Improving Understanding of Fexofenadine Pharmacokinetics to Assess Pgp Phenotypic Activity in Older Adult Patients Using Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling.

Background And Objective: Fexofenadine is commonly used as a probe substrate to assess P-glycoprotein (Pgp) activity. While its use in healthy volunteers is well documented, data in older adult and polymorbid patients are lacking. Age- and disease-related physiological changes are expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine.

Breast density assessment via quantitative sound-speed measurement using conventional ultrasound transducers.

Objectives: The aim is to assess the feasibility and accuracy of a novel quantitative ultrasound (US) method based on global speed-of-sound (g-SoS) measurement using conventional US machines, for breast density assessment in comparison to mammographic ACR (m-ACR) categories.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective study, g-SoS was assessed in the upper-outer breast quadrant of 100 women, with 92 of them also having m-ACR assessed by two radiologists across the entire breast. For g-SoS, ultrasonic waves were transmitted from varying transducer locations and the image misalignments between these were then related analytically to breast SoS.

Ovarian cancer staging and follow-up: updated guidelines from the European Society of Urogenital Radiology female pelvic imaging working group.

Objective: To provide up-to-date European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) guidelines for staging and follow-up of patients with ovarian cancer (OC).

Methods: Twenty-one experts, members of the female pelvis imaging ESUR subcommittee from 19 institutions, replied to 2 rounds of questionnaires regarding imaging techniques and structured reporting used for pre-treatment evaluation of OC patients. The results of the survey were presented to the other authors during the group's annual meeting.

Indications for the addition of a patellofemoral joint arthroplasty following a previous unicondylar knee arthroplasty- a literature review and Delphi consensus.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to establish an international consensus statement on the indications for the addition of a patellofemoral joint arthroplasty (PFJA) in patients with a unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) and symptomatic progression of patellofemoral compartment osteoarthritis.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted, and the results used to inform the development of a statement by an expert working group. This was then evaluated and modified, using a Delphi process, by members of the European Knee Society (EKS).

Precision medicine in diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring of bone and soft tissue sarcomas using liquid biopsy: a systematic review.

Introduction: Liquid biopsy as a non-invasive method to investigate cancer biology and monitor residual disease has gained significance in clinical practice over the years. Whilst its applicability in carcinomas is well established, the low incidence and heterogeneity of bone and soft tissue sarcomas explains the less well-established knowledge considering liquid biopsy in these highly malignant mesenchymal neoplasms.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature review adhering to the PRISMA guidelines initially identified 920 studies, of whom 68 original articles could be finally included, all dealing with clinical applicability of liquid biopsy in sarcoma.

Postgraduate medical education in obstetrics and gynecology in Switzerland in comparison to Germany and Austria: the results of an international survey.

Background: There is frequent academic exchange between Switzerland, Germany and Austria, facilitated by the common language. Additionally, the postgraduate training curricula in obstetrics and gynecology show some similarities. We aimed to compare self-perceived level of ability, availability of simulation training and teaching and feedback culture among residents in obstetrics and gynecology in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

Iliosacral screw osteosynthesis - state of the art.

Iliosacral screw osteosynthesis is a widely recognized technique for stabilizing unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries, offering notable advantages, including enhanced mechanical stability, minimal invasiveness, reduced blood loss, and lower infection rates. However, the procedure presents technical challenges due to the complex anatomy of the sacrum and the proximity of critical neurovascular structures. While conventional fluoroscopy remains the primary method for intraoperative guidance, precise preoperative planning using multiplanar reconstructions and three-dimensional volume rendering is crucial for ensuring accurate placement of iliosacral or transsacral screws.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Clinical Practice Guideline on Surgical Management of Oligometastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: The use of local consolidative therapy (LCT) in patients with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rapidly evolving, with a preponderance of data supporting the benefits of such therapeutic approaches incorporating pulmonary resection for appropriately selected candidates. However, practices vary widely institutionally and regionally, and evidence-based guidelines are lacking.

Methods: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons assembled a panel of thoracic surgical oncologists to evaluate and synthesize the available evidence regarding the role of pulmonary resection as LCT.

Giant Purcell Broadening and Lamb Shift for DNA-Assembled Near-Infrared Quantum Emitters.

Controlling the light emitted by individual molecules is instrumental to a number of advanced nanotechnologies ranging from super-resolution bioimaging and molecular sensing to quantum nanophotonics. Molecular emission can be tailored by modifying the local photonic environment, for example, by precisely placing a single molecule inside a plasmonic nanocavity with the help of DNA origami. Here, using this scalable approach, we show that commercial fluorophores may experience giant Purcell factors and Lamb shifts, reaching values on par with those recently reported in scanning tip experiments.

Aryl-Acetylene Layered Hybrid Perovskites in Photovoltaics.

Metal halide perovskites have shown exceptional potential in converting solar energy to electric power in photovoltaics, yet their application is hampered by limited operational stability. This stimulated the development of hybrid layered (two-dimensional, 2D) halide perovskites based on hydrophobic organic spacers, templating perovskite slabs, as a more stable alternative. However, conventional organic spacer cations are electronically insulating, resulting in charge confinement within the inorganic slabs, thus limiting their functionality.

Transosseous Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon Transfer for Large Achilles Tendon Defects: Surgery Technique and Outcome.

Background: Operative management of chronic Achilles tendinopathy with large defects can be surgically challenging. Concerns exist regarding transosseous transfer of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon because of the shortened lever arm of flexion and weakening of the big toe. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the 2-year outcome of transosseous FHL transfer for the treatment of large Achilles tendon defects.

Proteinuria and tubular cells: Plasticity and toxicity.

Aim: Proteinuria is the most robust predictive factors for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and interventions targeting proteinuria reduction have shown to be the most effective nephroprotective treatments to date. While glomerular dysfunction is the primary source of proteinuria, its consequences extend beyond the glomerulus and have a profound impact on tubular epithelial cells. Indeed, proteinuria induces notable phenotypic changes in tubular epithelial cells and plays a crucial role in driving CKD progression.

A scoping review evaluating the current state of gut microbiota and its metabolites in valvular heart disease physiopathology.

Background: The human microbiome is crucial in regulating intestinal and systemic functions. While its role in cardiovascular disease is better understood, the link between intestinal microbiota and valvular heart diseases (VHD) remains largely unexplored.

Methods: Peer-reviewed studies on human, animal or cell models analysing gut microbiota profiles published up to April 2024 were included.

High Sensitivity of Fine-Needle Aspiration Calcitonin in Detecting Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Is Independent of Predefined Decisional Thresholds.

The measurement of Calcitonin (Ctn) in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) washout fluids (FNA-Ctn) has demonstrated excellent sensitivity, significantly higher than FNA cytology, in detecting medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). However, the absence of a fixed cutoff value for FNA-Ctn poses a limitation. This study aimed to investigate whether the sensitivity of FNA-Ctn in detecting MTC varies with different cutoffs reported in the literature.

Rare Enterohepatic Fistula in Crohn's Disease: Case Analysis and Literature Synthesis.

BACKGROUND Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease known for causing fistulous tracts, abscesses, and bowel perforation. Enterohepatic fistulas, a rare but significant complication, are scarcely reported. This article presents the case of a hepatic abscess due to an enterohepatic fistula in a patient with long-term Crohn disease and reviews the existing literature on this phenomenon.

Second Versus First Molar Extractions in Class II Division 1 Malocclusion Treatment: A Retrospective Longitudinal Outcome Study into Maxillary Canine, Premolar, and Molar Movement.

This retrospective longitudinal outcome study comparing orthodontic extraction modalities, including extraction of maxillary first or second molars, aimed to compare the three-dimensional tooth movement of maxillary canines (C), premolars (P1, P2), and molars (M1, M2) in Class II division 1 malocclusion treatment with fixed appliances. A sample of 98 patients (mean age 13.20 ± 1.

Long-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Aortic Repair with Parallel Chimney or Periscope Stent Grafts for Ruptured Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

: The parallel stent graft endovascular aortic repair (PGEVAR) technique is an off-the-shelf option used for elective complex abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with acceptable outcome results, as reported so far. The PGEVAR technique, using chimney or periscope parallel grafts, can also be used for patients with ruptured complex abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, only few data about the mid- to long-term outcomes are available.

Feasibility Testing of the Automatic Design of Three-Unit Implant Fixed Dental Prostheses with Different Dental CAD Software: A Pre-Clinical Pilot Trial.

The technical development of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (iFDP) initially concentrated on the computer-aided manufacturing of prosthetic restorations (CAM). Advances in information technologies have shifted the focus for optimizing digital workflows to AI-based processes for design (CAD). This pre-clinical pilot trial investigated the feasibility of the automatic design of three-unit iFDPs using CAD software (Dental Manger 2021, 3Shape; DentalCAD 3.

The Management of Postpartum Cardiorespiratory Failure in a Patient with COVID-19 and Sickle Cell Trait Requiring Extraorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support and Airflight Transportation.

Acute cardiovascular disorders are incriminated in up to 33% of maternal deaths, and the presence of sickle cell anemia (SCA) aggravates the risk of peripartum complications. Herein, we present a 24-year-old Caribbean woman with known SCA who developed a vaso-occlusive crisis at 36 weeks of gestation that required emergency Cesarean section. In the early postpartum period, she experienced fever with rapid onset of acute respiratory distress in the context of COVID-19 infection that required tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilatory support with broad-spectrum antibiotics and blood exchange transfusion.

How In Vivo Alteration of Hip Replacement Wear Mode Can Cause a Voluminous Inflammatory Reaction and an Excessive Titanium Exposure.

Wear particle reaction is present in every arthroplasty. Sometimes, this reaction may lead to formation of large pseudotumors. As illustrated in this case, the volume of the reaction may be out of proportion to the volume of the wear scar.

Is There a Role for Hormonal Therapy in Men with Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT)?

Hormonal factors play an essential role as an underlying causative factor of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and these patients can benefit from hormonal medications that modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This review aims to outline the various medications used as hormonal therapy in treating infertile men with OAT. This manuscript focuses on essential hormonal evaluation, identifying men who would benefit from treatment, selecting the appropriate medication, determining the duration of therapy, and evaluating hormonal treatment outcomes.

Surgical Treatment of Early-Onset Scoliosis: Traditional Growing Rod vs. Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod vs. Vertical Expandable Prosthesis Titanium Ribs.

Severe early-onset scoliosis (EOS) can be addressed by different growth-friendly approaches, although the indications of each technique remain controversial. The aim of this study was to compare, in a large series of patients, the potential and limitations of the different distraction-based surgical techniques to establish the most suitable surgical approach to treat EOS. We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study evaluating 62 EOS cases treated between January 2002 and December 2021 with a traditional growing rod (TGR), a magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) and vertical expandable prosthesis titanium ribs (VEPTR) at IRCSS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.

The Effects of Systemic Tranexamic Acid Administration on Drainage Volume, Length of Hospital Stay, and Postoperative Complications in Reduction Mammaplasty.

Reduction mammaplasty is a common, elective, and safe operation, usually executed in healthy patients. Nonetheless, postoperative complications like bleeding and seroma formation can occur and significantly complicate the postoperative course. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a commonly used antifibrinolytic drug, offers a novel approach to reduce these complications.

In the Twilight of Evidence: Is Bypass Surgery Still on the Table for Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy?

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major prognosis-limiting factor in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (HT). Due to the diffuse involvement of the coronary tree, CAV lesions are often not amenable to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), leaving coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and retransplantation as primary revascularization options. : The latest guidelines from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) recognize CABG as a viable option but with a downgraded strength of recommendation.

Strategies in Diagnosis and Therapy of External Outflow Graft Obstruction in Patients with a Fully Magnetically Levitated Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

The HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is the only commercially available option considered suitable for long-term circulatory support. External compression of the outflow graft causing obstruction (eOGO) is a serious adverse event affecting patients on long-term support. The obstruction occurs due to the accumulation of gelatinous substance between the bend relief and outflow graft.