Background: Cranioplasty is a routine neurosurgery treatment used to correct cranial vault abnormalities. Utilization of 3D printing technology in the field of cranioplasty involving the reconstruction of cranial defects emerged as an advanced possibility of anatomical reshaping. The transformative impact of patient-specific 3D printed implants, focuses on their remarkable accuracy, customization capabilities, and enhanced biocompatibility. Methods: The precise adaptation of implants to patient-specific anatomies, even in complex cases we presented, result in improved aesthetic outcomes and reduced surgical complications. The ability to create highly customized implants addresses the functional aspects of cranial defects and considers the psychological impact on patients. Results: By combining technological innovation with personalized patient care, 3D printed cranioplasty emerges as a transformative avenue in cranial reconstruction, ultimately redefining the standards of success in neurosurgery. Conclusion: 3D printing allows an excellent cranioplasty cosmesis achieved at a reasonable price without sacrificing patient outcomes. Wider implementation of this strategy can lead to significant healthcare cost savings.

With advancements in computer systems, computer graphics and medical imaging technologies, clinicians strive for a personalised approach to patient treatment. Therefore, the production of personalised surgical guides is becoming standard. While proprietary software solutions for mandibular reconstruction planning exist, they are often not available due to their high costs. There are multiple alternative methods available, which utilise open-source technologies and free software, but they use advanced three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) concepts. The goal of this article is to provide end-users (surgeons, radiologists, or radiology technicians) with a tool that offers an intuitive interface and a simple workflow. The tool provides only the necessary methods offering a high degree of automation and abstracting the underlying 3D CAD concepts. This is accomplished by providing an add-on (written in Python) for a free and open-source software package Blender.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are the most common types of cancers in the head and neck region (HNSCC). Despite very aggressive treatment modalities, the five-year survival rate has not changed for decades and is still around 60%. The search for potential specific biomarkers of aggressiveness or outcome indicators could be of great benefit in improving the treatment of these patients. One of the potential biomarkers is survivin, the protein product of the BIRC5 gene. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of BIRC5 gene polymorphisms in 48 patients with OSCC and OPSCC compared with healthy controls. A total of 18 polymorphisms were found, 11 of which occurred in HNSCC with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of more than 5%. Five polymorphisms (rs3764383, rs9904341, rs2071214, rs2239680, rs2661694) were significantly associated with tumor size, tumor stage, and advanced regional disease, but had no impact on survival.

Epitranscriptomics is the study of modifications of RNA molecules by small molecular residues, such as the methyl (-CH₃) group. These modifications are inheritable and reversible. A specific group of enzymes called “writers” introduces the change to the RNA; “erasers” delete it, while “readers” stimulate a downstream effect. Epitranscriptomic changes are present in every type of organism from single-celled ones to plants and animals and are a key to normal development as well as pathologic processes. Oncology is a fast-paced field, where a better understanding of tumor biology and (epi)genetics is necessary to provide new therapeutic targets and better clinical outcomes. Recently, changes to the epitranscriptome have been shown to be drivers of tumorigenesis, biomarkers, and means of predicting outcomes, as well as potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we aimed to give a concise overview of epitranscriptomics in the context of neoplastic disease with a focus on N¹-methyladenosine (m¹A) modification, in layman’s terms, to bring closer this omics to clinicians and their future clinical practice.

The risk of developing some types of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is seven times higher in males, and such disparities may not be associated only with tobacco and alcohol consumption or HPV infection. Therefore, the endocrine microenvironment is considered another risk factor, as epidemiologic studies have unequivocally shown the protective effect of estrogen in women. This research was focused on progesterone receptors (PRs), the least-studied sex hormone receptors in HNSCC. Our study included fresh tissue samples from 95 primary tumors, 25 metastatic lymph nodes and 40 healthy oral mucosa. Gene expression of nuclear (PGR) and seven membrane PRs (PAQR5, PAQR6, PAQR7, PAQR8, PAQR9, PGRMC1 and PGRMC2) was analyzed by qRT-PCR and associated with clinicopathological characteristics. The results showed that, compared to control tissue, PGR was increased in metastatic lymph nodes, while PAQR5, PAQR7, PAQR8 and PAQR9 were decreased in primary tumors (all p < 0.05). The expression of almost all PRs was greater in older patients and showed moderate to strong positive mutual correlations in both tumors and controls. PARQ8 and PAQR9 were increased in females and pT4 tumors (all p < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that higher PAQR5 (hazard ratio (HR) 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–6.57, p = 0.019) and PAQR7 (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.01–3.81, p = 0.048) were associated with worse overall survival, but their independence was not proven in multivariate analysis. Although most PRs were reduced in primary tumors, an increased PAQR5 expression, also associated with tumor invasion markers, could likely mark a specific aggressive, advanced stage of primary tumors and potentially serve as a negative prognostic biomarker for HNSCC.