Newborn hearing screening and early auditory-based treatment

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader Newborn hearing screening and early auditory-based treatment in Taiwan: action trends of families with children who are hearing impaired. Via pubmed: familial hearing los... Related Articles Newborn hearing screening and early auditory-based treatment in Taiwan: action trends of families with children who are hearing impaired. Int J Audiol. 2020 Oct 30;:1-7 Authors: Chen PH, Lim TZ Abstract OBJECTIVE: To explore the trends in actions and factors influencing families of children with hearing loss, regarding early treatment following the implementation of a newborn hearing screening (NHS) in Taiwan. DESIGN: A retrospective study was conducted by extracting data from the treatment histories of families with children who had hearing loss and who were contacted and assessed by the non-profit organisation (NPO). Children born between 2012 and 2018 were included. The time lapse between initial NHS and early treatment sought by each family was documented and the factors predicting the timing of those actions were identified. STUDY SAMPLE: Data of 2095 families of children with hearing loss and who received treatment from an NPO for the annual birth cohort of 2012 through 2018 were included. RESULTS: The median age at treatments initiation improved through the years. Parental educational level and the child's degree of hearing loss were significant indicators of the child's initial age at treatment intervention, age when hearing aids were fitted, and days taken to contact the organisation. CONCLUSION: The NHS in Taiwan promoted earlier treatment for children with hearing loss. Furthermore, patient instructions and education may be important to enable parents to take actions for early intervention. PMID: 33124479 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Probiotics diminish the post-operatory pain following mandibular third molar extraction: a randomised double-blind controlled trial (pilot study).

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader Probiotics diminish the post-operatory pain following mandibular third molar extraction: a randomised double-blind controlled trial (pilot study). Via pubmed: probiotic and (oral ... Related Articles Probiotics diminish the post-operatory pain following mandibular third molar extraction: a randomised double-blind controlled trial (pilot study). Benef Microbes. 2020 Oct 30;:1-10 Authors: Ferrés-Amat E, Espadaler-Mazo J, Calvo-Guirado JL, Ferrés-Amat E, Mareque-Bueno J, Salavert A, Aguiló-García M, Moreno-Centeno J, Ferrés-Padró E Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a probiotic in preventing infections after third molar surgery. Thirty-eight patients were consecutively enrolled to a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial. Patients were asked to take one tablet two times a day containing a mixture of Levilactobacillus brevis CECT7480 (KABP-052) and Lactoplantibacillus plantarum CECT7481 (KABP-051) or placebo for the first post-intervention week. The primary outcome was the postoperative infection rate. Secondary outcomes included swelling, eating difficulties and postoperative pain recorded by the patient using a visual analogue scale (VAS) during the first postoperative week. No statistically significant difference in the infection rate between the groups was found; with only three cases of infections reported (one in the probiotic group and two in the placebo group) on the first week. Compared to placebo, treatment with the probiotic showed a significantly higher reduction in pain and eating difficulties scores at 5, 6 and 7 days post-surgery. Swelling values were not significantly different between the groups at any time point. The findings of this pilot study justify a larger study to clarify the possible role of these bacterial strains on the post-operative pain management following third molar surgery. PMID: 33124895 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Vocal fold nodules: A disorder of phonation organs or auditory feedback?

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader Vocal fold nodules: A disorder of phonation organs or auditory feedback? Via Polyps Related Articles Vocal fold nodules: A disorder of phonation organs or auditory feedback? Clin Otolaryngol. 2019 11;44(6):975-982 Authors: Lee SH, Yu JF, Fang TJ, Lee GS Abstract OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence supports that auditory feedback of one's own voice closely relates to real-time adjustments of vocal control. Previous studies highlighted that the low-frequency modulations of below 3 Hz (LFM) embedded in vocal fundamental frequency (F0) showed a reflex-like response to altered auditory inputs. However, the auditory feedback control of different vocal disorders remains unclear. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, case-controlled study. SETTING: A tertiary medical centre. PARTICIPANTS: Sustained vocalisations of vowel/a/ from adult healthy controls and patients with vocal fold nodules, vocal fold polyps and vocal fold cysts, respectively. The vocalisations were made at a comfortable pitch and at the intensity of 70 ~ 80 dBC under the following four auditory conditions: natural hearing, 90-dBC speech noise, 10-dBC enhanced feedback of self-produced voice and both the noise and voice feedback. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Power spectral analysis of F0 contour of sustained vowel. RESULTS: Patients with vocal fold nodules presented with different audio-vocal feedback behaviour and audio-vocal response to speech noise from the other two vocal pathologies of vocal fold polyp and vocal fold cyst as well as the healthy controls (P < .001, one-way ANOVA). CONCLUSION: The vocal fold nodules may be not only a vocal fold disease but also a disease caused by abnormal audio-vocal feedback. Moreover, the distinct audio-vocal feedback of vocal fold nodules could be revealed by power spectral analysis of vocal fundamental frequencies. Although further investigations are necessary, adjustments of audio-vocal feedback behaviour may provide a new insight and benefit to the treatment of vocal fold nodules in the future. PMID: 31436035 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

To explore the risk factors and preventive measures affecting the treatment of retrosternal goiter: An observational study.

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader To explore the risk factors and preventive measures affecting the treatment of retrosternal goiter: An observational study. Via Head and Neck Related Articles To explore the risk factors and preventive measures affecting the treatment of retrosternal goiter: An observational study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Oct 30;99(44):e23003 Authors: Li W, Li H, Zhang S, Tao Y, Wang X, Cheng J Abstract The definition of substernal goiter (SG) is based on variable criteria, leading to considerable variations in the reported incidence (from 0.2% to 45%). The peri- and postoperative complications are higher in total thyroidectomy (TT) for SG than that for cervical goiter. This study aimed to evaluate the preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative complications.From 2002 to 2014, 142 (8.5%; 98 women and 44 men) of the 1690 patients who underwent TT had a SG. We retrospectively evaluated the following parameters: sex, age, histology, pre- and retro-vascular position, recurrence, and extension beyond the carina. These parameters were then related to the postoperative complications: seroma/hematoma, transient and permanent hypocalcemia, transient and permanent laryngeal nerve palsy, and the length of surgery. The results were further compared with a control group of 120 patients operated on in the same period with TT for cervical goiter (CG).Statistical analysis (Stud ent t test and Fisher exact test) indicated an association between recurrence and extension beyond the carina with all postoperative complications. The group that underwent TT of SG showed a statistically significant higher risk for transient hypocalcemia (relative risk = 1.767 with 95% confidence interval: 1.131-2.7605, P = .0124, and need to treat = 7.1) and a trend toward significance for transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (relative risk = 6.7806 with 95% confidence interval: 0.8577-53.2898, P = .0696, and need to treat = 20.8) compared with the group that underwent TT of cervical goiter. The major risk factors associated with postoperative complications are recurrence and extension beyond the carina.TT is the procedure to perform in SG even if the incidence of complications is higher than cervical goiters. The major risk factors associated with postoperative complications are recurrence and extension beyond the carina. PMID: 33126382 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

3D Printing and NIR Fluorescence Imaging Techniques for the Fabrication of Implants.

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader 3D Printing and NIR Fluorescence Imaging Techniques for the Fabrication of Implants. Via Head and Neck Related Articles 3D Printing and NIR Fluorescence Imaging Techniques for the Fabrication of Implants. Materials (Basel). 2020 Oct 28;13(21): Authors: Suh YJ, Lim TH, Choi HS, Kim MS, Lee SJ, Kim SH, Park CH Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology holds great potential to fabricate complex constructs in the field of regenerative medicine. Researchers in the surgical fields have used 3D printing techniques and their associated biomaterials for education, training, consultation, organ transplantation, plastic surgery, surgical planning, dentures, and more. In addition, the universal utilization of 3D printing techniques enables researchers to exploit different types of hardware and software in, for example, the surgical fields. To realize the 3D-printed structures to implant them in the body and tissue regeneration, it is important to understand 3D printing technology and its enabling technologies. This paper concisely reviews 3D printing techniques in terms of hardware, software, and materials with a focus on surgery. In addition, it reviews bioprinting technology and a non-invasive monitoring method using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, with special attention to the 3D-biopr inted tissue constructs. NIR fluorescence imaging applied to 3D printing technology can play a significant role in monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of 3D structures for clinical implants. Consequently, these techniques can provide individually customized products and improve the treatment outcome of surgeries. PMID: 33126650 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Impact of PET/CT for Assessing Response to Immunotherapy-A Clinical Perspective.

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader Impact of PET/CT for Assessing Response to Immunotherapy-A Clinical Perspective. Via Head and Neck Related Articles Impact of PET/CT for Assessing Response to Immunotherapy-A Clinical Perspective. J Clin Med. 2020 Oct 28;9(11): Authors: Lang D, Wahl G, Poier N, Graf S, Kiesl D, Lamprecht B, Gabriel M Abstract Cancer immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of various malignancies like non-small-cell lung cancer or melanoma. Pre-therapy response prediction and assessment during ICI treatment is challenging due to the lack of reliable biomarkers and the possibility of atypical radiological response patterns. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) enables the visualization and quantification of metabolic lesion activity additional to conventional CT imaging. Various biomarkers derived from PET/CT have been reported as predictors for response to ICI and may aid to overcome the challenges clinicians currently face in the management of ICI-treated patients. In this narrative review, experts in nuclear medicine, thoracic oncology, dermatooncology, hemato- and internal oncology, urological and head/neck tumors performed literature reviews in their respective field and a joint discussion on the use of PET/CT in t he context of ICI treatment. The aims were to give a clinical overview on present standards and evidence, to identify current challenges and fields of research and to enable an outlook to future developments and their possible implications. Multiple promising studies concerning ICI response assessment or prediction using biomarkers derived from PET/CT alone or as composite biomarkers have been identified for various malignancies and disease stages. Of interest, additional major incentives in the field may evolve from novel tracers specifically targeting immune-checkpoint molecules which could allow not only response assessment and prognosis, but also visualization of histological tumor cell properties like programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) expression in vivo. Despite the broad range of existing literature on PET/CT-derived biomarkers in ICI therapy, implications for daily clinical practice remain elusive. High-quality prospective data are urgently warranted to determine whether patien ts benefit from the application of PET/CT in terms of prognosis. At the moment, the lack of such evidence as well as the absence of standardized imaging methods and biomarkers still precludes PET/CT imaging to be included in the relevant clinical practice guidelines. PMID: 33126715 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Functional Imaging to Predict Treatment Response in Head and Neck Cancer: How Close are We to Biologically Adaptive Radiotherapy?

gnorimies20.15 shared this article with you from Inoreader Functional Imaging to Predict Treatment Response in Head and Neck Cancer: How Close are We to Biologically Adaptive Radiotherapy? Via Head and Neck Related Articles Functional Imaging to Predict Treatment Response in Head and Neck Cancer: How Close are We to Biologically Adaptive Radiotherapy? Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2020 Oct 27;: Authors: Paterson C, Hargreaves S, Rumley CN Abstract It is increasingly recognised that head and neck cancer represents a spectrum of disease with a differential response to standard treatments. Although prognostic factors are well established, they do not reliably predict response. The ability to predict response early during radiotherapy would allow adaptation of treatment: intensifying treatment for those not responding adequately or de-intensifying remaining therapy for those likely to achieve a complete response. Functional imaging offers such an opportunity. Changes in parameters obtained with functional magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography-computed tomography during treatment have been found to be predictive of disease control in head and neck cancer. Although many questions remain unanswered regarding the optimal implementation of these techniques, current, maturing and future studies may provide the much-needed homogeneous cohorts with larger sample sizes and external validation of parameters. Wit h a stepwise and collaborative approach, we may be able to develop imaging biomarkers that allow us to deliver personalised, biologically adaptive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. PMID: 33127234 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.