COVID-19 and change to home nursing care: Prospective study on 100 patients followed in CLCC

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader COVID-19 and change to home nursing care: Prospective study on 100 patients followed in CLCC Via Association française pour l'étude du cancer Bull Cancer. 2022 Feb 14:S0007-4551(22)00071-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2022.01.013. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 epidemic, the lockdown measures were associated with professional guidelines to care for patients. We noticed that the home nursing care of some patients monitored in supportive care wards were interrupted. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of lockdown on the home nursing care of patients monitored in supportive care wards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational, descriptive, monocentric, and prospective study was conducted in the supportive care wards from the 04.20 to the 05.15.2020 among 100 patients. They were asked about their home nursing care and their frequency before and after lockdown. Our study received a favorable ruling from the ethics committee of the Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg. RESULTS: About two thirds of patients had experienced a ch ange with their home nursing care. A complete interruption was observed for 40% of them and a reduction of frequency for 10% of them. Some populations were more deeply affected: patients with a performance status 3-4, women, patients living alone or patients with motor disability. The interruption of a task usually performed by a professional was observed for 49% of patients, with the task becoming incumbent on the patient or family caregivers. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a strong impact of the lockdown on the home nursing care of our patients in spite of the professional guidelines encouraging continuity of care. Our study underlines the great importance of protecting the access to care of the most vulnerable patients. PMID:35219501 | DOI:10.1016/j.bulcan.2022.01.013 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Metformin reduces chondrocyte pyroptosis in an osteoarthritis mouse model by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Metformin reduces chondrocyte pyroptosis in an osteoarthritis mouse model by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation Via Experimental and therapeutic medicine Exp Ther Med. 2022 Mar;23(3):222. doi: 10.3892/etm.2022.11146. Epub 2022 Jan 17. ABSTRACT Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative disease, and its incidence is increasing with the ageing of the population. Metformin, as the first-line medication for the treatment of diabetes, has received increasing attention for its role in OA. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the therapeutic effect of metformin in a mouse model of OA and to determine the mechanism underlying the resultant delay in OA progression. The right knees of 8-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). Metformin (200 mg/kg) was then administered daily for 4 or 8 weeks. Safranin O-fast green staining, H&E staining and micro-CT were used to analyse the structure and morphological changes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect type II collagen (Col II), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), NO D-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD) and IL-1β protein expression. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β. Histomorphological staining showed that metformin delayed the progression of OA in the DMM model. With respect to cartilage, metformin decreased the Osteoarthritis Research Society International score, increased the thickness of hyaline cartilage and decreased the thickness of calcified cartilage. Regarding the mechanism, in cartilage, metformin increased the expression of Col II and decreased the expression of MMP-13, NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD and IL-1β. In addition, in subchondral bone, metformin inhibited osteophyte formation, increased the bone volume fraction (%) and the bone mineral density (g/cm3), decreased the trabecular separation (mm) in early stage of osteoarthritis (4 weeks) but the opposite in an advanced stage of osteoarthritis (8 weeks). Overall, metformin inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, decreased cartilage degradation, reversed subchondral bone remodelling and inhibited chondrocyte pyroptosis. PMID:35222699 | PMC:PMC8812147 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2022.11146 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Growth in fetuses of the constrictor pharyngis superior with special reference to its meeting with the buccinator: an embryological basis of adult variations in palatopharyngeal anatomy

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Growth in fetuses of the constrictor pharyngis superior with special reference to its meeting with the buccinator: an embryological basis of adult variations in palatopharyngeal anatomy Via radiol anat Surg Radiol Anat. 2022 Feb 28. doi: 10.1007/s00276-022-02907-w. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The constrictor pharyngis superior (CPS) initially develops along the posterior wall of the pharyngeal mucosal tube, whereas, during the early phase, the buccinators (BC) are far anterolateral to the CPS. The process and timing of their meeting during fetal growth have not been determined. METHODS: The topographical relationship between the growing BC and CPS was as sessed in histological sections from 22 early- and mid-term fetuses of approximate gestational age (GA) 8-16 weeks, and eight late-term fetuses of approximate GA 31-39 weeks. RESULTS: At 8-9 weeks, the palatopharyngeus appeared to pull the CPS up and forward. Until 11 weeks, the CPS was attached to the hamulus of the pterygoid (pterygopharyngeal part). Until 13 weeks, the CPS extended anterolaterally beyond the hamulus to meet the BC. Some BC muscle fibers originated from the oral mucosa. Notably, by 30 weeks, the CPS-BC interface had become covered by or attached to the palatopharyngeus. Muscle fibers of the palatopharyngeus, however, were thinner than those of the CPS and BC. At and near the interface, BC muscle fibers tended to run along the left-right axis, whereas those of the CPS ran anteroposteriorly. A definite fascia (i.e., a future pterygomandibular raphe) was usually absent between these muscles in fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: The excess anterior growth of the CPS wi th its subsequent degeneration might cause individual anatomical variations in composite muscle bundles of the palatopharyngeus-CPS complex or palatopharyngeal sphincter. A tensile transduction from the BC to the CPS through the raphe seemed unnecessary for cooperative suckling and swallowing after birth. PMID:35226125 | DOI:10.1007/s00276-022-02907-w View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Quality of Life and Functionality of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Are Diminished As a Function of Sarcopenia and Obesity

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Quality of Life and Functionality of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Are Diminished As a Function of Sarcopenia and Obesity Via ear nose throat Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Feb 28:1455613221076791. doi: 10.1177/01455613221076791. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (QoL) is a measure that allows us to know the patient's perception of well-being and how it is affected by their disease and treatments. In cancer patients, sarcopenia has been associated with low scores on various instruments used to assess the QoL; however, little information is available on the effects of sarcopenia an d sarcopenic obesity on the QoL of patients with head and neck cancer (H&NC). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study with 71 H&NC patients aged between 40 and 80 years, we describe the scores on the instruments EORTC QLQ C-30 and EORTC QLQ-H&N35 according to the sarcopenia phenotype (NSG, nonsarcopenic group; SG, sarcopenic group; and SOG, sarcopenic obesity group), hand-grip strength, gait speed, total lymphocyte count, albumin, cholesterol and C-reactive protein, and the relationships between these variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity was 48% and 28%, respectively. The QoL analysis showed that NSG had higher scores on the physical functioning scale [NSG 93 (83-100); SG 73 (52-88); SOG 83 (53-93), P = .009] and lower scores on the fatigue scale [NSG 11 (0-22); S 39 (30-67); SOG 44 (14-56); P = .004]. The NSG had a higher hand-grip strength (31.1 kg) than SG (24.1 kg, P = .007) and SOG (26.3 kg, P = .001), and a lower C-reac tive protein. The SG and SOG showed no differences between them. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity have lower physical performance and a higher level of fatigue than nonsarcopenic patients. This loss of function can maintain or worsen sarcopenia due to the patient's self-restraint in physical exertion that encourages an increase in muscle tissue. PMID:35226551 | DOI:10.1177/01455613221076791 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Conservative Management of Post-Operative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak following Skull Base Surgery: A Pilot Study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Conservative Management of Post-Operative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak following Skull Base Surgery: A Pilot Study Via leak of cerebrospinal fluid Brain Sci. 2022 Jan 24;12(2):152. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12020152. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND/AIMS: Iatrogenic CSF leaks after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery remain a challenging entity to manage, typically treated with CSF diversion via lumbar drainage. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of high-volume lumbar puncture (LP) and acetazolamide therapy to manage iatrogenic CSF leaks. METHODS: We performed a prospective pilot study of four patients who developed iatrogenic postoperative CSF leaks after transsphenoidal surgery and analyzed their response to treatment with concomitant high-volume lumbar puncture followed by acetazolamide therapy for 10 days. Data collected included demographics, intra-operative findings, including methodology of skull base repair and type of CSF leak, time to presentation with CSF leak, complications associated with high-volume LP and acetazolamide treatment, and length of follow-up. < p>RESULTS: Mean patient age was 44.28 years, with an average BMI of 27.4. Mean time from surgery to onset of CSF leak was 7.71 days. All four patients had resolution of their CSF leak at two- and four-week follow-up. Mean overall follow-up time was 179 days, with a 100% CSF leak cure rate at the last clinic visit. No patient suffered perioperative complications or complications secondary to treatment. CONCLUSION: Although our pilot case series is small, we demonstrate that a high-volume LP, followed by acetazolamide therapy for 10 days, can be considered in the management of post-operative CSF leaks. PMID:35203915 | DOI:10.3390/brainsci12020152 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Molecular aetiology of ski-slope hearing loss and audiological course of cochlear implantees

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Molecular aetiology of ski-slope hearing loss and audiological course of cochlear implantees Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07317-7. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: A challenge for patients with ski-slope hearing loss is that hearing aids do not adequately amplify the mid-to-high frequencies necessary for speech perception and conversely, cochlear implant (CI) may damage low-frequency hearing. We aimed to describe the clinical profile of patients with ski-slope hearing loss, with a special focus on aetiology of such hearing loss and audiological course of low-frequency hearing after CI. METHODS: We recruited hearing-impaired patients who visited a tertiary referral centre and met the criteria for ski-slope hearing loss patients from 2015 to 2021. Genetic testing was performed in all ski-slope hearing loss patients unless refused. Baseline audiograms of patients who continued to use hearing aids or who finally underwent CIs were reviewed. As for CI patients, outcome and hearing pr eservation rate were rigorously analysed. RESULTS: Of 46 recruited patients with ski-slope hearing loss, 45 agreed to undergo genetic testing and causative variants were identified in 17 (37.8%) patients. The TMC1, MYO7A, and TMPRSS3 variants were the most common, while LRTOMT was newly identified as a causative gene. Twenty-five patients eventually received CI, while 13 continued to wear the hearing aid and 8 patients did not ever try hearing aids. CI in ski-slope hearing loss led to immediate and sufficient improvement of sentence recognition by as early as 3 months, however, the duration of hearing loss was inversely correlated with the sentence recognition score. The average hearing preservation rate (using the HEARRING classification) after CI was 53.0% (SD 30.0) and 45.6% (SD 31.1) at 1 year. Seventy-nine percent of implantees maintained functional low-frequency hearing (better than 85 dB at 250 and 500 Hz) eligible for electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS). A trend was fo und that patients with hair cell stereocilia-associated genetic variants may have a slightly better preservation, albeit with no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Detection rate of a molecular genetic aetiology of ski-slope hearing loss appears to be lower than other type of hearing loss reported in the literature. Especially with short hearing loss duration, CI in ski-slope hearing loss leads to immediate and sufficient speech improvement, while preserving functional low-frequency hearing eligible for EAS as many as in 79%. A certain genetic aetiology might be associated with a trend towards better low-frequency hearing preservation. PMID:35212774 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-022-07317-7 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The COVID-19 pandemic and upgrades of CI speech processors for children: part I-procedure of speech processor upgrade

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader The COVID-19 pandemic and upgrades of CI speech processors for children: part I-procedure of speech processor upgrade Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Feb 26. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07278-x. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of upgrading speech processors during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Adopting concepts from "lean thinking", we optimized hospital workflows to allow speech processors to be upgraded despite the obstacles arising from national guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. The study involved 297 children, aged from 7.3 to 18.0 years, whose processors were upgraded on five consecutive Saturdays during a time of peak COVID-19 in Poland. RESULTS: The optimized workflow allowed us to conduct speech processor upgrades during a time of peak COVID-19 in Poland. The upgrades were conducted as scheduled, patient flow was smooth, appropriate social distancing was kept, and no reports of COVID-19 infection in our patients in the 2 weeks after their visit were received. CONCLUSION: Upgrading of sp eech processors in children is still feasible under coronavirus conditions. PMID:35217905 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-022-07278-x View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Anatomical features of the iliocapsularis muscle: a dissection study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Anatomical features of the iliocapsularis muscle: a dissection study Via radiol anat Surg Radiol Anat. 2022 Feb 26. doi: 10.1007/s00276-022-02905-y. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Iliocapsularis (IC) overlies the anteromedial hip capsule and is an important landmark in anterior approaches to hip arthroplasty. Previously believed to be part of iliacus, few publications describe the prevalence, attachments, fibre direction, blood supply, innervation, and size of IC. This study was aimed to determine these anatomical features using embalmed bodies and whether they vary between sides, sex, and age. METHODS: Thirty-eight formalin-fixed adult bodies were dissected and the prevalence, presence of a connective tissue raphe, attachments, fibre direction, blood supply, and innervation, were documented. Length and width were measured, and significant differences were investigated with t tests. RESULTS: Iliocapsularis was present in all bodies examined, originating from the inferior border of the anterior inferior iliac spine, and inserting 20 mm distal to the lesser trochanter in 54 muscles (71%). Iliocapsularis was supplied by a thin branch from the femoral nerve and by branches of the lateral circumflex femoral and deep femoral arteries and veins. Muscle fibre direction was from superolateral to inferomedial. Mean length was 116.8 ± 11.2 mm and width was 12.8 ± 3.1 mm, with no significant differences between sides, sex, and age. CONCLUSION: This was the first study to document the venous drainage and compare the di mensions with sides, sex, and age, using adult bodies. However, the true function of IC is still unknown. Iliocapsularis is a constant muscle, distinct from iliacus, which is relevant to orthopaedic surgeons and physical rehabilitation specialists, particularly for postoperative patient care. PMID:35218407 | DOI:10.1007/s00276-022-02905-y View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Dendritic cells in reflectance confocal microscopy is a clue for early melanoma diagnosis in extrafacial flat pigmented melanocytic lesions

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Dendritic cells in reflectance confocal microscopy is a clue for early melanoma diagnosis in extrafacial flat pigmented melanocytic lesions Via Experimental Dermatology Abstract Background Differential diagnosis of extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with dermoscopic reticular and/or homogeneous pattern is challenging. Dendritic cells upon reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) still represent a pitfall. Objective To determine the role of dendritic cells upon RCM in the epidermis and dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), together with common RCM features for melanoma and nevi, in dermoscopically equivocal extrafacial flat pigmented lesions. Methods A retrospective evaluation of RCM images of melanocytic extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with reticular and/or homogeneous dermoscopic pattern and with histopathological diagnosis, was performed. A multivariate model of RCM features was used to obtain a score of independent risk factors. Results A total of 698 lesions were included. Increasing patient age, epidermal dendritic cells, many dendritic cells in the DEJ (>30%), and many (>5/mm2) round atypical cells were independent risk factors for melanoma. Edged papillae and melanophages were indicative of nevus. A score based on these features was developed to assist in melanoma differential diagnosis. Conclusion The RCM observation of abundant (>30%) dendritic cells in the DEJ is highly suggestive of malignity. This independent risk factor should also be considered for improved differential diagnosis of extrafacial melanoma. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Can cystic lesions of the jaws be considered as the cause of mandibular asymmetry?

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Can cystic lesions of the jaws be considered as the cause of mandibular asymmetry? Via pubmed: "med oral patol oral... Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2022 Mar 1;27(2):e159-e163. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25134. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of condylar and ramal asymmetry in patients with a cyst larger than 10 mm in the maxilla or mandible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Condylar and ramal asymmetry index measurements of 47 patients (mean age: 28.85 ± 15.348) in the study group and 40 patients in the control group (mean age: 33.73 ± 13.095) were performed using panoramic radiographs. The study group consists of patients with cysts larger than 10 mm in diameter in the maxilla or mandible. The control group consisted of patients with no radiolucent lesions and no history of trauma. The possible statistical difference between the groups was evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in asymmetry indices according to gender and the jaw (maxilla or mandible) in which the cyst was located. However, it was determined that CAI and RAI values were statistically significantly different between the study and control groups (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of intraosseous cysts larger than 10 mm in the jaws was found to be associated with condylar and ramal asymmetry. PMID:35218644 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25134 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

MutSα expression predicts a lower disease-free survival in malignant salivary gland tumors: an immunohistochemical study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader MutSα expression predicts a lower disease-free survival in malignant salivary gland tumors: an immunohistochemical study Via pubmed: "med oral patol oral... Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2022 Mar 1;27(2):e164-e173. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25138. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Appropriate DNA replication is vital to maintain cell integrity at the genomic level. Malfunction on DNA repair mechanisms can have implications related to tumor behavior. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of key complexes of the DNA mismatch-repair system MutSα (hMSH2-hMSH6) and MutSβ (hMSH2-hMSH3) in a panel comprising the most common benign and malignant salivary gland tumors (SGT), and to determine their association with disease-free survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten cases of normal salivary gland (NSG) and 92 of SGT (54 benign and 38 malignant) were retrieved. Immunohistochemistry was performed for hMSH2, hMSH3, hMSH6. Scanned slides were digitally analyzed based on the percentage of positive cells with nuclear staining. Cases were further classified in MutSαhigh and MutSβhigh based on hMSH2-hMSH6 and hMSH3- hMSH6 expression, respectively. RESULTS: hMSH3 expression was lower in malignant SGT compared to NSG and benign cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) cases with perineural invasion presented a lower percentage of hMSH3 positive cells. hMSH6 was downregulated in both benign and malignant SGT compared to NSG. Malignant SGT cases with MutSαhigh expression had lower disease-free survival compared to MutSαlow cases. A 10.26-fold increased risk of presenting local recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a lack of hMSH3 protein function is associated with a more aggressive phenotype (malignancy and perineural invasion) and that MutSα overexpression predicts a poor clinical outcome in malignant SGT. PMID:35218645 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25138 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.