Inhibition of EphB4 Receptor Signaling by Ephrin-B2-Competitive and Non-Competitive DARPins Prevents Angiogenesis.

The receptor tyrosine kinase EphB4 is involved in tumor angiogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis. Designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) binding to the EphB4 extracellular domain were identified from a combinatorial library using phage display. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) allowed us to distinguish between DARPins that either compete with the EphB4 ligand ephrin-B2 for binding to a common site or target a different epitope.

Design, Development, and Evaluation of a 3D-Printed Buccal Myomucosal Flap Simulator.

Objective: Buccal myomucosal flap procedures have become a critical tool in the armamentarium of the cleft surgeon. Mastering this technique is complex and providing sufficient training opportunities presents significant challenges. Our study details the design, development, and evaluation of a low-cost, high-fidelity buccal myomucosal flap surgical simulator.

Pilot Evaluation of Silicone Surrogates for Oral Mucosa Simulation in Craniofacial Surgical Training.

Surgical simulators are crucial in early craniofacial and plastic surgical training, necessitating synthetic materials that accurately replicate tissue properties. Recent critiques of our lab's currently deployed silicone surrogate have highlighted numerous areas for improvement. To further refine our models, our group's objective is to find a composition of materials that is closest in fidelity to native oral mucosa during surgical rehearsal by expert craniofacial surgeons.

Raman Spectral Analysis in the CH-Stretching Region as a Guiding Beacon for Non-Targeted, Disruption-Free Monitoring of Germination and Biofilm Formation in the Green Seaweed Ulva.

Raman spectroscopy was used to study the complex interactions and morphogenesis of the green seaweed Ulva (Chlorophyta) and its associated bacteria under controlled conditions in a reductionist model system. Integrating multiple imaging techniques contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of these biological processes. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy was introduced as a non-invasive, label-free tool for examining chemical information of the tripartite community Ulva mutabilis-Roseovarius sp.

Effects of saline submersion at body temperature on airway supportive devices including a novel nasopharyngeal device produced using 3D-printing.

Purpose: This study investigated dimension changes of various nasopharyngeal airways, including a novel self-supporting device, after saline submersion at body temperature to simulate in-vivo use. Dimension changes over time may reduce efficacy during long-term use and require sizing adjustments or limits on duration of use.

Materials And Methods: Cuffless Covidien endotracheal tubes, pediatric Rusch fixed flange polyvinyl chloride nasal airway tubes, pediatric Rusch Robertazzi style Mediprene nasal airway tubes, and novel silicone elastomer self-supporting nasopharyngeal airways were fully submerged in 0.

Incorporating a Three-Dimensional Printed Airway into a Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy Curriculum.

Background: Although hands-on simulation plays a valuable role in procedural training, there are limited tools available to teach pediatric flexible bronchoscopy (PFB). Fellowship programs rely on patient encounters, with inherent risk, or high-cost virtual reality simulators that may not be widely available and create education inequalities.

Objective: Our objective was to study the educational value and transferability of a novel, low-cost, three-dimensional-printed pediatric airway model (3D-AM) for PFB training.

Webbed Neck Deformity Reconstruction in Patients with Turner Syndrome: Technical Considerations in Treating Congenital Pterygium Colli.

Present an excellent outcome for a rare pterygium colli reconstruction. Establish techniques that have yielded a successful aesthetic and functional outcome for a patient with pterygium colli in a procedure that lacks consensus. Surgical pearls-description of considerations for a successful reconstruction.

Clinical Characteristics of Primary Snoring vs Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: Analysis of the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy for Snoring (PATS) Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: It is unknown whether children with primary snoring and children with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) represent populations with substantially different clinical characteristics. Nonetheless, an obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 1 or greater is often used to define OSA and plan for adenotonsillectomy (AT).

Objective: To assess whether a combination of clinical characteristics differentiates children with primary snoring from children with mild OSA.

Adenotonsillectomy for Snoring and Mild Sleep Apnea in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The utility of adenotonsillectomy in children who have habitual snoring without frequent obstructive breathing events (mild sleep-disordered breathing [SDB]) is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate early adenotonsillectomy compared with watchful waiting and supportive care (watchful waiting) on neurodevelopmental, behavioral, health, and polysomnographic outcomes in children with mild SDB.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Randomized clinical trial enrolling 459 children aged 3 to 12.

A Targeted Thorium-227 Conjugate Demonstrates Efficacy in Preclinical Models of Acquired Drug Resistance and Combination Potential with Chemotherapeutics and Antiangiogenic Therapies.

Targeted alpha therapies (TAT) are an innovative class of therapies for cancer treatment. The unique mode-of-action of TATs is the induction of deleterious DNA double-strand breaks. Difficult-to-treat cancers, such as gynecologic cancers upregulating the chemoresistance P-glycoprotein (p-gp) and overexpressing the membrane protein mesothelin (MSLN), are promising targets for TATs.

Effects of regorafenib on the mononuclear/phagocyte system and how these contribute to the inhibition of colorectal tumors in mice.

Background: Regorafenib was previously shown to reduce tumor-associated macrophages and potently inhibit colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), also known as CD115, in biochemical assays. The CSF1R signaling pathway is essential in the biology of the mononuclear/phagocyte system, which can promote the development of cancer.

Methods: A deeper investigation of regorafenib's effects on CSF1R signaling was performed using preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies with syngeneic CT26 and MC38 mouse models of colorectal cancer.

Integrated microtia and aural atresia management.

Objectives: To present recommendations for the coordinated evaluation and management of the hearing and reconstructive needs of patients with microtia and aural atresia.

Methods: A national working group of 9 experts on microtia and atresia evaluated a working document on the evaluation and treatment of patients. Treatment options for auricular reconstruction and hearing habilitation were reviewed and integrated into a coordinated care timeline.

Simulation of laryngotracheal reconstruction with 3D-printed models and porcine cadaveric models.

Objectives: Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) is a complex operation used to treat subglottic stenosis. The use of simulator models is a valuable tool in surgical trainee education, particularly for operations such as LTR that are less common outside high-volume centers. Three-dimensional (3D) printing of the human airway may provide an effective and more accessible alternative to porcine cadaveric models.

Reduction in inpatient readmissions following implementation of a dedicated tracheostomy care team.

Objective: Pediatric tracheostomy patients are at risk for lengthy hospitalizations and multiple readmissions with rare but potentially disastrous tracheostomy-related complications. Several centers have formed multidisciplinary teams for pediatric tracheostomy patients to coordinate care and enhance caregiver education to aid in safe care delivery. Current literature has shown encouraging change in pediatric tracheostomy care with these interventions, but there remains an opportunity to better gauge alterations of morbidity.

A national pediatric otolaryngology fellowship virtual dissection course using 3D printed simulators.

Objective: Our objective was to create and evaluate a novel virtual platform dissection course to complement pediatric otolaryngology fellowship training in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A four-station, four-simulator virtual course was delivered to pediatric otolaryngology fellows virtually using teleconferencing software. The four stations consisted of microtia ear carving, airway graft carving, cleft lip repair, and cleft palate repair.

A Validated 3D Printed Laryngeal Suturing Simulator for Endoscopic Laryngeal Cleft Repair.

Objectives: Endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair (ELCR) with endolaryngeal suturing is an advanced surgical skill. This study objective was to assess the validity of 3-dimensionally (3D) printed laryngeal suturing simulator for ELCR.

Study Design: Development and validation of a simulator for ELCR.

Novel treatment for hypotonic airway obstruction and severe obstructive sleep apnea using a nasopharyngeal airway device with 3D printing innovation.

Study Objectives: Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea impacts child and familial well-being. Airway management in patients with hypotonic pharyngeal conditions is complex. Some patients may benefit from continuous positive airway pressure or bilevel positive airway pressure, others may require further invasive measures for treatment.

Development of a High-Fidelity, 3D Printed Otoplasty Surgical Simulator.

Importance: Prominotia has functional and esthetic impact for the child and family and proficiency in otoplasty requires experiential rehearsal.

Objectives: To design and validate an anatomically accurate, 3D printed prominotia simulator for rehearsal of otoplasties.

Methods: A 3D prominotia model was designed from a computed tomographic (CT) scan and edited in 3-matic software.

Development of a new antigen-based microarray platform for screening and detection of human IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Strategies to contain the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic rely, beside vaccinations, also on molecular and serological testing. For any kind of assay development, screening for the optimal antigen is essential. Here we describe the verification of a new protein microarray with different commercially available preparations significant antigens of SARS-CoV-2 that can be used for the evaluation of the performance of these antigens in serological assays and for antibody screening in serum samples.

To generate a photonic nanojet outside a high refractive index microsphere illuminated by a Gaussian beam.

A non-resonant, concentrated, narrow beam of light emerging from an illuminated microlens is called a photonic nanojet (PNJ). According to currently prevailing opinion, microspheres and microcylinders are only able to generate a PNJ in their exterior when their refractive index ns (or refractive index contrast) is less than 2. In this Letter we demonstrate that a PNJ can emerge from a microsphere even when ns > 2: first by employing the laws of geometrical optics for a divergent light source; then, by using ray transfer matrix analysis, a mathematical condition for the Gaussian beam (GB) outside the high ns microsphere is derived.