Automatic classification of temporomandibular joint disorders by magnetic resonance imaging and convolutional neural networks.

Background/purpose: In this study, we utilized magnetic resonance imaging data of the temporomandibular joint, collected from the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Our research focuses on the classification and severity analysis of temporomandibular joint disease using convolutional neural networks.

Materials And Methods: In gray-scale image series, the most critical features often lie within the articular disc cartilage, situated at the junction of the temporal bone and the condyles.

Surgical management and outcomes of pure sacroiliac joint dislocations: A systematic review.

Introduction: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dislocations, particularly pure SIJ dislocations without associated fractures, represent a rare and complex subset of pelvic ring injuries. Given the intricate pelvic anatomy and the need to achieve both stability and functional recovery, the optimal surgical management for these injuries remains a topic of debate. This systematic review aims to evaluate the various surgical techniques employed in treating this rare and challenging injury and assess associated clinical outcomes and complications.

Revolutionising oral organoids with artificial intelligence.

The convergence of organoid technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionise oral healthcare. Organoids - three-dimensional structures derived from human tissues - offer invaluable insights into the complex biology of diseases, allowing researchers to effectively study disease mechanisms and test therapeutic interventions in environments that closely mimic in vivo conditions. In this review, we first present the historical development of organoids and delve into the current types of oral organoids, focusing on their use in disease models, regeneration and microbiome intervention.

Functional Substrate Mapping: A New Frontier in the Treatment of Ventricular Tachycardia in Structural Heart Disease.

Functional substrate mapping has emerged as an essential tool for electrophysiologists, overcoming many limitations of conventional mapping techniques and demonstrating favourable long-term outcomes in clinical studies. However, a consensus on the definition of 'functional substrate' mapping remains elusive, hindering a structured approach to research in the field. In this review, we highlight the differences between 'functional mapping' techniques (which assess tissue response to the 'electrophysiological stress' using short coupled extrastimuli) and those highlighting regions of slow conduction during sinus rhythm.

Successful management of coagulation dysfunction in a patient with fulminant myocarditis: a case report.

Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is an acute, diffuse inflammatory myocardial disease characterized by abrupt onset and extremely rapid progression. Patients typically exhibit haemodynamic abnormalities that may lead to respiratory failure, liver and renal failure, and subsequent coagulopathy. Collectively, these complications significantly increase the risk of early mortality.

Improving Critical Care Teamwork: Simulation-Based Interprofessional Training for Enhanced Communication and Safety.

Background: This study evaluates a simulation-based interprofessional education (IPE) program implemented at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital between 2018 and 2023. The program aimed to improve teamwork, communication, and collaboration among healthcare professionals in high-acuity environments such as emergency departments and intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: A prospective, mixed-methods approach was used to assess the program's effectiveness.

Intestine-derived fibroblast growth factor 19 alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury by regulating bile acid homeostasis and directly improving oxidative stress.

Background: Cholestasis plays a critical role in sepsis-associated liver injury (SALI). Intestine-derived fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) is a key regulator for bile acid homeostasis. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of FGF19 in SALI are still unclear.

Awake prone positioning and ventilation distribution as assessed by electric impedance tomography in patients with non-COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A prospective physiology study.

Background: Awake prone positioning (APP) can reportedly reduce the need for intubation and help improve prognosis of patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) infected with COVID-19. However, its physiological mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of APP on lung ventilation in patients with moderate-to-severe AHRF to better understand the effects on ventilation distribution and to prevent intubation in non-intubated patients.

Influence of hydrocortisone infusion method on the clinical outcome of patients with septic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effect of the modality of hydrocortisone administration on clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the impact of intermittent bolus and continuous infusion of hydrocortisone on these outcomes.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase databases, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies published from inception to January 1, 2023.

Overexpression of Parkin promotes the protective effect of mitochondrial autophagy on the lung of rats with exertional heatstroke.

Background: The roles of the Pink1/Parkin pathway and mitophagy in lung injury during heat stroke remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in acute lung injury (ALI) in rats with exertional heat stroke (EHS).

Methods: Sixty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CON), control + Parkin overexpression (CON + Parkin), EHS, and EHS + Parkin overexpression (EHS + Parkin) groups.

A modified screening protocol for ARDS in patients with respiratory support based on SpO and FiO: A single-center prospective, observational study.

Background: The purpose is to formulate a modified screening protocol for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with respiratory support based on saturation of pulse oximetry (SpO) and inspired oxygen concentration (FiO).

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from August to October 2020 at the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Yijishan Hospital Affiliated with Wannan Medical College. All patients admitted during the study period and required arterial blood gas analysis and electrocardiogram monitoring were included in this study.

Outcomes and risk factors of transported patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: An ECMO center experience.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been proven to be a support method and technology for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. However, the transport of patients under ECMO support is challenging given the high-risk technical maneuvers and patient-care concerns involved. Herein, we examined the safety of ECMO during the transport of critically ill patients and its impact on mortality rates, to provide more secure and effective transport strategies in clinical practice.

Previous treatment with anthracycline does not affect the course of sepsis in cancer patients: Retrospective cohort study.

Background: Cancer patients who are exposed to sepsis and had previous chemotherapy may have increased severity. Among chemotherapeutic agents, anthracyclines have been associated with cardiac toxicity. Like other chemotherapeutic agents, they may cause endothelial toxicity.

Current advances in neurocritical care.

This review summarizes the current research advances and guideline updates in neurocritical care. For the therapy of ischemic stroke, the extended treatment time window for thrombectomy and the emergence of novel thrombolytic agents and strategies have brought greater hope for patient recovery. Minimally invasive hematoma evacuation and goal-directed bundled management have shown clinical benefits in treating cerebral hemorrhage.

Nebulized aminoglycosides for ventilator-associated pneumonia: Methodological considerations and lessons from experimental studies.

Aminoglycosides are concentration-dependent antibiotics exerting a bactericidal effect when concentrations at the site of infection are equal to or greater than 5 times the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). When administered intravenously, they exhibit poor lung penetration and high systemic renal and ototoxicity, imposing to restrict their administration to 5 days. Experimental studies conducted in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated sheep and pigs provide evidence that high doses of nebulized aminoglycosides induce a rapid and potent bacterial killing in the infected lung parenchyma.

New drugs for acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) presents a significant challenge in the management of critically ill patients, as it is associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. In certain conditions, such as during sepsis or after cardiac surgery, AKI is one of the most frequent complications, affecting 30%-50% of patients. Over time, even after the resolution of AKI, it can evolve into chronic kidney disease, a leading global cause of mortality, and cardiovascular complications.

Necrotizing Fasciitis-Induced Septic Shock due to : A Case Report.

(), a Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in aquatic environments, has the capacity to be transmitted to humans through consumption of contaminated fish, water, or seafood. In this study, we present a case report concerning a 77-year-old female patient who experienced an acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure, subsequently developing severe septic shock due to necrotizing fasciitis caused by . Infections caused by are more prevalent during warmer months, particularly in regions characterized by dense aquaculture or the presence of natural water bodies.

Pharmaco-Invasive Strategy Vs Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Latin America: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the established treatment for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but often it is not readily available in low-resource settings. We assessed the safety and efficacy of the pharmaco-invasive strategy compared to primary PCI for STEMI in Latin America.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) were searched for the period from their inception to September 2023, for studies that compared a pharmaco-invasive strategy vs primary PCI in Latin America.

Psychosocial Outcomes of Subpectoral vs. Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction: A Comparative Analysis.

Introduction Breast reconstruction plays a critical role in restoring psychosocial well-being for patients after mastectomy. While both subpectoral and pre-pectoral implant placements are common, their impact on psychosocial outcomes remains understudied. This study investigates the influence of implant placement on patient-reported psychosocial well-being using BREAST-Q (Breast-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire).

Regional Anesthesia in Thyroid Surgery for a Giant Intrathoracic Goiter With Tracheal Compression.

Cervical plexus block (CPB), like other types of regional anesthesia, represents an alternative anesthetic technique in those cases where the performance of general anesthesia (GA) carries an increased risk both for the patient and the outcome of the operative treatment. It has traditionally been used for years in carotid surgery as an alternative to GA, especially due to the possibility of superior monitoring - the awake patient. However, its effectiveness has been proven in other types of neck surgery, primarily in thyroid surgery, neck dissections, tracheostomy, central venous catheter insertion, clavicle surgery, etc.

Comparative Analysis of Bacteremic and Non-bacteremic Sepsis: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Sepsis remains a prevalent critical illness encountered in emergency departments and intensive care units (ICU), with culture-negative sepsis constituting 30-60% of cases. The effect of culture type on treatment and outcomes remains unclear, and conflicting evidence exists regarding disparities between Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections.

Objective: To further describe and compare characteristics and outcomes of culture-positive versus culture-negative sepsis.

MSC-derived exosome ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating NOD 1/NLRP3-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inflammation.

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is an irreversible and usually fatal lung disease. In recent years, the therapeutic role of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exos) in anti-fibrotic treatment has received much attention. In this study, we aimed to determine the anti-fibrotic properties and related molecular mechanisms of MSC-exos in Bleomycin(BLM)-induced PF.