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In the context of inefficient antibiotics, antibacterial alternatives are urgently needed to stop the increasing resistance rates in pathogens. This study reports the fabrication and characterization of four promising magnetite-based antibiotic delivery systems for ENT (ear, nose and throat) applications. Magnetite nanoparticles were functionalized with streptomycin and neomycin and some were entrapped in polymeric spheres. The obtained nanomaterials are stable, with spherical morphology, their size ranging from ~2.8 to ~4.7 nm for antibiotic-coated magnetite nanoparticles, and from submicron sizes up to several microns for polymer-coated magnetite-antibiotic composites. Cell viability and antimicrobial tests demonstrated their biocompatibility on human diploid cells and their antibacterial effect against Gram-negative ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) and Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus ) opportunistic bacteria. The presence of the polymeric coat proved an enhancement in biocompatibility and a slight reduction in the antimicrobial efficiency of the spheres. Our results support the idea that functional NPs and polymeric microsystems containing functional NPs could be tailored to achieve more biocompatibility or more antimicrobial effect, depending on the bioactive compounds they incorporate and their intended application.

This study reports the fabrication of nanostructured coatings based on magnetite, polyethyleneglycol, and biologically active molecule (polymyxin B-PM) for producing biofilm-resistant surfaces (voice prosthesis). Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have been synthesized and functionalized using a co-precipitation method and were further deposited into thin coatings using the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The obtained nanoparticles and coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis with differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction (TEM-SAED), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and infrared microscopy (IRM). Their antibiofilm activity was tested against relevant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains. The Fe 3 O 4 @PEG/PM surface of modified voice prosthesis sections reduced the number of CFU/mL up to four orders of magnitude in the case of S. aureus biofilm. A more significant inhibitory effect is noticed in the case of P. aeruginosa up to five folds. These results highlight the importance of new Fe 3 O 4 @PEG/PM in the biomedical field.

An increased pressure on ENT departments has evolved as head and neck pathology is showing a higher incidence and prevalence. Therefore, the ENT specialist should develop good skills in ultrasonographic examination of patients with head and neck masses. The aim of this paper is to enable the ENT specialist to identify anatomical landmarks on ultrasonographic images in order to expedite the diagnosis with a higher degree of certainty. We describe the steps for a proper ultrasound examination of the patient. We illustrate the following anatomical areas: submandibular gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, oropharinx, larynx, parotid glands, etc. Moreover we emphasize the differential diagnosis that should be taken into account when examining pathology in these regions. Ultrasonographic examination of head and neck pathology is cost efficient, non irradiating and permits fast follow up with serial examination of the lesions. Furthermore one can perform an initial TNM staging of the case prior to other expensive imaging studies such as CT and MRI. We hope to raise the awareness of fellow ENT specialists in performing ultrasonography as future developments such as elastography and CEUS will increase the specificity and sensitivity of this diagnostic method.

Cinnamomum verum-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles of 9.4 nm in size were laser transferred by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique onto gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) for antibacterial activity evaluation toward Gram positive and Gram negative microbial colonization. X-ray diffraction analysis of the nanoparticle powder showed a polycrystalline magnetite structure, whereas infrared mapping confirmed the integrity of C. verum (CV) functional groups after the laser transfer. The specific topography of the deposited films involved a uniform thin coating together with several aggregates of bio-functionalized magnetite particles covering the G-tubes. Cytotoxicity assays showed an increase of the G-tube surface biocompatibility after Fe3O4@CV treatment, allowing a normal development of endothelial cells up to five days of incubation. Microbiological assays on nanoparticle-modified G-tube surfaces have proved an improvement of anti-adherent properties, significantly reducing both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria colonization.

Objectives: The study presents the experience of the Coltea ENT Clinic with the most common emergency in ENT pathology., Results: The study group comprises 51.24% women and 48.76% men with 73.14% of patients (177) coming from urban areas and the remaining 26.86% (65) from rural areas. The total number of days of hospitalization is 1411, representing an average of 5.83 days / patient. Epistaxis was anterior in 80.17% of cases (194 patients) and antero-posterior in 19.83% (48 patients). 132 patients, representing 54.55% presented elevated blood pressure whereas liver and hematological disorders are uncommon etiologies. Therapeutic interventions are mostly non-surgical 207 (85.54%), the remaining 35 cases (14.46%), requiring surgery., Conclusions: Epistaxis associated with high blood pressure is found in 54.55% of the study group. In 38.02% of cases the etiology cannot be determined. Pluri-factorial etiology is common. The most difficult to control were the cases with epistaxis of hepatic etiology, in which cases the surgical solution was required.

This paper reports the potential of silica network to sensitize tumor cells and stimulate antitumor toxicity of fludarabine (FLU) and paclitaxel (PAC) against HCT8 cells. SiO₂, SiO₂/FLU and SiO₂/PAC nanostructured materials were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, InfraRed Microscopy and in vitro biological assays. When using SiO₂/PAC, it can be observed that the cytostatic effect of PAC is boosted only at high concentrations of this material. On the other hand, in the case of SiO₂/FLU, data showed an enhancement in the cytostatic activity of FLU by up to 25%, also when using this nanomaterial in low doses. These data represent preliminary study on the impact on silica nano-networks in targeted delivery and controlled release of antitumor drugs and they may be efficiently used for future biomedical applications in cancer therapy.

Cutaneous wounds are often superinfected during the healing process and this leads to prolonged convalescence and discomfort. Usage of suitable wound dressings is very important for an appropriate wound care leading to a correct healing. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the influence of a nano-coated wound dressing (WD) on Candida albicans colonization rate and biofilm formation. The modified WD was achieved by submerging the dressing pieces into a nanofluid composed of functionalized magnetite nanoparticles and Satureja hortensis (SO) essential oil (EO). Chemical composition of the EO was established by GC-MS. The fabricated nanostructure was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The analysis of the colonized surfaces using (Scanning Electron Microscopy) SEM revealed that C. albicans adherence and subsequent biofilm development are strongly inhibited on the surface of wound dressing fibers coated with the obtained nanofluid, comparing with regular uncoated materials. The results were also confirmed by the assay of the viable fungal cells embedded in the biofilm. Our data demonstrate that the obtained phytonanocoating improve the resistance of wound dressing surface to C. albicans colonization, which is often an etiological cause of local infections, impairing the appropriate wound healing.

Purpose: To analyse the gastrostomy procedures performed in HNC patients admitted to Coltea Clinical Hospital in order to underline the similarities and differences to the data published worldwide., Patients and Methods: Our retrospective study contains 64 HNC cases that met the inclusion criteria between 2008 and 2011., Results and Discussions: The study group presents numerous specific characteristics (a larger number of cases aged over 55 than younger patients; elective use of classic gastrostomy instead of newer techniques; approximately two thirds of the gastrostomies were performed in patients with laryngeal carcinoma; only one third approximately of the cases benefited from prophylactic gastrostomy; etc.)., Conclusions: 22% of the gastrostomies were made after the appearance of a pharyngocutaneous fistula. Therefore we will begin a future prospective study in order to ascertain the value of prophylactic PEG in preventing the appearance of pharyngocutaneous fistulas., (Celsius.)

This paper reports a newly fabricated nanophyto-modified wound dressing with microbicidal and anti-adherence properties. Nanofluid-based magnetite doped with eugenol or limonene was used to fabricate modified wound dressings. Nanostructure coated materials were characterized by TEM, XRD, and FT-IR. For the quantitative measurement of biofilm-embedded microbial cells, a culture-based method for viable cell count was used. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to staphylococcal and pseudomonal colonization and biofilm formation compared to the uncoated controls. The functionalized surfaces for wound dressing seems to be a very useful tool for the prevention of wound microbial contamination on viable tissues.

In this paper, we report the design of a new nanofluid for anti-pathogenic surface coating. For this purpose, new 2-((4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)-N-(substituted-phenylcarbamothioyl)-benzamides were synthesized and used as an adsorption shell for Fe3O4/C12 core/shell nanosized material. The functionalized specimens were tested by in vitro assays for their anti-biofilm properties and biocompatibility. The optimized catheter sections showed an improved resistance to Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 in vitro biofilm development, as demonstrated by the viable cell counts of biofilm-embedded bacterial cells and by scanning electron microscopy examination of the colonized surfaces. The nanofluid proved to be not cytotoxic and did not influence the eukaryotic cell cycle. These results could be of a great interest for the biomedical field, opening new directions for the design of film-coated surfaces with improved anti-biofilm properties.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential of functionalized magnetite nanoparticles to improve the antibiofilm properties of textile dressing, tested in vitro against monospecific Candida albicans biofilms. Functionalized magnetite (Fe3O4/C18), with an average size not exceeding 20 nm, has been synthesized by precipitation of ferric and ferrous salts in aqueous solution of oleic acid (C18) and NaOH. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and differential thermal analysis coupled with thermo gravimetric analysis were used as characterization methods for the synthesized Fe3O4/C18. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the architecture of the fungal biofilm developed on the functionalized textile dressing samples and culture-based methods for the quantitative assay of the biofilm-embedded yeast cells. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to C. albicans colonization, as compared to the uncoated ones; these functionalized surfaces-based approaches are very useful in the prevention of wound microbial contamination and subsequent biofilm development on viable tissues or implanted devices.

Purpose: To analyze the risk factors associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)in patients admitted to the ENT Department at Coltea Clinical Hospital in order to assess the similarities and differences as compared to the epidemiological data internationally reported., Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study on 178 cases that met the inclusion criteria from 2003 to 2011., Results and Discussions: There are a number of specific characteristics noticed in our study group: a larger number of cases aged over 60 than younger patients; a linear fall in number of the cases aged between 30-39 years; approximately one third of the cases did not have any of the traditional risk factors; more than 10% of the cases were associated with lymphoma, etc., Conclusions: The immunologic pattern of our patients presenting undifferentiated NPC is the following: MNF116, CK19, S100, CD34betaE12, Ki67, EBV positive. The rest of the markers were negative (CerB2, EGFR, COX2, p53, CK7, CD117, VGFR, PCNA, L26/CD20, UHCL1, CD15, CD30, VIM, TTF1, CLA, CK17, CEA, LMP, CD79a, EMA)., (RevistaChirurgia.)

Basal cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer, 85% of BCC are located in the head and neck area, of which 30% on the nose. The author present a retrospective study, own experience in surgical treatment in 31 cases with basal cell carcinoma of the nose operated in the period 2005-2011. The age of patients was between 50 to 90 years old. The anatomical site of the nose the most frecvently involved was ala 58%, and followed of the nasal tip 18%, lateral nose wall 12%, dorsum 9% and 3% basalioma terebrans. In all of the cases in this study it was performed the repair of the skin tumour defects of the nose, using varied local skin flaps, septal graft and auricle cartilage free grafts a ndcomposite (skin + cartilage) of conchal and helical rim. Treatment methods were depend on the tumor localization and extension. The best treatment option in BCC of the nose was radical surgical excision whith safety margin of the tumour, followed of reconstructive rhinoplasty.