Vestibular paroxysmia (VP) is a condition with recurrent short bouts of vertigo and is thought to be part of a neurovascular compression syndrome caused by the vascular loop

Vascular Loops: The Innocent Bystander for Vestibular Paroxysmia
2dby Carren Sui-Lin Teh via otol rhinol

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2021 Aug 5:34894211037211. doi: 10.1177/00034894211037211. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Vestibular paroxysmia (VP) is a condition with recurrent short bouts of vertigo and is thought to be part of a neurovascular compression syndrome caused by the vascular loop. However, this is still being debated as vascular loops are considered as normal variants with limited studies involving vertiginous patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to study the association between audiovestibular symptoms and the presence of vascular loops and to study the association between vestibular paroxysmia and vascular loops.

DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of clinical, audiological and MRI findings of patients with and without vascular loops and vestibular paroxysmia from 2000 to 2020.

RESULTS: A total of 470 MRI Internal Auditory Meatus scans were performed during the study period of which, 71 (15.1%) had vascular loops and 162 (34.5%) had normal MRI which were used as controls. From the 233 subjects recruited, there were 37 subjects with VP and 196 non VP subjects were used as controls. There was no association between the vascular loop and control groups in terms of co-morbidity and audiovestibular symptoms. The VP group had a significantly older mean age of 51.8 (SD ± 10.3) as compared to the non VP group with the mean age of 45.6 (SD ± 15.5). The VP group had higher number of patients presenting with hearing loss at 97.3% when compared with those without VP (80.1%) (P = .01). The odds of having a vascular loop giving rise to VP was not statistically significant at 0.82 (95% CI 0.3735-1.7989) P = .62.

CONCLUSION: The vascular loop is a normal variant which may or may not give rise to audiovestibular symptoms or vestibular paroxysmia. Clinical assessment is still most important tool in deriving a diagnosis of VP and MRI may be useful to rule out other central causes.

PMID:34353133 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211037211

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Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00302841026182,00306932607174,alsfakia@gmail.com,

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Effect of Progressive Head Extension Swallowing Exercise on Lingual Strength in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Effect of Progressive Head Extension Swallowing Exercise on Lingual Strength in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial Via swallowing exercises J Clin Med. 2021 Jul 31;10(15):3419. doi: 10.3390/jcm10153419. ABSTRACT Lingual strengthening training can improve the swallowing function in older adults, but the optimal method is unclear. We investigated the effects of a new progressive resistance exercise in the elderly by comparing with a conventional isometric tongue strengthening exercise. Twenty-nine participants were divided into two groups randomly. One group performed forceful swallow of 2 mL of water every 10 s for 20 m in, and a total of 120 swallowing tasks per session at 80% angle of maximum head extension. The other group performed five repetitions in 24 sets with a 30 s rest, and the target level was settled at 80% of one repetition maximum using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). A total of 12 sessions were carried out by both groups over a 4-week period. Blinded measurements (for maximum lingual isometric pressure and peak pressure during swallowing) were obtained using IOPI before exercise and at four weeks in both groups. After four weeks, both groups showed a significant improvement in lingual strength involving both isometric and swallowing tasks. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in strength increase involving both tasks. Regardless of the manner, tongue-strengthening exercises substantially improved lingual pressure in the elderly with equal effect. PMID:34362202 | DOI:10.3390/jcm10153419 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The real-world efficacy and safety of anlotinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader The real-world efficacy and safety of anlotinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer Via oral multi-targeted angiogenesis inhibitor J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2021 Aug 6:1-15. doi: 10.1007/s00432-021-03752-x. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Anlotinib is an anti-angiogenetic multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) in the real world. METHODS: Patients with aNSCLC receiving anlotinib were enrolled in two cohorts (treatment naive and previously treated). The endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and anlotinib-related adverse events (ar-AEs). RESULTS: 203 patients accrued in the study. In the treatment-naïve cohort (n = 80), the PFS was 7.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.1-10.7) and OS was 10.8 (95% CI 5.8-15.8) months of monotherapy group (immature survival for combination group). In previously treated cohort (n = 123), the PFS was 8.0 months (95% CI 6.1-9.9) in the combination group and 4.3 months (95% CI 2.1-6.6) in the monotherapy group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.49; 95% CI 0.29-0.83; p = 0.007), respectively. The OS was 18.5 months (95% CI 10.5-26.6) in the combination group and 7.8 months (95% CI 7.1-8.4) in the monotherapy group (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.22-0.66; p = 0.001), respectively. The ar-AEs of grade ≥ 3 in the monotherapy and the combination groups were hypertension (9.0 and 8.7%), fatigue (8.1 and 7.6%), hand-foot syndrome (8.1 and 6.5%), diarrhea (5.4 and 8.7%), proteinuria (5.4 and 5.4%), and mucositis oral (6.3 and 8.7%). CONCLUSION: In aNSCLC, anlotinib monotherapy has a promising efficacy in the first-line setting. It may be an option for those who are ineligible for chemotherapy; anlotinib combination therapy in a ≥ second-line setting showed manageable toxicities and encouraging efficacy, indicating a good application prospect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered with ISRCTN Registry (ID ISRCTN35543977) on January 26th, 2021 and Chi nese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR2000032265) on April 4th, 2020. PMID:34357411 | PMC:PMC8343360 | DOI:10.1007/s00432-021-03752-x View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Remote assessments for bone conduction hearing devices during the COVID-19 pandemic

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Remote assessments for bone conduction hearing devices during the COVID-19 pandemic 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 Aug 7. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-07025-8. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in the suspension of many routine audiology services due to the risk of cross-infections in closed spaces. This has driven the need for exploring alternatives to conventional face-to-face consultations in the hospital outpatient setting. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of remote consultations and assessments for patients on the waiting list for consideration of bone conduction hearing devices (BCHDs), and whether this type of consultation could continue beyond the COVID-19 era. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary Neuro-otology Department. All new patients on the waiting list for assessment for BCHD as of 1 March 2020 were included. Patients' case notes were reviewed. All underwent a telephone consultation with an implant audiologist. If the patient wanted to go ahead with the remote trial, a BCHD sound processor on a headband would be mailed out and the patient would then have to use the device for two weeks and return the device after with their diary. RESULTS: There were 49 patients. The mean age was 55 (range 27-88, SD 16.3). Four did not proceed with the trial. All patients returned their devices to the department. Majority of patients (95.6%, n = 43), completed their diary. 75.6% wanted to proceed with surgery. All patients proceeding with surgery were happy with the remote assessment and would recommend this for the future. CONCLUSION: It is possible to satisfactorily assess appropriately screened patients for BCHDs remotely with a structured approach and explanation of process and expectations. It might be possible to consider this type of consultation as an option for assessing potential candidates for BCHDs beyond the COVID-19 era to reduce the number of hospital visits for patients. PMID:34363503 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-07025-8 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Auditory processing in normally hearing individuals with and without tinnitus: assessment with four psychoacoustic tests

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Auditory processing in normally hearing individuals with and without tinnitus: assessment with four psychoacoustic tests 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 Aug 7. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-07023-w. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: In most cases, tinnitus co-exists with hearing loss, suggesting that poorer speech understanding is simply due to a lack of acoustic information reaching the central nervous system (CNS). However, it also happens that patients with tinnitus who have normal hearing also report problems with speech understanding, and it is possible to suppose that tinnitus is to blame for difficulties in perceptual processing of auditory information. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the auditory processing abilities of normally hearing subjects with and without tinnitus. METHODS: The study group comprised 97 adults, 54 of whom had normal hearing and chronic tinnitus (the study group) and 43 who had normal hearing and no tinnitus (the control group). The audiological assessment comprised pure-tone audiometry and high-frequency pur e-tone audiometry, impedance audiometry, and distortion product oto-acoustic emission assessment. To evaluate possible auditory processing deficits, the Frequency Pattern Test (FPT), Duration Pattern Test (DPT), Dichotic Listening Test (DLT), and Gap Detection Threshold (GDT) tests were performed. RESULTS: The tinnitus subjects had significantly lower scores than the controls in the gap detection test (p < 0.01) and in the dichotic listening test (p < 0.001), but only for the right ear. The results for both groups were similar in the temporal ordering tests (FPT and DPT). Right-ear advantage (REA) was found for the controls, but not for the tinnitus subjects. CONCLUSION: In normally hearing patients, the presence of tinnitus may be accompanied with auditory processing difficulties. PMID:34363504 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-07023-w View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Tongue stretching: technique and clinical proposal

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Tongue stretching: technique and clinical proposal Via swallowing exercises J Complement Integr Med. 2021 Aug 9. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2020-0101. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: The tongue is an organ with multiple functions, from sucking to phonation, from swallowing to postural control and equilibrium. An incorrect position or mechanics of the tongue can causes sucking problems in the newborn or atypical swallowing in the adult, with repercussions on the position of the head and neck, up to influencing upright posture and other problems. Tongue d ysfunctions are quite frequent (10-15%) in the population. For the manual therapist, this frequency indicates one to two subjects every 30 patients. Exercises have been proposed to improve the tone and strength of the swallowing muscles but the results are not so clear in the literature. The aim of this study is to describe and provide a tongue muscle normalization technique that helps the manual therapist in the treatment of problems related to it. METHODS: The literature has been investigated through pubmed, Google scholar of the last 10 years, the keywords used and combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR, are: "tongue, tongue habits, tongue diseases, taste disorder, neck pain, posture, postural balance, atypical swallowing, muscle stretching exercise, tissue expansion, soft tissue therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment". RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The technique is possible to be executed even in a sitting position, in the case the patient is unable to assume a supine position, the subject should provides immediate feedback that allows the therapist to understand if the technique has been correctly executed. The simplicity of execution and application of the technique makes it a possible and immediate therapeutic tool in the clinical setting. PMID:34364317 | DOI:10.1515/jcim-2020-0101 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

RNAscope compatibility with image analysis platforms for the quantification of tissue-based colorectal cancer biomarkers in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader RNAscope compatibility with image analysis platforms for the quantification of tissue-based colorectal cancer biomarkers in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue Via histochem Acta Histochem. 2021 Aug 4;123(6):151765. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151765. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT RNAscope®, has emerged as an important in-situ hybridisation method to validate mRNA expression within single cells whilst preserving tissue morphology in histological samples. The aim of this research was to compare the utility of various open-source and commercial image analysis methods, to quantify mRNA transcripts identified by RNAscope within formalin fixed paraf fin embedded (FFPE) histological samples and cell monolayer preparations. Examination of MLH1 expression from 10 histological FFPE colorectal cancer specimens using four image analysis tools (Colour Deconvolution, SpotStudio, WEKA and the LEICA RNA-ISH algorithm) showed the WEKA tool as having the greatest level of agreement with manual quantification. Comparing image analysis methods to qRT-PCR for quantifying MLH1, GFI1 and TNFRSF11A expression within two colorectal cell lines results suggest that these image analysis methods perform at a similar level to qRT-PCR. Furthermore, we describe the strengths and limitations for each image analysis method when used in combination with RNAscope assays. Our study concludes that there are several freely available and commercial image analysis tools that enable reliable RNA in situ expression analysis, however operators need to consider factors, such as expected expression levels of target genes, software usability and functionality. P MID:34364165 | DOI:10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151765 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Adjuvant radiation and cetuximab improves local control in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A phase II study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Adjuvant radiation and cetuximab improves local control in head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A phase II study Via Head & Neck Abstract Background Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head/neck (CSCCHN) is common due to chronic sun exposure. As CSCCHN highly expresses EGFR, we prospectively studied postoperative concurrent cetuximab with radiotherapy for locally advanced CSCCHN (LA-CSCCHN). Materials and methods Single-institutional phase II trial of LA-CSCCHN (NCT XXXX). Adjuvant radiation was given with concurrent cetuximab. Primary endpoint of 2-year LRC and secondary objectives of 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 2-year OS were assessed by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results Twenty-four patients ages 47–88 (median 71 years) were treated from 2014 to 2017. Fourteen patients had T3/4 disease, 5 had N1 disease, and 7 were N2/3. At median follow-up of 42 months, median OS and DFS was not reached and 64 months. Two-year OS was 75%, 2-year DFS was 70.8%. LRC was 91.1% at 2 years. All grade 3 adverse events were related to skin toxicity (12.5% radiation-related dermatitis, 16.7% cetuximab-related rash). Conclusions LRC compares favorably to historical data examining postoperative radiation alone but requires further investigation. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Implantable Doppler Removal After Free Flap Monitoring Among Head and Neck Microvascular Surgeons

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Implantable Doppler Removal After Free Flap Monitoring Among Head and Neck Microvascular Surgeons Via The Laryngoscope Objective Investigate current practice patterns of head and neck microvascular reconstructive surgeons when removing an implantable Doppler after free flap surgery. Study Design Cross-sectional survey study. Methods Survey distributed to head and neck microvascular reconstructive surgeons. Data regarding years performing free tissue transfer, case numbers, management of implantable Doppler wire, and complications were collected. Results Eighty-five responses were analyzed (38,000 cases). Sixty-six responders (77.6%) use an implantable Doppler for postoperative monitoring, with 97% using the Cook-Swartz Doppler Flow Monitoring System. Among this group, 65.2% pull the wire after monitoring was complete, 3% cut the wire, and 31.8% have both cut and pulled the wire. Of those who have cut and pulled the wire, 48% report cutting and pulling the wire with equal frequency, 43% formerly pulled the wire and now cut the wire, and 9% previously cut the wire but now pull the wire. Of those who pull the wire, there were two injuries to the pedicle requiring return to the operating for flap salvage, and one acute venous congestion. Of the nine who previously pulled the wire, six (67%) cited concerns with major bleeding/flap compromise as the reason for cutting the wire. Conclusion In this study, most surgeons use an implantable Doppler for monitoring of free flaps postoperatively. In extremely rare instances, pulling the implantable Doppler wire has resulted in flap compromise necessitating revision of the vascular anastomosis. Cutting the wire and leaving the proximal portion in the surgical site has been adopted as a management option. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Evaluating YouTube Videos on Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation as a Resource for Patients

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Evaluating YouTube Videos on Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation as a Resource for Patients Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis This study evaluated the quality and comprehensiveness of YouTube videos on hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) for patients. This study also investigated the relationship between video content, video metrics, and popularity. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods We identified 150 videos using three search terms: "inspire sleep apnea," "hypoglossal nerve stimulation," and "upper airway stimulation." Videos that were unrelated to the use of HNS for obstructive sleep apnea in adults, operating room recordings, lectures for medical professionals, non-English, or non-audio were excluded. Video quality and comprehensiveness were assessed using modified DISCERN criterion (range: 5–25) and novel content criterion (range: 0–12), respectively. Secondary outcomes included video metrics (views, likes, dislikes, comments, and days since upload) and Video Power Index to measure popularity. Outcomes were stratified by video uploader source (medical institutions, medical companies, individual users, other). Results Users searched YouTube for "inspire sleep apnea" 2.48 times more in 2020 than in 2018. We identified 67 videos for review, with the majority coming from medical institutions (70.2%). Overall, the average-modified DISCERN (13.65 ± 4.88) and novel content (3.87 ± 2.09) scores were low and did not differ between medical institutions or other uploader sources. Higher quality and more comprehensive video content did not correlate with popularity. Conclusion Overall quality and comprehensiveness of information of HNS YouTube videos was low. Given the high demand for information on HNS, there is opportunity for medical institutions to implement new strategies to improve both video content and visibility to patients. Level of Evidence N/A Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Vestibular‐Evoked Myogenic Potential Outcomes Associated with Pediatric Sports‐Related Concussion

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Vestibular‐Evoked Myogenic Potential Outcomes Associated with Pediatric Sports‐Related Concussion Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis To 1) characterize vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses in children and young adults with sports-related concussion (SRC) histories as compared with a normal healthy control group, and 2) correlate VEMP characteristics to SRC/sport history outcomes. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Seventy-six children and young adults with and without a history of SRC received cervical and ocular VEMP testing using a 500 Hz tone burst air conduction stimuli. VEMP response parameters (response rates, peak latencies, and peak-to-peak amplitudes) were assessed. Other clinical vestibular measures were performed. In the SRC group, sport history outcomes including number of SRC sustained over a lifetime, years of playing contact sports, and length of time playing contact sports were collected via in-person questionnaire. Results Children and young adults with SRC had significantly reduced oVEMP responses and peak-to-peak amplitudes and greater amplitude response asymmetries between left and right ear. There was no effect of group on cVEMP findings. A greater frequency of SRCs sustained throughout a lifetime, a greater number of contact sports played, and a longer duration of playing a contact sport correlated with significantly poorer VEMP response characteristics. Conclusions Our results suggest that SRC and repeated subclinical head impact events have an effect on oVEMP outcomes. SRC may affect the utricle, superior vestibular nerve, and/or brainstem-mediated vestibular-ocular-reflex pathway. The prevalence of post-concussion-related dizziness is becoming increasingly common in a pediatric-otology clinic, thus performing VEMP testing in youth post-SRC provides an objective, noninvasive, and cost-effective method for monitoring the effects of sports-related impact on the vestibular system and related neural pathways. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Radiological Assessment of High Anterior Septal Deviation and Its Impact on Sinus Access

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Radiological Assessment of High Anterior Septal Deviation and Its Impact on Sinus Access Via The Laryngoscope Objectives/Hypothesis High anterior septal deviation (HASD) is an underreported anatomic variant that can affect the decision to perform septoplasty for access during sinus surgery and ease of postoperative debridement. This study aims to 1) describe an objective method of assessing HASD, and 2) explore its prevalence and implications for performing septoplasty. Study Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods Computed tomography scans from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Two independent observers measured the following with respect to midline: distance to septum (SDD), distance to lateral nasal wall (LNW), and septal deviation angle (SDA). Results A total of 147 patients were included, with excellent interrater reliability across 99 patients (0.8–0.9). Mean measurements across all patients were SDD (2.77 mm ± 1.34), SDD/LNW (0.26 ± 0.12), and SDA (8.9° ± 4.0). Of 102 patients who underwent sinus surgery, 47 received septoplasty. Compared to the non-septoplasty cohort, the septoplasty cohort had a greater mean SDD (3.61 mm ± 1.48 vs. 2.27 mm ± 0.95; d = 1.10 [95% CI 0.67–1.51]), SDD/LNW (0.34 ± 0.13 vs. 0.21 ± 0.09; d = 1.18 [95% CI 0.76–1.60]), and SDA (11.1° ± 4.3 vs. 7.3° ± 3.4; d = 1.00 [95% CI 0.58–1.40]). Receiver operating characteristic cutoffs were SDD ≥2.43 mm, SDD/LNW ≥0.25, and SDA ≥7.6°, corresponding to a 49%–58% prevalence of HASD. Conclusion HASD is relatively common and the methods described herein can reliably assess its dimensions. Measurements of SDD, SDD/LNW, and SDA exceeding cutoffs determined by this study may represent clinically significant deflections prompting consideration of septoplasty. These methods may aid in preoperative planning. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.