palmitoyl-sphingosine [Cer(16:0)], N-stearoyl-sphingosine [Cer(18:0)], N-nervonoyl-sphingosine [Cer(24:1)] and N-lignoceroyl-sphingosine [Cer(24:0)].

Titanium Implants Coated with Hydroxyapatite Used in Orbital Wall Reconstruction-A Literature Review.

With the increasing incidences of orbital wall injuries, effective reconstruction materials and techniques are imperative for optimal clinical outcomes. In this literature review, we delve into the efficacy and potential advantages of using titanium implants coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite for the reconstruction of the orbital wall. Titanium implants, recognized for their durability and mechanical strength, when combined with the osteoconductive properties of hydroxyapatite, present a potentially synergistic solution.

Nanocellulose Sponges Containing Antibacterial Basil Extract.

Nanocellulose (NC) is a valuable material in tissue engineering, wound dressing, and drug delivery, but its lack of antimicrobial activity is a major drawback for these applications. In this work, basil ethanolic extract (BE) and basil seed mucilage (BSM) were used to endow nanocellulose with antibacterial activity. NC/BE and NC/BE/BSM sponges were obtained from nanocellulose suspensions and different amounts of BE and BSM after freeze-drying.

Uncommon association between vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and ocular complications.

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) represent a group of rare inherited disorders that affect connective tissues. There are 13 types of disease, most of them affecting joints or skin; symptoms usually include loose joints, joint pain, stretchy velvety skin, abnormal scar formation. However, the most serious type of disease is vascular EDS (vEDS), or EDS type 4 because patients may suffer vessels dissections or internal organs lesions, followed by bleeding, which endangers patient's life, but also thromboembolic events.

Highlights on Genetic Polymorphism Associated with Thromboembolic Risk; Implications in Ophthalmic and Autoimmune Disorders-A Review.

The present paper explores genetic polymorphism and its association with thromboembolic retinal venous disorders, such as central/hemi-retinal vein occlusion, as well as possible correlations with other ocular findings, such as closed angle glaucoma, but also with autoimmune general disorders. In this review, we are highlighting the importance of establishing a correspondence between all of the above, since they all have complex etiopathogeneses; sometimes, when all coexist together, they could generate effects that may be very difficult to manage. There are studies supporting that genetic polymorphism, such as the variant MTHFR A1298C, may increase the risk for developing glaucoma, especially in the heterozygote model.

Are We Facing a Radical Change in the Migration Behavior of Medical Graduates from Less Developed Countries? Demographic Profile vs. Social Push Factors.

The phenomenon of migration among medical personnel from less developed countries is a large one, with negative effects on the origin country, but more worrying is graduates' propensity to migrate during or immediately after university studies. The analysis of the labor market in the health sector from the last two decades shows us greater attractiveness of employment in (more) economically developed states compared to the demand from the health sector in graduates' origin countries. This research's purpose is to identify the determinants of the propensity to study and work abroad of medical students as a defined factor for better employment, and to identify the push factors in the origin country.

Opposite Roles of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers and Foaming Agent in Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Based Materials.

In this work, an economically feasible procedure was employed to produce poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)-based foams. Thermally expandable microspheres (TESs) were used as a blowing agent, while bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers served both as a reinforcing agent and as a means of improving biocompatibility. PHBV was plasticized with acetyltributylcitrate to reduce the processing temperature and ensure the maximum efficiency of the TES agent.

Do Smart Cities Represent the Key to Urban Resilience? Rethinking Urban Resilience.

The pandemic disrupted all activities, so it became necessary to understand, but also rethink, the complexity of economic resilience to better deal with future shocks. A component that can signal the resilience potential of a socio-economic system is smart city response, using technology to make services more efficient. This paper aims to analyze the relationship between smart cities and urban resilience to determine whether urban resilience is significantly influenced by urban smartness.

HT-29 Colon Cancer Cell Electromanipulation and Assessment Based on Their Electrical Properties.

This study proposes a feasible approach for the rapid, sensitive, and label-free identification of cancerous cells based on dielectrophoretic (DEP) manipulation and electrical characterization. In this method, the concentration of target cells at the level of customized microelectrodes via DEP is first determined, followed by an electrical impedance evaluation. The study demonstrates the capacity of the methodology to electrically differentiate HT-29 cancer cells from healthy blood cells based on their impedance spectra.

The energy transition in Europe-a solution for net zero carbon?

Climate change has generated intense concerns from public authorities and international institutions with regard to shaping the behavior of companies, consumers, investors, and other stakeholders so as to manage this challenge as efficiently as possible. In order to address the climate emergency in the post-pandemic era, recovery plans need to trigger decarbonization, and a green transition, including specific investments and providing a more adaptive structure of the sources of energy in different regions, able to meet the need for a systemic shift towards a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. The main measurable effect of energy production and consumption is by far represented by carbon emissions.

Biocompatible Materials for Orbital Wall Reconstruction-An Overview.

The reconstruction of an orbit after complex craniofacial fractures can be extremely demanding. For satisfactory functional and aesthetic results, it is necessary to restore the orbital walls and the craniofacial skeleton using various types of materials. The reconstruction materials can be divided into autografts (bone or cartilage tissue) or allografts (metals, ceramics, or plastic materials, and combinations of these materials).

Plasma Ceramide Levels Are Elevated in Patients With Early Coronary Atherosclerosis and Endothelial Dysfunction.

Background Elevated plasma ceramides are independent predictors of cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with advanced epicardial coronary artery disease. Our understanding of plasma ceramides in early epicardial coronary artery disease, however, remains limited. We examined the role of plasma ceramides in early coronary atherosclerosis characterized by coronary endothelial dysfunction.

Generation of a 3D melanoma model and visualization of doxorubicin uptake by fluorescence imaging.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and is responsible for 75% of deaths from skin cancers. For an accurate evaluation of potential treatment efficacy, it is important to use study models as close as possible to the in vivo conditions. A 3D model consisting of B16F10 spheroids was developed using liquid overlay technique on plates coated with 1% agarose, in the presence of 1% methylcellulose and L929-conditioned medium.

Externalities of Lean Implementation in Medical Laboratories. Process Optimization vs. Adaptation and Flexibility for the Future.

Important in testing services in medical laboratories is the creation of a flexible balance between quality-response time and minimizing the cost of the service. Beyond the different Lean methods implemented so far in the medical sector, each company can adapt the model according to its needs, each company has its own specifics and organizational culture, and Lean implementation will have a unique approach. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the concerns of specialists and laboratory medical services sector initiatives in optimizing medical services by implementing the Lean Six Sigma method in its various variants: a comparative analysis of the implemented models, with emphasis on measuring externalities and delimiting trends in reforming/modernizing the method, a comprehensive approach to the impact of this method implementation, and an analysis of available databases in order to underline the deficit and information asymmetry.

Concrete Compressive Strength by Means of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity and Moduli of Elasticity.

Developing non-destructive methods (NDT) that can deliver faster and more accurate results is an objective pursued by many researchers. The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach in predicting the concrete compressive strength through means of ultrasonic testing for non-destructive determination of the dynamic and static modulus of elasticity. For this study, the dynamic Poisson's coefficient was assigned values provided by technical literature.

Financial Inclusion Paradigm Shift in the Postpandemic Period. Digital-Divide and Gender Gap.

Financial inclusion is strongly differentiated by age groups and countries and the pandemic has highlighted the increased gaps and inequalities but also the weaknesses of the system, in terms of flexibility, access and facilities of the customer-bank relationship and also from the perspective of the financial education of young generations and vulnerable people, active in the labor market. Based on the available data provided by the Global Findex database, and some findings after more than one year of COVID-19 crisis we outlined the main aspects of financial digitization, by categories of people and countries. At the same time, we identified the challenges and problems during the pandemic that significantly adjusted the consumption pattern of citizens and increased the need for on-line access for financial transactions.

Dielectrophoretic and Electrical Impedance Differentiation of Cancerous Cells Based on Biophysical Phenotype.

Here, we reported a study on the detection and electrical characterization of both cancer cell line and primary tumor cells. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were jointly employed to enable the rapid and label-free differentiation of various cancer cells from normal ones. The primary tumor cells that were collected from two colorectal cancer patients, cancer cell lines (SW-403, Jurkat, and THP-1), and healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were trapped first at the level of interdigitated microelectrodes with the help of dielectrophoresis.

Do Cardiovascular Diseases Significantly Influence Healthy Aging?

Population development is reflected by sustainable development indicators, among them are the indicators describing longevity and healthy aging. Longevity is reflected by life expectancy, and healthy aging is reflected by healthy life expectancy; high values of these indicators reflect good conditions of living for people. Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy analyses are of big interest among academics, policymakers, medical researchers, and others in order to direct the flow of funds in the most effective way possible to the population groups in most need.

The Elevated High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Pilot: Diagnoses and Outcomes.

Objective: To identify the diagnoses and outcomes associated with elevated high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) compared with the 4th-generation troponin T and to validate the Mayo Clinic hs-cTnT myocardial infarction algorithm cutoff values.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive blood samples of patients presenting to the emergency department between July 2017 and August 2017, who had 4th-generation troponin T, were also analyzed using the hs-cTnT assay. Troponin T values, discharge diagnoses, comorbidities, and outcomes were assessed.