Search Results (52)

Introduction: Bilateral congenital choanal atresia (CCA) is a rare, life-threatening condition in neonates. This is the first reported case of PROPEL steroid-eluting stent use in a seven-day-old bilateral CCA neonate, with a customised technique developed to overcome limitations of the standard applicator. Case Presentation: A full-term male neonate presented with severe respiratory distress and was diagnosed with bilateral CCA. Endoscopic repair with mucoperiosteal flaps and drilling of the atretic plate was performed, followed by placement of a tailored PROPEL stent using a modified insertion with a Nelaton tube system. Outcomes: Recovery was uneventful. At 30 days, the stent remained well-positioned; at two, three, and six months, the neochoana was patent with no restenosis or synechiae. Conclusions: The PROPEL stent, combined with a customised insertion method, may offer a promising alternative for neonatal CCA repair. Further studies are needed to assess long-term outcomes and safety. Full article

Background/Objectives: Optimizing drug deposition to the olfactory region is key in Nose-to-brain drug delivery strategies. However, findings from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies remain inconsistent concerning the parameters influencing olfactory deposition, limiting clinical translation and device optimization. This systematic review aims to identify robust CFD parameters for optimizing drug delivery to the olfactory region. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines, selecting studies reporting CFD simulations of nasal drug delivery with evaluation of olfactory deposition efficiency. The primary outcome was the correlation between each CFD parameter and olfactory deposition rate. Parameters included particle size, impaction parameter, flow rate, spray cone angle, insertion angle, injection velocity, head position, release position, and breathing pattern. Data were extracted and standardized, and statistical methods were used to assess correlations, heterogeneity, and potential biases in study results. Results: Smaller particle size (pooled r = −0.42) and lower impaction parameter (r = −0.39) were significantly associated with higher olfactory deposition. No consistent correlation was observed with breathing flow rate. Heterogeneity across studies was high (I² > 90%). Funnel plots asymmetry suggested potential publication bias in particle-related outcomes. Conclusions: Particle characteristics, especially size and inertia, are the most critical determinants of olfactory deposition in CFD simulations. These findings support design optimization of nasal delivery devices targeting the olfactory region and underscore the need for standardized reporting and validation across CFD studies. Full article

Background: Topical anaesthesia of the nasal mucosa is essential for comfortable and effective nasal instrumentation. However, current methods often result in uneven anaesthesia, which can cause discomfort. This study evaluates the clinical performance of a newly developed soft mist nasal atomiser (NAA: Nasal Atomiser Adapter) for nasal topical anaesthesia. Methods: Twenty healthy adult volunteers received 1 mL of 4% lidocaine via the NAA in two doses of 0.5 mL each, administered into one nostril. Five minutes after administration, a size 7 nasopharyngeal airway was inserted into the anaesthetised nostril to assess tolerance. Comfort and anaesthetic effectiveness were rated by both participants and the attending anaesthesiologist using numeric rating scales (1–10). Results: The median total spraying time was 177.5 s (range, 152–192 s), which included the 120 s waiting period between the two 0.5 mL doses. Insertion of the nasopharyngeal airway took a median of 8.0 s (range 2–25 s). Participants rated the comfort of nasal lidocaine administration at a median of 9/10, and anaesthesia levels were rated as good to very good by both participants and clinicians. In 85% of cases, no reaction was observed during insertion of the nasopharyngeal airway; minimal reactions occurred in the remaining 15%. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The NAA provided effective, reliable, and safe anaesthesia of the nasal cavity, with a high level of comfort for the subject. It enabled fast and comfortable nasal instrumentation. These findings support the NAA as a promising alternative to conventional nasal anaesthetic techniques. Full article

Cultures of primary human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) differentiated at the air–liquid interface (ALI) represent a sophisticated and widely used model of the human upper respiratory epithelium. Despite the availability of various cell culture insert types and the well-established understanding that different culture media influence the cell culture characteristics, the possible impact of the insert brand remains rather underexplored. We cultured hNECs from nineteen healthy adult donors on three distinct brands of commercially available inserts—Corning^® Transwell^®, CELLTREAT^®, and ThinCert^®—and compared the ciliary activity and cellular composition of the cultures using high-speed video microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. Additionally, we employed an alternative method of hNEC culture setup—the inverted condition—wherein the hNECs were seeded on the basal side of the insert with the idea to avoid mucus accumulation. Our results show that ciliary activity and cell type composition did not differ between insert types for both culture conditions. However, we found a higher ciliary beat frequency and a lower active (ciliated) area in the inverted setup compared to the conventional setup across all three insert brands. These findings indicate that all three mentioned insert types yield comparable cell cultures. Full article

Information describing forces applied to the horse are needed to inform regulatory decisions regarding equine health and wellbeing. This study compares forces exerted beneath the noseband and headpiece of a snaffle bridle (SB) and a double bridle (DB). Horses were fitted with the same type of SB and DB. Forces were measured by pressure mats under the noseband (nasal/mandibular) and headpiece (occipital) of the bridle and by force sensors inserted bilaterally between the bit(s) and reins. The noseband was adjusted to 2 finger-equivalents using a tightness gauge. Data were recorded for eleven high-level dressage horses ridden in SB and DB in random order at collected walk, trot (sitting), and canter. The noseband pressures were similar between bridle types. Minimal, maximal, and mean occipital force and pressure were significantly higher for DB at walk, trot, and canter (all p ≤ 0.01), except minimal force for collected canter (p = 0.04). The rein tension for the bridoon bit alone and for the combined bridoon and curb bits was significantly lower than for the snaffle bit. Similar forces occur when ridden in SB and DB except that occipital force and pressure are higher due to the greater weight of the DB, and rein tension is lower for the DB. Full article

Nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery is a promising technique for the treatment of brain diseases. It allows a drug to enter the brain without passing through the blood–brain barrier. However, the nasal cavity and nasal mucosa can restrict the amount of drug absorbed. Recent studies of non-thermal plasma (NTP) have shown improvement in in vitro drug delivery to cells and tissues. However, whether NTP treatments can enhance the in vivo delivery of drugs for neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) into the brain via the N2B technique remains unclear. The drug used in this study was galantamine hydrobromide. Galantamine is used to treat patients with mild to moderate AD. Based on the principle of NTP, a type of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma, which we called spiral DBD microplasma, was designed. It was inserted into the nose of a rat to a depth of 2 mm. The spiral DBD microplasma was driven by a sinusoidal voltage for 4 min, followed by the immediate administration of galantamine. The effect of the microplasma treatment on the distribution of galantamine in the brain was evaluated using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). The results showed a high distribution of galantamine in the left and right brain hemispheres of the rat treated with plasma discharge compared to a control treated without plasma discharge. The spiral DBD microplasma is a novel contribution to DBD plasma designs. In addition, this technique for drug delivery has also created a novel approach with potential for becoming a non-invasive method of enhancing drug distribution in the brain for the treatment of neurological disorders. Full article

Measuring tools designed to objectively determine equine noseband tightness are inserted on the dorsal nasal planum in a rostro-caudal direction. The lateral aspect of the horse’s head has several areas where minimal soft tissue intervenes between the skin and underlying bone, which makes them potentially useful sites for measuring noseband tightness. One hundred horses were fitted with a snaffle bridle with a cavesson, Swedish or dropped noseband in random order. The tightness of each noseband type was adjusted sequentially to 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5 and 0.0 finger-equivalents using an ISES Taper Gauge. For each adjustment, a digital calliper determined the distance (mm) between the inner surface of the noseband at three lateral locations: (1) lateral nasal bone, (2) lateral maxilla rostral to the facial crest, and (3) lateral mandible. Friedman’s analysis was used to test the differences between locations (p < 0.02). No differences were found between 2.0 and 1.5 finger-equivalent tightness at the nasal and maxillary sites for the cavesson (p = 0.89, p = 0.03, respectively) and Swedish (p = 0.06, p = 0.40, respectively) noseband. When adjusted between 2.0 to 0.5 finger-equivalent tightness, the coefficient of variation was “good” for the nasal (16%) and maxilla (19%) sites. These results indicate that a lateral measuring site may provide a suitable addition to dorsal midline measurements. Full article

Corynebacterium striatum, present in the microbiota of human skin and nasal mucosa, has recently emerged as a causative agent of hospital-acquired infections, notable for its resistance to multiple antimicrobials. Its mobilome comprises several mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, transposons, insertion sequences and integrons, which contribute to the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes. This study analyzes the contribution of the C. striatum mobilome in the transfer and dissemination of resistance genes. In addition, integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), essential in the dissemination of resistance genes between bacterial populations, whose role in C. striatum has not yet been studied, are examined. This study examined 365 C. striatum genomes obtained from the NCBI Pathogen Detection database. Phylogenetic and pangenome analyses were performed, the resistance profile of the bacterium was recognized, and mobile elements, including putative ICE, were detected. Bioinformatic analyses identified 20 antimicrobial resistance genes in this species, with the Ermx gene being the most predominant. Resistance genes were mainly associated with plasmid sequence regions and class 1 integrons. Although an ICE was detected, no resistance genes linked to this element were found. This study provided valuable information on the geographic spread and prevalence of outbreaks observed through phylogenetic and pangenome analyses, along with identifying antimicrobial resistance genes and mobile genetic elements that carry many of the resistance genes and may be the subject of future research and therapeutic approaches. Full article

Epidemiological surveys revealed that 33 of the 93 samples were positive for FHV-1, with the gD gene of these 33 samples exhibiting low variation, high homology, and no critical amino acid mutation. Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) virus, is one of the main causes of URT disease in cats. All cats can become hosts of FHV-1, and the spread of this disease affects the protection of rare feline animals. Nasal swabs from cats with URT disease were collected at five veterinary clinics in Yanji City from 2022 to 2024. The purpose of this study was to isolate and investigate the epidemiology of FHV-1. The gD gene of the FHV-1 strain was cloned and inserted into the pMD-18T vector and transformed into a competent Escherichia coli strain. Subsequently, the gD gene of the positive samples was sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the genetic evolution relationship between the strains. We successfully isolated the FHV-1 strain YBYJ-1 in Yanji City for the first time. The diameter of the virus is approximately 150–160 nm. After 48 h of virus inoculation, the cells were round, isolated, and formed grape-like clusters. The gD gene of the virus was sequenced, and the length was 1125 bp, which proved the isolate was FHV-1. This study found that the genetic evolution of the FHV-1 gD gene was stable, expanding the molecular epidemiological data on FHV-1 in cats in Yanji City. Full article

Capripoxviruses are the causative agents of sheeppox, goatpox, and lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle, which cause economic losses to the livestock industry in Africa and Asia. Capripoxviruses are currently controlled using several live attenuated vaccines. It was previously demonstrated that a lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) field isolate from Warmbaths (WB) South Africa, ORF 005 (IL-10) gene-deleted virus (LSDV WB005KO), was able to protect sheep and goats against sheeppox and goatpox. Subsequently, genes encoding the protective antigens for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and Rift Valley fever (RVF) viruses have been inserted in the LSDV WB005KO construct in three different antigen forms (native, secreted, and fusion). These three multivalent vaccine candidates were evaluated for protection against PPR using a single immunization of 10⁴ TCID₅₀ in sheep. The vaccine candidates with the native and secreted antigens protected sheep against PPR clinical disease and decreased viral shedding, as detected using real-time RT-PCR in oral and nasal swabs. An anamnestic antibody response, measured using PPR virus-neutralizing antibody response production, was observed in sheep following infection. The vaccine candidates with the antigens expressed in their native form were evaluated for protection against RVF using a single immunization with doses of 10⁴ or 10⁵ TCID₅₀ in sheep and goats. Following RVF virus infection, sheep and goats were protected against clinical disease and no viremia was detected in serum compared to control animals, where viremia was detected one day following infection. Sheep and goats developed RVFV-neutralizing antibodies prior to infection, and the antibody responses increased following infection. These results demonstrate that an LSD virus-vectored vaccine candidate can be used in sheep and goats to protect against multiple viral infections. Full article

The standard multi-dose nasal spray pump features an integrated actuator and nozzle, which inevitably causes a retraction of the nozzle tip during application. The retraction stroke is around 5.5 mm and drastically reduces the nozzle’s insertion depth, which further affects the initial nasal spray deposition and subsequent translocation, potentially increasing drug wastes and dosimetry variability. To address this issue, we designed a new spray pump that separated the nozzle from the actuator and connected them with a flexible tube, thereby eliminating nozzle retraction during application. The objective of this study is to test the new device’s performance in comparison to the conventional nasal pump in terms of spray generation, plume development, and dosimetry distribution. For both devices, the spray droplet size distribution was measured using a laser diffraction particle analyzer. Plume development was recorded with a high-definition camera. Nasal dosimetry was characterized in two transparent nasal cavity casts (normal and decongested) under two breathing conditions (breath-holding and constant inhalation). The nasal formulation was a 0.25% w/v methyl cellulose aqueous solution with a fluorescent dye. For each test case, the temporospatial spray translocation in the nasal cavity was recorded, and the final delivered doses were quantified in five nasal regions. The results indicate minor differences in droplet size distribution between the two devices. The nasal plume from the new device presents a narrower plume angle. The head orientation, the depth at which the nozzle is inserted into the nostril, and the administration angle play crucial roles in determining the initial deposition of nasal sprays as well as the subsequent translocation of the liquid film/droplets. Quantitative measurements of deposition distributions in the nasal models were augmented with visualization recordings to evaluate the delivery enhancements introduced by the new device. With an extension tube, the modified device produced a lower spray output and delivered lower doses in the front, middle, and back turbinate than the conventional nasal pump. However, sprays from the new device were observed to penetrate deeper into the nasal passages, predominantly through the middle-upper meatus. This resulted in consistently enhanced dosing in the middle-upper turbinate regions while at the cost of higher drug loss to the pharynx. Full article

The first record of well-preserved chondrocranial elements in mosasaurids is here described. These elements are preserved in situ in a Coniacian skull found in north-central Colombia, inside a calcareous concretion. Based on a 3D model generated from computed tomography scans, we identified elements of the nasal and orbitotemporal regions. Our descriptions show that in this specimen, the chondrocranium was reduced, more so than in most lacertilians (including their closest recent relatives, the varanids), but not as severely as in snakes or amphisbaenians (which have an extremely reduced chondrocranium and limbs). The new evidence suggests that the reduction in the chondrocranium in mosasaurids could be related to modification of their limbs when adapting to aquatic environments, but also that in mosasaurids, the olfactory tract was reduced, and the optic muscle insertions occurred mainly in the interorbital septum. The exceptional preservation of the chondrocranial elements in the specimen is facilitated by a gray mineralization covering them. XRD analysis and thin section observations indicated that this mineralization is composed of microcrystalline quartz and calcite. We infer that this material was produced by a partial silicification process promoted by lower pH microenvironments associated with bacterial breakdown of non-biomineralized tissues during early diagenesis. Full article

Holoprosencephaly is a complex human brain malformation resulting from incomplete cleavage of the prosencephalon into both hemispheres. Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is sometimes found in patients with mild forms of holoprosencephaly. Surgical treatment is required. Low-invasive surgical approaches involve balloon dilation of the pyriform opening. We present the case of an 8-day-old girl diagnosed with holoprosencephaly, CNPAS, and the presence of a solitary median maxillary central incisor. Once examined by neonatologist, geneticist, pneumologist, otolaryngologist, and pediatric dentist, a combined otolaryngological–orthodontic approach was used. The obstruction of the right nasal cavity was treated by widening the nasal cavities and stabilizing them with a balloon dilation technique. After surgery, the respiratory space was increased by applying a neonatal palatal expander plate (NPEP) considering the palatal deformity: ogival shaped, anterior vertex growth direction, reduction of transverse diameters. The NPEP promoted distraction of the median palatine suture and assisted the nasal dilation. Therefore, after the insertion of NPEP, the physiological sucking–swallowing mechanism was activated. In infants with CNPAS, NPEP can be useful to ensure the safe stability of nasal dilation. A multidisciplinary approach is fundamental. In our experience, the close collaboration between an otolaryngologist and orthodontist is essential for the management of the patient with CNPAS. Full article

Re-expansion pulmonary edema is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication that can occur after the rapid re-expansion of a collapsed lung due to pneumothorax or pleural effusion. It has a multifactorial pathogenesis, and risk factors for re-expansion pulmonary edema, such as chronic lung collapse, rapid re-expansion, and changes in pulmonary vascular permeability, have been identified. Clinical manifestations vary, ranging from almost asymptomatic to a rapidly fatal condition, and its incidence may be more common and less fatal than previously believed. The literature emphasizes the importance of early recognition and management to ensure favorable outcomes. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the indications for ventilatory support and the timing of non-invasive or invasive ventilation. Herein, we report a case series of three paradigmatic examples of massive re-expansion pulmonary edema occurring over a period of 10 years in our institution among a population of 815 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. We also conducted a literature review on re-expansion pulmonary edema, with a particular focus on diagnosis and management. In each case, despite initially normal clinical parameters, severe respiratory distress developed following the insertion of a thoracic drainage tube for a massive spontaneous pneumothorax. Two patients required High-Flow Nasal Oxygen, and one was addressed to intensive management, including CPAP. In all cases, the patient’s outcome was optimal. Full article

In this paper, we report the characterization of a genetically modified live-attenuated African swine fever virus (ASFV) field strain isolated from Vietnam. The isolate, ASFV-GUS-Vietnam, belongs to p72 genotype II, has six multi-gene family (MGF) genes deleted, and an Escherichia coli GusA gene (GUS) inserted. When six 6–8-week-old pigs were inoculated with ASFV-GUS-Vietnam oro-nasally (2 × 10⁵ TCID₅₀/pig), they developed viremia, mild fever, lethargy, and inappetence, and shed the virus in their oral and nasal secretions and feces. One of the pigs developed severe clinical signs and was euthanized 12 days post-infection, while the remaining five pigs recovered. When ASFV-GUS-Vietnam was inoculated intramuscularly (2 × 10³ TCID₅₀/pig) into four 6-8 weeks old pigs, they also developed viremia, mild fever, lethargy, inappetence, and shed the virus in their oral and nasal secretions and feces. Two contact pigs housed together with the four intramuscularly inoculated pigs, started to develop fever, viremia, loss of appetite, and lethargy 12 days post-contact, confirming horizontal transmission of ASFV-GUS-Vietnam. One of the contact pigs died of ASF on day 23 post-contact, while the other one recovered. The pigs that survived the exposure to ASFV-GUS-Vietnam via the mucosal or parenteral route were fully protected against the highly virulent ASFV Georgia 2007/1 challenge. This study showed that ASFV-GUS-Vietnam field isolate is able to induce complete protection in the majority of the pigs against highly virulent homologous ASFV challenge, but has the potential for horizontal transmission, and can be fatal in some animals. This study highlights the need for proper monitoring and surveillance when ASFV live-attenuated virus-based vaccines are used in the field for ASF control in endemic countries. Full article