Vestibular migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by the association of vertigo and headache, affecting up to 1% of the population. Among its differential diagnoses is endolymphatic hydrops. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential and electrocochleography in the diagnosis of vestibular migraine.
Thirteen women with clinical diagnosis of vestibular migraine (mean age 44 years) and 13 healthy volunteers without auditory and/or vestibular complaints matched for sex and age were evaluated by performing hydrops examinations of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential and electrocochleography.
The presence of vertigo and headache was reported by all members of the group with vestibular migraine, associated with symptoms such as nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. Tinnitus was the most frequent auditory complaint. A significant increase in P1 and N1 latencies was observed in the test group. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of asymmetry and decreased amplitude of the cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential. Electrocochleography showed an increase in amplitude of the summation potential. The altered SP/AP ratio was double in the group with vestibular migration, without statistical significance.
Changes in latency increase of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential suggests a central lesion. Patients with vestibular migraine may present electrocochleography compatible with endolymphatic hydrops.
Level 4.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (CRSwNP) is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling process. The remodeling process in nasal polyps has mainly been studied by histology analysis. However, it is limited to a polyp fragment and requires tissue removal. The present study aims to evaluate the ability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to depict and characterize the remodeling process in patients with CRSwNP.
30 patients that met clinical diagnostic criteria for CRSwNP, without previous history of rhinosinusitis surgery were submitted to MRI scan (conventional, diffusion-weighted and DCE MRI) and compared with polyp tissue histological findings, IL-6 concentrations in the tissue and eosinophil count in the blood. The examinations were evaluated, independently, by two radiologists blinded to other radiological and histological data. The pathologist, blinded to MRI results, also compared the tissue sample from the most central and the most peripheral portion of the polypoid tissue adjacent to the floor of the nasal fossa.
This study demonstrated a characteristic pattern of nasal polyps, whose peripheral portions of nasal polypoid tissue are edematous, whereas the central portions in the middle meatus and in the middle and upper ethmoid are predominantly fibrotic. ADC values found in the most anterior portion of the polyps may be a marker for radiological phenotyping the remodeling process. This non-invasive analysis presented a high degree of agreement in the fibrosis and edema rating by two radiologists and the histological analysis was concordant with the MRI findings. The polyps were characterized as eosinophilic, and no relationship was found between the severity of the eosinophilic inflammatory process or concentration of IL-6 and the remodeling process.
MRI by using T2-weighted imaging sequence and ADCs values allows tissue characterization and is an effective tool for the differentiation of edematous and fibrotic components in CRSwNP.
3.
To describe pulmonary function, muscle strength and functional performance in the different qualities of sleep and the impact of this on the number of physiotherapeutic assistances.
This is an observational study. In the pre and post operative period, sleep behavior was evaluated using the Pittsburgh questionnaire. Patients were divided into three groups: Good Sleep Quality (GSQ), Poor Sleep Quality (PSQ) and Sleep Disordered (SDB). At this time, other tests were also performed, such as: 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Sit and Stand Test (SST), gait speed test and Timed Up to Go (TUG), Medical Research Council (MRC), maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory, vital capacity and peak expiratory flow. The functional performance and lung function of each group were compared.
A total of 105 people, undergoing cardiac surgery and admitted to hospital were evaluated, 33 with GSQ, 41 with PSQ and 31 with SD. Patients who were in the SDB group had a lower functional performance than the other groups. 6MWT (meters) in the GSQ was 499 ± 87, versus 487 ± 91 in the PSQ and 430 ± 78 in the SD (p = 0.02). In the SST (seconds) it was 10.4 ± 1.1 in the GQS, 11.1 ± 2.3 in the PSQ and 15.4 ± 2.1 in the SD (p = 0.04). Lung function and muscle strength did not differ between groups. Regarding the refusal to perform physical therapy, the SD group was more incident, the main reason being drowsiness.
Based on the results, we found that sleep quality interferes with functional performance and physical therapy assistance during the hospital stay in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
To describe the findings of Fiberoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing (FEES) in asymptomatic young and older adults, comparing results across different age groups. Additionally, this study aims to test the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) as an instrument to identify dysphagia risk.
A prospective cross-sectional observational analysis was conducted on a sample of individuals aged 20 and above, asymptomatic for dysphagia, stratified by age groups. The EAT-10 questionnaire was completed, and the FEES was employed to assess oropharyngeal swallowing function. Various parameters, including salivary stasis, swallowing reflex trigger, swallowing sequence, residue, penetration, and aspiration were blindly analyzed by two otolaryngologists.
A total of 184 participants were included, with a mean age of 44.7 ± 18.5 years. There was good to excellent agreement between examiners for FEES parameters. The EAT-10 score ≥3 suggested dysphagia risk in 7.6% (n = 14) of the sample, with no association with age or any FEES parameter. Individuals aged ≥80 years presented more residue (50%; n = 5/10) compared to younger individuals (11.5%; n = 20/174; p = 0.039). Salivary stasis was found exclusively in individuals aged ≥60 years (n = 5/39; 12.8%; p = 0.027). Age did not influence on the swallowing reflex trigger, swallowing sequence, penetration, and aspiration. Penetration was observed in 4.9% (n = 9) of subjects and aspiration occurred in 0.5% (n = 1) of subjects, with no statistical significance in age groups.
Age does not have a linear influence on swallowing in healthy adults and elderly people. However, individuals aged ≥80 years showed a higher prevalence of residue, and individuals aged ≥60 years showed a higher prevalence of salivary stasis, suggesting an increased risk or presence of dysphagia. Other FEES parameters were not influenced by age. These findings provide valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of swallowing across different age groups, emphasizing the importance of age-specific considerations in dysphagia assessment.
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