Prototype Orthopedic Bone Plates 3D Printed by Laser Melting Deposition.

Laser melting deposition is a 3D printing method usually studied for the manufacturing of machine parts in the industry. However, for the medical sector, although feasible, applications and actual products taking advantage of this technique are only scarcely reported. Therefore, in this study, Ti6Al4V orthopedic implants in the form of plates were 3D printed by laser melting deposition. Tuning of the laser power, scanning speed and powder feed rate was conducted, in order to obtain a continuous deposition after a single laser pass and to diminish unwanted blown powder, stuck in the vicinity of the printed elements. The fabrication of bone plates is presented in detail, putting emphasis on the scanning direction, which had a decisive role in the 3D printing resolution. The printed material was investigated by optical microscopy and was found to be dense, with no visible pores or cracks. The metallographic investigations and X-ray diffraction data exposed an unusual biphasic α+ß structure. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed a composition very similar to the one of the starting powder material. The mapping of the surface showed a uniform distribution of elements, with no segregations or areas with deficient elemental distribution. The in vitro tests performed on the 3D printed Ti6Al4V samples in osteoblast-like cell cultures up to 7 days showed that the material deposited by laser melting is cytocompatible.

Expression pattern of CK7 and CK20 in nasal polyps, at patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

We investigated the expression of cytokeratins 7 (CK7) and 20 (CK20) in nasal polyps on a group of 106 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (45 women - 42% and 61 men - 58%) who benefited from surgical procedures. Harvested biological material was analyzed in the pathology laboratory through two methods: histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Classical histopathological method of processing the tissues initially fixed in 10% formalin was used. The tissues were then processed by paraffin impregnation, sectioned and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. The immunohistochemical method was based on soluble immunoenzymatic complexes - LSAB/HRP (labeled Streptavidin Biotin) method. We used DAKO LSAB 2 System HRP (Universal DAKO Labeled Streptavidin Biotin 2 System Horseradish Peroxidase). The expressions of CK7 and CK20 in nasal polyps were analyzed.

Laryngocele associated with laryngeal carcinoma.

Laryngocele is an abnormal dilatation of Morgagni ventricle (saccule) in direct communication with the laryngeal lumen. Symptoms are not characteristic: hoarseness, dyspnea, foreign body sensation and cough. Sometimes it is presented as cervical swelling causing airway obstruction and need an emergency tracheotomy. In this paper, we report a case of upper airway obstruction due to laryngocele associated with a laryngeal carcinoma who was treated by emergency tracheotomy and, finally by total laryngectomy. A review of the literature is also presented.

Management of second branchial cleft anomalies.

Branchial cleft anomalies are developmental disorders of the neck. The aim of this study was to evaluate the data of our patients, who have been diagnosed and treated for second branchial abnormalities in the last six years. We report our clinical experience in second branchial anomalies with a review of the literature. Our study is a retrospective one on a number of 23 patients hospitalized within 2001-2007 in ENT Clinic of Craiova for second branchial abnormalities in relation with age, gender, origin environment, clinical and paraclinical context in which the therapeutic decision was made, surgical procedures, post-surgical evolution. Among the anomalies of the second branchial arch, we encountered 10 (43.47%) patients with branchial cyst and 13 (56.52%) patients with branchial sinus. Twelve (52.17%) of the 23 patients were women and 11 (47.83%) were men; 9 (39.13%) patients were diagnosed and treated within the first age decade, seven (30.43%) within the second age decade, five (39.13%) within the third age decade and two (8.71%) in the fourth age decade. Histological examination of the lesions after excision established the diagnosis in all the cases. Second branchial arches anomalies are the most common branchial anomalies. Sinuses are more frequently than cysts and branchial fistulae are extremely rare. There is no gender predilection. The majority of patients (approximately 70%) were diagnosed and treated during their childhood. Treatment for these lesions is complete surgical excision for prevent recurrences.