Factors influencing quality of life and functional status in head and neck cancer patients.

Objective: To assess the quality of life (QoL) and functional status factors of patients at various stages of treatment for head and neck cancer.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey study.

Setting: Outpatient.

Cirrhosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: prognostic importance and impact on survival.

Context: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a malignancy of the biliary tract epithelium is of increasing importance due to its rising incidence worldwide. There is a lack of data on cirrhosis in intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) and how it affects overall survival and prognosis.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine if there were differences in survival outcomes between iCCA patients with concomitant cirrhosis and those without cirrhosis.

Classification and Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Disorders and Temporomandibular Disorder Pain.

Designing classification systems and developing diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders is difficult. An appreciation of the utility and applicability of these entities requires an understanding of the importance of each, the differences between the two, and how they may be optimally operationalized for both clinical and research activities in light of their inherent advantages and limitations. In addition, consideration for adopting newer approaches, such as following ontological and precision-based medicine principles, accounting for genetics/epigenetic and neurobiological factors, and the inclusion of biomarkers will potentially result in more thorough and comprehensive classification systems and diagnostic criteria.

Challenges in managing a multifactorial eosinophilic pneumonia: daptomycin vs strongyloidiasis case report.

Background: Eosinophilia is defined as a blood eosinophil count > 500/mcL with etiology usually an allergic reaction or parasitic infection which can lead to serious organ damage.

Case Presentation: A patient being treated for hardware infection develops eosinophilia while on daptomycin in the setting of a positive strongyloides antibody. The patient was on chronic steroids prior to admission for epitheliopathy which complicated care.

Challenges for the Dentist in Managing Orofacial Pain.

This presentation describes a patient's extensive and expensive search for relief of pain in the orofacial area. The journey includes many diagnostic errors and failed and likely unnecessary treatments. A systematic approach to problem definition and rule-out reasoning for the differential diagnoses based on the International Classification of Orofacial Pain is described.

Plasma protein alterations during human large vessel stroke: A controlled comparison study.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and tissue plasminogen activator are the current treatments for ischemic stroke, which have improved clinical outcomes. Despite these treatments, functional and cognitive deficits still occur demonstrating a need for predictive biomarkers for beneficial clinical outcomes which can be used as therapeutic targets for pharmacotherapy.

Classification and Stratification of Pulmonary Embolisms.

Pulmonary embolism remains a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Presentation and outcomes are variable among patients and require rapid risk stratification for assessment and prognosis, as well as selection of appropriate treatment. Over the past several decades, several different models and parameters have become available to assess risk and classify pulmonary embolism into different risk categories.

Total Plasma Protein S Is a Prothrombotic Marker in People Living With HIV.

Background: HIV-1 infection is associated with multiple procoagulant changes and increased thrombotic risk. Possible mechanisms for this risk include heigthened expression of procoagulant tissue factor (TF) on circulating monocytes, extracellular vesicles, and viral particles and/or acquired deficiency of protein S (PS), a critical cofactor for the anticoagulant protein C (PC). PS deficiency occurs in up to 76% of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH).

Postoperative Bronchial Complications After Lung Transplantation Related to Anastomosis Suture.

Background: Postoperative bronchial anastomotic complications are not uncommon in lung transplant recipients. We investigated 2 surgical techniques (continuous and interrupted sutures) during bronchial anastomosis, comparing survival and postoperative bronchial complications.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 421 patients who were transplanted in our center (February 2012 to March 2018).

Surviving (but not thriving) after cranial vault trauma: A case study from Transylvania.

Objective: To link an antemortem cranial injury on the left parietal bone with potential neurocognitive consequences.

Materials: The skeleton of a male individual from a Székely archaeological site in Transylvania was examined. The skeleton was radiocarbon dated to Cal AD 1450 and AD 1640 and presented a well-healed antemortem penetrating cranial injury on the left parietal bone.

Anticoagulation in ECMO patients: an overview.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of cardiorespiratory support, and is being increasingly used to support refractory heart and respiratory failure. It involves draining blood from the vascular system, which is then circulated outside the body by a mechanical pump and then later reinfused back into the circulation. The blood that is circulated outside the body comes in contact with a large surface area of non-endothelial biosurface.

Oculocardiac reflex in an adult with a trapdoor orbital floor fracture: case report, literature review, and differential diagnosis.

Orbital floor blowout fractures can result in a variety of signs and symptoms depending on the severity of the bone defect. Large defects often result in enophthalmos and restriction of ocular movement; yet the timing of surgery can be delayed up to two weeks with good functional outcomes. In contrast, an orbital trapdoor defect with entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle usually elicits pain with marked restriction of the upward gaze and activation of the oculocardiac reflex without significant dystopia or enophthalmos.