Κυριακή 27 Φεβρουαρίου 2022

Conservative Management of Post-Operative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak following Skull Base Surgery: A Pilot Study

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Brain Sci. 2022 Jan 24;12(2):152. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12020152.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Iatrogenic CSF leaks after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery remain a challenging entity to manage, typically treated with CSF diversion via lumbar drainage.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of high-volume lumbar puncture (LP) and acetazolamide therapy to manage iatrogenic CSF leaks.

METHODS: We performed a prospective pilot study of four patients who developed iatrogenic postoperative CSF leaks after transsphenoidal surgery and analyzed their response to treatment with concomitant high-volume lumbar puncture followed by acetazolamide therapy for 10 days. Data collected included demographics, intra-operative findings, including methodology of skull base repair and type of CSF leak, time to presentation with CSF leak, complications associated with high-volume LP and acetazolamide treatment, and length of follow-up.

< p>RESULTS: Mean patient age was 44.28 years, with an average BMI of 27.4. Mean time from surgery to onset of CSF leak was 7.71 days. All four patients had resolution of their CSF leak at two- and four-week follow-up. Mean overall follow-up time was 179 days, with a 100% CSF leak cure rate at the last clinic visit. No patient suffered perioperative complications or complications secondary to treatment.

CONCLUSION: Although our pilot case series is small, we demonstrate that a high-volume LP, followed by acetazolamide therapy for 10 days, can be considered in the management of post-operative CSF leaks.

PMID:35203915 | DOI:10.3390/brainsci12020152

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Precise fabrication of porous polymer frameworks using rigid polyisocyanides as building blocks: from structural regulation to efficient iodine capture

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Chem Sci. 2022 Jan 12;13(4):1111-1118. doi: 10.1039/d1sc05361b. eCollection 2022 Jan 26.

ABSTRACT

Porous materials have recently attracted much attention owing to their fascinating structures and broad applications. Moreover, exploring novel porous polymers affording the efficient capture of iodine is of significant interest. In contrast to the reported porous polymers fabricated with small molecular blocks, we herein report the preparation of porous polymer frameworks using rigid polyisocyanides as building blocks. First, tetrahedral four-arm star polyisocyanides with predictable molecular weight and low dispersity were synthesized; the chain-ends of the rigid polyisocyanide blocks were then crosslinked, yielding well-defined porous organic frameworks with a designed pore size and narrow distribution. Polymers of appropriate pore size were observed to efficiently capture radioactive iodine in both aqueous and vapor phases. More than 98% of iodine could be captured within 1 minute from a saturated aqueous solution (capacity of up to 3.2 g g-1), and an adsorption capacity of up to 574 wt% of iodine in vapor was measured within 4 hours. Moreover, the polymers could be recovered and recycled for iodine capture for at least six times, while maintaining high performance.

PMID:35211277 | PMC:PMC8790772 | DOI:10.1039/d1sc05361b

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Molecular aetiology of ski-slope hearing loss and audiological course of cochlear implantees

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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07317-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: A challenge for patients with ski-slope hearing loss is that hearing aids do not adequately amplify the mid-to-high frequencies necessary for speech perception and conversely, cochlear implant (CI) may damage low-frequency hearing. We aimed to describe the clinical profile of patients with ski-slope hearing loss, with a special focus on aetiology of such hearing loss and audiological course of low-frequency hearing after CI.

METHODS: We recruited hearing-impaired patients who visited a tertiary referral centre and met the criteria for ski-slope hearing loss patients from 2015 to 2021. Genetic testing was performed in all ski-slope hearing loss patients unless refused. Baseline audiograms of patients who continued to use hearing aids or who finally underwent CIs were reviewed. As for CI patients, outcome and hearing pr eservation rate were rigorously analysed.

RESULTS: Of 46 recruited patients with ski-slope hearing loss, 45 agreed to undergo genetic testing and causative variants were identified in 17 (37.8%) patients. The TMC1, MYO7A, and TMPRSS3 variants were the most common, while LRTOMT was newly identified as a causative gene. Twenty-five patients eventually received CI, while 13 continued to wear the hearing aid and 8 patients did not ever try hearing aids. CI in ski-slope hearing loss led to immediate and sufficient improvement of sentence recognition by as early as 3 months, however, the duration of hearing loss was inversely correlated with the sentence recognition score. The average hearing preservation rate (using the HEARRING classification) after CI was 53.0% (SD 30.0) and 45.6% (SD 31.1) at 1 year. Seventy-nine percent of implantees maintained functional low-frequency hearing (better than 85 dB at 250 and 500 Hz) eligible for electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS). A trend was fo und that patients with hair cell stereocilia-associated genetic variants may have a slightly better preservation, albeit with no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: Detection rate of a molecular genetic aetiology of ski-slope hearing loss appears to be lower than other type of hearing loss reported in the literature. Especially with short hearing loss duration, CI in ski-slope hearing loss leads to immediate and sufficient speech improvement, while preserving functional low-frequency hearing eligible for EAS as many as in 79%. A certain genetic aetiology might be associated with a trend towards better low-frequency hearing preservation.

PMID:35212774 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-022-07317-7

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PET/CT versus triple endoscopy in initial workup of HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

Synchronous primary tumors (SPTs) are detected via triple endoscopy or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Patients with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC) lack risk factors for SPTs.

Methods

We performed a single institution retrospective review of the efficacy of triple endoscopy and PET/CT in HPV+ OPSCC patients.

Results

Sixty-five HPV+ OPSCC patients underwent triple endoscopy and PET/CT. Patients were white (n = 48, 72.7%), male (n = 53, 81.5%), mean 58.7 ± 8.1 years old. SPT was detected in 1 (1.5%) patient via PET/CT. No SPTs were detected on triple endoscopy. PET/CT had 100% and 95.3% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. PET/CT positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 25.0% and 100%, respectively. Triple endoscopy specificity and NPV was 90.2% and 93.2%, respectively.

Conclusions

PET/CT is superior to triple endoscopy in ruling out SPTs. With negative PET/CT, only direct laryngoscopy with biopsy may be necessary.

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A nomogram based on tumor response to induction chemotherapy may predict survival in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

To evaluate the clinical significance of tumor response to induction chemotherapy (IC) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC) patients and further to develop a nomogram for predicting survival prognosis.

Methods

A total of 498 patients with stage III-IVA NPC applying IC and concurrent chemotherapy were reviewed (training cohort, n = 376; validation cohort, n = 122).

Results

Tumor response was an independent predictor for clinical outcomes. The nomogram included age, N stage, pretreatment Epstein–Barr virus DNA, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, and tumor response achieved an ideal C-index of 0.703 (95% CI 0.655–0.751) in the validation cohort for predicting overall survival (OS), which outperformed than that of the TNM system alone (C-index, 0.670, 95% CI: 0.622–0.718). In addition, the nomogram could successfully classified patients into different risk groups.

Conclusions

We established and validated a precise and convenient nomogram based on tumor response for predicting the OS of LANPC patients.

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Possible Rehabilitation Procedures to Treat Sarcopenic Dysphagia

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Nutrients. 2022 Feb 12;14(4):778. doi: 10.3390/nu14040778.

ABSTRACT

Sarcopenic dysphagia requires the presence of both dysphagia and generalized sarcopenia. The causes of dysphagia, except for sarcopenia, are excluded. The treatment for sarcopenic dysphagia includes resistance training along with nutritional support; however, whether rehabilitation procedures are useful remains unclear. In this narrative review, we present possible rehabilitation procedures as a resistance training for managing sarcopenic dysphagia, including Shaker exercise, Mendelsohn maneuver, tongue-hold swallow exercise, jaw-opening exercise, swallow resistance exercise, lingual exercise, expiratory muscle strength training, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation. We hope that some procedures mentioned in this article or new methods will be effective to treat sarcopenic dysphagia.

PMID:35215427 | DOI:10.3390/nu14040778

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Effects of Different Voice Rest on Vocal Function After Microlaryngeal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

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Abstract

Objectives

To compare the results of a voice handicap index (VHI) scale and acoustic parameters in patients who underwent microlaryngeal surgery followed by either short-duration (voice rest for <7 days) or long-duration (≥7 days) voice rest.

Study Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for articles published before March 1, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that measured the voice outcomes of patients after different durations and extents of postoperative voice restriction were included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Four RCTs comprising 112 patients were included in the quantitative meta-analysis. Compared with the long-duration voice rest group, the short-duration group exhibited comparable VHI scores (mean difference [MD], −7.01; 95% CI, −16.12 to 2.09; p = 0.13), maximum phonation time (MD, −2.58; 95% CI, −5.42 to 0.26; p = 0.07), and acoustic variables of jitter (MD, −1.25; 95% CI, −3.43 to 0.94; p = 0.26) and shimmer (MD, −0.79; 95% CI, −2.08 to 0.51; p = 0.24). Subgroup analysis for benign pathology and cold instruments studies demonstrated significantly better VHI scores (MD, −14.45; 95% CI, −26.19 to −2.72; p = 0.02 and MD, −15.98; 95% CI, −28.52 to −3.44; p = 0.01, respectively) in the short-duration group.

Conclusions

The limited evidence does not demonstrate benefit in voice outcomes from long-duration voice rest and suggests potential unfavorable effects on compliance and quality of life, providing a rationale for short-duration voice rest after microlaryngeal surgery. More studies are required to determine the optimal duration and extent of postoperative voice rest.

Level of Evidence

1 Laryngoscope, 2022

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Risk factors for residual dizziness in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after successful repositioning: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Feb 26. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07288-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors for residual dizziness (RD) in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after successful repositioning.

METHODS: Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Sino Med up to March 7, 2021 and references of relevant articles were screened. Data from eligible studies were meta-analyzed using Stata version 16.0 and Review Manager 5.4.

RESULTS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 4487 patients from 31 studies, the prevalence of RD was 43.0% (95% CI 39.0-48.0%). Age (MD 4.17; 95% CI 2.13-6.21, P = 0.000), female gender (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.11-1.47, P = 0.001), secondary BPPV (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.27-2.77, P = 0.001), a longer duration of BPPV before treatment (MD 3.45; 95% CI 1.87-5.0 2, P = 0.000), abnormal ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (OVEMP, OR 4.34; 95% CI 2.78-6.78, P = 0.000), abnormal cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (CVEMP, OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.54-3.99, P = 0.000), higher Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI) score before treatment (MD 10.88; 95% CI 5.96-15.80, P = 0.000), anxiety (OR 9.58; 95% CI 6.32-14.52, P = 0.000), osteopenia (OR = 4.40, 95% CI 2.17-8.96, P = 0.000), onset in winter (OR 7.27; 95% CI 2.38-22.24, P = 0.001) and with a history of BPPV (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.06-3.04, P = 0.03) are the risk factors for RD in patients with BPPV after successful repositioning. The affected side, location or type of semicircular involvement, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, migraine, sleep disorders, canalolithiasis/cupulolithiasis, the number of times the canalith repositioning procedures (CRPs) were performed and number of vertigo attacks did not correlate with the occurrence of RD.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite successful treatment, nearly half of the BPPV patients developed RD. RD seems to be a syndrome caused by multiple factors. The pathogenesis of most factors can be explained by psychological and/or physical disorders. Early recognition of these risk factors contributes to the prevention and treatment of RD.

PMID:35218384 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-022-07288-9

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Dendritic cells in reflectance confocal microscopy is a clue for early melanoma diagnosis in extrafacial flat pigmented melanocytic lesions

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Abstract

Background

Differential diagnosis of extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with dermoscopic reticular and/or homogeneous pattern is challenging. Dendritic cells upon reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) still represent a pitfall.

Objective

To determine the role of dendritic cells upon RCM in the epidermis and dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), together with common RCM features for melanoma and nevi, in dermoscopically equivocal extrafacial flat pigmented lesions.

Methods

A retrospective evaluation of RCM images of melanocytic extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with reticular and/or homogeneous dermoscopic pattern and with histopathological diagnosis, was performed. A multivariate model of RCM features was used to obtain a score of independent risk factors.

Results

A total of 698 lesions were included. Increasing patient age, epidermal dendritic cells, many dendritic cells in the DEJ (>30%), and many (>5/mm2) round atypical cells were independent risk factors for melanoma. Edged papillae and melanophages were indicative of nevus. A score based on these features was developed to assist in melanoma differential diagnosis.

Conclusion

The RCM observation of abundant (>30%) dendritic cells in the DEJ is highly suggestive of malignity. This independent risk factor should also be considered for improved differential diagnosis of extrafacial melanoma.

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Reliability of the pre-operative imaging to assess neck nodal involvement in oral cancer patients, a single-center study

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Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2022 Mar 1;27(2):e191-e197. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25228.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Primary sites for the metastasis of oral cancer are the cervical lymph nodes. Although there has been considerable technical advancement in the radiological imaging, capability to recognize all metastatic lymph nodes pre-operatively has remained as a challenge. Thus elective neck dissection (END) has remained as reliable practice to treat cervical lymph nodes. This study evaluated the accuracy of pre-operative imaging in pre-operative diagnostics of cervical lymph node status using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We have also considered the reasons for the difficulties to recognise metastatic nodes in cervical area.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient charts of patients who had had elective neck dissection as a treatment for primary OSCC in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital between 2016 and 2017 were assessed retrospectively. The outcome variable was post-operatively histologically confirmed lymph node metastasis in the neck area. The primary predictor variable was radiologically confirmed metastasis in the neck area. The explanatory variables were age, sex, pT-class, imaging modality, delay and location of the tumour. Descriptive statistics, sensitivity, specificity and Youden-J index were computed.

RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were included in the study. The sensitivity to detect pathological lymph nodes was 44.8%, and the specificity for the examination was 87.0%. 19.3% of cN0 patients had metastasis in the cervical nodes, whereas of the cN+ patients 8.4% were actually pN0. Patients having cN0, the largest neck metastasis was over 10 mm in 12.5%, whereas cN1-3 patients the corresponding rate was 45.5%. The computational threshold to diagnose a metastatic node was 7 mm.

CONCLU SIONS: Especially small metastases are difficult to diagnose. Limitations of radiological diagnostics must be considered when treating OSCC.

PMID:35218648 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25228

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Can cystic lesions of the jaws be considered as the cause of mandibular asymmetry?

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Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2022 Mar 1;27(2):e159-e163. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25134.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of condylar and ramal asymmetry in patients with a cyst larger than 10 mm in the maxilla or mandible.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Condylar and ramal asymmetry index measurements of 47 patients (mean age: 28.85 ± 15.348) in the study group and 40 patients in the control group (mean age: 33.73 ± 13.095) were performed using panoramic radiographs. The study group consists of patients with cysts larger than 10 mm in diameter in the maxilla or mandible. The control group consisted of patients with no radiolucent lesions and no history of trauma. The possible statistical difference between the groups was evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in asymmetry indices according to gender and the jaw (maxilla or mandible) in which the cyst was located. However, it was determined that CAI and RAI values were statistically significantly different between the study and control groups (p = 0.047 and p = 0.016, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of intraosseous cysts larger than 10 mm in the jaws was found to be associated with condylar and ramal asymmetry.

PMID:35218644 | DOI:10.4317/medoral.25134

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