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Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is present in preclinical, clinical and research work, in various branches of medicine. Researchers and teachers at school of medicines may have different ethical attitudes and perspectives about the implementation of AI systems in medicine., Methods: We conducted an online survey among researchers and teachers (RTs) at the departments and institutes of two Slovenian and four Croatian Schools of Medicine., Results: The sample included 165 and 214 researchers and teachers in Slovenia and Croatia, respectively. The sample of respondents in Slovenia and Croatia was comparable in demographical characteristics. All participants reported high emphasis on the bioethical principles when using artificial intelligence in medicine, its usefulness in certain circumstances, but also caution regarding companies providing AI systems and tools. Slovenian and Croatian researchers and teachers shared three similar perspectives on the use of AI in medicine-complying with highest ethical principles, explainability and transparency and usefulness of AI tools. Higher caution towards use of AI in medicine and effect on autonomy of physicians was expressed in Croatia, while in Slovenia high emphasis was put on understanding how AI works, but also the concerns regarding willingness and time of physicians to learn about AI., Conclusion: Slovenian and Croatian researchers and teachers share ethical attitudes and perspectives with international researchers and physicians. It is important to facilitate understanding of the implications of AI use in medicine and set a solid evidence-based ground to tackle ethical and legal issues., Competing Interests: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Grosek et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

BACKGROUND Scimitar syndrome (SCS) is a rare congenital cardiopulmonary malformation, characterized by anomalous pulmonary venous drainage from the right lung associated with aortopulmonary collateral arteries and pulmonary hypoplasia. The variant described in the case presented here, with total anomalous right pulmonary venous drainage into the superior and inferior vena cava, can be expected in 2% of patients with scimitar syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, the association between the variant of SCS and coarctation of aorta described in our patient has never been reported before in the literature. CASE REPORT A female newborn with a gestational age of 35 weeks presented with a rare combination of scimitar syndrome and aortic coarctation. The patient had a variant of SCS that included anomalous drainage of the right upper and lower pulmonary vein into the superior and inferior vena cava, respectively; relative right lung hypoplasia; and right lower lobe sequestration supplied by aortopulmonary collateral arteries that originated from the truncus coeliacus. The diagnosis was confirmed with computed tomography angiography after resection of the aortic coarctation with extended end-to-end anastomosis. Subsequently, interventional closure of the collateral artery supplying the right lower lobe was performed with an AMPLATZER™ Vascular Plug 4. The patient's clinical course was complicated by suspicious acute endocarditis and chylous pleural effusion. After a prolonged hospitalization, she was discharged in clinically stable condition. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of SCS should be considered when pulmonary hypertension persists after coarctation repair in a child with dextroposition of the heart and right lung hypoplasia. Successful treatment of this rare combination of conditions calls for teamwork by highly experienced specialists.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of midazolam, and to evaluate the influence of maturation process and other variability factors in critically ill children with severe acute bronchiolitis, who received a long-term intravenous infusion of midazolam., Methods: In the study were included 49 critically ill children of both genders (from 0 to 130 weeks of age) with severe acute bronchiolitis hospitalised in intensive care units. Nonlinear mixed effects modelling approach was applied for data analyses and simulations., Results: The final model is a two-compartment model that includes the effects of body weight using allometric scaling with fixed exponents and maturation of clearance. For a typical subject, scaled to the adult body weight of 70 kg, population pharmacokinetic values were estimated at 8.52 L/h for clearance (when maturation function was 1), 25.5 L/h for intercompartmental clearance, and 5.71 L and 39.8 L for the volume of the central and peripheral compartment, respectively. Based on the final model, maturation reaches 50% of the adult clearance in 45.9 weeks of postmenstrual age. The influence of gender, ABCB1 genotype and biochemical parameters on midazolam clearance was not detected. Results of simulations indicate the need for reduced dosing in certain groups of patients in order to maintain plasma concentrations of midazolam within recommended values., Conclusions: The developed population pharmacokinetic model can contribute to the dosing optimisation of midazolam, especially in critically ill children as it includes the influence of size and maturation of clearance, which are important parameters for achieving the desired plasma concentrations of midazolam., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate dental arch changes that occurred during the mixed dentition in 30 normal occlusion children. Two analyses were done. The first one was at the age of early mixed dentition and the second at the age of late mixed dentition. Most width variables were greater in the males, and depth variables greater in the female subjects. A directionally larger left side of the maxilla and right side of the mandible were observed. Our findings indicate that most arch width dimensions are established in the early mixed dentition. We conclude that the period between the early and late mixed dentition is suitable for environmental factors to disrupt the ideal symmetrical developmental pattern because more growth and developmental changes occur after a relatively stabile period of deciduous dentition.

After orthodontic brackets debonding, the remaining resin has to be removed. The purpose of this study was to determine the most efficient method as well as to introduce a new method of composite removal. The study was carried out on a sample of 30 premolars, extracted for orthodontic purposes. Brackets had been bonded using the Ortho One Bisco composite resin. After the removal of brackets, samples were randomly divided into three groups of ten. Composite remnants in the first group were removed using the Band Driver (KaVo). For the second group, the tungsten carbide bur (Komet) was applied. In the third group, composite remnants were removed manually, using adhesive removing pliers (ORMCO). The samples were analysed using a light-stereomicroscope (Olympus). Photomicrographs were examined and the ARI (Adhesive Remnant Index) was calculated. Post Hoc tests (Scheffe, Tukey) indicated a statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 as well as between groups 1 and 3. The tungsten carbide bur was found to be the most efficient instrument for composite remnant removal.