Managing bacterial success for lignocellulose biomass valorization via secretomics a review

4.
4.This study investigates the histopathological changes of the cochlea and vestibular end organs of a patient who received cisplatin for Hodgkin's lymphoma. He experienced acute high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus after receiving treatment. Using histopathological analysis of his temporal bones after he unfortunately succumbed to his disease, we found that the ototoxic effect of cisplatin is primarily within the cochlea, with significant damage located at the organ of Corti at the base-hook region, consistent with findings in animal models. The effects of cisplatin were minimal when reviewing the vestibular end organs.
To perform a systematic review to determine if a total score of ≥14.5 (mean score ≥ 2.1) on the ETDQ-7 accurately identifies patients with obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD) on impedance tympanometry (peak compliance <0.2mL or middle ear pressure of -100 daPa) or other objective measures of OETD.
A systematic review without a meta-analysis was performed of studies in four electronic databases (Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) that used the ETDQ-7 and at least one objective measure of OETD.
Six-hundred and fifty-two studies were identified in the initial literature search. Abstracts from 337 studies were screened, followed by full-text review of 61 studies, and qualitative synthesis of 12 studies. Tympanometry was used as an objective measure in ten studies. Eight of the 12 included studies had patient cohort selection bias. Eight studies administered the ETDQ-7 in cohorts of patients with or without OETD, already confirmed on tympanometry, and found a sensitivity of 91%-100% and specificity of 67%-100%. Four studies administered the ETDQ-7 to patients who had not previously undergone objective testing and found a sensitivity of 49%-80% and specificity of 24%-78%.
The ETDQ-7 is an important patient-reported outcome measure. However, based upon existing literature, the ETDQ-7 appears limited as a diagnostic tool for OETD or as an objective measure of Eustachian tube function.
The ETDQ-7 is an important patient-reported outcome measure. However, based upon existing literature, the ETDQ-7 appears limited as a diagnostic tool for OETD or as an objective measure of Eustachian tube function.
To comparatively evaluate a low-cost otoscope with a traditional device among health care workers in Malawi.
The study is a prospective, comparative, qualitative observational survey of health care worker's opinions using 5-point Likert rating scales and tick box categories in a 10-item survey questionnaire. Twenty-five mixed cadre health care workers from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre in Malawi were recruited. Outcomes measures used were ease of speculum attachment, handling, insertion, stability, the quality of view, color, build, brightness, overall ease of use, and their suitability for local work.
The low-cost otoscope scored statistically higher in overall combined performance, as well as in the remaining four out of the nine attributes. Notably, 54.2% of users rated the low-cost device more suitable than the traditional device for use in low-middle income countries, 25% were equivocal, and 20.8% preferred the traditional device.
This study found the Arclight otoscope to be an appropriate and practical substitute for more expensive traditional otoscopes for the delivery of ENT services in low resource settings.
N/A.
N/A.
To examine the treatment effects of repositioning maneuvers with the head turned 45° downwards (Gufoni maneuver) and 45° upwards (Appiani maneuver) in 25 patients with ageotropic horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
Patients were randomly assigned to the Gufoni or Appiani maneuvers, and their immediate and short-term efficacy was investigated.
The immediate treatment response was successful in four of 16 patients who were treated with the Appiani maneuver and were not successful in any of the nine patients treated with the Gufoni maneuver. The patients who showed spontaneous resolution during follow-up outnumbered the patients who showed resolution of ageotropic HSCC BPPV immediately after the repositioning maneuvers.
This study showed a very low immediate resolution rate of ageotropic HSCC BPPV after the Gufoni maneuver; this may be attributed to the less effectiveness of the Gufoni maneuver against debris that often exists in the canal side of the cupula. Another interesting finding was that the rate of spontaneous resolution during the follow-up period was higher than that of immediate resolution after the repositioning maneuvers, which may support the recently proposed hypothesis that ageotropic positional nystagmus can also be evoked by causes other than the otolithic attachment on the cupula, such as a slight change in the biochemical composition of the inner ear fluids.
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3.
Stapedotomy is performed to address conductive hearing deficits. While hearing thresholds reliably improve at low frequencies (LF), conductive outcomes at high frequencies (HF) are less reliable and have not been well described. Herein, we evaluate post-operative HF air-bone gap (ABG) changes and measure HF air conduction (AC) thresholds changes as a function of frequency.
Retrospective review of patients who underwent primary stapedotomy with incus wire piston prosthesis between January 2016 and May 2020. Pre- and postoperative audiograms were evaluated. LF ABG was calculated as the mean ABG of thresholds at 250, 500, and 1000 Hz. HF ABG was calculated at 4kHz.
Forty-six cases met criteria. Mean age at surgery was 54.0 ± 11.7 years. The LF mean preoperative ABG was 36.9 ± 11.0dB and postoperatively this significantly reduced to 9.35 ± 6.76 dB, (
 < .001). The HF mean preoperative ABG was 31.1 ± 14.4dB and postoperatively, this also significantly reduced to 14.5 ± 12.3dB, (
 < .001). The magnitude of LF ABG closure was over 1.5 times the magnitude of HF ABG closure (
 < .001). The gain in AC decreased with increasing frequency (
 < .001).
Hearing improvement following stapedotomy is greater at low than high frequencies. Postoperative air bone gaps persist at 4kHz. Further biomechanical and histopathologic work is necessary to localize postoperative high frequency conductive hearing deficits and improve stapedotomy hearing outcomes.
4, retrospective study.
4, retrospective study.
The primary objective was to determine whether the narrowest dimensions of the labyrinthine facial nerve (LFN) canal on the symptomatic side in patients with unilateral recurrent Bell's palsy (BP) differ from those on the contralateral side or in asymptomatic, age- and gender-matched controls on computed tomography (CT). selleckchem The secondary objectives were to assess the extent of bony covering at the geniculate ganglion and to record inter-observer reliability of the CT measurements.
The dimensions of the LFN canal at its narrowest point perpendicular to the long axis and the extent of bony covering at the geniculate ganglion were assessed by two radiologists. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney
tests (LFN canal dimensions) and the Chi-squared test (bony covering at the geniculate ganglion). Inter-observer reliability was evaluated using Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) and Cohen's kappa.
The study included 21 patients with unilateral recurrent BP and 21 asymptomatic controls. There was no significant difference in the narrowest dimensions of the ipsilateral LFN canal when compared to the contralateral side or controls (
=.43-.94). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the extent of bony covering at the geniculate ganglion when compared to either group (
=.19-.8). Good inter-observer reliability was observed for LFN measurements (ICC=0.75-0.88) but not for the bony covering at the geniculate ganglion (Cohen's kappa=0.53).
The narrowest dimensions of the LFN canal and the extent of bony covering at the geniculate ganglion do not differ in unilateral recurrent BP, casting doubt over their etiological significance.
Level IV.
Level IV.
In clinical practice, characterization of speech comprehension for cochlear implant (CI) patients is typically administered by a set of suprathreshold measurements in quiet and in noise. This study investigates speech comprehension of the three most recent cochlear implant sound processors; CP810, CP910, and CP1000 (Cochlear Limited). To compare sound processor performance across generations and input dynamic range changes, the state-of-the art signal processing technologies available in each sound processor were enabled. Outcomes will be assessed across a range of stimulation intensities, and finally analyzed with respect to normal hearing listeners.
In a prospective study, 20 experienced postlingually deafened CI patients who received a Nucleus CI in the ENT department of the University Hospital of SH in Kiel were recruited. Speech comprehension was measured in quiet at 40, 50, and 65 dB
with monosyllabic words as well as by speech reception threshold for two-digit numbers. In noise, speech reception thresholds were measured with the adaptive German matrix test with speech and noise in front.
We found that high levels of open-set speech comprehension are achieved at suprathreshold presentation levels in quiet. However, results at lower test levels have remained mostly unchanged for tested sound processors with default dynamic range. Expanding the lower limit of the acoustic input dynamic range yields better speech comprehension at lower presentation levels. In noise the application of ForwardFocus improves the speech reception. Overall, a continuous improvement for speech perception across three generations of CI sound processors was found.
Findings motivate further development of signal pre-processing, an additional focus of clinical work on lower stimulation levels, and automation of ForwardFocus.
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2.
Unilateral vocal cord paralysis may result from nerve compression by tumors or direct nerve injuries during tumor resections, which can cause dysphonia or dysphagia, and reduced quality of life.
This prospective, single-group study aimed to investigate the effect of percutaneous injection laryngoplasty on voice and swallowing function in patients with cancer-related unilateral vocal cord paralysis.
Patients underwent percutaneous injection laryngoplasty with hyaluronic acid under local anesthesia. Stroboscopy and videofluoroscopic swallowing study were conducted to evaluate the voice- and swallowing-related outcome measures, respectively. The participants were evaluated before injection laryngoplasty, as well as after two weeks and three months.
Injection laryngoplasty significantly improved the glottal gap, vocal fold position, Maximum Phonation Time, and Voice Handicap Index-10. Post-hoc analysis using Bonferroni correction showed that the improvements occurred within two post-treatment weeks and remained at three post-treatment months. In the subgroup analysis, the patients who underwent injection laryngoplasty within 8 weeks from onset showed significantly higher improvements in the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale and swallowing function than the patients who received the procedure after 8 weeks or more.
Percutaneous injection laryngoplasty improves glottal closure and voice in patients with cancer-related unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Early injection laryngoplasty may lead to greater benefits on swallowing function.
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