Determining If Sex Bias Exists in Human Surgical Clinical Research

Sex is a variable that is poorly controlled for in clinical research

Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Forgotten Entity in Older Patients

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (NA) characteristically affects adolescent men. Although benign, these tumors can cause local destruction and surgical resection is warranted. Objective: We present a case of a 62-year-old man with nasal congestion and epistaxis, found to be a right NA on pathology. We also present a review of the available NA staging systems. Findings: In this case of NA, imaging revealed an aggressive, hypervascular mass in the nasal cavity with involvement of the middle cranial fossa and cavernous sinus. The patient underwent complete endoscopic surgical resection following vascular embolization. Conclusion: Although it is rare, NA should not be disregarded in the elderly population

Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Forgotten Entity in Older Patients

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (NA) characteristically affects adolescent men. Although benign, these tumors can cause local destruction and surgical resection is warranted. Objective: We present a case of a 62-year-old man with nasal congestion and epistaxis, found to be a right NA on pathology. We also present a review of the available NA staging systems. Findings: In this case of NA, imaging revealed an aggressive, hypervascular mass in the nasal cavity with involvement of the middle cranial fossa and cavernous sinus. The patient underwent complete endoscopic surgical resection following vascular embolization. Conclusions: Although it is rare, NA should not be disregarded in the elderly population

Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Forgotten Entity in Older Patients

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (NA) characteristically affects adolescent men. Although benign, these tumors can cause local destruction and surgical resection is warranted. Objective: We present a case of a 62-year-old man with nasal congestion and epistaxis, found to be a right NA on pathology. We also present a review of the available NA staging systems. Findings: In this case of NA, imaging revealed an aggressive, hypervascular mass in the nasal cavity with involvement of the middle cranial fossa and cavernous sinus. The patient underwent complete endoscopic surgical resection following vascular embolization. Conclusion: Although it is rare, NA should not be disregarded in the elderly population

Determining If Sex Bias Exists in Human Surgical Clinical Research

Sex is a variable that is poorly controlled for in clinical research

Gas-phase and solution studies of three resorcin[4]arene derivatives using electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been used to study the relative gas-phase proton and alkali metal (Li, Na, K and Cs) binding affinities of three different resorcin[4]arenes using the kinetic method. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) was used to study the fragmentation of resorcin[4]arene heterodimer sandwich complexes, allowing the relative binding affinity order to be established. All the alkali metal cations have the same gas-phase binding affinity order with the resorcin[4]arene host molecules. At collision energies of ≥ 13 eV, one of the [resorcin[4]arene + Metal]+, (Metal = Li, Na, K) ions fragmented through break-up of the resorcin[4]arene, whilst the other host resorcin[4]arene remained intact, causing an apparent change in binding affinity at high collision energy. This effect was not observed with caesium, since all complex ions dissociated readily under CID by displacement of the caesium cation. The binding affinity for the protonated resorcin[4]arenes was found to be different from the alkali metal cation binding affinity because of the higher proton affinity of the nitrogen-containing resorcin[4]arenes. It is shown that resorcin[4]arenes containing an oxazine ring can be converted into a ring-opened derivative via an Eschweiler–Clarke reaction in the presence of formic acid. A second ring-opening process also occurs, including a hydrolysis reaction that results in apparent losses of 12 mass units from the intact resorcin[4]arene. Both these reactions occur in solution before mass spectrometric investigation and cannot be achieved by CID. This observation was confirmed by inducing the Eschweiler–Clarke reaction in a model benzoxazine compound. </jats:p

Demographics of first‐time donors returning for donation during the pandemic: COVID‐19 convalescent plasma versus standard blood product donors

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated low first-time donor return rates (DRR) following catastrophic events. Little is known, however, about the influence of demographic factors on the DRR of first-time donors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the unique motivation of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) donors as compared to non-CCP donors.Study design and methodsThirteen blood collection organizations submitted deidentified data from first-time CCP and non-CCP donors returning for regular (non-CCP) donations during the pandemic. DRR was calculated as frequencies. Demographic factors associated with returning donors: race/ethnicity, gender, and generation (Gen Z: 19-24, Millennial: 25-40, Gen X: 41-56, and Boomer: ≥57 years old), within the CCP and non-CCP first-time cohorts were compared using chi-square test at p &lt; .05 statistical significance.ResultsFrom March 2020 through December 2021, there were a total of 44,274 first-time CCP and 980,201 first-time non-CCP donors. DRR were 14.6% (range 11.9%-43.3%) and 46.6% (range 10.0%-76.9%) for CCP and non-CCP cohorts, respectively. Age over 40 years (Gen X and Boomers), female gender, and White race were each associated with higher return in both donor cohorts (p &lt; .001). For the non-CCP return donor cohort, the Millennial and Boomers were comparable.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate differences in returning donor trends between the two donor cohorts. The motivation of a first-time CCP donor may be different than that of a non-CCP donor. Further study to improve first-time donor engagement would be worthwhile to expand the donor base with a focus on blood donor diversity emphasizing engagement of underrepresented minorities and younger donors

Chair/bedside diagnosis of oral and respiratory tract infections, and identification of antibiotic resistances for personalised monitoring and treatment

textabstractGlobal healthcare systems are struggling with the enormous burden associated with infectious diseases, as well as the incessant rise of antimicrobial resistance. In order to adequately address these issues, there is an urgent need for rapid and accurate infectious disease diagnostics. The H2020 project DIAGORAS aims at diagnosing oral and respiratory tract infections using a fully integrated, automated and user-friendly platform for physicians' offices, schools, elderly care units, community settings, etc. Oral diseases (periodontitis, dental caries) will be detected via multiplexed, quantitative analysis of salivary markers (bacterial DNA and host response proteins) for early prevention and personalised monitoring. Respiratory Tract Infections will be diagnosed by means of DNA/RNA differentiation so as to identify their bacterial or viral nature. Together with antibiotic resistance screening on the same platform, a more efficient treatment management is expected at the point-of-care. At the heart of DIAGORAS lies a centrifugal microfluidic platform (LabDisk and associated processing device) integrating all components and assays for a fully automated analysis. The project involves an interface with a clinical algorithm for the comprehensive presentation of results to end-users, thereby increasing the platform's clinical utility. DIAGORAS' performance will be validated at clinical settings and compared with gold standards