Study of restricted diffusion of lithium salts in diglyme confined in mesoporous carbons as a model for cathodes in lithium-air batteries.

The Li+ ion mobility through the porous cathode is a critical aspect in the development of commercial Li-air batteries. The bulk transport properties of lithium salts in organic solvents are not reliable parameters for the design of this type of battery since confinement could significantly modify the transport properties, especially when pore diameters are below 10 nm. In this work, we studied the effect of the carbon mesostructure and surface charge on the diffusion of LiTf and LiTFSI salts dissolved in diglyme, typical electrolytes for lithium-air batteries. Interdiffusion coefficients of the salts were determined using a conductimetric method. NMR spectroscopy and relaxometry were used to explore the effect of the carbon structure and the surface charge density on the interaction between the electrolytes and the pore wall. We showed that carbon micro/mesoporous structure plays a critical role in the transport properties of the electrolyte, producing a decrease of up to 2-3 orders of magnitude in the salt interdiffusion coefficients when going from bulk solutions to pores below 4 nm in diameter. It was observed that for pores 25 nm in diameter, the reduction in the diffusion coefficient can be mainly ascribed to the porosity of the sample, giving tortuosity factors around 1. However, for smaller pore sizes (1-10 nm diameter) bigger tortuosity coefficients were observed and were related to strong ion-pore wall interactions. Moreover, it was noticed that the ratio between the diffusion coefficients of the two studied salts dissolved in diglyme, is different in bulk and under confinement, demonstrating that the interactions of the ions with the charged pore wall probably compete with the cation-anion interactions, affecting salt association under confinement.

Young females affected with hydatidosis, case report.

Hydatidosis is a zoonosis, caused by a cestode (Echinococcus). Management will depend on the organs affected by the infection and the response to medical treatment. Therapy may be clinical in early stages, but in case of poor response to drug therapy, surgery is the preferred choice. We present two cases in young females, the first case is with Hydatid cysts in both lungs and liver, she received initial medical treatment with lack of response, and surgery was indicated to resect the pulmonary and hepatic lesions. The second case is of a female with Hydatid cysts in the right lung. She was misdiagnosed at the beginning thinking of pneumonia and pulmonary abscess but after further investigation, hydatid cysts were the diagnosis, due to symptoms consistent with thoracic pain and persistent cough and the size of the cyst, surgery was indicated.

A dynamic microRNA profile that tracks a chemotherapy resistance phenotype in osteosarcoma. Implications for novel therapeutics.

Osteosarcoma is a rare primary bone tumor for which no significant therapeutic advancement has been made since the late 1980s despite ongoing efforts. Overall, the five-year survival rate remains about 65%, and is much lower in patients with tumors unresponsive to methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin therapy. Genetic studies have not revealed actionable drug targets, but our group, and others, have reported that epigenomic biomarkers, including regulatory RNAs, may be useful prognostic tools for osteosarcoma. We tested if microRNA (miRNA) transcriptional patterns mark the transition from a chemotherapy sensitive to resistant tumor phenotype. Small RNA sequencing was performed using 14 patient matched pre-chemotherapy biopsy and post-chemotherapy resection high-grade osteosarcoma frozen tumor samples. Independently, small RNA sequencing was performed using 14 patient matched biopsy and resection samples from untreated tumors. Separately, miRNA specific Illumina DASL arrays were used to assay an independent cohort of 65 pre-chemotherapy biopsy and 26 patient matched post-chemotherapy resection formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor samples. mRNA specific Illumina DASL arrays were used to profile 37 pre-chemotherapy biopsy and five post-chemotherapy resection FFPE samples, all of which were also used for Illumina DASL miRNA profiling. The National Cancer Institute Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments dataset, including PCR based miRNA profiling and RNA-seq data for 86 and 93 pre-chemotherapy tumor samples, respectively, was also used. Paired differential expression testing revealed a profile of 17 miRNAs with significantly different transcriptional levels following chemotherapy. Genes targeted by the miRNAs were differentially expressed following chemotherapy, suggesting the miRNAs may regulate transcriptional networks. Finally, an in vitro pharmacogenomic screen using miRNAs and their target transcripts predicted response to a set of candidate small molecule therapeutics which potentially reverse the chemotherapy resistance phenotype and synergize with chemotherapy in otherwise treatment resistant tumors. Importantly, these novel therapeutic targets are distinct from targets identified by a similar pharmacogenomic analysis of previously published prognostic miRNA profiles from pre chemotherapy biopsy specimens.

Pediatric Axial Ewing Sarcoma: A Retrospective Population-Based Survival Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Ewing sarcomas of the axial skeleton represent a notable challenge for clinicians because of their aggressive presentation and tendency to obstruct neurovascular structures; however, little data exist regarding axial tumors in children. This study is the first population-based analysis assessing treatment regimens for axial Ewing sarcomas and their effects on cancer-specific survival and overall survival (OS). METHODS: Data from 2004 to 2019 were collected for all patients aged 1 to 24 years from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Primary groups included pelvic tumors, thoracic tumors, and vertebral tumors. Chi-squared and Kaplan-Meier tests were used to assess associations between demographic variables, clinical and treatment characteristics, and patient survival. RESULTS: Pelvic tumors were most common, and 49.7% received chemotherapy/radiation. Vertebral tumors were least common, and 56.7% received chemotherapy/surgery/radiation. 53.5% of thoracic tumors received chemotherapy/surgery. Surgery was most common for thoracic tumors (80.2%) and rare for pelvic tumors (38.9%). Radiation therapy was most common for vertebral tumors (83.6%) and least common for thoracic tumors (36.0%). Pelvic tumors exhibited the lowest OS (1-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS: 96%, 70%, and 59%), followed by thoracic tumors (1-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS: 97%, 79%, and 66%) and vertebral tumors (1-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS: 92%, 77%, and 68%). CONCLUSION: This study underpins the importance of both early detection and chemotherapy-based multimodal therapy in the treatment of axial Ewing sarcoma in a pediatric population. A comparatively large decline in OS was observed between 5 and 10 years for patients with thoracic tumors, and this cohort's 10-year OS has not improved when compared with a similar SEER cohort from 1973 to 2011. Despite a growing body of research supporting definitive radiation therapy, a notable portion of patients with pelvic Ewing sarcoma did not receive radiation, representing an unmet need for this population.

Parental assessment of infantile hemangioma cosmetic clinical outcomes: results of the Spanish Hemangioma Nationwide Prospective Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Functional impairment is the main consideration when it comes to choosing therapy for infantile hemangiomas (IH). However, since most hemangiomas are treated for cosmetic reasons, it is important to know the cosmetic outcome assessed by the parents. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the aesthetic outcomes of IH, considering the characteristics of the lesions and the treatments used. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Spanish Infantile Hemangioma Nationwide Prospective Cohort (2016-2022) recruited all consecutive patients diagnosed with IH in 12 Spanish hospitals. The children included had 2 photos of the IH lesion (at both baseline and at the end of the study). A panel of parents blindly assessed all available photos using a scale from 0 (worst cosmetic outcomes) to 10 (best cosmetic outcomes). The different scores -both before and after treatment-as well as the outcomes percent considered excellent (> 9) were described and compared. We analyzed the effect of receiving different therapies and performed causal model analyses estimating the mean treatment effect of parents' assessments. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 3.1 years. A total of 824 photos were evaluated. Baseline aesthetic impact was higher in the propranolol group vs the topical timolol and observation treatment groups (1.85 vs 3.14 vs 3.66 respectively; p < 0.001). After treatment, the aesthetic impact was similar between both treatment groups (7.59 vs 7.93 vs 7.90; p > 0.2). The causal model could only be applied to the comparison between topical timolol and observation, revealing no differences whatsoever. CONCLUSION: This is the first prospective cohort to analyze the aesthetic outcome of IH. The final aesthetic results of the 3 therapies were similar, with nearly 40% of patients achieving excellent aesthetic outcomes.

Humanistic and economic burden of atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients in Spain: a systematic review.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease affecting all age groups, particularly children. This systematic review provides an overview of the humanistic and economic disease burden in the pediatric population with AD in Spain. The evidence, collected from 11 observational studies published over the past 10 years, exhibits the most common characteristics of the patients, disease burden, patient-reported outcomes, use of resources, and treatment patterns. The burden of AD extends beyond physical symptoms, with associated comorbidities such as asthma and impaired health-related quality of life and mental health disorders, particularly in severe cases. Traditional therapies, primarily topical corticosteroids, face adherence and efficacy challenges. Despite promising innovative treatments and available biological therapies, their use is still limited in the pediatric population. The findings of the present review highlight the scarce scientific evidence on the economic burden of pediatric AD, as well as the most updated humanistic evidence on this disease. At the same time, the need for individualized care and innovative therapeutic interventions to address the multifaceted challenges of pediatric AD in Spain is evident.

Assessing Pain and Functional Outcomes of Percutaneous Stabilization of Metastatic Pelvic Lesions via Photodynamic Nails: A Bi-Institutional Investigation of Orthopaedic Outcomes.

Background: Minimally invasive surgical interventions for metastatic invasion of the pelvis have become more prevalent and varied. Our group hypothesized that the use of percutaneous photodynamic nails (PDNs) would result in decreased pain, improved functional outcomes and level of ambulation, and decreased use of opioid pain medication. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with metastatic pelvic bone disease undergoing stabilization with PDNs (IlluminOss Medical) at 2 institutions. Functional outcome measures assessed include the Combined Pain and Ambulatory Function (CPAF), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function, and PROMIS Global Health-Physical. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year following surgery. Results: A total of 39 patients treated with PDNs were included. No cases of surgical site infection or implant failure were identified. The median pain VAS score decreased from 8 preoperatively to 0 at the 6-week time point (p < 0.0001). The median CPAF score improved from 5.5 points preoperatively to 7 points at the 3-month mark (p = 0.0132). A significant improvement in physical function was seen at 6 months in the PROMIS Physical Function (p = 0.02) and at both 6 months (p = 0.01) and 1 year (p < 0.01) for the PROMIS Global Health-Physical. The rate of patients prescribed opioid analgesia dropped from 100% preoperatively to 20% at 6 months following surgery (p < 0.001). By 6 weeks, all patients were fully weight-bearing and able to walk independently with or without assistive devices. Conclusions: Percutaneous stabilization of metastatic periacetabular defects using PDNs is a safe and effective palliative procedure that has been shown to improve patient mobility and provide early pain relief. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Machine Learning-Assisted Decision Making in Orthopaedic Oncology.

¼ Artificial intelligence is an umbrella term for computational calculations that are designed to mimic human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities, although in the future, this may become an incomplete definition. Machine learning (ML) encompasses the development of algorithms or predictive models that generate outputs without explicit instructions, assisting in clinical predictions based on large data sets. Deep learning is a subset of ML that utilizes layers of networks that use various inter-relational connections to define and generalize data.¼ ML algorithms can enhance radiomics techniques for improved image evaluation and diagnosis. While ML shows promise with the advent of radiomics, there are still obstacles to overcome.¼ Several calculators leveraging ML algorithms have been developed to predict survival in primary sarcomas and metastatic bone disease utilizing patient-specific data. While these models often report exceptionally accurate performance, it is crucial to evaluate their robustness using standardized guidelines.¼ While increased computing power suggests continuous improvement of ML algorithms, these advancements must be balanced against challenges such as diversifying data, addressing ethical concerns, and enhancing model interpretability.

Re-wiring of the bonded brain: Gene expression among pair bonded female prairie voles changes as they transition to motherhood.

Motherhood is a costly life-history transition accompanied by behavioral and neural plasticity necessary for offspring care. Motherhood in the monogamous prairie vole is associated with decreased pair bond strength, suggesting a trade-off between parental investment and pair bond maintenance. Neural mechanisms governing pair bonds and maternal bonds overlap, creating possible competition between the two. We measured mRNA expression of genes encoding receptors for oxytocin (oxtr), dopamine (d1r and d2r), mu-opioids (oprm1a), and kappa-opioids (oprk1a) within three brain areas processing salience of sociosensory cues (anterior cingulate cortex; ACC), pair bonding (nucleus accumbens; NAc), and maternal care (medial preoptic area; MPOA). We compared gene expression differences between pair bonded prairie voles that were never pregnant, pregnant (~day 16 of pregnancy), and recent mothers (day 3 of lactation). We found greater gene expression in the NAc (oxtr, d2r, oprm1a, and oprk1a) and MPOA (oxtr, d1r, d2r, oprm1a, and oprk1a) following the transition to motherhood. Expression for all five genes in the ACC was greatest for females that had been bonded for longer. Gene expression within each region was highly correlated, indicating that oxytocin, dopamine, and opioids comprise a complimentary gene network for social signaling. ACC-NAc gene expression correlations indicated that being a mother (oxtr and d1r) or maintaining long-term pair bonds (oprm1a) relies on the coordination of different signaling systems within the same circuit. Our study suggests the maternal brain undergoes changes that prepare females to face the trade-off associated with increased emotional investment in offspring, while also maintaining a pair bond.

Patient-Reported Outcomes After Intramedullary Nailing of Oncologic Impending or Pathologic Fractures With Carbon Fiber or Titanium Implant.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the benefits of intramedullary nailing (IMN) of impending or pathologic fractures in oncologic patients, literature on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is scarce in patients treated with carbon fiber (CF) nails. Our study compared postoperative PROs after IMN with CF or titanium implants. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study of patients treated at our institution with CF or titanium nails for impending or pathologic fractures from metastatic bone disease. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Short Form (SF) Physical, Mental, and Physical Function 10a scores were collected. Pain was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS). Absolute and differential scores were compared between groups. RESULTS: We included 207 patients, 51 treated with CF and 156 with titanium nails. One month postoperatively, patients had a one-point decrease in the pain VAS score while PROMIS scores did not improve. At 3 months, PROMIS SF Physical and SF 10a scores improved from preoperative values. Six months postoperatively, median PROMIS SF Physical, SF Mental, and SF 10a scores were higher than preoperative scores. Absolute and differential PROMIS and pain VAS scores were similar between groups at the 6-month and 1-year marks. CONCLUSION: Patient-reported outcomes were similar after intramedullary nailing with either CF or titanium implants.

Wound vacuum-assisted closure temporization after tumor resection of soft tissue sarcomas-A cost analysis in a propensity-score matched population.

BACKGROUND: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) temporization is a technique associated with high local control rates used in myxofibrosarcoma. We sought to compare the costs and postoperative outcomes of VAC temporization and single-stage (SS) excision/reconstruction. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with myxofibrosarcoma surgically treated at our institution between 2000 and 2022. Variables of interest included total, direct, and indirect costs for initial episode of care, 90 days and 1 year after initial admission, and postoperative outcomes. Costs were compared between the VAC temporization and SS groups. RESULTS: After matching, 13 patients in the SS group and 23 in the VAC group were analyzed. We found no difference in median and mean total inpatient costs, between the VAC temporization and SS group. While total 90-day and 1-year costs were higher in the VAC group compared to the SS group, mean costs were similar. There were no differences in postoperative complications between groups. A subanalysis of the entire cohort (n = 139) revealed lower local recurrence and overall death rates in the VAC temporization group. CONCLUSION: VAC temporization had similar inpatient costs and postoperative outcomes to SS excision/reconstruction. While median 90-day and 1-year costs were higher in the VAC group, mean costs did not differ.

Incidence and survival outcomes of patients with high-grade appendicular bone sarcoma and isolated regional lymph node metastasis: A national cohort database study.

BACKGROUND: While distant metastases in primary bone sarcomas have been extensively studied, the impact of isolated regional lymph node (LN) metastasis on survival remains unknown. In patients with primary bone sarcomas, we sought to assess the prevalence of isolated regional LN metastasis and the survival of this population. METHODS: A total of 6651 patients with histologically-confirmed high-grade osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, or chondrosarcoma were retrieved from the SEER database. We defined four subgroups for our analysis: localized disease (N0 M0), isolated regional LN metastasis (N1 M0), isolated distant metastasis (N0 M1), and combined regional LN and distant metastasis (N1 M1). Disease-specific survival (DSS) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Prevalence of isolated regional LN metastasis (N1 M0) was highest in Ewing sarcoma (27/1097; 3.3 %), followed by chondrosarcoma (18/1702; 1.4 %) and osteosarcoma (26/3740; 0.9 %). In all three histologies, patients with isolated regional LN metastasis had a worse 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year DSS than those with localized disease. Chondrosarcoma patients with isolated regional LN (N1 M0) metastasis had a significantly higher DSS in comparison to those with only distant metastasis (N0 M1) at the 5- and 10-year marks; for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, only a pattern towards higher survival was seen. Risk factors for presenting isolated regional LN metastasis included tumor location in lower-limb (OR = 2.01) or pelvis (OR = 2.49), diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma (OR = 2.98), and tumor >10 cm (OR = 1.96). CONCLUSIONS: Isolated regional LN metastases in primary bone sarcomas is an infrequent presentation associated with worse survival than localized disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Myositis ossificans mimicking bone surface osteosarcoma: case report with literature review.

Myositis ossificans, a benign tumor composed of spindle cells and osteoblasts, can clinically and radiologically mimic osteosarcoma. While recognition and accurate diagnosis of myositis ossificans can be a challenge, this is critical as it may allow a conservative surgical approach to maximize functional outcomes. Herein, we present a patient with surface myositis ossificans confirmed genetically by the presence of COL1A1::USP6 gene fusion, along with a literature review. Due to the enhanced visualization of the bone matrix, computed tomography (CT) imaging may be a superior imaging modality to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Staged biopsies with samples obtained from the periphery and center of the lesions may allow pathologists to discern the zonal distribution histologically. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry fluorescence in situ hybridization and molecular testing can aid in the distinction of myositis ossificans from mimics. Because of their resemblance to other bone tumors, these cases of myositis ossificans highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach integrating clinical, radiologic, and pathologic analysis and involving serial imaging, sampling, and judicious use of ancillary immunohistochemical and molecular testing.

Wound-Healing Effects of Common Antineoplastic Agents and Perioperative Considerations for the Orthopaedic Surgeon.

In oncologic patients, optimal postoperative wound healing is crucial for the maintenance of systemic therapies and improved survival. Although several risk factors for postoperative wound complications have been identified, the clinical effect of new antineoplastic agents on wound healing remains uncertain. The available literature on the effect of antineoplastic agents in wound healing is complex to analyze because of other confounding risk factors such as radiation therapy and certain patient-specific variables. Available perioperative drug recommendations are based on database opinion and case reports from adverse event alerts. This review highlights the characteristics of old and new antineoplastic agents commonly used in the treatment of sarcoma, carcinoma, and other cancers and their potential effects on the wound-healing process. It also aims to provide perioperative treatment cessation recommendations to guide orthopaedic surgeons and prevent drug-related wound complications to the fullest extent possible.

Cemented and Press-fit Femoral Stems for the Management of Oncologic Femoral Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Stem fixation in reconstruction after resection of femoral tumors is debated. Cemented stems offer immediate stability but risk aseptic loosening, while press-fit stems allow bone ingrowth but risk stress shielding and subsidence. Our retrospective review aimed to determine implant failure rates and their associated factors, as well as the rates of infection, debridement, and mortality for both fixation groups (cemented or press-fit stems) used in patients undergoing resection of femoral tumor disease and subsequent arthroplasty. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 252 patients who underwent resection of femoral tumors and subsequent arthroplasty using cemented (n = 173; 69%) or press-fit (noncemented) (n = 79; 31%) stems between 1999 and 2020. Implant failure was the primary outcome, with secondary outcomes including rates of implant infection, debridement, and mortality. Multivariable regression was done to assess risk factors for implant failures. RESULTS: The study found implant failure rates of 11% and 18% for cemented stems and press-fit stems, respectively. Lower stem to diaphyseal ratios ( P = 0.024) and younger patients ( P = 0.008) were associated with a higher risk of implant failure in cemented stems. The infection rates were 14% and 10% for cemented and press-fit stems, respectively. Debridement rates were 16% and 13% for cemented and press-fit stems, respectively, while the 1-year mortality rate was 16% for cemented stems and 1.5% for press-fit stems. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest of its kind, providing patient characteristics and outcomes in both cemented and press-fit stems in the setting of reconstruction for femoral tumors. Both methods can be effective, with outcomes dependent on patient-specific factors, such as life expectancy, activity level, and body habitus, as well as proper implant fit. Additional studies of both implants and longer follow-up are required to elucidate the optimal fixation method for each individual patient. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective noncomparative study.

Diverse task-driven modeling of macaque V4 reveals functional specialization towards semantic tasks.

Responses to natural stimuli in area V4-a mid-level area of the visual ventral stream-are well predicted by features from convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained on image classification. This result has been taken as evidence for the functional role of V4 in object classification. However, we currently do not know if and to what extent V4 plays a role in solving other computational objectives. Here, we investigated normative accounts of V4 (and V1 for comparison) by predicting macaque single-neuron responses to natural images from the representations extracted by 23 CNNs trained on different computer vision tasks including semantic, geometric, 2D, and 3D types of tasks. We found that V4 was best predicted by semantic classification features and exhibited high task selectivity, while the choice of task was less consequential to V1 performance. Consistent with traditional characterizations of V4 function that show its high-dimensional tuning to various 2D and 3D stimulus directions, we found that diverse non-semantic tasks explained aspects of V4 function that are not captured by individual semantic tasks. Nevertheless, jointly considering the features of a pair of semantic classification tasks was sufficient to yield one of our top V4 models, solidifying V4's main functional role in semantic processing and suggesting that V4's selectivity to 2D or 3D stimulus properties found by electrophysiologists can result from semantic functional goals.