Olfactory training with Aromastics: olfactory and cognitive effects

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Olfactory training with Aromastics: olfactory and cognitive effects Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Apr 16. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06810-9. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The olfactory system can be successfully rehabilitated with regular, intermittent stimulation during multiple daily exposures to selected sets of odors, i.e., olfactory training (OT). OT has been repeatedly shown to be an effective tool of olfactory performance enhancement. Recent advancements in studies on OT suggest that its beneficial effects exceed olfaction and extend to specific cognitive tasks. So far, studies on OT provided compelling evidence for its effectiveness, but there is still a need to search for an optimal OT protocol. The present study examined whether increased frequency of OT leads to better outcomes in both olfactory and cognitive domains. METHOD: Fifty-five subjects (28 females; Mage = 58.2 ± 11.3 years; 26 patients with impaired olfaction) were randomly assigned to a standard (twice a day) or intense (four times a day) OT. Olfactory and cognitive measurements were taken before and after OT. RESULTS: OT performed twice a day was more effective in supporting olfactory rehabilitation and interventions targeted to verbal semantic fluency than OT performed four times a day, even more so in subjects with lower baseline scores. CONCLUSIONS: OT is effective in supporting olfactory rehabilitation and interventions targeted to verbal semantic fluency. However, it may be prone to a ceiling effect, being efficient in subjects presenting with lower baseline olfactory performance and lower verbal semantic fluency. PMID:33864109 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06810-9 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Craniofrontonasal dysplasia: hypertelorism correction in late presenting patients

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Craniofrontonasal dysplasia: hypertelorism correction in late presenting patients Via leak of cerebrospinal fluid Childs Nerv Syst. 2021 Apr 16. doi: 10.1007/s00381-021-05134-7. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Craniofrontonasal dysplasia (CFND) is a rare congenital craniofacial syndrome characterized by single suture synostosis, hypertelorism, other clinical facial features, and abnormalities in the upper extremities. There are only a few studies in the applicable literature that address hypertelorism management for CFND patients and outcomes and complication rates. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on consecutive late presenting CFND patients referred to our hospital with substantially completed craniofacial skeleton growth, who underwent hypertelorism correction between 2007 and 2019 following intracranial pressure screening, and who received at least 1 year of follow-up care. None of the patients in this study underwent prior craniofacial surgery. Only those patients with a confirmed mutation of the EFNB1 gene were include d in this study. All patients in this study underwent hypertelorism correction by facial bipartition or box osteotomy. RESULTS: A total of ten late presenting CFND patients (all female) were treated at our hospital during the study period. None of the patients presented signs of elevated intracranial pressure. The average patient age at hypertelorism correction was 13.4 ± 7.68 years of age. Major complications, defined as complications requiring a return to the operating room, were limited to infection of the frontal bone, which required partial bone removal, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, which was completely resolved by insertion of a lumbar shunt for a 7-day period. CONCLUSION: The absence of elevated intracranial pressure enables hypertelorism correction in late presenting CFND patients via facial bipartition or box osteotomy without the need for additional operations that provide for cranial expansion. PMID:33864106 | DOI:10.1007/s00381-021-05134-7 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Nipple Engineering: Maintaining Nipple Geometry with Externally Scaffolded Processed Autologous Costal Cartilage

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Nipple Engineering: Maintaining Nipple Geometry with Externally Scaffolded Processed Autologous Costal Cartilage Via Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2021 Mar 24:S1748-6815(21)00099-1. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2021.03.010. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Nipple reconstruction is the essential last step of breast reconstruction after total mastectomy, resulting in improved general and aesthetic satisfaction. However, most techniques are limited by secondary scar contracture and loss of neo-nipple projection leading to patient dissatisfaction. Approximately, 16,000 patients undergo autologous flap breast reconstruction annually, during which the excised costal cartilage (CC) is discarded. We propose utilizing processed CC placed within biocompatible 3D-printed external scaffolds to generate tissue cylinders that mimic the shape, size and biomechanical properties of native human nipple tissue while mitigating contracture and projection loss. METHODS: External scaffolds were designed and then 3D-printed using polylactic acid (PLA). Patient-d erived CC was processed by mincing or zesting, then packed into the scaffolds, implanted into nude rats and explanted after 3 months for volumetric, histologic and biomechanical analyses. Similar analyses were performed on native human nipple tissue and unprocessed CC. RESULTS: After 3 months in vivo, gross analysis demonstrated significantly greater preservation of contour, projection and volume of the scaffolded nipples. Mechanical analysis demonstrated that processing of the cartilage resulted in implant equilibrium modulus values closer to that of the human nipple. Histologic analysis showed the presence of healthy and viable cartilage after 3 months in vivo, invested with fibrovascular tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous CC can be processed intraoperatively and placed within biocompatible external scaffolds to mimic the shape and biomechanical properties of the native human nipple. This allows for custom design and fabrication of individualized engineered autologous imp lants tailored to patient desire, without the loss of projection seen with traditional approaches. PMID:33863678 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjps.2021.03.010 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Effect of Electrode Configuration and Impulse Strength on Airway Patency in Neurostimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effect of Electrode Configuration and Impulse Strength on Airway Patency in Neurostimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) has gained increasing interest for the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) can both exclude improper airway collapse patterns and visualize airway changes under stimulation. Stimulation outcome effects depend on the impulse voltage and electric field resulting from the electrode configuration of the implanted device. The effects of various combinations of voltage and electric field on DISE airway patterns in contrast to awake endoscopy are unknown. Study Design Cohort study. Methods During therapy adjustment about 6 months after implantation, patients underwent a DISE and awake endoscopy with 100% and 125% of functional voltage in three typical electrode configurations (+ – +, o – o, − – −). All videos were analyzed by two separate persons for the opening of the airway at velum, tongue base, and epiglottis level. Results Thirty patients showed typical demographic data. The opening effects were visible in all patients, but there were changes between different electrode configurations. Several demographic or therapeutic aspects such as obesity, OSA severity, or prior soft palate surgery were associated with changes arising from different electrode configurations, but none resulted in a consistently better airway opening. Conclusions In patients with poor results during the therapy adjustment, electric configuration changes can improve airway patency—an independent variable from increasing voltage. As these effects can only be seen in awake endoscopy or DISE, both endoscopies with live stimulation may be considered in cases with insufficient improvement in apnea–hypopnea index after initiation of HNS therapy. Level of Evidence Prospective case series; level 4. Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Optimal Arytenoid Position in Laryngeal Framework Surgery: An Anatomic Human Larynx Study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Optimal Arytenoid Position in Laryngeal Framework Surgery: An Anatomic Human Larynx Study Via The Laryngoscope Objectives The purpose of this study was to better understand the effects of stitch placement on arytenoid medialization by measuring normative cricoarytenoid joint anatomy and changes in arytenoid position when varying arytenopexy stitch configuration. Methods This adult human larynx study was done in two parts. First, measurements of the cricoid and arytenoid cartilage anatomy relevant to cricoarytenoid joint function were made in 45 preserved larynges (26 male (M), 19 female (F)) using digital calipers. Second, the arytenoids of six fresh larynges ( three M, three F) were sutured to the cricoid using various arytenopexy‐stitch placements ranging from inferior‐lateral to superior‐medial, and the resulting arytenoid positions were compared by measuring medial displacement of the arytenoid body and change in glottal configuration from macro still images using Image J. Paired t‐tests were used to compare the results. Results Cartilage and joint facet dimensions showed differences between males (M) and females (F). Cricoid facet lengths averaged 9.3 mm (M) and 7.1 mm (F), and widths averaged 4.9 mm (M) and 4.0 mm (F). The arytenoid facet widths averaged 10.5 mm (M) and 9.7 mm (F). Average distances between cricoid facets were 11.8 mm for both males and females. Securing the arytenoid superior‐medially on the cricoid facet produced more medialization (2.2 mm vs 1.0 mm, P < .001) and better glottic aperture configuration (9.5° vs 2.7°, P < .001) than securing the arytenoid inferior‐laterally on the facet. Conclusions Anatomic consistency in cricoarytenoid anatomy provides reliable surgical landmarks for ideal placement of an arytenopexy suture to optimally reposition the arytenoid cartilage. Optimal arytenoid medialization can be accurately reproduced with an arytenopexy‐suture that is placed superior‐medially on the cricoid facet. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Surgical Margin Status and Survival Following Resection of Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Surgical Margin Status and Survival Following Resection of Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma Via The Laryngoscope Objectives Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is an aggressive cancer usually managed with surgical resection. This study evaluates the impact of treatment modality and positive surgical margin (PSM) on survival following resection of SNMM. Study Design Retrospective study of a national cancer registry. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for cases of SNMM from 2010 to 2015. Data regarding patient demographics, tumor staging, and treatment modality were obtained. Survival rates were compared by margin status: PSM, negative (NSM), and no operation (0SM) using Kaplan–Meier analysis and log rank test. Results A total of 446 patients met inclusion criteria. Most cases were elderly (>66 years‐old) (67.3%), female (54.3%), and white (89.5%). Cases of SNMM most commonly involved the nasal cavity (81.6%), were Stage 3 (60.0%), and underwent surgical resection at an academic center (65.0%). NSM and PSM were present in 59.0% and 26.9% of cases, respectively, while 14.1% of cases did not undergo surgical resection (0SM). Factors predictive of PSM included resection at a community hospital (OR 2.47) and Stage 4 disease (OR 2.07). The 2‐year survival rates were 72.1% (95% CI 69.4–75.4%), 36.3% (95% CI 22.0–48.9), and 16.0% (95% CI 8.2–25.4%) for NSM, PSM and 0SM, respectively. Survival was statistically significant between NSM and PSM (Log rank <0.001) but not between 0SM and PSM (Log rank = 0.062). Conclusion Our study emphasizes the need for NSM for SNMM as PSM did not demonstrate any significant improvement in survival when compared to 0SM. Our findings suggest that cases of SNMM are best managed at academic centers. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Mainstream Cigarette Smoke Impacts the Mouse Vocal Fold Epithelium and Mucus Barrier

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Mainstream Cigarette Smoke Impacts the Mouse Vocal Fold Epithelium and Mucus Barrier Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis Cigarette smoke (CS) is a primary risk factor for the development of numerous benign and malignant laryngeal diseases. The epithelium and mucus lining the vocal folds (VF) are the first barriers against CS. The primary objective of this study was to investigate epithelial and mucus barrier changes in the mouse laryngeal mucosa upon exposure to subacute CS. The secondary objective was to compare mucus barrier changes in mice and human smokers and nonsmokers. Study Design Animal model. Methods Mice were exposed to CS for 4 weeks for 4 hours (N = 12, high dose [HD]) or 1 hour (N = 12, low dose [LD]) per day. Air‐exposed mice were used as a control group (N = 10). Larynges were harvested and VF epithelial barrier integrity was evaluated including cellular proliferation and expression of cell junctions. We also investigated mucus production by examining mucus cell area and mucin expression in mice and human smokers and nonsmokers. Results HD CS increased VF epithelial cellular proliferation but did not alter the expression of cell junctions. HD CS also induced hypertrophy of the mucus‐producing submucosal glands. However, only LD CS increased MUC5AC gene expression. MUC5AC staining appeared elevated in laryngeal specimens from smokers, but this was not significant as compared to nonsmokers. Conclusions These findings help us identify potential adaptive mechanisms to CS exposure as well as set the foundation for further study of key aspects of epithelial and mucus barrier integrity that may be implicated in laryngeal disease development following prolonged smoking. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Clinical Features of Essential Voice Tremor and Associations with Tremor Severity and Response to Octanoic Acid Treatment

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Clinical Features of Essential Voice Tremor and Associations with Tremor Severity and Response to Octanoic Acid Treatment Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical features, tremor variability, and factors related to octanoic acid (OA) treatment response in essential voice tremor (EVT). Study Design Prospective, double blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study with secondary analysis. Methods Clinical tremor features in 16 individuals with EVT were comprehensively assessed, and correlations with acoustic tremor severity were determined. Intrasubject and intersubject variability measures were analyzed from 18 repeated measures for each acoustic tremor variable. Clinical correlates of treatment response were evaluated, and cumulative effects over a 2‐week period of OA drug dosing were assessed. Results Participants with EVT were 90% female with a mean age of 70.31 (±8.68) years at the time of testing. Neurologist‐rated body tremor beyond the vocal tract region was present in 69% of participants, and multiple vocal tract regions contributed to the voice tremor. The mean frequency of amplitude tremor was 4.67 Hz (±0.88). Respiratory tremor was evident in 50% of participants. Participants experienced moderate voice‐related disability as assessed on the Voice Handicap Index‐10 (19.38, ±8.50), and increased speaking effort. Acoustic tremor severity was significantly associated with severity of tremor affecting vocal tract structures. Overall intrasubject consistency was strong (single measures intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.701, P < .01), with high intersubject variability. Acoustic tremor severity was significantly, positively associated with treatment response, and results suggested a cumulative OA benefit for magnitude of amplitude tremor. Conclusions This study identified common clinical correlates of EVT and demonstrated positive associations between acoustic tremor severity, severity of affected vocal tract structures, and response to treatment. Level of Evidence 2 Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Effect of position therapy and oral devices on sleep parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effect of position therapy and oral devices on sleep parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06817-2. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of a neck-worn position therapy device (PTD) and oral appliance (OA) on sleep parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Patients with an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of 5/h or more at baseline polysomnography were divided into a PTD group and an OA group randomly. All participants underwent a type 1 polysomnography for diagnosis and device-set outcome measurements. RESULTS: The PTD decreased the AHI from a mean of 24.2/h to 16.7/h, and the OA decreased the AHI from 20.8/h to 10.3/h. Snoring duration decreased from 31.1% to 16.9% in the PTD group, and from 41.2% to 30.7% in the OA group. There were no significant differences in these decreases between the two groups. The PTD decreased sleep-time percentage in the supine position from a mean of 67.4% to 4.5%, despite five patients who were unable to avoid the supine position. There were no significant differences in improvement in sleep efficiency, percentage of stage wake, stage N1, stage N2, and stage REM, and overall arousal and respiratory arousal indices between the two groups. However, the spontaneous arousal index worsened in the OA responders but remained unchanged in the PTD responders. Percentage of stage N3 sleep (%N3) was improved in the PTD responders but not in the OA responders. There were significant differences in spontaneous arousal index and %N3 between the two groups. CONCLUSION: PTDs are a potential treatment modality that does not disturb sleep in patients with OSA. PMID:33864481 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06817-2 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Effectiveness of intranasal steroids on rhinitis symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effectiveness of intranasal steroids on rhinitis symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06818-1. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Evaluate the impact of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and measure performance issues that are of major concerns for PAR patients, as well as determining the effect of intra-nasal steroids (INS) on PAR and associated congestion, sleep complaints, and daytime sleepiness. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 78 PAR patients underwent otorhinolaryngological examination and skin test. All participants filled in the Nocturnal Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (NRQLQ), the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Participants were asked to undergo treatment with Budesonide (BUD) topical aqueous nasal spray for eight weeks. After the treatment period, all participants were again asked to answer the three ques tionnaires. RESULTS: The results of this study found statistically significant improvements in the overall NRQLQ score (p < 0.001) and individual NRQLQ domain scores (p < 0.05) after INS treatment. A statistically significant reduction in symptom severity in the four NRQLQ domains before and after treatment was found (p < 0.05), except for restlessness, post-nasal drip, and avoiding symptom triggers (p = 0.575, 0.172, and 0.705, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in ESS and SSS scores before and after treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PAR has a significant impact on sleep quality and, as a result, a lower QOL. This study demonstrates that INS is an effective modality in the treatment of PAR and positively impacts patients' QOL by improving nasal symptoms, daytime fatigue, and somnolence, and sleep quality. PMID:33864483 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06818-1 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Comparison of treatment modalities for selected advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Comparison of treatment modalities for selected advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma Via http://link.springer.com/journal/405,European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology,The European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Apr 17. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06780-y. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The authors aimed to clarify the optimal treatment strategy and the indication of different treatments in managing advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS: A total of 9700 patients with advanced (T3-4aN0-3M0) LSCC who treated with (1) surgery alone, (2) surgery plus adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy (aCRT/RT), or (3) definitive CRT/RT was retrieved from the SEER database. The propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance confounding factors. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to comparing the overall survival (OS) of patients. RESULTS: After optimal matching, 907 patients were screened from each treatment cohort. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses presented that patients treated with surgery plus aCRT/CT had significantly longer OS than those treated with either surgery alone or CRT/RT, even after PSM. However, significant interactions were tested in treatment effects in stratified analyses of the primary subsite, T stage, N stage, and insurance status (PInteraction < 0.05 for all). Specifically, surgery plus aCRT/CT significantly improved the OS of patients with supraglottic, T4a, and N + tumors (P < 0.001 for all), while three treatment modalities achieved equal OS rates for patients with glottic, T3, and N0 tumors (P > 0.05 for all). Besides, supraglottic tumors presented a poorer prognosis than glottic subsite. CONCLUSION: Current study suggests that surgery with aCRT/RT is the preferred initial therapy for patients with T4a tumors, whereas patients with T3 tumors could be treated with either surgery (followed by aCRT/RT if it presents N +) or definitive CRT/RT for achieving laryngeal preservation. More-intense treatment should be emphasized for advanced supraglottic cancer. PMID:33864482 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06780-y View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.