Search Results (1,204)

The present study proposes a narrative synthesis with an original translational approach to analyze the consequence of the global increase in waterborne microbial diseases. The focal point of this research is the relevance of these diseases for infection prevention and control (IPC) in dental settings and for public health. In order to analyze the main issues, the text focuses on studies published between January 2021 and September 2025. Over the past fifteen years, a small number of outbreaks and cases have been reported in dental settings. Nevertheless, the water utilized for dental care is frequently heavily contaminated with microbes, primarily opportunistic ones, which have the potential to cause pandemics of pseudo-infections. These include mainly Legionella, Pseudomonas, and nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM), antibiotic-resistant species, and other opportunistic pathogens with relative abundance exceeding 1%. This study focuses on five areas of research: (a) iatrogenic outbreaks and cases, and causes of underestimated waterborne infections; (b) the prevalence, complexity, and relevance of the dental unit water line contamination; (c) factors influencing water contamination in dental settings, (d) issues relating to products used for dental unit water line (DUWL) treatment, (e) main guidelines on water quality and European Union (EU) legislative acts and issues related to water testing. The text highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and preparedness in dental settings, as well as updated guidelines and rules to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers. Full article

Polyurethanes (PUs) are widely used in biomedical applications; however, their surface properties critically determine bacterial colonization and cell response. In this study, medical-grade PU films were modified using low-pressure C₃H₂F₄ plasma (50 W, 300 s, 0.2 mbar), and the resulting changes in surface chemistry, wettability, topography, bacterial adhesion, and cell compatibility were evaluated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the incorporation of fluorine-containing groups (CF₂, CF₃) and the appearance of an F 1s signal at ~688.3 eV. Plasma treatment increased the water contact angle from 92.6° ± 5.6° to 97.9° ± 3.1° and elevated the root mean square (RMS) surface roughness (Sq) from 39.0 nm to 77.3 nm. Surface free energy slightly decreased after plasma treatment due to reductions in both polar and dispersive components. Quantitative adhesion assays revealed strain-dependent effects. For S. aureus DSM 4910, S. epidermidis DSM 28319, and P. aeruginosa DSM 22644, no consistent reduction in adhesion was observed on plasma-treated surfaces. In contrast, E. coli DSM 18039 demonstrated significantly higher adhesion on modified PU at all incubation times, reaching 5.96 ± 0.44 logCFU/mL after 240 min compared to 5.05 ± 0.27 log colony-forming units per milliliter (logCFU/mL) on unmodified PU. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed increased surface coverage by E. coli on fluorinated samples. Biocompatibility studies using A549 cells showed no cytotoxic effects. Cell spreading area remained comparable between surfaces (1188.6 vs. 1185.1 µm²; p = 0.958). However, cells on plasma-treated PU exhibited reduced major axis length (38.6 vs. 46.7 µm; p < 0.001) and decreased focal adhesion area (8.88 vs. 10.94 µm²; p = 0.002), indicating moderate alterations in cell morphology without compromised viability. These results demonstrate that C₃H₂F₄ plasma fluorination moderately increases PU hydrophobicity and nanoscale roughness, induces strain-dependent changes in bacterial adhesion—particularly enhancing E. coli colonization—while fully preserving mammalian cell viability and showing no cytotoxic effects of the modified surface. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign but locally aggressive vascular tumor, classically affecting adolescent males. Diagnosis in adulthood is exceptionally uncommon and may mimic other vascular or malignant nasopharyngeal lesions. This patient also had chronic hypocalcemia with Fahr-like intracranial calcifications secondary to long-standing postoperative hypoparathyroidism after thyroid carcinoma treatment. To our knowledge, this coexistence has not been previously reported. Case Presentation: A 34-year-old Caucasian male with papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with total thyroidectomy developed postoperative hypoparathyroidism with chronic hypocalcemia and Fahr-like intracranial calcifications. During admission for acute respiratory insufficiency due to tracheostomy dysfunction, imaging revealed a 37 × 33 × 32 mm heterogeneous, hypervascular nasopharyngeal mass extending into the right pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) with bone remodeling and focal bony dehiscence. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a markedly hypervascular tumor, predominantly supplied by branches of the right internal maxillary artery (via the sphenopalatine artery). Endoscopic resection was performed, and histopathology confirmed JNA. Most JNA cases occur between 7 and 19 years of age; presentations in men older than 30 years are rare and often generate diagnostic uncertainty, particularly when differentiating from nasopharyngeal carcinoma or other lesions. In adults, magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography for assessment of local extent and angiography for vascular mapping are key to minimizing hemorrhagic risk. The concurrent endocrine disorder emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary perioperative metabolic optimization, without implying a pathophysiological link. Conclusions: This report illustrates JNA diagnosed in adulthood in a male with Fahr-like intracranial calcifications secondary to chronic hypoparathyroidism. It highlights the necessity of considering JNA in the differential diagnosis of hypervascular nasopharyngeal masses in adults, especially in patients with complex comorbidities. Full article

Background: Spasticity significantly impairs functional recovery after severe acquired brain injury. Current management methods predominantly rely on pharmacological interventions, which can cause substantial side effects or require invasive medical procedures in refractory cases. Focal muscle vibration, a noninvasive technique that applies mechanical vibrations to muscle–tendon units and alters spinal and cortical excitability via proprioceptive pathways, has been effective in reducing spasticity in subjects with stroke. However, there is limited data to support focal muscle vibration as a viable option for improving functional recovery in patients with severe acquired brain injury. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effects of adding focal muscle vibration to standard physiotherapy compared with standard physiotherapy alone in patients with severe acquired brain injury and spastic hypertonia. Methods: Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive focal muscle vibration in addition to standard care (n = 12) or standard care alone (n = 12) for 3 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately after physiotherapy, and 3 weeks after physiotherapy. The outcomes assessed included the Modified Ashworth Scale, Disability Rating Scale, Modified Barthel Index, and three pain measures. Results: A significant reduction in spasticity was observed in the focal muscle vibration group, as indicated by the Modified Ashworth Scale scores (p = 0.014). Disability Rating Scale scores demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in disability ratings at the end of treatment (p = 0.002) and during the follow-up phase (p = 0.002). Between-group comparisons of change scores revealed a statistically significant improvement in disability ratings in the focal muscle vibration group during the treatment phase (p = 0.011). Significant functional gains were noted on the Disability Rating Scale, which persisted at the follow-up evaluation. Conclusions: Focal muscle vibration reduces muscle spasticity and improves functional status in patients with severe acquired brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation. Future studies with larger sample sizes, blinded assessments, and stratified randomization are needed to verify these findings and develop standardized treatment protocols for this underserved population. Full article

Low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) has historically been overtreated, exposing men to unnecessary morbidity. Emerging evidence supports conservative management of low-risk PCa without immediate radical intervention. Contemporary data show a marked decline in surgical overtreatment, with the proportion of radical prostatectomies yielding only Grade Group 1 cancers falling from 32.4% in 2010 to 7.8% in 2020 in the US SEER registry. Long-term studies confirm that deferring treatment is safe for low-risk disease, with PCa-specific survival exceeding 95% at 15–25 years for cohorts managed with surveillance. Major guidelines now endorse active surveillance (AS) as the preferred management for low-risk PCa. An alternative risk stratification system that expands the low-risk category was shown to reclassify 45–83% more men as low risk without increasing 15-year PCa mortality. Focal therapy has emerged as a potential middle-ground strategy, though evidence is still limited. The paradigm for managing low-risk PCa has shifted toward conservatism, with AS firmly established as the standard of care. Continued efforts to refine risk stratification and evaluate focal therapy are needed to further optimize individualized care, minimize harm, and maintain excellent cancer-specific outcomes for low-risk PCa. This comprehensive review aims to create a practical, risk-adapted framework for managing patients on AS. We will: (i) summarize inclusion criteria and outcomes, (i) compare AS follow-up schedules across major institutions and guidelines, (iii) provide evidence-based criteria to de-intensify surveillance in men with sustained stability and (iv) clarify the role of focal therapy as an intermediate treatment option within the AS continuum. Full article

Background: Post-stroke upper-limb spasticity can cause pain, hinder passive care, and lead to secondary musculoskeletal complications. Current minimally invasive treatments have important limitations. Cryoneurolysis, which creates a controlled cold lesion of peripheral nerves, may offer a partially reversible focal denervation alternative. Methods: We conducted a feasibility case series in the outpatient department of a rehabilitation centre. Three adults with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis and a non-functional spastic upper limb underwent ultrasound- and nerve stimulation-guided cryoneurolysis of the musculocutaneous, median, and/or ulnar nerves. All had demonstrated a positive response to diagnostic nerve blocks beforehand. Feasibility outcomes included completion of planned nerve targets, tolerability under local anesthesia, absence of serious adverse events, and completion of 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), qualitatively assessed passive joint mobility (video-documented), pain measured by visual analogue scale, sensory testing, and electroneuromyography (ENMG). Results: All procedures were completed as planned. Treatment was well tolerated under local anesthesia, and no serious adverse events occurred. MAS decreased by at least 2 points in targeted patterns, with immediate improvement in passive mobility; these effects persisted at 6 months. Pain remained unchanged in two participants and improved in one. Sensory testing at 6 weeks was stable. ENMG findings were heterogeneous, including reduced ulnar sensory action potential amplitude and biceps denervation activity in one participant. Conclusions: In this small series, cryoneurolysis for post-stroke upper-limb spasticity was feasible and associated with sustained tone reduction and improved passive mobility. Larger controlled studies are required to better define safety, optimize targeting strategies, and assess patient-centred outcomes. Full article

A 27-year-old male presented with chronic diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain since age 13. Initially attributed to lactose intolerance, treated with dairy-free diet, symptoms persisted despite negative workup—normal celiac serology, stool studies, and abdominal ultrasound. Recent symptoms included severe diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, 8 kg weight loss, hair loss, elevated IgE and fecal calprotectin. Gastroscopy showed flattened, granular gastric mucosa with focal hyperemia in the antrum and greater curvature. Histology revealed severe chronic inactive H. pylori-negative gastritis with a prominent subepithelial collagen band (verified by Crossmon’s trichrome), confirming collagenous gastritis—a rare entity first described in 1989. The condition has a slight female predominance and bimodal age peaks (adolescence and >60 years). Symptoms are nonspecific, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and anemia. Pediatric cases often feature nodular mucosa and anemia; adults more commonly present with watery diarrhea, sometimes linked to collagenous colitis. Diagnosis requires histological features including patchy subepithelial collagen band ≥ 10 μm thick, lymphocytic or eosinophilic infiltration of the lamina propria, epithelial changes and entrapped capillaries. Patterns include atrophic, lymphocytic-like, and eosinophil-rich. Crossmon’s or Masson’s trichrome, Congo red, and tenascin immunohistochemistry aid in proving collagen and excluding amyloidosis. Treatment is mainly symptomatic or with proton pump inhibitors; corticosteroids may be effective in refractory cases. Full article

We examined neocortical pathology and interneuron degeneration in neonatal hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Piglets in two age groups (2–3 or 7–10 days old, n = 4–12/group) underwent global cerebral hypoxia–ischemia (HI) or sham treatment. Piglets (2–3 days old) had epidural electrodes for continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) and were treated with hypothermia (HT) or remained at normothermia (NT). Older piglets, all NT, had scalp EEG. Piglets at both ages had seizures and survived for 1–7 days. Cortical damage was assessed by hematoxylin & eosin staining and immunohistochemistry; calretinin (CR), parvalbumin (PV), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) interneurons (INs) were counted. Cell injury was assessed by DNA fragmentation and protein nitration. TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TDP43) and the DNA repair scaffold protein X-ray repair cross complementing-1 (XRCC1) were examined for degeneration mechanisms. Cortical layers 3 and 4 showed high vulnerability; damage emerged as isolated cells, focal and laminar, and distributed as panlaminar throughout different cortical regions that correlated with seizure burden. HT protected strongly against cortical damage. CR- and PV-INs were severely depleted in HI-NT piglets compared to sham. VIP INs appeared invulnerable. HT partially rescued the loss of INs. CR and PV formed nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions that colocalized with TDP43 and XRCC1; co-immunoprecipitation identified interactions among these proteins, and tyrosine nitration of CR. CR and PV INs accumulated DNA single- and double-strand breaks and appeared as attritional apoptosis variants with proteinopathy. This cell death is identified as aggreosis. IN loss correlated with seizure presence. Postmortem human neonatal HIE cases had a similar loss of CR and PV INs and nuclear depletion of TDP43 in the neocortex. Thus, neonatal HIE causes the loss of neocortical inhibitory IN subtypes with vulnerabilities instructed by their intrinsic calcium-binding protein signature and by mechanisms consistent with toxic sequestration and the nuclear depletion of XRCC1 and TDP43 underlying DNA damage accumulation. Early inhibitory IN deletion could drive seizure evolution in HIE; TDP43 and XRCC1 could be therapeutic targets for neonatal HIE. Full article

Background: Influenza is a common cause of hospitalization in young children, particularly infants. While most infections are self-limited, severe and life-threatening complications may occur. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare pulmonary manifestation of influenza, predominantly reported in adults, and is exceedingly uncommon in immunocompetent infants. Case Presentation: We report the case of an 8-month-old previously healthy female infant who presented with influenza A infection and rapidly progressed to acute respiratory failure and shock despite antiviral therapy. Bleeding was noted from the nasal cavity prior to clinical deterioration, and during emergent endotracheal intubation, blood was observed flooding the bronchial tree, consistent with massive pulmonary hemorrhage. Flexible bronchoscopy showed diffusely erythematous and friable airway mucosa without an identifiable focal bleeding source, and early bronchoalveolar lavage was nondiagnostic. Nasopharyngeal testing confirmed influenza A (H3). Laboratory findings revealed severe systemic inflammation, leukopenia with neutropenia, and anemia with normal coagulation parameters. Chest imaging demonstrated bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. After exclusion of autoimmune, coagulation, immunodeficiency, and alternative infectious causes, a diagnosis of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage secondary to influenza A infection was established. The patient was successfully managed with supportive care, antiviral therapy, tranexamic acid, and empiric antibiotics, without corticosteroid treatment, and made a full recovery. Conclusions: This case emphasizes that influenza-associated DAH in infants may occur without overt hemoptysis and may not demonstrate classical BAL findings early in the disease course. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in rapidly deteriorating infants with influenza and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. The optimal role of corticosteroids remains uncertain and should be individualized. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic agent whose clinical utility is limited by severe side effects, including neurotoxicity affecting the ocular system. The pathophysiology involves oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, to which the retina is particularly vulnerable. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element and component of antioxidant enzymes, has shown potential in mitigating cisplatin toxicity, although its efficacy with respect to retinal structure and the influence of administration routes remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of selenium against cisplatin-induced retinal toxicity and compare the effects of intraperitoneal and oral selenium administration. Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n = 10 each): Group A (Cisplatin Monotherapy, 3.5 mg/kg IP for 5 days; cumulative dose 17.5 mg/kg); Group B (Cisplatin + Intraperitoneal Selenium, 2.73 mg/kg; cumulative dose 60 mg/kg); Group C (Control); and Group D (Cisplatin + Oral Selenium). Selenium prophylaxis, administered as sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃), began two days prior to cisplatin administration and continued for 15 days post-treatment. Retinal evaluation two weeks after cisplatin cessation included light microscopy, semi-quantitative immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis for inflammatory (IL-6) and fibrotic (TGF-β2) markers, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural analysis, which were the primary endpoints. Statistical differences in the IHC scores were analyzed via the Kruskal-Wallis H test with Dunn’s post hoc comparisons. Results: Cisplatin monotherapy (Group A) caused severe disruption of the retinal architecture, including edema, reactive gliosis, and significant upregulation of IL-6 and TGF-β2. Ultrastructural analysis revealed mitochondrial swelling (cristolysis) and photoreceptor disk fragmentation. Intraperitoneal selenium (Group B) was associated with significant structural preservation and intact mitochondria, with TGF-β2 levels comparable to those of the controls, although the IL-6 level remained moderately elevated. Conversely, oral selenium (Group D) suppressed both IL-6 and TGF-β2 expression to near-negative levels but provided less ultrastructural protection, resulting in persistent mitochondrial swelling and focal photoreceptor disruption. Conclusions: Systemic cisplatin induces severe subcellular retinal toxicity characterized by mitochondrial damage and photoreceptor degeneration. Selenium supplementation attenuates these effects; however, outcome patterns differ by administration route. Intraperitoneal selenium was associated with greater morphological and ultrastructural preservation despite persistent IL-6 elevation, whereas oral selenium normalized immunohistochemical marker expression to near-control levels but was associated with more pronounced residual subcellular damage on qualitative TEM assessment. These preliminary morphological and immunohistochemical findings suggest that the route of selenium delivery may influence its neuroprotective profile; however, pharmacokinetic measurements and functional retinal assessments, such as electroretinography, are warranted before its clinical translation. Full article

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is clinically heterogeneous, and patients with a similar TNM stage can experience markedly different outcomes. We systematically reviewed omics-driven studies to identify prognostic TSCC biomarkers. Although fundamentally prognostic, we discussed their theoretical translational relevance regarding future clinical decisions—such as treatment stratification or surveillance intensity—while strictly framing them as preliminary, hypothesis-generating targets. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched for original human studies published between 2014 and 2024 using high-throughput genomic or transcriptomic profiling. Study selection followed referred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), data were extracted with a structured workbook, and risk of bias was assessed using QUIPS and PROBAST, with reporting completeness appraised using REMARK. Seventeen studies were included, identifying 85 distinct biomarkers. Across biomarkers supported by multivariable overall survival analyses, higher-risk associations were reported for NELL2, PDE4D, CTTN, HBEGF, and CA9, whereas lower-risk associations were reported for AC139530.1, LINC01711, CCDC96, CYP2J2, and SPAG16. Recurrent biological themes included IL-17 signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, and focal adhesion. CA9 was the only biomarker reported in more than one included study, supporting its prioritization for validation. Although the evidence remains heterogeneous and largely hypothesis-generating, these markers may support the future validation of response-oriented therapeutic stratification in TSCC. Full article

Background: Gliomas are the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Accurate preoperative grading is essential for individualized surgical planning and treatment selection; however, reliable non-invasive prediction tools integrating multimodal preoperative data remain limited. This study aimed to develop and internally validate an interpretable machine-learning model for non-invasive glioma grading. Methods: Clinical and imaging data from 400 patients with pathologically confirmed gliomas were retrospectively collected. Twenty-four preoperative variables were analyzed. The dataset was randomly divided into training and validation cohorts (7:3). Feature selection was performed using a combination of the Boruta algorithm and logistic regression analyses, followed by correlation filtering. Seventeen machine-learning algorithms were benchmarked using five-fold cross-validation, and the optimal model was evaluated in the independent validation cohort using ROC analysis, calibration assessment, precision–recall curves, and decision curve analysis. Model interpretability was examined using SHAP. Results: Eight key predictors were identified, including age, focal neurological deficits, midline shift, tumor laterality, tumor lobar location, enhancing tumor volume, and MRS-derived Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr ratios. The Random Forest model achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.946 (95% CI: 0.902–0.989) in the validation cohort. Calibration analysis demonstrated reasonable agreement between predicted and observed outcomes, and the precision–recall curve yielded an average precision of 0.98. Decision curve analysis indicated net clinical benefit across relevant probability thresholds. Conclusions: A multimodal machine-learning model integrating clinical, structural imaging, and MRS-derived metabolic features was developed and internally validated for non-invasive preoperative glioma grading. The model showed good discrimination and calibration and provided individualized probability estimates, suggesting potential value for preoperative risk stratification. However, clinical deployment remains premature, and further external validation is required. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Uterine smooth muscle tumors range from benign leiomyomas to highly aggressive leiomyosarcomas. Smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) represent an intermediate and diagnostically challenging category defined by borderline or discordant histological features. Their clinical management remains complex due to limited possibilities for reliable preoperative differentiation and the absence of clearly established surveillance protocols. The situation becomes particularly sensitive in postmenopausal patients, in whom tumor growth or abnormal bleeding raises concern for malignancy. Case Presentation: We report a 66-year-old postmenopausal woman presenting with persistent uterine bleeding and interval growth of a previously presumed leiomyoma. Transvaginal ultrasound demonstrated a heterogeneous intramural mass measuring approximately 5–7 cm, while endometrial sampling revealed inactive, atrophic endometrium without evidence of malignancy. Given the patient’s postmenopausal status and progressive symptoms, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy was performed. Histopathological examination identified moderate cytological atypia, focal coagulative tumor necrosis, and mitotic activity of up to five mitoses per ten high-power fields, findings insufficient for leiomyosarcoma but exceeding those expected for a benign leiomyoma. A diagnosis of STUMP was established. Postoperative staging showed no residual or metastatic disease, and structured long-term follow-up was initiated. Discussion: This case illustrates the limitations of current preoperative diagnostic tools in distinguishing between benign and borderline or malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors. Clinical presentation, imaging, and endometrial sampling were not predictive of the final diagnosis. In postmenopausal women, enlargement of a presumed leiomyoma should prompt careful evaluation, as histological assessment after complete surgical removal often remains the only reliable method of diagnosis. The unpredictable biological behavior of STUMP and reported cases of late recurrence support the need for prolonged surveillance, even after apparently adequate surgical treatment. Conclusions: STUMP remains primarily a postoperative diagnosis and represents a persistent gray zone in gynecologic oncology. Postmenopausal tumor growth and abnormal bleeding warrant an individualized and cautious approach. Careful histopathological evaluation and long-term follow-up are essential to ensure early detection of possible recurrence and optimal patient management. Full article

Selectively modulating specific brain-rhythm bands with physical stimuli helps both to reveal neural mechanisms and to provide non-pharmacological treatment avenues for brain disorders. This study proposes and implements a multi-channel transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation driving system based on amplitude-modulated (AM) sine waves (AM-TMAS) intended to supply a reliable hardware platform for noninvasive, focal low-frequency rhythmic electrical stimulation of deep-brain structures. The driving system implements a 64-channel AM module based on an FPGA plus high-speed DACs. Multi-channel precision is achieved via a unified high-speed clock and a global UPDATE trigger. To overcome the large separation between envelope and carrier frequencies, we developed a high-fidelity AM waveform generation method based on DDS + LUT + envelope multiplication. The algorithm first centers the carrier samples to preserve waveform symmetry, then applies LUT-based envelope coefficients and fixed-point envelope multiplication, enabling high-precision AM outputs with carrier frequencies from 100 kHz to 2 MHz and envelope frequencies from 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz. We tested the system’s rhythmic multi-channel AM output performance across frequencies and also measured magneto-acoustic-coupled rhythmic electrical signals produced by the AM-TMAS driving setup. Any single channel reliably produced high-fidelity AM waveforms with a 500 kHz carrier and 8 Hz/40 Hz envelopes; the measured carrier was 499.998 kHz with excellent frequency stability. Both envelope and carrier frequencies are flexibly tunable. At the nominal 500 kHz carrier, envelope fidelity was further quantified: the extracted envelopes achieved NRMSEs of 1.0795% (8 Hz) and 1.9212% (40 Hz), confirming high-fidelity AM synthesis. Under a 0.3 T static magnetic field, the AM-TMAS driving system generated rhythmic electrical responses in physiological saline that carried the expected 40 Hz envelope. The proposed AM-TMAS driver achieves high accuracy in AM waveform generation and robust multi-channel performance, and—when combined with an external static magnetic field—can produce rhythmically modulated magneto-acoustic electrical stimulation. This platform provides a practical technical tool for brain-function research and the development of rhythm-targeted neuromodulation therapies. Full article

Osteochondral allograft transplantation is a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of large, focal, full-thickness chondral and osteochondral defects, particularly in young patients. We describe a low-cost new hybrid workstation for osteochondral allograft transplantation based on modified Ilizarov components and its clinical application in a patient with a large osteochondral femoral defect. The technique was applied in a 28-year-old male with chronic knee pain following two prior failed arthroscopic surgeries. Osteochondral allograft transplantation was performed using our modified workstation instrumentation. At the 8-month follow-up, MRI revealed excellent incorporation of the graft, and the patient reported ambulation without pain with return to physical activity. Our hybrid workstation presents a cost-effective alternative for graft preparation while maintaining a high standard of surgical care. Full article