Medicina
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Background and Objectives: Current craniofacial reconstruction surgical methods have limitations because they involve facial deformation. The craniofacial region includes many areas where the mucosa, exposed to air, is closely adjacent to bone, with the maxilla being a prominent example of this structure. Therefore, this study explored whether human neural-crest-derived stem cells (hNTSCs) aid bone and airway mucosal regeneration during craniofacial reconstruction using a rabbit model. ⋯ H&E staining and SEM showed that new tissue and cilia around the maxillary defect were more prominent in the hNTSC group. Also, the hNTSCs group showed positive immunohistofluorescence staining for acetylated α-tubulin and cytokerin-5 compared to the control group. Conclusions: hNTSCs combined with PCL scaffold enhanced the regeneration of mucosal tissue and bone in vitro and promoted mucosal tissue regeneration in the in vivo rabbit model.
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Background and Objectives: The impact of craniocervical posture on malocclusion has long intrigued researchers in dentistry, orthodontics, and physical therapy. This research aims to elucidate the relationship between craniocervical posture and both dental and skeletal malocclusions and to explore the potential for integrated multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches. Materials and Methods: We analyzed peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2023 from PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus. ⋯ In particular, orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery appear to influence craniocervical posture, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between craniofacial structure and neck alignment. Conclusions: Our literature review confirms a significant association between craniocervical posture and malocclusion, emphasizing the need for an integrative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial anomalies. Future research should aim to quantify these relationships further through longitudinal studies, thereby increasing the understanding necessary to develop comprehensive treatment protocols.
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Background and Objectives: A high baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a poor prognostic factor in various cancers. However, its predictive role in metastatic bladder cancer (mBC) treated with immunotherapy is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the baseline and change in NLR and overall survival in mBC patients treated with immunotherapy, with the potential to significantly impact patient care. ⋯ The overall median survival was 15 months, with 10 months for the NLR-increased group and not reached for the NLR-decreased group. Conclusions: Our study highlights the potential of baseline NLR and early changes in NLR as valuable prognostic markers for mBC patients receiving immunotherapy. Elevated neutrophils and lymphopenia negatively impact prognosis and treatment effectiveness, and NLR shows promise as a prognostic marker, inspiring further research and potential improvements in patient care.
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Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) levels on admission have prognostic significance regarding one-year major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 464 patients aged 59.2 ± 11.6 years constituted the cohort of this retrospectively designed study. Considering a 1-year follow-up period, the patients were divided into two groups: those with MACCEs and those without. ⋯ The DeLong test revealed that the predictive performance of the NPAR was superior to that of the other inflammatory parameters. In particular, individuals with an NPAR value greater than 17.6 were at greater risk of developing MACCEs (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The NPAR can be used as a newly identified promising inflammatory biomarker to predict one-year MACCEs in NSTEMI patients undergoing revascularization therapy.
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Background: The transition from the pediatric to the adult healthcare system is a challenging process involving adolescents, parents, and pediatric and adult specialists. For a successful approach for an organized transition program, we must assess the level of training of adolescents facing transition. Methods: We applied a clinic-based questionnaire measuring perceived self-management skills, adherence to health-related tasks, medication knowledge, and social adjustment to pediatric patients with chronic digestive diseases from North-East Romanian medical units, including a tertiary center and private practice offices. ⋯ Other correlations were found between communication skills and medication knowledge, appointments management, and tracking healthcare dynamics. All the investigated domains were positively correlated with the overall scores, highlighting the potential impact of active targeted interventions during transition. Conclusions: We identified significant areas to address and potentially influence during an organized transition program such as communication skills and knowledge regarding the chronic disease and the followed medication.