Blog Archive

Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Intensity patterns at the peaks of brain activity in fMRI and PET are highly correlated with neural models of spatial integration

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

Eur J Neurosci. 2021 Sep 22. doi: 10.1111/ejn.15469. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Spatial integration during the brain's cognitive activity prompts changes in energy used by different neuroglial populations. Nevertheless, the organization of such integration in 3D -brain activity remains undescribed from a quantitative standpoint. In response, we applied a cross-correlation between brain activity and integrative models, which yielded a deeper understanding of information integration in functional brain mapping. We analyzed four datasets obtained via fundamentally different neuroimaging techniques (fMRI and PET) and found that models of spatial integration with an increasing input to each step of integration were significantly more correlated with brain activity than models with a constant input to each step of integration. In addition, marking the voxels with the maximal correlation, we found exceptionally high inter-subject consistency wi th the initial brain activity at the peaks. Our method demonstrated for the first time that the network of peaks of brain activity is organized strictly according to the models of spatial integration independent of neuroimaging techniques. The highest correlation with models integrating an increasing at each step input suggests that brain activity reflects a network of integrative processes where the results of integration in some neuroglial populations serve as an input to other neuroglial populations.

PMID:34550613 | DOI:10.1111/ejn.15469

View on the web

Up‐front neck dissection followed by chemoradiotherapy for T1–T3 hypopharyngeal cancer with advanced nodal involvement

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

Background

The advantage of up-front neck dissection (UFND) followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) with advanced neck involvement remains controversial. We aimed to determine the indications.

Methods

The data of 41 and 14 patients with stage IVA/B (T1–T3 and ≥N2a) HPC who underwent UFND followed by CRT and received CRT, respectively, were retrospectively analyzed and compared.

Results

The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival rates for the UFND and CRT groups were 61% and 52% (p = 0.1019), and 89% and 74% (p = 0.2333), respectively. Moreover, patients aged ≥70 years or those with a pulmonary disease history had a significantly poorer prognosis due to aspiration pneumonia in the UFND group. The 5-year regional control (RC) for the UFND and CRT groups were 92% and 57%, respectively (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions

UFND followed by CRT was feasible with satisfactory RC. To further improve OS, aspiration pneumonia prevention is essential.

View on the web

Tracheostomy in the COVID-19 Era: A Modified Approach

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

pubmed-meta-image.png

Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Sep 23:1455613211045522. doi: 10.1177/01455613211045522. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34551604 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211045522

View on the web

Applicability of a sheep model for training in plastic surgery of eyelids and orbit

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

pubmed-meta-image.png

Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Sep 23:1455613211047036. doi: 10.1177/01455613211047036. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To test the applicability of a fresh tissue model for teaching facial plastic techniques and approaches to the eyelids and orbit.

DESIGN: Observational animal experiments.

SUBJECTS: Ten prepubescent sheep heads harvested following humane euthanasia at the completion of unrelated live animal research.

METHODS: Young sheep were saline pe rfused at the end of an in vivo protocol. Head and neck tissues were harvested and refrigerated for 3-7 days. An experienced oculoplastic surgeon and an otolaryngologist explored the feasibility of common oculoplastic procedures in the ovine model.

RESULTS: The model has potential for teaching basic principles in eyelid surgery including upper lid blepharoplasty, aponeurotic ptosis repair, upper lid gold weight lid loading for facial paralysis, lateral canthotomy and inferior limb cantholysis, lower lid tightening, and transconjunctival approach to the orbital floor. Eye muscle advancement, optic nerve sheath fenestration, and enucleation also accurately simulated human surgery. Anatomic variations limit the sheep model for orbital floor reconstruction and lacrimal drainage procedures.

CONCLUSIONS: The sheep head and neck provide an inexpensive, safe model for developing skills in several oculoplastic procedures. Formal simulation testing is needed to confirm these exper t opinions.

PMID:34551606 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211047036

View on the web

Treatment of a Gastrointestinal Sarcoidosis Flare: A Multidisciplinary Approach for a Multisystem Disease

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

Am J Case Rep. 2021 Sep 23;22:e932494. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.932494.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease with predominant pulmonary involvement and rare gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. The stomach is the most common site when there is GI involvement. Symptomatic gastric sarcoidosis with biopsy-proven disease has rarely been reported and much of the knowledge is from case reports involving white patients. CASE REPORT Our unique case involves a flare of gastric sarcoid in an African American patient with biopsy-proven disease and we highlight our unique broad, multidisciplinary treatment approach that has not been described previously. A 68-year-old woman with pulmonary sarcoidosis presented with epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and dysphagia. The diagnosis of gastric sarcoid was made several years prior based on an upper endoscopy biopsy showing non-caseating granulomas in the antrum. She had previously exp erienced minimal relief of gastric symptoms with corticosteroids. In addition to a steroid taper, the patient experienced improvement in symptoms with a PPI (proton pump inhibitor), bowel regimen, and speech therapy techniques. CONCLUSIONS Gastric symptoms can be a presenting sign for a sarcoid flare in a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis, which is important for both pulmonologists and gastroenterologists to recognize. In addition to traditional therapy with corticosteroids, our unique broader, multidisciplinary approach with PPI, bowel regimen, and speech therapy techniques such as a liquid wash are important components of treatment for gastric sarcoid that have not been described in previous case reports.

PMID:34552042 | D OI:10.12659/AJCR.932494

View on the web

Rapidly Enlarging Neck Mass in a Patient With Testicular Cancer

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

ocg210013f1_1632241777.95997.png?Expires

A 40-year-old man presented with a large left neck mass after recent treatment of mixed testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor with metastasis to the retroperitoneal and mediastinal lymph nodes. What is your diagnosis?
View on the web

Hearing Loss and Impaired Physical Function, Frailty, and Disability in Older Adults

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

ooi210047t1_1632241767.25474.png?Expires

This cross-sectional study examines the association between he aring loss and impaired lower extremity function, frailty syndrome, and disability in older adults
View on the web

Aerosol Production with Surgical Instrumentation: Implications for Head and Neck Surgery in the COVID-19 Era

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

Evaluating the aerosolization of droplets from surgical instruments to assess the implications of surgery in SARS-CoV-2 transmission for both patients and providers. Cadaver study. Outpatient surgery center. Aerosolized particles between 0.3 and 25 microns were measured. Instruments tested included monopolar cautery with and without suction, bipolar cautery, a bipolar vessel sealing device, and tissue scissors. Each trial was compared to a background reading. Monopolar cautery without suction, Ligasure used continuously and Bipolar cautery produced the most aerosols. Monopolar cautery with simultaneous suction produced no detectable aerosols. Ligasure used for a single cycle produced notably fewer aerosols than during continuous use. Most aerosols produced were < 5 microns. These data support n95 use during surgical management of the upper aerodigestive tract, as well as the use of suction in the surgical field.

View on the web

An Experience of Scalp Island Flap Based on the Posterior Branch of the Superficial Temporal Artery for Patients with Mucormycosis and Cancer

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

To find out the utility of the scalp flap based on the posterior branch of the superficial temporal artery in patients with head and neck mucormycosis and malignancy. This was a multi-institutional observational study conducted at a tertiary cancer centre in North East India and a super-speciality hospital in Maharashtra from January 2021 to June 2021. Patients with malignancy and mucormycosis were only considered. In our study, we have seven patients (n = 7), two of them had mucormycosis and 5 had squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region. Out of the 5 cases of the head and neck malignancy, two cases were recurrent ones, another two cases where primary flap failed and in the last case, the patient was unfit for free tissue transfer due to cardiac issues. The mean age in the series was 50.42 years and the average duration of raising the flap was 22.86 min. Average hospital stays for head and neck cancer patients are 4.6 days and for m ucormycosis patients, it is 22.5 days. No flap related complications were noted during the series. Scalp flap based on the posterior branch of the superficial temporal artery is a useful option in recurrent malignancy cases, in primary cases as a salvage option and in patients where long duration surgery is not possible due to poor general condition like in critical mucormycosis. Post-operative hair growth at the flap site and alopecia at the donor scalp are concerns and therefore, careful patient selection is a must.

View on the web

Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies and Diagnostic Outcomes in Otherwise Healthy Infants With Dysphagia

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

pubmed-meta-image.png

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2021 Sep 23:34894211047786. doi: 10.1177/00034894211047786. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) findings in infants with dysphagia and without prior diagnoses, and to characterize the outcomes and any diagnoses that follow.

METHODS: A chart review of all pediatric patients who received a VFSS at a tertiary children's hospital from November 2008 to March 2017 was performed.

RESULT S: There were 106 infants (57 males and 49 females) with 108 VFSS. VFSS was normal in 18 (16.98%) infants. Regarding airway protection, 50 (47.17%) infants had laryngeal penetration, and 8 (7.55%) had tracheal aspiration; 3 (2.83%, 37.5% of all aspirators) exhibited silent aspiration. Of the 75 infants with minimum 2-year follow-up, 35 (46.67%) had no sequelae of disease and received no diagnoses. The most common diagnoses and pathologic sequelae were gastroesophageal reflux (n = 18, 24.00%), asthma (n = 8, 10.67%), laryngomalacia (n = 6, 8.00%), and tracheomalacia (n = 4, 5.33%), all consistent with United States pediatric data on prevalence. All infants (n = 51) with follow-up for dysphagia had resolution of symptoms within 9 months from VFSS order date.

CONCLUSIONS: Otherwise healthy infants may show signs of dysphagia and not develop later illness. Parents can thus be counseled on the implications of dysphagia in a previously healthy infant. Our findings provide comparativ e statistics for future research in pediatric dysphagia.

PMID:34553623 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211047786

View on the web

Downward Trend in Resident Myringotomy and Tympanostomy Tube Experience

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader

pubmed-meta-image.png

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2021 Sep 23:34894211047478. doi: 10.1177/00034894211047478. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Historically, myringotomy, and the insertion of tympanostomy tubes has served as one of the initial surgical training experiences for residents. Resident experience with this procedure since the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines has not been well described in the literature. The objective of this study was to identify tre nds in resident training experience with chronic otitis media-related surgeries, such as myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement. While multiple factors influence resident experience, we hypothesize that resident experience has decreased since the introduction of the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13).

METHODS AND MATERIALS: In a retrospective review of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) National Data Reports, mean number of myringotomy and tympanostomy tube cases logged in the Resident Case Log System from 2006 to 2019 were collated and plotted against years to identify monotonic trends. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare pre-PCV13 era and post-PCV13 era data.

RESULTS: Since the introduction of PCV13, there is a national decreasing trend in the myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement by otolaryngology residents (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Otologic surgeries are an important part of resident education and historically have served as one of the initial surgical training experiences for residents. There has been a significant reduction in the number of myringotomy and tympanostomy procedures performed by otolaryngology residents in the past decade. While multiple factors influence resident experience, it is possible that introduction of PCV13 has impacted resident exposure to myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement. Resident proficiency with this procedure has likely not been affected by introduction of PCV13. Data should be reassessed in 5 years to determine if an impact of the PCV13 vaccine on resident training is evident.

PMID:34553634 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211047478

View on the web