Clade Distinction and Tracking of Clonal Spread by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Multicenter Candida (Candidozyma) auris Outbreak.

Background: Candida (Candidozyma) auris has distinct genetic clades. Clade distinction is relevant for infection control and epidemiological purposes. State-of-the-art typing methodologies for clade distinction are based on genomic approaches, such as short tandem repeat (STR) analysis and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Tracheostomy Duration Is a Key Predictor of Persistent Tracheocutaneous Fistulas in Children.

Introduction Pediatric tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that secures the airway in children with upper airway obstruction or those in need of pulmonary support. Persistent tracheocutaneous fistula is a potential sequela that can occur after the decannulation process. Objectives To evaluate the frequency and risk factors that lead to a persistent tracheocutaneous fistula.

Advanced amphotericin-B gel formulation: An efficient approach to combat cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Several drug release studies are continuously carried out to minimize pharmacological limitations, such as insolubility in water and gastrointestinal irritability. This study focused on the development of gels for the administration of amphotericin-B (AmB) for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Two gels were prepared from copolymers (polyglycerol and ε-caprolactone) incorporated with AmB.

Are polydioxanone plates combined with temporoparietal fascia the best technique for repair of nasal septal perforation?

Background: The repair of nasal septal perforations is challenging. Interposition of polydioxanone (PDS) plates combined with fascia graft have been described in the literature with high success rates.

Aims: This study aims to present a case series on the closure of nasal septal perforation using this technique and to evaluate its outcomes.

Material Performance Evaluation for Customized Orthoses: Compression, Flexural, and Tensile Tests Combined with Finite Element Analysis.

Orthoses are commonly used for treating injuries to improve the quality of life of patients, with customized orthoses offering significant benefits. Additive manufacturing, especially fused deposition modelling, enhances these benefits by providing faster, more precise, and more comfortable orthoses. The present study evaluates nine polymeric materials printed in horizontal and vertical directions by assessing their performance through compressive, flexural, and tensile tests.

Nodal Yield in Level II-IV Neck Dissections in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze factors associated with nodal yield in level II-IV selective neck dissections (NDs) and the secondary objective is to assess its impact on overall and disease-free survival.

Methods: Observational retrospective study including adult patients submitted to level II-IV ND from January 2015 to December 2021 in the otorhinolaryngology department of a tertiary hospital center.

Results: A total of 44 patients and 78 level II-IV NDs (34 bilateral and 10 unilateral) were included.

Fabrication and Characterization of Porous PEGDA Hydrogels for Articular Cartilage Regeneration.

Functional articular cartilage regeneration remains an unmet medical challenge, increasing the interest for innovative biomaterial-based tissue engineering (TE) strategies. Hydrogels, 3D macromolecular networks with hydrophilic groups, present articular cartilage-like features such as high water content and load-bearing capacity. In this study, 3D porous polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels were fabricated combining the gas foaming technique and a UV-based crosslinking strategy.

Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials-PLA and PETG-For Biomechanical Applications.

The study presented herein concerns the mechanical properties of two common polymers for potential biomedical applications, PLA and PETG, processed through fused filament fabrication (FFF)-Material Extrusion (ME). For the uniaxial tension tests carried out, two printing orientations-XY (Horizontal, H) and YZ (Vertical, V)-were considered according to the general principles for part positioning, coordinates, and orientation typically used in additive manufacturing (AM). In addition, six specimens were tested for each printing orientation and material, providing insights into mechanical properties such as Tensile Strength, Young's Modulus, and Ultimate Strain, suggesting the materials' potential for biomedical applications.

Comparative Analysis of Impact Strength among Various Polymeric Materials for Orthotic Production.

Orthotic devices play an important role in medical treatment, addressing various pathologies and promoting patient recovery. Customization of orthoses to fit individual patient morphologies and needs is essential for optimal functionality and patient comfort. The advent of additive manufacturing has revolutionized the biomedical field, offering advantages such as cost reduction, increased personalization, and enhanced dimensional adaptability for orthotics manufacturing.

Understanding Zenker's Diverticulum Treatment: Transoral CO2 Laser Microsurgery.

The authors present a case of a 36-year-old woman with a recurrent throat foreign body sensation and persistent dysphagia. On physical examination, a polypoid mass was visible at the postcricoid region, mobile with swallowing. A barium swallowing test confirmed the diagnosis of Zenker's diverticulum.

Rigid Esophagoscopy for Foreign Body Extraction: Results and Complications in the Endoscopic Era.

Introduction Rigid esophagoscopy (RE) has long been a part of otolaryngology practice. In the past decades, the procedure was less commonly performed due to the advances and availability of flexible endoscopic techniques. This study aims to describe the outcomes of RE performed to treat foreign body ingestion and to evaluate risk factors associated with postoperative complications.

Synergy between 3D-extruded electroconductive scaffolds and electrical stimulation to improve bone tissue engineering strategies.

In this work, we propose a simple, reliable, and versatile strategy to create 3D electroconductive scaffolds suitable for bone tissue engineering (TE) applications with electrical stimulation (ES). The proposed scaffolds are made of 3D-extruded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), subjected to alkaline treatment, and of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), anchored to PCL with one of two different crosslinkers: (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS) and divinyl sulfone (DVS). Both cross-linkers allowed the formation of a homogenous and continuous coating of PEDOT:PSS to PCL.

Gold Nanoparticle-Loaded Silica Nanospheres for Sensitive and Selective Electrochemical Detection of Bisphenol A.

In this work, silica nanospheres were used as support for gold nanoparticles and applied for bisphenol A electrochemical detection. The development of new silica-supported materials has attracted increasing attention in the scientific world. One approach of interest is using silica nanospheres as support for gold nanoparticles.

Comparison of Clinical and Pathological Staging in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer After Neck Dissection.

 Clinical and pathological staging plays an important role on the prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.  The present study aims to compare clinical and pathological T, N and overall staging in patients with HNC, to identify factors associated with these discrepancies, and to analyze and compare survival or disease-free survival in staging disagreements.  Retrospective cohort including every patient submitted to neck dissection from January 2010 to December 2020 in the department of Otorhinolaryngology of a tertiary hospital center.

Orofacial clefts: Reflections on prenatal diagnosis and family history based on a series of cases of a tertiary children hospital.

Prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts allows adequate counseling and planning for prenatal care and delivery. In 2001, two-dimensional ultrasound screening became universally used in Portugal by government guidelines, and after 2007 more advanced ultrasound became available. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of family history in patients with orofacial clefts and analyze prenatal diagnosis in patients born before 2001, between 2001 and 2007 and after 2007.

A Novel Approach for Design and Manufacturing of Curvature-Featuring Scaffolds for Osteochondral Repair.

Osteochondral (OC) defects affect both articular cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone. Due to limitations in the cartilage tissue's self-healing capabilities, OC defects exhibit a degenerative progression to which current therapies have not yet found a suitable long-term solution. Tissue engineering (TE) strategies aim to fabricate tissue substitutes that recreate natural tissue features to offer better alternatives to the existing inefficient treatments.

Cancer Models on Chip: Paving the Way to Large-Scale Trial Applications.

Cancer kills millions of individuals every year all over the world (Global Cancer Observatory). The physiological and biomechanical processes underlying the tumor are still poorly understood, hindering researchers from creating new, effective therapies. Inconsistent results of preclinical research, in vivo testing, and clinical trials decrease drug approval rates.

Films composed of white angico gum and chitosan containing chlorhexidine as an antimicrobial agent.

Anadenanthera colubrina, popularly known as white angico, is a species extensively cultivated in Brazil, mainly in the cerrado region, including the state of Piauí. This study examines the development of films composed of white angico gum (WAG) and chitosan (CHI) and containing chlorhexidine (CHX), an antimicrobial agent. The solvent casting method was used to prepare films.

Cellulose-Based Scaffolds: A Comparative Study for Potential Application in Articular Cartilage.

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent disease worldwide that leads to cartilage loss. Tissue engineering, involving scaffolds, cells, and stimuli, has shown to be a promising strategy for its repair. Thus, this study aims to manufacture and characterise different scaffolds with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with commercial cellulose (microcrystalline (McC) and methyl cellulose (MC) or cellulose from agro-industrial residues (corncob (CcC)) and at different percentages, 1%, 2%, and 3%.

and complicated paediatric mastoiditis: a case report of a multidisciplinary approach.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in children is a rare complication of acute mastoiditis that can potentially be fatal. Clinical expertise is essential for early diagnosis and management due to its subtle course. We present the first known case of paediatric acute mastoiditis with venous sinus thrombosis caused by and .

Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity and personality characteristics among adults seeking treatment for problematic internet use.

In the present study, we investigated gender differences in personality and psychiatric correlates among adults ( = 115) seeking treatment for problematic internet use (PIU) at a specialized clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. All participants were assessed at the beginning of their treatment for co-occurring psychiatric conditions, other addictive behaviors, and personality characteristics. Women ( = 20) were more likely to present with greater rates of psychiatric comorbidity compared to men ( = ), including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bulimia nervosa.

Prognostic Role of the Initial Grade of Dysplasia on Premalignant Vocal Fold Lesions.

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to analyze the prognostic role of the initial grade of dysplasia on the progression to SCC.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Methods: This study was performed in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of a tertiary hospital center from January 2010 to December 2020.

Corncob Cellulose Scaffolds: A New Sustainable Temporary Implant for Cartilage Replacement.

Tissue engineering using scaffolds is a promising strategy to repair damaged articular cartilage, whose self-repair is inefficient. Cellulose properties have been recognized for their application in the biomedical field. The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize novel scaffolds based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and sustainable cellulose.

From Animal to Human: (Re)using Acellular Extracellular Matrices for Temporomandibular Disc Substitution.

Current treatments for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc dysfunctions are not fully effective and lack regenerative capacity. Therefore, the search for tissue-engineered materials for TMJ disc substitution is critical to fill this gap. Decellularization presents tremendous potential, as it is possible to obtain an extracellular matrix with an adequate biomechanical structure and biochemical components.