Surgical anatomy of the facial nerve: from middle cranial fossa approach to endoscopic approach. A pictorial review.

Purpose: The pathology of the facial nerve is extremely varied and extensive knowledge of the surgical anatomy in different approaches is required to manage it. During the last 15 years, the development of endoscopic ear surgery has significantly changed anatomical concepts, introducing new surgical approaches. The aim of this review is to illustrate five different surgical approaches to the facial nerve: the endoscopic approach, the middle cranial fossa approach, two translabyrinthine approaches (one simple and one endoscopic-assisted) with decompression of the whole petrous portion of the facial nerve, and a transotic approach with temporal craniotomy. Methods: Representative cases of middle and/or inner ear pathologies, surgically treated at our ENT Department, were selected to illustrate each of the five different approaches involving the facial nerve throughout its course. Results: In all cases, the pathology was removed with effective decompression of the facial nerve. The surgical anatomy in each surgical approach is described and illustrated. Conclusions: Facial nerve surgery is challenging for ENT specialists. An excellent knowledge of facial nerve anatomy is needed to eradicate pathology, avoiding nerve injuries and providing a good outcome after surgery

Frequency reallocation based on cochlear place frequencies in cochlear implants: a pilot study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate speech perception outcomes after a frequency reallocation performed through the creation of an anatomically based map obtained with Otoplan®, a tablet-based software that allows the cochlear duct length to be calculated starting from CT images. Methods: Ten postlingually deafened patients who underwent cochlear implantation with MED-EL company devices from 2015 to 2019 in the Tertiary referral center University Hospital of Verona have been included in a retrospective study. The postoperative CT scans were evaluated with Otoplan®; the position of the intracochlear electrodes was obtained, an anatomical mapping was carried out and then it was submitted to the patients. All patients underwent pure tonal and speech audiometry before and after the reallocation and the audiological results were processed considering the Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT), the Speech Awareness Threshold (SAT) and the Pure Tone Average (PTA). The differences in the PTA, SAT and SRT values before and after the reallocation were determined. The results were statistically processed using the software Stata with a significance value of α < 0.05. Results: The mean values of SRT (61.25 dB versus 51.25 dB) and SAT (49 dB versus 41 dB) were significantly lower (p: 0.02 and p: 0.04, respectively) after the reallocation. No significant difference was found between PTA values (41.5 dB versus 39.25 dB; p: 0.18). Conclusions: Our preliminary results demonstrate better speech discrimination and rapid adaptation in implanted postlingually deaf patients after anatomic mapping and subsequent frequency reallocation

Electron-Beam-Induced Grafting Of Chitosan Onto HDPE/ATZ Composites for Biomedical Applications

HDPE and HDPE/ATZ surfaces were functionalised with chitosan Via electron-beam irradiation technique in order to prepare materials suitable for biomedical purposes. ATR–FTIR and wettability measurements were employed for monitoring the surface changes after both irradiation and chitosan grafting reaction. The presence of ATZ influenced both the EB irradiation process and the surface functionalisation. Mechanical properties of irradiated materials were not remarkably affected by irradiation processing. Biological assays indicated that electrostatic interactions between the negative charges of the surface of cell membranes and the –NH3+ sites on chitosan chains promoted cell adhesion, while some oxidized species produced during the irradiation process were thought to cause a detrimental effect on the cell Viability

Biochemical Traits, 1H NMR Profile and Residual DNA Content of ‘Asprinio’, White Wine from Campania Region (Southern Italy)

‘Asprinio’ is a white dry wine characteristic for its acidity and aromatic flavour, known as emerging DOP wine in Southern Italy. Nevertheless, little information is available on the metabolomic profile of this wine. Thus, in this paper we evaluated the colourimetric parameters, 1H NMR profiles and free amino acids content of ‘Asprinio’ wines, bottled by two different wineries (hereafter ‘Asprinio_A’ and ‘Asprinio_B’) collected in 2019 and 2020, using ‘Greco di Tufo’ for comparison. The colourimetric parameters are similar for both ‘Asprinio’ wines and differ from ‘Greco di Tufo’ wines. On the other hand, both 1H NMR and free amino acid content profiles show different chemometric profiles among the three wines analysed, although the profiles are similar for both vintages. Moreover, the multivariate analyses carried out highlight differences between ‘Asprinio_A’ and ‘Asprinio_B’, which exbibit also different residual yeast and plant DNA. Overall, considering that the two-manufacturing wineries use 100% ‘Asprinio’ grape, the difference retrieved between the two ‘Asprinio’ wines could be explained by the different grapevine training systems: ‘vite maritata’ (training system inherited from Etruscans) for ‘Asprinio_A’ and ‘guyot’ for ‘Asprinio_B’

Influence of chitosan on the mechanical and biological properties of HDPE for biomedical applications

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is widely used in biomedical field, except when strong cell-material interactions and high mechanical properties are required. To address this pitfall, two kinds of chitosan in different amounts were used as filler in the present research. Composites were prepared by melt extrusion process and their microstructural, thermal and mechanical properties were widely investigated. Also roughness and wettability were studied, as features of paramount importance in dictating cell response. Both types of chitosan endowed HDPE with higher Young modulus and lower elongation at break. Interestingly, fibroblast adhesion and viability were enhanced when a low amount of filler was used. The interaction of HDPE/chitosan composites with biological environment was investigated for the first time in order to assess the feasibility of these composites as materials for biomedical application

Isolation, Characterization and Biological Action of Type-1 Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins from Tissues of Salsola soda L

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are known as RNA N-glycosylases. They depurinate the major rRNA, damaging ribosomes and inhibiting protein synthesis. Here, new single-chain (type-1) RIPs named sodins were isolated from the seeds (five proteins), edible leaves (one protein) and roots (one protein) of Salsola soda L. Sodins are able to release Endo’s fragment when incubated with rabbit and yeast ribosomes and inhibit protein synthesis in cell-free systems (IC50 = 4.83–79.31 pM). In addition, sodin 5, the major form isolated from seeds, as well as sodin eL and sodin R, isolated from edible leaves and roots, respectively, display polynucleotide:adenosine glycosylase activity and are cytotoxic towards the Hela and COLO 320 cell lines (IC50 = 0.41–1200 nM), inducing apoptosis. The further characterization of sodin 5 reveals that this enzyme shows a secondary structure similar to other type-1 RIPs and a higher melting temperature (Tm = 76.03 ± 0.30 °C) and is non-glycosylated, as other sodins are. Finally, we proved that sodin 5 possesses antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum

Improvement in health-related quality of life in first year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in the first year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). The setting was 10 Italian public and private bariatric surgery centers. METHODS: Data collected in an ongoing, prospective, 3-year multicenter Italian study on the changes in HRQOL after LAGB were used. HRQOL was investigated using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 questionnaire. Hunger, satiety, and the self-perceived effects of LAGB were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 334 patients were enrolled. The follow-up rate was 92.2%. The percentage of excess weight loss was 39.6% \ub1 25.8%, with very few side effects or complications. Hunger in the morning (0-10 scale) was 4.5 \ub1 2.7 before surgery and 3.8 \ub1 2.4 after 1 year (P <.001). Satiety after a meal (0-10 scale) was 7.1 \ub1 2.7 before surgery and 8.2 \ub1 1.9 at 1 year (P <.001). The self-perceived effect of LAGB on caloric intake (0-10 scale) was 8.4 \ub1 1.9 after 1 year. The scores for the 8 Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 subscales were significantly improved after surgery. The physical component summary score was 52.6 \ub1 11.9 at baseline and 79.1 \ub1 15.6 after 1 year (P <.001). The corresponding mental component summary scores were 52.2 \ub1 12.3 and 76.5 \ub1 17.2 (P <.001). Greater physical component summary improvement was independently associated with a low initial physical component summary (P <.001), high satiety (P = .002), a high percentage of excess weight loss (P = .013), and a high self-perceived effect of the LAGB (P = .026). Greater mental component summary improvement was associated with a low initial mental component summary (P <.001), high satiety (P <.001), a low frequency of heartburn (P = .004), and a high percentage of excess weight loss (P = .012). CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements in HRQOL were observed in the first year after LAGB. A poor baseline HRQOL, a high efficacy of the banding in eating control, and better weight loss might influence HRQOL change

Allergy in adolescent population (14-18 years) living in campania region (southern Italy). a multicenter study

Adolescents (Ad) constitute a difficult to manage population among individuals suffering from asthma. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and age of onset of allergic sensitization and clinical symptoms in a sample of atopic Ad living in the Campania region (Southern Italy). Sixteen Allergy units or Centers belonging to the Italian Association of Hospital and Territorial Allergologists (AAIITO, Campania region) participated in this cross-sectional study. A case report form (CRF) was specifically designed for this study and commercial allergen extracts used for screening SPTs were provided by ALK-Abelló Group (Milan, Italy). A total of 443 patients were examined (females, f 220, 49.6 %; males, m 223, 50.3%). Dust mites represent the most common sensitizing agents in allergic Ad living in Campania region (Dermatoph. pteronyssinus 67.4% and Dermatoph. farinae 66.5%), followed by Parietaria (58.9%), grasses (45.8%), Artemisia vulgaris (16.7%), Olea Europaea (32.2%), dog dander (17.1%), cat dander (20.0%), Alternaria alternata (8.1%), Cupressus sempervirens (4.9%), Betula pendula (4.7%), other allergens (19.4%). An interesting comparison has been made between clinical data of our Ad with data of elderly patients (E). The role of allergic sensitization is significantly higher in Ad compared to E. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is the first sensitizing allergen in Ad and the last in E. Parietaria constitutes the first sensitizing pollen both in Ad and E, the percentage of sensitization is higher in Ad. Another important difference is the higher prevalence of As, as only symptom, in E compared to Ad (19.7% versus 7.6%). In conclusion, our findings confirm the high prevalence and clinical significance of airway allergic sensitization in the adolescents living in Campania region