Hypothermia During Microsurgical Head and Neck Reconstruction and Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism.

Importance: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a severe complication after microsurgical free tissue transfer (FTT) to the head and neck. Hypothermia during surgery is a modifiable risk factor, and avoiding it may reduce the postoperative VTE rate.

Objective: To assess the association between hypothermia (temperature <36 °C) and postoperative VTE and free flap pedicle thrombosis rates after head and neck reconstruction with FTT.

Barbed suture in neck dissection: a randomized clinical study on efficacy, safety and aesthetic outcome.

Purpose: The resection of lymph nodes/neck dissection is a typical part of the surgical treatment of head and neck malignancies. The aim of this study was to compare subcutaneous closure using single knotted, braided suture (Vicryl, standard arm) with continuous self-locking, monofilament barbed suture (V-Loc, experimental arm).

Methods: Neck Lock was a randomized clinical trial at a single tertiary referral center.

Balanced bidirectional optogenetics reveals the causal impact of cortical temporal dynamics in sensory perception.

Whether the fast temporal dynamics of neural activity in brain circuits causally drive perception and cognition remains one of most longstanding unresolved questions in neuroscience . While some theories posit a 'timing code' in which dynamics on the millisecond timescale is central to brain function, others instead argue that mean firing rates over more extended periods (a 'rate code') carry most of the relevant information. Existing tools, such as optogenetics, can be used to alter temporal structure of neural dynamics , but they invariably change mean firing rates, leaving the interpretation of such experiments ambiguous.

Multiplex PCR for bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens in persistent diarrhoea or persistent abdominal pain in Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Nepal.

In contrast to acute diarrhoea, the aetiology of persistent digestive disorders (≥ 14 days) is poorly understood in low-resource settings and conventional diagnostic approaches lack accuracy. In this multi-country study, we compared multiplex real-time PCR for enteric bacterial, parasitic and viral pathogens in stool samples from symptomatic patients and matched asymptomatic controls in Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Nepal. Among 1826 stool samples, the prevalence of most pathogens was highest in Mali, being up to threefold higher than in Côte d'Ivoire and up to tenfold higher than in Nepal.

Characterization of Fat Used for the Optimization of the Soft Tissue Envelope of the Nose in Rhinoplasty.

Septorhinoplasty (SRP) is one of the most common aesthetic procedures worldwide. A thin or scarred soft tissue envelope, especially in the context of secondary SRP, can lead to unpredictable scarring, shrinkage, and discoloration of the skin. Other than the careful preparation of the soft tissue mantle, no gold standard exists to minimize the above-mentioned risks.

characterization of novel hyaluronan-antioxidant conjugates as potential topical therapeutics against hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss affects roughly 430 million people worldwide. Current treatment options often require invasive medical procedures, and to date, there are no FDA-approved drug therapies. While the causes can be diverse, noise induced hearing loss is unequivocally associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and subsequent damage to the inner ear structures.

Hyaluronic acid-ibuprofen conjugation: a novel ototherapeutic approach protecting inner ear cells from inflammation-mediated damage.

There is a substantial need of effective drugs for the treatment of hearing loss, which affects nearly 500 million individuals globally. Hearing loss can be the result of intense or prolonged noise exposure, ototoxic drugs, infections, and trauma, which trigger inflammatory signaling cascades that lead to irreversible damage to cochlear structures. To address this, we developed and characterized a series of covalent conjugates of anti-inflammatory drugs to hyaluronic acid (HA), for potential use as topical ototherapeutics.

Complications Associated with Alloplastic Materials in Rhinoplasty and Their Operative Management.

Whereas rhinoplasty with a reduction of the dorsum and modification of the tip is a common procedure among Caucasians, augmentation of the dorsum remains a challenge in Asians. Choice of the ideal grafting material for dorsal augmentation is a matter of preference and remains under discussion. Autologous and alloplastic materials have their advantages and disadvantages.

Drug switching in axial spondyloarthritis patients in Germany - a social listening analysis.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which primarily affects the axial skeleton resulting in chronic back pain and stiffness. According to the guideline, the first-line treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and non-pharmacological treatment. Second line treatment involves biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) such as tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-17 inhibitors.

A versatile, bioengineered skin reconstruction device designed for use in austere environments.

Austere environments in which access to medical facilities, medical personnel, or even water and electricity is limited or unavailable pose unique challenges for medical device product design. Currently existing skin substitutes are severely inadequate for the treatment of severe burns, chronic wounds, battlefield injuries, or work-related injuries in resource-limited settings. For such settings, an ideal device should be biocompatible, bioresorbable, promote tissue healing, not require trained medical personnel for deployment and use, and should enable topical drug delivery.

Association between venous thromboembolism rates and different prophylactic anticoagulation regimens in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of the head and neck region.

Background: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication after free tissue transfer to the head and neck (H&N). However, an optimal antithrombotic prophylaxis protocol is not defined in the literature. Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily (BID) and heparin 5000 IU three times daily (TID) are among the most commonly used regimens for chemoprophylaxis.

Cortical VIP neurons locally control the gain but globally control the coherence of gamma band rhythms.

Gamma band synchronization can facilitate local and long-range neural communication. In the primary visual cortex, visual stimulus properties within a specific location determine local synchronization strength, while the match of stimulus properties between distant locations controls long-range synchronization. The neural basis for the differential control of local and global gamma band synchronization is unknown.

Assessment of BMI and Venous Thromboembolism Rates in Patients on Standard Chemoprophylaxis Regimens After Undergoing Free Tissue Transfer to the Head and Neck.

Importance: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a severe complication after free tissue transfer to the head and neck (H&N). Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily (BID) is a common regimen for chemoprophylaxis. However, differences in enoxaparin metabolism based on body weight may influence its efficacy and safety profile.

An In Vitro Model for Characterization of Drug Permeability across the Tympanic Membrane.

Otic disorders, such as otitis media and hearing loss, affect a substantial portion of the global population. Despite this, oto-therapeutics, in particular those intended to treat hearing loss, have seen limited development and innovation. A significant factor to this is likely a result of the inherent costs and complexities of drug discovery and development.

Development and Characterization of an In Vitro Round Window Membrane Model for Drug Permeability Evaluations.

Hearing loss and balance disorders are highly common disorders, and the development of effective oto-therapeutics remains an area of intense research. Drug development and screening in the hearing research field heavily rely on the use of preclinical models with often ambiguous translational relevance. This often leads to failed advancement in the market of effective therapeutics.

An Evaluation of the Drug Permeability Properties of Human Cadaveric In Situ Tympanic and Round Window Membranes.

It is estimated that hearing loss currently affects more than 1.5 billion people, or approximately 20% of the global population; however, presently, there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutics or prophylactics for this condition. While continued research on the development of otoprotective drugs to target this clear unmet need is an obvious path, there are numerous challenges to translating promising therapeutic candidates into human clinical testing.

Dermatological assessment of thick-skinned patients before rhinoplasty-what may surgeons ask for?

Rhinoplasty is considered a very challenging surgery since minimal changes of this central area of the face may significantly impact a person's appearance and self-awareness. This is even more challenging in thick-skinned patients because results are less predictable, and changes to the osseocartilaginous framework (OCF) may not be sufficiently visible due to the blanket effect of the thick skin. Furthermore, pre-existing skin conditions may exacerbate following surgery.

Quality of life outcome in revision rhinoplasty in regards to number of revision surgeries and cartilage donor site.

Objectives: Rhinoplasty with or without combined septoplasty is one of the most frequently performed procedures in facial plastic surgery. Patient satisfaction and improvement in quality of life (QoL) is the primary goal. This prospective study was conducted to analyse Qol outcome in revision rhinoplasty in regards to number of revision surgeries and cartilage donor site using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Subdorsal Z-flap: a modification of the Cottle technique in dorsal preservation rhinoplasty.

Purpose Of Review: To present the novel technique of subdorsal Z-flap in dorsal preservation rhinoplasty and give an overview on current available dorsal preservation techniques in the literature.

Recent Findings: The subdorsal Z-flap combines the advantages of the high and low septal strip techniques in dorsal preservation rhinoplasty and ensures well tolerated treatment of the dorsal hump and structural stability.

Summary: The technique and concept of Dorsal Preservation Rhinoplasty (DPR) has been used for more than a century but only recently gained significant popularity along with specific technical refinements.

Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of the Nasal Skin-Soft Tissue Envelope.

Management of the skin-soft tissue envelope (SSTE) in rhinoplasty is challenging and critical for the overall outcome. The preoperative identification of patients with thick or thin skin and with preexisting skin conditions may contribute significantly to the postsurgical result. Most publications and textbooks focus on the management of the osseocartilaginous framework, but the SSTE management is often not addressed in detail.

Preclinical assessment of dual CYP26[A1/B1] inhibitor, DX308, as an improved treatment for keratinization disorders.

Background: Retinoid-based therapies are commonly used in the treatment of disorders of keratinization and other skin disorders but can result in non-specific effects and adverse reactions. Use of retinoic acid metabolism blocking agents (RAMBAs) such as DX308 may address these shortcomings.

Objectives: Characterize the therapeutic potential of recently discovered, CYP26-selective RAMBA, DX308.

Optimization of the Soft Tissue Envelope of the Nose in Rhinoplasty Utilizing Fat Transfer Combined with Platelet-Rich Fibrin.

A thin or damaged skin soft tissue envelope may cause concerns in primary and secondary rhinoplasty. During postoperative healing, unpredictable scarring and contraction may occur and lead to significant aesthetic and trophic sequelae. Besides a meticulous surgical technique, there are no reliable techniques to prevent long-term skin damage and shrinkage.