Formulation and evaluation of PVA-based composite hydrogels: physicochemical, leachables, and immunogenicity studies.

This study explores the formulation and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based composite hydrogels synthesized through solid-state crosslinking. Comprehensive assessments were conducted on their physicochemical properties, leachables, and immunogenicity. Swelling experiments demonstrated that the incorporation of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) enhanced water retention, while chitosan had a minimal effect on swelling behavior.

Safety and Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in General Surgery.

Importance: Perioperative bleeding is common in general surgery. The POISE-3 (Perioperative Ischemic Evaluation-3) trial demonstrated efficacy of prophylactic tranexamic acid (TXA) compared with placebo in preventing major bleeding without increasing vascular outcomes in noncardiac surgery.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of prophylactic TXA, specifically in general surgery.

Advanced LC-IMS-MS Protocol for Holistic Metabolite Analysis in Wine and Grape Samples.

The final aim of metabolomics is the comprehensive and holistic study of the metabolome in biological samples. Therefore, the use of instruments that enable the analysis of metabolites belonging to various chemical classes in a wide range of concentrations is essential, without compromising on robustness, resolution, sensitivity, specificity, and metabolite annotation. These characteristics are crucial for the analysis of very complex samples, such as wine, whose metabolome is the result of the sum of metabolites derived from grapes, yeast(s), bacteria(s), and chemical or physical modification during winemaking.

Ammonia and beyond - biomarkers of hepatic encephalopathy.

Ammonia is a product of amino acid metabolism that accumulates in the blood of patients with liver cirrhosis, leading to neurotoxic effects and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). HE manifestations can range from mild, subclinical disturbances in cognition, or minimal HE (mHE) to gross disorientation and coma, a condition referred to as overt HE. Many blood-based biomarkers reflecting these neurotoxic effects of ammonia and liver disease can be measured in the blood allowing the development of new biomarkers to diagnose cirrhosis patients at risk of developing HE.

Differences in technical and clinical perspectives on AI validation in cancer imaging: mind the gap!

Good practices in artificial intelligence (AI) model validation are key for achieving trustworthy AI. Within the cancer imaging domain, attracting the attention of clinical and technical AI enthusiasts, this work discusses current gaps in AI validation strategies, examining existing practices that are common or variable across technical groups (TGs) and clinical groups (CGs). The work is based on a set of structured questions encompassing several AI validation topics, addressed to professionals working in AI for medical imaging.

Explaining cognitive function in multiple sclerosis through networks of grey and white matter features: a joint independent component analysis.

Cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is only partially explained by whole-brain volume measures, but independent component analysis (ICA) can extract regional patterns of damage in grey matter (GM) or white matter (WM) that have proven more closely associated with CI. Pathology in GM and WM occurs in parallel, and so patterns can span both. This study assessed whether joint-ICA of GM and WM features better explained cognitive function compared to single-tissue ICA.

Audiovisual analysis of the diagnostic video polysomnography in patients with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

Background: The diagnosis of isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) requires video polysomnography (V-PSG) showing increased muscle activity and abnormal behaviors in REM sleep.

Objective: To describe in IRBD the behavioral manifestations occurring during REM sleep in the diagnostic V-PSG.

Methods: This is a systematic audiovisual V-PSG analysis of consecutive IRBD patients.

Clinical and imaging spectrum of non-congenital dominant ACTN2 myopathy.

Background: Alpha-actinin-2, a protein with high expression in cardiac and skeletal muscle, is located in the Z-disc and plays a key role in sarcomere stability. Mutations in ACTN2 have been associated with both hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy and, more recently, with skeletal myopathy.

Methods: Genetic, clinical, and muscle imaging data were collected from 37 patients with an autosomal dominant ACTN2 myopathy belonging to 11 families from Spain and Belgium.

Twenty Years of Neuroinformatics: A Bibliometric Analysis.

This study presents a thorough bibliometric analysis of Neuroinformatics over the past 20 years, offering insights into the journal's evolution at the intersection of neuroscience and computational science. Using advanced tools such as VOS viewer and methodologies like co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co-occurrence, we examine trends in publication, citation patterns, and the journal's influence. Our analysis reveals enduring research themes like neuroimaging, data sharing, machine learning, and functional connectivity, which form the core of Neuroinformatics.

CLINTERVENTIONAL protocol: a randomized controlled trial to evaluate clinical consultations and audiovisual tools for interventional radiology.

Unlabelled: Interventional radiology (IR) has evolved rapidly, but the clinical integration of interventional radiologists has not kept pace with technical advancements. This trial will address a gap in the literature by providing a robust investigation into specific measures for enhancing the clinical role of interventional radiologists, with potential implications for improving patient experiences and outcomes. The single-center randomized controlled trial will include 428 patients undergoing IR procedures.

Application of a dynamic colonic gastrointestinal digestion model to red wines: a study of flavanol metabolism by the gut microbiota and the cardioprotective activity of microbial metabolites.

Over the last decade, research has emphasized the role of the microbiome in regulating cardiovascular physiology and disease progression. Understanding the interplay between wine polyphenols, the gut microbiota, and cardiovascular health could provide valuable insights for uncovering novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. In this study, two commercial red wines were subjected to dynamic gastrointestinal digestion (GIS) to monitor the flavanol-microbiota interaction by evaluating the resulting microbial metabolites.

Cenobamate as add-on treatment for SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.

Objectives: Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) caused by pathogenic variants in SCN8A are associated with difficult-to-treat and early-onset seizures, developmental delay/intellectual disability, impaired quality of life, and increased risk of early mortality. High doses of sodium channel blockers are typically used to treat SCN8A-DEE caused by gain-of-function (GoF) variants. However, seizures are often drug resistant, and only a few patients achieve seizure freedom.

Mesoscale modelling of fibrin clots: the interplay between rheology and microstructure at the gel point.

This study presents a numerical model for incipient fibrin-clot formation that captures characteristic rheological and microstructural features of the clot at the gel point. Using a mesoscale-clustering framework, we evaluate the effect of gel concentration or gel volume fraction and branching on the fractal dimension, the gel time, and the viscoelastic properties of the clots. We show that variations in the gel concentration of our model can reproduce the effect of thrombin in the formation of fibrin clots.

Endoscopic treatment of a gastrocutaneous fistula in a chil.

Introduction: Gastric leaks and gastrocutaneous fistulae (GCF) after digestive surgery are unusual in children. Common treatments are based on conservative measures and surgery but endoscopic techniques are not a widespread option in pediatrics.

Case Report: An underweight child developed a GCF after surgery (esophagocoloplasty with right colon).

Pre- and postnatal botulinum toxin abdominal wall muscle relaxation in hepato-omphalocele.

Introduction: Giant omphalocele poses a conflict between eviscerated content and abdominal capacity, with associated risks such as compartment syndrome or cardiovascular compromise.

Clinical Case: We present the case of a prenatally diagnosed hepato-omphalocele, without associated abnormalities. At week 37, botulinum toxin was injected in the right hemiabdomen under fetal and maternal sedation.

Thoracoabdominal chordoma in a pediatric patient. A rare entity.

Introduction: Chordoma is a rare, slow-growing notochordal neoplasm typical of adults. Less than 5% of the cases occur in children, where they are located at the skull base. Treatment involves surgical resection with or without radiotherapy.

Analysis of postoperative complications in patients undergoing anorectal malformation surgery: are there any predisposing factors?

Objective: To describe our experience with anorectal malformation (ARM) patients, while analyzing complications and risk factors.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of ARM patients aged 0-18 years old undergoing surgery from 2006 to 2023 was carried out. Demographic variables, associated malformations, age and repair surgery operating times, presence and type of colostomy, previous intestinal preparation, and presence and type of surgical complications -intestinal occlusion, anal prolapse, stenosis, bleeding, dehiscence, extrusion, anoplasty misposition, urethral perforation, and stomal complications- were collected.

Spanish national survey on the use of cryoanalgesia in the treatment of funnel chest in pediatric patients.

Introduction: Pain control following Nuss thoracoplasty remains a challenge. Cryoanalgesia of the intercostal nerves has been demonstrated to reduce postoperative pain in these patients. The objective of this study was to understand how and how widely cryoanalgesia is used in pediatric patients undergoing funnel chest surgery in Spain.

Literature review of pediatric robotic surgery in Spain.

Introduction: Robotic surgery has revolutionized surgical practice globally since the first Da Vinci device was launched in 2000. Adoption in Spain has been more moderate than in other countries, especially in the field of pediatric surgery, which represents less than 0.5% of all robotic procedures.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of healthy pig pancreas - Towards the histological diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

Background: diagnosis of early chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a challenge due to the lack of accurate methods. The ability of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided biopsy to obtain pancreatic core tissue samples in patients with minimal changes of CP and its potential use for the histological diagnosis of early CP are unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of different EUS-guided biopsy core needles to obtain histological samples of healthy pig pancreas.

Pros and Cons of Human Brain Organoids to Study Alzheimer's Disease.

There is increasing pressure for researchers to reduce their reliance on animals, particularly in early-stage research. The main reason for that change arises from the different biological behavior of humans that leads to frequent failure of translating data from bench to bed. The advent of organoid technology ten years ago, along with the feasibility of obtaining brain organoids in most laboratories, has created considerable expectations not exempting frustration.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Young-Trained Donors Improves Cognitive Function in Old Mice Through Modulation of the Gut-Brain Axis.

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication pathway that modulates cognitive function. A dysfunctional gut-brain axis has been associated with cognitive impairments during aging. Therefore, we propose evaluating whether modulation of the gut microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from young-trained donors (YT) to middle-aged or aged mice could enhance brain function and cognition in old age.

Vascularized Periosteal Grafts for Bone Union in Children: A Systematic Review.

Background: The periosteum is the main organ responsible for bone regeneration. Vascularized Periosteal Grafts (VPG) have demonstrated exceptional efficacy and speed in facilitating bone union among children with challenging bone healing conditions. Despite their promising results, the overall impact of these interventions has yet to be comprehensively evaluated through systematic review.