Effect of surgery, delivery device and head position on sinus irrigant penetration in a cadaver model.

OBJECTIVE: The extent of surgery, the type of device used and head position may influence nasal irrigation. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of topical irrigant delivery to the paranasal sinuses according to these factors. METHOD: Four cadaveric heads underwent four stepwise endoscopic dissections. Irrigations were evaluated after every stage using different delivery devices (squeeze-bottle, gravity-dependent device and syringe) in two head positions (nose-to-sink and vertex down). Irrigant penetration into each sinus was estimated using a four-point scale. RESULTS: A significant positive effect of surgery was demonstrated for each sinus as well as for the delivery device. High-volume irrigant devices are more effective, and the head position plays a significant role in irrigant distribution to the frontal sinus. CONCLUSION: This study further confirms the efficacy of high-volume irrigant devices. A vertex down position during the irrigation could improve delivery to the frontal sinus, and the widening of the ostia increases irrigant access to the sinuses.

Bio-hybrid gold nanoparticles as SERS probe for rapid bacteria cell identification.

This study reports the utilization of engineered molecular networks between bacteriophage (or phage) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared ablating a high purity gold target in water by nanosecond laser source. Gold colloids are assembled with P9b phage clone, displaying the specific peptide (QRKLAAKLT), able to bind P. aeruginosa. The single components and assembled systems were characterized by spectroscopic and electronic techniques, such as the conventional optical absorption and micro-Raman spectroscopies as well as the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) techniques. The performance of the AuNPs-phage assembly as substrate for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) was tested against the detection of the characteristics Raman vibrational features of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Sequential concentrations of placental growth factor and haptoglobin, and their relation to oestrone sulphate and progesterone in pregnant Spanish Purebred mare.

The objectives of this study were to establish reference values for serum concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and haptoglobin (Hp), and to analyze whether the levels of oestrone sulphate (E1S) and progesterone (P4) are physiologically involved in the dynamic modifications of the above parameters in pregnant mares. A total of 30 healthy Spanish Purebred mares ranging in age 9.33 ±â€¯3.31 years were studied during the 11 months of gestation. Serum concentrations of PlGF were detected by EIA, Hp using commercial Phase Haptoglobin assay and E1S and P4 levels through RIA. The serum concentrations of PlGF ranged between 31.70 and 223.60 ng/mL, with a mean value of 57.64 ±â€¯18.05 ng/mL. Serum PlGF levels increased significantly during the 1st and 2nd months, reaching the maximum value in the 3rd month and the minimum value in the 10th month. Hp concentrations increased progressively and significantly from the 5th until the 10th month of gestation (P < 0.05), decreasing in the 11th month of pregnancy. E1S increased significantly from the 3rd until the 7th month, decreasing progressively towards the end of gestation. P4 increased significantly in the 3rd and 4th month and decreased significantly in the 6th and 7th (P < 0.05), with variable oscillations during last months of pregnancy. PlGF and Hp were significantly and negatively correlated (r = -0.27; P < 0.05). In the healthy mare, PlGF and Hp act asynchronously and independent of steroid E1S and P4.

Postoperative long-term morbidity of extended endoscopic maxillectomy for inverted papilloma.

BACKGROUND: Extended endoscopic maxillectomy (Sturmann-Canfield procedure) allows full visualization of the maxillary sinus by sectioning the lacrimal duct and removing the medial part of the anterior maxillary wall. The aim of this study is to evaluate the morbidity of Sturmann-Canfield procedure in patients treated for inverted papilloma. METHODOLOGY: The clinical records of all patients treated with a Sturmann-Canfield procedure for inverted papilloma from October 2000 to September 2015 at two teaching hospitals were reviewed. All patients were evaluated by nasal endoscopy and lacrimal system patency was assessed. Pre-maxillary cutaneous sensitivity was tested with a Semmes-Weinstein aesthesiometer and thermic stimulation. The SNOT-22 questionnaire was administered. Patients were also asked to report any other post-surgical complaints. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were identified. Mean follow-up after surgery was 66.3 months. Mean SNOT-22 score was 5.94 (range 0-20); the majority of patients (86%) had a SNOT-22 symptom score of 3 or lower. Mucocoele occurred in 3 (5%) cases. Lacrimal pathway obstruction was observed in 7 (12%) patients. Fourteen (24%) patients complained of paraesthesia in the malar area; hypoesthesia was present in only 5 (8%) cases. Hypoesthesia in the region innervated by the anterior superior alveolar nerve was detected in 17 (29%) patients. One patient reported a slight depression of paralateronasal soft tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Although nasal function outcomes and the results from SNOT-22 questionnaires were favourable, a high rate of neurologic and lacrimal complications was observed. Potential morbidity of the intervention, including the possibility of negative aesthetic sequelae, should be discussed during preoperative counselling.

Laser light triggered smart release of silibinin from a PEGylated-PLGA gold nanocomposite.

In this work a new remotely-triggered drug delivery system based on PEG-PLGA_Au nanocomposite is proposed. Due to the optical properties of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), the nanovector allows on-demand control of the dose, the timing and the duration of the drug release, upon irradiation with red laser light. The Au NPs are synthesized by laser ablation and subsequently embedded into the PEG-PLGA copolymer via a modified emulsion-diffusion method, devised in such a way that both Au NPs and silibinin (SLB), a flavonolignan with promising anti-neoplastic effects, can be co-loaded into the polymeric system in a single step procedure. A combination of analytical techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), static and dynamic light scattering (SLS, DLS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning/transmission electron microscopies (SEM/STEM/TEM), have been used to study the structural and morphological properties of the nanocomposite. The loading efficiency and the drug content, evaluated by UV-vis absorption optical spectroscopy, are 89% and 8.8%, respectively. Upon laser irradiation the system releases the encapsulated drug with a higher efficiency (∼10%) than that without irradiation. This behaviour indicates that our nanoplatform is responsive to light and it could be considered a promising new type of light-activated drug delivery carrier applicable to the biomedical field.