Acta Oto-Laryngologica最新文献

Background: Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of climate on the lower turbinate morphology.

Objectives: This study evaluated the existence of humidity-related climatically adaptive changes in inferior turbinate.

Methods: Previously taken computed tomography images of the paranasal region were evaluated belonging to a total of 100 patients from two different climates (50 patients each from humid climate and from dry climate). The width, length and height of the lower turbinate, the breadth, length and height of the internal nasal passage, height of the inferior airway, breadth of common and inferior meatus were compared.

Results: The group from dry climate has narrower internal nasal passage breadth (p = .010) with wider inferior meatus width (p = .031). No dimensional difference in the lower turbinates was observed between the two climatic groups. These two findings indicate a more lateralized turbinates in the humid group as opposed to more centralized turbinates in the dry group.

Conclusions: Humidity has an effect as a climatic factor on turbinate positioning in the nasal fossa and contribute to an overall pattern of ecogeographic variation of nose. It may be useful to review surgical interventions to the inferior turbinate in the light of this information.

Backgrounds: Some studies believe that there is a correlation between larygopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) and allergic rhinitis (AR). Salivary pepsin concentration (SPC) test is a gradually accepted objective examination method for LPRD in recent years.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of coexisting LPRD on subjective severity of seasonal AR and the potential role of pepsin.

Material and methods: Adult patients with seasonal AR were prospectively enrolled. Subjective severity of AR was assessed using the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Potential LPRD was assessed using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and SPC measurements.

Results: No significant correlation was found between the RSI value and the TNSS and VAS values (both p > .05). In contrast, the SPC value was found to be significantly associated with both of TNSS and VAS values (p < .05). Among the symptoms included in the TNSS, the SPC value was significantly and positively associated with nasal congestion and runny nose (both p < .05), but not with sneezing and nasal itching (both p > .05).

Conclusions and significance: Coexisting LPRD may aggravates seasonal AR symptoms. SPC could be used to examine whether AR patients have combined LPRD and to determine the necessity of anti-reflux treatment.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) changed the practice of medicine, and various anti-contagion restrictions were implemented worldwide.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the annual trend in the incidence of otologic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the influence of social restrictions on these diseases.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the number of patients treated for otologic diseases, particularly those associated with infectious pathophysiology, and the total number of patients in the otolaryngology departments at three tertiary referral centers in South Korea.

Results: The number of patients who underwent ventilation tube insertion due to persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) significantly decreased (raw number: -37.1%, incidence: -2.04‰) after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a sharp increase was observed in 2023 (raw number: +42.9%, incidence: +1.63‰) when the pandemic officially ended. The number of patients newly diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) gradually increased during the pandemic period.

Conclusions and significance: Restrictive measures to control COVID-19 spread positively influenced the reduction in the incidence of OME. Whether COVID-19 is a direct risk factor for SSNHL remains uncertain, but the potential impact of the virus itself or the COVID-19 vaccine on the auditory system appears to exist.

Background: Current guidelines recommend p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) for testing human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The need for additional HPV-DNA testing is debated.

Aims/objectives: We evaluated the prognostic value of HPV-DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) as an adjunct to p16.

Material and methods: A population-based cohort of 1,033 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients was used, to identify 124 OPSCC patients treated with a curative intent.

Results: Of the p16-positive patients, 17.9% did not show evidence for presence of HPV-DNA in ISH. Both p16 and HPV-DNA ISH were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) when used independently. When combining information from p16 IHC and HPV-DNA ISH, survival of the p16+/ISH- discordant patients was intermediate compared to the p16+/ISH+ and p16-/ISH- groups. In the discordant group, smoking was a strong prognostic determinator, with non-smokers having an outstanding prognosis.

Conclusions and significance: Both p16 IHC and HPV-DNA ISH perform well as separate prognostic biomarkers for OS, DSS, and DFS on a population level. However, a discordant group does exist. Limiting HPV-DNA testing for p16-positive patients who smoke by the time of diagnosis may be a cost-efficient and justified solution.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in patients with hematologic diseases.

Methods: This retrospective study included 26 patients (16 males and 10 females; median age of 36.5 years) with CSOM and hematological diseases treated over three years. All patients received chemotherapy before surgery. Preoperative symptoms included hearing loss accompanied by intermittent ear discharge, ear pain, and dizziness, but no facial paralysis. Surgical indications were recurrent infections, invasive fungal otitis during chemotherapy, or planned hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Based on the extent of the lesions and intraoperative conditions.

Results: All surgeries were successful with a median duration of 70.5 (36-120) minutes and intraoperative blood loss of < 20 mL, without postoperative complications. Hospital stay averaged 9 (8-15) days. During the 6-24-month follow-up, one patient experienced a recurrence of CSOM, and one died from worsening hematologic disease. The remaining patients recovered well and continued to receive appropriate hematologic treatment.

Conclusions: Surgical treatment is a safe and effective option for patients with CSOM and hematologic diseases. It can improve patient outcomes and facilitate ongoing and subsequent hematologic cure.

Background: Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is a chronic infectious disease primarily affecting the skin and nervous system. The vestibulocochlear nerve may also be impacted, potentially leading to auditory dysfunction.

Aims/objectives: This study investigates the effects of leprosy on the vestibulocochlear nerve and its impact on auditory function through a comprehensive audiological evaluation.

Material and methods: A total of 15 leprosy patients and 15 healthy individuals were included. Audiological assessments were conducted at a tertiary care hospital. All participants underwent pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing, otoacoustic emissions (OAE), and brainstem auditory evoked response (BERA) tests. Hearing thresholds, wave latencies, and neural conduction were analyzed.

Results: Hearing thresholds were significantly higher in leprosy patients than in the control group. BERA results showed a significant prolongation of wave I and wave III latencies in leprosy patients, indicating dysfunction at the level of the acoustic nerve and superior olivary complex.

Conclusions and significance: Leprosy may contribute to auditory dysfunction by affecting the myelin sheath of the peripheral and central nervous systems. These findings provide insight into the impact of leprosy on the vestibulocochlear nerve and emphasize the importance of audiological evaluation in leprosy patients.

Introduction: Cochlear implantation can be used as a treatment for severe sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Meniere's disease.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate speech perception and the grade of hearing preservation in patients diagnosed with Meniere's disease. One additional aim was to investigate the effects of cochlear implant surgery on balance and tinnitus.

Methods: Adult patients with a known diagnosis of Meniere's disease were evaluated. Their speech perception and the degree of hearing preservation were compared with adult patients with sensorineural hearing loss of different etiologies. For the patients with Meniere's disease, their subjective reports on balance and tinnitus pre- and post-surgery were also investigated.

Results: Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement in speech perception after cochlear implantation (p < .05); no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. Analysis of hearing preservation for the two groups showed no statistically significant difference. Tinnitus decreased in 44.4% of the Meniere's disease patients one year post surgery.

Conclusion: We found no difference in speech perception with cochlear implant in patients with Meniere's disease compared with patients with other etiologies, and there was no difference in the rate of hearing preservation. Tinnitus improved after cochlear implant treatment in patients with Meniere's disease.

Background: MYO15A is a commonly implicated gene in severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Numerous studies have identified mutations in MYO15A in humans, analyzed their presence and co-segregation, and predicted their pathogenicity using software tools. However, few have investigated the pathogenic mechanisms of these mutations using mouse models. In a prior study, we identified the MYO15A c.2482 C > T mutation as a potential causative gene for deafness in a Uygur family from Xinjiang. To further explore the pathogenicity and mechanisms of this mutation, we constructed a mouse model harboring the Myo15a c.2455A > T mutation. This study demonstrates that mice with the Myo15a c.2455A > T spot knock-in exhibit the abnormal hair cell morphology, dysfunction, and hearing loss phenotype observed in humans.

Objectives: To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of deafness caused by MYO15A c.2482C > T mutation.

Material and methods: To assess the impact of the MYO15A mutation on hair cell morphology and function, mice underwent audiological tests, quantitative real-time PCR, scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis.

Results: The p.Arg819* mutation located in the N-terminal domain of MYO15A showed marked differences in hair cell morphology and function between homozygous mutant mice and normal controls. Notably, the homozygous mutant mice retained residual hearing up to approximately five weeks of age.

Conclusions and significance: Our findings confirm that Myo15a c.2455A > T spot knock-in mice replicate the abnormal hair cell morphology and dysfunction, as well as the hearing loss phenotype. Additionally, our results indicate that the novel c.2482C > T variant in the MYO15A gene can cause inner ear hair cell dysfunction and audiological disorders in this family.