Accuracy of computer-assisted navigation: significant augmentation by facial recognition software

Background

Over the past 20 years, image guidance navigation has been used with increasing frequency as an adjunct during sinus and skull base surgery. These devices commonly utilize surface registration, where varying pressure of the registration probe and loss of contact with the face during the skin tracing process can lead to registration inaccuracies, and the number of registration points incorporated is necessarily limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of novel facial recognition software for image guidance registration.

Methods

Consecutive adults undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) were prospectively studied. Patients underwent image guidance registration via both conventional surface registration and facial recognition software. The accuracy of both registration processes were measured at the head of the middle turbinate (MTH), middle turbinate axilla (MTA), anterior wall of sphenoid sinus (SS), and nasal tip (NT).

Results

Forty-five patients were included in this investigation. Facial recognition was accurate to within a mean of 0.47 mm at the MTH, 0.33 mm at the MTA, 0.39 mm at the SS, and 0.36 mm at the NT. Facial recognition was more accurate than surface registration at the MTH by an average of 0.43 mm (p = 0.002), at the MTA by an average of 0.44 mm (p < 0.001), and at the SS by an average of 0.40 mm (p < 0.001). The integration of facial recognition software did not adversely affect registration time.

Conclusion

In this prospective study, automated facial recognition software significantly improved the accuracy of image guidance registration when compared to conventional surface registration.

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Aggressive necrotizing pseudomonal sinonasal infections

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacterium frequently implicated in recalcitrant sinonasal infections, especially in immunocompromised hosts. We report 6 cases of rapidly progressive pseudomonal acute rhinosinusitis producing tissue necrosis and, in certain cases, cranial nerve palsies.

Methods

Retrospective review of 6 patients with aggressive necrotizing sinonasal infections treated at 4 tertiary academic medical centers with sinonasal cultures growing P. aeruginosa in the absence of other pathology.

Results

A total of 6 patients were identified. In all cases, there was tissue necrosis that appeared to mimic an invasive process such as mucormycosis, prompting urgent surgical intervention. Pathologic analysis revealed fibropurulent exudates in backgrounds of positive P. aeruginosa cultures without evidence of invasive fungal organisms or malignancy. Four of the 6 patients presented with cranial nerve palsies, with 3 patients having vision changes and 3 complaining of trigeminal neuropathy. Four of 6 patients improved clinically over time after surgery and antibiotic therapy; 1 remains in follow-up without complete improvement and 1 has succumbed to other causes.

Conclusion

P. aeruginosa is a tenacious organism that is frequently associated with severe, recalcitrant sinonasal infections. We report the first case series of necrotizing sinonasal infections caused by this organism, and illustrate that, in rare cases, P. aeruginosa may mimic and behave like life-threatening conditions such as fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis or malignancy.

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Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor with AZD4547 mitigates juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Background

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign tumor that presents in adolescent males. Although surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment, recurrences complicate treatment. There is a need to develop less invasive approaches for management. JNA tumors are composed of fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells. We identified fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in JNA-derived fibroblasts. FGFR influences fibroblast proliferation and VEGF is necessary for angiogenesis. We hypothesized that targeting FGFR would mitigate JNA fibroblast proliferation, invasion, and migration, and that targeting the VEGF receptor would attenuate endothelial tubule formation.

Methods

After informed consent, fibroblasts from JNA explants of 3 patients were isolated. Fibroblasts were treated with FGFR inhibitor AZD4547, 0 to 25 μg/mL for 72 hours and proliferation was quantified using CyQuant assay. Migration and invasion of JNA were assessed using 24-hour transwell assays with subsequent fixation and quantification. Mitigation of FGFR and downstream signaling was evaluated by immunoblotting. Tubule formation was assessed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with vehicle control (dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO]) or semaxanib (SU5416) as well as in serum-free media (SFM) or JNA conditioned media (CM). Tubule length was compared between treatment groups.

Results

Compared to control, AZD4547 inhibited JNA fibroblast proliferation, migration, and invasion through inhibition of FGFR and downstream signaling, specifically phosphorylation of - p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase (p44/42 MAPK). JNA fibroblast CM significantly increased HUVEC tubule formation (p = 0.0039).

Conclusion

AZD4547 effectively mitigates FGFR signaling and decreases JNA fibroblast proliferation, migration, and invasion. SU5416 attenuated JNA fibroblast-induced tubule formation. AZD4547 may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of JNA.

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Comparison of the Effect of Skin Preparation Pads on Transepidermal Water Loss in Ex Vivo Human Skin

Abstract

Introduction

Pre-treatment of the skin to remove scales and crusts prior to photodynamic therapy (PDT) is essential to enhance the uptake of topically applied methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) and to improve treatment efficacy. This study compared the effect of two different skin preparation pads on skin integrity in ex vivo human skin.

Methods

Ex vivo human skin samples from three donors were pre-treated in triplicates with PREPSTER™ (PR) skin preparation pad (6, 8, and 10 passages) or Ambu Unilect™ (A-UN) skin preparation pad (6, 8, and 10 passages). In addition, skin samples were pre-treated with tape strippings (10 adhesive tape strips) as a reference method for comparison. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured on intact skin and following skin barrier impairment using skin preparation pads and tape stripping. Histological analysis was performed to verify the impairment of the stratum corneum (SC) barrier function in samples from intact skin (control), 10 tape strippings (reference method), 10 passages of PR, and 10 passages of A-UN.

Results

TEWL increased with the increasing number of passages of skin preparation pads, with 2.4- and 3.3-fold increases following 10 passages of A-UN and PR, respectively, versus a 2.2-fold increase with 10 tape strippings (reference). Histological analysis showed only partial removal of the SC, with no damage observed on the epidermis, regardless of the procedure used.

Conclusion

Pre-treatment of skin using PR and A-UN skin preparation pads markedly increases TEWL, indicating slight impairment of the SC barrier function. Comparison of both skin preparation pads showed that PR pad consistently induced significantly higher TEWL than A-UN pad (p < 0.05), regardless of the number of passages. Both skin preparation pads are thought to increase the uptake of MAL and can therefore be used for the preparation of skin prior to PDT.

Funding

Nestlé Skin Health – Galderma R&D.

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Zeitpunkt der Chemotherapie und Überleben beim Magenkarzinom

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Manifestationen von Autoimmunerkrankungen in der HNO-Heilkunde

Zusammenfassung

Manifestationen von Autoimmunerkrankungen stellen eine diagnostische Herausforderung dar. Es existieren jedoch verschiedene Erkrankungen dieser Genese, die sich mit typischen Symptomen im Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Bereich manifestieren und daher bei der Differenzialdiagnose berücksichtigt werden sollten. Das Sjögren-Syndrom, verschiedene Vaskulitiden und die Sarkoidose repräsentieren die häufigsten Autoimmunerkrankungen der Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, es werden jedoch auch IgG4-assoziierte Erkrankungen, die rezidivierende Polychondritis und autoimmune Erkrankungen der Schleimhäute beobachtet. Autoimmunerkrankungen können zu Schallempfindungsdefiziten führen. Im Bereich der Schilddrüse können sowohl Hypo- als auch Hyperthyreosen durch Autoimmunerkrankungen verursacht werden. Häufig orientiert sich die Diagnose an entsprechenden Klassifikationskriterien, deren korrekte Anwendung die Abklärung dieser Erkrankungen erleichtern kann.

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Minimally invasive management of traumatic lung herniation

Abstract

Post-traumatic pulmonary hernia can occur immediately after thoracic trauma or it may also appear months or even years after the onset. We report a case of a seventeen year-old male patient with thoracic blunt trauma secondary to high energy bicycle accident. Chest CT shows moderate hemothorax and pneumothorax, displaced fracture of the fifth left rib, and protusion of pulmonary tissue through a chest wall defect. In the Emergency Room the patient presents with chest pain (7/10 in Visual Analog Scale) and respiratory distress. Video-assisted thoracic surgery approach was chosen. Hernia reduction, non-anatomic lingular resection and rib fracture external fixation using a titanium plate was performed. Traumatic pulmonary hernia is an uncommon complication of thoracic trauma which may constitute an emergency for the trauma or thoracic surgeon. The early management of this injury can be developed by minimally invasive approach with excellent results.

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