Unusual Symptomatology in Eagle Syndrome Pace, Annalisa; Rossetti, Valeria; Iannella, Giannicola ...
Clinical medicine insights. Case reports,
09/2020, Volume:
13
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
A 20-year-old female presented a history of isolate left external ear pain. ENT valuation showed no alteration of the district, but an aberrant styloid process was tender to palpation in the left ...tonsillar fossa. Computer tomography was performed and confirmed it. Thereafter, the diagnosis of Eagle syndrome was made. The auricular branch of the vagal nerve (ABVN) was pressed by the styloid process causing the pain. This case pointed out the importance to consider anatomical alteration as elongated styloid process as a possible cause of external ear pain.
"1 The authors conducted a discriminant multivariate analysis to investigate the predictive variables influencing audiological outcomes in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss ...(ISSNHL) treated with intra tympanic steroid (ITS) injections. ...considering the 81 % spontaneous recovery rate shown in the studies by Kitajiri et al8 and Bayoumy et al,9 it could be intriguing to evaluate the potential association between the severity of ISSNHL, the pretreatment compromised threshold, and the presence of irreversibly dead cochlear regions. The grade of hearing loss in our study offers a general categorization of the overall hearing loss, whereas the threshold provides detailed information about an individual's hearing abilities across various frequencies at a specific dB level.This has been the preferred selection in several studies.3 5 Regarding spontaneous recovery in the mentioned studies,6-7 ethical issues surrounding depriving patients diagnosed with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) of a potentially effective intratympanic steroid (ITS) or other management modalities and thus waiting for spontaneous recovery are multifaceted and require careful consideration of the principles of respecting a patient's autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and the specific circumstances of the case.8-9 Quantifying this recovery would be especially useful if no method of steroid administration has proven to be better in individuals with ISSNHL who are not receiving treatment because the spontaneous hearing recovery rate in these patients is large. ...I appreciate The Journal of International Advanced Otology
Nerve Growth Factor and Autoimmune Diseases Terracina, Sergio; Ferraguti, Giampiero; Tarani, Luigi ...
Current Issues in Molecular Biology,
11/2023, Volume:
45, Issue:
11
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
NGF plays a crucial immunomodulatory role and increased levels are found in numerous tissues during autoimmune states. NGF directly modulates innate and adaptive immune responses of B and T cells and ...causes the release of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters controlling the immune system activation in inflamed tissues. Evidence suggests that NGF is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous immune diseases including autoimmune thyroiditis, chronic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, mastocytosis, and chronic granulomatous disease. Furthermore, as NGF levels have been linked to disease severity, it could be considered an optimal early biomarker to identify therapeutic approach efficacy. In conclusion, by gaining insights into how these molecules function and which cells they interact with, future studies can devise targeted therapies to address various neurological, immunological, and other disorders more effectively. This knowledge may pave the way for innovative treatments based on NGF manipulation aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals affected by diseases involving neurotrophins.
Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is a rare condition histological consisting of a foreign body, giant cell reaction to cholesterol crystals and haemosiderin derived from the ruptured of the erythrocytes. A ...25-year-old man came to our Department presenting signs and symptoms of tympano-mastoid cholesterol granuloma. He showed all the specific sign and symptoms of the disease. However, considering the lack of literature regarding TMCG, this study was performed with the aim of presenting the main characteristics of tympano-mastoid CG, describing the case report and reviewing the literature.
: Rhinitis could be considered a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Studies were conducted to evaluate the relation between OSA and Allergic rhinitis (AR). Non-allergic rhinitis with ...eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) is a condition with a symptomatology apparently similar to AR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different presence of OSA in patients suffering from NARES and AR.
: Sixty patients were enrolled and subdivided into NARES, AR and control groups. NARES and AR diagnosis were performed using ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) protocol. All patients were screened for OSA with home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) exam analyzing AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index) values.
: Results showed that 60% of patients affected by NARES presented OSA. On the contrary, altered AHI was found only in 35% of patients affected by AR and in 10% of patients belonging to the control group.
: In conclusion, data showed that there was an increased risk of OSA in NARES patients respect to AR patients and healthy patients.
Autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss (HL) typically occurs when only one dominant allele within the disease gene is sufficient to express the phenotype. Therefore, most patients diagnosed ...with autosomal dominant non-syndromic HL have a hearing-impaired parent, although de novo mutations should be considered in all cases of negative family history. To date, more than 50 genes and 80 loci have been identified for autosomal dominant non-syndromic HL. DFNA22 (
gene), DFNA8/12 (
gene), DFNA20/26 (
gene), DFNA6/14/38 (
gene), DFNA15 (
gene), DFNA2A (
gene), and DFNA10 (
gene) are some of the most common forms of autosomal dominant non-syndromic HL. The characteristics of autosomal dominant non-syndromic HL are heterogenous. However, in most cases, HL tends to be bilateral, post-lingual in onset (childhood to early adulthood), high-frequency (sloping audiometric configuration), progressive, and variable in severity (mild to profound degree). DFNA1 (
gene) and DFNA6/14/38 (
gene) are the most common forms of autosomal dominant non-syndromic HL affecting low frequencies, while DFNA16 (unknown gene) is characterized by fluctuating HL. A long audiological follow-up is of paramount importance to identify hearing threshold deteriorations early and ensure prompt treatment with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
We read with pleasure the interesting paper titled “Social Representations of “Tinnitus” and “Health” among Individuals with Tinnitus Seeking Online Psychological Interventions” by Vinaya Manchaiah ...et al. ...
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) syndrome is a respiratory sleep disorder characterized by partial or complete episodes of upper airway collapse with reduction or complete cessation of airflow. Although ...the connection remains debated, several mechanisms such as intermittent hypoxemia, sleep deprivation, hypercapnia disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been associated with poor neurocognitive performance. Different treatments have been proposed to treat OSAS patients as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), mandibular advancement devices (MAD), surgery; however, the effect on neurocognitive functions is still debated. This article presents the effect of OSAS treatments on neurocognitive performance by reviewing the literature.
We performed a comprehensive review of the English language over the past 20 years using the following keywords: neurocognitive performance and sleep apnea, neurocognitive improvement and CPAP, OSAS, and cognitive dysfunction. We included in the analysis papers that correlated OSA treatment with neurocognitive performance improvement. All validated tests used to measure different neurocognitive performance improvements were considered.
Seventy papers reported neurocognitive Performance improvement in OSA patients after CPAP therapy. Eighty percent of studies found improved executive functions such as verbal fluency or working memory, with partial neural recovery at long-term follow-up. One article compared the effect of MAD, CPAP treatment on cognitive disorders, reporting better improvement of CPAP and MAD than placebo in cognitive function.
CPAP treatment seems to improve cognitive defects associated with OSA. Limited studies have evaluated the effects of the other therapies on cognitive function.
Labyrinthine fistula (LF) is one of the most important complications of cholesteatoma and is defined as an abnormal communication between the inner and the middle ear. This study aims to describe our ...experience with the partial labyrinthectomy evaluating the post-operative hearing results. Twenty-one patients who presented labyrinthine fistula in the semicircular canals were included in the present study. Hearing impairment was present in 48% of patients (10/21). A pre-operative assessment using the Gardner-Robertson hearing classification showed the following: 52%, Class I; and 48%, Class II. A post-surgical Gardner-Robertson hearing classification evidenced the following: 43%, Class I; and 57%, Class II. The presence of LF is usually considered a negative prognostic factor for hearing preservation. The key point of partial labyrinthectomy surgery is the preservation of structures, keeping them wet with Ringer's solution throughout the procedures, and not performing suction that is close to the opened LF. The bony labyrinth is drilled underwater without suction, removing the entire cholesteatoma matrix and quickly plugging the site before and after the LF. This faster plugging of the labyrinth makes it possible to preserve the peri-lymph and the endo-lymph fluid and the hearing function. This study showed that a partial labyrinthectomy is useful for maintaining serviceable hearing in patients with LF.
Objective: to show an overview on the treatments’ options for stage I and II oropharyngeal carcinomasquamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Background: The traditional primary treatment modality of OPSCC at ...early stages is intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) has offered as an alternative, less invasive surgical option. Patients with human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive OPSCC have distinct staging with better overall survival in comparison with HPV-negative OPSCC patients. Methods: a comprehensive review of the English language literature was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and CENTRAL electronic databases. Conclusions: Many trials started examining the role of TORS in de-escalating treatment to optimize functional consequences while maintaining oncologic outcome. The head–neck surgeon has to know the current role of TORS in HPV-positive and negative OPSCC and the ongoing trials that will influence its future implementation. The feasibility of this treatment, the outcomes ensured, and the side effects are key factors to consider for each patient. The variables reported in this narrative review are pieces of a bigger puzzle called tailored, evidence-based driven medicine. Future evidence will help in the construction of robust and adaptive algorithms in order to ensure the adequate treatment for the OPSCC at early stages.
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