Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a heterogeneous group of tumours mainly associated with tobacco and alcohol use and human papillomavirus (HPV). Over 90% of all HNC are squamous cell carcinomas ...(HNSCC). Sample material from patients diagnosed with primary HNSCC (
= 76) treated with surgery as primary treatment at a single centre were assessed for HPV genotype, miR-9-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-29a-3p and miR-100-5p expression levels. Clinical and pathological data were collected from medical records. Patients were enrolled between 2015 and 2019 and followed-up until November 2022. Overall survival, disease-specific survival and disease-free survival were assessed and correlated with clinical, pathological, and molecular data. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess different risk factors. In the study, male gender, HPV-negative HNSCC (76.3%) mostly located in the oral region (78.9%) predominated. Most patients had stage IV cancer (47.4%), and the overall survival rate was 50%. HPV was found not to affect survival, indicating that in this population, classic risk factors predominate. The presence of both perineural and angioinvasion was strongly associated with survival in all analyses. Of all miRNAs assessed, only upregulation of miR-21 was consistently shown to be an independent predictor of poor prognosis and may thus serve as a prognostic biomarker in HNSCC.
To analyze the differences in the population of perivascular and peritubular Leydig cells (LC) and the number of Reinke's crystals (RCs) in the testicles of infertile men with non-obstructive and ...obstructive azoospermia.
This retrospective case-control study was conducted on the testicle tissue of infertile men with obstructive (n=10) and those with non-obstructive azoospermia (n=100). Stereological analysis was performed on 7-μm paraffin sections. Measurements were carried out by using the Weibel multipurpose test system.
Patients with non-obstructive azoospermia had a higher total/absolute number of LCs in the perivascular space (P=0.034). In these patients, no significant difference was found in the total and absolute number of RCs between the peritubular and perivascular space. Patients with obstructive azoospermia had around three times higher absolute number of RCs in both the peritubular and perivascular spaces (P=0.002; P<0.001) than non-obstructive group.
Our results suggest that in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia LCs migrated or had different densities in the peritubular and perivascular space compared with patients with obstructive azoospermia. Moreover, the lower number of RCs could imply their utilization by LCs in testosterone production.
Abstract Background/aim Paediatric maxillozygomatic complex (MZC) fractures are uncommon, and there is a scarcity of data regarding their surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse ...choices and outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for MZC fractures among 14 maxillofacial centers around the world. Materials and Methods This multicentric retrospective observational study included patients ≤16 years of age with quadripod MZC fractures treated with ORIF from January 2011 and December 2022. The following data were collected: age, gender, dentition stage (deciduous, mixed, and permanent), cause of injury, type of fracture, surgical approach, site of osteosynthesis (infraorbital rim, zygomaticomaxillary buttress, frontozygomatic, and zygomaticotemporal sutures), material (titanium or resorbable) and number of plates used, and outcome. The minimum follow‐up was 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed with Fisher's exact test or chi‐squared test, as appropriate. Results Sixty‐four patients (mean age, 12.3 years) with quadripod MZC fractures were included. Seventy‐two percent of patients received a single‐point fixation. The zygomaticomaxillary buttress was the most common site for fixation, both in single‐point and two‐point fixation schemes, especially in combination with the frontozygomatic suture. Increasing age was associated with a higher rate of plate removal ( p < .001). Postoperative complications included 5 (7.8%) cases of wound infections, 2 (3.1%) infraorbital paraesthesia, 1 (1.6%) ectropion. Residual facial asymmetry was found in 5 (7.8%) patients and was not associated with the type of fixation ( p > .05). Conclusions This study highlights the possibility of using ORIF, even with a single point of fixation, for the treatment of displaced quadripod MZC fractures in the paediatric population. The zygomaticomaxillary buttress was the preferred site of fixation and allowed for adequate stabilization with no external scars and a low risk of tooth damage. Future prospective studies with long‐term follow‐up are needed to establish definitive surgical protocols and clarify the surgical decision‐making.
Intraoperative stabilisation of bony fragments with maxillo-mandibular fixation (MMF) is an essential step in the surgical treatment of mandibular fractures that are treated with open reduction and ...internal fixation (ORIF). The MMF can be performed with or without wire-based methods, rigid or manual MMF, respectively. The aim of this study was to compare the use of manual versus rigid MMF, in terms of occlusal outcomes and infective complications.
This multi-centric prospective study involved 12 European maxillofacial centres and included adult patients (age ≥16 years) with mandibular fractures treated with ORIF. The following data were collected: age, gender, pre-trauma dental status (dentate or partially dentate), cause of injury, fracture site, associated facial fractures, surgical approach, modality of intraoperative MMF (manual or rigid), outcome (minor/major malocclusions and infective complications) and revision surgeries. The main outcome was malocclusion at 6 weeks after surgery.
Between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022, 319 patients-257 males and 62 females (median age, 28 years)-with mandibular fractures (185 single, 116 double and 18 triple fractures) were hospitalised and treated with ORIF. Intraoperative MMF was performed manually on 112 (35%) patients and with rigid MMF on 207 (65%) patients. The study variables did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for age. Minor occlusion disturbances were observed in 4 (3.6%) patients in the manual MMF group and in 10 (4.8%) patients in the rigid MMF group (p > .05). In the rigid MMF group, only one case of major malocclusion required a revision surgery. Infective complications involved 3.6% and 5.8% of patients in the manual and rigid MMF group, respectively (p > .05).
Intraoperative MMF was performed manually in nearly one third of the patients, with wide variability among the centres and no difference observed in terms of number, site and displacement of fractures. No significant difference was found in terms of postoperative malocclusion among patients treated with manual or rigid MMF. This suggests that both techniques were equally effective in providing intraoperative MMF.
The training and preferences of surgeons influence the type of surgical treatment for mandibular fractures. This multicentre prospective study analyzed the current treatment strategies and outcomes ...for mandibular fractures with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).
This prospective study included patients aged ≥16 years who underwent ORIF for mandibular fractures in 12 European maxillofacial centers. Age, sex, pretrauma dental status, fracture cause, site and type, associated facial fractures, surgical approach, plate number and thickness (≤1.4 or ≥1.5 mm), duration of postoperative maxillomandibular fixation, occlusal and infective complications at 6 weeks and 3 months, and revision surgeries were recorded.
Between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022, 425 patients (194 single, 182 double, and 49 triple mandibular fractures) underwent ORIF for 1 or more fractures. Rigid osteosynthesis was performed for 74% of fractures and was significantly associated with displaced ( P =0.01) and comminuted ( P =0.03) fractures and with the number of nonsurgically treated fracture sites ( P =0.002). The angle was the only site associated with nonrigid osteosynthesis ( P <0.001). Malocclusions (5.6%) and infective complications (5.4%) were not associated with osteosynthesis type.
Rigid osteosynthesis was the most frequently performed treatment at all fracture sites, except the mandibular angle, and was significantly associated with displaced and comminuted fractures and the number of nonsurgically treated fracture sites. No significant differences were observed regarding postoperative malocclusion or infections among osteosynthesis types.
The aim of the review is to establish sexual and reproductive functions in men with spinal cord lesion (SCL). Many sexual and reproductive dysfunctions may be found in these patients including ...individual's low self-esteem, delay of orgasm, erectile or ejaculatory disorder and abnormalities of semen, which are characterized by lower sperm motility or viability. Owing to improvements in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the focus has been shifted from keeping patients alive towards ensuring the quality of life and improvements of sexual dysfunctions and later reproduction. Erectile dysfunction can be treated by using phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, intracavernosal injections, vacuum devices and penile prostheses. Semen can be retrieved from anejaculatory patients by medically assisted methods utilizing penile vibratory stimulation, electroejaculation, prostate mas-sage, or surgically. Although there is low chance for pregnancy in natural way in most of SCL pa-tients, fatherhood is possible through the introduction of assisted medical management. By use of various medical, technical and surgical procedures for sperm retrieval combined with assisted reproductive methods, high pregnancy rates have been reported comparable to those in able-bodied subfertile patients. Nevertheless, future studies are needed to improve semen quality and methods of assisted ejaculation in patients with SCL.
The goal of mandibular fracture treatment is to restore static and dynamic occlusal functions. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of these fractures can be associated with an intraoperative ...and/or postoperative maxillo-mandibular fixation (MMF). The aim of this study was to analyse the use of perioperative MMF and its effects on occlusal outcomes in the management of mandibular fractures.
This multicentric prospective study included adult patients with mandibular fractures treated with ORIF. The following data were collected: age, gender, pre-trauma dental status (dentate, partially dentate), cause of injury, fracture site, associated facial fractures, surgical approach, type of ORIF (rigid, non-rigid or mixed), thickness and number of plates, modality of intraoperative MMF (arch bars, self-tapping and self-drilling screws STSDSs, manual, other) and duration of postoperative MMF. The primary outcome was malocclusion at 6 weeks and 3 months. Statistical analyses were performed with Fisher's exact test or chi-square test, as appropriate.
Between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022, 336 patients, 264 males and 72 females (median age, 28 years) with mandibular fractures (194 single, 124 double and 18 triple fractures) were hospitalized. Intraoperative MMF was performed in all patients. Osteosynthesis was rigid in 75% of single fractures, and rigid or mixed in 85% and 100% of double and triple fractures, respectively. Excluding patients who underwent manual reduction, postoperative MMF (median duration, 3 weeks) was performed in 140 (64%) patients, without differences by type or number of fractures (p > 0.05). No significant difference was found in the incidence of malocclusion in patients with postoperative MMF (5%, 95% confidence interval CI, 2–10%) compared to those without (4%; 95% IC, 1–11%) (p > 0.05).
Postoperative MMF was performed in more than half of the patients despite adequate fracture osteosynthesis, with wide variability amongst centers. No evidence of a reduction in the incidence of postoperative malocclusion in patients treated with postoperative MMF was found.
The aim of this 11-year retrospective multicentric study is to evaluate the policy of 14 maxillofacial surgery divisions in terms of titanium plate removal from paediatric patients who had undergone ...open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to treat maxillofacial fractures.
Patients ≤ 16 years undergoing surgical treatment for fractures of middle and lower third of the face between January 2011 and December 2022, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, were included. Age (group A: ≤ 6 years, B: 7–12 years, C: 13–16 years), sex, fracture location and type, surgical approach, number, and location of positioned and removed plates, timing and indications for removal were recorded.
191/383 (50 %) patients (median age, 10 years; M:F ratio 2.1:1) underwent removal of 319/708 (45 %) plates. Maxillary dentoalveolar process (91 %), angle/ramus (63 %) and mandibular body (61 %) had a significantly higher removal rate than other fracture sites (p < 0.001). A significant decreasing trend in removal with increasing age was observed, from 83 % in Group A to 24 % in Group C (p < 0.001). On the total of positioned plates, 11 % were removed for symptomatic reasons (5 % infections, 6 % discomfort/pain) and 34 % for other reasons (28 % scheduled removal).
This multicentric study showed that plate removal was not performed routinely in the paediatric population. The incidence and causes of symptomatic plates removal were consistent with the literature, while the plate removal rate from asymptomatic patients was lower. A correlation was found between increasing age and a reduction in the frequency of plate removal procedures.
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common type of urinary incontinence in women, affecting large proportion of women. Surgical methods, especially suburethral sling operations are the most ...important modes of the treatment of SUI. Bulking agents were created as an alternative to conventional surgical methods and may be the first line of therapy in certain patients. Periurethral bulking implies implantation of various biocompatible agents around the urethra in order to improve coaptation of the urethral walls during intra-abdominal pressure elevation. The rates of cure are lower with bulking methods as compared with surgical techniques but are associated with a lower prevalence of postoperative complications. Bovine collagen remains the most frequently injected agent worldwide, with cure rates of 53% at 12 months after procedure. Polyacrylamide hydrogel and silicone micro implants have showed promising results, with about 64% improvement rate at 18 to 24 months after procedure. Application of urethral bulking agents is minimally invasive procedure and is mostly applied outpatiently in local anesthesia. Urethral bulking agents are safe for clinical usage. Bulking agents should not be recommended as a method of final cure because they only lead to short-term improvement.