Glass-based pigments have an important role in the panorama of artistic production due to the fact that their manufacturing processes involve a combination of different skills and understanding, and ...they have a role in disciplines ranging from glass technology to metallurgy, from glazed ceramic to stone imitation and from vitreous mosaic tesserae to painting materials. The main goal of this manuscript is to present a critical review of the literature relating to blue smalt and “yellow glass” (lead–tin yellow type II) pigments: presenting their historical background, the analytical protocol, the processes of alteration and decay and finally tracing issues. Several case studies analyzed by the authors will be presented. Particular attention was devoted to the correlation between micro-textural features and decay processes affecting the studied pigments, though the widespread heterogeneity of the analyzed materials and the variability of the artistic techniques in which the pigments were used as well as the effect of the relevant (micro-)environmental conditions dictate a cautious approach. These studies are presented in the context of information about the chain of production, the selection of the raw materials and relevant provenance studies.
Background
Odontogenic sinusitis affects a significant proportion of patients with paranasal sinus infections. Nevertheless, no shared diagnostic criteria for this condition have yet been implemented ...and published studies differ in their definition of the disease.
Objective
The present systematic review of the literature was undertaken to characterize and analyze the different diagnostic criteria currently employed for odontogenic sinusitis.
Methods
Systematic searches for studies published between 2009 and 2019 were performed in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Search criteria were designed to identify all studies focusing, even partially, on odontogenic sinusitis. Human original studies except single case reports published in the English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian language were included. We removed duplicate abstracts and conducted full-text reads, data extraction, and quality assessment procedures (using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine levels of evidence and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Study Quality Assessment Tools). We reviewed articles for diagnostic criteria, both in terms of definition and etiology identification.
Results
Among 1,000 unique citations, 63 studies were deemed eligible. Most articles (n = 45) were retrospective case series; a single randomized clinical trial was available. Only 49 studies reported diagnostic criteria, yet relied marginally on published guidelines (n = 10 articles) for identifying sinusitis, often choosing instead to develop their own clinical (n = 15 articles), endoscopic (n = 12 articles), and/or radiologic (n = 30 articles) criteria. For odontogenic focus identification, 14 papers required a multidisciplinary evaluation, 11 papers required a time relationship between dental procedures and sinusitis, 24 papers required oroscopy and/or dental evaluation, and 53 papers required computed tomography.
Conclusions
Current diagnostic criteria for odontogenic sinusitis are extremely heterogeneous. Establishing shared diagnostic criteria aimed at defining both sinusitis and related odontogenic foci would spur collaboration between investigators and support more comprehensive outcomes evaluations together with a better understanding of treatment options.
Smalt is a blue cobalt-coloured glass pigment used in European wall paintings from the early Renaissance period that became a popular choice for artists due to its unique tone, availability, and ...versatility. The pigment has long been considered as stable in an alkaline environment since it was applied with lime-based techniques and generally retained its colour over time. This perceived stability has meant that aqueous-based alkaline treatments, often involving high pH values, substantial quantities of liquid, and long contact times, have been used in conservation treatments. However, studies of the kinetics of glass deterioration in the past few years have demonstrated that glass is highly reactive in contact with water and substances with both high and low pH values. Research into smalt deterioration in canvas paintings has shown that smalt is susceptible to elemental leaching and physical changes in contact with water and low pH values; however, there is little specific information about the conservation implications of these findings on the treatment of smalt in wall paintings. This experimental study explores several aspects of how aqueous-based alkaline conservation treatments affect smalt grains in lime-based wall paintings: the influence of painting technique, exposure of the pictorial layer to water before treatment, and pH values and contact times during treatment. Replicas representing three different painting techniques were created, exposed to liquid water or water vapour, and treated with three substances commonly used in conservation according to accepted practices in terms of preparation and application. Chemical and physical changes in the pigment were then analysed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results confirmed that aqueous-based alkaline substances provoke chemical changes as well as physical deterioration in smalt applied in lime-based techniques evidenced by leaching, corrosion, and cracking in the pigment grains. Crucial factors found to influence the impact of treatments on smalt included the previous exposure to humidity of the pictorial layer, the pH value of the treatment, and extended contact times.
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon B-cell malignant disease. It usually presents with mediastinal and/or laterocervical lymph node localization, while primary extranodal HL is a rare entity giving ...rise to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It rarely presents as just extranodal localization, so its presence within the maxillary sinus without any lymphadenopathy is exceptional. Given the rarity of this localization, there is no standard treatment for maxillary sinus HL. We present a case of a patient with extranodal HL of the right maxillary sinus treated with primary surgery followed by adjuvant sequential chemoradiation therapy.
Introduction:
Previous studies have reported a diverse range of threshold values for blood eosinophilia. In addition, a single predictive biomarker for eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with ...nasal polyps (ECRSwNP) has not yet been identified.
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to compare the clinical characteristics of ECRSwNP and non-ECRSwNP to evaluate the preoperative risk of tissue eosinophilia of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) through a multiparametric statistical analysis.
Methods:
One hundred ten patients with evidence of chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis were included in this study and clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. Eosinophilic CRSwNP was diagnosed based on the presence of at least 10 eosinophils per high-power field. The demographic and clinical features of ECRSwNP and non-ECRSwNP are described. The values of blood eosinophilia as predictors of tissue eosinophilia have been identified using receiver operating characteristic curves. As the predictive value of the identified cutoff through regression analysis was low, we evaluated whether other risk factors could be statistically associated with ECRSwNP, and from this, a new predictive model was proposed for the identification of eosinophilic nasal polyps before surgery.
Results:
We found that the best method for predicting ECRSwNP is based on a model having asthma, blood eosinophil percentage, posterior ethmoid value in Lund-Mackay score, and modified Lund-Kennedy score as explanatory variables.
Conclusions:
This study provides new data for a better understanding of the polypoid CRS endotypes, and the proposed model allows the endotype to be identified preoperatively.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the relationship between the sphenoid sinus (SS) and surrounding vital structures such as the internal carotid artery (ICA) and optic nerve canal (ONC) as ...well as the types of attachment of the sphenoidal septa onto these structures.
Methods
In total, 230 computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed to study the type of sphenoid sinus pneumatization (SSP), the protrusion and dehiscence of the ICA and ONC, the relationship between the sphenoidal septa and surrounding vital structures as well as pterygoid recess pneumatization (PRP).
Results
The most common SSP was sellar type (58.7%). The rates of protrusion and dehiscence of the ICA were 26.3 and 0.4%, and for the ONC, they were 13 and 1.5%, respectively. The ICA and ONC were most protruded and dehiscent in more extensive SSP. In 21.6% of patients, the intersphenoidal septa (IS) were attached to the wall of the ICA and in 8.6% they were attached to the wall of the ONC. The attachment of IS to the ICA correlated statistically significantly (
p
< 0.0001) with protrusion of the ICA. Accessory septa were detected in 30.4% of cases with various sites of attachment.
Conclusion
To reduce the risk of injury and complications during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), surgeons should consider using CT to identify possible bulging and dehiscence of the ICA/ONC and their relationship to the extent of SSP and also to establish the presence of deviation of the sphenoid septum, and the presence of accessory septa.
The purpose of this study was to correlate acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) and chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis with underlying diseases, aetiological microorganisms, clinical ...symptoms, radiological findings, and surgical and medical treatment to determine the subset of patients who require more accurate diagnostic investigation and to prevent irreversible complications.
This retrospective monocentric study included 17 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery evaluated by paranasal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Age, sex and symptoms, and location of the invasive fungal infection and the causative fungus were analysed.
In total, 4 patients were affected by the AIFRS form, and 13 by the chronic form. Diabetes mellitus was reported in 41.17% of cases, and haematological diseases in 23.52%. The maxillary sinuses were involved in 47.05% of cases and sphenoidal sinuses in 52.94%; Aspergillus fumigatus was the fungus in 76.47% of cases, and Zygomycetes in 23.53%.
An understanding of the different types of fungal sinusitis and knowledge of their features play a crucial role in reaching prompt diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy, which is essential to avoid a protracted or fatal outcome.
This work investigated the techniques used for creating a three-dimensional stucco decoration. During the multidisciplinary project "The art and industry of Ticino plasterers from the sixteenth to ...the seventeenth century", some stucco works mainly situated between the south of the Ticino region and the province of Como were studied. These artists traditionally known as "Masters of the Lakes", were invited across Europe to decorate the most important architectures at the time. The diffusion of this art and in particular of these workers was probably due to their unique ability to master the complex art of stucco. In particular, the scientific research was addressed at understanding the structure, composition and original “recipes” of the high relief stucco and statues, by using different complementary analytical techniques: the internal structures were analyzed with the radiographic technique, the mortars were characterized by polarized light microscopy, SEM–EDS and FT-IR spectroscopy. The identification of organic additives was possible thanks to a pre-treatment sample with the reactive sulfur tetrafluoride gas (SF
4
). Our results indicated that the stucco works of the considered authors were made using almost all recurring components, although differences emerged in the assembly of the internal structure, in the presence of gypsum in the ground mortar layers and in the use of the aggregate in the finishing.
Background: To compare the functional and anatomical results of two different types of grafts in type 1 tympanoplasty (TPL I). Methods: A retrospective comparative bicentric study was conducted on ...patients treated with TPL I using temporal fascia or tragal cartilage. We evaluated the functional and anatomical results with intergroup and intragroup analyses. Variables predicting long-term success were also evaluated. Results: A total of 142 patients (98 fascia graft vs. 44 cartilage) were initially assessed, with a mean follow-up of 67.1 ± 3.2 months. No significant differences were observed between the two groups on the intergroup analysis of age, gender, ear side, or pre-operative hearing data (all p > 0.05). At the intragroup analysis of auditory outcomes, both groups demonstrated a significant improvement in post-operative air conduction, with greater gain for the fascia group at 6 months follow-up (p < 0.001 for both); however, at long-term follow-up, cartilage demonstrated better stability results (p < 0.001). When comparing the pre-and post-operative air-bone-gap (ABG), both groups showed a significant gain (p < 0.001); the fascia group showed that at 6 months, a greater ABG increase was found, but the difference was not statistically significant (4.9 ± 0.9 dB vs. 5.3 ± 1.2 dB; p = 0.04). On the contrary, the cartilage group at long-term follow-up at 5 years maintained greater outcomes (10 ± 1.6 dB vs. 6.4 ± 2 dB; p < 0.001). Lower age (F = 4.591; p = 0.036) and higher size of perforation (F = 4.820; p = 0.030) were predictors of long-term functional success. Conclusions: The graft material selection should consider several factors influencing the surgical outcome. At long-term follow-up, the use of a cartilage graft could result in more stable audiological outcomes, especially in younger patients or in case of wider perforations.
Isolated sphenoid sinus diseases are generally asymptomatic and relatively uncommon with the potential for serious complications. Patients with this condition should be monitored closely and treated ...aggressively and either diagnostic or therapeutic intent is often indicated. In the management of a complex, life-threatening condition that involves many different fields of expertise, the otolaryngologist plays a key role in orchestrating different specialists and gaining direct access to the affected area, thus taking the first and essential step towards diagnosis and therapy. Because of the superiority of computed tomography in defining the bony margins and the superior soft tissue resolution of magnetic resonance imaging, these two techniques should be used in a complementary manner in the evaluation of isolated sphenoid sinus disease in addition to mapping the lesion better and identifying intracranial and intraorbital extent. We report an unusual case of isolated rhinosinusitis of the sphenoid sinus involving the cavernous sinus, pterygoid fossae and masticatory space in an immunocompetent patient.
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