Background and objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is a debilitating disease, difficult to treat. Dental appliances have been proposed as a valid therapy for improving functional outcomes with good compliance rates. Herein, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing clinical outcomes between OSA children treated with dental appliances versus controls. Materials Methods: The study was registered with PROSPERO. A systematic search was performed for all comparative studies examining outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent treatment of OSA with oral appliances versus controls. Data was extracted and analyzed using a random effects model via Rev Man 5.3. Results: Six studies including 180 patients were analyzed split into two groups: patients treated with dental appliances (n = 123) and the controls (n = 119). Therapy with dental appliances was shown to significantly improve the apnea–hypopnea index (p = 0.009) and enlarge the superior posterior airway space (p = 0.02). Maxilla-to-mandible measurements were not significantly different between the two groups, nor was the mean SO₂ (p = 0.80). Conclusions: This is the most updated meta-analysis assessing the role of dental appliances for OSA in children; it shows that such devices can improve functional outcomes by decreasing the apnea–hypopnea index.

Many developments were made in the area of endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms, but this procedure also requires a good assessment of vascular anatomy prior to intervention. Seventy-six cases with brain aneurysms were selected and 1:1 scale 3D printed models were created. We asked three interventional neurosurgeons with different degrees of experience (ten years, four years, and a fourth-year resident) to review the cases using CTA (computed tomography angiogram) with MPR (multiplanar reconstructions) and VRT (volume rendering technique) and make a decision: coil embolization or stent-assisted coil embolization. After we provided them with the 3D printed models, they were asked to review their treatment plan. Statistical analysis was performed and the endovascular approach changed in 11.84% of cases for ten-year experienced neurosurgeons, 13.15% for four years experienced neurosurgeon, and 21.05% for residents. The interobserver agreement was very good between the ten years experienced interventionist and four years experienced interventionist when they analyzed the data set that included the 3D printed model. The agreement was higher between all physicians after they examined the printed model. 3D patient-specific printed models may be useful in choosing between two different endovascular techniques and also help the residents to better understand the vascular anatomy and the overall procedure.

Introduction: Background. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have become standard of care in long term anticoagulation. Extensive research has focused on this new class of drugs that despite their benefits, have an associated risk of bleeding with lack of evidence for management following an episode of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Our meta-analysis and systematic review provide an updated perspective on the rate of rebleeding in patients with an episode of GIB while on DOACs.Material and methods: Materials and methods. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases was performed for all comparative studies examining outcomes in patients that resumed versus withheld DOACs after a baseline episode of GIB. The initial search found 1823 studies. After excluding duplicates and unrelated studies based on abstract triage, 29 full texts were assessed for eligibility, out of which five matched the inclusion criteria and were systematically reviewed.Results: Results. Five studies containing data comparing clinical outcomes between patients were included. All studies were retrospective including a total of 2837 patients with a case control design. Both groups showed similar rebleeding rates with lower GIB as the primary site of rebleeding. Type of DOAC, timing of anticoagulation resumption and patients characteristics may influence rebleeding rates.Conclusions: Conclusions: Looking at the overall risk/benefit ratio of anticoagulation post GIB, we suggest there is a benefit for oral anticoagulation continuation. Further large scale studies are needed to provide optimal management strategies in this population.

Background/Objectives: Glioblastomas (GBMs) and brain metastases (BMs) are both frequent brain lesions. Distinguishing between them is crucial for suitable therapeutic and follow-up decisions, but this distinction is difficult to achieve, as it includes clinical, radiological and histopathological correlation. However, non-invasive AI examination of conventional and advanced MRI techniques can overcome this issue. Methods: We retrospectively selected 78 patients with confirmed GBM (39) and single BM (39), with conventional MRI investigations, consisting of T2W FLAIR and CE T1W acquisitions. The MRI images (DICOM) were evaluated by an AI segmentation tool, comparatively evaluating tumor heterogeneity and peripheral edema. Results: We found that GBMs are less edematous than BMs (p = 0.04) but have more internal necrosis (p = 0.002). Of the BM primary cancer molecular subtypes, NSCCL showed the highest grade of edema (p = 0.01). Compared with the ellipsoidal method of volume calculation, the AI machine obtained greater values when measuring lesions of the occipital and temporal lobes (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Although extremely useful in radiomics analysis, automated segmentation applied alone could effectively differentiate GBM and BM on a conventional MRI, calculating the ratio between their variable components (solid, necrotic and peripheral edema). Other studies applied to a broader set of participants are necessary to further evaluate the efficacy of automated segmentation.

Background/Objectives: Glioblastoma (GBM) and brain metastases (BMs) are both frequent brain lesions. Their distinction is crucial for suitable therapeutic and follow-up decisions, but difficult to achieve, as it includes clinical, radiological and histopathological correlation. However, non-invasive AI examination of conventional and advanced MRI techniques can overcome this issue. Methods: We retrospectively selected 78 patients with confirmed GBM (39) and single BM (39), with conventional MRI investigations, consisting of T2W FLAIR and CE T1W acquisitions. The MRI images (DICOM) have been evaluated by an AI segmentation tool, comparatively evaluating the tumor heterogeneity and peripheric edema. Results: We found that GBM are less edematous than BM (p=0.04), but have more internal necrosis (p=0.002). Of the BM primary cancer molecular subtypes, NSCCL showed the higher grade of edema (p=0.01). Compared to the ellipsoidal method of volume calculation, the AI machine obtained greater values in measuring lesions of the occipital and temporal lobes (p=0.01). Conclusions: Although extremely useful in radiomics analysis, automated segmentation applied alone could effectively differentiate GBM and BM on conventional MRI, calculating the ratio between their variable components (solid, necrotic and peripheric edema). Other studies applied to a broader set of participants are necessary to further evaluate the efficacy of automated segmentation.

Brain metastases (BMs) from bronchopulmonary tumors are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and significantly reduce the quality of life in oncology