Medicinal plants are widely used worldwide for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders and have a long history of traditional application. This review aims to summarize current experimental and clinical evidence on medicinal plants used for ENT conditions such as otitis externa/media, tinnitus, vertigo, allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis, and laryngitis, and to support the identification of new plant species with antimicrobial potential against ENT pathogens. This review thoroughly summarizes recent developments from 2020 to 2025 and was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, with predefined ENT and medicinal plants-related keywords. Frequently used species include Lavandula angustifolia, Thymus vulgaris, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Origanum vulgare, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Mentha piperita, Matricaria chamomilla, and Syzygium aromaticum, many of which show In vitro antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral activity relevant to upper airway and oral/ENT infections. Evidence indicates that selected medicinal plants and their extracts or essential oils inhibit key ENT-related pathogens, including multidrug-resistant respiratory and pharyngeal bacteria. The compiled data, structured in comparative tables, highlight promising taxa and preparation types, and underscore gaps in clinical validation, standardization, and safety assessment. Overall, this review provides an evidence-based overview of ENT-related phytotherapy and a framework for future pharmacological and phytochemical studies aimed at developing novel plant-derived antimicrobials for ear, nose, and throat diseases.
IntroductionMinimally invasive techniques are increasingly used in anatomical lung resections; however, the impact of different video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) port strategies on perioperative outcomes remains controversial. Evidence comparing uniportal and biportal VATS in terms of safety and postoperative pain is still limited. This study aimed to compare clinical and surgical outcomes of anatomical lung resections performed using uniportal and biportal VATS approaches.MethodsPatients who underwent anatomical lung resection with minimally invasive techniques between January 2024 and September 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the surgical approach as uniportal VATS (U-VATS) or biportal VATS (B-VATS). Demographic data, comorbidities, operative variables, perioperative complications, conversion rates, postoperative pain scores, and length of hospital stay were compared.ResultsA total of 241 patients were included (131 U-VATS, 110 B-VATS). Age and sex distribution were similar between groups. Charlson comorbidity index scores, neoadjuvant treatment rates, and segmentectomy rates were significantly higher in the U-VATS group. Operative time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, conversion to thoracotomy, hospital stay, and 30- and 90-day mortality rates were comparable. Postoperative VAS pain scores on days 0, 3, and 14 were significantly lower in the U-VATS group.ConclusionUniportal and biportal VATS provide similar perioperative safety in anatomical lung resections. U-VATS offers superior postoperative pain control and can be safely applied in patients with higher comorbidity burdens.
Globally, around 35 million children are forcibly displaced, with nearly half of school-aged children unable to attend school, highlighting a major disruption in education. Migrant and internally displaced children face numerous challenges, including trauma, exploitation, and disrupted education, with girls in conflict zones being particularly affected. Education in emergencies has emerged as a critical strategy to ensure that displaced children continue their education amidst crisis. This approach integrates educational support with livelihood assistance, aiming to provide safety, psychosocial support, and life-saving knowledge. In Somalia, prolonged conflict and displacement have left millions of children without access to education, making education in emergencies crucial for their well-being and future stability. This study aims to assess the impact of educational interventions on internally displaced families in Southwest Somalia. A phenomenological qualitative design was applied. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 29 participants drawn from four EiE-supported schools: seven parents, seven alumni, seven teachers, seven community leaders, and one program manager (17 males and 12 females, aged 28–52 years). Interviews were analyzed thematically. Participants reported that EiE interventions contributed to improved access to basic education, increased learner participation, greater confidence, and enhanced psychosocial well-being. Additional perceived benefits included continuity of learning and stronger community support networks. Reported barriers included security risks, overcrowded learning spaces, limited learning materials, and unstable learning environments, which constrained attendance and program continuity. The study found that EiE interventions in the Southwest State of Somalia were perceived to improve access to basic education, support psychosocial well-being, and sustain learning continuity among displaced children. Given that program outcomes were strongly influenced by security conditions, resource availability, and the level of community involvement, the study recommends strengthening community engagement and locally supported structures to enhance the sustainability of EiE implementation.
Malignant melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with significant metastatic potential. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly those targeting the PD-1 pathway, have revolutionized treatment, improving survival rates. A PD-1 inhibitor, Nivolumab, has demonstrated durable responses in advanced melanoma patients. However, response variability necessitates predictive biomarkers for patient stratification. The Gustave Roussy Immune Score (GRIm Score) is a prognostic tool integrating lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and albumin levels to predict ICI efficacy. This retrospective study evaluated the association between the GRIm Score and response to nivolumab monotherapy in 40 patients with stage IV malignant melanoma treated between 2020 and 2024. Patients were classified into low-risk (score 0–1) and high-risk (score 2–3) groups. Results showed that patients with a low GRIm Score had significantly longer median progression-free survival (21.4 vs. 6.3 months, p = 0.003) and overall survival (26.5 vs. 7.2 months, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed the GRIm Score as an independent prognostic factor (HR: 1.593, 95
Background and Objectives: Thoracic trauma usually results in high morbidity and mortality. It is the leading cause of death in patients within the first four decades of life. In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors for intensive care mortality and to evaluate factors affecting clinical outcomes and complications in patients with thoracic trauma who were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study. Patients diagnosed with thoracic trauma and followed up in the ICU between 1 May 2023 and 1 January 2025 were included. Critically ill patients aged 18 years and older whose admission blood values were available and who had undergone radiological imaging were included in the study. Patients were grouped as Survivors or Non-survivors. The primary outcome was to determine risk factors for mortality. The secondary outcome was to evaluate factors affecting clinical outcomes and complications. The tertiary outcome was to determine the predictive value of the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for mortality. Results: A total of 104 patients (male/female ratio: 76/28) were included in the study. Twenty-four patients (23.1%) died, and eighty (76.9%) were discharged. Age in the Non-survivor group was found to be significantly higher (59.33 ± 22.21 vs. 40.50 ± 17.71; p < 0.001), and the proportion of women was also significantly higher in the Non-survivor group (p = 0.0082). Mortality was associated with advanced age, female sex, lower GCS score (p < 0.001), higher APACHE II scores (p < 0.001), and the presence of comorbid conditions (p = 0.003), including head trauma (p = 0.024) and cardiac arrest before ICU admission (p = 0.011). The Non-survivor group more frequently required mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), vasopressor support (p < 0.001), and continuous renal replacement therapy (p < 0.001), and they developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (p < 0.001) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (p < 0.001) at higher rates. ICU length of stay was also significantly longer in the Non-survivor group (p = 0.045). The APACHE II score demonstrated the highest discriminatory performance, emerging as the strongest clinical predictor of mortality (AUC = 0.751, 95% CI: 0.630–0.872; p < 0.001). Age (OR: 1.06) and serum lactate levels (OR: 1.57) consistently emerged as strong independent predictors of mortality. The presence of head trauma significantly increased the risk of mortality, particularly in the APACHE II-adjusted model (OR: 9.08). The APACHE II–based model yielded high specificity (96.3%) and accuracy (88.5%), with good discrimination (AUC = 0.894) and the highest Nagelkerke R2 (0.548). Conclusions: Factors that may shorten the length of ICU stay include infection control, early correction of acidosis, and maintenance of hemodynamic stability, which may reduce mortality. APACHE II was more closely related to overall clinical severity than the other scoring systems. Our data indicate that age-related frailty and acute physiological derangement, as best represented by the APACHE II score, are more significant determinants of survival than anatomic injury severity alone.
