Amikacin therapeutic drug monitoring: Evaluation of therapy performance and analytical techniques in a developing country setting.

Introduction: Healthcare systems face several challenges, with microbial infections being one of the main concerns. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a strategy that has been encouraged to optimize antimicrobial regimens, particularly those with significant toxicity and narrow therapeutic indices, such as amikacin (AMK). We aimed to evaluate AMK concentrations of patients in a non-routine TDM setting and compare the performance of immunoassay and chromatography methods for routine clinical use.

Opportunistic Screening for Low Bone Mineral Density in Routine Computed Tomography Scans: A Brazilian Validation Study.

Introduction/background: Osteoporotic fractures are a major health concern worldwide due to high mortality rates, deterioration in quality of life, and elevated healthcare costs related to hospital treatment. However, most patients who sustain an osteoporotic fracture have never been formally screened for osteoporosis. Opportunistic screening of osteoporosis through conventional computed tomography (CT) scans performed for unrelated reasons could help identify patients with low bone mass.

Variation in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: the INTERASPIRE study.

Background And Aims: INTERASPIRE is an international study of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, designed to measure if guideline standards for secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation are being achieved in a timely manner.

Methods: Between 2020 and 2023, adults hospitalized in the preceding 6-24 months with incident or recurrent CHD were sampled in 14 countries from all 6 World Health Organization regions and invited for a standardized interview and examination. Direct age and sex standardization was used for country-level prevalence estimation.

Effect of radiotherapy, immediate dentin sealing and irrigation simulating single- or two-visits endodontic treatment on the bond strength to pulp chamber dentin: an in vitro study.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of radiotherapy and different endodontic treatment protocols on the bond strength to pulp chamber dentin. Eighty mandibular molars were randomly divided into two groups (n = 40): non-irradiated and irradiated (60 Gy). The pulp chambers were sectioned, and each group was subdivided (n = 8), according to the endodontic treatment protocol: no treatment (Control); Single-visit; Two-visits; Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) + single-visit; and IDS + two-visits.

Improving analytical performance for pesticides and mycotoxins determination in Brazilian table olives: one extraction and one analysis.

This paper describes an extensive study in which a multiclass QuEChERS based approach was optimized for determination of 150 pesticides and 7 mycotoxins in table olives. Three versions of QuEChERS were evaluated and compared (unbuffered, citrate and acetate buffering). A combination of EMR-Lipid cartridges and liquid nitrogen or freezer freezing out were tested for clean-up of the oily olive extracts.

Effect of Radiotherapy and Taper of Root Canal Preparation on the Biomechanical Behavior of Mesial Roots of Mandibular Molars.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effect of radiotherapy and taper of root canal preparation on the biomechanical behavior of mesial roots of mandibular molars.

Methods: Eighty mandibular molars with 2 canals in the mesial root were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n = 40): one group underwent irradiation (60 Gy), while the other did not. Subsequently, the mesial roots were sectioned and each group was subdivided into 5 subgroups (n = 8), according to the preparation taper: no preparation (control); 25.

Long-term clinical sequelae and socio-professional performance in craniopharyngioma patients.

Background: Craniopharyngioma (CP) is a rare tumor, leading to several post-treatment sequelae which may have significant clinical and social implications, including impaired academic performance or employability.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving CP patients followed at our center between 1986 and 2020. Data on demographics, clinical, imaging, and treatment characteristics were collected from the clinical records.

Nutritional factors and pressure injury risk in hospitalised patients post-stroke.

Objective: This study aimed to analyse the nutritional factors and pressure injury (PI) risk in hospitalised patients post-stroke.

Method: The research employed a descriptive observational method in which patients ≥18 years of age were followed for six days. Nutritional evaluation was based on anthropometric and dietary factors.

Multi-Institutional Outcomes of Dorsal Onlay Buccal Mucosal Graft Urethroplasty in Patients With Postprostatectomy, Postradiation Anastomotic Stenosis.

Purpose: The treatment of urethral stenosis after a combination of prostatectomy and radiation therapy for prostate cancer is understudied. We evaluate the clinical and patient-related outcomes after dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (D-BMGU) in men who underwent prostatectomy and radiation therapy.

Materials And Methods: A multi-institutional, retrospective review of men with vesicourethral anastomotic stenosis or bulbomembranous urethral stricture disease after radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy from 8 institutions between 2013 to 2021 was performed.

Unveiling an Unusual Cause of Cardiac Tamponade.

This case presents a 48-year-old woman initially diagnosed with an ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) at the age of 36. Twelve years post-intervention, she presented to the emergency department with cardiac tamponade. This case highlights the importance of maintaining prolonged follow-up for individuals undergoing percutaneous ASD closure, given the possibility of potentially fatal late complications of ASD occlusion devices.

Efficacy of Violet-Blue (405 nm) LED Lamps for Disinfection of High-Environmental-Contact Surfaces in Healthcare Facilities: Leading to the Inactivation of Microorganisms and Reduction of MRSA Contamination.

Effective disinfection procedures in healthcare facilities are essential to prevent transmission. Chemical disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) systems and ultraviolet (UV) light are commonly used methods. An emerging method, violet-blue light at 405 nm, has shown promise for surface disinfection.

Split scar sign to predict complete response in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for rectal cancer initial staging and restaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Our objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of the split scar sign (SSS) on rectal MRI in predicting complete response after neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant published studies through June 2023.

Corrigendum: Severe and enduring' stage in anorexia nervosa: comparing eating attitudes, impairment and associated psychopathology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.

How healthcare workers reacted to the different COVID-19 waves: An Italian survey.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on radiology departments all over the world, affecting both management and healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, it became challenging to guarantee high standards of diagnosis while keeping up with the workload.

Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board.

Inferior mesenteric artery ligation level in rectal cancer surgery: still no answer-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the current scientific evidence regarding the impact of the level of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation on post-operative and oncological outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature up to 06 September 2022. Included were RCTs that compared patients who underwent high (HL) vs.

Delayed Post-Operative Neurological Deficit After Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Possible Association With Post-Operative Anemia.

Background: To present a patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who developed a significant neurological deficit after posterior spinal fusion, in association with anemia on postoperative day two.

Case Report: A 14-year-old otherwise healthy female underwent a T3-L3 instrumented posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis which was uneventful. Immediate post-operative clinical examination was unremarkable but at postoperative day three the patient developed generalized lower extremity weakness with inability to stand and an urinary retention needing continuous intermittent catheterization program.

Prenatal diagnosis of an adrenal mature teratoma mimicking a neuroblastoma.

Teratomas are defined by the presence of cell types from different germ layers, they typically involve the gonads or the sacrococcygeal region and are rarely retroperitoneal. Prenatally detected adrenal teratomas are extremely uncommon. Aim of this paper is to share our experience with an adrenal antenatal mass initially diagnosed as a left adrenal neuroblastoma that turned out to be a mature teratoma after microscopical examination.

Eosinophilic myocarditis: comprehensive update on pathophysiology, diagnosis, prognosis and management.

Hypereosinophilic syndromes are a group of disorders secondary to the accumulation of eosinophils leading to the injury of one or more organs. Among them, eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare form of inflammatory cardiomyopathy characterized by eosinophilic infiltration into myocardial tissue and subsequent release of substances with cell membrane damage and cell destruction. The degree of infiltration is thought to depend on the underlying condition, as well as the degree and duration of eosinophil exposure and ranges from mild localized disease to diffuse multifocal infiltrates associated with myocardial necrosis, thrombotic complications and endomyocardial fibrosis.